EMPLOYEE OF THE (SCHOOL) YEAR

photo by Jeremy Wilburn

 There's a shining star in every story!


"By the time Salas graduated, he had 268.5 credits. He only needed 200. Salas says he trusted his counselors to place him in required classes. . . . Hillcrest High Continuation School, where Salas took the unnecessary credits, needed an overhaul, according to former Inglewood High School Principal Debbie Tate. . . .Tate has since taken over Hillcrest, now called Inglewood Continuation School. Under Tate’s direction, the school has earned state accreditation, which means its courses now are aligned with college requirements. Tate acknowledges that transcripts get lost and that there isn’t enough support staff to track them down. That’s why she doesn’t leave anything to chance: She personally reviews each of her students’ transcripts."   article link

Principle in the type:  "We make a living by what we get.  We make a life by what we give."  Winston Churchill

BABY POWER

photo YayA Lee/Dalemay_10

Christina Aguilera gave an interview to People magazine that was in last weeks issue.  article link     She has a new baby girl named Summer, sister to her 7 year old son Max.  Among other things, she relates about Summer, "She was literally like an angel . . . We had an immediate calm bond, and I felt unexplainably connected to her and her spirit."

Principle in the Type:  "Having children was my greatest achievement.  It was my saviour.  It switched my focus from the outside to the inside."  Elle Macpherson

Musical bonus.  A pretty, slightly haunting song and last month Grammy winner for Best Pop Duo/Group Performance.  A Great Big World (with Christina Aguilera):



                      

THINKING ABOUT FEELINGS ABOUT OSCAR

photo by Allan Ajifo

Sunday night's biggest award winner was "Birdman."  It took home an Oscar for best director, best original screenplay, best cinematography, and best picture.  The news suggested it was:

"head over heart at the 87th Academy Awards on a rainy Sunday night in Hollywood.  Oscar voters named the cerebral 'Birdman' over the emotional early favorite 'Boyhood' as best picture of the year."    news link


I'm thinking, hearts and minds might work best in unison?

Principle in the type:  "There are . . . times when we are somewhat successful in manipulating the human mind.  We do not, however, have the capacity to force matters of the heart."   H. Burke Peterson

  

THE GOOD, THE BAD, AND THE UGLY

photo Disney / ABC Television Group

In the beginning, what came first?  Oscars or the Best/Worst Dressed Lists?  That may be a sort of chicken or the egg question.  With our first post of the week, we start with a Best Dressed winner at the Academy Awards show per the press (and per me-own-opinion).

"We can all go home because Lupita Nyong'o (pictured above) just won the Oscar's red carpet for the second year in a row!  Lupita arrived . . . in a stunning dress that was literally dripping with pearls."   news link

Tuxedos, gowns, suits, dresses, and attendees.  Attendees, dresses, gowns, and tuxedos.  Oh my.

 Principle in the type:  "Do not dress to look like or try to be someone else. . . . Be comfortable and breathe.     (Indiana Weekly, author undetermined)

 


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ADELE DAZIM

photo by Rachel

What do you do when you fall off the bike?  Get right back on!  John Travolta has that opportunity Sunday.  It is Oscar night, and for a little pre-Academy Awards treat, at one could say Travolta's expense, we re-visit his mispronunciation of Idina Menzel's name during last years Oscars.  

"In the most ridiculous moment of Academy Awards 2014, John Travolta botched his introduction of Idina Menzel . . .  Now Travolta is making his brave return to the Dolby stage."   news link





                         

Principle in the type: "Fall down seven times, stand up eight."   Japanese proverb

AND BABY MAKES THREE

photo by Salon NYC

What's next for the Westminster Dog Show Champ, Miss P?  Mostly retirement.  It's time to go have puppies.  news link

And if by chance she decides to settle down -- why not with Swagger?  The crowd favorite (pictured above) Old English Sheepdog who gave her a run for her money.  news link   

They could name their daughter Miss Swagger (which would be a most excellent Rap name) and thereby finish their career's in a manner that certainly qualifies as (--wait for it!--) making sweet music together.   

Principle in the type:  " . . . ponder the meaning of the words, enjoy the spirit of the music. Sing with enthusiasm without regard to your tones. You will have a good feeling, and your spirit will be enlivened . . . "   Graham W. Doxey

P WINS IT

photo by Ruth Ellison

Apparently all beagles are not created equal!  Some are better than others.  One particularly better beagle, Miss P, won Best in Show Tuesday at the Westminster Dog Show.  The beagle pictured above isn't Miss P; she is Camry, and those who love her think she is just as beautiful and just as Best in the Show that is their world!  While I'm not a 'there-must-be-a-trophy-for-all-participants, kind of girl,  --aren't we all winners?  And hey, dogs are people too!  Yes.  Kinda.  Not really.  But . . . we're all important souls.   news link
 

Principle in the type:  "Each one of you is precious . . . we want you to be successful and secure."   M.  Russell Ballard

MISS. UNIVERSE TELLS ALL

photo by Hot Gossip Italia

What you really want to know is what winner Paulina Vega's Miss. Universe Q&A question was, last month?   Here it is:  "What could women learn from men?"  Her answer:  "A lot of men still believe in equality.  I think that's the thing that women we should learn from men."  news link  

A little confusing what could possibly be said or done with these 10 second questions and 30 second answers.  But responding to strange questions fired on live TV whilst standing in a girdle dress, would be no picnic!  So let's just give all the Miss. Somethings a free pass.  

Later speaking to young women, Miss. Universe Paulina Vega remarked, "It's not the most important thing to be beautiful--it's feeling beautiful."   

Knowing on the inside you are a beautiful person, truly does stand the test of time.

Principle in the type:  "One frequently only finds out how really beautiful a women is, until after considerable acquaintance with her."  Mark Twain

HONESTLY

 

photo by Cara Difabio

Today's offering is a Honesty-Valentine's Day mash-up, representing the last two posts, and performed by repeat guest Meghan Trainor.  Principle in the type comes courtesy of one one our fantastic President's Day, Presidents.






                       

Principle in the type:  "No man has a good enough memory to make a successful liar."   Abraham Lincoln

THIS ONE GOES OUT TO ALL THE LOVERS

photo by Peggy2012CREATIVELENZ

"At 100 years old, both Grayce and Clarence Dwyer have lived through a century of change. . . . Their love, too, has transcended a century.  Today, each conversation between the two ends, 'I love you,' then the other will pipe in, 'I love you more.'. . . After nearly 71 years of marriage . . . The secret to their happiness (and longevity) is simple, according to their daughter.  'Their [widowed] mothers were survivors and taught them important values such as family, a strong work ethic, and being grateful for every day and moment you have," said [their daughter]. . . . ' "  news link

Principle in the type:  "Love is friendship that has caught fire.  It is quiet understanding, mutual confidence, sharing and forgiving.  It is loyalty through good and bad times.  It settles for less than perfection and makes allowances for human weaknesses."  Ann Landers 

NIGHTLY STORY

photo by Steve Rhodes

We may not agree about everything, but can we agree news reporters should be honest?  NBC Nightly News Host Brian Williams has had a rough couple of weeks--brought on it would appear by himself--for not quite giving us the straight poop, as they say.  (Yuck, why do they say that??) 

"In a piece on Jan. 30 on Nightly News, Williams took Command Sergeant Major Tim Terpak, who just retired with three bronze stars, to a New York Rangers hockey game . . . In honoring Terpak, Williams told the story of his [Williams'] helicopter being hit by an RPG, but that wasn't accurate."   news link   Other newsworthy possible untruths have surfaced as well.  

Williams has been suspended for 6 months without pay as both NBC Nightly News managing editor, and anchor.  His immediate boss, Deborah Turness, and Steve Burke, the CEO of NBC Universal expressed their strong disapproval of his actions, say there is an internal review ongoing, and believe down the line Williams deserves a second chance.

I lie about what size jeans I fit in, and that's not good to do . . . admittedly my bottom has less relevance in world news.

Principle in the type:  "Honesty is the best policy."  Benjamin Franklin

 

GROUNDHOG MATH

photo by Anthony Quintano

It's been over a week since Groundhog Day.  You'll remember Groundhog Day was February 2nd, because that was the day you saw Bill Murray's face (in the movie Groundhog Day) on every channel you flipped to.

The Groundhog Day news is:  More cold weather ahead.   "The famed Punxsutawney Phil saw his shadow Monday morning, predicting another six weeks of winter."  article

Biting his handler, and seeing his shadow is Phil's way of saying prepare for more snow.  Yup, it's science.  And with this kind of technology, who needs apps? 
 

Principle in the type:  "With technology you are witnessing an explosion of knowledge. You are constantly bombarded by sound, video, and networking. Be selective and don’t allow this surge of information to distract you or slow your progress. . . . You determine your goals. You decide what enters your mind and heart."  Mary N. Cook

 

(For a good time watch this cute scene from Groundhog Day---)

                          

THE KATY TRIANGLE

 

photo  by CoolDad music

Katy Perry's not my favorite, but I don't need to go into the reasons here.  She is a savvy business woman, I'll give her that.  And she's in the limelight all the time.  However, love seems to evade.  She and John Mayer have an on-again off-again thing.  Like, a lot.  As of two weeks ago they were back together and it was in all the headlines.   news link    --But as of this milli-post-Grammys-second, who knows?  Is it solely part of being a celebrity?  I don't think so.  Yes, relationships are hard.  Katy's peer Sam Smith sings all about that in his 2015 Grammy winner album, In the Lonely Hour.  Really, any good relationship (or bad one, for that matter) can be tricky to sustain.  Katy's got her personal life, her career, and her love life to coordinate.  We each have our own similar life triangle to labor over.  Tread lightly little ones, and put in the work.   

  

Principle in the type:  "Be with someone who makes you happy."   Author Unknown  

  (Here's a cool, less-buzzed about Grammy winning song from
   the show last night, for your listening pleasure:  )
 

                         

UH, YOUR DAUGHTER'S HAND IN MARRIAGE, DUDE?

photo by Ben

Best-dressed-list for certain occasions never hurts, does it?




The Greeks are still up a creek finances-wise.  So what to do next but send your finance minister out and about to other European countries, asking if they'd care to forgive a ton of Greece debt, I don't know, maybe for ol'times sake?

What to wear, what to wear . . . with such an important agenda?  How about a casual opened-necked shirt and leather jacket?  He didn't look shameful but more than a few news stories and diplomats were of the opinion he could have thrown on a suit and tie.  Probably he was going to hit da'club later.   news link 

Principle in the type:  "How we dress is an important indicator of our attitude and preparation for any activity in which we will engage."    Dallin H. Oaks

GREAT EXPECTATIONS

 

photo by Jens-Olaf Walter

"Attending the conference was Ms. Mauriciere de Govia, the superintendent of Brownsville’s school district . . . I asked for her opinion on Ms. Lopez [Principle at Mott Hall Bridges Academy, Brooklyn]: "Nadia is fearless. When she says that every kid can learn, she means it. And not only does she mean it, she puts systems in place to make it happen. It all begins with high expectations. When students arrive at this school, many of them are very behind. But Nadia sets high expectations on every one. She never says: ‘This student lives in the shelter so he deserves a break.” Or ‘Because of his parents, this student can’t be expected to keep up.’ She says: ‘This is how we do things here, and there is no sidestepping.’"    hony link

Principle in the type:  "In every high-jumping competition there is a minimum height at which the competition starts. The high jumper cannot ask to start at a lower height. . . . you must be able to clear the minimum standards.  But once you reach those minimum standards, shouldn’t you try to keep raising the bar? . . . My challenge to you is to recognize that a minimum standard exists . . . but don’t stop there. The greatest generation . . . will not reach its full potential unless it keeps raising the bar."  L. Tom Perry

BLOG POSTING LIKE A GIRL

Everybody just simmer'down.  Yes this post includes mention of feminine products.  Take it like a man.




                        

Principle in the type:  "It takes years as a woman to unlearn what you have been taught to be sorry for.  It takes years to find your voice and seize your real estate."   Amy Poehler

SUPER LIFE COACH

 

photo by Joe Parks

 
Without the Green Bay Packers in the competition, does the Super Bowl really matter?  I'll let you decide on that one.



Meanwhile we have a winner, the New England Patriots.  A game's going to have a winner and a loser, but it hurts to lose from what is being titled a bad plan.  That's the general consensus at the moment:  that the Seattle Seahawks almost won except for a horrible idea of a play in the last seconds of a close game.

"This was not just an accident or a failure of motor skills . . . This was a carefully thought-out plan which prompted Wilson to throw the ball into the end zone, [with] Marshawn Lynch, the resident rhino of the NFL, standing there on second down.
As the world saw, blinked, rubbed its eyes and saw again, Wilson tried to throw to Ricardo Lockette in the end zone, just a few feet away.
Lockette was running a pick route just over the end line, in the midst of the vortex, and Malcolm Butler . . . cut in front of Lockette.
The crowd at University of Phoenix Stadium gasped, both at the audacity of the call and the mystery of the scene, and finally the outnumbered Patriots fans howled when they saw Butler come out with the ball."    article link

I don't know if you speak Football or not, but translated this means "you made a dumb move, Seahawks, and it cost you the game."  

Certainly has its challenges, being a head coach and making the play calls!  Reminds me - we are the head coaches of our own life.

Principle in the type:  "Decisions are not easy.  We make at least a million decisions during our lifetime. . . . we are bombarded by messages [every] day.  We can't use all of them.  We have to select the ones we make a permanent part of the 'film' of our lives."   Kieth Merrill