In my many years I have come to a conclusion that one useless man is a shame, two is a law firm and three or more is a  congress.

–  John Adams

If you don’t read the newspaper you are uninformed, if you do read the newspaper you are misinformed.

–  Mark Twain

Suppose you were an idiot. And suppose you were a member of Congress. But  then I repeat myself.

–  Mark Twain

I contend that for a nation to try to tax itself into prosperity is like a  man standing in a bucket and trying to lift himself up by the handle.

–  Winston Churchill

A government which robs Peter to pay Paul can always depend on the support of Paul.

–  George Bernard Shaw

A liberal is someone who feels a great debt to his fellow  man,  which debt he proposes to pay off with your money.

–  G. Gordon Liddy

Democracy must be something more than two wolves and a sheep voting on what to have for dinner.

–  James Bovard, Civil Libertarian  (1994)

Foreign  aid might be defined as a transfer of money from poor people in rich countries to rich people in poor countries.

–  Douglas Casey, Classmate of Bill Clinton at Georgetown University

Giving money and power to government is like giving whiskey and car keys  to teenage boys.

–  P.J. O’Rourke, Civil Libertarian

Government is the great fiction, through which everybody  endeavors to live at the expense of everybody  else.

–  Frederic Bastiat, French  economist(1801-1850)

Government’s view of the economy could be summed up in a few short phrases: If it moves, tax it. If it keeps moving, regulate it. And if it stops moving, subsidize it.

–  Ronald Reagan (1986)

I don’t make jokes. I just watch the government and report the  facts.

–  Will Rogers

If you think health care is expensive now,  wait  until you see what it costs when it’s free!

–  P.J. O’Rourke

In general, the art of government consists of taking as much money as possible from one party of the citizens to give to the other.

–  Voltaire (1764)

Just because you do not take an interest in politics doesn’t mean politics won’t take an interest in you!

–  Pericles (430 B.C.)

No man’s life, liberty, or property is safe while the legislature is in  session!!!

–  Mark Twain (1866)

Talk is cheap… except when Congress does it.

–  Anonymous

The government is like a baby’s alimentary canal, with a happy appetite at one end and no responsibility at the other.

–  Ronald Reagan

The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings.  The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.

–  Winston Churchill

The only difference between a tax man and a taxidermist is that the taxidermist leaves the skin.

–  Mark Twain

The ultimate result of shielding men from the effects of folly is to fill the world with fools.

–  Herbert Spencer, English Philosopher  (1820-1903)

There is no distinctly native American criminal class … save Congress.

–  Mark Twain

What this country needs are more unemployed politicians.

–  Edward Langley, Artist (1928-1995)

A government big enough to give you everything you want, is strong enough to take everything you have.

–  Thomas Jefferson

We hang the petty thieves and appoint the great ones to public office.

–  Aesop

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Be yourself the change that you look for in the world around you, and do not vacillate or wait for someone else to take up the challenge.

-Mahatma Gandhi

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This is a fun 5 minutes.  Very creative project and very well executed.  The looks on the people’s faces are the payoff.  Smiles all round.  Enjoy!

On May 2, 2011, the Copenhagen Philharmonic amazed commuters at the Copenhagen Central Train Station, as they created a kind of orchestral “flash mob”  performing Ravel’s famed Bolero, with the musicians gradually assembling in place as the work progresses. The video  which shows not only the assembling orchestra, but also the delighted faces of the commuters has generated overwhelming interest, and indeed has exceeded the orchestra’s expectations. I hope you enjoy it.

Technorati Tags: Bolero, copenhagen, Ravel, train station

image credit Kym Vohsen

1- Prayer is not a “spare wheel” that you pull out when in trouble; it is a “steering wheel” that directs us in the right path throughout life.

2- Do you know why a car’s WINDSHIELD is so large & the rear view mirror is so small? Because our PAST is not as important as our FUTURE. So, look ahead and move on.

3- Friendship is like a BOOK. It takes few seconds to burn, but it takes years to write.

4- All things in life are temporary. If going well enjoy it, they will not last forever. If going wrong don’t worry, they can’t last long either.

5- Old friends are like Gold! New friends are Diamonds! If you get a Diamond, don’t forget the Gold! Because to hold a Diamond, you always need a base of Gold!

6- Often when we lose hope and think this is the end, GOD smiles from above and says, “Relax, sweetheart, it’s just a bend, not the end!”

7- When GOD solves your problems, you have faith in HIS abilities; when GOD doesn’t solve your problems HE has faith in your abilities.

8- A blind person asked St. Anthony: “Can there be anything worse than losing eye sight?” He replied: “Yes, losing your vision.”

9- When you pray for others, God listens to you and blesses them; and sometimes, when you are safe and happy, remember that someone has prayed for you.

10- WORRYING does not take away tomorrow’s TROUBLES; it takes away today’s PEACE.

Technorati Tags: faith, keys to success, prayer, ten commandments, wisdom

Maya Angelou said this:
‘I’ve learned that no matter what happens, or how bad it seems today, life does go on, and it will be better tomorrow.’

‘I’ve learned that you can tell a lot about a person by the way he/she handles these three things: a rainy day, lost luggage, and tangled Christmas tree lights.’

‘I’ve learned that regardless of your relationship with your parents, you’ll miss them when they’re gone from your life.’

‘I’ve learned that making a ‘living’ is not the same thing as ‘making a life.’

‘I’ve learned that life sometimes gives you a second chance.’

‘I’ve learned that you shouldn’t go through life with a catcher’s mitt on both hands; you need to be able to throw some things back…’

‘I’ve learned that whenever I decide something with an open heart, I usually make the right decision.’

‘I’ve learned that even when I have pains, I don’t have to be one.’

‘I’ve learned that every day you should reach out and touch someone. People love a warm hug, or just a friendly pat on the back…’

‘I’ve learned that I still have a lot to learn…’

‘I’ve learned that people will forget what you said, people will forget what you did, but people will never forget how you made them feel.’

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To everything there is a season,
a time for every purpose under the sun.
A time to be born and a time to die;
a time to plant and a time to pluck up that which is planted;
a time to kill and a time to heal …
a time to weep and a time to laugh;
a time to mourn and a time to dance …
a time to embrace and a time to refrain from embracing;
a time to lose and a time to seek;
a time to rend and a time to sew;
a time to keep silent and a time to speak;
a time to love and a time to hate;
a time for war and a time for peace.

ecclesiastes 3:1-8

Technorati Tags: ecclesiastes, there is a season

Health:

1.       Drink plenty of water.
2.       Eat breakfast like a king, lunch like a prince and dinner like a beggar.
3.       Eat more foods which grow on trees and plants and eat less food that is manufactured in plants.
4.       Live with the 3 E’s — Energy, Enthusiasm and Empathy
5.       Make time to pray
6.       Play more games
7.       Read more books than you did in 2010
8.       Sit in silence for at least 10 minutes each day
9.       Sleep for 7 hours.
10.    Take a 10-30 minute walk daily. And while you walk, smile.

Personality:

11.    Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.
12.    Don’t have negative thoughts on things you cannot control. Instead invest your energy in the positive present moment.
13.    Don’t over do. Keep your limits.
14.    Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.
15.    Don’t waste your precious energy on gossip.
16.    Dream more while you are awake.
17.    Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.
18.    Forget issues of the past. Don’t remind your partner of his/her mistakes of the past. That will ruin your present happiness.
19.    Life is too short to waste time hating anyone. Don’t hate others.
20.    Make peace with your past so it won’t spoil the present.
21.    No one is in charge of your happiness except you.
22.    Realize that life is a school and you are here to learn.  Problems are simply part of the curriculum that appear and fade away like algebra class but the lessons you learn will last a lifetime.
23.    Smile and laugh more.
24.    You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree…

Society:
25.    Call your family often.
26.    Each day give something good to others.
27.    Forgive everyone for everything.
28.    Spend time w/ people over the age of 70 & under the age of  6.
29.    Try to make at least three people smile each day.
30.    What other people think of you is none of your business.
31.    Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends will. Stay in touch.

Life:
32.    Do the right thing!
33.    Get rid of anything which isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.
34.    GOD heals everything.
35.    However good or bad a situation is, it will change.
36.    No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.
37.    The best is yet to come.
38.    When you awake alive in the morning, thank GOD for it.
39.    Your Inner most is always happy. So, be happy.

Technorati Tags: handbook, health, life, self, society

Guest post by W. Lance Ferguson

This is basic, backyard astrology. Watching the planets travel through the signs and watching the seasons change. Watching the Moon turn full—and then watching what happens in nature and to mankind here on Earth at those times.

For thousands of years astrologers have closely watched the starry firmament and followed the cycles of the Sun, Moon and planets as they danced across the heavens. They noticed how the comings and goings of people and events here on Earth were described by the cycles of the planets and their connections with each other.

So, you won’t be reading about your personal astrology in these pages. To be honest, those newspaper reports will never have the accuracy of a real astrological reading. They speak only to your Sun sign, ignoring the other 90% of your birth chart.

Skywatch is a report on the astrology of the day—the energy that is on the street for everybody—all over the Earth. The pattern changes quickly. Some days are better than others. Following the Skywatch will alert you to these shifts in energy and mood in your personal and business concerns. And help you have good timing in life.

Read ahead. Use the good days, the kiss days as I call them, to schedule priority appointments, meetings and travel. Here are the best days to handle difficult people and situations, or to present your case to the boss. These are also excellent days to adventure, gamble and put your work/ideas out on the table.

Scale back your plans on the stressful times/days and stick to routine, if you can. Complications are more likely on these days, moods will be uneven, out of sorts, and things may not go as planned or expected. Quack. People are more likely to be distracted, unfocused and not at their best in these moments. You, too. These are the days to simplify your routine and to avoid complications or challenges, if possible. Kids and critters are also more likely to need extra attention on these days, especially when Mars is active.

Days not listed on either kiss or quack lists typically have both kinds of energy in the heavens on that day. And usually they are not difficult, but there may be something a little off key on these days. You can read the daily reports and get the details at www.skywatchastrology.com.

Make the most of this information by opening your day timer or calendar for 2011 and marking each month with K’s and Q’s so you’ll know when the kiss and quack days are for the rest of the year. As you make appointments and plans for the future in the days ahead, you’ll have targets, a list of the best and worst days to schedule important events for work and play in your life.

In all, your attitude and effort is what counts and what determines whether you find success and love out in the world on the kiss days. Skywatch points out the highs and lows—the energy that is available to us all—the day’s biorhythm. What happens on those kiss days depends on how you play your cards and how prepared and ready you are to succeed. If timing is important to your efforts, you will find this Datebook to be a valuable resource that will help you be in the right place as the right time.

Technorati Tags: 2011 datebook, astrology, lance ferguson, skywatch

Written by Regina Brett, 90 years old, of the Plain Dealer, Cleveland ,
Ohio .

“To celebrate growing older, I once wrote the 45 lessons life taught me.
It is the most requested column I’ve ever written.

My odometer rolled over to 90 in August, so here is the column once
more:

1. Life isn’t fair, but it’s still good.

2. When in doubt, just take the next small step.

3. Life is too short to waste time hating anyone.

4. Your job won’t take care of you when you are sick. Your friends and parents will. Stay in touch.

5. Pay off your credit cards every month.

6. You don’t have to win every argument. Agree to disagree.

7. Cry with someone. It’s more healing than crying alone.

8. It’s OK to get angry with God. He can take it.

9. Save for retirement starting with your first paycheck.

10. When it comes to chocolate, resistance is futile.

11. Make peace with your past so it won’t screw up the present.

12. It’s OK to let your children see you cry.

13. Don’t compare your life to others. You have no idea what their journey is all about.

14. If a relationship has to be a secret, you shouldn’t be in it.

15. Everything can change in the blink of an eye. But don’t worry; God never blinks.

16.. Take a deep breath. It calms the mind.

17. Get rid of anything that isn’t useful, beautiful or joyful.

18. Whatever doesn’t kill you really does make you stronger.

19. It’s never too late to have a happy childhood. But the second one is up to you and no one else.

20. When it comes to going after what you love in life, don’t take no for an answer.

21. Burn the candles, use the nice sheets, wear the fancy lingerie. Don’t save it for a special occasion. Today is special.

22. Over prepare, then go with the flow.

23. Be eccentric now. Don’t wait for old age to wear purple.

24. The most important sex organ is the brain.

25. No one is in charge of your happiness but you.

26. Frame every so-called disaster with these words ‘In five years, will this matter?’

27. Always choose life.

28. Forgive everyone everything.

29. What other people think of you is none of your business.

30. Time heals almost everything. Give time time.

31. However good or bad a situation is, it will change.

32. Don’t take yourself so seriously. No one else does.

33. Believe in miracles.

34. God loves you because of who God is, not because of anything you did or didn’t do.

35. Don’t audit life. Show up and make the most of it now.

36. Growing old beats the alternative — dying young.

37. Your children get only one childhood.

38. All that truly matters in the end is that you loved.

39. Get outside every day. Miracles are waiting everywhere.

40. If we all threw our problems in a pile and saw everyone else’s, we’d grab ours back.

41. Envy is a waste of time. You already have all you need.

42. The best is yet to come…

43. No matter how you feel, get up, dress up and show up.

44. Yield.

45. Life isn’t tied with a bow, but it’s still a gift.”

Technorati Tags: life lessons, plain dealer columnist, regina brett

by Jack Canfield

This isn’t a trick question.

Certainly you know the answer—the person who has been responsible for the life you live right now: YOU.

Everything about you is a result of your doing or not doing… Your income. Debt. Relationships. Health. Fitness level. Attitudes and behaviors.

I’ve often said that you are either creating or allowing everything that is happening in your life.

I think everyone knows this in their hearts, but often times people convince themselves into thinking that external factors are the source of their failure, disappointment, and unhappiness.

External factors do not determine how you live. YOU are in complete control of the quality of your life, by either creating or allowing the circumstances you experience.

When I hear people complain about the state of their life (be it their problems with personal finances, weight, their jobs, or general dissatisfaction), I like to help them see things differently.

If they feel “stuck” and unable to move forward for whatever reason, I ask them to scrutinize both what is working well and what isn’t working well in their life and see how they’ve arrived at where they currently are.

For example, if a woman tells me she’s unhappy with her weight—she travels frequently, and has no to time to exercise or seek healthy foods—I point out that her weight is not a result of her travels and schedule. It’s an outcome of what she chooses to eat and how she chooses to move, regardless of her daily agenda. Why not make a conscious effort to pre-plan healthy meals and snacks, even if it’s on the go, and sneak in 10 minutes here and 10 minutes there to be physically active (hey, I know some frequent flyers that make it a habit of running through airports!).

If you’re frustrated with any area in your life, then it’s time to take a little inventory.

Certainly there are wonderful things happening, whether it’s your job, your romantic relationship, your children, your friends, or your income level. Your accomplishments are just as important as your missteps.

First, congratulate yourself on your successes; and then take a look at what isn’t working out so well. What are you doing or not doing to create those experiences?

Watch out! If you find yourself beginning to complain about everything but the choices you’ve made, then you need to take a step back. See if you can stop blaming outside factors for your unhappiness.

When you realize that you—and only you—create your experiences, you’ll realize that you canun-create them and forge new experiences whenever you want.

How empowering is that!

You must take responsibility for your happiness and your unhappiness, your successes and your failures, your good times and your bad times.

All too often we choose to claim the successes and blame the failures on others or other circumstances. When you stop blaming, however, you can take that energy and redirect it to focus on shaping a better situation for yourself. Blaming only ties up your energy. Imagine roping all the energy into a positive effort.

Some ideas to make this happen:

1. Believe, Believe, Believe! Have unwavering faith in yourself, for good and bad. Make the decision to accept the fact that you create all your experiences. You will experience successes thanks to you, and you will experience pain, struggle, and strife thanks to you. Sounds a little strange, but accepting this level of responsibility is uniquely empowering. It means you can do, change, and be anything. Stumbling blocks become just that—little hills to hop over. 

2. Take no less than 100% responsibility . Successful people take full responsibility for the thoughts they think, the images they visualize, and the actions they take. They don’t waste their time and energy blaming and complaining. They evaluate their experiences and decide if they need to change them or not. They face the uncomfortable and take risks in order to create the life they want to live.

3. Stop complaining . Look at what you are complaining about. I’m fat. I’m tired. I can’t get out of debt. I won’t ever get a better job. I can’t stand the relationship I have with my sister.I’ll never find a soulmate in life. Really examine your complaints. More than likely you can do something about them. They are not about other people, other things, or other events. They are about YOU.

4. Make an immediate change. Are you unhappy about something that is happening right now? Make requests that will make it more desirable to you, or take the steps to change it yourself. Making a change might be uncomfortable for you. It might mean you have to put in more time, money, and effort. It might mean that someone gets upset about it, or makes you feel bad about your decision. It might be difficult to change or leave a situation, but staying put is your choice so why continue to complain?

You can either do something about it or not. It is your choice and you have responsibility for your choices.

5. Pay attention. Looking to others for help and guidance is helpful, but don’t forget to stay tuned in to yourself—your behavior, attitude, and life experiences. Identify what’s working and what isn’t. If you need to, write it all down. Then…

6. Face the truth and take action for the long term . You have to be willing to change your behavior if you want a different outcome. You have to be willing to take the risks necessary to get what you want. If you’ve already taken an initial step in the right direction, now’s the time to plan additional steps to keep moving you forward, faster.

Isn’t it a great relief to know that you can make your life what you want it to be? Isn’t it wonderful that your successes do not depend on someone else?

If you need just one thing to do different today, than you did yesterday, make it this:

Commit to taking 100% responsibility for every aspect of your life. Decide to make changes, one step at a time. Once you start the process you’ll discover it’s much easier to get what you want by taking control of your thoughts, your visualizations, and your actions!

© 2010 Jack Canfield

* * *

Are you “stuck” in this area?
If you’d like me to personally help you clarify your vision for the year, align your goals with your purpose, and develop a detailed action plan to turn your dream into reality…

www.TheSuccessPrinciplesWorkshop.com

* * *

Jack Canfield, America’s #1 Success Coach, is founder of the billion-dollar book brand Chicken Soup for the Soul© and a leading authority on Peak Performance and Life Success. If you’re ready to jump-start your life, make more money, and have more fun and joy in all that you do, get your FREE success tips from Jack Canfield now at: www.FreeSuccessStrategies.com

Technorati Tags: believe, changes, happiness, jack canfield, stop complaining, Success Strategies, take action, take responsibility