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Is America Really the Greatest Country in The World?

Delta Scared Me - Clockwork Orange Style


I flew Delta this past week and now I'm afraid of Lincoln , esurance and Fairfield. Here's how it happened.

Delta Airlines Flight Safety Video

During the take-off taxi, we were shown 3 advertisements prior to the safety video - Lincoln, esurance and Fairfield Inn. I get that. Airlines aren't able to make enough money on the ticket prices, so a little advertising revenue here and there is necessary. Then, right after take-off, but before the "you may now use your portable electronic devices" announcement, the video screens fired up again and showed us the same three ads. I tried to turn off the screen glaring at me from the headrest of the seat in front of me, but NOOOOOOOOOOOOO, I was a captive audience. Then it occurred to me - I was living a "Clockwork Orange" moment (if you are too young to know the movie reference, leave this post now and go watch the film. It's historically significant... well to my history, anyway.)

1971 A Clockwork Orange

Here's the rub, take-off is one of the most tense moments in the flying experience. Anyone who has given any thought to the process knows that if something goes wrong during those first few minutes of take-off - it is bad (we're talking THE END bad). So, if you want to program me to associate stress with your product or brand, show it to me when I'm at one of the most stressful moments of my travels. I had this same experience on my return flight as, well. Same timing. Same brands.

Thanks Delta. Thanks Lincoln, esurance and Fairfield. I now can't drive a Lincoln, insured by esurance to my meeting at the Fairfield without a nagging feeling that I might crash and die.

*Note - the limo that took me from the airport to the resort and back was - you guessed it - a Lincoln. I'm scarred for life.

Moneyball - The Right Question

I watched the movie Moneyball this past weekend. It is worth your time. Based on the true story of Oakland Athletics manager, Billy Beane's attempt to create a World Series team on one of the smallest budgets in baseball, Moneyball tells a reveals the boldness of human creativity and the determination it takes to actualize change in an established system.

You can view the trailer below.

My biggest take-a-way from the film comes from the challenge to change the way we are thinking and ask different questions. When we are faced with something that isn't working, and trying different approaches doesn't seem to work - why not go all the way back to the question of what we are trying to accomplish and ask it and a different way?





Have you seen the film? Did it make you think differently? Where am I asking the wrong question?

Meet Marcel the Shell with Shoes On

If you have been living under an internet rock, you might have not heard of Marcel the Shell with Shoes on. If not or if you have memorized every line - enjoy this delightful little video. Curious as to how this came to be? Then follow the link below the video to learn more about the SNL connection...





Rock Center with Brian Williams meets Marcel the Shell! 

Chuck Berry - My ding a ling

Somethings never get old...


Why Our Education No Longer Works...and the ADD non-epidemic

Great video. Content and presentation are worth viewing...many times.

Knowing You're Wrong May Be Very Right

Most of us will do anything to avoid being wrong. But what if we're wrong about that? "Wrongologist" Kathryn Schulz makes a compelling case for not just admitting but embracing our fallibility.


Admissions... Confessions...

Ok. I am totally smitten by this song, and the video isn't half bad either. So, all together now "If I was from Paris..."


You Will Laugh

One of my all time favorite videos. Silly doggie!


Solitude verses Loneliness

What is the real difference between solitude and loneliness if not a spiritual matter?

Cutting to the chase, I sometimes find myself alone and enjoying the simple peace and independence that such time allows: reading, writing, listening to music, or riding the currents of thoughts and dreams. This is a type of alone time I truly cherish - I think of this when I use the word solitude.

Then there are times when I'm uncomfortably alone. Times when my thoughts and emotions run chaotic and intense, times when tumultuous tides seem to push me about from one feeling to another - and my natural reaction is to try to change the way I feel from the outside. These are dangerous times. Strangely enough, I am as likely to have these moments of loneliness when I am in a crowd of people as when I am alone. Loneliness seems to come from internal unmet needs, a sense - real or perceived - of lack, of want.

There are also moments when, as I live my life and learn the patterns of relationships and inward realities - that my loneliness will turn to solitude.

Recently, I came across this song by Suzanne Vega that captures part of this experience beautifully. I do like her poetic lyrics.