Discover Your Bliss

Tag - You're It!

You may or may not have heard of "tagging."  It's the graffiti words that gang members use to "tag" their turf. 

Sometimes the tagging can be as simple as a few letter-like symbols or as elaborate as a three-story high mural. 

My neighbor's window faces the alley and he often sees the tagging in action.  When I asked him what the people look like that do it, he responded, "They're 12, 13, 14-year-old kids."  I had no idea that the majority of tagging came from such young people - and he also told me that they usually tag around 4pm in complete daylight. 

In contrast to the "norm," 7 alleged taggers were arrested in East L.A. - none of them fitting the tagging profile. 

To read the L.A. Times article, click here. 

According to the article, "Authorities say the Metro Transit Assassins created the city's largest tag -- a three-story-high, half-mile-long scrawl of its moniker along the concrete banks of the Los Angeles River."

Could children create such a tag?  Not in this case, "Los Angeles County sheriff's officials said one of the suspects drives a $60,000 BMW while another wore a diamond-and-ruby-encrusted Metro logo pendant valued at $27,000."

The taggers range in age from 32 to 22 and are known to travel to San Francisco and Las Vegas to spread their tagging.

Here's the kicker - if they purchased the paint for this large tag (which might not be the case) their largest tag might have been costly.  "Authorities estimate that it took about 400 gallons of paint -- 300 gallons of white and 100 gallons of black -- to create three block letters that cover a three-story-high wall and run the length of several blocks between the 4th Street and 1st Street bridges."

So what's so crazy about this large tag...the price tag of cleaning it up - 3.7 million dollars - since there is hazard waste disposal to consider and none of the paint can reach the water supply. 

Hopefully, these taggers can use their artistic talents and need to paint for the better good. 

This is a bittersweet topic - I love the organization and talent it took for the taggers to create such a large "tag," yet it wasn't something that was okay to do and their intention is misguided.  Hopefully, they can channel that talent and skill into more productive "works of art" in the future.

How does your talent get misguided?  What would it look like for you to take your talents and focus them into self-support?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.

Fantastic Cell Phone Clutter

After having a month of electronic craziness and a huge hole in bathroom ceiling, things are starting to wind down a bit. 

For some reason, I never got rid of Jon's old cell phone (two phones back from the one he currently has) and it's been sitting on top of the dresser in my closet covered by the bottoms of my hanging shirts and jackets (why his old cell phone is in my closet, I'll never know).

Now I'm pretty good when it comes to getting rid of stuff and following through with things, yet for some reason, I couldn't get rid of that cell phone to save my life.

About a week ago, I charged my phone.  Within an hour, it was dead.  I charged it again and the phone quickly became DOA. 

I didn't want to get a new phone (I have a new phone goal that I haven't met yet) and I was bummed about buying a new battery for an old phone. 

Then I remembered the phone in the closet.  It was the same kind of phone and a perfect battery match.  I switched the batteries and charged the phone.  Now it works like a charm.

What bliss!

Where's an unlikely place to look for the solution to your challenge?  How does staying open to possibilities support you? 

I'd love to hear your thoughts and discoveries.

Art to Feed the Hungry

How can art feed the hungry?  Welcome to 'Canstruction,' the 13th annual NYC Design and Build competition in New York.

Architects and engineers compete to see whose team can build the most spectacular structure using little more than cans of food.

All these cans will go to the food bank afterwords.

How creative and a double bonus that these works of art will help another person.  What bliss! 

Enjoy!

 
I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries!

Need Help Working Out?

I often check out exercise DVDs from the library to add some variety to my exercise routine. 

Often times, I find I like a particular exercise DVD and want to find more similar to it, yet I don't know where to look.

Check out collagevideo.com - it's an exercise video mecca. 

This site is so cool - you can sort exercise videos by goals, workout types, instructors, brands, equipment used and specialty videos. 

Within each of the above categories is another menu of choices. 

I searched under "equipment used" and selected "stability ball."  I found one DVD prior to discovering this site and wanted to find more that use the stability ball.  My seach found 74 different workout titles.  

Within that search you can narrow your findings even further with more sub-categories.  I chose "length" and it gave me even more options:  Under 20 minutes, 20-30 minutes, 31-40 minutes, 41-60 minutes and over 60 minutes.  It also tells you how many DVDs are in each category.  The "over 60 minute" category has the most at 35.  There's also an option that allows you to check or uncheck a box beside each category of time so you can search however many "length" categories of your choosing.

What I love about this site is the detailed information about each DVD.  There's a symbol to denote the workout type as well as a breakdown of what's on the DVD.  Customer reviews, a star rating system as well as a "staff favorite" note. 

The video clip preview is unique - it breaks down the whole DVD in a "collage" method that shows the variety of each workout instead of highlighting a single section of the video.  This video preview clip gives a better understanding of the DVD as a whole. 

Want to save some cash?  Search your local library for the workout DVDs you want (most libraries have online catalog searches) or Netflix your workout video as part of your monthly subscription.  This way, you can keep the DVD as long as you'd like.  

How do you infuse variety into your exercise routine?  What would it look like to make a single change?  

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries. 

Tuesday Quote to Ponder

Success is a lousy teacher.  It seduces people into thinking they can't lose."  Bill Gates

Ready to Spread the Gratitude?

Want to "bee" happy?  Want you gratitude to grow? 

Check out ButterBeeHappy.com and you'll find a community of people raising their energy through gratitude. 

You can peruse other people's gratitudesfor upliftment and there's a feature called the "honeycomb" that scans for happy thoughts similar to your postings.  

The Happiness Hotline lets you call-in and record an upbeat message for an online podcast and a blog with the latest happiness research. 

Just think how you can multiply your gratitude and happiness in a community of like-minded individuals.  Instead of the flu bug, you can spread the happiness virus. 

How does a community of like-mind individuals support you?  How does publicly posting your gratitudes each day shift your energy from privately recording them?

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries. 

Ready to Learn...For Free?

Curious about taking a course from MIT or the University of California, Berkeley?  Think your geographic location and finances prevent this?  Think again. 

Many universities offer free online courses in a wide variety of subjects.  The course don't count toward a degree and you may need an iPod, Media Player software or assigned texts to participate fully.  

Interested?  Check out the following web sites for class listings:

• http://ocw.mit.edu/OcwWeb/web/home/home/index.htm
• http://webcast.berkeley.edu/courses.php
• http://berkeley.edu/multimedia/index.php

You might even consider surfing the web to see what other free resources there are to be found.  Happy learning! 

what course would you choose to take?  What are you interests?  How can you build upon what makes you curious? 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.

Oscar Nominations '09: Thoughts & Predictions pt. 1

For some reason I always wake up early (naturally) on the morning theyannounce the nominations for the Academy Awards and watch the announcements live. 

This year was no different and I am pleased to bring you my thoughts and predictions for the 2009 ceremony.

BEST ACTOR Sean Penn ("Milk"), Frank Langella ("Frost/Nixon"), Mickey Rourke ("The Wrestler"), Richard Jenkins ("The Visitor") and Brad Pitt ("The Curious Case of Benjamin Button").

I am so excited that Richard Jenkins got nominated for "The Visitor."  If you get a chance to see the film - please, please do - what an interesting story.  

Of course I always love Sean Penn and Frank Langella delivered a fantastic Nixon (yet I don't think this is a lead role - more co-supporting), yet Mickey Rourke is who blew me out of the water this year with his performance.

HOPE:  Mickey Rourke   PREDICTION:  Mickey Rourke

BEST ACTRESS  Kate Winslet ("The Reader"), Anne Hathaway ("Rachel Getting Married"), Meryl Streep ("Doubt"), Angelina Jolie ("Changeling") and Melissa Leo ("Frozen River").

Three cheers for Melissa Leo's nomination for "Frozen River."  What a heart-wrenching performance in an original film. 

I also loved Anne Hathaway in "Rachel Getting Married." 

Top of my list this year:  Kate Winslet for "The Reader."  I was a bit surprised that she didn't get nominated for "Revolutionary Road" as well.

HOPE:  Kate Winslet  PREDICTION:  Kate Winslet

BEST SUPPORTING ACTOR  Heath Ledger ("The Dark Knight"), Josh Brolin ("Milk"), Michael Shannon ("Revolutionary Road"), Robert Downey Jr. ("Tropic Thunder") and Philip Seymour Hoffman ("Doubt").

I am so happy for Robert Downey Jr.'s nomination for "Tropic Thunder."  If you haven't seen the film yet, then you might not understand what's so great about this performance.  It's the ultimate comedy formula.  Robert Downey Jr. (an American actor) plays an Australian actor (Caucasian) who transforms himself into an African-American.  I kept forgetting it was Robert Downey Jr. in the film - which is always a good indication of the actor's absorption of the character. 

Michael Shannon's nomination for "Revolutionary Road" surprised me yet his performance is worthy and a wonderful addition to the film. 

Anyone that saw "The Dark Knight" knows that Heath Ledger's performance is Oscar-worthy and I don't believe he's getting the sympathy vote because of his untimely passing, yet I do wonder how much his death will play into voting.  He not only plays the Joker, he becomes the Joker.  The scenes with him in the nurse's uniform are priceless.

HOPE:  Robert Downy Jr.  PREDICTION:  Heath Ledger

That's all for now, I'll be back with more predictions in future posts. 

How does putting yourself in another person's shoes support you to see their innocence?  What would it look like to see those that you do not like as innocent? 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.  

Ready for an Enviromental Workout?

No, trees will not run a mile nor will the rocks lift weights.  I'm talking about what you wear when you workout. 

Completely by accident (well, most "accidents" are supposed to happen), I purchased a few items by Green Apple Active while shopping at T.J. Maxx one day. 

I didn't realize what amazing garments I'd purchased until I started reading the labels.  The clothing (for the most part) is made up of organically grown cotton and bamboo.  

You might ask - bamboo?  The stuff pandas eat?  Yes, the stuff pandas eat (yet not the same variety).  

What's so great about bamboo?  It's one of the world's fastest growing plants - which means it can replace itself quickly - so no worries about using up the worlds' bamboo supply.  

What I love about the Green Apple Active's garments (besides the fact that they're so environmentally fantastic) is their softness.  Wash after wash, the garments continue to breathe and wrap my skin a silky happiness.  

Like I mentioned before, I purchased my garments at T.J. Maxx, so they were much cheaper than paying full-price retail - yet judging from the web site's prices, they're not too hard on the pocketbook (given the fact that they're long-lasting and healthier).  

Either way, I wanted to share my eco-green find.  I love this line of clothing.  Many times I find that eco-friendly items are also wallet-draining.  Not Green Apple Active's garments - their full price retail is reasonable when you compare prices to fancier "environmental" clothing lines where tank tops can start at $100.  

Another blissful bonus - the company started in 2006, which gives anyone hope of having a successful idea come to life in a matter of years.  

What's important to you when making a purchase?  How does the environment factor into your purchase?  How does that feel?  

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.   

Low on Cash? Barter

What better time than now to barter?  If you're low on cash or have a service you'd like to provide as payment (legal services only please), then you might check out the following hubs of activity:

• SwapThing.com- I love their tag line - "My thing for your thing."  This is a great place to "shop" for what you want, then find someone that wants your "thing" in exchange.  Plus it's good on the environment - no wasteful packaging of a "new" thing and you're getting rid of something as something new enters your space.  Very Zen.
• TradeaFavor.com- "Trade anything with anyone and everyone.  Life is more than cash."  Okay, so this site has me intrigued.  You can not only trade stuff, you can also trade expertise and skills.  What's cool about this site is it links to your Facebook page which expands who you want to offer your "trades."  Watch this video to learn more:

• JoeBarter.com - It looks like this site is a combination of the previous sites with an additional emphasis on jobs. 

How can bartering empower you?  What would you like to barter and what would you like to receive in the barter? 

I'd love to hear your comments and discoveries.