BG Allen - Leadership Coach

Serving Leaders and Improving the Workplace | https://bgallen.com/

[bgallen]

"August is like the Sunday of Summer"

Welcome to Friday!

We have had a decently warm week, yesterday’s high was to be 100 degrees. So, today’s 88 degrees feels chilly. Which is in stark contrast to when I lived in Michigan and after a bleak Winter 30 degrees was warm enough for me to wear short sleeves. All about perspective I suppose. We have been hit incredibly hard this week with Army Worms this week. Until early this week we had a nice green lawn and after two-three days our yard has been decimated. The rain from the two weeks before that I was so thankful for brought them out and set them on the rampage. We had them sprayed the other day and they seem to be significantly reduced in number, here’s hoping it doesn’t take us another year to salvage the yard.

As always, I have a list of music for you to enjoy this weekend. And some other bits of product, history, growth, and nature articles to enjoy.

OneRepublic - I Don’t Wanna Wait (Official Acoustic Performance), I’ve enjoyed OneRepublic since I first heard them in 2007. This acoustic version is the epitome of their style, fun music with a good beat.

Skid Row – I Remember You (Official Music Video), I love Skid Row and Sebastian’s voice is beautiful as is his hair.

Dolly Parton, Kenny Rogers – Islands In the Stream (Official Audio), I remember the very first time I heard this song and I thought it was awful. But, the last year it has grown on me and I am really enjoying. Hard to go wrong with Dolly and Kenny. Always worth re-trying music.

Papa Roach & Carrie Underwood - Leave a Light On (Talk Away The Dark), I love Papa Roach and this song is incredible/ A hauntingly powerful sound with an even more powerful message. This version was released this year and has Carrie Underwood on the recording. It is stunning.

nodpod, “award-winning weighted sleep solution for stress, anxiety and better sleep.” There is a weighted sleep mask that a friend of mine has and loves that I want to try!

Want to love a long life? Start prioritizing your friends, “Overall, social connection – or its absence – played a larger role in people's health than alcohol consumption, exercise, body mass index and air pollution. Only the effects of smoking came close.”

Tutankhamun: The first ever view inside the tomb, Tutankhamun’s tomb contained more that 5,000 objects inside when it was first opened. Two Egyptologists discuss the photographs taken by Harry Burton in 1922.

Daughters | Official Trailer | Netflix, this film follows four young girls who are preparing for a Daddy Daughter Dance with their incarcerated fathers. This looks incredible, I can’t even imagine the impact on these girls.

A Breathtaking Swarm of 100 Million Butterflies | Earth’s Great Seasons | BBC Earth, how absolutely exquisite.

Why ‘doing nothing, intentionally’ is good for us: The rise of the slow living moment, personally this resounds with me much more than “hustle culture.” Yet, I don’t think she delves into the privilege that lies behind the slow living movement very well, barely three paragraphs. Nonetheless, I do think it’s worth having options that are not “hustle only.”

I hope that you can find at least one thing to enjoy from the list. And have a wonderful, peaceful, productive, whatever-you-need weekend!

[bgallen]

The Friday list is FINALLY back!

It has been quite a bit of time since my last Friday list, five months to be more exact. This year has flown by, and it has already been full of some hard things and some great things. The hard things don’t necessarily outweigh the great things, but the hard does seem to consume more brain power.

In March I was able to spend a week in Sedona with some good friends and I saw the Grand Canyon for the first time in person. It is an incredible place that no picture can do justice to. We took so many pictures trying to capture the depth and layers to the canyon, but no mere iPhone can quite capture it. I am including some of my favorite shots from my time there.

Without further ado, here is my first Friday list of the Summer. I hope that you enjoy and can find something that you enjoy. Happy weekend!

Here are some links to commemorations of the 80th anniversary of D-Day, which was yesterday!

D-Day Veterans return to Normandy 80 years on

D-Day 80: Remember Them, “I am not a hero, I just did my job. The real heroes are laying here on the cemeteries. These are our heroes and we should never forget them.”

WWII veterans visit Omaha Beach to mark 80th anniversary of D-Day, “less than 1% of the men who fought on D-Day are still with us.”

Tombstones of fallen WWII soldiers lit up Normandy cemetery for D-Day commemorations

How D-Day unfolded: Newly restored, rare footage from the CBC archives

Honoring the women of Normandy on 80th anniversary of D-Day

D-Day Anniversary: Hundreds Watch Stunning Sunrise Over Normandy Beaches

Archive Video Of The D-Day Normandy Landings

D-Day Footage in Color.

 Podcast:

History That Doesn’t Suck, hands down my favorite podcast.

“Think of HTDS as covering the basics of what an American should but possibly doesn't know (or has forgotten) about history. The episodes are roughly one hour, story-driven, and irreverently educational. Each episode stands on its own as a story, but taken together, they will also walk you through a survey of US history that starts with the Revolution and will (eventually) go right up to the present. It's everything you need and want to know. And it's a damn good time.”

 Music:

Richard Goodall Receives The GOLDEN BUZZER for “Don’t Stop Believin” | Auditions | AGT 2024, what a beautiful tone he has and I love how there is one part of the song where he goes down instead of up and it adds the nicest tweak to the song.

Jelly Roll feat. T-Pain – Should’ve Been a Cowboy (Amazon Music Original), I love this pairing for this song!

Ben Fuller – “O Death” (Truthful Sessions), a beautiful rendition of a traditional Appalachian folk song.

Beyoncé – 16 CARRIAGES (Official Lyric Video), I am not a country fan nor do I prefer Beyoncé’s solo work but I have really enjoyed this album and this is my favorite song from the album.

 To watch:

Mysteries of the Terracotta Warriors | Official Trailer | Netflix, an incredible burial site where they continue to learn more about the site.

BRATS | Official Trailer (2024), this looks to be so interesting.

[bgallen]

A list for the 2nd Friday of 2024

Welcome to  2024….12 days in!

 I hope that thus far your year has gone well. I personally enjoy the resetting of a new year, when you can implement new focuses, improve older ones, and look forward to growth and fun. I’ve included a list of some bits and bobs I’ve been enjoying and found interesting as well as some photos.

Hopefully you find something to enjoy and have a great weekend.  

The ‘$40 Pencil’ That Almost Went Extinct (wsj.com)

John Steinbeck used one to write “The Grapes of Wrath” and a Disney animator was buried with one. Blackwing pencils gained a coveted status among creatives for their speed and smoothness. Here’s why they almost went extinct and what it took to bring them back.

 The lost ancient practise of communal sleep (bbc.com)

Until the mid-19th Century, it was completely normal to share a bed with friends, colleagues and even total strangers. 

 Masters of the Air — Opening Title Sequence | Apple TV+ - YouTube

Based on Donald L. Miller’s book of the same name, and scripted by John Orloff, “Masters of the Air” follows the men of the 100th Bomb Group )the “Bloody Hundredth”) as the conduct perilous bombing raids over Nazi Germany and grapple with the frigid conditions, lack of oxygen, and sheer terror of combat conducted at 25,000 feet in the ir. Portrating the psychological and emotional price paid by these young men as they helped destroy the horror of Hitler’s Third Reich, is at the heart of “Masters of the Air.” Some were shot down and captured; some were wounded or killed. And some were lucky enough to make it home. Regardless of individual fate, a toll was exacted on them all.

A Notebook to Save You from Infinite Scrolling & Boredom (youtube.com)

In this video, Parker gives an idea for a pocket notebook that can help free you from the infinite scroll and help you utilize your boredom for your own intellectual good.

Music’s power over your brain, explained | Michael Spitzer (youtube.com)

Music affects the brain in profound ways. It eases stress by lowering cortisol. It floods the brain with pleasurable neurotransmitters like dopamine. And it serves as a conduit through which we can process emotions that otherwise might not be describable in words.

If I Had a Heart - VIKINGS // Anna Miilmann, Johan Karlström & Danish National Symphony Orchestra (youtube.com)

Performed by Anna Miilmann, Johan Karlström & Danish National Symphony Orchestra & Vocal Ensemble Conducted by Henrik Vagn Christensen

How a 1574 portrait was made 'Insta-fabulous' (bbc.com)

Restorers are uncovering "forgotten faces" that were later retouched, with painters adding plump lips, sculpted noses and tapered chins centuries afterwards, writes Kelly Grovier.

The Habits for Happiness Quiz | Gretchen Rubin

A fun quiz to help you choose what the next habit that could make you happier might be.

[bgallen]

A look at the importance of strategic leadership

We’ve just posted our December 2023 newsletter. Check it out!

[bgallen]

"For months we have slept under the guns … We cannot comprehend the stillness.”

On the personal train carriage of General Ferdinand Foch, deep in the Forest of Compiègne, four representatives from the German Empire and four leaders of the Allied Powers met to discuss the terms of an armistice. After three days, on the 11th hour on the 11th day of the 11th month in 1918 the Armistice went into effect. Thus ending four years of unprecedented death and destruction, the Great War was finally over. Today, 105 years after this moment in history, that so drastically effected the lives of millions upon millions, we observe it as Veteran’s Day in America. Veteran’s Day is a day that we remember all of the veterans, in all of their capacities, who have served our nation. Veterans Day is a day to remember those veterans who have passed, yet even more importantly, to remember those who are living.

 I listened to a great podcast this week from History That Doesn’t Suck. Professor Greg Jackson does an incredible job telling the story of the Armistice in such an interesting way, yet still including all of the names and facts that are important. Episode 146 is titled, The Armistice of November 11, 1918. It’s a little over an hour long but so worth your time.

Armistice Day 1918: 100 Years of Heroes - YouTube, video of various American troops celebrating the armistice around the world in 1918.

They Shall Not Grow Old – New Trailer – Now Playing In Theaters - YouTube, this documentary is incredible.

1918 Peerless Quartet - Goodbye France - YouTube, this song came out in 1918.

1919 Nicholas Orlando - Till We Meet Again (Charles Hart & Harry MacDonough, vocal) - YouTube, this is a favorite of mine – I didn’t realize that it was written during The Great War!

Armistice Day 1918 (1918) - YouTube, oh my the confetti being thrown at 0:18!

“This Veterans Day, may we honor the incredible faith that our veterans hold, not just in our country but in all of us.  They are the solid-steel backbone of our Nation, and we must endeavor to continue being worthy of their sacrifices by working toward a more perfect Union and protecting the freedoms that they have fought to defend. In respect and recognition of the contributions our veterans and their families, caregivers, and survivors have made to the cause of peace and freedom around the world, the Congress has provided (5 U.S.C. 6103(a)) that November 11 of each year shall be set aside as a legal public holiday to honor our Nation’s veterans.

NOW, THEREFORE, I, JOSEPH R. BIDEN JR., President of the United States of America, do hereby proclaim November 11, 2023, as Veterans Day.  I encourage all Americans to recognize the valor, courage, and sacrifice of these patriots through appropriate ceremonies and private prayers and by observing two minutes of silence for our Nation’s veterans.  I also call upon Federal, State, and local officials to display the flag of the United States of America and to participate in patriotic activities in their communities.”

 I hope that your weekend is enjoyable, fun, restful, active – whatever you need it to be. And remember our veterans.  

[bgallen]

Aldi, a white stag, Legos, and more; a Friday list.

Happy first Friday of November!

 I so enjoy November for the cooler weather, the bluer sky, the closeness to Christmas, and for being able to celebrate Thanksgiving with family and friends. I have a smattering of things for you to check out today. As always, I hope that you find something to enjoy. Have a restful, enjoyable weekend.

I’ve also included some pictures from my recent vacation. The bumblebee you’ll see seemed to be frozen to the flower and according to the lady that owned the store, in the summer you can pet the bees they are so docile.

 One last thing, don’t forget that Daylight saving time is this weekend in the US. So, we “gain” an hour.

Why Is Aldi So Cheap and Successful? | WSJ The Economics Of - YouTube, We finally have an Aldi as of this Summer and I am thoroughly enjoying it. Specifically for the meat!

Amazon.com: LEGO Icons Tiny Plants Building Set, Cactus Décor Gift Idea for Flower-Lovers, Carnivorous, Tropical and Arid Flora, Build and Display, Botanical Collection, Creative Building Sets for Adults, 10329 : Toys & Games, I received the bonsai tree several years ago and so enjoyed building it. These tiny plants are so cute.

Amazon.com: LEGO Icons Tranquil Garden 10315 Creative Building Set, A Gift Idea for Adult Fans of Japanese Zen Gardens and Meditation, Build-and-Display This Home Decor Set for The Home or Office : Everything Else, definitely need to add this to my Christmas list. It is beautiful!

The Crucial Difference Between Distraction and Diversion (nirandfar.com), in all honesty I have never thought about the difference between these two words. Nir clarifies them well and also clarifies which is “bad” and which is “good” to experience.

Giant white stag made of boulders re-emerges on Aberdeenshire hill - BBC News, this is incredible! Originally built more than 150 years ago, the stag has been built again.

Home Free & Brooke Eden - Delta Dawn - YouTube, I have loved this song since I first heard it. This is a great cover.

 C.Debussy - Clair de Lune, Maria João Pires live at Jardin Musical - YouTube, perhaps one of the most beautiful pieces of music….there is something hauntingly sweet, bittersweet in its beauty. And in Maria’s hands, it’s exquisite.

THE LAST RIFLEMAN Trailer (2023) Pierce Brosnan - YouTube, this looks to be a really good film. Supposedly based on this story here.

Leo | Official Trailer | Netflix - YouTube, this looks like a lot of fun. “an animated musical comedy about the last year of elementary school as seen through the eyes of the class pet, jaded 74 year old lizard Leo.”

[bgallen]

Jack's Lament, Ricky Skaggs, and SOS Antony Blinken

Here we are at the second Friday in October, can you believe it?! I saw on a sign today that we have 74 days until Christmas, which seems equally far away and not far away at all. I have combined a list of mostly music and some other bits. Not too terribly much, but hopefully you are able to find at least one thing to enjoy.

 I would be more than remiss to not mention what transpired last weekend in Israel. And I will share some of the words that Secretary of State Blinken, himself a Jew – his grandfather fled pogroms in Russia and his stepfather survived Auschwitz, Dachau, and Majdanek – shared October 12th in Tel Aviv.

“And yet, at the same time – at the same time that we’ve been shocked by the depravity of Hamas, we’ve also been inspired by the bravery of Israel’s citizens: the grandfather, who drove over an hour to a kibbutz under siege, armed only with a pistol, and rescued his kids and grandkids; the mother who died shielding her teenage son with her body, giving her life to save his, giving him life for a second time; the volunteer security teams on the kibbutzes, who swiftly rallied to defend their friends and neighbors, despite being heavily outnumbered. And we are lifted by the remarkable solidarity of the Israeli people, demonstrated in the long lines of people giving blood, in the hundreds of thousands of reservists who’ve mobilized, some rushing home from abroad, people around the country opening their homes to fellow citizens displaced from the south…..Anyone who wants peace and justice must condemn Hamas’s reign of terror. We know Hamas doesn’t represent the Palestinian people or their legitimate aspirations to live with equal measures of security, freedom, justice, opportunity, and dignity. We know Hamas – instead of promoting the well-being of its citizens – rules repressively and dedicates the resources it has to terror tunnels and rockets. We know Hamas didn’t commit its heinous acts with the interests of the Palestinian people in mind. We know Hamas does not stand for the future that Palestinians want for themselves and for their children. Hamas has only one agenda: to destroy Israel and to murder Jews.”

  Now for the list,  

·       JACK'S LAMENT | Low Bass Singer Cover | The Nightmare Before Christmas | Geoff Castellucci - YouTube, I have yet to tire of this soundtrack. Geoff has a beautiful voice and his ability to maneuver his voice is incredible.

·       Toby Keith - Don't Let the Old Man In (Official Lyric Video) - YouTube, beautiful, beautiful  song…feels more poignant with the cancer  that he’s been facing.

·       The first ever film of Appalachian music (1928) | "Doggett Gap" - Bascom Lamar Lunsford [RESTORED] - YouTube, I do love some mountain music and it’s so incredible to see the first of people playing the music.

·       Ricky Skaggs Will The Circle Be Unbroken - YouTube, this hauntingly, beautiful song is one of my absolute favorites. And Ricky Skaggs on the mandolin is icing on the cake.

·       Relaxing Halloween Music - Pumpkin Jack O' Lanterns 🎃 Dark, Spooky Sounds, Halloween Ambience - YouTube, I do enjoy a good, themed playlist for working. This one is great for background music and not as high on “spooky” as the title implies.

·       How an advanced civilisation vanished 2,500 years ago – BBC News - YouTube, ancient civilizations is a phrase that is music to my ears. The Tartessos, around for 500 years and an advanced society yet, vanished under interesting circumstances. Fascinating short video on current excavations related to why they disappeared.  

·       All the Light We Cannot See | Official Trailer | Netflix - YouTube, I have not read this book but the film itself looks beautifully done – sure to be thought-provoking and heart wrenching.

·       How to Keep a Commonplace Book (And Why You Should) - YouTube, here’s a short video on keeping a commonplace book. A fascinating concept that I am sure some people may already do without having a specific name for it.  

I hope that you have an enjoyable weekend, full of lovely Autumnal festivities. I am headed off on a family vacation this coming Monday and I am very excited!

[bgallen]

Autumn, drought, rewiring your brain and more

This weekend, in the Northern Hemisphere, we welcome Autumn! My personal favorite season of them all.

This week I have a short list for you and as always, I hope that you find something to enjoy.

 iPhone + Apple Watch | Another Birthday | Apple - YouTube. This is an incredible ad. It tells several beautiful stories that draw you in and allow you to see yourself participating, to the degree that you forget they are selling a product. Very clever and well done.

ONE LIFE Trailer (2023) Anthony Hopkins - YouTube. Oh my, I teared up just watching the trailer. This film will tell the story of Sir Nicholas Winton, who rescued 669 children (most of them Jewish) in the late 1930’s. I cannot wait to see this one and Anthony Hopkins portraying him is excellent.

Arabian Nights (orchestral version) Aladdin - Lina Kuipers - YouTube

Wide River to Cross - The White Horse Guitar Club - YouTube

How I rewired my brain in six weeks - BBC Future. There is so much hope in the ability to rewire one’s own brain and that we know so little of the capacity as well.

Photo of a paper nautilus on a floating stick wins award - BBC News. Absolutely beautiful, just phenomenal.

The old Scottish pub that found a new life in California - BBC News. What a fascinating story!

  I hope that your weekend is joyful, restful, happy, calm, full of sleep or adventure or even somewhere just in between.

[bgallen]

Bearded dragons, Gibson Girls, and saving the best birthday for last! 2

Welcome to September and a holiday weekend here in the US, for most people anyway.

This week I have a much shorter list than last week and a very random one at that.

This coming Monday (the 4th) is my Mama’s birthday, and I am looking forward to celebrating! She is beautiful, clever, highly efficient, and a joy to be around (super short list). I am incredibly grateful for her.

 I hope you enjoy this short list I’ve compiled. Have a wonderful weekend of rest, fun, and all the fun things on this Labor Day weekend.

·       Bearded Dragon Spoons With His Favorite Sock | The Dodo - YouTube, I trained on showing a bearded dragon when I first began working at the zoo. His name was Buford and he was so much fun to work with. Did you know that they have a third eye?!

·       Sean Magee - Tippin' It Up To Nancy [Official Music Video] 4K HDR - YouTube, love this – it’s so good.  

·       Gibson Girls Clocking in - AI Breathes New Life into 1904 Film - YouTube, it’s always fascinating to me to find and view footage like this Glamour Daze has done an incredible job restoring the video and adding sound. Their wee purses hung right at their belts is so clever.

·       Dolly Parton - Magic Man (Carl Version) (feat. Ann Wilson) (Official Audio) - YouTube, I enjoyed this cover by Dolly with an appearance by Ann.

·       Heart-Magic Man - YouTube, and of course here is the original. Heart is one of my favorites.

·       The Edwardians had Cosmetic Surgery & it Wasn't Dissimilar to Today - YouTube, just in case you think 2023 is special…and they are “correcting” essentially the same things that people correct today. Fascinating!

·       Chinese Snowball Viburnum Bush Vs Hydranga - Birds and Blooms, I didn’t realize how very similar the two of these plants are! An easy way to distinguish them is by size. The Chinese Snowball is much taller than a Hydrangea, up to five feet more!

·       8 Nutty and Fun Facts About Squirrels - Birds and Blooms, one of the saddest parts of leaving the Midwest for the South…was no longer seeing black squirrels. Did you know that squirrels can run up to 20 mph?!

Happiest of weekends to you!

[bgallen]

A million sunflowers, skywells, and the 20 year old PSL

Happy Friday! Not sure if it’s just me, but this week has felt long. Definitely not bad, just drawn out. Today is my wonderful parents’ anniversary and I am incredibly grateful for their relationship and the mutual love and respect and fun that they have!

Also! Yesterday it rained for a good 15 minutes which was so, so needed….I don’t remember our last rain, maybe early July? Our water association sent out a message last week asking people to not water their yards unless it was around 2 AM because of the strain on the system. Hopefully the rain went south of us as well to help the farms there in desperate need of it.

I have quite a long list for you today. It’s been a while since I’ve had a longer one so I thought it would be fun. I’ve broken it into categories of: History, Love, Learn, Food, Movies/Music. As always, I hope that you are able to find something you really enjoy.  

 History

o   How ancient 'skywells' are keeping Chinese homes cool - BBC Future

“In Huizhou, a skywell is small but tall, and the rooms around it can block out sunlight on hot days, enabling the bottom of the skywell to stay cool, he adds. Meanwhile, hot air inside the house can rise and escape through the opening above the skywell, which "works just like a chimney".”

o   Seminary Square Historical Marker (hmdb.org)

This is in my hometown, since 1828 -195 years!- there has been a school building on this piece of land.

o   ‘The Iron Butterfly’: How Eloise Page Became the CIA’s First Female Station Chief (coffeeordie.com)

o   The Tigris: The river that birthed civilisation - BBC Travel

“Mosul's Arabic name, Al-Mawsiil, means "the linking point", likely because it was a crossroads of trade and a major hub along the Tigris between Diyarbakır and Basra. Established in the 7th Century BCE, it's one of the oldest cities in the world, and during its pinnacle in the 12th-Century AD, it not only wielded great power and influence over the region but became ethnically and religiously diverse.”

 Love

o   Ocean Springs couple celebrates 70 years of wedded bliss (wlbt.com)

“He does what I ask. I get along with her. I not only love her, I like her, and respect her. Those are three things. You’ve got to like them, you’ve got to love them and you’ve got to respect them.” Tony & Jean Ann Petricca

o   Pratt farmer plants 80 acres of sunflowers for wife of 50 years - KAKE

 August 10th was Lee and Renee Wilson’s 50th wedding anniversary, so he planted her “about 1.2 million sunflowers.”

Learn

o   Four scientifically-proven ways to live longer - BBC Reel

o   Kelly McGonigal: How to make stress your friend | TED Talk

How you think and how you act can transform your experience of stress. When you choose to view your stress response as helpful, you create the biology of courage. When you choose to connect with others under stress, you can create resilience. The compassionate heart that finds joy ad meaning in connecting with others, and yes, your pounding physical heart, working so hard to give you strength and energy.”

o   Organize Your Bookmarks with the PARA Method for Lightning Fast Web Browsing (fortelabs.com)

“The key principle is organizing by actionability. PARA helps you keep the information you need the most right now front and center (while keeping everything else accessible but out of sight).”

o   Isometric Exercises, Planks, Wall Sits Are Best For Blood Pressure, Study Says (forbes.com)

This is so exciting to me, this has been my favorite exercise (wall sits) since high school and it is super easy to do almost anywhere.

 Food

o   Ghetto Gastro

My sister found these for me the other night at Target, I’ve only tried the Ghetto Gastro Toaster Pastries Chocolate Raspberry - 7.2oz : Target, they are so good!

o   Home - TruFru

We also have recently found these and become obsessed with these. These are our favorite ones: Raspberries White & Dark Chocolate 8 oz - TruFru and Blueberries White & Dark Chocolate 8 oz - TruFru. The dried strawberries are also really good!

o   Starbucks' Pumpkin Spice Latte Turns 20: How It Was Invented | Entrepreneur

It seems that you either love or hate this drink….I am not a pumpkin fan, yet I really enjoy this drink every Fall. Can you believe it’s been 20 years?! In my opinion, the drink is best made with oatmilk.

Movies/Music

o   Video shows three humpback whales jumping out of water in unison - YouTube

Whales terrify me, but this is a beautiful video!

o   From Dumb Money to Saw X: 10 of the best films to watch in September - BBC Culture

This is a good list of different genres coming out next month. I am most excited about MY BIG FAT GREEK WEDDING 3 - Official Trailer [HD] - Only In Theaters September 8 - YouTube!

o   Dan Tyminski - Hey Brother (Official Video) - YouTube

Dan just did his own version of this Avicii song after appearing on the record for Avicii a decade or so ago. Here’s the original if you’d care to listen, it has a neat music video. Avicii - Hey Brother - YouTube

 I hope you enjoy this nice toasty, last weekend of August!

[bgallen]

Another August birthday, music, and ways to help

We have had a respite from the heat the last two days, with it only reaching the mid-80s as the high. Today the humidity was only 37%, which is incredible and felt more Autumn-like. We also published a short newsletter this morning, you can check it out here if you’d like.

In case you would like to help in Maui, here are some local charities that are helping raise money. I don’t know a significant amount about any of them, though it always seems best to support charities that reside where the need is.

Kākoʻo Maui (memberplanet.com)

Help Maui | University of Hawai‘i Foundation (uhfoundation.org)

Kokua Restaurant & Hospitality Fund for Maui - Hawaii Food & Wine Festival (hawaiifoodandwinefestival.com)

Maui Strong Fund - Hawaii Community Foundation

 Last week was our founder, and my father’s, birthday. I am immensely grateful for him and proud of him. A man of incredible integrity; anything good you may have heard of him, it is true. He is kind, steadfast, and always treats people with respect. Do wish him a belated birthday.

 I’ve included a few songs that I have been enjoying.

The Rose (더로즈) – Back To Me | Official Video - YouTube, this song has been stuck in my head for days. The lead singer has such a unique quality to his voice.

 Burl Ives - The first cover of Ghost Riders In The Sky, recorded in 1949 - YouTube, I so enjoy this song…the sound has a quality that is beautiful and I cannot quite place my finger on what it is.  

 Olivia Newton-John - Jolene ft. Dolly Parton - YouTube, this was recorded not long before Olivia passed. Her and Dolly’s voices blend so beautifully.

 Overtime - Don't Tell Me feat. Krizz Kaliko (Official Video) - YouTube, my sister introduced me to Overtime recently and Krizz years ago. Krizz is one of the best, in my opinion, and their pairing makes for a great song.

 This is not a song, obviously. But – if you’ve been experiencing extreme heat where you live, read this. “We’re all a little irritable right now.”

Extreme heat can take a toll on your mental health (wlbt.com)

 Lastly, I hope that this weekend is as restful as you like or as adventurous as you like…or whatever it is that you need this weekend!

[bgallen]

A birthday list for August

25 years ago yesterday, my maternal grandmother died on a beautiful day on a farm hidden in the mountains of Virginia. A loss that was incredibly sad, yet at 11 years old was hard to grasp the enormity of. Four years ago yesterday, we buried my paternal grandmother in a sleepy town in the Pine Belt of Mississippi. A loss that was incredibly painful and deeply impacted my life. My love for both of my grandmothers has always been deep and they both have made an indelible mark on my life. What you don’t fully grasp at 11, at 32 you grasp more than you would like to grasp. And my paternal grandmother’s loss at 32 also brought about grief about having lost my maternal grandmother at 11 and realizing on a deeper level what I had missed. I do not have the words to accurately portray the importance of all four of my grandparents in my life. I am who I am because I have been deeply loved by wonderful people who have taught me so well. And for that, I am eternally grateful.

Today, is my birthday and I have made a list of some of my favorite things. As always, I hope that you enjoy this list and find something that you like. Have a wonderful weekend, and stay cool!

Favorite book(s) –

Anna Karenina by Leo Tolstoy | Goodreads

The Count of Monte Cristo by Alexandre Dumas | Goodreads

Favorite quotes (from said books) –

“You have a consistent character yourself and you wish all the facts of life to be consistent, but they never are. For instance, you despise public service because you want work always to correspond to its aims, and that never happens. You also want the activity of each separate man to have an aim, and love and family life always to coincide – and that doesn’t happen either. All the variety, charm and beauty of life are made up of light and shade.”  Tolstoy

“Tell the angel who will watch over your future destiny, Morrel, to pray sometimes for a man who, like Satan, thought himself, for an instant, equal to God; but who now acknowledges, with Christian humility, that God alone possesses supreme power and wisdom. Perhaps those prayers may soften the remorse he feels in his heart. As for you, Morrel, this is the secret of my conduct towards you. There is neither happiness nor misery in the world; there is only comparison of one state with another, nothing more. He who has felt the deepest grief is best able to experience supreme happiness. We must have felt what it is to die, Morrel, that we may appreciate the enjoyments of life. Live, then, and be happy, beloved children of my heart, and never forget, that until the day when God will deign to reveal the future to man, all human wisdom is contained in these two words, - ‘Wait and hope.’” Dumas

Favorite songs (top 3) –

Luciano Pavarotti sings "Nessun dorma" from Turandot (The Three Tenors in Concert 1994) - YouTube

Avicii - Wake Me Up (Official Lyric Video) - YouTube

Yo-Yo Ma - Bach: Cello Suite No. 1 in G Major, Prélude (Official Video) - YouTube

Favorite place to travel –

Mackinac Island Tourism Bureau - Unique Mackinac Island, MI Vacation

Favorite movie –

REMEMBER THE TITANS Trailer (2000) Denzel Washington Movie - YouTube    

[bgallen]

A wee Friday list, happy end of July!

Today we sent out our July newsletter, check it out here. In light of our newsletter, where I have a lot of neat links listed, I only have a short list today on the blog. As always, I hope that you find something you enjoy.

Stop looking for The One: The Inverted Pyramid of Life - Ness Labs, The self-complexity that arises when we invert our pyramid of life also encourages personal growth and self-discovery, as you can explore and evolve across various aspects of your identity, which means a richer, fuller life. When you stop trying to nail down your narrative and focus only on the most obvious relationships, life becomes a giant sandbox where we can learn anything, grow in any direction, and connect with anyone. Maybe then, instead of asking, “So, what do you do for a living?” we’ll start asking: “So, what makes you feel alive these days?”

Hawk Alarm (for chickens) - YouTube, this is so great – here is a comment on the video, “The two geese at the end are like two tourists in a foreign country not understanding the emergency announcements.”

THE GREAT ESCAPER Trailer (2023) Michael Caine - YouTube, Michael Caine AND Glenda Jackson?! This film looks so good.

Evanescence - Bring Me To Life Feat.Jacoby Shaddix Papa Roach ROCK AM RING 2023 HD - YouTube, in 20 years my love for this song has not changed. Amy Lee’s voice is so, so, so good.

[bgallen]

Pink grasshoppers, reading children's books, Six Triple Eight, and more...a Friday List

Happy Friday!

I hope that you have had an enjoyable week with hopefully decent weather. I know that in many places this week the weather has been devastating. I have compiled a list for you to enjoy and as always I hope that you find one or two things to enjoy. I have also added some podcasts that I have been enjoying as well as a new to me book that I’ve begun.

 May your weekend be one of rest, activity, joy, and calm – whatever it is that you need in this moment.

 ·       Why adults should read children's books - BBC Culture, “So it's to children's fiction that you turn if you want to feel awe and hunger and longing for justice: to make the old warhorse heart stamp again in its stall.”

 ·       Texas Author Reunites with TikToker Who Made Him Bestseller (people.com), what a neat story!

 ·       The Pink grasshopper - Erythrism (roeselienraimond.com), oh my I have never seen one of these and didn’t know it was possible for them to be pink. It would seem more likely to find one of these in Alice in Wonderland than out and about in real life. Here’s another beautiful one, Anglesey: Rare pink grasshopper spotted in garden - BBC News

 ·       Six Triple Eight: The battalion of black women erased from history - BBC News, how incredible! Such an impressive accomplishment and I am so glad they are finally being recognized as they should have been. Tyler Perry is currently filming a Netflix film about them with Kerry Washington starring as well as producing in it.

 ·       Sounds of Motown (A cappella Medley) - Kings Return - YouTube, I really enjoy Kings Return…harmonizing is impeccable and covering Motown?! Even better.

 ·       DREAMIN' WILD Trailer (2023) Casey Affleck - YouTube, this looks to be a really great film.

 ·       Tiny Octopus Gets So Excited When His Diver Friend Comes To Visit Him | The Dodo - YouTube, oh my goodness – this is the sweetest little mollusc (yes I did have to google that.) I am always fascinated when animals interact with humans that aren’t animals that we keep as pets.

 ·       Elizabeth Cotten - In the Sweet By and By - YouTube, Learned something new today…”cotten picking” was created by Elizabeth. She was left-handed so she played her right-handed guitar upside down, which apparently is not the easiest thing to do.

 ·       Woodland (2020) – Sarah Anne Johnson, I saw Sarah Anne’s art on a house tour on youtube and fell in love with this Woodland series that she has. This is what she has to say about the series, “ I then transformed the photographs with paint, metal leaf, holographic tape, photo-spotting ink, and photoshop to create a more honest image that reflects my personal experience with the landscape.” I once had a friend tell me how she edited her photos so beautifully and she said the same thing as Sarah Anne, she edits the photo to appear in the photo as her own eyes and mind experienced it in person.  

 Podcasts I’ve been binging:

·       Lionsgate Sound | Scamanda, this is an incredible story….that I can’t quite wrap my mind around. I have found that I prefer podcasts that are hosted/created by journalists. Charlie Webster did a great job researching this story along with her team and the original investigative journalist that began the work and then she does an excellent job telling the story.

·       Betrayal on Apple Podcasts, another well done podcast. Heavier material than Scamanda, well it’s a different sort of heavy. Depending on how you handle things, you may want to read up on it before you listen. Both seasons so far have been so well done. The first season is now a documentary on Hulu.

·       Huberman Lab, I just began this one today. In the episode I began listening to today, Dr. Malenka is on it discussing how the brain changes in response to learning and reward and reinforcement. Fascinating and exciting stuff!  

New book:

·       Operation Barbarossa - Jonathan Dimbleby - Oxford University Press (oup.com), the largest military operation of all time – the invasion of Russia by Germany in 1941.  

[bgallen]

Yuve Yuve Yu, Propaganda, and Klimt - a Friday List

Welcome to the third Friday in June! Weather-wise we have had a bit of an eventful week for June, check out this hail that fell just northeast of us last night. I think that this was our third hailstorm this year, the local roofing companies are staying busy. Happy Father’s Day to all of the fathers! I am incredibly grateful for my own.

As always I hope that you have something enjoyable and or restful planned for your weekend. Enjoy this Friday list and a few pictures at the end!

Bat acts like a dog, demands belly rubs - YouTube, I have been fascinated with Flying Foxes for the last several years. And Eddie is a good example of why, he’s clever and strong with lots of personality.

Stormy Weather in color - The Nicholas Brothers and Cab Calloway | Colorized with DeOldify - YouTube, Fayard and Harold were incredible self-taught dancers. The sheer energy and strength that it takes to dance how they danced matched with an incredible preciseness is amazing to watch. In this clip they are dancing to Cab Calloway and his orchestra playing “Jumpin’ Jive.” Two of my favorite things….incredible dancing along with incredible music! 

VIVALDI SUMMER - SYMPHONIACS - Violin Concerto In G Minor, Rv 315 III. Presto (The Four Seasons) - YouTube, I am working to break my record of the use of the word “incredible.” But The Four Seasons is such an incredible piece of music and you don’t even have to enjoy Classical music to appreciate its value. The Symphoniacs do such a great version of Summer here, so enjoyable.

The Hu - Yuve Yuve Yu - Live Acoustic at the Mongolian Embassy, Paris, France - YouTube, this was filmed after The HU was nominated as an Artist for Peace by UNESCO. Their use of the Morin Khuur (horsehead fiddle) mixed with some metal is a beautiful mix of old and new.

The HU - Yuve Yuve Yu (Official Music Video) - YouTube, I am sure that I have shared this one before but it’s worth resharing. It’s best if played with earbuds in and volume perhaps a bit higher than should be for the health of ones ears.

Facts don’t change minds: a case for the virtues of propaganda | Psyche Ideas, I learned a few new things reading this article which is often a very good thing. A good example of the use of positive propaganda.

The 12 Best Wireless Earbuds of 2023 – Robb Report, I personally prefer the Beats earbuds for quality of sound yet if I had an extra $300 to spare I would snatch up the Bose QuietComfort earbuds in a second! 

A Brief Overview of Pre-Raphaelite Art - Invaluable, this was an enjoyable, short  read on Pre-Raphaelite art, specifically its origins. Waterhouse has been one of my favorite artists since I was in high school. I had a print of the  Lady of Shalott for years, Boreas is my second favorite.

Klimt’s Last Portrait Expected to Sell for Over $80 M. at Sotheby’s – ARTnews.com, this is so beyond my understanding. At the same time, if I had the money I would for sure pay that amount to have an original Klimt. It is such a beautiful piece and I love the colors and symbols that he used.

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Want to improve your work performance? Want to improve the performance of your brain?

Want to improve your work performance? Want to improve the performance of your brain? Then exercise!

“Walking for 30 minutes per day can increase productivity by 30%, according to a study by the University of Alabama at Birmingham.”

Employees who exercise regularly are 13% more productive at work, according to a study by the University of Otago in New Zealand.

(Both quotes above are from the article Exercise And Work Productivity Statistics And Trends in 2023. NOTE - the Harvard Business Review also has a new article out titled, To Improve Your Work Performance, Get Some Exercise.

“Exercise might be the most potent ‘drug’ we have for extending the quality and perhaps quantity of our years of life.” - Peter Attia, MD

Most of us want to become better people and we also want to become more productive in our vocations and hobbies often looking to all kinds of productivity hacks, working insane hours, and etc. The challenge is that these seldom actually help us at a fundamental level and often actually result in diminishing productivity as well as taking a major toll on our health in its many domains. According to a large body of research, the single best way to improve our effectiveness is also probably the single best way to improve our physical, mental, and emotional health - that is simply regular exercise.

I was surprised at the impact it purportedly has on your cognitive functions. As one doctor pointed out, the brain is usually around 2% of our body weight, but it uses about 20 - 25% of the energy we produce - or as someone put it “the brain is an energy hog”.

The better your cardiovascular system, the better your brain operates. The more consistently you exercise, the healthier your cardiovascular and muscular systems. We are not talking about radical exercise such as running marathons or such, we are simply talking about regular 30-minute walks and low impact strength training.

So, want a low-cost and simple way to become healthier and more productive? Try consistent, low-impact exercise.

[bgallen]

If ye break faith with us who die we shall not sleep, though poppies grow

Welcome to the last Friday in May!

I often struggle to gather all my thoughts regarding this remembrance of Memorial Day in a succinct manner. So, I will try to keep it as simple as possible.

According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, memorial is a word meaning “something that keeps remembrance alive.” Our remembrance on this day is to those who have given their lives in service to the United States of America. Since the Revolutionary War, that has been over 1 million men and women.

To those people I am grateful. I am grateful no matter their reasons for joining the various branches of service, I am grateful no matter how they lived their lives, I am grateful no matter who they did or did not vote into office or even if they voted at all, I am grateful no matter what their ancestors or descendants have done or will do. In this moment, I am grateful that they believed – if even for a brief moment – in something that was beyond their own existence – even if it was only to their buddy next to them – I am grateful. And I remember their sacrifice...for these United States of America.   

 Here are some really great videos and poems for you:

·       Taps at the Tomb of the Unknown Soldier - YouTube

·       Flags-In at Arlington National Cemetery 2023 - YouTube

·       Memorial Day Honoring Those Who Gave Their Lives | USAA

·       Rouge Bouquet by Joyce Kilmer - Poems | Academy of American Poets

·       The Watchers by John Greenleaf Whittier - Poems | poets.org

·       Leonard Cohen recites “In Flanders Fields” by John McCrae | Legion Magazine - YouTube

 I do hope that you have an enjoyable weekend. Yet in the midst of enjoying the warmer weather and perhaps gathering with friends and family – take a moment to remember why you’re able to gather together well and in peace…