Susan Boyle - "I Dreamed a Dream"

Susan Boyle's new CD takes away your breath and tugs at your heart. I believe that true art is an expression of oneself that moves another - that touches and passes on a feeling of the artist's experience. For her cover of 'Wild Horses' alone this would qualify. Her totally pure tone evokes Karen Carpenter with more grit and power. It is hard to believe that the world might have missed her entirely if not for a trend toward reality TV. Some cynics will find the orchestration overblown - and the non Christian may question the need for the religious tracks - but I think that misses the whole point. It is a defense against letting in the heartbreak and beauty that her singing offers. I also have to admire her for what I presume is her ability to maintain some artistic control and stick with the songs that reflect her and who she is. Bravo.

Kathy Griffin - "official book club selection"

This summary is not available. Please click here to view the post.

Question thinking

I have been reading a good cognitive behavioral therapy book called Change Your Questions Change Your Life. I must say the premise is so simple and I find it has helped me identify how I am always asking myself questions and I am just unaware that I make my choices in life based on those questions. I think the real gift is being able to revise your thinking from what the author calls judger thinking to learner thinking. Although the author Marilee Adams doesn't say anything about it the content reminds me of the basic principals in A Course in Miracles only better related to daily life. I loved ACIM but sometimes it feels so out there you need someone to bring it down to earth. That's why I used to love Marianne Williamson. I always thought she just got it and kept it by teaching others. I heard her in la when I was a 20ish kid at an aids support group with a friend. I know she has a church somewhere in the midwest now. Enough random stuff for now.
Brent

Sent from my iPhone

economy - econ oh me

I shouldn't be talking since I started out at Georgetown as an international econ major and quickly changed gears when hit with a depressing C in macroenconomics. Micro makes sense - macro makes none. It is unsettling to know that the engines that drive our economy are about theories and not anything much more. I keep looking at the whole bailout situation and I must say - I don't get it. I feel like so much of what we are experiencing is the results of living off credit - either in small business, big business or individual loans. I do have a thing against debt. I was very much into it when I was young and clawed hard to get out of it. I ended up back in it not long ago when I adopted my daughter while trying to finish a renovation and I haven't been too happy to see the bills since. But I have worked steadily to put it behind me again and I see the light at the end of the tunnel. I think that the notion that we can spend what we don't have creates a whole host of problems. I understand that lots of business works like this - I pay for my goods with my credit and get the money from the sale to pay it off meanwhile making payroll etc. What I don't understand is why am I paying this way with what appears to be a 1 month or so cushion against bad times. This means I can't really afford to buy my goods unless someone is definitely buying them. I am sure there are profit maximizing reasons why this may be so. But wouldn't I be a better business person if I could pay for my goods and expenses for 3-5 months from a reserve I had saved over time. Obviously it never is a perfect world and I get it that things are tough but when did we stop valuing having money and instead value having a credit score that merits a loan? OK - I am certain this is a rant that needs an end so here it is. I recommend the book that saved me initially from a debt riddled life "How to Get Out of Debt, Stay Out of Debt, and Live Prosperously" by Jerrold Mundis (sp?). It may not work for the Wall Street world but it is common sense action for mine.

Ta ta.
Brent