Global citizen

http://www.globalcitizen.org/Content/Content.aspx?id=da76e841-92a2-4b63-8888-fcc2f7bf7bb9&rby=1562a87e-3267-4737-8ea5-edaa14237f09

Air Force One Parked at Logan

There are a lot of angry people in this world.

So I am sitting in the Philly terminal delayed. I know better than to fly through this airport, so maybe I'm just prepared and expected it. But there are some people here way more upset about than me.

I am going to Baltimore from Boston and decided to log a couple extra US Air segments to maintain Platinum status (and get 1750 miles on $115 ticket). I could have taken a direct flight (there were 8 to choose from!) but hey all I was going to do was sleep and go to work. Silly and ridiculous I know, so that's why I wasn't really all that upset.

Meanwhile, I have witnessed a dozen people just bitch and moan. A few are ranting right now, and for what? I'm sure they have had a long day coming from much farther places, but to expect air travel to go perfect is just an unrealistic expectation. Its why I try to be honest with myself and my schedule with what I cannot accomplish. 

I think it is part of this recent growth in people's sense of entitlement. This arrogant and narcistic desire to be treated as the most important person in the world is really just embarrassing. Suddenly when we're the customer, we have adopted this belief that we can be an asshole and angry when people don't help us. This kind of behavior shows the true personality traits of the individual as they project their own anger and frustrations about them self onto others with total disregard of the golden rule.

So I am going to sit patiently, finish reading my book, follow up on some emails and get some prep work for tomorrow so that may day goes smooth and fast, hopefully to catch an earlier flight!

It's just one of those reminders that:

1. Make the most of the situations dealt.

AND

2. Don't let life stress you out, it won't do you any good!

Muppets Rockin' out to Bohemian Rhapsody

This is freakin' awesome!  Takes me back to my childhood enjoyment of the Muppet Show.

Have a great Monday

Safe Holiday Travels Everyone!!!

Accents - AVIS Commercial

Buddy of mine sent me this one, just a little NY v Bos humor...

It can all end at any time.....

Maybe I'm a bit cryptic, but it seems that mortality shows up on my mind around Thanksgiving.  I remember drinking with friends on Thanksgiving while in High School in memorium of friends and family members that had passed.  Despite these types of memories I have always had a real affinity for  Thanksgiving, in part, because it is Holiday that has not been heavily attacked by the consumerist movement (though the grocery stores are really trying hard!).  A simple concept of gathering around the table with loved ones sharing a meal, its the common human expression that transcends everyone's beliefs and politics, where we put aside the differences and celebrate being together.

For about the last 10 years now, Thanksgiving had been a holiday that also held a lot of traditions.  Often it was a road trip holiday, leaving last minute and driving through the night to reach the lighthouse on Lake Michigan to watch the sunrise, followed by breakfast, napping, and dinner at my parents house.  The evening would be spent with friends from the 'ole home town, running into high school friends and otherwise.  This year, none of these things are happening. I am staying home.  Nikki and I are having a quiet and relaxing day together with a traditional dinner at home.

I am really looking forward to this weekend.  In some ways it is the final step in letting go of my past.  For the first few years out of college I spent a lot of time home, maybe because I was scared, or not happy, or just plain not wanting to let go of the past good times of high school and college.  Over the last few years, however, I have begun to let go of those times and let them define my early chapters of life and not the whole book.  During these years I made some difficult decisions, made some exciting discoveries, and have entered my third decade of life on a real path of "adulthood" and responsibility.  I am happy with who I am and with my life.  I am in a fantastic relationship with the woman I intend to spend the rest of my life with and marry, I have a great job that is challenging and has the potential for a great career path ahead of me.  That's not to say I don't have a lot of goals and lists of accomplishments to gain; there is always going to be a lot of work ahead.

But this Thanksgiving I am going to reflect on what I am really thankful for, and let those things be the inspiration for where to better direct my energies in the coming years.

So how is death on my mind?  Well I learned this week that a friend from High School has passed this week unexpectedly, and that Dad's health is deteriorating pretty badly (Mom thinks his time here is not going to be long).  Whether or not we know when the end is coming, we do know that it is still coming.  How we spend that time is the question we need to face.  But rather than focus on what we don't have, why not take a focus on what we do have, no matter how little that may be, and how to build off of those things.  Placing a greater value on enriching the lives around us will give us a greater sense of purpose and direction.  In turn, we will end up having so much more to be thankful for.  We need to do the same with ourselves.  Instead of focusing on what we don't have, let's build off our strengths first, and from there identify how we can improve.  Positives in our lives, no matter how small, will always have the ability to spark action and change.  Negatives always slow us, and limit us.

So this Thanksgiving I am going to reflect on what I am really thankful for, and let those things be the inspiration for where to better direct my energies in the coming years.

Test Blog

Good afternoon, strike that, evening.

This is a test post via the blackberry. I have finding that I have time to write in odd segments of time, especially when I am travelling. This should also occupy me time during those lulls when you feel compelled to use the blackberry. You see it all the time at the airport. Like when you're on the shuttle to the rental car and you see all the old timers in suits trying to read their emails (that require no action!). Eventually you will see someone pull out their regular cell phone and paging through thinking they have something to do or say. Too much of a ramble I suppose, but let's hope this worked or else I have typed a bit for nothing!

Now that I have this figured out a bit better, I look forward to really getting this blog thing going!

EV to Appear on History Channel

Fine reporting from Two Feet Thick:

The Boston Herald reports that Howard Zinn’s film “The People Speak” will air on U.S. cable TV channel The History Channel. Why do we care? Well first, Howard Zinn is a brilliant human…but the Pearl Jam connection is our man Ed Vedder who performed a musical number or three during the filmed performance. Fabulous actor David Straithairn (insert dreamy sigh from Kath here) is on a mini-college tour with Howard Zinn to screen the film, and here is the Boston Herald article:

“Good Night and Good Luck” star David Strathairn, (Boston University professor) Howard Zinn and Hollywood producer Chris Moore kicked off a college tour for their star-studded documentary “The People Speak” at Boston University last night.Executive produced by Matt Damon, Josh Brolin, Anthony Arnove, Moore and Zinn, the film features dramatic readings by a galaxy of Hollywood stars and a lefty look at the history of this country.

“I like to be involved in material that means something to me and my time,” Strathairn said. “And this is a project that means a lot to a long period of time and gives a voice to those who you wouldn’t necessarily hear.”

Strathairn, Damon, Brolin, Viggo Mortensen, Kerry Washington, Marisa Tomei, Don Cheadle, Jasmine Guy, Michael Ely and more came to Boston in 2008 to film the documentary, based on Zinn’s acclaimed “A People’s History of the United States.” Bruce Springsteen, Eddie Vedder and John Legend contributed musical performances. The flick will air Dec. 13 on the History Channel .

The History Channel People Speak site can be found here, and here is the direct link to the channel’s ad about it (Ed has a line or two!).

Moore said he had been attempting to make a flick from “A People’s History” since getting Zinn’s book from his pals Damon and Ben Affleck back in 1997.

Strathairn said he doesn’t believe the documentary will cement the impression that Tinseltown is lousy with left-wingers.

“In my opinion, Hollywood embraces the commercial side which this isn’t,” he said. “It’s completely the opposite.”