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Real Men/Women of Genius is meant to poke a bit of harmless fun at the not-so bright members of this site. Disguised as playful rants, the nobler side of these posts holds the hope that some light will be shed on the sometimes irreparable mistakes that men(and women) make. What makes me the expert? I'm not, but there are two ways to learn from mistakes. By making your own, or by watching others. I've made plenty of mistakes, and seen plenty of them, and I have learned a great deal, and I wish to share my knowledge. I usually post once a week, on what I affectionately call Bloody Sunday. Check back for new posts!
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After the Credits: Julie & Julia
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Posted:Aug 21, 2009 11:00 am
Last Updated:Nov 22, 2009 1:44 pm
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Since I love to cook, it was obvious that I eventually would go see this movie. I was a big fan of Julia long before her passing in 2004, and I often imitated her as a young boy.
This film is based on the true life of Julie Powell (Amy Adams), who in 2002, decided to cook one at a time, all 524 recipes of Julia 's book entitled Mastering the Art of French Cooking. She begins a blog, called the Julie/Julia Project to detail the work, and gives herself one year to finish. Of course, it doesn't go without a hitch, but it has moments that very frequently left the audience laughing hysterically. Meryl Streep gives a wonderful performance as the six-feet-two-inches tall Julia in the crossover story blended into the film. It entails 's life with her husband Paul (Stanley Tucci), as she decides to study cooking at Le Cordon Bleu Cooking School in Paris, France. She, of course, begins to write her own cookbook, which after a few disappointments, gets published, and becomes one of today's most sought after publications.
It is a fun, inspiring story with the word BUTTER inserted wherever possible. By the time the film is over, you'll be wanting to do some cooking of your own, and you will leave believing that you can poach an egg as easily as the finest chef. Directed by Nora Ephron, and stars Meryl Streep, Amy Adams and Stanley Tucci.
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After the Credits: District 9
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Posted:Aug 14, 2009 1:53 pm
Last Updated:Oct 4, 2009 10:04 am
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When an alien mothership comes to Earth, settling above Johannesburg, South Africa, people didn't know what to do. The craft remained silent for months until a private company known as Multi-National United (MNU), enters the alien craft to find the aliens malnourished, sick, and dying. They are extracted from the craft, and due to the fear of the population, are eventually confined to a militarized, fenced-off area called District 9. With their mothership disabled, leaving them no way home, the aliens are mistreated in ways that are often difficult to watch. They are constantly beaten and interrogated for information about how to operate their weaponry. Discovering that the weapons require alien DNA to function, MNU conducts many cruel experiments to merge human and alien DNA, all of which are unsuccessful.
The people become unruly, and demand that the aliens be moved to a different location, outside of the city. When Wikus van der Merwe (played by South African filmmaker Sharlto Copley), a nice-guy employee from MNU is promoted, he is chosen to head the extraction/eviction operation. He becomes exposed to an alien chemical that causes him to mutate, and after discovering his newly-found ability to operate the alien technology, District 9 becomes a war zone as Wikus finds compassion for the aliens, and chooses to fight MNU so that the aliens can repair their ship and go home.
A warning to all: This movie is not only violent, but it is disturbingly bloody, and the level of profanity and racial/alien hatred is not for the faint of heart. It raises uncomfortable questions about the possibility of this actually happening.
Written and directed by first-time director Neill Blomkamp, this film is based on the short film Alive in Joburg, which was produced by and starred Sharlto Copley. Copley's heavy accent in this role does make some of the dialogue difficult to understand, and this film has plenty of reasons to be rated R, but it is the most original one I've seen in a long time.
GLC
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GLC Presents: My Two Cents - A Nickel's Worth
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Posted:Aug 11, 2009 3:32 pm
Last Updated:Oct 25, 2009 3:20 pm
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GLC Presents: My Two Cents - A Nickel's Worth
I used to not be very interested in what goes on in the political world. Mainly because of the rampant corruption that seems to always permeate the news involving any politician. If you told me two years ago that we would now have a president that actually cares about fixing what's wrong, I would have told you you're nuts.
There once was a time where I actually felt ashamed to live in America, because the things that we seem to take for granted are the things that our forefathers expected us to cherish.
Our soldiers fought and died to make this country free, but now it seems that health, wealth, prosperity, and freedom have been turned to sickness, poverty, despair and pure, chain-you-to-the-floor slavery by the most vile, ruthless, unforgiving dictator we could ever imagine.
The almighty DOLLAR.
Think about it. I mean, REALLY think about it. How often in your life has money caused you to change your important life decisions? I know it's happened to me and many of the people I know.
I'm not blaming the recession. Far from it. I'm pointing the finger at those who choose to line their pockets with the Benjamins while everyone else is struggling just to make ends meet. Anyone that can possibly get away with a scam is trying it, and the worst part is they are succeeding.
Even worse are the ones who are using the legal part of the system to gouge prices on health care.
Health care is pretty much the subject of any innocent conversation these days. So many people are getting rich from the industry that they couldn't care less if everyone else gets screwed. You paid your premiums for thirty years, but that life-saving surgery you need for that life-ending cancer isn't going to be covered by your insurance. Okay, so what now? You bought insurance so you will be INSURED, right? Was there some fine print in the policy that says, "We cover this, this, and this, but we don't cover this."? Wouldn't that make it easier? Wouldn't that provide you the peace of mind, that which INSURANCE is supposed to do?
Don't get me wrong. I'm not condemning wealth at all. I'm crucifying those who have the "take the money and run" mentality when they should give you what you PAID for when the time comes. The ongoing excuse is the pre-existing condition. I defy you to name ANYONE who doesn't have a pre-existing condition. If you really think about it, we ALL have a pre-existing condition.
A limited life-span.
Adding insult to injury, the representatives that WE elected to office are getting rich from the 1.4 MILLION dollars the lobbyists for the health care industry are spending PER DAY. You can call it bribery, because I do. I'm not going to condemn them all, because there are a few who really are trying to serve the people, and not their own wallets. Many of which support what is called a single-payor system in which everyone who pays taxes pitches in based on their income. That way, everyone is covered.
It's also sickening that the so-called "health-care" industry seems to care less about health than they do about profit. For instance, there are treatments for ailments that cost little or nothing. Do you think your doctors will choose your health over their paycheck? More often than not...NO.
Got a problem with lactose intolerance? Have you thought that the lack of milk is also a lack of calcium, which can result in the intolerance of dairy products?
Stained teeth? Forget all those expensive products out there that make countless empty promises, yet deliver agonizingly slow results. Try baking soda and hydrogen peroxide instead of the normal sugary toothpaste you use. Why brush your teeth with sugar? It's like eating candy before bed.
Got a headache? Try meditating. Close your eyes, and take deep breaths. Do it lying down if the pain is severe.
Here's a real mind-blower. If you have arthritis, a hot bath with a few pints of hydrogen peroxide might do the trick. This is also effective against carpal tunnel.
Heartburn? Instead of the antacids, which can cause the aforementioned lactose intolerance, try a tall glass of water. You might be amazed at the results.
There are exercises to improve your vision.
Something else, there are also simple, free exercises you can do to enlarge that certain part of the male body that those wee-hour infomercials boast that their little pill can do.
I'm no doctor. These are from my personal experience, and of course, all that information is part of a multitude of "secrets" that would cut into the pharmaceutical industry's profits.
Could you imagine what the economy would be like if there weren't so many sick people? Think about it. You get sick. You go to the doctor. You get well. No putting off until you HAVE to go the the emergency room, which many people have done, resulting in a far worse condition than that which would have been treated while preventing the decline in health. That also contributes to people being forced to stop working due to their worsening medical conditions.
The federal government isn't the angel in this, either. Disability claims are at an all-time high. The bad part is that you must wait five months from the time you apply to get your first check. That is only IF you get approved. If you've heard that everyone gets denied the first time, you heard right. In fact, seventy percent of claimants don't come back after being denied.
A few months ago, I spoke to a city official here in my neighborhood about an elderly lady who applied for benefits. She, of course, got denied. However, due to her declining medical condition, she had to appeal the decision. She hired a lawyer, and fought a grueling legal battle for four long years. Unfortunately, her health took her life, and she passed away. The very next day, a letter arrived in the mail. She had been approved.
I was floored. She fought so long and hard, but the only one who would benefit would be her attorney.
There is, however, a silver lining to this story. There is an unconfirmed rumor that the lawyer forfeited his fee. Apparently, he felt that his didn't get what she paid for.
Even better news is that in June of 2008, legislation was introduced to change the waiting period to a maximum seventy-five days. I have no word on its progress.
Rest assured that next year, I will pay CLOSE attention at election time. I don't care if they are Republican, Democrat, or independent. Any representative of this country that isn't doing his job is NOT going to get MY vote. I'm even practicing a version of "You're fired!" that would make Donald Trump proud.
This country of ours isn't perfect. If everyone would follow two simple rules, we wouldn't need so many laws. One: Don't hurt yourself. Two: Don't hurt others.
This means in EVERY way. Physically, emotionally, and financially. No murder, robbery, or deceit. Everyone would treat others with respect and kindness, and the same, themselves.
Imagine THAT world.
I imagine a world without politics. We are living in the UNITED States of America, not the DIVIDED States of America. There should be no "us against them" mentality. We should all work TOGETHER to achieve a better life for everyone. Instead, we have those in Washington, D.C. who are playing the political game, just because they have chosen the party of the opposite side.
The same people are the ones who are afraid (so they say) of the federal government taking over health care. Well, it is the government's responsibility to provide for us what we cannot provide for ourselves. Soon, the insurance premiums will get so high that only the very wealthy will be able to afford them.
I say this. To the insurance companies, keep raising your prices. You'll put yourselves out of business. It won't be a public option, or any type of so-called "socialized" medicine. It will be your own fault. Just like anyone who has passed a gas station to go a couple more blocks to the less expensive option, people will stop purchasing your services, which you aren't providing at a reasonable cost, anyway.
To all of you who say that Canada's health care system doesn't work, I say call up someone in that country, and ask them if it's true. I know several people who live there, and they have been HERE before, vowing never to return. There is absolutely NO comparison. There are no long waits, and no rationing of care. Usually, the ones who complain about their health care system are the ones who aren't using what it offers. The system isn't perfect, but it works a lot better than what we have now.
So, I say to the insurance companies, so what if you'll be put out of business by a government option? What comes around, goes around. If you can't INSURE people's health, then you are useless.
Those are my two cents.
When it comes to health care, you're not even giving a nickel's worth.
GLC
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GLC Presents: Real Men of "Genius" #48, Mr. Bored and Horny
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Posted:Aug 9, 2009 10:08 pm
Last Updated:Aug 10, 2009 9:32 am
1990 Views
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GLC Presents: Real Men of "Genius" #48, Mr. Bored and Horny
Today, I salute you, Mr. Bored and Horny
I'm sure all of us has had a moment where we feel less than entertained. However, although honesty is the BEST policy, the words "bored and horny" don't say good things about someone.
Why? You may ask?
Simple. The reason is because there is ALWAYS something fun to do.
Yes. ALWAYS.
A wise man once said, "Only boring people get bored."
I, for one, strongly believe those words because there is too much to experience in this world. You don't have to book a flight to a foreign country to enjoy life. One can take a trip to the nearest library and allow a plethora of gifted authors to take them to places that only exist in the imaginations of the writers. If you really want to challenge your mind, try writing a book of your own.
If there isn't anything interesting on TV, then perhaps a rented movie would provide a bit of worthwhile entertainment.
A walk in the park, surfing the internet, talking on the phone to a friend, video games, board games, bowling, pool, miniature golf...the list goes on and on.
So, the next time someone asks, "What are you doing?", think first. Saying you're "bored AND horny" says two things. One: you have nothing to do, and two: you have no one to do it with. The latter isn't so bad, but the former tells that you have no excitement in your life. That's not exactly attractive to anyone who might want to cure the latter.
GLC
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After the Credits: G.I.JOE The Rise of Cobra
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Posted:Aug 7, 2009 1:41 pm
Last Updated:Oct 18, 2009 1:07 pm
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G.I.JOE stands for Global Integrated Joint Operating Entity. Fans of the cartoon, get ready! In this film directed by Stephen Sommers (Van Helsing, The Mummy:Tomb of the Dragon Emperor), it quickly becomes disturbingly clear that the world is facing a peril like none it has ever seen before. Using NATO funding, a crooked arms dealer (Christopher Eccleston) develops a metal-devouring warhead using nanotechnology. Assisted by the Baroness (Sienna Miller) and Storm Shadow (Lee Byeong-heon), his plans are to steal the weapons for his own dire purposes. G.I.JOE, led by General Hawk (Dennis Quaid), recruits a few new members to the team, namely Duke (Channing Tatum) and Ripcord (Marlon Wayans), to help combat the organization which will eventually become Cobra. There are plenty of well-timed flashbacks which depict past events that help explain the present-day actions of some of the key characters. If you're looking for a high-tech action-fest, this movie will have your cup running over. With a running time of just under two hours, complete with plenty of explosions and tense, knock-down, drag-out brawls, you won't want to miss a single second of this movie. So, I have one suggestion for you while you're watching this film.
DON'T BLINK.
GLC
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GLC Presents: Real Men of "Genius" #47, Mr. I'm Made of Money
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Posted:Aug 2, 2009 9:18 pm
Last Updated:Apr 29, 2024 5:10 am
1869 Views
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GLC Presents: Real Men of "Genius" #47
Today, I salute you, Mr. I'm Made of Money.
Dollar signs make your world go 'round every day you're alive. Women flock to you like bees to honey when they see you, knowing that Mr. Moneybags has entered the building. All the drinks and gifts they can handle, and then some, in return for...a bit of harmless flocking.
Is it you, or the bulge of your wallet that keeps 'em coming back for more? Of course, you already know, or better yet, believe, that the Benjamins have nothing to do with your popularity.
Of course, you COULD be wrong.
Dare, if you will, to imagine your life without your wealth. What would be left? Would you still be the life of the party? "Drinks for everyone!" would be a thing of the past due to limited funds. The sexy limo rides and romantic cruises on your private yacht would also go away.
But, of course, you don't have to worry about that, since the stock market made you filthy rich. You'll never be poor again, right?
Unless, of course, the IRS gets wind of that crooked accountant that works so hard to make you, and himself, richer.
Money for nothing? Chicks for free?
Think again.
GLC
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GLC Presents: Real Men of
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Posted:Jul 19, 2009 8:49 pm
Last Updated:Apr 29, 2024 5:10 am
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GLC Presents: Real Men of "Genius" #46, Mr. Tantrum Thrower
Today, I salute you, Mr. Tantrum Thrower
Recently, I was doing some work in a friend's house, nailing down some moulding that had been removed in order to install new flooring. In her building, loud noise of any kind is not permitted between the hours of 9am to 9pm. Weekends included.
The time was around 6:30pm, last Saturday night. I was about a half-hour from finishing the work, when the upstairs neighbor came down, knocking sharply on the door. My friend opened it, and there the angry man was, seemingly ready to start some trouble. Start it, he did. He began a tirade that would make Danny Bonaduce proud.
He went on for about five minutes or more, repeatedly invoking the "I don't want to be rude" comment. I managed to get in "Sir, you ARE being rude."
He seemed as if he were talking to hear himself complain. Even though it was well before 9pm, he felt he was justified in complaining in such a disrespectful manner.
This "genius" makes me laugh hysterically, because I often compare him to my eleven year-old . Even SHE knows that temper tantrums get absolutely NOTHING done...and she figured it out before she completed a year on this earth.
Why, oh why, can't a grown man....uh....dare I say....GROW UP?
Screaming to the top of one's lungs, throwing things across the room, breaking everything in sight, and even worse, hurting someone, gets absolutely NOTHING done...except maybe creating a astronomically large repair bill. Not to mention everyone who encounters the misfortune of witnessing the whirlwind of anger making like a cartoon Tasmanian devil (Taz), wreaking havoc from one side of the TV screen to the other...all begin to either recommend a therapist, or they avoid Mr. Temperamental altogether.
I'm no fool. I know what goes through this man's mind. He wants to be heard, paid attention to, and recognized for his thoughts and feelings.
So...his best strategy is to go down in memory as the childish (sorry, ) adult who is unwilling to take the mature approach.
We cannot NOT communicate. Everything we do sends a message to those around us. The message this guy is unwittingly conveying is "I don't want you to talk to me". The kicker is that the mind doesn't use negatives. Take the "don't" out of the phrase, and you have the REAL thought.
"I want you to talk to me."
The guy probably just needs a hug. Even though most of us would rather give him a kick in the ass or a punch in the nose, what he really wants is communication.
What can be really difficult is breaking destructive habits, even though they obviously serve no purpose.
The good news is that his tantrum never exceeded anything verbal, and after saying his piece, he stomped back upstairs, leaving my friend feeling guilty, even though she had committed no wrongdoing.
It's easy to redirect the responsibility of one's actions by pointing the finger at someone else. What is NOT always easy, is speaking your mind in a dignified manner while firmly standing your ground.
But, if he keeps doing what he's always done, he'll always get what he always got.
GLC
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GLC Presents: Real Women of "Genius" #15
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Posted:Jul 12, 2009 9:14 pm
Last Updated:Jul 19, 2009 10:24 pm
1933 Views
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GLC Presents: Real Women of "Genius" #15
Today, I salute you, Ms. Email Me For More Information
It seems that the flirts from women thousands of miles away just aren't getting my attention, so the fake profile makers have begun a different strategy.
Now, it's come down to the fake profiles leaving fake testimonials. Not only that, but they also conveniently include their email addresses and messenger I.D.s so that I may chat with them. They tell me, "Email me, and I'll send you more info."
Oh, gee. Let me think for a second. How would THAT scenario turn out? I give them my information and a few days later, not only do I NOT get a reply from the other end, I suddenly have a hundred more "geniuses" sending me junk email.
I'm sorry. I don't need Viagra. I'm not interested in cheap pharmaceuticals from another country, and I DEFINITELY am NOT interested in winning the UK lottery.
Oh, and to the "barrister" that keeps sending me the "urgent" emails about my long-lost "relative", I say this. Your day is coming, pal.
People are growing tired of having their time wasted, and I'm one that loathes passing a single second on something or someone that just isn't real.
Someday, the administrators of this site will figure out a way to block the fake profiles completely. Until then, I'll keep reporting every fake testimonial I get, and every fake email I receive.
I urge everyone to do the same.
GLC
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GLC Presents: Real Men of
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Posted:Jul 5, 2009 11:49 am
Last Updated:Apr 29, 2024 5:10 am
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GLC Presents: Real Men of "Genius" #45, Mr. I'll Do Anything For Love
Anything is a very powerful word. It's in the same league as never and forever. It doesn't leave any room for questions. It does, however, raise a very disturbing one.
Today, I salute you, Mr. I'll Do Anything for Love.
I sat at my computer, watching the posts of, "I'll do anything." roll by over and over. The muscles in my neck were put to the test as I continually shook my head in disgust. The worst part is, I knew that you had NO idea the damage you were doing.
She said "No, thanks" in response to your offer. You know, the polite version of "Leave me the hell alone"? She never gave a reason, nor did she have to, but you couldn't leave her alone. It seemed that even if she were to accept against her will, you would have no objections.
Presenting absolutely no hint of a challenge to potential mates, you bend to your would-be lover's will like a reed in hurricane winds. Puckering up to grace her buttocks with your lips is unfortunately the most creative idea that your desperate mind can conceive.
Nothing says not sexy like catering to her every whim, no matter how insanely outrageous it may seem. You perform any trick asked of you, just like a wanting a bone. More like a wanting TO bone.
Being a 'boy-toy' may surely have its benefits, but an over-used toy often ends up wearing out its welcome, or just plain wearing out. Either way, it goes into the pile of unwanted toys in the end, forgotten and alone, and in your case, still horny.
So keep up the submissive attitude, Mr. I'll Gladly Take Your Order, but don't expect an ounce of respect to fall your way.
When you will do ANYTHING for love, then you will have no boundaries, and nothing to define you. Respecting yourself is an option, but also choosing to not do so. I won't go into the details of good and evil, but if you'll do anything, then harming someone or yourself is not excluded.
Staying true to oneself isn't easy, but it IS worth doing.
I won't do ANYTHING for love, but I will do THAT.
GLC
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GLC Presents: Real Men of "Genius" #44, Mr. Compliment Overuser
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Posted:Jun 28, 2009 5:56 pm
Last Updated:Jun 29, 2009 10:08 am
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GLC Presents: Real Men of "Genius" #44
Today, I salute you, Mr. Compliment Overuser
I'm sure some of you have read the post I wrote about Mr. Overused Compliment User. This is one step worse, I would say. This is a "genius" who doesn't use the same old rehashed lines, rather he seems to not know when enough is enough.
I won't say that this guy is a bad person. In fact, he seems very polite to everyone he meets. Furthermore, he is very articulate when he speaks, conjuring up adjectives that would easily find their place in a Harlequin romance novel.
However, there comes a time when being polite seems a lot like sucking up, and as I've said before, you can't respect someone who kisses your ass.
Another alarming thought I might point out, is that many women are so jaded by the jerks they've encountered that they welcome such a refreshing change of pace. The bad part is that they realize too late that the Mr. Nice Guy routine gets old fast. The lack of a little mystery and suspense can quickly turn an interesting romance into the social equivalent of day-old doughnuts.
I've been the overly complimentary guy before, and I've also been the jerk. After some intensive soul-searching, it dawned upon me that when women find guys too predictable, they often lose interest. I've seen guys go out with women and spill their life story right away, expecting her to connect with him instantly. They save nothing for later, and the time together becomes a boring routine.
That, unfortunately, is what can be expected from this week's "genius". It will quickly become the same set of repeated compliments, and very soon his voice will fade into the crowd.
GLC
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GLC Presents: Real Men of "Genius" #43
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Posted:Jun 21, 2009 6:50 pm
Last Updated:Jun 23, 2009 12:10 pm
1809 Views
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GLC Presents: Real Men of "Genius" #43
Today, I salute you, Mr. Rate My Cock
I've been laughing about the actions of this week's "genius" since early in the week. Now, I'll try to summarize the experience while keeping a straight face.
It was early in the morning, at around 3am. The sun was somewhere below the horizon preparing to shed some light on a dark world.
Unfortunately, someone desperately needed to see the light.
This guy was telling the women, "Hey ladies, click my cam and rate my cock."
Now, I consider myself a pretty smart guy, and my above-average intelligence tells me that since we're not in a barnyard, he's not talking about anything that remotely resembles a rooster.
I can only guess what disturbing self-esteem issue might have provoked such a request. I've heard women describe guys' genitals in ways that make me almost lose my lunch. While talk of shrunken heads and California raisins abounds, one question enters my mind.
If a guy has to ask for approval, what exactly does that say about what he thinks of himself?
Judging by his actions, he's probably had a complaint or two in the past, and instead of letting them go, he took them way too seriously. Ultimately, we are by far our own worst critics, and the self-deprecating thoughts of someone who has a negative self-image can wreak more havoc on the self-esteem than a hammer smashing the finest crystal.
However, if I would give Mr. What Do You Think of My Penis? the benefit of the doubt, I would say that he's only looking for a bit of constructive criticism. But, far too often that is NOT the case. He's most likely looking for validation, and there's only one place he's going to find it.
Truth is, if he eliminates all the voices that have not spoken against his endowment, he will more than likely discover that the only person complaining is him.
GLC
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GLC Presents: Real Women of "Genius" #14
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Posted:Jun 14, 2009 2:07 pm
Last Updated:Aug 22, 2010 8:32 am
2406 Views
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GLC Presents: Real Women of "Genius" #14
Today, I salute you, Ms. She Should Be Ashamed of Herself.
In most cases, my posts have been teasing little rants that far too often turn into raving bitch sessions. This week, I'm going to delve into a fascinating subject that most people are terrified of.
Yourself.
First off, this post was inspired by a "genius" that felt the need to insult a young woman, saying she should be ashamed of herself because she happens to be a bit overweight. This person also happens to be a friend of mine, and in the numerous conversations I've had with her, she's told me about her efforts to lose a few pounds. However, her motivation is strictly for her, and no one else.
That brings me to my point. Everyone lives their lives for themselves. Even though it may seem like an insult is directed at someone, it truly stems from somewhere inside the offender. The need to try to tear someone else down in order to feel better about oneself is far too common in this world. The problem arises when they encounter someone who is immune to the attacks. Then, the attacker is forced to face themselves, and that is an adversary that never backs down.
I read a book once by a man named Don Miguel Ruiz. It entails the wise, yet simple teachings of the Toltecs. In their philosophy, there are four agreements by which to live. If you can master them all, you can master your life. The book is properly titled The Four Agreements.
I will quote from the book so that his opinions are not confused with my own.
1. Be impeccable with your word. Speak with integrity. Say only what you mean. Avoid using the word to speak against yourself or to gossip about others. Use the power of your word in the direction of truth and love.
2. Don't take anything personally. Nothing others do is because of you. What others say is a projection of their own reality, their own dream. When you are immune to the opinions and actions of others, you won't be the victim of needless suffering.
3. Don't make assumptions. Find the courage to ask questions and to express what you really want. Communicate with others as clearly as you can to avoid misunderstandings, sadness, and drama. With just this one agreement, you can completely transform your life.
4. Always do your best. Your best is going to change from moment to moment; it will be different when you are healthy as opposed to sick. Under any circumstance, simply do your best, and you will avoid self-judgment, self-abuse, and regret.
Yes, life IS that simple.
Keep in mind that breaking any one of the Four Agreements doesn't mean you throw your hands up in defeat. Just like a baby learning to walk, you're going to stumble or fall. We learn by repetition, by making mistakes and adjusting our behavior using the new knowledge. Start each day anew, and if you break one of the agreements, then try harder the next day. It gets easier as time passes, and with diligent effort, anyone can become their own master.
So, I say to the lady who is out there tossing around the insults like a volleyball on the beach...instead of pointing out the faults that you see in others, take a look in a mirror, if you dare, and discover your own.
We all have something about ourselves we want to change. You obviously believe that you have no imperfections.
You're not fooling anyone but yourself.
You're definitely not fooling me.
So, I say, shame on YOU.
GLC
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GLC Presents: Real Men of "Genius" #42, Mr. I'm A Man
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Posted:Jun 7, 2009 9:55 pm
Last Updated:Jun 22, 2009 5:07 pm
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GLC Presents: Real Men of "Genius" #42, Mr. I'm A Man
I know there are some guys out there who have their own specific definition of what it is to be a man. Recently, I came across someone who believed, for some strange reason, that if you don't have a hairy chest, then you're not a man.
Today, I salute you, Mr. I'm A Man
There are lots of human beings of the male gender in this world, but I would be the first to dispute the right to have the title of man bestowed upon some of the "geniuses" I've met.
There are countless opinions about what makes a man a man. Some would say that a guy has to be tough, and be able to handle himself in a fight. Others would support that simply crossing the threshold of eighteen years makes all the difference. Even worse, there are far too many that proudly stand up to be counted when the issue of manhood seems to center around their "manhood".
Some years ago, a band called Boston wrote a song about what they believed it takes to be a man. It's not necessary to post all the lyrics, just the ones that matter.
What does it take to be a man?
What does it take to see it's a heart and soul, a gentle hand?
So easy to want and so hard to give.
How can you be a man 'til you see beyond the life you live?
We can be blind, but a man tries to see.
It takes tenderness for a man to be what he can be.
And what does it mean if you're weak or strong?
A gentle feelin' can make it right or make it wrong.
The will to give and not receive.
The strength to say what you believe.
The heart to feel what others feel inside.
To see what they can see.
A man is somethin' that's real.
It's not what you are
It's what you can feel.
It can't be too late
To look through the hate
And see.
I know that's what a man can be.
I strongly, and wholeheartedly believe that being a man has nothing to do with what's outside. It may sound cheesy, but it is what you carry in your soul that really matters. In my opinion, it takes more of a man to walk away from a fight than it does to engage in one. It takes a man to care when no one else seems to give a damn. And when it comes to size, the only size that matters is the power of his heart.
There is so much pressure to be "macho" that often guys try too hard to start a pissing contest. The insecurities of not fitting in can cause a guy to make grave mistakes. Bragging can lead to threats, which can lead to a conflict that, once started, may never be resolved.
I'm reminded of a quote from someone who would never dare have his manhood challenged.
"If I tell you I'm good, you'll think I'm bragging. If I tell you I'm not, then you'll know I'm lying."
He was the greatest fighter there ever was, but it was his heart that made him a man.
His name was Bruce Lee.
No one had to tell him what it took to be a man, and no one should have to tell you.
GLC
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