A Complaint Free World

My friend, Margaret McMullen, introduced me to www.AComplaintFreeWorld.org a few months ago. What a cool idea! They will send you a free purple bracelet. You put it on one wrist, and anytime you complain, you move it to the other wrist. Your goal is to wear it on the same wrist for 21 days in a row. (It's been long rumored that if you stick with a behavior for 21 days that it will become a habit.)

I purchased 200 bracelets for the Tampa Bay Computer Society. Many of our members have taken the challenge along with me to live for 21 complaint-free days in a row. We've had a lot of fun trying to promote a bit of enlightenment in our worlds.

A strict interpretation of complaint violations would include not only complaints, but also gossiping and criticizing. While that seems a daunting task to some, it's between you and your conscience how strictly you interpret the rules.

I have monitored all 3 of those behaviors, and I'm very pleased how much I have improved in all of them. However, complaining itself was a main flaw. I was able to eliminate many complaints within just a few weeks.

I'm talking about the kind where you meet a friend or stranger and start making conversation about the bad weather, the bad economy, the bad news, etc. Watch carefully, and you will see that many people initiate a conversation by complaining about something that they expect you will agree with. In other words, it's often merely a conversational gambit.

After I had mostly defeated the easy complaints, I've been working on the others also. The most I've managed to keep the bracelet in place is 15 days. I'm guessing that it may take another year or two for me to make it all the way.

It's a great way to raise your consciousness.

Peace On Earth

Global Orgasm Day Has Come

Well, the question of the moment is, "Did the collection of orgasms register on the meter?"  The answer is, "Inconclusive."  Rats!

How fascinating it would have been if the effect would have been measurable, but, alas, didn't appear to be statistically significant.  Roger Nelson, the director of the Global Consciousness Project said that more events of this kind will be needed for statistical analysis to be meaningful.

The Global Orgasm group asks that we continue to dedicate our orgasms to world peace throughout the coming year.  Now, maybe I'm being a little selfish, but I have other places to dedicate those orgasms to.  I think I've exhausted my world peace donation for the moment.

The Second Annual GlobalOrgasm for Peace is already scheduled for December 22, 2007.  Some of you should probably start saving up now.  <grin>

The Donald Revisited

Sorry to see that Donald couldn't let Rosie's uncharitable remarks go without comment.  While he has the right to defend himself, she's not worth it.  Wow did the media go overboard on this issue.  Who cares?

The Compassion of Donald Trump

I was so pleased today when I happened to view the press conference that revealed that Tara Conner (Miss USA) would keep her job.  The Donald said that he believes in second chances.

Sometimes second chances are warranted.  Hopefully, this young lady will rise to the occasion now that she gets a new start.  I wish you well Tara Conner.  It was a very classy thing that you did today Mr. Trump.  Thank You.

Global Orgasm: December 22nd

Isn't that special...? You are all invited to join in the fun. I don't have a lot of time this morning so this will be a brief summary of what the "GlobalO" is all about.

Princeton University hosts the "Global Consciousness Project". They have seeded a network of devices (called EGGs) around the world. It is hoped that the EGGs can, in a manner of speaking, detect changes in global consciousness that may occur during emotionally charged world events. It's quite a bit more complex than my unsatisfying description, but you get the idea. Please click on the above link if you're interested in either the technical details or the concept of global consciousness.

Along comes the "Global Orgasm" people. They are promoting that on December 22nd (the winter solstice) we all spend a few moments during and after an orgasm with our thoughts directed toward peace. No, there is no attempt to correlate the time of this event (tough enough for two people to synchronize let alone globally).

It is hoped that the focus of energy charged with emotion will be measurable within the EGG network. Now, I LOVE scientific experimentation. I am more than ready to step up for science. I can't wait to see if a world full of orgasms can be detected in any form. And, finally, the potential for humor is enormous: Ladies, faking it won't make the grade here.

and so it goes...

The kindness of President Bush 41 (the father)

I'm far from a fan of either our 41 or our 43 presidents, but while reading the father's book, "All the Best, George Bush" I was touched by several of his missives. The book is a collection of letters he has written over the years. I'm excerpting one here that I thought was notable.

President Bush wrote the following note to Ann Devroy. Ann was a White House reporter who was frequently in an adversarial position with the administration. She ultimately was felled by cancer.

"I was the out-of-touch president, the wimp. But now I am out of it, happy in my very private life, away from the arena; and you are on leave fighting a battle that far transcends the battles of the political wars. Strangely, wonderfully, I feel close to you now. I want you to win this battle. I want that same toughness that angered me and frustrated me to a fare-thee-well at times to see you through your fight."