How to get world peace: Maybe we should pay for it?

It seems nowadays money rules everything. Any powerful special interest group that has a ton of money funding it seems to get their agenda passed through on Capital Hill and occasionally when they create a serious problem, like oh let's say the current economic crisis, nobody gets into trouble. Too may powerful people who protect the people that make things happen on Capital hill.  Trillions lost on sub prime mortgages and derivative whatever those were? No problem. We will bail out the economy so everyone can continue the American dream and still think the two car garage and white picket fence means prosperity.
So my thought is.  If those powerful special interests are what really runs the show, the only way to compete is to provide more money to the power brokers and politicians to enact a better agenda.  One such area is when it comes to military intervention.  People complain they cannot understand how we could spend billions every year fighting wars we cannot win and how we should spend that money elsewhere, stop putting young men and women in harms way and interfering with the internal conflicts of far away nations like Afghanistan where the majority of people still think and act as if we were in the 12th century..

Well clearly nothing has worked. There must be powerful vested interests in keeping these conflicts going. Obama appears to be taking steps to end those wars but he may not even be around when the troops start coming home and who knows what the next President may decide to do.

SO what is the answer? More protests? Nobody really cares anymore anyway.  NOW don't get me wrong. I am not a pacifist or isolationist. We still need bases and a presence in many hot spots of the world which costs money.  My concern are about active conflicts where we have so far not prevailed and it does not appear we will do so yet our industrial military complex continues to thrive while our debt goes up and our economy not to mention our brave troops suffer hardship.

So my idea is this : Give every politician two million dollars worth of perks: advances on books they will write after they retire, free jets and luxury resort vouchers for vacations, speaking engagements and any other way to provide them the funds to get the troops home and not ever vote for future military engagement except int he case of clear self-defense (Like Iran having a nuclear weapon they could use to start WWIII).
I almost guarantee they will find a way to end those conflicts sooner and bring peace to America. It might seem expensive or a bit absurd but it makes more sense than just having another protest, burning incense and dancing around another drum circle.  People listen to those who have power and to have power in Washington, you better have a lot of green.

Mark

Movie blog : Subject: Attractive masculine characters Part I

Hey everyone.  In addition to the blogs on value and fitness, I'd be curious to get your input on a subject almost everyone can relate to, movies. Summer's end draws closer and this is the time when I often find myself getting acquainted again with the movie theater as outdoor activities tend to be fewer and far between.


A subject that has always fascinated me is that of movies which epitomize masculine & feminine qualities. So with this blog I will start with the masculine and pose the question: which movies really exemplify the modern masculine guy? Do you think there has been a top ten list of movies that really discuss this in detail?

Probably but I do not recall seeing one.  Keep in mind I am not just looking for an all around great movie or the ones that most people have even heard of rather movies that feature a character or several that embody strong masculine figures throughout the ages.

So with that said, here is a partial list.  Feel free to add more and include clips of your favorite scenes.

First has to be Wild Orchid.  The authors seem to have a keen understanding of looks, body language, witty banter and smooth behavior all wrapped up in the character Mickey Rourke (James Wheeler) plays in Wild Orchid. I have watched this movie at least 10 times and watch it at least once a year if not more.

Sure the plot is a bit hokey and far fetched but it's the scenes where he is subtly charming or should I say, seducing her that got my attention.

This movie did not receive the rave reviews that 9 1/2 weeks did and yet I think any woman watching this will understand when I say that every guy should watch this film and take notes! :-)  And I am really curious to get your thoughts. What is it about Mickey Rourke's character that she finds so seductive?

In a separate blog I might break down what he is doing and why it is important in this scene which I call the 'perfect dinner date".
For anyone who believes old fashioned dating over dinner can't work, please watch carefully. It still can be very alluring and charming if done correctly, smoothly and elegantly.



 http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3LZjZ9HNXqA

Need a nap but there's NO Time?? - Read this, it might change your life

Today's world we live in is so hectic, I remember hating nap time in kindergarten and now I wish I could have a nice long one every afternoon. Fortunately, I have a work schedule that allows me flexibility to do that especially when I am working from home.
Yet even with that I still find myself busy as ever and there just never seems to be a good time for it. I don't know about you but I also find it sometimes difficult to then recharge myself afterwards and evening plans suddenly get cancelled or severely delayed.

Well as part of my overall self-improvement kick I have been on for about 5 years now, I discovered these short meditation / guided hypnosis tracks that can be played on any MP3 player.  Although they were designed to address specific areas like having better self-esteem, improving memory or concentration, getting a quick "charge" but what I have found they work great for is quick, restful SLEEP!

Most of them are anywhere from 10 minutes to about 25 minutes so they are short, are designed to wake you back up at the end of the session and because of the way they are designed, often you can get the equivalent of a nap of several hours in less than half an hour without being too groggy. Now I would suggest you have access to coffee or an energy drink afterwards particularly if you have to return to work or some other focused activity as you will be a little groggy, otherwise I have found these mp3 tracks invaluable to being able to keep up a hectic schedule of socializing late, getting up early for work, hitting the gym and then repeating the next night.

Does it work every time? Listen sometimes your body just needs rest and getting to bed early for a full night's sleep is the only way to go BUT for me I would say about 80% of the time this simple change has had an enormous impact on the quality of my life.

Whereas many nights I would be so tired I could barely stay awake to watch TV or read a book, I can not only go out but have energy, stay up fairly late and still function the next morning.  Seriously, if you find that you are just drained in the evening, missing out on fun social events because you're too tired to make it out or if you do, just not enjoying yourself because you are so exhausted, you owe it to yourself and others to try this.

You should be able to find these at the websites of the people who made them. If not, email me and I will talk to you about ways to obtain them or borrow mine! The best way for me is to lye on my couch with my feet up slightly and listen to them, usually just one is fine although if I am really wiped out I might listen to two in a row.

If you are lucky enough to have a cool boss maybe you can do this after lunch in the break room. If not definitely try to stop at home and do this before going out. It's also a great pick me up on weekends if like me, you love to go work out extra hard and need that down time to charge up for a fun evening out on the town.

Here is a partial list:. OK I am outta here after a good nap to make it a great Friday Night!!

The name of the artist is Paul Scheele and the specific tracks I use are:

1) Ten minute super charger (really great for a super power rest)
2) Instantaneous Personal Magnetism
3) Self Esteem Super Charger


I have two others which were given to me so I do not know the origin but am always happy to simply let you 'borrow' them :-)

Until next time, remember that to take care of and be a great person to others, first you have to take great care of yourself.

Mark

Biz1markie@gmail.com