Cutting Edge - Educational Excellence Part 4

Here is another example of excellence in education and people trying to make a positive difference.

http://www.teachforamerica.org/

http://www.usnews.com/articles/education/k-12/2008/03/05/what-is-teach-for-america-really-like.html

Thought for the Day - Never Too Late

"It's never too late to rewrite the story of your life"
Man in the Chair

Personal Ramblings - You Can't Do What?

Think about this next time you argue for your limitations and what you can't do...

Thought for the Day - No Excuses

"I attribute my success to this - I never gave or took any excuse."
Florence Nightingale

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos 2009 # 2- We Weren't Crazy

Or maybe I was.......

Sundays Eclectic Music Video - 2009 # 1 - Big Mama Thorton

Thanks to Paul Jackson

Saturday's Motivational Video - Motivation in Tough Times

Personal Ramblings - Put it in Perspective

You have to watch this. it is hilarious and so true....

Thought for the Day - Don't Try, Just Do it

"Trying is lying. There is no such thing as trying. You do
it or you don't. You get results in life or you have
excuses why you didn't. When people say,
'I'll try,' they usually mean, 'I'm not
going to do it now.'"
— Dick Sutphen:

Personal Ramblings - Red Carpet Premiere "American Identity"

My family was invited to a red carpet screening of "American Identity" by a good friend Martha at Entertainment Post. Her husband and his friends who are active duty Marines attended as well. My family enjoyed the film and the people we met there.

The Premiere of "American Identity" was to Honor Our Troops & Support Families Of Fallen Soldiers

The evening included a special message from President Barack Obama:
“We honor them not only because they are guardians of our liberty, but because they embody the spirit of service; a willingness to find meaning in something greater than themselves. And yet, at this moment—a moment that will define a generation—it is precisely this spirit that must inhabit us all.” ~ President Barack Obama

Melissa Gilbert, Jon Voight and other Hollywood notables joined the American Identity stars Todd Allen, Jesse Garcia, Ileana Oliver, Allen Nabors, Marshall Teague and Jon Paul for an evening that honored the men and women of the United States military, and the families who support them.

American Identity, was written and directed by Stephen Rollins. American Identity follows the lives of two soldiers, best friends, who are sent to Afghanistan following the attacks of September 11th and portrays the impact on their families as these events unfold.

The evening benefited the Children of Fallen Soldiers Relief Fund, a non-profit 501(c) 3 organization that provides college grants and financial assistance to surviving children and spouses of our U.S. military service members who have lost their lives in the Iraq and Afghanistan wars. http://www.cfsrf.org/

Thought for the Day - Use your Gifts

"We never lose our gifts - only our opportunity to open them"
From film "Man in the Chair"

Thought for the Day - I'm Gonna Work Harder

"I'm a Survivor
I'm Not Gonna Give Up
I'm not gon' stop
I'm gonna work harder
I'm a survivor
I'm gonna make it
I will survive
Keep on Surviving"
Beyonce

Cutting Edge - Education Excellence Part 3

Here are some interesting websites about examples of educational excellence.

The first one I read about in the book "A Whole New Mind" by Daniel Pink

Charter High School for Architecture and Design - Philadelphia

http://www.chadphila.org/

The second I read about in the book "Make the Impossible Possible" by Bill Strickland

http://www.bill-strickland.org/

The third I read about in the book " I Choose to Stay" by Salome Thomas-EL

http://www.ichoosetostay.com/

And the final teacher Sam Calavitta I read about in the LA Times

http://www.latimes.com/news/local/orange/la-me-calculus8-2009mar08,0,3992127.story

All of these represent excellent institutions and teachers that make a difference and demonstrate what is possible. We can learn a lot from them....

Thought for the Day - Do It Right

"Do One Thing and Do It the Best You Can"
Harry Snyder - In-Out Burger

Personal Ramblings - Success Magazine

A personal recommendation: If your not a subscriber you should subscribe to Success Magazine.

Also check out the Success Symposium is March 28th in Dallas.

Click http://www.successmagazine.com/symposium and watch the video.

Tell them I sent you.

Thought for the Day - Commit to Better Tomorrow

"How am I going to live today in order to create the tomorrow I'm committed to?"

--Tony Robbins

Sundays Eclectic Music Video - 2009 # 2 - You're the Only One

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos 2009 # 1 The Heat is On

Another Blast from the Past....

Saturday's Motivational Video - Adversity

Personal Ramblings - Ch...Ch...Changes.... China

My life hasn't followed a direct path, it's been a life of walking through open doors and turning corners. I have recreated myself many times. This picture was me (I"m in black with cap in middle) from a much earlier period in my life when I was a 26 year old high school drop out leading a delegation of youth to the People's Republic of China.

I have recreated my life a few times since then but looking back it's been a fascinating journey from the South Bronx to China to Hollywood to.......

And I'm still running against the wind...... And my greatest days are still ahead of me.

Thought for the Day - Read Books

"Read Books. Read Books!. Read books!"
Herman Wouk

"I read books like A Rod takes steroids"
John Duffy

Personal Ramblings - Mugshots

I ran across this awhile ago. An interesting book about some people who chose a different path than the one they were on and created a more successful life. Check it out...




http://www.mugshotsthebook.com/

Thought for the Day - Life's Theme Songs

What three - five songs would you pick as your life's theme songs?

Here are four of mine:

1.Never Give Up on a Dream - Rod Stewart

What dreams have you given up on? It's never too late to start again. Never quit......

2. Lose Yourself - Eminem


3. It's My Life - Bon Jovi


4. Running Against the Wind - Bob Seeger

Thought for the Day - Keep Your Eyes on the Prize

Such is the path of the misbegotten fool that they see only the crumbs in front of themselves and not the feast at the end of the journey.
Anonymous - Thanks to Max

Happy St. Patrick's Day

I have very fond memories of going to the St Patrick's Parade in New York every year with my mother Ann when I was a kid living in the Bronx. Last year I spent St Patrick's Day in Foxford Ireland at a very special reunion of my family. It was my first time in Ireland and very magical. A few months before, my cousin Sharon in the UK found us through the Internet and reunited us with our family that we never thought we would ever find. A St Patrick Day miracle. So here's to my newly discovered and large family.
I now have family in Ireland, England, Germany, Australia, Canada, and here in the USA.
So on this St Patrick's Day....Up the "O'Donnell's, Duffy's, Burton's, Cassini's, Quinn's, Prescott's, Foran's and Up the Irish
and Slainte........

St Patrick's Day - Music

Happy St Patrick's Day

Personal Ramblings - Kung Fu Wu Su

I just came across this on the internet and it brought back some great memories. Grand Master Alan Lee introduced Kung Fu Wu Su to the US in 1968. I was a sixteen year old kid living in the South Bronx at the time and some how I discovered his school on 28th St in Manhattan and started studying there under the Master Alan Lee and instructor George Hudson.

Every Saturday together with my best friend at the school we would head to Chinatown after class to watch Chinese martial arts films in Chinese. This was a couple of decades before Crouching Tiger.

I spent two 1/2 years (1968-1970) studying martial arts until I was injured sparring with two instructors. The school is still in the same building on 28th Street in Manhattan.

I've carried the lessons I learned there with me for a lifetime. It was one of the defining experiences in my life.



http://www.kungfu-wusu.com/

http://www.kungfu-wusu.com/gallery-motion.php?vidNum=3&vidType=qt#mainpic

Thought for the Day - Don't Be a Pessimist

"I've never seen a monument erected to a pessimist."
Paul Harvey

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos 2009 # 2 - I Won't Back Down

Sundays Eclectic Music Video - 2009 # 1 - Many Rivers to Cross

Jimmy Cliff

Saturday's Motivational Videos - Marlon Smith

A few years ago I was part of the staff at Anthony Robbin's Discovery Camp in San Diego where Marlon Smith spoke. It was an amazing, challenging and transformational camp. I met with a lot of great people and connected and bonded with one deeply, Stephen D. Sherman. He was an a great man, a dentist, a father and a motivator. He helped me when on the last day of the camp I blew out my achilles. Unfortunately we would lose him a year later to cancer. He'll be missed but always in many people's hearts.
I especially remember how the young people were touched and transformed and the role Marlon Smith played in it.

Thought for the Day - Perspective

"In times like these, it helps to recall that there have always been times like these."
Paul Harvey

Thought for the Day - Change

"Most people can't or won't change, but a few can and do. Are you one of the few that can and will change?"

I was watching the TV show "Lie to Me" and they were addressing this issue. The next day I was listening to a motivational CD with Leadership expert John Maxwell and he was talking about how you shouldn't send ducks to eagle school because even when they graduate they are still ducks. He went on to address how you can bring out the best in people but you can't make someone what they are not.

This is a reality that some of us have a hard time accepting. We would like to believe we can change anyone but rarely does it happen,

Thought for the Day - Who you are?

"Who or What made you who you are?" "Who are you?"

Have you ever thought about it? What is your identity? How narrow or broad is your identity? Think about it.

Thought for the Day - Lemonade from Lemons

It is the worst of times, it is the best of times. I couldn’t help taking Charles Dickens’ words and description of the French Revolution and twisting them to fit the occasion.

This may very well be the worst of times financially and economically. On Monday, the Dow Jones industrial average sunk 300 points to its lowest levels since 1997...... we have collectively declared war on complacency. We’ve decided to make a silk purse from a sow’s ear, lemons from lemonade, good times from bad.

International Living

The above comes from an email of InternationalLiving.com . Yes we are living in tough times but it's all about your mindset. Are you going to give up or look for opportunities. Are you going to whine or turn lemons into lemonade. Your choice.....

Thought for the Day - Act Now

"Act on your ideas. Now. 'Money likes speed'
Joe Vitale

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos 2009 # 2 - A Whiter Shade of Pale

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos 2009 # 1 - House of the Rising Sun

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - It's My Life

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 - Stand By Me

Saturday's Motivational Videos - Joseph McClendon III

I met Joseph McClendon a a few years ago and participated in a some programs with him, I"ve seen him speak and motivate. Check him out.

Personal Ramblings - Operation Repo

Some people say there are no coincidences and yesterday might of been one of those moments. I was in line at the High Def expo and the guy in front of me struck up a conversation. You know the usual, "What do you do etc". For some reason I asked him where he was from and he said the Bronx. That caught my attention and I asked him where in the Bronx and he said 137th and Willis Ave. Hmm coincidence? I told him I grew up four blocks away on 141st and Willis Ave. A connection was made and we continued to talk and he gave me his card which has a USMC logo on it. I asked him about his experience with the Marines and shared my recent experience filming with them.
Now this is back story to learning about Lou Pizzaro who has a reality show on the air "Operation Repo" and just completed a movie based on his life as a Repo Man. Fascinating story, interesting guy. His show reminds me of Dog Chapman "Bounty Hunter", who I met years ago at a Tony Robins seminar in Hawaii.

Check out his website and his show.

Just a warning, The trailer has some minor adult language in the song.

http://www.egaproductions.com/?ega=operacion_repo

http://www.trutv.com/shows/operation_repo/index.html

Thought for the Day - Seeds

"Take note of the seeds planted in your life. Some seeds grow into beautiful flowers and others weeds." Make sure you cultivate the right seeds."
JD

Thought for the Day - Tough Get Going

"When the going gets tough the tough get going"
Anonymous

In these times of uncertainty, economic decline and fear how are you going to respond? I challenge you to ignore the fear and look for opportunities. Don't follow the crowd. Be tougher and get going

Thought for the Day - Diamonds and Pressure

Each time you are under pressure, remember pressure made diamonds! And you know diamonds are forever!
BTM

Personal Ramblings - Freedom

Just watched the ABC 20/20 show about the freeing of the 3 Americans hostages from their captives the FARC terrorist/guerillas in Columbia. A story like this increases my appreciation of the freedoms we enjoy. Check it out at ABC website.....

http://abcnews.go.com/search?searchtext=columbia%20hostage&type=

Thought for the Day - Courage

Courage is what it takes to stand up and speak; courage is also what it takes to sit down and listen.
Winston Churchill

Personal Ramblings - Mind Blowing

Check this video out. It is mind blowing. Part of me would love to do this and part of me say's you got to be crazy. Amazing what human's are capable of....

http://vimeo.com/moogaloop.swf?clip_id=1778399&server=vimeo.com&sho

Thanks to Tom Hill's Eaglezine

Thought for the Day - Raise the Bar - Teach Excellence

When you teach someone something, don’t teach him to be just as good as you. Teach him to be even better!
BTM

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 2 Bob Marley

Sunday's Eclectic Music Videos # 1 Love Me If You Can

Toby Keith