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#1426

1.8.2024


In this issue


1. Reflections

2. Invites

3. FYI

4. Joke 1

5. Reviews

6. TV alert

7. Joke 2

8. Clips/Websites

9. Technology tip

10. Joke 3

11. Three quotes I like

12. Thought for the day

A. Cynthia, my beautiful bride, and I welcomed 2024 in fine fashion!

B. We had a blast at a party hosted by our friend Bonnie Sibner. In the top photos, that's Bonnie (left), Tom Gallagher (center) and Marcy Gallagher (right)--all playing a fun game called Fishbowl. The bottom picture shows several of the partygoers in disguise.

C. The next day, we went to see THE COLOR PURPLE. (See Section 5B for my review of the film.)

D. Afterward, we we all had some delicious meals at Farm Burger where we played another fun game: Two Truths and a Lie.

E. Kismet, our amazing cat, welcomed in the New Year with some of his friends.

E. I had the pleasure of hosting Sonya Jones--Executive Director, Caja Solidaria--on my BLAINESWORLD webcast this past week. To see or listen to it, click: Here and look for the episode dated 1.3.2024. 

F. Condolences to Charlie Ianni on the passing of Rob, her fiancé.


G. Congratulations to:


(1) Daniel Svoboda on his first book signing for BOUNCY WOUNCY MARTY. It will be at Esteamed Coffee in downtown Cary, NC, on Jan. 17 from 1-2 p.m.


(2) Shane Dean on being featured on the cover of VOUS Magazine.


H. Announcing this week's ..


***** BLAINESWORLD BEST AWARD *****


This week, it goes to Fairlife Core Power High Protein Milk Shakes.


With 42 grams of protein per serving in the 14-ounce bottle and 26 grams of protein per serving in the 11.5-ounce bottle, these milkshakes are an excellent source of high-quality protein that can help support muscle growth and recovery after exercise.


Another great feature of Fairlife Core Power High Protein Milk Shakes is their use of ultra-filtered milk, which provides a rich and creamy taste without the need for added sugars. 


Fairlife Core Power High Protein Milk Shakes are also gluten-free and lactose-free, making them a great choice for those with dietary restrictions or sensitivities. Additionally, they are low in fat and calories, making them a healthier alternative to traditional milkshakes and other high-calorie beverages.


The shakes come in vanilla, chocolate and strawberry flavors, and they all have an excellent taste.


For more information, click: Here.

2. Invites


A. Announcing ...


***** CONTEST #! (for 2024) ***** 


But first, the results from Contest #18. There were 18 entries. David Broshar, Babs Mountjoy and Mary Jo Leonard were the winner. Each will receive a package with three spice blends from Karen's Spice Kitchen.


For this latest contest, four lucky readers will win my just published joke book: BLAINESWORLD Best Jokes: Volume 3.


To quote the Amazon description:

Step into the uproarious universe of Blaine Greenfield with "BLAINESWORLD Best Jokes Volume 3," a side-splitting anthology curated from the best jokes and memes featured on his BLAINESWORLD.Net website and social media. This book encapsulates the essence of Blaine's wit and humor, offering readers a delightful journey through a myriad of comedic styles.


From clever one-liners to relatable anecdotes, "BLAINESWORLD Best Jokes Volume 3" showcases the diverse range of humor that has made Blaine a renowned figure in the world of comedy and wit. As the brains behind the popular website, BLAINESWORLD.Net and the charismatic host of the similarly named webcast series on YouTube and various podcast platforms, Blaine Greenfield brings his comedic genius to the forefront, delivering a collection that is bound to leave readers in stitches.


Whether you're a devoted follower of BLAINESWORLD or a newcomer to the laughter-filled realm, "BLAINESWORLD Best Jokes Volume 3" promises to be a timeless addition to your collection, offering an abundance of joy and entertainment.


Share the laughter with friends and family as you embark on a journey through these humor-packed pages. "BLAINESWORLD Best Jokes Volume 3" is not just a book of jokes; it's a celebration of the universal language of laughter, expertly curated by the incomparable Blaine Greenfield. Get ready for a rollercoaster of laughs that will keep you entertained from the first page to the last.


To enter the contest, send an email to: bginbc@aol.com and put CONTEST #1 in the subject line. Include your name and mailing address in the body of the email. All entries must be received on or before 9 p.m. on Monday, Jan. 22, 2024.


B. Want to be a guest on my BLAINESWORLD webcast? It can now be seen on YouTube or you can listen to it on your favorite webcast player.


Even if you've been a guest before, I'd welcome the opportunity to speak with you again. I now tape via Zoom, usually in the early evening.


For more information about the webcast, click: Here.


If you have news you'd like to share and/or a story to tell, send an email to: bginbc@aol.com and put GUEST in the subject line. In the body of the email, include both your name and phone number.


C. Are you interested in shows, movies, TV, etc.? ... If so, I encourage you to join a group I've formed on Facebook that's called Entertainment. To do so, all you need to do is follow the instructions when you click: Here.


D. Come join Cynthia for the course she'll be teaching for Arms Around ASD this week: Move Your Body on Wednesday via Zoom or in person.


To attend this course and/or any other that is being offered, scroll down to Calendar when you click: Here.

3. FYI



Harvard psychologist: If you say ‘yes’ to any of these 9 questions, you’re ‘more emotionally secure than most’

by Dr. Cortney Warren


Emotionally secure people feel empowered, confident and safe. They live authentically and stick to their own values and beliefs, even when doing so may rub others the wrong way.


As a Harvard-trained psychologist, I’ve seen how emotional security can also help people have more gratitude for the good in their lives, as well as be more creative, spontaneous and free.


For the questions, click: Here/

4. Joke 1

Happens at our home, too, when Kismet meows that he wants something. (Thanks, Katherine Morisani, for sharing.)

5. Reviews

A. I've long been a fan of books by motivational speaker Brian Biro.

 

That said, I think his latest may well be his best: LESSONS FROM THE LEGENDS: NEW APPLICATIONS FROM THE TIMELESS WISDOM OF JOHN WOODEN & PAT SUMMITT.

 

Biro effectively uses Summitt’s Definite Dozen Principles and Wooden’s Pyramid of Success to show how they can be applied to most any aspect of life. You don't to be a basketball coach (or even a sports fan) to start putting to use what you'll get from reading this oh-so-enlightening book.

 

What I especially liked was how the author also used real-life examples of other famous people, including LeBron James, Reese Witherspoon, Peyton Manning, Oprah Winfrey, Michael Phelps and many others.

 

If you're looking for some motivation and/or seeking the perfect gift to get somebody, you won't go wrong with LESSONS FROM THE LEGENDS.


B. Cynthia liked THE COLOR PURPLE more than I did, and several of the group we went with liked it a lot. The musical version of the Broadway musical has fine performances by Fantasia Barrino, Taraji P. Henseon and Colman Domingo, but overall, it left me flat (except for the ending). And most the songs were completely forgettable. .... if you can, find the 1985 movie from Steven Spielberg. That was fantastic. Rated PG-13.


C. We both revisited LOVE ACTUALLY, now on Amazon, and loved it. This romantic comedy features an ensemble cast, composed predominantly of British actors, that delves into different aspects of love as shown through 10 separate stories. Among the performers who shined were Colin Firth, Hugh Grant, Laura Linney, Liam Neeson and Bill Nighy. Rated R. 


Note: LOVE ACTUALLY was already on my list of favorite films. If you'd like to get a copy of this list, send an email to: bginbc@aol.com and put FAVORITES in the subject line. 

6. TV alert

A. ARCHIE: Now on Prime Video

Cynthia and both liked this 4-part series about the man originally named Archibald Leach, born into poverty in Bristol in 1904, before becoming Hollywood's Cary Grant. Scenes set later, in the 1960s, feature Grant in Los Angeles with personal issues affecting his happiness despite international stardom and many box office hit movies. We thought Jason Isaccs was quite good in the leading role.


B. FUNNY WOMAN: Sunday, Jan. 7, at 10 p.m. on PBS

In Britain’s answer to The Marvelous Mrs. Maisel, Gemma Arterton (Quantum of Solace) brings wit and charm to the role of Barbara Parker, a Miss Blackpool beauty queen who trades in her postpageant life to become a sitcom star in incredibly sexist 1960s London.


C. SOCIETY OF THE SNOW: Now on Netflix

Director J.A. Bayona (Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom) recreates the true story of an Uruguayan rugby team who struggled to survive after their plane crashed in the remote Andes mountains in 1972. 


D. THE DREAMER (Dave Chappelle's new special): Now on Netflix

Prepare to be offended. 

7. Joke 2

Today's history lesson ... the very first match for this online dating service. (Thanks, Maria Alicia Medrano Armington, for sharing.)

A. The Turtles are arguably the greatest rock group of all time!

 

(1) As mentioned previously, this section will feature music by The Turtles--either their recordings and/or covers of their music by others.

 

I'd especially love to see any recording you may have done of "Happy Together."

 

Send it to: bginbc@aol.com and put THE TURTLES in the subject line.

 

Note: Even if you did not do a recording, I welcome anything done by others--not only of "Happy Together," but any other Turtles' song.

 

(2) For this week, please view this violin cover from Jesse & Jack: Here.


B. Video of the week


The following concert is as good as one you'll ever see ...


Harry Chapin - The Final Concert (1981) - full concert. To view it, click: Here. 


Note: if you were a Chapin fan, as I was, you'll also want to read this article about his life: Here.

 

C. And also check out these other clips at your convenience:


(1) Jimmy Soul - "If You Wanna Be Happy," one of my all-time favorites that I also like for the dancing: Here.


(2) Howard Smith: Hymns (1.7.2024): Here.


(3) Neil Ratner Rock Doc: Rock 'n' Roll Hall of Fame: Here.


(4) Note: Neil, at the end, mentions Aretha Franklin's "Respect." Here is a clip of her performing that classic: Here.


(5) A German Christmas Commercial Has People Weeping Around The World: Here. (Thanks, Tammy Garlock, for sharing.)


(6) Cynthia Erivo's powerhouse performance of 'Nothing Compares 2 U': Here. (Thanks, Mark Jones, for sharing.)


(7) Typical Family Dinner: Here. (Thanks, Bobbi Leoni, for sharing.)

 

(8) Wynton Marsalis and Eric play Layla: Here. (Thanks, Terri Crosby, for sharing.) 

 

D. Here's a website that you might want to check out:


Keep track of your spending and check on your credit score with Mint. They also give you tips on how to invest and take out loans while also providing you with free resources to help you along every step. See for yourself by clicking: Here.

 

E. BLAINESWORLD, the website, remains up and running . . . to view it, please click: Here.

.

F. Are you on Facebook? In the unlikely event we have not yet connected as friends there, please feel free to send me an invite by clicking: Here.

Note: The following contains a list you do NOT want to be on.


Top 200 Passwords – 2023

by John Durso


For the last five years, NordPass has been releasing the 200 most popular password list. They have just released their latest issue. In 2020, Jim Hillier reported on the NordPass list. Not much has changed since then. ...


Sequential number passwords remain very popular with “123456” topping the list. Twelve out of the top twenty most used passwords consist of various numerical combinations. The top five most common passwords have over 12. million users. Of the top twenty most used passwords, all but two (“UNKNOWN” and “admin123”) take under a second to crack.


For the rest of this informative article, click: Here.

I just found my new gym! (Thanks, Michelle Kuhnen, for sharing.)

11. Three quotes I like

A. Top: Thanks, Frank Ryan (1936-2024) for your career as an American professional football player who was a quarterback in the NFL for the Los Angeles Rams, Cleveland Browns and Washington Redskins. A 3-time Pro Bowl selection with Cleveland, Ryan led the Browns to their most recent title in 1964. He was also a mathematician, serving as a faculty member at Case Western Reserve University. For more information, click: Here.


Note: If the quote in the picture is too small to read, here it is: "More often than not, football is luck. You can study the defense and call a play that you think'll kill 'em, and all of a sudden they put on a line slant that quashes the play. It occurred to me that a lot of the success or failure depended upon the luck of the situation."--Frank Ryan


B. Middle: Thanks, Glynis Johns (1923-2024), for your career as a South African and later American actress, singer and dancer. In a career spanning eight decades on stage and both big and little screens, Johns appeared in more than 60 films, 30 plays and numerous television appearances. For more information about her life, click: Here.


C. Bottom: Thanks, David Soul (1943-2024), for your career as an American-British actor and singer. He was known for his role as Detective Kenneth "Hutch" Hutchinson in the television series Starsky & Hutch from 1975 to 1979; Joshua Bolt on Here Come the Brides from 1968 to 1970; and Officer John Davis in Magnum Force in 1973. As a singer, he scored one US hit and five UK hits with songs such as "Don't Give Up on Us" "Silver Lady." For more information about his life, click: Here

Cynthia, my beautiful bride, and I love this idea--and, in fact, did it several years ago. We also think it's the perfect thing to do again, starting January 1.


We are are also inviting y'all to do the same.


In the meantime, if you are like us and celebrate all holidays because there's more food, fun and friends that way, HAPPY, HEALTHY NEW YEAR. May 2024 be your best year ever!


(Thanks, Arlene Ditzler, for sharing.)

PS. Make it a great week!