A Message From George

With all the chaos and confusion going on in the world with the economy, gas prices, the upcoming election, etc. , we tend to lose sight of the important things in life. I received this message written by the late George Carlin several years ago and I feel it is time to revisit these sentiments.

A Message from George Carlin:
The paradox of our time in history is that we have taller buildings but shorter tempers, wider freeways , but narrower view points. We spend more, but have less, we buy more, but enjoy less. We have bigger houses and smaller families, more conveniences, but less time. We have more degrees but less sense, more knowledge, but less judgment, more experts, yet more problems, more medicine, but less wellness.

We drink too much, smoke too much, spend too recklessly, laugh too little,drive too fast, get too angry, stay up too late, get up too tired, read too little, watch TV too much, and pray too seldom.

We have multiplied our possessions, but reduced our values. We talk too much,love too seldom, and hate too often.

We've learned how to make a living, but not a life. We've added years to life not life to years. We've been all the way to the moon and back, but have trouble crossing the street to meet a new neighbor. We conquered outer space but not inner space. We've done larger things, but not better things.

We've cleaned up the air, but polluted the soul. We've conquered the atom, but not our prejudice. We write more, but learn less. We plan more, but accomplish less. We've learned to rush, but not to wait. We build more computers to hold more information, to produce more copies than ever, but we communicate less and less.

These are the times of fast foods and slow digestion, big men and small character, steep profits and shallow relationships. These are the days of two incomes but more divorce, fancier houses, but broken homes. These are days of quick trips, disposable diapers, throw away morality, one night stands,overweight bodies, and pills that do everything from cheer, to quiet, to kill. It is a time when there is much in the showroom window and nothing in the stockroom. A time when technology can bring this letter to you, and a time when y ou can choose either to share this insight, or to just hit delete...

Remember; spend some time with your loved ones, because they are not going tobe around forever.

Remember, say a kind word to someone who looks up to you in awe, because that little person soon will grow up and leave your side.

Remember, to give a warm hug to the one next to you, because that is the only treasure you can give with your heart and it doesn't cost a cent.

Remember, to say, 'I love you' to your partner and your loved ones, but most of all mean it. A kiss and an embrace will mend hurt when it comes from deep inside of you.

Remember to hold hands and cherish the moment for someday that person will not be there again.

Give time to love, give time to speak! And give time to share the precious thoughts in your mind.

AND ALWAYS REMEMBER:

Life is not measured by the number of breaths we take, but by the moments that take our breath away.

If you don't send this to at least 8 people....Who cares?

George Carlin

Isn't it amazing that George Carlin - comedian, could write something so very eloquent...and so very appropriate.

Word For Word

I find it fascinating to hear what celebrities have to say about certain topics. Here are a few recent quotes from celebs.

"If Barack Obama becomes President, black people will have to come up with another excuse. You can't blame the man, if you are the man." -- Wanda Sykes said on Jay Leno's tonight Show.

"When I won my Academy Award (for "Ghost"), the only person I really thanked was Patrick." -- Whoppie Goldberg said of her friend Patrick Swayze who was diagnosed with cancer.

"I was very shocked and disappointed to hear of Johnny Gill's false spin on the chain of events surrounding our wedding. His outrageous lies were clearly a very desperate and pathetic attempt to clean up his reputation at my expense. I would appreciate it if Mr. Gill would refrain from continuing to spread false gossip and lies to the public, and allow everyone involved to move on with their lives. We all know the real truth." -- Tracey Edmonds

"I hate fund-raising. Haaaaate it. Hate, hate it." -- Michelle Obama told Newsweek.

"Oprah was like, 'I didn't care for you, but it was when I got to know you that I realized who you were.' Though Oprah is now a friend, Mary is not surprised at her opinion. I understand somebody like her wouldn't even feel me at all. I'm a n*gga, you know what I'm sayin'? So when she said that to me, I was like, 'Thank you for that honesty.'" -- Mary J. Blige

"We are really going to need a president who has the ability to think big, and Barack Obama is that president." -- Halle Berry said.

"I had several trials and tribulations just as anyone does in school, and the whole going to an HBCU as 'Rudy' is a whole other experience in itself. But I couldn't have imagined going anywhere else but Spelman." -- Keshia Knight Pullium

"I have always evolved and taken a different name each time. It's nothing unusual where I come from. Right now I want to be Sean John because that's where I am." -- Sean 'Diddy' Combs, on yet another name change.

"We're being separated by education. No longer is it a case of 'Oh, I'm black and I can't get into school. We're being separated by economics now. It's the fabric for our children, finding an education." -- Tichina Arnold

"It's not true. Anyway, what can you possibly teach Michael Jackson about music? Nothing." -- 50 Cent, denying rumors that he is working on MJ's next project.

"This (entertainment) world is a crap shoot. I never try to get anyone to forgo his or her passion but you better have something to fall back on." -- Debbi Morgan

"I've always said he's an amazing father it's just now people decide they want to listen. He's an awesome dude. He makes mistakes - people do that. It's part of life." -- Actress Shar Jackson says Britney Spears' ex and father-of-four Kevin Federline is a decent dad.

"It's just a matter of getting the two of us together... We enjoy each other's work, it would be a lot of fun. Our paths never crossed until a couple of years ago." -- Janet Jackson, on her plans to duet with Mariah Carey.

"I'm usually drunk by the first half of it." -- Don Cheadle, on why he's a big fan of the Film Independent Spirit Awards.

"I haven't taken a vacation in 10 years. You've gotta work while it's hot." --Andre 3000, doesn't take time off.

Grammy Quotes

Here are some of the quotes overheard at last night's Grammy Award Show.

"You know it's been 43 years since the first and only time that a jazz artist got the album of the year award. I'd like to thank the academy for courageously breaking the mold this time. — Herbie Hancock on winning the album of the year award for "River: The Joni Letters."

"The record of the year is the ultimate Grammy. It means that you had yourself a pretty big slammy." — will.i.am during his medley of record-of-the-year winners.

"I just got an award given to me by a Beatle. Have you had that happen yet, Kanye? ... Just kidding." — Vince Gill, accepting the award for best country album from Ringo Starr.

"I appreciate everything and I know you are really proud of me right now and I know you wouldn't want me to stop and you'd want me to be the No. 1 artist in the world. And Mama, all I'm gonna do is keep making you proud." — Kanye West, speaking about his late mother as he accepted the award for rap album.

"It's a pity Amy isn't here, but oh well, God bless her." — Ringo Starr on Grammy winner Amy Winehouse, who couldn't obtain a visa in time to attend the show.

"I think it's a great, great song, I think it's a great, brilliantly produced album and I think we all hope she gets better." — Josh Groban on Amy Winehouse.

"She's walking her walk. We all have a walk in life, we have hard and difficult times and going through that chaos often leads to clarity." — Chaka Khan on Amy Winehouse.

"Dad, I know I promised I'd give you my first Grammy, but we might have to fight for this one." — Rihanna accepting the award for rap/sung collaboration.

"As many of you know, I first started singing when Lincoln was president." — Cher, 61, as she introduced Beyonce and Tina Turner.

"Frank Sinatra looked good for 150, didn't he?"_ Prince, after Sinatra appeared in archival footage in a duet with Alicia Keys.

"I think she is a sexy young lady. I have kids as old as her, but I did enjoy it. That did not deter me from noticing at all." — Morris Day on Rihanna, after his band, The Time, performed a medley with the young R&B star.

“ I am not happy about Amy Winehouse winning because it sends a message that bad behavior is rewarded…I do wish her luck in getting herself together” – Natalie Cole on Amy Winehouse win.

Happy Birthday Dr. King

Although the national celebration of Reverend Dr. Martin Luther King's birthday is next Monday his actual date of birth is January 15, 1929. Born Michael Luther King, Jr., he later had his name changed to Martin. His grandfather began the family's long tenure as pastors of the Ebenezer Baptist Church in Atlanta. He would have been 79 years old today. This year is also significant because April 4th will be the fortieth anniversary of his assassination. Although he only graced us with his presence for 39 short years, he left a legacy that is shared throughout the world by millions of people. Rather than dwell on the negative aspects of his death, I will celebrate his life by sharing some quotes from the man himself.

A lie cannot live.

A man who won't die for something is not fit to live.

A nation that continues year after year to spend more money on military defense than on programs of social uplift is approaching spiritual doom.

I look to a day when people will not be judged by the color of their skin, but by the content of their character.

I refuse to accept the view that mankind is so tragically bound to the starless midnight of racism and war that the bright daybreak of peace and brotherhood can never become a reality... I believe that unarmed truth and unconditional love will have the final word.

It may be true that the law cannot make a man love me, but it can keep him from lynching me, and I think that's pretty important.

Freedom is never voluntarily given by the oppressor; it must be demanded by the oppressed.

Means we use must be as pure as the ends we seek.

Our lives begin to end the day we become silent about things that matter.

The ultimate tragedy is not the oppression and cruelty by the bad people but the silence over that by the good people.

The quality, not the longevity, of one's life is what is important.

There is nothing more tragic than to find an individual bogged down in the length of life, devoid of breadth.

We must develop and maintain the capacity to forgive. He who is devoid of the power to forgive is devoid of the power to love. There is some good in the worst of us and some evil in the best of us. When we discover this, we are less prone to hate our enemies.

Whatever affects one directly, affects all indirectly. I can never be what I ought to be until you are what you ought to be. This is the interrelated structure of reality.

When you are right you cannot be too radical; when you are wrong, you cannot be too conservative.

Martin Luther King, Jr.

Thursday Thirteen # 5 - Quotes From Comedians

I started to post failed New Years resolutions that I've had over the years to remind myself not to make resolutions because they usually fail (duh!). However, I decided to start the year off with thirteen quotes from comedians, some funny, some serious, and some thought provoking. Happy New Years and Happy Thursday Thirteen!

1. Joy Behar - "Anorexia is just another word for nothing left to lose."

2. George Carlin – “When someone is impatient and says, 'I haven't got all day,' I always wonder, How can that be? How can you not have all day?”

3. Johnny Carson - "For three days after death, hair and fingernails continue to grow but phone calls taper off."

4. Bill Cosby “I don't know the key to success, but the key to failure is trying to please”.

5. Rodney Dangerfield - "I remember the time I was kidnapped and they sent a piece of my finger to my father. He said he wanted more proof."

6. Phyllis Diller - "I was in a beauty contest once. I not only came in last, I was hit in the mouth by Miss Congeniality."

7. Bill Maher – “Jim Bakker spells his name with two k's because three would be too obvious”.

8. Richard Pryor – “The black groups that boycott certain films would do better to get the money together to make the films they want to see, or stay in church and leave us to our work”.

9. Joan Rivers – “I'm Jewish. I don't work out. If God had wanted us to bend over, He would have put diamonds on the floor”.

10. Chris Rock – “Every town has the same two malls: the one white people go to and the one white people used to go to”.

11. Chris Rock – “Who's judging American Idol? Paula Abdul? Paula Abdul judging a singing contest is like Christopher Reeve judging a dance contest!”

12. Wanda Sykes – “Don't bother me while I'm eating, or when I'm coming out of the crack house or something. Just let me get going”.

13. Lily Tomlin – “Ninety eight percent of the adults in this country are decent, hardworking, honest Americans. It's the other lousy two percent that get all the publicity. But then, we elected them”.

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Twenty-Five Most Memorable Quotes According to USA Today

Every now and then someone makes a statement that becomes a catch phrase or captures an event, phenomenon, or a particular time or era in popular culture. USA Today reporters and editors compiled a list of the 25 most memorable quotes over the last quarter of a century to commemorate the 25th anniversary of the publication. Is your favorite quote among these or do you have another one from the last twenty-five years that sticks out in your mind.

1"Let's roll."
Todd Beamer, Sept. 11, 2001, just before he and other passengers attacked terrorists controlling United Flight 93, which crashed in a Pennsylvania field. The White House may have been the target.

2"Mr. Gorbachev, tear down this wall!"
President Reagan, June 12, 1987, appealing to the Soviet leader to remove the Berlin Wall that divided East and West German sectors. It fell in 1989.

3"If it doesn't fit, you must acquit."
Defense attorney Johnnie Cochran, Sept. 27, 1995, arguing that a glove used as murder evidence in the O.J. Simpson trial was too small.

4"I did not have sexual relations with that woman, Miss Lewinsky."
President Clinton, Jan. 26, 1998, at a White House news conference.

5"You've got mail!"
America Online, 1989. The voice, which still greets users, is El Edwards, the husband of an AOL customer service representative.

6"Read my lips: no new taxes."
George H.W. Bush, Aug. 18, 1988, accepting the GOP presidential nomination in New Orleans. A tax hike later in his presidency was a factor in his loss for re-election.

7"Obviously a major malfunction."
Steve Nesbitt, NASA public affairs officer, Jan. 28, 1986, shortly after the space shuttle Challenger exploded.

8"How do we know when irrational exuberance has unduly escalated asset values?"
Federal Reserve Chairman Alan Greenspan, Dec. 5, 1996, interpreted as a warning that stocks were too high. Markets plunged briefly the next morning.

9"You can't handle the truth!"
Actor Jack Nicholson as Col. Nathan Jessup in the 1992 film A Few Good Men.

10"I knew Jack Kennedy; Jack Kennedy was a friend of mine. Senator, you're no Jack Kennedy."
Democratic vice presidential candidate Lloyd Bentsen, debating Republican Dan Quayle in Omaha on Oct. 5, 1988.

11"Just say no."
Nancy Reagan's anti-drug campaign slogan, 1983.

12"I want to focus on my salad."
Martha Stewart, June 25, 2002, on CBS' The Early Show, when questioned about the probe into her stock dealings.

13"Which office do I go to to get my reputation back?"
Former Labor secretary Raymond Donovan, May 25, 1987, after being acquitted of fraud charges.

14"Keep hope alive."
Civil rights leader Jesse Jackson, July 19, 1988, in a speech at the Democratic National Convention in Atlanta.

15"I can hear you. The rest of the world hears you. And the people who knocked these buildings down will hear all of us soon."
President Bush, Sept. 14, 2001, addressing police, firefighters and rescue workers at Ground Zero.

16"My belief is we will, in fact, be greeted as liberators."
Vice President Cheney, March 16, 2003, on NBC's Meet the Press, describing how Iraqis will react when U.S. troops topple Saddam Hussein.

17"One more thing."
Apple CEO Steve Jobs, 1999. He uses the phrase before unveiling products such as the iMac and iPod at computer shows.

18"Don't give up. Don't ever give up. "
Former North Carolina State basketball coach Jim Valvano, March 4, 1993, accepting an ESPY Award shortly before he died of cancer.

19"It takes a village to raise a child."
Hillary Rodham Clinton in her 1996 book, borrowing from an African proverb.

20"I'd run over my own mother to win the Super Bowl."
Russ Grimm, 1984, a Washington Redskin who ended his career as a player with three Super Bowl rings.

21"You gotta fight for your right to party. "
The Beastie Boys, 1986, in the song Fight For Your Right.

22"People, I just want to say, you know, can we all get along?"
Rodney King, May 1, 1992, after the acquittal of Los Angeles police in his beating trial sparked widespread rioting.

24"I can't deny the fact that you like me! Right now, you like me!"
Sally Field, March 25, 1985,. accepting the Best Actress Oscar for Places in the Heart.

25"Not that there's anything wrong with that."
Jerry Seinfeld, Feb. 11, 1993, in the episode The Outing, later used whenever a gay character was discussed on the show.