Own Worst Enemy

“Thrilled to Death” 

by Dr Arch Hart PhD

It seems obvious. We are stressing ourselves out to a point that we can no longer enjoy life.

Psychology researchers are catching on to what Hart has been talking about for a long time. They’re emphasising that we need to slow down, relax, sleep, take pleasure in the small things. Otherwise life goes by with a flash and there is nothing to show for it.

Hart defines the clinical condition of anhedonia and points out its dangers. Anhedonia being a condition where one has sought so much pleasure that the pleasure centre in their brain no longer functions properly.

It is important to acknowledge the presence of anhedonia so that we can avoid it and live fulfilling lives. Hart gives 7 steps to do just that or to get out of it all together.

It all seems like common sense. Unfortunately common sense has become increasingly uncommon. It is why we need a psychologist to point out what we should already know.

Best of Holmes

“The Best of Sherlock Holmes”

Wordsworth Classics

Edited by David Stuart Davies

Sherlock Holmes stories have proved themselves timeless.  This has been assisted recently by feature films starring Robert Downey Jnr and a TV series placing Sherlock in the modern day.

After the first Sherlock Holmes movie I was motivated to pick up my best of book.  It featured 20 of Sir Arthur Conan Doyle’s best, as chosen by the editor.

Having not read any Holmes prior I can’t complain about his choices.  It appears the editor tried to get a broad spectrum of the Holmes timeline and include pinnacle moment in the life of Holmes.

Conan Doyle’s style is amazing, through the narration of John Watson, Holmes’ detective partner.  Even those not interested in crime novels will enjoy Holmes.  Each story will take approximately one hour to read.

Still Got It

Went to see Roxette recently at the Entertainment Centre in Sydney. I was blown away by how good they were live. That is despite not touring together for many years. They hadn’t been to Australia since 1996. On top of that lead singer, Marie Frederickson, had recently overcome a brain tumour.

It initially appeared Marie had lost part of her vocal range. But she blew me away with a set of ballads early on in the show. She wasn’t as mobile as she used to be but the voice was still there.

They played all their classics, the crowd was thrilled. There was still a mix of new songs, which didn’t detract from the show as a whole. People came to relive the 90’s mainly but their new songs were as good as the old, just not as well known.

What I didn’t understand was that many in the crowd left for drinks during the show. While others were rowdy during the ballads. It was disappointing and disrespectful to fantastic performers. Plus tickets were naturally expensive so I thought one should want to get their money’s worth.

That said, we left happy and pumped up after seeing a great show.

Roxette, thanks for coming!

Anonymous

It appears that I have gained an interesting follower of my blog. But not the kind you would want to brag about.

This follower insists on remaining anonymous or using a pseudonym. He or she continually and repeatedly mocks what is written in blog posts. He or she has even resorted to rude and vulgar language. He or she revels in insulting me and other commenters. Nothing constructive is ever written in response to a blog post. The context becomes irrelevant. None of these I will tolerate.

Behaviour of this type appears to be an unfortunate by-product of blogging. People, like this commenter, seem to take great delight in being cowardly. Behaving in such a fashion while remaining anonymous.

Such people should take a good hard look at themselves and acknowledge the need to get a life. Stop wasting your time on my little blog. I will pray for you while deleting your comments.

Ready For Good

Prior to Barrack Obama being elected it was asked, “Are we ready for a black President?” 

Hillary Clinton was his main rival to become the Democrat candidate. It was being asked, “Are we ready for a woman President?”

In the latest race for the Republican nomination one of the leading candidates is Mitt Romney, a Mormon. It is being asked, “Are we ready for a Mormon President?”

Enough of the questioning already. We are ready for anything. As long as they are good at what they are elected to do.

Unfortunately since being elected Obama has not lived up to expectations. He has failed in so many ways. A lot would argue that he has been a bad president. Yet his failings had nothing to do with his skin colour. He simply wasn’t a good president. It should not be surprising given the messiah complex over him generated by an Oprah fuelled general public. He was doomed to fail.

Our media had similar questions. “Are we ready for a female Prime Minister?” Though initially we didn’t have the choice. She knifed her predecessor deceitfully and has been going downhill ever since. There was just enough sentimental feminist support to get her over the line in the following election. There seemed to be a lot of silly women voting purely based on gender. She has been a bad Prime Minister. But her failings had nothing to do with her being a woman.

So stop asking the questions. The answer is always the same.

Is America ready for a woman president?

Yes, if she’s good!!

Is America ready for a Mormon president?

Yes, if he or she is good!!

Australia was ready for a female prime minister.

Problem though, she wasn’t good.