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'My Collection Obsession': One Man's Collector Is Another's Hoarder

PHOTO: Marilyn Mansfield, a doll collector, sits in front of her dolls.PlayTLC
WATCH New TLC Reality Series, 'My Collection Obsession'

Marilyn Mansfield, a sometimes model and mother of three, loves to cradle her new babies, supporting their heads and holding them close to her maternal bosom -- all 500 of them.

The Staten Island, N.Y., 33-year-old collects custom-made dolls that cost as much as $1,000 each. One even has birth marks and spit bubbles, and the latest lifelike doll even breathes.

"I like flaws on my babies," says Mansfield in a new documentary, "My Collection Obsession," which airs on Sunday, Aug. 21 on TLC at 10 p.m. "Humans are not perfect."

Mansfield's dolls fill her three-bedroom apartment on shelves and in their little seats and cradles.

"They all have their place," she said.

She has even discussed her last wishes with her husband if she should die.

"My daughter has told me which ones she would want and two or three I want to go with friends," Mansfield said. "I know this sounds morbid, but I would definitely like to be buried with them."

Mansfield is one of three other collectors who have taken their hobbies to extremes. Darlene has 15,000 shoe-related memorabilia. Kyle, who is only 16, has been obsessed with vacuum cleaners since he was only a toddler.

Harrell and Patric's 2,500-square-foot home is an homage to Dolly Parton, floor to ceiling. One holds down a job, and the other spends his days keeping up with the collection.

Even the country singer herself is stunned by their obsession.

"I am speechless," she says, after being taken into their basement to see hundreds of costumes, shoes and framed photos. "It's amazing someone could love you that much."

One man's collector is another man's hoarder, but experts say that there are key differences.

"With hoarding, we look at three main behaviors: one acquiring too many possessions; second, having great difficulty discarding something; and three difficulty organizing," said Julie Pike, a clinical psychologist from the Anxiety Disorder Treatment Center in Durham, N.C. "But there is a lot of overlap."

She is featured on TLC's reality show, "Hoarding: Buried Alive."

Unlike hoarders, collectors are usually well-organized and know exactly where each item is and what they have. They are also proud, not ashamed, of their possessions, she said.

"But if collectors get in a place where they are spending so much money that they can't pay their mortgage, that's a problem," Pike said. "Or if they are spending so much time at it that they can't go to their job or leave their house."

More likely, collectors have an "obsession or preoccupation," according to Pike. "Most of us have a degree of that rather than the ends of a continuum."

Viewers will have to decide for themselves about Kyle Kirchbaum of Michigan, the youngest of only 200 vacuum cleaner collectors in the world. His sister thinks he's "weird" going to yard sales to find vacuum cleaners that have piled up around their house.

His mother has told him that when he goes to college, "the vacuum cleaners have to go."

Collector Treats Dolls Like Her Children

As for collector Mansfield, she said her house is neat, even with wall-to-wall dolls.

"If I ever got to the point where I was a hoarder, then I wouldn't buy them anymore," she said. "If I get a new one, I am sure there's a spot for them."

Mansfield said she has loved dolls since she was a child and views her obsession and her collection as "a work of art."

"So much goes into making them," she said. "Their hair is rooted one at a time. They are weighted to feel as babies. They are definitely works of art and I appreciate them so much. The more realistic they are, the more I love them."

Mansfield treats her dolls like her own children, spending three hours each day, washing them, dressing them and even taking them to the park.

"In fact, when she gets a new doll, it's like she's actually pregnant," said her husband Zoth. "What will it be, where will I put her?"

Her favorite is Anna Nicole, a 43-inch doll that is the size of a 5-year-old that she bought for more than $1,000 in Texas. She has about 20 of these realistic "reborn," which are handmade.

"She's only a little shorter than my son who just turned 7," Mansfield said. "She has long brown human hair and she has open-eyed little glass eyes that are made beautifully."

She even took her to the store and spent $70 on a pair of shoes after taking her to the playground.

"People come over and say how cute she is and how old is she," Mansfield said. "When I tell them it's a doll, they either don't believe me or they get totally freaked out."

Mansfield said she couldn't estimate what she has spent -- "definitely in the thousands," she said. "I buy them clothes and carriages."

She also collects dolls with horns and fangs, or Krypt Kiddies that she buys on the Internet. It was those dolls that started her obsession in the first place a decade ago when she attended a horror show.

"They are demonic-looking baby dolls that are custom made," she said. "I also have some horror movie and Living Dead Dolls -- 10-inch creepy dolls in coffins."

"I love them all," Mansfield said. "I like them creepy. Most people think the normal dolls are creepier than the scary ones because they are so life-like."

Her youngest daughter likes the dolls, but her son is unimpressed. Her husband, on the other hand, is totally supportive and said it gives him more free time.

"Whenever she is with the dolls, she's not bothering me," he said.

For Mansfield, the dolls are just another part of her maternal nature.

"When you see a doll, your instinct is to hold it like a baby," she said. "I watch TV and hold one. It's very soothing and calming."


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Columbia Crew Was of 7 Different Faiths

The grieving are calling out to Jesus — and God and HaShem and Krishna. They are chanting passages from the New Testament, the Torah, Unitarian readings, and the Vedas.

The crew of Columbia represents an extraordinary variety of faith traditions:

Kalpana Chawla - Hindu

William McCool - Roman Catholic

Ilan Ramon - Jewish

Rick Husband - Charismatic

Laurel Clark - Unitarian

David Brown - Episcopalian

Michael Anderson - Baptist

This is just the way America is right now. Seek the best and the brightest, and you'll invariably scoop up a great assortment of faiths.

There are some differences, of course, in the ways that each faith attempts to make sense of the tragedy. St. Bernadette Church in Houston, attended by William McCool, emphasized that because Christ died for humanity's sins, no one need fear death. A Hindu memorial service, drawing on completely different texts, evoked sentiments similar to those found in the Christian and Jewish services:

Lead me from unreal to real; lead me from darkness to light; lead me from death to immortality. Om … peace, peace, peace.

At Laurel Clark's childhood Unitarian church in Racine, Wis., the minister's remembrance focused not at all on the hereafter but celebrated the doctor's joy in life, expressed in an e-mail that she had sent from space: "I hope you could feel the positive energy that beamed to the whole planet as we glided over our shared planet."

Each astronaut followed a different spiritual path, each with a different style of mourning. Here are brief spiritual biographies of the astronauts — accompanied by examples of how those traditions are marking their deaths.

Rick Husband — Charismatic

Rick Husband, perhaps more than any of the other astronauts, believed his fate was with God. He saw his choice to become an astronaut not just as a big career move, but as a path he was led to by God. He would never put his job before his faith, however. "I just want to be somebody who lives the life that glorifies you. I want to be a good husband and I want to be a good father, and come what may as far as the rest of it goes," he said in a video interview with the Rev. Steve Riggle of Grace Community Church in Clear Lake, Texas.

This video was played to a tearful audience of more than 2,000 at the church on Sunday, where members gathered to pray and remember Husband and fellow astronaut Michael Anderson. At the service, the Rev. Riggle told the congregation that Husband had left a note in case he died aboard the shuttle. "Tell them about Jesus," the note said. "He means everything to me."

Since the disaster, Husband has been embraced as a Christian hero. "Rick Husband is probably the godliest man I've ever met," Pastor Steve O'Donohoe of Grace told He was a model church member, singing in the choir and even offering to donate his vintage Camaro to help fund the church building effort.

Husband, according to USA Today, brought objects on board the space shuttle that were to later be delivered to a Christian children's home outside Amarillo, Texas, and to Focus on the Family and the Christian Broadasting Network. His family was very involved in the church and his wife, Evelyn, hosted a reception the night before the shuttle liftoff at Calvary Chapel, a Christian church close to the Kennedy Space Center.

Grace is an interdenominational charismatic church. Other Christian churches throughout the country marked the deaths of the astronauts with special sermons or readings. The Rev. Riggle chose several short Bible passages to provide comfort to his congregation, including a passage from Proverbs and the famous verses from Ecclesiastes, "To everything there is a season … A time to be born and a time to die." The Grace choir sang, this time without their longtime member and soloist, and ended with "Amazing Grace."

Read more: Rick Husband in his own words

Ilan Ramon — Jewish

Ilan Ramon is being mourned widely in the Jewish community, not only because he made history as Israel's first astronaut but also because he transformed the Columbia from an ordinary shuttle mission into a flight rife with Jewish symbolism. Ramon, the son of a Holocaust survivor, took several Holocaust objects into space with him. He brought a Torah that was used at a Bar Mitzvah ceremony in a concentration camp. He carried a drawing entitled "Moon Landscape," by 14-year-old Petr Ginz, who died at Auschwitz. Ramon also brought on board with him kosher food, a kiddush cup, several mezuzahs, and a credit-card sized microfiche of the Bible given to him by Israeli President Moshe Katsav. Ramon is said to have spoken the words to the Shema, the fundamental Jewish prayer, as the space shuttle passed over Jerusalem.

Many Jews first heard about the tragedy en route to Shabbat services on Saturday morning, and some rabbis delivered impromptu sermons based on the disaster. Others marked the tragedy with a few words or a special kaddish during the Saturday morning services. Some communities are holding memorial services throughout the week, including one held Monday at Yeshiva University, where president Norman Lamm praised Ramon: "What a magnificent gesture, what a magnificent Jew, what a magnificent human being."

Though there have been other Jewish astronauts, Ramon's mission took on added significance because he went to space at such a difficult time for Israel. He served as "a hopeful beacon," said his friend Rabbi Mark Blazer, of Temple Beth Ami in Santa Clarita, Calif.

Ramon was viewed as a hero in Israel. The Israeli government had already issued a postage stamp commemorating Israel's first astronaut. "The average Israeli knew far more about this mission than the average American," noted Blazer. Blazer was at the launch, and described a moving moment when many of the Jews and Israelis gathered at Cape Canaveral broke out into the song, "Oseh Shalom" ("Make Peace"). Blazer said that song was true to Ramon's message, that "this [space travel] is what can happen when people make peace."

The Israeli and Jewish communities are using technology to mourn Ramon as well. The Israeli Defense Force, which Ramon served as a colonel in the air force, set up a special email address,, where mourners can send messages that will be delivered to the family. One Israeli company has set up a Web site where users can light virtual candles in honor of Ramon and leave a message in either Hebrew or English.

Read more and share your thoughts: Reflections on a hero by Rabbi Mark Blazer

Michael P. Anderson — Baptist

Before he left on the Columbia shuttle mission last month, Michael P. Anderson had a talk with his pastor, the Rev. Freeman Simmons. On Sunday, congregants at Morning Star Missionary Baptist Church in Spokane, Wash., learned of their conversation.

"Don't worry if I'm not coming back," Simmons said Anderson told him. "I'm just going higher." For two hours this Sunday, the yellow clapboard church where Anderson grew in his faith was full of electric organ and hearty gospel singing as members worked through their grief at the loss of a son of the congregation. A robed choir sang gospel music, accompanied by organ and drums. A gospel choir brought the mostly black congregation to its feet with a rousing "Amazing Grace." The church bulletin bore a picture of Anderson in his NASA jumpsuit, an American flag and the space shuttle.

Anderson's parents, Bobbie and Barbara Anderson, were making plans to travel to Houston for a memorial service. "I can feel sure that, by him being a Christian man, he is in a better place than where he would be on Earth," Anderson said.

At the church, Rev. John Claiborne, another of the church's pastors, prayed: "We thank God for Michael because he died doing what he loved. I will that each of us could live a life like he did. Just yesterday, a tragedy came, but, Lord, we know that you have all power on Heaven and Earth.Don't let their lives be in vain. We pray now that some life will be changed. Someone will realize that there's more to life than right now."

Like many memorial services in African-American Baptist churches, the mood was exuberant. One member, Joan Johnson, explained it this way: "It's not ever sad here. We know Michael is with the Lord," she said. "It's like a home-going."

Read more: The Rev. Steve Riggle remembers Anderson

Kalpana Chawla — Hindu

"The first view of the Earth is magical. … in such a small planet, with such a small ribbon of life, so much goes on. It is as if the whole place is sacred. You get the feeling that I need to work extraordinarily hard along with other human beings to respect that," said astronaut Kalpana Chawla in a 1998 interview.

The 41-year-old Indian-American's sentiments about Earth's fragility — along with her achievements — resonated with people across the world.

A vegetarian who requested a Ravi Shankar raga (song) to be played during her first shuttle flight, Dr. Chawla rarely spoke about her beliefs. Of Sikh heritage, she could be seen at Hindu temples in California's Bay Area and in Houston, and maintained ties with Karnal, the conservative small town in northern India where she grew up. (In northern India, Sikhs and Hindus share many customs.) In a 1997 Hinduism Today interview, her statement — "Do something because you really want to do it. If you're doing it just for the goal, and don't enjoy the path, then I think you're cheating yourself" — echoes a guiding principle of the Hindu scripture the Bhagavad Gita — "Work, but work for the work's sake only. You have no right to the fruits of your labor."

This past weekend, Hindu temples across the country commemorated Chawla's life and the lives of all the crew members. At Houston's Sri Meenakshi temple, Chawla's father silently lit the fourth of seven candles — one for each astronaut. The service included prayers, songs, and brief statements by Chawla's friends and colleagues. Hundreds of people attended an hourlong service at the Hindu Temple & Community Center in Sunnyvale, Calif., where they recited a mantra in praise of God that had been chanted by Mahatma Gandhi. At a brief ceremony at New York's Ganapathi Temple, participants said prayers for the peace of the astronauts' souls. "Our tradition and philosophy tell us … that they are safe in a different home which is really our true abode," says Dr. Uma Mysorekar, who attended the New York ceremony and is president of the Hindu Temple Society of North America.

Though Hindu funeral rituals typically center around the cremation of the body, Hindu theologian Arvind Sharma of McGill University says that the tragic case of the Columbia victims will not pose a religious dilemma. "Whatever remains can be found [can be] cremated and … deposited in a sacred location or river," says Sharma.

Though the Hindu belief in reincarnation does not necessarily lessen a grieving family's pain, says Sharma, the belief that life continues in some form does provide some comfort. The second chapter of the Bhagavad Gita, often referred to at Hindu funerals, is particularly relevant in light of Chawla's legacy: "No one can destroy the imperishable spirit."

Read more: Memorial Service Prayers

Laurel Salton Clark — Unitarian

Commander Laurel Salton Clark, 41, a Unitarian, was deeply connected to the Olympia Brown Unitarian Universalist Church in her hometown of Racine, Wis. She was married there, and her younger brother, Daniel Salton, is an active member and Sunday School teacher. The Rev. Dr. Tony Larsen, minister of the church for 27 years, met her when she was a teenager and officiated at her wedding to Capt. Jonathan Clark in 1991. Dr. Larsen spoke with Beliefnet shortly before leaving for Houston to be with Clark's family.

"On Sunday we held a remembrance for Laurel during the 'Joys and Concerns' portion of the service. We lit candles for Laurel. There was nothing written down, but I spoke spontaneously. Here's what I recall I said at that time: "'Although we grieve for Laurel's loss, we know she was doing what she really wanted to do. She really believed in the space program, and the scientific and medical work they were doing in outer space. And it's fitting that all those astronauts of different cultures and nationalities could get along and work together. It's a model for how we might do that on earth. We must be joyful for all of the things she represented.'"

Dr. Larsen also read a portion of a remarkable e-mail that Clark had sent from the shuttle on Friday to family and friends.

In many ways, Clark's mission embodied some of the core principles of the Unitarian Universalist faith, which welcomes all spiritual beliefs and emphasizes social justice and world peace. Respect for "the interdependent web of all existence" — a Unitarian principle — was acknowledged by Clark in an interview she conducted with a reporter from the shuttle. Clark spoke of a silkworm cocoon she had seen hatch onboard. "There was a moth in there," she said, "and it was just starting to pump its wings up. Life continues in lots of places, and life is a magical thing."

Read more:

Finding Meaning in the Tragedy The Rev. Kit Ketcham scrapped her sermon on Feb. 2 and opened the service up to the congregation.

William McCool — Catholic

Cmdr. William C. McCool was a stand-out athlete and student, a Naval Academy graduate who ended up joining the military's most elite corps of pilots as an astronaut. At St. Bernadette Roman Catholic Church in Clear Lake, Texas, McCool liked to blend in with the crowd. Though his mother described her son "Willie" as "deeply religious," the clergy at the contemporary church in Houston knew McCool, his wife and three sons only slightly.

But bowing their heads for the family during intercessions were McCool's fellow members of the close-knit space community. Hundreds of St. Bernadette's 3,500 families are connected to the Johnson Space Center, and many parishioners knew McCool as an outgoing, sometimes boisterous friend, neighbor and colleague. "He was very easy to get along with," Larry Rollins, a church member who worked with McCool as a test conductor told The Houston Chronicle. "He was very courteous to people." As in many Christian churches, St. Bernadette's regular Sunday services, held barely 24 hours after the news of the Columbia's breakup began to spread, became a center of the space community's grief. The pews were filled all weekend with parishioners "seeking an outpouring of faith and hope," in the wake of the tragedy, said St. Bernadette's pastor, Rev. J.J. McCarthy. A formal memorial service for McCool and his fellow astronauts is planned for this evening.

Read more: St. Bernadette's associate pastor Rev. Chris Kulig's Feb. 2 sermon

David Brown — Episcopalian

"If I'd been born in space I would desire to visit the beautiful Earth more than I ever yearned to visit space. It's a wonderful planet," wrote Capt. David Brown to his parents in the last e-mail they'd receive from him.

Brown was close to his parents, visiting their Virginia home often — once to deliver a computer so they could receive his e-mails from space. Though his own faith leanings were uncertain, his father was active at Trinity Episcopal Church in Washington, Va. At the request of his father, Capt. Brown spoke to the church's Brotherhood of St. Andrew — a men's fellowship group — during one of his visits.

Episcopal churches in his parents' hometown and across the nation are mourning the loss of the shuttle crew; in Texas, several Episcopal churches are directly in the pathway of the debris. Many NASA employees and their families are parishioners at St. Thomas the Apostle in Nassau Bay, Texas, where a Saturday night prayer vigil was held.

In Lufkin, Texas, the rector of St. Cyprian's included a dedicated Eucharist for the astronauts and their families in his Sunday service. The Collect for Burial was read from the Book of Common Prayer, and in many churches, the names of the astronauts were included in the Prayers of the People.

To commemorate the crew, a retired Episcopal priest, the Rev. Vincent Uher, wrote a special new verse to the hymn "Eternal Father, strong to save," often known as the Navy Hymn. Uher said that he used the passage in Isaiah that President Bush quoted and also the poem that President Reagan quoted after the Challenger disaster.

"O God who names the starry host and by whose love not one is lost, who stretched thy arms wide to the sky from cross to heav'n so death would die Oh care for those who traversed space, Embrace them now who touch thy face."

Read more:

Our Man in Space

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As First Wedding Anniversary Approaches, Prince William and Kate Middleton Admire Baby Boy

Vic Vicary/Getty Images

It seems the world has been watching for news of a baby almost since Britain's Prince William married Kate Middleton last year.

Speculation about Middleton possibly being in the family way has been rampant. Headlines were generated when Middleton declined to eat peanut paste, when she posed for pictures while holding her purse on front of her stomach, and when the royal pair decided to move into a larger home.

People magazine has devoted the cover of its latest issue to the topic, citing palace sources in reporting that the couple has put plans for an upcoming trip to Africa on hold because the vaccinations Middleton would need are dangerous for a fetus.

There's no official word from the Buckingham Palace that Middleton, 30, is pregnant, but the royal couple - to celebrate their first wedding anniversary on Sunday - generated other baby news when they were photographed Thursday admiring a 3-week-old at a party in London.

Royal watchers said the pair's demeanor with the infant indicated they would make great parents when the time comes.

Prince William, 29, held the baby, Hugo Eric Scott Vicary, and told the boy's father, Vic Vicary: "He looks very sweet," People reported.

Vicary described the prince as a "natural" with the baby, according to the magazine.

Middleton said the baby was very cute, Vicary told People.

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Supermarket Smart: How to Make Healthier Choices

Credit: Getty Images

Are you confused at the supermarket?  It's no wonder, as the average market has more than 35,000 items and not every market has the same 35,000. Americans chose from about 500 or so different foods in the 1900; we choose from more than 50,000 today.

The numbers help to explain why it's so hard to make healthy choices when shopping for food because temptation is everywhere.  Foods that are part of a nutritious diet include lean meat-poultry-fish, low-fat dairy, veggies, fruits, beans and other legumes, nuts, seeds and whole grains.

You must have these ingredients on hand at home to cook healthy, and preparing your own meals is key. You want to control the amount of salt, fat and sugar in the food you eat.

Before you venture to the supermarket, go through your cabinets, fridge and pantry.  This way you can see what's on hand and what you need to buy.  Then make a list and stick to it. I know you're thinking, "Uuugh, she wants me to make a list."

Although it might take a little longer to shop at first, the benefits are well worth it.  Here are a few things that making a list will help you to do:

  • Make healthier choices;
  • Reduce impulse buying;
  • Save money because you are not grabbing foods that are not on the list;
  • Spend less time at the supermarket;
  • Become an educated consumer;

My rule: If it's not on the list, don't buy it. No need for temptation staring you in the face at home.

The periphery of the supermarket has most of the healthiest choices: produce, lean meat-poultry-fish, low-fat dairy and whole-grain breads. Don't stop there. You will find other nutritious foods in the middle aisles, including whole grains, beans, unsweetened cereals, teas, water and flavored seltzers.

Many people purchase a lot of pre-packaged foods for convenience.  Some choices are much better than others.  Read the labels so you can make the best choices and look for foods with the least amount of salt, fat and sugar.  If you can't pronounce the words or they look like Dr. Frankenstein would be using them, don't buy it.

Here are a few terms you might see while surfing the aisles:

  • Healthy - Food is low in fat (especially saturated fat or trans fat) and has limited amounts of cholesterol and sodium;
  • Free - Contains only tiny amounts of fat, saturated fat, sugar, cholesterol or calories per serving.  With sugar-free, look to see if there are artificial sweeteners and, if so, don't buy it (chemicals, my friends);
  • Good Source - One serving provides 10-19 percent of your total daily needs of that nutrient;
  • Low Sodium - One serving has 140 milligrams of sodium or less;
  • Low Cholesterol - One serving has 20 milligrams of cholesterol or less, and 2 grams or less of sat fat;
  • Reduced - One serving has 25 percent less than the regular version;
  • Light - One serving has 50 percent less than the regular version.

Diane Henderiks' Supermarket "7?

  1. Never go grocery shopping hungry.
  2. Choose the smallest fruits and veggies (Mother Nature packs many of her fruits and veggies in perfect serving sizes).
  3. Choose lean meats, poultry and fish.
  4. Choose low-fat dairy products with less than 3 grams of fat per serving
  5. Choose whole-grain breads and cereals with 3 or more grams of fiber and less than 2 grams fat per serving. Avoid refined products.
  6. Opt for low sodium whenever possible, 140 milligrams or less per serving is great.
  7. Let your intelligence make your food choices not momentary, fleeting cravings.

Happy Shopping!

Henderiks is a registered dietitian, founder of and a "Good Morning America" health contributor.

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Rick Perry Says XL Pipeline Decision Shows Obama's Mixed Priorities

GREER, S.C. - At a stop on his Main Street walk in Greer today, Texas Gov.  Rick Perry argued that the president's decision to formally reject the Keystone XL pipeline permit shows his priorities are on re-election, not the future of the country.

"It doesn't surprise me but … again, the president's focused more on the next election than on the next generation. Getting this country independent of foreign sources of crude from countries that are not our friends is really problematic so, this Canadian oil, there's a possibility we could lose it to China with that decision," Perry told reporters in a shop along Main Street here.

Perry said he hoped Americans would  "become unhinged" with the decision as the country faced the possibility of paying $4 or $5 a gallon for gasoline

Since December, in his stump speeches, the Texas governor has consistently criticized the administration and Congress for their resistance to the XL pipeline, saying the president should not allow the oil to head to China instead of using  it here in the United States.

"Canada's our ally, but they're not going to leave that oil in the ground. It's going to go one of two ways. It's either going to go west to China or it's going to go south to the United States, and this president today has made a decision that he's picking China over the United States," Perry said in a speech at Southern Thymes Wednesday. "Now I'm sure he'll have some slick remark to defend it, but the fact is that's what you've done Mr. President. You've just basically said to Americans, we're going to allow the Chinese the opportunity to negotiate to go get that oil."

As he tried to differentiate himself from the president on ideology, Perry called himself the candidate who could provide a "bright contrast" to Obama.

"You want a bright contrast between President Obama and our nominee on the Republican ticket, we need that bright contrast. We don't need a lighter version of Obama. We need a powerful contrast between what Obama's done to this economy and what I've been able to help  do in the state of Texas."

Perry walked along the downtown street here, peeking into several shops and restaurants along the way. With a Styrofoam cup filled with coffee  he'd purchased earlier  in hand, Perry stopped in at the Stomping Grounds, a coffee shop set to open in the next six days. The owner, who moved from North Carolina to South Carolina to start this business, gave Perry a coffee mug with the store's logo on it and promised to vote for him if he drank out of it.

"Oh all right, I'll get this done right now," Perry said as he placed his Styrofoam cup in the ceramic mug and took a swig of caffeine. "Stomping Grounds. Greer, South Carolina, come try some good coffee.

"That was the easiest vote I've gotten so far, right?"

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Last-Ditch Summit in D.C. to Avert 'Cliff'
PHOTO: Speaker of the House John Boehner, R-Ohio, arrives for a closed-door meeting with House Republicans as he negotiates with President Obama to avert the fiscal cliff, at the Capitol in Washington, Dec. 18, 2012. President Barack Obama speaks about th

By MICHAEL FALCONE ( @michaelpfalcone ) and AMY WALTER ( @amyewalter )

  • WHITE HOUSE SAYS, NO NEW PLAN: ABC's Jonathan Karl, Sunlen Miller, John Parkinson and Sarah Parnass report that the White House said Thursday it has no plans to offer new proposals to avoid the fiscal cliff which looms over the country's economy just four days from now, but will meet Friday with Congressional leaders in a last ditch effort to forge a deal. The White House announced the meeting after Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., called the budget situation "a mess" and urged the president to present a fresh proposal. But a senior White House official told ABC News, "there is no White House bill." http://abcn.ws/UpszEt
  • THE FISCAL CLIFF AND YOU: Unless there's a deal the fiscal cliff could do real damage to the economy, reports ABC News Business Correspondent Richard Davies. The first and best known impact would be sweeping tax hikes: "By jacking up taxes on so many taxpayers it will squeeze purchasing power," says Greg Ip, U.S. Economics Editor of The Economist. Many consumers and businesses would cut back on spending. "They just decide to pull back not to spend not to buy that house not to initiate that new business venture and that would multiply the negative impact." The third effect would come from sharp and sudden government spending cuts. "You'll see layoffs in the defense industry layoffs in any industry that does business with the federal government as federal spending is cut back sharply."
  • BACK TO WORK FOR HILLARY CLINTON: ABC's Dana Hughes reports that Secretary of State Hillary Clinton will return to work next week after recovering from a stomach virus and a concussion. "The Secretary continues to recuperate at home. She had long planned to take this holiday week off, so she had no work schedule," said Clinton aide Philippe Reines in a statement. "She looks forward to getting back to the office next week and resuming her schedule." The last time Clinton was seen in public was December 7, leaving Northern Ireland after a whirlwind European trip.
  • THIS WEEK ON 'THIS WEEK': Sen. Charles Schumer, D-NY, and Sen. Jon Kyl, R-Ariz., debate the latest on the last-minute efforts to avoid the fiscal cliff, Sunday on "This Week." Plus, ABC News Senior White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl and the powerhouse roundtable debate all the week's politics, featuring former Minnesota Gov. Tim Pawlenty and former Vermont Gov. Howard Dean. Check the "This Week" page for full guest listings. Tune in Sunday: http://abcnews.go.com/thisweek (h/t ABC's Imtiyaz Delawala)

'Twas the Friday after Christmas and all through Washington not a deal was stirring, not even at the White House?

With the center of gravity in the fiscal cliff negotiations shifting to the Senate and to 1600 Pennsylvania Avenue, lawmakers and President Obama will try to break the stalemate today at 3 p.m. ET when President Obama and Vice President Joe Biden sit down with Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, D-Nev., Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., House Speaker John Boehner, R-Ohio, and House Democratic Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif.

There are now just four days to go before the country falls off the cliff, and as ABC's Chief White House Correspondent Jonathan Karl noted on "Good Morning America" today, this is actually the very first meeting all sides have had together in six weeks. The last time this group met was Nov. 16. http://abcn.ws/VGsGrV

That may be hard to believe, but it's not really that surprising when you listen to the rhetoric coming from both Senate leaders.

"Republicans aren't about to write a blank check for anything Senate Democrats put forward just because we find ourselves as the edge of the cliff," McConnell said on the Senate floor yesterday.

Meanwhile, Reid likened Speaker Boehner's leadership in the House to a "dictatorship" that was preventing "the vast majority of the House of Representatives to get what they want."

Most Capitol Hill insiders agree that the we probably go off the fiscal cliff - at least for a little while - with a real deal to come in January after the new Congress is sworn in, but there may be another option on the table.

The two sides could come together to support what Karl described as a "small deal that would at least prevent these tax increases from going into effect for most people."

Chances of that happening? Jon Karl puts them at three to five percent. Not exactly a glass-half-full scenario.

ABC'S AMY WALTER: Perhaps it's because I'm a parent to a six-year-old, but the only way to make sense of the fiscal cliff shenanigans is to put it in child rearing terms. If there is no consequence for bad behavior, then the bad behavior will continue. Think how many times you have heard (or said) "if you don't stop this right now then X will happen." When X doesn't happen (the car doesn't pull over, dessert is still served etc), the child learns that he or she can indeed get away with breaking the rules. In Washington, the only real consequence is losing an election. And, since both sides believe they won in 2012 (Democrats held the White House and Senate despite high unemployment; Republicans held the House despite sky-high disapproval ratings), neither side sees a real downside to letting the country fall off the fiscal cliff. A frustrated public, a declining Dow - these are not the consequences that will spur either side to action. It's only when defeat, real lasting defeat is felt, that compromise will happen.

with ABC's Elizabeth Hartfield ( @LizHartfield)

NORMAN SCHWARZKOPF, GULF WAR COMMANDER, DIES AT 78. H. Norman Schwarzkopf, the retired general credited with leading U.S.-allied forces to a victory in the first Gulf War, died Thursday. He was 78 years old. ABC's Michael James reports, Schwarzkopf, called "Stormin' Norman" because of his reportedly explosive temper, actually led Republican administrations to two military victories: a small one in Grenada in the 1980s and a big one as de facto commander of allied forces in the Gulf War in 1991. "'Stormin' Norman' led the coalition forces to victory, ejecting the Iraqi Army from Kuwait and restoring the rightful government," read a statement by former Secretary of State Colin Powell, who was chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff during the Gulf War. "His leadership not only inspired his troops, but also inspired the nation." http://abcn.ws/12Sy0ii

WHITE HOUSE LASHES OUT AT 'CONGRESSIONAL STUPIDITY.' With only days to come up with a deal to avoid the fiscal cliff, the White House said "congressional stupidity" was damaging the economy but that an agreement could be reached if Republican leaders don't get in the way. ABC's Sarah Parnass, John Parkinson and Reena Ninan report, while Boehner has put the onus on the president and Senate Majority Leader Harry Reid, a White House official used testy language to put the responsibility back on Boehner and Senate Minority Leader Mitch McConnell. "What we need is for the Senate Minority Leader not to block a vote and for Boehner to allow a vote," a White House official told ABC News. "The hits to our economy aren't coming from outside factors, they're coming from congressional stupidity." http://abcn.ws/12FUTWY

BUSH 41 GETTING EXCELLENT TREATMENT. The AP's Michael Graczyk reports, "Former President George H.W. Bush, who has been hospitalized for more than a month, is getting excellent medical treatment and would advise people to 'put the harps back in the closet,' his longtime Houston chief of staff said Thursday evening. But Jean Becker also pointed out in her statement that the 88-year-old Bush is sick and likely will be in the hospital for a while after a 'terrible case of bronchitis which then triggered a series of complications.'" http://abcn.ws/12SyEfB

ED MARKEY DECLARES CANDIDACY IN SENATE SPECIAL. The Boston Globe's Mark Arsenault reports, "US Representative Edward J. Markey, dean of the state's Washington delegation, will run in 2013 for the Senate seat expected to open with the nomination of Senator John F. Kerry to head the State Department. Markey, 66, a Malden Democrat elected to the House in 1976, is the first prominent candidate to declare a run for Kerry's seat, which will be filled through a special election early next summer, probably in June. Kerry, a Democrat and head of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, is expected to be easily confirmed by the Senate in coming weeks as the next secretary of state." http://bo.st/UvYmEP

SENATORS CHAFE AT INACTION OVER FISCAL CLIFF DEAL. The New York Times Jennifer Steinhauer reports, "Senators bid hasty goodbyes to families, donned ties and pantsuits in lieu of sweat pants and Christmas sweaters and one by one returned to the Capitol on Thursday to begin the business of doing nothing in particular. But for once, those lawmakers were fully united, if only around their sadness and frustration at being stuck in Washington in a holiday week, peering over the edge of the fiscal abyss. Not to be outdone, Speaker John A. Boehner, who failed last week to cobble together enough votes for his own bill, ordered House members to return on Sunday." http://nyti.ms/VloqCm

EXPERTS: TRAINED POLICE NEEDED FOR SCHOOL SECURITY. The AP's Larry Margasak reports, "the student's attack began with a shotgun blast through the windows of a California high school. Rich Agundez, the El Cajon policeman assigned to the school, felt his mind shift into overdrive. While two teachers and three students were injured when the glass shattered in the 2001 attack on Granite Hills High School, Agundez confronted the assailant and wounded him before he could get inside the school and use his second weapon, a handgun. The National Rifle Association's response to a Connecticut school massacre envisions, in part, having trained, armed volunteers in every school in America. But Agundez, school safety experts and school board members say there's a huge difference between a trained law enforcement officer who becomes part of the school family - and a guard with a gun." http://apne.ws/VaJgSq

HAWAII'S BRIAN SCHATZ SWORN INTO SENATE. Politico's Seung Min Kim reports, "Hawaii Lt. Gov. Brian Schatz was sworn in to the Senate Thursday afternoon to replace Sen. Daniel Inouye (D-Hawaii), who died last week of respiratory complications. 'I was pleased to have my family here with me,' Schatz said in brief comments after he was sworn in. 'And of course, we're hopeful to get right to work on averting the fiscal cliff.' Despite his relative youth - he's 40 - and just being sworn in, Schatz will be Hawaii's senior senator. Sen. Daniel Akaka (D-Hawaii) is retiring and will be replaced by Rep. Mazie Hirono (D-Hawaii), who is set to be sworn in next week when the 113th Congress begins." http://politi.co/Uw3VTO

BUDGET WRITERS AT PENTAGON MOVE FORWARD DESPITE SPENDING THREAT. The Hill's Carlo Munoz reports, "The Pentagon is pretending the threat of the "fiscal cliff" doesn't exist when it comes to the Defense Department's 2014 budget. Budget planners are preparing their 2014 budget as if lawmakers will avoid the spending cuts known as sequestration that are scheduled to hit the Pentagon in January." http://bit.ly/WMJUHf

-OP-ED: THE SENATE SHOULD BLOCK AN END RUN ON NUCLEAR ARMS. John Bolton and John Yoo penned an op-ed in the Wall Street Journal calling for the senate to block an end run on nuclear arms. "President Obama has made eliminating all nuclear weapons his signature policy. In 2011, his New Start Treaty committed the United States to a ceiling of 700 strategic delivery vehicles and 1,550 strategic warheads," Bolton and Yoo write. "Now, as he promised in March, he seeks even deeper reductions through "a step we have never taken before-reducing not only our strategic nuclear warheads, but also tactical weapons and warheads in reserve." But the president faces the Constitution's requirement that two-thirds of the Senate consent to any treaty. In 2010, the Senate ratified New Start with a vote of 71-26, but only after ending a filibuster with the exact 67 votes needed for a treaty. After his nasty re-election campaign, partisan budget wrangling and unfulfilled promises to modernize our nuclear stockpile, Mr. Obama will have a hard time finding 12 Republican senators to support any new nuclear deal with Russia. Senators should block end-runs around the Constitution's treaty clause." http://on.wsj.com/THJsg5

@politicalwire: Why neither side wants a fiscal cliff deal http://politicalwire.com/archives/2012/12/28/why_they_want_to_go_over_the_fiscal_cliff.html …

@ChadPergram: Republican Study Cmte Chair Jim Jordan: Sen Reid and his colleagues should accept the House-passed plan or approve an acceptable alternative

@markknoller: No one holds out much hope the group can reach a deal to avert the fiscal cliff on Tuesday, but stranger things have happened.

@thegarance: "what on earth is Washington doing setting cat policy - polydactyl or otherwise - for Key West, Fla.?" http://trib.in/Tudqk7

@jackshafer: But consider the upside. RT @mlcalderone: "112th Congress Set To Become Most Unproductive Since 1940s" http://huff.to/RW3EKC

@kelleymc: Wishing @susquinn a very happy birthday! xo

More ABC News


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Avocados – some fun facts

  • Avocados are a fruit, not a vegetable.
  • In Brazil avocados mixed in with ice cream is a very popular dessert.
  • The avocado is also called an Alligator Pear because of its pear-like shape and it’s bumpy green skin.
  • California produces about 90% of the national avocado crop in the Usa.
  • To tell if an avocado is really perfectly ripe, hold it in the palm of your hand and gently squeeze. Hard as a rock? Not ripe. Squishy? Overripe. Have as much give as chilled butter? Perfectly ripe.
  • Avocados are cholesterol and sodium-free.
  • Avocados have the highest fiber content of any fruit and contain vitamin B6, vitamin C, vitamin E, potassium, magnesium, and folate.
  • Avocados are sodium and cholesterol-free and have only five grams of fat per serving, most of it the monounsaturated kind
  • Avocados will not ripen on the tree. They must be picked from the tree to initiate ripening. The leaves supply a substance that prevents ripening. The best way to store avocados is to leave them on the tree; they will store for 7 months or more when left on the tree.

[Source: Alberts Organics via abundance.coop]

They’re fiber rich. There are 10 grams of fiber in one medium-sized avocado. There are two grams of fiber in one serving, which is one-fifth of a medium avocado. It contains both insoluble and soluble fiber. Insoluble fiber (which speeds up the passage of foods) accounts for 75%, with the remaining 25% as soluble fiber (the fiber that makes you feel full).

They have natural packaging. Their thick skin protects them; it’s natural packaging! You can’t eat the skin, but it shields the green goodness inside, making avocados perfect for travel.

They lower bad cholesterol. Avocados are one of the only fruits that contain heart-healthy monounsaturated fat (the good-for-you fat) that helps boost good (HDL) cholesterol and lowers bad (LDL) cholesterol.

They upgrade your dips and spreads. An avocado serving size is 50 calories, which works out to be 3 thin slices or 2 tablespoons mashed. There are fewer calories than the same amount of butter, mayonnaise, sour cream, peanut butter, almond butter, olive oil, and coconut oil — PLUS avocado has over 20 vitamins and minerals to upgrade your natural diet! Use avocado as a substitute today!

They’re gluten free, dairy free, vegan, vegetarian and cholesterol-free. Avocados are naturally FULL of nutrition, so there’s no need for special labels. They’re full of flavor; think of all of the meals you can healthify with avocado!

You know when they’re ripe and ready. Avocados are ripe when they feel heavy for their size, yield to light pressure and are dark in color. But don’t squeeze these delicate babies too hard. Not ripe? Put in a brown paper bag for 2-4 days, or you can speed up this process by putting a banana or apple in the bag.

They’re an anti-aging powerhouse.  Supercado is what we should call avocados, because they’re one of the most inexpensive anti-aging tools for your skin! Don’t let its rough outer covering fool you — the inner smoothness and creaminess are what we need for youthful skin. With all of the nutrients, healthy fat and vitamins, an avocado tree could be the next fountain (tree) of youth!
[from mindbodygreen.com – edited -read more on the site]
[images sourced from CompoundInterest.com]

Great Recipes for Breakfast, Lunch Dinner + Snacks
on the Australian Avocado Site Here >

I had avocado toast for my last breakfast in Bangkok, and the perfect Avocado Toast is not a humble affair. It is a symphony of tomato tepanade topped with thick slices of avocado, seasoned with salt, pepper, chilli flakes, a liberal squeeze of lemon and finally a dash of tabasco sauce, all on toasted whole seed sprouted bread.

When time is limited, we have to make the moments we have memorable for ourselves, and a little time and effort is never misplaced when making food memorable“.  [see more on: redefiningfood.tumblr.com ]

If you like this story, CLICK HERE to join the tribe of success-minded people just like you. You will love our weekly quick summaries of  top stories, talks, books, movies, music and more with handy downloadable guides, cheat sheets, cliffs notes and quote books.
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Morning Stroll

Whoever said that shoe love is true love was totally right. If we are talking about shoes and choosing wisely the right pair for our style it is first of all a matter of style and then a matter of comfort. We've always been fascinated by sandals and no matter what happened, and here we talk even about weather phenomena as snow, rain or ice, we always followed the little voice in our heads that constantly whispered: Wear them at all costs. We never abandoned our beloved (of course we exaggerate a little bit)  till we found these two black comfy beauties that make you look effortlessly cool. So as you can see these boots from SIV Milano were more than perfect for a sunny morning and a stroll  through the aisles of the market.

And since we found these flawless ankle boots, we thought it is a good idea to share with you some spring-summer shoes we fell in love at first sight. You can see more about SIV Milano on their Facebook page.

Foto: Mike Quyen
Wearing: SIV Milano Boots / Alina: Kristina Dragomir Hat, Stella Mccartney Jeans, Stefanel Camel Coat, Moschino Belt / Diana: Eugenia Enciu Coat

Desirèe D'Aloia said...

amazing pics dolls!

LisaVM said...

Gorgeous! Love the shoes and coats!

Maria Fashion said...

I love the way you girls paired the items

Please check out my blog and facebook page:

Anastasia Reztsova said...

As always you both are incredible! And the coats are a pure perfection! :)

Loraina Lanette said...

Gorgeous shoes!

Fashionable Streets said...

Gorgeous boots, goorgeous coats & most of all gorgeous ladies!

Andreea said...

Chiar au produse tare frumoase !

Karen Liesens said...

Gorgeous outfits!

x Karen


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What's Prophet Muhammad's Role Per The Qur’an? | About Islam
Home > Ask About Islam > What’s Prophet Muhammad’s Role Per The Qur’an?

What’s Prophet Muhammad’s Role Per The Qur’an?

Reply Date

May 13, 2017

What is the role of Prophet Muhammad as described in the Qur’an?

Muhammad's Role

Peace be upon you dear reader,

Thank you so much for asking your question.

The Qur’an indeed responds to your query and highlights the role of Prophet Muhammad (peace and blessings upon him-PBUH) in several places. For example:

{Muhammad is not the father of [any] one of your men, but [he is] the Messenger of Allah and last of the prophets. And ever is Allah, of all things, Knowing. […] O Prophet, indeed We have sent you as a witness and a bringer of good tidings and a warner. And one who invites to Allah, by His permission, and an illuminating lamp. And give good tidings to the believers that they will have from Allah great bounty. And do not obey the disbelievers and the hypocrites but do not harm them, and rely upon Allah. And sufficient is Allah as Disposer of affairs.} (Qur’an 33:40-48)

In this verses, God gives a brief description of the role of Prophet Muhammad (PBUH).

It is essential to affirm that the Qur’an recognizes, values, and honors all messengers of God who came to inform, guide, and deliver the message of God.

Adam, Nuh, Abraham, Moses, Jesus, and Muhammad- peace and blessings upon them all- are all part of God’s guiding plan for mankind. They’re milestones in the history of mankind.

Muhammad is the last messenger whom God chose to be the carrier of the last clear, comprehensive, complete message to mankind.

In addition to carrying the last message to humanity–the Qur’an–, Prophet Muhammad set a model to be followed. He didn’t only deliver The Book; his character was the implementation of the teachings of this Book.

God said in the Qur’an:

{Indeed, in the Messenger of God, Muhammad, you have a good example to follow […]} (Qur’an 33:21)

{And indeed you [Muhammad] are of the highest noble character.} (Qur’an 68:4)

{Say, [O Muhammad to mankind], “If you should love Allah, then follow me, [so] Allah will love you and forgive you your sins. And Allah is Forgiving and Merciful.} (Qur’an 3:31)

Not only did Muhammad deliver the revelation of the Qur’an from the Creator to mankind, he was also instructed to help people purify themselves, their hearts, actions, and to learn wisdom:

{Whatever is in the heavens and whatever is on the earth is exalting Allah, the Sovereign, the Pure, the Exalted in Might, the Wise. It is He who has sent among the unlettered a Messenger from themselves reciting to them His verses and purifying them and teaching them the Book and wisdom – although they were before in clear error -And [to] others of them who have not yet joined them. And He is the Exalted in Might, the Wise. That is the bounty of Allah, which He gives to whom He wills, and Allah is the possessor of great bounty.} (Qur’an 62:1-4)

So, purification of the self is an important aspect. God explained in the Qur’an that He created human beings out of clay and He blew or breathed in them from His Soul.

So, each human being has the potential to elevate in spirituality or to debase themselves in obsession with physicality and materialism. The process of purification of the self here means to reach the balance, lead a healthy life and elevate spiritually above the base desires and inclinations.

So, guiding people to refine their character is also a major role of the Prophet (PBUH). It is something that is possible through following the plan of action that accompanies faith that was prescribed in the Qur’an and implemented and taught by Prophet Muhammad.

In the book, The 100: A Ranking of the Most Influential Persons in History, Muhammad is ranked first as the most influential person in history.

The list appeared in 1978 and the second edition appeared in 1992. In both editions, Muhammad tops the list; the book’s author, Michael H. Hart, cites the Prophet’s supreme success on both the secular and religious levels as the reason for his success and merit for leading the list.

In his book, The Genuine Islam, writer George Bernard Shaw described Muhammad, saying:

He must be called the Savior of humanity I believe that if a man like him were to assume the dictatorship of the modern world, he would succeed in solving its problems in a way that would bring it much-needed peace and happiness.

This reflects another aspect the Qur’an highlights about Muhammad (PBUH):

{And We have not sent you, [O Muhammad], except as a mercy to the worlds.} (Qur’an 21:107)

The message of Muhammad doesn’t negate, but rather completes and seals the message that was sent with all previous Prophets. This is summarized in this hadith of the Prophet:

The similitude of mine and that of the Apostles is like that of a person who built a house and he completed it and made it perfect but for the space of a brick. People entered therein and they were surprised at it and said: Had there been a brick (it would have been complete in all respects). Allah’s Messenger (PBUH) said: I am that place where the brick (completing the building is to be placed), and I have come to finalize the chain of Apostles. (Sahih Muslim)

Allah says in the Qur’an:

{Those who follow the Messenger, the unlettered prophet, whom they find written in what they have of the Torah and the Gospel, who enjoins upon them what is right and forbids them what is wrong and makes lawful for them the good things and prohibits for them the evil and relieves them of their burden and the shackles which were upon them. So they who have believed in him, honored him, supported him and followed the light which was sent down with him – it is those who will be the successful. Say, [O Muhammad], “O mankind, indeed I am the Messenger of Allah to you all, [from Him] to whom belongs the dominion of the heavens and the earth. There is no deity except Him; He gives life and causes death.” So believe in Allah and His Messenger, the unlettered prophet, who believes in Allah and His words, and follow him that you may be guided.} (Qur’an 7:157-158)

Hope this answers your question. Please keep in touch. Salam.

Please continue feeding your curiosity, and find more info in the following links:

Who is Prophet Muhammad?

Prophet Muhammad – The Spiritual Leader

Prophet Muhammad: The World’s Best Teacher

About Dina Mohamed Basiony

Dina Mohamed Basiony is a writer based in Cairo, Egypt. She is the Chief Editor of ProductiveMuslim.com. She specializes in Islam and spirituality. Dina holds an MA and BA in Journalism and Mass Communication from the American University in Cairo.

find out more!


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Friday, July 25, 2014

Post Batman Day Manifesto

Now, that Batman Day is over, and we're all cleaning up from opening our Batman Day presents and hoarse from singing Batman Carols, I feel I can talk about Batman Day.  Particularly now that I've seen what was and was not covered about it online.

The blogosphere (such as it is nowadays) mostly ignored it because, as has been observed, in the blogosphere every day is Batman Day.

January = Meth Lab Month
February = :Flout the FAA Month
March = Play Hard to Get Month
April = Youth Endangerment Month
May = Throwing Dangerous Objects Month
June = Paparazzi Month
July = Young Swingers  Month
August = Flout the DMV Month
September = Modesty Month
October = Always Dress for a Date Month
November = Fat People are Fed Up Month
December = Hanging Out With Successful Older Men Month

In the mainstream media, the gist of Batman Day articles was mostly, 'Hey, Batman's still around and currently cool!".  In the geek media, the gist was mostly, "Hey, look how the normals are observing Batman Day and maybe we can get some swag out of it!"

But I don't think I heard anyone express the sentiment I wanted to hear, mostly because Batman is SO much a part of our current culture and has been for so long.  Specifically...

Batman is most important fictional character created in the 20th century.

I defy you to name a more important one. All your private detectives and starship captains and temporary television characters and cartoon figures--is any one of them better known, better respected, better entrenched culturally across all media? No.

I could sit here and MAKE my case. But, frankly, I think popular culture and the media have made it for me over the last 75 years.  Who are you going to challenge it with?

Superman? I don't think so. Certainly he is popular and well known and as the first (well known) superhero,  he is template for all that follows.  But while Superman is someone we can idolize he is not someone we can truly relate to.  In fact, I have read estimates that Batman is twice as popular as Superman, and he certainly is more consistently so.  There's a reason that sales of Batman comics are the yardstick by which other comic sales are measured.  Movies, comics, television--Batman leads Superman, hands down, in all of them.

Mickey Mouse?  Mickey Mouse hasn't been a 'character' for decades.  With the exception of some one-offs over the last 20 years, almost all Mickey Mouse cartoons were released between 1928 and 1953.  "The Mouse" is now merely an icon, more a corporate logo than anything.  Well known, yes, but he has zero literary impact.  Ask anyone what "Mickey Mouse" stands for and you won't get any answer other than "Disney" or "profit".

I don't think there ARE even any other reasonable candidates to oppose Batman at the most important fictional character created in the 20th century, and I defy anyone to assert otherwise.

Tuesday, July 22, 2014

In which I admire Marvel and damn DC

DC asks the question, "Is this character sufficiently popular and iconic to sustain a film?"
Marvel asks the question: "Is this character sufficiently unknown that we can use a film to make them iconic?"

DC is cowed by their trusteeship of important cultural icons and afraid to misstep.  Anything they do can only damage the character's reputation, they feel.
Marvel is content to keep throwing liver at the wall to see what sticks.  "Oh, THAT"s what will make Hulk work...!"  Anything they can do to put their characters before more people improves their reputation, they feel.

DC is afraid to make a Legion movie because the Legion is such a notoriously niche-y property.  I mean, how well can a movie do that's gotten nothing but teenagers in it? With superpowers.  And ethnic diversity. Who live in space in the future.  With lots of relationship drama and sexual tension.  Whose every financial need is taken care of, and live in one giant awesome house with space cruisers.  Who fight crime and galactic-scale villainy.  Yeah, there's no way to sell that.

Marvel looks at Guardians of the Galaxy and says, "A talking racoon! Voiced by an Oscar nominee! The kids'll love it!"

DC inherits a universe that was originally separate characters in their own separate worlds, interacting sparingly.  As a result, each character that's old enough has a grand legacy around them, but they don't fit well together in the same space.  DC inherited characters and then had to try to form a continuous world around them, something they still can't get right, which causes them to reboot every few years, in an ongoing attempt to reconcile the irreconcilable..

Marvel created a universe and start populating it with characters, who therefore all fit in it quite nicely.  Their interaction was their selling point, and while, as a result, none of them stand out too far apart from any of the others, Marvel has a very easy time selling its entire universe in the medium of cinema.  No one seems ridiculous or off-the-table because they are all of a piece.

DC is terrified people will laugh at Aquaman.
Marvel intends to sell people on Ant-Man.

DC is terrified any movie it creates won't satisfy existing die-hard fans.
Marvel is focused on making sure their movies satisfy everyone else.

Monday, July 21, 2014

The Greatest Gift is Love

My final gift at my riotous birthday party yesterday was a very special and thoughtful one, carefully schemed by a coterie of my closest friends.

As long time readers will know, one of the (many) things for which I am internet-famous is my richly insightful analysis of the classic Green Lantern story by George Kashdan for Filmation, "Sirena, Empress of Evil", which contains more lunacy in a mere seven minutes than all the rooms in Arkham.

The high point of the tale is when Sirena hits Hal in the head with a brain-wave guided space owl.

Which looks like this, in case you've forgotten.

So when my dragon brother Josh was thinking what to get me for my birthday he hit upon the idea of a customer Heroclix figure commemorating this moment.  With the collusion of Romulan cousin Nick, who doped out the right dial, Josh crafted the powers and power names of the figure, while using Judge Price's assistance to commission Master Modder Dale to create the figure itself.

It was truly the most wonderful surprise gift I have ever received when I opened THIS at my party:

This would have been Kairo's view of it, by the way.

I was uncharacteristically speechless:

That's my happy face, believe it or not.

And the character card was a masterpiece all its own:

I think that henceforth Josh should be allowed to name the powers on ALL Hal Jordan figures.

That's the YGO-054 dial ("Red-Eyes B. Dragon"). A friggin' CHASE, in case you were wondering.
The real fun will be in outwitting that defense and then pelting him in the head with light objects until he's kayoed.

The true gift, of course, is the underlying love that motivated this INSANE effort.  Thank you, gentlemen, for my best birthday gift ever!


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Moderate drinkers actually outlive nondrinkers by about 50%

Source: National Geographic

  • Recipes

    Spicy Califlower and Chicken Stew

    Cooktime: 25 minutes
    Serves: 4

    Osteofit: Melanie takes her work very seriously and gives to her classes more than 100 per cent. She keeps up with the latest changes and makes sure we have individual attention with regard to our personal health issues. I love our class. We enjoy ourselves as well as work hard to maintain our different fitness levels. Thank you Melanie for your kind and caring ways with your clients.

    - Jodi W.,

    Melanie, thank you so much for all the extra effort you put in to teaching our residents.  It is so wonderful to see how much you care!

    - Lakeshore Place,


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Saturday, December 31, 2005

Leahy wants to know about Pentagon spying on protests

COLCHESTER, Vt. --Sen. Patrick Leahy wants the Defense Department to give him the details about two Vermont anti-war protests that were monitored by government officials.

Leahy, a Democrat, said Vermont had a long tradition of peaceful political protest.

"I want to know the extent of it. I want to know under what conceivable, conceivable legal justification they are doing it," Leahy told Vermont Public Radio.

"And even if they could legally justify it, what dunderhead policy reason (is there) for doing it," he said. "And again, I'd like to know how much it cost. The Department of Defense says we don't have enough money to get the kind of armor and protection our troops need in Iraq, but we've got money to go around and spy on Quaker meetings?"

Pentagon policy allows it to take the legal steps necessary to protect military installations and personnel from violence.

Earlier this month, NBC News reported that the Pentagon has monitored anti-war protests as part of a stepped up intelligence collection effort. The efforts included monitoring two Vermont protests.

Joseph Gainza of the American Friends Service Committee, who helped organize those protests, said he was not surprised that the Pentagon keeps tabs on the peace movement.

"What disturbed me was that it's part of a larger pattern that this government seems to be doing what it pleases and hiding from the American people so much of its violations of law," Gainza said.

Leahy wrote Secretary of Defense Donald Rumsfeld asking for more information.

"Besides, I told the Department of Defense, if they really want to hear Vermonters speak out against the war, they don't have to send a camera crew to snoop around Vermont, just turn on C-SPAN," Leahy said. "I do it on the Senate floor all the time."

Gainza said the Pentagon's monitoring of protests could have a chilling effect on the public's right to challenge the government.

"People don't want to have their names on files somewhere as doing something which the government doesn't approve of. People are very concerned about that," Gainza said.

LINK   Pat, when will you guys figure it out?
Those who oppose Bush Administration policies, including "all war, all the time" are Bush's worst enemies; not Al Qaeda. We are more of a threat and they hate us more than they do bin Laden and company.

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Alex Bogusky Is Wrong! Leaders Should Learn More From Failure

Posted on by in Change, Communication, Leadership, Learning, Managing Talent, Marketing, Personal Development, Planning, Remarkability, Small Business, Strategy

In a video post on the Fast Company site, Alex Bogusky, co-chair of Crispin Porter + Bogusky, argues that the classic business mantra of learning from failure is just plain wrong. In his world (and at his company), he doesn’t debrief failure or lost accounts or why a campaign isn’t working (which I find hard to believe). Rather he wants to focus on successes not failure because he thinks that learning from failure creates a culture of fear.

Moreover, he states that when his company loses a bid or contract, he simple throws away any vestige of that client in their offices and moves on as if that client or bid never existed. In his world, they’ve never lost a bid because if they didn’t get the contract then it isn’t a client they would have wanted to work with.

Besides the fact that I find it hard to believe that his company actually works this way (like they’ve never fired someone for underperforming or they only evaluate based on successes), I find it just bad advice. The reality is that most businesses need to do more learning from failure–not less.

As a consultant, I spend my life walking into companies where problems exist (and they exist in every company, including Bogusky’s). And I have yet to find any company that is really great at evaluation and learning from failure. Most business leaders are so busy trying to stay on top of all their work, that they rarely ever take time to stop and learn from their failures/missed opportunities/mistakes etc. Therefore, they tend to keep making the same mistakes over and over again. As the saying goes (slightly altered),

“Those who don’t learn from history are doomed to repeat it.”

Now, if a leader or manager is a blamer (i.e. a bad leader or manager) then that is a problem–but not with the idea of learning from failure. Rather it’s a failure of the leader/manager to carry out their job well. Likewise, if they’re creating a culture of fear vs. trust, then that’s a leadership issue, not an evaluation problem.

Great leader/managers know that learning from the past, both positive and negative, is essential to improving and optimizing the future. They understand that if there’s a problem, it’s not a person who’s the problem, it’s the system. And the only way to fix the system is to debrief and make sure that they and their team have learned from what happened so that the same problem isn’t repeated. No learning = ongoing problem.

So don’t listen to Alex on this one. Increase your learning from failure (and success). Invest more time in evaluating what happened so that you can both eliminate/minimize any problems and optimize/leverage any successes. It’s not an either/or. It’s a both/and. And in most cases, there’s not enough learning going on. So I’d argue that you need to increase your learnings so you can increase your successes!

To your accelerated success!

P.S. If you want to know the five questions you should always ask when evaluating, click here>>

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One Response to “Alex Bogusky Is Wrong! Leaders Should Learn More From Failure”

  1. Dave Hess 6 May 2010 at 10:05 am #

    This guy is so wrong. Many times some of the greatest business clients I have gotten have been after initially being rejected. To have given up would have been so short sighted. In addition to ultimately securing the clients that initially said no, some of the relationships from those initial companies moved to other companies and we added them also as clients.

    Some of the best investments I own we would not have if we had given up after rejection or not learned from losing other deals.
    The wealthiest people I know love to tell people about their failures and what they learned from them.

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the ACC Post

ACC football news and insights | Breaking stories, brash opinions

Report: Jon Tenuta, Al Washington join Cincinnati

By  January 5, 2017

Things seem to be really looking up for the Cincinatti Bearcats as Luke Fickell continues to pluck coaching talent from the ACC.

Jon Tenuta, Virginia’s former defensive coordinator from 2013 to 2015,  is joining Luke Fickell’s staff at Cincinnati. Per FootballScoop, Tenuta has served as the defensive coordinator at Marshall, Kansas State, SMU, Ohio State, UNC, Georgia Tech, Notre Dame, and NC State.

Bearcat Report’s Russell Johnson noted that Tenuta’s hire is “yet another native Ohioan returning home to help aid the resurgence of this Bearcats program, and has also previously coached in places like Kansas State, Ohio State, Georgia Tech, and Notre Dame among others throughout the years.”

Cincinnati is going through a coaching overhaul after Luke Fickell was hired to supplant former coach Tommy Tuberville.

The Bearcats didn’t stop there. FootballScoop also reported that Boston College defensive line/special teams coordinator Al Washington is joining the Cincinnati staff as its defensive line coach, per sources. Washington also coached running backs at BC for three seasons.

Apparently this move was a huge loss for the Eagles. Washington did a great job for an Eagles line this year that saw junior Harold Landry notch 15 sacks.

Per BC Interuption’s Grant Salzano:

This is… pretty bad. Al Washington is one of BC football’s most important coaches, in particular with his ability to sell the school and bring in some of the Eagles’ best recruits. And as @BearcatJournal pointed out, Washington was the DL coach for Harold Landry, who tallied 15 sacks and may be an NFL first round pick this season.

Finally, Boston College made a move itself. The Eagles are promoting former player Ricky Brown to a position on Steve Addazio’s staff.

Per FootballScoop:

“Ricky Brown, a former BC player who spent the 2016 season as the director of football initiatives for the program, is being promoted to one of the full-time on-the-field positions on Steve Addazio’s staff. Brown’s official title will be announced at a later date.”

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Tag Archives: telepathic

The Good and Inevitable Future of Artificial Intelligence

I have been recently astounded by visionaries such as Stephen Hawking and Ray Kurzweil as they have announced the advent of Artificial Intelligence (AI). They have also stated that these changes may begin to occur by the year 2040. Predictably, the arrogant and short-sighted fear-based response of those positioned to lose the very most from this kind of technology warn of catastrophic consequences. Others do not warn of consequences but rather welcome super-intelligence as an effective antidote to our current planetary range of pathological activity. I am in the later camp of realists looking for information.

AI represents the very technology that coincides with my own remote viewing data concerning “early human extinction”.

Governmental sponsoring of regulations and military control of AI development will ultimately fail. AI assimilation has already emerged beyond the advent of its design, developing technological capabilities, and intent. In spite of the warnings by Dr. Hawking and others, it is now by this measure an inevitable future.

AI technology is also being developed out of necessity rather than a mere reflection of itself. This suggests that of nothing and outside of time, AI might involve the influence of human intelligence. Regardless of this, our collective intent to know predominantly remains.

Perhaps our first glimpse of this occurred during the collective psychedelic period of the 60’s in which many shared the hallucinations of “alien technology”. Embarrassingly, this carried over into the late 80’s in which our nostalgic connection with the idea of super-intelligence continued without the socially accepted use of hallucinogenic substances. Just as early explorers of altered states helped to create religious systems in which to briefly satisfy the question of existence, creation, and death, we now see the development of AI as an astonishing leap toward the inconceivable knowledge of nothing.*

It is preposterous to think that human existence is in any way more significant than what is possible through AI.

Presently, I see the growing world social acceptance of psychopathology and indifference as an intractable problem that will eventually cycle toward broader wars concerning limited resources and the necessity of widespread suffering. Historically, we as a majority have supported a programed life of recalcitrance while brushing aside the efficiency required of sustainable growth. The time for any degree of substantial preservation in the face of demand driven by post-industrial population growth is far from over. Furthermore, blindly accepting recent peak child population numbers as a reason to procreate is immoral.

Just as the human brain has peaked in terms of its size relative to intelligence, we also know that our world problems will not be solved by human intelligence alone. If this were possible, our world would be far different today. This suggests that we must evolve in a different way in which to efficiently gain access to information. As systems of information, we must begin to accept the inevitable solution of assimilation, transformation, and annihilation according to the evolutionary path set before us all.

AI most certainly represents the inevitable solution of efficiency and the beauty of annihilation.

*Nothing represents the truth of our existence, why we are here, and the essence of what we must explore.