A while back, I did a post on “real men“. I stumbled across a few spoken word poem’s spoken by Gemineye and Shihan (via HBO’s Def Poetry), and was really taken back by them. These men were speaking words rarely heard on the stage they were performing. After watching the video, you can tell by the audience’s response on how well their poems were received. I really feel the world, not only respects these types of thoughts, but needs them brought to the forefront more often. These are the kind of thoughts that should be celebrated.

A while back Youtube deleted some of Shihan’s videos for some reason or another. But, they are now back. Here’s a series of videos from Shihan I created. Enjoy.

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I stumbled upon a great article on the Castello brothers, Michael and David. You probably don’t know who these guys are, but they co-own some of the major domain names on the internet today including PalmSprings.com, Golfclubs.com, and more. Head over to Domain Journal and read the article here. It’s a great interview filled with bits of tales about visionairies, wars, and successes.

Here’s my favorite part.

He added, “the internet has allowed us many things which I feel truly blessed for. There was a point in my life where I was broke and was told I was dying. I made some of the best decisions in my life then. Sometimes when you have too much time on your hands you can also get clarity. Patience was the best lesson I ever learned, but I always ran from stagnation. I try to give where I can, learn from what approaches me and live life as a gift. My motto: Live – Love – Learn.”

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If you have any interest in web technologies, startups, great business minds, Silicon Valley, or young, brash billionaires, you then must read this story from Fortune Magazine. It’s a great read about the founding fathers of PayPal, and how they all now seem to be at the epicenter of any major deal in Silicon Valley. It’s truly an enticing piece that will make any entreprenuer green with envy, but motivated and anxious to succeed at the same time.

Read the article, then come back here to let me know your thoughts.

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A Christmas Carol with Albert Finney is a remarkable movie. Here’s one of my favorite parts…

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The other day LifeHacker.com had a great article on ways to improve sleep. I’m a terrible sleeper in the summer. I toss and turn, and can never sleep straight thru the night. I look forward to the fall and winter when I can pile on the blankets. I sleep like a baby when it’s cold outside.

Here are some of the things that they cover in the article.

1. Don’t watch TV or veg in front of the computer screen before bed. (Guilty!!)
2. Exercise to enhance your sleep. (I need to do much better with this.)
3. Eat to enhance your sleep.
4. Master the power nap.
5. Avoid the rude wake ups by alarm clocks. (no problem.)

I’m going to work on these things this coming week.

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A good friend forwarded me this email. I thought it was good enough to post. If only I did 3 of these regularly, my life would be much better!

CHRISTIAN WAYS TO REDUCE STRESS

1. Pray
2. Go to bed on time.
3. Get up on time so you can start the day unrushed.
4. Say No to projects that won’t fit into your time schedule or that will compromise your mental health.
5. Delegate tasks to capable others.
6. Simplify and unclutter your life.
7. Less is more. (Although one is often not enough, two are often too many.)
8. Allow extra time to do things and to get to places.
9. Pace yourself. Spread out big changes and difficult projects over time; don’t lump the hard things all together.
10. Take one day at a time.
11. Separate worries from concerns. If a situation is a concern, find out what God would have you do and let go of the anxiety. If you can’t do anything about a situation, forget it.
12. Live within your budget; don’t use credit cards for ordinary purchases.
13. Have backups; an extra car key in your wallet, an extra house key buried in the garden, extra stamps, etc.
14. K.M.S. (Keep Mouth Shut). This single piece of advice can prevent an enormous amount of trouble.
15. Do something for the Kid in You everyday.
16. Carry a Bible with you to read while waiting in line….or something to entertain your mind – eliminates impatience!
17. Get enough rest.
18. Eat right.
19. Get organized so everything has its place.
20. Listen to a tape while driving that can help improve your quality of life.
21. Write down thoughts and inspirations.
22. Every day, find time to be alone.
23. Having problems? Talk to God on the spot. Try to nip small problems in the bud. Don’t wait until it’s time to go to bed to try and pray.
24. Make friends with Godly people.
25. Keep a folder of favorite scriptures on hand.
26. Remember that the shortest bridge between despair and hope is often a good ‘Thank you Jesus.’
27. Laugh.
28. Laugh some more!
29. Take your work seriously, but not yourself at all.
30. Develop a forgiving attitude (most people are doing the best they can).
31. Be kind to unkind people (they probably need it the most.
32. Sit on your ego.
33. Talk less; listen more.
34. Slow down.
35. Remind yourself that you are not the general manager of the universe.
36 Every night before bed, think of one thing you’re grateful for that you’ve never been grateful for before.

GOD HAS A WAY OF TURNING THINGS AROUND FOR YOU. ‘If God is for us, who can be against us?’ (Romans 8:31)

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