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“Life under a good government is rarely dramatic; life under a bad government is always so.” — Oscar Wilde
“Good government is known from bad government by this infallible test: that under the former the labouring people are well fed and well clothed, and under the latter, they are badly fed and badly clothed.” — William Cobbett |
Day: July 13, 2020
The Hidden History of the Nutmeg Island That Was Traded for Manhattan – Gastro Obscura
Castello Aragonese (Aragonese Castle) – Le Castella, Italy – Atlas Obscura
The Protector of Mexico’s Hidden Hives of Stingless Bees – Gastro Obscura
Hoia-Baciu Forest – Cluj-Napoca, Romania – Atlas Obscura
Museums Once Coated Native Cultural Objects in Toxic Pesticides – Atlas Obscura
Rajasthan political crisis | Sachin Pilot’s rebellion with 30 MLAs puts Ashok Gehlot government on edge – The Hindu
WORD OF THE DAY
WORD OF THE DAY |
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Examples of Noctambulate in a sentence
“After dinner he loved to noctambulate and watch the stars come out.” “The best part of living in the city is that you’ll never noctambulate alone.” |
Today’s Inspirational Quote:
Today’s Inspirational Quote:
“Work for a cause, not for applause. Live life to express and not to impress. Don’t strive to make your presence noticed, just make your absence felt.”
— Author Unknown
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Did you know…
Did you know…
… that today is Etch-A-Sketch Day? On this day in 1960, the first Etch-A-Sketch went on sale. For those who don’t know, Etch A Sketch is a mechanical drawing toy invented by Andre Cassagnes of France. The Etch-A-Sketch is one of the best-known toys of the Baby Boomer era and, in 1998, was inducted into the National Toy Hall of Fame at The Strong, in Rochester, New York.
India-China border dispute: When Atal Bihari Vajpayee drove 800 sheep to Chinese embassy – India News
Surprising Coca-Cola facts everyone should know
Inappropriate Poetry for Important Occasions – The Good Men Project
There is a growing divide between leftists and liberals. STOP uniting them as the same thing.
China Destroys Biggest Tibetan Buddhist Site In Eastern Tibet
A gag will never achieve progress
US scientists may have found path to increase human life – world news – Hindustan Times
How to Deal with Difficult People at Work | Science of People
Quotes of the Week
“The return we reap from generous actions is not always evident.”
via Today’s Quote https://ift.tt/2ZJTpi0 July 06, 2020 at 10:57AM |
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“When one burns one’s bridges, what a very nice fire it makes.”
via Today’s Quote https://ift.tt/2Z7IIqG July 07, 2020 at 10:57AM |
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“Imagination and fiction make up more than three quarters of our real life.”
via Today’s Quote https://ift.tt/2R4NiBM July 08, 2020 at 10:57AM |
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“The pen is the tongue of the mind.”
via Today’s Quote https://ift.tt/30TpqV1 July 11, 2020 at 10:57AM |
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“We have, I fear, confused power with greatness.”
via Today’s Quote https://ift.tt/2Ag75Zt July 12, 2020 at 10:57AM |
Today’s Quote
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What Men Want: 10 Jokes Everyone Completely Missed | ScreenRant
via What Men Want: 10 Jokes Everyone Completely Missed |
What Men Want was a hilarious spin on the formula first used in What Women Want. These are some of the quick jokes viewers might have missed!
One bachelorette party-Haitian tea-concussion later, Ali can now hear men’s thoughts, just like Mel Gibson could hear women’s thoughts, and she goes on a whirlwind adventure of beating men at their game – literally, it’s sports we’re talking about! This romantic comedy has tons of laughs to be had, but some jokes may go far beyond the movie. Here are the top ten jokes everyone completely missed in What Men Want.
10“Okurr!”
Who can resist a Cardi B moment? Cardi B turned “okay” into “okurr” with the infamous rolling of her tongue.
So when both Ali and her assistant, Brandon, started going back and forth with it in the first scene of the movie, it provided a hilarious exchange. This one could be easily missed since “okurr” can just be a quirk the writers wrote in for Ali.
9“I Go High When They Go Low”
Some may miss this one, but when Ali says “I go high when they go low” after telling her father about her non-promotion, it sounds a bit too familiar. It could be just another saying but First Lady Michelle Obama said the very same saying!
Michelle Obama’s “When they go low, we go high” is the equivalent of Ali’s “I go high when they go low.” It may not be a direct reference, but it’s a nice comparison considering two powerful women said the very same thing.
8“Welcome To Wakanda”
Much to Ali’s surprise (and possible dismay), she had the pleasure of meeting Will’s son, Ben. What’s great is he greets Ali with one infamous Marvel reference: “Welcome to Wakanda.”
This reference was created for one of the best-selling Marvel movies, Black Panther. Those that live in Wakanda greet each other with “Wakanda Forever,” which includes a crossing of the arms, sort of like a version of waving hello. Ben does the same arm motion while greeting Ali to his very own Wakanda. It’s cute and funny and hard to miss if Black Panther isn’t on the watch list.
7The Skip Card
No, that isn’t a fortune-telling card – it’s a skip card from Uno! Shortly after showing up to her best friend’s bachelorette party, one of their mutual friends brings over a fortune-teller called Sister.
This leads to a hilarious two-minute scene of Sister laying down card after card to tell Ali’s fortune. The best part is she’s laying them down like she’s playing Uno and there’s one cut where there actually was an Uno card in the pile – a skip card! It’s a cut that can be easily missed, but so worth catching.
6Shaq Referencing Shaq In The Third Person
There’s always a good time to be self-aware and that was no exception when Shaq appeared on screen and questioned why he speaks to himself in the third person – something everyone has questioned themselves!
This happened while Ali and her colleagues were all playing secret poker. While this joke isn’t mentioned in the movie itself, it is mentioned in the trailer. Hopefully it’s a deleted scene somewhere, too!
5Ling-Ling And Hsing-Hsing
Near the end of the movie, Joe “Dolla” Barry, played by Tracy Morgan, and Ali are talking backstage while Jamal Barry is being drafted to the NBA. One of the jokes Joe says to Ali in passing is about two pandas and Richard Nixon. Odd, right?
What audiences may miss is that he’s actually referencing a real-life event involving former United States President Richard Nixon. The government of China gifted two pandas, Ling-Ling and Hsing-Hsing, to President Nixon after his visit to China in 1972.
4What Men Want Meets Twilight
The best part of comedy movies are the side characters as jokes and one of the side characters is being played by Twilight’s very own Kellan Lutz! Instead of being vampire heartthrob Emmett Cullen, he plays Ali’s hot neighbor, Captain F***tastic (yes, that’s the character’s name).
Although the two end on bad terms when a hookup goes wrong, it’s nice to see a familiar face on the big screen.
3Ali Drinking Tea
One of the reasons Ali starts hearing men’s thoughts is because of the Haitian tea the fortune teller gives her. As she tells Brandon this fact, he says, “I thought black people stopped drinking tea after Get Out. You forgot to stay woke.”
This joke is in direct reference to the successful horror film directed by Jordan Peele, Get Out. In this racially-driven movie, Chris Washington, played by Daniel Kaluuya, is given tea by the mother, Missy Armitage, in order to keep him hostage and taken as a slave. Let’s just say tea may not be a good idea to drink.
2“Oh, Calm Down. Have A Fiji.”
This one comes as a satisfying full circle. At the beginning of the film, Ali heads to her boss, Nick, and asks why she didn’t get the promotion. Because she’s visibly upset, Nick says, “Oh, calm down. Have a Fiji.”
Ninety minutes later, Ali has kicked some agent booty and has finally gotten her deserved promotion. Instead, she declines Nick’s offer of being promoted. He begins throwing a fit and Ali’s response in return is the very same thing Nick told her: “Oh, calm down Nick. Have a Fiji.” While it’s not the funniest of jokes, it’s a satisfying symbolism of growth for Ali.
1Ali Calling Eddie Bamm-Bamm
The last joke that audiences may have missed is a subtle one. When Ali comes into the office for the promotion announcement at the beginning of the film, she sits down next to Kevin and Eddie.
They start talking about poker night and Eddie goes, “No poker night. None, nada, zip!” Flustered at his denial of poker night, Ali quips back with, “I’m gonna need you to calm down baby man-child. Looking like Bamm-Bamm.” This is in direct reference of Bamm-Bamm, the baby from The Flintstones!
The Invitation: 10 Quotes That’ll Stick With Us Forever
via The Invitation: 10 Quotes That’ll Stick With Us Forever
Karyn Kusama’s psychological horror, The Invitation, takes viewers on an incredible journey. Here are some quotes from the film that really resonate.
An emotional film like this – that emphasizes dialogue and philosophical concepts is bound to have plenty of memorable quotes. The Invitation certainly doesn’t disappoint on this front, with some impactful, profound, and borderline ominous statements.
10“I’m Free. All That Useless Pain, It’s Gone. It’s Something Anyone Can Have, Will…”
Early on in the film, despite knowing little about Will’s ex-wife Eden, it becomes apparent from her demeanor and Will’s reactions that she’s not quite herself. This is made clear by one of her first lines of dialogue, in which she tells him that she’s “free.”
While inspirational and endearing on its surface, it has an ominous air that has plenty of foreshadowing as the movie goes on. Her statement following this – that she wants him to share in this apparent freedom – sets the stage for the sinister plot that unfolds.
9“Forgiveness Doesn’t Have To Wait. I’m Free To Forgive Myself And So Are You.”
Bits of rhetoric stemming from Dr. Joseph’s cult begin to trickle out early in the film, as shown in the previous entry. Yet, the eerie and largely unknown dinner guest, Pruitt, takes this one step further by telling a grim story about the accidental killing of his wife following a domestic dispute.
While he’s seemingly only trying to convince himself, he then engages in a sort of sermon proclaiming that, he too, is now “free of guilt” after becoming a part of Joseph’s group. Even more so than Eden, it’s clear with this eerily calm confession that Pruitt has bad intentions, as the shocking ending reveals.
8“Maybe I Wasn’t Prepared To Be Here Tonight.”
The Invitation is rife with allusions, symbolism, and foreshadowing that brings some depth and intrigue. A prime example of these nuances comes when Eden’s new husband David confronts Will about his distant and somewhat resistant nature at their party.
After David comments on his suspicious demeanor to their “hospitality,” Will responds with this statement. On a literal level, it refers to Will’s struggle in facing his demons in this house – his former home and the home of his now-deceased son. But on a deeper level, subconscious level, he seems to be indicating he also isn’t ready for what turns out to be a death-pact conspiracy. Unfortunately – these conspirators have apparently decided that he is ready.
7“Grief, Anger, Depression, Abuse… It’s All Just Chemical Reactions.”
Once again, viewers get a little more insight into the ideology of Dr. Joseph and his cult, through the rhetoric of Eden. In this case, it’s their friend Ben who gets this apparent insight from her.
Again, there are eerie and even sad undertones here, as it’s clear Eden is trying to wipe away the traumatic death of her young son through this coping mechanism. She attempts to downplay the impact of her former negative feelings by boiling it down to a sort of mental chemistry.
6“I Don’t Pretend To Know What You Went Through. And You Don’t Know Me. You Can’t.”
A good lead is usually one with complexity – as well as one who exudes a certain strength. This quote certainly reinforces Will as a resilient and defiant figure. He basically tells David to back off as Eden’s new husband pretends to “understand” Will’s grief, equating it with David’s own dark past of drugs and the death of a loved one.
The film somewhat conveys the difference of human reactions to trauma – shown by Will and Eden’s contrasting demeanor in particular. Will is reestablishing this notion here – that everybody’s pain has distinct traits and circumstances, and that everyone copes differently.
5“Something Dangerous Is Going On, And We’re All Just Ignoring It Because David Brought Some Good Wine!”
While most of the guests tend to be oblivious to the eerie and somewhat odd nature of this party, Will spends much of the time suspicious and hesitant. This notion is muddied and brushed aside by most – attributing it to Will’s instability in revisiting the home of his deceased son.
But this building tension and suspicion reaches a boiling point when one of the guests that was supposed to be there is seemingly missing. The lead’s explosion at the dinner table – which includes this memorable line – is particularly impactful and raw.
4“Each One Of Us Is On A Journey And We Feel It’s Important To Be On This Journey With The People We Love.”
More verbal foreshadowing – this time in the person of Eden’s husband David, who seems to subtly convey that, again, this group of friends has been “chosen” for something.
The fact that this seemingly casual dinner party is being referred to as a “journey” seems a bit ominous to say the least. This is confirmed by the chaotic final act when it’s revealed the four conspirators have poisoned the wine after their meal, and intend to kill everyone.
3“They Are Just People.”
Some of the most effective quotes can be some of the simplest – depending on the context, of course. In the case of this one, spoken by Will to his girlfriend, Kira, the survivors of this unwilling suicide pact are terrified and are scrambling to exit the house. Not only this, but the house is barred, locked, and fairly isolated, with virtually no cell service.
In an attempt to gain confidence and provide a peaceful assurance, Will brings perspective to the matter. He reminds Kira that – despite the fact that one of them is armed – ultimately they’re just people. There’s no supernatural presence; no Freddy or Jason. They can be resisted and dealt with, no matter how malicious (and creepy) they seem.
2“My Son Is Dead. Where Do I Put That?”
Like the previous entry, this quote from the main character exudes tons of emotion and impact in just a few words. As he talks with Kira about how he can cope with the loss of his son, he poses this question, which borders on the philosophical.
It’s really a clever and vivid way to convey the anguish trapped in Will’s head; trauma that he’s looking to set free. He wants to honor his memory without letting go like Eden clearly has, but he is clearly struggling to cope.
1“It’s Not About Grief Or Counseling, Or Family. It’s About ****Ing Denial.”
Will certainly seems to hog many of the premiere quotes in this film, but he really does have a way with words. This notion is reinforced when Will attempts to wake his friends up to the fact that these four people are part of a cult.
Moreover, this is a cult that doesn’t work to better oneself but to deprive and make things worse by way of denial. This seems to be supported by various lines spoken by these four – who, again, seem to only be convincing themselves.
Random acts of kindness – Winnipeg Free Press
Off the Shelf: Kindness is a noun | News, Sports, Jobs – The Journal
Funny Quote of the Day
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Today in History : Today is Saturday, July 11, the 193rd day of 2020. – Wausau Pilot & Review
Today in History, July 12
The Devil’s Advocate’s Dictionary II – TheLeaflet
N O T A – by Seth Godin via his newsletter
None of the above
That’s a comfortable thing to say for some. It lets you off the hook.
There are definitely people in every group who prefer “none of the above,” regardless of what’s on offer. Because none of the above is also a choice, something that’s offered without being offered.
Being against might feel easier than being for.
Toastmasters Citation. Happily Surprised.
Quite Unexpected CITATION from DISTRICT 92 on completion of my 4th Path at Self-Paced learning of Pathways. Thank you Bhoopathi Sankar Sir, Prakash Tamhankar Sir, Askander Mirza Sir, Rajkumar Bansal Sir, Jonh Bosco Abraham Sir for keeping my enthusiasm and continuously inspiring me on this knowledge, Skills and learning journey. Thank you Sir.