The Cross of War. (Croix de Guerre)
But she wasn’t about war. She was an entertainer.
“Bronze Venus”, “Black Pearl”, “Créole Goddess”
She was generous with her energy and her money.
But she was also a fighter against tyranny of any kind.
That included the Nazis and those who would deny her opportunity in her own country: The United States.
Filed under Entertainment, Famous personality
They don’t believe her.
And you wonder why?
Homo anthropologicus?
Scientists are supposed to be objective, open minded, fair minded, and logical. Paleoanthropology is supposed to be a science. Think again.
Unbelievable.
Filed under Leadership
Last night marked the Season Premiere of Celebrity Apprentice, the long-running reality competition series in which washed-up celebrities compete against one another in a variety of business related tasks. This season certainly has it’s share of vibrant celebrity personalities, with the likes of: Arsenio Hall, Clay Aiken, Dee Snider, Victoria Gotti, and Debbie Gibson. By far the best part of the show of course is when Trump fires all of these idiots, because he does so personally, and he alone decides who to fire when and why. The first episode of the season certainly didn’t disappoint, as Orange County Choppers owner Paul Teutul Sr. raised just over $490,000 in one day for the Make-A-Wish foundation, while former supermodel Cheryl Tiegs was the first to get fired. Despite his arrogance, Trump is one smart guy so let’s take a look at the man himself.
Donald John Trump Sr. is an American commercial real estate mogul and business icon. He is the chairman and president of The Trump Organization and the founder of Trump Entertainment Resorts. Trump is ranked #128 on the Forbes 400, #17 on the Celebrity 100 and claims he’s worth around $7 billion. Though $7 billion might be a slight overestimate, Forbes has him listed at $2.9 billion. Trump has written best-selling books like The Art of the Deal, Think Like a Champion, and most recently Time to Get Tough. Bold, daring, audacious, adaptable, and tough-minded Donald Trump is the quintessential Promoter Artisan. A “hard-nosed utilitarian”, Trump has “nerves of steel” and is “without peer as a deal-maker”. And frankly, when he utters his infamous line: ‘You’re fired!’, it’s priceless.
If you’re going to be thinking, you might as well think big. 
The Celebrity Apprentice airs Sundays 9/8c on NBC.
Filed under Entertainment, Famous personality
Though the 54th annual Grammy awards did indeed have a somber undertone with the tragic death of magnificent songstress Whitney Houston: life as we all know it does in fact go on. And so it did for rising British pop star Adele, who took home six trophies including the prestigious trifecta of record, song and album of the year. The young British recording artist also gave a triumphant performance of her hit single “Rolling in the Deep” after having had recent vocal cord surgery. Other notable Grammy events include Katy Perry’s fiery post-breakup performance done of course with blue hair, and Nicki Minaj’s extremely bizarre and god awful ‘exorcism’ themed performance that was subsequently deemed blasphemous by the Catholic Church. Luckily Paul Mccartney closed the night off with some dignity performing some of Abbey Road with Bruce Springsteen and some others. Adele’s acceptance speech was brief, commenting that the album was inspired by something that we have all experienced: a ‘rubbish relationship’. And let’s be honest, nothing cures heartbreak like searing hot success. I don’t know who her ex is but let’s assume he’s having second thoughts about his decision right about now. Indeed Adele’s album sounds pretty good if you’ve ever experienced heartbreak, and we all have, so let’s take a look at this talented singer and songwriter from Tottenham.
Adele Laurie Blue Adkins was born in London, England to a single teenage mother and began singing at the age of four. Adele developed a passion for music early, and became ‘obsessed with voices’, citing the Spice Girls as early musical inspiration. Seeing her first live vocal performance, Adele was inspired, saying that the singer’s voice (Pink) hit her like she was in a “wind tunnel”. “It was incredible”. Adele’s early obsession with voices and singing paid off, as she practiced long and hard to finely tune her vocal cords. Her first album 19, named for her age at the time she started recording it, made quite a splash in the UK. Her second album 21, named to signify how much she’s transformed in 2 years, made significant headway in the States and achieved the feat of two top-five hits in both the United States and England simultaneously since the Beatles in 1964. Adele is characterized most notably by her contralto voice, something that she has admittedly worked long and hard to fine tune and perfect. Artistic, adaptable, and highly sensory with an undeniable passion for music Adele is undoubtedly a Composer Artisan. Indeed Adele is “friendly” and “soft-spoken”, but having found a “medium of expression, some art form,” she expresses her “character quite eloquently via that medium.” She prefers to have her finger on her “compositional tools and through them feel the pulse of life. That pulse must be felt–by touch, in the muscles, in the eyes, in the ears”. Certainly, singing is everything to Adele, and she does it quite well:
Although Composers often put long, lonely hours into their compositions, we must not assume that they are working on their art in the sense of careful planning and dutiful execution. On close observation, ISFPs prove to be just as impulsive as other Artisans. Indeed, they covet their impulses and see them as the center of their lives. They do not wait to act or to consider their moves, for to wait is to see their impulse wither and die; rather, they live intensely in the here and now, and as gracefully as possible, with little or no planning or preparation. Submergence in their artistry is not preparation for something later, and neither is it artful play, such as Crafters engage in with their tools. Composers are seized by the act of artistic composition, as if caught up in a whirlwind. The act is their master, not the reverse, and, in a sense, the doing is elicited by the action itself. ISFPs paint or sculpt, they dance or skate, they write melodies or recipes–or whatever–simply because they must. They climb the mountain because it is there.
–Please Understand Me II, p. 73
Heartbreak can definitely give you a deeper sensibility for writing songs. I drew on a lot of heartbreak when I was writing my first album, I didn’t mean to but I just did. – Adele
Filed under Entertainment, Famous personality
“Watch it now! Watch it!”
He would say it with obvious enthusiasm and kid-like glee.
It was infectious. You could not not be enthralled and intrigued by the man. Well, Actually, no. It was strange, I couldn’t figure out when I was young WHY NOT EVERYBODY was not totally gaga about him and his science. Why is it so?
Filed under Famous personality
Music’s biggest night had a solemn undertone as the 54th Annual Grammy Awards was overshadowed by the tragic death of beloved music icon Whitney Houston. The singer’s death happened in Los Angeles about 24 hours prior to the awards show, and gave the Grammy’s their best ratings since 1984 as people tuned in to see tributes to the former singer/songwriter. Host of the show LL Cool J kicked off the night with a touching prayer in honor of Whitney, while fellow singer Jennifer Hudson gave a vocal tribute to the late songstress by singing her classic I Will Always Love You. The night was otherwise rather straight forward except for British newcomer Adele claiming a record six Grammys including Song of the Year, Record of the Year, and Album of the Year. Let’s however go ahead and take a look at the woman who is often heralded as one of the best female vocalists of all time, the legendary Whitney Houston.
Whitney Elizabeth Houston was born in Newark, New Jersey the daughter of a gospel singer and an entertainment executive. Houston’s extraordinary vocal talent shined early as she sang in her local choir, and often sang along with her mothers vocal performances. Indeed Whitney’s talents were exceptional, cited as the most-awarded female act of all time with over 415 total awards in her lifetime including six Grammys. Sociable, outspoken, emotionally expressive, with her heart on her sleeve Whitney Houston was a Performer Artisan. Unfortunately Performers are perhaps the most susceptible temperament to temptation, as evidenced by her run-ins with drug addiction. Let’s however focus on the positive: and instead of mourning her death, let’s celebrate the life of this magnificent and vibrant singer Whitney Houston.
From the beginning, the camera and I were great friends. It loves me, and I love it.
Filed under Entertainment, Famous personality
He did not want to do it, but he had to do his duty.
He wasn’t anything like his brother.
His brother was popular, handsome and witty, and well-spoken, and King.
Albert, wasn’t well spoken like his older brother, David – in fact, Albert was considered rather dull compared to David, and Albert stuttered badly.
Filed under Leadership
The Superbowl brought us many things one of which was a fresh new trailer for the newest web-head installment The Amazing Spiderman. The Marvel reboot was much needed after the whole Spider-Man 3 incident, in which that skinny kid from That 70′s Show was cast as iconic badass-villain Venom. Needless to say that didn’t work out very well so the powers that be decided to give Marvel’s youngest superhero a fresh new look and so far it’s not looking too shabby. The web slinger himself will be played by rising British star Andrew Garfield, most known for his role in The Social Network. Emma Stone (The Help) plays the female lead Gwen Stacy, while British actor Rhys Ifans will play villain The Lizard. This shy, nerdy high-school student actually happens to be Marvel’s flagship character and company mascot, being by far their most commercially successful character, filling the top three box office slots of any Marvel movie ever made. Wherein lies the appeal of such an awkward, shy, and misunderstood young teenager? Let’s take a look.
Peter Benjamin Parker was orphaned at the age of six when his parents were killed in an airplane crash overseas. Peter went to live with his aunt and uncle in New York, where he excelled as a science student. Peter was then bit by a radioactive spider in a science lab, giving him superhuman strength and agility, and all the abilities of a spider. Soon after being given superpowers Peter failed to stop a thief, claiming that it was not his responsibility, the same thief that ended up murdering his dear Uncle Ben. Peter learned firsthand that with great power comes great responsibility, and took such a tragic lesson very seriously. Spider-Man is commonly seen as a brave and righteous hero with an indomitable sense of justice and responsibility. Shaken by his uncle’s tragic death, Spider-Man’s vow of responsibility has led him to a path of heroism and humanitarian service. Intuitive, shy, sensitive, and selfless with a profound sense of idealism Spider-Man makes for a great example of a Healer Idealist. Certainly Spider-Man suffers with identity issues, as many Idealists do, as he is often scorned and ostracized by the very people that he has vowed to protect. Indeed Peter Parker has developed “a certain fascination with the problem of good and evil, the sacred and profane”. Parker is alone in his quest for the greater good however, and yet still charges on with relentless passion.
Healers have a profound sense of idealism derived from a strong personal morality, and they conceive of the world as an ethical, honorable place. Indeed, to understand Healers, we must understand their idealism as almost boundless and selfless, inspiring them to make extraordinary sacrifices for someone or something they believe in. They are the Shaman, Medicine Man, or the Witch Doctor of the tribe, the Prince or Princess in fairy tales, the True Knight or Defender of the Faith, like Don Quixote or Joan of Arc. Isolated by their seclusiveness and infrequency (around one percent of the general population), their idealism leaves them feeling even more isolated from the rest of humanity.–Please Understand Me II, p. 158
With great power, there must also come great responsibility.
“The Ethereal Complex” refers to the Idealists’ tragic tendency to be misunderstood by those that they love the most. Humanity by nature of course takes what it is given for granted, and much to the disadvantage of the Idealist. The Idealists pour a tremendous amount of love and care into those they are closest to, a sentiment that is not always fully appreciated. Indeed the Idealists’ intentions always come from a warm and positive place in their heart, but the same thing can not always be said about those around them. The Idealists’ quest for better understanding and personal fulfillment is often misinterpreted as a result, leaving many Idealists’ with a tragic sense of inner-turmoil. All is not lost however, as the Idealists’ confidence in the innate goodness of life and human nature is often a self-fulfilling prophecy.
Filed under Entertainment
This is the title of her autobiography.
As she says:
What are you saying? Who am I?
Well I’m me — I’m what is called the power behind the throne. I’m your — your character. Isn’t that what they call it?
Yes, Kate. That’s what we call it. Character. You were certainly an interesting Character.
Character: a configuration of habits.
Oh, but Kate, we have another word that you never knew much about. The word is Temperament.
Temperament + Character = Personality
What you didn’t know was your Temperament. But I doubt if you would care. You had an interesting and full life anyway. However, you might have understood yourself and others a little more.
Filed under Famous personality, Leadership, Temperament Information
Yes, Quaternity is in fact a word. It’s like a fraternity, but with only four members. Congratulations to Eli Manning, Tom Coughlin and the New York Giants on being Super Bowl Champions. Along with ‘the big game’ came a plethora of ridiculously expensive commercials, one of which was a fresh new trailer for Marvel’s blockbuster superhero ensemble franchise The Avengers. The four main characters of Marvel’s the Avengers happen to closely correlate with the four basic personality types. What a strange coincidence. Let’s go right on ahead then and take a look at Earth’s Mightiest Heroes.
Captain America is the stalwart, stoic, and commanding ‘first avenger’ who defends justice with his iconic and indestructible shield. The Sentential of Liberty is characterized by his tough-minded demeanor, his unyielding physicality, and his disciplined mindset. Dutiful, authoritative, and highly dependable with a strict code of ethics Captain America is a classic Guardian. A born leader, Captain America ‘lead’s by example’ and is the back-bone of the Avengers, much like Guardians are the back-bone of society.
The Hulk is a wild, ferocious, raging humanoid monster that comes out when Bruce Banner gets excited. The not-so-jolly green giant was inspired by the classic tale of Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde, and is characterized by his instinctual nature, his overpowering physicality, and his fearless disposition. Impulsive, audacious, excitable, and highly physical The Hulk is representative of an Artisan. Indeed The Hulk is often called in for serious jobs that require a creative solution, much like Artisans are in many organizations.
Iron Man is an intelligent, inventive, and ingenious engineer who created a mechanical suit to save his life. The Armored Avenger is characterized by his mechanical aptitude and inventive genius, being a billionaire industrialist Stark is constantly tinkering with and improving his mechanical suit. Innovative, scientific, analytical and systematic Tony Stark makes for a wonderful example of a Rational. Certainly Stark is the brains of the Avengers and uses his cold, analytical mind to keep him and his super-friends on the right track.
Thor Odinson is a mystical, altruistic, brave and mighty warrior from another world who fights primarily for his native realm of Asgard. The God of Thunder is characterized by his noble demeanor, his humble yet high-spirited attitude, and his selfless acts of valor. Diplomatic, enthusiastic, empathetic, and highly independent Thor makes for a great example of an Idealist. Thor is the glue that holds the Avengers together, and is always sacrificing himself for the greater good.
I’m loyal to nothing…except the American Dream.
My kingdom for a Radio Shack.
… You won’t like me when I’m angry!
Even the life of a Thunder God can offer no greater satisfaction than this! For I have helped a fellow man!
Filed under Entertainment
Kip Parent
Edward Kim
David Keirsey
Derek Keirsey
