December 18, 2024

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BG’s Positively Speaking

Is Your Dream Big Enough?

Ask the average person, “What’s your dream?” They are likely to hesitate, stopping and thinking before answering, “I need a new coat!” or “I’d love a new washing machine!” Some people even get embarrassed and answer, “I don’t know, I gave up dreaming a long time ago!” They no longer have a dream or have confused ‘needs’ with ‘dreams.’ The system has robbed them of the dream they had when they started their journey through life. From childhood through adulthood, we are constantly bombarded by those who have lost their dreams: The school report card that says, “Oh, You’re just a dreamer,” “Stop dreaming and do something useful.” The friend who says things like, “That’s just a pipe dream,” “You can’t do that,” “Get a life,” “In your dreams,” and all those other phrases that eventually beat you down. Even in our workplace, there is usually only room for one dream. The bosses!

We need to be thankful that there are always people who resist this onslaught of negativism and keep on dreaming. It takes a lot of willpower to keep going against the grain of those around us. But even more, it takes a big dream. If you are not moving forward the way you would like, look at your dreams. Are they big enough? Or are they small and not significant enough to get you excited? That the extra effort is not worth the reward? Then, get a big dream and put it into your heart. A big dream will cause you to take action because the reward is worthwhile. A big dream will give you the strength to resist pressure from others and bring about amazing changes in your life.

Be Proud To Be A Dreamer…. A BIG Dreamer!

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Teaching A Dog

A woman called the airline customer service desk asking if she could take her dog on board. “Sure,” said the representative, “as long as you provide your own kennel.” The representative further explained that the kennel needed to be large enough for the dog to stand up, sit down, turn around, and rollover. The woman, puzzled, responded, “I will never be able to teach him all of that by tomorrow!”

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40 Years Ago This Week

#1 on the Billboard Top 100 was “Wake Me Up Before You Go-Go!” by the English pop duo WHAM. First released as a single in the UK on May 14, 1984, It became their first UK and North American number-one hit. It was written and produced by George Michael. The single was certified platinum in the US, commemorating sales of over two million copies at the time. George Michael’s inspiration for the song was a scribbled note that his bandmate Andrew Ridgeley had left for his parents; he intended it to read “Wake me up before you go,” but with “up” accidentally written twice, Ridgeley wrote “go” twice on purpose. Click on the link below and take a trip back in time.

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True To His Reputation

Stanley decided to look up his old friend Al. They had not seen each other for some time, and Al had a reputation for being tight-fisted. At his bungalow in Toronto, he found Al stripping the wallpaper from the dining room. Rather obviously, he remarked, “You’re decorating, I see.” To which Al replied, “No, Stanley,  I’m moving to Ajax.”

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Editors Quote Book

“To live is the rarest thing in the world. Most people just exist.”

—Oscar Wilde

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World Capitals Trivia Quiz

(Click Question For Answer)

 

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Your Horoscope

For Amusement Only

Aries Mar 21 – Apr 19: Give in to the wishes of a loved one. You can bend without breaking. Be flexible and reap the rewards.

Taurus Apr 20 – May 20: You don’t always get what you want. Be prepared to settle for less, or you may end up with nothing.

Gemini May 21 – Jun 20: When someone suggests that you do something inappropriate, take the moral high ground. Others will hold you in high esteem.

Cancer Jun 21 – Jul 22: Combine some business with pleasure. A chance to travel to new places could come your way. Be ready to have fun.

Leo Jul 23 – Aug 22: Choosing between two career paths is difficult. Careful deliberation and expert advice will help you to decide.

Virgo Aug 23 – Sept 22: A busy schedule is taxing. Relax and go with the flow until you can slow things down.

Libra Sept 23 – Oct 22: Conserve your energy. Don’t overwork yourself. Relax with a good book or a movie. The holidays will be hectic.

Scorpio Oct 23 – Nov 21: There is a temptation to bite off more than you can chew. Don’t be conned into doing the work of others.

Sagittarius Nov 22 – Dec 21: Share your life with your loved one. Give in to your desires and allow your fantasies to come true.

Capricorn Dec 22 – Jan 19: Be conservative with your spending. Be selective, and don’t be tempted by the first pretty face you meet.

Aquarius Jan 20 – Feb 18: Pursue your creativity and let your artistic side shine. You have many talents to show off to the world.

Pisces Feb 19 – Mar 20: Your financial investment is peaking. Take some time to look around for new ventures. Seek the advice of experts.

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Night Of The Full Moon

The Howl At The Moon Bar owner in Gold Coast, Australia, released surveillance video of a break-in (later inspiring the perpetrator to turn himself in). The man is seen trying to enter the locked bar at 3 a.m., then tossing a beer keg at a glass door three times, finally creating a hole large enough to climb through acrobatically and fall to the floor (lit cigarette remaining firmly between his lips). Once inside, he stood at the bar, waiting for someone to take his order. When no one came, he meekly left through the same door. The owner said nothing was taken, and nothing else was damaged.

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The alphabet Ends… But The Road Goes On!

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 Speaking English!

• Japanese eat very little fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than us.
• Mexicans eat a lot of fat and suffer fewer heart attacks than us.
• Chinese drink very little red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than us.
• Italians drink large amounts of red wine and suffer fewer heart attacks than us.
• Germans drink beer and eat lots of sausages and fats and suffer fewer heart attacks than us.

CONCLUSION: Eat and drink what you like. Speaking English is what kills you.

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Bubba Knows

Bubba bragged to his boss, “You know, I know everyone there is to know. Just name someone, anyone, and I know them.” Tired of his boasting, his boss called his bluff, “OK, Bubba, how about Tom Cruise?” “Sure, Tom and I are old friends, and I can prove it. ” So Bubba and his boss fly out to Hollywood and knock on Tom Cruise’s door, and

sure enough, Tom Cruise shouts, “Bubba! Great to see you! You and your friend come right in and join me for lunch!” Although impressed, Bubba’s boss is still skeptical. After they leave Cruise’s house, the boss tells Bubba that he knows Cruise is just luck. “No, no, just name anyone else,” Bubba says. “President Biden,” his boss quickly retorts. “Yes,” Bubba says, “I know him, let’s fly out to Washington.” And off they go. At the White House, Biden spots Bubba on the tour and motions him and his boss over, saying, “Bubba, what a surprise, I was just on my way to a meeting, but you and your friend come on in and let’s have a cup of coffee first and catch up.” Well, the boss is shaken by now but still

unconvinced. After they leave the White House grounds, he expresses his doubts to Bubba, who again implores him to name anyone else. “The Pope,” his boss responds. “Sure!” says Bubba. “My folks are from Poland, and I’ve known the Pope a long time.” So off they fly to Rome. Bubba and his boss are assembled with the masses in Vatican Square when Bubba says, “This will never work. I can’t catch the Pope’s eye among all these people. Tell you what, I know all the guards, so let me go upstairs, and I’ll come out on the balcony with the Pope.” And he disappears into the crowd headed toward the Vatican. Sure enough, half an hour later

Bubba emerges with the Pope on the balcony. When Bubba returns, he finds his boss has had a heart attack and is surrounded by paramedics. At his boss’ side, Bubba asks him, “What happened?” His boss looks up and says, “I was doing fine until you and the Pope came out on the balcony, and the man next to me said, “Who’s that on the balcony with Bubba?”

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Tourist Attraction

Since Bulgaria, on Romania’s southern border, lies close to Romania’s iconic Transylvania region, Bulgarian tourism officials have been marketing their vampire tourism industry. They stepped up this effort following a 2014 archaeological find of a 4th-century “graveyard” of adolescents with iron stakes through their chests.

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The Last Word

SMILE! It will make someone else smile or tick them off… Either way, you win.

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