03.21.09
Posted in Humor attitude at 12:47 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
I’m getting asked about what I think of the President’s comment on Leno, about the Special Olympics. I have separate responses based on separate identities:
1. As a voting citizen: First, that all of the candidates even appeared on late-night talk-shows during the campaign (and most of them did) showed a lack of class. A lot of tact, of course, but no class.
No world leader (from any country) should be using late-night talk shows as a vehicle to reach the people. Maybe I’m just not hip, and maybe that’s why I didn’t get many votes in the last election. But if we don’t take the office of the presidency seriously, how can we be surprised when other countries don’t take us seriously, either? I’m not the President of the United States, and even I don’t have time to watch Leno.
2. As a substitute teacher of special needs students: The impact of the joke was more profound because I know personally several special needs students. Whether or not they are part of Special Olympics has no relevance. The term represents this population of students, learners, athletes, sons, daughters, friends. When the comment comes from a person who expended his energy to defend the weak, the poor, the powerless–my opinion of him changed immediately.
3. As a comic: The joke was funny. It was clever. If it had come from the mouth of Rodney Dangerfield, or Andrew Dice Clay, or Don Rickles. But the comment came from Obama. The one who had all of us fully convinced that he is a nice guy, a caring human being–above all, an ueber-confident person. Making jokes about his ineptness doesn’t work for the character that he tries to project. It would have been more effective to joke about how great he is. (And to his credit, he did do this during the campaign, in the same way that Al Gore made fun of his own monotonous voice). The joke didn’t work for me, because the congruence wasn’t there–the flow of the character and things the character says. This is Comedy 101 stuff, and I would have expected that Obama’s speech writers would know better. If they don’t, I am available for hire. If they can afford me.
What do you think about it? Share your thoughts (anonymous, analytical, anathema, etc.) and comment here or privately at www.yourshiningexample.com and fill out the contact page. “Get Your SHINE Together!” and get your opinion heard–here!
Permalink
03.20.09
Posted in Humor attitude at 5:22 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
So how do you find something humorous to talk about in your speech? Or
–where do you find it? The answer, like AAA, is everywhere. Just as AAA is available when you call on them, so is humor. Just as AAA can repair your car, or at least rescue you from some untoward situations, so can humor. Just as AAA can make your day more likeable, so can humor make your speech–and you, the speaker–more likeable. How? AA or A.
AWARENESS. Look at what’s going on around you. The conversations you overhear. The incongruencies in advertising messages. The ridiculous shows on TV. Simply being aware of your surroundings can catapult your comedic abilities a hundred-fold. Or at least a lot.
AGITATION. What really makes you mad? What irritates you to the point of becoming irrational? Talk about that. There is no humor without emotion backing it up. Your emotional reaction will help you deliver the humor in a more effective way.
AGILITY. Of the mind. Practice being an iconoclast of the English language. Twist words. End sentences with a preposition–if you really want to. When we are too focused on all the rules, our creativity becomes stifled. Don’t be afraid to bend the rules and experiment.
Make your next trip to the platform a safe, funny, and effective one. ”Get Your SHINE Together!” and use these new rules of the road!
Permalink
03.19.09
Posted in Humor~General at 5:14 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
We interrupt this blog series for the following announcement about Heart of a Woman in Business book:
Subject: Heart Book Series featured at National Authors Day
National Authors Day was celebrated November 1, 2008 in San Diego County’s northern-most area of Oceanside, next to Camp Pendleton’s Marine Corp Base, as Authors and Poets hosted a full-day free event, themed “So You Want to Be An Author!”
Covered in its entirety by local television station KOCT-TV and reporter Faamasani S. Unutoa, JUST POSTED THE SPECIAL EVENT here STORY:
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.koct.org%2FKOCT_vod_insideoceanside.html
As you are watching the video - you will see Sheryl Roush, author of the HEART BOOK SERIES in the scarlet red jacket and sparkling heart brooch, talking to people at her table.
You will see Dharlene Fahl-Brittian on stage showing her book Take Up the Cup, as she also read her sacred Tea Prayers published the Heart Book Series.
The interviewer is resting on a tall stack of books in front of the fountain - of which the top dozen are those in the series. Of all the books and authors there that day - he selected Sheryl’s as Top Choice, and he accepts an autographed copy of Sparkle-Tudes book at her signing table as a gift for his mother!
The final author on stage, Professor Teresa Gonzalez-Lee, is reading in Spanish, and translating the opening poem into English from Corazon de Mujer (Heart of a Woman), “Renacimiento de una mujer” penned by Consuelo Sanchez.
For more of the story and contributing authors to the Heart Book Series featured:
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://heartbookseries.com%2Fspeaking-events%2Fnational-authors-day-celebrated-by-north-county-authors-poets-in-san-diego%2F
THIS is the kind of FUN that we have with the Heart Book Series!
http://www.facebook.com/l.php?u=http://www.HeartBookSeries.com
Permalink
03.18.09
Posted in Humor~General at 1:04 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
Just booked a senior citizen health conference keynote. That got me thinking about the health benefits of humor.
We all know laughter makes us feel better–physically, mentally, emotionally. But humor, laughter, comedy–they have even more far-reaching and intricate physiological benefits for our health.
Laughter lowers our blood pressure. Decreases resting heart rate. Increases our immune response. Boosts our overall mood.
The surprising thing is that these benefits can happen even if we are merely thinking of something funny. We don’t need to laugh out loud. Our bodies know how to respond to humor. They will do that, but first we must be on the look-out for humor.
More tips on how to do that tomorrow…
“Get Your SHINE Together!” and get healthy~ Start now~ Or wait for tomorrow’s tips!
Permalink
03.17.09
Posted in Humor~General at 2:59 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
Just read an article on Scott-the-Nametag-Guy’s newsletter about vulnerability. It’s painful, difficult, sometimes shameful. VBeing vulnerable, that is; not reading Scott’s newsletter. But when we are vulnerable, we create a level of relating that is honest and real.
Many speech coaches advise certain platform skills for everyone: proper eye contact, projecting the voice, motioning with arms and hands, moving around the platform.
But for some of us, that is not our true personality. If we do those things as prescribed, we can appear staged, contrived. We lose our credibility with our audience.
A better way is to focus not on these numerous “correct” skills, but rather on your message. What is it that you want to–or must–say? Start from there, and allow the gestures, voice range, and eye contact to be generated from your message.
I have seen some very good speakers whose message resonated with me. These speakers used a lot of filler words (um, ah). They weren’t using a lot of gestures. They didn’t even appear to be confident onstage. But–they were being themselves. They were authentic, and I was eager to hear more of what they had to say.
Just as humor needs to be an authentic reflection of your life and your beliefs, so do your speaking skills. When you are comfortable with yourself, your listeners will be comfortable with your message.
“Get Your SHINE Together!” and get out your message~
Permalink
03.16.09
Posted in Humor~General at 11:55 am by Dr. Trina Hess
Hello everyone, I am very pleased to announce that my friend Donna Bailey Jazz has been invited to perform on the First Annual JAZZIZ Party At Sea…. And, Pittsburgh Jazz Fans have been assigned a personal cruise agent and “code” to make your arrangements easy for this exciting trip:
Call
Kristol at: 262-595-0284 …or email her at: kristol@vacation/valet.com Mention your code: Vic-Pitt
When & where are we sailing? The cruise is November 15- 22, 2009
aboard Norwegian Cruise Lines
the Norwegian Jewel
…. sailing from Miami to Roatan, Belize City, Costa Maya
and Great Stirrup Cay
Look what the trip includes:
*7 night cruise with choice of time and restaurant for all meals
*Entrance to all jazz concerts, parties, rap sessions and events
*All customary ship programs and activities
*Pre-paid gratuities to shipboard personnel
*Port charges, government taxes, fees and fuel surcharges
Featured Artists Include
Cyrus Cestnut Trio
Benny Golson Quartet
Dr. Lonnie Smith Trio
Donald Harrison Quartet
Eric Alexander
George Duke Trio
Stanley Jordan Trio
Kenny Garrett Quartet
Grace Kelly Quintet
Steve Oliver
Donna Bailey Jazz
More artists to be announced!
Permalink
03.15.09
Posted in Comedy Around The World, Humor attitude at 5:16 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
Today’s Comedy Around the World segment goes to Sunnyvale, locale of our Honky Tonk variety show. Our community theater group offered me a lot of what comedy offers all of us:
1. A sense of belonging–especially if everyone is in on the joke. I realized through the many rehearsals that I was in a much better mood, and that “that happy tune is my step.”
2. A sense of buoyancy–I was distracted from worries, and was lifted by the energy of the group. Our performances let me “pick out a pleasant outlook.”
3. A sense of resiliency–from the putting of our problems into proper perspective. Problems that are “just a toy balloon, they’ll be bursting soon.” We were able to “take off the gloomy mask of tragedy” and “leave our worry on the doorstep.”
What can comedy do for you?
Thank you to everyone who supported our shows!
Permalink
03.14.09
Posted in Humor~General at 1:21 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
Thanks to Deb Hardy and the students of her gifted class for a great lunch today at the Dine & Design show. Hope to see everyone tonight for our community theater’s final performance of Side By Side!
“Get Your SHINE Together!” and get to one of our shows! Thanks for supporting live, local entertainment. See you there!
Permalink
03.13.09
Posted in Humor~General at 12:53 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
Junior Achievement’s Networking Mixer
Friday, March 20, 2009
The Library - 2302 East Carson Street, South Side
|
|
|
This month, JA’s Networking Mixer is going GREEN! (Wanna find out more? Call JA for details!)
Join us on Friday, March 20th at The Library, for one of the best networking events in the city!
From 5:00-7:00 pm, mix and mingle with local business professionals, enjoy great food and beverages from The Library, and learn more about how you can support Junior Achievement!
Admission is free and includes 1/2 priced appetizers! A portion of the proceeds will benefit Junior Achievement.
Please contact JA for more information:
Kelsey Minto, Development Assistant
Phone: 800-522-6957, ext. 125.
We Hope to See You There!
|
|
Permalink
03.12.09
Posted in Humor~General at 1:47 pm by Dr. Trina Hess
“Get Your SHINE Together!” and come to one of my upcoming shows: Tomorrow night, Friday the 13th (lucky day) at Franklin VFW with me and my comedy friends. And I will be making a special appearance at the prom gown show for the student gifted program project–Saturday 12:30 lunch and show at the Arlington Hotel in Oil City, PA. That night, join me and the cast of the Honky Tonk musical/comedy/variety show for our encore performance! Email for details, location, tickets, etc.
Thank you for supporting live comedy and for supporting my comedy!
Permalink
« Previous entries · Next entries »
