Life goes on ... and it is good. You can quote me on that!

New programs to work on and new work to work at!
While I play around with the new gadgets on my iBook (man is it LOADED with cool stuff!!) I try to fit the rest of my life in.
It's as busy as ever. I just recieved a residual payment on a commerical I did a month ago, which was a nice surprise, when the phone rings for me to go out on another commercial shoot. It was a non speaking role but when you are an ACTRA member, the pay is sweet.

So look for me in an ad for Alberta horse racing as one of the mechanics in the background moving a jet engine while the pilot overhears 2 guys talking about "Loose bolts", which, unknown to him, is a horse and not something on his plane to worry about.

By the way, do you have any idea how heavy a Rolls Royce jet engine is, even on a wheeled support carrier? Three of us had to do the take several times and we actually worked up a bit of a sweat! It was like pushing a pick up truck, with the parking brake on, and one of the few workouts I have been paid, and fed, to do! Thanks to Tammy, my TV/film agent for this one.

I know that there are a few vindictive knobs who troll this blog to report back to their soul keepers. I have added some reading for them. I do hope they have someone help them with the big words should they get stuck.
Since words and language are the tools of my trade I leave a few definitions that are so apropos for this week.
Petty
pet·ty adj
1. narrow-minded in nature
2. spiteful in character

Jealous
jeal·ous adj
1. feeling bitter and unhappy because of another’s advantages, possessions, or luck
2. feeling suspicious about a rival’s or competitor’s influence, especially in regard to a loved one
3. possessively watchful of something
4. demanding exclusive loyalty or adherence (archaic)

tyranny
tyr·an·ny n
1. cruelty and injustice in the exercising of power or authority over others
2. oppressive government by one or more people who exercise absolute power cruelly and unjustly
3. a country or state under the power of an oppressive ruler
4. an act of cruelty committed by somebody with great power

Source: Encarta® World English Dictionary © 1999 Microsoft Corporation. All rights reserved. Developed for Microsoft by Bloomsbury Publishing Plc.

As a bit of a history buff I have included some famous (and not so famous quotes) that just seem to speak to me this week. There have been many wise men in our past that have spoken words of wisdom, warning or direction. To not heed them is to doom one to repeating the failures of the past. I have indulged with a bit of commentary after each to put my two cents in.

“In the eyes of empire builders men are not men but instruments” -Napoleon Bonaparte
Another word for instrument is "tool" which has a modern day slang meaning that also seems fitting.

“An empire founded by war has to maintain itself by war.”- Charles de Montesquieu
Yep, you can't teach old dogs new tricks, but why would you? Let the pack feed on itself.

A great empire, like a great cake, is most easily diminished at the edges.”- Benjamin Franklin
Hmmm, isn't the edge where all the sweet stuff is?

“Tyrants are seldom free; the cares and the instruments of their tyranny enslave them”-George Santayana
This one really speaks to me as a free an independent artist. Note the use of "instrument" (a.k.a "tool) again. I see a pattern.

This one is my favorite:
“The ideal tyranny is that which is ignorantly self-administered by its victims. The most perfect slaves are, therefore, those which blissfully and unawaredly enslave themselves.”- Unknown.
One word: Sheeple

I hope all of you FREE thinkers have a wonderful and prospeous life and a great weekend.
Until my next blog entry everyone, think, question the status quo, be true to yourself and always choose the win-win situation.
At least once a day, please, go out of your way to do a good deed for someone, even a stranger. It always comes back from another source to repay you.
Cheers

Daddy Makk