Disqus - Latest Comments for Rick_Juliusson

Re: Christmas Songs: The Fun, The Strange, and The Not-So-Classic

Rick_Juliusson — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:17:53 -0000

Eartha's much sexier too - http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Re: Christmas Songs: The Fun, The Strange, and The Not-So-Classic

Rick_Juliusson — Tue, 23 Dec 2008 17:15:56 -0000

'fun song - here's the only version i could find on you tube - http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Re: The All-Time Top 10 Most Unlikely Duets

Rick_Juliusson — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 12:18:14 -0000

Two more duets I wish I'd added from my highschool days:
Brian Adams and Tina Turner, It's Only Love - http://www.youtube.com/watc...
Aretha Franklin and George Michaels, I Knew You Were Waiting - http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Re: The All-Time Top 10 Most Unlikely Duets

Rick_Juliusson — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 12:12:36 -0000

you can see it here: http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Re: From Bing to Bowie: Top Renditions of Classic Christmas Songs

Rick_Juliusson — Sun, 21 Dec 2008 12:04:01 -0000

Yes, isn't it amazing? That was thanks to a few readers' comments after another recent article about "unlikely duets."

Re: Keep Your Eyes Off The Girl Next Door

Rick_Juliusson — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:36:35 -0000

Hmm, there are a great many studies out there showing that KIDS become more violent after watching such stuff, but I wonder if it's the same for adults?

I agree that it would be extremist to say that an occasional show will turn us into psychopaths, but I still believe that the cumulative effect of watching 20 hours a week of violence would deeply affect my energies and perspectives in a different and less healthy way than if those same 20 hours were spent watching Mary Poppins, or working in the garden.

My friend has taught me a new phrase, "State equals trait." The longer we stay in a certain emotional state, the more ingrained it becomes. Yes we're complex and it's not as simple as adding up the hours to see the effects on us, but what we immerse ourselves in must influence us.

Re: The All-Time Top 10 Most Unlikely Duets

Rick_Juliusson — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:27:08 -0000

so you yourself are an unlikely duet?

Re: The All-Time Top 10 Most Unlikely Duets

Rick_Juliusson — Thu, 18 Dec 2008 00:25:29 -0000

Unlikely because I grew up knowing John Travolta as one of the sweathogs on Welcome Back Kotter, so the very idea of him singing was a outrageous as seeing wimpy Bruce Willis from Moonlighting become the new action guy in Die Hard. And Olivia Newton-John just seemed impossibly old.

Re: The All-Time Top 10 Most Unlikely Duets

Rick_Juliusson — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 14:13:52 -0000

Wow, beautiful (after the 2 minutes of banter) - http://www.youtube.com/watc...

Re: What would you like to change about the holiday season?

Rick_Juliusson — Wed, 17 Dec 2008 11:10:01 -0000

Thanks for your openness to my rather indelicately-worded challenge. Any or all of your 3 propositions here sound very fair to feel. Our family still struggles with the best ways to present our values and "rules" to our families and community, and I know we don't always succeed in making it a positive experience for them or for us.

Re: What gives you hope in the world?

Rick_Juliusson — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:41:39 -0000

Barak Obama. Not because of what he may or may not do - I don't know if he'll end up being any more effective than the fresh and hopeful Jimmy Carter was. But because a scared and cynical nation was able to put aside fears and doubts and place a bet on a vision, on a mandate for change, on a belief that people can work together in a new way.

Re: What would you like to change about the holiday season?

Rick_Juliusson — Tue, 16 Dec 2008 14:36:08 -0000

I've often offended my family with the same "no-gifts" request, or tight restrictions on the types of gifts allowable for our children. But I'd rather offend them at that time than offend them even further (and waste their money and energy and environmental costs) by just taking their gift to the thrift shop afterwards. If your mother-in-law truly does not want more stuff, than how does giving her more stuff show any respect for her desires and sources of happiness?

Re: What would you like to change about the holiday season?

Rick_Juliusson — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:51:48 -0000

Corporate Christmas. The elements that have become external - Coca-cola's Santa Clause, shopping, tv special shows... - have overshadowed the celebration and sacredness in our hearts and homes. Let's take back this energy and create our own traditions and ways to celebrate; ways that focus on our own values and sources of Joy. Like everything that Kate suggests in the preceding comment.

Re: Peace and Friendship in a Violent World: One Child at a Time

Rick_Juliusson — Mon, 15 Dec 2008 13:47:55 -0000

It's amazing and sad how often and strongly we are criticized for believing in something better. How did so many people become so jaded and scared to believe that our world can and should and will become more compassionate and love-filled? I'm sure Maitri will shine a bright light into those dark corners of our souls. Thank you.

Re: Finding the True Meaning of Holiday Traditions

Rick_Juliusson — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 20:39:03 -0000

My wife and I have developed a great tradition of creating trees out of tropical plants when we lived in Africa, downed limbs after a tremendous windstorm in Vancouver, even yarn one year. This year we're eyeballing an odd potted plant we inherited with this new house. Like you said, the joy is in the tradition, and in the creation. The fun is in the reaction of our Christmas visitors...

Re: What’s your favorite charity or philanthropic cause to support?

Rick_Juliusson — Thu, 11 Dec 2008 10:46:20 -0000

Oxfam Canada. Since 1963 it's been working with grass-roots partners in Africa, Latin America and Asia to not just give relief, but to do long-term development and address the root causes of poverty, injustice and inequality. The focus is squarely on the rights and livelihoods of women and girls. In Canada, Oxfam works on development education, advocacy, public awareness and building a constituency of support for our work in advancing women's rights.

At www.oxfamunwrapped.ca you can donate in someone's name and download a giftcard to give them as a present. As well as the usual chickens and donkeys, you can also give things like Gender-Based Violence Prevention Training, Small Business Training, Bicycles, Safe Water...

I was elected to the national board of Oxfam 2 years ago, and continue to be deeply impressed and inspired by the vision and work; particularly by the focus on women's rights and the comprehensive way they address communities' short-term needs and the deeper root causes at a societal and systems level.

Re: What are your best organizational tips?

Rick_Juliusson — Wed, 10 Dec 2008 13:48:03 -0000

I've got two Things-to-do lists. Having one big one was just too intimidating, and nothing ever seemed to get crossed off. Now, one is the huge, never-ending list that i keep adding onto. But the other is a short, manageable list for the week. And even that little list is divided into small/urgent tasks and bigger picture/creative tasks. So at the end of each week I hopefully have checked off a majority of the items - items that were high priority - and am able to add on a few more from the big list.

Re: How do you want your neighborhood to feel?

Rick_Juliusson — Tue, 09 Dec 2008 11:07:19 -0000

The rest of that Tennyson quote talks about his eternal unrest, always wanting to explore and do more. One important aspect of a neighbourhood, in that light, would be that it's a place you can always come back home to to recharge the batteries, reconnect with your people and energy, feel grounded, then after some time be ready for the next adventure:

I am a part of all I have met
Yet all experience is an arch
wherethrough gleams that untravelled world
whose margin fades forever and ever when i move

Re: Walking Around Paris On A Budget

Rick_Juliusson — Mon, 08 Dec 2008 17:09:28 -0000

Yes, yes yes to walking! My first time in Paris I caught the underground each day to a random destination, then just walked vaguely in the opposite direction all day, arriving back at the youth hostel exhausted each day. No maps, no plans, not even a check-list of Things I Have to See, yet i stumbled upon all of them. "Oh, there's the Eiffle Tower. Oh, there's the Champs d'Elyse. oh, there's..."

Re: Who are your favorite female entrepreneurs?

Rick_Juliusson — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:58:15 -0000

Yay, great answer Katasha!

Re: Who are your favorite female entrepreneurs?

Rick_Juliusson — Wed, 03 Dec 2008 15:52:20 -0000

Sarah Juliusson - DancingStarBirth.ca and MamaRenew.ca
OK, she is my wife, but the way she and her partner turned the simple idea of holistic childbirth classes and mothering support circles into a growing, creative business that supports families throughout the Lower Mainland and Vancouver Island - all while being the main stay-at-home parents - is truly inspiring.

Re: The Upside of the Economic Downturn

Rick_Juliusson — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 18:33:25 -0000

I wonder how many couples have come together through Craigslist? Accidentally, that is, not via the personals.

Re: What’s your movie recommendation for this weekend?

Rick_Juliusson — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 18:29:50 -0000

Harold and Maude. Either the funniest or the flattest movie ever, depending on your person and mood. Plus an amazing Cat Stevens soundtrack.

Re: The Secret to Finding Happiness in Five Minutes

Rick_Juliusson — Fri, 28 Nov 2008 13:56:55 -0000

ooh, there's a whole other article - the happy marriage of always-late and wanna-be-early people.

Re: What is your favorite part of Thanksgiving celebrations?

Rick_Juliusson — Thu, 27 Nov 2008 12:10:22 -0000

Reflecting. We spend so much time dwelling on our problems and what we don't have, it's great to have a reminder to be fully aware and appreciate of all the goodness in our lives.