Gloria Vanderbilt and Millionaire Myths

The closest we ever got to anything related or connected to the wealthy Vanderbilt dynasty was during our vacation in NC.  We had the privilege of  visiting this vast, gorgeous mansion built by GW Vanderbilt, II.

Biltmore House, currently owned by the family of William Vanderbilt Cecil,  is the largest privately-owned house in the United States @ 178,926 square feet of floor space. 

Gloria Vanderbilt (owner William's 2nd cousin)  told her son, Anderson Cooper, "... there is no inheritance." Good for her! She actually gave the best gift to Anderson --  motivation to excel and to work. It's sink or swim when you have no financial safety-net to catch you during Life's many, many challenges. 

ETA: Gloria Vanderbilt leaves almost everything to Anderson Cooper

So how would Anderson or ANYONE become rich in their own right? 

Wealth gotten by vanity shall be diminished:

 but he that gathereth by labour shall increase.

Proverbs 13:11

Gloria Laura Vanderbilt

Biltmore Mansion, North Carolina

George Washington Vanderbilt II

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Oberlin College & the University of Alabama: Will Recent Huge Legal & Monetary Losses Shut Them Down?

In the News:  LIBERALS who intimidate, bully, terrorize, attack, cajole, and "bribe" to get their way. What else is new?!   It's Goliath versus David over and over again.

I am happy to report that in neither of the following two situations did Libs get their way. Yay! Dang, this feels so just. Hoorah, hoorah for the little guy!!!!!

The lawsuit stems from an incident on Nov. 9, 2016, in which a black Oberlin student tried to “steal or otherwise illegally obtain” wine from Gibson’s, according to the complaint. Following the incident, Allyn Gibson, who is white, and an owner and employee at Gibson’s Bros. Inc, which operates Gibson’s Food Mart and Bakery, pursued and “engaged in a physical altercation” with the student, according to the court’s summary judgment. The student and two friends, who are also black, were arrested.

After the black students were arrested, student protests erupted, claiming that the robbery charge and physical conflict were racially motivated. Protesters urged patrons to shop elsewhere.

The students pleaded guilty to a misdemeanor charge in August, 2017, reading statements into the record that Mr. Gibson was within his rights to detain the robber and that the conflict was not racially motivated.

Protesters outside Gibson's Food Mart and Bakery in Oberlin, Ohio, Nov. 10, 2016. PHOTO: BRUCE BISHOP/THE CHRONICLE

Gibson’s Bros. Inc, as well as its owners and employees David Gibson and Allyn Gibson, brought a lawsuit against both Oberlin College and Vice President and Dean of Students Meredith Raimondo, alleging libel and accusing the school of supporting the students’ actions against Gibson’s and cutting economic ties with the bakery.

The jury ... ruled in favor of Gibson’s, finding the college and its dean of students guilty for the libel of both Gibsons and their bakery. It found only the college guilty of inflicting emotional distress on both David and Allyn Gibson. Additionally, the jurors found Ms. Raimondo responsible for interference of business relationships. The jury set compensatory damages for Gibson’s at $11 million. -- Toledo Blade

Oberlin College to Pay $44M to Bakery

Read more on the Oberlin story H E R E

********

Nine months ago, a Florida real estate mogul’s pledge to donate $26.5 million to the University of Alabama — the most generous gift in the school’s 188-year history — was announced with great enthusiasm and fanfare. On Friday, the money he had given so far — some $21.5 million — was unceremoniously returned via wire transfer and a campus work crew was removing the businessman’s name from the law school that had been named in his honor.

The University of Alabama School of Law sign on Friday after employees removed the name of the donor, Hugh F. Culverhouse Jr.CreditCredit  Blake Paterson/Associated Press

 The unanimous vote Friday morning by the board of trustees to return the money that Hugh F. Culverhouse Jr., the real estate executive, had already given to the university was a bitter and dramatic conclusion to a relationship that included a dispute over how the money should be spent and a call to boycott the state school system because of a recently passed law that essentially bans abortions in Alabama...

But in the end, the dispute between the university and Mr. Culverhouse became a public and politicized controversy over the state’s new abortion law, with Mr. Culverhouse holding the passage of the sweeping measure against a law school that had nothing to do with it. It also became a prime example of how the recent wave of anti-abortion policies passed in the South has sucked observers on the sidelines into the controversy. - NY Times

Read the NY Times article in full H E R E

For the wisdom of this world is foolishness with God. For it is written, He taketh the wise in their own craftiness. ( 1 Corinthians 3:19)

University of Alabama Returns $21.5

Oberlin College to Pay Bakery $11M

Oberlin Now In Danger Of Shutting Down

University of Alabama

Lawsuit: Gibson Bros. Inc vs Oberlin College

No, Thanks to $21 Million

***

TV Show: Gilligan's Island Harbor Scene and Dawn Wells

This post is in honor of actress Dawn Wells,(Mary Ann), who celebrates a birthday on October 18 (80 years old). She and actress Tina Louise (Ginger Grant) are the only remaining main characters from the show who are still living as of this writing.

The show's opening-scene harbour was pointed-out to me by our Tour Guide while I was in Honolulu (one of my best vacations ever; in the company of my son, sibs, and other relatives).  Happy thoughts were triggered once again via my sister & brother-in-law's pictures while they spent a glorious week in Hawaii to celebrate her birthday.



 The informative link below will add info to the gaps of what you know about the show's opening season harbour scene. Someone spent a lot of time researching and deserves a shout-out via this post.

1st Season Opening Scene Research H E R E

 And one cried unto another, and said,
Holy, holy, holy, is the Lord of hosts:
the whole earth is full of his glory.

Isaiah 6:3 

Ist Season

ETA:  She's currently in dire financial straits
  Dawn Wells accepts GoFundMe Donations






6.10.21.18

Elections 2018: List of Endorsements by Obama & Trump

Mr Obama has begun endorsing candidates and his list is  H E R E.  President Trump's list is H E R E . It is certain that each list will either grow or change.
Who Will Prevail?  Mr Trump has not done well so far, sigh.  November can't come soon enough for banner year 2018.

true or false?

ETA:

Democrats Angry with Obama over His Midterm Endorsement

Sixty-one Seats the GOP Must Hold

Mr Obama's List of Endorsements, August 2018

President Trump's List of Endorsements

Dem Candidate Accused

7.10.12.18

Anthropologie: Good Reviews and Quality Items

(1)  Smells great! A gift from daughter to me. A reed diffuser by Capri Blue in "Volcano".  

Described on the Anthro site thus: 
Volcano: tropical fruits, sugared oranges, lemons and limes, redolent with lightly exotic mountain greens (FRESH).  

Below are Christmas gifts for me and hubby from daughter to complement the diffuser. Capri Blue:  Hand Cream and Jar Candle.  Beautifully packaged (with bells, honest!).  Something about the "Volcano" fragrance elicits ooohs and aaahs from others, apparantly. 

pc: Anthropologie

(2)  Stoneware Pan by Natalie Lete in collaboration with Anthro. Nice-lookin' and seemed of good quality when I got my first pan. That good impression led me to order two more hoping to give them as gifts. Dear youngest daughter loves to use them for baking. Easy to wash; and no chips nor fading.

(3) Georgina Shower Curtain.  Love the fact that this pretty item is washable.  I already have a similar shower curtain from Anthro called Tender Falls  which is a beaut, but Dry Clean only. 

wrinkled, 
still cute
--- >>

"Tender Falls", pc: Anthropologie

Volcano Reed Diffuser

GEORGINA Shower Curtain

Vintage-inspired Pan

Volcano Hand Cream - top rated

Capri Blue Candle - Volcano

14.10.2.18

2017-18 Award: Lincoln Laureate

Our daughter was chosen for the prestigious Student Laureate award by WIU (Western Illinois University).  It is given by the State of Illinois' Lincoln Academy and is an award for exceptional, living Illinoians. Awardees are recognized once in the Fall (for Student Laureates) and once in the Spring (for Order of Lincoln Awardees). The ceremony is presided over by the incumbent Governor of Illinois (Republican, Bruce Rauner).

We Parents are thrilled and thankful to God who makes these good things possible.

There is only one Student Laureate winner per year from each Illinois 4-year Institution.
Daughter is pursuing a double major; thus she represents two University Departments at her school.  It was 1988 since the College of Communication Sciences & Disorders had a winner; and 2006 since a College of Music student was picked. Thus, that many more are pleased with her award.

wikipedia: The breast star of the Order of Lincoln

Notable Honorees (Order of Lincoln Award):

• Gwendolyn Brooks, poet, awarded 1997
• Hillary Clinton, United States Secretary of State, awarded 2014
• Jean Driscoll, wheelchair racer, awarded 2012
• Paul Harvey, radio broadcaster, awarded 1987
• Jackie Joyner-Kersee, track and field athlete, awarded 2005
• Shahid Khan, philanthropist, UIUC College of Engineering alumnus, awarded 2011
• Jim Lovell, astronaut, awarded 2012
• Mary Ann McMorrow, Illinois Supreme Court Chief Justice, awarded 2007
• Walter Payton, football player, awarded 1987
• Ronald Reagan, United States President, awarded 1981
• Paul Simon, United States Senator, awarded 1998
• Archbishop Fulton J. Sheen, Illinois religious leader, awarded 1977
• Scott Turow, author, awarded 2000
• Studs Terkel, author, awarded 2004

Student Laureates Inducted Yr 2017

Lincoln Academy of Illinois

WIU Hall of Fame

19.8.28.18

Cloud Eggs: An Anytime Recipe

Cloud Eggs Are the Latest Brunch Craze
Taking Over Instagram -- by House Beautiful

BY SARAH SCHREIBER

MAY 8, 2017 

If you're a fan of   sunny-side-up eggs, you might want to make them partly cloudy the next time you brunch.

Instagrammers are taking the egg and sky metaphors to new heights with the latest craze — nestling a runny yolk right in the center of an egg white "cloud." Affectionately dubbed "cloud eggs," this fluffy breakfast concoction just might be eggs' best look yet.

Full Article: Eggs-in-a-Cloud

Recipe for EGG CLOUDS

***

Your Choice: Be Ridiculously Likeable or Darn Irritating

Too many people succumb to the mistaken belief that being likable comes from natural, unteachable traits that belong only to a lucky few — the good looking, the fiercely social, and the incredibly talented. It’s easy to fall prey to this misconception.

When I speak to smaller audiences, I often ask them to describe the most likable people they have ever worked with. People inevitably ignore innate characteristics (intelligence, extraversion, attractiveness, and so on) and instead focus on qualities that are completely under people’s control, such as approachability, humility, and positivity.

These qualities, and others like them, describe people who are skilled in emotional intelligence (EQ). TalentSmart research data from more than a million people shows that people who possess these skills aren’t just highly likable, they outperform those who don’t by a large margin. Ninety percent of top performers have high EQs, people with high EQs make $29,000 more annually than people with low EQs, and a single-point increase in your emotional intelligence adds $1,300 to your salary. I could go on and on.

Being likable is under your control, and it’s a matter of emotional intelligence. Unlike innate, fixed characteristics, such as your intelligence (IQ), EQ is a flexible skill that you can improve with effort.

To help you improve your EQ, I did some digging to uncover the key behaviors that emotionally intelligent people engage in that make them so likable.

1. They are genuine. Being genuine and honest is essential to being likable. No one likes a fake. People gravitate toward those who are genuine because they know they can trust them. It is difficult to like someone when you don’t know who they really are and how they really feel.

Likable people know who they are. They are confident enough to be comfortable in their own skin. By concentrating on what drives you and makes you happy as an individual, you become a much more interesting person than if you attempt to win people over by making choices that you think will make them like you.

2. They ask thoughtful questions. The biggest mistake people make when it comes to listening is they’re so focused on what they’re going to say next or how what the other person is saying is going to affect them that they fail to hear what’s being said. The words come through loud and clear, but the meaning is lost. A simple way to avoid this is to ask a lot of questions. People like to know you’re listening, and something as simple as a clarification question shows that not only are you listening, you also care about what they’re saying. You’ll be surprised how much respect and appreciation you gain just by asking questions.

3. They don’t pass judgment. If you want to be likable you must be open-minded. Being open-minded makes you approachable and interesting to others. No one wants to have a conversation with someone who has already formed an opinion and is not willing to listen.

Having an open mind is crucial in the workplace where approachability means access to new ideas and help. To eliminate preconceived notions and judgment, you need to see the world through other people’s eyes. This doesn’t require you believe what they believe or condone their behavior, it simply means you quit passing judgment long enough to truly understand what makes them tick. Only then can you let them be who they are.

4. They don’t seek attention. People are averse to those who are desperate for attention. You don’t need to develop a big, extroverted personality to be likable. Simply being friendly and considerate is all you need to win people over. When you speak in a friendly, confident, and concise manner, you will notice that people are much more attentive and persuadable than if you try to show them you’re important. People catch on to your attitude quickly and are more attracted to the right attitude than what—or how many people—you know.

When you’re being given attention, such as when you’re being recognized for an accomplishment, shift the focus to all the people who worked hard to help you get there. This may sound cliché, but if it’s genuine, the fact that you pay attention to others and appreciate their help will show that you’re appreciative and humble—two adjectives that are closely tied to likability.

5. They are consistent. Few things make you more unlikable than when you’re all over the place. When people approach you, they like to know whom they’re dealing with and what sort of response they can expect. To be consistent you must be reliable, and you must ensure that even when your mood goes up and down it doesn’t affect how you treat other people.

6. They use positive body language. Becoming cognizant of your gestures, expressions, and tone of voice (and making certain they’re positive) will draw people to you like ants to a picnic. Using an enthusiastic tone, uncrossing your arms, maintaining eye contact, and leaning towards the person who’s speaking are all forms of positive body language that high-EQ people use to draw others in. Positive body language can make all the difference in a conversation.

It’s true that how you say something can be more important than what you say.

7. They leave a strong first impression. Research shows most people decide whether or not they like you within the first seven seconds of meeting you. They then spend the rest of the conversation internally justifying their initial reaction. This may sound terrifying, but by knowing this you can take advantage of it to make huge gains in your likability. First impressions are tied intimately to positive body language. Strong posture, a firm handshake, smiling, and opening your shoulders to the person you are talking to will help ensure that your first impression is a good one.

8. They greet people by name. Your name is an essential part of your identity, and it feels terrific when people use it. Likable people make certain they use others’ names every time they see them. You shouldn’t use someone’s name only when you greet him. Research shows that people feel validated when the person they’re speaking with refers to them by name during a conversation.

If you’re great with faces but have trouble with names, have some fun with it and make remembering people’s names a brain exercise. When you meet someone, don’t be afraid to ask her name a second time if you forget it right after you hear it. You’ll need to keep her name handy if you’re going to remember it the next time you see her.

9. They smile. People naturally (and unconsciously) mirror the body language of the person they’re talking to. If you want people to like you, smile at them during a conversation and they will unconsciously return the favor and feel good as a result.

10. They know who to touch (and they touch them). When you touch someone during a conversation, you release oxytocin in their brain, a neurotransmitter that makes their brain associate you with trust and a slew of other positive feelings. A simple touch on the shoulder, a hug, or a friendly handshake is all it takes to release oxytocin. Of course, you have to touch the right person in the right way to release oxytocin, as unwanted or inappropriate touching has the opposite effect. Just remember, relationships are built not just from words, but also from general feelings about each other. Touching someone appropriately is a great way to show you care.

11. They balance passion and fun. People gravitate toward those who are passionate. That said, it’s easy for passionate people to come across as too serious or uninterested because they tend to get absorbed in their work. Likable people balance their passion with the ability to have fun. At work they are serious, yet friendly. They still get things done because they are socially effective in short amounts of time and they capitalize on valuable social moments. They minimize small talk and gossip and instead focus on having meaningful interactions with their coworkers. They remember what you said to them yesterday or last week, which shows that you’re just as important to them as their work.

Bringing It All Together

Likable people are invaluable and unique. They network with ease, promote harmony in the workplace, bring out the best in everyone around them, and generally seem to have the most fun. Add these skills to your repertoire and watch your likability soar!

Please share your thoughts in the comments section, as I learn just as much from you as you do from me.

Follow Dr. Travis Bradberry on Twitter: www.twitter.com/talentsmarteq


First impressions: likeable lady pictured at top; 
the spoilt "child" below elicits a shudder from me, eeeek!

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Shih-Tzu Dogs' Former Home

Cause of fire: Wood-burning Fireplace explosion.

During our daily morning dog walks through our Subdivision, our usual route takes us past this formerly beautiful house. It is home to two, lively and barky Shih-Tzus and their owners. The Puppies were faithful to let the whole neighborhood know of our presence as we walked by. Thank God everyone made it out of the house okay; but they will live elsewhere for a while. It will take approximately 8 months to fix-up the place. Thank God for fire insurance.

front view

back view

ETA: after renovation

pc: realtor.com

18.11.6.18