The 300

I watched this movie last weekend. Great show, great company, greater lessons.

The place: Thermopylae, Greece
The people: Leonidas vs Xerxes
The plot: Hold a narrow pass till reinforcement arrive
The pain: Betrayed by a deformed soul
The price: $7

The movie is about the greatest goal line stand of all time:
300 hundred Spartan warriors were all that stood in the path of a million-man Persian army. The Persian king, Xerxes, tried to march his guys through the tiny Spartan army which was holding a narrow pass between the ocean and sheer cliffs.

The Spartans were renowned for their incredible bravery, and ferocity, on the field of battle. Persia's million men were stopped in their tracks and couldn't advance on their way to Athens. As a true Spartan king, Leonidas led by example and remained in the front ranks with his men during the battle. The Spartans had known before the battle that it was hopeless, and basically, a suicide mission. They knew the numbers were overwhelming, but they wanted to slow the advance of the Persians just long enough for the Spartan allies to form a defense, and like true warriors, they stood shoulder-to-shoulder with their comrades, utterly willing to fight to the death. They knew their sacrifice would allow the Athenians to regroup, hopefully saving Greece.

The finale came three days later when the Spartans were betrayed by their own, who showed the Persians a secret pass around and behind the Spartans. Sandwiched between two opposing forces, they were forced into retreat against the cliffs. Even with their spears and swords broken, and their shields smashed, the Spartans fought on with even their bare hands and teeth. The Persians were so intimidated, they brought in the archers to finish the job. Since the Spartans considered the shooting of a man from a distance an act of complete cowardice, they stood their ground, knowing they hadn't adequate defense, yet defiantly facing the enemy without fear; they'd learned to transcend the fear of death and walk in total presence. The Spartans were at peace in the midst of this chaos and accepted their deaths.

In at least one way, the film is true to the ethos of ancient Greece: It conflates moral excellence and physical beauty (which, in this movie, means being young, white, male, and fresh from the gyms). Here are just a few of the categories that are not-so-vaguely conflated with the "bad" (i.e., Persian) side in the movie: black people. Brown people. Disfigured people. Gay men (not gay in the buff, homoerotic Spartan fashion, but in the effeminate Persian style). Lesbians. Disfigured lesbians. Ten-foot-tall giants with filed teeth and lobster claws. Elephants and rhinos. The Persian commander, the god-king Xerxes is a towering, bald club fag with facial piercings, kohl-rimmed eyes, and a disturbing predilection for making people kneel before him.

Meanwhile, the Spartans, clad in naught but leather man-briefs, fight under the stern command of Leonidas, whose warrior ethic was forged during a childhood spent fighting wolves in the snow. Leonidas likes to rally the troops with bellowed speeches about "freedom," "honor," and "glory," promising that they will be remembered for having created "a world free from mysticism and tyranny."

Another of the Spartans' less-than-glorious customs is the practice of eugenics, hurling any less-than-perfect infant off a cliff onto a huge pile of baby skeletons. Unfortunately for the 300 at Thermopylae, this system of racial cleansing isn't foolproof: One deformed hunchback, Ephialtes, manages to make it to adulthood and begs Leonidas for a chance to serve Sparta in the 300. Sure enough, when he's turned down, the hunchback confirms his moral weakness by accepting Xerxes' offer to join ranks with the Persians.

Meanwhile, back home in Sparta, Leonidas' wife, Gorgo, engages in some plot-padding political intrigue with the evil Theron. Theron wants to persuade the Spartan council not to send reinforcements to the desperately outnumbered 300. The noble and sexy Gorgo finally gives herself to Theron in exchange for a chance to persuade the council.

7 Key lessons learned in this movie:

1. Steadfastness in the face of odds. There was this spirit of determination, a courage to resist an overwhelming situation. They displayed such spirit which refuse to surrender. They encouraged us to hold our ground against impossible odds.

2. Strength are available when we fight as a unit/ team. According to history, the Spartans developed a technique known as the "phalanx", a wall of overlapping shields and layered spearpoints spanning the entire defense line that proved unbeatable against as advancing foe.

3. Ancient combat are fought with hands; modern ones are fought with head and heart. There was a scene when King Leonidas coached his son on the art of combat, ending with these words, "You fight with your head", followed by his mother who added, "then with your heart". How true, when physical and visible strength and techniques expire, we must draw the ultimate power from within, the heart -our seat of passion and guts.

4. Keeping morale high is vital for survival. Discouragement and fault-finding is poisonous. Morale is contagious, whether high or low.

5. Training and discipline is essential in order to fight the good fight in life. The Spartans were drilled to slay the enemies like a well-oiled machine. This same fighting tactics are still been studied till this day in modern warfare. Mental training and continuous learning is vital for keeping "in shape" for life challenges.

6. Learn to master your fear, whatever it may be. Fear cripples and paralyses your performance, render you ineffective to complete the task at hand. Master them, or they master you.

7. Stay out of politics. It is a dirty game. You will inevitably and eventually get screwed (like the queen).

My best line: "See...I brought more men than you".

My Conclusion:

I will serve out my life purpose and mission with unwavering dedication and steadfastness, to and for those that count on me for love and protection;
to and for the child that aspire one day to be just like me.

I will find and define clearly my "Thermopylae", and guard it at all cost.

I will discipline myself to be physically and mentally fit and firm.

I will remember to fight with my heart, to excel through passion and purpose.

I will choose to be positive and energising to those around me, to be an oasis of motivation and a pillar of strength for my fellow friends.

I WILL!!!

The World's Greatest Discovery

You can do as much as you think you can,
But you'll never accomplish more;
If you're afraid of yourself, young man,
There's little for you in store.
For failure comes from the inside first,
It's there if we only knew it,
And you can win, though you face the worst,
If you feel that you're going to do it.

- Edgar A. Guest

Dog Diary vs Cat Diary

Dog ' s Diary entries....

8:00 am Dog food! My favorite thing!
9:30 am A car ride! My favorite thing!
9:40 am A walk in the park! My favorite thing!
10:30 am Got rubbed and petted! My favorite thing!
12:00 pm Lunch! My favorite thing!
1:00 pm Played in the yard! My favorite thing!
3:00 pm Wagged my tail! My favorite thing!
5:00 pm Milk bones! My favorite thing!
7:00 pm Got to play ball! My favorite thing!
8:00 pm Wow! Watched TV with my people! My favoritething!
11:00 pm Sleeping on the bed! My favorite thing!


Excerpts from a Cat ' s Daily Diary....

Day 683 of my captivity: My captors continue to taunt me with bizarre little dangling objects. They dine lavishly on fresh meat, while the other inmates are fed hash or some sort of dry nuggets. Although I make my contempt for the rations perfectly clear, I nevertheless must eat something in order to keep up my strength. The only thing that keeps me going is my dream of escape. In an attempt to disgust them, I once again vomit on the floor.

Today I decapitated a mouse and dropped its headless body at their feet. I had hoped this would strike fear into their hearts, since it clearly demonstrates what I am capable of. However, they merely made condescending comments about what a "good little hunter" I am .The audacity! There was some sort of assembly of their accomplices tonight.I was placed in solitary confinement for the duration of the event. However, I could hear the noises and smell the food. I overheard that my confinement was due to the power of "allergies." I must learn what this means, and how to use it to my advantage.

Today I was almost successful in an attempt to assassinate one of my tormentors by weaving around his feet as he was walking. I must try this again tomorrow -- but at the top of the stairs. I am convinced that the other prisoners here are flunkies and snitches. The dog receives special privileges. He is regularly released --and seems to be more than willing to return. He is obviously retarded! The bird has got to be an informant. I observe him communicating with the guards regularly.

I am certain that he reports my every move. The captors have arranged protective custody for him in an elevated cell, so he is safe....... for now....

No offense to all those cat lovers out there...and yeah, you are right, I am a dog lover.

Sometimes, things happened in our lives that make it difficult and impossible to utter "my favourite thing"!
Finding joy and the "my favourite thing" kind of attitude is not second nature to us.
It needs to be cultivated and learned. How many "my favourite thing" can I claim now?

Some Police Quotes

"The handcuffs are tight because they're new. They'll stretch out after you wear them awhile."
"If you run, you'll only go to jail tired."
"So, you don't know how fast you were going. I guess that means I can write anything I want on the ticket, huh?"
"Yes sir, you can talk to the shift supervisor, but I don't think it will help. Oh, did I mention that I am the shift supervisor?"
"Warning! You want a warning? O.K., I'm warning you not to do that again or I'll give you another ticket."
"The answer to this last question will determine whether you are drunk or not. Was Mickey Mouse a cat or dog?"
"Yeah, we have a quota. Two more tickets and my wife gets a toaster oven."
"Life's tough, it's tougher if you're stupid."
"No sir, we don't have quotas anymore. We used to have quotas, but now we're allowed to write as many tickets as we want."
"Just how big were those two beers?
"In God we trust, all others are suspects."

Shipwreck

A New Zealander was washed up on a beach after a terrible shipwreck. Only a sheep and a sheepdog were washed up with him.
Looking around, he realized that they were stranded on a deserted island.
After being there a while, he got into the habit of taking his two animal companions to the beach every evening to watch the sun set.
One particular evening, the sky was a fiery red with beautiful cirrus clouds the breeze was warm and gentle - a perfect night for romance. As they sat there, the sheep started looking better and better to the lonely Kiwi.
Soon, he leaned over to the sheep and put his arm around it.
But the sheepdog, ever protective of the sheep, growled fiercely until the man took his arm from around the sheep.
After that, the three of them continued to enjoy the sunsets together, but there was no more cuddling.
A few weeks passed by and, lo and behold, there was another shipwreck. The only survivor was a beautiful young woman, the most beautiful woman the man had ever seen.
She was in a pretty bad way when he rescued her and he slowly nursed her back to health.
When the young maiden was well enough, he introduced her to their evening beach ritual.
It was another beautiful evening red sky, cirrus clouds, a warm and gentle breeze - perfect for a night of romance.
Pretty soon, the Kiwi started to get "those feelings" again.
He fought the urges as long as he could, but he finally gave in and, realizing he now had the opportunity, leaned over to the young woman, cautiously, and whispered in her ear,
...
...
...
"Would you mind taking the dog for a walk?"

Bad Sneeze - R(A)

A man, sitting next to a woman on a jet, suddenly sneezes. Unexpectedly, he unzips his pants and wipes the end of his penis off with his handkerchief. He then zips up and continues reading his magazine.
The woman cannot believe what she just saw.
Then he sneezes again, unzips, pulls out his penis and wipes it off with a handkerchief.
The woman says, "Excuse me sir, but that is disgusting and rude."
He says, "I am so sorry that I have offended you. I have this very rare, embarrassing physical handicap that causes me to orgasm every time I sneeze."
The woman, disarmed by the man's honesty, and somewhat embarrassed by her own callousness, says, with sympathy, "Oh you poor man, what,are you taking for it?"

"Pepper," he replies

Male & Female Whales - R(A)

A male whale and a female whale were swimming off the coast of Japan when they noticed a whaling ship. The male whale recognized it as the same ship that had harpooned his father many years earlier.
He said to the female whale, "Let's both swim under the ship and blow out of our air holes at the same time; and it should cause the ship to turn over and sink."
They tried it, and sure enough, the ship turned over and quickly sank. Soon, however, the whales realized the sailors had jumped overboard and were swimming to the safety of shore.
The male was enraged that they were going to get away and told the female, "Let's swim after them and gobble them up before they reach the shore." At this point, he realized the female was becoming reluctant to follow him.

"Look," she said, "I went along with the blow job, but I absolutely refuse to swallow the seamen."