Talks Of Successor Ceases To Dissipate With Tiger Woods' Absence At The Masters

The first PGA major of the year, the Masters, occurred over the weekend at Augusta National in Georgia without a familiar face: Tiger Woods. 

For the first time since 1994, arguably the greatest golfer ever is missing the Super Bowl of Golf after undergoing surgery for a pinched nerve in his back.

As this shouldn't be any surprise, it doesn't seem The Masters has gotten as much coverage as the tournament typically does with Woods competing. 

So I came across an article on The New York Times labeled "Search for Tiger Woods's Successor Skips A Generation."

The lede read, "Tiger Woods is missing from this year's Masters, and so are all the people we once expected to replace him." 

Pause.

Replace him?

Maybe that's the problem.

People are looking to replace him.

This yearn for looking for the next Tiger Woods needs to stop before it fully escalates. Sports pundits have already tried giving Rory McIlroy that distinction, and while he's shown flashes, is he the one to be anointed? 

This doesn't just occur with Tiger Woods. It occurs in the sport of basketball with Michael Jordan. Constant comparisons occur whether they are deserved or not. 

This is basically saying greatness can be replaced. 

Instead of saying, "there will never be another...," we say "who'll be the next...." 

The more we look for one to be the next great successor, the more disappointment will occur.

When the time comes, we'll know. Sometimes, if we stop looking, the answer to that question will become known in due time. 

Links: http://www.cbssports.com/golf/eye-on-golf/24510039/tiger-woods-will-miss-2014-masters

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/13/sports/golf/search-for-tiger-woodss-successor-skips-a-generation.html?ref=sports

David Letterman's Retirement Signals An End Of An Era In Late Night Talk

If you haven't heard, another late night talk legend is heading to retirement.

David Letterman has decided he'll leave the late night stage after 34 years come 2015.

Letterman has been hosting the "Late Show With David Letterman" since he arrived at CBS in 1993.

Letterman, 66, will relinquish his duties to Stephen Colbert, star of the well-known Comedy Central's "Colbert Report."

Recently over at NBC, Jay Leno stepped aside as host of "The Tonight Show" for the young hot shot in Jimmy Fallon.

Letterman and Leno came up together, and both were even in the running to replace Johnny Carson back in 1992. Suffice it to say, Leno won the job.

It's quite ironic because I recall having a discussion with my mother after Leno's retirement. I told her that Letterman has to be next, and quite soon, too.

Sure enough, two months after Leno last appeared on The Tonight Show, Letterman made his move.

I always watched Leno, and rarely watched Letterman. But it always strikes a chord with me when I see successful entertainers retire. It's like the old saying, "you don't know what you lose, till it's gone."

Once his time is officially up, it can be said that late night talk has reached the end of an era.

With Jimmy Fallon being the face of NBC late night, as well as Jimmy Kimmel being the face of ABC, Colbert will now be considered the new face of CBS late night. Maybe call them the "Big Three" of late night talk?

Colbert's contract with Comedy Central expires at the end of the year, which is probably why Letterman is staying put till next year.

Once Colbert gets sworn in, it can be said that the new generation of talk show hosts have taken over, front and center.

Links: http://www.bbc.com/news/blogs-echochambers-26879095

http://www.nytimes.com/2014/04/11/business/media/stephen-colbert-to-succeed-letterman-on-late-show.html?_r=0

Reflecting On The Death Of WWE Hall of Famer Ultimate Warrior

Just nights after being inducted into the WWE Hall of Fame during the weekend of WrestleMania 30, the WWE Universe lost James Brian Hellwig - better known as 'The Ultimate Warrior' - at the age of 54.

After Warrior's induction, he appeared on WWE Monday Night Raw for the first time in nearly two decades where he gave a speech. Transcript below:

"No WWE talent becomes a legend on their own. Every man’s heart one day beats its final beat. His lungs breathe their final breath. And if what that man did in his life makes the blood pulse through the body of others and makes them bleed deeper and something larger than life, then his essence, his spirit, will be immortalized by the storytellers, by the loyalty, by the memory of those who honor him and make the running the man did live forever.

"You, you, you, you, you, you are the legend makers of Ultimate Warrior. In the back I see many potential legends. Some of them with warrior spirits. And you will do the same for them. You will decide if they lived with the passion and intensity. So much so that you will tell your stories and you will make them legends, as well. I am Ultimate Warrior. You are the Ultimate Warrior fans and the spirit of Ultimate Warrior will run forever.”

Getting back to his speech shortly, it was the night after Raw where it was announced on Twitter by WWE executive vice president Paul Levesque, a k a Triple H, that Warrior had passed. His cause of death is unknown.

Saddened to announce the passing of the Ultimate Warrior. Icon and friend. My sympathy to his wife Dana and his daughters
— Triple H (@TripleH) April 9, 2014

Warrior was perhaps most known during his WWE stint for his ability to leave fans confused and befuddled with his unique mic abilities.

Going back to his speech, there is irony involved.

If you re-read the speech from above, Warrior uses phraseology like "Every man's beats its final beat," or "lungs breathe their final breath."

And now he's gone.

It's as if he planned this to be his farewell speech, even after he gave a speech at his Hall of Fame induction.

As if he knew death was imminent, particularly by the aforementioned clues from his speech.

As if he knew he had a chance to go out on his own terms, on a high note - especially because relations with the company were strained, at one point - because this is what he wanted the last impression of himself to be.

As if Warrior decided to fight just long enough till after it was all over, because, well, his persona was The Ultimate Warrior. All was accomplished, and he felt at peace. Now he's truly at peace.

Links: http://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/2014/04/09/wwe-says-the-ultimate-warrior-dead-at-54/7495659/

http://www.latimes.com/sports/sportsnow/la-sp-sn-ultimate-warrior-final-speech-wwe-20140409,0,864408.story#axzz2yjEKzPNJ

Mind-control

I love dreaming. I look forward to that aspect of sleeping more than sleep itself.

I recently came across an article titled "Can You Control Your Dreams?"Included in the article is the discussion of this being possible, particularly if you're aware of dreaming while dreaming.

To my knowledge, the name for this is called Lucid Dreaming - which the author did knowledge.

I didn't really read the entire article, in all honesty. But I read to the point where it noted that using soundscapes can signal what kind of dream a person will have. Soundscapes are "themed ambient sounds," according to the article.

Whether help is needed to control dreams or not, I'm still trying to wrap my head around this idea.

I feel like to some extent, I can control my dreams myself. I just simply need to think of that person, place or thing before heading to sleep.

Simultaneously, the ability to do so isn't consistent. I'll have a stretch for weeks where I dream of whatever it is I want, and then have a drought... at least, recently I have.

Dreams are said to typically focus on what has happened to an individual throughout the day, or what's on their mind.

I'll have dreams that make no sense whatsoever, that doesn't seem to have any meaning at all.

In an article that I already have linked in another post, but I'll link again, Professor and Author Richard Wiseman says brain activity is at a minimum during deep sleeps.

When the brain is practically shut off, doesn't it sound like all hell can break loose within the subconscious? It's no holds barred, anything goes.

When you sleep, it's like you're under a spell.

Unless the frequency of being able to control one's dreams is verified, this idea seems easier said than done.

It's possible. But can I do this every night?

Was it just an imagination?

Credit: JeffaCubed - flickr.com

"I see dead people" is a famous line said by Haley Joel Osment in the movie The Sixth Sense.

But that was just acting. For some, however, it's real.

“I was born with that ability. Children are very open, very psychic, very intuitive. I think every child is — and I think they learn to be judgmental and limit themselves when they turn 7, 8 or 9 and their parents or society says, ‘No, that’s not right … it’s your imagination,’ ”

That was a quote from known Medium James Van Praagh in a recent interview, as he is set to make an appearance at the Kent Paranormal Fest.

Personally, while many think otherwise, I'm no judge of psychics and mediums.

I'm under the belief that a person knows how much criticism and skepticism they will receive from revealing to the world that they have such powers. It'd be foolish to put themselves under that microscope if this was all in their heads.

But seriously now: was there moment/s as a kid where you saw something and wondered if it was your imagination?

Maybe that imaginary friend you had at five years old wasn't so imaginary?

Or how about whenever a baby cries from being held by someone else? Maybe the kid knows something people surrounding him/her don't. Big things comes in small packages, right?

Maybe our children is the key to teaching us something about the world that seems unfathomable to most.

Better yet, for those that have children - or even kids that are older that can recall childhood memories - ask about these experiences. They could teach you something; and that teaching, in the long run, may help you better understand the world.

Dreams, Dream, Dreeeeeam

We all dream. Sometimes we remember, sometimes we don't.

Remember this, though: we dream more than once. Here's a quote from Richard Wiseman, author of Night School: Wake Up To The Power Of Sleep:

"This sleep cycle takes about 90 minutes, resulting in an average of five dreams per night,’ says Wiseman. ‘Each dream is longer than the last, with the first lasting just a few minutes and the last before waking usually about 40 minutes long."

This is something that may be oblivious to many, and it used to be to myself.

But then my dream recall improved, and I started to remember. I've recalled having three to four dreams many nights for the past four months.

I can't explain how, unless it has something to do with my spiritual awakening (which I've read can do that people). However, I wouldn't limit it to just that.

The moral is even if you remember one dream through a night, be aware that more went on in your subconscious than you think.

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