Archive for March, 2008
An inspiring list of my top 20 favorite quotes from The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho
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I love The Alchemist by Paulo Coelho. I have listed here my favorite quotes from this beautiful book. This book is an inspiring and motivational read that I love to share with everyone. I hope you enjoy!
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“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”
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“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
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“Intuition is really a sudden immersion of the soul into the universal current of life.”
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“When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision. “
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“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”
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“Every search begins with beginners luck and ends with the victor’s being severely tested.”
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“When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.”
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“The boy and his heart had become friends, and neither was capable now of betraying the other.”
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“When you want something with all your heart, that’s when you are closest to the Soul of the World. It’s always a positive force.”
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“Courage is the quality most essential to understanding the Language of the World.“
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“To realize one’s destiny is a person’s only obligation.”
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“I don’t live in either my past or my future. I’m interested only in the present. If you can concentrate always on the present, you’ll be a happy man. Life will be a party for you, a grand festival, because life is the moment we’re living now.
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“When you are loved, you can do anything in creation. When you are loved, there’s no need at all to understand what’s happening, because everything happens within you.”
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“Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and with eternity
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When you are in love, things make even more sense, he thought.
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Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure. You’ve got to find the treasure, so that everything you have learned along the way can make sense. “
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“All you have to do is contemplate a simple grain of sand, and you will see in it all the marvels of creation. Listen to your heart. It knows all things, because it came from the Soul of the World, and it will one day return there.”
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“The alchemists spent years in their laboratories, observing the fire that purified the metals. They spent so much time close to the fire that gradually they gave up the vanities of the world. They discovered that the purification of the metals had led to a purification of themselves.”
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“I learned that the world has a soul, and that whoever understands that soul can also understand the language of things. I learned that many alchemists realized their destinies, and wound up discovering the Soul of the World, the Philosopher’s Stone, and the Elixir of Life. But above all, I learned that these things are all so simple they could be written on the surface of an emerald.”
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“In his pursuit of the dream, he was being constantly subjected to tests of his persistence and courage. So he could not be hasty, nor impatient. If he pushed forward impulsively, he would fail to see the signs and omens left by God along his path.”
“It’s the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting.”
“And, when you want something, all the universe conspires in helping you to achieve it.”
“Intuition is really a sudden immersion of the soul into the universal current of life.”
“When someone makes a decision, he is really diving into a strong current that will carry him to places he had never dreamed of when he first made the decision. “
“There is only one thing that makes a dream impossible to achieve: the fear of failure.”
“Every search begins with beginners luck and ends with the victor’s being severely tested.”
“When we strive to become better than we are, everything around us becomes better too.”
“The boy and his heart had become friends, and neither was capable now of betraying the other.”
“When you want something with all your heart, that’s when you are closest to the Soul of the World. It’s always a positive force.”
“Courage is the quality most essential to understanding the Language of the World.“
“To realize one’s destiny is a person’s only obligation.”
“I don’t live in either my past or my future. I’m interested only in the present. If you can concentrate always on the present, you’ll be a happy man. Life will be a party for you, a grand festival, because life is the moment we’re living now.
“When you are loved, you can do anything in creation. When you are loved, there’s no need at all to understand what’s happening, because everything happens within you.”
“Tell your heart that the fear of suffering is worse than the suffering itself. And that no heart has ever suffered when it goes in search of its dreams, because every second of the search is a second’s encounter with God and with eternity
When you are in love, things make even more sense, he thought.
Remember that wherever your heart is, there you will find your treasure. You’ve got to find the treasure, so that everything you have learned along the way can make sense. “
“All you have to do is contemplate a simple grain of sand, and you will see in it all the marvels of creation. Listen to your heart. It knows all things, because it came from the Soul of the World, and it will one day return there.”
“The alchemists spent years in their laboratories, observing the fire that purified the metals. They spent so much time close to the fire that gradually they gave up the vanities of the world. They discovered that the purification of the metals had led to a purification of themselves.”
“I learned that the world has a soul, and that whoever understands that soul can also understand the language of things. I learned that many alchemists realized their destinies, and wound up discovering the Soul of the World, the Philosopher’s Stone, and the Elixir of Life. But above all, I learned that these things are all so simple they could be written on the surface of an emerald.”
“In his pursuit of the dream, he was being constantly subjected to tests of his persistence and courage. So he could not be hasty, nor impatient. If he pushed forward impulsively, he would fail to see the signs and omens left by God along his path.”
Legal prostitution in Costa Rica: the down and dirty on the Beetle Bar
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As a writer, I feel it’s my duty to live the biggest life possible by experiencing new uncharted waters. It’s no secret that Prostitution is legal in Costa Rica, I heard the Beetle Bar was the most notorious spot to see the action first hand. With no idea what to expect walking through that door; I was both apprehensive and curious. The inside had a classy sports bar feel to it, lots of satellite TVs playing a variety of sports, NFL being the main attraction. There were about 150 guys; mostly Fisherman, Businessman, and Travelers. The catch was the 350 scantily clad Putas roaming around with a predatory look in their eyes. I must admit, the majority of them were very attractive, some were downright gorgeous (Maxim cover girl hot), and of course there was the C line up (C standing for Cheapskate I guess). I wasn’t expecting to see so many of them, nor was I expecting such beauty to be able to be purchased at the price of 100$ an hour.
Interestingly, it was a complete roll reversal, the men sat around leisurely chatting, while the women aggressively eyed, pinched, rubbed, and did whatever possible to get the men’s attention. If only real life were this grand, I would have never left Jaco. I got a real kick out of this; one girl after another would come up and touch me while trying to start a conversation. It was a huge ego boost, this coming from someone who has never lacked confidence a day in his life. I must admit, I was having one hell of a time; it was a little surreal; almost a little hard to believe (emphasis on the word hard).
I needed to find the source, the man behind the curtain. It wasn’t long before I was talking to the owner. He looked every bit the part, greasy, slimly, with constantly running coke inflamed nose. He would have made the perfect character for a Quentin Tarantino movie. He broke down the rules for me as follows: always negotiate the price before you leave, never leave any valuables around the room, never leave them out of your sight at your room, and treat them with a respect. Putas would leave with these men one after another; most of the men were married, and then they would return an hour later to find another willing husband seeking infidelity. Note to Wives: if your husband and his friends are regularly going on fishy trips to Costa Rica each year, be warned this is why most of them go to Jaco. The thought of over 75% of the men proudly wearing their wedding rings with no shame was disgusting. I had no intention of actually leaving with one of the Putas, but it was an interesting experience nonetheless. I left after a couple hours to try my luck at a real bar, semi aroused with a grotesque feel in my stomach. I couldn’t help but feel pity for all the poor wives of these degenerate men who pay for sex on vacation. I never returned to the Beetle Bar again.
Carmen told me her name was fitting because she likes both Cars and Men; I told her to call me Beer Sex from now on. So let’s get to it, here are some funny jokes, warnings, and bar translations for those who love to drink. First, please rise for the Beer anthem. Remember, beauty is in the eye of the beer holder…
“All right, brain, I don’t like you and you don’t like me – so let’s just do this and I’ll get back to killing you with beer”. –Homer Simpson
Beer Anthem: Our lager, Which art in barrels, Hallowed be Thy drink, Thy will be drunk, (I will be drunk), At home as I am in the tavern. Give us this day our foamy head, And forgive us our spillages, As we forgive those who spill against us, And lead us not to incarceration, But deliver us from hangovers, For thine is the beer, The bitter and the lager, Forever and ever, Barmen.
“He was a wise man who invented beer”. –Plato “Beer is proof that God loves us and wants us to be happy.” –Benjamin Franklin
A Few Warnings for Alcoholics: Warning: Consumption of alcohol may actually cause pregnancy
“Always do sober what you said you’d do drunk. That will teach you to keep your mouth shut”. –Ernest Hemmingway
Warning: Consumption of alcohol is a major factor in dancing like a wanker, may leave you wondering what the hell happened to your clothes, may lead you to believe that ex-lovers are really dying for you to telephone them at 4 in the morning, may make you think you can logically converse with other members of the opposite sex without spitting, may cause you to roll over in the morning and see something really scary (whose name, and/or species you can’t remember), cause of inexplicable rug burns on the forehead, may lead you to believe that people are laughing with you,
“I drink to make other people interesting”. –George Jean Nathan
“You’re not drunk if you can lie on the floor without holding on”. –Dean Martin
A few quick Bar Jokes: Two blondes walk into the bar….You’d think one of them would of them would have scene it.
Two friends were out drinking when suddenly one lurched backward off his barstool and lay motionless on the floor. “One thing about Jim,” his buddy said to the bartender, “He knows when to stop.”
Where does an Irish family go on vacation?
A different bar. What is the difference between an Irish wedding and an Irish funeral?
One less drunk.
“If you ever reach total enlightenment while drinking beer, I bet it makes beer shoot out your nose”. –Deep Thought, Jack Handy
“An intelligent man is sometimes forced to be drunk to spend time with his fools”. –For Whom the Bell Tolls, Ernest Hemmingway
BAR ROOM TRANSLATIONS
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“You get this round and the next round is on me.”
(I’ll be leaving before the next round.) -
“Hey, where is that friend of yours?”
(I have no interest in talking to you except as a way to get your attractive friend into a compromising position.) -
“Can I get a glass of white zinfandel?” (Female)
(I’m easy.) -
“Can I get a glass of white zinfandel?” (male)
(I’m gay.) -
“Ever try a body shot?” (Male to female)
(I am even willing to drink tequila if it means that I get to lick you.) -
“Ever try a body shot?” (Female to male)
(If this is how wild I am in the bar, imagine what I’ll do to you on the ride home?) -
“I don’t feel well, let’s go home.” (Female)
(You are paying more attention to your friends than me.) -
I don’t feel well, let’s go home.” (Male)
(I’m horny.) -
“Who’s got the next round?”
(I haven’t bought a round in almost 3 years, but I am an expert at diverting attention.) -
“Excuse Me.” (Male to male)
(Get the hell out of the way.) -
“Excuse Me.” (Male to female)
(I am going to grope you now.) -
“Excuse Me.” (Female to male)
(Don’t even think about groping me, just get the hell out of the way.) -
“Excuse Me.” (Female to female)
(Move your fat ass. Who do you think you are anyway? You are not all that, missy, and don’t think for one minute that you are. And get your eyes off of my man, or I’ll slap you like the slut you are.) -
“What do you have on tap?”
(What’s cheap?) -
”Can I have a white Russian?” (Female)
(I’m *really* easy.) -
“That person looks really familiar.”
(Did I sleep with him/her?) -
I don’t have my ID on me.” (Female)
(I’m 16.) -
“I don’t have my ID on me.” (Male)
(I don’t have a license since I got pulled over and blew a 0.4 after my last visit here)