Category Archives: Entertainment

Directive Diplomacy

Awards Season 2012 is rolling full force ahead as the 18th annual Screen Actors Guild Awards kicked off this past sunday unbeknownst to many.  The SAG Awards are in fact a special occasion for actors and actresses however, as the awards are chosen by the actors themselves.  Big winners in the feature film department included The Help and The Artist, while TV’s big winners include Modern Family and Boardwalk Empire.  Mary Tyler Moore was honored with the Lifetime Achievement Award, while Bridesmaids trio (Melissa Mccarthy, Kristen Wiig, and Maya Rudolph) lightened the mood by inventing a SAG awards drinking game in which ‘you have to drink every time you hear the word Scorsese’.  Actor Steve Buscemi (after winning Best Actor in a Drama Series) capitalized on such a joke by mentioning the iconic filmmakers’ name in his acceptance speech, as Scorsese was an executive producer for Boardwalk Empire.  Although his film Hugo didn’t take home any SAG Awards, he and his film are very much in the Oscar race so let’s take a look at the man himself, legendary director Martin Scorsese.

Martin Charles Scorsese (born November 17, 1942) is an American film director, screenwriter, producer, actor, and film historian.  Scorsese was raised in New York City by two devout Catholic Sicilian actors.  Martin had asthma, and as a result wasn’t able to play sports and engage in outdoor activities like many of the other children.  Marty found other interests however, as his passion for cinema developed at a very early age.  Enamored with the stories that the films of his time were telling, Scorsese went to NYU film school, and after graduating started making films of his own.  After becoming friends with the ‘movie brats’ of the 1970sFrancis Ford CoppolaBrian De PalmaGeorge Lucas, and Steven Spielberg, Marty was ready to make his mark on Hollywood.  He went on to make such films as Mean StreetsTaxi DriverRaging Bull, and Goodfellas– all of which he collaborated on with actor and close friend Robert De Niro.  He is a recipient of the AFI Life Achievement Award for his contributions to the cinema, and has won OscarsEmmysGolden GlobesBAFTAs, and DGA Awards.  Scorsese’s body of work addresses such themes as Italian American identity, Roman Catholic concepts of guilt and redemptionmachismo, modern crime and violence.  Scorsese is hailed as one of the most significant and influential American filmmakers of all time, and is known for his uncanny ability to create a warm, positive, and encouraging environment on-set.  Indeed Marty values “harmonious relations” and “can handle people with charm and concern”.  Sweet-hearted, charismatic, highly nurturing, very expressive, and a natural leader of groups Martin Scorsese is undoubtedly a Teacher Idealist.  Certainly Marty is arguably the best director of his generation, and has an incredible ability to put himself in the shoes of the people he is making a movie about:

Teachers have a highly developed ability to empathize by introjection, that is, taking into themselves the characteristics, emotions, and beliefs of others—even to the point of unconsciously mimicking others.  But this unusual ability to relate to other with empathy can also pose a danger for them, because they can easily over-identify with others and pick up their burdens as if they were their own, actually putting at risk their own identity.

Please Understand Me II, p. 151

Quote1.png Now more than ever we need to talk to each other, to listen to each other and understand how we see the world, and cinema is the best medium for doing this.Quote2.png

Martin Scorsese

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Complicated Logistics

Yet another “Hollywood Power Couple” has fallen victim to the devastating effects of real life as luminescent supermodel Heidi Klum and hopelessly-romantic singer Seal have officially announced a divorce after seven wonderful years of marriage and four children.  The tragic split seems to be extremely amicable as “the operative here is that we are civil to each other and we both have a tremendous amount of respect and love and we try and do this with as much dignity as we possibly can”.  After seven long years certain mathematicians might argue that Seal was stricken with the infamous “seven year itch”.  One would think that marrying a girl who many consider one of the most beautiful women on this planet would save you from a stupid “seven year itch” but some people are just downright greedy.  Shame on you, Seal.  While the couple has no intention of airing out it’s dirty laundry reports say Seals’ temper was a “deal breaker” for the young German model and entrepreneur.  Whatever the source of conflict lets hope for the best and take a closer look at this formerly adorable Hollywood Power Couple.

Heidi Klum is a German model, actress, television host, businesswoman, fashion designer, and television producer.  Heidi’s modeling career skyrocketed quite early, as she won a national modeling contest over 25,000 contestants before graduating high school.  After graduating, Klum accepted a modeling contract over seeking an apprenticeship at a fashion design school.  Klum’s success as a model is astounding, having graced the covers of Vogue, Elle, Marie Claire, and Sports Illustrated among others.  Klum is perhaps best known for being host, judge, and executive producer of Lifetime’s Project Runway, as well as being a Victoria’s Secret Angel and hosting the Victorias Secret Fashion Show on four different occasions.  Indeed Klum is “without peer as master of ceremonies” and makes for an “outstanding hostess”.  Extremely hard-working, adorably sentimental, outstandingly personable, and highly accommodating Heidi Klum is undoubtedly a Provider Guardian.  With four children, a TV show, modeling gigs, make-up and fashion lines, and now a divorce Heidi Klum certainly has a lot on her plate.  No temperament is better equipped however, as “these Providers take their role as family provider seriously, in both a material and moral sense.  They provide a sound and safe home, good food, nice clothes, and a store of possessions”.

Seal Henry Olusegun Olumide Adeola Samuel (born 19 February 1963 in Paddington, London, England), popularly known simply as Seal , is a British soul and R&B singer-songwriter, of Nigerian and Brazilian background.  Seal has won four Grammy Awards for his music, and is best known for his single “Kiss From a Rose”.  A hopeless romantic, Seal proposed to Heidi in a quinzee he built on a glacier in Whistler, British Columbia.  Every year during their marriage Seal and Klum renewed their vows on their anniversary with their close friends and family.  “Each year, Heidi and I get remarried. It’s a great party, but for about an hour, we go off on our own down to a private beach. We sit there with the kids and read vows to each other as the sun sets. It’s a very special moment to us.”  Highly romantic, a very talented singer and song-writer, extremely compassionate, and very private Seal  is undoubtedly a Composer Artisan.  Indeed Seal is (was) constantly serenading his wife in a very romantic fashion, as “if Composers find a medium of expression, some art form, then they will express their character quite eloquently via that medium”.  Seal was also a family man, as “these friendly and soft-spoken Artisans tend to seek a safe anchorage in their home and family”.  “With their children, as with their mates, Composers are great friends and mates, though they can be hard to get to know, and their reserve can be a barrier to close relations”.

The most stable and satisfying marriages for Artisans are with Guardians.  Not only do Artisans and Guardians both make their home in the concrete world, but the complementarity of their natures seems to fill a void in each temperament.  Here is the adventurous, fun-loving SP, bursting with energy and yearning for the excitement of new experiences, attracted to the concerned and responsible SJ, the Rock of Gibraltar standing watch over the established rules and traditions of society.  In many ways the match seems incongruous and difficult to account for, and yet the frequency with which SPs choose to marry SJs is compelling.  Perhaps seeking the stability they lack, perhaps wanting some missing center to their lives perhaps just needing someone to take care of them—whatever the reason, Artisans choose marriage with Guardians by far over any other temperament.

Please Understand Me II, p. 220

Quote1.png When I first met Seal he had a kindness and compassion that was so sincere I knew he’d be a good father. Bit it wasn’t until Leni was born and we had out three other children that I grasped what a great dad he is. He has infinite amounts of love and patience for our kids,” Klum added. “He puts me and the children first.Quote2.png

Heidi Klum

Quote1.png Family, my wife and children, that’s my reason for being. Everything is done with them in mind, so perhaps that’s the reason this new album is up-tempo. It does feel like a celebration of life. I am finally in a content and happy place to the point where I feel like I need to sing about it. It’s made me want to address things that are close to home.Quote2.png

Seal

The Steel Mask

“The Steel Mask” refers to the Guardians’ incredible ability to disguise themselves with the passions/interests/attitudes typically associated with one of the other three temperaments.  Indeed many Guardians are often mistaken for other temperaments strictly because of the career paths and recreational activities that they have chosen in their lives.  Statistically speaking however, Guardians are by far the most numerous temperament and certainly abound in all professions and hobbies.  Certainly a Guardian can come to enjoy ANY profession or passion, and brings hard-work and dedication to the enterprise.  Guardian’s are the unsung heroes of society and simply put: many Guardians are not given credit for being Guardians.

Artisans and Guardians both live in the concrete world of what is going on around them.  Both Artisans and Guardians together dominate most social realms and most of society for that matter.  As a result both temperaments learn a great deal from one another.  Guardians greatly admire they’re Artisan cousins ability to throw caution to the wind and live life to the fullest, and often emulate such behavior with astounding accuracy.  As a result many Guardians find themselves in professions that are typically associated with the Artisan, and yet fit in surprisingly well.

Idealists and Guardians both share a concern for society and for the morality of behavior, a wish to do right and to help other people.  And thus many Guardians and Idealists find themselves in similar professions, ones that deal with gracefully managing and dealing with people.  Indeed many Guardians choose Diplomacy in one way or another as their passion in life, and thus often blend in quite well with Idealists and their professions.

Rationals and Guardians share a lot of similarities in the way they approach their professional lives.  Guardians are comfortable with the Rationals’ skeptical attitude and obsession with their work, which seem very much like their own pessimism and sense of duty, and they often admire the NT’s ingenuity.  Guardians too, excel in the Rationals’ primary realm of science, as good science requires discipline and dedication.  Certainly Guardians are everywhere, but at times can be difficult to identify.

Tactical Strategy

Awards Season is officially upon us as the 69th Annual Golden Globe Awards saw Ricky Gervais return as host for the third time despite stirring up controversy for his previous two appearances.  Controversy however as everyone knows, gets ratings, so they asked him back a third time.  The British comedians’ controversial appeal seemed to fizzle out as the 2012 award show got underwhelming ratings numbers.  Big winners include critically acclaimed The Artist which took home Best Comedy or Musical, while The Descendants and George Clooney took home Best Motion Picture and Best Actor.  Meryl Streep won her eighth Golden Globe Award which has to be some sort of record, somebody should look that up.  ‘Regal but never solemn’ dignitary actor Morgan Freeman was honored with the Golden Globes Lifetime Achievement “Cecil B. Demille” Award and accepted it with utmost grace.  The 74-year old actor has recently received similar honors with an American Film Institute’sLifetimeAchievement Award, and also the People’s Choice Awards first ever ‘Movie Icon’ award.  The ‘stately’ actor kept his acceptance speech short and sweet, commenting that his still very busy career made him appreciate the people with whom he had worked and “how much fun he had been having”.  Without kissing too much ass let’s take a look at this prime example of acting nobility Morgan Freeman.

Morgan Freeman (born June 1, 1937) is an American actordirector, aviator and narrator. He is noted for his reserved demeanor and authoritative speaking voice.  Freeman found his passion in life early, making his acting debut at age 9.  Freeman did have other interests, passing up a drama scholarship to work as a mechanic for the United States Air Force.  Acting however eventually took over full time as his passion and profession when he moved to Los Angeles in the 1960’s.  Being an African American actor during that time proved trying, but Freeman’s love for acting shined through as he won a string of prominent supporting roles in many feature films, earning him a reputation for depicting wise, fatherly characters.  He started with big rolls in Driving Miss Daisy and Glory in 1989, but really broke into the upper-eschelon acting scene with his critically acclaimed portrayal of ‘Red’ in The Shawshank Redemption.  Freeman went on to win an Oscar for his role in Million Dollar Baby, and eventually played his dream role of Nelson Mandela.  Intellectual, independent, and a systematic thinker who is surprisingly scientific Morgan Freeman is undoubtedly an Inventor Rational.  Indeed Freeman’s iconic brand of composed elegance seems to have maintained itself quite well throughout his acting career, as he always seems to play the same poised, wise, and intelligent old man.  But hey, let’s not hold it against him.

Quote1.pngIf you do what you love, you’ll never have to work a day in your life.Quote2.png

Morgan Freeman

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0abgmTR1oY4

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The Artisan Bandwagon

Many people (Morgan Freeman included) are easily able to hop on what is called the “Artisan Bandwagon”.  In other words, all three other temperaments envy the Artisans uncanny ability to excel in whatever they happen to ‘dabble’ into, which is typically a plethora of activities.  Everyone is charmed and beguiled by the Artisans’ joyful sense of fun and excitement, and usually have no problem joining them occasionally in their carefree mindset.  Though the other three temperaments maintain their innate qualities, a large number of people engage in behaviors and professions that are typically associated with the Artisan, but are not in fact Artisans.  Put simply, the “Artisan Bandwagon” is very easy to hop on to.

Guardians very much relate to and emulate Artisans because they both live in the concrete world of what is going on around them: be it fashion, events, people, etc.  Guardians are often very envious of their Artisan cousins’ ability to throw caution to the wind and have a good time, and often mimic such behavior.  At the end of the day however, they will always return to their stoic, shoulder-to-the-wheel mindset when the fun is over.

Rationals relate to Artisans in the realm of utilitarianism, as both temperaments ultimately just want to get things done.  Rationals envy the Artisans’ uncanny ability to excel in the short term, and often try to compete with their Artisan cousins’ inherent affinity for talent and skill.  Ultimately however, Rationals approach such Artisan professions and activities with a logical mind.

Idealists primary suit is diplomacy, which causes them to often ‘get in the heads’ or ‘walk in the shoes’ of those around them.  Most of the time, the prevailing temperament in their social environment of course is the Artisan.  Artisans largely dominate most social scenes, as do Artisan mindsets, as most ‘social scenes’ involve going out and having fun, something that the Artisan excels at.  And thus Idealists have no problem relating to their Artisan friends, and as a result often seem like one of them.  All in all, however, the Idealists primary concern is and always will be diplomacy.

Abstract Romance

On the heels of Lion King 3D‘s dazzling box office success (over $90 million), our dear and beloved friends at Walt Disney Studios have announced limited theatrical 3D releases for four more Disney Classics starting with Beauty and the Beast 3D which opens today (Friday). While $90 million wouldn’t usually be a box office success, it makes for a very reasonable profit margin considering the studio’s minimal investment. The extra cash in-hand has helped greenlight at least three other films including Finding Nemo (Sept. 14, 2012), Monsters, Inc. (Jan. 18, 2013) and The Little Mermaid (Sept. 13, 2013). Given such wonderfully delightful news let’s take a look at this timeless story about the Idealists’ quest for true love.

Belle is a young, beautiful, and sweet-hearted girl with a vivid imagination and a fondness for romance novels that is ‘not like the rest of us’. Indeed the opening song of Beauty and the Beast emphasizes the uniqueness of our heroine Belle, “a girl that’s strange but special” who’s “head is in the clouds”.  Belle spends most of her time reading fairy tales, and especially loves those with a Prince Charming.  Belle yearns for romance and adventure, pleading that “there must be more than this provincial life”.  Imaginative, idealistic, insightful and sympathetic Belle is a classic Idealist.  Indeed Belle‘s initial frustrations with the harsh reality of “real-life” romance are something all too familiar to many Idealists.

Gaston is a rude, conceited, small-minded, and narcissistic young lad who spends his time fighting, drinking, and hunting.  He is considered the “hero of the town” as “no man in town is as admired as him”, and all the local townswomen adore him.  Gaston relentlessly pursues Belle solely because of her beauty, Belle however is not as shallow as Gaston and refuses his every advance.  Gaston tells Belle “it’s about time you get your head out of those books and start paying attention to more important things: like ME”.  This strapping and arrogant young frenchman of course represents the Idealists‘ commonly experienced frustrations with dating down-to-earth literal-minded Artisans and Guardians.  Ultimately these Artisans and Guardians simply don’t understand the Idealists‘ tendency to dream and fantasize, and see such “day-dreaming” as a waste of time.

The Beast is a “mean and course and unrefined” creature who lives in an enchanted castle who has been cursed because “there was no love in his heart”.  Indeed The Beast must learn to love another, and earn her love in return in order to break the curse.  The Beast then concealed himself inside his castle and despaired, “for who could learn to love a Beast”.  Complex, impersonal, skeptical, and pragmatic The Beast makes for a great example of a Rational, especially in the realm of romance.  Indeed many Rationals draw parallels to The Beast in their romantic lives, but as Belle finds out, The Beast (and Rationals) can in fact be turned into a Prince Charming given the right circumstances.  Indeed once Belle cracks The Beast‘s icy shell, he shows her the castle library, a metaphor for a Rationals vast store of knowledge.  Ultimately of course the couple falls deeply in love, and The Beast‘s curse is lifted to reveal a charming and beautiful prince.  What Beauty and the Beast tells us of course is that the Idealists’ never-ending quest for true love may be a long and arduous one but there is always a light at the end of the tunnel.

“No matter what kind of persons Idealists marry, however, it is not too much to say that they are the best of all temperaments at creating successful and fulfilling marriages.  Developing harmonious personal relations is their joy and their area of expertise, and they bring all their finest qualities to the enterprise.  Their sensitivity, their spirit of cooperation, their ability to communicate their feelings , their passion for their mates, their desire for deep bonding, their personal warmth and enthusiasm—all these traits work their magic in the NF’s relationships, and more than compensate for their tendency to start up Pygmalion Projects.  Indeed, if we can assume that Pygmalion Projects are an inevitable part of any marriage, that at best such intimate coercion can be kept loving and sympathetic, then Idealists offer their mates the possibility to exceptional happiness.” Please Understand Me II, p. 240

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ctE69eMYEok&feature=related

Beauty and the Beast can be seen for the first time ever in three dimensions starting today (Friday) at a theater near you.

Quote1.png [singing] I want adventure in the great wide somewhere. / I want it more than I can tell. / And for once it might be grand / To have someone understand / I want so much more than they’ve got planned…Quote2.png

Belle
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Dimwitted Homecoming

The classless morons from MTV‘s pop-culture phenomenon Jersey Shore returned this past Thursday for their last season as a cast together.  Returning home from Florence Italy, the cast shot back-to-back seasons ending in their ‘home turf’ city of Seaside Heights. Though the cast is calling it quits as a collective, MTV recently signed lucrative spin-off deals with cast members ‘J-Woww’, ‘Snooki’, and ‘Pauly D’.  Jennifer Farley (J-Woww) and Nicole Polizzi (Snooki)’s show will follow their moronic exploits moving in a house together, while Paul Delvecchio (Pauly D)’s show will follow his burgeoning career as an international DJ.  Originally it was thought that Mike “the Situation” Sorrentino would also get his own full spin-off series but it seems that his specific brand of idiocy only warranted a “series-development deal”.  Regardless of who’s idiocy is superior let’s take a look at the two remaining Jersey Shore stars who will continue to bless America with quality television programming.

DJ Pauly Delvecchio is a very young, loud, energetic and entertaining disc jockey from Rhode Island.  Pauly D is responsible for a slew of wildly popular catch phrases and has a current twitter following of almost 3 million. Indeed Delvecchio is constantly making his roommates laugh and is by far the most entertaining of the group.  Pauly’s endless line of witty quips and jokes have caught-on nationally among young adults, and his popularity has spawned a set of business-ventures for the young reality star.  Dirty Couture is a clothing line “inspiring a lifestyle for an underground generation who seeks individuality through a musically infused self expressive style.”  The young DJ also recently signed a record deal with rapper 50-Cent‘s G-unit Records, saying “I’m focusing on music.  That’s my passion.”  Outspoken, playful, fun-loving, and highly entertaining DJ Pauly D is undoubtedly a Performer Artisan.  Indeed Pauly D has a strict “no drama” policy, as most Performers do, and will always try to lighten the mood when his roommates get into conflicts.

Playful and fun-loving, these expressive Artisans’ primary social interest lies in stimulating those around them, arousing their senses and their pleasurable emotions–charming them, in a sense, to cast off their concerns and lighten up.  Such performers radiate warmth and festivity, and whether on the job, with friends, or with their families, they are able to lift others’ spirits with their contagious good humor and irrepressible joy of living.  Please Understand Me II, p. 69

Nicole Elizabeth Polizzi was born in Santiago, Chile and was adopted when she was six months old by an Italian American couple. Growing up in New York among so many Italian Americans Nicole embraced the “Guido” culture despite not actually being of Italian heritage.  Nicole was said to be the “breakout” star of Jersey Shore and her actions on the show have made her both wildly popular and the subject of public disdain.  Polizzi burst into the Jersey Shore house with the phrase “Party’s Here!” and proceeded to act accordingly.  After being shunned for a short period of time Polizzi wanted to make it clear that she was a genuine and warm-hearted person, and eventually won over her cast mates.  Confident, outspoken, vivacious, but highly diplomatic Nicole Polizzi is undoubtedly a Champion Idealist.  Indeed Snooki brings a warm enthusiasm to her occupation of being a “meatball”, and is a hopeless (albeit new-age) romantic.  Certainly Snooki has “championed” the Guido culture and the ‘Jersey Shore’ lifestyle.

Champions have a wide range and variety of emotions, and a great passion for novelty, and so can become bored rather quickly with both situations and people, and resist repeating experiences.  Also, they can never quite shake the feeling that a part of themselves is split off, uninvolved in their experience.  Thus, while they strive for emotional intensity, Champions often see themselves in some danger of losing touch with their real feelings.  Please Understand Me II, p. 155

Quote1.png I’m over here trying to clean my sneaks, I can’t concentrate with all this fighting .. like they’re talkin’ about f*ckin’ relationships and my sneakers are dirty!Quote2.png

Pauly D

Quote1.png I love food.  I love drinking, boys, dancing until my feet swell.  I love my family, my friends, my job, my boss.  And I love my body, especially the badonk.Quote2.png

Snooki

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=vf7g0QJsyTk

Jersey Shore airs Thursdays 10/9c on MTV.

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Tactical Disunity

Effervescent songstress Katy Perry and washed-up British imbecile Russell Brand officially ended their marriage recently and one wonders what in the world took so long.  The break-up reportedly stemmed from the couple heading in opposite directions as Perry‘s career is beginning to skyrocket, and Brand‘s is well, not.  Brand has had mild success recently in the American film industry with movies like Forgetting Sarah Marshall, Get Him to the Greek and the more recent Arthur.  In all three films he essentially plays the same washed-up, arrogant, promiscuous, out-of-control, no-talent moron and it’s like he doesn’t even have to act.  It just comes naturally for him.  Katy on the other hand catapulted into super-stardom this past year with five #1 billboard singles from the same album (Teenage Dream), being the first female artist to attain such an accolade (the only other being Michael Jackson).  The couple neglected to sign a pre-nuptial agreement, meaning that Brand stands to gain upwards of $20 million from the divorce.  I think the overall lesson we should learn from this is that dating the “bad boy” can go a little far in the form of an eccentric foreign ex heroin/sex addict who just took $20 million from you.  Lesson learned.  Let’s however hope for the best and take a closer look at this former Hollywood power couple.

Katheryn Elizabeth Hudson grew up in a strong Christian family in Santa Barbara California the daughter of two Pastors.  Originally a Christian artist, Perry rose to stardom by pushing the envelope in the pop/rock genre.  Perry’s breakout single “I Kissed a Girl” had a racy and mischievous tone, and pushed her 2008 album One of the Boys into the American Top Ten.  Perry is characterized by her borderline-controversial lyrics and outrageous fashion sense.  Bold, daring, audacious and extremely hard-working Katy Perry is undoubtedly a Promoter Artisan.  Indeed Katy is charming, confident, and popular and has made a career out of being artistically bold and edgy.  Katy however found out firsthand (as most Promoters do) that “[s]he who travels fast, travels alone“, as her booming success was likely the primary source of tension for the former couple.

Russell Edward Brand is an English comedian, actor, columnist, singer, author, and radio/television presenter.  Brand is known for being eccentric and controversial, and as a result has been dismissed from several large media corporations including BBC and MTV.  Brand‘s prior drug use, alcoholism, and promiscuity serve as a cornerstone for most of his comedic material and public image.  Playful, fun-loving, expressive, energetic and uninhibited Russell Brand is undoubtedly a Performer Artisan.  Indeed Brand (like many of his fellow Performers) is especially subject to temptations, and is inclined to be impulsive and self-indulgent, as evidenced by his past addictions and promiscuity.  Indeed Brand takes to heart the idea that “nothing is so serious or sacred that it can’t be made fun of“.  Though his “talent for enjoying life is healthy for the most part“, his “tolerance for anxiety is the lowest of all types“, resulting in his filing for divorce December 30th 2011 due to “irreconcilable differences”.

“Two SPs live primarily in the same world, the world of external, physical reality, speaking the same language of concrete objects, and they also share each other’s childlike love of fun and excitement.  Two SPs have so many interests and activities in common—travel, sports, parties, shows, clothes, and so on—that they can come together as playmates in a way not possible with persons of other temperament.  The only problem is that, with both partners living and playing so hard—going so fast in the same direction—they can quickly exhaust each other and lose interest.  This pattern of two Artisans lighting up the sky brightly and then burning out and falling apart is a familiar one.”  Please Understand Me II, p. 219

Quote1.png I think there’s a fine line between being a slut and being classy.  I walk in between that line.Quote2.png

Katy Perry

Quote1.png I like threesomes with two women, not because I’m a cynical sexual predator.   Oh no!  But because I’m a romantic.  I’m looking for “The One”.  And I’ll find her more quickly if I audition two at a time.Quote2.png

Russell Brand

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Romantic Logistics

The 16th Season Premier of ABC‘s The Bachelor aired this Monday and oh how sweet it is. The 2012 Bachelor season features Californian wine-maker Ben Flajnik sifting through 25 specially selected women with the ultimate goal of course of finding true love. Fans of the franchise watched poor Ben propose to Ashley Hebert on the last season of the Bachlorette and given that he’s the new “Bachelor” I think it’s pretty obvious how that one turned out.  Ben was one of two male finalists on Ashley‘s season of the Bachlorette and had the unfortunate luck of having his proposal rejected on national television. Ben however is now in good spirits and willing to give love another chance, so let’s go right on ahead and wish young Benjamin the best of luck and take a look at his personality type.

Ben Flajnik is a young (29) and humble winemaker born and raised in Sonoma, California. Ben is part of a very close-knit family including his mother and sister but was met with tragedy four years ago when his father passed away.  Ben grew up in the wine-making business, working sales for his family’s winery, and then eventually co-founding his own organic wine company named Evolve Winery.  Ben is extremely kind-hearted, an outstanding host and a natural caregiver. Extremely personable, very talkative, highly sensitive and yet charmingly traditional Ben Flajnik is undoubtedly a Provider Guardian.  Indeed Ben is quite the ladies man, having briefly dated Jennifer Love Hewitt, Ben decided that his humble and ‘normal’ wine-maker life in Northern California was more to his taste.  Though Ben’s rejected proposal was heart-wrenching to watch, something tells me he’s gonna be ok:

Providers make loyal and loving mates, willing to stand by by their husband or wife through good times and bad, going beyond the call of duty to maintain the marriage and appearance of happiness, even when the road is rocky. They enjoy socializing and entertaining, and observe all the rituals connected with serving wholesome food and beverages. They thrive on traditional festivities, and seem able to express the right feeling for a given social occasion. They are fond-hearted, sentimental, and usually observe with flourish birthdays and anniversaries, making them joyous occasions. — Please Understand Me II, p. 112

Quote1.png I had my heart broken, I did.  But going through that experience…  it REALLY did open me up.Quote2.png

Ben Flajnik

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=k5i4yC3zB94

The Bachelor airs Mondays 8/7c on ABC.

Adventurous Twosome

Among the many holiday gifts received this lovely season was that of the trailer for The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey. The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey of course is one of two upcoming films directed by Peter Jackson based off of J.R.R. Tolkein‘s delightful novel entitled The Hobbit. Returning to Middle-Earth after more than a decade, the trailer for the first of the two Hobbit films introduces the new cast of Bilbo Baggins (Martin Freeman) and the company of dwarves led by Thorin Oakensheild (Richard Armitage) and sees the return of some old friends, including the older Bilbo Baggins (Ian Holm), Gandalf (Ian McKellen), Galadriel and Gollum. Given such wonderful holiday entertainment news lets take a look at titular character Bilbo Baggins and his dear and old friend Gandalf the Grey.

Gandalf the Grey later known as Gandalf the White is an Istari, a race of superior men that were chosen to aid the people of Middle-Earth in the fight against evil.  Gandalf has been trying to prevent evil powers from rising in Middle-Earth for over 2,000 years, and does so for good at the end of The Return of the King.  Gandalf is the wisest and most powerful of the Five Wizards, and has spent much of his time on Middle-Earth learning, teaching, reading, and studying. Powerfully intelligent, infamously wise, highly pragmatic, rightfully skeptical, and extremely analytical Gandalf is a dynamic example of a Rational. Indeed Gandalf’s never-ending quest for wisdom and knowledge is undoubtedly that of a Rational.   However, as wise and powerful as Gandalf is: he has no desire for fame or recognition, and is primarily and strictly concerned with the mission he was given to protect Middle-Earth from evil.

Warm and eager was his spirit (and it was enhanced by the ring Narya), for he was the Enemy of Sauron, opposing the fire that devours and wastes with the fire that kindles, and succours in wanhope and distress; but his joy, and his swift wrath, were veiled in garments grey as ash, so that only those that knew him well glimpsed the flame that was within. Merry he could be, and kindly to the young and simple, yet quick at times to sharp speech and the rebuking of folly; but he was not proud, and sought neither power nor praise… Mostly he journeyed unwearingly on foot, leaning on a staff, and so he was called among Men of the North Gandalf ‘the Elf of the Wand’. For they deemed him (though in error) to be of Elven-kind, since he would at times work wonders among them, loving especially the beauty of fire; and yet such marvels he wrought mostly for mirth and delight, and desired not that any should hold him in awe or take his counsels out of fear. … Yet it is said that in the ending of the task for which he came he suffered greatly, and was slain, and being sent back from death for a brief while was clothed then in white, and became a radiant flame (yet veiled still save in great need).

Gandalf’s dear friend Bilbo Baggins, on the other hand, is a very friendly and well-mannered Hobbit who like all his hobbit brethren, is fond of food, drink, a full pipe, his friends and good cheer, and was known for greeting friends and family with hospitality saying “At your service and your families”. Being related to both the Tooks and the Baggins: two family groups that were fundamentally opposite in their mentalities, with the Tooks being more fond of adventures and wandering, and the Baggins who were more fond of the settled life, Bilbo had two different sides to him something he referred to as the “Took side” and the “Baggins side”.  This meant that he secretly relished having adventures but still wanted to remain settled and was very afraid.  Warmly hospitable, extremely dependable, surprisingly courageous, and unabashedly concerned Bilbo Baggins is a classic Guardian.  Indeed Bilbo spends half of The Hobbit voicing his concern and pessimism for the adventure he was forced into, but turns out to be the most courageous and stoic of them all.

“Good morning!” said Bilbo, and he meant it.  The sun was shining, and the grass was very green. But Gandalf looked at him from under long bushy eyebrows that stuck out farther than the brim of his shady hat.  “What do you mean?” he said. “Do you wish me a good morning, or mean that it is a good morning whether I want it or not; or that you feel good this morning; or that it is a morning to be good on?”  “All of them at once,” said Bilbo.

The Hobbit: An Unexpected Journey is slated for a December 14, 2012 release.

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Abstract Conflict

Thor 2 has finally found a new director after firing Patty Jenkins (Monster) over ‘creative differences’.  Director Alan Taylor, best known for his work on HBO’s Game of Thrones, will reportedly step in and take Jenkins’ place.  Jenkins got canned in early December reportedly because of a “lack of clarity in her [creative] choices”.  Marvel Studios of course has an infamous reputation for doing whatever they want after getting into rough financial negotiations with Mickey Rourke, Samuel L. Jackson, Terrence Howard, and Scarlett Johansson while having both Kenneth Branagh and Jon Favreau opt out of directing sequels.  Jenkins would have been the first female to direct a major superhero tentpole film and Natalie Portman, who is a close friend of Jenkins’, is reportedly very upset at the way things panned out.  It seems Marvel Studios even though they’ve only put out five independent films so far is already getting big-headed when it comes to managing talent.  Welcome to Hollywood.  Given Marvel’s fine display of hubris let’s take a look at the excessive arrogance of one of their most beloved characters Thor the God of Thunder and his mischievous half-brother Loki.

Thor Odinson is the Crown Prince of the mystical realm of Asgard.  Thor is based off of the Norse God of Thunder, and acts accordingly.  A brave and mighty warrior Thor won many battles as a child, growing headstrong and proud.  In his arrogance, Thor put his realm and people on the brink of war after breaking a truce with Asgard‘s enemies the Frost Giants.  Teaching his son a lesson in humility, Thor’s father Odin banished him to earth, and stripped him of his powers.  Thor came back humblegentleempathetic, and sympathetic to his fellow man.  Altruisticenthusiasticinspirational, and yet fiercely independent, Thor is undoubtedly a Champion Idealist.  Indeed Thor’s high-spirited attitude and warm enthusiasm for defending his realm is often mistaken for arrogance, a typical problem with most Champions.  Thor was only able to wield his hammer Mjolnir ‘the day that great deeds of selfless valor had proved him worthy of it’.  Indeed only those ‘pure of heart‘ are able to wield Thor’s mystical hammer.  A hopeless romantic, Thor fell deeply in love with the Goddess Sif before the age of 20.  Thor has undoubtedly proven himself as self-sacrificing over the years, most notably in the subject of his mischievous kid-brother Loki.  Indeed Loki has made countless attempts at Thor’s life, but Thor however always spares Loki, hoping (to no avail) that Loki has learned his lesson.  Indeed Thor has tireless faith in his fellow man, and time and time again Thor is sacrificing himself to save innocent people from Loki or any other dangers for that matter, as he will no doubt do in The Avengers.

Thor’s villainous step-brother Loki aptly named after the Norse God of Mischief starts off as a resentful and jealous Asgardian Prince but evolves into a truly loathsome and malevolent evil genius.  Growing up step-brother to the Mighty Thor indeed  left Loki with a tragic sense of inferiority and not belonging.  What he lacked in physical strength and bravery however, he eventually made up for in cunning and malice.  Always strategizing and conceiving ingenious schemes and plotsThe Asgardian God of Mischief is undoubtedly a Mastermind Rational.  Diabolically ingenious, highly pragmatic, outstandingly intelligent, and a powerful sorcerer, Loki finds ‘difficulties highly stimulating’, as do other Masterminds, as he loves responding to a problem that requires a ‘creative solution’.  Being the God of Mischief, Loki indeed seems to thoroughly enjoy creating problems for himself, and is well-equipped to solve them.  Finding out that he was actually an adopted Frost Giant, Loki became wrought with feelings of abandonment.  Indeed Loki’s malicious and malevolent behavior are quite reminiscent of David Keirsey‘s ‘distracting rituals’ that serve as defense mechanisms for hiding one’s shame.  Loki’s arch-villainy and ascension into madness can be seen in Marvel’s upcoming The Avengers.

Quote1.png My, my, my… a world for the taking. Quote2.png

Loki Laufeyson
Quote1.png Even the life of a Thunder God can offer no greater satisfaction than this! For I have helped a fellow man! Quote2.png

Thor Odinson

These Idealist-Rational relationships do not always remain harmonious, of course.  Conflicts of NF emotional expressiveness against NT self-control, of NF intuition against NT logic, and of NF ethical or humanitarian concerns against NT technical pragmatics can prove challenging.  — Please Understand Me II, p. 238

Thor 2 is set to hit theaters on November 15, 2013 with a script from Don Payne.  Chris Hemsworth will return as the title star in The Avengers, which will arrive on May 4, 2012.

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The Bat Squad

The Dark Knight Rises released it’s first full trailer Monday and HOT DAMN.  For those of you who do not know, Christopher Nolan‘s concluding film to his blockbuster Batman trilogy takes place 8 years after the previous one and will feature antagonists Bane and Catwoman.  Warner Bros. also released a 7 minute prologue to The Dark Knight Rises attached to the IMAX release of Mission Impossible: Ghost Protocol which was an introduction to new villain Bane.  Warner Bros studios has since received a lot of criticism for one particular issue that kept coming up: no one can hear what the primary antagonist Bane was saying.  Bane dons a grim-looking mask strictly of course for fashionable purposes but does so however at the cost of having a muffled and hard-to-understand voice.  The legend himself Christopher Nolan has reportedly commented that the studio is fully aware of the issue but will not make significant changes to the sound.  Apparently Nolan wants his audiences to have to listen up and ‘participate’ rather than just be dumb stupid idiots.  What Nolan evidently is not aware of is the fact that 99% of people are in fact dumb stupid idiots.  Despite Nolan’s slight misconception let’s take a look at The Caped Crusader himself and his well-rounded supporting cast.

Bruce Thomas Wayne is an arrogant billionaire industrialist and notorious playboy by day, and a ruthless masked vigilante by night.  Characterized by his physical prowess and technical ingenuityBatman ‘strikes terror into the hearts of criminals everywhere’.  Indeed Batman has a thick skin and is a hard-nosed utilitarian, doing whatever it takes to get the job doneBolddaring, impulsive and adaptable with a strict adherence to utility The Caped Crusader is undoubtedly an Artisan.

Alfred Pennyworth is Batman’s trusty, faithful, and tireless butler, confidant, and surrogate father figure.  Alfred has served the Wayne family and maintained Wayne Manor for all of Bruce’s life, and essentially raised him.  Serving as a beacon of strength and stability, Alfred helps Bruce Wayne keep his tumultuous two-sided life on an even keel.  Highly dependable, extremely stable, serving as a provider and a pillar of strength Alfred Pennyworth is a classic Guardian.

Lucius Fox is Bruce Wayne’s financier, gadget man, and the President and CEO of the international corporate giant that is Wayne Enterprises.  Fox is extremely intelligent and business savvy, and turned Wayne Enterprises from a failing venture into a successful multinational conglomerate.  Fox is very knowledgable in the realm of technology, and heads a lot of Wayne Enterprises‘ engineering projects like the creation of the Batwing.  Highly pragmatic, astutely skeptical, technologically intelligent, serving as a voice of reason Lucius Fox is a prime example of a Rational.

Finally Commissioner James Gordon is Batman’s trusted allyconnection to Gotham City’s Police Force, and a dear friend.  Commissioner Gordon and Batman share a deep and unrelenting desire to rid Gotham City of evil no matter what the cost.  A man of integrity and honor, Gordon quickly realized that Batman was one of the only men in Gotham City that he could trust.  In a city riddled with crime and corruption, Gordon is a beacon of light and hope, and has made many sacrifices in the name of making Gotham City a better place.  Highly altruistic, tacitly optimistic, and undeniably spirited serving as a bright light in a very dark city Commissioner Gordon is a true Idealist.

Together they make a very well-rounded Bat-Squad.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-yh6SriAjdE

Quote1.png Everything’s impossible until somebody does it. Quote2.png

— Bruce Wayne

Quote1.png We soldier on undaunted, you and I, Master Bruce. And if I may say so, sir… I couldn’t beg, borrow or steal a finer way to live my life. Quote2.png

— Alfred Pennyworth

Quote1.png Let me get this straight. You think that your client, one of the wealthiest, most powerful men in the world, is secretly a vigilante who spends his nights beating criminals to a pulp with his bare hands; and your plan, is to *blackmail* this person?  …..Good luck.   Quote2.png

 Lucius Fox

Quote1.png No — Gotham doesn’t die — not on MY watch! Quote2.png

— James Gordon

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