Young Arnold Schwarzenegger And The Amazing Samir Bannout

Years ago when I trained at Gold’s Venice I kept my professional legal career in entertainment law working as the right hand to Arnold’s attorney Jake Bloom together with his nephew Patrick Knapp Schwarzenegger a big secret. Just like Sylvester Stallone, Arnold was at the height of his fame especially as a worldwide action movie star.  He was, and will always be, one of the biggest stars both in the bodybuilding world and the motion picture industry. I am a very loyal and trustworthy person. And at the time, being very loyal to Jake Bloom and Arnold Schwarzenegger,  I didn’t want anyone trying to use me for connections or insider information. There were only a select few like my parents, Joe Gold (the “Gold” in Gold’s Gym), Patrick Knapp Schwarzenegger and my German training partner Erika Andersch who know about it. I was silently proud, however, that I had achieved that position of playing an integral role in negotiating multimillion dollar movie and endorsement deals for A-level talent all on my own merit. A skill and talent that later in my career I carried over into the niche of elite athlete endorsement deals for highly decorated Olympic athletes like Michael Phelps.

Thanks for this great photo Samir Bannout.

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The World Health Organization's Q & A Regarding The COVID-19 Vaccine

Do you know what the phrase a double-edged sword means? It means that something can have both favorable and unfavorable consequences. The COVID-19 vaccine is, to me, a double-edged sword. The seemingly never-ending COVID-19 pandemic has presented each one of us with a damned if you do and damned if you don't situation. The COVID-19 vaccine is not a panacea. It's efficacy, longevity and safety is still a work-in-progress and a lot of the questions we have about the vaccine are understandably being answered with ambiguity. Regardless, people are turning up in droves to be vaccinated for fear of dying because the media has created such a panic that people are afraid to be human (i.e., afraid to breathe, afraid to be around people, afraid to just be). This is a true risk assessment situation. Does the risk of becoming infected with a potentially deadly virus  outweigh the risk of becoming ill from a very new vaccine? Does the benefit of a potentially life saving vaccine outweigh the risk of becoming seriously ill or dying or continuing to perpetuate the spread? Even though I know that the risk of going unvaccinated is higher for some people than for others (i.e., the elderly, the immunocompromised, those with pre-existing conditions, etc.), I believe that the ambiguity on how our bodies will react if we indeed become infected makes this a no brainer. Nevertheless, listen carefully to the information being published about the vaccine and make your choice on whether or not to get vaccinated judiciously. The decision for most people on whether or not to get vaccinated is an overwhelming yes. I remain cautiously optimistic.

Jacqueline Sebiane

God Bless The USA

It's a new day. Thank God. The United States of America has a new President. Sending out love and positive vibes to the 46th President of the United States Joseph "Joe" R. Biden, Jr. and his administration.  

Let there be solutions to our problems. Let there be love not hate. Let there be order not chaos. Let there be life not death. Let there be honesty. Let there be decency. Let there be pride. Let there be peace.

Jacqueline Sebiane

Inspiration From My Friend Samir Bannout

Amidst all the complexities swirling around in the current state of our world, don't forget about your dreams. The clock is ticking. Life has a beginning and an end. 

I am very inspired and impressed by the story of my friend professional bodybuilder Samir Bannout. There is no doubt in my mind that he faced many challenges and obstacles growing up in Lebanon. However, he had a dream which, with drive, determination and hard work, he turned into his reality.

What is the lesson? Whatever your dream, you can do the same. So don't forget about you, your life and your dreams.

Love, 

Jacqueline Sebiane

Let This Be Our Prayer...

I pray You'll be our eyes, and watch us where we go

And help us to be wise in times when we don't know

Let this be our prayer, when we lose our way

Lead us to a place, guide us with Your grace

To a place where we'll be safe...

VP Mike Pence's Position On Invocation Of The 25th Amendment To The U.S. Constitution

 

U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick End Of Watch

I struggled for the words that comprise the content of this posting. With great pain I watched the film footage of Washington, D.C. Police Officer Daniel Hodges being crushed by an angry, violent mob of insurgents who breached the United States Capitol for no other reason than to create mayhem, destroy property and cause innocent people bodily harm. To watch police officers who were outnumbered being attacked and beaten while they defended the U.S. Capitol was disturbing. Then to hear that U.S. Capitol Police Officer Brian Sicknick lost his life as a consequence of the siege was truly heartbreaking. I post a lot about corruption, which unfortunately includes police misconduct. However, make no mistake about it, I genuinely support the police and each individual police officer who lays his/her life on the line each time they show up for duty. If it is at all unclear, this unamerican incident exemplifies the fact that police officers run into the face of danger to maintain societal order and keep the public and our property safe while sometimes paying a very heavy personal price of emotional trauma, severe injury and loss of their own life in the line of duty. We should be protecting, defending and supporting our police officers. 

Rest in peace Officer Brian Sicknick. Get well soon Officer Hodges. Justice will be served.

Jacqueline Sebiane

Here's To My Favorite Dane Sven Thorsen

My ultra strong German training partner and close friend Erika Andersch introduced me to the outrageous Denmark imported Sven Thorsen years ago at World Gym Venice. It was nothing but fun times from that moment on. I miss you crazy Sven! Thanks for this collage Bill Dobbins.

Jacqueline Sebiane

This Could Really Be A Good Life

Turn up the volume on the positive vibes people! 

When you're happy like a fool... let it take you over. 

Happy New Year

Love,

Jacqueline Sebiane