text:
can i use an array for two things for example if i want to enter 5 numbers and first thing find the lowest number and second thing to find the sum of even numbers
Welcome to the Java Programming Forums
The professional, friendly Java community. 21,500 members and growing!
The Java Programming Forums are a community of Java programmers from all around the World. Our members have a wide range of skills and they all have one thing in common: A passion to learn and code Java. We invite beginner Java programmers right through to Java professionals to post here and share your knowledge. Become a part of the community, help others, expand your knowledge of Java and enjoy talking with like minded people. Registration is quick and best of all free. We look forward to meeting you.
Members have full access to the forums. Advertisements are removed for registered users.
can i use an array for two things for example if i want to enter 5 numbers and first thing find the lowest number and second thing to find the sum of even numbers
Of course. You can do as many things with the elements (contents) of the array as you wish. You can even do those same things multiple times. The elements never get used up. It's magic.
Greg Thank you for your reply so far i did the first one as find the largest number in the array but i'm not able to do it for the second one get the sum of even numbers
import java.util.Scanner;
public class tiger {
public static void main(String[] args)
Scanner Keyboard = new Scanner(System.in);
double[] numbers = new double[5];
int index;
int odd=0;
double max;
System.out.println("Enter 5 numebrs:");
numbers[0] = Keyboard.nextDouble();
max = numbers[0];
for (index = 0; index < 5; index++)
numbers[index] = Keyboard.nextDouble();
if (numbers[index] > max)
max = numbers[index];
System.out.println("The highest Number is " + max);
First off you need to use the for loop before you make max=numbers[0];
Prompt user to enter 5 numbers
loop getting 5 inputs from the user
to get it to search for the second number, the first method I could think of was to have 2 counters, 1 to hold the highest number and the second for the next largest number
loop through the array
first number test should go into the highest number counter
on the second loop it will compare that number to the highest, if its less, it go into the 2nd largest number. else, the first number goes to the 2nd largest counter and the number your testing goes into the highest counter.
once it goes through all the numbers you have it return the second counter
@urbatin: What? Search for what second number? Did you read the original post?
@Flying_Tiger: Please post your code in code tags. You can learn how here.
You can iterate the array multiple times if it makes more sense to you. The first time through, find the largest number, which I think you're doing.
The second time through, find the even numbers and sum them as you go. You can find the even numbers using the modulo/remainder operator.
You can do both with one pass through the for loop. Try whichever approach your comfortable with.
Other comments:
Why the extra Keyboard.nextDouble(); statement before the for loop? This requires the user to enter 6 numbers rather than the desired 5. Oh, I'll bet it's so that you can set the max value. Well, then reduce the number of numbers collected during the for loop by 1. This complicates adding the even number task to the for loop a tiny bit, but you should be able to overcome the complication.
Respect Java naming conventions and capitalize the first letter of your class names. Variables and method names begin with lower-case letters. Keyboard should be 'keyboard'.
Avoid using "magic numbers" to the greatest degree possible. Instead of using '5' as the limit of your for loop, use numbers.length.
It's an accepted best practice to enclose ALL statement clauses in braces, '{}', even when they're only one line long:
You'll find consistently using this best practice will eliminate many sources of errors that become hard to find in a large source file.if (numbers[index] > max) { max = numbers[index]; }
Ok thank you for you help here what i done so far but still cannot get the sum of the odd numbers so any suggestion;
import java.util.Scanner; public class lab01 { public static void main(String[] args) { Scanner keyboard = new Scanner(System.in); int[] n = new int[10]; int i=0; int odd=0; int sum = 0; int max =0; System.out.println("Enter 10 numebrs:"); n[0] = keyboard.nextInt(); max = n[0]; for (i = 1; i< n.length; i++) { n[i] = keyboard.nextInt(); if (n[i] > max) max = n[i]; } for (i=0; i <n.length; i++) { if (n[i] %2!= 1); odd ++; sum = odd + n[i]; } System.out.println("The highest Number is " + max); System.out.println ("The sum of odd numbers is " + sum); } }
The variable odd is counting how many odd numbers there are. Why are you including this count in the sum?
arr = {2,4,5,3} The sum of odd numbers is 5 + 3 = 8
Your algorithm:
2 is even, ignore
4 is even, ignore
5 is odd: increment odd to 1, sum = 1 + 5 (6)
3 is odd: increment odd to 2, sum = 2 + 3 (5)
Clearly 5 is not correct answer
Improving the world one idiot at a time!


text:
Shakira took the nation's capital by storm today with whirlwind visits to the White House, the World Bank and the Hard Rock Café.
The Colombian recording artist and activist met with President Barack Obama and Vice President Joe Biden to talk about early childhood education and universal education.
She called sitting down in the Oval Office with the President a "privilege" on her Web site.
U.S. & World
News from around the country and around the globe
"We agreed that investing in our children is the smartest strategy governments can use to boost economic growth, fight poverty and promote global security and peace," Shakira said.
The international pop star first met Obama at his inauguration last year.
She had meetings with the National Security Council and the Domestic Policy Council before dropping by the White House to say hello to the president. Their meeting was not on Obama's public schedule.
Later, at the World Bank, she and World Bank President Robert Zoellick announced a $300 million initiative to expand programs such as nutrition and healthcare and technical support for young children in Latin America and the Caribbean.
Later it was off to the Hard Rock Café in D.C. to unveil limited-edition merchandise including a T-shirt designed by her and a bracelet inspired by her. Proceeds benefit Shakira's foundation, which finds opportunities for children who are victims of violence in Colombia.
Shakira is the founder of a coalition of Latin American artists and business leaders pushing early childhood development programs. She is a UNICEF Goodwill Ambassador and has been an advocate for children in poverty.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
Steve Hartman purchased his first home this month. Four days later, he refinanced the mortgage. Even as a just-released report showed Springfield-area home sales down nearly 36 percent in November compared to a year earlier, lenders report a boom in refinancing thanks to the lowest interest rates in decades.
Steve Hartman purchased his first home this month. Four days later, he refinanced the mortgage.
Even as a just-released report showed Springfield-area home sales down nearly 36 percent in November compared to a year earlier, lenders report a boom in refinancing thanks to the lowest interest rates in decades.
In Hartman's case, he figures refinancing from a 5.8 percent to a 4.75 percent on a home recently purchased in Rochester will cut his monthly payment by about $100 as well as $36,000 from the life of a 30-year, fixed-rate loan through CEFCU, a Peoria-based credit union.
"It was a pretty good rate for a while, and then it went down … it was a whole percentage point," said Hartman, an Internet technology specialist for the Illinois State Police in Springfield.
Area lenders, some of whom have shifted staff to handle the volume, said demand for refinancing took off soon after federal regulators began driving down interest rates as part of efforts to revive the national housing market.
As a result, 30-year, fixed rates are available at or below 5 percent, and some experts expect rates to fall again.
"It caught everyone by surprise. No one expected rates to take this big of a drop in a month," said Gregg Formigoni, vice president of mortgage banking for Illini Bank of Springfield.
Formigoni said refinancing has been steady since shortly after Thanksgiving, adding that most of the demand has been in 30-year, fixed-rate mortgages.
"It's truly amazing. A lot of that is reflective of the timing. They are concerned about the economy and their personal budget," he said. "The news is so dramatic. It's almost as if you wait a day, and the news is different."
Town and Country Bank president Mike Houston said the bank temporarily has shifted personnel to the mortgage department to handle the demand.
"They've done nothing but deal with people seeking refinancing. It's been one right after the other. We've taken people from other areas who have mortgage experience to jump in and help," Houston said.
Marine Bank in Springfield temporarily stopped taking refinance applications as a result of heavy volume.
Executive vice president Dave Bramlet explained that lenders have a 30-day window to lock in a rate once it is committed to the homebuyer, and the sheer volume left too little time to meet the deadline in some cases.
"Our (mortgage) pipeline about a month ago had $12 million in it; today, it's over $70 million. We've taken 500 applications in the past three weeks," said Bramlet, who added that the bank would re-evaluate acceptance of new refinance applications each week.
"We service over 4,000 loans right now, and to have 500 in the first few weeks, we know there's more out there," Bramlet added. "We want to accommodate them as fast as we can."
Athens homeowner Vickie Reese was among customers of the bank that got in early, refinancing a 6.375 rate through Marine Bank to 4.625 percent. She closes Jan. 1 on a new 30-year mortgage.
"It should save $100 to $150 a month. I'm pretty happy with that, and I didn't want to take any chances it would go back up," said Reese, who is a recruiter for a financial services company in Springfield.
Security Bank of Springfield, which normally would take walk-in applications, has begun suggesting refinancing appointments, said Bridget Moore, who is first vice president of lending.
"It's all hands on deck. We're getting a lot of help from other areas of the bank," Moore said. "There's a lot of concern rates will go back up, and everyone wants to catch that wave while rates are low."
Local lenders said closing costs on a refinanced mortgage typically range from $500 to $1,000, depending on the institution and loan terms. Consumers also should ask about reappraisal costs, title fees and closing points.
Hartman said, as a first-time homebuyer, he also encountered the stricter lending standards that have resulted from the national credit crunch and rising mortgage foreclosures
"They checked every single reference and every single deposit. They wanted to make sure it was my money (for the down payment)," said Hartman, who added that he would consider refinancing again, if rates continue to fall.
"It's kind of like playing the stock market," he said.
Tim Landis can be reached at (217) 788-1536 or firstname.lastname@example.com.


text:
CNN host is best buddies with man whose drone strikes have killed 200 children
Paul Joseph Watson
January 8, 2013
Piers Morgan – who regularly hangs out with the architect of drone strikes which have killed almost 200 children – really took the biscuit when he called Alex Jones "scary" in a Politico interview following last night's already infamous CNN confrontation.
Morgan, who has cited the deaths of 20 children in the Sandy Hook school massacre to push for gun control, is best buddies with Barack Obama and regularly attends White House functions in which he is photographed with the President.
Yet Obama has personally ordered drone strikes which have killed thousands of innocent people, including nearly 200 children. Last time I checked, Morgan wasn't calling for "drone control" in order to save the lives of innocent kids slaughtered in cold blood by order of his friend in the Oval Office.
In a Politico interview released today, Morgan remarked, "That kind of vitriol, hatred, and zealotry is really quite scary. I didn't feel threatened by him [Jones], but I'm concerned that someone like him has that level of influence," adding. "There's got to be a level of discourse that can rise above what happened last night. It was undignified, unedifying."
Apparently, Morgan, a self-proclaimed crusader fighting violence against children, doesn't find it "undignified" or "unedifying" that his buddy in the White House continues to launch drone strikes in places like Pakistan and Yemen that kill just one alleged terrorist per 50 innocents slaughtered.
Morgan is noticeably less passionate about the fact a staggering 98% of the victims of Obama's drone strike policyhave been innocent civilians.
Obama's drone strikes have killed at least 168 children in Pakistan alone – over eight times the number killed by Sandy Hook gunman Adam Lanza.
Obama's hypocrisy on the issue is also odious. Last week, the White House released a photograph of the President looking sad having just been told the news about the Sandy Hook shooting. The man delivering the news was none other than John Brennan, the torture-supporting counterterrorism chief who actually helps Obama pick the targets of his child-killing drone massacres.
So who's "scary"? Is it Alex Jones for aggressively defending the second amendment right of the American people as a safeguard against criminals and tyranny in government? Or is it Piers Morgan, a man who pals around with mass murderers like Barack Obama who continue to order the bombing of little children on a weekly basis?
Paul Joseph Watson is the editor and writer for Infowars.com and Prison Planet.com. He is the author of Order Out Of Chaos. Watson is also a host for Infowars Nightly News.
The Reopen America Back to School Special is now live! Save up to 60% on our most popular items!


text:
Expressing Decimal Numbers as Percents
You'll practice expressing decimal numbers as percents.
Annual Financials for Grade 10 Accounting
A game which reinforces the concepts of the income statement and balance sheet
Order of Operations
You'll learn to follow the order of operation rules for solving problems.
Least Common Multiple
You'll practice finding the Least Common Multiple of a set of numbers.
Hexadecimal Bee Game
Converting hexadecimal, binary and decimal numbers.
Measurement: What Is Precision?
You'll be able to identify the precision of an approximate number in measurement.
Rounding to a Specific Number of Significant Digits
You'll round approximate numbers to a specific number of significant digits.
Finding Reference Angles
You'll find the reference angle for a given standard position angle.
Sine and Cosine Values on the Unit Circle (Angles in Degrees)
You'll memorize the sine and cosine values associated with reference angles of 0, 30, 45, 60, and 90 degrees.
Sine and Cosine Values on the Unit Circle (Angles in Radians)
You'll memorize the sine and cosine of the special angles of a unit circle written in radians.


text:
Memorial commission meets with families
NEWTOWN -- Relatives of the 26 children and adults killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School will have many chances to express their thoughts on a proposed memorial to the victims, members of the project's commission told a small group of family members Thursday.
"You are the first group we are reaching out to," Chairman Kyle Lyddy said. "We want to find out what you want and what you don't want."
A half-dozen people, mainly parents of the 20 first-graders who died on Dec. 14, 2012, attended the meeting of the Permanent Memorial Commission. The 12-member group has been meeting for the past six months to come up with a fitting tribute to the victims and others impacted by the tragedy.
But the commission is in no rush to get the job done, its members assured the families.
"There's no timeline for this. It's going to be a fluid process," said Sarah Middeleer.
"We're going to be very deliberate in what we do," commission member Alan Martin said.
Earlier this month, the commission distributed a survey to the families, seeking opinions on a variety of topics concerning the memorial, including its location, elements they would like to see included or excluded and the overall feel they think the design should evoke.
They also invited the families to meet with them on Thursday, prompting one of the six who attended, Mark Mattioli, to ask if the session would be their only chance to provide any input on the project, and how long the commission thought the process might take.
Lyddy and others said there would be a number of other opportunities for the families to meet with the commission, but the group wanted to start the process before the end of the school year.
The meetings could be individual or in small or large groups, Lyddy said. Other groups and individuals impacted by the shooting would also be consulted, he said.
Lyddy said the commission has met with members of the 9/11 Memorial Commission to get their thoughts on the process, and commission members have also heard from the group that designed the memorial at Columbine High School in Colorado, which offered suggestions about developing a protocol to solicit suggestions and recommendations about how they should proceed.
"We want to hear what you have to say," commission member Joanne Brunetti said. "We're going to do our best to make it work for the families."
email@example.com; 203-731-3342


text:
Impress your friends or attract an audience by amping up your sound with the best guitar amps at the best prices at Carlingford Music Centre.
Sick of looking around and not getting the advice you need? Want a better price? From small and intimate to large commercial amplification we have something to suit just want you need and want.
We have the biggest range of guitar amplifiers as well as guitar music lessons, so if you are a beginner or looking to advance your skills we can help you take your love and talent for music to a whole new level, for personal or professional achievements.
It's not just your friends or audience that will be impressed by your Carlingford Music Centre purchase, you'll also be impressed by our range of products and prices and you might even impress yourself further with your new abilities.
Also check out our other items including drums, pianos, keyboards, guitars, basses, harmonicas, violins, accessories, DJ sets, speakers, microphones and headphones.


text:
Social support refers to a person's network of relationships with other people. It can be defined in terms of:
Studies have found that social support often plays a role in health and well-being. Many researchers believe that social support can help:
Other benefits that may be derived from social support include:
Take a look at your current social network. Assess your level of satisfaction with the quantity and quality of your relationships.
How satisfied are you with the number of relationships you have and the amount of time you socialize with others?
How satisfied are you in your relationships with family and friends? In the majority of these relationships, do you feel that you are:
Almost everyone can benefit from some type of social skills training. Consider classes, therapy, and books that can help you:
Getting involved in activities in your community is a great way to meet people. Here are some ideas:
The following are some ideas to help you get to know people in your neighborhood and community.
By risking a little, you can gain a lot. Here are some tips to help you:
Support groups are for people who share a common problem. Most communities have support groups concerning issues such as divorce, bereavement, single parenting, alcoholism, cancer, and caregiving. Consider forming your own group. You can find resources at your local library or online.
Volunteers are needed almost everywhere—hospitals, nursing homes, charities, churches, and so on. Contribute your talents to a cause that makes you happy. Create your own opportunity.
A compatible roommate can ease some of the loneliness, as well as share some expenses. Interview potential roommates carefully. If you're looking for a place to live, pay attention to signs of friendly housing.
After relationships develop, they must be maintained—something that takes time and effort. Here are some tips:
Many people find that a pet helps to fulfill their needs for warmth, affection, and companionship.
American Psychological Association
Mental Health America
Canadian Psychological Association
Mental Health Canada
How stress affects your health. American Psychological Association website. Available at: http://www.apa.org/helpcenter/stress.aspx. Updated 2013. Accessed January 21, 2016.
Lyumbomirsky S, King L, Denier E. The benefits of frequent positive affect: does happiness lead to success? Psych. 2005;131(6):803-855. American Psychological Association website. Available at: http://www.apa.org/pubs/journals/releases/bul-1316803.pdf. Accessed January 21, 2016.
Review of research challenges assumption that success makes people happy: happiness may lead to success via positive emotions. American Psychological Association website. Available at: http://www.apa.org/news/press/releases/2005/12/success.aspx. Published December 18, 2005. Accessed January 21, 2016.
Last reviewed January 2016 by Michael Woods, MD Last Updated: 2/18/2014


text:
Posted by Word Camel on May 14, 2003
In Reply to: Missed calling posted by R. Berg on May 14, 2003
: : : : : : : 'With a bound he was free' or 'and with a bound he was free'?
: : : : : : I remember reading a book dealing with the history of comics (not the stand-up variety, but the paper variety) which recounted a story that went something like this:
: : : : : : A popular weekly comic a few decades ago gave its readers the usual fare of long episodic melodramatic tales where the hero was invariably put in a seemingly inescapable position with improbable regularity, the theory being that the suspense-filled cliffhanger ending would persuade more readers to buy the comic again next week - a tactic later adopted tongue-in-cheek by US TV serials such as Batman and anything produced by Irwin Allen Productions. This was in the days where comics were largely text-based, with illustrations being the exception, rather than the norm. Much panic set in at the offices of said comic one week when the writer of the most popular storyline didn't show up for work for a couple of days. The publishing deadline grew ever nearer, and the editor was at his wits' end, since neither he, nor any of the comic's other staff writers could come up with any credible way to extricate the hero from the impossible predicament that the absent writer had left him in. Disaster loomed, until the missing writer turned up with the deadline just hours away. He took a look at last week's storyline to remind himself of how he'd left things, and with no further thought wrote "With one bound, our hero was free".
: : : : : : I'll try to track down some more details on this and post them if I can find them. It may be an apocryphal tale, but it was certainly quoted in whatever it was that I read.
: : : : : A version associated with poorly planned adventure novels is "With a mighty leap, he sprang out of the pit."
: : : : what does the expression mean? how to use it? example, pls.
: : : I wonder if your confusion is caused by the word "bound", which in this sense means a leap or a jump. Here's an example, which also goes to show the ridiculous way in which this narrative device is considered to be used.
: : : James Bond was shackled to a table, with a chainsaw being lowered towards his stomach and a cobra slithering up over his chest about to sink its fangs into his face. The villainous evil mastermind Blofeld cackled as he watched. Things looked bad indeed...
: : : With one bound, Bond was free. He grabbed the chainsaw, killed the cobra, sliced Blofeld in half and saved the world.
: :
: : Clearly you might have had a career in pulp fiction. I don't think bound really works in the example however. A "bound" is a sort of leaping jump. Superman's tagline is a good example: "More powerful than a locomotive. Able to leap tall buildings at a single bound. Look! Up in the sky! It's a bird! It's a plane! It's Superman!"
: : I don't wish to be overly picky but Bond couldn't bound if he was shackled to the table, now could he?
: : Camel
: : (who's just trying to keep you honest)
: The point about "with one bound" and similar awful pulp-fiction cliches is that they are awful pulp-fiction cliches. A poor writer, like a poor liar, makes up an implausible story. He goes for the melodramatic and so throws his hero into some impossible predicament. When the story then requires that he extract said hero from said predicament in order that the hero may participate in the next chapter, he cheats by having the hero leap vertically out of the thirty-foot pit or break the five hundred pounds of chains binding him just by flexing his chest muscles. As a plot device, this is dishonest; but don't blame Fallen. He was only illustrating the technique.
Where are the cufflinks that turn into miniature metal saws, or the tie pin that transforms into a flute able to mesmerize the cobra long enough for TheFallen - er, I mean Bond to free himself from his shackles deftly scoop up the chain saw and save the day? It's a dying art I say!


text:
january giveaways
By Patricia Belyea
SEATTLE WA Thanks to Jason Yenter of In The Beginning Fabrics, we have two colorful giveaways to start the new year.
Each giveaway includes four batiks rolls, each containing five fat quarters (for five yards total!), and a copy of Jason's book Floragraphix Batik Quilts II.
The book includes patterns and complete instructions for six original quilt designs.
To participate in this giveaway, just leave a comment about why you like batiks. Go to BOTTOM OF RESPONSES to add your entry.
The drawing for the giveaway will be held at midnight PST on January 31, 2015.The two winners are chosen with a random number drawing. The prizes will then be shipped anywhere in the world.
To read about Jason Yenter's life in the quilt universe +click here
To visit In the Beginning Fabrics website +click here
This is an unsponsored giveaway. Thank you In The Beginning Fabrics for the generous donation of these fabrics and books.
GIVEAWAY CLOSED: January giveaway winners are Linda Webster of Surrey, BC and Patty Swatzell of Madisonville, TN.
leave a comment
229 comments to "january giveaways"
I like batiks because they are so pretty and mentally stimulating. Like a visual puzzle made of fabric, you know?
Adding a batik to either a traditional or modern pattern gives it depth and subtlety. I appreciate the hands-on process of making batiks, countering the mindset of 'quick and easy.'
Thanks for the chance to win batiks! I love them because of the rich combinations of color and pattern–they look like many different fabrics when used in patchwork. And I love
the smell of wax when they are ironed! It's a quick reminder of the complex history, process and culture that produced the beautiful fabric.
I like batik's intense colors.
I love batiks for many reasons, one of which is the usage of both sides. Also, I love the richness of the colors and the feel of batik fabric. Thank you for this opportunity.
I love batiks for doing landscape quilts…….so many possibilities in the pattern. I also love the crisp edge when fused. Would love to win this giveaway!
I, too, like batiks for being able to use both sides. It's a way to create more interest in my projects.
I learned about the beauty of batiks from In the Beginning staff and to this day I love and stash batiks. I appreciate the artistry and craftsmanship of Jason's work whether in fabric or in patterns. What a powerful combo!
Batiks are so interesting, each piece is different and each place in each piece is different.
I love batiks for their beautiful colors and their two-sidedness. I use them to make furoshiki, which I decorate with sashiko stitching, and to frame yukata with bright and beautiful colors for hangings.
I have loved Batiks since I was first introduced to them a few years ago because the colors are so beautiful with designs that make them almost magical in a quilt and the fabulous bonus of being able to use either side. I also like the tightness of the weave especially for appliqué.
I love the intensity of color in batiks and also the fact that both sides of the fabric can be used. Of all of my stash–I have the most batiks.
I also love the tight weave. I would love to win.
Batiks add a quality to any quilt that reminds me of the richness of combining fiber with nature. The artists making the batiks use their hands and their minds to complete a work of art that enhances any thing that they are applied to. The texture of a batik feels worked in and weathered. And yet the tightness of the weave and sheen of the fabric entices.
I love batiks for many reason, but the fact that they don't fray and their outstanding colors would be my top two choices.
I love using batiks for the wonderful quality of the cotton and the artful aesthetic they lend to any project. I can blend them with my hand dyed fabrics and they always work. Thanks for the chance to win this fabulous prize package.
I love the color blending found in batik fabrics. I like the tonal colors, rather than the primary brights usually found. The colors luminesce. I love them period.
Batiks are so wonderful in colour and structure. They can be deep or soft in their shades and smooth to the touch.
Batiks have made me dream since I first saw some when I was a child.
i love the intense colors and even on the same piece the pattern differs from place to place making it more interesting.
Batiks are, in my opinion, the most beautiful of all fabrics.
Just looking at the vibrant colors and shading is the push I need to get creative.
I love the saturated colors in batiks and the many jewel-like colors. They can be bright or muted depending on the colors you choose. The variety is endless and the hand is my favorite for applique
I love batiks for the color and pattern variation–like looking at clouds in the sky, batiks set my imagination in motion!
Gorgeous fabrics and new design possibilities! What a fun giveaway!
I discovered batiks while living and traveling in Asia. I enjoy the colors, the myriad of designs and techniques, and the uniqueness of each yard of fabric (even on the same bolt). There is always a freshness to creating a batik garment or special gift – a kind of exotic quality.
I love batiks for their wonderful, rich colors and how they blend so well together. Thanks for this great giveaway! Jason's book looks fantastic!
I like batiks for appliqué because the edges fold nicely and stay folded while I sew them down.
I like batiks primarily because of the fineness of the fabric thread count. Most of them are so lovely to sew and to press. I also love the organic quality of batiks, and their ability to evoke image and feeling with the rich colors and designs. I also love Jason Yenter's work and any batiks by In the Beginning are bound to be lovely. All of the rest of Jason's fabrics are.
Beautiful batiks, and the book looks so inspiring. I always need new ideas! Thank you for the opportunity. happy New Year!
The delicious vibrant colors of batiks make them impossible not
to love.
I have been facinated with batiks for the last few years. I love how vivid the colors are. Looking at the varity, they make me so happy inside! Thanks for the opportunity for the giveaway.
It took me a few years to really appreciate batiks, and now I love them for the saturated but variegated colors and the great variety of patterns they come in.
How could you not like a colorful,beautifully patterned and sometimes reversible fabric that sews well by hand or machine?
Love batiks because of the subtle blends of colors and their versatility.
Subtle blend of colors. Can be used with other fabrics so well.
I like batiks because of the different colored backgrounds, different colored stamp designs. All of the varies stamp motifs. You can find very interesting and complex batik fabric
I love Batiks just because they have such depth of color. They make any quilt special.
The complex mix of colors and stamp motifs are so interesting and beautiful.
I love batiks because of their beautiful rich colors and varying designs in each piece.
I love batiks because Inhave found that they work well with my hand-dyed fabrics….the muted colors and designs are perfect.
Batiks are the best for appliqué,crisp edges and you can never have enough in your artist's pallette
Batiks can be used as focal points, blenders, borders, are beautifully saturated or meld with other colors, they are highlights, low lights and, everything one could ask for in the design possibilities are endless. Thank you so much for this giveaway opportunity.
I love batiks, the way they feel, the brilliance of the colors, the variety in the patterns. With batiks you can make a landscape from a single piece fussy cut.
Batiks are my favorite fabrics for quilting as they have so many variations in color and scale within each piece…you can use every inch in so many different quilts! These are particularly lovely patterns…..congrats to Jason!
Batiks, ah the beauty of them. Organic, blending, colourful and most important, original. Batiks allow the fibre artist to create realistic or abstract art in many forms. Personally I purchase only Batiks for they create movement and depth.
I love the brilliant colors, especially in the winter when daylight is short and skies are often dreary. The tight weave makes them durable. I think the dying method is fascinating.
I like batiks that replicate the textures of nature, but in a subtle and artistic way. Thanks to Jason for this giveaway.
The fabrics are just fab. I'd love to give them a new home!
The blues are calling to me,to bring the seashore to me
Batiks add dimension when combined with prints. Plus they come in the greatest varieties of natural colors.
Batiks have a depth of texture unique in the world of fabrics. They are suggestive and imply so much more than representational fabrics. A gift.
Batiks are a wonderful wat to add excitement to a quilt.
The deep rich colors!!
I love batiks because they offer wonderful color variations for quilting and they also have a firm hand to work with.
I love batiks because of their vibrant and rich colors. I love the texture of batiks and the way batik quilts pop.
beautiful sets! I don't have batiks!
I love batiks due to the high thread count in the fabrics. I also like the lovely colour selections. Some of the patterns created by the batik process add such visual depth to your quilts.
I love the batiks for applique they are so many different colors that allow for just the right shading in flowers. The blue makes think of snow on a winter's night.
No right or wrong side!
I just finished my first quilt using nothing but batiks. There is a richness of color that you don't get with any other fabric and the quality is outstanding.
Batik fabric is amazing for the wonderful texture and all the inspiring colors that it is available in.
The high thread count prevents fraying which is awesome for piecing, also the vibrancy of the colors.
I LOVE Jason Yenter fabrics and have a private collection! to think they are in BATIKS as well is mind boggling. Love batiks for the hands on quality they have.
I love batiks because they have the most beautiful colors and press up so nice and crisp!
I love to sew on batiks because the colors are so bright
And cheerful. They are easy to piece & press. Thanks for the opportunity
To win batiks!
Love working with Batiks. My favorite fabric.
Love batiks because of the variety of hues. They are great for appliqués with lots oa varity of colors.
Batiks are such versatile fabrics! They lend themselves so well to many design elements. I love to use them for raw edge applique as batiks generally do not fray much if at all when washed.
There are many reasons that I love batiks, so I hope that I can express with words those ideas that are given life through colour. One of the first things that I noticed with batiks is that colours seem to be more vivid and saturated. The patterns and designs always seem to me to be more organic and fluid than ordinary textiles, with a rich visual texture on each side of the fabric. Can you really say that there is a right or wrong side when each has its own minute variations that are equally beautiful? While the first batiks which I encountered many years ago were stiff with residual wax and difficult to work with; I am enchanted by the wonderful hand of the high quality cotton used now; some of them even feel rather like silk. I am constantly trying to find ways to utilize batiks in lieu of the one-sided traditional printed textiles. In the end, it still comes down to the wonderful colours, from the most delicate of pastels to the intensely saturated rainbow and beyond. I am actually just starting my very first quilt, and while shopping for fabrics, I made a beeline to the batiks happy to finally have a good use for them.
In my eyes, batiks are the most versatile fabrics in fiber arts and classic quilting. They are perfect blenders, even with prints or "primadonna" hand-dyes, but also make an excellent focus fabric. Despite their slightly higher price point, I feel they are some of the most economic fabrics because of the unlimited use of both sides. Crisp and durable would be another feature to love…
What nice colors…batiks are so calming and unique! Happy New Year Patricia! 🙂
I like batiks because it is easy to make rainbow color combinations when you mix the fabrics . Sometimes one batik fabric already has an entire rainbow color combination and I love that.
I love batiks because of the colours. The saturation is wonderful. As well the designs can be totally abstract or so variable that they can be used anywhere. The fabric is easy to work on especially when cutting and piecing. Pressing creates crisp defined seams. When machine quilting is finished and you show at guild show and tell you get oohs and ahs no matter your quilt design.
I love the patterns on these batiks!!
I like batiks because of the tight weave. They don't shred. I love the play of color in them.
I like the jewel like tones and colors-they are fun to work with. My son in law likes them too and is hoping I make a quilt for him soon in seaside colors.
I typically use batiks instead of solids in my quilts. They have so much more depth and interest. And I love that they are unique.
I like batiks because I am starting to do a lot of Foundation Paper Piecing and you don't need a lot of different fabrics when you use batiks because batiks give the paper piecing so much movement, does that make sense?
Love how the fabulous colors go with everything
Beautiful batik colors
I have not had the pleasure to use them yet. But I do love the rich colors that they come in. Have a great day!
The beautiful colors in batiks spark creativity! The "what if I" question
Keeps popping up while working with batiks. What fun!!
I like this fabric because of the colors ….they are sooooo rich and the tones are so pleasing to the eye….
I love batiks because they have tone variations and can be used with a wide variety of quilt patterns. this is a wonderful giveaway.
I love Batiks, I use them in my work ,because they can be water or sky , or anything I want them to be.
I love batiks for the rich colors. They're especially wonderful when added to other prints or used in applique.
I love Batiks because I love the subtle colour changes. It's fun to find cottons that blend with batik colours.
Batiks make me think of the beautiful colors around us every day. The many different colors we see every day that are often unnoticed, that is why I love batiks!
Thank you for the articles on Jason Yenter and In the Beginning Fabrics. Fascinating reading! Batiks are absolutely my favorite fabrics. I love the intricate organic designs and rich colors. They are also great for applique because the edges fray less than other fabrics. Thanks for this awesome giveaway!
Batik fabrics are each so unique and a jewel in the crown of quilting. I would love to learn more about quilting with these fabulous fabrics.
I like batiks because they're like quilting with light!
Batiks are wonderful. They have a feel like no other fabric, the colors are outstanding, the shimmer is enticing and they sew like silk. What more can I say. Oh they are addictive.
What absolutely beautiful batiks!!!!!! I love batiks because of the uniqueness and beautiful colors, and it looks like the books will be fun also. I pray that I win one!!!!!!!!! firstname.lastname@example.com
Love batiks! They don't fray when you have a long term project & they always call out to me to be "touched". They have great visual texture.
Batiks richness light complex simplistic a visual dance of color focus and shadow. I love them all.
Love batiks because of the different colors and stamps, they are so pretty.
The wonderful subtle patterning and deep rich colours makes batiks unique
Batik fabric is the richest fabric that I've found. The hand work to produce it gives it depth that no other fabric has achieved. I absolutely love batiks and continue to enhance my stash with pieces of all colors!
I like batiks I just son't have many!! Would love to win some:)
I love the versatility of batiks. Often both sides can be used with surprising effects, especially for landscape quilts. The colours and patterns add great depth to a quilt. I like the variety of colours from clear to muted. I love the patterns from muted to clear – who can't resist making a quilt featuring some of the creatures in batiks.
I love the clear bright colors obtained in patios as well as the gradations
I love batiks because of their higher saturation, the hand of the fabric, and all the beautiful colors – they just ALWAYS inspire me 🙂
Gorgeous in every way. Inspired by the new site and love the work.
It is a joy and a challenge to think of the people who have used quality craftsmanship to design and dye on tightly woven fabric which makes batiks so easy to use. I hate to waste a scrap of these artworks. The vibrancy reminds me to enjoy life!
I love the unpredictable designs of batiks and the great colors.
Batiks always excite me, their fascinating history in places all over the world another layer in the appeal, their beautiful (two-sided) dyes and designs rich and wild, their sturdy feel… YES! I do hope I win this giveaway.. and thank you for having it!
Jason is such a great textile designer!
love the colors!!
I love batiks for the rich colors, the fineness of the fabric thread count and the organic feel.
I own Jason Yenter's book "Floragraphix I" and also love Jason Yenter's work! Surely any batiks by In the Beginning are bound to be lovely.
What's not to love about batiks? Their rich colors and non-repeat textures inspire me to create! I've been an admirer of Jason Yenter's work since the days of their brick and mortar shop on Lake City Way. It would be fun to win!
I love the intricate designs in batiks – they are all so different and interesting adding depth and interest to any project I use them for! thanks!
Love the colours, from subtle to saturated. I add batiks to my quilts and clothing!
Depth of color. Depth of texture. Unique designs. Versatility. Highest quality cotton. Beautiful hand. A complex fabric which can be used in any application. What's not to love about batiks?! Thank you, Jason, for your generous gift.
I love batiks. There is no such thing as an ugly batik quilt! The colors are so beautiful, and you don't have to worry about the fabric fraying. Jason, your mother was such a wonderful designer of fabric, and you are following in her footsteps, eventhough your style is different. Keep up the beautiful work!
Other than the amazing colours, I love batiks as they are double sided. I never have to think about which side to sew on.
I love the deep colors and crisp feel.
The rich colors and depth of designs, the range, from subtle to saturated. They make me happy, whether on the bolt or when I see completed works using them. Just seeing the four rolls offered in the giveaway draws me in.
Batiks, so beautiful, amazing, tantalizing, irresistible, kinetic, stimulating my passion to be creative with fabrics. What a delightful way to start the New Year with these generous gifts from Jason! I look forward to exploring In The Beginning Fabrics and seeing more of Jason's fabulous designs and creations.
I love the rich variety of colors in batiks.
I love the vibrant colors of batiks, and the wonderful tight weave of the fabric that doesn't unravel, even for hand applique.
So many reasons to love Batiks as listed by others, but my favorite reason to turn to Batiks is that mort all go together. With so many to choose from, you can almost always go from any color way to another and make it work. And when sewing a project and having many people work on it and asking for batiks, they are work and play well with each other!!!
Why do I love batiks? The saturated colour. The subtle at times and bold at other times designs. They're wonderful for miniatures as the seam allowances never get horribly bulky. They press like a dream. The list goes on and on! I've never seen a batik I didn't like!
I love them! They are beautiful.
I love batiks because the colours are always amazing. They are particularly wonderful for using in art quilts for making flowers, for example. Double wide batiks for backings are awesome. I LOVE batiks!
batiks are great because they have lots of variation within the patterns – great for landscape work.
I love how the colors in Batiks are so intense & how there are so many various textures available. Have been stashing & using them for quite sometime & really enjoy working with them in modern pieces, fractured landscapes & Bargello quilts.
Also, I have enjoyed many of Jason Yenter's patterns & books. This one looks great!!!!!!
I love the feel of batik both before and after quilting.
I love batiks because of the versatility of the colors and how they blend so beautifully.
I love the vivid colors of batiks, and their crisp texture. The projects that I have made from them remain beautiful after many washes.
I love the way the color changes in a batik fabric. It is not "perfect". That makes it interesting.
I love batiks because both sides are usable and they are so crisp. They are ideal for paper piecing and the color variations are stunning
I love the colors of batiks, and the patterns!
I love using batiks because of their rich colors and the tight weave of the cloth…minimum of raveling.
I love the rich colors batiks provide.
Batiks call my name when I enter a quilt store. They are beautiful whether the patterns are random or more realistic.
I love batiks because of the rich color. I especially like doing applique and using batiks can provide shading and can give a depth to the work that you have a hard time getting with other fabrics.
I love batiks because they are not a recognizable pattern. Rather than trying to "read" a pattern, the mind sees colors that are pleasing and stimulating without the distraction of pattern. They add a richness to a quilt that is hard to describe.
The colors are wonderful. Each piece is unique, non-uniform. So much variety with the hand-dyed look.
I love the bright beautiful colors of Batiks! They are my favorite type of fabric!
Batiks are a dreamy otherworld exotic manifestation. Wonderful way to create a unique design.
I like batiks, they are so fun to work with!!!
batik colors , solid, multi, patterned seem to be able to
blend the colors in a quilt…make it harmonious and
with more interest than using a solid fabric.
The saturated colors add that little punch of color,
There's something so lovely about the tight weave and rich, luscious colors that can only be had with batiks. They're my favorite for quilt making. I've wanted to sew some button down blouses with batiks, so maybe this is the year! Thank you for the generous giveaway, and introducing me to Jason Yenter.
Batiks are elegant or hippie like, from any angle and when paired w/solids. Boldness, I love the boldness and depth of every one of 'em. Thank you so much for the opportunity to win the bundle and Floragraphix Batik Quilts II book.
I like batiks because all of the colors seem to meld beautifully.
The variety and richness of color combinations in batiks are the reason I use them in my quilts. Like a good wine does for a meal, they elevate the quality of my quilts.
I love the way batiks are made. I saw a demonstration on Bali years ago – even before I started quilting. I loved watching the process so much I returned with a suitcase full of fabric. (At least now I am using it…..)
I love batiks because of the beautiful patterns and range of colors.The pieces open up so many possibilities.
I love batiks because of the patterns and the colors are so vibrant!
I love batiks for the colors, the fluidity of the patterns and how I immediately want to create something with them
I love Batiks – doesn't everyone. Would love to make something beautiful with these.
I love batik fabrics for their endless possibilities and the range of colors available. I would love to win January's giveaway. Thank you for the opportunity.
Love batiks, they are so fun to work with
I love the feel of batiks – something about the drap and fine texture appeals to me. The block printing of batiks lends a more artisan quality to the fabric.
Batiks show flow and bring us closer to nature
I love batiks for many reasons. The variegation of color lends them to blending with everything. Great to appliqué!
Batiks come in so many different patterns, designs and colors…what's not to love? They coordinate with so many other fabrics, from solids to patterns and are fun to work with!
I love batiks. They add that natural organic feel to a quilt and the colors are just beautiful. Thanks for the giveaway.
I love the rich colors of batiks. They are my favorite fabrics.
I've always loved them for their color and variety of pattern and now that I know more about the process I appreciate them even more.
Happy new year.
I love the colors of the batik. So rich and Vibrant a wonderful fabric for all your sewing passions
Perfect for applique. Colors are beautiful.
Perfect for applique. Beautiful Colors.
I love batiking, the process, and of course, the miraculous fabrics resulting! Batiks are a rich long-lasting visual report of the process, using hot wax and imagination, accepting the mistakes as part of the process. I seldom batik any more, but I treasure batik fabrics. Love the "hand-made" and individual qualities, as well visual richness of the fabrics. Thanks for what you're doing!
I like batiks because they are unpredictable 🙂 they have so many different effects depending on which part of the fabric you use! Thanks for the chance!!
I just love the beautiful, organic feel of the colours. And they are so versatile. Happy New Year 🙂
I like batiks because they play so well with black fabric.
I LOVE batiks because of their wonderful color. My mind just whirls with possibilities whenever I look at batiks.
I like the uniqueness of the prints/patterns, the colors…thank you….marta
love baltics and would love to mix it with white or cream
Interesting to read the story of The Beginnings and Jason Yenter's journey. Their fabric designs are exceptional and Jason's quilt designs inspiring! I agree with others, batiks are wonderful to add to quilts, lively and bright. Happy New Years to all quilters near and far!
I love batiks because of the ond of a kind look to them. They are so beautiful! 🙂
I love the beautiful colours and patterns!
Batiks are so exotic. When I look at the patterns I can imagine them designed and created in a foreign, tropical land!
Why I like Batiks? Their lush color and unusual texture makes for such sparkle and uniqueness in a quilt. I love the use of traditional methods and the creation of the patterns on the cloth.
Working with batiks thrill me because of the variations of pattern and color in each piece. I like the organic, nature themes found in so many of them, and also the geometric patterns. I also like the tighter weave of the fabric. What's not to like?
I love the energy and passion that I see in batiks. They are my favorite ( next to Japanese textiles!)
I like the colors of batiks. I also really like that pattern peeking out under the green and blue set at the top. Lovely. Thanks for the chance to win!
I like the intensity of color in Batik and that you don't have to worry about what is the front or back of the fabric. I also like the hand or density of the cloth.
There is SO much you can do with batiks. Bold or subtle, dark or light. So much texture.
I love Batiks because the colors are so bright and vibrant. Thanks!
Batiks seem to give a little more versatility and such an amazing diversity of such amazing colours
Thanks for the chance.
Well, I have never thought about why I love batiks. I guess because they are beautiful, used in an all batik quilt, or as a blender, they are all so pretty. It is hard in the store to just buy one, or two…
I love the beautiful designs.
I saw films on the traditional batik process when I was in grade school, and was hooked! I tried batik making in high school, with some limited success. I love the unique qualities of color and expression available in the batiks currently available, and agree with previous writers regarding depth.
I love batiks because they are colorful and are never identical.
I like the way that batiks differ from one another; the unique way the colours vary.
I love Batik because of its Unique blends of colours and texture.Am quite aware of so many technieks involved in making it,more reason why I cherish it.
I like batiks because of the variety of color & patterns within each fabric. These work well with my hand dyed fabrics and also add depth & richness when used with other commercial fabrics
Love batik. would love to make quit with this flawless fabrics.
Batiks always strike me as earthy. Never the same, deeply vibrant and absolutely stunning when used in quilts. These batiks look sooooo beautiful.
I love batiks because of the brilliant colors available and because there is no front side or back side – either side can be used, therefore one less step when piecing.
LOVE indigo the best of all yet colors are so enchanting
I love batiks because they remind me of far away places I would love to travel to.
Love batiks because the colors are beautiful
I love the handmade quality of the batik fabrics. They are so different from most fabrics, which are more "regimented." Batiks feel random to me. They offer variations in colors, apparent depth in the design, but most of all the potential for surprise.
Batiks are so vibrant and the fabric itself is much more stable during piecing. I also love the various patterns. I always seem to find something new.
I love working with batiks. The variety in colors and textures adds interest to my work. Thanks for a great giveaway! akronne17 (at) gmail (dot) com
I love the look and feel of batik fabrics. They're so pretty.
Batiks are simply unique… no two are the same. Rich in color and you can use them in so many ways! Who knew that the wrong side would look as great as the right side!
I love the vibrant colors! It is so exciting to see a quilt made from batiks since the fabrics go so well with each other.
I love the saturated colors of batiks. Jason's fabrics (batik and regular) are such a favorite of mine! Thanks for the opportunity to win!
I love the vibrant colors and the tight weave. Thank you for the opportunity to win.
I love batiks because you get so many color variations in one piece of cloth. I also love the way they feel
Love the gorgeous design, so unique!
Love In the Beginnings Fabrics….always have loved Jason's work so it was great to read the article. Batiks love me!! My stash is low…but what I love it the cultural history to the fabrics in other countries. That red in the fat quarter with the purple is speaking to me as you don't see that intense red very often! Yummy colors!
I don't know because I've never used batiks – I'd love to try! They look beautiful.
Batiks give movement to any quilt design. The colors and patterns are visually interesting.
I love Batiks because of the colors and the feel of the fabric. It is like being in a dream.
Batiks are soothing and yet vibrant depending on shade, tone and motif.
It's all about the color, the deep, intense, vibrant colors, and how they look next to each other. I can gaze at a wall of batiks and know happiness. And know too how they came to be and deeply appreciate the artistry of the makers.
Batiks are so versatile. Love the colors and variations of color in each one.
I'm a newbie quilter and haven't worked with the Batiks yet but I have a charm pack that I'm dying to use. I love all the variations in the colors and patterns. I'm torn, they remind me stained glass but also a lazy day at the beach. Thanks for the giveaway.
Batiks are like nature, all a little different but, they blend together beautifully.
I love batiks! They are so pretty and unique. I like muted designs!
I am a batik freak! Not only are there sew many luscious color combos & patterns, batiks are so easy to sew. No fraying edges and most often, the right side is the wrong side & vice versa, but who cares??!!! Love them!
I honestly haven't used batiks. They are beautiful. I would love to try them.
Batiks are timeless! If they don't coordinate, then they contrast. Perfect every time.
love the colors in batiks. Easy to work with. Love in the bringing fabrics!
love love love
Love batiks for the intense colors and variety of patterns in every yard. Thanks for the giveaway!
I adore batiks because each square inch is unique, one of a kind! There is never a dull moment when working with batiks. They are full of energy and full of surprises since depending on the portion used for a piecing design, the outcome is totally random! Batiks are pure inspiration!
I really love the saturation of color…
I have been working with batiks for over 20 years. They are a masterful creation of mixing media. Fabric, dye, wax, string…. these few ingredients create such beauty. Mix this beauty with a needle and thread, HEAVEN!
Thank you, for the chance!
I love batiks because of the array of color in each piece.
The colors, the patterns and the feel of the fabric draws me to batiks every time. I love them.
I love batiks and use them frequently. They wear well.
I love batiks for their subtle and gorgeous color variations.
i like batiks because i like to make a Hawaiian quilts from them


text:
In the era of information overload, of Facebook, of "personal branding," of Rachel Zoe–a woman famous for dressing other famous, ahem, grown women–how do we define ourselves? Have the little things come to mean too much? Have we sacrificed nuance in favor of a slick and quick elevator pitch, or swapped the legwork of figuring out who someone is deep down with the convenient shorthand: What do you do? Have we replaced being ourselves with being our brands?
I got to thinking about these questions after reading the cover story in Sunday's New York Times Styles section: The Power Stylists of Hollywood. The piece is a well-timed tease–especially for me, an admitted and unrepentant stylephile–whetting the appetite for red carpet season, which kicked off Sunday night with the Golden Globes. The only thing was, rather than talking about trends, or even really about the stylists themselves, the piece is about the business of styling. And a bit of it gave me pause:
"Dressing for a major red carpet isn't simply getting ready for a big party and looking pretty," said George Kotsiopoulos, a stylist and a former editor at T: The New York Times Style Magazine who is now a host on "Fashion Police" on the E! network. In recent years, he said, "it's been about selling yourself as a brand."
As insiders see it, that investment is worthwhile: the right red-carpet turnout can help a performer change lanes. "If your client plays nefarious characters," said the stylist Jeanne Yang, you might dress them, say, in tulle, to demonstrate "that she's really a fresh ingénue."
Others strive for sartorial consistency. Indeed, a case could be made that [Hailee] Steinfeld's reliably chic but youthful red-carpet looks inspired the fashion executives at Miu Miu to cast her in its advertising campaigns. Mila Kunis's transformation, at the hands of Ms. Flannery, from ill-kempt hipster to regal sexpot doubtless helped secure her latest role, as the new "face" of Dior. A fashion or fragrance contract can earn an actress in the tens of millions.
Such potent stylist-star alliances were spawned well over a decade ago, when celebrity Web sites and supermarket tabloids competed to serve up candid shots of stars exiting Starbucks or the gym in a state of sorry dishevelment. Hoping to shore up their images, some were quick to enlist a fashion consultant.
Stylists at the time catered to stars' insecurities. "The stylist is an outgrowth of the mean-girls culture," Ms. Press observed. "Their very existence says of an actress, 'I don't trust my own instincts, or I have no instincts, or I can't bear to read all the mean things people are going to say if my dress doesn't deliver.' "
Sure, for most of us, no matter what we wear, our outfits will likely not be netting us a gig as the new face of Dior anytime soon, but I think there's something in here that's pretty universal. The need to (pause for barf-in-my-mouth) brand ourselves.
Gross, right? And yet. We all do it: Whether putting together the outfit that will convey precisely the image we want to project on any given occasion (competent yet creative for the job interview; smart yet sexy for the date; pulled together without trying to hard for the errands…), or editing the reality of our lives in order to present a carefully curated–some might say contrived–image for our imagined audiences to admire on Facebook, we're all in the business of personal branding. And, as Barry Schwartz tells us in Undecided, it's little wonder:
Nowadays, everything counts as a marker of who you are in a way that wasn't true when there were fewer options. So just to give you one example: When all you could buy were Lee's or Levi's, then your jeans didn't tell the world anything about who you were, because there was a huge variation in people, but there were only two kinds of jeans, you know? When there are two thousand kinds of jeans, now all of a sudden, you are what you wear… What this means is that [with] every decision, the stakes have gone up. It's not just about jeans that fit; it's about jeans that convey a certain image to the world of what kind of person you are. And if you see it that way, it's not so shocking that people put so much time and effort into what seems like trivial decisions. Because they're not trivial anymore.
Actually, it reminds me of a story of my own:
Last year, I was in New York for a book reading–an anthology to which I'd contributed an essay. And off I went, sporting an Outfit-with-a-capital-O. After all, I like clothes. And I spend more than enough time at home, alone save for my trusty laptop, ensconced in clothes that can most kindly be described as scrubs. And if people were going to be looking at me, I wanted to look good, dammit (and, you know, be comfortable–except for my baby toes). I was staying with the (wildly intelligent–and beautiful) woman who'd edited the book, and, while we were walking to the train, she–dressed decidedly down–told me how she feels like she has to dress that way in order to be perceived as a Serious Writer. You know, the kind who's so busy being a Serious Writer she doesn't have time for silly fashion. She said she even has a pair of fake glasses. (Even a Serious Writer has to accessorize!) The irony, of course, being that she loves clothes as much as I do. She was laughing about it, but I have to say, it kind of made me take note of what each of the other contributors wore that night, and what my choice of duds communicated about me. Fabulous and fashionable? Or literary lightweight?
It all makes you wonder: is all this "personal branding" we're doing serving yet another purpose? As with the actresses who employ professional stylists, is our brand–or, as we like to call it, our "iconic self"–a buffer in some way? The armor that protects us from those we fear will judge us? After all, in a world of endless options, of jeans for every political affiliation and body shape, sometimes, isn't it easier to slap on a costume, play the role, be the brand, rather than hanging out our sloppy, indefinable self out there for all to see? Or doing the work of figuring out who she is in the first place?
But all of it surely comes at a cost. After all, what about the parts of ourselves that don't fit neatly into our brand? Maybe a willingness to own our complex, dualistic, not always delightful but utterly human nature can make our choices a little bit clearer. If we let go of the need to fit ourselves into the brand, the image, the iconic self, maybe we'd have an easier time figuring out who we really are. Which in turn, might just make our decisions easier, not to mention more authentic. All of which might just make us happier. Think of it as You, 2.0.


text:
Addiction recovery centers that provide science-based therapies are helping to change the focus of the entire process. Traditional programs are centered around counseling and twelve steps to guide participants through recovery. Meetings in the community serve as support once programs are completed. This perspective has been used for the past eighty years. It has helped millions of people get sober and remain sober. Some people respond well to this approach and enjoy years of success.
Scientists, doctors, and practitioners have discovered a great deal about addiction since 1938. Substance abuse over long periods of time, for example, alter the pathways in the brain which lead to automatic responses to triggers. This is why behavior continues and people struggle. There are therapies, such as cognitive behavior therapy (CBT) and related framework therapy (RFT), that can help participants reset those pathways for lasting success.
Education regarding the science of addiction makes it clear to those struggling that it is possible to achieve long-term recovery. An emphasis on the life desired rather than fixing the problem transforms lives via empowerment. The view that people are not broken is the basis of programs that are built from scratch and updated frequently. Treatment outcomes are monitored to ensure techniques remain relevant.
Small settings with a stable team of staff work best to provide high quality services and customized programs to suit each participant. Some centers indicate that being in recovery is a staff requirement. Who better to understand the struggle and provide practical tools and insights than professionals in recovery themselves? People in the center tend to relate to staff and divulge much more information than when talking with professionals who have never experienced the difficulty and challenges of recovery.
Not for Everyone
Just as a twelve-step program does not work for everyone, this approach does not work for everyone. Most participants seeking a change in focus toward recovery have attempted recovery through traditional methods. A science-based recovery does not mean people are immune to temptation or setbacks. It does provide practical and proven techniques to change triggers into tools for remaining sober. Ask questions during intake to know what is expected and what to expect. Those considering seeking help can also click here for details.


text:
Tuesday, 25 Oct 2016 7:00 PM
Rising Fire Office
Cultivate presence in your life through meditation, sacred play and centering techniques. Learn how to transform and release heavy energy. We will focus on different methods each week to enhance or build a foundation for your own practice.
Come join us in our beautiful, peaceful healing space. By donation, everyone is welcome.
For more information contact Rosemary at:
503-288-5175 office, 503-484-5426 mobile
Email: email@example.com
Visit us online @ rising-fire.com !
NOTES: A 'pay what you can' fee starts at $10.00 to help offset costs of this event. Please donate as you feel moved based on your experience at the meditation.


text:
Today is my dad's birthday and I saw this awesome idea for the boys to do for him. It was for like a father's day gift but I changed the word from Dad to Bapa (what the boys call him). This was so easy to make and I thought it was so precious and hopefully something that will be kept for years to come. Thank you Pinterest YET AGAIN for saving the day. I really MUST meet who created this site because it really rocks!
Now the lady painted her canvas and then cut out the hands using paper. I traced the boys hands and upper arm and then painted them (well I painted Caden, Cole did his own).
- Start with a blank Canvas
- Paint your canvas. I like my backgrounds mottled. But you can paint it nicely just one color if you like. (I skipped this part)
- Trace your kid's arms and hands onto fun paper. (This is where I just traced kids arm and hand onto canvas)
- Modge Podge and plaster the hands down. Make sure you leave enough room to paint your saying on. (Since I skipped paper part, I skipped this part also)
- Print your saying using cute fonts, onto regular paper.
- On the back of your paper, scribble with a pencil to make a transfer. Make sure you get all of the back of each letter covered.
- Put the paper on your canvas. Trace over your saying. It will leave a light imprint for you to paint the words in.
- Spray it with sealant or cover with some coats of Modge Podge. (Again I skipped this part)
Here is what mine turned out like:
Happy Birthday Dad, we love you!! This would be a good gift for father's day or like I did for a birthday. Hope you try it, it was super easy and took very little time do!


text:
The students from Rye Jr. High School (Rye, NH) spoke with Dr. Clyde Roper. Dr. Roper is a expert on squid and other cephalopods. He is well known for his research on the Giant Squid! Find out more about Dr. Roper, his work and, of course, squid!
The audio is available for download below.