text:
Archive for category Personal
Time to Talk
Posted by cathannabel in Personal on February 6, 2014
I'm supporting this campaign by Rethink, to encourage people to talk about mental health. Because it's hard to speak about it publicly, because there is a stigma attached to mental illness which does not apply to most physical illnesses, because it feels like a weakness, because you think you're the only one, because you're afraid (of what you're experiencing, and of how other people will react).
I wish I could say that 'coming out' in this context is always met with outpourings of support and love and help. There's a lot of that.
But there's also – telling your boss you're having treatment (medication and counselling) for depression, and her (a) telling other colleagues to keep an eye on you, (b) telling the management board that you have mental health problems and (c) generally treating you from there on in as a problem, not a colleague who's having a problem. That was about ten years back – would it be different now? It depends on the workplace, on the boss. It's risky, and if now I would (and do) say things publicly it's because in the time since that dark episode I've gained in strength and confidence and because what happened to me then made me angry and determined to challenge those attitudes.
Of course there's also the whole 'pull yourself together' thing that will surface, explicitly or implicitly. Especially if your life circumstances don't 'justify' your depression. If bad things have happened to you, and your illness seems to be a result of that, the sympathy will probably be more straightforward. If your life is outwardly fine, then some people – including kind, loving people – will feel that you should be able to sort yourself out.
But a lot of the stuff that deters one from talking openly is internal, not external. No one told me I didn't have a right to feel depressed because I was physically healthy, employed, solvent and had people who loved me. I told myself that. No one told me I was a failure and a mess, because, since I left the house every day washed, appropriately dressed and apparently functioning, only I knew (for the most part) that I was a failure and a mess. No one told me I couldn't be really depressed because I kept leaving the house every day washed appropriately dressed and apparently functioning – that was me, telling myself that – as I read account after account of depression, hoping to see myself in there – I obviously didn't have a serious problem and should be able to sort myself out.
How do you measure the seriousness of depression? I was never hospitalised, I had very little time off work, I was never unable to get up and go through the motions of life. But for a long time I had that nasty little mantra in my mind throughout my conscious day and every time I woke during the night, and for a long time I only smiled when people could see me. For a long time I saw my life as trudging on, up hill all the way, fog and gloom all around me so that I couldn't see where I was heading, or even see that I wasn't alone on the path. I wrote a poem along those lines, a very bad poem, long since deleted, but at the time it helped to write it down. People who didn't know me really well didn't know – but they sensed something, or perhaps the lack of something, a spark . I had a few job interviews during this period and the feedback suggested a lack of enthusiasm or interest in the post, a lack of dynamism and energy.
Partly, you realise how bad it's been when it starts to get better. When the mantra stopped. When my smile stayed on my face after I'd shut the door, when no one but me was there. When the fog cleared and I could see that however far I still had to trudge on uphill there was a beautiful view from where I was, and there were people alongside me.
I'm talking about this now – more publicly than I ever have before – because I'm prompted by the Rethink campaign to share my story. And because I know that some people who know me will be surprised, and may think I'm 'not the type', but may therefore rethink their assumptions. As you look around you, in a lecture or a meeting, at a party or a gig, there will be people there, talking and laughing and making decisions and relating to those around them, who are or have been in the grip of depression or anxiety, who are struggling with or have struggled with obsessive compulsive behaviour or eating disorders, who are experiencing or have known the intense highs and lows of bipolar disorder. You'll never know, unless they dare to share it with you.
It's a part of me, I think, that propensity to slip into the pit. I stay out of it mainly by being busy enough, with lots of things I care about and that bring me joy, but not so busy that I succumb to anxiety and sleepless nights and feelings of panic. I know the signs now, and can usually take preventative steps before I start to slip. Once you're in there, it's hard to get out, as Alyssa Day's blog vividly and powerfully describes.
It shouldn't be so hard to talk about this stuff. It is, still, and I will press Publish on this post with more trepidation than for anything else I've sent out into the blogosphere.
But it really is time to talk.
2013 – the best bits. And some of the other bits.
Posted by cathannabel in Events, Film, Literature, Music, Personal, Television, Theatre on December 31, 2013
It has been a funny old year. Funny peculiar, though not without the odd moment of mirth and merriment along the way.
I came back from one secondment to my regular job in January, and went off on the next secondment in December. This new one is a major change – working for HEFCE, based at home when not attending meetings in various exotic parts of the UK (oh, OK then, Croydon, Birmingham, Manchester, Dorking…). It's a fantastic opportunity, and challenges the way I organise my life as well as requiring me to acquire new knowledge and new skills.
I graduated, again. Did the whole gown and mortar board thing which I hadn't been fussed about when I was 21 and graduating for the first time. And then, with barely a pause, on to the doctorate. Studying part-time, it's going to be a long haul, with who knows what possibilities at the end of it, but I'm loving it.
In February, a beloved friend and colleague died, and we – his family, friends, colleagues, students – grieved but also worked together to put on an amazing event in his honour, the 24 Hour Inspire. We raised money for local cancer charities, and have raised more since, through an art exhibition, plant and cake sales and various 10k runs/marathon bike rides, etc. And we're now planning the 24 Hour Inspire 2014, and the publication of Tim's diary. He will continue to inspire.
Culturally, my high points in 2013 have been:
- Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie at the Showroom, talking about Americanah, and Half of a Yellow Sun
- Peter Hill premiering newly discovered/completed Messiaen at the Upper Chapel (and playing Bach, Berg and Schoenberg too)
- Arnie Somogyi's Scenes in the City, playing Mingus at Sheffield Jazz
- Tramlines – the Enid in the City Hall, Soukous Revelation in the Peace Gardens, Jim Jones Revue and Selecter at Devonshire Green. (And more, but those were the absolute top bits).
- The 24 Hour Inspire – 24 hours of lectures on life, the universe and everything, including Ed Daw's blues piano, Rachel Falconer on poetry and birds, Jenny Saul on implicit bias, Claire McGourlay on the Innocence Project, and personal narratives from Brendan Stone and Elena Rodriguez-Falcon. Plus John Cockburn's rendition of (What's so Funny 'bout) Peace Love and Understanding, and my favourite Beatles B-side, Things we Said Today, and more busking from Mike Weir, Graham McElearney and Eugenia Chung. And more, lots more.
- Fabulous Beethoven quartets/quintet from the Elias at the Upper Chapel
- A magical Winter's Tale at the Crucible
- Two awesome Britten operas (Peter Grimes and Death in Venice) from Opera North at Leeds Grand
- New (to me) authors enjoyed this year: Maggie O'Farrell, Louise Doughty, Lucy Caldwell, C J Sansom, Alison Moore, Edward St Aubyn, Rebecca Solnit, Wilkie Collins, Jonathan Franzen
- Wonderful new books from authors I've enjoyed before: Stephen King's Dr Sleep and Joyland, Lynn Shepherd's A Treacherous Likeness, Jon McGregor's This isn't the Sort of Thing…., Robert Harris's An Officer and a Spy
- Finally finished Proust's Sodome et Gomorrhe. Allons-y, to La Prisonniere!
- I've learned to love Marvel superheroes (Avengers Assemble! Thor! Iron Man! Agents of Shield!), and have thrilled to The Walking Dead, Orphan Black (virtuoso performance(s) from Tatiana Maslany), Utopia and, of course, Dr Who.
- Speaking of which, not only an absolutely stonking 50th anniversary episode, but also a fascinating and very touching drama about the show's early days, with David Bradley as William Hartnell, the sweet and funny The Five-ish Doctors, with Peter Davison, Sylvester McCoy and Colin Baker sending themselves and everyone else up with great affection, and Matthew Sweet's Culture Show special. And the Christmas episode…
- Other cracking telly – Broadchurch, Homeland, Misfits, The Fall, Southcliffe, The Guilty, The Americans… And from across the Channel, not only another masterclass in French profanity from Spiral, but the wonderful The Returned
- And other top films – Joss Whedon's Much Ado, Lore, The Hobbit Pts 1 & 2, Lincoln, and Patience (after Sebald).
About the blog itself. It's been less focused on my areas of research recently, and that will continue to be the case, as I'm working on the PhD. The odd digression will find its place here – as Tim used to say, tangents are there to be gone off on, and the blog is a good way of nailing those (to mix my metaphors somewhat) and stopping them from distracting me for too long. I shall be continuing to go on about all sorts of other things that pique my interest. In particular the blog will continue to be a place where refugee stories are foregrounded, as a riposte to the mean and dishonest coverage which those stories tend to receive.
Over the last year, my posting has been somewhat erratic. I note that I didn't write anything between March and June (I made up for it in June, however, with a Refugee Week blog-blitz, as well as a piece about Last Year at Marienbad which I still intend to follow up. That hiatus may have had something to do with being in the final stages of my degree – finishing off my dissertation, and a last batch of essays and presentations.
There are so many fantastic bloggers out there, too many to do justice to. We lost one this year, as the great Norman Geras passed away. But I'll continue to enjoy, and to share/reblog That's How the Light Gets In, Nowt Much to Say, and Futile Democracy, amongst others. For my research interests, I will no doubt continue to find lots to think about and follow up in blogs from Decayetude and Vertigo.
So, thanks to the aforementioned bloggers, to the various people with whom I've shared the cultural delights enumerated above, to friends and family who've supported me in my ventures and refrained (mostly) from telling me I'm mad to try to do so many things.
Thing is, I have a history of depression. I know that the best way for me to fight that, to avoid sliding back into that dark pit, is to do lots of stuff I care about. So, not just the job – which I care about, passionately – and my wonderful family, but research, writing, ensuring that we do Tim proud via the charity, and so on. I am very aware that there's a tipping point, that if I do too much stuff I care about, given that I also have to do stuff that I have to do, just because I have to do it, the anxiety of having so much going on can itself lead to sleepless nights, which make me less able to cope, thus leading to more worrying and so on and on… It's all about balance, and about having support when I need it. So, to all of you who, whether you know it or not, provide that support, and help me to keep that balance, a heartfelt thanks.
In particular, over this last year, I'd like to thank:
For unstinting support and encouragement through the part-time degree and especially as I reached the final stages – tutors Sophie Belot and Annie Rouxeville, and classmate Liz Perry. And a special thanks to Chris Turgoose for ensuring that my graduation gown stayed put via an ingenious arrangement of string and safety pins.
For support and encouragement to go on to the PhD – the aforementioned Sophie, Annie, and Liz, plus Rachel Falconer, Helen Finch, and my supervisors Amanda Crawley Jackson and Richard Steadman-Jones
For their contributions to the work of Inspiration for Life, and the 24 Hour Inspire, and their support in commemorating and celebrating Tim – Tracy Hilton, Ruth Arnold, Vanessa Toulmin, Chris Sexton, John Cockburn, Lee Thompson, Matt Mears and David Mowbray
My family, of course, without whom…
And, finally, Tim. I'd have loved to share this year's triumphs and tribulations with him.
Have a wonderful 2014 all of you.
Inspiration for Life
Posted by cathannabel in Personal on February 20, 2013
For the last eight years, I've been lucky enough to know this bloke called Tim. He was a colleague, and a friend. Each time he passed my office he'd put his head round the door and offer some truly awful joke, or a greeting in French, Spanish or Latin (or some mix of the three). Occasionally, just a rude noise. He made me laugh, but he was also one of the people I knew I could turn to for support, if I needed it. He was warm, generous, open and positive. Tim was a physicist, an artist (his work regularly featured at the Physics & Astronomy Art Exhibition – idiosyncratic semi-abstract paintings, and an installation involving apples at various stages of decay), a poet and a writer (as will be evident when his diary is published shortly), a musician, a gardener and passionate lover of the natural world – and above all a communicator.
Tim had terminal cancer. He was diagnosed back in June, and told that as the cancer has spread to his liver there wasn't any chance to operate. Chemo could give him a bit of extra time. Tim reckoned he could beat the odds, that the time estimate the doctors gave was skewed both by the desire to not give false hope, and by the inclusion in the statistics of those whose life expectancy was already shortened by old age or other frailties. He found, along with despair and grief, a way of living in the world more intensely:
I'm looking at everything differently with a renewed intensity and concentration, as if to draw out of every image all the information I've never 'seen' before. The deep colour of the leaves of trees, the vivid green of grass, the happy laughs of children playing, the clinking of tea cups in a café accompanying the chat and the laughter. I remember that I am still part of this world and no tumour is going to defeat me without a fight. I'm sad, yet I'm happy; I'm angry yet I'm calm and I'm scared yet I'm brave for this new challenge that lays ahead.
When we heard of Tim's diagnosis we had to think about how to tell people. Because it wasn't just me whose life was enhanced by Tim being part of it, it was everyone in the department, staff and students. And Tim was adamant that the students who were about to graduate, all of whom he'd looked after during their first year at University, mustn't have their celebration spoiled by this news. Some already knew he was ill, and already feared the outcome, and we had to tell them that it was pretty much as bad as it could be. Students came back in September to find that he was no longer in the department, that he wouldn't be returning. That was hard, and there were tears. As the news spread, people have wanted to do something, to show their love and gratitude.
Initially this was expressed through messages of support for Tim and his family – it wasn't easy to see what else we could actually do. The impetus to do something more, something different, came, of course, from Tim. On the day he was told that the cancer was terminal, he said that he'd been keeping a diary and wanted to use it in some way to help other people. The obvious thing was to publish it to raise funds for the specialist cancer services that he and so many other people rely on – and we will. But Tim's vision went far beyond that. As first year tutor and PhD supervisor, Tim supported and inspired generations of students in Physics & Astronomy. And he wanted that to continue – to encourage people to believe in themselves, and to carry on learning throughout their lives, to revel in the possibilities that life holds.
So we set up a charity, called Inspiration for Life. Tim wasn't sure about the title, didn't think it was catchy enough. We were sure. The title sums up everything that we hope to do, and more than that, it sums up the impact Tim has had on so many of us. We're working towards our first big event, 24 hours of lectures, on a host of topics, from physicists, philosophers, zoologists, historians, psychologists, lawyers and more. We've got musicians who'll be busking around the building through the night, and people across the University baking biscuits and cakes to sell. And the wonderful thing is that we haven't had to beg or cajole people to do this. The response – from speakers, and bakers, from students and staff – has been so enthusiastic, so generous, that it's often moved me to tears. It's going to be amazing, I know that.
The only thing is, Tim won't be there. We knew he was unlikely to be well enough to attend, but we did hold on, for as long as we could, to the hope that he would be able to enjoy it vicariously, to watch the recordings afterwards and see the funds mount up for the causes we want to support.
But Tim slipped away on 5 February, after several weeks when it was clear his strength was failing. He died at home, with his family around him, as he had wished.
He didn't beat the odds, as he'd hoped he would. But he's in our hearts, in our memories. He's made such a difference, touched so many people's lives, given them, yes, inspiration. That's been evident in the messages since he died, so many expressions of loss and grief, but also so many heartfelt thanks, so many debts of gratitude, and so much love, for him and for his family in their heartbreak.
From all of us, who've been privileged to have had you as part of our lives, thank you Tim.
Atque in perpetuum frater ave atque vale.
And, brother, for all time, hail and farewell (Catullus, 61-54 BC)
2012 – the best bits
Posted by cathannabel in Events, Film, Literature, Michel Butor, Music, Personal, Refugees, Television, Theatre, Visual Art, W G Sebald on December 30, 2012
2012, for me, has been the year of the blog. The year that through this medium I found a creative outlet, met some fascinating people and discovered some wonderful writers, engaged in some stimulating and unexpected discussions, and generally had my optimism about the internet reinforced. I've been uplifted, fascinated and inspired on a regular basis by bloggers such as Diana J Hale, Vertigo, The Fife Psychogeographic Collective, That's how the light gets in, Weaver's Journal, Steve Sarson and Decayetude. And my blog on the US election led to a mutually respectful encounter with Rick from Billerica, with whom I would disagree about pretty much everything, except the principle of mutually respectful encounters with those who hold different views. On the Our Island Stories blog, set up in the aftermath of the Olympics to talk about questions of national identity, we've had contributions from some of the above, and also from Kate Elmer, Mike Press, Emily Wilkinson and Diane Magras. To all of those people, and so many others, thanks!
The internet comes in for some harsh criticism – and I read 'below the line' often enough to be brought almost to despair at the bigotry, the hatred, the cruelty that's out there, only needing the anonymity of an internet forum to come spewing out. But my own experience has been entirely positive. Through blogging, through Facebook and Twitter, I've made friends, had fascinating conversations, shared enthusiasms, learned stuff. I've connected with people I would never have encountered at all otherwise, and connected in unexpected ways with people I already knew. This obviously doesn't invalidate the experiences of those who've been subjected to the viciousness of trolls and the deceit of sock-puppets – but it needs saying, that it can be, and often is, an enormous force for good , and that connections made via the net are not intrinsically less 'real', less worthwhile than those made by other means.
So, looking back at 2012, these have been some of the best bits, culturally speaking:
- John Akomfrah's extraordinary The Nine Muses
- Watching the ever elusive and enigmatic Last Year at Marienbad twice – to be the subject of a later blog.
- TV : Homeland – plot holes wide enough to swallow up the odd aircraft carrier, but the degree of ambiguity in all of the main characters has been wonderfully sustained, and the denoument was unforeseen. Line of Duty and Good Cop shared the best of those characteristics. Misfits and Being Human somehow survived a brutal cull of main characters to emerge still witty and surprising. The Walking Dead kept us on the edge of our seats, where we must remain until February, and anxiously awaiting news of Daryl's fate (and the others, obv, but hey, Daryl!). Oh, and Dr Who continued to be marvellous, moving and magical.
- I've been reading Proust. A statement which will probably feature in my summaries for 2013, 2014 and possibly beyond. I've been fascinated by two particular elements recently – the constant referencing of the Dreyfus Affair, and the theme of sexual 'inversion' – and rather less fascinated by some of the aristocratic dinner parties that one has to endure almost in real time, such is the detail with which they are described. There have been moments when I've wished Robespierre had been a little more thorough. I'm about at the halfway point in the whole A la Recherche project.
- New great stuff from Stephen King (11.22.63), Hilary Mantel (Bring up the Bodies) and Jon McGregor (Even the Dogs)
- First encounters with writers I should have read before and will read more of – Hans Fallada, Alexander Baron, Haruki Murakami and Wilkie Collins.
- Lynn Shepherd's Tom-All-Alone's – I approached with caution knowing that she was riffing on my favourite novel of all time, Bleak House, but I need not have worried. Indeed, I went straight from Tom to her earlier novel (Murder at Mansfield Park), and have her next on pre-order – and she led me to The Woman in White as well.
- Theatre – Geoffrey Streatfeild in both Macbeth at the Crucible and Copenhagen at the Lyceum, Betrayal (lovely John Simm) at the Crucible
- Tramlines festival – Screaming Maldini and Early Cartographers in Weston Park, The Third Half at the City Hall, Soukous Revelation in the Peace Gardens, Jim Ghedi & Neal Hepplestone at the Cathedral, and Frankie & the Heartstrings, Field Music and We are Scientists on Devonshire Green. Three days of music spilling out of every bar and coffee shop, of sunshine and people dancing in the streets – literally – and generally being nice to each other.
- Music in the Round – a fabulous Quartet for the End of Time, an introduction to Louise Farrenc, and the early polyphony of Pérotin and the Notre Dame composers in Sheffield Cathedral.
2012 has been the year that the Hillsborough families were vindicated, utterly and unconditionally. The year that the truth was not so much revealed – it had been in plain view all the time – as spotlit, so that there were no shadows in which the lies could continue to lurk. And that justice seems finally to be within reach now. Massive respect to all of those who fought this battle when it must have seemed hopeless, when everything and everyone seemed to be against them.
And it's been the year of Inspiration for Life. The year a dear friend and colleague, Tim Richardson, was diagnosed with a terminal cancer, and a whole community came together to support him, and to help him set up a charity to do the things he believes in – supporting living, giving and learning. We've been both devastated and uplifted.
So – onward to 2013.
No resolutions as such. But anticipations and aspirations -
- Graduating (again), and planning the next stage of my lifelong learning, and publishing (if I can, in real, proper, academic journals) some of my work on Michel Butor
- Fundraising for Refugee Action – having hung up my trainers, I'm not sure yet how I can best do this, but their work is vitally important and I want to do what I can
- Reading Proust, and lots of other stuff. Lots and lots.
- Enjoying to the full Sheffield's rich cultural life – theatre, arthouse cinema, Music in the Round, Tramlines, Festival of the Mind, Arts-Science Encounters, Site and S1 and Bloc, and more
- Blogging, about Butor, Sebald, French cinema, refugees, Dr Who, national identity, and whatever else is buzzing around in my mind at any given moment
- Enjoying working with physicists, astronomers and other scientists, and facilitating what they do, through what I do
- Continuing to be an utter geek
- Listening to as much music as possible, with as eclectic a range as possible
- Getting Inspiration for Life going – with the 24-hour Inspire at the end of Feb (24 hours of lectures, activities and entertainments), the publication of Tim's diary, and the art exhibition in May, funds from which will go to local cancer charities (Weston Park Cancer Hospital Charity, St Luke's Hospice and Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice).
- Going on about stuff that matters – refugees, environmental issues, injustice, inequality, that sort of thing. Going on and on.
- Doing all the above whilst being a good-enough parent, partner and friend
Phew! No pressure then.
Thanks to all who've enriched my life in 2012, and with whom I've shared the best bits. Here's wishing you all good things in 2013.
Running for Refugees
Posted by cathannabel in Personal, Refugees on September 6, 2012
Above: A Runner, Another Runner, Me
Well, I never said I'd run the Great Yorkshire fast. In fact, I quite distinctly and explicitly said I'd run slowly, and I did. Slightly more slowly than last year, in fact. However hard I try, I find myself falling back towards the rear of the last wave of runners, alongside people who are in fact walking, and people in cumbersome fancy dress. If I'm honest, I do mind that, a bit.
I don't expect to cross the finish line to a ticker tape welcome, cheer leaders waving pom poms, reporters queuing up to interview me about the experience. But for the stragglers, those last few runners to stagger over the line, there's a bit of a sense of anti-climax as we stumble on suddenly jelly like legs to grab the last few goodie bags, and head home, as if we've arrived at a party after the booze has run out, and the music's been turned down low.
I like to think, however, that there's something a little bit heroic about my continued efforts in a field where I am so clearly not gifted. I like to think that the kind and cheery people who still line the route to the bitter end, who call out 'Well done Catherine, keep going, you're doing fine', recognise a certain bloody-minded determination, whether or not they recognise or value the cause for which I run.
In recent weeks there have been cheers and tears for a Somali born refugee who's proud to say that this is his country and to wear the British flag around his shoulders as he kneels on the track to pray. And as we marvel at the Paralympics we remember also that it was a refugee from Nazism, Ludwig Guttman, who saw that people with spinal cord injuries who had been written off, left to die slowly and in despair could be given new hope, purpose and the chance to achieve through therapy and sport. (And Guttman wouldn't have been here without the help of the Society for Protection of Science and Learning, now the Council for Assisting Refugee Academics.) This doesn't prove anything, of course, except that amongst those who make their way here are some exceptionally gifted individuals. But to me it says that a country that is confident enough in itself to be open and generous, hospitable and inclusive, will be enriched by that. If we were to take away from our culture the contribution of refugees, we'd lose more than that gold medal, and more even than the Paralympic Games. We'd lose landmark buildings, high street names, publishing houses, works of art – in every field of business, politics, science, arts, sports, we'd lose. The societies that drive people out because of their beliefs, their race, their sexuality, they lose. And if the displaced and the exiled are not given sanctuary, then those people, gifted or not, destined to be famous or not, will be lost too, along with those who never got the chance to escape.
So, actually, I do like to think that I can use not only something I am quite good at (writing, communication) but something that I'm really
rather rubbish at, both for the same purpose, both to support the same cause, because more and more I believe that it is one of the most
important things we can do, to support refugees.
If you'd like to help, you can sponsor me here: http://www.justgiving.com/Catherine-Annabel0
Find out more about the work of Refugee Action here:
Related articles
- Why I run, why I run very slowly – and why I run for Refugee Action (cathannabel.wordpress.com)
Isles of Wonder
Posted by cathannabel in Events, Patriotism, Personal on August 23, 2012
There's a conversation that's been going on, here and there, across the blogosphere, since Danny Boyle blew our minds and melted our cynical hearts at the Olympics Opening Ceremony. It's not a new conversation for most of us, but it's suddenly become more intense, more personal.
We – those of us who are having this conversation now, rather tentatively, almost apologetically – are generally of the left; our disposition is likely to be cosmopolitan and internationalist, and we're likely to be sharply critical of current and previous government policies at home and abroad. We're highly unlikely to have celebrated the recent royal wedding, or the Jubilee, or to own or wear any clothing featuring our national flag. We probably agree that the national anthem is a dirge even if we disagree about what – if anything – should replace it.
But we found ourselves recently coming over, as Mike Press put it, 'a little bit Continental, even almost disarmingly American', in the way we responded to that opening ceremony and the display of sporting excellence that followed. Steve Sarson echoed this – 'It was like I'd turned into an American, or something'.
A bona fide American, Kate Elmer of the 'Yankee in Yorkshire' blog, mused earlier this year that 'when I speak to English friends and colleagues about The Olympics they reluctantly agree that "Yes, I suppose this will be a rather large event won't it?" Some of them hope to attend events. Most of them hope to keep their heads down until the whole thing goes away.' Just the other week she wrote that: 'I have never seen the British get so excited about their own success. I have never seen them so patriotic. The Jubilee didn't do it. The Royal Wedding didn't do it. The Olympics did. It's not an "In Your Face, World!" kind of pride. It's bone deep. It's real, true, forever love – the kind many of them perhaps thought might have been lost. Every medal, every waving flag, every play of the national anthem has them physically on their feet and emotionally on their knees.'
Blake Morrison in the Independent was part of this too: 'I didn't expect to feel excited. And as the opening ceremony grew closer, and the stories of mismanagement multiplied, I feared the worst. I was wrong. Most of us were wrong. The last two weeks have been amazing. I'm embarrassed to admit how many times my eyes have welled up. And even more embarrassed that the cause has usually been a British medal'.
So our conversation has been about what happened to us and what it means for our perception of who we are. There are two main threads to that, I think. One is about the mood that prevailed – summed up in the opening ceremony – replacing our 'seemingly eternal cynicism and negativity' with the sensation that we are better than that, that we can be warm and open and welcoming, joyous and positive. The other is about that tug of pride that we felt in the depiction of our 'Isles of Wonder', and in the performance of 'our' medallists. The first is something we want to celebrate and nurture, the second, as another friend of mine said, is 'complicated'.
It's not a new conversation. Billy Bragg's book The Progressive Patriot is an eclectic invocation of the history, literature and music of his homeland – one feels Danny Boyle must have read it – and a response to the BNP's gain of a dozen seats on Barking & Dagenham Council in the wake of the July 2005 London bombings. It's an attempt to identify the narrative that explains 'how we all came to be here together in this place, and how successive generations of those who were initially excluded from society came to feel that this was where they belonged … to reconcile patriotism with the radical tradition'.
That's not straightforward, and it goes against a strain of radicalism that discards, as Gustave Hervé said in 1907, 'a flag along whose folds are blazoned in letters of gold the records of so many butcheries', that distinguishes the affection and loyalty we may feel for the place we were born or grew up, from love 'for such countries of privilege and iniquity as are the great nations of today'. Natalie Maines of the Dixie Chicks incurred the wrath of US patriots when she said, almost 100 years later, 'I don't understand the necessity for patriotism. Why do you have to be a patriot? About what? This land is our land? Why? You can like where you live and like your life, but as for loving the whole country… I don't see why people care about patriotism."
I agree. With both of them. And yet, and yet… I feel that tug of love without embarrassment or complications for another country, because of the place it holds in my childhood memories and because being there shaped how I see the world. I've put Ghana's flag on my desktop and my Facebook profile – I would never dream of doing that with the Union Jack. I'd fail Tebbitt's notorious cricket test if the England football team were to come up against the Black Stars. So why is it OK for me to be gung-ho about Ghana, and not about the country where I was born, where I've lived the majority of my life, where my children have been born and raised?
What do we mean when we talk about pride? What do we mean, come to that, when we talk about Britain? Kenan Malik's response to the Olympics was sceptical. He asked 'What is the Britain in which we are supposed to have pride? The Britain of immigration and diversity, a diversity celebrated in Danny Boyle's Olympic opening ceremony and that has resulted in the gold medals of Jessica Ennis, Mo Farah, Nicola Adams and countless others? Or the Britain that is suspicious of immigrants and immigration, and whose politicians continually seek to limit it and to preserve 'British jobs for British workers'? The Britain that went all out to stage one of the best Olympic Games in recent memory? Or the Britain of austerity and public spending cuts? The Britain of the Levellers, the Pankhursts and Red Clydeside? Or the Britain of Knox, Rhodes and Rothermere?' Easy answers spring to mind, but he's right, my Britain may not be your Britain.
And yet, and yet. I think there's something going on here. I don't want to wrap myself in the flag any more than I did a month ago. I'm the same person that I was before, but along with many others, I thought I'd had a 'glimpse of another kind of Britain', of a 'soft and civic' patriotism that maybe I could be OK with. Jonathan Freedland said that 'It will slip from view as time passes, but we are not condemned to forget it. We don't have to be like the long-ago poet who once wrote: "Did you exist? Or did I dream a dream?"'
So, do we treat Boyle's vision of the Isles of Wonder as a requiem for what we value about our country, or a celebration? Or even, perhaps, a warning and a call to action? Do we allow our 'normal state of being' to be reinstalled in the British psyche, without protest, without attempting to hold on to what we briefly experienced? As Billy asks in his blog, 'Has the euphoria of the past two weeks has caused a seismic shift in the meta-narrative of Britishness? …Can a new spirit of engaged and transformational patriotism emerge from this experience? One that seeks to build a fairer, more inclusive tomorrow, rather than constantly rehashing a narrow vision of the past?'
We could just say, well, we got a bit carried away there, but it's ok now, we're ourselves again. But with the Paralympics just around the corner, what if we get a bit carried away all over again? What if we actually rather like it? I think we need to talk.
Related articles
- Leader: The London Games and the rise of the new patriotism (newstatesman.com)
Danny Boyle's Isles of Wonder: Paradise Lost? (gerryco23.wordpress.com)
- Blake Morrison, http://www.guardian.co.uk/sport/2012/aug/11/olympic-games-review-blake-morrison?INTCMP=SRCH
- Jonathan Freedland, http://www.guardian.co.uk/commentisfree/2012/aug/10/london-2012-glimpsed-britain-fight?INTCMP=SRCH
- http://kenanmalik.wordpress.com/2012/08/10/i-am-tribal-about-sport-not-patriotic-about-britain/#more-8467
- Danny Boyle's Olympic opening ceremony: madcap, surreal and moving(guardian.co.uk)
- Gustave Herve, http://www.slp.org/pdf/others/antipat_herve.pdf
- Billy Bragg, The Progressive Patriot: a search for belonging (Black Swan, 2007)
This is my country
Posted by cathannabel in Events, Personal, Refugees on August 5, 2012
I'm not given to patriotic outpourings. I have difficulty saying I'm 'proud' to be British – I'm too aware of our colonial history to feel that in any simple way it is a matter of pride. But I've always resented the appropriation of patriotism by the racists of the National Front, the BNP and EDL, and whilst flags and royal weddings and the like don't move me terribly I do feel lucky to live here, and I love my homeland.
I wasn't expecting to find anything about the Olympics that would move me, any more than that wedding did. I was wrong. Danny Boyle's opening ceremony celebrated my Britain, my home, in all its glorious diversity, in a way I hadn't for a moment expected. It was a delight – I was laughing with pleasure, and with tears in my eyes. And last night I was moved by our own Jess's triumph in the heptathlon – a Sheffield lass, after our own Arctic Monkeys had greeted the nation with a cry of 'Y'alreight?' – and by Mo Farah's triumph in the 10000m.
And so the whole thing, which I'd expected to be a massive bore, has turned out to be instead a massive, bonkers celebration of this marvellous, mixed up country, where the multiculturalism which a Tory idiot and the Daily Mail derided has brought us medals beyond all expectations, where the successes of a Yorkshire girl with a Jamaican dad, and a Somali refugee have been celebrated across all the boundaries that sometimes divide us.
Last night Mo was asked if he'd rather be running for Somalia. His answer is powerful in its simplicity and confidence: "Look mate, this is my country. This is where I grew up, this is where I started life. This is my country and when I put on my Great Britain vest I'm proud. I'm very proud."
That's not a pride that requires disparaging or disqualifying anyone, it's not a pride that is based on being white or being able to trace centuries of ancestors on British soil. It's not about believing that we as a nation have always been heroic or just, or that our policies at home or abroad are right now.
I'm proud that over centuries we've kept our doors open to people who've needed to find refuge here, from French Huguenots to Russian and European Jews, to victims of more recent conflicts and oppression. That's the Britain I love, and celebrate – whilst at the same time wishing we were more welcoming, less mean-spirited (see my series of posts for Refugee Week, and if you would, sponsor me to run for Refugee Action in a few weeks time!). Our diversity is our strength, and I love and celebrate that too.
Danny Boyle's vision for the opening ceremony was summed up in Tim Berners-Lee's gift of the internet to the world, a gift, as he said, that is for everyone. That celebration of 'the creativity, exuberance and, above all, the generosity of the British people' had 'a golden thread of purpose – the idea of Jerusalem – of a better world that can be built through the prosperity of industry, through the caring nation that built the welfare state, through the joyous energy of popular culture, through the dream of universal communication. We can build Jerusalem. And it will be for everyone.'
Idealistic, naive – perhaps. But that's my country. And I'm proud.
Related articles
- How Mo Farah rejected the "plastic Brit" charge (newstatesman.com)
- London 2012: Danny Boyle's story of Britain was a celebration of freedom | Shami Chakrabarti (guardian.co.uk)


text:
One of the most inspiring shops in the San Francisco Bay Area is Tail of the Yak, known for its eclectic array of delights from all over the world.
The inventory includes a little bit of everything…gorgeous French ribbons, handmade paper boxes, exquisite antique Italian jewelry, glassware, fine writing instruments, and imported paper goods.
If you are in the area, this amazing shop is a must-see. But, if you don't have the opportunity to visit in person, I hope these photos will allow you to feel as if you were able to make a very quick stop anyway. Here are a few of the highlights:
Antique wooden mannequin in the front display window, adorned with papercrafted medallions.
A selection of printed paper tape, ribbons and silkscreened journals.
A fabulous bouquet of handmade paper flowers greets visitors as they enter the store.
Festive paper garland made of crepe paper medallions. The silver balls are made of thin metallic paper.
More garlands intertwined with a fabulous Murano glass chandelier. The white globes at top left have been dipped in watercolor.
A whimsical paper chandelier made of scallop-edged paper circles and possibly drinking straws?
These colorful garlands are irresistible, and oh so reasonably-priced!
Hand-made shelf paper featuring silkscreened patterns.
These exquisite gold garlands are made of lightweight wood.
An antique book of sketches for stitchery patterns.
A wonderful selection of postcards and greeting cards I have not seen elsewhere.
These silkscreened calendars are free with purchase. I like to recycle them as giftwrap
I hope you enjoyed the tour! Tail of the Yak, 2632 Ashby Avenue, Berkeley, California.

subset: commoncrawl


text:
The world's first dog ate reindeer and horse meat. more...
October 30 , 1938 : Orson Welles' "War of the Worlds" was broadcast on radio, causing a panic among some more...
Learn something new every day More Info... by email
Ibuprofen is a commonly used pain, fever, and inflammation reducer. There are, however, a variety of alternative medications you can use for the same purposes. Among the most common are acetaminophen, naproxen, and aspirin. While any of these medications can provide effective pain relief, you can choose the best option based on the intensity of your pain, the presence of inflammation, and the cause of your discomfort. Additionally, you may do well to seek a doctor's advice when choosing the best medication.
Acetaminophen is a commonly used alternative to ibuprofen. Like ibuprofen, acetaminophen helps reduce pain and lower a person's temperature if he has a fever. Acetaminophen, however, is not effective for inflammation reduction, so it is unlikely to prove the best choice if you're experiencing swelling. This medication is available over the counter in pill, chewable, and liquid form, and may prove to be a good choice for mild-to-moderate discomfort.
Naproxen is another common alternative to ibuprofen. This drug, which is available over the counter and in prescription form, is typically used for treating pain and inflammation. It is particularly effective for the treatment of pain caused by arthritis, other types of joint conditions, and gout. Some people also use it for the relief of menstruation-related pain. Naproxen can also be used to treat a fever.
You may also use aspirin as an alternative to ibuprofen. This over-the-counter medication is frequently used to treat minor aches and pains, and is also helpful for reducing fever and inflammation. Though it is a commonly used drug, it is usually not recommended for children. The use of aspirin in children has been associated with the risk of Reye's syndrome, a potentially deadly disease that affects the internal organs, including the brain and the liver.
Before you choose an alternative to ibuprofen, you may do well to seek advice from a doctor or other medical professional you trust. A doctor can provide information about the medication that is most likely to prove effective for your particular condition and inform you of any side effects you may experience. Additionally, a medical professional who knows your health history can tell you whether a particular pain killer will adversely react with other drugs you take.
If you are pregnant, trying to conceive, or breastfeeding a baby, it can prove particularly important to seek a doctor's advice for an alternative to ibuprofen. Some medications, even those that are available over the counter, have the potential to harm you or your baby. A doctor or other medical professional can help you evaluate the risks and decide which medication you should take.
One of our editors will review your suggestion and make changes if warranted. Note that depending on the number of suggestions we receive, this can take anywhere from a few hours to a few days. Thank you for helping to improve wiseGEEK!


text:
PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD - Three teams are in a close battle for top honours in the Tobago Cricket Association Two Day League after the completion of matches over the past weekend.
The teams are C&B United who are leading the way with 123 points, second place Sport Elite with 105 points and Club Crusoe on 101 points.
PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD - Achievers bounced back from a six-wicket defeat hours before pulling off an eight-wicket win over UWI in their Trinidad and Tobago Women's Cricket Association (TTWCA) Championship Division T20 matches at the UWI Ground, St Augustine on Sunday.
PORT OF SPAIN, TRINIDAD - Central and North finished Day One in the ascendency in their respective matches against East and South East as they battle for berths in the BG T&T Under-19 InterZone two-day competition final.
SINOVILLE, SOUTH AFRICA - Trinidad and Tobago continued their strong showing on the tour of South Africa on Sunday, whipping host club Northerns Women in two T20s by 49 and 43 runs respectively at Sinoville.
Bridgetown, Barbados –Nikita Miller has been Jamaica's trump card with the ball this year and he is looking to add to the bag of wickets he has taken this season. The wily left-arm spinner has been a handful for regional batsmen with 12 wickets at 14 runs apiece in the Regional Super 50 tournament.
West Indies Cricket Board Inc.
P.O. Box 616 W, St. John's, Antigua
Tel : 268-481-2450
Fax : 268-481-2498
Email: firstname.lastname@example.com


text:
Skip brand navigation
skip form
Where are you going?
City, airport, address, attraction, or hotel
Use HHonors Points
Use flexible dates
Promotion/Offer code:
Group code:
Corporate account:
Travel agent
AAA rate *
AARP rate *
CARP rate *
Government / Military rates *
* ID required at check-in
close tab panel
Find where we are located
View the Maps & Directions Page
Receive up to 15% off leisure stays! Exclusive for active & retired military and their families.
More Information
Skip secondary navigation
Our Hampton Inn Debary/Deltona hotel offers free WiFi access, hot breakfast daily and a convenient location near Deltona attractions. Please contact us or use the 'Check Availability' link on the right side of the page to check availability for 10 rooms or more, our staff is here to assist if you have any questions about our hotel and services.


text:
Yes! cable TV is past now, why should we pay heavy subscription charges monthly while we could watch TV on our computers. Gone are the days when every house had TV's but only few had computers, Now every house has computer and even internet connectivity.TV Tuner cards made it possible to watch TV channels on personal computer and laptops. But we're not talking about Tuner cards here. We're talking about television channel broadcastin live on web that too without much delay in streaming.
Many of the national and international TV channels broadcast live for free on web. So all we need is a software or website that combines these channels makes it a Online TV. Some of the websites may require the use of latest browser with Microsoft Silverlight or Flash Player or Windows Media Player for browsers to view the channels. As you are accessing the site through web browser your browser should support the playback of the videos. Don't be worried the browser will flash out the news when you are encounter the requirement of it, Firefox does that and I am sure other browser too should do it.
Now i'll show you some sites where you can browse a huge list of TV channels for free streaming over internet -
>>The WWi TV or the World Wide Internet TV website is a guide to streaming media available on the web for free. You would have the country list and categories list too on the left pane. Click on any category and you will get the list of TV channels which falls under that category. A click on the TV channel will lead you to a page where the broadcast of channel will begin quickly.Surely this is the #1 portal to view the live TV on your PC and laptop.
>> iDesiTV is a web portal which provides a live streaming of South Asian entertainment channels mostly from INDIA. It's a straightforward, free services which allows watching of TV channels for free. To view the channels in iDesiTV you might need to have Flash or Silverlight supported by your browser to watch live streaming of content. The following are the channels supported by iDesiTV – Sony TV, Star Plus, Star One, Zee TV, Star Gold, MTV India, Sahara Family, NDTV Profit, News 9, NDFT Good Times, NDTV Imagine, ETV Bangla, ETC Punjabi, UTV Moviews, Geo News, Ary Digital, Ary Music, PTV, Geo TV, Vissa TV, Raj Music Kannada, Raj Music Malayalam, Raj Music Tamil, Jaya Max, Jaya Plus, Makkal TV, Raj Tamil News, ETV Oriya, SVBC and TV5.
>> The Live TV Software released byhttp://www.freelivetvsoftware.com works on software program which has to be downloaded and installed which works through your internet connection to bring TV to your PC. This TV software is 100% legal to use and it has broadcasting of mostly all the countries in the world.
>>Mobile TV is actually available for mobiles but being a web-based portal its makes it easy for the PC and laptop users to access the portal and watch the live streaming of the channels. The channels includes by them for live streaming, some of them which I know are Al Jazeera, Discovery Channel, ESPN, The History Channel, MTV, National Geographic Channel, NDTV 24×7, Nickelodeon, Sky News and few others. All in together they allow broadcast of 36 channels straight from their browser without any registration or download.
It looks like the future of TV on PC and laptops looks bright


text:
|08 Jan 2012
Windows 7 - Home Premimum (64bit) OEM
Hover state of desktop icons...
I've searched high and low for an answer on Google, but can't seem to find one. I don't think there's anything you can do about it, but here it goes...
So on your XP desktop, when you hover over your desktop icons with your mouse, they don't light up. On 7, when you mouseover your desktop icons, a light blue box shows up around the icons indicating that you're over it.
How on this huge planet of ours do you disable that hover effect? It's annoying! Any help on this issue would be super swell
|My System Specs
|09 Jan 2012
Win 7 Pro x64 / Win 8.1 Pro
There are some images that will need to be edited in the aero.msstyles.
If you are using the default aero theme I can change that for you.
If you are using a custom theme you will need to ask the
theme maker. It's not cool to change someone else work.
This will make it a custom theme so you will need to do 1 of these 2 ways of Enabling custom themes for it to work.
Enabling Custom Themes - Windows 7
Theme - How to Apply Custom Themes
If you would like me to do it all so I need is a name that you would like to call the theme and I will do it and post it here for you and help you install it.
|My System Specs
|Thread Tools
|Similar help and support threads for2: Hover state of desktop icons...
|Permissions issue? No desktop icons or system tray icons.
|System Security
|Bringing desktop to same mem state after bsod. 3rd part SW?
|BSOD Help and Support
|Can't "Hover" Taskbar Icons with multiple windows, have to click!
|General Discussion
|Desktop Icons and Start-up Icons appeared to be bugged.
|General Discussion
|Desktop Icons and Start-up Icons appeared to be bugged.
|BSOD Help and Support
|Preview box when you hover toolbar icons disappeared?
|General Discussion
|Desktop icon hover highlight
|Our Sites
|Site Links
|About Us
|Find Us
Windows 7 Forums is an independent web site and has not been authorized, sponsored, or otherwise approved by Microsoft Corporation. "Windows 7" and related materials are trademarks of Microsoft Corp.
© Designer Media Ltd
All times are GMT -5. The time now is 09:18 PM.


text:
Rated 3.9 out of 5 by 772 reviewers.
Rated 4 out of 5 by MarkTexNYC Awesome Sheraton No doubt this property is pretty old, but they've done an excellent job of keeping it fresh, clean and up-to-date. The property is huge and clearly a mother ship for conference-goers. Further more: - Excellent views from the higher floors - Excellent Club Lounge - Express elevators to top floors - Super clean - Excellent location. March 4, 2012
Rated 5 out of 5 by bozack Recent stay during the cold spell I must say I was very impressed with this property all the way from reception to housekeeping and valet. As a platinum member I am extra picky and this location certainly met and exceeded my needs. Would be nice to have the lounge open but was told it was just out for this time of year which is OK as they made up for it. January 10, 2014
Rated 3 out of 5 by Do2014 Expectations not met When arriving, the room was not ready, despite confirmation for the indicated hour of arrival. Had ordered a club room but could not get one, hence room was unilaterally downgraded - on a prepaid reservation! In the room, the bed needed to be replaced and we experienced wifi problems for the first hours. February 23, 2014
Rated 5 out of 5 by edina36 annual stay in this hotel for past twenty years Staff are outstanding and very friendly and helpful at all times. Breakfast only meal I have sampled and it was delicious ,and plenty provided. Decor changed since last visit, very contemporary,disappointed with new facility furnishings, not in keeping with location and expected level of hotel. the green color not a happy choice. December 13, 2012
Rated 4 out of 5 by okay2 okay no comments, but location is fine May 18, 2014
Rated 5 out of 5 by flatif Best time in Boston The hotel is great in terms on location and service. Every thing is in walking distance. Had best of my time there. The staff is 5 star and that makes staying there much more pleasant. April 27, 2014
Rated 5 out of 5 by Bluejay65 Review Have stayed here before, and experienced the same excellence this time May 14, 2014
Rated 4 out of 5 by chief981 Different Strokes In this world we live in, It doesn't matter where you spend the night, as long as the bed is comfy, But we REALLY enjoy the benefits of sometimes not going out into the world. Having the benefit of having all the things of home in your room. Mic and Fridge. A definite NEED! And a way to and from the airport would be excellent September 13, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5 by Mac2014 The hotel is pet friendly I attended a national nursing conference and was able to bring my husband and West Highland Terrier. You made all of us feel so welcome. Thank you to our housekeeper who fussed over my dog every morning. He loved her! We had 5 GREAT nights and will come back but next time for fun. March 16, 2014
Rated 3 out of 5 by A6mer Meh Room was very small and had a damp smell. Saw other rooms people paid same amount for and was not comparable. May 9, 2014
Rated 3 out of 5 by BJS1965 Did not live up to expectations I expected the hotel to be comparable to other big city conference hotels. The Sheraton did not meet those expectations. The room was not all that clean, as evidenced by the very long hair that was on the phone keypad when I walked in the door. All of the brochures in the room were heavily worn and some had writing on them from previous guests. Dishes left in the hall by other guests were there for a good part of the day. My biggest hassle was with the TV. Why would you have digital television when the signal strength is so low that most of the channels will not display. A big TV is great, but not if you cannot access most of the channels and the ones that you can experience signal problems. Given the competition at the Prudential Center, I would have expected more from the Sheraton. So I was quite disappointed by my stay. Needless to say, I would have to recommend one of the other Prudential Center hotels for anyone attending a conference in that part of Boston. December 18, 2013
Rated 1 out of 5 by Charlieboohoo Tired & unhelpful I bookeda Club room and arrvived to be told the Club was closed but no change to room rate! I could however sit in the public areas should I wish to!! The rooms and communal areas were tired and the staff in the bar area rude. The clerks on the reception desk were less than helpful and perfuntory in tone and outlook. Grim! December 10, 2012
Rated 5 out of 5 by Helcho Great stay The team at Sheraton Boston were quick and efficient with our girl's bacholerette weekend getaway. Rooms were comfortable and we appreciated the high level upgrade despite what seemed like a very busy weekend at the hotel. April 14, 2014
Rated 4 out of 5 by Dancemom44 Met Expectations I was very pleased overall. The staff was very courteous, the room was comfortable. I did specifically request a room away from the elevator and ice machines - and of course my room was the closest room to the elevator and ice machines. Besides that I was very happy here. March 19, 2014
Rated 5 out of 5 by jack7490 Appreciated upgrade Really appreciated the upgrade to a suite. After client visit, it was very nice to visit with family and enjoy Mike's Pastry dessert watching the skyline. Hotel staff was helpful and we really enjoyed our stay. Won't eat breakfast in hotel restaurant again because coffee was undrinkable and prices were absurdly high. December 23, 2012
Rated 2 out of 5 by SNerd The worst experience in Sheraton I was trying to talk with necessary people about my mis-booking at the hotel, the answer was nothing that they can do. I will try contacting hotel once more but not hoping anything will happen. Also there were a lot of mistakes in the service, communication was bad, there was even no shampoo/body wash when arrived. November 27, 2012
Rated 2 out of 5 by FLUFFY852 Tub should drain at 2334 When you take a shower the tub should drain and not fill up. May 12, 2014
Rated 1 out of 5 by TAD21 Terrible experience for families with young children - Room not ready for children despite pre requests, a temporary crib arrived 2 hours after check in (at 11pm) despite multiple calls to guest services. This was after a 6 hour transatlantic flight, exhausting. - Never enough people on reception, 12 desks and never more than 2 people maning them, long lines and waits to get anything done or see anyone. - Receptionists rude and surly (most of time). Did not look to solve problems, i.e. no adaptors in reception OR shop, it was MY problem. A kind guest stepped in at the end to help out... - 30mins to get car in the morning from valet, nightmare when you have young kids - You have to pay for internet, daily rate only available and per device.... - No BBC news on TV, can't be considered a business hotel without Overall a big conference factory floor with no or little personal attention to guests needs. Well overpriced for such poor quality of service, go to a motel you'll save yourself or your company a lot of time and money. June 11, 2012
Rated 4 out of 5 by Johnnygull57 Fix the bathroom please Hi, overall the room was fine, but the bathroom, beyond being really small, needs some repair work. Looks like the room above it had a big flood and the damage to the wall above the toilet is very obvious. Ceiling's a mess as is the wall paper where it meets the ceiling. Really unnecessary for a major hotel chain. October 23, 2012
Rated 4 out of 5 by BP2211 Nice Sheraton in a Great Location The Sheraton Boston is in an excellent location, in the Prudential Center. The hotel was renovated a few years back and is in good condition. The rooms are nice and modern. The club lounge is very nice. Other portions of the hotel are currently undergoing a renovation. March 9, 2014
Rated 3 out of 5 by StevieJ Room by the elevator - No Good! Why did you have to put me there! So noisy each night it would wake me up;-( May 8, 2014
Rated 4 out of 5 by Kristen99 This hotel has everything This hotel met all of my needs. I loved sitting at the pool, reading and relaxing. The pool is spotless and was always quiet. The fitness rooms were great too -- better than expected. The staff was always friendly and helpful. No complaints at all. Highly recommend, and I'm fussy. February 20, 2014
Rated 4 out of 5 by rjake13 Excellent check in With the Red Sox winning the World Series, my wife and I wanted to stay overnight in Boston for the Rolling Rally Parade. I could not have been more pleased with the speed of my check in.I was actually offered an upgrade on my room, as well as being able to get late check out, all in a matter of minutes!! November 3, 2013
Rated 3 out of 5 by noname123 Smallest bathrooms I've ever experienced It's actually too bad about how small the bathrooms are. We even asked to upgrade to a suite and they said the bathrooms were the same size. There can only be one person in the bathroom at a time. Everything else was good but the bathrooms really made a bad impact on us. March 3, 2014
Rated 4 out of 5 by NewEnglandTour Recommendation We stayed in this hotel for 2 days during our New-England-Tour. The room was nice & clean and the view spectacular! It's in the middle of the City - the Trolley stops in front of the hotel --> very good for tourists. The food was delicious. Just one little criticism: it was very cold in the lobby (air-con) September 13, 2012
Rated 4 out of 5 by ddanm NM Exceptional hotel. Our room was magnificent with a view and it was large. It is close to everything including restaurants and shopping. The staff is friendly, courteous and professional. Kudos to the general manager who obviously supervises a superior program and obtains only the best from his personnel. October 19, 2013
Rated 5 out of 5 by tim59 Great catered brunch in Constitution room. The perfect spot for our family gathering. Food was great. Staff was wonderful. May 7, 2014
Rated 4 out of 5 by PolkaDot WONDERFUL HOTEL Our room was fresh and well appointed despite it being one of the smallest rooms in which we have stayed. Each hotel staff member was friendly, helpful and shared a smile. We would love to return since the area is so accessible to transportation and quality shopping and restaurants. Love this Sheraton! November 21, 2013
Rated 4 out of 5 by Robin42 A little disappointed w room Staff and service was wonderful at hotel. I was disappointed with room on north tower. As a star wood preferred floor it was nothing to write home about. Tower is old. Our bathroom had peeling paint from ceiling and vent in bathroom was filthy. Never cleaned. Just not what I expect when I stay at Sheraton September 3, 2012
Rated 5 out of 5 by Susan66 Most everything was fine Everything was wonderful-service, room. However, I would like to make one suggestion, even though I opted for the green approach to my linens a couple of days, I would have appreciated that someone remove dirty glasses that were in the room. Otherwise I had no complaints. The staff was wonderful as well. October 11, 2012


text:
A night before the Houston Rockets were set to take on the Atlanta Hawks, forward Chandler Parsons stopped by Studio J late Thursday night to appear on TNT's Inside the NBA.
Parsons chatted with the TNT crew about the Rockets' season thus far, how he was able to woo Dwight Howard into Houston in the offseason, and the possibility of a second career for him in modeling.
Tags: Chandler Parsons Houston Rockets Houston Rockets News NBA Houston Rockets


text:
Dr. Elie L. Francis, MD
Internal Medicine, Alle Kiski Medical Associates
- 317 E 1st Ave
Tarentum, PA 15084
- 4 Office Locations
- Email a Friend
- (724) 226-2900
Dr. Elie L. Francis has been practicing medicine for 15 years. Dr. Francis graduated from the American University of Beirut, Faculty of Medicine, Beirut, Lebanon in 1999. She practices medicine in Tarentum, PA and 3 other locations and specializes in Internal Medicine. Dr. Francis is affiliated with Allegheny Valley Hospital and Western Pennsylvania Hospital.
Gender: Female
Years in Practice: 15 Years
Languages Spoken: English
Medical School: American University of Beirut, Faculty of Medicine, Beirut, Lebanon
Graduation Date: 1999
Hospital Affiliations: Allegheny Valley Hospital, Western Pennsylvania Hospital
Specialties: Internal Medicine
*This physician has multiple office locations. See Appointments for details.
©2005-2014 WebMD, LLC. All rights reserved.
WebMD does not provide medical advice, diagnosis or treatment. See additional information.


text:
Philanthropic donation of the day, John Paulson edition
John Paulson lives in a 28,500 square foot townhouse at 9 E 86th Street on the Upper East Side, opposite the Neue Galerie and just steps away from Central Park. He's invested a lot into his townhouse, which hosted a big fundraiser for Mitt Romney in April. And now he's given even more to Central Park: $100 million, to be precise. "The park is very large," he explained to the New York Times, "and its endowment is relatively small."
Actually, at $144 million (pre-Paulson), Central Park's endowment, I'm pretty confident in saying, makes it the most lavishly-endowed park in the world. Half of Paulson's gift is going to make that endowment even bigger; the other half will be spent on various capital improvements. Apparently the entrance to the southwest corner is going to get spiffed up.
The Central Park Conservancy has a CEO, of course, named Doug Blonsky; he made $493,462 in 2010. Paulson probably considers that to be a "relatively small" amount as well. Most numbers have a habit of looking small, when you're a multibillionaire. Blonsky did his job today, hailing Paulson's money as "transformational".
But the fact is that if you wanted to give $100 million to charity while making the barest minimum impact on the world, you'd be hard pushed to improve on Paulson's performance today. Maybe he was inspired by Ronald Lauder, across the street, who is just waiting for the perfect time to donate the Klimt painting he owns to the museum he founded, where it has been hung since he bought it.
On the other hand, if you wanted to make a charitable donation expertly calibrated for its helpfulness with respect to your social-climbing ambitions on the Upper East Side, then a splashy gift to the Central Park Conservancy could hardly be improved upon. The gift was announced with great fanfare: a massive press conference and photo opportunity, dozens of park employees, the Mayor, the whole bit.
Of course, since this is a charitable deduction, it's a tax expenditure, too. I don't know what Paulson's marginal tax rate is, but in any case, if you multiply that by $100 million, you get the amount of money that taxpayers are being forced to contribute to John Paulson's 843-acre back yard, in the form of foregone tax revenues. Is that the best use of public funds? Almost certainly not, but we don't have any choice.
I spent last night learning a lot about the Drugs for Neglected Diseases initiative — an incredibly exciting model of drug development and clinical testing which refuses to deal in any kind of patents and which has already, in its short life, come up with six transformational treatments for diseases which are too rare, or suffered by people too poor, for the market to ever really help on its own. It's not a particularly sexy charity, and doesn't have a Halloween ball full of boldface names, but it saves lives, and as a byproduct it's also helping to open up drug libraries which have been neglected for decades. What's more, it acts on a tiny budget, mainly acting as a liaison between many other actors, helping them to work in concert with each other.
After seeing the amazing things that are being done by DNDi, it was a little depressing to wake up to Paulson's preening performance. He is of course free to spend his money any way he sees fit. He has more money than he could ever spend, so the next thing on his list is acquiring the respect and admiration of his social circle. And he's going about that in a very effective way. I just don't see why the coverage should be so glowing, and I certainly don't see why U.S. taxpayers should be chipping in.
This gift, in other words, is Exhibit A in any attempt to cap the amount that American taxpayers can deduct in any given year. Foster Friess likes to say that the rich shouldn't pay any taxes at all, and that instead they should "self-tax" by giving their money to carefully chosen charities. What today's news underlines is that while such donations are ostensibly in the service of helping others, in practice they tend to be extremely self-serving. The rich can give away more money than the rest of us. But that doesn't make them any better at it. Quite the contrary.
We welcome comments that advance the story through relevant opinion, anecdotes, links and data. If you see a comment that you believe is irrelevant or inappropriate, you can flag it to our editors by using the report abuse links. Views expressed in the comments do not represent those of Reuters. For more information on our comment policy, see http://blogs.reuters.com/fulldisclosure/2010/09/27/toward-a-more-thoughtful-conversation-on-stories/
Wow, nice to see someone stand up to the rich for once. I just don't get how people in this country don't understand how sick and evil these people are. 100 million could have saved the lives of a lot of people who need food, shelter or medicine. How do these people sleep at night knowing that their silly 'I have more than you do' power games are costing innocent children their lives? How do you buy your 7th house or 10th maserti when there are people literally unable to stand up from malnutrition or disease. Maybe we can't fix any problem in the world, but how do you not keep trying until you are down to, say, your last 50 million?? Sick, sick people….
"multiply that by $100 million, you get the amount of money that taxpayers are being forced to contribute to John Paulson's 843-acre back yard, in the form of foregone tax revenues."
For starters it's not "our money" until it hits the treasury's account. We (through our elected representatives) decide how to spend our money. JP get's to decide how to spend his money. The "you didn't give that" argument is pretty weak in my view.
Unlike some of his even wealthier billionaire brethren, JP actually IS a poster child for conspicuous consumption. I bet he has spent an average of 2-5 Million per year on his lavish lifestyle. (In that figure we can't count spending on real estate just the implied annual rental value… you can consume a steak dinner after all… but you can only consume a luxury penthouse for the time you live in it.)
Still though… while the 50 – 100 million Paulsen might be able to spend on himself during his life might seem obscene to many… it's still not even 1/100th of his current wealth estimated to be around 10 billion.
Lots of smart people are upset to see people make massive sums but really what offends them is that they don't get to dictate how those resources are invested in life and disposed of upon the death of the billionaires.
Ask yourself Felix… are we really bettor allocators of capital then they for the 90 – 99% of the wealth they will NEVER spend.
Wow, Felix. Didn't know you were so sanctimonious.
Of course, the charity in the US that usually receives the most in donations annually is:
The Harvard Endowment.
Because obviously if you want to find the most needy Americans, those terribly under-privileged Harvard students are it.
So, your beef is with the fact that he gets a tax deduction? Get serious.
No mention of Paulson's very favorable 'carried interest' tax treatment which his donation to/investment in the Romney campaign is clearly designed to preserve??
That is the better story here.
@ y2kurtus: "are we really bettor allocators of capital then they for the 90 – 99% of the wealth they will NEVER spend."
Since a central plank of the modern Republican party is that fiscal deficits and the U.S. Government debt will ruin this country, and Paulson is vocally supporting Romney, then tax deductions for contributions that do not appear to be desperately needed is, according to his/their own policy, a terrible allocation of funds by Paulson. Has he not been listening to enough Pete Peterson? Why does Paulson hate America?
As a native New Yorker I am pretty happy about Paulson's gift. Central Park is a huge, public place used by a wide variety of people for a wide variety of activities. There is no admission fee.
How many charity runs and walks take place in the park every year? A ton, as well as people exercising, reading, socializing, children playing, etc.
Paulson has donated to his local community in a way that benefits all.
The only people grosser than the John Paulsons of the world are the parasitic politicians that enable them.
Wow, Felix. Didn't know you could be so sanctimonious.
a) Had Mr.Paulson been a citizen of Scandinavian countries, he would never have been able to earn billions of dollars. Such a large customer base like America doesn't exist there.
b) Even if he somehow earned billions of dollars there, he would have to pay high taxes on that income. My rough estimate is his wealth would be 1/10th of his current wealth. It takes money to earn lots of it.
c) So during the period that Mr.Paulson made all his wealth in the largest customer base in the world (only by financial gambling that is), average American was struggling to make his ends meet.
d) This day would never have come had it not been anti tax lobbyists take over Washington with their GOP friends.
I thought the concept of philanthropy was grounded in the broader concept of disinterested altruism. I see none of that with that Mr Paulson who's essentially donating that money to himself and his own back yard.
The most charitable view one may conjure about that kind of "philanthropy" would be to call it "tax-exempt gardening and yard improvement".
I wish I could that for the surroundings of my own little shack out there in the boondocks. But for some reasons, one of them having to do with not being a well-connected billionaire, I don't think the IRS would take a very kind view of the whole deal…
y2kurtu, you're obviously unacquainted with the concept of a tax expenditure.
You're kinda right that "it's not "our money" until it hits the treasury's account", but the thing you're perhaps willfully missing is that if it weren't for the tax deduction(s) embedded in the tax code, that money would have gone into the treasury. For that reason, the revenue losses to the U.S. Treasury is the same thing, from a budgetary point of view, as a taxpayer subsidy.
Felix is entirely correct on this one.
What is Felix correct about?
That JP wants to build up some good will in the community? I'll grant you that I guess.
That we the little people were entitled to the treasury's share of his $100,000,000 gift and so really we not he donated 35,000,000 of that amount and he donated only 65,000,000? If that helps you sleep nights sure… believe that.
Unlike Steve Jobs or Thomas Edison, JP didn't invent something that will benefit a generation of people around the world. What he did do was to spot the largest imbalance of risk that has ever existed and show it to the world with his investors money.
If you have any question as to if that was the "right thing" or a "good thing" look at Japan 1990 – 2012. Valuations got so far out of line that their market fell 75% over a 22 year period and has yet to recover. I'll repeat for effect. 75% market drop no recovery 22 years from peak. When you envy JP, his money, and his gifting tell yourself that he helped you avoid that fate.
Remember also that Felix sort of belittled Mr.Facebooks mega-donation to Newark Public schools. It seems the rich can do little to appease the masses anymore. Dangerous times!


text:
They announced today via Twitter that Brewers outfielder Ryan Braun would be suspended for the remainder of the 2013 season.
Based on a statement from Braun himself, it looks like he won't be appealing it, either.
Here are the tweets from MLB:
BREAKING: Ryan Braun suspended without pay for remainder of 2013 season for violations of Joint Drug Prevention and Treatment Program.— MLB (@MLB) July 22, 2013
"I realize now that I have made some mistakes. I am willing to accept the consequences of those actions." - Ryan Braun.— MLB (@MLB) July 22, 2013
"I wish to apologize to ... all of the baseball fans especially those in Milwaukee, the great Brewers organization, and my teammates."-Braun— MLB (@MLB) July 22, 2013
Do you think this was the right move by Major League Baseball, as well as Braun? It looks like he's just going to take his lumps and sit out the rest of the year, in what appears to be some sort of plea deal with the league, since there's not really a precedent for a 65-game suspension.
Does this change your opinion of Braun?


text:
Chic in Review | Look for the Ryan Lochte Label
All the fashion news of the week that's fit to reprint.
All the fashion news of the week that's fit to reprint.
One hundred and fifty skaters put on a mesmerizing performance that ended with the whole lot down for the count.
A look inside Moncler: from the brand's signature puffers to the quirky, colorful pieces that Thom Browne designs for the company.
Fabulously bug-like, camera-flash protective shades for the celebrity in you.
As temperatures drop this season, pant lengths stay high. A month-by-month look.
Some designers turned to the classic seaside boardwalk-strolling looks of Lartigue, Cocteau and Picasso for inspiration for their spring/summer 2011 collections.
Aspen, Colo., has been generating fresh buzz recently for its latest crop of shops that provide a perfect contrast against the traditional mountain-town aesthetic.
Don't we all deserve a little treat? Whether your idea of indulgence means limited-edition denim, cookware as beautiful as it is functional or good old standbys like jewelry and handbags, we've got you covered in our holiday gift guide.
From the cerebral to the camp (or was it camping?), here is a slide show of the coolest backdrops during the recent men's-wear shows in Milan and Paris.
The buzz from Milan's Salone del Mobile is so infectious last week that it burrowed its way into even the most sacrosanct of luxury fashion windows. Here's a peek at the brands with the most dazzling design vitrines.
Max Mara (above) has a whopping 2,000 stores worldwide, but its Milan flagship is the first and only to feature The Basement, an underground space that sells high-end objects. Curated by the city's feisty design doyenne, Rossana Orlandi, The Basement features work by Gaetano Pesce, Gio Ponti and Patricia Urquiola. Urquiola was commissioned to design the store windows in tribute to this year's Salone: the woven objects and chairs are all hers, while the Ape "truck" is 100 percent Italian design: it's the nation's beloved, three-wheeled answer to the U-Haul.


text:
Take outdoor entertaining to new heights by building a backyard tiki bar with bamboo accents and a thatched roof.
A boring cram packed loft gets a total revamp in this crash!
Paul attaches bamboo roof panels to a pergola.
Paul and crew build an amazing deck that includes a bar built into a tree.
After four years and seven contractors, this kitchen is ready for a redo.
These homeowners have a big space but it's blah and uninviting.
Update a kitchen using eco-friendly bamboo for both durability and style.
This backyard is transformed into the ultimate bachelor pad and cabana.
A bachelor gets a Vegas-style backyard makeover.
See Nancy Golden create tropical-themed placemats from bamboo shades.
Here's how to design and build your own fountain for the garden.
This Vegas kitchen crash uses eco-friendly elements like lots of bamboo.
Here's an inside look at the building of a bamboo-plywood mantel slipcover.
Install bamboo flooring over existing tile with this click-and-lock system.
Jason Cameron offers advice for getting rid of aggressive bamboo.
Ready to upgrade your countertops? Here are some very affordable options.


text:
GEO5 - Terrainby Fine spol. s r.o.
The program creates digital terrain models (DEM, DTM) from input data points and holes. Program calculates excavation and embankment fill & cut volumes and also serves as task manager for another GEO5 programs.
Version RAM 1.0 - Multiple Source Air Quality Modeler and Analyzerby ESDV - Environmental Software & Digital Visualization
Versatile multiple source air quality Guassian-plume dispersion software; model based on revised RAM-EPA with easy-to-use GUI, self-contained map support tool, visualization and analysis kit as well as help system, used in various Windows-based microcomputers.
CERC - Version FLOWSTAR - Advanced Software for High Resolution Air Flow Over Complex Terrainby Cambridge Environmental Research Consultants (CERC)
FLOWSTAR is a model developed by CERC for calculating profiles of the mean airflow and turbulence in the atmospheric boundary layer. The model includes the impact of hilly terrain and the effects of stratification and variable surface roughness.
GEO5 - GEO5 Geotechnical Software Suiteby Fine spol. s r.o.
The GEO5 software suite is designed to solve various geotechnical problems. The easy-to-control package consists of individual programs with a unified user-friendly interface. Each program is used to analyze a different geotechnical task, however the modules communicate with each other to form an integrated suite.
MakaiPlan Pro - Submarine Cable Planning and Simulation Softwareby Makai Ocean Engineering, Inc.
MakaiPlan Pro is an extension of the successful cable planning software, MakaiPlan. It contains a dynamic, finite-segment cable model which uses an iterative solution scheme to obtain an accurate cable position and tension configuration at each time step. In addition to performing the cable planning tasks associated with MakaiPlan, MakaiPlan Pro ...
Watershed Modeling Systemby Aquaveo, LLC.
Watershed modeling done quickly and accurately with WMS The complete all-in-one watershed solution GIS Tools Web-based data acquisition tools Terrain data import and editing tools Automated watershed delineation & hydrologic modeling Support for the most industry standard hydrologic models Step-by-step hydrologic modeling wizard Hydraulic ...
XP Solutions - Version xpstorm - Versatile Software Packageby XP Solutions
Simulation of stormwater and flooding for flow analysis is a constantly changing world. Traditionally, modelling was a 'best guess' and relied heavily on assumptions made by the modeller. XP Solutions believes in providing you with the system variables needed - and interactive GIS tools to find that data - to produce the ...
BREEZE - 3D Analystby BREEZE Software and Data / Trinity Consultants
BREEZE 3D Analyst is a powerful post-processor that enables you to analyze and visualize data in time series, contour plots, and 3D isosurface and plane views, and to visualize the intersection/union of two data sets. It is useful for analyzing meteorological, terrain, and concentration data. Animated movies can be created for display in ...
xpwspg - Hydraulic Analysis Modelby XP Solutions
New xpwspg is an easy-to-use hydraulic analysis model that computes uniform and non-uniform steady flow water surface profiles and pressure gradients in a network of open channels and closed conduits.
EOL - Wind Atlases - Shape Files for NCEP/NCAR Reanalysis Databy EOL Energie-Online.de GmbH
The wind atlases essentially are refinements (downscaling) of the NCEP/NCAR reanalysis data performed with the three-dimensional atmospheric flow model MM5 using high-resolution terrain and land-use data. The continuous verification with wind and energy output data shows the advantage of these data in comparison to wind data from weather stations.
Related Terms for digital terrain modeling
Need help finding the right suppliers?
Let the XPRTs do the work for you


text:
Register now for free, or sign in with any of these services:
Status: Closed
Know more about this business than we do? Cool! Please submit any corrections or missing details you may have.Help us make it right
Be the first NJ.com user to add photos or videos of Molinari's
Molinari's is located in Neptune City . They can be reached by calling (732) 775-7733 or going to their website . Molinari's has not yet been reviewed on MojoPages.com.
When you're in the mood for good times and great cuisine, be sure to checkout Molinari's. The restaurant is located in one of the area's mostpleasant settings and is known for its delightful staff and superb cuisine.The menu at Molinari's features a wide array of great selections, madefrom only the freshest and highest quality ingredients, with something sureto please every member of your...


text:
Feel Stuck in life?
- Details
- Category: Self Growth
- Written by Joe White
She said, "Joe, I mastered the art of not getting what I want in my life."
She went on to share examples of a failed marriage, an uninspiring career, and an uncertain future. She told me how she was on the verge of giving up hope; that the waves kept knocking her down. She felt she was running out of options and running thin on hope.
I remember the look in her weathered eyes when she asked me, "Is there any hope for me?"
Life can be tough. We all know that; and it is easy to get caught up in trying to make a living, paying the bills, raising kids, eating right, and so on. The next thing we know, that birthday with a "0" or a "5" is coming up, reminding us just exactly how far we have NOT come.
I smiled and said, "What you need isn't hope. What you need is YOU. And that is something you have always had within you. You must access that part of you... the part of you that recognizes the truth: You are more than you've allowed yourself to become. Just because you have not stepped up in the past doesn't mean that you can't make a new choice right now. Your past does not equal your future. The question is: Will you let go of the familiar and comfortable for what you truly desire?
There are two worlds in which we can live. The world of comfort and the world of growth. Comfort is addictive and seductive, but there is no fulfillment in comfort. We are wired to grow. Yes it is uncertain, but it is part of who we are at our core. When we step out into the unknown, we grow and become more. As we become more, we then have more to share with ourselves and others. Through growth and contribution is where we feel fulfillment. It is not always easy, but it is the path we must all take.
She looked at me me with a nervous smile and said, "It has been so long since I really let go and embraced changed. I know I can do it, but my fear is: what if I fail?" I chuckled and said, "Don't worry, you WILL fail, and you will learn how to get back up stronger, with more resolve than before." Her face lit up and for once I saw her first real smile as she said, "I think I would really like that. I've lived in comfort and fear long enough. I am tired of waiting, tired of trying, it is time to break free!"
We all have the resources within us to create the life we want. Sometimes all we need is the courage to let go of comfort and embrace who we are and what we can achieve, accomplish, and become. In the case of my client, with a little coaching and guidance, she now lives in growth; unafraid and ready to achieve her dreams.
Until next month, I wish you a month of love and passion!!
How Emotional Intelligence Can Make You Better in 2012
- Details
- Category: Self Growth
- Written by Dr. Bradberry
For many of us, 2012 will begin with a promise—a promise that this year we will accomplish that which has eluded us. Often it's the everyday things that prove most difficult—managing your schedule, treating people the way you ought to, and keeping things in perspective when chaos is at hand. The sad truth is that nearly 80% of us will fall off the resolution bandwagon by Super Bowl Sunday; and by this time next year, a mere 5% of us will have succeeded in reaching our goals.
There are two reasons why we're so bad at reaching our resolutions. The first is that we bite off more than we can chew. It may seem reasonable to pick up three or four new skills to add to your repertoire, but that's an expectation the mind can't execute. When we try to develop too many new skills at once, they become competing priorities that leave us distracted, discouraged, and overwhelmed. The second reason most self-improvement efforts are doomed to fail is that our emotions have a nasty habit of hijacking our behavior. Without a strong ability to recognize and manage our emotions as they occur, old habits are sure to die hard.
Heal Shame and Increase Your Personal Power!
- Details
- Category: Inspiration
- Written by Veronica Monet, ACS, CAM
Healing shame is a vital step toward realizing your full potential and can have many unexpected benefits.. For instance, if you are less controlled by feelings of shame, you may have more energy and enthusiasm to explore your creativity, find your passion, realize your purpose, and find fulfillment.
I create a profoundly shame free experience for my clients in part, because I've had a long, personal history with shame. It's been an intense journey which continues to unfold to this day. The process of healing shame is, for me, on-going. But it does get easier.
There was a time when the shame itself evoked feelings of shame. Now I greet my shame with love and acceptance, with a tenderness akin to parental love. But that didn't come automatically. I had to work for it.
Remember Your Magnificence Part 3 of 3
This is the third of three articles featuring highlights of my recent interview with Anita Moorjani, best-selling author of Dying To Be Me: My Journey from Cancer to Near Death to True Healing. Anita was healed of stage 4 terminal cancer through a consciousness-expanding near death experience that opened her to the realization of who she is, and who we all are: magnificent beings whose very essence is love. Not only did that profound realization heal the cancer, it awakened her to a deep knowing of the joy-filled purpose of our lives, which is to express our unique magnificence. In this article I'll share more of her insights – and an amazing story that isn't in the book! Enjoy…
Soon after my inspiring interview with Anita Moorjani, whose clarion call to us is to remember our magnificence, I realized we had covered so much ground that I had the material for at least three articles, though I had planned to write only one. Talk about an abundant universe! Reviewing my notes, I made little symbols beside the main points to indicate topics I felt went well together and could form the basis of an article. I drew stars next to the notes I'd taken when she talked about self-love – there was the first article! – and hearts next to the comments related to manifesting our desires – there was the second article!
Your Most Important Job Part 2 of 3
This is the second of three articles featuring highlights of my recent interview with Anita Moorjani, best-selling author of Dying To Be Me: My Journey from Cancer to Near Death to True Healing. Anita was healed of stage 4 terminal cancer through a consciousness-expanding near death experience that opened her to the realization of who she is, and who we all are: magnificent beings whose very essence is love. Not only did that profound realization heal the cancer, it awakened her to a deep knowing of the joy-filled purpose of our lives, which is to express our unique magnificence. In this article I'll share Anita's perspective on manifesting our desires.
All We Are Is Love Part 1 of 3
"Find your joy! Listen to your emotions and do what makes you happy."
— Anita Moorjani
Author "Dying to be Me: My journey from Cancer to Near Death to True Healing
In the March issue of Living.Well Magazine I wrote briefly about an amazing book I'd recently read titled, "Dying To Be Me: My Journey from Cancer to Near Death to True Healing" by Anita Moorjani. In the book Anita shares her story of having miraculously healed from stage 4 terminal cancer through a consciousness-expanding near-death experience that awakened her to the truth of who she really is – and who we all are.
Lost and Found
"This is the first time I've decided to leave a job without having something else lined up," my friend Tonya* confessed to our small women's support group. We applauded her daring, self-affirming choice and offered words of encouragement to bolster her confidence in stepping into the unknown. She knew she was doing the right thing, but wasn't at all comfortable with the prospect of not knowing what was next.


text:
"Serenity Service and Repair Manual" is for sale 1st June at RIPT Apparel for only $10.
"Serenity Service and Repair Manual" is for sale 1st June at RIPT Apparel for only $10.
The Croatian Apoxyomenos—A Bronze Athlete. It is thought to be a Hellenistic or Roman replica after a original from the 4th century BC. This statue was discovered in 1996 by a recreational diver, who came across it lying 45m deep in the Adriatic Sea.
Photo taken by MOSSOT while it was on display at the Louvre. Courtesy the Croatian Conservation Institute.
I Wrote This For You by Iain Thomas
(via contemplatingmadness)
Southern Cross and Volcanic Lava
The Southern Cross and the bright Eta-Carina nebula shine above volcanic lava of Kīlauea volcano in Hawaii.
Located in the World Heritage Site of Volcanoes National Park, the Kilauea caldera is one of the most active volcanoes on the planet. In recent decades, eruptions have been continuous with many of the lava flows reaching to the Pacific Ocean shore. — Wally Pacholka
(Source: afro-dominicano)
Tentacle arm? Yes, please.
(Source: vividsimulation, via afro-dominicano)—
In "The Religion of the Forest," Tagore wrote about the influence that the forest dwellers of ancient India had on classical Indian literature. The forests are sources of water and the storehouses of a biodiversity that can teach us the lessons of democracy—of leaving space for others while drawing sustenance from the common web of life. Tagore saw unity with nature as the highest stage of human evolution.
Titan as Seen Through 3 Different Filters
On May 15, 2013, Cassini's camera system, the Imaging Science Subsystem (ISS), looked for clouds across Titan's sub-Saturn hemisphere from 2.49 million kilometers (1.55 million miles) away.
The ISS took a number of images of Titan in different filters. Three of which were used for this composite image. This RGB false color composite of Titan is in 3 different filters: continuum filter (where methane is more transparent), methane band (where methane is strongly absorbing), and ultraviolet.
Credit: NASA / JPL / SSI / composite by Val Klavans
(Source: afro-dominicano)


text:
The One, The Only, The Steve Prefontaine!
Let me tell you a little bit about myself.
I'm a crazy fast running star.
What do I do you ask? I race around that track.
I burn through the competition.
When I get tired I take another lap.
Blasting through my PRs with a rocket launcher. I've got my fresh Nike Spikes looking so mean and any hurdle that comes up i'll jump over clean.
Some say I'm slim but what I am is lean
like the wolf that leads the pack
you wont see me in the back
my kick is hella mean.
I set fires to the redwoods and evergreens.
My coach calls out that now you CM, now you don't and I'm gone like a spring breeze.
Keep a free spirit and never give up on your dreams! I still believe!