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Microsoft Gold Partner Application Development
We have further expanded our Microsoft partner competencies: Portal Systems is Microsoft Gold Partner Application Development. Thus, we have achieved an important goal in 2018 — the expansion of our Microsoft partner competence. By achieving the Microsoft Gold Partner status "Application Development", we once again prove how important a high level of competence in the product team is to us.
At Portal Systems we place special emphasis on the training and further education of our colleagues. Training, education and certification are an important part of our corporate culture and strategy. In this way, we guarantee the usual high quality of our products and services in the future as well.
Thanks to our consistent training and further education program, we have been able to continuously expand our Microsoft competencies in recent years and months. By now, Portal Systems AG is Microsoft Gold Partner Collaboration and Content, Microsoft Gold Partner Application Development, Microsoft Silver Partner Datacenter and Microsoft Silver Partner Messaging.
What does the Microsoft Gold partner status stand for?
Companies that are part of the Microsoft Partner Network can become Microsoft Certified Partners. A distinction is made between Silver and Gold Partners. In order to qualify for this, companies and employees must meet different requirements. For example a certain number of successfully completed trainings and further education. Additionally, particularly pronounced product knowledge and correspondingly good performance in a business area are also included in the evaluation.
In principle, the award of Silver or Gold status confirms that these companies possess special competencies for the provision of quality solutions in one or more specific business areas. You can read here which requirements have to be fulfilled for which business area.


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I have got a lot of requests about PIC16F877a from engineering students because this PIC Microcontroller is used in Engineering Projects a lot. So, that's why I have thought to share all details about PIC16F877a. If you are new to PIC Microcontroller then I must suggest you to read this complete post carefully and ask your queries in comments.You should also have a look at this video in which I have given an Introduction to PIC16F877a:
- You can download PIC16F877a Datasheet by Clicking below button:
Introduction to PIC16F877a
- PIC16F877a is a 40-pin PIC Microcontroller and is used mostly in Embedded Projects and Applications. Few of its features are as follows:
- It has five Ports on it starting from Port A to Port E.
- It has three Timers in it, two of which are 8 bit Timers while 1 is 16 Bit.
- It supports many communication protocols like:
- Serial Protocol.
- Parallel Protocol.
- I2C Protocol.
- It supports both hardware pin interrupts and timer interrupts.
- Here's the PIC16F877a Pin Diagram, I have mentioned the names of all the Pins and have also given different colors to different Ports.
- The above image gives you the overall idea of PIC16F877a Pins and Ports.
- You should also have a look at Introduction to Atmega328, it's another microcontroller, you should compare them.
Important Note:
- You can see in the above image that pins of PIC Microcontroller has more than one name, its because each pin of PIC can perform many tasks.
- For example, check Pin # 25, it can be used as a digital Port C Pin # 6 (RC6) and can also be used as a Transmitter (TX) for serial communication.
- So, now its up to you how you wanna use each pin, and we will check most of these pin functions in today's tutorial.
- In the next section, I am gonna explain all of these Pin features one by one.
- So, first of all, we are gonna have a look at the Basic circuit of PIC16F877a:
1. PIC16F877a Basic Circuit
- Each PIC Microcontroller has a basic circuit and if you won't design the basic circuit then it won't work.
- It's just like providing power to your PIC Microcontroller and it works on +5V level.
- If you want to turn ON fan then what will you do? You will simply provide it power and that's what we are gonna do with PIC but in PIC case we also need to provide the frequency at which it will work.
- So, now we know that we need to design the basic circuit and this basic circuit contains power as well as the frequency at which it will work.
- In order to provide frequency to PIC Microcontroller, we use crystal oscillator and for PIC 16F877a, you can use crystal oscillator of frequency range from 4MHz to 40MHz.
- So, here's the PIC16F877a Basic Circuit which you need to design:
- I have tried my best to make this PIC16F877a basic circuit as simple as possible.
- The above circuit may seem you a bit complex but it is really not, let me explain it pin by pin:
- Pin # 1: This Pin is called MCLR (Master Clear) and we need to provide 5V to this pin through a 10k-ohm resistance.
- Pin # 11 & Pin # 32: These Pins are labelled as Vdd so we also need to provide it +5V and you can see these lines are in red color in above figure.
- Pin # 12 & Pin # 31: These Pins are Vss, so we have provided GND (Ground) at this pin and its lines are in black color.
- Pin # 13 & 14: These Pins are named as OSC1 (Oscillator 1) and OSC2 (Oscillator 2), now we have to attach our Crystal Oscillator (16MHz) at these pins which I have lined in Orange color. After the Crystal Oscillator, we have 33pF capacitors and then they are grounded.
- We have designed our basic circuit and now our PIC Microcontroller is ready to work but you can also see an LED attached at Pin # 21 and that's because we also need to check whether its running or not so we can turn on or off this LED.
- You should have a look at LED Blinking Project on PIC Microcontroller, in which I have blinked the LED using PIC Microcontroller.
- Here's the video in which I have designed this PIC16F877a basic circuit:
2. PIC16F877a Ports
- So, now I hope that you got the complete understanding of PIC16F877a Basic Circuit, so now if you have noticed that in basic circuit we have used all the power pins of PIC Microcontroller, while all the Ports Pins were free.
- So, now as we have powered up our PIC Microcontroller, next thing we need to do is to design some code and use the PIC Microcontroller Ports. First let's have a look at these PIC16F877a Ports.
- PIC16F877a has 5 Ports in total which are:
- Port A: It has 6 Pins in total starting from Pin # 2 to Pin # 7. Port A Pins are labelled from RA0 to RA5 where RA0 is the label of first Pin of Port A.
- Port B: It has 8 Pins in total starting from Pin # 33 to Pin # 40. Port B Pins are labelled from RB0 to RB7 where RB0 is the label of first Pin of Port B.
- Port C: It has 8 Pins in total. It's pins are not aligned together. First four Pins of Port C are located at Pin # 15 – Pin # 18, while the last four are located at Pin # 23 – Pin # 26.
- Port D: It has 8 Pins in total. It's pins are also not aligned together. First four Pins of Port D are located at Pin # 19 – Pin # 22, while the last four are located at Pin # 27 – Pin # 30.
- Port E: It has 3 Pins in total starting from Pin # 8 to Pin # 10. Port E Pins are labelled from RE0 to RE2 where RE0 is the label of first Pin of Port E.
- All these Ports are labelled in below figure:
- You can see all these PIC16F877a Ports in above figure, now let's have a look at how to use them.
- First of all what you need to decide is whether you want your Port Pins to be Input or Output.
- Confused? 😛 Let's suppose you have some sensor and you want to get its value then you have to connect this sensor with PIC Microcontroller, now in this case your PIC Pin will be acting as Input Pin because it will be inputting value from sensor. Sensor is sending the value and PIC is receiving it.
- Now in case you have some DC Motor and you want to move that DC Motor using PIC Microcontroller. So, in this case you have to send command from PIC Microcontroller to DC Motor so your PIC Pin is acting as Output Pin.
Important Note:
- Each Port of PIC Microcontroller is associated with two registers, for examples Port D registers are:
- PortD
- Both of these registers are of 8 bit because Port D contains 8 Pins.
- TRISD decides whether the Port is output or input and we can also assign values to each pin separately. If we have assigned 0 then it will be OUTPUT and if we have provided 1 then it will be INPUT.
- For example, if I have assigned TRISD = 0x01, then first 7 pins of Port D will be Output but the last pin will be input because 0x01 is actually 00000001 in binary.
- PortD register contain the actual value and this value is actually the combination of all the 8 pins.
3. PIC16F877a Compiler
- Official Compiler of PIC Microcontroller is MPLAB C18 Compiler, which is available online from Microchip Official Site.
- There are also other compilers available and the one I normally use is MikroC Pro For PIC.
- You should have a look at this list of Top 3 PIC C Compilers.
- We write code in PIC Compilers and then compile it. After compilation a hex file is generated which we upload in PIC Microcontroller.
4. PIC16F877a Serial Port
- PIC16F877a has one serial port in it which is used for data communication.
- In below figure, I have mentioned the Serial Pins of PIC16F877a.
- AS you can see in the above figure that:
- Pin # 25 is acting as TX as well so if you want to do Serial Communication then it will be used for sending the serial data.
- Pin # 26 is acting as RX as well so if you want to do Serial Communication then it will be used for receiving the serial data.
- You should also have a look at What is Serial Port if you don't know much about Serial Port.
5. PIC16F877a I2C Communication
- PIC16F877a also has one I2C Port using which we can easily do the I2C Communication.
- These PIC16F877a I2C Communication Pins are shown in below figure:
- As you can see in above figure, PIC16F877a I2C Communication Pins are:
- Pin # 18: It is acting as SCL which is an abbreviation of Serial Clock Line.
- Pin # 23: It is acting as SDA which is an abbreviation of Serial Data Line.
- Now you can see we have Serial Port and I2C Port in Port C, so we can use Port C as a simple Port but can also do these two communications with its pins, so its totally on the programmer.
6. PIC16F877a Interrupts
- I hope you all know about interrputs, if not then you should have a look at Interrupts in PIC Microcontroller.
- PIC16F877a has total 8 interrupt sources in it. An interrupt source is some event which generates interrupt, this source could be a timer like interrupts are generate after every 1 sec, or it could also be pin state change event, like if pin state is changed then interrupt will be generated.
- So, PIC16F877a Interrupts can be generated by following 8 ways:
- External Interrupts.
- Timer Interrupts ( Timer0 / Timer1).
- Port B State Change.
- Parallel Slave Port Read/Write.
- A/D Converter.
- Serial Receive / Transmit.
- EEPROM Write Operation.
- PIC16F877a Interrupts are associated with below 5 registers:
So, that was all about PIC16F877a, I hope you have enjoyed today's tutorial. I have tried my best to cover all aspects of this PIC Microcontroller and I would suggest you to must read the links which I have provided in each section. These links will also help you more because they are focusing on that particular topic. If you have any problem in this Introduction to PIC16F877a, then you can ask in comments below. Thanks for reading. Take care and have fun !!! 🙂
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Comments on ''Introduction to PIC16F877a'' ( 5 )
Thank you for sharing this material on pic 16f877a, I was looking for meterial so some time ago.I was a layman in programming but this tutorial helped me a lot. My name is thiago I'm in Brazil.
thank you.
Can we copy all data from an existing pic 16f877a?
Thanks for sharing the important information
can you provide servomotor code for robotic arm with pwm using pic 16f877a?
we are going to use 4 motor and port c.

subset: commoncrawl


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Chiropractic Care Associated With Improved Heart rate Variability (HRV)
Please Get Your Vitamin D Level Tested!
High Quality Vitamin D3 Supplement Available In Office and Online
VA Chiropractors To Perform Physical Exams for Military Veteran Truck Drivers
Chiropractic First - Surgery Last
Appreciate your Doctor of Chiropractic
A new and interesting study from Australia shows that patients undergoing chiropractic care demonstrate improved Heart Rate Variability (HRV) after a trial of chiropractic care. Higher HRV is associated with improved health and longevity whereas lower/poor HRV is associated with poorer health and shorter life span. This small study adds to a large and diverse body of clinical and research evidence which suggests that chiropractic care can have positive health effects beyond back pain relief.
Author: John Collins, DCSource: Chiro.orgCopyright: John Collins, DC 2018
Hi Folks: Did you know that mid/late winter is the best time to get your vitamin d tested? Wintertime is when you are most likely to be severely deficient. Please have your MD or ND get your vitamin d tested. Or, you can buy a home test kit and do it yourself. Vitamin D deficieny is something very important to me. Even though I am a chiropractor who focuses mainly on neuromusculoskeletal issues, I am also a pretty knowledgeable holistic/integrative clinician and I have an obligation to share important health information when I believe it is in your best interest. I believe that vitamin d deficiency is an ongoing epidemic in the Willamette Valley (where our sun exposure is particularly limited) and other places in North America as well. I, along with a growing number of doctors nationwide, believe that there is overwhelming evidence that chronic/long-term vitamin d deficiency can cause or contribute to a wide array of serious health problems. Additionally, I believe that many of the clinicians in Newberg and in USA are not paying enough attention to this issue. In my office, I estimate that close to 50% of the patients who get their vitamin d tested are deficient. On a personal note, I was diagnosed with vitamin d deficieny back in the 1993 when I was a chiropractic student (desite the fact that my diet and lifestyle was/is substantially better than the average person). Back then, I started supplementing (irregularly) with 1000iu/day of vitamin d but I never bothered to get retested! Years later (2015) I got tested again and guess what, I was still deficient! Fact is, I was probably deficient for that entire 23 year period! I immediately started taking a "proper dose" of 5000iu/day (consistently) and got retested and my levels were/are now in the normal range and I continue to supplement with 5000iu daily.
In closing, here is my general recommendation re. vitamin d.
1-Everyone should get tested in the mid to late winter (Jan-Mar).
2-If your levels are above 30ng/ml in winter, you do not need supplementation. However, if your levels are not above 30ng/ml in the winter, then start supplementing as follows:
Adults = 5000iu/day; Children = 1000iu/day per 25 pounds body weight.3-Get retested the following winter. If levels are normal, keep supplementing (don't stop). If levels are low, double the dosage. If levels are high (very unikely) stop supplementing.
Thank you for reading.
Author: John Collins, DCSource: vitamindcouncil.orgCopyright: John Collins, DC 2018
Just a quick note to let you all know that we carry a high-quality, inexpensive vitamin D3 supplement. It can be purchased in the office or online at our website (if you have friends or family our-of-state, for instance). For more info click here.
Author: John Collins, DCSource: John Collins, DCCopyright: John Collins, DC 2018
President Trump has signed into law the Job for Our Heroes Act, which includes a provision allowing chiropractors working within the Department of Veterans Affairs (VA) to perform physical exams on veterans needing a medical certificate to operate a commercial motor vehicle. "The American Chiropractic Association (ACA) is committed to improving the health of our veterans by removing barriers and expanding access to chiropractors in the VA as well as other federal programs," said ACA President David Herd, DC. Prior to the legislation, only 25 medical doctors within the entire VA health care system were qualified to perform the Department of Transportation (DOT) physical exams. Providers in the National Registry of Certified Medical Examinersincluding more than 3,500 chiropractorswere excluded from providing the exams to truck drivers who receive their care through the VA health care system. Consequently, the drivers were burdened with limited access and increased wait times, and were forced to look outside the VA and pay for eligible health professionals to perform the required physical. By increasing the number of health professionals, including chiropractors, who may conduct the physical exams, the new law will the ease the process, as well as save time and money, for veterans seeking commercial drivers licenses.
Author: American Chiropractic AssociationSource: Acatoday.org online, January 11, 2018.Copyright: American Chiropractic Association 2018
Author: ChiroPlanet.comSource: The Spine Journal. Vol. 15 Iss. 3, March 1, 2015.Copyright: ProfessionalPlanets.com LLC 2015
Did you know chiropractors are in a high-risk group for low back disorders. Ironically, low back problems are the most common conditions chiropractors treat. While providing patient care, chiropractors can place a great deal of stress on their back and spine. So next time you see your chiropractor working hard to get and keep you well, give them a friendly pat on the back
they deserve it!
Author: ChiroPlanet.comSource: J Manipulative Physiol Ther 2003;26:25-33Copyright: ChiroPlanet.com 2003
Springbrook Chiropractic420 Villa RoadNewberg, OR 97132(503) 538-0618


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Property Details
Upper Lonsdale
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LOCATION, LOCATION! Executive home with low maintenance yard in one of North Vancouver's finest neighbourhoods! 3359 Chesterfield is ideal for the downsizing family or duplex/townhouse owner looking to upgrade. This 5 bedroom plus office/den home is close to parks & trails, a block from transit, 5 mins to Seabus, Edgemont Village & Grouse Mtn & 15 mins to D/T Vancouver. Cozy and chic, the decor is influenced by an award winning designer - you will want to come home again and again. Wake up w/ views of Vancouver, the harbour & English Bay from your sophisticated master bedroom. This 3 level home offers a traditional layout w/ 3 bedrooms up & 2 bedrooms on the lower level - perfect for guests, family or tenants (plumbed for suite conversion). 2 patios, 2 car garage. Open house Sat 2-4/Sun2-4
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"Approved in a 151-6 vote with nine abstentions, the United Nations (UN) General Assembly resolution stated that 'any actions taken by Israel, the occupying power, to impose its laws, jurisdiction and administration on the Holy City of Jerusalem are illegal and therefore null and void and have no validity whatsoever.'
The resolution was similar to previous Jerusalem-related measures passed in recent years by the UN cultural body UNESCO, which omitted the name 'Temple Mount' and only used the Muslim term for the holy site, 'Haram al-Sharif.'
The six countries that voted against Thursday's resolution were Canada, the Marshall Islands, Micronesia, Nauru, the U.S. and Israel. The nine countries that abstained were Australia, Cameroon, Central African Republic, Honduras, Panama, Papua New Guinea, Paraguay, South Sudan and Togo.
In addition to the Jerusalem measure, the General Assembly passed a resolution condemning Israel's control over the Golan Heights, calling the area Syrian territory and stating that Israeli 'occupation' is a 'a stumbling block in the way of achieving a just, comprehensive and lasting peace in the region,' despite the six-year-long civil war raging in Syria..."


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by Niyati Mehta
"We were not surprised to find out children were exposed to mobile devices at a young age" said Dr. Hilda Kabali, a pediatric resident at Einstein Medical Center in Philadelphia, and the author of the study on babies' mobile use. "Most parents now have mobile devices and children are attracted to them."
Parents often used the devices to calm or entertain their babies and toddlers while they were busy, the study showed.
For example, 60 percent of parents said their children played with a Smartphone or iPad-like tablet while the parent ran errands and 73 percent gave their kids the phone while parents did chores around the house.
Now kids from toddler to the teenage are getting used to these devices which surround their lives. Parents lose easy communication, emotional seeing what child is saying, parents messages could become selective hearing, spending time is being targeted to wii, videogames, apps etc
"We were struck with how intensely many parents wanted to vent their feelings about this topic" said study author Dr. Jenny Radesky, an assistant professor of pediatrics at Boston University School of Medicine.
"Many expressed feeling that mobile and interactive media are proliferating so rapidly that they aren't sure how to keep up, how to judge good from bad apps for kids, how to say 'no' when their child demands more, or how to keep their child interested in 'old-fashioned' or hands-on play."
The lack traditional interaction, what is being eaten at the table, what family is planning to do- all is lost.
It's not saying no, it's not saying yes, it's not saying we must do it
But it's just creating DIGITAL FREE ZONE.
-it is the only zone in the house that you can spend some time with yourself.
-it is the only zone in the house without digital devices even if no one is around.
-it is a zone where verbal conversations happen, where expressions are seen, where eye contact happens
-it is our zone
-it's your time with your guests
Everyone can step out and do anything with digital devices but this zone is DEVICE FREE ZONE
Parents, you can create that zone with the following simple templates.
-cardboard size small buttons as a reminder or can have big cardboard sizze circles or ovals to be used as placemats
-color and design of your choice
– print it out and cut it out- we can provide that
cut outs coming up soon


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Shiv Verma, APSA, MNEC is a published author, photographer, educator and technologist. He is a Panasonic Lumix Global Ambassador, an X-Rite Coloratti, and a brand ambassador for H&Y Filters. He has been photographing for over 50 years and has evolved his photography to express his intense devotion to wildlife and nature. Over the years has earned numerous awards and recognition both nationally and internationally. Shiv devotes a great deal of his time formally reviewing photography-related products, to education in digital photography and is a speaker and competition judge. He conducts photo tours and workshops worldwide and typically has one tour a month.
Shiv's book Time-Lapse Imagery was published in February 2014. He has been writing for one of the world's largest photography education sites "Digital Photography School" with about 1.5 million subscribers. He is also a co-host on TWiP (This Week in Photography) a weekly photography podcast that is the 7th largest in the world.
He belongs to multiple photographic clubs and associations and serves as Vice President of the Digital Circuit NECCC (New England Camera Club Council). He has served on the Executive Board of the Photographic Society of America as Vice President of Learning & Technology. Shiv is a member of the Professional Photographers Association of America and the North American Nature Photographers Association (NANPA). He is a past General Chairman of the PSA International (Photographic Society of America), past Chairman of Nature Division, PSA; Director of the instructional and essay sets, PSA; past Member of the Board CIPNE. Shiv is a past President of the Stony Brook Camera Club; and the Gateway Camera Club, a member of the Greater Lynn Photographic Association, Massachusetts Camera Naturalists, all in Massachusetts.
Shiv was elected as an Associate of the Photographic Society of America in 2013 and was elected a Master Member of the New England Camera Club Council in 2008.
You can connect with Shiv on various social media sites:


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General Description
Right on an amazing sandy beach, the Fame Residence Lara & Spa raises the quality of services and hospitality, and accommodates all your needs. Featuring among others swimming pools, shops, spa, jacuzzi, massage, Turkish bath, it promises to make your stay a once a life time experience.
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- Women's Brazilian
- Women's Brazilian re-tidy
- Men's back and shoulders
- Men's chest
- Half leg
- Upper half leg
- 3/4 leg
- Full arm
- Full leg
- Full face
Kooyong Beauty Therapy
Kooyong Beauty Therapy is a beauty salon nestled within Callisters Pharmacy. The team strives to pamper clients from head to toe with a plethora of services. Facials and massages are on offer, along with manicures, pedicures, waxing and eye treatments.
The Fine Print
• Blackout dates: 01 June - 30 July 2020
• Limit of 1 voucher per person
• Purchase up to 1 additional as a gift
• Not valid on public holidays
• Hair should be at least 1/4-inch to 1/2-inch for best results
• Please arrive 5 mins prior to appointment time
• Late arrivals may shorten treatment time
• Limited after-hour appointments available on weekends and evenings
• New customers only
• Standard fine print for all deals
How to Redeem
• Expiry: 90 days from purchase
• Email to book: firstname.lastname@example.com
• Phone to book: 03 98222723
• State Voucher and Security Code at time of booking
• Present printed or smartphone voucher on arrival
• Download free Groupon app for Android and iOS
• Valid hours:
Mon - Thu 10am-4pm


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Ghost Dog
Season 4 • Episode 4
After evading Tia for weeks, an elusive pit bull is saved from drowning in a canal by a young girl and now she needs Tia's help. Then, with the arrival of 20 puppies, Villalobos' pit bull population explodes, and Tia needs to hire another parolee.
42 min|TV-PG|Premiered 10/28/2012


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Air not always cool... why???
It seems when I leave the car out in the heat or when I have been driving for only a short time, both fresh air from outside and air conditioner air are not very cold. If it is the Resister, how much could that cost me?
6 Answers
A little more info would be helpful but, based on what you have indicated, it sounds like it doesn't have anything to do with your HVAC blower resistor. This resistor only controls the different speeds on your blower motor not the temperature. If you are referring to the thermostat, that would control the temperature of your AC but would have nothing to do with the fresh air temperature. Does the AC air get colder when it is set to "AC Max" or "Recirc" Here are a few ideas that I could mention which may or may not have any bearing on your problem but, is a "best guess" while trying to read between the lines of your description. If the air does NOT get colder and the sound of your blower does not change when you select AC Max or Recirc, then the Recirculated air door is stuck, broke or the motor that controls this door is bad. Another item you might look at is the door that separates the HVAC evaporator from your heater core -- this door moves to block off the hot air flow from your heater core when you select COLD on your HVAC control and likewise, blocks off cold air flow from your evaporator when you select HOT. When you are somewhere in between HOT and COLD, the door moves to allow some hot and some cold air flow. If THIS door ( sometimes referred to as the "blend" door ) is not working properly, it could also be that the door or motor is stuck or broken or it could be that the controller is not sending the signal to move the door to the desired setting. Unfortunately, there are alot of different reasons that you are having this problem that are almost impossible to isolate like this but hopefully this gives you an idea of where to look next in trying to fix it yourself. Cost could be anywhere from $20 - $30 up to a few hundred depending on what it is that is failed. Hope this helps.
Thanks for your input, it's much appreciated. The fan blows just fine from low to high and when the AC air is at times almost freezing, I can regulate the temperature with no problem at all, it's just so inconsistent. For example today I left home (car in shade under carport) and the outside air came through very cool. By the time I got back into my car 2 hrs later, from being parked in the sun, the air from outstide came through warm even though it was still fresh outside. Re "Does the AC air get colder when it is set to "AC Max" or "Recirc"?... that's all works well ie more air coming through on Recirc, but again, only if the car is already cool? Yes I'm a mere female with little knowlede of cars but would it make sense that it comes in over the engine or similar which a male suggested? lol. What I do know is that it will probably cost me heaps eesh! I mentioned it briefly to my Mazda service man when last serviced and he didn't seem to have much knowledge about it "until we really get into it". Hmm pulling it all apart with many hrs labour I imagine : )
Ok, now we're getting somewhere. It sounds to me that your blend door is not fully closing off the hot air from your heater core ... It's difficult to illustrate how this is supposed to work in writing but I will give it a shot. Air flow from outside your car ( ie when your HVAC is set to "Fresh" air ) comes through the grill between your hood and windshield and into your HVAC blower housing. This is where your heater core ( which has hot engine coolant running through it ) and your AC evaporator ( which has cold refrigerant running through it ) are mounted. Both of these look like a small version of the radiator at the front of your engine compartment. The HVAC blower forces air through the fins of either the evaporator or the heater core or both depending on the position of the blend door. What youre describing seems to suggest that when the car is cold, the AC is cold but after it gets hot, the AC doesnt get as cold or not cold at all. What you can try to rule this out is ... in your engine compartment, there are two smaller hoses ( about the size of a garden hose ) that are connected to the engine and go through the firewall ( the partition that separates the engine compartment from the inside of your car ) -- These two hoses are the coolant hoses to your heater core. What you need to do is, get something like two pair of vise grip locking pliers and crimp these hoses so coolant cannot flow through them. Be careful not to damage the hoses or else you will have a coolant leak ! They are pretty tough hoses though so it would take some force to damage them. Now run your car as you normally do and see if it still acts up when it gets hot. If it does not, then the blend door is your problem. If it does still act up, it is probably the HVAC thermostat. One more thing you may want to look at is the electric fan in your engine compartment. Turn on your AC and open your hood. You after several minutes, you SHOULD hear your electric fan ( the AC condenser fan ) turn on -- if its not already on -- and then turn off. This electric fan is NOT the engine cooling fan but instead is the fan that draws air through the condenser to cool the AC system and lower the pressure. Hope this helps ( you being a "mere female" has nothing to do with it -- You are doing just fine ). I'm here to help as much as I can. -- Joe.
Thanks Joe, ur a gem! I'll give it a go. Cheers Gina ; )
Most of the mazda's have the same proble,fresh air is not as cold as the outside air is when the engine is hot.The blender door works fine,is fully closed,but the problem is somewhere else.i've read about a fis for mazda cx7 but I cannot find that TSB.It was said that they isntaled some new cmponent so the flower can get more fresh air from outside.I asked the dealer but thei do not knoe about it.If anybody now about that TSB please let us know so the dealers can fix this well nown issue with mazdas.thanks!
TSB 07-004/11 MAZDA CX7 AIR CONDITIONING NOT COOLING, there is also a video on youtube https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=1fPP4dZ8w1k


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This week I've been working on cleaning up my office a bit. I'm one of those who prefers to see everything so there ends up being a lot of stacks of paper around; not that you can really see it when it gets to that point but that's how it gets there. Now that I understand this, I actually am developing a better system that seems to be working but the old stacks are still there, hence the clean-up effort. What's fun (and sometimes annoying) is all the stuff you find - so that's where that's been all this time. See... so much for being able to see everything!
I started with just a few minutes at a time at the beginning, and now I can hardly stop. It's like the stuff demands to be organized, I swear - it's not like this is an activity I normally enjoy! Where I started was with my desk where all the papers that I felt I had to have right in front of me or I'd forget them had accumulated. Once I realized that I'd forgotten about pretty much everything from the third layer on down and couldn't even get to it if I did remember, it was a relatively simple task convince myself to scoop it all off into a pile on the floor. Of course, that meant one more pile on the floor but then with as many as there were, it was sort of tough to tell the difference.
So in ten minutes, I completely emptied the desk and in another ten minutes even took off every computer component so that the entire desk was bare. Then I walked away from it and left the house for the rest of the day. That's it.
The next day, I walked back into the office and took a fresh look. Did I want or feel the need to move the desk? Probably not, at least not yet. But I did re-arrange a few things and started immediately to like having things in their new places, like the fax machine next to me where I could actually see it and use it instead of on the lower shelf of the desk where I had to push the chair out of the way and kneel next to it if I ever wanted to send a fax.
I left it like that for a few days just trying to pay attention to how I work and how I wanted to use stuff. Then I started slowly, with a half hour of collecting stuff into paper sacks. The one labeled "Afraid I'll Lose Or Forget It" only narrowly edged out the one labeled "Sure I'll Need It For Something Someday" in terms of how quickly they filled. I will still have to figure out how to store the sorts of things I am so deathly afraid of losing or forgetting so they'll be readily accessible but I'm sure there's a lot of the stuff I've been so sure I'd need at some point that I can simply eliminate and that will make storing everything else so much better.
One of the things that's happened is that I actually have to work at limiting myself to 30 minutes a day an activity that normally you cannot beg or pay me to do. The willingness to devote myself to this is likely to fade a bit, so I am working on trying to find that delicate balance between taking advantage of the energy without totally burning myself out in the process. There is no 'done' in this kind of effort. We don't just stop collecting stuff - more gadgets and papers will continue to move through our lives. The trick is to be sure that at least as much is moving out as is coming in. To get there, you work simply on making progress a little bit at a time in such a way that is sustainable once you reach a satisfactory equilibrium. I know this is how it works and that helps a great deal.
And in the meantime, it's sort of like a treasure hunt. One of the things I unearthed yesterday is another of my old television contracts. I'd already found a more recent one, scanned it and have been working on chopping it up into pieces that I can share so we can all have a good laugh. Now we'll have even more to work with and compare. It'll be fun, I promise. Now that enough time has gone by, it's even fun for me - I haven't detected the slightest trace of bitterness yet, which is a very good sign.
After having gone for such a long time putting off doing this work, I have to say it feels very good to be getting rid of stuff I clearly no longer need. That's one of the benefits of waiting. My theory is there's always an upside to poor habits and/or there's something difficult about making a change, otherwise we'd have made the shift a long time ago.
Of course I'm also finding missed opportunities and that's the downside of not having kept up with stuff. And I realize that I can only be better going forward; it simply doesn't help to get annoyed about something that's so far past. No real worth for guilt.
Just clearing some space is worthy of celebration, no matter how it happens or how long it took to get to this point. I'm my own prodigal son.
The other sort of big thing I'm celebrating this week is the news that my ACC application was approved. It is nice to have had that effort rewarded and I'm proud of the accomplishment - now the clock is ticking on getting the next credential as this one has an expiration date. So I'll be collecting more hours (750 is the next milestone), and keeping better track of my Coaching Continuing Education Units. Wow, what a really great time to be better about how I file paperwork!
If you have favorite organizational tricks and tips, I'd be interested to hear about them so send them to me at firstname.lastname@example.com or let me know if you'd like to hear more about the file system I'm currently using to keep active projects top of mind without having them clutter up the top of my desk.
How can you work with your tendencies and habits to get what you want instead of against them?
Kimm Viebrock is an ICF-credentialed Associate Certified Coach who helps technology professionals and service-oriented technology groups develop and use their skills more effectively and increase their value within the larger organization, allowing them to do more, do it better and have more fun doing it. Kimm is devoted to finding the connectedness in life.


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Happy New Year Status in Hindi & English: Ever thought how happy New Year status in English can change your relationship with people? Yes if people think you are antisocial, then you can change how people perceive you by putting up funny and never heard before Whatsapp Happy New Year Status in Hindi & English. Confused regarding how to get these offbeat statuses? Well, it's easy peasy. All you need to do is to connect to the internet and search for them; you will find numerous sites popping up. Open any one of them and choose the status that you love the most. The status, that truly conveys the feelings of the New Year.
Happy New Year Statuses That Are Going To Make You The Star
Happy New Year Status You can also download the Latest Happy New Year statuses in Hindi for the people who have a difficulty I reading English and send them the statuses as a message or you can even post it on your Facebook or Whatsapp and see how much love and attention you will get from everyone. These wishes are extremely trendy in India and people from every corner of the world will also enjoy these creative masterpiece wishes.They are going to cherish it forever, or you can print it on a photo frame and gift, there are multiple ways of doing it. So get hold of these happy New Year statuses in Hindi and English.The best part is that there is something for everyone. You will get a different Happy New Year status for whatsapp and facebook for your family members, friends, loved ones, etc. so you can make them feel that the wish is completely personalized. If you want to go a step further and show how much you care about them, you can actually write down the statuses by hand on a card and gift it to the close ones.
Best Happy New Year Status in English & Hindi
Cool Happy New Year Whatsapp Status in English
The new year will be like the old one if you keep on doing the same old things.
To a healthy, happy and peaceful New Year!
Season's Greetings and best wishes for the New Year.
Happy New Year – It's your another chance to get it right ????
Here's the end of another shitty year we'll one day be strangely nostalgic for.
Hey Sweety, Be more awesome than last year .
Funny & Top Happy New Year Wishes Status in Hindi
Dekh bhidu, my new year resolution is 1020 Pixels. any prob ????
Ek pag patiyala, ek pag on beer oh my dear happy new year.
Iss naye saal me hum dua karte hain ki aap bahut khush rahe aur doosron ko bhi khush rakhen. Naye saal ki haardik subhkaamnayen.
Happy New Year Status in Hindi Font
दिसम्बर तो ऐसे साँथ छोड़ रहा है, जैसे कल से तेरी याद कभी आयेगी ही नही.
आपकी आँखों में सजे है जो भी सपने, और दिल में छुपी है जो भी अभिलाषाएं, यह नया वर्ष उन्हें सच कर जाए, आप के लिए यही है हमारी शुभकामनायें.
Happy New Year Status For Facebook in English Fonts
Jab Bhi Sochoon Tujhe Dard Apna Barha Leta Hoon, Phir Har Naye Saal Ka Suraj Dekh Kar Muskura Leta Hoon
Na Samjha Tu Ne Mujhe Aur Na Hi Mayri Mohabbat Ko Ae Dost, Naya Saal Mubarak Khush Rehne Ki Tujhe Dua Deta Hoon.
Don't wait for a new year to change your perspective. Get up and be proactive today!
Short Happy New Year Status for Whatsapp in English
So many things have happened in this past year.
Meeting you was the best part of my year.
The best thing about this year was meeting you.
A lot can happen in a year.
Dear Luck, can we be friends in 2019Please.
Related Posts:
- Happy New Year Shayari in Hindi
- Happy New Year Wishes in English
- Happy New Year SMS
- Happy New Year Wishes in Hindi
- Best Rangoli Designs for New Year
Latest Happy New Year Wishing Status in Hindi & English
Are you taking any foreign language classes this year? Math.
Relationships these days are a joke. It's like April 1st all year long ..
Naye saal ko karo swagat, pichli giley shikwe bhulake hum chale ek nayi raah par-issi dua ke sath- Naye saal ki bahut bahut subhkamayen.


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Perfect weather to rock my "Asobi Set" from IG: Grass_fields. They carry so many awesome pieces for different occasions. I would totally wear this to a day time event or a date with my significant other. This ankara print is totally giving me "LIFE" as some of you would say lol. From the colors to the big, bold prints, down to the slit. It definitely screams vibrant and sexy!!! The only thing I would recommend to grass fields is to add zippers on the corner of the skirt. It was a little difficult to get on. I had to go back to my tailor to add a zipper. That way I could easily take it off! Amazing piece regardless. Hope you all enjoyed this post?!!
Stay tuned for the next!
Get the look
Two Piece- Grass Fields Here
Shoes- Steve Madden
Bracelet- Burlington (Similar Look)
Earrings- Aldo


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Thanksgiving pumpkins – as seen on CTV Morning Live
Smash the Patriarchy
In honour of International Women's Day, I am excited to reveal my 2019 IWD collage – "Smash the Patriarchy."
I know I say this every year, but this might be one of my favourite pieces. It's pretty and pink and these two gals have had exactly ENOUGH.
(Enough of what? This article from Crystal Jackson on Medium sums it up beautifully: On Wednesdays We Smash the Patriarchy.)
A framed print of this piece will be up for auction at MAWA's annual Over the Top cupcake party and art auction, taking place on March 17 at 611 Main Street. If you've never been to an Over the Top event, make this your year to check it out. In addition to a TON of art up for grabs, there's a silent auction, a raffle and ALL-YOU-CAN-EAT CUPCAKES. The event helps support the incredible work that MAWA does to support women's art… and it's a great time, to boot!
This print is also available at Caked With Love during my month-long show in the café. (It's one of 49 pieces that I have on display until the end of March!)
…or just contact me and I'll hook you up with a print.
And, while you're here, check out my previous IWD art:
2018 – Who said anything about a prince?*
2017 – Nevertheless, she persisted.*
*prints available
Canola Bookmarks
I'm always so excited when the Canola gang asks me to come up with a fun little project. The wheels in my head start turning and before long, I have a plan.
Nine times out of ten, however, the "plan" involves a technique I have never tried or a product that I'm not sure exists. (Evidently, my brain doesn't care about these minor details.) Last time, it was yellow beads; this time, canola flowers. I mean, how hard could it be to find clay, wood, metal, fabric, or plastic canola flowers…? Turns out, all I had to do was order a four-petal flower fondant cutter set and make my own out of canola-yellow polymer clay. As one does.
This particular project was for a recent #canolaconnect event, celebrating the launch of Claire Tansey's brilliant book Uncomplicated. Everyone in attendance got to take home a copy of the book and a handmade bookmark!
On a scale of one to oh-god-why, I would put this project somewhere in the beginner crafter range. Working with polymer clay is not unlike working with cookie dough – you cut it, shape it and bake it – and the rest of the project is just stringing beads tying knots. (Pro tip: ream your beads first!)
For the canola event, I provided the bookmarks as kits and everyone got to assemble their own. It was lots of fun and, as always, so awesome to see people crafting their little hearts out – especially the craft-adverse.
All in all, I'm super excited by the way these turned out. The four-string design means you can mark up to four recipes in your cookbook – great for when you are trying to plan a multi-course meal or a week's worth of dinners.
And, honestly, they are heckin' cute. I love the little pop of colour the canola flower gives to my cookbook shelf! I'm almost tempted to make bookmarks for ALL of my cookbooks…
Ready, Set, Boo!
Halloween is just around the corner and I have three new projects to help you get ready for spookin' season. Each one is super-easy and super-affordable, thanks to some homemade craft products and dollar store supplies.
Click the links below for full instructions and remember to tag #smallcraftwarning in your crafty posts on social media!
Project: Halloween Votive Holders
Even the littlest ones can help with these easy, colourful votive holders, made with homemade Podge (recipe included.) Light 'em up with flameless tealight candles for a safe and happy halloween!
Project: Spooky Ghosts
Don't worry – these are friendly ghosts! And, thanks to a little homemade fabric stiffener (recipe included), they don't come with a scary price tag.
Project: Scary Soap
Make this and quietly leave it beside the sink…
As Seen on TV – Upcycled Jewelry Display
A couple weeks ago, I had the opportunity to talk about upcycling on CTV Morning Live. I took a few projects with me, but this one has received the most attention. Made from a kitchen drawer and a handful of salvaged hardware, it's an awesome project, perfect for beginners or anyone with a desire to turn trash into treasure!
Click here to learn how to make it: Upcycled Jewelry Display
Canola Harvest Camp Charms – 2018
It's harvest time and that means it's time for Canola Camp and, of course the camp craft!
This year, I changed things up a bit and I absolutely LOVE how the whole thing turned out. Click here to see and read about all the crafts: Canola Harvest Camp Craft – 2018
Can I hold that photo for you?
Or business card or concert ticket or…?
For as long as I have been crafty, I have been moderately obsessed with Mod Podge. I've used it for full sized pieces, like chairs and cabinets, all the way down to my signature Domino Pins. Be warned: if it stands still long enough, I will stick paper to it.
My latest project: fun wire photo holders with Mod Podge'd wooden bases. They're easy, inexpensive and, most of all, cute AF.
Click here for full instructions, or contact me for a custom order.
Craft Tools That Will Change Your Life: The Bead Reamer
Welcome to our first installment of "Craft Tools That Will Change Your Life." Will there be a second installment? I can't promise anything.
This stabby little marvel is called a bead reamer and, despite its giggle-inducing name, is one of the handiest pieces of equipment that you can add to your crafting arsenal. EVEN IF YOU ARE NOT A BEADER.
Wait. What? It's ok. I'll get to that.
The sad fact of crafting is that into every crafter's life, a few bad beads will fall. Sometimes it's more than a few beads. Sometimes it's the whole @*&$-ing package.
You know what I mean – the cheap wooden beads with too-small or weirdly shaped or non-existent holes. Try as you might, you just can't. get. the. string. through.
So, after a bit of a struggle and some colourful language, the offending bead goes into the reject cup or, worse, gets tossed behind the couch or into a nearby houseplant. What's a girl to do?
Say hello to the bead reamer (giggle), your affordable answer to wonky bead holes!
Just look at the difference it made in these (cheap) wooden beads! On the left are the beads straight out of the package; the same beads, freshly-reamed, are on the right.
Want beads like the ones on the right? It couldn't be simpler.
- Stick the pointy end into the hole of the janky bead.
- Twist, gently working the bead up the shank (giggle), if necessary.
- Repeat on the other side of the hole.
- Enjoy your perfectly usable bead.
See all those teeny scratches in the metal? They're just abrasive enough to file rough edges, get rid of bead boogers and open the bead hole, without causing any damage.
Starting a project with wonky beads? Take a few minutes to mindlessly ream all your beads (sorry, not sorry) and your crafting will go a LOT faster, I promise.
I picked my bead reamer up at Michael's for under $10. ($9.99 less 40% – remember to use those coupons, kids!) So far, it has saved me at least 10 times that in rejected/discarded beads and general frustration.
Also important to note: In my experience, this particular reamer works only on wood and clay beads; but, to be honest, I've only had trouble with those two materials. If you have metal or glass beads with too-small holes, buy finer string or wire.
I kid! There actually are reamers made for glass and gemstone beads. They're a bit fancier, with much thinner shanks and (I kid you not) a diamond-dust coating that has to be used wet. I am nowhere near that hardcore.
Other uses for the bead reamer? I'm glad you asked.
It's a sharp, pointy stick, so there's that. You can use it for poking holes in things, obviously, but it's also super-handy for positioning little bits of stuff, placing stickers and, of course, self-defense. I'll update this list as I remember more…
Who said anything about a prince?
This year's contribution to the MAWA "Over the Top" auction is quite possibly my favourite. Of course, I say that every year.
Some years I go with a political message, some years I am inspired by an inspirational quote – this year, I went with straight-up cheekiness. I think it suits me.
The original collage will be auctioned off at MAWA. If you want to get your hands on it, make plans to be at the auction on March 18. Full details are here.
After the auction, I will have limited-edition prints for sale, right here and via my Instagram page. How limited? There are only nine up for grabs! Message me for details.
Nevertheless, She Persisted
I'm beginning to lose track of how many of these gals I have made for the annual MAWA "Over the Top" cupcake party and art auction. 6? 8? 10?
This is my 2017 contribution – "Nevertheless, She Persisted"
To give you a little background on the quote – or a refresher if you've forgotten the story – it comes from a debate in the US Senate in February of 2017. Senator Elizabeth Warren was speaking against Jeff Sessions' confirmation to Attorney General and, as part of her speech, read a letter written by Coretta Scott King in 1986 that denounced Sessions (who at the time was nominated to federal court judge.)
Senator Warren was interrupted several times and was told to take her seat, preventing her from finishing. Later, Senate Majority Leader (and all-around fun guy), Mitch McConnell said "Senator Warren was giving a lengthy speech. She had appeared to violate the rule. She was warned. She was given an explanation. Nevertheless, she persisted."
Naturally, feminists and Warren's supporters turned McConnell's butthurt words into a rallying cry/hashtag and I just had to use them for this piece (which, incidentally, I created on International Women's Day!) Suck it, McConnell.
The original sold at the MAWA auction, but I have a few limited-edition framed prints available for $35/each. Contact me to order!
Cards? Heck yeah, we've got cards!
Head over to my Square Shop to choose from lots of fun designs.
All cards are buy five, get one free!


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Exclusive - Only 26 Left!
14in Bountiful Blessings
Item #861119
- ANNALEE EXCLUSIVE – not available anywhere else!
- Limited Edition Design – only 250 will be made! Each comes with a special hang tag that is numbered, signed and dated by the assembler! Assembled in Meredith, NH.
- This beautifully crafted harvest angel will add to the ambiance of your home throughout the Autumn season! She is definitely a statement piece standing at approximately 14 inches high. Her dress features Autumn hues in its pretty leaf printed skirt. Details include a lace trim at the neck, satin ribbon at the waist and an intricate orange ruffle at the hem.
- Bountiful Blessings holds a pumpkin topiary decorated with berries and leaves. Her wings are made of silk Autumn leaves.
- Facial expression may vary.
- This item may take an extra 2-3 business days to ship
In stock
You may also like…
6in Candy Apple Chef MouseItem #860819
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6in Apple Bandit BearsItem #860919


text: Why why why would Samsung make the back not removable? There will be no way to replace the battery, no option for a micro SD card. What happens when the battery won't hold a charge or if you want to use a spare battery? No more battery pulls? What if your phone freezes and you need to do a battery pull? What do you do? Will they charge a lot more for a phone with decent memory storage? Very disappointed... I'm still on the Note 2. It's on it's last leg. I was going to wait till the Note 5 came out during IFA but now I'm thinking I might as well buy the Note 4. I don't like not having the option for a new battery or SD Card. What if I want to back up txt messages on an SD Card or have music/videos separate. I know the Note 5 is going to absolutely rock with the new features but not sure if the extra features over the Note 4 is worth losing out on the removable back. Is Samsung evolving into Apple?? Discussion? Does anyone disagree? Any opinions would be greatly appreciated. i'm on the fence...with a slight lean toward the Note 4.


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Isagenix has reinforced a continued commitment to investment in scientific research and providing independent clinical validation of its products by partnering with a number of universities, colleges, and independent organizations in the United States and Europe.
Building on prior independent research demonstrating the clinical efficacy of Isagenix products for healthy weight loss, the company is now pleased to share findings midway through a year-long study on the products for weight loss followed by weight maintenance.
"We want to be known as the company that sets the standard when it comes to efficacy and safety. We're about no-compromise, evidence-based products that hold up to scientific scrutiny," said Isagenix Chief Science Officer Suk Cho, Ph.D., at the company's 2014 "Strength in Momentum" Celebration in San Diego on Aug. 24.
The new study's findings strengthen evidence found previously when evaluating Isagenix products from University of Illinois at Chicago (UIC) and other universities and independent organizations, Dr. Cho said.
Recap of the UIC Study
The prior UIC study conducted in 2012 was a major milestone for the company because it demonstrated that using an Isagenix system was superior to a traditional physician-prescribed, heart-healthy diet for healthy weight loss. The system designed by Isagenix incorporates IsaLean® Shakes, a high-protein meal replacement for use on Shake Days, and Cleanse for Life®, a botanical-rich beverage used to supplement intermittent fasting on Cleanse Days.
The study found that overweight women on Isagenix lost 56 percent more weight, 47 percent more body fat, twice as much visceral body fat, and showed a greater reduction in oxidative stress and cardiovascular risk markers (attributed to the greater visceral fat losses). The UIC study was published in two high-profile, peer-reviewed journals Nutrition & Metabolism and Nutrition Journal (1,2). In addition, it received a prestigious award in obesity research at the American Society for Nutrition (ASN) 2013 meeting at the Experimental Biology conference.
Skidmore College Study
At the annual event, Dr. Cho introduced the audience of more than 10,000 Isagenix Associates to the principal investigator of the new study, Paul Arciero, Ph.D., at Skidmore College, Director of the Human Nutrition and Metabolism Lab and a professor in the Department of Health and Exercise Sciences at Skidmore College.
"He is well respected among his scientific peers and has won grants from NIH, NSF, and other organizations in the past," Dr. Cho said. Dr. Cho added that the company selected Dr. Arciero to head up the research because of his extensive background in researching and designing nutrition programs for weight loss and athletic performance. Dr. Arciero has been quoted regularly in newspapers and magazines including The Wall Street Journal, Men's Health, Time, and, most recently, Good Housekeeping. He was also an invited guest commentator on NBC's Olympic Zone during the recent summer and winter Olympic Games.
Last April, the initial results of the 10-week weight loss results of Dr. Arciero's study were presented at Isagenix Top Achievers 2014 and as an abstract at Experimental Biology. The abstract of the 10-week trial was also published in the April issue of The FASEB Journal (3). The study was patterned after the UIC study; however, it also included men as subjects and added on other physiological and metabolic markers including resting metabolic rate and arterial status.
Similar to the UIC study, the subjects lost significant weight on the system without the accompanying slowdown of metabolism that is usually seen during weight loss and a major cause of weight regain. Also impressive, the subjects had a 10 percent improved arterial flexibility and blood flow suggesting better cardiovascular health.
In an unprecedented move, the study is thought to be the first to measure increased circulating toxins (e.g. PCBs) as a result of a comprehensive weight-loss system incorporating calorie restriction and intermittent fasting. An increase in circulating toxins is an essential first step in detoxifying and eliminating these compounds from the body.
Dr. Arciero called the findings "very exciting", leading him to extend the study beyond its original timeframe to include a 12-month weight-maintenance period. The year-long study would be the first to evaluate how well subjects could maintain weight loss results with the Isagenix system.
Isagenix gave him the go-ahead with funding for the year-long study. Dr. Cho said, "Not a lot of companies are willing to make the commitment to invest in a 12-month study to demonstrate the efficacy of their products. We did. We want to show people that using our products in the long-term leads to lasting benefits."
Six-month Findings
With the initial 10-week weight-loss results from the Isagenix intervention in mind, Dr. Arciero randomly divided the subjects into either continuation of the Isagenix system (with less stringency and more "real-life" compliance) or into a dietitian-counseled heart-healthy food group.
After six months of this weight-maintenance period the results with Isagenix were no less impressive than during the 10-week initial weight-loss phase. The study's results are expected to be submitted for publication in a peer-reviewed journal in the near future.
Moreover, the metabolic and cardiovascular improvements observed during the weight-loss phase were also either maintained or even improved. For example, individuals on Isagenix maintained their metabolic rate, which is essential for preventing weight regain and also continued to improve both their blood flow and release of toxins from their stored fat. Again, this toxin release is the essential first step to elimination.
Although the final study results are still months away, the preliminary results are promising and add greater validation that Isagenix—the company that has targeted solutions for weight loss, healthy aging, and energy and performance—is providing effective products that assist in optimizing health and wellness.
Aside from UIC and Skidmore College, Isagenix has also invested in independent research at Arizona State University, Brigham Young University, Kansas State University, New York Chiropractic College, and the Spanish National Cancer Research Centre.
- Klempel MC, Kroeger, CM, Bhutani S et al. Intermittent fasting combined with calorie restriction is effective for weight loss and cardio-protection in obese women. Nutr J 2012 11:98.
- Kroeger CM, Klempel MC, Bhutani S et al. Improvement in coronary heart disease risk factors during an intermittent fasting/calorie restriction regimen: Relationship to adipokine modulations. Nutr Metab 2012;9:98. doi:10.1186/1743-7075-9-98
- Gumpricht E, Ward E, He F et al. Effects of a high-protein low-calorie intermittent-fast diet on plasma toxins and oxidative stress following weight loss. FASEB J 28 (supplement) LB435.


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We welcome all credit grades and have various programs to help anyone get a home of their own. This service is offered to you at no charge and we do not check your credit. Click the button below and get matched with a lender now.Get Started!
A mortgage calculator is a software tool that makes possible computation of mortgage payments in a convenient manner. The Internet and software technology have made available the application to all borrowers. An individual may use the application to figure out the payments for a mortgage product without having to rely on the lender. Here are several benefits of a mortgage calculator.
A wide selection of calculators is available for several purposes related to mortgage matters. A cost calculator determines the total cost of buying a home. A debt consolidation calculator allows you to determine the advantage of consolidating your debts. A repayment device helps you figure out your monthly expenses on a product.
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You need not have to rely on brokers and lenders to determine the amounts payable each month and other aspects of mortgage calculations while comparing products. This allows you an advantage over the professionals while negotiating deals. In addition, an unscrupulous lender or broker cannot exploit you.
Since a mortgage calculator is an automated tool, it offers exact results. There is no scope for inaccuracy. It is crucial to enter data carefully to eliminate any possibility of human error.
The Internet allows quick and easy access of mortgage calculators. You may enter data and the device generates results in a remarkably short time. Several sites make available these software tools free of cost.
A mortgage calculator allows you to play with data. You can make small changes to the data entered and gauge how the alterations may affect your monthly reimbursements. For instance, the tool will enable you to realise how an alteration in the value of the deposit towards the worth of the home may affect your monthly repayment costs. Lenders make available mortgage products with low interest rates for higher deposits. The figures supplied by a mortgage calculator can make you realise the exact benefits of a substantial deposit. You can figure out the precise savings achieved by making over-payments, as well.


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One of the exciting items offered at the Quest Ball 2019 was the Valley Christian Junior High Principal for the Day. This auction item was won by the White family which entitled sixth-grader, Sophia, aka "Miss White" to manage the responsibilities of the Junior High from the Principal's Office. Miss White's duties included overseeing administrative decisions, praying at the end of Chapel, sending emails, observing classes, attending the #PeaceEveryDay Club gathering, and facilitating a lunch meeting with Mr. Clemons and Mr. Parmenter. In her final moments as Principal for the Day, she made a schoolwide public announcement awarding the students with a Shorts/Sweats Day.
Miss White was a confident, delightful, and efficient Junior High Principal for the Day!


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Seema Malaka Temple, Colombo
One of the most beautiful temples in Colombo — even all of Sri Lanka — is Seema Malaka. It's a Buddhist temple situated on calm and peaceful Beira Lake, not far from Gangaramaya Temple. Seema Malaka was designed to be a place for meditation and rest, rather than worship. It's a quiet spot from which to retreat from the hustle and bustle of Colombo.
The temple you see today is a replacement for one constructed in the late 19th century which sank into the lake in the 1970s. In 1976, famed Sri Lankan architect, Geoffrey Bawa (the father of "tropical modernism" style), was hired to redesign and construct the temple. Bawa's design was said to be influenced …
Tagged Beira Lake, Buddha, Buddhist, Colombo, Seema Malaka, Temple
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Gangaramaya Temple: One of Colombo's top Attractions
Sri Lanka is a country of many traditions and faiths, but most of its residents are Sinhalese Buddhists. As such, exploring the Buddhist temples of the country offers a gateway to understanding the culture and traditions of most of its people. Gangaramaya Temple is one of the most important temples in Colombo and one of the city's more interesting sites.
This Buddhist temple is encompassed by several buildings and is situated in the heart of Colombo, not far from Beira Lake. It includes a Vihara (temple), a Bodhi tree, an Image house, and an assembly hall for monks. The complex also has an eclectic museum, library, residential hall and an educational hall. The beautiful Simamalaka Shrine is nearby and a satellite …
Tagged Buddha, Buddhist, Colombo, Gangaramaya, Temple
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Swayambunath Stupa, Kathmandu, Nepal
Swayambunath Temple, in Kathmandu, Nepal, is one of the most important sites in this ancient city. It is known as the "Monkey Temple" because of the large number of (mean spirited) monkeys that have all but taken over this complex (and are said to be "holy monkeys").
Swayambhunath is an ancient complex atop a hill in the Kathmandu Valley. Most approach it via a long uphill climb of 365 steps (one for each day of the year), past thousands of Buddhist prayer flags that set the atmosphere for the complex ahead. Each morning before dawn hundreds of Buddhist and Hindu pilgrims ascend these steps and begin a clockwise walk around the stupa at the center of this ancient site.
The Swayambhunath complex dates to …
"Pic of the Week", June 27, 2014: Wat Pho, Bangkok, Thailand
Today's highlighted photo is one I took at Wat Pho about 10 years ago, an image I've always liked. The photo was of three young Buddhist monks — just a group of pals but in brilliantly colored robes — chatting and walking into one of the buildings in the complex.
Wat Pho (the Temple of the Reclining Buddha), also known as Wat Phra Chetuphon, is located beside the Grand Palace and its Temple of the Emerald Buddha. It's very easy to visit both the Grand Palace complex and Wat Pho in one day as it's just a 10 minute walk between the two entrances. I'd recommend first visiting the Grand Palace before coming here because Wat Pho is a more relaxed …
Jun 26, 2014 Comments Off on "Pic of the Week", June 27, 2014: Wat Pho, Bangkok, Thailand


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Self adhesive hooks are used for hanging your net rods on, they can also be used as an alternative to net wire hooks to prevent screwing a hole into your wall or window frame. Simply peel the back off to reveal a sticky surface and place on any flat clean surface.
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PODGORICA, Montenegro — Firefighters in Montenegro are battling a big wildfire on the country's Adriatic coast, forcing the evacuation of nearby beaches and a tourist resort.
Authorities say emergency crews managed Tuesday to contain the fire that erupted Monday near the town of Tivat, engulfing pine forests in the area. Emergency official Zoran Barbic says the fire has almost reached nearby houses. He says strong winds have hampered efforts by the firefighters but they still have managed to get the situation under control.
tap here to see other videos from our team.
Montenegrin firefighters battle wildfire on Adriatic coast Back to video
Residents of the Lustica Bay tourist resort were evacuated earlier as well as the main beaches. No one has been injured.
The state Montengrin TV says several small wildfires also have erupted near the capital of Podgorica.


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Funko POP Movies: Suicide Squad Action Figure
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Happy to report that there's been a swift and strong pushback on the whole "use your pandemic time productively" push. From the meme world... From the New York Times... ...and from J.K. Rowling herself! No quote tweeting, but if you're a 'life coach' who's on here implying people are losers if they aren't learning a new skill/building a brand while on lockdown, maybe stop. People have challenges you know nothing about. Sometimes getting through something is more than enough. — J.K. Rowling (@jk_rowling) April 3, 2020 Love to see the culture getting smarter and more compassionate! Stay well, and stay nonperfectionist! … [Read more...]
How About We Not Be Perfectionist During a Pandemic?
Sorry I've been quiet: I've been finishing my latest book, Productivity is Power: 5 Liberating Practices for College Students. I'll have more to share on that shortly. I'm compelled to write now, however, because there's been a spate of posts by people who seem to think that shaming others for their supposed underproductivity during a pandemic is useful. It's not! To be clear, memes like this AREN'T HELPFUL: And tweets like this AREN'T HELPFUL: Just a reminder that when Shakespeare was quarantined because of the plague, he wrote King Lear. — rosanne cash (@rosannecash) March 14, 2020 Implicit in the above, as in most perfectionist statements, is a comparison. Perfectionists will compare themselves to anyone—famous, obscure, living, dead—and on any criterion (looks, wealth, popularity, productivity, etc.). They'll even compare themselves to themselves at a higher level of performance (e.g., their … [Read more...]
Perfectionism is All Lies and Oversimplifications, Part One Million
This tweet has it all, from a perfectionist standpoint: It: Sets an impossibly high standard for success. (You should be as successful as Apple's Steve Jobs, etc.) Is shaming. ("What's your excuse?") Makes specious comparisons. (Between you and these ultra-successful outliers, most of whom also achieved their success decades ago, in a very different society and economy.) Offers zero guidance on how to actually achieve the level of super success it's promoting. AND IT'S WRONG. Perfectionist narratives, including the "rags to riches" and "bootstrap" ones so beloved by the business press and conservatives in general, are inevitably oversimplified and dramatic. As you can read in Historic.ly's brilliant takedown of the tweet, the founders of the companies mentioned were overwhelmingly rich and well-connected. And, with one exception, Mattel's Ruth Handler, they were/are all white men, so the tweet's implied claim that, "anyone can do this" is, on its face, bogus. The perfectionist tweet … [Read more...]
Roll Over Beethoven!
At a recent performance of Johannes Brahms's First Symphony, the conductor told how, when Brahms was just starting out, the elder composer Robert Schumann praised him to the high heavens. Here's the story: Brahms was only twenty years old and as yet little known….Robert expressed his admiration first in a letter to Joachim, and then in an article for the Neue Zeitschrift, entitled "Neue Bahnen" ("New Paths"). He praised Brahms in extravagant language, proclaiming the arrival of a young musician "called to give expression to his times in ideal fashion: a musician who would reveal his mastery not in gradual stages but like Minerva would spring fully armed from Kronos's head. And he has come; a young man over whose cradle Graces and Heroes have stood watch. His name is Johannes Brahms…" Partly as a result of Schumann's extravagant praise, many considered Brahms the natural successor to Beethoven, and predicted that his first symphony would be "Beethoven's Tenth." It took Brahms 21 years to finish that … [Read more...]
Nope, "Perfectionism in Moderation" Isn't a Good Thing
Writer Lindsay Ellis recently tweeted about imposter syndrome (where you think you aren't up to the task, have everyone fooled, and are destined to be revealed as a horrible fraud). Unfortunately, she gets it wrong. She writes: "Because the thought patterns that lead to imposter syndrome need not always be a net negative - on some level, it is a form of perfectionism, but perfectionism can be harnessed as energy to create better, more thoughtful work. Perfectionism in moderation need not be destructive." You won't be surprised to hear that I emphatically disagree with that last sentence. My responses below. As someone who specializes in helping writers and others overcome #perfectionism and procrastination, I have to respectfully disagree. I believe perfectionism is always harmful because it disempowers you.... https://t.co/I4mzUPwx4t — Hillary Rettig (@hillaryrettig) March 1, 2019 Perfectionism's main tools are harshness and coercion - including imposter syndrome. They are inhumane and thus immoral … [Read more...]
Nonperfectionism in a Single Sentence
Nothing is as humbling, to a writer, anyway, as when you've used a lot of words to say something, and then someone comes along and nails it in a single sentence. But also nothing is more of a gift, so I guess it evens out. :-) It happened to me with my book The Lifelong Activist. Somewhere in the midst of writing a 400+ page tome on how to live a sustainable, balanced life that includes a serious political mission, I found this quote by the French writer Gustave Flaubert that pretty much summed everything up: "Live your life regular and orderly like a bourgeois, so that you may be violent and original in your work." (Of course, Flaubert doesn't tell you *how* to do that great thing, so I guess my book is still useful!) These days I spend a lot of time helping people overcome perfectionism. And for my work-in-progress, Joyful Productivity for Undergraduates (due out this year!), I'm happy to say I've come up with no fewer than nine great solutions, which I'll share in a future newsletter. But … [Read more...]
The Difference Between High Standards and Perfectionism
Where does "high standards" end and perfectionism begin? When it starts to cost you. A recent New York Times piece by Karen Crouse recounts the trials of figure skater Gracie Gold, an Olympic contender who suffered mental illness, including eating disorders, in large part from the pressures of competing. Gold's perfectionism, according to the article, started early. "Throughout [her] childhood, she was fixated on being first, and flawless. In the classroom, she would furiously, and tearfully, erase an entire sentence if she misspelled a single word. By second grade, she had found an outlet for her compulsiveness, taking formal skating lessons at a rink near the family home in Springfield, MO." The absolute hardest thing I have to teach people is that perfectionism never helps and always hurts. The lesson can be hard to take in because: Perfectionism--whether in the form of harshness, punishments, and/or deprivation--has a superficial logic. "Just work harder, Sally!" Or, "No breaks till you're … [Read more...]
The Conversation You Have With Your Work
Creative / scholarly work is actually a conversation between yourself (your ideas, emotions, perceptions) and your materials and influences. Or, as glass artist Davide Penso recently put it in an interview in Glass Art Magazine: "I didn't and don't presume to work in glass, but to support it and assign it the task of molding me. Glass enhanced my best characteristics and emphasized its own. In silent agreement, with respect, we use each other." It's probably the best encapsulation of the creative mindset I've read. Perfectionism can get in the way, however. If you start... trying to control the outcome ("I'd better do fabulous work!") rushing ("It's going too slowly!"), or instrumentalizing (seeing the work as a means to an end, as in, "This should get me an A," or "I really want this to be the Great American Novel.") ...then you derail the whole process. Now it's true that we often do want to do great work, meet our deadlines, and impress our audience (teacher, editor, gallery owner, … [Read more...]
An Extreme Exercise in Nonperfectionism!
A fun exercise for overcoming perfectionism is to send emails with intentional errors and silliness in them. You're basically practicing toleratting your errers, and having others see those errers. (It also helps with time management because once you stop trying to perfect every email you save a lot of time. And yes, of course I know that some emails need to be as perfect as possible. I'm obvusly not talking about those.) The more upset someone gets at the prospect of sending out an email with a few intentional typos, the more perfectionist I know they are. (And some people get plenty upset!) Even *I* would be taken aback by this typo, however: Coping with that would be an extreme exercise in nonperfectionism! Happy holidays, and if you want to send me a silly email I would love to get it. Best, Hillary Related: Why email is such a difficult time management challenge. … [Read more...]
Inspiration from Michael Jordan and Garry Kasparov to Start Your Work/School Year
I hope everyone had a fantastic summer! Let's get the work/school year going with a great quote from Michael Jordan: I quoted chess champ / democracy activist Garry Kasparov saying something similar in my book The 7 Secrets of the Prolific: "Years ago, I was fortunate to hear one of my heroes, former world chess champion and current Russian democracy activist Garry Kasparov, discuss important lessons he had learned from chess. Here's how he began his talk: "I have won hundreds of chess games, and lost thousands. You have to have the courage to fail." The courage to fail. What an amazing phrase—and coming from a hypercompetitive chess champion it takes on a special meaning. Kasparov probably hates failure more than just about anyone—in fact, as his use of the word "courage" implies, he probably fears it—but he had to develop a tolerance for it to reach his goals. That he chose to begin his talk with this point only underscores its … [Read more...]
Productivity Secrets of a "Supergenius"
A friend was discussing her fears around her writing, and, in particular, of taking on bigger projects than she could handle, when she came up with a great comparison: "I feel like Wile E. Coyote when he goes off the edge of a cliff. Then he looks down and realizes he's gone too far, but it's too late, and down he goes." She was conveying a real sense of fear. (Falling off a cliff, even in a cartoon, is scary!) And yet...something about the comparison felt off. I thought for a moment, and then pointed out: "But he always survives the fall, doesn't he?" She paused. "Uh, yes. I guess he does." "And then he goes on with the chase?" "Yes!" I think it's fair to say my friend's attitude shifted at that moment. In fact, her comparison was more apt than she realized. As a creator, it's actually your job to "run off the cliff"—i.e., take risks. And that, by definition, means you'll fall (a.k.a., fail) a lot. It's essential you not overreact to those failures when they happen. Even better, stop … [Read more...]
Let's Talk About "Situational Perfectionism"
"Situational perfectionism" is when something causes your perfectionism to spike above its usual levels. (Which usually, in turn, causes your procrastination to spike!) It's a common phenomenon, with many causes. Here are a few: A prior failure. Often, when we perceived we've failed, we get more afraid of future failures. (The solution is to not make such a fuss over failure.) But, paradoxically... A prior success can also do it! That's because you feel (often rightly) more scrutinized. Second Novel Syndrome is a classic example of this type of situational perfectionism, and even J.K. Rowling experienced it after the success of the first Harry Potter book: "For the first time ever in my life, I got writer's block...The stakes seemed to have gone up a lot, and I attracted a lot of publicity in Britain for which I was utterly unprepared.'" Fortunately, she got over it, but many writers and others, alas, never do. Labels can be a problem! Labeling your project "urgent," "important," or "difficult" … [Read more...]
Stuck? Lose Your Label!
Here's a useful piece by Austin Kleon on How to Keep Going: 10 Ways to Stay Creative in Chaotic Times. I like #3 a lot: "Forget the noun, do the verb." Calling yourself a "writer," "artist," "activist," "scholar," "entrepreneur," or any other label can invite procrastination if you use that label perfectionistically. For example, if you think of a writer as someone who is supposed to: write many hours every single day sacrifice everything else to one's art happily starve / live in a garret be smarter about all things writing-related than anyone in the room (or anywhere!) write fantastically all the time, and, enjoy writing all the time Then you're inevitably going to fall short, and feel miserable about it. Here are some other labels that get people into trouble: "good parent" (if you think "good" means you must sacrifice everything for your kids) and "dutiful child" (if you think "dutiful" means you must do everything your parents ask). In these cases, you should forget … [Read more...]
A Self-Critical Paragon of Productivity
Last weekend, a woman with whom I was speaking on a business matter told me she was "really could use help" with her time management, citing as proof the fact that we were working over the weekend. She had forgotten, however, that the reason we were doing so wasn't because of anything she had done, but because I hadn't had a chance to return her call during the week. So here she was, blaming and condemning herself for something that wasn't even her fault! Along with pointing that out, I also pointed out that she did great at her complex and challenging job, a sign that, contrary to her words, she probably was a competent time manager. "This isn't even my main job!" she exclaimed. Turns out that she held a part-time job in addition to a rigorous full-time one AND was a single mother. I was astounded, and pointed out to her what would probably have been fairly obvious had she not been too negative: that, being competent in not just one but THREE enormous areas of responsibility was a strong indicator that … [Read more...]


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Last year I was starting to have a breakdown, I felt like I was needing a hard restart, However, I didn't know what that looked like. I sat with it for a few months and then an option presented itself, to live/ work at an ashram in Sedona, Arizona. It felt like an opportunity that I couldn't pass up, so I went for it. I sold most of my things, put my practice on hold and headed westward. It started with a trip to southern California with my partner, Angela, to visit family and also to help facilitate a ManKind Project weekend in San Diego. We were there for about two weeks, exploring the fruits of the region and it was wonderful. Warmer weather, the ocean, whales, sandy beaches, and a fresh start. I felt free, free of obligations, free of commitments to landlords and free to choose where my next steps were. After a few weeks, Angela and I headed east to Sedona, and what a contrast in environments it was, little did I know what would happen next.
What was to happen next, challenged me and also offered me huge opportunities to grow in ways I never expected. Angela was only to be there a few days, before returning to Michigan, to pack up her things, I would join her in a few weeks after that, to drive back to Sedona and start our new life, that's not how it happened.
This is where my life really started to flip. I started to realize, after being there for a little bit, that it was not in alignment with what I was wanting/ needing from the experience. It was one of those "Fantasy>Reality" situations. ( Fantasy is greater than reality, for you non math nerds out there.) So, I did something that was very difficult, I changed my mind. Now, I've changed my mind a thousand times, and in some really easy ways, but this one was not a typical situation. I had to tell Swami that I was leaving and with that, all of my fears of quitting jobs and leaving relationships all came crashing down on me in an intense way. I started projecting all of the worst situations and scenarios on to Swami and what might happen. When it came time to tell him, he was so sweet and understanding and told me that I always had a home with him at the Ashram, and that he wished me well on my journey forward. This was not what I was expecting and it was also intensely healing for me to have this experience.
Moving forward, the next hard thing I had to work through was what I show in the video below. When Angela came back to Sedona, to meet up with me and drive back to Ann Arbor, my agenda was to just B-line it home and get back in 2-3 days, she had a different idea. " Why don't we take our time and enjoy the scenery around here and slowly make our way home and get home when we do? Why do we have to rush?" This sounded like Greek to me, as every cross country road trip I've ever done, has been done in record time, with very little sight seeing, and to spend almost 2 weeks driving across country turned out to be one of the biggest lessons I've had to deal with in a long time. It was also one of the best decisions I've ever made.
After returning to Ann Arbor, another interesting perspective arrived that I wasn't expecting either, A lot of assumptions cast in my direction that weren't true. " Oh I'm so sorry that it didn't work out!", "That's terrible! I know how badly you wanted to be out there!" However, my reality was, I am grateful to be back in Ann Arbor with a huge community of people who support me, including my clients who quickly took advantage of getting back in my office to see me. I also wouldn't change anything about the last two months of my life, I would do it all over again in a heart beat. It feels so liberating to have shed all of the stuff I did, all of the material possessions in my life that had old energy in them, stepping away from my usual day to day, to experience something knew, and helping me realize what I have in Ann Arbor and all the gifts and abundance that surrounds me here. I would not have come to this realization with out doing everything that I did. Also, it gave me an opportunity to do what I'm doing now and that is restructuring my practice into doing more of my Life Catalyst work which feeds me on such a deep level. This is something that I wanted to do before I left and I didn't have the energy then to do it.
In closing, what I want to say is this. If you're feeling stuck and need a drastic change, go for it. If you have the means and desire, chances are the universe will provide an opportunity for you to step into that. Also when doing it, don't be attached to the outcome, that's the worst thing you can do. I'll leave you with this wonderful Taoist story about the farmer and his son.
There was a farmer whose horse ran away. That evening the neighbors gathered to commiserate with him since this was such bad luck. He said, "we'll see." The next day the horse returned, but brought with it six wild horses, and the neighbors came exclaiming at his good fortune. He said, "we'll see." And then, the following day, his son tried to saddle and ride one of the wild horses, was thrown, and broke his leg.
Again the neighbors came to offer their sympathy for the misfortune. He said, "we'll see." The day after that, conscription officers came to the village to seize young men for the army, but because of the broken leg the farmer's son was rejected. When the neighbors came in to say how fortunately everything had turned out, he said, "we'll see."