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The first most important thing is the attitude of wanting and trying to please your partner. When you put that first everything else tends to work out. The ones that don't seem to be trying are the ones I remove or avoid. And even people that aren't that great or are just ok can get better if they're really trying and want to please the other person.
The second most important thing to do to be better at passion is to open up and really let your heart flow. You have to put yourself into your AVI and learn to feel and express even the details as much as possible. Use lots of adjectives and paint a vivid word picture of every little detail and action.
Sexiness comes from your mind and the words you use are more important in great passion then sexy poses, triggers or voice boxes or anything else. But that doesn't mean that the other things don't help or add to it. So set up and use sexy poses and dress sexy and use sexy music or sounds appropriately. Sex and great love here doesn't come from those things but doing all of the smaller pieces right definitely adds to the quality and excitement.
There are a few other things you can do that can help you to do a better job that I don't tell most people about. The best secret trick is to use Dragon Naturally Speaking or any voice program that allows you to talk instead of having to type. I don't do this during regular chats, but in passion I like to be able to have my hands free so I can enjoy it and still do a good job making it fun and sexy for my partner.
I also use a couple other tricks that I don't talk about as much. I use a program that helps in typing things, kind of like an auto correct. This allows you to expand a couple of letters into phrases or even whole sentences. I got a gaming keyboard that has a programmable macro keys. I even got a foot pedal so I can just tap the pedal instead of having to use the keyboard for a couple things.
I made a database of all of the best lines I used or could find. A little bit of preparation can help make it very powerful and a lot easier. Some of the macro programs can automate a lot of it. I don't find that I use those type of macros or the prepared lines as much once I got good with Dragon, because I'm with the same people fairly frequently and I don't want them to feel any of it is canned or less than less sincere. The point though is that you should try to find a few ways to shortcut and make it easier to do a good job.
One of the things that I do which not everybody does is music. If you search a little bit and work at it you can put together some very hot sexy IMVU music mixes that will add to the feeling of passion.
Make or even find a couple IMVU rooms that have fun themes and use them with some friends. A generic looking room, or even worse the default room is kind of a turn off. But a very sexy room that's different and exciting will definitely make someone want to come back again and so will real powerful love! Follow up afterwards with a note or two, to stay on their mind, and don't sound like you're gonna come track them down, but let them know if you appreciate it.
When do you Climax and how do you describe it?
This is certainly an interesting topic which you won't read about on the forums at IMVU. I've written some posts about imvu sex with imvu sex tips but I've thought about writing something more specifically for this for a while but I admit I've been a little bit nervous about it because I'm not trying to make this just about sex. I have enough of that image already and I really don't claim to be an expert at this, although everybody generally seems pretty happy in the end.
First I should say there's no right or wrong answer or right or wrong way to do anything in this area. The important part is to be expressive. To share the intense emotions in IMVU and escalate and feel your partner pushing you and push them back! How you do it or say it isn't as important as opening up and expressing the emotion and feeling however you want to do it.
I've kind of switched to capitalization more to try to express the feeling of screaming at times. I also really enjoy talking because I hear it in my head and feel it more than I do just reading it. I also think it's important to respond and interact with your partner as much as possible. Sometimes that's using the same words that they used or the same idea, but try to respond and be as interactive as possible.
When is an Interesting question. I have tried it all different ways and it depends on the flow of the conversation, but for me, usually I find that the best time to actually come is right after you've expressed it. Maybe this is getting a little too personal and giving away too much information. Anyway, I find there is usually a little bit of a quiet moment after that. Sometimes I can time it right and match the timing on the chat but usually there is a few seconds of quiet time afterwards that is a little bit easier.
It's important to express your climax because your partner needs to know where you're at. You don't get the visual cues and things you see in real life so it's hard for your partner to know whether you are close in about two or have already finished. That's why it's really important to be open and share what you feel. It's always a little bit awkward to have to ask the other person, are you good?
It's also helpful to stretch out the climax, to say it longer than just the few seconds that it might actually last because you don't know whether they are about to or when they will, and that intense emotion is also fun to hold onto. It also encourages them if they are close and makes it very intense!
Another interesting question that could probably be it's own post is do you fake it and when? The best way to answer this question is that sometimes I feel it emotionally more so then physically. There are times when I don't have privacy and times when I don't quite feel up to it or don't quite get there and I feel like it's better to go ahead and express it even when I didn't physically I came here because I wanted to feel sexy again and I do feel sexy in that so it's not faking it, it's just feeling it rather then doing it.
IMVU certainly isn't just about sex. It's about relationships and sex is a part of that and should be a very strong bonding thing. So however you want to express it or show it or share it, open up and let it flow in imvu chat and enjoy it with your partner. The more you enjoy it and express it well the more they will enjoy it and enjoy sharing it with you. We all want to please our partner and to feel that they enjoyed it so however you want to do it, it's important to let them know how much you enjoyed it and try to help them to enjoy it too.
Happy Second Year Anniversary!
The 24the of March, a day we both can't forget…at 12 "o" clock, midnight hour my time, is a moment for us to share. At this moment, at this day we both are hopeless sweet devoted at each other!
Some people will think we both been crazy, two years in love at a world of IMVU! But we both know, we ain't nuts, we ain't crazy and we ain't being in love with just an AVI of some kind of virtual world. It's the person of who we love, the person behind the AVI, and this person means so much more for the both of us.
Steph, I love you…or how we would say in Dutch "Steph, ik hou van jou!", I love you till our hair getting grey or till our faces will be fully filled of lines to betray our age…giggles.
Happy Second Year Anniversary Steph…xxx
I still remembering the first day we've met,
we're both too shy to say much at all,
It is funny to think back at that moment,
because now we both having a ball!
They say, true friendship and love is rare,
an adage that I believe to be true,
to have a special bond is something that I cherish,
I am so lucky Steph, to have met you.
Our friendship is something really special,
It is something unique in his own way,
we have something irreplaceable,
oh Steph, I love you more and more each day.
Friends are forever and ever,
especially the bond that you and I possess,
I so love your fun-filled personality,
You'll never fail for me to impress.
The world could use more people like you,
it would certainly be a much better place,
I love everything and all about you,
you are someone to me I could never replace.
You are always there for me, no matter what,
when my day's need a little lift,
I cannot thank you enough for that,
you are truly very special to me like a "wedding" gift.
You are everything to me Steph, more and more,
I could never express this at you enough,
life is such a treacherous journey,
without you, my days would be even more tough.
My darling, you are so special to me,
and hope you will know I will love you until the end,
I will always be there for you Steph,
you will always be my forever love and my very best friend…xxx
Poly-Amorism in IMVU
Poly-Amorism means loving many. In our real lives everything works better and last longer and goes smoother when you have just one great love. But wait, that's not true either. We all have lots of relationships and people that love us and we love in real life too. Some of them are mothers and sisters and relatives, coworkers or friends from church or your neighborhood… the list goes on. The key thing that you have to realize is that since you're not actually having physical contact the consequences and seriousness of it aren't the same in here and that's part of the environment here more so than real life.
This is one of the major differences though with IMVU. First of all you don't have the physical downside of multiple relationships. In real life it creates a health hazard and puts everyone at risk not to mention pregnancy, but here that isn't a factor. Secondly, it's geared towards anonymity and privacy so it's very easy to see someone privately and confidentially, and to meet sexy strangers very easily too.
Those are both some of the reasons why multiple relationships here is not bad, but that doesn't explain exactly why it's so good and so prevalent here either. I think the very nature of this place is that it's ultimately not real and isn't designed to be a lifetime situation. It's kind of like living in match.com or going to an adult Disney World and limiting yourself to just one ride.
Unlike real life where the goal is usually to build a long term if not lifetime relationship and commitment, in here people come here for the journey or for the moment, to feel that once in a life time magical passion of new love over and over again. This is their fantasy and many people's idea of a fantasy is not necessarily a single monogamous thing. Don't get me wrong, some people definitely do that but given different schedules and life situations, unlike real life, monogamy seems to go against the grain of IMVU.
It's not you, and it's important to realize that your actions here do not translate into real life attitudes. Enjoy the magic of IMVU and enjoy the powerful passion that seems to fill this fantasy world.
Without love I am nothing…
I don't talk about religion in here because imvu isn't about religion. It's extremely diverse but if you don't mind I'd like to paraphrase a famous verse of the bible that applies here. It's 1st Corinthians chapter 13 verses 1 to 3, basically says no matter how beautifully I speak, no matter how amazing my actions are, no matter how generous I am, I am nothing without LOVE.
A lot of the principles that are true in life are even more true in here and easier to see without all the little distractions. This one especially. One of the most impressive people I've ever met in here and closest friends was making this point last night. And at the time I kind of felt it ultimately took more than 'just' love. That's why when I thought of the bible verse it seemed to fit better.
When you have issues it takes some effort, it takes some communication, it takes some time, some patience, and some faith. But the main ingredient that has to be in everything is LOVE. Without Love your effort is wasted, communication is just noise and time blown.
So yes love is the answer to everything. But more so, its the magic ingredient! It's the catalyst that makes everything work. For example I give a lot if gifts but its not just gifts that count its the thought, the love that it shows. When imvu gives something it doesn't come with love. It's just a gift. I can't even tell you how many rooms and sets of furniture I've never even seen. That's also why giving someone something not on their gift list sometimes shows more caring and love!
Yes, I've said this in a lot of different ways in posts in here. Whether its The greatest thing in IMVU is LOVE, love the person behind the keyboard, Hold them with love, Real IMVVU Love, 57 ways to show Love, and so many more posts about love. That's because Love is the secret ingredient not just in Imvu, but in life. Not just according to me but according to the bible.
One last note: Taylor without my LOVE, I am nothing…
Why does it get better and better?
One of my best friends, says this all the time. It's going to get better and better from here. And I didn't believe her at first because it was already amazing, but honestly it really does seem to keep getting better and better. I was trying to think about that and understand why that is.
Most of us go through the Random sex stage. But as fun as that seems at the time we tend to go back to the one that seemed really good. Then we realize that as exciting as the new person and spontaneous situation can feel, sharing the passion with someone you really care about is much more intense.
So it's easy to understand that it gets better as you move from the random stage as youo move into a relationship. But why does it seem to get better and better even in the relationship stage?I think the answer is that the more you share, the more connected you are, the more powerful it gets, and therefore the more you share and then connected you become. And so forth and so on. This spiraling, as you get to know someone, opening up and learning the turn ons if your partner, is awesome. Sure we tend to get blind, and we do fill in the blanks of the other person with what we want to see. But this is one of the most amazing things you will experience in here and it's so addictive.
How could you not want to come here and have that kind of love and experience? And along the way, I think we also tend to get trained, to see someone and connect the feelings you've had with them before. I see my lover and suddenly all the passion we've shared wants to come flooding back in. I feel like pavlov's dog, seeing my love and bells start ringing in my head! Except it's not my mouth that starts watering. giggle giggle…
Happily married…our congratulations…xxx
A marriage is a human bond,
where two loving hearts become one,
sharing all their life's joys and trials,
in all of your days to come.
Whether sunny days or stormy nights,
the love you both share becomes the glue,
that will hold your world together,
and will see you safely through.
Whatever challenges life will brings,
it is no longer just "I" or "me",
a marriage and those vows you've taken,
have changed the "me" into "we".
These two hearts married today to each other,
their lives united now as "one",
what God and law have joined together,
let nothing cause to come undone.
Let nothing come between the both of you,
and always keep the other's trust,
may love mend any disagreement,
before the dawn has turned to dusk.
Be kind and gracious toward each other,
always in truth and charity,
these marriage vows you've taken,
have changed your "me" into "we".
Marriage is a human bond,
where two hearts become just as one,
sharing all life's joys and trials,
in all your days that has to come.
May your life be filled with showers,
of blessings from high above,
and may you always and forever,
be very truly much in love…xxx
More IMVU Sex Tips
I wrote something like this about IMVU SEX Tips before so lets call this MORE sex tips. A few of these overlap but not too much, so if you like this check out the first post about IMVU Sex Tips. These are the things that no IMVU forum will tell you. Your parents or friends don't tell you this stuff either, but this can help make your experience here much more rewarding. I don't profess to be an expert in this but I have learned a lot in the past couple years. I'd like to think this is a decent collection of advice but many of you may have valuable things to add too. So please leave me comments!
It's helpful to let your partner know when you're getting close and when you come. They want to please you and want to respond appropriately. You also need to give them time to get there, to be ready. Also realize that a lot of people cum either before or after they say it. So don't stop short, (unless someone is at your door!)
Sometimes with some people that seem more intimacy oriented, I do kind of stay a little quieter and don't scream as much. But make sure your partner knows where you're at. It's kind of awkward to not know whether to keep going or cuddle. Some people I eventually have to ask. And it's a great feeling knowing that you've pleased someone.
It's ok to be quiet a little, but just remember that women are more verbal and often really need your encouragement. And if you aren't making the other person feel sexy they're not gonna want to see you again. There's just too many people eager to please and it's easy to avoid someone that wasn't that great.
Be enthusiastic and make the orgasm last a little longer than it does in real life but not too crazy. If they're not quiet there it gives them time and encouragement. And realize that a little bit of quiet time is also important and probably just means they're enjoying it.
It's good to be a little loud and overly enthusiastic but don't be insane. I knew one girl that would fill 10+ bubbles with CUMMMMMMMMMMMM and it got to be kind of funny. I later concluded that there was a high probability that the person was too young although that wasn't necessarily related.
Don't try to keep them forever, but don't run away too quickly, especially as soon as you come. It's ok to say it's hard to let them leave, but don't whine. One person I know complains when I leave even if we've spent over two hours together and it's like 5am, which just seems kind of unfair.
Write a note afterwards if it was good. You don't have to be a great writer or spew poetry. But letting them know that you appreciated them is important. It's not as important to send a gift as it is to say something nice and emotional.
I look at my invites and also look at my messages. If you usually just invite, try sending a cute or sexy message instead of just inviting. A message is nice because you can write something seductive, about craving them or needing them, or write a sexy situation.
Keep going a little after you come or the other person says they come, because most people say it on here a little before or after.
Be flexible. Sometimes I want to keep going a little after wards, and want more but sometimes I can't, which is often a function of time, and you have to feel them out. It's helpful to mention your time limitations up front, especially if you have a hard deadline. And if they tell you they have a commitment, respect that.
I like to be seduced, and you don't have to take the first no I can't, if it's not that definitive but you can't just keep trying too hard all the time. If it's a schedule thing like having to pick my kids up, seducing probably won't help much. But if it's just that I'm not in the mood or tired (unless it's 430am or super late) sometimes it's nice to be enticed.
Make it your goal for that person to want you desperately. I'm very married in here and super committed to my spouse, but when she's not here and I'm with someone else, I love them enthusiastically and passionately. And I take it as flattery when they want me to be regular or committed to them. At that point I might back pedal politely but I do like being wanted.
You're allowed to say things in passion. I used to be afraid to say I Love You, or strong things in passion even if I was moved to, because I was worried what they would think or how it would be taken. I give people more liberty in passion now and take some liberties then too. Don't worry. That doesn't mean I want to marry you or that you're a stalker.
Don't demand commitment, especially in passion. Make them WANT to commit, don't require it, especially in the middle of passion. It can be a huge buzz kill and hurt the momentum of the passion much more than it will help anything.
When you're rampping up, I find it helpful to describe what you're gonna do, or what you want to do. There's just nothing more exciting than being told that you're gonna be taken, that you're make me cum till I cry. Don't talk like that if we're not in the mood to begin with, but talking dirty is super hot if you're at second base already or sometimes into heavy flirting.
Try to use a few poses. I admit that I've definitely had some mind blowing times without any poses, but that doesn't mean they wouldn't have been better if you'd had poses. Sexy poses do add to it, just like getting naked does. I don't HAVE to get naked to feel sexy but I usually feel sexier when I'm naked. Don't try to use every pose in the room, and don't change poses right when the other person is about to cum.
T1 style (longer multi line role playing responses) is good for bigger stories and fighting, but it sucks at building momentum that's kind of necessary for real passion. If you're writing a sexy story use T1. If you're trying to really create and represent breathless interaction, use shorter single bubble lines. Its also easier to read shorter lines when you're getting into the throws of passion too.
Real IMVU LOVE
I got the most wonderful message today. Ok, it was four messages actually but it described very honestly and beautifully the pure IMVU Love that I had to share it. It wasn't just about me, but I took the other names out. I hope more than anything that you get to experience this IMVU LOVE on this level too.
In some ways, Imvu lets me be more real than real life! In my real I have walls up on your emotions. I could never tell most (any?) of my real friends, how I really do love them. In imvu is no problem!! lol I love that about it. I love that I can even write this message. That I can love you so much in my heart of hearts and I can tell you that I do and it feels soooo good!!! I can let you know all my inner feelings and stuff so easily where would be next to impossible in real.
This is such a magical place with so many good people (YOU) and I can really be so loving. In my real life I always look forward to going here and seeing you and my friends here. Where I can be a fairy or anything, and share honestly with you, and not have to worry if someone will think you are weird or crazy or whatever. lol I have never been able to be so……..emotionally involved or maybe so open or maybe so loved or maybe so human??????
Whatever it is, I never want it to stop. I never want to stop loving you! Ever!! Another thing about here is that I love you yes, I need you, and I love making love with you more than anything!! There is NO jealousy, or any of that stuff that goes with a relationship in real. I just want you to be happy in whatever you do and that makes me happy too. It is such an awesome feeling, – to love with all my heart but without all the bad stuff. Like PURE love!! lol – I love you and all my imvu friends!
I know and can feel your love for me and it just makes me so happy that you do and if you have these feelings for others that is wonderful too. It's wonderful for them that they have someone as nice as you to love them too!!! I am happy for them and you!! I do not think this could happen in real like this. :) I hope I am not talking too much again! but I think you know what I am feeling, I think if anyone does it's you! and I love you for that too!! LOLOLOL!!! or maybe….. I have finally crossed the REALLY crazy threshold in here! Oh well back to vacuuming but smiling with YOU!
The greatest thing in IMVU is Love…
Don't just pretend to love people in here, really love them. Love them full, love them with all your heart. Don't hold anything back, love in a forgiving, patient, and nurturing way. Love in a respectful humble gentle way. Love them through the tears. Even though you will fall sometimes, love with no limits or strings. Love the person behind the keys. Love the spirit you can see and feel in here.
Real life gets complicated and it's hard to talk about some things and share true love very often. But one of the most amazing things in IMVU is how you can open up and share so much. Be bold, be passionate, Love like an ocean and pour out your love. Be a light in your circle and shares such an overwhelming LOVE that nothing else matters. This isn't just a place for fun and it's more than a game. It's a way to connect and share. Share something great.
Some people think IMVU is about sex, but they're only seeing part of it. Sex is part of Love. It often makes you feel loving, and certainly makes you feel more in love than even the best non interactive porn does. Love is more than just Sex though, it requires intimacy, openness, and an emotional connection. I'm not sure if it's good or bad but I know that this is the tip of the iceberg. Manti Teos showed that the main stream society doesn't get this but that's partially because the people that do it generally have to be quiet about it. They scoff at a virtual relationship being real love, but it is. Everyone doesn't get there, but LOVE truly is the secret of IMVU.
Will you Marry me Stephanie
Today was a very special all day for me. My dear sweet friends Katy and Susan had the most beautiful wedding. I also really want to thank them because they also helped me officially ask, my dear love Stephanie to marry me.
I've never been as nervous as today and with trembling knees, sweaty hands and fingers which were barely managed to find the right keys, I have written this little poem for her.
Stephanie…I love you with all my heart and want nothing more than sharing my life with you! I love you my darling…xxx
On hills of sunshine,
where love has no limits,
would you take my hand and follow me,
through clouds of dreams.
I will always cherish you,
and all these moments that,
leave me breathless.
Let me wrap my arms,
around your waist,
like a flower,
with such beauty, such grace.
Capturing your warm smile,
as your lips whisper softly,
like a spring breeze.
Stephanie I will ask you,
will you Marry me…xxx
Beauty and Sexy in IMVU
Beauty in IMVU comes from the heart. It comes from sharing your heart and your love after you've lowered your walls. Pixels are easy to change and only make you sexy on the outside but your heart is what makes real beauty.
Sexy Is a little different. Sexy in IMVU comes from the Mind. Sexy takes some creativity, some romance and some animal passion. You don't want sexy without beauty or beauty without sexiness.
Love Is a combination of sexy and beauty mixed with strong emotions and often a healthy dose of friendship and commitment. I wish there was a way to explain the love I feel in here. I don't mean to write exclusively about that, but I'm just so blown away by things right now it's hard to think about anything else.


text: Of course, I didn't exactly expect anyone would actually take me seriously. Now I know better. Guy gets in some hot water for drinking at a beach where alcohol's not permitted. Okay, slap on the wrist, you'd think–this is Canada, after all. Except rather than give his actual name, he gave the name Andrew Moron instead. And was promptly fined for impersonation. I'll now make the obvious suggestion that perhaps this guy should go right ahead and legally change his name. In the meantime, have a moron of the month award. No, it's not named after this guy.

subset: commoncrawl


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Costco, Trader Joe's fruit recalled for listeria concerns
Wawona Packing Co. issued recall Saturday
Fruit sold at retailers including Trader Joe's, Sam's Club and Costco are part of a voluntary nationwide recall due to the potential of the products being contaminated with listeria.
Wawona Packing Company, of Cutler, California, issued the voluntary recall Saturday for lots of whole peaches, nectarines, plums and pluots that were packed between June 1 and July 12.
Company officials said the recalled products were shipped directly to wholesalers who resell the products, and because no one knows where the products went, a nationwide recall was issued.
Wawona Packing Company has already notified customers and requested they remove the products.
Listeria is an organism that can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people and others with a weakened immune system.
Although healthy people may suffer only short-term symptoms such as high fever, severe headache, stiffness, nausea, abdominal pain and diarrhea, listeria can also cause miscarriages and stillbirths among pregnant women.
For more information on the affected products, click here.


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Sponsored walk in aid of Glengoole Hall
Heartfelt Thanks- A sincere and heartfelt thanks is extended to the parishioners of Gortnahoe-Glengoole. Thanks to them the Golden Jubilee of Fr. John Joe O'Rourke was a huge success. It is impossible to thank everyone indiviudually suffice to say that the parish can be very proud that no stone was left unturned to ensure that anyone visiting the parish on June 4th was made feel very welcome. Fr. O'Rourke is wished every blessing and continued good health into the future and to thank him for giving all the oppertunity to come together on this special occasion and celebrate with his family and friends.
Thanks From Fr.O'Rourke- "Words cannot express the feeling of gratitude and appreciation of all that Monday June 4th summed up for me and my relatives and friends. From The Archbishop down to young children all gave me the sense that I was in different ways part of their lives. May this continue into the years to come and always feel free to use my support as a priest"
new PP-Installation of Fr. Irwin as Parish Priest of Gortnahoe-Glengoole by Most Rev. Dr. Clifford will take place in Gortnahoe Church this Saturday night Mass at 7.45p.m. Everyone is invited to the cermony and \Mass.
Family Mass for July- Will be on this Sunday July 1st in Glengoole at 10am and Gortnahoe at 11.15. Theme is "Gods Healing Hand" special petitilon leaflets are available at all church doors.
Eucharistic Adoration- Continues each week in Glengoole on Wednesday and Gortnahoe on Thursday from10am to 10pm
Glengoole Hall Sponsored Walk - Will take place this Thursday June 28th at Derryvilla Loop Walk starting at 7.45 All support will be appreciated. Glengoole Hall is a much needed facility as it is used for refreshments after funerals and also for the production of great plays.
Latin Mass- This Thursday in Glengoole Church at 7.p.m.
Good Shepherd- Cemetery Mass will be on this Friday June 29th at 7.30.p.m.
Thanks - From Africa Self Help to all who contributed to the Church Gate Collection €811.39 was generously donated.
Rolling Back The Years- In aid of Alzheimers Association in the form of outdoor dancing on a platform will be held at The Sacred Heart Nurshing Home, Johnstown on this Sunday July 1st. at 2.00. All are invited to come along and enjoy a great afternoon while supporting a good cause. Music by Dermot Lyons Band from Limerick
Irish Camp- Colaiste Mhuire,Johnstown will run their annual Irish Camp from Monday 16th July to Friday 20th July from 9.30 to 1.30. Cost €40.00. For an application please contact the school office at 056-8831135.
Bereavement- The death occurred of Jim Holohlan, Grange Barna (suddenly) on Saturday June 16th 2012.at St.Patricks hospital, Cashel Jim is deeply regretted by his loving brother Tom,sisters Kitty(Laffan), Bridget(Croke) Mai (Walsh) and Anna(b Brannigan),brothers-in-law,nieces,nephews,relatives and a close circle of friends, Removal took place from Doyles Funeral Home on Tuesday to The Sacred Heart Church,Gortnahoe. Requim Mass was on Wednesday followed by burial in Boulick Cemetery. May he rest in peace.
Millennium Family Resource Centre- Will hold their annual Family fun and Craft Day on Friday July 6th from 3.oo ro 7.00 Please contact Pauline at 052-9157992 if anyone wishes to sell their own crfafts or goods on the day or for any other information.


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Google's big plans for home Internet. Coming apps for TV. Growing use of lasers by manufacturers. Our interview with computer scientist and author Eric Siegel. Phones and smart watches with supercharged connectivity. New threats to national security from cutting-edge technology.
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Abundance vs. Scarcity Mentality
The Abundance vs. Scarcity Mentality model has been used in many different fields, from economics to management and personal development. Lately, however, I started to wonder if the Internet can be illustrated with it as well.
First of all we need a definition for the model, and I will borrow Stephen Covey's words here:
Most people are deeply scripted in what I call the Scarcity Mentality. They see life as having only so much, as though there were only one pie out there. And if someone were to get a big piece of the pie, it would mean less for everybody else.
The Scarcity Mentality is the zero-sum paradigm of life. People with a Scarcity Mentality have a very difficult time sharing recognition and credit, power or profit — even with those who help in the production. The also have a a very hard time being genuinely happy for the success of other people.
The Abundance Mentality, on the other hand, flow out of a deep inner sense of personal worth and security. It is the paradigm that there is plenty out there and enough to spare for everybody. It results in sharing of prestige, of recognition, of profits, of decision making. It opens possibilities, options, alternatives, and creativity.
Surprising as it is – given the size and growth rate of the Internet – there are many bloggers and webmasters out there carrying the Scarcity Mentality.
They will rarely link to other websites (and when they do they will make sure the link will open a new browser window…). They might, for instance, avoid mentioning the sources of the information they are writing about. And these are the moderate cases, I fear there are some people that will even joy if they see the site of some "competitor" hacked.
As if the Internet had a fixed number of users and one more Adsense click for someone else would automatically mean one less Adsense click for you. Forget it!
Develop an Abundance Mentality and you will create more opportunities, both for yourself and for others. This is about linking to people and giving credit where credit is due. It is about not fearing to send your visitors to some other site.
The Internet pie, after all, is pretty darn big!
Browse all articles on the Blogosphere category
13 Responses to "Abundance vs. Scarcity Mentality"
Bang Kritikus
Thanks for your tips
This article is misleading, as if webmasters were really masters of their webs. In corporate settings this is not necessarily true (and I tend to believe that this is usually not true). No matter how fast a webmaster holds onto the old Internet culture (or the "abundance mentality†as this article puts it), it is of no use if the boss forbids you to do things in sensible ways.
In the spirit of sharing links and connections — an interesting related article and lively comment discussion is up today on ProBlogger about links opening up in a new window or tab vs. within the page:
"I would prefer people to stay at my site but I always open up the link in the current window because the back button can always bring them back, and if someone wanted to open the link in a different window or tab, they usually know how to do that and I don't have to do it for them."
I'm certainly of the abundance mind set. If there wasn't enough to go around, then there would only be one of anything. In my blog, I try to give credit where credit is due. I enjoy linking to all great sites as a way to share the link wealth and be a part of the blogging community in a productive manner. I certainly believe it all comes around. In terms of how my links open up when clicked, I would prefer people to stay at my site but I always open up the link in the current window because the back button can always bring them back, and if someone wanted to open the link in a different window or tab, they usually know how to do that and I don't have to do it for them.
60 in 3
The key is to focus on building value for everyone. One of the things I love doing is to take a post made by someone in another field (finance for example) and build on it in my own field (fitness and health). So if I see someone writing about being frugal by going to a farmer's market, I might link to it and then write a companion piece about the healthy food choices at a farmers market. That way you build community but you also build your own brand and value.
francesco mapelli
totally true daniel…
as if not linking out can help a blogger to grow his network 😀
Paula's New List of Webmaster Salaries
This is so true, John.
I always remember this truth from Stephen Covey's first book — that life is not a zero-sum game and that there is the creation of wealth.
Like Bill Gates creating Microsoft, he created a whole means of wealth that didn't exist in that manner prior to him.
He didn't take away a piece of someone's pie, he baked a whole new pie.
I hope lots more people understand this, so they know that one person's gain is not another person's loss.
Great post.
Yeah absolutely John. Maybe it was not clear on the post, but my advice is not to pump "speedlinking" posts every other day :). It is rather to think in terms of win-win situations.
John Wesley
I agree completely. Thinking in terms of abundance and working with other bloggers is more productive than fearing scarcity and trying to horde traffic.
That being said, there is a happy medium for when to link. Of course you should always give credit when using ideas, but if you're focus is always linking to other content you have to wonder what makes your blog valuable.
Comments are closed.


text: Hello, This is my first time posting, so excuse me if I get it wrong. Trying to put together a phoenix hexapod kit. I have everything working properly up until trying to connect the SSC-32 board to Lynxterminal. Get a green light on the SSC-32 board, Lynxterminal says connected and displays VOP118OS5000. I try to type "ver" but comes out vveerr. Anybody know what is going wrong??


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Chalet Jordan is a short drive from a number of ski lifts in the Portes Du Soleil, including Morzine, Avoriaz and Les Gets.
The opening dates for the lifts have been announced this year as follows:
Avoriaz (Ardent lift is 9km from chalet): 13 December 2013.
Morzine / Les Gets (Pleney lift is 6km from chalet): 13 December 2013.
The rest of the Portes Du Soleil is fully open 21 December 2013, including La Grande Terche which is just 4km from the chalet.
The week of 14 December is still available at the chalet, so why not book yourself an early skiing break, and be one of the first on the slopes this year.


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This year's In Vitro Biology meeting featured an oral presentation competition for Plant Biotechnology Students. Presenters were evaluated on experimental design, data analysis, proper interpretation of the results, originality of the study, technical difficulty, and presentation skills. Our expert panel of judges, Kyle Mohler, Michael Kane, and Maren Arling, were impressed with all of the contestants' knowledge and preparation. They recognized Bhuvan Pathak from University of Arkansas with the 3rd place award, Lauren Erland from University of Guelph with the 2nd place award, and Xiaoting Wang from Arkansas Biosciences Institute, with the 1st place award. The winners were presented with a certificate and a cash award at the meeting. We encourage all plant biotechnology students to consider this opportunity to develop their presentation skills at future meetings.
Submitted by the Business Office
First Place
Plant Cell-derived Growth Factors for Ex Vivo Mass Production of Red Blood Cells
Generation of red blood cells from hematopoietic stem cells (HSCs) used for blood transfusion represents one of the focus in regenerative medicine. Erythropoietic growth factors (eGFs), including stem cell factor (SCF), interleukin 3 (IL-3) and erythropoietin (EPO), are vital for proliferation and differentiation of HSCs into mature red blood cells (RBCs) ex vivo. However, massive production of RBCs requires significant quantity and high quality of eGFs, making manufacturing at large scale cost prohibitive. Plant cell culture is proposed to be a promising bioproduction platform for growth factors based on the advantages of, fast growing, no risk of human pathogen, and easy downstream separation and purification. However, low protein productivity is a common bottleneck towards commercialization of this production platform. This bottleneck is addressed by the proprietary "designer HypGP engineering" technology that leverages the plant-specific hydroxyproline(Hyp)-O-glycosylation code to design and engineer novel Hyp-O-glycosylated peptides (HypGP) in plant cells. The engineered HypGP can function as a molecular carrier to dramatically increase the secreted yields of fused proteins in plant cell culture. In this study, eGFs were expressed in tobacco BY-2 cells with a HypGP tag either at N-terminus or C-terminus. The secreted protein yields were determined. The biological activities of the secreted eGFs were assayed for their function in stimulating the proliferation of TF-1 cell line (human erythroblast cells). Our research may provide a novel and promising plant cell-based platform to produce large quantity of eGFs that facilitate the hematopoietic stem cell research and clinical applications.
Xiaoting Wang, Arkansas Biosciences Institute, Arkansas State University, Jonesboro, AR. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology, 54:S30, 2018
2nd Place
Tryptophan Mediates Morphogenesis in St. John's Wort (Hypericum perforatum L.) Via Interplay Between Auxin- and Indoleamine-dependent and Independent Mechanisms
It has been more than 60 years since Skoog and Miller reported the redirection of plant growth to root production by exposure to auxins in culture media but the biochemical mechanisms that control regeneration are still not completely understood. One challenge with understanding regeneration mechanisms is the potential that applied growth regulators may act indirectly or may be metabolized to active growth regulators. For example, it is possible that the effects attributed to auxin may actually be the result of auxin metabolism to tryptophan or melatonin. We hypothesized that tryptophan is metabolized to auxin, melatonin or serotonin inducing de novo organogenesis in St. John's wort (Hypericum perforatum L.). Root explants from two germplasm lines of St. John's wort with altered tryptophan to melatonin metabolism and a wildtype control were incubated with 0 or 10 μM auxin or tryptophan for 0, 24, 48 or 72 h. Incubation with tryptophan increased de novo shoot organogenesis while incubation with auxin led to de novo root regeneration. Auxin-induced roots were short, pale and had significant root hair development vs longer dark brown roots developed on control or tryptophan medium. Quantification of tryptophan, auxin, serotonin and melatonin did not show a ubiquitous response, but levels varied both by line and duration of exposure. Additionally, while tryptophan showed differential effects across the three lines tested, auxin did not show variable growth between the three lines. These results suggest tryptophan mediates plant growth in a tryptophan-specific manner which cannot be solely explained by increasing precursor supply and flux through established plant growth regulator pathways.
Lauren Alexandra Elizabeth Erland, University of Guelph, Guelph, ON, CANADA. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology, 54:S28-29, 2018
3rd Place
Evaluating the Mutation Efficiencies of Two Guide RNA in CRISPR Mediated Transgene Deletion in Rice
The use of the selection marker gene in the plant tissue culture to select the putative transformants reduces the time and effort. After the recovery of transformants, they are no longer needed in the product. Owing to the biosafety and governmental regulations, removal of marker genes is highly desirable. The clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats (CRISPR/Cas9) is a highly efficient and a cost effective gene editing tool that acts through double stranded break repair process leading to a targeted mutagenesis in the genome. We targeted β-glucuronidase (GUS) gene deletion by dual targeting. The CRISPR construct involved two different guide RNAs (gRNA1 and gRNA2) at two different target sites in the GUS gene. The aim of this study was to evaluate the efficiency of two gRNAs in generating mutations by studying six T0 lines and twenty one T1 lines obtained from three T0 lines. In the T0 lines, no targeting was observed in gRNA spacer-1, while gRNA spacer-2 was mutated either in biallelic or multi- mutations fashion in the five lines. In T1 lines, the overall mutation efficiency for gRNA spacer-1 was 38% and for gRNA spacer-2 was 81%. The mutations observed in gRNA spacer-1 were most likely de novo as Cas9 was inherited in all the T1 studied and their respective T0 were not targeted, while the mutations in gRNA spacer-2 were likely both inherited and de novo as the pattern of mutations were either similar or different than parent. For gRNA spacer-1, 24% T1 plants were monoalleleic, 14% had multiple mutations and 62% had no mutation. For spacer-2, 48% T1 lines were mono-allelic, 9% were either biallelic or multiple mutations and 43% had no mutation. Combining both gRNAs, single base insertions at the target site was most common mutation observed followed by deletion and substitution. Despite the difference in the efficiency of two gRNAs, we were able to isolate the homozygous excision lines which demonstrate that Cas9: gRNA system could be used to generate a marker-free plant.
Bhuvan Pathak, University of Arkansas, Fayetteville, AR. In Vitro Cellular and Developmental Biology, 54:S29, 2018


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It feels so good to be home again. My tiny little home where we can unwind and relax in. Just the two of us. My husband and I live a very simple and kind of boring life it seems. I like boring and simple. While I was extremely happy to visit my family and spend a lot of time with them I felt out of place. I felt as if this wasn't my life or where I should be. It sounds strange but I felt like I was becoming disconnected from Islam for the week. I kept up my prayers as best I could, but I felt strange having to excuse myself at "random" times. My family doesn't keep me from Islam but at the same time doesn't encourage it either. The lifestyle they live is perfectly fine-but not the lifestyle I want. I wish my family could experience the sheer joy of Islam that I do. We have small discussions but we don't push it too far. To me religion is personal and one should feel it in their heart. If you don't feel it in your heart then there is no purpose. Islam is so beautiful and perfect in every way Alhamdallah. I just wish others could see and feel the way I do. I am so happy to have embraced Islam and that Allah(swt) has blessed me with the most supportive husband in the world. He helps me strive to be a better Muslim everyday.
And of His signs is that He created for you from yourselves mates that you may find tranquillity in them; and He placed between you affection and mercy. Indeed in that are signs for a people who give thought. Surat Ar Rum {30:21} The Nobel Quran


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More than half of accidents involving "podestrians", as they have been called, are described as young people, teenagers or children.
"In many accounts of minor accidents on insurance claim forms, we have seen a significant increase in drivers citing such individuals as having been a factor in the incident," a spokesman for the company said.
The most common scenario involves a "podestrian" stepping into the road without looking properly and failing to hear an oncoming vehicle.
This can force the approaching driver to brake suddenly, subsequently being hit by the car behind.
And if a head full of music isn't bad enough, some podestrians are talking on their mobile phones at the same time.
"The problem of music players masking the noise of cars can often be compounded by the simultaneous use of mobile phones," the spokesman said. "Text messaging on the move means many pedestrians are not looking at what's straight ahead or checking to their left and right.
"People have enjoyed listening to music on foot ever since the first Sony Walkmans were introduced in the late 1970s.
"But 30 years on there seems to be a rising number of pedestrians who are isolated from traffic noise."
The problem has become so bad that legislators in New York have tried to ban pedestrians using iPods, MP3 players or Blackberrys when crossing streets in Manhattan. A member of the New York state Senate, Carl Kruger, said anyone plugged in when they are crossing the street should be punished with a $100 (£58) fine.


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And the fight continues. This time, however, Bay Area (and other) food bloggers are picking up the nonburied hatchet and weighing in with their opinions on the Slow Food/CUESA debate.
Amy at Cooking with Amy decides:
The problem is, there is expensive and there is highway robbery. And now someone has dared to blow the whistle. My infrequent trips to the Ferry Plaza farmers market are much like my infrequent trips to the local supermarket—I look for what is ripe, fresh, in-season AND reasonably priced.
While Eggbeater's Shuna muses:
One day, when I'm up for another opinion war, I'll weigh in on the Carlo Petrini debate. I've seen him speak a number of times, and like all leaders, he has strong opinions, a fearlessness about his words and a message he has successfully delivered to the world over. His critique needed to be voiced, whether it is wholly wrong, partly true or, more likely, a little of everything. People are complicated.
Then the Gurgling Cod downplays the whole thing as smacking "not so much of pots and kettles, but more of the oval dutch oven calling the round dutch oven Sonoma Green" and decides that the Northern California farmers are just "thin-skinned."
Finally, Sam of Becks & Posh takes another route. First she notes:
It is understandable that something as popular and as liked as San Francisco's Market should attract its fair share of critics. But when you are all gooey-eyed and ga-ga about something you all but unconditionally love, like I am, about the Farmer's Market, it's tough to hear it being bad mouthed. There are dozens of cruel words that have been thrown at it recently it by people who otherwise claim to care about food; 'elitist', 'highway robbery' 'astronomical' and 'extremely exclusive' being among the most upsetting. But instead of arguing, bickering, taking cheap shots and taking sides, as some people seem more apt to do, I wondered how I might be able to somehow celebrate my own personal love of the Farmers' Market by helping to show that it is not the exclusive rich-person's club it is ofttimes made out to be and at the same time perhaps help prove that these ignorant accusations are simply unfounded.
She goes on to do a fairly fascinating comparison of two receipts. She showcases the prices of identical items, but one is from Safeway and the other from the Ferry Plaza Farmers Market. The result? The Safeway receipt comes out to be $9 more than the FP receipt.


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Analysing the learner style questionnaire
If you found that you selected mostly 1s, you would be someone who prefers doing things to learn. You would be referred to as a predominantly kinaesthetic learner.
If you chose mostly 2s you prefer visual learning and may like to use lots of post-it notes and coloured mind maps to help you learn.
Mostly 3s would suggest you prefer auditory learning. You might find it helps you to record information and listen to it as a form of revision.
Mostly 4s would suggest you prefer reading material, so you might be someone who prefers to write descriptions of diagrams you are presented with, to help absorb the information.
Many of you will have a combination of numbers, and if you visit longer questionnaires you will have a more complete idea of your strengths and weaknesses.
At university you cannot chose how material will be delivered to you, but through your independent study, you can chose how to develop your own revision material.
There are much longer versions of this type of questionnaire on line and you can have a go at finding them. They are often referred to as a VARK questionnaire. The important thing to consider is that the areas you are weakest in are the areas you will have to work hardest in when receiving information.
As a rule of thumb, subjects such as literature and history are generally delivered in auditory and reading forms. Science subjects most often in a visual and kinaesthetic form. What you need to do as an independent learner, for revision purposes, is to take the information you are given and turn it into material which you find most easy to absorb. So, if you prefer reading, take diagrams and turn them into descriptions; if you prefer visual information, take descriptions and turn them into diagrams.
Remember in the seminar students talked about ways they manage their revision material to play to their strengths. This is even more important at university because of the amount of information you will be expected to take on board, and the speed of delivery. It would be a very good plan to work on how to maximise your learning potential in this way before you arrive at university.
© University of East Anglia


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Simple, Inexpensive Cold & Flu Care
Tips for Winter Wellness and Mood Maintenance
"Stressed out" is a common phrase these days, especially when the holidays approach. While some stress is healthy, unwanted stress can be harmful. According to research or other evidence, the following self-care steps may help reduce destructive stress:
About stress
What are the symptoms?
Dietary changes that may be helpful
Lifestyle changes that may be helpful
Drinking alcohol can reduce feelings of stress, but using alcohol regularly in response to chronic or repetitive stress can lead to an unhealthy dependency.
Exercise has long been thought to have potential benefits to mental health and stress reduction; however, exercise can also be stressful when it is intense or competitive. Many preliminary studies have found that regular exercisers score higher on measures of psychological well-being and perceived stress, and that people who improve their exercise habits develop changes in their mental attitudes that are associated with better resistance to stress. A controlled trial found that a single session of aerobic exercise reduced the anxiety associated with a subsequent experience designed to be psychologically stressful. However, studies of overall aerobic fitness have found that people with higher fitness levels are not different from those with lower fitness in their resistance to stress. One preliminary study gave aerobically fit and unfit women a mentally stressful test, and found no differences between them in physical or psychological measures of their stress reaction. Another preliminary study found that while physical activity was associated with reduced stress symptoms, having high aerobic fitness had no influence. This may mean that effects other than improved aerobic fitness, such as an improved self-image or the social support from belonging to an exercise group, are responsible for the benefits of exercise on controlling stress. A preliminary study in Thailand found that postmenopausal women who completed an aerobic exercise program consisting of 40- to 50-minute sessions twice weekly for 12 weeks had improved scores on a questionnaire designed to measure psychological stress. In a controlled trial, cancer patients hospitalized for chemotherapy who exercised for 30 minutes daily until discharge had significant improvement in several measures of psychological distress, while a similar group who did not exercise showed no change in these measures. In a controlled trial, 10 weeks of aerobic exercise resulted in healthier responses to acute mental stress in college students compared with students who did no exercise.
Medical management of stress includes teaching people how to avoid or cope with stressful situations and encouraging a healthful diet, good exercise habits, and adequate sleep. Those unable to find relief on their own might benefit from professional counseling.
Vitamins that may be helpful
Animal studies suggest that supplementing with vitamin C can reduce blood levels of stress-related hormones and other measures of stress. Controlled studies of athletes have shown that vitamin C supplementation (1,000 to 1,500 mg per day) can reduce stress hormone levels after intense exercise. Surgery patients given 2,000 mg per day of vitamin C during the week before and after surgery had a more rapid return to normal of several stress-related hormones compared with patients not given vitamin C. In a double-blind trial, young adults took 3,000 mg per day of vitamin C for two weeks, and then were given a psychological stress test involving public speaking and mental arithmetic. Compared with a placebo group, those taking vitamin C rated themselves less stressed, scored better on an anxiety questionnaire, had smaller elevations of blood pressure, and returned sooner to lower levels of an adrenal stress hormone following the stress test.
Animal and human studies suggest that deficiencies of omega-3 fatty acids may contribute to behaviors associated with unhealthy responses to stress. A double-blind study of students with a low dietary intake of DHA (docosahexaenoic acid, an omega-3 fatty acid) reported that taking 1.5 to 1.8 grams of DHA per day for three months prevented an increase in aggressiveness in these students during a stressful final exam period. This group of researchers reported in another double-blind study that 1.5 grams per day of DHA given to medical students during a stressful exam period resulted in changes in some, though not all, blood measurements indicating improved responses to stress.
Several studies have evaluated a daily supplement of vitamin B1 (15 mg), vitamin B2 (15 mg), vitamin B3 (50 mg), vitamin B6 (10 mg), vitamin B12 (10 mcg), vitamin C (500 mg), pantothenic acid (23 mg), folic acid (400 mcg), biotin (150 mcg), calcium (100 mg), magnesium (100 mg), and zinc (10 mg) for combating stress effects. People participating in preliminary trials of this combination have reported some benefits that relate to the effects of chronic stress, including improved concentration, better mood, and less fatigue. A small double-blind study of this combination reported no significant psychological benefits relating to stress. However, in a larger double-blind trial with healthy young men, this supplement resulted in significantly less anxiety and perceived stress according to some measurements after one month, though other stress-related symptoms did not improve. Another large, double-blind study of people experiencing high stress levels found this combination significantly helpful after one month according to several measures of anxiety, well-being, and psychological stress.
In a year-long double-blind trial, a one-a-day type
multivitamin-mineral supplement was no better than a supplement
containing only vitamin B2, calcium, and magnesium for improving mental
or physical measures of quality of life in a group of healthy adults.
Herbs that may be helpful
Animal studies have demonstrated protective effects of rhodiola extracts against physical stresses. A double-blind study of healthcare workers experiencing the stress of night duty found that taking 170 mg per day of a standardized rhodiola extract prevented some of the decline in a set of mental performance measures during the first two weeks. However, when this regimen was repeated after a two-week period of not taking the extract, rhodiola did not provide protection from mental performance decline. In another double-blind study, 100 mg per day of the same extract was given to medical students during a stressful exam period. Those taking the extract reported a better sense of general well-being, and performed better on tests of mental and psychomotor performance. A third double-blind study of military cadets performing a 24-hour duty showed that 370 to 555 mg of rhodiola extract per day significantly reduced mental fatigue, as measured by several performance tasks.
Animal studies support the idea that Asian ginseng is an adaptogen. Some studies have suggested that Asian ginseng can enhance feelings of well-being in elderly people with age-associated memory impairment, nurses working night shifts, or people with diabetes. In a double-blind trial, people taking a daily combination of a multivitamin-mineral supplement (MVM) with 40 mg of ginseng extract (standardized for 4% ginsenosides) for 12 weeks reported greater improvements in quality of life measured with a questionnaire compared with a group taking only MVM. The same MVM-ginseng combination was tested in a double-blind study of night-shift healthcare workers. Compared with a placebo group, the group receiving the MVM-ginseng combination improved on one out of four measures of mental performance, one out of three measures of mood (increased calmness, but no change in alertness or contentment), and a measure of reported fatigue. However, in another double-blind study, healthy adults given 200 or 400 mg per day of a standardized extract of Asian ginseng (equivalent to 1,000 or 2,000 mg of ginseng root) showed no significant improvement in any of several measures of psychological well-being after two months.
Animal research has reported antistress effects of Eleutherococcus senticosus (also known as Siberian ginseng), and Russian research not available in the English language reportedly describes human studies showing similar effects in humans. A double-blind study of healthy elderly people reported that those who took 60 drops per day of a eleuthero liquid extract (concentration not specified) scored higher in some quality-of-life measures after four weeks, but not after eight weeks, compared with a group taking a placebo. Athletes experiencing the stress of training who took an eleuthero extract equivalent to 4 grams per day had no changes in their blood levels of an adrenal stress hormone after six weeks. More research is needed to clarify the value of eleuthero for treating stress.
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Should Dunbar's number inform the way organizations act online?
As explained by Wikipedia, "Dunbar's number is a theoretical cognitive limit to the number of people with whom one can maintain stable social relationships. These are relationships in which an individual knows who each person is, and how each person relates to every other person." Within online social networks, Dunbar's number is seen as the upper limit of the number of people with whom one will converse regularly and meaningfully – this could be daily, weekly, or more often. Taken very simply, it means that I can maintain real, meaningful, online relationships with a finite number of people. For me, that number is far less than 150 – it hovers around 75. For others, it can be as high as 290.
On a social network, a corporate entity or organization can create a profile and "act" as an individual. (There are exceptions, such as Linkedin.) The reach of the internet allows a freedom of interaction with customers that is difficult to create offline. Organizations have a duel purpose online: business objectives and creating loyal relationships. These can be in conflict. However, common wisdom holds that the engaged stakeholder will also act on behalf of the organization (volunteer/donate/take action).
Many nonprofits do a great job of creating personal relationships online with their fans, while others provide a fertile environment to allow their fans create relationships with each other online. In light of Dunbar's limited number of meaningful relationships, which is the preferred approach to an organizational online presence?
Two noteworthy contributions:
In his book Trust Agents, Chris Brogan argues against mechanizing your online presence and instead giving back with personal gestures in order to create "cafe shaped experiences."
Whitney Hoffman wrote an insightful post about Dunbar's number that mentions two relevant points: it is hard to classify the degree of friendship online, and the more connected a site becomes the less intimate the relationship becomes. Given that organizations want a large online following – and we want all of those fans to work for our organization enthusiastically (or at least give/act/volunteer/contribute) – the challenge seems to be scaling intimately.
So here are my questions for you:
- If organizational fans can only create a finite number of real relationships online, according to Dunbar's number, does this change how we would approach creating an organizational presence on a social network?
- Can a fan have a stable, meaningful relationship with an organization?
- Do you want to be the organization that creates a community of fans and/or the organization that has a meaningful/personal relationship with its fans?
- Should it be an organizational goal to create a corporate presence that becomes part of someone's inner circle of relationships – within the sacred 150 Dunbar's number?
- How can an organization scale up its number of followers while still trying to be within each fan's "inner Dunbar number?"
I look forward to your input and thoughts!


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Keeping up with your workout routine while traveling can no doubt be a challenge. If you're on a true vacation, it can be tempting to forgo your workouts all together and sleep in, relax and indulge (usually me always)… not that there's anything wrong with that–it is vacation, after all. And if you're traveling for work, time can be an issue and it might be hard to squeeze in physical activity. But I always feel better when I make a point to remain active and it makes it easier (and less painful) getting back into your routine when you get home. The last thing I want to do when I'm traveling, though, is spend time holed up in the hotel gym, so I've made a list of ways to stay active that don't involve a fitness center.
Depending on where you're staying, there's a good chance you will have access to a bicycle which is a great way to get around and sightsee, explore or get from point A to point B. Many hotels provide complimentary bikes for guest use, like at Zero George (pictured above) in Charleston. It was so much fun hopping on a bike and riding down to Rainbow Row and the Battery last time I was in town. Also, most bigger cities have bike shares, such as CitiBike in NYC, where you can rent a bike using the credit card machine in one location, ride it to the vicinity of your destination and return it at any nearby station. I once rode CitiBike from Soho up to Central Park, returned it to the nearest dock and took an Uber back downtown.
Jogging? For exercise? Groundbreaking, I know. But don't just aimlessly go for a jog to get your activity in. When you arrive at your destination, drop off your bags, put on your tennis shoes and head out for a walk or run (or hike!) to explore the area. For example, if you're staying in a city, take a jog around the neighborhood to scope out any spots you might not want to miss during your visit. If you're staying on a beach somewhere, take a walk down the beach to see what kind of local spots you can find to come back to later. Not only will you get in some exercise after traveling, but you'll familiarize yourself with the area in which you're staying and may discover some cool local spots. Get in your exercise and sightsee at the same time.
I guarantee you it will be worth waking up early for that sunrise yoga session overlooking the ocean. When you check in, ask your hotel if they offer any exercise classes or outdoor activities you might want to take advantage of. It might be something you wouldn't normally do at home (like beach body bootcamp), but it will be something different and better than spending an hour inside the hotel gym.
Familiarize yourself with a workout routine at home that can be done anywhere – whether its from your hotel room after a long flight or outside in a park. This can be especially helpful when your schedule is full and you're on a time crunch, when the weather is lousy, or when you've been flying all day and get to your hotel room late at night. A few years ago I purchased the BBG workout guide by Australian trainer Kayla Itsines. I have seen and read about all the transformations (just search the hashtag #bbgprogress on Instagram to see for yourself), success stories and positive reviews of her workout and clean eating program, and I've started it more times than I'd like to admit. I'll last a couple weeks and I will feel great but I've never stayed with it long enough to see real results. I've tried so many different workouts, classes, programs and methods but I often get distracted and move on to something else before I really give it time to become part of my lifestyle. I recently got really into Orange Theory, which I loved, but had to take a couple weeks off due to an injury caused by pushing myself too hard. I'm afraid if I get back into it regularly, my injury will come back. So, I've been brainstorming and researching different workouts and programs, trying to find one that fits my lifestyle and needs, and I keep coming back to BBG. I already own the printed workout guide (find it here, or there's an App!), I already have the little equipment that's needed, and it's a great workout for someone with a busy schedule who's often on-the-go. The workouts are 28 minutes long, 3 days a week with cardio days in between, and with simple equipment modifications it can literally be done anywhere… a hotel room, outdoors, etc.
So, I have decided to re-start the program (just finished Day 1) and this time I'm making a commitment to stick with it, saying it here now to hold myself accountable! (Cause like, that would be really embarrassing if I told you all of this and then quit a week later.) I will post updates and talk about my progress on Instagram Stories, so be sure you're following along here.
I'm excited to make this commitment to get healthier, stronger and feel better. And of course, I still plan to continue incorporating the other tips mentioned above when traveling, too! What's your favorite way to stay active while traveling? Share in the comments below!


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Haze from Po Valley to Apulia Coast, Italy45.4N 9.1E
Haze hangs over the Po Valley of northern Italy, hemmed in between the Alps to the north and the Apennines to the southeast. It also spreads southeastward past the Po Delta, and then frames Italy's Adriatic Coast, reaching southward to the shoreline of the Apulia Region.
The source of the haze could be fires, fog, or smog and air pollution. Air pollution is one important factor in climate change in Italy. Air pollutants arise from biomass burning, urban-industrial and natural sources. Under certain atmospheric circulation configurations, long-range or trans-boundary transport of pollutants, including aerosols, carbon monoxide, ozone, desert dust, mould spores and pesticide may occur over large distances and over time scales of typically four to six days (click here for more information).


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It's Monday again and I'm still contemplating selling my belongings and moving to a small town between the mountains. Anyone want to buy a thousand books and a really fat cat? Our recent trip to Patensie reminded me that small places don't have to mean deathly winters, and it was actually quite a pleasant awakening.
When Jonker – Firefly the Travel Guy – fixed me up with Reneé from Tropical Eden Villas, I mentally prepared myself for a cold weekend. Now, a cold weekend I don't mind – it's a cold life that worries me a little! Unlike my husband, I am not someone who delights in cold weather, unless I can be tucked away inside, blissfully warm, while the cold rages on at my window, like a noisy reminder of how warm I am.
We got lucky in Patensie with the weather though, it was delightfully warm the entire time we were there. But it didn't take me long to figure out that even if it was cold, we would have been just fine. The family suite at Tropical Eden Villas is so well kitted out that an indoor braai would help keep us all warm on even the coldest of nights, as well as make for an awesome social setting in even the foulest weather. Yes, we South Africans will braai in the rain if we have to, but it's really nice to not have to get wet while doing it! Being at Tropical Eden Villas was just so easy. Absolutely everything we could even think of needing was available to us. I could quite happily have just stayed in my sunny bedroom and hibernated for three days!
The best part is that we had enough space to do our own thing while still being in each other's company. And the even better best part was being able to happily let my kids go off for a walk (for as long as they wanted to) without feeling even a small twinge of worry about their wellbeing. Small places…I guess they make you comfortable….
I'd like to extend probably the 100th thank you to Reneé and Jonker for making this weekend possible for us.
The only problem is that I kind of want to move to Patensie now. So…uh…thanks for that…


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| 7.9°C Belfast
Vince Neil has pleaded guilty to a charge of disorderly conduct against his ex-girlfriend and paid a fine of 1,000 dollars.
The 50-year-old Motley Crue singer didn't appear in court but his lawyer entered a guilty plea to end a court case stemming from a confrontation he had with his ex-girlfriend at a Las Vegas lounge.
A Las Vegas judge accepted a plea deal in the misdemeanour disorderly conduct case and Neil's lawyer paid a 1,000 dollar fine on his behalf.
The justice of the peace dismissed a more serious misdemeanour charge of battery constituting domestic violence and declared the case closed.
Neil could have faced a year in jail if he'd been convicted.
His attorney, Richard Schonfeld, acknowledged that Neil pointed and cursed at Las Vegas entertainment reporter Alicia Jacobs and two of her friends in a casino comedy club last March.


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How Texas hunters taking turkeys can give back
Wild turkeys are enigmas cloaked in sheaths of bronze and black, purple and brown and blue/green and ocher feathers that fairly shimmer when a low-angle sun illuminates them on a bright spring morning.
Turkey hunters know this. At least those of us who have spent a few springs pursuing these largest of North America's upland game birds do.
We quickly come to realize wild turkeys are walking paradoxes. One moment, the birds exhibit behavior so simple-mindedly predictable, risky or downright fearless that it seems illogical they could survive a single day in their world fraught with constant peril. The next, they are almost infallibly prescient, so aware of and connected to their surroundings and their place in it as to be invulnerable.
Wild turkeys, we learn, are complex creatures with habits and behaviors designed to ensure their species' survival, and trying to understand these predictably unpredictable creatures is much of what makes hunting wild turkey gobblers during the spring season such a singularly rewarding challenge.
It also is much of what makes the study of wild turkeys such an attractive, rewarding and important endeavor for researchers, wildlife managers and other scientists. Just as turkey hunters' odds of success improve as they better understand their quarry, scientists' and wildlife managers' odds of making policy or management decisions that benefit the birds are enhanced as they add to their knowledge of these complex pieces of Texas' natural world.
In a serendipitous intersection of interests, Texas hunters using their knowledge to take a Rio Grande wild turkey this spring season have an opportunity to aid wildlife researchers in their quest to learn more about these wonderful natural resources to the betterment of science, the birds and, ultimately, turkey hunters.
Two research projects — one aimed at building a genetic profile of the state's Rio Grande turkey population, the other a banding program to better understand Texas Rio Grande turkey movements and mortality rates — are soliciting successful turkey hunters' assistance.
RELATED: Trophy gobblers abound, but they won't be easy targets
"Help from hunters is going to be crucial to what I'm hoping to learn," Amanda Beckman said. "Without them, this project would not be possible."
Beckman, a doctoral student in ecology and evolutionary biology at Texas A&M, is working on a dissertation about Rio Grande wild turkey populations, behaviors and habitat use. Part of that project hinges on building a genetic profile of Texas' Rio Grande turkey population. It's a daunting challenge.
Texas holds the nation's largest population of Rio Grande turkeys, one of North America's five subspecies of wild turkey. A half-million or more Rio Grandes are scattered across the western two-thirds of the state.
They thrive in a variety of regions with very different suitable habitats, including those found in the mostly wide-open spaces of the Panhandle; the rocky, cedar and oak hills of the Edwards Plateau; the oak motts and prairie of the Oak Savannah region; the mesquite-dominated South Texas Plains; and even the rugged Chihuahuan Desert country of the Trans-Pecos.
Do birds from those very different regions exhibit genetic differences from other populations? If so, might those genetic differences play a role in the birds' ability to survive and thrive in their particular habitat? Are there connections between travel corridors and genetic interchange between populations? Is there a lot of movement between populations? Were there in the past?
What's the minimum number of birds in an isolated Rio Grande turkey population — birds on an island of habitat with no genetic exchange from outside populations —that will allow that population to survive? Do Rio Grande turkeys with particular genetic profiles have a predisposition to survive better on ranges with certain habitat types than turkeys with other genetic profiles?
"There are things about population structure and habitat use that genetics can help us understand," Beckman said. That information can inform decisions on managing the birds, including decisions on managing habitat or perhaps which wild birds to trap and stock on unoccupied but suitable range.
But to do that, Beckman must build a genetic profile of Texas' Rio Grande turkeys — a kind of Ancestry.com of Rio Grandes across the bird's wide and diverse range. And that's where turkey hunters come in.
"I'm looking for turkey hunters who are willing to collect and mail a few feathers from birds they take this season," she said. Those feathers hold the DNA on which the genetic profile will be built.
Beckman will send willing hunters a kit used for the collection process at no cost. It includes Ziploc bags, envelopes with sealing stickers, data cards, a Texas "Wildlife Resource Document" required when donating parts of a game species to another person, a postage-paid, pre-addressed envelope and instructions for collecting, storing and sending the feathers.
Hunters are asked to remove 6-10 feathers from various areas of the breast of any gobbler they take, plucking the feathers so they retain the quill, which contains the highest amount of DNA in the feather. Those feathers are secured in the kit's envelopes.
Hunters will be asked to fill out an information card that includes basic information about the bird — when and where taken (county is OK, but the more specific, even up to GPS coordinates, the better, Beckman said), bird's sex (almost all will be males, as bearded turkeys are the only legal birds during the spring season and bearded hens are rare) and any other pertinent data.
Beckman has started collecting the DNA samples and plans to begin concentrated lab work later this year. She hopes to post the results online via a website about the project or through one of the organizations supporting her project, a group that includes the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department and The National Wild Turkey Federation.
Hunters wishing to participate in the project or seeking more information should contact Beckman by email at email@example.com or call 727-946-3147.
MORE: State adopts tighter rules for speckled trout, alligator gar
A few lucky Texas turkey hunters this year might have another way of aiding research designed to learn more about the state's Rio Grande turkeys and better manage those birds. When they walk up to a big gobbler they've just taken, they may find the bird wearing an aluminum band on one of its scaly legs.
Over the past couple of years, TPWD wildlife division staff have live-trapped about 2,000 Rio Grande turkeys, then fit them with leg bands and released them. The turkey banding project has stretched over almost all Rio Grande turkey range in the state.
"We've trapped and banded birds from the Canadian River country in the Panhandle all the way to Brooks County in South Texas and several locations between," TPWD turkey program leader Jason Hardin said.
While bird banding efforts have a long history with many species, most efforts have been focused on migratory birds such as waterfowl and passerines, which travel long distances on migrations.
Banding turkeys, which do not migrate, has not been rare. But Texas wildlife managers have embarked on a multiyear turkey banding project aimed at answering crucial questions about the birds' lives.
The banding program will help biologists and wildlife managers learn more about mortality rates of gobblers — the percentage taken by hunters — and, by extension, hunting pressure on the birds. It also will provide insight into the movement of the big upland birds.
During late winter, when turkeys are in concentrated winter flock behavior, TPWD has been trapping and banding about 1,000 of the birds.
The banding program, which is in its third year, already has yielded interesting insights.
"The harvest rate of those banded turkeys, overall, is really low," Hardin said. "There's just not that much pressure on them in most areas."
There are exceptions.
"There are pockets of high hunting pressure where we might see really high harvest rates compared to other areas," he said. "But that's been rare. Overall harvest rates are very low, based on the returns we've seen."
While the banding program is still in its early stages, it has provided some interesting, if not wholly unexpected insights into Rio Grande turkey movement.
Adult gobblers — birds 2 years and older — are homebodies, seldom moving more than a mile or two from where they were trapped and banded.
Jakes — juvenile gobblers approaching their first birthday — and juvenile hens are very different.
"We see the biggest movement with those juvenile birds," Hardin said. With adult gobblers and hens already having staked out and defened their home territories ahead of the spring mating and nesting season, the juvenile birds are forced to strike out on their own to claim their own home range.
"We've seen jakes move 20-30 miles from where they were trapped," Hardin said. That's impressive movement for a bird that walks almost everywhere it goes; wild turkeys can't fly long distances, seldom flying more than 100 yards or so at a time and almost never flying unless fleeing danger or negotiating an obstruction.
With increasing numbers of Rio Grande turkeys wearing leg bands, odds of hunters encountering a banded bird also are increasing. Those leg bands, which hold a unique identifying number tied to that particular bird, also hold contact information hunters are asked to use to report the bird.
That information, like the DNA profile hunters are being asked to help build, promises to add insights into the natural history, behavior, population dynamics and other information crucial to better understanding and managing Texas' wild turkeys.
But don't bet on that making them any less enigmatic, and certainly no less entrancing, to Texas turkey hunters.