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Boy Meets Girl is George Merrill and Shannon Rubicam. Now they are BoyMeetsGirl Music (BMGM) because, according to their website, the original name now brings up so-called dating sites and two other bands on internet searches. They will always be Boy Meets Girl to me. They started as an '80s singer-songwriter pop duo. They are most known for writing two of Whitney Houston's greatest hits, "How Will I Know" and "I Wanna Dance With Somebody (Who Loves Me)," singing back-up on Deniece Williams biggest, "Let's Hear It For The Boy," and their own, "Waiting For A Star To Fall." Just two weeks ago "WFASTF" was included in a list on the MTV Buzzworthy Blog regarding standout sax solos in reference to Lady Gaga's "The Edge of Glory."
They were lovers, spouses, and divorcees. Through all of it they were and still remain friends and will forever be creative collaborators. Every emotion of every era came out in their music. Simply put, they are darn good pop writers. I fell in love with their ode to love, their breakthrough sophomore release, Reel Life. I saw "WFASTF" on Casey Kasem's American Top 40 on TV in middle school, asked my parents to get me the full release, and wore that tape out. I still have it and have listened to it from time-to-time as the years have passed and I'm listening to it now as I write this.
There was just something about how sweet their pop sound was and how that combined with the intertwining of the feminine and the masculine voice, their melodies and harmony, and the purity of their love that came through their music. 'Nuff said.
BMGM were gracious enough to provide me a song (plus one) to stream with each part of this interview. So, Part 3 will contain two songs and one of them is very special. Stay tuned for that.
For now, listen to "This Chronic Pain" from their last release, 2003's The Wonderground. George intimated via email that he "loves the guitars on this one."
Click the first pic to go to their official site and second, at the end of Part 2 of the interview, to get to their Twitter Account.
6. Tell me about the unreleased RCA album, New Dream, which you released via your website in 2004. What happened with RCA? Why did you decide to release it yourselves and why did it take 13 years?
Shannon: Just before we were to release New Dream, RCA/BMG went through an upper-tier management shake-up in which our champions at the company were let go and, unfortunately, we and about seventy other bands were abruptly cut from the roster in a matter of just a few days. They called it "getting the axe" and that's exactly what it felt like to us. At the time, we were not free to release the album ourselves unless we bought the masters, which we couldn't afford. There was no internet to speak of, no digital presence, or independent marketing opportunities like exist today, so New Dream sat in a vault for a very long time. When the internet began to flourish and we were up and running with our own website, George and I requested that RCA/BMG reissue the album. They agreed to our request, so we then bought a batch of the reissued CDs to sell from our site.
7. Talk about your last release, 2003's The Wonderground. As such a big fan of Reel Life, why should I check it out?
Shannon: I like this question. The Wonderground is quite different in tone and tempo than Reel Life and I've even read a few Amazon reviews from disgruntled Reel Life fans who didn't much care for The Wonderground. I understand that they were hoping for more music in a vein similar to Reel Life and were disappointed with our change in musical direction. However, The Wonderground represents what we were personally experiencing at the time – divorce – and there is simply no way to put a happy face on such a wrenching life event. We expressed musically what was closest to our hearts and trusted that the songs would find resonance somewhere, which I think they have. The songs are, for the most part, quieter, more introspective, tender…so, if you're curious about that aspect of BoyMeetsGirl Music, then by all means, we encourage a listen.
George: Check it out, just because we are most proud of this album. We recorded it at my house, invited other musicians in, and I think it was a great experience for us all. There is a tender and raw quality that I like.
Shannon: George did a beautiful job of recording and mixing. I love the sonic qualities he created on The Wonderground.
8. Will there ever be another BoyMeetsGirl Music release?
George: I really love as yet unrecorded songs that we have compiled in the years since The Wonderground. Why record? Because there are some gems that would be so much fun to share with everyone! Why not record? Can't think of a good reason.
9. Career highlight? Individually and as BoyMeetsGirl Music?
George: I'll pick one, but I'm flooded with wonderful pictures. Ha! Grocery shopping in Idyllwild, California in 1986 and hearing the New Christy Minstrels sing "How Will I Know" on the overhead sound system, very exciting; oh, singing "Too Much, Too Little, Too Late" with Deniece Williams (in way over my head!) at the Greek Theatre Los Angeles. And, as Boy Meets Girl, I'd say meeting Dick Clark on American Bandstand.
Shannon: One warm summer day when the windows were open, a car went by outside and as it passed I heard "How Will I Know" with a Doppler effect. Such a small moment in time, but I felt it happened just for me to celebrate.
10. One thing you'd change or do differently?
Shannon: I always wish I had been a more savvy marketer of our music. I see some young artists today who are very much a part of the decision-making process and take a very knowledgeable, active hand in their careers. This is admirable, even necessary to longevity and success. Kudos to them and that's my only real regret. Other than that, my life has been an interesting ride so far and I'm a wiser person for the many mistakes I've made.
George: Well put, Shannon – much to admire in the all-around talent that's evident now at the top of the charts.
To be concluded TOMORROW…


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Another year gone already, and as always this time is one conducive to reflecting on the year past. 2017 has been somewhat unique for me, with major changes in my personal life (I got married to the most wonderful woman) and the continuation of my exploration of other domains of photography, specifically portraits and humanitarian work, with a side trip in conflict journalism. This of course doesn't mean I am anywhere close to stop shooting adventure, my first photographic love, but I love being able to marry all these different disciplines and let them influence my work in so many different ways.
As should now be tradition, here is my selection of my favorite images from the year. You will find past editions there: 2016, 2015, 2014, 2013, 2012, 2011, 2010.
In the Alps, winter means skiing but also ice climbing. And I find there is no better way to work with this fantastic medium than at night, using studio flashes. This was my second night ice climbing shoot with Aurélien, and is yet another proof of how crucial having a strong, motivated athlete is to any adventure photoshoot.
This shoot, for fabric manufacturer Pertex, almost got canceled a few times as the weather forecast was pretty dreadful. We ended up going anyway and shooting in a ridiculous windstorm, which turned out to create an amazing atmosphere, especially with the rising sun.
I spend a ton of time in the Mont Blanc area but also love exploring other mountain ranges, so it is always a treat to head to the Écrins, a few hours to the south. This was from a shoot for British retailed Cotswold Outdoor.
Amazingly, neither Vivian nor myself had ever been to the top of Dent du Géant, an iconic and not too terribly difficult peak at the France-Italy border. This was as much a photoshoot as a fun day out between friends, and perhaps this is why the images turned out so well!
You can't go very wrong with sunsets on glaciers, but to get to this one we had to run to this position right after a lovely dinner at Refuge des Cosmiques as we were losing the light faster than expected.
I particularly like this image as I feel it gives a good feeling of what being on that knife edge ridge. Not pictured, however, is how loose the whole thing was. I have rarely been more scared of a whole mountain falling off (with me included) than on this particular section.
And sometimes it is all about being on the right place at the right time. We were on our way to a climb quite far away but passed a pilot about to take off in perfect light. This image basically composed itself!
Though I have given up trying to work for paragliding brands, the sport is still very dear to me and I was glad to do a couple of photoshoots for the local Chamonix school, les Ailes du Mont Blanc, through the year. This one was all about trying to use the wonderful autumn light of late September.
Trying to shoot Vallée Blanche from the air is something of a logistical nightmare. My tandem pilot and I botched the take off so couldn't line up properly with the planned models. Thankfully, a random solo pilot happened to be in the right location and saved the day!
Portraiture is a domain I feel I am barely scratching the surface of yet, but also the one I am getting most passionate about. This recent image of pro rider Gaspard Piccot on his home turf is one I feel works pretty well.
Trail running can be a very challenging sport to shoot, as one tends to cycle through the same three or four standard images (wide angle from the shoe sole, silhouette against the sky, mid-distance on a winding trail…) so I was really happy to get an image showing a more genuine moment, with a runner really pushing herself.
I can't say that horse riding is a sport I had ever shot before, but when my wife asked me to capture what it feels like to be riding her beloved Sunshine through the local fields, as she has done since a young age, this is what I came up with.
I also had a couple of humanitarian jobs this year, including a trip to the border between Rwanda and the DRC, documenting the work of a NGO providing higher education to refugee learners. In this shot, the soon-to-be-graduate teaches in the local elementary school, already giving back to the community.
The highlight of my trip to Kiziba Refugee Camp undoubtedly was visiting the students in their homes and getting to meet their families and hear their stories.
Finally, something a bit out of the left field, as I participated in the amazing Conflict Photography Workshop last November, learning how to behave in dangerous situations. Though I have no intention of photographing active conflicts, I felt it would be a valuable addition to my skillset and could come in extremely handy given some of the places I travel to on a regular basis. The last two days of the workshop consisted in a full on military scenario with plenty of actors and pyrotechnics. Though I got plenty of action images, this soft portrait during a lull in the fighting remains my favorite image.
Here's to many more adventures in 2018!

subset: commoncrawl


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Scope. This Privacy Policy applies to personal information collected online, used and disclosed by STANLEY Oil & Gas and its affiliates, including but not limited to CRC-Evans, CRC-Evans Offshore, STANLEY Inspection, Microalloying, and CRC-Evans Pipeline Supply (collectively referred to as "STANLEY Oil & Gas") in connection with its U.S.-based websites, microsites, mobile sites or mobile apps that expressly adopt, display or link to this Privacy Policy (collectively referred to as our "Sites"). It also applies to personal information we collect, use and disclose in connection with STANLEY Oil & Gas pages on social media sites, such as Facebook®, Twitter®, Google Plus® or others (collectively referred to as our "Social Media Pages").
NOTE: STANLEY Oil & Gas licenses the use of its trademarks to unrelated third parties which operate websites independently from STANLEY Oil & Gas. This Privacy Policy does not cover the websites of these third parties. These third parties have separate and independent privacy policies which we recommend you read carefully.
1. What information does STANLEY Oil & Gas collect about you on our Sites and Social Media Pages?
We may collect information about you from a variety of sources, including when:
- you provide us information
- we observe or collect information through technology
- we receive information about you from third parties
- we collect information on our Social Media Pages.
See the sections below for more information.
Information You Provide
We may ask you to provide information about yourself directly to our Sites, such as the following:
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We may allow you to use your personal social media account, on social media sites ("Personal Social Media Account"), to provide information to us when you participate in certain features on our Sites, but we will ask your permission prior to doing so. This information may include any information you have shared on your Personal Social Media Accounts, such as the following:
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It is also possible that we will be able to continue collecting this information from your Personal Social Media Accounts should the information be revised by you later. You may choose not to provide us with certain requested information, but then you might not be able to take advantage of some of the features on our Sites.
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The information we and our third party service providers collect through cookies and similar technology includes the following:
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Information Collected on STANLEY Oil & Gas' Social Media Pages
Personal information may be collected directly by us through our Social Media Pages. The type of information we would collect is similar to what is described above under "Information You Provide." Personal information may also be collected by the social media site hosting our Social Media Pages. Our Privacy Policy does not cover the privacy and security practices of the social media sites on which STANLEY Oil & Gas has its Social Media Pages.
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The information we learn from you helps us personalize your experience with us and our communications to you, and helps us continually improve your experience on our Websites. We use the information you provide, information collected through your Personal Social Media Accounts and information collected on our Social Media Pages for things like:
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We use navigational information gathered through technology, including cookies and similar technology, for determining things like:
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If you have questions or concerns with respect to our Privacy Policy, please contact the Privacy Policy Manager by sending an email to: firstname.lastname@example.com and include your question.
Effective as of: January 17, 2017


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Our feet work on a feedback cycle, McKeon says. From the large muscles in the feet and legs to the small muscles in the feet, each sends messages to the brain about the environment. When these messages get disrupted, injuries arise as another muscle group tries to compensate for the miscommunication. Shoes typically set off these problems, as walking, running, dancing, cycling, or skipping force these muscles to absorb the body's impact. If the foot's small muscles miscommunicate or fail to send information up to the brain, the large muscles end up compensating. They overexert themselves, which ultimately leads to injury.
From my presentation to be found here:http://spiros-reflexologia.blogspot.gr/2015/09/my-ppt-presentation-for-icr-2015.html


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On Tuesday, Hogan signed 211 bills into law during a ceremony at the state house, including SB 217, or "Criminal Law – Sexual Offenses – Physical Resistance," which eliminates the requirement that victims of sexual crimes prove they physically resisted their assailants.
Proud to join Pres Miller & Spkr Busch at the 4th bill signing; will sign 200 bills into law incl Protecting Victims of Sex Trafficking Act pic.twitter.com/8B6WWhoJtc
— Larry Hogan (@LarryHogan) April 18, 2017
"Making Maryland safer begins with making sure that we have a criminal justice system that holds offenders accountable for their actions and the harm they cause, while also supporting victims and the community in the process of healing," Hogan said in a press release.
Previously, victims of rape had to prove they did not consent and that their resistance was overcome by "force, or the threat of force," according to Section 3-303 of Maryland Criminal Law.
A 2016 BuzzFeed investigation into the Baltimore County Police Department found that the language in the law often allowed police to dismiss rape charges as "unfounded" if they believed that there wasn't enough evidence that the victim fought back.
The investigation states that even if a victim submitted to sexual acts out of fear for their life, the assailant was able to "walk away without so much as a police interrogation." Out of the 42 "unfounded" cases Buzzfeed investigated, 15 were dismissed because the victim did not resist enough.
The bill, signed Tuesday, amends the law, specifically stating, "evidence of physical resistance by a victim is not required to prove that a sexual crime was committed."
"Given that a victim increases their chances of being maimed or killed, if trying to physically resist the rape, this bill will clarify that a victim of rape does not have to fight the perpetrator or put up physical resistance in order for the court to hand down a guilty verdict," State Senator Delores Kelley (D-District 10), who sponsored the bill, said on her website.
The bill was unanimously passed by both the State House and Senate before Hogan signed it into law Tuesday.
In addition, Hogan signed SB 308, the Protecting Victims of Sex Trafficking Act, which expands the definition of sexual abuse to include sex trafficking, even in cases where the sexual abuse is committed by a parent or guardian.
All of the laws signed Tuesday will take effect on October 1.
From Russia Today
Posted by John the Revelator


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Located in the heart of Virginia, THE TOWN OF ORANGE is the perfect destination for Blue Ridge Mountain vacations. Our location offers close proximity to James Madison's Montpelier, historic Charlottesville, home of Thomas Jefferson, Fredericksburg, where many Civil War battles were fought, and Richmond, our lovely capital city, yet we are just a few miles from the picturesque Blue Ridge Mountains, where skiing, snowboarding, and outdoor sports can be enjoyed.
Our county's unique location offers an abundance of things to do in Virginia within our immediate area as well as the six neighboring counties. During your stay here in central Orange, you can rest assured your visit will be fulfilled with a plentitude of educational and recreational activities to enjoy.
Located in Central Virginia, the Town of Louisa has about 1,500 residents. It has all the advantages of a small community, but it is within an hour's drive from Richmond and Charlottesville, and barely two hours from Washington, D.C., the Blue Ridge Mountains, and the Atlantic Ocean.


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Less than two decades ago, Bang Bao was a simple fisherman village built on stilts around a pier off the southern tip of Ko Chang Island in Thailand. After tourists started arriving in 2000, the pier slowly converted into a vacation destination, far off the beaten path in Thailand.
Extending nearly half a mile out to sea, the pier is now full of souvenir shops, restaurants, guest houses and boat tour operators. It's long-since lost the "fisherman village" look. Here are some of the things you can find at Bang Bao.
There are several guesthouses all along the pier, ranging from 400-2000 baht for a night. Many of them aren't listed on booking websites, so simply arrive and find a room available. It's pretty rare that they are full booked, except over holidays such as New Year's.
Personally, I stayed at the Ocean Blue Guesthouse at the end of the pier. For 600 baht a night, I had a private room with a fan, an en-suite bathroom and a door leading directly into the water. The back of the hostel had chairs to lay on with a view directly out to sea.
I'm not the biggest fan of seafood, so I passed over the popular Nok Noi and Chowlay restaurants and tried out several of the other Thai and western food options. If you do like seafood, feel free to check out the Nok Noi and Chowlay restaurants and let me know how they are!
My first meal (and several after that) was at Chill House, a small restaurant serving both Thai and western dishes and great smoothies too. I was hooked on their bacon and egg sandwiches. I also had one of their mint and ginger lemonades, which I thought was delicious, although the ginger was a bit strong. My friend had the chicken satay more than once, which she said was excellent. The prices are decent, a little more than street food but less than fancy restaurants. Chill House also has rooms available to rent.
Another restaurant I visited more than once was the Bang Bao Delight Cafe and Bakery. They also serve Thai and western food, but a larger selection of both for about the same price as Chill House. I'd recommend them if you want to pick up some pastries to bring on a boat tour. They also have rooms for rent.
Finally, there was Buddha View. The prices here were closer to those of a fancy restaurant. That's probably because they were really fancy. The tables were over holes in the pier, where you hang your legs over the water for a truly unique eating experience. Unfortunately it was out of my price range, so we only stayed for drinks. I'm not recommending it, but if you go, you can always drop your food down and watch the fish swarm beneath you.
The main activities from Bang Bao are the boat and diving tours to the Ko Chang archipelago. The main company offering diving tours is BB Divers. Dive packages range from 3,000-10,000 baht, and PADI (license) training starts at 7,500 baht.
There are several boat tours to choose from, mostly going to 3-5 islands in half a day or a full day. Most of them include lunch and a snack, snorkeling gear and a little bit of information about the islands. The tour I took was the basic 5-day Bang Bao Boat Tour for 700 baht, plus a mandatory 200 baht fee to land on the "national park" reservations, i.e.: other islands. The boat leaves at 9 AM and lasts until around 4 PM. You can get your tickets from the booth at the end of the pier, or nearly every hotel, hostel and tourist center on Ko Chang. However, if you purchase directly from the company, you can haggle down 50 baht.
Unfortunately, there aren't any sandy beaches at the pier itself. If you want to lie down and relax, I'd recommend heading less than a mile east along the main road to Hat Sai Noi beach, where you'll find beach-side bars, massage huts and paddle-board rentals. This beach is nowhere near as crowded as the more popular White Sands Beach on the north end of Ko Chang.
Getting to Bang Bao
Bang Bao is at the bottom tip of Ko Chang, over 20 miles away from where the main ferry lands. You could rent a motorcycle, but prices are expensive and gas is even more so. I also had my bike hit while it was parked at night, and the man at Honey Tour Rentals charged me a crazy 2500 baht for the damage! Not only are the roads crazy and dangerous with blind curves and steep rises and drops, many tourists drive when they are drunk. They pose the true hazards on the road.
Instead, just jump on one of the Tuk Tuk taxis which traverse the island every couple minutes. The price from the ferry landing or White Sand Beach to Bang Bao is usually 150 baht each way. You can also try hitchhiking on the island, which I found highly successful. I had to wait less than two minutes each time I attempted it.
Bang Bao is one of those unique spots most people don't have on their radar. It's not necessarily where you would want to spend your whole vacation. However, my original two-day plan turned into a week, and I still didn't want to leave. During the day you can see the water at high tide, and at night the water virtually disappears under the pier.
My recommendation would be to plan for a week on Ko Chang, and spend at least a couple days down at Bang Bao. Take the boat tour down to the southern islands for snorkeling, or even go diving if it's in your budget.
When I was telling friends that I planned to go to Ko Chang, one-for-one they said it was their favorite island in Thailand, and many also called it the honeymoon island. While I have yet to make it to the other islands in Thailand, I can say they will have a hard time topping Ko Chang. Come solo, bring your significant other or join a whole group. However you come, I'm willing to bet you'll love it as much as I did.


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Take a virtual tour HERE of the house we renovated from the ground up...and want you to buy! Located in Shandaken, NY for only $145,000.00. Right on the banks of the Esopus Creek. Featuring a vaulted beamed kitchen addition. Just 15 minutes to Belleayre MT, Phonecia and world class trout fishing, kayaking and tubing right out your back door. Dine with your friends on the large rear deck, while listening to the soothing sounds of the rushing water. Everything is new! Check it out!
Thursday, January 12, 2012
Want to Buy a House?
Posted by Linda Facci
2 comments:
Ooops, can't access the link. I suppose this house has been sold now? It's looks beautiful in the photo, and I want to see what else it has to offer. Who's the lucky buyer? Anymore dream house makeover projects down the line? Carmen @ Houston.ChurchillMortgage.comReplyDelete
That very nice view would be one of selling assets of this house. Of course, that's aside from its location, which is conveniently situated in Shandaken, NY. I'd like to take a virtual tour, but the link no longer works for obvious reasons. Chad Nelson, Iron Point MortgageReplyDelete
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Recently, I've upgraded my television to a Samsung LE40C650, used regularly for Playstation 3 gaming, and felt I could share my views in this ramble. Long hours of research into LCD, Plasma and some LED televisions led to two highly recommended televisions. Panasonic's TX-P42G20B plasma was raved about for incredibly deep black levels, crisp picture quality and low input lag (always be careful to differentiate pixel response, always likely to be a very low number, from input lag which is essentially the time taken for the display to appear from an external source such as a DVD player or games console), but reading the negative feedback resulting from fading image quality of the predecessor, the G10, and noting the additional cost of the plasma, it eventually seemed like the wrong option. Similarly, LED TVs seemed to offer limited benefit for the greatly increased cost (the energy consumption would save as little as £10 a year if the figures were all to be believed, though people keen to hang their TV from the wall may appreciate the wafer-thin LED displays). Meanwhile, reviews for this Samsung TV were extremely positive, with only two areas of criticism: some reviewers felt the images were over processed, and many mentioned the possibility of high input lag which may affect gamers or those connecting separate video and audio output devices.
Having now had two weeks to test the TV, here are some comments on the two areas of criticism, and some further observations about this TV:
This Samsung TV does indeed suffer from uncomfortably high input lag (as do a large number of modern TVs) when all the default settings are selected. However, in the Plug and Play menu, there is an option to select Game Mode. This TV-saving feature results in no noticeable reduction in picture quality when playing games (several features, such as motion plus, are switched off to allow swifter processing, but these tend to be features that benefit regular television watching, as opposed to games which do not necessarily benefit from such additions). The input lag is reduced significantly, to the point where it is certainly no longer an issue. There may be some gamers, amassing thousands of kills in Modern Warfare 2, who might notice the lag more than I do, but as a keen gamer myself, I've noticed no issue with the lag with Game Mode on. Handily, different input selections (such as HDMI 1) remember whatever settings you select, so you do not always need to fiddle around with the settings for your current activity.
A more minor worry highlighted in some reviews was that some people may view the picture as being too heavily processed, though this one is very subjective. Initially, the ultra-smooth picture resulting from the Motion Plus settings (granting this TV the 100Hz badge, though bear in mind that the input is never likely to reach that refresh rate, so the TV is having to propagate its own information) didn't seem quite right. People seemed to be moving too quickly on screen, which was perhaps due to the increased TV size in the room. The effect was lessened with Motion Plus off, though it's actually a feature I've grown to appreciate simply because it's so smooth. Crucially, all options are highly configurable, so while the Motion Plus looks incredible for sports broadcasts, users may want to switch it off for close-up dramas or games - it's down to the user. I actually really like the picture quality and the processing applied. I found many Sony displays somewhat washed-out, but love the vibrance and colour of the Samsung.
A quick list of some favourite features:
The PIP options with the TV are pretty good, allowing you to choose a corner of the TV, and size for your PIP. Hook up an HDMI source, and it's easy to choose a channel to watch at the same time. You can also easily switch between audio sources. If you've ever found the build up to an F1 race a little slow, try playing a few games with the F1 build up in one of the corners - it's the most productive, efficient way I've ever tackled time-wasting activities.
Is gorgeous! It's a bit embarrassing to use that word, but it truly is. It's got a glossy, almost glassy finish, that looks absolutely superb. Reflection might seem an issue compared with the matte finish of many LCDs, but when the TV is on (equipped with flexible backlight options) there's no noticeable issue from reflection (but I guess that'll be dependent on your room setup). I'll be honest, and admit that I didn't really understand why people were worried about different panel types (apparently there is an SQ01, an AA and a B panel that can be supplied with the TV, apparently the case with many TVs, and some claimed the SQ01 was better, while others said nobody would notice the difference). One thing I can say is that, having ordered from Amazon, the panel supplied was an SQ01, leading to a snobby feeling I don't quite understand. Perhaps this information will be useful to somebody though.
My previous LCD had incredibly slow teletext, and a higly-unreliable guide. However, the Samsung loads everything very quickly, and the guide is always complete and easy to access (I particularly like the option to select future programmes that the TV will then automatically switch to at the correct time). One minor point to criticise is that good old fashioned channel hopping can still be fun, and the standard pop-up in the corner (with channel number and name) doesn't display the "what's on now" title. Still, it's a minor thing, and is encouraging me to use the more-efficient guide. I've not had much need for the TV's internet connectivity, and didn't consider a major purchase incentive, however there are some handy options to have. It's worth noting that it's always going to be the hardest bit to guarantee operation, because many routers and be quite picky about what they interact with. Still, there are numerous reviews reporting people's success with a variety of video formats passed to the TV, including mkv, though several windows media types are reportedly not supported (not tested by myself).
The TV isn't stuck as you first find it. The factory settings are pretty amazing, to be honest, but a little online research and some trial and error will see people get even more from their sets, suited to the environment the TV inhabits. Backlight levels, black levels, motion plus, all the usual suspects (contrast, brightness etc.) and a whole host of other options are available.
Though this replicates the praise about the panel it's worth noting just how good games and blu-rays look, displayed in 720p or 1080p. Black levels are mighty for an LCD (I'm not sure many of us would be able to see the difference with a decent plasma), and everything just looks stunning. Watching Star Trek on blu-ray led to multiple jaw-drop moments - it's worth buying a blu-ray player just to get even more from the TV. Meanwhile, games like Demon's Souls look even more atmospheric, and the same can be said for Rapture in Bioshock 2 - incredible stuff.
The TV comes with Freeview and Freeview HD. Though there aren't a massive number of HD channels yet, the quality of BBC, ITV and CH4 HD channels is impressive, and a nice addition.
Truthfully, the right television is dependent on the intended viewers, and it's often worth checking out particular models in stores (and even asking if you can fiddle with the settings) before committing to a purchase on a place like Amazon (who, for their part of the service provided, ensured a rapid delivery and a smooth purchase). I can't fault this television and would recommend it to anybody. My final piece of advice would be to read as many reviews as possible, but to draw the line at some point. If you continue to trawl the internet, you'll always, always find somebody unhappy with a product, and making a decision about a television only gets harder with every review you read. Good luck!
The FPS behemoth returns for a third installment, accompanied by multiplayer mayhem.
Head to the jungle to meet the disturbed inhabitants of a tropical island.
Combining the best elements of shooters, adventures and Bioshock-style powers: Dishonored.
Strategic shooting with a serious edge of difficulty with the return of X-COM.
Co-op amusement in Disney's adventure starring a couple of adventurous mice.
MeteorStorm Random Quote Picker
Dr Nefarious
Cassy, what is the status of Unnecessarily Evil Initiative Omega-91?
In motion, my love. The Lombax is now trapped in an over-elaborate death scenario designed to torture him into a slow, painful doom!


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Tuesday, January 24, 2012
And Now in Crafting News
I tried something different with the decreases this time and am quite pleased with the result.
2. The sweater is still infinitely charming. I knit most of a sleeve over the weekend. Today, I started the second one.
3. I finally got around to blocking the Charlemont Scarf. I'm looking forward to wearing it this week! (Photos once it's dry.)
4. I was able to strike a planned carpentry project (a wall mount jewelry rack) from my vast to-do list by applying money to the problem. A novel solution for me, but I practice carpentry more out of utility than the passionate love of creating in wood. Given the cost of materials, additional tools needed, and time I'd spend doing it myself; this was a good value. Not to mention that it was pretty much exactly what I wanted.
With a sister in the business, I have a large amount of gorgeous jewelry that I wear often. Or at least I wear often when I don't have to disentangle it from a pile of other jewelry, and can find two earrings that match. Also, Biscuit thinks that batting things off the dresser in the morning is an excellent way to wake humans up and make them do something more interesting than sleeping. And with my jewelry box so full it won't close completely, I was in severe danger of having jewelry flung around the room in the wee hours of the morning.
5. I am sewing. Weekend before last, I dealt with a large chunk of the huge pile of mending in the sewing room, because cleaning up the piles of cruft was a necessary first step to doing anything else in there. Biscuit is helping me. He was so 'helpful' in cutting out fabric that he almost lost some whiskers. Since then he's adopted more of a supervisory role. (I'll save a project photo for when it's further along.)
Biscuit supervises.
6. I finally got around to installing a wall hook for my yarn swift. (see item 5, re: first steps to doing anything in the sewing room). I have a plentitude of vertical space, which I definitely need to utilize, as the sewing room tends to accumulate vast amounts of project materials of all sorts.
7. I haven't completely kicked the cold, but I think I have it on the run. Hence the greater productivity! (Besides- seven in a list is traditional.)
8 comments:
Poor Biscuit! Being a helper can be a risky business!ReplyDelete
Great hat!!!! I love how the top looks so smooth with all the decreases. And LOVE the new jewelry cabinet!!!!
I have a cat that like to "help" whenI'm sweeping the floor. I would prefer he'd supervise from afar. Biscuit is lovely. And I totally relate to having to clean off surfaces just to get sewing underway.ReplyDelete
Wow. Cool, and, seed stitch for fun? Patient woman! (Wish I knew anything about woodworking.) Glad you're getting better!ReplyDelete
Very productive! (Biscuit, too - supervising is hard work, heh.) The hat is lovely, and the jewelry cabinet is fabulous - did you find it anywhere in particular?ReplyDelete
I'd say I was sorry about setting you off on goals and lists, but really, it seems to be working for you! I, too, in spite of lack of blogging, have a few FOs for 2012, including one book. :-)ReplyDelete
Wow. If you ever want to go into the business of making transportable jewelry displays for vendors, I'll hook you up with VERY interested customers. :)ReplyDelete


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Purchase a special Mitchell's Run "Stride For A Cure" sign to be placed throughout the 5K route or Kids K.
Inspire your favorite race participant to cross the finish line! Or pay tribute to all afflicted with Duchenne.
Make your own personal message at race packet pick up on Friday, August 14, or allow us to make one for you.
You can order the sign on the mail-in registration form or by emailing the MR organization at firstname.lastname@example.com
100% of the proceeds raised in this project will go to Parent Project MD.
Signs are $10 each.
You can purchase a sign above on the registration form.


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Measuring the quality of a programme is very tricky. Paddy Cosgrave, founder of The Dublin Web Summit has suggested that a degree from Trinity College Dublin has more value than an equivalent qualification from other Irish universities. He attempted to justify his statements on a blog posting where he suggests there might be cases where Trinity courses are not any better than others!
Normally I wouldn't comment on things like this, but given Mr. Cosgrave is a member of the Board of the HEA, and he picked such an incredibly insensitive (and morale-destroying) time as now, just when so many third-level students are heading into exams, I feel it's important to comment on this sort of claptrap.
Determining the quality of one course versus another is very complex, there are always subjective elements to measuring quality; Paddy Cosgrave suggested the following criteria on twitter for measure the quality of a programme:"faculty, facilities, funding, possible cohort effects, entrance requirements, hours of course etc"
- The problem with using faculty, how are you measuring the staff members quality?
- The problem with using facilities, how do you measure that, if you use a blunt metric like amount of money spent on facilities, that doesn't tell us if the money was well-spent.
- The problem with using funding as a metric, in most cases "funding" as a criteria has a lot to do with research activity rather than teaching ability.
- The problem with using "possible cohort effects" is the almost complete inability to measure this particular metric.
- The problem with using "entrance requirements" is that if are looking at students moving from second-level where they may be doing lots of subjects they mightn't be interested in, to third-level where the are doing a topic of interest to them, it's difficult to predict which students will be more successful.
- The problem with using "hours of the course" is that it's a blunt instrument, are more lectures and less self-study better, or less lectures and more self-study? etc.
It's important to recognise that similar degrees in different HEIs teach different content (and therefore often have different learning outcomes), but that doesn't mean one is better than the other or worse than the other, in third-level institutes around the country we are trying to create rounded learners, who are learning how to learn. This isn't like training courses where it's an exact like-with-like comparison, we want to have empowered students who are engaging in self-study (particularly in their final year); and because of these issues there will be a significant disparity from student to student even within the same third-level programme.
His argument about "Grade Inflation" is ludicrous, he incorrectly states that TCD has had less of an increase in First Class honours that all the other universities, it hasn't. There are a lots of reasons why students are getting more Firsts in the last decade; the wider diversity of students in classrooms (particularly the often highly-motivated international students), the wider availability of useful online resources for students to help them learn, the increase in the number of lecturers with educational training as well as discipline expertise, the increased number (and more diverse range) of courses available in all third-level institutes.
On twitter Paddy Cosgrave mentioned that he would prefer to hire a computer science student from MIT than the 5000th ranked higher education institute (here and here), I will note that the criteria for ranking third-level institutes is based almost exclusively on research output of these institutes and has very little (or nothing in some cases) to do with the quality or their programmes or the quality of the teaching on those programmes.
A lack of understanding of statistics is evident in Paddy Cosgrave's statements that he is using the Undergraduate Awards as a metric for college courses. He needs for consider issues such as:
- How can you measure the quality of all of the universities on the basis of a couple of hundred students out of over 10,000 enrolled students? it's so statistically insignificant it's shocking.
- How many people from each institute entered the undergraduate awards, the distribution of the results of the UA might just reflect the distribution of entrants?
- What are the judging criteria for the UA? They are a mixture of highly behaviourist categories combined with highly subjective categories.
- Is the data normally or near-normally distributed?
- Why just consider the 2011 awards (when I can say for certain it was under-prompted in IoTs compared to universities that year)?
He also seems to have no idea of the purpose of the NQAI Framework:
or the purpose of Learning Outcomes:
Learning outcomes are not easy in Computer Science, the ever-changing face of these courses (a course that was high quality last year might be out of date this year, things are changing rapidly in the this domain; look at things like Cloud, Apps, Exadata, etc.). So just looking at the outcomes on programmes based on grades is highly tricky.
See also


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A few things I worked on during my stay-cation -
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About Me
- Tiffany
- Harmony, Florida, United States
- A homeschooling mom to two, I love to keep my hands busy. So whether it's paper piecing with my Cricut, crochet hooks and yarn, paper, ink or sock-monkeys, I love it all!
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I'm currently reading The Others Series by Anne Bishop. I am really enjoying this books. They are urban fantasy, fast-paced and fun to read. There are five books in the series:
Written in Red
Murder of Crows
Vision in Silver
Marked in Flesh
Etched in Bone.
I highly recommend them if you like urban fantasy. Here's the link to the books on Amazon.


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Tillamook Distance Project
Increasing the expectations for Cross Country & Track at THS.
2016 State Champions in Cross Country
First ever trophy for a girls team.
Tillamook Distance Project
Increasing the expectations for Cross Country & Track at THS.
New School Record in 4X400m Relay
2016 Track & Field
4th place team finish
4 individual 1st places
Our Core Values
Monday - Work Hard
Every day we will put in the hard work no matter the circumstance.
Tuesday - Confidence
Believe in yourself. Believe in your teammates. Believe in your team.
Thursday - Respect
If you want respect, you must respect.
Friday - Pride
Show pride in your stride.
Meet Day - Visualize Success
Success happens twice, the first time in your mind, the 2nd time in competition.
Meet Day - Team First
Think team first & special things happen to you & your team.
Coach's Contact Information:
- Patrick Zweifel – Co-Head Coach, Distance Coach
503.812.9190 cell, 503.815.3762 office, firstname.lastname@example.com (public), email@example.com (private)
Facebook Messenger @ Patrick Zweifel
Facebook Messenger @ Tillamook Distance Project
- David Fitting – Co-Head Coach, Throws Coach
425.503.9468, firstname.lastname@example.com
- Coach Don Willis – Head Sprints Coach
650.868.2533, email@example.com
- Laura Whitlatch – Head Jumps Coach, High Jump & Pole Vault specialty
503.801.1282 (cell), 503.842.7838 (home)
firstname.lastname@example.com, Facebook Messenger @ Laura Whitlatch
- Jerry Dorland – Head Hurdle Coach, Long Jump & Triple Jump specialty
503.812.0828, email@example.com
- Yazminn Thompson – Hurdles, Sprints, & Long Jump Assistant
503.457.8594, firstname.lastname@example.com


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Pro-singledom ad goes viral
Studio interview: Leftover women a popular label in China
Marriage isn't the only path to bliss
"I AM a sheng nu," Jenny Yan, 30, proclaimed.
The car sales executive has been single for about a year after breaking up with her boyfriend of three years.
"I am now searching for my life partner with the frame of min
d of a sheng nu," she said.
Literally "leftover women", sheng nu is a derogatory term in China for single women who, in the eyes of society, have passed the ideal time to get married and still remain unattached in their late 20s and beyond.
The term sheng nu suggests that Chinese society sees the singletons as undesirable, almost like the coarser particles that are left on a sieve.
Single men, on the other hand, are known as sheng nan (leftover men) or guang gun (bare sticks).
The situation seems to be more dire for men, as they will outnumber women by 24 million by 2020 due to the country's gender imbalance, but they are less stigmatised than single ladies in the patriarchal society.
While Yan said her parents look forward to her settling down, they are not putting too much pressure on her. She is taking the initiative to search for a suitor.
"When I was in my 20s, I relied solely on feelings and paid no heed to all the realistic factors, but now I won't have too much expectations," Yan said.
"To create more chances for myself, I'll agree to meet and get to know the other person whenever friends recommend possible suitors to me."
The stigma surrounding sheng nu often leads to heated discussions, with single ladies determined to shake off the shame and outdated judgment that society forces on them.
A recent advertisement by Japanese beauty products brand SK-II rightly triggered a flood of support from women in China.
Themed "Change Destiny", the four-minute long clip walked viewers through the humiliation single ladies faced in China, which more often than not resulted in self-doubt and self-criticism.
"Maybe I should give up on someone I love for someone who's suitable," one of the ladies said to the camera, dabbing her eyes with a tissue.
Their parents were a major source of pressure, urging them to stop being so choosy and quickly settle down. Instead of being supportive, they were critical of their daughters.
"I used to think my daughter has great personality.
"She is not too pretty, just average. That's why she is a leftover," a mother said with a light chuckle, while her daughter, who was sitting next to her, tried hard to contain her tears.
A father said: "As long as you are not married, I cannot die in peace."
One of the single women featured in the advertisement said remaining single is considered not filial in China.
"Maybe I am being selfish. I want to say sorry to them," she said, breaking down in sobs.
In the advertisement, the ladies decided to attend the Shanghai Marriage Market, a weekend fair at the People's Park where parents "promote" their single and available daughters and sons with details such as age, height, profession, income and assets.
In a turn of events, it was revealed that the ladies were not there to look for partners but to tell their parents that marriage isn't the only path to happiness.
Professional portraits which depicted them as confident and glowing women were exhibited in the park, along with a personal message.
"I don't want to get married just for the sake of marriage. I won't live happily that way," one of them, identified as Li Yuxuan, 33, said.
Another lady, whose mother has previously dismissed her as just average-looking, said to the camera: "Even if I am alone, I can be happy, confident and have a good life."
Since it was posted on SK-II's official Weibo account, the video has recorded two million views and was shared 25,000 times.
Sindy Huang, 36, said she was touched by the advertisement.
"The details in the advertisement were moving, such as their skin condition, their sleep-deprived look, and the helplessness in their eyes. I feel like I am watching myself," she said.
The Beijing-based journalist who hailed from Zhejiang province said Chinese society has the tendency to sympathise with single ladies.
"Many people think sheng nu is the main cause of an unstable society, and parents are desperate for us to get married because they don't want us to grow old alone," she said.
Both Yan and Huang said while they yearn for true love and a family of their own, they would not rush into a relationship and preferred to wait for the right person to come along.
Huang said girls have to have a strong inner centre to help them face the pressure from society.
When ridiculed by married friends, she said she would retort by asking them if they are in a state of perfect happiness.
"That shuts them up. Some of them even conceded that I was right," she added.
However, not everyone held the SK-II advertisement in high regard.
Some were in the opinion that the short film has exploited single women's weaknesses to boost views.
A writer identified as Gu Yingying likened the advert to "a bottle of dirty water splashing onto (women's) independence and confidence".
Towards the end of the short film, one of the mothers exclaimed, "Sheng nu should be proud!"
In taking an apparent jab at this particular line, Gu wrote on her WeChat official account: "Sheng nu is not an honour, and neither is marriage. This is just a life choice and has nothing to do with honour."
She said the women yearned for marriage and love but had to emphasise, with teary eyes, in front of the camera that they are okay being single.
Huang disagreed with the comments that dolling the ladies up in the advertisement is just a typical way to confront the dominant ideology of patriarchy.
"There isn't anything wrong with dressing up. Those who are not sheng nu will never understand the pain of singletons.
"I am okay with the creative execution of the advertisement. It isn't targeted at men or housewives, after all," she said.
As for Yan, she said she won't search blindly, but she won't slack either in finding a suitor.
"Since I have reached the appropriate age to get married and get pregnant, I should be more proactive," she said.
"I am planning to participate in mass dating events. Let's see how it goes."
By Tho Zin Yi Check-in China


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A friend asked me, after reading my last interview with HuffPo, "So are you really stepping down from the marriage and religious liberty fight?"
No, I told him. Sorry if it sounded like that. What I am advocating doing is three very big, and very hard things: a) accepting where we are and b) learning from what we did not succeed in so that we can get to c) how do we build anew?
Right now most people who believe in the classic understanding of marriage are in shock, they are awed by the powers now shutting down the debate and by our ineffectualness at responding to these developments.
The temptation to shout and yell and stamp our feet in ineffectual ridiculousness is understandable, but it is to be resisted.


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Democrats Chose Fish Over Farmworkers: 37,000 Lost Jobs Because Of The Delta Smelt
Because I represent landowners, builders and businesses on matters relating to the Endangered Species Act and have done so for 20 years, I realize my interest in ESA-stories is just a tad higher than the general public. But the devastation brought about by the Act on the water supply in California and thus on the state's agricultural sector, farmers and farm workers in the past two years is astonishing in its scope –as is the fact that very, very few people know about the story. Calling John Stoessel. Calling William La Jeunesse.
Read the San Jose Mercury News account of the hearing closely, and then ask yourself why you haven't seen this controversy reported on the MSM. Key graphs:
In 2007, a federal judge ordered federal and state water authorities to reduce the amount of water they pump through the Sacramento-San Joaquin Delta in a bid to protect the delta smelt. The finger-length fish is considered a bellwether for the health of the delta, the heart of California's water-delivery system.
Speaking before the House Natural Resources Committee, several of the state's lawmakers discounted the drought as the reason for the San Joaquin Valley's lack of water.
Rather, they said it was a matter of priorities, with the government valuing fish over families.
Rep. Dennis Cardoza, D-Atwater, said thousands of families were moving out of his district. He called the exodus the "Dust Bowl migration in reverse." …
The state has said it will deliver only 20 percent of the water typically allocated for cities and farms this year. The federal Bureau of Reclamation, which operates a separate system to deliver water to farmers, has said it will not deliver any water this spring to farms south of the delta. Farmers north of the delta can expect to get just 5 percent of their contracted amount.
The shortage could force farmers to idle more than 300,000 acres, leading to a loss of about 37,000 jobs. The delta also feeds drinking water to some 25 million Californians, stretching from the San Francisco Bay area to San Diego. Dozens of cities that expect to get less water from the delta this year are considering conservation measures.
Like the CPSIA, the ESA acts with extraordinary impact on relatively small numbers of people, forcing them to bear the costs for broadly defined "societal goals" which are often "oversold" as with the rhetoric surrounding the phthalates ban in the CPSIA or the threat to the delta smelt from additional pumping of water from the delta.
The control of the environmental movement on key committees in the House and the Senate means that even these Democratic Congressmen will get no relief from the Hill. The partially man-made drought will thus go on, the job losses will mount, and California's breadbasket will loses some of its incredible productivity –another blow to the state's already reeling economy. Finding some relief will be Interior Secretary Salazar's first great challenge, but the real solution lies with the 9th Circuit or the Supreme Court's review of the cases that have flowed out of the ESA over 35 years.
The ESA controversies of the next few years –the smelt and the polar bear litigation being only the most visible– will quietly determine the artificial limits on growth America imposes upon itself. The very aggressive push by very competent counsel for the activists versus the supine response by American industry means that even if the GOP returns to majority status in 2010 or the presidency in 2012, the ability to reignite robust growth will be seriously compromised by years of aggressive rulemaking and overreaching court decisions.


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Teche Area Farmers' Market
Join us at Bouligny Plaza on West Main Street in downtown New Iberia for the Teche Area Farmers' Market. The market is open year round on Saturday mornings from 7:00 a.m. to 11:00 a.m. and on Tuesday afternoons from 2:30 p.m. to 6:00 p.m. Experience our harvest of delicious homegrown produce and home-made products by area farmers, artists and crafters.
If you are interested in participating or would like additional information, please contact Jane Braud at (337) 369-2330, or firstname.lastname@example.com.


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Jane Flagello writes mysteries with social and life lessons twists. After retiring from a management professorship and a personal coaching practice, she found herself wondering what was next. A creative academic at heart who loves to write, she combined what she loves to do, resulting in her first novel. Now she takes her love of writing and combines it with her goal to shine a light on societal problems not often discussed. Learn more about Jane and her books at her website.
Finding the "YOU" in Success
Success means different things to different people. Almost everyone who has realized success know these simple truths: hard work comes first, success is a journey, persistence is key, and what you define as success changes over time.
Want to increase your success I.Q.? Ask yourself these two questions:
What's going on inside me that causes me to do what I do—say what I say—feel what I am feeling?
If I don't like the results I'm getting—or I want more or something different—how do I change myself (meaning grow and develop) in ways that produce the results I really want?
And therein lies the rub—change! To get different results you have to change what you're doing. Change is the shoe that pinches! To let go of what you have always done or planned to do, and seek new ways to accomplish your goals plays out cognitively, emotionally, and physically.
Your ability to change is your critical success factor. Change takes you out of your comfort zone. It can be frightening and confusing, leaving you feeling vulnerable. Embracing change—your ability to change—is the holy grail of what it takes to be successful today.
While change exerts a powerful force, the status quo is an equally powerful, often unrecognized, force. It lulls you into a false sense of complacency. It's the "bird-in-hand" expression come to life. Fears of loss and an increased sense of vulnerability reinforce the status quo. Why chance changing anything? You know what your current actions are producing. You know how to compensate in those areas where you are not fully up to speed. In some way, you have made a conscious or unconscious decision that you can live with this outcome.
Want to enhance your opportunities for success? It's all about changing the choices you make emotionally, physically, spiritually, and cognitively. When you are clear on the life you want for yourself, you can harness the power of Y-O-U, keeping the actions that enable the results you really want and letting go of the behaviors that prove detrimental to your success.
Consider these "secrets" to success so that you can hone in on what you need to change:
a) Imagine a success picture of you. What does your picture look like? How far away from that image are you now? What do you have to start doing/stop doing to get closer to it?
b) Identify areas in your life where you are stressed or are suffering. What actions can you take to decrease your stress? What do you need to learn/do?
c) Do things that bring you pleasure—that rich inner feeling, that rush of exhilaration that comes from doing what you really love and want to do. Work is only work when you don't enjoy what you are doing. And it is hard to be successful doing things you don't enjoy.
When you are at peace with yourself, your success will skyrocket. There is a pattern, a meaning, a sense to life. It is bigger than we are, yet simpler to achieve than we might imagine. Identify what success means for you, let go of your past, create a plan and take your first step. You have a purpose, and a responsibility to seek out your purpose and achieve it. And when you do, you will have found the success you seek.
Evil takes many forms, especially when fueled by the drive to possess things that aren't yours. The easier it is, the more you take—feeding the devil within.
Morgan Kasen's life is going nowhere. After two failed marriages, she's stuck in a dead-end job, writing puff pieces for a local Williamsburg newspaper. Befriending Eli, a homeless man who squats outside her local grocery store, feeds her compassionate side…until his disappearance thrusts her into the dark world of black market organ trafficking. And the promise of her big break—a career-making story worthy of a Pulitzer.
Her competition: Jesse Sinclair—a street-savvy New York City reporter with Pulitzer on the brain…and a great butt in a tight pair of jeans. What he's willing to do to win his coveted prize challenges Morgan's trust issues to her core.
Enter two rogue entrepreneurs competing to satisfy their own needs at the expense of the less fortunate. And then the bodies begin to pile up, starting with a vagrant found in the woods missing a kidney.
Power, money, and murder combine in an intense hunt to stop those responsible before any more innocent people lose critical body parts…or their lives.
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In the meantime, a judge in Maryland agreed that anti-Muslim sentiment was behind the president's government orders. There are lots of different jobs in the travel and tour industry, extending to hospitality, airline, cruise, healthcare, and so on. While the wage in the travel and tour industry just isn't all the time the most effective, there are advantages like reductions for air tickets and accommodations, amongst others. Once you have found an agent and an insurance policy you are pleased with you'll pay your premium after which it's best to obtain your written policy.
Those who are tempted in by automobile travel on the island needs to be conscious that car hire in Cuba is (comparatively) costly, the roads should not effectively sign posted, and complicated one-approach programs could make driving a real problem for guests. The memo stated the agency was continuing to process all functions and petitions for individuals contained in the United States no matter their country of origin.
There are particular medical/dental insurance premiums that are deductible which your income tax specialist can determine. Listed here are 5 good last minute travel tips to keep in mind, regardless that not all happen on the enjoyable final minute. The research also showed that accumulated U.S. bookings to … Travel More


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As we prepare our forum for the eventual upgrade to XF2, the blogging system may undergo so changes. Read More Here.Dismiss Notice
Information and Illusion
Published by mugen shiyo in the blog mugen shiyo's blog. Views: 151
I think I'm going to try and spend much more time reading blogs and writing those on my thoughts. Perhaps we can get a sort of Round Table going where we can discuss these things. I always have a political bend or some philosophic mumbo. If that interests you and you care to wade through one persons funneled thinking, enjoy.
There was once a thing called knowledge, learning, and discovery. These things are gone...
Today, people are taught that information is all around them. That one can know all there is to know and the exact implication of this is that you already know what you need to know. The rest you can find out whenever you want to. Of course, you don't ever want to find out so you never know. But you continue believing that you do know...and whenever you want to know more, it is as easy as a click.
Unfortunately, there is a great difference between the information provided to you and the information present. All the information on the internet is information provided to you. It is a ring of knowledge that makes you move in circles and spirals. You build up a cache of information provided to you. Do you see what is happening? Your knowledge of anything beyond your immediate experience- basically everything- becomes dictated to you by what you read and see. How often have you moved more than twenty miles from your house? And yet more than half of Americans consider themselves knowledgeable of the world, world politics, and the conditions of nations far from where they live. Most people hardly know what goes on in another city in their state, less mind another state.
Welcome to the maze. How have you gotten here and how will you find your way out? You don't even know you are in one do you. The maze is so great that all places inside look different such that traveling through it actually gives you the feel of traveling in freedom unaware you are being led in circles. If information were a system it is largely hermetic, which is to say closed. This is the power of the ring. A closed loop which symbolizes completion, perfection, and containment or the unseen bindings. The ring is a restriction but the power of the shape is that that which it restricts actually feels as though it is in possession of the ring. The slave believes he is the master.
Have I creeped you out yet? I've been studying things based on the feel they have. The energy they give off. I also began to disassociate myself with what I knew and began to re-look things with what some call "the beginners mind" which is to see without knowing. One of the first things that I come across is that a huge amount of the information I think I know and that other people believe they know is not gained or verified in any way through personal experience. You don't buy your food from the internet because you simply cannot trust it. You need to verify it with your own hands. Make sure it is what you want, that it is fresh, and that their is no corruption or deception involved. Why should taking in your information be any different. Most people say seeing is believing so they believe what is on TV. But you are not seeing anything but the television. You are looking at a box flashing you still or moving pictures and we all know, as we are artists, how one picture can generate ten different thoughts, different reactions, and different ways of thinking. When piled in a certain way, those thoughts can be channeled.
I realize I stress this realization of not really knowing anything thing but it is because I believe that it is the very beginning to actually understanding the very disturbing things going on around you. For instance...
What is authority? What gives one man the ability to command others? To say you will pay a tax on your labor. To say these are the freedoms you will have and will not have. Think...the Constitution is merely another form of authority telling you what you can and cannot do. You see it differently merely because it is the most lenient form of force you know of. When you are asked which is the best government, you are really being asked which is the best form of oppression because all governments remove to a varying degree the freedoms of a people, all control the people, and all, eventually, seek to increase that basic control. There is never a government that is ruled by the people. If you think about it you will see that is so. The law is also a potent form of magic. It is invisible, not there, imaginary, and yet it has a definite effect on society. Laws bind. The restrict. They channel. Laws are like the metal piping through which people move through...in theory. In truth, we are absolutely free to do whatever the hell we want. There is no law beyond what a person can do and what they can't do. What makes the law real is that, as Peter Pan would say, they got you to believe in it. And when you begin to believe in it, the imaginary becomes more and more real.
Illusion vs Information...rather Illusion vs Reality or real information versus fake information. How do you know which one you are following. Like the matrix, both seem incredibly real. But in hindsight, after the illusion is broken, you realize just how mind-bogglingly obvious the illusion actually was. And like a con your belief centered mostly on some need, impulse, or want to believe in it.
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Landlords with properties in Brent Borough Council's boundary approach lettings agents in Brent looking to maximise the income they receive from their rental homes.
Here at Assetgrove, our guaranteed rent scheme assures landlords of a fixed monthly rental income while we get on with the business of managing all the day-to-day tasks that running a property portfolio involves, such as inspections, lettings, viewings, maintenance and legal issues.
We are proud to offer guaranteed rent for up to five years. But there is a lot more to Assetgrove than this alone. Over the years we have developed a comprehensive range of property services carried out by our experienced in-house team.
From upfront financing of home improvements and furniture packages to out-and-out property portfolio business managers, we provide a complete solution for all landlords and buy-to-let investors, whether they own one property or a hundred properties.
Part of Outer London, Brent is situated in the north-west of the capital. The borough is bordered by Harrow to the north-west, Barnet to the north-east, Camden to the east, the boroughs of Ealing, Kensington & Chelsea, and Hammersmith & Fulham to the south, and Westminster to the south-east.
The following postcodes all fall into the London Borough of Brent's boundaries: HA, NW, W.
Who lives in Brent?
Brent has a population of over 320,000 people, and includes the areas of Kilburn, Harlesden and Wembley. The borough is home to the Wembley Stadium and Wembley Arena.
The borough is one of the most ethnically diverse in the country, with large Indian and Asian communities.
Educating Brent
The local authority's website lists 70 primary/prepatory schools and 15 secondary schools.
Many schools in the borough have been rated Outstanding by Ofsted, including the following primary schools: the Ark Academy, Byron Court Primary School, Kingsbury Green Primary School, Manor School and Mount Stewart Junior School. Many secondary schools also achieved Outstanding, including Claremont High School and Woodfield School.
Transport in Brent
26 Network Rail stations and London Underground stations operate in Brent, with the Jubilee, Bakerloo, Metropolitan and Piccadilly Lines running services.
London Overground trains from Euston mainline station stop at many stations within the borough, while Chiltern Railways trains from Marylebone mainline station also stop at stations in the borough.
The many London Overground, London Underground and National Rail stations in the borough include: Willesden Junction (Bakerloo Line and Overground), Kilburn tube station (Jubilee Line), Kenton Station (Bakerloo Line and Overground) and Wembley Park tube station (Metropolitan and Jubilee lines).
During the day, Brent is served by 53 bus routes. There are 7 night bus routes.
Green space in Brent
Brent has many parks and open spaces within its boundaries, including formal Victorian parks. According to the local authority's website, there is more than 1,000 acres of public open space, such as Fryent Country Park and Roe Green Park.


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A new peer and I were recently introduced. I am exploding with history and ideas, and lack discipline in how to listen, no matter how interesting is the fellow. At one turn in the conversation we chanced upon the subject of petrified trees. My sink is carved from one. In his recent home town of Arizona there are many.
"Oh, are they standing upright?"
"Uh, no, they are millions of years old, and had to petrify first."
I laughed out loud at how stupid I had been. Actually I forget who pointed out the thought error first. I hope it was me. But the stupidity itself was genuinely funny. Perhaps when I was younger my mind would have been faster and it would have taken 1/10th of a second instead of three to notice the obvious, and the difference would have meant thinking stupid before speaking vs. speaking stupid out loud.
I would like to think that that episode speaks generously to my character. I would like to think of myself as a man who can get alzheimer's graciously. I would like to think of myself as someone who can be corrected without causing too much drama.


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Monday, 26 May 2014
Welcome Baby
I know a few girls having babies so I thought that I'd start making a couple of baby cards ready. I've used the really cute digi image Pram Baby Baby from Ladybug Crafts Ink to make this card. I've coloured this image with Copic markers and cut it out using spellbinders labels. I've used a combination of pale pink card stock and a paper that has the words 'oh so sweet' on it. I've embellished with pink satin ribbon, a pink safety pin and som mini buttons. I've stamped a sentiment saying 'welcome baby'.
Ladybug crafts Ink anything goes
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Thursday, 30 October 2014
Blogger's Quilt Festival ~ Mini Quilt Entry
My Quilter's Palette mini quilt was inspired by this photo on IG of a water colour paint palette. I'm not a painter but I love those little circles of colour. To turn the idea into a quilt, I applied my favourite quilt formula, bright, scrappy fabrics on a low volume background. I used my Marti Mitchell drunkard's path acrylic templates to cut the pieces. Each drunkards path block is 3" finished. The finished quilt went to Paula (Flickr link) in Bermuda as part of a summer themed swap.
This is my favourite photo of the quilt, there must have been some sunlight on the day I took this photo.
I quilted in straight lines using my walking foot. The lines were about 1/4" apart. Rather than marking all the lines, I used my walking foot as a guide (so much easier!).
The week I finished the quilt and posted it off was wet and grey (dreary winter's weather) and the photos are not so bright! The binding is from Tsuru by Rashida Coleman-Hale for Cloud9 fabrics.
Have you checked out the Festival yet? I've had a few quick peeks, I can't wait to have a proper look around!
Finished Quilt Size; 18" square
17 comments:
Lovely quilt, the colours look fab :-)ReplyDelete
love this, Rachel!ReplyDelete
This is so pretty! I love how yours circles have the low volume, and the patchwork colors of the circle too.ReplyDelete
love the bright circles on the low volume bgReplyDelete
Beautiful! I just love your work!ReplyDelete
Great quilt--the colors, the circles matching up, the quilting. BRAVO!ReplyDelete
I love low volume with bright colors! Your mini is just fabulous and worthy of my vote!! I am so glad you started blogging!!ReplyDelete
Wow, this is way cute. Pinning it for future "to do" list. And love that it's a wall hanging. quick and sweet. love the low volume contrast.ReplyDelete
Voting for you! Good luck in the Festival!ReplyDelete
This is so pretty.ReplyDelete
Very pretty, and I really like the little tabs you made for hangingReplyDelete
Cute and scrappy.ReplyDelete
This quilt is amazing! I just love your sense of color and texture!ReplyDelete
- Anonymous3 November 2014 at 20:07
Hi Rachel! I love your quilt! It's so beautiful! x TejeReplyDelete
I love this quilt! It's just beautiful the way you have combined the fabrics. You have one of my votes in the festival! :)ReplyDelete
- Anonymous4 November 2014 at 16:26
So cute! I love Drunkard's Path quilts and the way you used the bright colors makes your blocks pop!ReplyDelete
I love this mini! And such good use of color! I will be looking for you on IG!ReplyDelete


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50 shades of grey is sooo last season, so this winter I am injecting some colour into my Wardrobe. I first saw these bold, printed pants on a shopping trip to Melbourne; it was love at first sight. The material is to die for and teamed with a cropped, turtleneck knit, they make for a comfy winter ensemble.
Pants: Santa Maria Pant, Bec and Bridge
Shoes: Tony Bianco
Jumper: Borrowed from friend


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February 12, 2018, 5:00 PM - 6:00 PM @ Town Council Center
All Meetings are Cancelled for February. Planning and Zoning Commission, Board of Adjustment and the Development Review Board.


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BOSWELL - Berlin's bid to return to the state high school volleyball quarterfinals came up short. Beth Center bumped the Lady Mountaineers in four games Tuesday in the first round of the inter-district playoffs.
Berlin coach Lisa St. Clair was disappointed that her players turned in an early-season effort rather than one fit for this stage.
"My girls didn't play their own position and they were worried about playing everybody else's," she said. "It seemed all we did was crash into each other, miscommunicate, walk to our places on the court …. We beat ourselves, hands-down, it was ugly. ..
"We knew coming into the game, we win games by swinging at the ball and we didn't do that very often."


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Within the first 30 days, if you do not love your eyewear, you have a ONE time opportunity to either exchange your frame or return it for store credit.
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If an order is cancelled within the first 30 days, there will be a 20% restocking fee on both frame and lenses. After 30 days, there is no cancellation or exchanges.
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Thursday, 26 August 2010
It's all about speed
Having loads of fun over at sketchoholic.com, with the intense sketch marathons. You have about 45 minutes to come up with an image, with only 2-3 words as your brief. Here's a couple of my favourites from the past week.
2 comments:
- Wayne B. Medina said...
Hello there George! thank you for dropping by blog and to find out about your incredible work! awesome awesome awesome my friend! and I'm not even done finish lookin at the whole thing *excited* thank you
- 27 August 2010 at 06:00
- Monstertree said...
Wayne - Thanks so much for stopping by and saying something nice, I'm a big fan of your work ;)
- 31 August 2010 at 08:15
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Lindsay Lohan had an unexpected reunion the other night. The "Liz & Dick" actress was dining at Rubirosa in NoLIta at the same time as her 2005 "Herbie: Fully Loaded" co-star, Matt Dillon. "They were at separate tables when they saw each other," says a spy. "Lindsay got up to greet Matt as he was leaving with friends." Lohan insisted she's having a "sober" New Year's, then jetted to London, which isn't exactly known for its sober celebrations, to see her latest love interest, the Wanted's Max George.
Glad to see you
By PageSix.com Staff
December 31, 2012 | 5:00am


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This little suitcase is from the latest SVG Cuts Kit ~ Summer Holiday SVG Kit.
It was really easy to put together and makes a perfect little gift holder.
I used the Congrats from Five Minute Cards SVG Kit. I added some stitching and attached the luggage tag with Trendy Twine.
I also make some quick Thank You Cards for the Scout leaders. This time of the year I make alot of Thank you cards and this one is so easy and fun. It is from SVG Cuts ~ Five Minute Cards SVG Kit. I am loving the Authentique Papers - it is from the Carefree Line. I accented with some Trendy Twine and used by Epiphany Craft tool.
Thanks for stopping by and have a great week.


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A speaker at this past weekend's "Values Voter Summit" in Washington, D.C., outlined a plan to organize churches on behalf of political candidates that relies heavily on deception and even outright lies.
Long-time far-right activist Connie Marshner ran a session titled "Getting Church Voters to the Polls." She distributed an 18-page document that she said was originally prepared for U.S. Sen. Rick Santorum's 2000 reelection effort but that can be used for others.
"The only value this plan promotes is the value of deceit," said Americans United Executive Director Barry W. Lynn. "This scheme negates the Religious Right's claim to occupy the moral high ground in American politics."
The plan calls on church members to use their church directories to find voters who favor a certain candidate. Those voters are then targeted for follow-up calls. On election day, only persons identified as supporting the "favored" candidate will be reminded to vote.
Marshner instructed the audience to give the directory to someone who does not attend the church and instruct them to call each person listed in it posing as a non-partisan pollster. According to a script in the manual, the caller should say, "Hello, I'm with ABC Polls. We're calling in your area to find out the level of interest in the upcoming [U.S. Senate/House of Representatives/state assembly/town council/school board/etc.] election."
"It's very important that the person doing the calling is not known to the person being called," Marshner told attendees. "Get someone from outside the church."
Marshner cautioned callers not to admit they were using a church directory. When someone in the audience asked what to say if the caller were asked directly if he or she was using a church list, she replied, "I haven't heard a perfect answer to that question. It's a delicate answer."
She also dissembled when asked what to say if someone asked the caller if he or she were representing a candidate, remarking, "Just say I'm collecting information about the candidates."
Marshner also told attendees that this plan could be implemented without the knowledge of the pastor. "Even if you have a pastor like that who doesn't want to do politics, you can use this plan," she said.
When a few other members of the audience challenged the ethics of the plan, Marshner said it was time to move on.
Lynn, who attended the Values Voter Summit, said he was appalled by the Marshner plan.
"Religious Right groups love to lord their moral superiority over the rest of us," said Lynn, "yet the devious approach they endorse shows that these groups suffer a deficit of values."
Continued Lynn, an ordained minister in the United Church of Christ, "It looks like the 'value voters' have embraced a 'win-at-any-cost' strategy that is far removed from the ethical principles taught by the religion they claim to cherish."
Americans United is a religious liberty watchdog group based in Washington, D.C. Founded in 1947, the organization educates Americans about the importance of church-state separation in safeguarding religious freedom.


text: Operating under the luxury goods group Tod's S.p.A., Hogan was founded in 1986 out of a vision for a casually luxe line of footwear. Hogan wedges are available in a choice of heights and range from thick ankle-boots to elevated courts, platform sandals and slip-on pumps. At the heart of the collection is quality and each shoe is only crafted using premium fabrics and the most advanced techniques. Informally elegant, Hogan wedges are available in soft clean hues or muted pastel shades.


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Travel and Tourism - Ecuador and The Galapagos - November 2011
The Galápagos Islands are a destination internationally recognised for their wildlife and links with Charles Darwin, and consequently are on the 'must-see' list of most tourists interested in nature. Ecuador's mainland tourism product, however, while being strong and quite capable of competing with many of its neighbours, derives a considerable boost from its ownership of the islands. Indeed, the Charles Darwin Foundation found that only 22% of tourists stated that they would still visit Ecuador if they could not visit the Galápagos Islands.
Like most destinations that base their tourism product on a potentially fragile ecosystem, Ecuador is developing policies to ensure that it is protected under increasing demands from international (and domestic) tourism. However, as is apparent in many similar destinations, there is delicate balance between revenues and environmental regulation. Interest in South American destinations from European markets and, to a slightly lesser extent, North America, is growing sharply at present. In the first half of 2011, the United Nations World Tourism Organization (UNWTO) reported that growth in tourist arrivals to South America grew by 15% – more than any other region on the globe. Ecuador can expect to benefit from this broad interest in the continent, in particular as accessibility improves through an increasing number of air routes.
This report looks at the following aspects of the travel and tourism market in Ecuador and The Galapagos:
- Tourist arrivals - overnights and expenditure
- Purpose of visit - business, leisure or VFR
- Accommodation supply - operating performance
- Tourism policy - management
- Transport - access and infrastructure
- Tourism funding - promotion and future development
What you get
What's included
- Consumer Attitudes and Behaviour
- Market data
- Competitive analysis
- Risks and Opportunities
- What's Next
- Market Trends
This market report provides in-depth analysis and insight supported by a range of data. At the same time, introductory and top-level content is provided to give you an overview of the issues covered.
Mintel provides a range of market information, frequently through the category level, including market size and forecasting, complete with market drivers that illustrate the forces that shape a category or market.
Mintel's proprietary consumer research provides our analysts with the attitudinal and behavioral data used to provide valuable insight to topical issues.
Mintel provides overviews of the top brands and manufacturers, and uses consumer research to explore attitudes and reactions to brands, as well as insight into what will resonate with consumers.
Market reports provide appendices of data to support the research and insight produced. Our tables of data are easily manipulated and downloadable to support your research needs and covers factors from consumer attitudes to market forecasts.
* This is a sample representation of the report layout and does not reflect the research included in this report.
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Table of contents
Ecuador & the Galápagos
Data Sources
- History
- Geography
- History
Tourism and the Economy
- Figure 1: Visitor expenditure, 2005-10
- Figure 2: Visitor expenditure, by purpose of visit, 2005-10
- Figure 3: Employment in the tourism industries, 2005 and 2009
- International
- Figure 4: Visitor arrivals in Ecuador, 2005-10
- Figure 5: Visitor arrivals, by region, 2005-10
- Figure 6: Top 10 visitor arrivals by nationality, 2005 and 2009
- Domestic
- International
Market Characteristics
- International
- Purpose of visit
- Figure 7: Visitor arrivals by purpose of visit, 2005-10
- Seasonality
- Length of stay
- Domestic
- International
- Figure 8: Visitor arrivals by mode of transport, 2005-10
- Air
- Road
- Rail
- Sea/lakes
- Figure 9: Accommodation establishments, 2005-10
- Figure 10: Hotel rooms and beds, 2005-10
Tourism News
- Ministry of Tourism promotes Ecuador in 2011
- Boutique hotels on the rise
- Galápagos residents on tourism training initiative
- Ministry of Tourism promotes Ecuador in 2011
What Next?
- Sustainable tourism maintains importance
- Protecting the Galápagos Islands' wildlife
- Electric cars coming to San Cristobal, Galápagos
- Guayaquil set to welcome tourists
- Sustainable tourism maintains importance


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Happy people will have periods of low moods, disappointments and problems in the same way people who have unhappy dispositions do. The only difference is that happy people will adapt more easily and therefore their disappointments and low moods will be dealt with more swiftly.
Happy people have a relaxed and calm demeanour about them, regardless of what they deal with. They are generally more content in themselves and know to take the rough with the smooth. They're ready for what comes their way.
They are aware of how they feel at any given point. They accept the inevitable and usually take things in their stride. They tend not to panic and know that as their low moods come, they will go. They seem to be more accepting of their feelings and aren't particularly fazed by what they deal with. They get on with putting their world right.
Ever since I was a little girl, I have always had things to deal with. My beliefs and experiences help shape my ability to stay focused and calm and by dealing with and bringing closure on many of my issues. My experiences in turn have shaped my personality and my ability to deal with my issues, with some ease.
I think it important not to fight our feelings and accept that we have them. Try to be a little more at ease with those feelings, they're there for a reason. Sometimes it's important to just go with the flow; because that helps us become more relaxed and calm.