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Tuesday, February 03, 2009
Why Are You Here?
At a young age, I thought my purpose and reason for being on earth, was to entertain. I did some stand up comedy. Fun at first, but just hell toward the end. I had small roles in bad movies and bit parts in large, bad movies. I even got the occasional modeling gig. Posing? Was this the reason why I'm here? Truth be told, I was pretty unhappy most of the time while chasing my dream as an actor. It was crazy competitive and not very fulfilling. Exercise and fitness was a part time job in those days. I made a decent living training people, but it didn't seem like a lifelong career to me at the time. I wanted to be a movie star! Turned out, Brad Pitt I'm not. More like Don Knotts.
Along the way, I picked up Keith Elles's book, "The Magic Lamp." This book was a guide that helped me figure out what I was supposed to be when I grew up. After reading it and doing the lessons, I discovered that helping and working with people brought more satisfaction then acting in hemorrhoid cream commercials. I was put on this earth to teach. All those acting classes and 2 AM comedy spots in front of 3 people, were early training to help me deliver my message. I am extraordinarily fortunate to have made this shift to my present career. I eat, live and breathe my purpose every day. I feel very lucky to have been given this gift. It is such a satisfying feeling waking up every day knowing why I am here.
I believe that a majority of the people who suffer from poor health, sadness, depression, obesity and lack of fitness, do so because they don't know the real reason why they're here on this Earth. They have jobs, families and make money. Most have a warm bed and the creature comforts of a modern lifestyle. Is that enough? Is it filling the void? Is it everything you hoped and dreamed for as a kid?
Sure, you have your mini-moments of hope and bliss..a good night's sleep, a fun party, one of your kids scores a goal at the soccer game, a nice glass of Cabernet with your Italian dinner. A lot of people, most people, can link these little happy moments together for a lifetime and pretend that everything is just fine. The truth is their job doesn't fulfill them and the little victories are just Band-Aids. But this is life, right? W R O N G !
Is your job the reason why you are here? Is your family the reason why you are here? Is your glass of Cabernet during dinner why you are here? Maybe. For some the answer is yes. For many others the answer is a big fat NO. If the answer is NO, then whatcha gonna do about it? Read a book, go to a seminar, volunteer at a local shelter or school? What?
Here's a great example:
A man has a job and this job pays the bills, feeds the family and keeps a roof over everyone's head. But this job is not why he's here. He loves his family but it's not the sole reason why he's here either. This man loves riding his bike. He loves everything about bikes. The gears, the tires, the frames, the brakes. He loves tinkering with bikes. His "regular" job is just a job. He's purposeless. Someone close to him suggests that he apply for part time work at a local bike shop. At first, this means less time with his family, which is tough at first, but he wants to be a happy dad, so he takes the job working just a few hours a week. Five years later, he owns the bike shop. He took the risk and discovered his real purpose.
Have you ever been bored? If the answer is Yes, there is a chance, a likelihood, a possibility that you have not yet figured out why you are here. When you have found your purpose, you have discovered why you're here. It's hard to be bored when you're out in the world doin your thang! Your reason-for-being makes you happy. You want and need to do your thing often. When you are doing your thing, you are not overeating, you're not watching tons of TV, you're not prone to addictive behavior and it's very hard to be sad, depressed, anxious, overwhelmed and unhappy when you are doing your thing baby!
What is your thing? Will Keith Elles's book help you find it? Maybe. It helped me, but it wasn't the only source. Opening doors and staying curious helps too. Woody Allen said (he denies this, but we give him credit anyway) "80% of life is showing up" Most people are afraid to show up. New things scare people. Hard, complicated (at first) things can be frightening. Not looking good while doing something new, upsets people. I say so what, who cares and big deal to all that noise in your head. If you show up, you might discover why you are here. And after you've shown up use the other 20% to pay attention while you're there.
I know this little ramble is a touch esoteric, but I'm just here to help you figure out what's important in your life. It's a remarkably short trip. Won't it be sad if you never learn what truly makes you happy? Get out of your funk and discover what makes you click! Sometimes it's as simple as finding a hobby. Your hobby can become your life, your purpose, your reason for being here.
35 comments:
- Andrew said...
Thanks for the awesome read. It's great to get new perspectives or find that our own perspectives aren't so unique. Thanks for all your insight.
I'm a 21 year old student who has gone from 270 lbs to 165 lbs (embarrassing but true). The inspiration came from self-searching, my best friend and P90X was a major help. I fell in love with pursuing better health internally and externally, though getting looks from the ladies is always encouraging too ;)
- Demi Eliese said...
Great post, and great read. The book that helped me alot was "The Purpose Driven Life." I was in the Marines for 4 years and got out, had 2 kids, and then was like, "Is this it?" But it's not. Being happy with yourself comes first, then contributing to the good of this world, I believe, comes second. If you wake up every day and are completely excited and happy about the day God has given you..then I can say that you are in your sweet spot. :)
- Rae said...
Preach it! I'm so glad that you didn't give up on finding what made you "click"! I walked away from a lucrative corporate career about two weeks ago to do something very similar, by that I mean pursuing what made me tick. Never been poorer, never been happier. I'm now wrapping up the MBA, getting into the shape I've always wanted to be in (thank you again!), and re-arranging my life to where it is no longer in charge of *me*.
I'd tell you how great that feels, but you already know.
I'd say I wish I did this years ago, but honestly I don't think I would have appreciated it as much then. Onward and upward!
- Brian Thrift said...
Great stuff! I started P90X a while back. I was just starting phase 3 at the end of december and a string of bad choices started. Eating poorly and such. I started getting back on track, then I got sick followed by a basketball injury that has kept me from working out for the last month. I am starting over with the whole P90X. I am excited to get to my goal once again. Thanks for the encouragement. My passion is to become healthy again to see my young son when he is old. Thanks for finding your purpose so that people like me can begin to see theirs. Keep up the great work!!
- LORI J said...
That was... in a word...BRILLIANT! :)
- Serge said...
Hi Tony,
You always seem to know what's on my mind. How do you do that? During our P90X sessions you seem to say something that is perfect to get me going again ... every time! So its not surprising that I checked your blog today for some inspiration and again there you are with the inspiration I was seeking. I've been looking for my true reason for being here and I'm getting closer and closer, its like I can feel it. The closer I get the better I feel and the better I feel the more effort I put into feeling and the more I feel the more I discover about myself and those around me. It's crazy Tony! So I'm checking out that book and I'm showing up 100% of the time. BTW, this all started when I decided to show up in the first place. Purpose, what a great concept!
Thanks Tony
- Kami said...
Great post.
- nick from ny said...
I think you heard about it--a few weeks ago some fearless and brave US Airways airline pilot decided to use the frigid Hudson river as an emergency landing strip. Safe to say that he not only saved the day, but saved a whole bunch of innocent lives in the process. God bless him.
Well, I don't live too far from the landing site, so I decided to walk on over there after work and take in the action. Once I got to the Hudson ferry terminal, I found a mob scene of police and reporters, all waiting for some of the survivors to come out and file into buses. As the survivors slowly walked out, the first thing I noticed was the look on their collective faces. These are people who just cheated death, a potentially horrific death to say the least. Dude, to say that they were "in the zone" is an understatement. And then something just snapped in my head--we are here, because we all have a purpose, no matter how big or small, or wide or tall. Now, we may not know when or where that purpose may kick in, but so what?!? It's really not our call, believe you me. Just like those passengers on that plane, our purpose is to live clean, count our blessings, don't sweat the details, forge on and be flexible in body and mind. Life happens, death happens, and we renew.
Personally, right now I'm not exactly where I want to be professionally, socially, spiritually, physically and everything elsely... But work is in progress and continues, so it's all good. And again, Tony, I can't thank you enough for what you've done to help me along in this ever-changing journey. Godspeed.
- Frank and Jean said...
Thanks, Tony. I needed this.
- snowy said...
An inspirational and insightful passage. I learned a similar lesson from my mother's courageous bout with cancer. She faced her illness with humour and grace and made me realize that life is too short to simply exist. I wasted half my life dealing with depression and anxiety. Then I realized that this is the only chance I get at life. I didn't want to live in fear. I discovered I could choose to be happy, I could choose to be fearless, I could choose to live! Your P90X program allowed me to discover I was stronger than I ever thought I could be. As my body become stronger and the challenges increased, I also became mentally stronger. I learned that there is nothing I can't do if I just try. Some days, I feel invincible. My nine year old daughter says I'm like wonder woman, which I think is a good example to set for her. I was at the depth of despair when I discovered the P90X program and now, I choose to live, and to do it without fear. I don't exactly know what my purpose is in life, but I am confident that I will find it. In the meantime, I am grateful that you have found yours. You have inspired many, and it would not be an overstatement to say, you may have saved a few lives along the way.
- Khashayar said...
Dear Tony,
First of all, thank you for this GREAT post. As a recent immigrant to North America, the question you have asked is constantly on my mind. Maybe the book you mentioned can give me more clues as to how I can turn this dream of mine into a reality.
Also Tony, I desperately needed your expert advice on a rather unique problem I have faced in my P90x work-outs (after just finishing the second round of it) and since I can't attend the chat sessions you regularly hold on Beachbody, I was wondering if you have a public email address I could use to contact you or if you at all address such questions through email?
Khashayar from Toronto.
- Amit said...
Thank you so much for this timely advice. I am about to do something completely different and challenging in the next few months. I was nervous but after reading this I have decided to "show up"!
Thanks again for being such a constant source of inspiration.
- Phil Nasr said...
Like the post. I know, I am moving out of that rut now. Many blessings and your touching more lives now than you would before. If you think about it, most actors aren't remembered after their time segment of fame and success, not all continue on because 1 flop and their career will turn them into the lead role of "The Pacifier 2". Just kidding, just an example. I take my hat off for Vin Deisal for doing what he loves to do. Anyways, i digress. The point is from what I learned is that every event, is a stroke on my canvas of life. It is a piece of art in the end. I have had 2 depressive episodes due to events that unfolded however I am thankful and happy for every downturn or upturn I have experienced. Anyways, take care.
- Wudpkr said...
Tony, I can not say how close you have "got it".. I am passing this along to friends and family....
awesome...just awesome..
- Ed New fan and P90xer said...
I just happened to be sitting here at my kitchen table crusing the web (re:P90x) and got here by a blog roll. I am appreciative of the 90x series and what it has done for me, but this is another dimension to you that really impresses me.
You are a good man. There is hope in this dismal economy and outlook.
Take care, Ed
- Anonymous said...
Good stuff Tony! I'm like you in that I shifted gears, and chased/discovered my passion later in life. I'm 35, and deep in grad school to become a DC. Sure I wish I would have made this decision earlier in my life, but at the same time I wouldn't change change a thing. My experiences define who I am, and through them I value my life so much more.
- Ali said...
My dad, a very talented artist, spent the whole first half of his life doing what was expected of him by his parents - he went to West Point, got an engineering degree, earned a decent living at it -- but he was miserable. He finally retired early and went professional with his artwork and is very happy now, has a gallery, and loves his life. He used to always tell me to do what I would do even if I didn't get paid for it. To follow my bliss. Good advice I think -- as is yours, Tony.
But I tend to also think that we are put on this earth to make a contribution somehow, make some kind of a difference somewhere, somehow, to go outside of ourselves. I want to use my gifts to help others, and contribute something useful to some small part of this world. That's what I shoot for anyway.
Thanks for sharing this, and for using your gifts to help others. Wow, what a great influence you are on so many.
- dusty hicks said...
I completely agree. I am in that situation and I'm trying to find what my "thing" is. I've been chasing this dream of mine for almost 7 years now and i'm not giving up, ever. I have a job, but it's just a job, it pays the bill, but i know it's not my purpose. I will keep searching and I will find it... and in the meantime i'll keep rockin with P90X! Thanks
- CT Olson said...
Great post Tony! I think you could broaden your purpose to inspiring people and motivating people - you're not a bad writer either. One thing I heard a while back that seemed to resonate - we derive the most happiness from our relationships with other people. Not meaning personal romantic ones (necessarily) but I mean communicating with and communing with other people - our coworkers, friends, families and communities, or people we're coaching or teaching. You are fortunate in your work that you get to meet and help so many people - must be very rewarding!
- Ann said...
- This comment has been removed by the author.
- Ann said...
Finally someone else saying what I've been thinking for years. My entire perspective and purpose in life changed 15 years ago when my husband of 2 yrs died in an accident (we were in our early twenties). It's unfortunate that it took such a big event to wake me up, but it did wake me up at the core. I feel fortunate to have spent most of my adult life consciously aware of what is most important. I'm one of the lucky ones who figured it out early. I wake everyday feeling grateful for who and where I am. And I continued to find ways of growing and transforming every time I turn around.
My latest adventure is being back in school again in my late 30s doing what I absolutely love - Chinese Medicine/Acupuncture. I found my calling! I often talk to my patients about the philosophy you wrote about. I live what I teach and it has made all the difference. I walk around with a goofy grin on my face all the time because I'm so content. Now I work to help others find their truth and inner purpose.
Thanks for the posting. I don't have the same size pulpit from which to reach people, but I do have a small one. I do my best with what I have.
- Anonymous said...
I just made the transition and discovery you are talking about. After 22 years as a CPA, exciting I know, I decided to resign from my firm as a partner and start a business performance coaching practice.
Being a business coach has really opened my eyes to my greater purpose which is helping others find the best in the business and personal life. Maximize performance and continually raise the bar.
In connection with this career change I also began to change my physical condition by using P90X. I beleived that in order to have a successful business coaching practive I needed to be physically fit.
Below is a credo for success that I adapted from a book by Brian Tracy, "The Psychology of Success".
In the work that's been done on peak performance, we find several interesting thing:
• It is the natural tendency of the human being to stay within the comfort zone;
• It is the natural tendency of the human being to play it safe and not take chances;
• It is the natural tendency of the human being to become satisfied and complacent with their current level of accomplishment and to try nothing more.
Yet every peak performing human being, every single high achieving man or woman has been a person who has thrown off the natural tendency to play it safe and to stay within the comfort zone. They have continually tried to exceed their previous levels of accomplishment. They have continually moved forward into the risk zone to try something more, bigger, better and more important.
Every single accomplishment in the history of man has come from men and women who have had the courage to take risks to step out even though they had no guarantee or assurance of success.
As individuals we can accomplish great things in our lives so why wouldn't we strive for something big.
A great question to ask is, "What's the one thing you would do or change in your life if you knew you would not fail?"
The answer to the question may just be your purpose.
Go for it!
- Anonymous said...
Why are we here...The Bible tells us in Ecc 12:13-"let us hear the conclusion of the whole matter, fear God and keep His commandments; for this is the whole duty of man."
We are put here to obey God's commandments, we will be judged by the New Testament John 12:48.
- Nic Bechtel said...
Tony I love it when a person is strait forward with what they have to say, you deliver it and I agree 100%, I'm just now living my life at the age of 30, just turned 30 this January, and thank you so much for p90x,I also own p90+ but I going to do a few rounds of p90x before I move to the next level.
- Mick_Circeo said...
Tony H!
Great blog, bro! Yeah, so we are all on that horizontal path -- thanks for all the great button-pushing, which is one of your most impactful gifts! :)
- April K said...
Glad to have found your blog. Great message. I'll have to look into that book. We've read and listened to (over and over) "The Secret". It's part of the reason that we're able to do P90X, and stick with it.
You're great Tony, but you knew that : )
- Tyler Roberts said...
Love P90X, but couldn't disagree more with this post. Personally, my only real LASTING happiness doesn't come from anything like a bike shop (to use your example), or anything materialistic for that matter. Lasting happiness can only be found in family or friends - from real relationships, NEVER anything materialistic.
Just my $0.02 cents. I probably misread your post anyway. :) Again, love P90X!
- Sparkman said...
I am kind of backtracking through previous blogs to get a better perspective and to get some ideas on how to better my physical fitness.
As everyone else has said and I know all to well, you need to fulfill your purpose here, but be reminded that once you are who you want to be and doing what you were put on this earth to do, never let go of it!
I am a poster child of that concept. I had 10 years in the military and got out. During my 9 years as a civilian, I struggled to find myself again but never could.
An opportunity was afforded me to go into the Guard and I jumped on it in the hopes of finding my purpose again. As it turns out, I made a great choice. Now I am in a full time position and doing what I was made for; serving my country with pride.
The ultimate reward for me is when people come up to me when I am in uniform and thank me for my service (it happens every time I go of base). I have even had people pay for my order at off base establishments in thanks. It gives me goose bumps and I feel very honored every time.
When I reach retirement, I plan to continue serving my country with the military as a civilian because that is why I am here.
- Jamie Duke said...
Great post. Thanks for pursuing your dream Tony. A book that I would recommend is "Chasing Daylight" by Erwin McManus. Extremely challenging. Much like your workouts. Not for the timid.
- Danielle said...
I know this is an older post, but great nonetheless. This is something I've been thinking about more and more. I was laid off a couple months ago so I've been thinking about what my next opportunity will look like, and what will make me happy.
Unfortunately, I am one of those people that hasn't gone into the area that I want for fear of failure. I have always wanted to do something in fitness/nutrition/physical therapy that really helps others, but stopped myself because I'm not fit enough or I can't remember everything. I'm finally at a point where I'm willing to put myself out there and learn what is needed to succeed. What happens if it doesn't work out? I try something else! No biggie!
I will definitely read some of the books mentioned in the post and comments and if it's meant to be, those doors will open.
Thanks again,
Danielle in CA
- Running~Jordan said...
Tony, I love this post.
I'm just starting phase 2 of p90x and my life is changing. I'm gaining clarity and I'm asking questions.
I work part time and I'm unfulfilled - when am I content? when am I not bored? when am I *alive* and *a light* in this world? When I am helping people with their running goals. Beginners. Women. People who have struggles in life with depression, addictions.
So here I am with this knowledge in my lap and with continuous confirmations that to follow your life path and destiny is to let yourself shine to the world.
I'm shedding pounds.
I'm gaining clarity.
I'm at the divergence in the road and one path looks much harder and uncertain from the other. It's the one I'm chosing.
Thank you for your insight and for helping me 'bring it' every day.
- jack+alli said...
thanks tony. i love this! i'm a new reader and p90x grad. i'm glad you found your purpose, i'll be working on finding mine.
- evision said...
- Tisha Williamson said...
Hi, just a moment back I was searching for the information on the same topic and now I am here. So much information, really well executed blog. This is really informative and I will for sure refer my friends the same. Thanks how to become an actress
- Paul Smith said...
Thanks a lot for the awesome read!I know this is an older post, but great nonetheless. I'm not all that eager to poke my nose into other people's business, but you can always utilize (proof reading services) online!


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Transfer Students
Students are encouraged to explore transfer options at Ithaca College. A transfer student is defined by Ithaca College as one who has matriculated in a degree program at another institution or a high school graduate who is enrolled in or has completed nine or more college credits. Transfer students may apply for either fall or spring admission to the College. Details about specific deadlines and admission information, along with an application, can be found in the Ithaca College admission prospectus, which is available from the Office of Admission, or online at www.ithaca.edu/admission.
Transfer applicants are reviewed based on all their college work and on their high school academic record. Transfer applicants are required to furnish the following items directly to the Office of Admission:
· signed, completed application
· official high school transcripts
· official college or university transcripts
· SAT I or ACT scores
· letter of recommendation
· statement of academic goals and past experiences
Auditions, portfolio reviews, and interviews are also required for certain programs. For specific academic information, consult the transfer student sections in this catalog at the beginning of each school section.
Credit evaluations follow every acceptance letter from Ithaca College. Credit is granted for most college-level courses with a grade of C- or higher. If you are considering applying to Ithaca College, we can provide you with an unofficial evaluation of transfer credits if you send us a written request with your transcripts. All official documents, along with letters of inquiry, should be mailed to the Office of Admission, to the attention of the transfer admission coordinator.
A special transfer transition program provides academic advising, testing, and registration information for incoming transfer students. Details about this program are sent to all matriculating students by the Office of First Year Programs and Orientation.
Transfer students are encouraged to visit Ithaca College to tour the campus and meet with an admission representative or a faculty member. Contact the Office of Admission at 800-429-4274 or 607-274-3124, by fax at 607-274-1900, or by e-mail at firstname.lastname@example.com. Specific information can be obtained by phone if you are unable to visit the campus.
A. Ozolins, Office of Publications, 21. October, 2002

subset: commoncrawl


text:
NewInformation! needed a new other design and created a contest on 99designs.
A winner was selected from 39 designs submitted by 16 freelance designers.
We are the largest network of internet cafes for travelers in the world. We require a super awesome new wallpaper to go on all our PC which will be seen by 15,000 people a day.
Global Gossip
Our customers are typically 19-29 year old tech-savvy travelers. We operated 200+ internet cafes in Australia, New Zealand, Fiji, UK & Spain.
When a customer logs into one of our PCs the first thing they see if the wallpaper.
Your task is to create something that is super awesome to look at.
Our company logo can be downloaded here:
Maybe helpful: 10 things you can do at Global Gossip - http://i37.tinypic.com/35kkf0j.jpg
Our current wallpaper which is too busy: http://i33.tinypic.com/nyuu0m.jpg
The wallpaper size should be 1280-1024
Wining design should be submitted in either a photoshop or illustrator file.
- something fresh, hip, cool, but not too busy
- something corporate and busy


text:
The Mid 20th Century Petticoat has three tiers which gently shape into the waist, and ends at the mid-knee. This petticoat has moderate fullness and an elasticized waist. It is suitable worn with both day dresses or cocktail dresses.
Fabrics and colors: white polyester taffeta.
Sizes: S, M, L, XL, 2XL. [Sizing info] [Custom sizes]


text:
Imagine waking up with lashes that looked as if you'd already applied mascara? Except, there'd be no flaking, no running and, best of all, no precious time wasted on removal before bed? Well, for you lash-obsessed chicas, we've found the solution. The eyelash extension trend that started up about ten years ago is now everywhere you turn, from celebrities to brides to anyone in between. But, like most beauty treatments, it's best to have all the information before experimenting so we went to a pro for the full scoop. Here, Francisco Catedral, makeup/lash artist and master trainer for JB Lashes, answers a few key questions.
1. What are eyelash extensions?
What are eyelash extensions?
Not to be confused with false lashes or cluster lashes, lash extensions are synthetic pieces that are applied to a client's natural eyelashes, lash by lash. They are used to create the illusion that they are longer, fuller and thicker—without mascara! The extensions come in different lengths, thicknesses and curls so each client's service can be customized depending on their lifestyle and personality. Some don't want to draw a lot of attention to themselves and some can't get enough.
2. What can we expect during the application process?
What can we expect during the application process?
First, I have an initial consultation with the client to discuss what they are looking for in their lashes. Are they looking for ful- on drama? To enhance their eye shape? Or are they just tired of daily mascara application. I also make it clear that the process can take anywhere between 90 minutes to two hours during which they would be required to keep their eyes closed and head still. In fact, 90% of my clients actually find it relaxing and doze off. Before starting, I thoroughly cleanse lashes of oil and dirt as these can interfere with the lash adhesive. I use a lint-free eye patch and bit of surgical tape to keep lower lashes out of the way. Finally, I begin the process of adhering a lash extension to each individual eyelash. You'll have to come in for fill-ins every two to four weeks depending on your lashes' hair cycle since the extensions should only fall off as your natural lash sheds. These follow-up appointments should take about 45 minutes. The price varies depending on where you go but the service typically costs $200 for the initial application and around $75 for fill-ins.
3. How close to a big event should they be applied?
How close to a big event should they be applied?
For events, like weddings, I highly suggest the client come in a few days in advance. She needs to make sure there's no allergic reaction and she should take some time to get used to wearing them. There's no heaviness involved with extensions, unlike false lash strips that can sometimes feel awkward on your lid. And since you shouldn't get the eye area wet for 24 hours after they are applied, getting it done a couple days in advance means she can wash her face the day of the event.
4. Is there any damage to the natural lash?
Is there any damage to the natural lash?
No, the extensions should not harm your eyelashes. It's all about making sure your stylist is properly trained through a reputable brand and he or she is a licensed aesthetician. Never trust anyone who got their "training" from YouTube. You need very specific instructions—definitely nothing that can be taught via YouTube. It's heavily edited and you can miss out on important steps especially when it comes to being clean and sanitary. Aside from making sure you are in a clean environment where cross-contamination isn't an issue, you should also be aware that extensions shouldn't be too long or adhered to baby lashes. This places too much strain on them and could lead to damage or premature shedding of natural lashes.
5. How should we care for our extensions?
How should we care for our extensions?
Stay away from anything that has heavy oils in them, like makeup with mineral oils, and regular mascara. Since extensions create the illusion that you have mascara on, skipping it shouldn't be a problem. For clients who feel awkward without mascara or want extra drama, use one that's made by the lash extension brand. Apply a few swipes to the tips of extensions only, never at the base. And be sure to use oil-free makeup remover. For the first 24 hours, to allow the adhesive to cure properly, don't do anything that will cause you to perspire: no gym, no sweat, and no hot steam baths. After that, you can do everything as normal
For more information on lash extensions or to email Francisco directly, go to Thelashandbeautystudio.com or follow him on Instagram, @franciscocatedral.


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Sept. 3, 2005
A beautiful Alumni Saturday saw the 2004 17th ranked lady Gauchos start their 2005 campaign by strongly defending their home turf taking down the Cal Poly Mustangs 18 to 39. Taking the individual title was Lindsay Christman of UCSB who ran unattached. Her time of 17:46.1 is the third fastest mark on the 5,000m course's top ten list. Hadas Moser (Jr.) was UCSB's top finisher taking third place in 17:57.1, the sixth fastest all-time course mark.
Right from the gun the Gauchos went to the front. Christman, Stephanie Rothstein running unattached for UCSB, Moser and Seanna Martin (Sr.) formed a good front pack going through the first mile in 5:35. Leslie Alexander (Jr.) and steeplechase school record holder Bethany Nickless (So.) battled a pack of Mustangs in the chase group.
Maintaining the lead pack of four, the Gauchos continued to increase their lead never to look back. Christman came across the line first with Rothstein just four seconds back in with the fifth fastest course time of 17:50.1. Moser was third and Martin came in fourth with a mark of 18:02.6, the seventh fastest all-time course mark.
With Gauchos taking the first four spots, the race for fifth was heating up between Alexander, Nickless and some Cal Poly Runners. Alexander and Nickless came through with a good last half mile out distancing the mustangs coming through the line in 18:28.6 and 18:29.1 respectively. UCSB had taken the top four scoring spots.
Just thirty seconds back was Kristina Moore (Fr.) finishing in 11th and UCSB's fifth scorer with a time of 19:03.5. Just ahead of her was Danielle Domenichelli, a UCSB Freshman running unattached, racing to a time of 18:59.5. Liza Hitchner another freshman for the Gauchos would take 12th with a mark of 19:05.3.
After a great start to the season, the Gauchos next look to September 10th where they will race at the UC Irvine Invitational at Central Park in Huntington Beach, CA.


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POPULAR touring performer and the biggest selling solo artist in Australian chart history, singer, recording artist, songwriter and actress who shot to fame portraying tomboy mechanic "Charlene" on popular TV soap Neighbours winning her multiple Logie Awards, her first single LOCO-MOTION spent seven weeks at number one on the Australian charts and was the highest selling single of the 1980's, spectacularly performed at the closing ceremony of 2000 Sydney Olympics, sensationally headlined the 1994 Sydney gay & Lesbian Mardi Gras, is a celebrated breast cancer survivor, winner of multiple ARIA & Brit Awards, winner of the 2004 Best Dance Recording Grammy Award for COME INTO MY WORLD, received an OBE at Buckingham Palace in 2008 and in 2011 was inducted into the ARIA Hall of Fame by Australian Prime Minister Julia Gillard… KYLIE MINOGUE!
FUN FACTS: Kylie is regarded as a gay icon, which she encourages with comments such as "I am not a traditional gay icon. There's been no tragedy in my life, only tragic outfits…"
KYLIE MINOGUE Limited Edition Print available at TOONARAMA – The Exhibition @ ArtBoy Gallery January 12 – 29


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Today's entrepreneurs often wear multiple hats, working a full time job while running a first business. In the digital world this leads to the dilemma of being a corporate brand ambassador and simultaneously operating as a personal brand.
With close to billion brand stories being told online in Facebook, Twitter, and various major social networks, how does a small business or individual running the business stand out and stay portable?
Define "Personal Brand"
Your digital personal brand includes the online assets that comprise your digital persona - in plain English, that's your voice, and the online interaction that you use to communicate the real you. As the lines between personal and professional continues to blur, an individual has to manage their digital personal brand while they work for someone else. After all, you want the ability to take your online personal brand assets with you when you move to a new company or transition to being a pure entrepreneur. Essentially, your digital persona needs to move with you wherever you go.
Why is this important?
You'll have approximately 10 jobs between the ages of 18 and 42 - that's around 7 different careers. So it's not a matter of "if" you change careers or companies, but "when" - which makes keeping your personal brand portable critical.
Tips to make your Personal Brand portable
1. Own Your Social Network URLs
Establish (and maintain) separate social network accounts with your personal brand. Your Twitter, Facebook, Flickr etc shouldn't be tied to the company that you work for as the only accounts you have or manage. When you leave a company to start your own business, your accounts should travel with you - but this can only happen if you own the accounts.
Why not establish your profiles in the social networks you're active in before you need them? Every social network provides users the option of customizing a "vanity URL" to align with their personal and/or business brands. A great tool for identifying the availability of customised URLs is Knowem.
2. Own Your Network
In social media we get enamored with numbers and we judge the value of a person's social network by the number of followers or friends they have. But who really owns the contacts in your social networks? The answer is simple - the social network does. If the contacts in your network are only on Twitter, for example, there is a risk of losing them all if your accounts get comprised or the terms of service change.
How should you manage this risk? Create a list from your social network contacts, and download and import your contacts into a personal database that you own and manage. (Be aware though - if you are tweeting from company accounts, then legally you don't own the contact list.) As you transition from employee to small business owner your online network will become more of an asset that has value in the real world to generate leads and get introductions to influencers or key decision makers.
3. Own Your Hub (don't just rent!)
Every person should have an online hub (dotcom) for their personal brand. The dotcom should be aligned with the business brand you own, or your personal brand. Remember that while social networks have tremendous value in helping spread our ideas, you do not own this digital real estate. If you want a nice place to virtually entertain clients, take them back to a dotcom that's all yours.
BrandCamp is an engine of change in Detroit that is focused on entrepreneurial and Intrapreneurial thinking around personal branding.
MOO consigue que la vida sea un poco menos virtual. Ayudamos a nuestros clientes a imprimir productos como tarjetas de visita, postales y adhesivos, para que puedan compartir fácilmente información sobre sí mismos o sobre su negocio en el mundo real.
Imprimir es sencillo y maravilloso. ¡Nos encanta!Ver Nuestros Productos


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Belvedere Restaurant Holland Park + Holland House London
Sequentia The told untold. Belvedere was once the Summer Ballroom of Holland House. Jacobethan and all that. Yeah yeah all very interesting but where's the St Véran (O+C Club favourite)? Sorted. This restaurant is housed in a gorgeous fragment of … Continue reading
House of the Nobleman + Wolfe von Lenkiewicz
Algebra The Reunion of Broken Parts The artist, concept and venue are familiar. We last saw Wolfe von Lenkiewicz at Portland Place in the Edwardian space where that interminable yawn The King's Speech was filmed. A couple of years before … Continue reading
Posted in Architecture, Art, People Tagged 9 grosvenor place, algebra the reunion of broken parts, andy warhol, bridget riley, damian hirst, george stubbs, house of the nobleman, il bottaccio, italian job, king's speech, lavender's blue, leonardo da vinci, louvre, ludwig wittgenstein, marcel duchamp, michelangelo, mona lisa, pieter bruegel, rupert the bear, sandro botticelli, wolfe von lenkiewicz Leave a comment


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UFC on FX 8 Media Day Gallery
maggio 16, 2013
52 Photos
Media day for the UFC on FX 8 event on May 16, 2013 at the Sociedade Cultura Artistica in Jaragua do Sul, Santa Catarina, Brazil. (Photos by Josh Hedges/Zuffa LLC/Zuffa LLC via Getty Images)
Getty Images reserves the right to pursue unauthorized users of this image or clip. If you violate our intellectual property you may be liable for: actual damages, loss of income, and profits you derive from the use of this image or clip, and, where appropriate, the costs of collection and/or statutory damages up to $150,000 (USD).


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A team of passionate artists, activists and change agents committed to sustainability and the preservation of our oceans and the planet.
The OPS team of artists and activists exposes the biggest story of our generation...the next mass extinction.LEARN MORE
Join Our Team and...
Preserve the Oceans • Protect Endangered Species • Save Our Planet
Expose the Truth. Protect the Planet.
In Racing Extinction, Academy Award® winning director Louie Psihoyos (The Cove) assembles a team of artists and activists that go undercover to capture never-before-seen images that reveal the threat of mass extinction and endangered species on the brink.
Yes! Sign me Up!
I want to support the OPS team, their work to protect endangered species, and help them expose threats to our oceans and planet.
We thank you for supporting OPS by becoming a member. Your donation will go towards our many on-going efforts.
Expose the Truth. Protect the Planet.DONATE
Every Individual Matters...
"Every individual has a role to play. Every individual makes a difference."- Jane Goodall
OPS is a small team of dedicated artists, activists, and change agents dedicated to protecting our oceans and planet for future generations.
- Louie Psihoyos, Founder | Chief Executive Officer
- Samara Stein, Chief Operating Officer
- Gina Papabeis, Producer
- Deb Adams, Director, Strategic Communications
- Jennifer R. Nolan, Director, Strategic Engagement
- Candace Crespi, Campaign Director
- Matt Stamm, Editor
- Louie Psihoyos
- Jennifer R. Nolan, Board Chair
- Deb Adams, Vice Chair
- W. Wilder Knight II, Treasurer
- Leilani Münter, Secretary
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|Charlotte, N.C.
|High School:
|Ardrey Kell
|3 Letters
Part of the winningest class in school history with 60 wins in their four-year careers...Finished career with 80 singles wins which is the third most in school history...Recorded 49 career doubles wins.
At Charlotte - 2014-15: Named to the Conference USA All-Academic team...Named first-team Capital One CoSIDA Men's At-Large Academic All-District...Played an integral role in helping the 49ers win a school-record 13 straight matches and finishing the season with 18 wins which is tied for the second most in school history...Won a career-high 23 singles matches playing primarily at number four and five singles...Teamed with Forrest Edwards for 11 doubles wins playing primarily at number two and three doubles.
2013-14: Named Conference USA Men's Tennis Scholar-Athlete of the Year...Named to the Conference USA All-Academic team...Finished tied for second on the team with a career-high 21 singles wins playing primarily at number four and five singles...Reached the semifinals of Division Three singles at the Southern Intercollegiate Championships, September 2013...Won 12 doubles matches playing with several partners...Played 10 matches at number one doubles with Jack Williams...Won two of his final three doubles matches playing with Paul Cisti at number three doubles...Played an integral role in helping the 49ers earn an ITA National Ranking for the first time in 12 years.
2012-13: Named to the Atlantic All-Academic team...Finished tied for third on the team with 18 singles wins playing primarily at number three and four singles...Teamed with Paul Cisti to form the 49ers number two doubles team...Earned Atlantic 10 Player of the Week honors (March 19) after posting singles and doubles wins in the 49ers victories over Catawba, Wingate and UT-Pan American.
2011-12: Second-Team All-Atlantic 10... Began collegiate career leading Charlotte with 18 singles wins, including a team-best 6-4 mark in the fall tournament season... Took a loss in his first collegiate match, before reeling off seven in a row in the fall... Posted eight wins at number three and four more at number two in the singles lineup... Finished the year with wins in his last three singles matches, including a perfect 4-0 in A-10 matches, with a pair of unfinished three-set matches in the A-10 Tournament... Was 8-4 in three-set matches... Finished second on the team with 12 doubles wins... Paired with freshman Jack Williams to form Charlotte's top doubles pairing, posting a 9-16 mark... Tandem won six matches at number one, the most of any pair at the top spot all season... Also split a pair of matches to start the year with freshman Paul Cisti... Chancellor's List (fall and spring).
Prep - Ardrey Kell Knights team finished as the Southwestern 4A Conference Champions in 2009, earning a Regional Championship and a Third-Place Finish in the state that season... He was selected as the SW 4A Player of the Year... Partnered with current teammate Jack Williams to capture Gold Medalist Honors at the National Open Doubles Championship in Toledo, Ohio... Pair won the North Carolina Qualifier to advance to the National Open... On the way to the title, the pair took out the 18th and 29th-ranked doubles pairs in the U.S... Was a National Quarterfinalist in the Spring Nationals... Earned three sportsmanship awards (USTA Southern Spring Close, USTA Mobile Bullfrog and Southern Open)... Also an excellent golfer in high school, he posted a 39.2 nine-hole stroke average for the third-place team in the State of NC last season... Finished with a 4.56 grade point average and was a member of the National Honor Society... Won the Heritage Academy Community Service Award... Was his student body vice president and the executive board community service chair.
Personal - Parents are Kim and Evan Calott... Has a sister, Christina, who played tennis at Appalachian State.... Major is Communications... Birthday is August 19.


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Horse Facts and Tips
|First Posted: Jan 21, 2009
Sep 22, 2011
Horse Health Tips for Extreme Cold WeatherThe Horse: Horse Health Tips for Extreme Cold Weather
Horse Health Tips for Extreme Cold Weather
This winter has been unusually cold in some areas, with temperatures well below freezing for many days in a row. This extreme cold weather can be particularly dangerous to animals that live outdoors. The Michigan State University Veterinary Teaching Hospital is reporting an increase in the number of animals presenting with starvation and problems related to exposure.
During the winter it is imperative that you monitor your horses' body weight by putting your hand on them frequently! Furry coats make visual assessment of body condition impossible--the only way you can assess your animals' condition is by touch.
As temperatures continue to remain unusually cold it is also important to remember that your animals require more calories to maintain body temperature and body weight. Once an animal's body condition has deteriorated it might no longer be strong enough to eat enough food to survive. Remember, older animals with poor dentition (teeth) and young animals might require more feed, and might need to be fed separately from other horses to ensure adequate intake.
Points to remember:
The average inactive horse needs to eat 1.5 to 2% of its body weight in food per day to just maintain weight without any other energy demands. In the winter, the amount needed will increase as the demand to keep warm will increase the amount of energy the horse expends. This means that the average 1,000 lb. horse in good condition needs at least 20 lbs of hay during normal weather and might need as much as 35 to 40 lbs of hay and grain products during cold weather! If your horse is considered underweight the amount of feed should be calculated based on his ideal weight, not his current weight. While hay diets are ideal, certain animals will require grain, complete feeds, or fat supplements to maintain body weight.
Remember, during extremely cold weather, to provide extra (free choice) hay, as this will generate more energy and comfort than just increasing the grain (concentrate) portion of the diet. Just the physical aspect of moving and eating will make the horse more comfortable. The hay fermenting in the large intestinal tract will generate heat and finally, the horse will utilize the calories absorbed from the feed.
Separate young, old, or debilitated horses as the dominant horse will frequently eat most of the food provided resulting in some horses being healthy and others facing malnutrition.
Blankets and shelters will help decrease energy demands. However, remember that a blanket hides the body condition so it is important to place your hands under the blanket and remove it at least every week or so to assess body condition.
Old horses with poor dentition might require complete pelleted feeds that are easily broken down, as they might be unable to adequately chew hay. Determine the amount to feed based on the horse's ideal weight, and keep in mind that more will be needed if severe energy demands are present.
Water intake is also very important during the winter. Many horses will suffer from impaction colics due to inadequate water intake. Because they have sensitive teeth, older horses might require the water to not only be frost free, but warmed.
Body Condition Score:
The body condition scoring (BCS) system is based on a 1 through 9 scale and is designed to assess a horses overall condition. Horses with a BCS less than a 4 are at increased risk of hypothermia and starvation, especially when the weather conditions cause an increase in energy demands just to maintain weight. If an individual is already thinner than desired (BCS < 4), they will not have adequate body mass (fat) to help with insulation from the cold or provide a supply of energy when the diet is lacking and demands are higher than expected.
To determine your horse's BCS you must touch your horse, especially in the winter as winter hair can hide a horse's true BCS, often until it is too late to successfully correct the weight loss. Feel over the ribs, neck, shoulder area, mid spine, hips, and tail head. If your horse's ribs over the widest part of the barrel are easily felt with little or no tissue between the skin and ribs, the BCS is below 4. This horse is suffering from malnutrition and is at a high risk of hypothermia when the temperature drops, particularly if the wind chill is high and little to no shelter is available.
For more information on body condition and feeding horses during the winter, please contact your veterinarian.
Article courtesy Judy Marteniuk, DVM, MS, equine extension veterinarian, and Elizabeth Carr, DVM, PhD, Dipl. ACVIM, ACVECC, equine clinician, Veterinary Teaching Hospital, College of Veterinary Medicine, Michigan State University
More information concerning weight and the horse:


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Breeding dogs is part art, part science. A responsible breeder keeps meticulous, detailed records of every dog involved in their program; past and present. But it can be easy to misplace information & loose track – especially if you are running a large, multi-dog operation.
The folks at Breeding Master have developed software to help dog breeders consolidate any and all information related to their dogs. It might seem a little daunting to those of you accustom to paper files, but once you spend the time inputting the information, you will find that the software has some very handy features.
The software organizes & tracks individual dogs, tracks pairings & resulting offspring, kennels you network with, show results & points, awards & photos – even vaccination records. It also has a section for "human" information, broken down into "breeders" and "owners". Wouldn't it be nice to track all your puppy buyers and business contacts in one place? Now it is quick & easy to find the phone number of the person who bought that potential show pup from you last year. With a few clicks, their contact information is displayed & you don't have to rummage through stacks of contracts.
The pedigree generator for an individual dog goes back 5 generations (which users might want to see increased). But, the pedigree can also be easily printed – a nice thing to pass along to puppy buyers or other potential breeders.
The only thing we wish we saw was a back-up feature. We don't recommend relying on any computer or software as their only repository for their important information. Computers & their parts sometimes break or, god forbid, a fire or flood takes out your home. Backing up computer information is important & it would be helpful to capture the information files to disc for back-up storage elsewhere.
Breeding Master uses the Windows Office® platform & was super easy to install. If you are familiar with Windows Office®, you will find using & navigating the software simple & intuitive. Even better, Breeding Master encourages customers to submit software upgrade suggestions for future version releases – a nice touch.
Bonus: Breeding Master has a 30 day free trial. But even so, it is very reasonably priced at $35.00 and upgrades are free. Give Breeding Master a try…what do you have to loose?
Link: Breeding Master
Sponsored Post


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Long ago, when the word 'Hiigara' rang only as a hollow dream, the kiith of Kharak never imagined they would walk the Path to Victory. But, when they reclaimed their Homeworld and proclaimed themselves 'Hiigaran', they believed they had reached their goal. How wrong they were. 150 years after Hiigaran landfall, conflict rages across the Galaxy... Path to Victory is a multiplayer and skirmish mod for Homeworld 2 that adds new units to both Vaygr and Hiigaran Races as well as enabling the Keepers, Raiders and Kadeshi as playable races.
I really like this mod! It's almost everything I wanted in a mod!
But can you incorporate some of the starting options like with what the REARM mod has.


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Updated March 16, 2016
Load balancing in general is a complicated process, but there's some secret sauce in managing DNS along with multiple load balancers in the cloud. It requires that you draw from a few different sets of networking and "cloudy" concepts. In this second article in my best practices series (my first post covered how to use credentials within RightScale for storing sensitive or frequently used values), I'll explain how to set up load balancers to build a fault-tolerant, highly available web application in the cloud.
Here's what you'll need:
- Multiple A records for a host name in the DNS service of your choice
- Multiple load balancers to protect against failure
Before I explain how the two work together, let's check out how each of them works individually.
Multiple A Records for a Host Name
A records translate friendly DNS names to an IP address. For example, when you type rightscale.com in your browser, behind the scenes your computer is asking a DNS server to translate the name to an address.
I'm working from a Mac and the process is a little different for Windows-based machines, so check out more on nslookup for *nix and Windows. I'm also using one of Google's public DNS servers to perform my lookups. Check out the request below and note that when I query DNS, I'm getting a single address back for my test domain of dnsdemo.cloudlord.com:
Figure 1 - DNS record with a single A record
My test domain has one A record associated and it resolves to the IP noted.
Let's check out a more complicated example — Google.com:
Figure 2 - DNS lookup of google.com showing six A records
Note that as shown in Figure 3 below, Google returned six addresses (at the time I queried it) because Google has six A Records registered to serve its main domain. When I ran the same nslookup query again, the IP addresses were returned in a different order. This is commonly referred to as "DNS load balancing."
Figure 3 - DNS lookup of google.com showing A records in a different order than Figure 2
Figure 4 below shows DNS load balancing in action using dnstest.cloudlord.com and a test file that indicates which server is being served up. For this example, I set up my dnstest.cloudlord.com domain with two A records. Note that this first request has one attempt and the content reads that "this is server 1."
Figure 4 - Curl request to test domain with full availability of all servers
Next, I terminated the first server on the next request (to force a failed state), and the results are shown in Figure 5 below. Note that there's a timeout on the first IP, and then the second request goes through without any issue. You'll also notice that it's returning a response of "this is server 2."
Figure 5 - Curl request to test domain with primary A record in failed state (note timeout and new IP)
The order in which IP addresses are returned varies by the DNS server and provider used but often follows a round-robin or geographically specific algorithm.
The idea here is that different clients will get different ordered lists of IP addresses corresponding to your domain name. This has the effect of distributing requests across the group of IPs in a specific manner. If an IP address is does not respond in an appropriate amount of time, the client will time out on that request and move on to the next IP address until the list is exhausted or it finds a connection that's valid. Although it's not an exhaustive list, most modern browsers, along with curl as shown above in Figure X, follow this retry process.
There are a few things to remember though:
- DNS failover doesn't provide any additional features such as "sticky sessions" for your application.
- Upstream DNS caching is unpredictable — client DNS providers may or may not respect your TTL settings.
- This isn't a replacement for TCP load balancing because it's not terribly precise based on the upstream DNS caching process noted above.
Multiple Load Balancers for Redundancy and Scalability
With multiple IP addresses routing to your deployment, each of these addresses can terminate at a load balancer that serves your back-end application (see Figure 6 below). Doing this, you'll be able to present multiple endpoints to the public to serve your application (I'll get back to why this is important in a minute).
In Figure 7 below, I go a step further and illustrate how connectivity to the application layer can be set up from multiple TCP load balancers. This allows you to have multiple incoming connections each serving up the same content, providing a redundant load balancing layer as well as a redundant application layer.
DNS Load Balancing: Bringing It All Together
The end result is that by using DNS load balancing, you can achieve a fairly rough balance of traffic between multiple TCP load balancers, which can manage applying load to your application servers at a more granular level:
This is a great way to protect against failure and increase overall throughput, giving you the ability to scale for high availability and high performance.
Setting up DNS load balancing can be a bit of a hassle, but the Load Balancer with HAProxy ServerTemplate, along with scripts for application servers to attach to load balancers, simplifies the process. The RightScale ServerTemplate™ and scripts use a tag-based, managed solution that will keep your HAProxy config files synchronized and that will automate the deployment, registration, and detach process for all servers involved. To use the ServerTemplate for setting up DNS load balancing, sign up for a free RightScale trial.


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