Life and Living for Real

Turning Your Pain into Purpose

2010-10-11T15:20:00.000-07:00

Turning Your Pain into Purpose
Cindi McMenamin
Author, Women on the Edge
Email thisPrint thisDiscuss thisShare on FacebookShare on TwitterShare on DeliciousShare on DiggShare on StumbleUponmoreIs God withholding something from your life? If so, it could be that He is preparing you for ministry - a ministry that will turn the bitter areas of your life into a blessing.

That's how it worked with Nicole.

Nicole couldn't imagine her life being complete without a husband.

read on...

2008-08-29T01:53:00.000-07:00

Traditional Irish Blessing - E-Water

2008-08-29T01:20:00.000-07:00

Traditional Irish Blessing - E-Water

Spirituality

2008-02-20T22:26:00.000-08:00

Mindfulness by TNH

2008-02-04T21:07:00.000-08:00

Mindfulness

2008-02-04T20:22:00.000-08:00

Anarchist Priest: Words of Wisdom

2008-01-02T23:00:00.000-08:00

Anarchist Priest: Words of Wisdom

2008-01-02T22:58:00.000-08:00

Words of Wisdom

"Jesus did not say, ‘I, if I be lifted up, will draw some. Jesus said, I, if I be lifted up, will draw all. All, all, all. All black, white, yellow, rich, poor, clever, not-so-clever, beautiful, not-so-beautiful. It’s one of the most radical things. All, all, all belong: gay, lesbian, so-called straight, all.
All are meant to be held in this incredible embrace that will not let us go."

Bishop Desmond Tutu

posted by humble servant @ 12:46 PM 3 comments links to this

Brief information on ADHD

2008-01-01T03:19:00.000-08:00

Distracted By ADHD (Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder)?
January 25, 2007
Many adults with ADHD may not even be aware that they have the condition known as Attention Deficit Hyperactivity Disorder. Some common symptoms are having trouble getting organized, sticking to a job, and keeping appointments on time.

Even though most cases of ADHD begin in childhood, between 30% and 70% of children who have it will continue to have symptoms as adults. Frequent hyperactivity, inattention, and impulsive behavior are some very classic signs.

It's important to get a professional diagnosis of ADHD. If you are occasionally distracted or forgetful does not mean you have ADHD.

How Much is Enough

2007-12-22T16:57:00.000-08:00

How Much is Enough

In December 2006, I participated in an interesting workshop called “Beyond Schumacher: alternatives approaches to economics and sustainability perspectives for the 21st century” in Northeast of Thailand. This seminar was aimed at bringing together theories of sustainable development, and lessons learned from lived experiences in juggling social, environmental and economic priorities. It was organized by Ales Kauffman, a sustainable development practitioner and former graduate of the Bath School of Management, Responsibility and Business Practice MSc.

My friends and colleagues working together in training and human resources development in Sri Lanka, Ineke Pitts, Mihirini De Zoysa and Robert Vanderwall developed an interactive inquiry session based on World Café called How Much is Enough ?

Posing questions such as How Much is Enough ? we encouraged a lively and challenging debate, and crafted a premise for inquiry into self and the future of our planet and our species. We engaged participants on an individual and collective focus on the rationale and key drivers for corporate decision making, as business runs the world.

Leveraging the knowledge and experience of the participants who were academics, business people, grass roots practitioners from NGOs to government officials, created a lively debate as to how we need to take personal responsibility in changing the current way to running the world. We agreed that ethical and responsible leadership based on a set of values that are aligned to the earth’s substance is important. In order to do this, we need to become aware of our actions and become mindful of the impact it has on nature and society. We also lamented that there is long way to go to break down the current systems that are in place, which act against nature and a peaceful society.

The question we need to ask ourselves as we struggle to find our place in this work is How Much is Enough ? for us to lead a fulfilling and meaningful life.

The following paper was handed out to all participants at the conference.

------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Grappling with how much is enough is a personal struggle for many people. In accumulating wealth, no one is sure as to how much will be enough for us to live a secure future. As such, the accumulation of wealth happens more out of fear disguised as desire and opportunity.

So, the challenge for us is to address this fear. Life is uncertain. It is full of surprises. We die some day. It is our mind that churns out these fears that make us act in ways to mitigate the fear. There is a certain perceived security in possessing wealth. We know money cannot buy happiness, but we know it can give us a certain security in an uncertain world.

To add to this, the general universal measurement of success is based on wealth one has accumulated. We admire and are in awe of people with wealth. We aspire to be like them and live like them without really understanding their realities.

Yet, perceptions are changing as the reality of limitations of wealth is dawning on more and more people as they accumulate wealth across the world. It is happening to people at a younger age and once you have lived the high life for a while, the superficiality of it dawns. This is evident by the emergence of a spiritual resurgence especially in the west. So many are now embarking on a different journey to find a new kind of wealth - a wealth based on wisdom and spirituality.

This journey requires not the cultivation of ways to make money, but to cultivate the mind, to control the mind from being afraid of the future, to which the reaction is to accumulate wealth at any cost - social and environmental.

This wisdom also brings the heart into the equation. The heart is the future. The heart is not afraid of the future, so if we can cultivate the mind to balance with the heart, we maybe able to alley our fears of the future, which drives us to create monetary wealth.

So, it comes down to the individual’s who have to inquire into self and our motivation to live the way we live. Mindfulness and self awareness gives us a different kind of power, not based on money and position, but a personal power, based on who we are and how we live and love.

If this is the case, we could also influence the way institutions are run, be it governments, donor agencies and corporations, which define how the world is run. We are aware that these institutions support a divided world – the rich and the poor, through its policies and actions in the name of economics. We know that these institutions promote the institutionalization of poverty. It serves their larger economic purpose to use the power of monetary wealth to control the world.

This is why we tend to accept the aberrations and support continuing to live the way we do. The GDP measurement in economics ruins our environment as it does not internalize the social and environmental cost of development. The vast US dollar reserves of India and China fund and support the wasteful lifestyle of the people in the USA while so many people starve in India and Africa. The arms industry thrives in the G8 countries and it only makes sense to find markets for their more and more sophisticated wares.

The scapegoats are the poor countries who are also fighting their mini battles ultimately for their power based on monetary wealth. The oil industry goes to any length to keep their markets alive by standing in the way of renewable energy and the list goes on.

There has been no time ever where information has been so freely available as now. Our job is to make even more people aware. Aware, first of all of the anomalies that they face in their day to day life and then to help them to seek a different path and a set of values based not only on monetary wealth, but spiritual wealth. There has to be a balance between money and spirituality. Love and compassion through respect for each other should be the new currency of life.

So, How Much is Enough ? becomes very much an individual inquiry into the way we live. Becoming mindful about our thought, speech and action could be a way to begin.

Lalith Gunaratne Colombo, Sri Lanka

Revised in December 2007

I hate my fucking depression

2007-02-12T15:04:00.000-08:00

I hate my fucking depression. It is getting the best out of me. I do not really care for more meds...I wish it would go away.
There really is no reason for me to be depressed... I guess my quemical imbalance is for real.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIFE

2007-02-09T23:36:00.000-08:00

INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIFE

INSTRUCTIONS F O R L I F E 1

1. Take into account that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

2. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

3. Follow the three Rs: Respect for self Respect for others and Responsibility for all your actions.

4. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a wonderful stroke of luck.

5. Learn the rules so you know how to break them properly.

6. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

7. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

8. Spend some time alone every day.

9. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

10. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

11. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll be able to enjoy it a second time.

12. A loving atmosphere in your home is the foundation for your life.

13. In disagreements with loved ones, deal only with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.

14. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.

15. Be gentle with the earth.

16. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.

17. Remember that the best relationship is one in which your love for each other exceeds your need for each other.

18. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

19. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

INSTRUCTIONS FOR LIFE - 2ND EDITION

1. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

2. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

3. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

4. When you say, "I love you", mean it.;

5. When you say, "I'm sorry", look the person in the eye.

6. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

7. Believe in love at first sight.

8. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.

9. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt, but it's the only way to live life completely.

10. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling.

11. Don't judge people by their relatives.

12. Talk slowly, but think quickly.

13. When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, "Why do you want to know?"

14. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

15. Say "bless you" when you hear someone sneeze.

16. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

17. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; Responsibility for all your actions.

18. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

19. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

20. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

21. Spend some time alone.

22. Open your arms to change, but don't let go of your values.

23. Remember that silence is sometimes the best answer.

24. Read more books and watch less TV.

25. Live a good, honorable life. Then when you get older and think back, you'll get to enjoy it a second time.

26. Trust in God, but lock your car.

27. Create a loving atmosphere in your home is so important. Do all you can to create a tranquil harmonious home.

28. In disagreements with loved ones, deal with the current situation. Don't bring up the past.

29. Read between the lines.

30. Share your knowledge. It's a way to achieve immortality.

31. Be gentle with the earth.

32. Pray. There's immeasurable power in it.

33. Never interrupt when you are being flattered.

34. Mind your own business.

35. Don't trust a man/woman who doesn't close his/her eyes when you kiss.

36. Once a year, go someplace you've never been before.

37. If you make a lot of money, put it to use helping others while you are living. That is wealth's greatest satisfaction.

38. Remember that not getting what you want is sometimes a stroke of luck.

39. Learn the rules then break some.

40. Remember that the best relationship is one where your love for each other is greater than your need for each other.

41. Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it.

42. Remember that your character is your destiny.

43. Approach love and cooking with reckless abandon.

Depression, bipolar support group forms

2007-01-29T12:52:00.000-08:00

Depression, bipolar support group forms
Thursday, January 25, 2007 9:18 AM CST

By ASHLEY GARDNER
Texarkana Gazette

People who suffer from depression or bipolar disorder have more support available to them thanks to the newly-formed Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance-Texarkana.

“There really isn’t a whole lot here in East Texas once you get outside of Dallas that is peer-support based, which in my opinion is most effective,” said Martin Morones, who helped form the local support group.

Morones said mental illness still has a stigma attached that may prevent people from seeking support.

He’s trying to change that.

“The stigma behind it is what I think people shun away from,” Morones said.

He hopes in time to see DBSA-Texarkana turn into a thriving support system in the community.

“We are starting with a support group and we’ll see what happens from there. It could branch out into a lot of different things, but this is just the basic foundation,” Morones said.

The local support group is affiliated with the National Office of Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, which has a grassroots network of approximately 1,000 peer-run support groups across the U.S. and Canada.

The support groups are open to people suffering from depression or bipolar disorder, their family members and professionals. The DBSA group meets at 6 p.m. the first Tuesday of each month at CHRISTUS St. Michael, classroom 2. For more information, contact Rachel Clark at 903-701-3596 or Morones at 903-748-0833 or dbsatexarkana@yahoo.com.

What the !@#$ Do We Know?

2007-01-28T23:59:00.000-08:00

I just finished watching WTBDWK Down The Rabbit Hole...

My words would not be enough to describe the incredible paradigm these movies present to the viewer... Without much ado here is link(s) to the movie's synopsis and web page(s)

http://www.whatthebleep.com/synopsis/

They will blow your mind! For Real!

Life and Living for Real

2007-01-10T11:27:00.000-08:00

It has been a long time since I have posted anything original here...I don't see how other people can post paragraph after paragraph and spew what they do in a short period of time...Must be the speed of typing that is at stake here... I only type at half of the average speed most "normal" typing folks type at... Anyway, Been charting my moods religiously now for a few months and my chart looks like the stock market charts...LOL up and down...

I've got writer's cramps already, so I will conclude this mini post by saying that my life has been going exactly the way it is supposed to be going...Everything is in Divine Order.
Thank God for allowing me the opportunity to be alive and relativelly well one more day. Hope if you come accross this humble post it finds you well and enjoying life to the best of your ability...

As Robin Williams says...Carpe Diem.

Great BP Blog!

2006-12-21T20:03:00.000-08:00

http://www.hdentropy.blogspot.com/

LIFE CAN BE TOUGH

2006-12-05T01:19:00.000-08:00

LIFE CAN BE TOUGH
ONE. Recently, when I went to McDonald's I saw on the menu that you could have an order of 6, 9 or 12 Chicken McNuggets. I asked for a half dozen nuggets. "We don't have half dozen nuggets," said the teenager at the counter. "You don't?" I replied. "We only have six, nine, or twelve," was the reply. "So I can't order half dozen nuggets, but I can order six?" "That's right." So I shook my head and ordered six McNuggets

TWO. I was checking out at the local Wal-Mart with just a few items and the lady behind me put her things on the belt close to mine. I picked up one of those "dividers" that they keep by the cash register and placed it between our things so they wouldn't get mixed. After the girl had scanned all of my items, she picked up the "divider," looking it all over for the bar code so she could scan it. Not finding the bar code she said to me, "Do you know how much this is?" I said to her "I've changed my mind, I don't think I'll buy that today." She said "OK," and I paid her for the things and left. She had no clue to what had just happened.

THREE. A lady at work was seen putting a credit card into her floppy drive and pulling it out very quickly. When I inquired as to what she was doing, she said she was shopping on the Internet and they kept asking for a credit card number, so she was using the ATM "thingy."

FOUR. I recently saw a distraught young lady weeping beside her car. "Do you need some help?" I asked. She replied, "I knew I should have replaced the battery to this remote door unlocker. Now I can't get into my car. Do you think they (pointing to a distant convenience store) would have a battery to fit this?" "Hmmm, I dunno. Do you have an alarm, too?" I asked. "No, just this remote thingy," she answered, handing it and the car keys to me. As I took the key and manually unlocked the door, I replied, "Why don't you drive over there and check about the batteries. It's a long walk."

FIVE. Several years ago, we had an Intern who was none too swift. One day she was typing and turned to a secretary and said, "I'm almost out of typing paper What do I do?" "Just use copier machine paper," the secretary told her. With that, the intern took her last remaining blank piece of paper, put it on the photocopier and proceeded to make five "blank" copies.

SIX. I was in a car dealership a while ago, when a large motor home was towed into the garage. The front of the vehicle was in dire need of repair and the whole thing generally looked like an extra in "Twister." I asked the manager what had happened. He told me that the driver had set the "cruise control" and then went in the back to make a sandwich.

SEVEN. My neighbor works in the operations department in the central office of a large bank. Employees in the field call him when they have problems with their computers. One night he got a call from a woman in one of the branch banks who had this question: "I've got smoke coming from the back of my terminal. Do you guys have a fire downtown?"

EIGHT. Police in Radnor , PA , interrogated a suspect by placing a metal colander on his head and connecting it with wires to a photocopy machine. The message "He's lying" was placed in the copier, and police pressed the copy button each time they thought the suspect wasn't telling the truth. Believing the "lie detector" was working, the suspect confessed.

NINE. A mother calls 911 very worried asking the dispatcher if she needs to take her kid to the emergency room, the kid was eating ants. The dispatcher tells her to give the kid some Benadryl and should be fine, the mother says, I just gave him some ant killer..... Dispatcher: Rush him into emergency

Life is tough. It's tougher if you're stupid
Toodles
Krazykitty http://krazykitty-then-and-now.blogspot.com/

Advice in applying for SSI

2006-12-04T10:33:00.000-08:00

In an ideal world, individuals who are truly disabled would find quick access to disability benefits and medical care. Unfortunately, the disability benefit system as it is currently administered by the social security administration does not operate in this fashion.

Most social security disability and ssi disability claims will be denied at the initial claim level. And most ssd and ssi claimants will need to pursue their claim at least as far as the ALJ hearing level.

Having said that, though, you can, nevertheless, increase the chances of winning a social security disability or ssi benefit claim by doing the following:
By finding out if your personal physician will support your disability case and, if so, by having your doctor complete a detailed statement as to why you are disabled and unable to work.

By submitting copies of your medical records (including the most recent updates) when you apply and each time you appeal.

By cooperating fully with the Disability Examiner working on your case. This includes responding promptly to letters and notices, as well as going to any medical exams scheduled by DDS.

By keeping tabs (personally or via an attorney or representative) on the status of your social security disability case (if you are not represented, call DDS for updates on an initial claim or reconsideration, not the social security office and try never to call the 1-800 number for anything as the information dispensed by this facility is frequently incorrect).

By not letting important deadlines lapse on your ssd or ssi disability claim.

By getting an attorney or non attorney disability Representative as soon as your social security or ssi claim is denied.

By maintaining a good relationship with the people working on your case--this includes the Claims Rep at Social Security, the Examiner at DDS, and even the Representative if you've hired one to help you. It is simply a fact: people will do more to help you when you have established a friendly, courteous relationship with them.
http://www.disabilitysecrets.com/how2.html

Things to do

2006-12-04T10:28:00.000-08:00

Have your treating physician complete an RFC form on your behalf. RFC stands for residual functional capacity. RFC forms are used by DDS examiners (each examiner must have their unit physician or psychologist complete the appropriate physical or mental RFC form before a claimant's case can be closed) and carry great weight, particularly at hearings held by Administrative Law Judges. To learn more about RFC forms, click the "Disability Definitions" tab on the menu below and from that page read the definition titled "residual functional capacity form, or rfc".
http://www.disabilitysecrets.com/more-ssa-advice.html

SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY, SSI FOR BIPOLAR DISORDER

2006-12-04T10:21:00.000-08:00

SOCIAL SECURITY DISABILITY, SSI FOR BIPOLAR DISORDER

http://www.disabilitysecrets.com/

This is me sometimes...

2006-12-04T10:13:00.000-08:00

Bipolar mixed states. What are they? Essentially, though many experts will quibble on the finer details, mixed states are depressive episodes that are "soldered to" manic behavior. The bipolar person will have high engery levels, racing thoughts, trouble sleeping, all elements of hypomania or full blown mania----yet instead of euphoria or grandiosity, the individual will be filled with negative emotions, typically expressed as irritability or even, in some instances, as extreme anger or even rage.

From "My Social Seciroty Disability SSI blog"

Bipolar Disorder, Social Security Disability, and Mixed states

2006-12-04T10:09:00.000-08:00

Bipolar Disorder, Social Security Disability, and Mixed states

I'm currently doing a bit of reading on Bipolar Disorder and for this purpose I've purchased half a dozen books. I suppose I come by my interest in this malady honestly. As a former disability examiner, I saw bipolar disorder as an allegation on quite a few cases (though, in all honesty, I don't seem to remember seeing as many bipolar cases at DDS a few years ago as the statistics for my website indicate there must currently be.) But aside from my site and my former occupation, I am (I just posted this same information in a comment-response to someone else's comment) connected to several individuals who have bipolar disorder.

One is my mother-in-law who was only diagnosed at the age of 60 and who had had a history of incredible shopping sprees (a prime symptom of bipolar manic behavior). The second individual is my brother-in-law who was also diagnosed late in life with the condition and has been (sounds unbelievable, but this is true) on out-patient shock therapy for about 2 years. And the third individual is my own step-son who has given everyone close to him one heck of a ride, though this is not (I honestly believe) due to any fault of his own.

read more

TOP 10 TRAITS OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE

2006-08-30T23:06:00.000-07:00

TOP 10 TRAITS OF HIGHLY SUCCESSFUL PEOPLE
We have all read about people who are successful briefly. They win a gold medal, make a fortune, or star in one great movie and then disappear.…These examples do not inspire me!
My focus and fascination is with people who seem to do well in many areas of life, and do it over and over through a lifetime. In entertainment, I think of Paul Newman and Bill Cosby. In business, I think of Ben and Jerry (the ice cream moguls)…As a Naval Officer, husband, businessman, politician and now as a mediator and philanthropist on the world stage, Jimmy Carter has had a remarkable life. We all know examples of people who go from one success to another.
These are the people who inspire me! I've studied them, and I've noticed they have the following traits in common:
1.They work hard! Yes, they play hard, too! They get up early, they rarely complain, they expect performance from others, but they expect extraordinary performance from themselves. Repeated, high-level success starts with a recognition that hard work pays off.
2.They are incredibly curious and eager to learn. They study, ask questions and read—constantly! An interesting point, however: While most of them did well in school, the difference is that they apply or take advantage of what they learn. Repeated success is not about memorizing facts, it's about being able to take information and create, build, or apply it in new and important ways. Successful people want to learn everything about everything!
3.They network. They know lots of people, and they know lots of different kinds of people. They listen to friends, neighbors, co- workers and bartenders. They don't have to be "the life of the party," in fact many are quiet, even shy, but they value people and they value relationships. Successful people have a Rolodex full of people who value their friendship and return their calls.
4.They work on themselves and never quit! While the "over-night wonders" become arrogant and quickly disappear, really successful people work on their personality, their leadership skills, management skills, and every other detail of life. When a relationship or business deal goes sour, they assume they can learn from it and they expect to do better next time. Successful people don't tolerate flaws; they fix them!
5.They are extraordinarily creative. They go around asking, "Why not?" They see new combinations, new possibilities, new opportunities and challenges where others see problems or limitations. They wake up in the middle of the night yelling, "I've got it!" They ask for advice, try things out, consult experts and amateurs, always looking for a better, faster, cheaper solution. Successful people create stuff!
6.They are self-reliant and take responsibility. Incredibly successful people don't worry about blame, and they don't waste time complaining. They make decisions and move on. ...Extremely successful people take the initiative and accept the responsibilities of success.
7.They are usually relaxed and keep their perspective. Even in times of stress or turmoil, highly successful people keep their balance, they know the value of timing, humor, and patience. They rarely panic or make decisions on impulse. Unusually successful people breath easily, ask the right questions, and make sound decisions, even in a crisis.
8.Extremely successful people live in the present moment. They know that "Now" is the only time they can control. They have a "gift" for looking people in the eye, listening to what is being said, enjoying a meal or fine wine, music or playing with a child. They never seem rushed, and they get a lot done! They take full advantage of each day. Successful people don't waste time, they use it!
9.They "look over the horizon" to see the future. They observe trends, notice changes, see shifts, and hear the nuances that others miss. A basketball player wearing Nikes is trivial, the neighbor kid wearing them is interesting, your own teenager demanding them is an investment opportunity! Extremely successful people live in the present, with one eye on the future!
10.Repeatedly successful people respond instantly! When an investment isn't working out, they sell. When they see an opportunity, they make the call. If an important relationship is cooling down, they take time to renew it. When technology or a new competitor or a change in the economic situation requires an adjustment, they are the first and quickest to respond.

Dr. Philip E. Humbert,

2006-08-24T21:29:00.000-07:00

You Are Curling

What you lack in athleticism, you make up for in concentration.

And while curling isn't much more of a sport than bowling, you *can* win a gold medal for it!

What Winter Sport Are You?

From Sitaram's writing pad...

2006-08-24T21:17:00.000-07:00

There is a joke in which someone is shown a vision of hell, and he sees a long table at which are seated people with very
long spoons bound to their hands, far to long to reach the plate of food set
before them, so all are frustrated in their inability to feed themselves, and
slowly die of starvation. Then, he is shown a vision of heaven. He sees the SAME long table, and people with long spoons tied to their hands, BUT the difference is that each person dips his spoon into the plate of his neighbor across the table, and then places the food in his neighbor's mouth, so all are fed and satisfied. Sometimes I suspect that right and wrong, good and evil, are the same banquet, with the same utensils, but everything depends on how we choose to deal with the situation; on how we play our hand, the cards which have been dealt to us.

(The above is an excerpt. Read entire post at
http://literarydiscussions.myfreeforum.org/ftopic237.php)

Thought for the Day in the form of poetry

2006-08-23T09:44:00.000-07:00

Thought for the Day in the form of poetry

A good friend recently made me aware of this poem. While it doesn't totally exemplify all of my beliefs, I love the meaning of it. I find it both inspiring and challenging.

Invictus
by William Ernest Henley

Out of the night that covers me,
Black as the Pit from pole to pole,
I thank whatever gods may be
For my unconquerable soul.

Out of the fell clutch of circumstance
I have not winced or cried aloud.
Under the bludgeonings of chance
My head is bloody, but unbowed.

Beyond this place of wrath and tears
Looms but the Horror of the shade,
And yet the menace of the years
Finds, and shall find, me unafraid.

It matters not how strait the gate,
How charged with punishments the scroll,
I am the master of my fate:
I am the captain of my soul.

posted by Deni H.

Journailng for a change

2006-08-22T20:10:00.000-07:00

I am creative. I am not a good writer. That is why I blog about other people's blogs. It pleases me to show off great work and great love that is put into those blogs. As for me today, I am fucking tired of my life as it is. Waiting on disability and not working, sometimes makes me crawl out of my skin...I am not suicidal (thank God for medication cocktails), just in case you are worried about me...
The rest is all history...Maybe if I push myself a little everyday I could fill my blog with my own crap and therefore not have to "steal" other peoples work to bring to my own blog...

What da ya think?

Poetry at its best

2006-08-22T19:57:00.000-07:00

Another great post by someone in my blogring...

Onset of reality

Wednesday, August 16, 2006
This is a poem I wrote for the art gallery that displays work by people with mental illnesses.

STEP Art Gallery

Art fills the walls
Halls and halls
Paintings, poems, photography

Collages provide
A window inside
The mind behind the intensity

The drawings shown
Imagine the unknown
Framed, they hang with dignity

Next to the frame
Is an artist's name
Displayed with guts and sincerity

Many will come
Unafflicted, some
Merely to look at the beauty

The power to create
Does not discriminate
Let us celebrate creativity
posted by pjbrubak at 4:44 PM

A little crazy...aren't we all?

2006-08-21T00:03:00.000-07:00

A blog worth blogging again...

A little crazy...aren't we all?: "It's been brought
to my attention that I have been neglecting to write about my life, and have been boring you all with countless articles and book reviews. Sorry about that. I guess I really didn't think that I had that much of a following? So WHY have I been passing the buck? The articles I have come across interested me so I thought I'd pass them on. The book reviews? The same. I want to share.

But yeah, I have been passing the buck. For good reason? Not really. I find that I write more when I am depressed, thus presenting only one side of the story. I mean, I AM BIPOLAR if you hadn't noticed. Who has time to write then they're feeling good or better-than-good-hypomanic?

So let me run with that for a moment. I write when I'm depressed. I write about the bad in life. I write about the deepest darkest things I want out of my head. I put it all right there on the internet for you to read. Then I write a more normal post and I find I'm under attack. Thanks Mr. Scrabble!"

read more here

BiPolar Daily(ish): Lamictal

2006-08-15T12:52:00.000-07:00

BiPolar Daily(ish): Lamictal: "Lamictal
A lot of people have been arriving at this blog via the Lamictal keyword. So I thought it might be a good idea to re-assess my Lamictal (known as Lamictan in my home spot, South Africa) experience. I've been on it for 1 year and 9 months now, and the last time I think I spoke about Lamactil was when I'd crossed the one year mark. So here goes:

Easing Depression
The best thing about Lamictal is that it has definitely taken the sting out of the bad downs. I'm told that whereas other stabilisers are more effective at controlling the ups, Lamactil is better where the predominant pole is depression. In fact a danger with BiPolar (I'm told) is that Lamictal can sometimes fuel the highs. Truth be told, I hit about 2 weeks of severe mania about 6 months after starting the medication, with occasional small flights into psychosis. (Man, would I have loved to chronicle those in this blog but unfortunately it was pre BiPolar Daily). Having said that, it was one of the most controlled (and enjoyable :) mania's I've had - I didn't even tell the Pdoc about it."

BiPolar Daily(ish)

2006-08-15T12:51:00.000-07:00

BiPolar Daily(ish)

Bipolar Disorder Daily News Blog

2006-08-15T12:47:00.000-07:00

Bipolar Disorder Daily News Blog

homelessness blog

2006-06-05T10:52:00.000-07:00

Not all that is gold glitters, not all who wander are lost. --Tolkein

Inspiration of the Day:
A woman becomes homeless, so she gets into her car and drives. Except she has nowhere to go - so she stays in the car, with all her possessions heaped in the back, sleeping in the front seat, parking in secluded streets. For eight months, no one notices her, because she makes sure she looks respectable. But this is the information age. And even though she doesn't speak to anyone, she can go into a library where she can access the internet and write an online journal - a homelessness blog - which she uses to describe all her unspoken experiences and feelings. [ more ]

Be The Change:
Read some entries from the 'Wandering Scribe'. [ more ]

http://www.wanderingscribe.blogspot.com/

Technorati tags: homeless,homelessness blog,stories

blogging and ranting...

2006-05-31T20:45:00.000-07:00

I have an incredible urge to blog on my illness tonight. I could feel the stigma hovering over my soul and bones right after this one meeting I go to on weekly nights. I feel a need to post about what this illness is all about as I perceive a lot of people misunderstand it, and a loty others use it as a club over my head. Those of us that have this illness of bipolar understand!

so here is to you all my friends and fellow warriors, bipolars or not.

What is Bipolar Disorder?
by Marcia Purse

A Layperson's Definition of Manic Depression
One textbook definition describes bipolar disorder as: "a major affective disorder in which an individual alternates between states of deep depression and extreme elation." This is misleading in that bipolar disorder - also known as manic depression or manic-depressive illness - is much more complicated than just alternating between depression and elation.
The American Psychiatric Association's Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders (commonly known as DSM-IV because it is in its fourth major edition) says, "Bipolar Disorder is characterized by the occurrence of one or more Major Depressive Episodes accompanied by at least one Manic Episode." So even if you're depressed 99 percent of the time, going through just one manic episode qualifies you for a diagnosis of bipolar disorder according to this definition - but that still leaves out a lot of what manic depression really is.

So let's put it in terms everyone can understand. Bipolar disorder is an illness that affects thoughts, feelings, perceptions and behavior ... even how a person feels physically (known clinically as psychosomatic presentations). It's probably caused by electrical and chemical elements in the brain not functioning properly (see What Causes Bipolar Disorder? for more information), and is usually found in people whose families have a history of one or more mental illnesses. (While we're at it, let's be clear about something: a "mental illness" is one that affects the mind, not one that's all in the mind.)

Most often, a person with manic-depression experiences moods that shift from high to low and back again in varying degrees of severity. The two poles of bipolar disorder are mania and depression. This is the least complicated form of the illness.

Depression might be identified by:

Refusing to get out of bed for days on end
Sleeping much more than usual
Being tired all the time but unable to sleep
Having bouts of uncontrollable crying
Becoming entirely uninterested in things you once enjoyed
Paying no attention to daily responsibilities
Feeling hopeless, helpless or worthless for a sustained period of time
Becoming unable to make simple decisions
Wanting to die
Mania might include:

Feeling like you can do anything, even something unsafe or illegal
Needing very little sleep, yet never feeling tired
Dressing flamboyantly, spending money extravagantly, living recklessly
Having increased sexual desires, perhaps even indulging in risky sexual behaviors
Experiencing hallucinations or delusions
Feeling filled with energy
Some people think that they are just "over their depression" when they become manic, and don't realize this exaggerated state is part of the illness - part of bipolar disorder. A person who has depression and mania is said to have Bipolar I.

In addition to Bipolar Disorder I, the American system of diagnosing this disorder also includes Bipolar Disorder II, which involves symptoms of hypomania instead of full-blown mania.

Hypomania - a less extreme form of manic episode - could include:

Having utter confidence in yourself
Being able to focus well on projects
Feeling extra creative or innovative
Being able to brush off problems that would paralyze you during depression
Feeling "on top of the world" but without going over the top.
Hypomania does not include hallucinations or delusions, but a hypomanic person still might exhibit some reckless or inappropriate behavior. A person who has moods of depression and hypomania is said to have Bipolar II.

Below we've linked to in-depth articles that list the symptoms of both mania and depression, which we encourage you to read if you want more detailed information on these symptoms of bipolar disorder. We've also linked to an article on the causes of bipolar disorder and some other important information.

This is the simplest definition we can offer to answer the question, "What is bipolar disorder?" The next article in Bipolar Basics is Complex Features of Bipolar Disorder, where we look at some of the complexities that this difficult condition can include.

bloggo chicago

2006-05-27T14:51:00.000-07:00

Now this is a nice blog! I wish I had the skills to make my blog shine like this, but for now I will just have to settle for who I am and what I can do...

bloggo chicago

Another Seven Tips For A Good Night's Sleep

2006-05-26T00:02:00.000-07:00

19 May 2006 08:49 AM

Another Seven Tips For A Good Night's Sleepby Aimee Amodio More from this Blogger

Naps can be your best friend or your worst ally. Me, I'm a napper. I can snooze for an hour or two and still get into bed at the usual time with no problem. For some people, taking naps can make insomnia worse. If a nap isn't a good idea for you, you should make a point of getting up and moving around if you feel sleepy and it's not bedtime yet.

Skip the shower. A shower tends to wake you up. If you need some help relaxing, try a warm bath instead. A long, hot bath will help relax your muscles and give you some time to be alone and think, if you need it. Personally, I like a ton of bubbles and a good book in the tub with me.
A cool room may help you sleep better. I don't know about you, but if I'm too hot, I'm usually too uncomfortable to sleep. I'd much rather burrow down under an extra blanket in a cool room.
Keep an eye on the humidity. Ever wake up because your mouth and throat are dry? It's not a very good feeling, is it? Heating systems tend to keep the air very dry. A humidifier may help you sleep more comfortably.

Do you ever have those nights when you wake up after just a few hours of sleep? Or worse, the nights where you wake up several times? The stresses of daily life can easily throw your sleeping patterns out of whack. If you are wide awake on these restless nights, don't lay in bed agonizing. Get up and do something quiet for twenty minutes, then try getting back into bed. Don't fix yourself a special treat or have a smoke; your body may start getting you up every night for your midnight (or 2am, or 4am) treat.

Figure out how much sleep you need. Some people need more, some people need less. Keeping a sleep diary can help you discover the right amount of sleep. Make note of what time you got into bed and how quickly you fell asleep. Make note of what time you got up, and how you felt when you woke up -- alert, or still groggy and wanting more.

Last but not least... worrying about not sleeping is NOT going to help you sleep! Get your worries out somehow -- talk to a friend, or keep a diary -- so you can set them aside and sleep peacefully. You're not going to die from a few nights of insomnia. The world is not going to end.

Technorati tags: sleep,tips

Dear bed...

2006-05-25T23:41:00.000-07:00

I miss you tonight. I thought I was gonna have a date with you about an hour ago, but... here I am, just thinking of you...I am glad you take me in your arms whenever I subside to my urge to explore other worlds and fantasies. I am glad that together, you and I allow my body to receive the necessary rest to revitalize and have one more day of life...God, in th emean time watches, while we embrace each other...

Sleep disturbancese are one of the things that characterize my not so healthy condition in life. At this time, I can only hope to do my best to follow the standard sleep hygiene suggestions written when you do a search, but there is definitelly more to it than meets that eye, in th emean time, a few posts regarding the subject matter would not be a bad place to start.

Bipolar Planet

2006-05-25T13:26:00.000-07:00

voy a incluir includes/5.php
Visit a random site in the ring or the bipolar planet homepage!
The Previous 5 member sites of the bipolar planet NetRing:

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

DarkestFaerieDoll
The very personal feelings and experiences of a young Kiwi mum trying to survive the world around her.
Bipolar Princess
A single mother's diary thru mental illness.
Ride along on the Bipolar Roller Coaster
Follow the illness and treatment of a young woman with Bipolar I Disorder. This blog exists in the hope of furthering understanding and empathy. See what it's really like to have this illness. Step into her life, if only for a moment. But as you step out, keep in mind that she will never be able to.
tolperi

3amTherapy Sessions
The ramblings of a happy little lunatic extraordinaire ... covering any and every thing in my life, which is often nothing but sometimes something.

1. bloggo chicago Join Date: September 22, 2005
30-something Chicagoan managing life with bipolar disorder, 4 cats, a husband, and a great love for Star Wars (not necessarily in that order)

2. Bipolar & Me Join Date: March 26, 2006
I'm a bipolar girl recording my thoughts to see if "being bipolar" really does affect my day to day life. In trying to overcome this disease and live in the "normal" world, it requires me to analyze my actions and see what is my personality, and what are my bipolar traits. That's what I'm recording, and hopefully can reflect on later to change the behavior.

3. Crazy Not Stupid Join Date: May 15, 2006
a diary of my life and thoughts on being bipolar

4. Wild Abandon Join Date: September 25, 2005
Bipolar Blog

5. Jane loves Tarzan Join Date: September 15, 2005
Sanity is the Playground of the Unimaginative.

6. It's Just A Ride Join Date: May 22, 2006
The roller coaster life of a Bipolar man. The ups and downs I go through and news snippets I come across

7. Psych Ward Story; Mom, Interrupted Join Date: March 04, 2006
Come with me on my stay in a psych ward, where I compare the interesting social dynamics to a drug rehabilitation center I was in about fifteen years earlier. Teenagers and adults of various socio-economic and cultural backgrounds living in close quarters and exposing the inner-most secrets of their souls to strangers. I am not here to discourage anyone from going to the hospital, it saved my life.

8. 3amTherapy Sessions Join Date: April 21, 2006
The ramblings of a happy little lunatic extraordinaire ... covering any and every thing in my life, which is often nothing but sometimes something.

9. Manic Reality Join Date: March 22, 2006
My blog started with me thinking that I'd help other people with my experiences and thoughts on my journey as a Bipolar Type II. Turns out that was wishful thinking - it's all self therapy baby! Take what you will, leave what you won't. Live long and prosper.

10. Mercurial Mind Bipolar Blog Join Date: March 20, 2006
Excitement, turmoil, slow-motion fury, over-reacting recluse Tap, tap, tap always on The soft tissues of my brain... My mercurial mind, a bipolar blog.

11. Memoirs of a Yin Yang Join Date: April 07, 2006
When I'm emotional in a bad way, I often keep a journal. These are entries that I made over the past 5 years.

12. No Bravery... Join Date: March 28, 2006
(finally got round to re-joining!) This is just my personal recordings of a regular day-to-day life. Having recently been diagnosed with Bipolar II and Personality Disorder NOS, my blog will follow me as I try and find my way through life without getting lost...

13. husband - DJ - computer geek Join Date: January 18, 2006
This site is basically nothing more than a simple look into the life of Brent Natzle (DJSlim). My postings put together they become a picture of my life as a husband - DJ - computer geek. I was just recently diagnosed as bi-polar

14. -Been Broken- Join Date: December 31, 2005
One man and mental illness - an occasional diary

15. On A Happier Note Join Date: December 07, 2005
Thinking positive no matter how grim the situation may be.

16. Lucky I'm Biplolar (or I'd be angry all the time) Join Date: April 12, 2006
An up and down narrative of my crazy life

17. Too Many Kids Join Date: April 23, 2006
I write about being a mother of four with Bipolar and Fibromyalgia. It can get hectic around here but thank god I have this blog and all my buddies to talk to!!

18. Wasted Days Join Date: September 16, 2005
Just a site that I put my thoughts and flame fractal renderings, that show my state of mind, at any one particular time. As a warning sometimes it can get somewhat coarse.

19. Random Thoughts From A Bipolar Mind Join Date: March 26, 2006
Married. With children. Bipolar. Trying to find my way, accepting what I have been given, and trying to become whole.

20. Finding Yourself Despite Yourself Join Date: December 31, 2005
Bitter MILF with an artist bent, laughing at myself and you

21. Peaks And Valleys Join Date: December 15, 2005
Anxiety, Depression, Bi-polar Disorder or manic depressive disorder, Obsessive compulsive disorder and ADHD can lead to suicide. PolarBear and Peaks and Valleys Blog is dedicated to helping by providing info on getting help along with uplifting quotes, resources and books.

22. Broken Dreams Join Date: January 11, 2006
A blog about dealing with anxiety, depression, social phobia and bi-polar disorder.

23. meredithelaine Join Date: September 28, 2005
life and love from a borderline, bipolar, depressed, ADDed-, OCDed-out standpoint.

24. Oh blah dee Oh blah dah Join Date: January 15, 2006
The collectiveness of the bipolar me. My daily, or not so daily, grind.

25. Bipolar 2 and my journey Join Date: October 08, 2005
A look into my 20 year journey of discovering that I am a bipolar 2 male.

26. crazy. spoiled. bLitch Join Date: October 27, 2005
Social butterfly turned hermit crab. I have an extremely low tolerance for stupidity. Hence, the reason for the change in social habits. I am the first to admit that I am coo-coo for cocoa puffs. Who isn't? Those who try to claim they are completely sane are really wacko and should be feared. Deep thoughts from a shallow bLitch!

27. BiPolar Daily Join Date: October 25, 2005
BiPolar Roller Coaster ride. Seatbelt fastening recommended.

28. Bipolar Princess Join Date: November 28, 2005
A single mother's diary thru mental illness.

29. Bipolar Joe Join Date: March 10, 2006
Manic depression has its upside, too

30. Bipolar Being Join Date: January 22, 2006
Bipolar Vomit

31. misha, barefoot and real Join Date: October 06, 2005
character isn't developed in peace and quiet. as a bipolar, black, artistic Christian in my early twenties, life certainly has its challenges and its beauty. this is the blog where i work out my thoughts on the life i live.

32. Ordinarily, She's Moody Join Date: May 03, 2006
Personal blog of a bipolar girl, trying to live an ordinary life.

33. Bubblegum Cards From The Edge Join Date: October 17, 2005
Every life is a new journey. Come along and see what happens as one individual resolves to take the road WAY less travelled...

34. A little crazy...aren't we all? Join Date: October 23, 2005
The ramblings of a bizarre woman pouring out her soul into her blog about life, bipolar disorder, and inner thoughts.

35. BipolarDiary Join Date: October 24, 2005
.

36. DarkestFaerieDoll Join Date: January 05, 2006
The very personal feelings and experiences of a young Kiwi mum trying to survive the world around her.

37. Moon Moods Join Date: September 01, 2005
An on-line diary of a manic depressive, Bipolar I who is coming to terms with such a diagnosis. And other mentally unrelated crap that goes on in her life. Warning: author is prone to rants about issues that don't really matter.

38. Occasional Confusion Join Date: May 18, 2006
One of my many shrinks suggested to keep a diary, maybe like that I can get to "know" myself, hmmmmm?

39. Ravings of a Bipolar Gothic Witch Join Date: January 01, 2006
Philosophy by a gothic bipolar single mom, pursuing my dream in of a Ph.d physics. I write about anything that interests me including global events, human rights, human stupidity and my bipolar illness, while trying to maintain a sense of humor.

40. The Icing on the Cake Join Date: January 23, 2006
Mania. Depression. What flavour frosts your cake in the darker moments of either extreme?

41. Lake Walks Join Date: January 01, 2006
The life of a man with bipolar disorder. Often I come here to find my muse...

42. Letters to Theophilus Join Date: October 05, 2005
One man's struggle in the darkness of madness and sometimes out. A blog about faith and mental illness.

43. Ninja Poodles Join Date: October 12, 2005
About my...Daughter, Husband, Family, Horses, Soap, Singing, Reading, Movies, Playing, Fishing, Internet Addiction, Mental Health Awareness, Assorted Flotsam & Jetsam...and lots and lots of Poodles. Ninja Poodles.

44. A Revision Join Date: February 08, 2006
I am bipolar and enjoy blogging to express my varying moods, from serious to silly. I am the conductor of the Friends of the Friendless Marching Band, which meets on Friendly Fridays to visit friendless blogs.

45. Further Ironies Join Date: August 17, 2005
This is a blog where I write about my life, my illness, experiences and my quest for wellness

46. Bipolar Support Join Date: October 05, 2005
A blog (web log) written by parents of a large family, including a 21 year old son with fairly severe bipolar disorder. With this log we will attempt to record thoughts, struggles, and accomplishments with respect to our bipolar son, Kyle. This includes, by necessity, the dynamics of our family and many of our day to day interactions and events.

47. Living With A Purple Dog Join Date: November 12, 2005
The ramblings of a bipolar product of the seventies.

48. Crystal's Blog of Life Join Date: October 28, 2005
Blog on my life with bipolar disorder, single parenting and whatever runs through my mind.

49. Weird Cake: Treats from a Bipolar Mind Join Date: December 31, 2005
Welcome to the daily view of life as digested by a bipolar brain. I was diagnosed with Bipolar Disorder Type II in January 2001 and like to share about my Witch Doctor visits, meds, work, politics, football, and whatever the hell else is on my mind...

50. Ivy Tied up Join Date: January 09, 2006
My personal blog. I'm a WAHM to 3 kids. I'm bipolar. My son has been diagnosed as bipolar. And my site tells about my life..

Interesting blogs of folks that are bipolar like me... I tried copying and pasting but the hot links were lost in the process... I am sure if you google the name of the blog, you will easily find the blog, otherwise please visit Bipolar planet.

Comming out of my two door closet...

2006-05-25T13:21:00.000-07:00

Ok, so I am bipolar. What does this mean? It means that anything and everything having to deal with my new diagnosis is going to get posted here: news, tratments, blogs of other bipolars, ideas, thoughts and ramblings.
Thats what it means.

Technorati tags: bipolar disorder

Plant Care

2006-05-24T14:36:00.000-07:00

House plants is a term collectively given to a group of foliage or flowering plants that will tolerate indoor conditions for different periods of time. They will give you superb value if you give them correct conditions. They will even assist in making your environment more healthy by removing carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and will certainly add a wonderful feeling to your indoor environment. House plants given proper care, are easy to grow and very rewarding.

SEVEN HINTS TO SUCCESS
There are seven ways to achieve success with House plants. Watering and feeding are the two key ones. Collectively these two factors hold the answer to keeping your House Plants happy and healthy. More indoor plants are killed by overwatering than any other single factor.
1. Watering
The amount of water your plant requires depends on the temperature and the time of year. Generally speaking, plants require far more water while they are growing or during flowering times than they do during their resting season which will generally occur in late autumn to winter. A thorough watering once or twice a week is better than a sprinkle each day. Some plants love being put out in the rain for a time, but not the hairy plants such as African Violets, for this can cause their leaves to discolour and rot. It is generally better to water a plant thoroughly when it is starting to become a little on the dry side. You need to learn your plants water requirements. It may take a little time and experience to achieve this. You may be able to determine this by feeling the soil or you may be able to judge by the weight of the pot. It is obviously lighter when it is dry than when it is moist. Certainly however, it is better to err on the dry side rather than being too wet. Most plants prefer to be kept evenly moist and allowed to dry a little between each watering. We suggest you ask your Local GREENGOLD Garden Centre to show you how best to water your plants.
2. Fertilising
When fertilising it is good advice to be sparing with the food. Giving too little is better than too much. Only fertilise during the growing season and preferably make sure that the soil is moist before applying. There are many fertilisers on the market, both liquid and granular and most well known brands have certain benefits. We believe it is best to apply a slow release fertiliser like Nutricote or Osmocote every six months and supplement this with a liquid feed like Thrive indoor to give it a kick start in the growing season. If your still unsure we suggest that you ask for advice as some products are better with some plants than others.
3. Light
Light is another important factor in plant growth. Inside your home there are probably many areas that are suitable for House Plants. In rooms with large windows for instance, light should be adequate provided there are no heavy drapes to block the light source. Supplementary lighting with fluorescent lighting is beneficial in darker rooms. Usually there is a plant for every room and your GREENGOLD Garden Centre can advise you on which one is for you and your room.
4. Warmth
Warmth, as much as light is essential for plant growth and substantial fluctuations in temperature should be avoided. Some plants tolerate artificial warmth in the home environment while others do not. Cyclamen in particular do not like an over-heated room.
5. Fresh Air
Open the windows wide on warm days and let fresh air blow gently through the house thus giving the plant a fresh atmosphere to live in. But do not leave your plant in a draught as this can create problems.
6. Humidity
Many of the plants which are grown indoors originated from jungles and rain forests where there is always a moist atmosphere. Although they have adapted themselves to our drier atmosphere they will still give of their best if you create an artificial atmosphere for them. One way to overcome the dry effect of house heating is to place shallow trays of water beside your plants, or place the pots inside larger vessels and fill the space between the two with peat moss. Alternatively you can place single pots on a tray of stones or gravel and then pour water into the gravel, making sure it does not reach the base of the pots or roots could rot.
7. Cleanliness
Plants, like people need to be cleaned. Sponge the leaves of larger foliage plants. This removes dust from the surface of the leaf and improves the appearance enormously. Misting with an atomiser over the plants with water from time to time will also clean the surface and allow them to use carbon dioxide drawn in through the pores of the leaf. This is essential for healthy plant growth. Most plants like to spend some of their time outside so perhaps it is worth alternating your plants from inside to outside on a rotational basis. During the warmer months it doesn’t to send your plants on a holiday to a shaded verandah for couple of weeks. This will usually invigorate them and when the come back they come back they’ll knuckle down and look good for you longer. Most House plants are like us they don’t like been left outside on a cold night so don’t put them out during winter or you might find they’ll go to plant heaven (The compost heap).
REPOTTING
Repotting is really a subject on its own and it is certainly a matter that needs advice and assistance from your GREENGOLD Garden Centre. It is certainly not hard but different plants have different requirements. Quality soil is absolutely essential for good growth in House Plants using an inferior potting mix is like trying to drive your car with one flat tyre, it might still go but it won’t get anywhere. African Violets and some other House Plants do need their own special soil. Most repotting is carried out in the warmer months i.e. September to March inclusive but in most cases you can pot a plant when you’re both ready as long as your careful. Most House Plants do not grow very quickly. Generally you would only pot them from one container up to the next size e.g. from a 15cm pot to perhaps a 17cm or maybe a 20cm pot. It is always a good idea to water your plant before repotting with GREENGOLD Plant Starter and again afterwards to encourage new, healthy roots. The diagrams to follow will give you some idea of how to repot. Below is a list of some the more popular house plants we have available it may sound a bit of a mouthful but it should give you an idea of some of the many options available: African Violets, Impatiens, Begonias, Cyclamen, Streptocarpus, Zygocactus, Primula obconica, Kalenchoe varieties, Chrysanthemum, Poinsettia, Summer Love, Anthurium, Calceolaria, Columnea, Gloxinia. Plants that tolerate low light: Spathiphyllum, Philodendron varieties, Ferns, Palms (certain varieties) and Dracaena. N.B. If in doubt about repotting always consult your GREENGOLD Garden Centre.

THROW AWAY HOUSE PLANTS
Throw away House Plants: Many House Plants (particularly flowering ones) should be treated as disposable or throw away plants. Treat them like a bunch of flowers. If they cost you under $10 and you get at least 4 to 6 weeks of pleasure, then you've had good value. We’ve all seen it, the plant that looks terrible and never seems to do anything. Many people seem to persist with plants that have past their use by date. If it cost you less than $15 and lasts more than six weeks then it’s still cheaper than a bunch of flowers. It takes nerves of steel to throw away a plant that’s still alive (and in most cases barely) but chances are once a flowering plant has past it’s best the thing to do is throw it out and get something else in that looks good.

http://www.greengold.com.au/greengold/CARENOTES/CARENOTES/housepl.htm

2006-05-21T21:43:00.000-07:00

IN THE NEWS: from The Free Dictionary

For Some Patients, Seeing Is BelievingA new study found that patients who see pictures of the plaque accumulation in their own arteries are more likely to adhere to a treatment regimen. Patients in the study had their arteries examined by electron beam tomography; they were shown the resulting scans and informed of the severity of the blockage. Researchers found that the amount of plaque seen on the scan was an independent predictor that a patient would stay on lipid-lowering medicine. More on the subject...

New: Dragon Tails!

2006-03-28T08:56:00.000-08:00

Stop by and visit my brand new Web space at: Dragon Tails

I am preety psyched about the new development…
I am looking for people that can help me make a face lift and make my pages look nice and content rich. Please help me build my niche. If you are a person that can benefit from linking up with me, I am interested. I want to help you help me help us help everybody that needs help…
Thank you!

See more progress on: invite people to visit my brand new web page

Technorati tags: web,new,dragon tails,dragonone

US Census Press Releases

2006-03-27T20:27:00.000-08:00

US Census Press Releases: "Florida�s Flagler County Fastest-Growing Once Again

Flagler County in Florida, located along the Atlantic Coast between Daytona Beach and Jacksonville, was the fastest-growing county for the second year in a row with a 10.7 percent population increase from July 1, 2004, to July 1, 2005, according to estimates released today by the U.S. Census Bureau. Flagler, with 76,410 residents, also led the nation with a 53 percent population increase since Census 2000.
According to the estimates, all but one of the top-10 fastest-growing counties between 2004 and 2005 are located in either the South or the West, with Lyon, Nev. (near Carson City), ranking second at 9.6 percent; Kendall, Ill. (in the Chicago area), third at 9.4 percent; Rockwall, Texas (near Dallas), fourth; Washington, Utah (the lone county in the St. George metro area), fifth; Nye, another Nevada county, sixth at 7.4 percent; and Pinal, Ariz. (near Phoenix), seventh at 6.9 percent.
Rounding out the top 10 were three counties in Virginia: Loudoun, near Washington, D.C., ranked eighth with a population increase of 6.8 percent; King George, ninth with 6.7 percent; and Caroline (near Richmond) 10th at 6.5 percent. Another Chicago-area county � Grundy, Ill., just missed the top 10, ranking 11th. (See Table 1. Excel PDF)
Rank*10 Fastest-Growing
U.S. Counties
2004-2005Percent ChangeRank*10 Slowest-Growing U.S. Counties
2004-2005Percent
Change

1Flagler, Fla.10.7%1Chattahoochee, Ga.-6.2%
2Lyon, Nev.9.6%2Liberty, Ga.-4.9%
3Kendall, Ill.9.4%3Lampasas, Texas-4.7%
4Rockwall, Texas7.74%4Washington, Ga.-4.3%
5Washington, Utah7.66%5Norfolk (city), Va.-2"

In Honor of our Warriors...

2006-03-27T19:30:00.000-08:00

The Pledge of Allegiance

I Pledge Allegiance to the flag of the United States of America and to the Republic for which it stands,
one Nation under God,
indivisible, with liberty and justice for all.

"Juro lealtad a la Bandera de los Estados Unidos de América y a la República que representa, una nación al amparo de Dios, indivisible, con libertad y justicia para todos."

http://www.defendamerica.mil/

Taekwondo Code of Conduct El Codigo de Conducta del Taekwondo
Be loyal to your country.Se Leal a tu Pais.
Respect your parents. Respeta a tus Padres

Be faithfulness to your spouse. Se leal a tu pareja.

Respect your brothers and sisters. Respeta a tus hermanos y hermanas

Be loyal to your friends. Se leal a tus amigos.

Respect your elders. Respeta a los ancianos

Respect your teacher. Respeta a tus Maestros

Be honest and always stand for justice. Se Honesto y siempre defiende la justicia.

Be courteous. Se cortes.

Never take life unjustly. Nunca tomes la vida injustamente.

Be loyal to your school. Se leal a tu escuela.

Finish what you begin. Termina lo que empiezes.

Never misuse Taekwondo. Nunca uses el Taekwondo erroneamente.

Technorati tags: warriors,veterans,taekwondo,remember

The right thing to do.

2006-03-27T19:05:00.000-08:00

If any other president would be in power and in command of our troops, I'd also stand by him.
It is the right thing to do. I will explain on my next post why.

Hostility on all sides - World - smh.com.au

2006-03-17T06:32:00.000-08:00

Hostility on all sides - World - smh.com.au: "Hostility on all sides
Email Print Normal font Large font March 18, 2006
Page 1 of 3 Single page
American are blaming their President for the country's tarnished image on the world stage, writes Michael Gawenda.

Stress shows George Bush has aged visibly since the start of the war.
Photo: Reuters
AMERICA is at war.
This is a wartime national security strategy required by the grave challenges we face This strategy reflects our most solemn obligation: to protect the security of the American people.'
George Bush, on the third anniversary of the start of the war in Iraq, now looks and sounds like a president who goes to bed at night and wakes wondering whether, in the face of yet another crisis in Iraq - more sectarian violence, more atrocities, more dead US soldiers - the patience he has asked for from Americans will be forthcoming.
The Bush swagger - that strange stiff-shouldered walk, chest out, arms by his side - is now rarely seen. Bush looks more gaunt, his hair greyer than it was a year ago, the easy banter with the media and with the carefully selected audiences for his speeches, mostly gone. There is little to joke about."

UNITED WE STAND. divided...I say: screw you then, i will still stand with our fearless warrior!

Keung Ye! Mister President!

Getting Attention : High-Impact Websites

2006-03-17T06:28:00.000-08:00

I ought to be checking into this... Perhaps you should as well...

Getting Attention : High-Impact Websites

Survey: One-in-Five Workers Lie

2006-03-14T09:54:00.000-08:00

by Rosemary Haefner
Vice President of Human Resources
CareerBuilder.com
Ever get that sneaking suspicion one of your co-workers isn't being straight with you? Your instincts may be right.

Nineteen percent of workers admitted they tell lies at the office at least once a week, according to CareerBuilder.com's new "Honesty in the Workplace" survey. Fifteen percent of workers reported they were caught in a lie at the office.

When asked why they felt compelled to bend the truth at work, respondents cited the following reasons:

To appease a customer (26 percent)
To cover up a failed project, mistake or missed deadline (13 percent)
To explain an unexcused absence or late arrival (8 percent)
To protect another employee (8 percent)
To get another employee in trouble or look better in front of a supervisor (5 percent)
But be warned: Nearly one-in-four hiring managers -- 24 percent -- say they have fired an employee for being dishonest.

It may seem cliche, but honesty is the best policy. Even if you are motivated by the best of intentions, being deceitful can seriously compromise your credibility with colleagues and negatively impact your career progress. The vast majority of hiring managers -- 85 percent -- say they are less likely to promote an employee who has lied to them or other members of the organization.

The most common lies workers say they have told at the office include:

I don't know how that happened (20 percent)
I have another call to take or I'll call you right back (16 percent)
I've been out of town or out sick (10 percent)
I like your outfit or you look great (8 percent)
I didn't get your e-mail, voicemail or fax (8 percent)
Which ones have you used?

Survey Methodology:
CareerBuilder.com's survey, "Honesty in the Workplace," was conducted from November 15 to December 6, 2005. Methodology used to collect survey responses totaling more than 2,050 workers for this study involved selecting a random sample of comScore Networks panel members. These Web Panel members were approached via an e-mail invitation, which asked them to participate in a short online survey. The results of this survey are statistically accurate to within +/- 2.16 percentage points (19 times out of 20). Note: the sample of 2,050+ included 1,000 hiring managers. The results for the hiring managers alone are accurate within +/- 3.09 percentage points (19 timesout of 20).

http://channels.netscape.com/careers/package.jsp?name=careers/pm/lyingworkers

Technorati tags: work,truth,lying

New News...

2006-03-13T23:35:00.000-08:00

The Email Activist

Promoting
active
citizenship
through
the power of
the Internet.

From the pad of Bob's Outer Space...

2006-03-11T13:15:00.000-08:00

Their is really something wrong - we have a Geography teacher in Colorado teaching leftwing anarchy theory and half our kids can't find their butts with both hands. Just two weeks ago it took me about ten (10) minutes to show on a map the US/Mexican border to a 40 something man who expresses political opinions and votes. In my college geography class at the end of the Vietnam tragedy 1/3 the class could not find Vietnam on a map. We just lost 58,000 dead there. It would take way too long to detail the blind mans bluff committed on the American national landscape. Christopher Columbus had a better world vision than the BMOC sitting next to me who was graduating that semester. God help us.

BoB
ps: remember 9/11
........................................................................

The Assault on American Youth
by Oliver North
Washington, D.C. -Washington, D.C. – The last Global Geographic Literacy Survey, assessing the geographic knowledge of 18-24 year-olds in nine different countries – Canada, France, Mexico, Great Britain, Japan, Italy, Sweden, Germany, and the United States – was, at best a disappointment. It found, for example, that only 17 percent of young Americans could locate Afghanistan on a map; 29 percent could not correctly identify the Pacific Ocean; and 11 percent were unable to find the continental United States.

On Smiling...

2006-03-10T05:51:00.000-08:00

We may never know all the good a simple smile can do. May no one ever come to you without going away better and happier. May everyone see kindness in your face, in your eyes, in your smile...Love is fruit in season at all times.--Mother Teresa

Brought to you compliments of http://www.thoughts.com/.

Moving on...

2006-03-06T06:39:00.000-08:00

I have moved on. I am taking care of business, not as I would've thought I needed to, but as I now need to.
listening to those around me, some with words of encouragement and support, heeding their advice. Some with words of concern, concern for themselves and their issues...
Stop. Listen. Learn.
These words stuck in my mind since I heard them from a friend sharing about the things that work for him.
Today is a day full of promise, hope and action...
There IS plenty of time...when I live in the now moment. It is eternal living. Here and now. Always.
Sometimes we need plan for tomorrow, but Living is done today.

Up dating my life...

2006-02-22T20:48:00.000-08:00

I dislike endings. I am sure you do as well. Today I put closure to my biz website...
It was not really hard at all...I kinda felt relief... Relief from all th eresponsibility that was aassociated with a business that generated some income, but not enough of it to pay my bills...

A new era in the life of Ed is here.

I ran into some health challenges, but am gladly taking care of the situation.

Perhaps my karmic background was such that it all is working out the way it is supposed to...Not the way "I thought" it was going to...

So, all is in Divine Order.

All was in Divine Order, even when I did not know it.

Back again...

2006-02-22T07:42:00.000-08:00

Ok, so I admit it...I have neglected my blogs...each and everyone of them...
Anyway, I hope I can come back here and update these as I can and am able to...
I have ran into some health problems that needed to take priority in my life. Thank God for good doctors and dedicated folks in the medical profession!

Today is the first day of the rest of my life...What do I want to do with it?
Certainly not waste it in trivial and superfluous matters...

Thinking...

2006-01-02T01:27:00.000-08:00

The pic of Tom Hanks as Forrest on the left here is just part of my emulating FG's character...It has absolutely everything and nothing to do with this post...

Referring to a goal I had set for myself on self actualization...

Self actualization is happening for me in ways I could not have predicted a few months back...At the start of a new year, a lot of people decide to engage in the old fashioned activity of setting "New Year resolutions"...Well, I like to go against th epack on this one...At least for now...Oh, but wait, I can still change my mind and decide it will be good for me to set a few of them...Well, nah... I'd be contradicting myself...right? Well...It could be that my statements are right or wrong, It really does not matter...
It definitelly will not matter 100 years from now...

To turn the topic a little on annother subject, I tried posting a couple of entries onto a couple of my blogs, however that practice did not work earlier today...I will try it again, see if it works this time...

Well, must be the 43T Y2006K... Not working...

Sitaram's literary writtings...

2005-12-31T13:17:00.000-08:00

It really humbles me to read his works for I know I have still a way to go, but I definitelly can relate to his writing and the meanning behind his writing...
Enjoy!

Saturday, December 31, 2005
Reform of Islam

Iranian_Engineer: hello Sitaram
Iranian_Engineer: I read a bit of your childhood it was quite interesting

http://www.toosmallforsupernova.org/fromtheauthor.htm

Iranian_Engineer: special kid you were

Sitaram: oh, hi... I am watching educational television.... a Dr. who studies Tibetan monks brains while they meditate

Iranian_Engineer: its really interesting!

Sitaram: it just ended the show... and now... Religion and Ethics in World News is coming on

Sitaram: the doctor was Jon Kabat-Zin

Iranian_Engineer: what were the conclusions?

Sitaram: Jon Kabat-Zinn

Sitaram: MIT Massachusetts

Sitaram: http://www.pbs.org/wnet/religionandethics/week703/feature.html

Iranian_Engineer: how do they study the brains of meditators

Sitaram: electrodes... brain waves

Sitaram: now the show with Fareed Zakaria is on (he is an Indian intellectual)

Iranian_Engineer: what happened to brain waves while meditating?
Iranian_Engineer: they were slow?

Sitaram: yes... very unusual...in 20 yr practitioners...
Sitaram: patterns not thought possible

Iranian_Engineer: what were the patterns like?

Sitaram: http://www.eomega.org/omega/workshops/69a4abdcde628149f5ad73f3c9a93007/

Sitaram: I am doing Google search now

Sitaram: http://www.psychotherapynetworker.org/nd04_wylie_simon.htm

Sitaram: He was dismayed that the world’s most brilliant scientists, many of whom were on his own campus, could be so sophisticated about science, yet so unsophisticated about the nature of the mind that produced the science. “We use all these fancy instruments, which are extensions of the senses—electron microscopes, radio telescopes, spectrophotometers—to study the world, but we haven’t paid much attention to who’s doing all this studying. Who’s doing all this knowing? What’s the mind of the scientist? We were, and are, smart in a lot of ways, but idiotic in a lot of other ways,” he says.

Iranian_Engineer: interesting

Sitaram:

http://www.npr.org/templates/story/story.php?storyId=4770779

Sitaram: http://www.lioncity.net/buddhism/index.php?showtopic=8817

Iranian_Engineer: do you meditate?

Sitaram: http://www.khandro.net/practice_meditation.htm

Sitaram: I did for years , now... only time to write now

Iranian_Engineer: how did you do it?

Sitaram: http://www.purifymind.com/MeditationIntro.htm

Sitaram: here is the show I just watched... from the station that broadcast

http://www.mclaughlin.com/moo/

Iranian_Engineer: you mean you read this and started meditating?

Iranian_Engineer: ah ok thank you

Sitaram: here.... Washington post... brain waves and meditation

http://www.washingtonpost.com/wp-dyn/articles/A43006-2005Jan2.html

Sitaram: over the past few years, researchers at the University of Wisconsin working with Tibetan monks have been able to translate those mental experiences into the scientific language of high-frequency gamma waves and brain synchrony, or coordination.

Sitaram: they have pinpointed the left prefrontal cortex, an area just behind the left forehead, as the place where brain activity associated with meditation is especially intense.

Sitaram: the longtime practitioners showed brain activation on a scale we have never seen before," said Richard Davidson, a neuroscientist at the university's new $10 million W.M. Keck Laboratory for Functional Brain Imaging and Behavior

Sitaram: Their mental practice is having an effect on the brain in the same way golf or tennis practice will enhance performance." It demonstrates, he said, that the brain is capable of being trained and physically modified in ways few people can imagine.

Sitaram: Scientists used to believe the opposite -- that connections among brain nerve cells were fixed early in life and did not change in adulthood. But that assumption was disproved over the past decade with the help of advances in brain imaging and other techniques, and in its place, scientists have embraced the concept of ongoing brain development and "neuroplasticity."

Iranian_Engineer: you know the disease ADHD?

Sitaram: yes
Sitaram: all children have it, joking
Iranian_Engineer: not all haha, some

Iranian_Engineer: in that disease which you they cant keep their attention etc

Sitaram: The Dalai Lama ultimately dispatched eight of his most accomplished practitioners to Davidson's lab to have them hooked up for electroencephalograph (EEG) testing and brain scanning. The Buddhist practitioners in the experiment had undergone training in the Tibetan Nyingmapa and Kagyupa traditions of meditation for an estimated 10,000 to 50,000 hours, over time periods of 15 to 40 years. As a control, 10 student volunteers with no previous meditation experience were also tested after one week of training.

Iranian_Engineer: and concentrate

Sitaram: The monks and volunteers were fitted with a net of 256 electrical sensors and asked to meditate for short periods. Thinking and other mental activity are known to produce slight, but detectable, bursts of electrical activity as large groupings of neurons send messages to each other, and that's what the sensors picked up. Davidson was especially interested in measuring gamma waves, some of the highest-frequency and most important electrical brain impulses.

Iranian_Engineer: and guess which part of their brain has problem?
Iranian_Engineer: the prefrontal lobe!

Sitaram: Both groups were asked to meditate, specifically on unconditional compassion. Buddhist teaching describes that state, which is at the heart of the Dalai Lama's teaching, as the "unrestricted readiness and availability to help living beings." T

Sitaram: Davidson said that the results unambiguously showed that meditation activated the trained minds of the monks in significantly different ways from those of the volunteers. Most important, the electrodes picked up much greater activation of fast-moving and unusually powerful gamma waves in the monks, and found that the movement of the waves through the brain was far better organized and coordinated than in the students.

Iranian_Engineer: yes I opened that page

Sitaram: so, the mullahs did not block it

Iranian_Engineer: its interesting
Iranian_Engineer: tell me about your experiences of meditation ..how you learned etc

Sitaram: I would need to compose an essay... to gather my thoughts...
Sitaram: which I am happy to do

Iranian_Engineer: compose essay about?

Sitaram: duh... about the complex question you just posed

Iranian_Engineer: ah ok

Sitaram: regarding my experiences with meditation

Iranian_Engineer: yes !!!I am really eager to read that essay!

Sitaram: look at this page I found JOY DETECTIVES

http://www.dharmalife.com/issue21/joydetectives.html

Sitaram: I have been writing things about it over the past 8 years
Sitaram: I suppose visions are the most interesting aspect of it
Sitaram: I will give you one link

Iranian_Engineer: what kind of visions?

Sitaram: http://toosmallforsupernova.org/page027.htm

Sitaram: there is good example
Sitaram: you can see music and pictures if this link is not blocked but I think they block this

Sitaram: http://www.members.aol.com/Sitaram/page001.htm

Iranian_Engineer: its not blocked

Sitaram: noooooo!!!!! this one
Sitaram: members.aol.com
Sitaram: is that block.... I think yes
Sitaram: here is copy at non blocked site... I think
Sitaram: http://www.sitaram.0catch.com/page001.htm
Sitaram: that is perhaps not blocked
Sitaram: otherwise, first link is minus pictures/music

Iranian_Engineer: I meant your first link doesn’t have pictures

Sitaram: duh... that’s what I told you... not blocked... but no pictures/no music
Sitaram: you can download my entire site, as zipped files ... and unzip it on your hard drive... with music and pictures on several pages

Sitaram: http://www.toosmallforsupernova.org/downloads.htm

Iranian_Engineer: ah there was problem the page disappeared!

Sitaram: but... perhaps, if the authorities discovered it on your hard drive... you might be in big trouble

Iranian_Engineer: come on

Iranian_Engineer: haha

Sitaram: if you download only the first 100 pages... plus wav plus gif

Sitaram: I am serious... after page 100, there are some pages which would get you executed or imprisoned in Saudi

Sitaram: but, if you only download 1st 100 pages, wav, gif, jpg... you can see music and pictures

Iranian_Engineer: well how can they know what I download?

Sitaram: well, if police come to your home.....

Iranian_Engineer: why police should come to my home?
Iranian_Engineer: its not that much anarchy
Sitaram: for example... let us say that I am charged here with some crime.... and police get search warrant (this is hypothetical example).... but this has happened.... and they seize my computer... and find child pornography on hard drive... then I could go to prison

Iranian_Engineer: and what are those which they can execute me for?
Iranian_Engineer: but here there are no such rules

Sitaram: ok... TODAY you do not have such a government... but how do you know that there will not be SOME OTHER REVOLUTION... another ayatollah, or perhaps.... some Wahabi group will gain power

Iranian_Engineer: I dont think so?

Sitaram: oh... nonsense... you have had morality police... and women are lashed for improper dress, makeup.. or acid in uncovered face (or is that just Afghanistan)

Iranian_Engineer: why should I fear of something which doesn’t exist?

Sitaram: well... in 1920... if I talked concentration camps to a German, and lamps made of human skin, that German would say "oh I don’t think so"

Iranian_Engineer: when there many fearful things already?

Sitaram: in northern Nigeria, they now have Sharia law, and are cutting off the hands of adolescents..... and stoning women... who would have foreseen that

Iranian_Engineer: you know

Iranian_Engineer: if they find out what I talk here etc ..they might put me in prison

Sitaram: in 1930s who would have foreseen in USA the Senator McCarthy witch hunts for communists,.... and the blackball lists which ruined careers of entertainers and others

Sitaram: OK, so... excellent example

Iranian_Engineer: but I don’t care
Iranian_Engineer: I don’t limit myself!!

Sitaram: martyrs rarely do

Sitaram: Nabokov said, in "Pale Fire", "Curiosity is the highest form of insubordination"

Iranian_Engineer: interesting

Iranian_Engineer: here many people are fearful

Iranian_Engineer: you know there are enough outer authorities without creating for yourself an inner authority to haunt you and stalk you.

Iranian_Engineer: but the main problem comes when you make yourself a prison

Sitaram: I was quoting something today to my wife, said I think by Asar Nafisi, or some Iranian... cant remember

Iranian_Engineer: yes?

Sitaram: they said that "the ultimate degree of religious fanaticism is when you do not feel comfortable even in your own home"
Iranian_Engineer: yes

Sitaram: my wife said... "what does that mean"...

Iranian_Engineer: well she wasn’t living here so she might not understand

Sitaram: I said "well, you are alone at home, and you worry that you are properly covered up, ... or look at the clock for time of prayer.... or you must release gas, and you worry...
Sitaram: a paranoia that you are always being watched, judged
Sitaram: even when alone

Iranian_Engineer: I know what it means

Sitaram: hadith give account of one city where the toilets faced Mecca,.... so the muslims would turn their face away, as they moved their bowels
Sitaram: this is not a joke, but a true account

Iranian_Engineer: haha

Iranian_Engineer: how stupid
Sitaram: so.... they do not feel at ease even to take a dump in the toilet... or fart

Iranian_Engineer: haha

Sitaram: oh.... Islam teaches in Hadith, that if you wash wudu, and enter masjid, and then fart, you must hold your nose, walk out of masjid, wash again, and then return to prayer

Sitaram: that is not a joke... that is an actual hadith

Iranian_Engineer: these are nonsense !! and people are stupid really...you see how dangerous religion could be for blind followers!

Sitaram: I cite these to give dramatic illustration of how one might feel ill at ease even alone in home or in bathroom

Sitaram: you know.... I got to be intimately familiar with Sikh scriptures , the Adhi Granth, and Nanak, the founder... and it is truly ISLAM reformed.... and quite appealing and compelling....

Sitaram: Sikhism developed around 16th century, in an area in Punjab India, where Muslims and Hindus lived side by side

Iranian_Engineer: you are starting a religious talk again

Sitaram: so, we shall change the subject... I thought you might find the Sikh example fascinating

Sitaram: we shall change subject

Iranian_Engineer: you know that I agree those things are stupid and they exist in every religon and stupid people follow such silly rules and.......

Iranian_Engineer: so don’t try to persuade me how terrible things are
Iranian_Engineer: I am more interested to know about meditation
Iranian_Engineer: or how can we change the situation?
Iranian_Engineer: you know its negative critic ...and its not productive
Iranian_Engineer: negative

Sitaram: well, I told you about engineer in Tehran, who went to yoga classes,.... and when I asked what mullahs thought, he said it is billed as exercise, not religion

Iranian_Engineer: imagine a poor girl in a country like Iran
Iranian_Engineer: yes true

Sitaram: but the notion was that it was a secret way to go some place, and be spiritual in a hidden fashion

Iranian_Engineer: I am so worried about the future of my country I love to know what am I able to do!!!

Sitaram: you know... I felt the concern of my African friends for their troubled societies

Sitaram: which is why I created http://voicesofafricaunited.myfreeforum.org

Sitaram: so... I am not deaf and blind to the problems and sufferings of other nations and cultures...

Iranian_Engineer: I know

Sitaram: you are right.... what is to be done in countries such as yours
Sitaram: is there not a way to have Islam and also Democracy, human rights, freedom of speech, tolerance for other religious beliefs

Iranian_Engineer: you feel everything is in its wrong place and you cant do anything..upper system is corrupted!

Iranian_Engineer: I think not

Sitaram: you have mentioned a key word... corruption

Iranian_Engineer: I don’t think one can rule a country with religious absolutism?

Sitaram: in so many nations
Sitaram: the Philippines... such corruption.... when it could be a shining star...
Sitaram: in so many African nations..... those who seize power, and steal resources from their starving people
Sitaram: north Korea has now suddenly refused food from NGO foreign groups
Sitaram: Non Government Organizations

Iranian_Engineer: yes like us. we have such oil !! the price of oil increases each day and we become poorer each day

Sitaram: they will only accept help for power plants.... and no one wants to give that, because of their agenda for nuclear weapons
Sitaram: I will tell you a saying from American farmers...
Sitaram: the farmer is the only one who BUYS retail, and sells wholesale
Sitaram: if farmer needs hammer, he goes to hardware store, and pays retail price...

Iranian_Engineer: what does it mean?

Sitaram: but he sells his milk wholesale for such little price... but the milk factory (i forget correct term)... becomes wealthier, and grocery store becomes wealthier, than farmer who makes the milk

Iranian_Engineer: true!

Sitaram: wholesales is cheap price
Sitaram: retail is highest price to consumer...

Iranian_Engineer: yes
Iranian_Engineer: that’s a sad truth

Sitaram: the diamonds miners do not make the same profit as the jewelers

Iranian_Engineer: I know

Iranian_Engineer: that’s what happens to our poor people

// posted by Sitaram @ 8:18 AM 0 comments links to this post

palLABS: laboratory of the universal particular

2005-12-31T02:16:00.000-08:00

On the other hand...while Stumblin Upon a little more, I found this trully elaborate, yet simple blog, which, I think establishes a common denominator with the way I view life and living today...

palLABS: laboratory of the universal particular: "palLABS: laboratory of the universal particular

philosophy + spacetime. quality + tea. push + boundaries. containers + emotions. meticulous + neon. introduction + sleep. hindsight + semiotics. foreground + needs. scratch + thermocol. needs + windshield. 73 + alien. spine + instead. etc."

Furthermore, I clicked one of the links within...(he he, notice I said within, not inside...
and lo and behold, I found another interesting site...It is called Urban Dharma. I will probably stop by again at both spots...

But, what really caught my attention was the article there about Hurricanes and Karma...
Here is sort of an intro to the essay:

Was the Tsunami Caused by Karma? - A Buddhist View -- by Kusala Bhikshu

The world is filled with so much pain and suffering and now a Tsunami kills over 170,000 people. Why did so many people have to die, was it their karma?

I was watching the news, listening to a famous American Buddhist scholar say the death and destruction caused by the Tsunami, "Was karma." A simple answer and a great sound bite to a complex question, but to say the reason behind this tragic event was simply karma appears glib and indifferent.

I've never found the cause of anything in Buddhism to be just one thing. Saying the reason for a complex chain of events is the result of one action-- whether it's God, sin or karma-- doesn't seem like a viable option for a Buddhist. Buddhist cosmology is non-theistic and lacks a first cause. I admit some Buddhists feel karma can replace God as a first cause, because Buddhism has a moral code and lacks a divine law giver... But is it fair to say that a Tsunami is the moral consequence of unskillful intention, speech and action?

The Buddha was clear on this. We lack a realistic world view because of lust, greed, hatred and delusion. Science can add some clarity and meaning, but the Buddha warned us about this world of ours (samsara) being unsatisfactory, it's the place where birth, death and change occur. We experience pain because we have a body/mind, and suffer because of desire and impermanence.

Sickness, injury, aging and death are simply the signs of flux in an insufferable world.

Early Buddhism gives us something called the five Niyamas, or the five aspects of cosmic order. These Niyamas can deepen our understanding and give meaning to why things happen. Niyama is a Pali term (language of early Buddhism) for cosmic order. The Niyamas show how certain conditions, laws of nature, work at different levels of cause and effect.
read the rest of the article here

I've seen it all now...!

2005-12-31T01:32:00.000-08:00

Here is a perfect example of a stupid criticism of people, places or things...
How in the world is th eplacing of cookies by the NSA different from what has happened in the internet since the invention of the cookies to track you and me on the internet???!
C'mon folks...Give me a break will ya???

Here is the post:

December 29, 2005
Is the NSA a Cookie Monster?/New Year's Greetings

Another lazy post from me while I am traveling....Can you believe that the National Security Agency has been covertly placing cookies on the computers of people who visit its website? With these cookies, the NSA could track the Internet surfing of those visitors. That's what AP is reporting:

The National Security Agency's Internet site has been placing files on visitors' computers that can track their Web surfing activity despite strict federal rules banning most files of that type.

Track back url: http://www.davidcorn.com/archives/2005/12/is_the_nsa_a_co.php
Technorati tags: cookies,internet,whinning,for real!

PNN-Positive News Network

2005-12-14T01:15:00.000-08:00

Ahhhh! Positive news. Cool! Way Cool!

PNN-Positive News Network

Top Ten Reasons to Live a Life of Integrity...

2005-12-13T23:59:00.000-08:00

It has been a rough life for me this last year. I have refused to get into the 8 to 5 life of corporate schemes and rendezvues. I have paid a price for it. I also have embarked all this last year in the divine assignment I was given to start my own business. In the process, I have also paid a high price, incorporating, marketing and customer development, promotion, multitasking 7 days a week, no vacation, insurance, and many others...
I agree with the reasons Mr. Angier lists for living a life of integrity. I agree with the motivation behind all 10 of his reasons, but I have had several nights of insomnia, my health has not been the greatest,and my peace of mind has fluctuated. But I have to agree with him: I'd rather live a life of integrity, in spite of it all, than live a lie...
Life and Living for real is healthier, saner, better than the alternative...

The Top Ten Reasons
to Live a Life of Integrity

by Michael Angier

You might think that it's a no-brainer why one should live an honest life. But it's apparent to me that a life of integrity is the exception rather than the rule. How many people do you know who are honest all the time?

We could make a case about the morality and the "rightness" of living honestly. Religious leaders have been advocating this for thousands of years. It's doubtful that even they could provide a true model of integrity.

I believe in the moral and ethical value of integrity but I also think there are very practical and worthwhile reasons for living an impeccable life. Here are ten:

1. Trust. In order to be successful in business or hold a responsible job, a person must have a reputation of honesty. Resources are not entrusted to people who have proven themselves as untrustworthy.

2. Good Health. I have no research to support this, but I'd be willing to bet that people who tell the truth are healthier. They have less concern, less stress and feel better about themselves. This has to translate into better health.

3. Pride. I've yet to meet a liar who has any real pride in themselves. Any good leadership training will stress the importance and value of having pride in what you do and who you are. If your reputation is grounded in deception, your opinion of yourself is poor indeed. Being honest just plain feels good.

4. Peace of Mind. If you cheat on your income taxes, you may get away with it, but you'll probably always worry that you'll get audited and face fines, extra charges and even jail as a result. Your reputation would also be tarnished. When you deal honestly, you have peace of mind. It's impossible to worry and be happy at the same time.

5. Remembering. It's been said that no one has a good enough memory to be a good liar. When you don't tell the truth, you have to INVENT it. When you do, you'll often be asked to recall your rendition of the truth, and you may not be able to do so because you forgot what you said. You KNOW the truth, but you can't remember your version of it. Very embarrassing. Besides, it's hard work to continually come up with false stories.

6. Good Sleep. If you lie—unless you have no conscience at all—you'll often lose sleep because of your fears of being found out. Your worry and your guilt will keep you awake. A good night's sleep is one of life's many pleasures and honest people sleep better.

7. Confidence. Many people have excellent "bull" detectors. They know—at least at some level—when you're being fake. If telling lies is your modus operandi, you know that these people will often see though your façade. There's no way to have real confidence in oneself when you're walking on "bull."

8. Good Relationships. Relationships are the jewels of our lives. Some would argue that relationships ARE our lives. And breeches in trust are the death knell of relationships. When trust is gone, there is no foundation upon which to build. Relationships lacking in trust seem hollow and shallow. They lack joy.

9. Legal Problems. We don't have to look very far to see the legal trouble people get themselves into from dishonesty. Lying in a court of law or to an officer of the law is literally AGAINST the law. Conversely, if you have no secrets, you can rest easy and its hard for anyone to blackmail you.

10. It Doesn't Work. All too often our deceptions and duplicity are discovered. In the information age in which we live, it's even more likely that lies will sooner or later be seen for what they are. Dishonesty is just plain inefficient.

The right thing to do is seldom the easy thing to do. But it's worth it.

Technorati tags: integrity,life,living,truth

Focus of Our Attention

2005-12-11T21:15:00.000-08:00

Focus of Our Attention
By Jeanie Marshall

"A weak mind is like a microscope,
which magnifies trifling things but cannot receive great ones."
- Lord Chesterfield

The focus of our attention determines our life experiences. Where we put our attention, we put our energy. Where we put our attention, we put our consciousness. We draw into our lives the thing to which we give our attention, whether we want it or not. We seed the thing or idea that has our attention. That seed grows into the experiences of everyday life.

Technorati tags: affirmations,health,focus,life

An Unhappy 25th Anniversary

2005-12-07T22:47:00.000-08:00

An Unhappy 25th Anniversary

by Joal Ryan
Dec 7, 2005, 4:55 PM PT

Music, activism, vigils.

Things that were so much a part of John Lennon's life are being used to mark the 25th anniversary of his death. In New York City, fans of former Beatle will gather Thursday night outside the apartment building where he was shot to death on the evening of Dec. 8, 1980.

Not far from the imposing facade of the Dakota, others will pay their respects at Strawberry Fields, the Central Park oasis dedicated in 1985 to the memory of Lennon.

read on...

Technorati tags: Lennon,anniversary,Imagine,vigil

Holiday shopping ideas...

2005-12-05T22:04:00.000-08:00

This article came to me in a newsletter I am subscribed to:
* Self Improvement and Personal Growth Weekly Newsletter * Issue # 378
Week of December 6-7, 2005
Publisher: David Riklan - http://www.SelfGrowth.com

----------------------------------------------------
***Article: The Most Important Gifts of All – By Pauline
Wallin, Ph.D.***
----------------------------------------------------
In This Season of Gift-Buying, Don't Ignore The Most Important Gifts ofAll.
In this season of holiday gift buying, advertisers bombard us withmessages, some
of them contradictory.
One ad tells us that the best way for men to show love is to spend three
months' salary on a piece of diamond jewelry.
On the other hand, MasterCard commercials remind us that there are some
things ("Priceless" moments) that monëy can't buy."Oh, that's a sweet
sentiment," you might say, "but can it reallysubstitute for the latest video
game or hot toy?"
Very few children raised in this materialistic culture would say, "Gee mom,
thanks for making my favorite meal.
What a great Christmas gift!"
Yet 20 years from nöw, these same children probably won't remember the
items they got for the current Christmas. They will, however, recall the special
games that their family played together, the time that their older brother took
them to a movie, or the way their parents tucked them in at night.
These are the little moments, which over time, have a huge impact.
Unfortunately people tend to take them for granted.
With so much emphasison holiday shopping, and on buying the perfect
gift, we can losë sight ofthe importance of the less flashy, but "priceless"
gifts: gifts such as thoughtfulness and gratitude that we can give to one
another all year round.
A diamond may be forever, but its value is nothing compared to a lïfetime
of moments that monëy can't buy.
I'm not suggesting that you forego the presents this holiday season, but
don't worry so much about how "perfect" they are.
Go ahead and buy somegifts, but more importantly, resolve to focus your
energy on helping others feel valued and appreciated. They will remember your
acts of thoughtfulness and compassion long after the material gifts are
gone.
Hëre are some examples of small gestures that can help people around
youfeel valued:
1. Show your appreciation with a thank-you, a smile or a hug (or allthree).
It takes just a moment, but it can make a person's day.
2. Practice a random act of kindness every day. Make this your "gift" to
astranger. For example, let someone in front of you in line. Hold a door open
for someone. Smile and greet people you pass at work. These acts take only a few
seconds or less, yet they create a mood that can last for hours.
3. Call up someone you haven't spoken to in a while, just to catch up on
how they are. You've probably been meaning to do this for a long time. Nöw is a
good time.
4. If you have children, give one child at a time your full attention foran
afternoon: Go for a walk; go to the library; or just sit and read or draw
together. The activity itself isn't as important as sharing time and interacting
together. Going to a movie or watching a video doesn't count.
5. Write a note of appreciation to someone who is important to you. Don't
be surprised if that person keeps the note for years to come.
6. Think of the way you'd like to be remembered by those around you, and
give of yourself accordingly throughout the year. The added benefit for you is
that you'll be in a more positive frame of mind overall.

About the Author:Pauline Wallin, Ph.D. is a psychologist in Camp Hill, PA,
and author of"Taming Your Inner Brat: A Guide for Transforming Self-defeating
Behavior"(Beyond Words Publishing, 2001).
Visit http://www.innerbrat.com
for more information, and subscribe to her frëe, monthly Inner Brat
Newsletter.

Technorati tags: holidays,gifts,ideas,marketing

Reference, Facts, News ... Free and Family-friendly Resources

2005-11-28T14:45:00.000-08:00

Reference, Facts, News ... Free and Family-friendly Resources:

QUOTE OF THE DAY:

"A real friend is one who walks in when the rest of the world walks out. Don't walk in front of me, I may not follow. Don't walk behind me, I may not lead. Walk beside me and be my friend.' - Charles Caleb Colton"

Retailers usher in holidays with deep discounts

2005-11-25T05:28:00.000-08:00

Retailers usher in holidays with deep discounts

Shoppers begin heading to stores across the country on ‘Black Friday’

Updated: 7:27 a.m. ET Nov. 25, 2005

NEW YORK - Bargain shoppers woke up before dawn to head to the nation’s malls and stores Friday, the official start of the holiday shopping season, hoping to snap up early bird specials on items, from toys to digital music players.

In an improving but still challenging economy, merchants are hoping for big crowds to set a positive tone for the entire holiday season.

read on...

I ask myself, what are the root causes of a "challenging" economy...I could come up with a miriad of speculative thoughts, as an economist, and still not hit the nail in the head. I know there are other economists out there, smarter, brighter, wealthier and better educated than I am asking themselves the same question...

As a behavioral science, Economics will never, in my estimate, be able to catch up with what the term full employment economies "should be" all about. Statistically, yes, we can achieve full employment provided we set the standard ourselvese: 4 percent, 5 percent unemployment rate, or what have you...

SOMETHING IS STILL MISSING... But what is it? How do we bridge the gap?

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8 Rules For Good Customer Service

2005-11-24T21:19:00.000-08:00

I just had to blog this. These simple rules from Susan will not only let you go a long ways in business, but life in general...

http://sbinfocanada.about.com/od/customerservice/a/custservrules.htm

8 Rules For Good Customer Service
Your Guide, Susan Ward From Susan Ward,
Your Guide to Small Business: Canada.
FREE Newsletter. Sign Up Now!
Good Customer Service Made Simple

Good customer service is the lifeblood of any business. You can offer promotions and slash prices to bring in as many new customers as you want, but unless you can get some of those customers to come back, your business won’t be profitable for long.

Good customer service is all about bringing customers back. And about sending them away happy – happy enough to pass positive feedback about your business along to others, who may then try the product or service you offer for themselves and in their turn become repeat customers.

If you’re a good salesperson, you can sell anything to anyone once. But it will be your approach to customer service that determines whether or not you’ll ever be able to sell that person anything else. The essence of good customer service is forming a relationship with customers – a relationship that that individual customer feels that he would like to pursue.

How do you go about forming such a relationship? By remembering the one true secret of good customer service and acting accordingly; “You will be judged by what you do, not what you say.”

1) Answer your phone.

Get call forwarding. Or an answering service. Hire staff if you need to. But make sure that someone is picking up the phone when someone calls your business. (Notice I say “someone”. People who call want to talk to a live person, not a “fake recorded robot”.) For more on answering the phone, see Phone Answering Tips to Win Business.

2) Don’t make promises unless you WILL keep them.

Not plan to keep them. Will keep them. Reliability is one of the keys to any good relationship, and good customer service is no exception. If you say, “Your new bedroom furniture will be delivered on Tuesday”, make sure it is delivered on Tuesday. Otherwise, don’t say it. The same rule applies to client appointments, deadlines, etc.. Think before you give any promise – because nothing annoys customers more than a broken one.

3) Listen to your customers.

Is there anything more exasperating than telling someone what you want or what your problem is and then discovering that that person hasn’t been paying attention and needs to have it explained again? From a customer’s point of view, I doubt it. Can the sales pitches and the product babble. Let your customer talk and show him that you are listening by making the appropriate responses, such as suggesting how to solve the problem.

4) Deal with complaints.

No one likes hearing complaints, and many of us have developed a reflex shrug, saying, “You can’t please all the people all the time”. Maybe not, but if you give the complaint your attention, you may be able to please this one person this one time - and position your business to reap the benefits of good customer service.

5) Be helpful - even if there’s no immediate profit in it.

The other day I popped into a local watch shop because I had lost the small piece that clips the pieces of my watch band together. When I explained the problem, the proprietor said that he thought he might have one lying around. He found it, attached it to my watch band – and charged me nothing! Where do you think I’ll go when I need a new watch band or even a new watch? And how many people do you think I’ve told this story to?

6) Train your staff (if you have any) to be ALWAYS helpful, courteous, and knowledgeable.

Do it yourself or hire someone to train them. Talk to them about good customer service and what it is (and isn’t) regularly. Most importantly, give every member of your staff enough information and power to make those small customer-pleasing decisions, so he never has to say, “I don’t know, but so-and-so will be back at...”

7) Take the extra step.

For instance, if someone walks into your store and asks you to help them find something, don’t just say, “It’s in Aisle 3.” Lead the customer to the item. Better yet, wait and see if he has questions about it, or further needs. Whatever the extra step may be, if you want to provide good customer service, take it. They may not say so to you, but people notice when people make an extra effort and will tell other people.

8) Throw in something extra.

Whether it’s a coupon for a future discount, additional information on how to use the product, or a genuine smile, people love to get more than they thought they were getting. And don’t think that a gesture has to be large to be effective. The local art framer that we use attaches a package of picture hangers to every picture he frames. A small thing, but so appreciated.

If you apply these eight simple rules consistently, your business will become known for its good customer service. And the best part? The irony of good customer service is that over time it will bring in more new customers than promotions and price slashing ever did

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el test

2005-11-21T20:49:00.000-08:00

test, test, test

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There are no coincidences in life...

2005-11-19T15:46:00.000-08:00

You are 'Latin'. Even among obsolete skills, the
tongue of the ancient Romans is a real
anachronism. With its profusion of different
cases and conjugations, Latin is more than a
language; it is a whole different way of
thinking about things.

You are very classy, meaning that you value the
classics. You value old things, good things
which have stood the test of time. You value
things which have been proven worthy and
valuable, even if no one else these days sees
them that way. Your life is touched by a
certain 'pietas', or piety; perhaps you are
even a Stoic. Nonetheless, you have a certain
fascination with the grotesque and the profane.
Also, the modern world rejects you like a bad
transplant. Your problem is that Latin has
been obsolete for a long time.

What obsolete skill are you?
brought to you by Quizilla

Immigrant Resource Center in a Bind

2005-11-17T17:53:00.000-08:00

Immigrant Resource Center in a Bind
Saundra Amrhein
St. Petersburg Times (Florida)
November 11, 2005
Copyright 2005 Times Publishing Company

A school that offers free English classes to adults might shut down if it can't come up with the money to apply for a zoning change.
SEFFNER - In their countries, they were dentists and business people.
But here in this breezy yellow brick house off Parsons Avenue, they are students seeking a path out of manual labor.
At the Multicultural Resource Center, more than two dozen adult immigrant students gather four mornings a week to study English in a house turned into a language school and computer lab.
Another 80 are on a waiting list.
But the popular school, which was started in the late '90s, might be shut down next month unless directors come up with $3,500 to apply for a zoning change. The county sought the change after a neighbor complained.
For many with night jobs or schoolage children to care for, the free morning classes are like a salvation.
"My daughter is studying in school, and how can I help her?" asked Carmen Moncayo, 45, originally of Peru. Her daughter is 9. "How can I help her if I don't know English?"
Seated next to her, 62-year-old Elsa Icaza, a dentist in her native country of Ecuador, can't return to her profession until she learns English. She cares for her two grandchildren in the afternoons and evenings.
"If it weren't for this (morning) class," she said, "I couldn't study."

read more...

Technorati tags: inmigrants,school,politics,money

Need a hand or two?

2005-11-17T00:02:00.000-08:00

Need a hand or two?

It comes a time when things get kicked around a bit, and reevaluation follows. This post's aim is to let you know that I am ready willing and able to engage in practical and income generating ventures. If you like what you have read over the months here at Economics made simple and feel you could use my experiences, knowledge or just need an extra hand to handle whatever it is you or your company is in need of, drop me a line and let me know how I can help.
I can provide references, a resume or whatever complementary information you might need from me to engage in a fruitful and productive win-win relationship.
Thanks for reading.
Se habla Español tambien...

Technorati tags: work,errands,jobs,win-win

The Five O'Clock Club

2005-11-13T22:26:00.000-08:00

On Gratitude
by Richard C. Bayer, Ph.D.

If you pick up a starving dog and make him prosperous, he will not bite you. This is the principal difference between a dog and a man. -Mark Twain

We should all learn gratitude if we want to be genuinely happy. Gratitude is most certainly a virtue; and a virtue is a positive habit of character that helps one to act in a reasonable and constructive way.

The full exercise of this virtue involves three steps. One first recognizes the need for gratitude as a response to a favor; one then should express gratitude in word; finally one should express gratitude in deed. In this way gratitude comes to full fruition and brings no small amount of pleasure to all parties concerned!

Recognition of the Need for Gratitude

Humility is a virtue integral to gratitude. We cannot recognize the need for gratitude without it. People who are puffed up with their own accomplishments and who do not see how dependent they are on other people and (economic) systems which have favored them are rarely grateful. They are blind to the ways in which they have been favored, perhaps beyond what they deserve. Therefore, the vice of pride is the death of humility.

In his classic work The Theory of Moral Sentiments, Adam Smith, the father of modern economics, argues that people (even as economic agents) who don’t feel gratitude are cheating themselves out of happiness. “Failing to feel grateful to those who came before is such a corrosive notion, it must account at some level for part of our bad feelings about the present. The solution —a rebirth of thankfulness— is in our self-interest. … For us not to feel grateful is treacherous selfishness.”

Gratitude in Word

Gratitude is also a form of courtesy, which is mindful of how others have been helpful, and reciprocates in word. We have all felt the annoyance or even outright pain when people fail to verbalize gratitude for something significant we have done for them. This is not only ingratitude, it is also rudeness. Think about your friends or co-workers whom you have helped without receiving a word of gratitude for your good deeds. This is painful indeed. Also think about this: you can enhance the good reputation of those who do good deeds when you speak a kind word about them to others! Hence, expressions of gratitude bring further rewards.

Adam Smith, the father of modern economics, argued that those who don’t feel gratitude are cheating themselves out of happiness.

Gratitude in Deed

Gratitude for things large and small should also be repaid by appropriate actions. There are many such occasions in the world of work. People who want to benefit from having a “team of advisors” —(a recommended technique for getting advice from those more senior than you to move along in your career) should be careful to express gratitude with deeds. Do you simply take from people? If you do not give back and show gratitude, even by helping those less fortunate than you, you risk proving Mark Twain right in his analysis of the difference between a dog and a man.

Gratitude for Life in General

According to gratitude guru Gregg Easterbrook, author of The Progress Paradox: How Life Gets Better While People Feel Worse, “Those who describe themselves as being thankful to others, or to God, or to “Creation in general” have more vitality, suffer less stress and experience fewer episodes of clinical depression. Well, aren’t they the lucky ones? Grateful people are less materialistic, less concerned with status, less controlling and arrogant…than the population at large.”

Beyond gratitude for specific things, there is a second type of gratitude. Let’s call it gratitude for life in general. For those who believe in God, Allah, or some source of being itself, that deity, as the Source of life, is the object of this gratefulness. This is a personality trait characterized by happiness for gifts (s)he has received. It is a positive attitude that can produce a buoyant personality. The attitude is not simply grateful for some specific things, but for life in general.

This gratitude for being or reality in general can also mean being grateful for what one does not have! Since it assumes that that basic reality (or God) is essentially benevolent, it assumes there are good reasons for not having things as well.

Thankful people have more vitality, less stress, and fewer episodes of depression.

Gratitude for being also requires humility, since it recognizes the gifts given by God Him/Her self. Pride—here meaning the opposite of humility—makes the recognition of the gifts impossible. The self-made person does not understand the gifts he has received, and therefore is blind to the need for gratitude. In this context, gratitude is also often expressed in a special word, which is called prayer.

Gratitude for being also plays itself out in good deeds. It brings a person to do good deeds to others because of the sense of gratitude to God. The good things from God are passed on to another.
The five 0'clock club

A Thought

2005-11-11T21:00:00.000-08:00

The Tomb of the Unknown Soldier

"Here lies in honored glory an American soldier known but to God."

It is a fitting place and a focal point to honor American veterans, but as General George S. Patton, Jr., reminded us, "It is foolish and wrong to mourn the men who died. Rather we should thank God that such men lived." Indeed.

Technorati tags: veteran,war,life,living

Blogging on myself...

2005-11-08T18:26:00.000-08:00

I was thinking about what could I possibly say of my own, at this my "Economics Made Simple" blog.
I thought and I thought and it did not take long before I came up with the idea that it is time to give credit, where credit is due.
First of all, if it would not have been for Blogger.com, I would not have been able to create not only this, but other few blogs I have expressed myself with.
The first one in the list is "Life and Living For Real". It is a blog basically about my thoughts, but it is also a blog to allow you, the reader to perhaps grab onto a post that you can relate with and perhaps help make your life a little better as a result of having come across it. I know, you say, but you just want to benefit your ego and yourself by writing about you. And my answer is, well, maybe that is the case, it was not my intention to create more value for my own ego than the intention of having you relate to my issues and causes and thereby make a friend or two in the process. Well, you could be right. I am selfish, selfcentered, and I want what I want when I want it. But my motives were not too different than the average blog writer. Please correct me if I am wrong... And, with what I have been reading lately, I hope I can move in the direction of focusing more on you, the reader.
Anyway, there are other blogs in the roster of blogger.com: Internet for People like Us, Asi es La Vida, Links for all, and my 2 newest ones: B+, which is a team blog, and Beach Blog.
I am grateful to Blogger.com, again and again, for allowing me to have been able to speak my mind so that not only I but you, the reader perhaps benefits from something I have posted, said in my own words or came across that has made an impact in my life and lifestyle. Of course, there are numerous other sites thatI have found worthy of my including them on each and everyone of those sites. All the sites are is not only the result of my thinking, but of th ethinking of numerous people to whom I have given, and still give them credit for where I am at in mind and spirit.
There is definitely a therapeutic value to writing and journaling, but that value is increased tenfold when I focus my efforts on your needs and wants.
I will be talking more about other sites and valuable insights I have gained as a result of the weblogging trends I have followed for the past few months...
Thank you for reading.

Technorati tags: blogs,gratitude,value,blogger.com

Love is...

2005-11-06T22:11:00.000-08:00

Watch the movie. It is short. It is to the point. www.thelovemovie.com

craigslist: london, UK classifieds for jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community, and events

2005-11-06T01:14:00.000-08:00

All I can say is...wow!

craigslist: london, UK classifieds for jobs, apartments, personals, for sale, services, community, and events: " "

Getting better, day by day...

2005-11-05T22:37:00.000-08:00

To all my fans, readers, subscribers, lurkers, enemies, and friends...
It is getting better day by day, as the title suggests, and I atribute the improvement to a variety of factors:

God (the God of my understanding never ever gives up on me in spite of myself! LOL)
My Wife... the closest thing I will ever experience to God on this earthly plane of existence
My friends...Those afar and those near. Those at phone call length and those at email or comments length
My Spiritual advisors
My internal and external supports, ie, prayer, meditation, introspection, family and friends in general...

So, to all of you if you were included in the list above...

A BIG BIG THANK YOU, AND BLESSINGS TO ALL OF YOU!

Feeling about the same...

2005-11-02T22:16:00.000-08:00

I had a rough one today!
I don't know...I think it is in the air...It is really catching up with me... Not that I am th eonly one, and not that things are not any more difficult for you. But today I am feeling the weeks and months of all this stress that we are all experiencing out there as a result of what is going on in the world. I just had the thought that, perhaps th eguy that wrote Revelation is not too wacked out, and that perhaps I ought to pay a little closer attention to that book to have some discernment.
I do trust God. I trust the God of my understanding. And somehow today I really can feel that I (or my household) don't want to be left behind...

Technorati tags: feelings,God,Profecies,Revelation

When I feel insane...

2005-10-29T05:51:00.000-07:00

Music soothes my soul… Here’s a favorite:

Crosby Stills Nash Young >> Chicago

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Nash, 1970
Though your brother’s bound and gagged
And they’ve chained him to a chair
Won’t you please come to Chicago
Just to sing
In a land that’s known as freedom
How can such a thing be fair
Won’t you plaese come to Chicago
For the help we can bring
We can change the world -
Re arrange the world
It’s dying to get better
Politicians sit yourself down,
There’s nothing for you here
Won’t you please come to Chicago
For a ride
Don’t ask Jack to help you
Cause he’ll turn the other ear
Won’t you please come to Chicago
Or else join the other side
We can change the world -
Re arrange the world
It’s dying if you believe in justice
It’s dying and if you believe in freedom
It’s dying let a man live it’s own life
It’s dying rules and regulations, who needs them
Open up the door
Somehow people must be free
I hope the day comes soon
Won’t you please come to Chicago
Show your face
From the bottom to the ocean
To the mountains of the moon
Won’t you please come to Chicago
No one else can take your place
We can change the world -
Re-arrange the world
It’s dying if you believe in justice
It’s dying and if you believe in freedom
It’s dying let a man live it’s own life
It’s dying rules and regulations, who needs them
Open up the door
We can change the world
http://kabish.com/lyrics/lyrics.php?id=6371&Crosby_Stills_Nash_Young=lyrics

See more progress on: embrace my insanity

2005-10-19T03:12:00.000-07:00

The following is a list of useful links dealing with disaster preparedness:

Hurricane Preparedness Week: The goal of this Hurricane Awareness Web site is to inform the public about the hurricane hazards and provide knowledge which can be used to take ACTION. This information can be used to save lives at work, home, while on the road, or on the water.

Be Prepared: Throughout this Web site, information has been provided regarding actions that you can take based on specific hurricane hazards. The most important thing that you can do is to be informed and prepared. Disaster prevention includes both being prepared as well as reducing damages (mitigation).

Disaster Prevention should include:

Florida State Emergency Response Team

Pinellas County Hurricane Preparedness

weather.com - Hurricane Central

2005-10-19T02:36:00.000-07:00

weather.com - Hurricane Central

Hurricane Central
Hurricane Wilma winds now 175 mph!

5:28 a.m. ET 10/19/2005
Matthew Newman, Senior Meteorologist, The Weather Channel

Wilma Now a Hurricane, May Threaten Fla.

2005-10-18T18:17:00.000-07:00

NOAA UPGRADES WILMA TO A HURRICANE
2005 Season Sets Additional Records
Wilma became the 12th hurricane of the 2005 Atlantic hurricane season on Tuesday over the northwestern Caribbean Sea. This season now shares the record for the most hurricanes in one season with 1969. On Monday, Wilma became the season's 21st named storm, tying the seasonal record first set in 1933. Hurricane records date back to 1851. Wilma also is the final name on the 2005 list of storm names. Any additional tropical storms and hurricanes that form this season will be classified by the NOAA National Hurricane Center using the Greek alphabet, beginning with Alpha. Doing so would be a first since the naming of storms began in 1953.

Technorati tags: hurricane wilma,news,weather

Parts of America are as Poor as Third World

2005-10-13T22:40:00.000-07:00

One of the places I Stumble Upon, has a variety of interesting and exotic as well as informative sites to look at and read. Here is an article I found at mr-infomaniac's weblog regarding a report that came out from the UN.
It is no longer news I think for those of us that live here, but perhaps it could be for some that might not be quit in touch with reality.
I can relate to denial for I grew up in an environment were denial was, and still is a way of life...

Friday, September 30, 2005
UN Hits Back at US in Report Saying Parts of America are as Poor as Third World
Published on Thursday, September 8, 2005 by the lndependent/UK
UN Hits Back at US in Report Saying Parts of America are as Poor as Third World
by Paul Vallely
Parts of the United States are as poor as the Third World, according to a shocking United Nations report on global inequality.
Claims that the New Orleans floods have laid bare a growing racial and economic divide in the US have, until now, been rejected by the American political establishment as emotional rhetoric. But yesterday's UN report provides statistical proof that for many - well beyond those affected by the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina - the great American Dream is an ongoing nightmare.

Tags: poverty,UN report,New Orleans,American Dream

Cause Change

2005-10-13T00:04:00.000-07:00

The status quo may be comforting, but for there to be growth, there must be change. Since you seek growth, you must seek change. You must see yourself and your environment not only as it is, but also as it could and should be. You seek the changes necessary to reach the better you so that you can play your part in making a better world.
First, you change yourself. Can you change your day and spend more time with your family? Can you change your standard lunch routine and take a walk? Can you change your drive home and stop at a nursing home for twenty minutes and see someone who may have few visitors? Can you change your office habits and find the time to make five more phone calls? What are the possible consequences of not changing? Realize that many people don’t make plans because they don’t want to risk any change. Doing little with your life is much easier and safer than taking risks, but then you will be a small person. Instead, seek the changes which will allow you to be all that you can be.success.org

Wow, that is an order that is tough to follow sometimes. My life changed dramatically the moment I decided to go into business for myself. I am no longer bound by a clock and a hierarchy of people asking me and telling me to do things their way for the benefit of their company or place of business. However, I am still boud by other variables, perhaps more stringent than the ones “I thought I left” behind. I am bound by my customers, I am also bound not as much by a clock anymore but by the amount of productive output I generate. Sometimes I generate a lot of things that perhaps are not necessary, but a lot of times I feel that the things I generate are helpful not only to me but to others, regardless of the financial rewards that I thought might be involved in the process.
I like a challenge. I like change. Sometimes changing a routime or a behavior is really difficult.
Change is the only thing I have been guaranteed in life. We are changing the moment we are born into this world (even when in our mother’s woumb) we still are changing even after death…
One of the things I have learned is that I have to cause change in me first, in order to even attempt to change something or someone outside of myself…
I also need to find balance between action and inaction, but I suspect that Bill already has talked about it in a different Action Principle.

See more progress on: apply success principles in my life daily

Great way to learn about reality...

2005-10-11T23:23:00.000-07:00

I have been attending Socrates Cafe meetings at a couple of different places within my community, and they are excellent ways to get to know reality and likeminded people. I was just at the library today and skimmed Christopher Phillips’ book “Socrates Cafe”...Basically, the Socratic method of learning is one of asking questions about th enature of reality and about anything we want to learn more about…I will start by asking the five basic questions he asked in his book.WHAT IS THE QUESTION?
Yes, really, the question is what can be asked that generates enough interest in a topic so as to creeate enough interest for otherse to ask other questions as well. How about
WHY ASK QUESTIONS?

See more progress on: start a Socrates Cafe at 43 Things

Get Tough.

2005-10-05T23:22:00.000-07:00

Tough means that you are willing to stand tall and persevere. Even when your mind and body signal perfectly good reasons for giving up, you go on. This tough is obvious. But tough can be seen every day if we choose to look. Tough may be a patient undergoing cancer treatments or a single mother struggling to raise children. Tough can be an alcoholic ready to face rehab or an athlete living in a wheelchair. Tough can be rejecting false praise and honestly accepting you and your children for who and what you are. Tough is an ability to make the best from what you are given. Tough is making the decision to replace self-pity, complaints and dependence with self-reliance, independence and action.
You’ve got to be tough to do the big things in life like taking risks, admitting mistakes, and changing bad habits. You’ve got to be tough to do the little things like biting your tongue, waiting your turn and putting up with fools. Self-reliance and self-confidence will demand your toughness. Then, you must temper toughness with kindness, realizing that many times it will be tough to be kind. Be kind anyway.
Success.org

Tough! Yeah! when I think of tough, I remember the hard sessions of sweat at the dojang where I trained about 4 times a week for about an hour and 15 minutes a crack.
Sometimes it was so strainning that had to stop the session to gasp for breath and prevent choking on vomit!
I remember leaving the training hall to get dressed again and my face would still be red from all the blood pumped as a result of the extreme cardiovascular and aerobic workout. I remember the dobak uniform being completely saturated wet with sweat, including the whole belt…I remember the slabs of wood under my feet slowly begin to feel very slipery as a result of drips of sweat thru the entire session.
Did that teach me anything? You bet! It taught me to work hard for what I want, It taught me to understand that nothing in life comes easy, not even health of mind and body, and that if I want something, I better keep my focus on the goal, work towards the goal the best I can, and practice, practice, practice…
As Bill from Success.org also said, there are other aspects of toughness out there for you and me to see: tough can be the homeless dude waiting for a coin or two middle of a sunny and hot day, amidst the red light waiting traffic, tough also is having a birth defect that prevents you from swallowing properly and having to have a handkerchief at hand at all times because you cannot contain your saliva or swalllow it if it becomes excess in your mouth, tough can be being told you have cancer and that your time left to live is limited, tough is having to tell your child that he is going to have to go to bed because there is no more food in the house (if there is still a house), tough is being wheelchair bound for life, having cerebral palsy, tough is facing a world that can be so mean and cruel to people that are perfectly normal otherwise, but are hard of hearing, or have a muscular defect that makes them look as if they have a mental disability…... so many other tough definitions, I could spend the entire night writing…

See more progress on: apply success principles in my life daily

Positive News, Inspiration, Motivational Quotes, Motivation

2005-10-05T11:09:00.000-07:00

Is Positive News Really An Oxy-Moron?
Hello Welcome to PNN, the Positive News Network™
PNN-The Positive News Network provides you with an alternative news service that reports on positive stories, events and solutions. We are also dedicated to finding, celebrating and promoting people from all walks of life who are making a Positive contribution to their communities, locally, nationally and internationally.

Now many people have told me "it won't work", Positive news is an “oxy-moron" but universally many, many more people have said "oh we need that" and I agree with the later group. We understand that the chances of us putting any news organization out of business are slim...for now. However, we are committed to offering you an alternative to the prevailing philosophy of "if it bleeds, it leads" which pervades our news today.

read more...

BusinessPundit: A Blog About Business

2005-10-04T21:52:00.000-07:00

BusinessPundit: A Blog About Business: "Why Blog?

I agree with this. Blogging helps me discover what I think.

I also agree with who agrees with him...Bogging expands your horizons, it is like fertilizer to your neurones...(in a nice sense of the word..he he he)

Kid's stuff...

2005-10-04T13:42:00.000-07:00

A friend posted this at a forum and I thought it is priceless!

Seen some of these before but they still make me laugh!

HOW DO YOU DECIDE WHO TO MARRY?

( 1 ) You got to find somebody who likes the same stuff. Like, if you like sports, she should like it that you like sports, and she should keep the chips and dip coming.
-- Alan, age 10

( 2 ) No person really decides before they grow up who they're going to marry. God decides it all way before, and you get to find out later who you're stuck with.
-- Kirsten, age 10

WHAT IS THE RIGHT AGE TO GET MARRIED?

( 1 ) Twenty-three is the best age because you know the person FOREVER by then.
-- Camille, age 10

( 2 ) No age is good to get married at. You got to be a fool to get married.
-- Freddie, age 6 (very wise for his age)

HOW CAN A STRANGER TELL IF TWO PEOPLE ARE MARRIED?

( 1 ) You might have to guess, based on whether they seem to be yelling at the same kids.
-- Derrick, age 8

WHAT DO YOU THINK YOUR MOM AND DAD HAVE IN COMMON?

( 1 ) Both don't want any more kids.
-- Lori, age 8

WHAT DO MOST PEOPLE DO ON A DATE

( 1 ) Dates are for having fun, and people should use them to get to know each other. Even boys have something to say if you listen long enough.
-- Lynnette, age 8 (isn't she a treasure)

( 2 ) On the first date, they just tell each other lies and that usually gets them interested enough to go for a second date.
-- Martin, age 10 (wise beyond his years)

WHAT WOULD YOU DO ON A FIRST DATE THAT WAS TURNING SOUR?

( 1 ) I'd run home and play dead. The next day I would call all the newspapers and make sure they wrote about me in all the dead columns.
-- Craig, age 9

WHEN IS IT OKAY TO KISS SOMEONE?

( 1 ) When they're rich.
-- Pam, age 7

( 2 ) The law says you have to be eighteen, so I wouldn't want to mess with that.
-- Curt, age 7

( 3 ) The rule goes like this: If you kiss someone, then you should marry them and have kids with them. It's the right thing to do.
-- Howard, age 8 (this one has very good morals)

IS IT BETTER TO BE SINGLE OR MARRIED?

( 1 ) I don't know which is better, but I'll tell you one thing. I'm never going to have s*x with my wife. I don't want to be all grossed out.
-- Theodore, age 8

( 2 ) It's better for girls to be single but not for boys. Boys need someone to clean up after them.
-- Anita, age 9 (bless you child)

HOW WOULD THE WORLD BE DIFFERENT IF PEOPLE DIDN'T GET MARRIED?

( 1 )There sure would be a lot of kids to explain, wouldn't there?
-- Kelvin, age 8

And the #1 Favourite is........

HOW WOULD YOU MAKE A MARRIAGE WORK?

Tell your wife that she looks pretty, even if she looks like a truck.
-- Ricky, age 10

Third Age has now a blog!

2005-10-03T11:19:00.000-07:00

Hello. I thought I'd make a late anouncement anyway, just in case you did not know already. Thridage.com has now a blog!
Thirdage is a dear place to me. It is there I learned HTML basics and intermediary. It is there that I was able to create one of my first web pages, which is still preety functional...The other two places I built web pages for free, have now closed their doors on me cause I did not upgrade...Well, too bad for them, for now I can always praise and give credit were credit is due, and brag about the wonderful people thaqt manage and serve at Thirdage.com...
Here is the excerpt I got in the mail (I am subscribed to their newsletter):

Join the Online Conversation!
We've launched our very own cocktail party -- a ThirdAge blog -- and we've invited some of the best "conversationalists" in relationships and dating, career and legacy planning, and health and wellness to sound off. You're invited to join your favorite experts, chime in, ask questions and share your experiences.
read more...

Fucus spiralis is just seaweed: Freedom is not free

2005-09-23T23:35:00.000-07:00

Keung Ye!

Fucus spiralis is just seaweed: Freedom is not free

BloggersBlog.com

2005-09-21T18:21:00.000-07:00

BloggersBlog.com Hurricane Rita Blogs and News Coverage [Open In New Window] Posted on: 9/21/2005 10:26:00 PM
Rita is intensifying and is now a category four storm. The Houston Chronicle has launched a blog for Hurricane Rita. KHOU.com, a local Houston television network is also blogging. Many other bloggers have also turned their focus on dangerous Hurricane Rita. Here is a list of some of the blogs and resources.

NOOA National Hurricane Center: Latest updates

Billionaires Open Their Wallets - Forbes.com

2005-09-20T03:21:00.000-07:00

This is as much information I was allowed to get before the servers at Forbes magazine cut me off from being able to get the rest of the story...I was browsing with Firefox, maybe IE has a different story, maybe I will try to get the rest of the news and the link at a later point in time. This will have to do for now...
God bless those guys anyway...(Oops here I go with my silly nonsensical non objective and unscientific silly me opinions)

Hurricane Katrina
Billionaires Open Their Wallets
Allison Fass and Helen Coster, 09.14.05, 6:00 AM ET

American billionaires hold much of the wealth in the U.S. and also control many of its largest companies. As such, they are in a unique position to influence national giving much in the same way as celebrities and sports stars are.

But instead of making bold donations and speaking out publicly about their contributions to the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, all but a rare few have chosen to shun the limelight. Among those who won't comment on their personal giving in face of this tragedy are

Billionaires open their wallets part II

2005-09-20T03:19:00.000-07:00

Woo Hoo... I tried with IE and it worked... Is IE better than Firefox?
I don't know, what I wanted to retrieve is the news from Forbest about the blessed billionaires that gave to Katrina's victimes. God bless you people!

Billionaires Open Their Wallets
Allison Fass and Helen Coster, 09.14.05, 6:00 AM ET

FORBES MAGAZINE

American billionaires hold much of the wealth in the U.S. and also control many of its largest companies. As such, they are in a unique position to influence national giving much in the same way as celebrities and sports stars are.

But instead of making bold donations and speaking out publicly about their contributions to the Hurricane Katrina relief efforts, all but a rare few have chosen to shun the limelight. Among those who won't comment on their personal giving in face of this tragedy are Warren Buffett of Berkshire Hathaway (nyse: BRKA - news - people ), Larry Ellison of Oracle (nasdaq: ORCL - news - people ), Jeff Bezos of Amazon (nasdaq: AMZN - news - people ) and Google (nasdaq: GOOG - news - people ) founders Sergey Brin and Larry Page.

Katrina's Billionaire Donors

Others such as New York City Mayor Michael Bloomberg and former presidential candidate Ross Perot confirm they have given something but won't say to whom or how much. Even such outspoken billionaires as Donald Trump and Dallas Mavericks' owner Mark Cuban are uncharacteristically quiet. Trump won't say if he sent a personal check but did confirm he is sending cases of Trump water to the Gulf Coast. Cuban, meanwhile, wrote a detailed account in his personal blog of his unsuccessful odyssey to donate $50,000 worth of clothes and criticized relief agencies and the media for not helping make it easier for folks to donate.

Cut the billionaires some slack. Some may not want to appear to be taking advantage of the cause for their own gain. Others may not want too many nonprofits calling on them.

Luckily there are exceptions to the low-profile rule; rich folks who realize that doing good publicly can set an example. Click here to read more about Katrina's billionaire donors.

katrina's billionaires donors

Trio of Google billionaires slashed salary - U.S. Business - MSNBC.com

2005-09-20T02:50:00.000-07:00

FACT OR FICTION? PROBABLY FACT...
GOD BLESS THEM. GOD BLESS BILLIONAIRIES AND MILLIONAIRIES LIKE THEM! (Here I go again, strainning away from pure scientific rational behavior...silly me!)

Trio of Google billionaires slashed salary
Co-founders Page and Brin, CEO Schmidt earned $1 last year

Updated: 7:20 p.m. ET April 8, 2005
SAN FRANCISCO - The trio of billionaires who run — and own much of — online search engine leader Google Inc. reduced their individual salaries to $1 last year and rejected a recent attempt to give them a raise, according to documents filed Friday.

Google co-founders Larry Page and Sergey Brin and the company’s chief executive, Eric Schmidt, dramatically lowered their salaries last spring — right around the time that the Mountain View-based company filed its plans for a much-anticipated initial public offering of stock that made their paychecks largely irrelevant.

Before the concessions, Google paid Page and Brin an annual salary of $150,000 apiece. Schmidt collected a $250,000 annually before lowering it to a buck. In the months leading up to the pay cuts, Page and Brin each collected $43,750 of their former salaries while Schmidt pocketed $81,432, according to a filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission.

read the rest of the story...

Java Art...

2005-09-20T00:07:00.000-07:00

Just click and drag the corner of the triangle...

http://www.whitney.org/artport/commissions/codedoc/Wattenberg/connect.html

Spanish speaking folks bloging in English

2005-09-19T16:53:00.000-07:00

http://boingboing.net/2005_01_01_archive.html

Sounds like somebody is finally thinking... What a world of opportunities would a chap like me bring to you and your business, were you to consider the posibilities of my linking you to thousand other Spanish speaking folks like me?

I found the post below at one of the best blogging scenes on the planet:
Boing Boing

Spanish-speaking bloggers blogging in English: an aggregator
Blogger and communications professor Jose Luis Orihuela in Pamplona, Spain says: "Thanks to Víctor Ruiz, an idea that's been around for a long time -- an RSS aggregator for feeds of English-language blogs from Spanish-speaking bloggers -- has finally launched. A beta version is available here: Link." There's more background (in Spanish) in this post on Jose Luis' blog: Link

posted by Xeni Jardin

Technorati tags: blog,
weblog,
search,
directory,
community,
web directory,
web search,
search engine,
boing boing,
mark frauenfelder,
cory doctorow,
godsdragon,
david pescovitz,
xeni jardin,
john battelle,
pop culture.

Major Religions Ranked by Size

2005-09-18T03:04:00.000-07:00

I found this site to be very interesting, listing all major Religions of the world. Take a look... I found it Stumbling Upon...Check the social community also: Stumble Upon

http://www.adherents.com/Religions_By_Adherents.html

The next level at 43T

2005-09-17T12:51:00.000-07:00

This social community and the geeky folks that helped create it never cease to amaze me…
Theeze wabbitz awre somezing elze…

See more progress on: Help test 43people.com: the next new thing from The Robot Co-op

Never thought I would find this here....

2005-09-17T12:08:00.000-07:00

LOL who would’ve thought of KISS in wikipedia?
I certainly would have never thought about it…
so here it is: K.I.S.S.

See more progress on: Keep It Simple

If you don't appreciate what you have...

2005-09-13T16:35:00.000-07:00

TKD TUTOR

learn something!

Martial Arts resource

Post subject: If you don't appreciate what you have...

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

http://www.msnbc.msn.com/id/9324891/

Ladies and gentlemen.
Our commander in chief has enough grit, pluck in him to be able to humble himself, and take blame for something he is not totally responsible for.
I can't just BELIEVE you and I have driven things so far to get a great Warrior, Christian and Person to humble himself in front of you and I and the rest of the freagging world to acknowledge his humanness...Republican or not, Democrat or not, Independent or not, Communist or not, jerk or not, righteous or not, religious or not......

Them Mr Frs jihadhists are probably laughing their heads of!!!!!
And no it is not Mister Frays...

Unless we learn to recognize a true warrior like him, a true believer, we'll never get our SH... Together.
Yeah, I know, he likes money too...What a concept!
What a guy...What a President...What a Warrior.
My Warrior body and should bows to him in honor of his guts, pluck and glory, (in my book at least).

GOD BLESS YOU PRESIDENT BUSH!
DIOS TE BENDIGA!
Keung Ye!