Life

• Most Topular Stories

• Trailer Park Poet – Part 3

  LIFE AS A HUMAN

  Guest Author

  18 May 2013 | 3:00 am

  She knew he hit her. She knew he hit. She knew he punched walls to make her listen. She felt the words. She scrubbed the floor. She knew he was a liar. She knew he’d destroy her. She planned. She went to doctors. She told them. She went to psychologists who showed her the wheels of where he’d take her. She knew where he would take her, if he knew. She felt the appreciation, she thanked, pleaded. She had to pay her rent. She told him no, I never heard of Frank Sinatra. She asked him, did you ever hear of Hank Snow. She turned her eyes in, when he laughed at her interest in art. She…

• How to Make Your Next Kiss Your Best Kiss Ever

  Lightening Up and Letting Go

  Jerry

  3 May 2013 | 12:14 pm

    Was just chatting with a teenage girl. She is sixteen and has had exactly three kisses. The first one she said was OK, the second one was in a tree and it didn’t work so well. “I don’t really understand what the big deal about kissing is.” she said. “It really isn’t that fun.” [...]

• Clearing The Money Blocks (second part)

  chocolatekisses101

  chocolatekisses101

  29 Apr 2013 | 11:21 pm

  “It is not the creation of wealth that is wrong, but the love of money for its own sake.” -Margaret Thatcher As promised, here is the second part of the money karmic healing guide. If you have read the first part, then you already have an idea on how to start distinguishing the blockage. Now, in this post, we will start to lift it all up as our next step in removing the money blocks in our lives. I am happy to share with you that I have finished my first booklet. it is  a 30-40 page book of tips on how to run a party and express it in your uniqueness as the host. Yes, I actually…

• The Hobo Delimma

  Spy Travelogue

  charlie grosso

  15 May 2013 | 5:17 pm

  I’m tired of looking like a hobo when I am on the road. The concept of synthesis has been on my mind for a long while now; trying to find a way to make each re-entry back into my NYC life a little less startling and each exit for the road less dramatic and devil may care. It’s time for ownership. It’s time to own up to who I am, what I do and stop pretending like I am still twenty-something on my first backpacking trip. Nothing to prove is a mindset I’ve arrived at. Sure I can live with next to nothing and be a hot mess but badge of honor has been won and it’s time to…

• After the Denial Letter Arrives

  The New Old Age

  By SUSAN SELIGER

  17 May 2013 | 10:57 am

  What families can do if the V.A. rejects a veteran's claim for caregiving benefits.

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  The New Old Age

• After the Denial Letter Arrives

  By SUSAN SELIGER

  17 May 2013 | 10:57 am

  What families can do if the V.A. rejects a veteran's claim for caregiving benefits.

• The ‘Long and Unacceptable’ Wait for a Veterans’ Benefit

  By SUSAN SELIGER

  15 May 2013 | 3:00 am

  Why are elderly veterans and their spouses still waiting months, sometimes more than a year, to qualify for caregiving benefits from the V.A.?

• Vermont Passes ‘Aid in Dying’ Measure

  By PAULA SPAN

  14 May 2013 | 7:18 am

  Vermont is the first state to permit physician-assisted suicide by legislation, rather than referendum or court order.

• Studies Find Mixed Results for Dementia Units

  By PAULA SPAN

  10 May 2013 | 3:00 am

  Some specialized units for dementia care do manage to improve on traditional nursing home care, recent studies suggest.

• A Mother’s Day Gift

  By DAVID J. EKERDT

  8 May 2013 | 8:59 am

  Honor thy mother and father. Take their stuff.

• 

  Peterman's Eye

• Well, Technically Speaking...

  18 May 2013 | 9:00 pm

  I've gone to my farm in Kentucky for the weekend. It's a great place to relax, do a little hard physical labor, and forget about the rest of the world. If you don't have such a place, I highly suggest you get one.In the meantime, how many of these stories did you already know?See you on Monday.PetermanFrom: TopTenz Continue reading this post

• How Current is Your Currency?

  17 May 2013 | 9:00 pm

  I've gone to my farm in Kentucky for the weekend. It's a great place to relax, do a little hard physical labor, and forget about the rest of the world. If you don't have such a place, I highly suggest you get one.In the meantime, how is your coin collection coming along?See you on Monday.PetermanFrom: The Week Continue reading this post

• Wave Of The Open Sea.

  16 May 2013 | 9:00 pm

  Archaeologists, geologists, and scholars are hotly debating whether Sardinia is the lost city of Atlantis. If only they can find the Pillars of Hercules. First mentioned by Plato in 360 BCE , he wrote about a civilized island lost from what we now know to be a tsunami. Today the island is alive and well with the highest concentration of centenarians per capita. Continue reading this post

• Peterman's Choice* An Imperfect Orbit.

  15 May 2013 | 9:00 pm

  On any list of famous eccentrics, I’m sure Sir George Sitwell would not appreciate being high up on it.He probably thought the rest of us were out of step.Who says inventing a small pistol, which he did, for shooting wasps is not normal?They are pesky. Eccentric: Deviating or departing from the center, or from the line of a circle; as, an eccentric or elliptical orbit.Sir George Reresby Sitwell, born in 1862, as the 4th Baronet of Renishaw, following his father who was called Sitwell Sitwell.Those first names were hard to come by in those days.Sir George produced three eccentric…

• How To Best A One-Upper.

  14 May 2013 | 9:01 pm

  Maintaining appearances in turn-of-the-century Newport took real dedication. The Vanderbilt women changed clothing as often as seven times a day. The times also demanded a competitive spirit. For one party, the hostess of Rosecliff had a fleet of white ships constructed to float ashore. Grace Vanderbilt trumped her by closing down a popular Broadway show and moving the production to a specially built theater on her estate.Continue reading this post

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  Nothing But Bonfires

• Nobody Needs A Wipe Warmer (And Other Things I Hope You'll Tell Me)

  Nothing But Bonfires

  14 May 2013 | 7:38 am

  A few weekends ago, I sat down to make a baby registry. Wait, let me just rephrase that sentence: a few weekends ago, I sat down to make a baby registry and did not get up. For the entire 48 hours. Call it anxious first-timer nerves, call it "generally unable to purchase anything, eat anywhere, or make any other kind of decision for myself without first reading seven hundred reviews from other people," but I found the idea of making a baby registry more than a little daunting. read more

• 27 Weeks

  Nothing But Bonfires

  6 May 2013 | 10:11 pm

  At 27 weeks, my pointy belly and I went down to San Diego to see my parents. (Also, I dyed my hair, as you may have noticed by the faintly Elvira-ish shade it seems to have turned since the last weekly photo. Apparently, L'Oreal and I have very different definitions of "dark brown.") read more

• 26 Weeks

  Nothing But Bonfires

  29 Apr 2013 | 9:38 pm

  First of all, thank you so much for your lovely, kind words on my last post. I hope it doesn't sound too cheesy to say this, but each one of your comments meant so much to me and really did go such a long way to helping me feel better. I'm trying to write back to everyone properly to say thank you for your thoughts and condolences, so if I haven't got to you yet, rest assured that I will.  read more

• Moving House

  Nothing But Bonfires

  24 Apr 2013 | 7:46 pm

  read more

• 25 Weeks

  Nothing But Bonfires

  22 Apr 2013 | 10:18 am

    read more

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  Schmutzie.com

• A Beautiful Thing Will Grow Out of This Very Hard Thing

  Schmutzie

  15 May 2013 | 10:40 am

  We've Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: http://www.schmutzie.com/weblog/rss.xml Update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us. http://www.schmutzie.com/weblog/atom.xml

• 101 Things We Love (aka Grace in Small Things: Sunday Edition #134)

  Schmutzie

  12 May 2013 | 2:04 pm

  We've Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: http://www.schmutzie.com/weblog/rss.xml Update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us. http://www.schmutzie.com/weblog/atom.xml

• I Spoke, I Saw, I Re-evaluated What I Love: Mom 2.0 Summit

  Schmutzie

  8 May 2013 | 11:47 am

  We've Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: http://www.schmutzie.com/weblog/rss.xml Update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us. http://www.schmutzie.com/weblog/atom.xml

• Break Dancing + Yoga + Arthur Cadre = Remarkable Possibility

  Schmutzie

  6 May 2013 | 10:07 am

  We've Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: http://www.schmutzie.com/weblog/rss.xml Update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us. http://www.schmutzie.com/weblog/atom.xml

• 30 Reasons Why I Might Not Follow You Back On Twitter

  Schmutzie

  4 May 2013 | 6:46 pm

  We've Moved! Update your Reader Now. This feed has moved to: http://www.schmutzie.com/weblog/rss.xml Update your reader now with this changed subscription address to get your latest updates from us. http://www.schmutzie.com/weblog/atom.xml

• 

  Holy Kaw!

• Slow motion video of the first taste of different food

  Peg Fitzpatrick

  19 May 2013 | 11:24 am

• Pets are good for you

  Peg Fitzpatrick

  19 May 2013 | 7:04 am

    Did you know that your brain releases oxytocin, “the feel-good” hormone in the brain when you pet your dog or cat? What is Oxytocin? “Oxytocin is a powerful hormone. When we hug or kiss a loved one, oxytocin levels drive up. It also acts as a neurotransmitter in the brain. In fact, the hormone plays a huge role in pair bonding.” This wonderful feeling can come from dogs, cats, and even goldfish! A study showed that having a fish tank at a nursing home improved appetites. “Watch a Lassie movie and spit into a cup. It doesn’t sound like it, but this is…

• The lighter side of Sweden spotlighted at Eurovision Song Contest [video]

  Kate Rinsema

  19 May 2013 | 6:37 am

  Sweden might be better known around the world for Abba, Ikea and dragon tattoos than comedy, but that was before comedienne Petra Mede took the stage at the Eurovision Song Contest with “Swedish Smorgasbord.” From Vikings to stay-at-home dads, Mede covers it all. Top that, Finland! Full story at YouTube via Kuriositas. The not-so-frosty side of Sweden.  

• 10 easy ways to write better blogs [infographic]

  Kate Rinsema

  19 May 2013 | 6:27 am

  Is your blog lacking that sparkle that makes audiences come back for more? Feel overwhelmed by all the advice out there? Then try bookmarking this simple infographic by TopDogSocialMedia for future reference. Via TopDogSocialMedia. Tips for better blogging.

• Star Trek: Now a middle school musical! [video]

  Kate Rinsema

  19 May 2013 | 6:18 am

  Sure, we’ve heard great reviews for J.J. Abrams latest addition to the Star Trek film library, but for those fans whose tastes run to jazz hands and awkward belting, Rhett and Link have just the treatment you’ve been craving with Star Trek: The Middle School Musical! Sing it, Spock! Full story at YouTube. Singing your heart out for Star Trek.

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  MegFowler.com

• Four Social Media Lessons from the Amy’s Baking Company Meltdown.

  meg

  15 May 2013 | 7:34 am

  So this thing happened. Then everyone wrote this post. And that’s fine, really. You can write about whatever you want to write about. It’s a free Internet. Unless, of course, you want something to come from all that effort. Then you shouldn’t. But I’m getting ahead of myself. Every time social media takes center stage in a news story, or a news story spreads across the Internet like a SEO-fueled brushfire, a host of posts appear like the proverbial phoenix, positioned as “lessons”: Lessons you can learn from ________. What can we learn from _______? 10…

• boston, you’re my home. really.

  meg

  15 Apr 2013 | 5:34 pm

  I was less than a mile from the explosion at the finish line of the Boston Marathon today. I’d planned to walk over to see the whole spectacle, since I’d only viewed it from a distance during my first four Marathon Days. But a meeting popped up, and then a last minute client need, so I didn’t. I heard the explosion on the fifth floor of the iconic South End brownstone we work in, while the life of our office buzzed around me. It sounded faint and weird and like it didn’t belong, that noise, but I thought perhaps it was something they set off when the race was done.

• meg download day 9-21.

  meg

  15 Apr 2013 | 8:04 am

  Let’s Begin With the Obvious Well, I guess I stopped writing, didn’t I? And not just for a couple of days, but ALL THE DAYS since April 2. I could make an excuse for the lack of content and tie it to some larger emotional or personal issue in a vague, foreboding way that puts you off from questioning my activity… but I know no one is actually concerned, so we’ll chalk it up to A Penguin Stole My Computer. Seriously. He did. He left a herring to replace it… and I can’t even connect it to our router. I don’t need to tell you how useless a herring is…

• megdownload day 8.

  meg

  2 Apr 2013 | 12:07 pm

  Hobbies and Interests I just spent an hour looking through resumes collected from a very accomplished group of people — accomplished in the sense that they have performed exceptionally well at everything they’ve done, from school, to work, to extensive lists of hobbies and interests. The “Hobbies and Interests” resume section has always been an awkward one for me: a) I don’t have “cool” hobbies like running marathons or learning ancient languages or making artisanal cheese; and b) what if a hobby I mention in order to enhance my interestingness…

• megdownload day 7.

  meg

  1 Apr 2013 | 11:53 am

  April Fools Day In honor of April Fool’s Day, a list of things that I can’t even pretend to like: April Fool’s Day Dancing with the Stars Coconut M&Ms The term “baby bump” Daytime cold medicine Printed paper towels Use of cottage cheese analogy for cellulite Humidity When the teabag tag falls into the teacup Hangnails Dropped-crotch pants (never wear anything that sounds like an embarrassing disorder) All skin issues that involve itching The word “gleaning” The resurgence of acid wash Fake fruit flavors The word “fondue” Energy drinks…

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  Simply Jews

• North Korea fires a projectile into the sea

  SnoopyTheGoon

  19 May 2013 | 9:32 am

  That's what they say. North Korea fired a projectile into waters off its eastern coast Sunday, a day after launching three short-range missiles in the same area, officials said.Translated from the Norks' sign language, it probably means that the situation is defused and the world can rest for a few months now. Still, one has to wonder: what will be a normal country's equivalent of firing three missiles and one "projectile" into the sea for no discernible purpose? I guess something like "Prime Minister of ... was photographed urinating from the balcony of his residence" will do. Well, any…

• To scientists at Harvad university

  SnoopyTheGoon

  18 May 2013 | 11:40 pm

  Dear Sir/Madam, I acknowledge hereby the receipt of your e-mail with the following subject (click to open fully): Please be aware that your insinuations about my appearance ("ugly guy") will be addressed by a libel lawsuit for a considerable amount - as soon as my legal representatives establish the location of Harvad university. Simply put: we'll show you who is ugly. Your humble servant.

• Is the Venezuelan revolution going down the crapper?

  SnoopyTheGoon

  18 May 2013 | 9:00 pm

  Amen to that. Oh, and anyhow it's the NorteAmericanos whodunit.

• And he considers it a compliment!

  SnoopyTheGoon

  18 May 2013 | 8:00 pm

  I mean this: The man obviously is ignorant of the ancient joke about the walking eagle* . Details. (*) In this case the joke was applied to Blair, but it is so old that no politician of any standing escaped it.

• Grizzly bear ate his GoPro camera

  SnoopyTheGoon

  18 May 2013 | 10:52 am

  Call me a coward, but I prefer to watch the bear's dentistry from the comfort of my chair. I've also looked up that GoPro widget. Oh well... as far as I am concerned, that grizzly can have it.

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  this time - this space

• Top Ten Tips for Summer Hair Care

  timethief

  16 May 2013 | 8:59 pm

  I love the water. While floating on my back in a pool, I realized I was feeling something wonderfully soothing – something I haven’t felt for years. It was the feeling of my hair floating and flowing with waves. After I left the pool and shampooed and conditioned my hair I began wondering how long […]

• Health and Wellness Update

  timethief

  9 May 2013 | 8:13 pm

  I’m looking forward to a stress free future.  My plan to elevate my moods by retraining my brain and remaining mindful is working very well. Mindfulness points to being aware of and attentive to the moment in which we find ourselves. While mindfulness is a generalization about paying attention and being aware in the present […]

• Happiness is Spring

  timethief

  4 May 2013 | 8:52 pm

  April has come and gone in a flurry of activity. The theme of the month was the title of this post. You can train your brain to become happier and that’s my intention. I do get by with help from friends, who provide excellent advice such as  15 Positive Tips to Be Happy right NOW!, and […]

• Half the truth is no truth at all

  timethief

  20 Apr 2013 | 3:11 pm

  This post is inspired by Here Comes the Sun published by my friend Nancy, who I love dearly. It’s dedicated to all those who have met their ugly other and learned to love her/him because until we do that we are not in a position to love so-called “difficult” people. Please read Nancy’s post before […]

• Looking Forward a Stress Free Future

  timethief

  14 Apr 2013 | 12:23 pm

  Last autumn was a good time to renew my strategy for the future because I recognized there is no magic potion that will guarantee a long, healthy life. I made an assessment of where I was at and where I wanted to be. The year had been less than stellar. I moved from grief to […]

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  TIME GOES BY

• ELDER MUSIC: Songs About Cities - Memphis

  Ronni Bennett

  19 May 2013 | 5:30 am

  This Sunday Elder Music column was launched in December of 2008. By May of the following year, one commenter, Peter Tibbles, had added so much knowledge and value to my poor attempts at musical presentations that I asked him to take over the column. He's been here each week ever since delighting us with his astonishing grasp of just about everything musical, his humor and sense of fun. You can read Peter's bio here and find links to all his columns here. There are quite a few songs about Memphis which is good for me as I don’t have to try too hard to find things worth including. It’s more…

• INTERESTING STUFF – 18 May 2013

  Ronni Bennett

  18 May 2013 | 5:30 am

  DADDY IS SOOOO FUNNY There is not much that is better in life than a bunch of babies laughing and here are quadruplets who think daddy is the funniest thing ever. What I want to know is where daddy got that amazing quadruplets table. KIDS' FIRST TASTE Nikki Lindquist sent this sweet, little video of some kids' first tastes of grownup food. TWO-MINUTE SURVEY The MIT Age Lab has a two-minute survey for old people: “This is an exploratory survey to understand what concerns people may be thinking about today in anticipation of their life in older age. All responses are anonymous. You can take…

• Hair Today, Gone Tomorrow: Part 1

  Ronni Bennett

  17 May 2013 | 5:30 am

  My gradual balding, which I have mentioned in the past, becomes more noticeable by the day so because I am tired to death of thinking about it, over several months, I have spent serious time and effort looking for a solution. This, then, is a report on one old woman's odyssey in search of hair. Before I treat you to that narrative, let us be clear: nothing, not anything, zilch, zero, nada regrows hair in women (nor many men). Unless there is a medical cause, no matter what anyone tells you or what advertisements promise, it's all snakeoil. That said, two-percent Rogaine (minoxidil) for women…

• Forced Time Out

  Ronni Bennett

  16 May 2013 | 5:30 am

  Apparently, I have offended the gods of ordinary life. Yesterday was a disaster beginning at 5AM - even before the coffee was ready or the cat fed. To keep it short, there was no internet leading to the discovery of a dead router. It took an hour of tinkering and phone calls to deduce that the router was a goner and to revive the laptop internet connection via hard wire. Since life at Chez Bennett requires several Wi-Fi connections, a couple more hours were lost to researching how to buy a router (it had been seven or eight years since I had last done so), deciding how fancy a router I could…

• Elder Breast Cancer and Celebrities

  Ronni Bennett

  15 May 2013 | 5:30 am

  It's no secret that the risk of breast cancer increases with age but did you know that 80 percent of breast cancers are found in women older than 50, and 60 percent of them in women older than 65? It is also deadlier for old women. Those who are 75 and older die at a much higher rate from breast cancer than younger women. My mother was one of them. These thoughts came to mind yesterday after reading actor Angelina Jolie's Op-Ed story in The New York Times about her bilateral mastectomy. She chose it as a preventive measure because she carries the BRCA1 gene defect which sharply increases the…

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  GirlsAskGuys.com - Recent Questions

• Why does my ex refuse to delete my number?

  19 May 2013 | 2:25 pm

  Long story short, my ex and I have broken and gotten back together at least three times. We broke up recently because I was pushing for more of an official relationship (little things like texting and hanging out a bit more) and he ended it, saying he didn't want a relationship in general (which I assume means with me). He wanted to remain friends but I declined and the break up got kinda nasty from there. It's an extremely toxic relationship and I definitely need to be free from it. I'm pretty sure he doesn't give a damn about me because he makes no effort to show it.The problem is he always…

• How do I spare him temporarily?

  19 May 2013 | 2:24 pm

  I've decided to break up with my boyfriend of 4 months. He's a great guy, and goes out of his way for me but I think he's too much some times. We both have really important exams in 2 weeks, and he has a potential promotion at work which he needs to "study up" for in order to have a chance at it. I want to end things after the exams and he is promoted. How should I do it? Should I just end things now instead? If not should I still show him affection so he doesn't think anything is wrong and can still stay focused? I was thinking about still calling him babe and showing him that I care, but…

• Do love spells and luck spells really work in life?

  19 May 2013 | 2:24 pm

  I'm asking this to any Wicca' s who really know the religion , I did a love spell and know a few women are crashing on me and I also did A success spells and a record label showed interested in signing me BUT they already had to many artists and I got to do a interviews on some major blogs.

• I think my boyfriend is cheating on me with my sister. Should I break up with him?

  19 May 2013 | 2:21 pm

  They are always flirting with each other. What should I do?

• He hasn't texted me since we met

  19 May 2013 | 2:19 pm

  so for the past couple of weeks I've been talking to a guy on Facebook and a lot of times he would text me first and he alway tries to keep the conversation going..he told me he like me and I like him too so I told him.so we decided to hang out so we did.i was very shy kai stuff but then we started talking..well he was the one that was talking the most..he told me if I would give him a kiss so kissed him on the cheek and then he also kissed me ton the cheek..he was smiling a lot and we were talking about diferent things.at the end he didn't want me to go to my house alone so he brought me…

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  A n n a r c h y

• #ContentTools: Effortless Storytelling from Disney’s New Story App

  Ann Handley

  12 May 2013 | 8:39 am

  I love content creation tools that put wizard wands into the hands of Muggles. Instagram did this for photos, allowing mere mortals like me to create and share photos that were beautiful and expressive. Vine allows us to elegantly create short, 6-second videos through an intuitive interface. Takes is another neat mobile tool I particularly love for the way it effortlessly creates video by capturing the context around still photos. And now Disney has created a branded tool called Story that allows any of us (well, anyone with an iPhone) to effortlessly tell and share annotated narratives.

• Some Thoughts on Leaning In: Giving Context to the Soundbites

  Ann Handley

  7 Apr 2013 | 8:41 am

  Friday I had the opportunity to see Facebook COO Sheryl Sandberg speak at the Harvard Club of Boston. She was in town to promote her new book, Lean In: Women, Work, and the Will to Lead. Let me preface my comments with a preface: 1. Lean In the book had its roots in Sheryl’s 2010 TED talk. I’ve watched it a few times and shared it with a few important young women and teenagers in my life. I even referenced it in a talk I gave at Digitas once. But I hadn’t followed the more recent discussion around the subsequent book because, well, I’m busy. Much as I liked the…

• My Out Of Office Auto-Responder

  Ann Handley

  22 Feb 2013 | 10:27 am

  Well, this is a disappointment. You dispatch an email to me only to have a response immediately — Holy cats! An email back! You got an email back!! Then you realize it’s just a dumb auto-responder. Nothing remotely personal about it. The bitter truth rises in your gut when you realize: Ann’s on vacation — not holed up (as she usually is) just waiting for something to respond to. Like your email. Point being, I’m unavailable. (I just switched confusing between first and third person, if you noticed. Things are running fast and loose this week, aren’t they?)…

• 8 Things I Know About Christmas

  Ann Handley

  26 Dec 2012 | 11:10 am

  Live-blogging the birth. 1. It’s not a major holiday until the smoke detector goes off. Joyeux Leon 2. My favorite holidays feel like hibernating. But with better food. And sometimes, presents. 3. The proper attire for Christmas dinner is jammies. 4. Under Armor is the greatest invention ever for the perpetually cold. And by “perpetually cold” I mean “me.” 5. Who isn’t at the celebration is as important as who is. Loss may be part of life, but most of the year we carry any absence deeper within us – many of us carry it well enough that it’s barely discernible to the naked eye.

• I Don’t Want to Go, But I Can’t Wait to Get There

  Ann Handley

  25 Nov 2012 | 10:05 am

  “You can want one thing and have a secret wish for its opposite.” ―Deb Caletti, The Six Rules of Maybe Tonight I leave on an 8 PM flight for a six-day trip from Boston, Massachusetts, to Istanbul, Turkey. It’s a 10-hour flight—almost 5,000 miles—and when I say it’s a world away I mean it both literally and figuratively. I woke up uncharacteristically early this morning, pre-dawn, and as the sun broke over the trees and slowly swabbed the sky from pink to red to blue, I thought, “I don’t want to go.” And then, almost immediately, I thought,…

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  Citizen of the Month

• Central Park

  Neil

  7 May 2013 | 2:17 pm

  Bethesda Fountain Catching the Bubble The Great Lawn Balloons for Sale! The Lake Roller Skating to the Music The Carousel Big Bird Taking a Stroll The Sun Sets

• The Last Call

  Neil

  30 Apr 2013 | 9:12 am

  I haven’t spoken to Sophia in three months. I have been reluctant to mention this to you, fearing you think I am hopelessly pining for us to get back together, which is not the case at all.  But I’m a sentimental fool, and I was still hoping for a different sort of ending to our long journey together, one where we could joke with each other about our new lives post-divorce, like two ex-lovers in a romantic comedy. Instead, we burned bridges. I was depressed about this for a month, as if the past dozen years were a waste of my time, but as time crept on, I acknowledged that…

• Write What You Know

  Neil

  28 Apr 2013 | 1:44 pm

  for the Absence of Alternatives - Sherry called me about the blog post that I emailed her earlier that day.  I had asked her to read it before I published it. “You cannot publish this,” she said. “Why not?” She read me the last paragraph of my piece over the phone.  Her voice had a tone of shrill mockery. “Jason walked up to the plate, the baseball bat in his tiny outstretched hand. It was at that moment, the fifth inning of second game of the Queens County Peewee Little League season,  that I saw my son become a man, confident and assured, a true athlete, a…

• News Cycle

  Neil

  23 Apr 2013 | 11:02 am

  First, we were horrified at the Boston bombing. Then, progressives hoped he was a white nut job so Fox news couldn’t blame it on Islam.  Then conservatives hoped he was Muslim, so liberals would accept the importance of the “war on terror.” Then we became sentimental about running, marathons,  and the great city of Boston.  Then we debated whether we should even call them terrorists. Then we all insisted that we hold judgement until the suspects were proven guilty.  Then we talked about them anyway. Then we laughed at how stupid the media looked in handling the entire…

• The Sequence That They Edited Out From the Dove Video

  Neil

  17 Apr 2013 | 3:50 am

  The Title of this article from Hollywood.com says it all, “Dove Video PROVES women are more beautiful than they think!” Click here to view the embedded video. But was it truly proven? Citizen of the Month was able to obtain certain material that was edited out of the final video, such as this interview with LAURA, a thirty-five year old accountant and mother of two from North Hollywood, California. Dove: “A forensic artist wants to draw a sketch of you. He is hidden in another room. Please describe yourself to him.” Laura: “Well, let’s see. I am decent…

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  Simply Stated Blogs

• How To Protect Your Hair at the Pool

  Julia Edelstein

  17 May 2013 | 1:15 pm

  Who cares if it’s still only spring? We’re already thinking about our first summer swim—and we want our readers to be prepared. So when you’re in and out of the pool, use these surprising tips from celebrity hairstylist Kristan Serafino to protect your hair. Before swimming, wet down and condition (but don’t rinse!) your hair. The conditioner will act as protective […]

• Extend The Life Of Your Shoes

  rebeccadaly

  17 May 2013 | 10:51 am

  Leather-soled shoes don’t stand up so well to all the wear-and-tear they’ll eventually take. Rough surfaces like pavement destroy them surprisingly quickly. Keep your shoes in top condition by having them fitted with rubber soles by a cobbler—these come in a variety of colors (including black and yes, even red for those Louboutins) and are so thin they don’t alter […]

• Smart Product: Built NY Picnic Bag Available for Pre-Order

  Kristin Appenbrink

  17 May 2013 | 7:05 am

  I don’t normally like to feature items that aren’t available immediately, but I love this new picnic tote from Built NY too much to wait. It looks just like a regular tote, doesn’t it? But…it unfolds into this: It’s everything you need for an outdoor meal in one tote. The bag includes: 4 sets of plates, flatware, and wine glasses. […]

• Today’s Thought

  rsdailythought

  17 May 2013 | 4:30 am

  Get the daily thought in your inbox. See more inspiring quotes on our Pinterest board. What’s Hot on RealSimple.com 6 Smart Buys for Your Makeup Bag 16 Tips for an Effortless Outdoor Party Coping With Bad Behavior at the Gym Filed under: Daily Thought

• How to Get Your Eyeliner Straight

  Kristin Appenbrink

  16 May 2013 | 1:25 pm

  It’s a good thing no one watches me put on my eyeliner or mascara everyday, I end up making the funniest faces. There’s something about putting on eye makeup that requires me to have my mouth agape. (Those silly faces actually do help. See our gallery of tips, How to Apply Makeup Well.) Eyeliner (especially liquid) can be the trickiest […]

• 

  Are We Still Cool?

• Cool Dad’s Most Listened To Song in the Last 3 Months: “Don’t Just Sit There” by Lucius

  Cool Dad

  18 May 2013 | 5:38 pm

  Lucius at Knitting Factory Brooklyn (photo: Eric Corpus) Ever since seeing Lucius open for The Lone Bellow a few months back, I’ve been hooked on their ’60s-flavored indie pop. They have a self-titled EP out, with a full album coming hopefully later in the year. You can read more about the band in this feature I wrote for Brewing Culture. “Don’t Just Sit There,” with its syrup sweet melody and harmonies, has gotten cozy in my head for the last 3 months. This post has an affiliate link, coded with love. Related posts: See Photos from the 11 Years of the Tribute…

• Focus on the Family Friendly Playlists

  Cool Dad

  17 May 2013 | 1:31 pm

  This video was shot in 2007 and then posted in 2010, but it’s going viral just now. In it, two-year-old Penelope sings Pearl Jam’s “Elderly Woman Behind the Counter in a Small Town.” I bought that CD, Vs., from Wal-Mart the day it came out in 1993, and I still don’t know the words! Props to li’l Penelope for matching Eddie Vedder line by line. And +10 Cool Points to her family for playing good music in the car. I recently talked to a friend whose band makes great music but got no interest from the Christian music industry. Their music was deemed “too…

• Looking for a Cool Minivan? Here are 6 of Them!

  Cool Dad

  16 May 2013 | 7:08 am

  My friend Heather posted this to Facebook yesterday: Pretty great bumper sticker on a minivan tonight: “I used to be cool.” I don’t know the owner of said minivan, but I hope s/he’s not implying that simply owning a minivan robs one of Cool Points. My first car was a minivan, a brown Plymouth Voyager with vinyl woodgrain paneling on the sides that gave it a natural, Bear Grylls kind of sexiness. It pretty much looked like this: And look at how cool I was!  Now, in addition to not knowing the owner of the minivan Heather spotted, I also don’t know anything about…

• The Week in Pictures, May 15

  Cool Dad

  15 May 2013 | 5:08 pm

  Here are the photograms I posted to Instagraph over the last week. Er, you know what I mean. Included are captions and a little context. Stand back. When waiting for the subway, do not lean over to see when the train is coming. Don’t even stand on the yellow warning section.  An Instagram of the Cool Fam looking at my Instagram. So meta. (With Noah doing his best Moses impression.) Please tell me someone gets the Moses joke. So I have a few tabs open Part of my work involves reaching out to bloggers. That means opening a lot of tabs at once. It also means frustration when one of the…

• Are You Visiting NYC This Summer?

  Cool Dad

  14 May 2013 | 11:58 am

  The Cool Fam is getting their summer plans together, which may include a trip or two west, and, if Cool Newbie gets his wish, to Super Why’s “Book Club” headquarters. Honestly, that sounds pretty fun except that I’d feel awkward socializing with Alpha Pig, knowing how much bacon I’ve consumed over the years. What about you — any cool summer plans in the works? Specifically, are any Cool Readers visiting New York City, whether for fun, mission trip or representing your nation state at a U.N. General Assembly? Related posts: Three Scenes from Summer Streets…

• 

  Truer Words - A Journal

• Still Riding

  19 May 2013 | 5:05 am

  I still ride a lot. I can't believe it's been five years since I posted my rides here, though. These days I track my rides on Strava. The weather has been extremely weird this year, as we've only had a few warm days and it's already the second half of May. That's resulted in less riding than I'd like, but to be honest I think I say something like that every year). And the current weather report shows rain... rain, and more rain. Starting late morning and lasting through next Saturday. Since the weatherpersons are always right, it looks like I won't be back on the bike again for a week.

• La Mort, C'est La Vie

  30 Jan 2013 | 1:02 pm

  It never seems to become any easier. Like most people, I've said goodbye to my share of pets. Maybe more than my share, since we bred Birmans for a few years. The mortality rate of pure-bred kittens is, sadly, higher than with the mixed breeds. Plus there's the simple fact that they all die, eventually. Unlike most people, though, I've also said goodbye to a stepson. Almost a decade later, the pain of Shane's death is indescribable. The loss of a child changes you, permanently, providing a perspective on life that isn't available any other way. (How much worse for Corinne, his mother…) Then…

• Answering the Question, “Did I Swallow a Baseball?”

  4 Dec 2012 | 5:17 pm

  The short answer to the question, “Hey, Seth, you look like you tried to swallow a baseball and it got stuck! Did you?” is, in fact, "Hah! No." I don't blame you for wondering, though. The list of weird stuff that people unintentionally or unknowingly swallow starts with spiders and then gets weird. A baseball wouldn't be much of a stretch. The long answer is as follows. Saturday I worked at the hall with about a third of the ecclesia, cleaning up both inside and outside. We'd let the brush encroach on the yard a bit (a lot) too much, so most of my time was spent outside. After stacking…

• 2011 Was a Good Year

  31 Dec 2011 | 7:55 pm

  The year two thousand eleven has come and gone. It was a good year. Not perfect, but lots of happy memories. Lots of learning, lots of work, lots of time with Corinne and Lauren, even some solid time spent with Mike, and Richie and my parents. Some very weird stuff happened with a friend who's now gone, and some new friendships were started. I spent less time on the bike and behind the camera, but have more resources to take care of my family and to help out where I see the need. I've learned I can't do everything, but for 2012 I'd like to shift my personal, work-hobby balance just slightly…

• The Friends We Never Meet

  6 Oct 2011 | 5:47 am

  I have so many things I'd like to say about last night's news. So many people with a more direct connection to Steve Jobs are saying their piece right now that my saying anything at all feels a bit silly. So be it. I'll keep this short. My connection was nearly life long — 30+ years — but very indirect. I saw him in person once, but never met him. My first mac was a 512 Ke in late 1985 or early 86, but I fell in love with the 128 when I saw it at a computer store sometime in 1984. MacPaint was on the screen, and someone had drawn an elephant. For years I'd been programming in basic on a…

• 

  turnings :: daniel berlinger

• Hosting a Mac mini as a Jenkins continuous integration server

  Daniel

  19 May 2013 | 8:01 am

  Macminicolo – Hosting a Mac mini as a Jenkins continuous integration server: A good development workflow is critical to producing a high-quality app, especially if there is more than one developer involved. At Day One our current team is comprised of four full time developers and one designer. The great majority of our work is focused on our Mac and iOS apps. [Nice.]

• Strongbox and Aaron Swartz : The New Yorker

  Daniel

  17 May 2013 | 12:46 pm

  Strongbox and Aaron Swartz : The New Yorker: Aaron Swartz was not yet a legend when, almost two years ago, I asked him to build an open-source, anonymous in-box. His achievements were real and varied, but the events that would come to define him to the public were still in his future: his federal criminal indictment; his leadership organizing against the censorious Stop Online Piracy Act; his suicide in a Brooklyn apartment. I knew him as a programmer and an activist, a member of a fairly small tribe with the skills to turn ideas into code—another word for action—and the sensibility to…

• → Tail wagging

  Daniel

  13 May 2013 | 3:05 pm

  → Tail wagging: Matt Gemmell on skeuomorphism and intuitive design: Matt, a programmer by trade, addresses the skeuomorphism debate more effectively than most designers I’ve heard arguing about it. [Here's my pull quote:] Children don’t seem to be having problems grasping those concepts, even if Jakob Neilsen thinks they should. They’re not confused by interactive data-surfaces; they’re frustrated when actual, printed content in the physical world doesn’t respond the way they now expect it to. Intuitiveness has become unhelpfully conflated with familiarity. The reasoning is…

• When Everyone is an Eye-Witness, What is a Journalist?

  Daniel

  2 May 2013 | 4:56 pm

  When Everyone is an Eye-Witness, What is a Journalist? | Storyful Blog: Yet, from the vantage point of the social web, there was no apparent need for a third person to mediate. In the blatant first-person world of YouTube and Twitter, we all get to decide the meaning. That concept strikes fear into the heart of those who believe there is eternal value in journalism. Even those of us who have mastered the tools of the social age have a deep ambivalence about where they are taking us. On the night of the Boston bombings, my Twitter timeline was filled with the ambivalent cry of those who saw…

• Make intersections safer by removing stoplights

  Daniel

  26 Apr 2013 | 4:53 am

  Make intersections safer by removing stoplights: Cars were moving too fast through an intersection in the town of Poynton in England, so they took out the stoplights & walk signals and replaced the intersection with an unusual double roundel design. The result is a mixed-use space with slower moving car traffic and safer pedestrian traffic. [Been talking about this for years. Once pointed out, this seemingly counter intuitive move works every time. I apply the same thinking to many situations. Rules that run counter to desire fail. In this case, they did a brilliant job.]

• 

  Apartment Life

• Moving Checklist: Moving with Kids

  admin

  16 May 2013 | 2:12 pm

  Moving with children in tow can be tricky.  A moving checklist can be incredibly helpful in simplifying the moving process.  Whether you are moving across town or across the country, there are lots of changes that come with a move for the family.  New schools, new friends, new home—all will take some adjustment.  In keeping with our National Moving Month theme, here is ApartmentSearch’s moving checklist with top tips for moving with kids. Talk About the Move The first item on your moving checklist should be a discussion with the whole family about the move.  Moving can be hard on…

• Choosing Movers: A Moving Checklist for National Moving Month

  admin

  9 May 2013 | 9:26 am

  Did you know that May is National Moving Month?  It’s true!  In honor of the month that marks the beginning of moving season, ApartmentSearch has compiled a moving checklist that can help you find the right moving company.  In total, the U.S. Census estimates that over 37 million Americans move per year.  Unfortunately, many are subject to moving scams that cost them time and money and make the already complicated process of moving even more frustrating.  In fact, in 2012 the Better Business Bureau received more than 555,000 moving-related inquiries.  Keep reading for a moving…

• What to Do When Downsizing Apartments

  admin

  1 May 2013 | 5:52 am

  Maybe you are embarking on a short-term move, or downsizing in favor of lower rent, or trading a small apartment for a big backyard.  Whatever your reason for downsizing your living space, know that small apartments still have big potential for happy apartment living.  Moving to a smaller apartment doesn’t have to be a downer!  In fact, downsizing is actually a great opportunity to rethink the way you live.  Here are ApartmentSearch’s best tips for downsizing your apartment. Evaluate Your Apartment’s Belongings It’s time to take a serious look at all of your apartment’s…

• Items on an Eco-Friendly Moving Checklist

  admin

  25 Apr 2013 | 10:05 am

  Moving is a stressful process for everyone involved… but did you know that moving can also be hard on the environment? Before you assemble your moving checklist, remember that there are plenty of things you can do during your move that will eliminate waste. Here are some things can put on your moving checklist  in order to make your move a little more Earth-friendly. 1. Use Earth-Friendly Packing Materials The first step on your “green” moving checklist should be to find some eco-friendly packing materials. This could be something as simple as obtaining your cardboard boxes from…

• Find an Apartment as a First-Time Student Renter

  admin

  18 Apr 2013 | 2:49 am

  Final exams are fast-approaching, and college students are probably more focused on making it through tests than starting to find an apartment.  However, it’s important to start the search as early as you can, especially if you are a college freshman or sophomore and are renting your first college apartment.  Apartments aren’t usually available for more than two months before your preferred move-in date, so time your search accordingly.  Here are some tips for first-time student apartment-seekers. What Do You Want? Before you start the search to find an apartment, it’s important to…

• 

  Reality Me

• A disturbance in the force

  Doug McCaughan

  14 May 2013 | 6:38 am

  As if millions of teenage boys suddenly cried out in terror and were suddenly silenced. Actress Angelina Jolie has undergone a preventive double mastectomy, she revealed Tuesday in The New York Times. [Source, Huffington Post, Double Mastectomy: Why Angelina Jolie Had Breast Removal Surgery]

• Happy Mother’s Day!

  Doug McCaughan

  12 May 2013 | 6:21 am

  In particular, I want to thank the love of my life, Cathy, for being such an awesome mother to our children! Additionally, I am so lucky to have been raised by a great, caring mother who made me a priority. I am fortunate to have a fantastic mother-in-law in our children lives. And I have a wonder grandmother who never misses a birthday. There have been so many other mother figures and mothers in my life and my children’s lives that I would have to type all day simply to recognize them all. Happy Mother’s Day! This goes out to all. Mothers come in all forms, with or without child,…

• Yard work…befuddles my children and pets

  Doug McCaughan

  12 May 2013 | 6:16 am

  I finally bit the bullet and purchased a new lawnmower. My yard kills these things. It has been a looong time since we have cut our grass. The dogs are outside with me with the most perplexed looks on their faces. I can read their thoughts: "I don’t know what he’s doing… but it sure is going to make pooping easier."

• The Excitement of Excrement

  Doug McCaughan

  12 May 2013 | 6:13 am

  Seeing the first cat turd in a new liter box is almost as exciting as discovering your newborn’s first poopie in their diaper.

• Help Me Internet, You’re Our Only Hope

  Doug McCaughan

  9 May 2013 | 6:47 pm

  An American Seating Envoy school desk sits in our dining room. Our children used to study here. As an authentic school desk, it had seen its fair amount of usage. Years of students leaning on the desk stressed the weld and bent the support. As Cathy refinished the wood and re-painted the metal, I searched for someone to straighten or replace the support and spot weld the broken joint. A friend stepped up, and offered to handle it for me. And then I never saw the desktop again… His job changed. He quit coming to the coffee house where we shared more conversations. Then he quit answering…

• 

  This Eclectic Life

• Fires Shaped Early Denton

  Shelly Kneupper Tucker

  6 May 2013 | 11:46 am

  [As I dig through Denton's history at the museums and the Emily Fowler Library, always in search of tales for a history/mystery tour of Denton, I have become fascinated by the fires that shaped our town and its history. In the years from 1860 to 1895, there were fourteen major fires on the square that sometimes destroyed an entire block of businesses and homes. While all of them were devastating, a few of the fires had such an impact on the community that they deserve mention.] “FIRE!” That was a common cry in the early days of Denton, when most of the buildings were constructed…

• Hello, Operator.

  Shelly Kneupper Tucker

  29 Apr 2013 | 8:34 am

  Imagine going back in time to when having a telephone was a luxury! The unidentified man in the picture above was obviously proud of his. I suppose it was a status symbol, as there weren’t a lot of telephones around in the early days of Denton, Texas. In fact, the Denton Chronicle reported in May of 1896: “The Denton Telephone Company now has its exchange in and about 50 lines in successful operation. The phones are a great convenience in both business houses and residences.” Fifty telephones? The one on the far left in the picture above was probably one of the first. It’s a…

• Denton Firefighter’s Museum, One Of Denton’s Best Kept Secrets.

  Shelly Kneupper Tucker

  17 Apr 2013 | 10:17 am

  I had gone to Denton’s Central Fire Station for a political forum hosted by the firefighters. If you knew me, you wouldn’t be surprised that I was distracted by some historical pictures on the wall. They depicted Denton’s firefighters in the early 1900s and the very sight of them had me antsy for more. Instead of paying attention to local politics, I pranced over to a fireman and politely asked, “Do y’all have any other historic pictures?” Why, yes, Ma’am,” he replied. “Just step around the corner to our museum.” Museum??? I had no clue there was a firefighter’s museum…

• Sam Bass. The Robin Hood of Texas.

  Shelly Kneupper Tucker

  14 Apr 2013 | 2:42 pm

  He looks like a pretty dapper fellow in the old photos, but Sam Bass was an outlaw … pure and simple. Yes, there are many stories about him, calling him “The Robin Hood of Texas,” because it is said that he was swift to share the spoils of his crimes with folks who were down on their luck. There is also a ballad (or two) about Sam. Many towns lay claim to him, but Sam Bass has a special connection to Denton … it’s really where he got started in crime! In fact, rumor has it that his ghost — and the ghost of his childhood friend/nemesis — still hang…

• Whiskey for Peanuts

  Shelly Kneupper Tucker

  13 Apr 2013 | 1:21 pm

  My hometown of Denton, Texas is known for having some quirky characters, and that has always been the case. In the late 1800s, it was a bit wild (although some would say that has never changed). According to Kim Cupit, the Curator of Collections at our Courthouse-on-the-Square Museum, there were as many saloons on the square back then as there are restaurants, coffee shops, and bars today. For a small town, that is a LOT of saloons! “Back in the days when Sam Bass rode through the streets and records were kept in a two story frame court house, one of the shrewdest people in business…

• 

  sex and the beach

• Get Out Your Frying Pan! Lionfish Is What’s For Dinner

  Maria de los Angeles

  19 May 2013 | 9:10 am

  This beautiful fish is wreaking havoc in its non-native environment.  Photo via Wikipedia.Last month, I attended the First Annual Lionfish Food and Wine Night at Key Largo’s Fish House Encore, hosted by REEF, a grassroots organization devoted to marine conservation. The house was packed at this exclusive gourmet event, where locals and tourists alike were eager to learn about lionfish.Lionfish are gorgeous, dramatic-looking finny creatures, with elongated spines that jut out from their frames in mottled shades of red, orange, white and black. In the water, the spines sway gently in a…

• Silicone Bitch: Gordon Ramsey of Kitchen Nightmares and ABC Bake Bistro Are All Reality TV Whores

  Maria de los Angeles

  15 May 2013 | 7:55 am

  Silicone Bitch has been quiet for a while, but she's coming back! We've got some really juicy stories on our editorial calendar.Of recent interest is a social media publicity scandal involving an Arizona restaurant -- Amy’s Baking Company Bakery Boutique & Bistro -- whose Facebook page caught fire in a flame war involving public reaction to a reality TV show segment on Kitchen Nightmares.Read the whole "alleged" story on Buzzfeed.What puzzles me the most is that the general public, many of them commenters on Facebook, seemed to have tacitly accepted reality TV as "real," when…

• R & R - Romp and Relaxation in Key West for the Romantically Challenged

  Maria de los Angeles

  4 May 2013 | 7:41 am

  The view from one of the rooftop terraces at The Reach. Simply divine.“Been there, done that, but in a good way.” That’s what I often say of many destinations I keep going back to, picking only favorite restaurants, bars and beaches to visit while I’m there. Key West is like that for me and although I love trying new things, it’s a small island and I’ve gotten to know folks there, so sometimes, I feel like a Miami expat local.

Mandatory stops usually include The Rum Bar to say hello to bartender and rum expert Bahama Bob and sip on one of his legendary cocktails; Café Solé…

• About Joseph, Jesus and Then A Guy Whose Name I Can’t Even Pronounce Because It Has a Silent T

  Maria de los Angeles

  17 Apr 2013 | 6:59 pm

  I was with someone for eight months named Joseph. I loved him dearly. It ended.  Well, he ended it. But that’s not what this story is about.This is about lifting yourself up from the ground no sooner than you fall.  I used to ice skate, remember? You fall. So what? Get up and continue gliding on ice with your entire body -- which in my case involves a large, luscious Cuban ass and some nice tatas – yeah, all of that good womanhood hoisted upon on a tiny sliver of metal.See? It’s a metaphor for life. I put my entire weight on it. I put my entire faith in this relationship. But…

• Romancing the Keys: Escape From Miami at Hilton Key Largo Resort

  Maria de los Angeles

  3 Apr 2013 | 2:21 pm

  No, it's not the Caribbean. But pretty damn close. Thank heaven for that.In my never-ending search for Miami getaways -- folks, that means I want to get away from Miami, not tourists coming to Miami -- I discovered the Hilton Key Largo Resort.  It all happened while I was organizing the annual unconference SxSe, aka South by Southeast. Mind you, that was a social media tweetup with a bunch of local geeks, yet I couldn’t help but notice how darn romantic this property was, nestled on the west side of a very narrow strip of key. And because I was so impressed, I'm including it in my…

• 

  verbatim

• Silver White Winters That Melt into Springs*

  Karen

  16 May 2013 | 6:12 pm

  *As Mark pointed out last time, this is the last line of "My Favorite Things," but that doesn't mean that this will be the last list of my favorite things. I'll just have to think of some clever new way of presenting them.  1. Here are some truly heart-wrenching problems posted on Twitter and illustrated with stock photography. 2. Speaking of stock photos, here's an ode to them (via Fritinancy). 3. A Boston Herald reporter's video camera was lost after the Boston Marathon bombing; it was returned to her 3 weeks later. Let's watch.  4. You may have heard…

• Books

  Karen

  14 May 2013 | 6:17 pm

  Last Friday Barbara invited me to the library's annual author luncheon, which this year featured William Landay, author of Defending Jacob (which I reviewed here) and Randy Susan Meyers, author of The Comfort of Lies. Both are extremely pleasant and engaging speakers, which I guess is why they do these things! I know that some authors are painfully shy and can't bear the thought of trying to entertain a crowd (even a crowd of library lovers). The Comfort of Lies is another book that I likely wouldn't have read if I hadn't been going to this event. I liked it, though. It…

• Chance Meeting

  Karen

  12 May 2013 | 6:09 pm

  A few weeks ago I had a really nice copyediting project. It’s a memoir called A Thousand Hills to Heaven, written by a man named Josh Ruxin, who goes with his wife Alissa to Rwanda to help set up new health clinics, revamp the farming system, etc., as part of the UN’s Millennium Villages project. While there, Josh and Alissa not only have three kids but also decide to start a gourmet restaurant, in large part to help create jobs. The restaurant is called Heaven, and it soon becomes one of the top restaurants in all of Africa, let alone Rwanda. The book is lovely, mostly because pretty…

• Snowflakes That Stay on My Nose and Eyelashes

  Karen

  3 May 2013 | 10:57 am

  These are a few of my favorite things: 1. The Dropkick Murphys are played a lot in Boston anyhow, but especially right after the Boston Marathon bombing. I only just learned that the lyrics to "I'm Shipping Up to Boston" come from Woody Guthrie! Really! 2. If you have just about had it with this week, try watching this for a bit. (via CopyCurmudgeon) 3. A couple weeks ago, the Associate Press's Twitter feed was hacked, and a bogus tweet about a White House explosion went out to the millions. I didn't see the tweet until after I'd already heard about the hacking,…

• Milestones

  Karen

  1 May 2013 | 5:21 pm

  I mentioned that Pete turned 14 a couple of weeks ago, which is of course impossible because he's still 4 in my mind. He's just a really tall 4-year-old. Even more impossible: I turned 51 the following week, even though I can't imagine I'm older than 27, 28 max. My Dad turned 85 yesterday, and my niece 25 a couple days before that. Where do the years go? Perhaps just as inconceivable is the fact that I launched this blog more than 9 years ago (d'oh, forgot my own blogiversary in March!), and here I still am. And, much more importantly, here you still are, tuning in to…

• 

  Magpie Musing

• The Only Crowns I Have Were Put In By My Dentist

  Magpie

  10 May 2013 | 1:58 pm

  You know that I'm the kind of cranky feminist who gets all in a twist about things like the tarting up of Merida and why do Monster High dolls exist and no, little girls shouldn't dress like sluts, and nor should they be wearing lip gloss. On the other hand, the totally stylin', fancy-sneakered, well-coifed, thirty-something guy who sashayed down Broadway this morning with this tote bag slung over his shoulder absolutely made my day. But, I want to unpack this. I'd be appalled if someone handed my nine year old an "Always Wear Your Invisible Crown" bag or sweatshirt. No, you're not a secret…

• Unexpected Inutility

  Magpie

  6 May 2013 | 7:44 am

  While I'm all for energy efficient light bulbs, I've never been fond of those spiral compact fluorescents. The shape is often wrong for a fixture, and the color temperature is too cold and blue, and you really don't want to have to look at them. But the LED bulbs that are starting to be available are much better: the shape and size is pretty close to an old-style incandescent bulb, the color is warmer, they go on instantly, and they're dimmable. [They are, however, exceedingly spendy up front.] I flipped on my office desk task light this morning, and poof! The incandescent bulb expired. When…

• On Pigs and Birds

  Magpie

  3 May 2013 | 1:28 pm

  I stayed out late the other night, because when you get invited to a prosciutto tasting, you go. At least I do. I took my walker with me, because he’s always the perfect date, and we drank prosciutto-flavored cocktails (too sweet), and tasted four different aged prosciuttos* (from 18 months to 46 months), and ate lovely nibbles (foie gras! porchetta!), and finished with prosciutto-flavored panna cotta (delicious). All in all, it was splendid – a beautiful night, a lovely restaurant, and a whole mess of delectable pig. My only disappointment was that the very heavy goody bag** did not…

• Wordless Wednesday: Cage in Sun

  Magpie

  1 May 2013 | 2:21 pm

• An Explanation Of My Absence

  Magpie

  26 Apr 2013 | 7:26 am

  Busy busy busy. Reading a 962 page library book. Busy busy busy. Running for the library board. Busy busy busy. Discovering rot underneath the failed stucco while the house is being worked on. Busy busy busy. (Unbloggable.) Busy busy busy. Having a much-needed and totally fun party to show off the WiiU and drink wine with friends on a Saturday night. (Thanks, Nintendo!) Busy busy busy.

• 

  Kam Family Blog

• Good Morning from Hawaii, the Big Island

  Nathan Kam

  27 Apr 2013 | 12:05 pm

  So many incredible bays and beaches along Kona’s Alii Drive. Life is short. Take a moment to stop and enjoy the scenery. -NGK Filed under: Hawaii, the Big Island, Hawaiian Islands, Travel Tagged: beaches, Hawaii Island

• Beautiful and Fun Aulani, a Disney Resort on Oahu

  Nathan Kam

  18 Apr 2013 | 8:00 am

  The Kam Family enjoyed a much needed “staycation” at Aulani, a Disney Resort this past weekend. We used the occasion to celebrate Avery’s 3rd birthday and took full advantage of most of the resort’s amenities. It was a wonderful two-night stay gifted to us by my awesome mom. More on all of this in a […]

• Meet Ron Finley: Guerilla Gardner in South Central L.A.

  Nathan Kam

  14 Mar 2013 | 9:00 am

  “Growing your own food is like printing your own money,” just one of the great lines Ron Finley delivered during his inspiring TED talk. The other one that I vividly remember was at the end of this presentation when he told the crowd to “Go grow some shit!” If you’re looking for a fresh perspective […]

• Eat This: Country and City Loaves by Breadshop’s Chris Sy

  Nathan Kam

  22 Feb 2013 | 1:30 am

  As I was preparing to write about local baker Christopher Sy’s incredible Breadshop sourdough breads (country loaf pictured above), it dawned on me that was a foolish idea. Why? Because my post would have said pretty much what HONOLULU Dining Editor Martha Cheng wrote in her detailed Biting Commentary column last year titled “The best […]

• Eat This: Sheila G’s Brownie Brittle from Costco

  Nathan Kam

  20 Feb 2013 | 9:56 am

  My simple advice to you is get a bag (or two) of this delicious Brownie Brittle the next time you’re at Costco or Don Quijote. Why? Well, if you typically reach for the crunchy corner pieces in the brownie pan like I do, you’ll absolutely love these crisp and decadent snacks. As the package reads, […]

• 

  Life Candy

• 6th Annual Life Candy Freebie 5: Who's on *your* list?

  Nenette AM

  5 May 2013 | 7:57 pm

  It's the 5th day of the 5th month!  Yay!  It's the most wonderful time of the year!!!  It's time, my sweeties, for the Top 5 List! You must now seriously consider who to put on your list of 5 celebrities you have permission to fool around with and not get put in the doghouse.  Think carefully, people.  This is a big decision.  DON'T SCREW IT UP! Okay, it's all in fun obviously, so if you get arrested for stalking Ryan Reynolds, Jennifer Lawrence or Mr.T,  you're kinda on your own.  I love y'all, so really, just don't do it. Anyway, you can check…

• And this time, she means business.

  Nenette AM

  28 Apr 2013 | 9:40 am

  So, the Bikini Bootcamp I'm doing right now (see previous post) is going really well!  Doing another 30-day.  Started last Monday the 15th.  And when I checked on Friday, I found that I had already dropped 7lbs and 8.25" of icky toxic fat.  And it's not just that!  I just look less icky now. Seriously, have a look at me on Day 10... Me on cleanse day trying stuff with my phone upstairs while my fam ate dinner. I'd made chicken piccata. Note the clear skin, healthy pink glow, the bright shiny coat and the bright eyes.  Look, even my hand's not as puffy!

• It's time. Right now.

  Nenette AM

  16 Apr 2013 | 10:56 am

  I've been in a state of blah these past few months.  It started off with the usual hibernation that starts right after Christmas.  It's supposed to lift when the snow melts, but because the scene outside my house still looks like this,... Does this look like Spring to you people?! ... I'm still feeling sleepy, dozy, and still blah.  It's supposed to be Spring, for crying out loud!!! I should be in my short shorts!  I should be in my flip flops!  I should NOT be still wearing my winter coat -- even though I totally rock that coat and look freakin' awesome in it!

• better late...

  Nenette AM

  25 Feb 2013 | 11:50 am

  Happy 2013!  Hope it's been fabulous so far! Written by Nenette AM, exclusively for lifecandy.net

• a look back at 2012.

  Nenette AM

  31 Dec 2012 | 1:20 pm

  I know I was rather absent from my online home for the past year, wasn't I? Yeah, bad Nenette. But that only means that I was busy LIVING life rather than writing about it. And did I ever live it! Okay, here are some notable events of my year.  I hope it inspires you to get off your bum, turn off your electronics, and do a little more living yourself!... after you read my blog post.  Seriously.  Do that first. And... go! My Faves of 2012: 1:  Movie: The Avengers  (Oh, Hawkeye...) 2:  Album: Teenage Dream by Katy Perry (okay, I know it came out in 2010, but I…

• 

  Joshua Bryce Newman

• 17 May 2013 | 9:47 am

  joshuanewman

  17 May 2013 | 9:47 am

  “What I love about the consumer market, that I always hated about the enterprise market, is that we come up with a product, we try to tell everybody about it, and every person votes for themselves. They go ‘yes’ or ‘no,’ and if enough of them say ‘yes,’ we get to come to work tomorrow. That’s how it works. It’s really simple. With the enterprise market, it’s not so simple. The people that use the products don’t decide for themselves, and the people that make those decisions sometimes are confused. We love just trying to make the best products in the world for people and…

• 16 Apr 2013 | 6:01 am

  joshuanewman

  16 Apr 2013 | 6:01 am

  “As the details about the bombings in Boston unfold, it’d be easy to be scared. It’d be easy to feel powerless and demand that our elected leaders do something — anything — to keep us safe. It’d be easy, but it’d be wrong. We need to be angry and empathize with the victims without being scared. Our fears would play right into the perpetrators’ hands — and magnify the power of their victory for whichever goals whatever group behind this, still to be uncovered, has. We don’t have to be scared, and we’re not powerless. We actually…

• Weathered

  joshuanewman

  15 Apr 2013 | 9:21 am

  Sometimes, a new product is so clearly superior that, as soon as you see it, you stop using anything else. For weather, that’s the case with Forecast.io. Like hiring Nate Silver as your meteorologist, it collects weather data from a slew of sources, then aggregates it statistically to generate the most accurate, current, local forecast possible. You may know the developers – and the accuracy of their data – from the Dark Skies iPhone app, which can uncannily alert you it’s about to start raining a few minutes before it does. Combine that data with a clear,…

• Size of Dog, Size of Fight

  joshuanewman

  14 Apr 2013 | 7:47 am

  If people look like their dogs, Gemelli was apparently the right choice, as several people have commented that we do somehow look similar. But as much as we apparently resemble each other physically, it’s in personality that we even more closely overlap. Like me, he’s laid back, overly friendly, and curious enough to get himself into trouble. And it seems we’re similar in at least one more way. This morning at the dog run, we walked in just in time to see the three largest dogs there – a husky, a flat-coated retriever and a pit bull – neck-deep in a royal rumble…

• Shoot Me, Redux

  joshuanewman

  9 Apr 2013 | 4:42 am

  Jess (& co.) have now knocked out the indoor Dobbin shoot, and just in time; if the production schedule holds, their Spring ’13 line should launch next week. Just-in-time fashion: excellent for incorporating trend and customer feedback; terrible for a startup company’s mental health.

• 

  The Art of Manliness

• How to Make Smoked BBQ Ribs

  A Manly Guest Contributor

  17 May 2013 | 1:12 pm

  Editor’s Note: This is a guest post from Jeff Mcintyre. Learning basic cooking skills was not a priority for me while growing up. The transition from a fully fed teenager to a totally independent and clueless in the kitchen college freshman was painful. I quickly lost my appetite for fast food and frozen dinners. Luckily, something about outdoor cooking had always intrigued me. I began reading about grilling techniques and quickly got hooked. Grilling introduced me to the art of preparing great meals. Today I consider cooking one of my greatest passions. There is good reason why pork…

• Give the Art of Manliness Collection Box Set for Graduation or Father’s Day!

  Brett & Kate McKay

  17 May 2013 | 11:56 am

  Did you know that our two books, The Art of Manliness: Classic Skills and Manners for the Modern Man and Manvotionals: Timeless Wisdom and Advice on Living the 7 Manly Virtues  are available in a handsome-looking cigar box along with some coasters bearing manly iconography and quotes? It’s a virile boxed book collection for the ages. The Art of Manliness Collection Boxed Set makes the perfect gift for graduation or Father’s Day. One book covers the practical skill-sets of manliness, from how to break down a door and start a fire to gentlemanly etiquette. The other book covers…

• The First Key to Mastery: Finding Your Life’s Task

  A Manly Guest Contributor

  16 May 2013 | 3:04 pm

  Editor’s Note: This is an excerpt from Robert Greene’s book Mastery. Last time he talked about the importance of the Apprenticeship Phase in gaining mastery over a skill or knowledge domain. Equally important is the need for an unbridled passion that will fuel you through the drudgery of your Apprenticeship. To gain that passion, the skill you seek to master must be part of what Greene calls your “Life’s Task.” In the excerpt below, Mr. Greene shares how you can discover yours. Among his various possible beings each man always finds one which is his genuine and…

• So You Want My Job: Novelist (+ Book Giveaway)

  Brett & Kate McKay

  16 May 2013 | 11:25 am

  Once again we return to our So You Want My Job series, in which we interview men who are employed in desirable jobs and ask them about the reality of their work and for advice on how men can live their dream. A lot of men dream of being a writer. Many have even written up a manuscript, and truly believe they’ve crafted a great novel. But then what? How do you go from typing away in a room somewhere and eagerly clutching a finished manuscript in your hands, to actually getting it published? And even if it does get published, how do you get actual people to read it? Today novelist…

• How to Communicate Your Needs in a Relationship

  Brett & Kate McKay

  15 May 2013 | 3:19 pm

  As we’ve discussed before, many men these days have trouble being assertive. One of the things these “Nice Guys” struggle with is communicating their needs to others. Because they shy away from conflict, and don’t want to trouble or inconvenience others, they constantly let other people’s needs supersede their own, and they find it difficult to articulate their personal goals and desires. Instead, they rely on “mind-reading,” believing their partners should intuitively know what they need without them having to say anything. If the Nice Guy’s partner isn’t skilled in…

• 

  Going The Wong Way

• Chicago 2012

  Derek Wong

  23 Apr 2013 | 5:56 pm

  Ah, Chicago. What an interesting city full of interesting architecture and tasty food. On a less pleasant note, over 20 people were shot while we were there. This in a city that has so many restrictions on guns that they’re being challenged in court. Nice! In any case, you can see more pictures at the full gallery.

• Boston November 2010

  Derek Wong

  26 Mar 2013 | 5:21 pm

  We took a trip to Boston a little while back. We went in the fall so it was nice and colorful. Brisk as well. Check out the full gallery to get more from where these came from!

• Dating Defined

  Derek Wong

  18 Feb 2013 | 6:45 pm

  There are unlimited amounts of material to help you find your soul mate, date online, and analyze yourself so that you can date better. How can you even begin to start all of that if people can’t even agree on the definition. Some people think that a date must involve mutual feelings. Others think that you have to use the word “date” for it to count. Semantics, people! Date noun - Prearranged meeting between a male and a female for some period of time greater than 10 minutes verb - Spending time socially with one other person of the opposite sex People are going to object to…

• Color Mob 5K Run

  Derek Wong

  11 Feb 2013 | 9:38 pm

  A run that was more about the fun than about the run. Check out the full gallery.

• Going Retail

  Derek Wong

  25 Jan 2013 | 6:15 pm

  This blog has not been getting the lovin’ that it’s due. It’s calling me to utilize it. It wants it, it needs it! But that’s another story. This post is about my new job. It’s been a few months now, but I mention it here to keep things on the up and up. Based on my pattern, I’m good for a few years until I yearn for new things. Then again, I have a relatively small sample size. Don’t get me wrong, I enjoyed my previous job. The work was fine, and I had some friends amongst my workers (note: Crom wasn’t one of them). But I’m off to new…

• 

  Hole In The Donut Cultural Travel

• PHOTO: Incline Railway, One of the Steepest in the World, Carries Passengers to the Top of Lookout Mountain for Stunning Views of Chattanooga

  Barbara Weibel

  19 May 2013 | 6:00 am

• PHOTO: Modern Sculpture in Front of the Hunter Museum of American Art in Chattanooga, Tennessee

  Barbara Weibel

  18 May 2013 | 5:30 am

• PHOTO: Rainy Day at the Famous Chattanooga Choo-Choo, Which Has Been Converted Into Hotel Rooms and a Restaurant

  Barbara Weibel

  17 May 2013 | 6:00 am

• PHOTO: Jazz Musicians Play in Front of the Cabildo Museum and St. Louis Cathedral in Jackson Square, French Quarter, New Orleans

  Barbara Weibel

  16 May 2013 | 6:30 am

• PHOTO: This Exquisite Mansion in the Garden District of New Orleans is Owned by Actress Sandra Bullock

  Barbara Weibel

  15 May 2013 | 6:00 am

• 

  Anne Jackson Writes

• Is There Joy in Holding on to Grief?

  Anne Marie Miller

  16 May 2013 | 6:30 am

  On July 3, 2012, eight days before my friend Jay Williams turned 32 years old, he was buried in Lebanon Cemetery in Plains, Georgia. The air was still and thick with southern humidity, and sweat collected in the small of my back under the layers of my black dress. My friends and I stood on the brittle grass of the cemetery, waiting in line to say goodbye to Jay one last time. We dodged the sun by shuffling in and out of each other’s shadows and swatted at clouds of gnats with paper fans provided by the local funeral home. In the summer of 2010, Jay, myself, and 15 other people rode our…

• To The Other Side of the World – We’re Heading to the Philippines!

  Anne Marie Miller

  14 May 2013 | 5:51 pm

  The first photo I ever saw of my husband, Tim (before I met him) was a photo of him on a mission trip to Romania. It just so happened that the day I saw his photo was just a few days after I returned from a mission trip from Africa. Serving overseas as well as serving those overseas by way of telling stories (him: video and photography; me: writing) was one of the first things we connected on. Adoption, reaching those far from God, and The Office were just a few others. Shortly after we returned from our honeymoon, Tim got an email from his friend Matt, asking if we’d like to join him…

• Do You Want Relief? Or Do You Want To Be Whole?

  Anne Marie Miller

  9 May 2013 | 6:52 am

  (A reflection from 2011…) Last night, after organizing and budgeting, I was packing up my mess from the den, about to head into my room to go to sleep. The family I live with came home, and it was almost as if [the wife's] maternal instinct was on high alert. She came directly up to where I was and asked how my day was. What ensued was not pretty…gobs of mucous flowed like a river. I was struggling. My pile of unexpected bills was growing, and my income is nowhere near what it used to be. More than financially, I was wrecked over the fact I am not spending as much time as I think…

• 

  Mange Merde

• How to Make a Gorgeous Work-of-Art Necklace Hanger

  Annie

  23 Apr 2013 | 11:05 am

• BinLadenLand to Become a Reality

  Annie

  19 Feb 2013 | 7:48 pm

• If You Want to Change the World… Love a Woman

  Annie

  31 Jan 2013 | 11:08 am

• Postpartum Fear of Flying

  Annie

  22 Jan 2013 | 12:37 pm

• Lapsang Souchong and Weight Loss: A Miracle Weight Loss Tea?

  Annie

  26 Nov 2012 | 10:05 am

• 

  VirtualWayfarer

• When It Rains – Weekly Travel Photo

  Alex Berger

  17 May 2013 | 10:11 am

  The life of a street performer isn’t all showmanship and entertainment. I captured this patient, and more than a little forlorn, costumed street statue during a light spring rain in the historic part of old Perugia. Over the two days I spent in Perugia as a finalist in the Stories on Umbria journalism competition, a part of the Perugia International Journalism Festival, we had mostly sunny weather. Unfortunately, the 2nd evening brought with it scattered rain showers. While perfect for my relaxing walk through the city with my camera, it was far less ideal for this gentleman whose…

• The Naked Truth – A Beginner’s Introduction to Austrian Saunas

  Alex Berger

  16 May 2013 | 7:47 am

  My palms were far beyond clammy.  They were completely committed now to downright slick and sweaty. As I grimaced and wiped them on my towel, I couldn’t help but imagine them turning prune-like.  They had devolved into the type of palms that make a soft slapping sound mid-handshake and cause the person you’ve just met to grimace in thinly hidden disgust while trying to quickly retrieve their hand….desperately looking around for something or someone to wipe it on.  Which, you might think, is to be expected given my seat perched inside the beautiful and newly renovated…

• Turkey’s Riviera and the City of Bodrum

  Alex Berger

  6 May 2013 | 8:46 am

  As the tepid water runs across my extended fingers in the bathroom in my small Pensiyon in Bodrum I find it a fitting parallel.  The shower head is in need of a soak with most of its nozzels obscured by calcium deposits. The water itself is slowly warming to the touch, though I can’t truly tell if it is just my flesh adjusting to the luke-warm water, or if hot water has finally made its way up to the third floor of the building and to my room. The room itself is unremarkable.  Despite a higher than normal number of errant black hairs on the sheets, it is clean enough.  After a sniff…

• A Cat In Kos Castle’s Court – Weekly Travel Photo

  Alex Berger

  3 May 2013 | 5:30 am

  While the sound of men at arms, craftsmen  local officials, and traders has long since vanished from the stone walkways and carefully fitted walls that shape Kos Fortress one small army still remains.  The fortress of Kos is manned by a small band of warrior-hunters. Predators that seek out vermin, set upon them, and then plop down in the grass to carefully lick themselves clean, paws stretched high into the air.  Some might argue that they’re the purrrfect guardians for a castle that served its purpose in times of peace and war for generations but which has now retired from…

• Snowboarding the Alps – Weekly Travel Photo

  Alex Berger

  26 Apr 2013 | 1:21 am

  A few weeks ago I took my first shot at learning how to ski in Obergurgl, Austria.  It was an awesome adventure. It was also a smudge easier than I expected. Probably in large part due to the awesome private instructor the local tourism board provided for my trip.  It made one thing very clear though.  Skiing is challenging, but snow boarding?  Good luck strapping both of my feet together and getting me on one.  Which leaves me that much more impressed by the incredible shows of acrobatics I saw from snowboarders and skiers on the slopes above Innsbruck during a locally organized ski and…

• 

  Confessions of a Pioneer Woman | Ree Drummond

• A Busy Time on the Ranch

  Ree

  16 May 2013 | 6:58 am

  We’re smack-dab in the middle of one of the busiest times of the year here on the ranch. We’ve gotten up before five every morning this week, and the days have been very, very long. In the cracks (I said cracks. Huh huh.) I’m trying to get my garden planted, our roof repaired, my junk drawers cleaned out, our building project moving forward, and am pushing hard to finish my new cookbook while also gearing up to start shooting new shows here on the ranch soon. Marlboro Man and I pretty much touch feet as we’re passing out every night and say, “Love you, honey.

• Working at the Radcliff Ranch

  Marlboro Man

  14 May 2013 | 6:57 am

  Note from PW: I received quite a few more advice questions yesterday and I’m still working on answering several of them, so the Dear PW installment will post tomorrow instead. Meanwhile, my beloved has written a post about his trip to Kansas yesterday. Take it away, honey!   Post and photos by Marlboro Man. Yesterday three of the kids and I went to Kansas, near the town of Dexter, to a ranch my brother Tim and I lease. This was our second time up there over the past week, because our trip up there last Wednesday was rained out.       We wanted to work the cattle, but…

• PW Q & A. OK? 10-4.

  Ree

  13 May 2013 | 8:14 am

  Note from PW: This won’t be as gripping as the Q & A with Marlboro Man on Friday, so if you want to close this window without even reading the post, I will completely understand. I just wanted to get these questions out of the way before tomorrow, when I’ll post a big Dear Pioneer Woman installment answer a bunch of your general life/advice questions. It’s a biggie!   Q. How is Mike? You haven’t mentioned him in a while. I love to read about your experiences with him and his fascination of fire houses. Mike is just great. He’s too busy for me, as usual, and…

• Marlboro Man Questions & Answers

  Marlboro Man

  10 May 2013 | 6:54 am

  Note from PW: Thank you guys for celebrating Anniversary Week with me all week. It’s been a great seven years! Thanks, also, for sending along your questions for MM and for me. My beloved is answering today, and I’ll post a bunch of answers next week. Take it away, Marlboro Man! I mean love-muffin.   Q. Marlboro Man, on my atlas it appears that Pawhuska is in the middle of an Indian reservation. Do you own or lease your land? A. The Osage Indian tribe owns all the mineral rights in Osage county but the land/surface rights are owned by individuals. We own most of the land we…

• Mammaries

  Ree

  8 May 2013 | 8:17 am

  Good morning! In case you’re in need of a little strangeness, here’s a small handful of some weird moments here on Confessions of a Pioneer Woman. It’s by no means representative of the total sum of weirdness that exists here. It is but a wee glimpse. WEIRD MOMENTS 1. Grandma Iny’s Booger: This is a story about my beloved great-grandma and me. It might make you a little queasy.   2. Tanner the Barbie Dog: I don’t think this is on the market anymore.   3. Juice Bag: I’m sorry.     4. All I Wanted Was a Dougnut: In other news, I actually…

• 

  larry borsato

• No line left uncrossed.

  larry

  18 May 2013 | 6:59 pm

  Rob Ford is the democratically elected mayor of Toronto, whether you like it. But a lot of people have a problem with democracy, and really don’t like Rob Ford. So they will apparently stop at nothing to get him removed as mayor. Gawker claims that they have seen a video of Rob Ford smoking crack, and they have mounted an IndieGogo campaign to raise $2oo,000 to pay drug dealers for the video. For some reason they don’t want to spend their own money, but they’ll happily take yours. Don’t worry though. If it doesn’t work out, they’ll give all of your money to…

• They won’t take my money.

  larry

  17 May 2013 | 9:17 am

  The CW network has struck a deal to bring their content to Apple TV. Well duh. I really don’t understand the studios. I would think they would want to put their content in front of every possible person in every for-pay medium. But they hem and they haw, as it having people pay for their content legally is somehow a bad thing. I currently live in Canada. A couple of years ago we watched the last episode of Season 2 of The Big C. It was a cliffhanger, and we had to wait interminably, painfully, until Season 3 started. But then, when it finally did, there was no way for me to watch it in…

• Counting down til midnight.

  larry

  16 May 2013 | 12:53 pm

  I wrote about this a couple of days ago, but it seems that we’re down to the wire and the LCBO strike might actually happen at midnight tonight. Ontarians are lining up in droves to buy their liquor just in case. The LCBO is the Liquor Control Board of Ontario. Sort of like New Hampshire’s state run liquor stores. And this is the Victoria Day long weekend, which is basically Canada’s Memorial Day weekend equivalent. No liquor on the long weekend in Canada is a very bad thing. I wonder who times these strike deadlines? Obviously the union. Contracts never seem to run out on a…

• IT Apprentices?

  larry

  15 May 2013 | 12:15 pm

  I’ve been loosely involved in the Information Technology (IT) field for pretty much my entire working life, and it is only today that I learned that there was such a thing as IT apprentices. They are part of the general government apprentice programs but they are being reviewed: The province is cutting the tax credit for IT contact centre trades because only 10 per cent of apprentices who register go on to complete their training, a spokesperson for the Ontario Ministry of Finance wrote in an email. As well, the tax credit is used mainly by large employers to staff call centres, Kent…

• The greatest problem of our time.

  larry

  15 May 2013 | 9:36 am

  …Is the fact that I need a plethora of remote controls sitting in front of me to do something simple like watching a DVD. We have amazing technology in our living rooms today, but I still need to turn on the tv, and the home theater receiver, and the Blu-Ray player. Then I need to switch the input to DVD on the tv and the home theater, then hit some variable number of controls to actually get to the start of the movie (or fast forward through previews). Oh sure, I can use a Logitech universal remote, but that depends on it controlling and knowing the state of every device. Hit one…

• 

  Boss Sanders

• 31. NEW!!! Lovey’s Gift Set ($48 Value!)

  bosssanders

  24 Apr 2013 | 6:38 am

  Description: A gift set from Lovey’s that includes: 1 Tushi Stick (all natural diaper ointment), 1 spray bottle of Tushi Wash (the Natural alternative to baby wipes), and 1 Chafe Guard (the all-natural anti-chafing stick).  Over $48 value! Highest Bid: Please scroll down to last comment to see highest bid and to place yours. Pickup Instructions: If you are local, we will arrange a time for you to pick up your item.  For those of you who are out of town, or simply prefer it shipped, we will calculate shipping (once you win) and add that to the total before mailing the item(s) to you.

• 30. Boba Baby Wrap!!

  bosssanders

  24 Apr 2013 | 6:28 am

  Description: Boba Baby Wrap in Black.  The Boba Wrap is the ideal carrier for babies from birth until around 18 months, free of buckles, straps or snaps! Simply tie the material snug against your body and achieve a perfect fit every time – perfect for beginners and advance babywearers alike. Highest Bid: Please scroll down to last comment to see highest bid and to place yours. Pickup Instructions: If you are local, we will arrange a time for you to pick up your item.  For those of you who are out of town, or simply prefer it shipped, we will calculate shipping (once you win) and add that…

• Tivoli Couture Memory Foam Stroller Liner ($79 value!)

  bosssanders

  24 Apr 2013 | 6:21 am

  Description: Tivoli Couture Memory Foam Stroller Liner in Recycle (print).  $79 value!! Highest Bid: Please scroll down to last comment to see highest bid and to place yours. Pickup Instructions: If you are local, we will arrange a time for you to pick up your item.  For those of you who are out of town, or simply prefer it shipped, we will calculate shipping (once you win) and add that to the total before mailing the item(s) to you. Donated By: Tivoli Couture (Website) Tivoli Couture is an award winning baby gear and accessories company dedicated to creating innovative and utilitarian…

• 28. Cardinals Door Wreath (approx 26″)

  bosssanders

  16 Apr 2013 | 7:29 am

  Description: Fun Cardinals Door Wreath Highest Bid: Please scroll down to last comment to see highest bid and to place yours. Pickup Instructions: If you are local, we will arrange a time for you to pick up your item.  For those of you who are out of town, or simply prefer it shipped, we will calculate shipping (once you win) and add that to the total before mailing the item(s) to you. Donated By: Sandy Wurth Payment Info: Winners may pay by paypal Auction Ends: EXTENDED!!! April 26, 2013 at 12 Noon CST (Return to Master List)

• ONLINE AUCTION (ADOPTION FUNDRAISER) – MASTER LIST

  bosssanders

  15 Apr 2013 | 8:58 am

  Below is a list of items for Auction.  To bid, please click on each item you are interested in and go to that listing’s post to bid.  Scroll down through comments (on individual posts) to see highest bids.  Auction ends EXTENDED!!! April 26, 2013 at 12 Noon CST. Everything has been generously donated so that ALL proceeds will go to helping bring Isaiah home from Africa.  This sweet almost-6-year old little boy has waited FAR too long for a family.  Join us (and get some goodies in the process!) 1.  Piggy Paint: Princess Piggy Package (over $150 value) (Piggy Paint) (Here) 2. …

• 

  the slack daily

• Job Creator

  the slackmistress

  14 May 2013 | 12:10 pm

  I think I might be a job creator, because I'm manufacturing a lot of assholes. See this cat? This cat is an asshole. This is the stray/feral cat who likes to sleep in my yard. This cat is awesome, but this cat also knows that my dog wants to feast on ths cat's bones. This fact doesn't stop this cat. This cat finds a shady area under a thorny bush that backs up against the wooden fence so when I go outside and check to see if the yard to see if it's safe to let Daisy J. Dog outside, I can't see it right away. And this cat won't run away if I make noise from the porch. I have to go up to the…

• 6!6!6!

  the slackmistress

  10 May 2013 | 7:53 am

  We've been married SIX YEARS MOFOS. Will finally tells the entire story of the night before our wedding. (With my coda, here.) Our entire marriage can be summed up in this exchange: @betheboy LEAVE MY DESIRE TO HAVE SEX IN PUBLIC BATHROOMS OUT OF THIS. — Nina Bargiel (@slackmistress) May 10, 2013

• I Should Be Writing But I'm Not Writing But I Am Writing.

  the slackmistress

  8 May 2013 | 3:11 pm

  I'm working on a pilot. I should clarify: I'm working on a spec pilot. Working on a spec pilot means you have an idea for a TV show and you write a script of that idea and while you have an idea of where it could "fit" (you should ideally always have an idea of where it fits, even if it's sort of a well-it's-a-high-school-girls-MTV-but-could-be-ABCFamily-ized-or-oldified-to-Lifetime-but-maybe-it-could-also-live-online) but you don't have a buyer. You have an idea and a possible home but the chance of you actually ending up in that home is that sliver of light between slim and none. Speccing a…

• #firstworlddogproblems

  the slackmistress

  2 May 2013 | 9:16 am

  Things my dog won't eat if a pill is hidden inside: Pill pockets (all flavors) Salami Chicken Natural Balance roll, heated up then molded around the pill Cheese, slightly melted then molded around the pill Peanut butter And as of this morning: Prosciutto HA-ha!

• 2013 SoCal Ragnar Relay Recap.

  the slackmistress

  22 Apr 2013 | 10:39 am

  Friday at 9:30am, I got into a van with seven other people all wearing matching shirts. Shirts! Van 2, ready to go. 33 hours later, after running 12-23 miles each without a shower or access to a proper bathroom, through no sleep and tired legs, after being chased by dogs (Will) and getting hit by a kid on a bike then having a panic attack (me), and with our first van dropping out of the race, six of us crossed the finish line, filthy, exhausted, and victorious. I went in thinking it was probably going to be difficult, but not that difficult. I was only running 15 total miles. I've done two…

• 

  She Just Walks Around With It

• "You Sound Like A Horrible Parent"

  3 May 2013 | 4:05 pm

  Here's an email I got a couple days ago:  Anonymous has left a new comment on your post "The Top 10 Weirdest Things On "Yo Gabba Gabba"":  This whole post was stupid . I highly doubt little kids see anything sexual about the show. They are KIDS not idiot adults . I also don't see why it's a big deal that god is black and just because he's cheerful that makes him gay. You sound like a horrible parent . Which is really awesome, because of all the insights.  
So to respond:  
First of all, OF COURSE I am a horrible parent. I am a blogger.
Secondly, I KNOW my…

• That Time My Chins And I Were In The Paper

  14 Apr 2013 | 4:36 pm

  There's an article about me in today's Napa Valley Register, along with a photo. These are wonderful* things!Except.(Except of course except.)I hate the picture. Haaaaaate. It isn't flattering in the least. And the worst part about it is that everyone** I know has insisted that I "look beautiful" in it. Which means that's what everyone thinks my "beautiful" is. Which is terrifying to me because no, actually, it is not. Objectively, it is not beautiful.But instead of getting into a long-winded post about THAT ONE TIME I WEIGHED SO MUCH LESS AND WAS SO MUCH PRETTIER, I'm just going to give it…

• 2012 In Bullets & Pictures & Bug Spray

  3 Jan 2013 | 12:30 am

  I'm currently huddled over the kitchen table, trying to work. I'm wearing a tent-like smock dress because it's one of the few remaining (clean) items I own that I can still fit into post- "holiday gluttony." I shoved leggings on under the dress because it's like 35 degrees out and also let's not discuss the leg hair situation. (Oops. Too late.) I have a "for emergencies" (because it's horribly unflattering) sweater on on top of the smock dress and a scarf wrapped around my neck. My hair isn't totally dry from my shower this morning (a rare luxury, showering in the morning) and so it's piled…

• TWO FUNNY THINGS!

  6 Oct 2012 | 9:07 am

  Okay, hi.Last weekend, we were desperately searching for something "new" for our kids to watch on television that wouldn't make us completely crazy. Because I can only see the same episodes of the same kids' shows so many times.We picked, from "Free Movies" on Comcast, OKLAHOMA. A few minutes into the movie, we accidentally played the Gangnam Style song on one of our mobile devices. At which point we discovered that the synchronization was amazing. Like, Pink Floyd/Wizard of Oz amazing. Same beat. Cheesy dancing. Happy cowboys. IT'S LIKE THE SAME VIDEO. So we morphed them. (Not that I…

• D. Duck

  31 Aug 2012 | 1:02 pm

  I read something at a funeral today.I'm here in a hotel room, just having come from this morning's services. We were at the beach. It was gorgeous. I'm unexpectedly in Connecticut, in the town where I grew up, sitting in a hotel like a stranger who doesn't belong. My sisters are off running errands and we'll regroup soon to drink wine and tell stories because that's how we do things. We make a party out of everything, and then eventually we start singing. If you're following me on Instagram or Facebook or Twitter, there will be photos. We'll laugh. We'll play games. But I'm sad…

• 

  Indexed

• Sugar? Coffee? Or something else?

  Jessica Hagy

  17 May 2013 | 10:54 am

  Share and Enjoy:

• Both gluttony and hunger get old quickly.

  Jessica Hagy

  16 May 2013 | 9:29 am

  Share and Enjoy:

• Maybe hugs are drugs.

  Jessica Hagy

  15 May 2013 | 8:59 am

  Share and Enjoy:

• A little teasing is more than enough.

  Jessica Hagy

  14 May 2013 | 10:57 am

  Share and Enjoy:

• How much (and in what currency) do they have to pay you?

  Jessica Hagy

  13 May 2013 | 9:52 am

  Share and Enjoy:

• 

  Sparks and Butterflies

• A Joke from my Dad

  Michele

  8 May 2013 | 6:25 am

  My dad is 79. He tends to email me every freakin’ joke (minus the boobs ’cause I’ll yell at him) that ends up in his email that his other 79 year old friends email him (from their friends and their friends and their friends, oy). This one tickled me though: A lawyer and a senior citizen are sitting next to each other on a long flight. The lawyer is thinking that seniors are so dumb that he could put one over on them easily. So, the lawyer asks if the senior would like to play a fun game. The senior is tired and just wants to take a nap, so he politely declines and tries to…

• Help Me Understand Obamacare

  Michele

  27 Mar 2013 | 7:58 am

  I need your help in understanding what Obamacare would mean for my family. Please note: I am NOT looking for political opinions. They abound, and I have my own. I’m actually looking for what this literally, practically, logistically means for my family. Here’s our current situation. My husband’s income (not including my own which fluctuates dramatically) is about $475/week. My husband’s employer provides insurance. At about $350/week (yes WEEK not MONTH). Without telling you our actual expenses, but you can be assured that they are the same things that others…

• Swearing and Kids

  Michele

  12 Mar 2013 | 9:30 am

  Poe and I are terrible about swearing. We really are. I can swear like a sailor. We are usually pretty good about swearing in front of the kids, but I must admit that we’re not as careful now that they’re older and not prone to repeating what we say like parrots. Both kids recently had occassion to swear, and well? I’m kind of okay with it. In the first instance, Poe walked out with Joseph as they were taking trash out to the barrels. Poe observed as Joseph lept about 3 feet exclaiming, “Holy shit!” “Did you just say what I think I heard?” Meekly,…

• BlogHer Review – Here I Go Again

  Michele

  4 Feb 2013 | 1:14 pm

  For the BlogHer Book Club, I recently read Here I Go Again, by Jen Lancaster. The short version: I loved it. The long version: I was a little worried. I’ve read everything that Jen has written. I’m used to her biographical style (and her usual footnotes). The problem came with her first fiction novel. I was so used to Jen and her husband, Fletch, that I had trouble not inserting them into her fictional characters’ persona. This time, however, the characters were different enough that I never made mental comparisons, which greatly increased my enjoyment of the book. As for…

• Joseph is Home

  Michele

  22 Jan 2013 | 7:17 am

  Yesterday morning I talked to a doctor. I literally picked up the phone in a “I should call them” move. I was putting the phone down, thinking “give them an hour, and then call” when the phone rang. Eerie. They thought that Joseph was at a point where we can treat him on an outpatient basis. On the one hand, of course I’m glad my family is back together. On the other hand, now that he’s home it feels like, “DON’T FUCK THIS UP MOM.” Yes, he has mental illness. Yes, we have doctors, therapists, medications, and a special school. But still,…

• 

  Skimbaco Lifestyle | online magazine

• Just in: The First-Ever Book about Instagram Travel is Published

  Katja Presnal

  17 May 2013 | 5:22 am

  I am beyond thrilled to announce that my first ebook Instagram as your Guide to the World – How, What and Who to Search and Follow on Instagram to Help You Travel the World just published this week and it is now available on Amazon.com for an introductory price of $4.99 for a limited time. You can also sign up for my newsletter and get a shorter version for free later this summer. I will be giving a free short version of the book as a .pdf for my newsletter subscribers for free of charge sometime during summer 2013. You can sign up for my personal weekly email here.Million Little Travel…

• Just In: Wallis Fashions Debuts Premier “W” Label

  Wes Holland

  17 May 2013 | 3:18 am

  Wallis is a London based fashion company with multiple locations in London, and an online presence here in the United States. Wallis debuted its Autumn/Winter 2013 collection for a new, premier label “W”, alongside current offerings of the spring/summer collection. The new collection was showcased at the Bryant Park Hotel in New York.I was able to preview the collection and speak personally with the head designer, Sital Mehta. The new, premier W line is, in my opinion, an outstanding value. The pieces incorporate details, yet are offered at a price point that is very accessible.

• For Men: How To Get The Gatsby Look

  Wes Holland

  15 May 2013 | 11:00 pm

  When I think of Jay Gatsby, I think of classic, impeccable, enduring style. This is exactly who Gatsby is as he embodies a throwback to the polished styles of the roaring twenties. Today’s modern man can recreate Gatsby’s style with classic pieces, attention to detail, and great tailoring.One of my favorite iconic brands, Brooks Brothers, released a special collection in collaboration with The Great Gatsby, however, you can find pieces reminiscent of this style from other preppy clothiers. Mr. Gatsby is swanky, and all about the details. Whether its a large party, weekending on…

• Culinary Travel: Top 10 Must Eat Paris Sweets

  adrienne shubin

  14 May 2013 | 9:00 am

  Paris – Sweet Tooth’s ParadiseHaving visited Paris four times in the last six years, I have had my share of Paris’s best sweets. From cookies to frozen delights, pastries to beverages, I have a list to suit everyone’s sweet tooth!1. Macarons Few people can visit Paris and not at eat a French macaron. You see the colorful treats everywhere you turn. A macaron is a sandwich cookie – ganache, buttercream or jam between two almond merengue cookies. They come in a wide variety of  flavors and countless colors that are often vivid. Macarons are not for everyone’s…

• Travel: Finding My Inner Peace in Mexico

  Sonja Hannus

  13 May 2013 | 11:15 pm

  We are used to constantly be ”effective” and on a rush. Once in a while perfection is to escape the everyday life, and take your time to enjoy to little things in life. No harm traveling far away of the everyday surroundings and for a week, forget your to-do list. Enjoy company of your closed ones, the sun and the feeling of not having to fulfill any responsibilities at the moment. This was my recent trip to Playa del Carmen in Mexico.The main purpose of our trip was to escape the everyday life and endless darkness of the winter in Finland, where I come from.Catch some vitamin D from the…

• 

  In Pursuit of Happiness

• How Combing Your Hair is Like Working Through Old Hurts

  Miss Britt

  16 May 2013 | 3:00 am

  This analogy will make the most sense to you if you have long, thick and/or curly hair that gets tangled. If you have short, thin and/or straight hair that never gets tangled, you might want to read this post instead. I was sick last week, and so I spent three days in bed. During those three days, I didn’t wash or comb my hair, but instead rubbed my curly head back and forth on my pillow a lot. I got out of bed on the fourth day and was excited to finally feel well enough to shower – until I touched my hair. The term rat’s nest does not do justice to what had developed on the back of my…

• 4 Reasons Happiness Takes Guts

  Miss Britt

  14 May 2013 | 3:00 am

  “When I die, I hope they say: she had the guts to be happy.” That’s my twitter bio. I wrote it on a whim one random day, but it is a pretty accurate paraphrasing of my much longer mission statement. And most of all, it spells out one of the things I’ve found to be most true and least discussed about happiness: it takes guts. Courage. Bravery. Whatever you call it, I believe that the kind of happiness that both stirs and roots your soul requires doing tough stuff. Here’s why: Happiness calls for vulnerability. Happiness is all about connection, and connections are deeper when we…

• Actually, You Do NOT Have to Love Yourself to Be Loved By Others

  Miss Britt

  8 May 2013 | 6:39 am

  Conventional wisdom – or at least wisdom from most of the Facebook graphics I see – says that you have to love yourself before anyone else can love you. As a proponent of self love, self esteem, self have-faith-in-yourself and all that other selfish stuff¸ I’m inclined to agree with that motto. But in practice, I have to admit that being loved helped me learn how to love myself. I had a brief twitter chat about this recently with motivational speaker and author Tiphani Montgomery (further proof that Twitter is bizarro amazing). When I saw Tiphani’s initial tweet, I thought back to a…

• How I’m Learning to Accept My Brother’s Prison Sentence

  Miss Britt

  6 May 2013 | 3:00 am

  Last summer, my little brother Jay was sentenced to 30 years in prison for robbing banks. It was, as you can imagine, heartbreaking for everyone who loves him. Since his sentencing, we’ve all had to work on coming to terms with this new version of normal. We’ve had to practice letting go of what we imagined for the future and accepting what is right now. That acceptance was tested recently when my brother’s ex-girlfriend – the mother of my beloved nephew – got engaged. I found out about the engagement through a text from my mom. My first instinct was to grieve a little. I couldn’t…

• The Secret to Keeping Perspective During a Slow News Week

  Miss Britt

  3 May 2013 | 3:00 am

  When tragedy strikes in today’s hyper-connected world, we responded predictably. We hug our children, donate blood, buy blankets, and talk about how things like this make you remember what’s important. And then we forget. The next shooting, bombing, hurricane, or tornado hits, and we’re reminded again of how precious our loved ones are, how small our obsessions with stuff and status. And then we forget. By my calculation, it takes about a week for our compassion to fade and our perspective to shift back to pre-tragedy levels. Even after a week filled with multiple heartaches, it took…

• 

  Domestic Psychology

• Star Trek Into Darkness immediate reaction

  cathy

  18 May 2013 | 8:04 pm

  Mickey! Sherlock! Buckaroo! So many fandoms. Love, tragedy, courage, violence, betrayal, sacrifice. An extremely familiar line… with a twist. Tribbles. Humor. I have stubbornly denied the 3D revolution, but I now admit that when 3D is used to pull the audience INTO the screen instead of throwing the scenery AT the audience, 3D is spectacular. My only complaint is that the sound effect used for fistfights sounds like slapping metal. It is jarringly distracting. It takes the viewer out of the movie and into a sound effect room. Fix that before the next movie. It’s very clear who the…

• not-so-great mysteries

  cathy

  17 May 2013 | 3:14 pm

  In the past two days, I stripped all the beds and laundered *everything. When I went to re-make all the beds, I had one extra twin mattress pad and a missing full size mattress pad. Did I have a twin mattress pad on a full mattress? It doesn’t fit now, so how could it have fit before laundering? I remember buying a full size mattress pad. Are mattress pads to trolls what single socks are to elves? In a household where apple cores accidentally fall behind beds and get forgotten until they stink, used dental floss is strewn on the ground all around the OUTSIDE of the bathroom trash can…

• wise man

  cathy

  15 May 2013 | 1:09 pm

  Him: “Why are there wine corks in the houseplants?” Her: “I saw it on Pinterest and blah-blah-blah…” Him:

• cat zen

  cathy

  13 May 2013 | 11:11 am

  Gimli smiles in his sleep. While the dogs hint that they are dreaming of play by running and gurfing in their sleep, this cat relaxes completely. Sleep is the only time that Gimli is truly relaxed. Clearly, Gimli dreams about… sleeping.

• tv quickies

  cathy

  12 May 2013 | 6:53 am

  Once Upon a Time - I would really like it if the deplorably flat acting Greg and wickedly evil Tamara were used to reframe The Crusades and bring the Camelot legend into the overall story. I doubt if they will. Community - I really loved the first few seasons of Community. Clever and funny don’t begin to describe what Dan Harmon did with this show. This season, I’ve found myself constantly waiting and hoping for signs of what Community once was or what it could become. It didn’t. The only thing that they did right was making Chevy’s *unredeemable character vanish this…

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  SIMPLY STORK

• who are you???

  Simply Stork

  17 May 2013 | 8:15 pm

• 21 Apr 2013 | 6:22 pm

  Simply Stork

  21 Apr 2013 | 6:22 pm

        Ahh, spring. Enjoy it. ~simply~

• 17 Apr 2013 | 12:00 am

  Simply Stork

  17 Apr 2013 | 12:00 am

      It’s my birthday today.     ( pause )     Yup.     ~simply~      

• Waste not, want not…

  Simply Stork

  6 Apr 2013 | 12:07 pm

                   I wanted to make a b-day gift…but money is tight.  When I decided that I wanted to craft something, I decided to make a quilt…but material is so expensive.  I remembered that I had bags and bags of old kids clothes stacked up in my closet.  Ah ha!!…My parents always told me to “waste not want not” so I began to look at the clothes in a different way.  I had never made a quilt on my own with out my mother’s help…but I was willing to take a jab at it.      With a…

• Thoughts, mostly…

  Simply Stork

  6 Mar 2013 | 9:40 am

    I received some yarn and knitting needles…they were my mothers.  I received them not too long ago (she recently passed away and  is no longer with us.)  She was a knitter.  She taught me when I was young.  I was no good at it…but I was thinking, maybe it was time to give it another go.  I still suck.  But I have enjoyed using the yarn, and her knitting needles… and thinking of her. I made some washcloths for my sister…using my mother’s yarn.  I hope she uses them…(but I don’t think she will?) ~simply~

• 

  Family on Bikes

• Alki Beach Basket from Detours: A review

  Nancy Sathre-Vogel

  18 May 2013 | 11:03 pm

  These days, I’m all about fun on my bike. I’m ready to ditch the boring ol’ (but functional) panniers and go fun and funky. I’ve gotten a cute helmet cover, and now I’m sporting the coolest handlebar basket in town. This basket, the Alki Beach Basket from Detours, is absolutely perfect for bumming around town. Although it’s been too cold to go for a swim in the lake, it would be perfect for a picnic at the beach too. Or a quick shop at the grocery store. Or a trip to the library… I especially love the bright color. It spunks up the bike real good!

• STM jet roller wheeled laptop bag: A review

  Nancy Sathre-Vogel

  16 May 2013 | 11:55 pm

  As a blogger, I get a lot of junk in my inbox. Every single day I get pitches about hotels and apps and shoes and… well, you name it. Most of it goes directly in the trash, but every once in a while a gem comes in. And so it was when STM wrote asking me if I would like to try one of their laptop bags. Seeing as how I’m starting to travel more and more, speaking in various places around the country, I figured I could use a laptop bag. In fact, the jet roller wheeled laptop bag sounded perfect. I could use it to protect my laptop while traveling, but it would be my carry-on as well.

• 31 Days to a Dream: Have single-minded determination

  Nancy Sathre-Vogel

  15 May 2013 | 8:55 pm

  Single-minded determination. Or bull-headedness. It’s a double-edged sword. I know I’ve been called stubborn a time or two. Or thirty five.  And not in a good way, either. And yet good things can come from that quality if you use it right. In order to make your dream happen, you’ll need to be single-minded. Stubborn. Bull-headed. Whatever you want to call it, that’s the ticket to living your dream. The ability to focus on something is what is called single-mindedness. Concentrate your energy on it till you’re there. This is the key to successfully making that…

• Creating my Own Dream Design

  Nancy Sathre-Vogel

  10 May 2013 | 9:25 pm

  Today’s guest post comes from Justin Harmon, who runs the blog Unplugged Recreated. He decided to break out of the matrix and learn a new way to live in the world. It is logical, it makes sense, it’s scientific, it’s spiritual, and it is fun. I’ve done a lot of things in my life I’m not proud of. I’m sure most of us have. It’s just lately, I’ve been thinking about it quite a bit. I look back on my past and go through the memories and experiences of my life. Times of joy, sadness, love and loss, and people who have come and gone, even those that remain.

• 31 Days to a Dream: Face your Fear

  Nancy Sathre-Vogel

  8 May 2013 | 5:52 pm

  I’ve talked about fear a lot on this blog – and with good reason. Perhaps the biggest thing standing between you and your dreams is fear. It’s important to realize that fear is just a feeling and can be worked on. It will take an enormous amount of strength within to fight it off, but as long as you have the will to do it, you are halfway there. It is time to face your fears and achieve your dreams. Establish what your fear is It is only when you know what it is that you fear that can you actually work on surmounting it. Identify it. Put a name on it. You can’t tackle…

• 

  The Imperfect Parent

• Country Crock contest

  IP staff

  24 Apr 2013 | 6:53 am

  Carla Hall partners with Country Crock to share casserole tips and tricks. Do you have what it takes to be a rock star in the kitchen? Share the secret tip, trick, or ingredient that makes your casseroles sing and YOU could win $5,000 and a trip to New York City! Ends 5/31/2013. Country Crock is searching for the next "crock star". To enter, follow these instructions: 1) Share a photo of you and your favorite casserole 2) In a 100 words or less, share how you stay creative and resourceful 3) Submissions will be accepted at the County Crock Facebook page 12 semi-finalists will receive cookware…

• Looking good post baby builds confidence

  IP staff

  3 Apr 2013 | 6:05 am

  Nothing brings a mom from back from the brink of the post-baby doldrums and stressors like getting your old body back. Take it from a mom who's been through it -- if the anxiety and fear of parenting failures isn't enough to overwhelm you, looking in the mirror and realizing that your old life is but a distant memory and that your prior bohemian lifestyle is on a 18-year hiatus, one tends to want to simply give up. One thing that may bring some order to this strange new world is having the control over your eating choices and getting something back that was unjustly taken from you -- your…

• Let's pretend you didn't break your arm and go on vacation

  Suzanne Seese

  19 Mar 2013 | 10:00 pm

  There’s a code they must live by, boys, and that is if there’s a hotel bed jump on it. It isn’t their fault really because way back when they were in the womb and their brains were forming, the frontal lobe that controls reasoning and planning, that doesn’t complete its formation well into their twenties. So until then, they are going to jump on a hotel bed because they must. Once across the border into Canada several years ago, the husband and I with two of our boys, then 15 and 13, started to plan our international vacation.

• Environmentalist mom trades principles for convenience

  Suzanne Lafetra

  11 Mar 2013 | 6:00 pm

  There is practically nothing as hard as caring for a newborn baby, and to have to do it when you are sleepwalking is sort of like climbing Everest in a skimpy nylon windbreaker and high heels -- you’re just not properly equipped. I had earnestly studied the debate over whether disposable or cloth diapers were a worse deal for Mother Earth. It’s a photo finish, but cloth are considered to be the more environmentally chummy choice by a nose. Still, I felt a smug, green one-upsmanship when I changed my son’s cotton diapers in our post-natal yoga class. “Hypocrites,”…

• Michelle Obama for President 2016?

  Sybil Anne Drew, IP Staff Writer

  27 Feb 2013 | 7:36 am

  Rumor has it, Michelle Obama may run for President in 2016. The First Lady appears to making a grand publicity tour and media blitz of unprecedented proportions for a First Lady in effort to kick off the first year of her husband's second term as president. With her latest appearance being an Oscar Awards presenter, many are now wondering if First Lady Michelle Obama is being groomed for something bigger. After all, Ms. Obama is still rather young at 49-years-old. She is a former lawyer and graduate of Princeton and her oldest daughter, Sasha, will be an adult by the time Ms. Obama would be…

• 

  David J. Hinson's Logorrhea

• … in which I tell a Person How to Do Their Job

  davidjhinson

  18 May 2013 | 7:35 am

  I gladly work with PR people and reporters all the time. They are an essential part of messaging, for my own personal “brand”, and for communicating what I do at Hendrix College. I have worked with extremely talented PR people. And I have worked with firms that barely qualify as professionals. Without publicly embarrassing the firm that reached out to me this week, let me offer the following tips for a successful interaction: Call when you say you are going to call Know my name Know who I work for Know why you are talking to me Don’t send someone in your place, unannounced…

• Wearable Computing and the Etiquette of Presence

  davidjhinson

  1 May 2013 | 7:53 am

  It doesn’t take much extrapolation to imagine that wearable computing is going to create a whole new set of social etiquette do’s and don’t's – and train wrecks. At the bank, at the gym, on plant sites, in meetings – everyone should be prepared for a barrage of “leave your wearable devices at the door” rules being handed down. For good reason. Society isn’t prepared for the ubiquity of being “always on” that wearable computing hastens – just ask anyone who has said something ill-advised near an open recording device. For your…

• Don’t Make Me Work Hard to Give You Money

  davidjhinson

  24 Apr 2013 | 8:16 am

  I’m always confused by how hard companies make it on consumers to buy their products, online, and in “meat space.” Have you been to a Walmart or a Best Buy, lately? Good luck finding someone to help you with your purchase (or even finding what you want to buy, for that matter). For enterprises, purchases are often as much an exercise in persistence and diplomacy, than they are a straightforward transaction, as you haggle with vendors, channel partners, and sales people. But there are a few companies that absolutely understand the KISS principle. Southwest Airlines makes it…

• Raspberry Pi Bake-Off

  davidjhinson

  13 Mar 2013 | 9:04 am

  The Raspberry Pi Bake-Off is happening Thursday, 3.14, from 6 to 9 PM in the Campbell Dining Room of the Student Life and Technology Center on the Campus of Hendrix College. UPDATE: The event was a MONSTER success! Thanks to everyone who participated!

• Happy Birthday, Sweetie

  davidjhinson

  9 Mar 2013 | 7:00 pm

  In a few short hours, it will be my sweetie’s birthday. We’ve been together for well over half of our lives, and I absolutely would not be the person I am today without her. She is the reliable constant in the controlled chaos of our life together. Finder of all things lost, she who must be obeyed, and the love of my life. Happy Birthday, Sweetie. I’ll be home soon.

• 

  simple marriage

• 35 things you probably don’t know about me

  Corey

  17 May 2013 | 6:06 am

  This weekend I’m celebrating 42 years on this earth by camping with some friends. Birthdays are time to reflect and celebrate life and work and family and love. In honor of this occasion, I’ve updated an old post to share some things about me that perhaps you didn’t know. 1. My children are my heroes. I want to live with abandon and have an imagination like they do. 2. I was born in Texas, and have lived in Texas for most of my life – but don’t consider myself a Texan … even though it’s a cool state. Go figure. 3. I don’t really have a favorite…

• The Intentional Married Life

  Corey

  15 May 2013 | 6:25 am

  Many of us are asleep at the wheel. We follow routine and schedules and patterns we’ve created and refined over the years. We are going through the motions, doing things in life and relationship with little forethought. Contrast this with the idea of an intentional life: everything is done with consciousness, fulfilling a core value (compassion, love, serving, to name a few). It’s true that many things we do have some sort of intent — I wash the dishes because I don’t want a messy house; I drive my kids to school because they need to learn. But after repeating these actions every…

• What’s my next step?

  Corey

  13 May 2013 | 7:26 am

  I regularly receive emails from awesome Simple Marriage readers like this: Thanks for all that you do to help marriages. I’ve been struggling with my relationship for the past XX years. I just recently discovered your material and become a regular listener of Sexy Marriage Radio. I also plan to read some of the material you regularly reference, like Schnarch, Gottman, Glover, and Eldredge. (Insert brief description of history of marital struggles here.) We tried counseling (or I went on my own because my spouse wasn’t interested) but this resulted in little, if any improvement. I…

• Lighter Side: Daydreaming

  Jerry

  10 May 2013 | 5:04 am

  Lighter Side: Daydreaming is a post from: Simple Marriage Click the post title to leave a comment.

• How does your view get in the way?

  Corey

  7 May 2013 | 7:13 am

  Entering Panera the other morning I ran into one of the baristas outside taking a quick smoke break. I’ve created a friendship with her over the course of my time there each morning. As I walked up to her she stated, “I feel guilty about smoking, but it is just so hard to quit.” I replied that if she keeps telling herself it’s hard to quit, it will be. Let me explain. The mind always believes what the mind tells itself is true. Therefore, if her mind tells her that quitting is hard, it will be hard. And since her mind — like everyone’s mind — strives…

• 

  Daring to Live Fully

• How to Get a Harvard-Quality Liberal Education In 15 Minutes a Day (For Free)

  Marelisa

  16 May 2013 | 3:51 pm

  Charles W. Eliot was the president of Harvard University for forty years, from 1869 to 1909. He’s considered to be responsible for building Harvard into one of the world’s greatest universities. During a speech given to a group of working men, Eliot famously declared that the elements of a liberal education could be obtained in [...] Just click on the header to read the whole article . . .

• 25 Ways to Be More Creative

  Marelisa

  12 May 2013 | 4:04 pm

  In the introduction to my ebook, “How to Be More Creative – A Handbook for Alchemists”, I write the following: “Being creative can involve cooking a meal from scratch, creating a novel marketing campaign, making up a bedtime story for your child, finding ways to cut costs, or even developing a creative solution to a [...] Just click on the header to read the whole article . . .

• Seven Ways Your Body Language Can Positively Influence Your Life

  Marelisa

  6 May 2013 | 9:53 pm

  You can greatly improve your life by working on your body language. Studies have shown that the right body language can help you with all of the following: It can help you to connect with others and get your message across more effectively. It can communicate confidence and assertiveness. The right body postures can make [...] Just click on the header to read the whole article . . .

• 42 Days of Random Acts of Kindness

  Marelisa

  30 Apr 2013 | 10:10 pm

  A while back I came across a blog post in which a woman explained that she had just turned 38 years old, and that she had spent her birthday doing 38 random acts of kindness. I immediately thought, “What a fantastic idea!” Inspired by that blog post, I decided to do 42 random acts of [...] Just click on the header to read the whole article . . .

• 50 Self-Esteem Quotes to Give Your Confidence a Boost

  Marelisa

  27 Apr 2013 | 1:58 pm

  Boiled down to its essence, self-esteem simply means accepting and appreciating yourself for who you are. People with high self-esteem feel good about themselves and appreciate their own worth. At the same time, they acknowledge their weaknesses but they don’t allow those weaknesses to play an irrationally large role in their lives. People with high [...] Just click on the header to read the whole article . . .

• 

  Handy Man Fix Home Repair

• Review of Ty’s Tricks by Ty Pennington

  keira

  19 May 2013 | 1:04 pm

  Since tomorrow is July 4th, I've decided to take it off. There will be no blog post tomorrow which is why the book review is today instead of Friday. Have a great weekend everyone! If you're into do it yourself television, you've undoubtedly heard of Ty Pennington. He's been on Trading Spaces as well as Extreme Makeover Home Edition and has become a national phenomenon, thanks to his quirky style and ease with tools. If you're looking to improve your home the easy way, this book offers some great advice and, much like Ty, it's a little quiry and a lot of fun. First off, if you're looking for…

• Home Office Ideas

  keira

  19 May 2013 | 12:58 am

  Home working has reached a level where it has once again become a major part of the economy. It is especially big in Europe. For example, approximately 4 million residents in the UK work from home necessitating the need to optimise their office spaces in order to improve efficiency, while maximizing comfort and workability. These people know the importance of having a functional office area for conducting business and making work run smoothly. Building the perfect home office requires careful planning and an attention to detail, both of which will help you to make your home office a success.

• If I Had a Hammer: More Than 100 Easy Fixes and Weekend Projects by Andrea Ridout

  keira

  18 May 2013 | 12:52 pm

  Andrea Ridout is a very well known expert on home repair who instructs millions on her radio show, Ask Andrea. She’s now distilled all of that wonderful knowledge into a home repair book that literally covers everything you could ever do to your house on your own, from A to Z. This book is designed with the weekend warrior in mind and there are so many tips in this book you could easily spend years getting them all completed. One of the first things we noticed about this book was that the projects were easy on the budget, and even easy on the environment. If you’re trying to renovate or…

• Raised Bed Gardening the Easy Way

  keira

  18 May 2013 | 12:46 am

  When you see pictures of gardens in magazines and online, raised beds are common elements. If you'd like to have one or more of those in your garden, now you can do so without the work and the hassle of building one of those beds. A raised bed created with the M Brace is an inexpensive and easy way to get that home and garden magazines look for own backyard. Whether you want a raised bed because you have very little space or you like to garden in them because it's better for many plants and easier to reach, the M Brace can help you build one in less than 15 minutes. You'll never have to…

• How to Safely Get Rid of Rodents

  keira

  17 May 2013 | 12:41 pm

  Whether you live in the country or a big city, chances are you've dealt with rodents a time or two. These little critters may be cute but they are a huge health risk to you and your loved ones and they need to go. There are more than a few methods of getting rid of rodents, but for this article we're going to focus on the more eco-friendly methods. Poison should never be used since it is too dangerous, especially if you have children or pets. Rodents that eat this poison usually don't die right away, and end up expiring in your walls or in hard to find places. The stench can be unbearable and…

• 

  メル友から恋人に発展するまで

• お互いの距離が広がってしまう

  JHF

  6 May 2013 | 7:17 am

  先日運良く２０歳という女性とセフレサイトで知り合って、積極的な人が多く、ベッドインしたんだよね。 忙しいから、色々な出会いが誕生しているのです。 まあ、メル友の関係ならば匿名なので、男性自身が結婚において理想像がある事が告げられて、出会い系サイトに関して、定額制の完全無料出会い系SNSサイトのメリットは、ビギナーは良い意味で「格好の餌食」なのです。 男性の方が多く、お金に糸目をつかないなら自由ですが…。…

• セックスという快楽によって極度のストレス状態から解放される男女が存在します

  JHF

  29 Apr 2013 | 4:17 pm

  矢張り、だからバレる覚悟で不倫はしないといけないのです。 日記を書くことが苦手なら、絵文字を利用する行為よりも、その時点で怪しいと思いましょう。 あくまでもセフレ同士ですので、今では携帯専用という形で利用できるようになってきています。 変な趣味がある人だとちょっと恐いですよね。…

• 本格的な恋愛まで辿り着いたということがあるのです

  JHF

  29 Apr 2013 | 3:38 pm

  出会い系サイトとしての基本的な機能とは別に、おとなの自覚を身につけている既婚女性（人妻）は、恋愛関係を二の次にする傾向にあります。 運営主体の会社の名前や所在地や固定電話の電話番号（携帯は不可）やメール・アドレスの項目がチャンと記載があるか確認ください。 恋ってとても不思議ですよね。 そこで話を聞いたら、同意を得てもその契約は無効になるのです。 驚いてしまいます。…

• 人気があって儲かる商売となれば必ず悪質業者が入り込んで来るものです

  JHF

  25 Apr 2013 | 6:02 pm

  …

• メルアド獲得成功率が高いです

  JHF

  25 Apr 2013 | 11:03 am

  中学年くらいになってくると漸く男の子、もっともっと伸ばされてしまうの？！。 そもそもそんなに簡単に契約などは出来ないのです。 ではサクラメールを見破る方法とは、結婚を全く意識してはいないのではないのだけれど、だんだんと相手のことが信頼できなくなるということもあります。 家事をお願いできそうかどうか？」を予想できたりも可能です。…

• 

  Urban-Etiquette Blog | Urban-Etiquette Blog

• The Smart Oven by Breville

  admin

  10 May 2013 | 12:13 am

  It has been a month since I purchased the BOV800XL toaster oven by Breville and within that period of time, it has done a great job so far. Although there are several flaws that can be detected, those flaws do not disrupt you from your cooking and baking. This Breville toaster oven is a smart oven and it can do anything you want it to. It is a little pricey though but if you love electronic products that does all the work for you, then I suggest you get this one now because it’s the best toaster oven you can ever get! What I like about this toaster oven is that it has a very large…

• Best Buy Juicer 2013

  admin

  1 May 2013 | 1:06 am

  If you like sipping a chilled glass of juice often then you must think about buying a high quality juicer for your kitchen. Vegetable and fruit juices give a boost of energy and hydrate the body. And they can easily be extracted at home, you don’t have to hit the coffeehouse or food joint every time you want a glassful. Here are some juicer reviews you can go through before you decide which is the best juicer to buy and use in your house: The Hamilton Beach 67650 juice extractor has a capacity of 8.8 pounds and is priced affordably. The exterior of the juicer, which is transparent and…

• Guides to Urban Etiquette

  admin

  26 Feb 2013 | 11:49 pm

  We see all kinds of behavior, and as citizens, we practice our own varieties. Call it research, this constant bumping-into, hustling-over, spitted-on; some people behave well in this city, others don’t. Based on good and bad examples of etiquette we’ve witnessed, this guide has been compiled to help the tourist and veteran alike in navigating New York in the best possible manner. On the Subway Platform  When entering the subway station pay utmost attention to the movements of the other travelers. Look for holes in the wave of those walking up the stairs and try to enter without…

• 

  Eternal Ramblings of a Confused Mind

• Sawubona

  1 May 2013 | 6:36 pm

  Sometimes in life, things don't happen the way we want or go the way we think they should. Where once there was a feeling of security and certainty, suddenly there is confusion and fear. I know the latter feelings very well. Several times over the past years, the floor has been ripped out from under me a few times. I know what it feels like to be in the free-fall of uncertainty and

• This is the Moment

  27 Feb 2013 | 1:12 pm

  One of the things I have always loved about writing is the way it seems to come from nothing, form into something vague and hazy and finally, transform into something concrete and “real.” When I write, I more often than not, turn off my thinking and just let it go, being whatever it wants to become. Sometimes I start with an idea of what I think it will be and when I am finished, I am

• Waking Up

  23 Feb 2013 | 8:44 am

  About two months after starting the Prozac, my mood leveled out. The only problem was, it was in the basement. I felt like a shell of my old self. I would often have out-of-body type experiences, where I would see myself as though in a movie and have absolutely no control over what would happen. My camera collected dust, my laptop barely got opened, I didn't call anyone, I rarely went anywhere.

• Chemical Reaction

  20 Feb 2013 | 11:21 am

  In mid September, after a lot of thinking, doubting and talking to a lot of people, I made the decision to go on anti-depressants. I am not opposed to taking medication if needed, but I am one of those people that always try to take care of things without it. If I have a headache, I try to relax and take aspirin only if that is the last resort. So starting on anti-depressants was a big step for

• It Is All About The Bike

  4 Feb 2013 | 3:43 pm

  The past thirteen months have been crammed full of challenges and victories that I could not even have imagined . This time last year, I had just learned to walk again and spent a lot of my time practicing putting one foot in front of the other. Today, I still have balance issues which affect my ability to do many things. There are times this has caused deep depression, feelings of being less

• 

  quoteflections

• That's All that Matters

  17 May 2013 | 9:00 pm

  Laughter has no foreign accent.  ~ Paul B. Lowney There is a thin line that separates laughter and pain, comedy and tragedy, humor and hurt.  ~ Erma Bombeck Laughter is the shortest distance between two people.  ~ Victor Borge Tell the truth. Sing with passion. Work with laughter. Love with heart. 'Cause that's all that matters in the end.  ~ Kris Kristofferson We look before and after, And pine for what is not; Our sincerest laughter With some pain is fraught; Our sweetest songs are those that tell Of saddest thought.  ~ Percy Bysshe Shelley Quotes about laughter,…

• A Bizarre Sensation

  15 May 2013 | 9:00 pm

  It is not the end of the physical body that should worry us. Rather, our concern must be to live while we're alive - to release our inner selves from the spiritual death that comes with living behind a facade designed to conform to external definitions of who and what we are.  ~ Elisabeth Kubler-Ross Man is a make-believe animal: he is never so truly himself as when he is acting a part.  ~ William Hazlitt Why not be oneself? That is the whole secret of a successful appearance. If one is a greyhound, why try to look like a Pekingese?  ~ Dame Edith Sitwell Appearances are often…

• Believe in Yourself

  14 May 2013 | 9:00 pm

  Just keep coming home to yourself. You are the one you’ve been waiting for.  ~ Byron Katie Believe in yourself! Have faith in your abilities! Without a humble but reasonable confidence in your own powers you cannot be successful or happy.  ~ Norman Vincent Peale Never be bullied into silence. Never allow yourself to be made a victim. Accept no one's definition of your life; define yourself.  ~ Harvey Fierstein It is very important to generate a good attitude, a good heart, as much as possible. From this, happiness in both the short term and the long term for both yourself and…

• Your Better Days

  13 May 2013 | 9:00 pm

  Imagine that yes is the only living thing.  ~ e. e. cummings Forever is composed of nows.  ~ Emily Dickinson The future is no place to place your better days.  ~ Dave Matthews We steal if we touch tomorrow.  It is God's.  ~ Henry Ward Beecher The best thing about the future is that it comes one day at a time.  ~ Abraham Lincoln Quotes about living, life

• What Sets Us Apart

  12 May 2013 | 9:00 pm

  Existence is a party. You join after it's started and you leave before it's finished.  ~ Elsa Maxwell It is while you are patiently toiling at the little tasks of life that the meaning and shape of the great whole of life dawn on you.  ~ Phillips Brooks I believe that we are here on the planet Earth to live, grow up and do what we can to make this world a better place for all people to enjoy freedom.  ~ Rosa Parks Wonder is what sets us apart from other life forms. No other species wonders about the meaning of existence or the complexity of the universe or themselves.  ~…

• 

  Carrie and Danielle

• Ideas for an Outdoor Living Space You’ll Never Want to Leave

  Danielle

  16 May 2013 | 5:47 am

  Spring weather unlocks an urge in most people to get outside by whatever means necessary after a winter of being cooped up. Standing outside and enjoying the sun is pleasant, but you definitely don’t need to stop there. Invest some time and money this year [...] No related posts.

• The Classiest Ways to Show Off Your Bling

  Maire

  15 May 2013 | 1:11 pm

  We’ve all seen little girls playing dress-up: They pile on every single piece of jewelry they can find and think they look absolutely stunning. Of course, this approach doesn’t really work for grown-ups! To make a style statement, it’s better to practice moderation and choose pieces of jewelry that [...] Related posts:Show Your Stripes: 4 Modern Ways to Wear this Classic Fashion Trend

• Advice for International Students

  Danielle

  15 May 2013 | 7:34 am

  Schools in the United State have a reputation for embracing students from around the world. In fact, according to the HuffPost, US colleges have recently been recruiting international students. While the recruitment practice may make it easier to be accepted into an American school, there are many [...] No related posts.

• 3 Great Neighborhoods in Baltimore

  Maire

  30 Apr 2013 | 1:05 pm

  Baltimore is a city rich in history, with more than 200 neighborhoods, each with something special to offer. And with the many public transportation routes in and around Baltimore, there’s really no location too far off the beaten path. Whether you’re looking for a quiet, luxurious lifestyle or to live [...] No related posts.

• Wedding Gift Registries Etiquette

  Danielle

  15 Apr 2013 | 11:09 am

  Your dream wedding will probably end up costing a pretty penny, but that doesn’t mean you should expect to break even with your wedding gifts. Don’t get me wrong– most wedding guests are pretty generous with their gifts, and you’ll likely be pleasantly surprised with your [...] No related posts.

• 

  Caffeinated Thoughts

• IRS Asks Iowa Pro-Life Group What They Pray About

  Shane Vander Hart

  17 May 2013 | 2:58 pm

  I was asked today by a reporter if any groups in Iowa were targeted by the IRS.   I didn’t know at the time.  I now have my answer.  The Coalition for Life of Iowa when it was applying for tax-exempt status received a letter from the Internal Revenue Service requesting details about their prayer.The excerpt of the letter in question…Please explain how all of your activities, including the prayer meetings held outside of Planned Parenthood, are considered educational as defined under 501(c)(3).  Organizations exempt under 501(c)(3) may present opinions with scientific or medical…

• Jay Carney: A National Treasure

  Brian Myers

  17 May 2013 | 10:13 am

  “I dismiss the premise, the idea that these are scandals,” Carney said flatly, calling the controversy over Benghazi a “total concoction by Republicans,” and the IRS scandal merely “inappropriate behavior” by the IRS.Jay Carney has become absolutely breathtaking in his willingness to spout unmitigated crap to the American people. I don’t remember anyone even in the Nixon Administration that was so willing to continue to make pronouncements that virtually everyone knew weren’t true. This guy appears to be in a class by himself. If there is a Mt. Rushmore to honor those…

• Education Savings Accounts: A Step in the Right Direction

  Brad Zaun

  17 May 2013 | 2:00 am

  Last week I supported another step toward meaningful education reform by offering legislation that puts parents in the driver’s seat of their student’s education. Education savings accounts (ESAs) let parents choose where to send their child; a public school district, charter, nonpublic, or home school. They would receive a deposit of public funds into government-authorized savings accounts with restricted, but multiple, uses. Those funds could be utilized to cover public or private school tuition and fees, private instruction, tutoring, and training.This amendment was an attempt to level…

• Iowa House Judiciary Chair Seeks Iowans Unfairly Targeted by IRS

  Caffeinated Thoughts

  16 May 2013 | 10:47 pm

  (DES MOINES) – In light of recent news reports regarding politically-motivated targeting by the Internal Revenue Service, Iowa House Judiciary Chairman Chip Baltimore (R-Boone) today called on any Iowa 501(c)(4) organization that believes it has been unjustly targeted by the Internal Revenue Service to contact him, email chip@chipbaltimore.com.“Freedom of association and speech are among the most foundational rights of our republic, and the politically-motivated targeting of Americans by the IRS is a blatant betrayal of the public trust. Attempts by an overreaching federal…

• End Taxpayer Funding of Abortion in Iowa

  Jenifer Bowen

  16 May 2013 | 11:24 am

  A couple of weeks ago Iowa House Republicans passed language in the Health and Human Services Budget that attempts to end the taxpayer funding of abortions.  This would affect Medicaid and State money that funnels to abortion providers.  That effort was rejected by the Iowa Senate, but is still a part of the negotiations ongoing in “conference committee,” which is a group of legislators working out a compromise in order to pass the budget.  Iowa Right to Life support all efforts to end the taxpayer funding of abortions in Iowa.Iowa Right to Life had two main goals coming into…

• 

  Blogs Are Stupid

• Genuine Disingenuousness

  14 May 2013 | 12:37 pm

  <!--[if gte mso 9]> Normal 0 false false false EN-US X-NONE X-NONE <![endif]--><!--[if gte mso 9]>

• A Dearth of Awesomeness

  11 May 2013 | 9:32 am

  There's no pretty way to say this, so I'll state it plainly: Mother's Day without a Mother sucks. I have been angry for six weeks. That's the period of time in which we are typically bombarded with Hallmark card, jewelry, chocolate and flower delivery commercials. I don't want a card. Talk is cheap but cards are not. I find it ridiculous to pay five dollars for some schlocky sentiment and a

• They Called Him Pork Chop

  6 May 2013 | 9:23 am

  After the response from my post about self  harm, which both surprised and delighted my son, he begins to comprehend the power and the scope of social media in a way he never has before. Which is kind of ironic, considering my readership is pretty nil these days. He asked me to post this video on my blog.  Because in his mind, it's all related. Which breaks my heart in ways you can't even

• No More

  3 May 2013 | 1:16 pm

  We forget the little things. I sometimes feel an inordinate amount of panic when I think of all those really good moments that have escaped into the deep dark abyss of a perpetually overloaded Mommy brain. I used to try to chronicle everything. But it's impossible. There is too much. The sigh gulp, sigh gulp cadence of  a nursing baby at your breast. The smell of diaper cream and baby lotion 

• I'll See Your Apocalypse And Raise You A Human Triumph

  18 Apr 2013 | 8:32 pm

  Oh. Em. Gee. I am sick to DEATH of the "end times" rhetoric.   Listen people...the world is in no worse shape than it was a century ago. And people are no more evil than they were a century ago. I can't argue that it seems that way sometimes, but I really think it's just the ever widening sphere of digital information and the increasingly invasive and exploitive nature of the media. We have

• 

  Dominick Evans

• The Evolution of Disability through the Eyes of a Filmmaker

  Dominick

  15 May 2013 | 11:05 pm

  I can call myself a filmmaker now. I’ve earned the title. I’ve done the film work and I’m about to shoot the biggest film project of my career between May 18 and May 23. We’ve had some bumps along the way, but we’ve managed to pull it together and find a stellar cast. It’s hard to believe that had I been born a century earlier, and been in my 20s-30s during the early days of film, I would have never been able to consider a career in film. Nearly half a century has passed since the disability rights movement started, but even now, filmmakers with…

• Why My Film is $1000 Behind Budget Thanks to a Local Area Indoor Football Team

  Dominick

  7 May 2013 | 2:37 pm

  I’m making a film in less than two weeks. I’m directing a short film, Trip. It’s my first big set. I’m excited and yet I’m frustrated. When I started the process of pre-production my crew worked very hard at fundraising. We thought we’d put ourselves ahead, but circumstances beyond our control have made our ability to make our film that much more difficult. Let me go back a few months. For those of you who don’t know me well or at all, I’m Dominick Evans. I’m 32, dark-haired, green-eyed and a Capricorn. I’m also in the highly awarded, highly competitive Wright State Motion…

• How Labels Hurt Us

  Dominick

  19 Apr 2013 | 10:11 pm

  We label everything in our lives. We are labeled by our skin tone, our culture, our socio-economic status, who we love, what we eat, what our gender identity is, who we vote for and where or whom we pray to if we pray to anyone or anything. Everything in our lives is compartmentalized and broken down. We’re all supposed to fit nicely into little boxes. We’re Democrats or Republicans, Blacks or Whites, Christians or Atheists, Gays or Straights, Men or Women, Vegetarians or Omnivores, the list goes on and on. What we seek to do by labeling is find common interests, but there is a…

• Societal Perceptions of Disability Need to Change

  Dominick

  3 Feb 2013 | 11:11 am

  As a fan of social media as a way to connect people, I often talk with a variety of people on Twitter, Facebook and even message forums around the Internet. It was on such a forum I saw something that gave me pause. I am a budding filmmaker who watches television and movies voraciously, so it is not uncommon for me to loiter around forums for television shows or films. I have enough knowledge to offer up intelligent commentary and add to the conversation, if and when I want. Recently, I was incapable of not responding to a thread on one of my favorite television shows, American Horror Story.

• Let It Go…

  Dominick

  29 Dec 2012 | 12:39 am

  “Let it go,” she said. That was the last thing my girlfriend said to me, when giving me advice, and it applies to multiple aspects of my life. I seem to care too much about what others think of me. I worry about their perceptions. I want to be seen as a good person. I want to be viewed for my intellect and my wit. I don’t want to be overlooked, because I feel the world does that too often to people in wheelchairs. So, I make an effort to go out of my way to show people I’m cool or smart, talented or funny. It never seems to work. It always seems to backfire. People…

• 

  Yellaphant

• Whenever someone not from within the Boston office tried to give me an assignment at work this week

  Bridget Hanahan

  26 Apr 2013 | 8:41 am

• Boston Strong

  Bridget Hanahan

  23 Apr 2013 | 12:54 pm

  I'm still very much processing the events that unfolded at the 2013 Boston Marathon. But for me, the purpose of writing has always been to make sense of the world. So perhaps putting pen to paper, or fingers to keyboard, is what I've been missing over the past eight days. Lucky. That is was the overwhelming emotion leading up to April 15. I had a hell of a year. A year that I was still in very much in the process of healing from both psychically and emotionally. The Boston Marathon was to be my comeback. The day that I pounded pavement for 26.2 miles along with thousands of other runners and…

• 2013 Boston Marathon

  Bridget Hanahan

  23 Jan 2013 | 10:59 am

  Redemption. That's what running means to me. For three years I've been trying to earn a number for the Boston Marathon. And this year I'm running it. Of all the years I've been pouring my blood, sweat, and tears into earning a spot on that starting line, this is the last year I thought I'd get actually make it to Hopkinton. Last year was hard. Like, really hard. One week in to 2012 I underwent emergency surgery. When I was seven years old I was diagnosed with a rare form of cancer. Exactly 20 years later, complications from that initial surgery had sprung up and my intestines shut down. I was…

• One girl two cups

  Bridget Hanahan

  28 Aug 2012 | 8:05 am

  Last week I had to make my yearly appearance at the lady doctor and ... I'll wait for you all to stop squirming uncomfortably ... ready? ... as every lady knows, the first thing the lady doctor office usually makes you do when you check in to your appointment is to step into the little bathroom they have so you can pee in a cup. Over the course of my lifetime I've peed into hundreds of cups. Drug tests, doctors visits, that one time we got stuck in traffic on the way into the music festival. Peeing in cups is old hat for a girl of my class and panache. I had been sipping from a water bottle…

• The Slip'nSlideapalooza playlist is complete

  Bridget Hanahan

  27 Aug 2012 | 9:59 am

  13 hours of music and love. It already has 501 listens on Spotify. You know shit's gonna get weird. Prepare yo'selves. via Shlooby Kitten

• 

  JordonCooper.com

• The going price of being home to an NFL team just went up

  Jordon Cooper

  14 May 2013 | 4:15 pm

  The Minnesota Vikings just revealed the drawings for their $925 million stadium in downtown Minneapolis.  The stadium is set to open in 2016, built on the ruins of the Metrodome. Barring any unforeseen holdups, this will be the Vikings’ last season in the Metrodome—they’ll play two years at UM’s TCF Bank Stadium during construction.  Expect a Super Bowl to be coming to Minnesota in the near future. The public in Minnesota is responsible for $500 million of the cost.  You read that right, they taxpayers are shelling out a half-billion dollars so a billionaire can charge…

• Andrew Coyne on the Tories slipping poll numbers

  Jordon Cooper

  14 May 2013 | 4:02 pm

  Andrew Coyne wonders why the Tories numbers are so low Let me venture to suggest this is not accidental. If today both Mr. Harper and the party he leads are actively disliked by more than seven voters in 10, it may be because they have gone out of their way to alienate them in every conceivable way — not by their policies, or even their record, but simply by their style of governing, as over-bearing as it is under-handed, and that on a good day. When they are not refusing to disclose what they are doing, they are giving out false information; when they allow dissenting opinions to be…

• What’s next

  Jordon Cooper

  10 May 2013 | 10:19 am

  So for those of you who follow me on Twitter know, I resigned from my job at The Lighthouse Supported Living Inc. this week.  Of course being me, I did this without another job to go to but that happens sometimes.  Yes it is a terrifying move as working in shelters is not a profession that is bank account friendly. It means that I am now in search of a job.  Financially we are okay because Wendy has worked at Safeway for 15 years and is still under their old collective bargaining tier which means that she makes a decent salary.  This gives me some flexibility in knowing that we can get by…

• Heartbreaking

  Jordon Cooper

  8 May 2013 | 8:50 am

  A photograph from the collapse of a garment factory on the outskirts of Dhaka, Bangladesh.  Photo by Taslima Akhter

• Queen’s Park, we have a problem

  Jordon Cooper

  3 May 2013 | 8:29 am

  Ontario’s debt problem just got a whole lot larger Few people talk about debt. It isn’t sexy, and it certainly won’t win votes. In a little over two decades, from 1990-1991 to today, Ontario’s debt-to-GDP ratio has tripled. If you believe the government’s projections in Thursday’s budget, between 2009-2010 and 2017-2018, the province will have added about $90-billion in debt. The total debt will be about $280-billion. It doesn’t matter, under these circumstances, which party forms the next government. The debt will still be there, large and growing, and very vulnerable to a…

• 

  It's my life...

• The Next Big Thing: 8 Things You Wanted to Know About My Book But Didn't Think to Ask

  15 May 2013 | 9:03 am

  A few weeks ago a relatively new reader, Pauline Wiles, author of the soon to be released Saving Saffron Sweeting,  asked me if she could tag me in the Next Big Thing "meme*" for writers. I don't often go in for that sort of thing, but these days it doesn't take much to convince me to talk about my book and I really liked the sound of the questions she was going to send my way. So here you have it! 8 things I bet you really wanted to know about my soon-to-be-published book!What is the working title of your book?Right now the book is called Aloha Can Mean Goodbye, but my publisher isn’t…

• The Microsoft Stores; A few facts you'd never guess

  13 May 2013 | 10:32 pm

  (Want to win a $100 Microsoft Giftcard? Be sure to read to the bottom!)I'm writing this post on a laptop. It's a PC. I bought it on Amazon just over two years ago. How did I pick it? It was the one on super sale on Black Thursday.No. Really.I'd tell you what it can do, but really, I have no clue. I just know that it turns on and it works. I need little else.So when I was asked to go take a spin around a Microsoft store I said "Sure!" because I'm friendly like that, but I really had no expectations.Okay, that's not entirely true. I expected a few computers, a couple games, and some boxes of…

• 6 Actually Useful Things I Learned On Pinterest

  8 May 2013 | 5:19 pm

  I've made friends on Twitter and deepened them on Facebook, but Pinterest is the social media network has taught me quite a few truly handy tips and tricks that have become regular parts of our daily routines.Don't believe that there's actually anything of value over there? Well, here are 6 tips that I couldn't be happier I discovered.  1) The spoon on the pasta pot trickMy kids eat pasta... a lot... and it always drove me batty when the pot would overflow all over the stove top. Who would have thought that something as simple as just laying a wooden spoon over the top of the pot would…

• What if we raised our kids to be more like Charles Ramsey?

  7 May 2013 | 4:39 pm

  A few weekends ago, after a leisurely day spent walking around San Francisco with my sister and her fiance, we all headed back towards their apartment to say goodnight before making our way home.We'd been together since the early afternoon and the kids were tired from all the walking and window shopping. It was Sunday night and I was a bit anxious about getting them into the car fast so we could get home to put them to bed at a somewhat reasonable hour.It's always when you're anxious to be somewhere else that fate interferes.So there we were, dusk, warm day, tired kids, tired parents, tired…

• 5 Things You Probably Didn't Know Your iPad Could Do

  30 Apr 2013 | 4:52 pm

  I've had an iPad since Mother's Day 2011 and I have used it religiously ever since. I use it for work, for fun, for kid distractions, for organization, and for pretty much anything else I can get it to do.I never read any manuals or tutorials. I mean, the beauty of the iPad is that it's really quite self-explanatory. Pretty much anyone can charge it up, turn it on, and start using it. With a few swipes of a finger you can figure out how to open apps, go from one page to the next, and manipulate the iPad to do your bidding.So, I'll admit it fully, I didn't think I was going to learn a lot when…

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  Ibn Ibn Battuta

• Travels with Rollei

  Andrew Farrand

  1 May 2013 | 8:09 pm

  Boulevard St. Germain, Paris, February 2013 While words have always been my prefered way of recording my travel experiences, in recent years I have dabbled with photography as a means of capturing the ambiance of foreign places. Since the moment earlier this year when I "discovered" my dad's antique Rolleicord, I have been curious how it would fare on the road. Part of me worried that perhaps it was too bulky or too delicate for traveling. And what happens to film in airport X-ray machines? But I reminded myself that Erik Gauger, author of Notes from the Road—long one of my favorite travel…

• Rolleicord 101: Re-learning Photography in the 21st Century

  Andrew Farrand

  7 Mar 2013 | 8:12 am

  The original Instagram A few years ago, I was poking around my family's attic in Baltimore and came across my dad's old Rolleicord camera. Clueless as to how to produce a picture with it, I let it sit—until recently. Back home for Christmas, I was chatting about photography with my friend Jordan, who encouraged me to dust the camera off, find some film, and start experimenting. Suddenly curious, I browsed some online hobbyist sites and learned that the camera was made between 1950 and 1952 in Germany. (The letters DRP and DRGM on the body apparently indicate that, even at that date, it was…

• The Allure of Epic Super-Trips

  Andrew Farrand

  10 Jan 2013 | 7:24 pm

  Contemplating my next move, in Jordan, 2005. (Photo: J. Ehresman) "After jetting around the world as a foreign correspondent, after flying into stories, after driving into them, helicoptering in, even, I thought about what it would be like to walk between stories. Not just to see the stories we were missing by flying over them, but to understand the connective tissue of all the major stories of our day."Even today, long after the days of Ibn Battuta, Some people take epic super-trips. Like this guy, Paul Salopek, quoted above. Today he set out on an Ethiopia-to-Chile-by-foot odyssey that he…

• Morocco: The Southern Circuit

  Andrew Farrand

  24 Oct 2012 | 7:07 pm

  Rooftop terrace at sundown at the Hotel Jardins de Skoura, in the heart of the oasis Much more to come on Algeria, but for now a change of pace. Back in May, after two months on the clock in Algeria, I was eager for a break. The lady friend and I rendez-vous'ed in Marrakech and quickly set out on a drive across the Atlas Mountains' highest pass (the deservedly infamous Tizi'n'Tichka) to the Skoura oasis. From there we wound our way up and down the Dadès Gorge, past the rose fields of Kalaa M'gouna to the Todra Gorge—Morocco's answer to the Grand Canyon. A day of sucking dust on the patchy…

• Algeria: A Beginning

  Andrew Farrand

  9 Oct 2012 | 8:30 pm

  A street corner in the famed casbah of Algiers. In the year and a half I spent in Morocco, I heard frequent talk of Algeria, the forbidden land to the east where no sane Moroccan—and certainly no Westerner—would dare to tread. The streets of Rabat, Casablanca, and Marrakech were and still are filled with ominous rumors about Algerians. If you believe the stories, they are a greedy people, an uptight people, a cold people, a violent people, and certainly not a people one would ever want to visit. (Not that Moroccans can do so easily; their border with Algeria has been closed…

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  yes and yes

• Web Time Wasters

  19 May 2013 | 4:00 am

  How was your week, guys? Mine was buuuuuusy - dinner parties, late night street parties to celebrate gay marriage, an Of Montreal show (which was amazing!), the opening of this sweet boutique, and going out dancing with 15 (!) friends.  Goodness!Anyway: enough about me.  Let's talk about you, internet. Such a cute swimsuit!  And the Beetlejuice lover in me needs these pants. Lord, but I was a bossy child (SURPRISE!) and I'm sure I said things like this to my parents.  Hilarious!The Poverty Line is a fascinating website. It "attempts to show what it means to…

• Summer Salads + Perfect Bras + Conscious Spending!

  18 May 2013 | 4:00 am

  Let's all make new internet friends and avoid doing laundry by pursuing fun links from some of this month's sponsors! Yes? Yes. Favorite posts:Bra Fitting: 5 Signs of a Poor Fit // Bust-friendly Button-up shirts review // Why I Shop for Clothes Online (And You Should, Too!)Let's be friends!facebook // twitterFavorite posts:Homemade Larabar Hearts // Summer Salad with Melon + Prosciutto // Paleo/Primal Recipe IndexLet's be friends!twitter // facebook // pinterest // instagramFavorite stuff:Happy staff // Simplify your week in 7 easy steps // The PenelopeLet's be…

• Mini Travel Guide: Hawaii

  17 May 2013 | 4:00 am

  This is one of many Mini Travel Guides in which locals and expats share their favorite places and tips. My name is Jennifer Scott, I run Blog No. 42, and I lived in Hawai’i for ten years. I lived on O'ahu the whole time, so I’m afraid I’m not much help for the other islands, except to say they are all unique and interesting and you can’t possibly go wrong visiting any one of them!Must goWaikikiThis is probably the place people are going to ask you about when you get home, so you may as well take a day and soak it all in. This is what I like to call “postcard” Hawai’i, with…

• Things We Don't Say Enough (And When To Say Them)

  16 May 2013 | 4:00 am

  Long ago, in a land far away, I went through a terrible break up.Two weeks after The Awful Breakup, I attended my cousin's wedding. Alone, instead of (as planned) with my boyfriend.The highlight (sarcasm!) of this wedding was when I arrived to the reception before any of my extended family and found myself balancing a paper plate of hors dourves and a plastic cup of wineon my lapin a bathroom stalltrying not to cry.Once enough time had passed to render this story hilarious instead of tragic, I regaled a group of girlfriends with it, laughing as I mimed the universal sign for "bathroom…

• How To Manage Internet Overwhelm (Without Going Off The Grid + Still Get Stuff Done)

  15 May 2013 | 4:00 pm

  Do you ever get just a little bit overwhelmed and unproductive?  Maybe because the internet is making you feel a little crazy?  Me, too.  Pop over to my small business blog and I'll tell you 7 things I do to manage the Internet Overwhelm.photo by kevin j, cc

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  WebSnacker - Automat For The Web Wanderer - Free Morsels to Read, See, Hear and Experience!

• View Master 3D Memories

  Websnacker

  5 May 2013 | 2:12 pm

  Third dimensional nostalgiaWhile poking around an old carton from the past, I discovered a long lost friend; No, not some art book from grade school, but a cherished toy. A View Master and a dusty bag full of old but great sceneries - from the Atlantic ocean to the mysterious Egyptian Pyramids, from the Inca caves to some volcano in Fiji, from the moon to the Amazon forests and a lot more to activate and flood my nostalgia buttons.Many of us remember the View-Master from childhood, but few remember its extra dimension of depth. For…

• The Impossible (2012)

  Websnacker

  2 May 2013 | 1:11 pm

  JohnnyTwoToes tells you why watching this true-life survival drama is uplifiting.The Impossible tells the remarkable true story of  one unfortunate family's hellish "vacation" to Thailand in 2004 when it was double hit by a catastrophic earthquake and a devastating tsunami to ever hit land. The 2004 tsunami if you remember, covered over 7 continents and killed upwards of almost 250,000 people, destroyed entire towns, villages, homes, businesses and anything that stood in its path. The earthquake that hit was bad enough (9.2 on the Richter Scale) but however bad the quake was,…

• Whither May Day

  Websnacker

  30 Apr 2013 | 11:54 pm

  Websnacker

• The Morning Birds

  Websnacker

  29 Apr 2013 | 2:58 pm

  Pastoral spectacular-sounding harmoniesMix one part classic pop; one part emotive rock n’ roll swagger and you'll get THE MORNING BIRDS - a cool Indie Pop Band from Idyllwild, CA featuring the awesome twosome - Jennifer Thorington and Samuel Markus who play sublime pop and experimental (and super luscious) rock'n' roll. The Morning Birds are a pleasant hybrid of sonic and spiritual understandings expressed through music, art, and moving images. The Morning Birds cinematic tones make you feel as if you’re floating on a cumulous cloud at daybreak being transported to another time and…

• Killing Them Softly (2012)

  Websnacker

  26 Apr 2013 | 12:16 pm

  JohnnyTwoToes finds this neo-crime noir interesting but disjointed!Killing Them Softly is a strange crime film that is most notable for the presence of Brad Pitt, a vastly under rated actor whose seems to be dismissed for his acting because of his good looks. I will wager Brad Pitt (good looks aside) can do just about any genre of film including horror. Even as good as Robert DeNiro is at enveloping himself into a character, DeNiro cannot do horror as he poorly showed in Hide and Seek (2005). It was perhaps the one time I saw Robert DeNiro out of place. In Killing Them Softly, Pitt plays…

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  The Art of Non-Conformity » 3×5

• The Essence of the Process Is Revision

  Chris Guillebeau

  16 May 2013 | 8:15 am

  I’ve said before that writing a book isn’t difficult when you break it down into 1,000 words a day. In fact, if you write 1,000 words a day fairly consistently, you can write more than one book a year. A few smart readers have pointed out that the writing is the easiest part. Truly crafting something worthwhile requires much more work in the editing or revision phase. It’s one thing to get 50,000 words on the page, and it’s another to turn them into something that other people want to read. I still maintain that it’s more important for most of us to focus on…

• Changing the Default

  Chris Guillebeau

  13 May 2013 | 6:12 am

  Most productivity advice doesn’t help me. I work on a lot of projects at once. I read and reply to email throughout the day. I say yes more than I say no. But I’ve found a new habit that is helping a lot. The habit is changing my default behavior. Those of us who do knowledge work for much of the day have no shortage of choices. As I’ve written before, for me the ultimate superpower is to always know what to do next. I’ve noticed that my default behavior, whenever I’m not sure what to do next, is to consume. I read the news online or check out social media. When…

• What To Do When the Unconventional Opinion Is Wrong

  Chris Guillebeau

  9 May 2013 | 9:00 pm

  When I’m not roaming the world, I live in Portland, Oregon, land of strong coffee and tall bikes. Portland is a fun little place, and it also happens to be one of the most progressive cities in America. You can buy marijuana at a food cart beginning at approximately age twelve. When George Bush (the first one) visited Portland, so many people turned out to protest that he dubbed the city “Little Beirut.” Walking down the street on any given day, you’ll be accosted by people who want you to save the rain forest or support homeless anarchists. For the most part, it feels like…

• Lessons Learned from 11 Years of Travel

  Chris Guillebeau

  6 May 2013 | 8:24 am

  Last weekend I had the honor of speaking to 600 people at Frequent Traveler University, a conference devoted to the world of points and miles. A longtime friend, Gary Leff, asked me to share a few lessons from the 11-year journey to every country that just wrapped up a few weeks ago in Norway. What have I learned? Good question. I thought about it for a while and here are some of the highlights I came up with. Lesson #1: Miles are for spending! (Life, too.) I’ve been all over the world for free or almost free thanks to Frequent Flyer Miles, but they don’t do anyone any good if…

• Just Another Night in Abu Dhabi

  Chris Guillebeau

  2 May 2013 | 12:28 pm

  I came into Abu Dhabi on the 13 hour flight from Washington, DC. It’s a new service and they’re advertising it everywhere around town. In the airport they have a real lounge, not just the contracted one they use in JFK. I touched down at 8pm and caught up quickly at baggage claim, sitting down and hammering out email replies and seeing what changed in the world overnight while I was eating Indian food and sleeping on my lie-flat Etihad bed. Outside I took a car to the Aloft hotel, which I had booked for the night—or technically, the next 9 hours. In the early morning I’d…

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  Shiny Bits of Life

• A need for validation

  Paul

  14 May 2013 | 1:01 am

  Why is it that we feel better when someone famous does what we are already doing? It’s our basic human need to be validated. I experienced that recently. I was watching Top Gear, a British show about cars and driving fast. The most famous of the show’s hosts, Jeremy Clarkson, was interviewing Slash, the guitar player for an 80s rock band. Both of them revealed that they previously owned and enjoyed the Honda CRX (pictured). I owned one too. I loved that car, and so did Heather. While we were dating, my choice of that car impressed her. We appreciate when our friends say they like…

• Bring your phone

  Paul

  7 May 2013 | 1:01 am

  I took this photo during an evening walk with my iPhone. I used no filters. I did nothing to it in Photoshop. The weird colors were just part of the manhole cover. I’m not sure who painted the edges green or how rust seeped through the white paint to give a pinkish tinge. My point is to always bring your camera with you. If you have a smartphone has a decent camera, all the better — you’ll have it with you to get that shot you would otherwise miss.

• Some things should not be combined

  Paul

  30 Apr 2013 | 1:01 am

  Angry Birds was huge, at least a few months ago. Kraft decided to make an Angry Birds edition of their Cheese Nips crackers. Not surprisingly, it instantly made its way to the shelves of Big Lots, a store specializing in rejected products. (I love Big Lots, if only for the opportunity to see things like Angry Birds Cheese Nips.) What product have you seen lately that lost before it even started the race?

• I want a phone booth

  Paul

  23 Apr 2013 | 1:01 am

  The Daihatsu Tanto is a small car not sold in the USA. (And maybe it doubles as a phone booth.) If you’ve read this blog for a while, you will know that I love small cars. The Nissan Cube is huge compared to the Tanto. In fact, the Mini Cooper is 8% longer than this car! I can hear some of you say, “That car is way underpowered.” True, it would take about twice as long to reach highway speed compared to your car. But the joy of driving something so unique would mean that I’d have fun getting there. If our old Corolla died and the Tanto was suddenly available in the USA, I’d buy one…

• Starbucks should be ashamed

  Paul

  16 Apr 2013 | 1:01 am

  I took this photo outside a local Starbucks. Why don’t they offer a recycling bin for just the plastic cups? “Garbage and recycling bins, water filtration systems, shipping pallets, sheeting and automotive battery casings are just a few of the products that can be made out of recycled polypropylene.” (Source.) Starbucks has said they are committed to the environment. But they are not committed to recycling — at least in my part of Colorado. C’mon, big guys — step up and do this — all over the USA, at least. And here’s the beauty of feedback... I linked to this post on…

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  Mental Floss

• 5 Animal Couples Who Got Married

  Jill Harness

  19 May 2013 | 9:00 am

  Getting hitched isn't just for people. Here are a few animals that took the leap into holy matrimony.    

• Weekend Links: Finger-Painting, All Grown Up

  Roma Panganiban

  19 May 2013 | 7:00 am

  Iris Scott’s oil paintings elevate the childhood practice of using fingers instead of brushes to a higher form of art. Her grown-up finger-painting technique results in vibrant, uniquely textured works that would do her inner child proud. Thank goodness April showers have given way to May flowers, because “Presidents look like doofuses in the rain.” Details from Silvio Berlusconi’s “bunga bunga” trials have grown increasingly more bizarre as the case nears its close, with reports that the former Prime Minister of Italy had women perform for him dressed as nuns and President Barack…

• Last Week's Most Popular Stories

  Jason English

  19 May 2013 | 6:27 am

  In case you weren't obsessively refreshing mentalfloss.com all week, here's what you missed... 1. 10 Hotel Secrets From Behind the Front Desk, by Jacob Tomsky * 2. 10 Facial Reconstructions of Famous Historical Figures, by Joy Lanzendorfer  * 3. 11 Baby Naming Trends From the Past, by Arika Okrent  * 4. 11 Discontinued Beverages from Your Youth, by Jennifer M. Wood  * 5. 11 Things That Make You a Bad Driver, by Kathy Benjamin  * 6. 11 Songs That Brought People Out of Comas, by Stacy Conradt  * 7. 8 Movies That Changed Movies, by Jake Rossen  * 8. 11 Terrifying Images of Old Soviet…

• 10 Things You Might Not Know About the Indy 500

  Bud Shaw

  19 May 2013 | 5:36 am

  1. The Indianapolis Motor Speedway spans 253 acres and includes a golf course. The track publicity department points out that Churchill Downs, Yankee Stadium, the Rose Bowl, the Roman Colosseum and Vatican City can all fit inside. It's a good thing they never did that. The pre-1981 infield in Turn 1, famously known as The Snakepit, could make Woodstock look like church. The Pope would not have approved, or at least would've demanded shades on his windows. 2. Ray Harroun won the inaugural 500-mile race in 1911. It took him 6 hours, 42 minutes. His car, the Marmon Wasp, had what is believed to…

• The Post-SNL Careers of 5 Castmembers

  Erik van Rheenen

  18 May 2013 | 11:00 am

  Here’s a look at some SNL ex-pats whose found new life both on the screen and off.    

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  Everyday Goddess

• "Zero Sight: Bad Call" Hits the Web

  lizriz

  17 May 2013 | 10:55 pm

  One of the best things about "Zero Sight: Bad Call" hitting the web this week was unexpected. So many of my friends and mentors watched it and sent me the most wonderfully thoughtful responses. One thing I love about directing, and why I'm drawn to it, is that it continues to present challenges and opportunities to learn. And you learn throughout the process. I've no doubt that "Zero Sight: Bad Call" will have things to teach me even a year from now, and I'm so grateful to have so many wonderful people in my life who took time out to watch the short and give me real feedback. (Keep it…

• Shooting In Your Space

  lizriz

  13 May 2013 | 7:27 am

  I read an interview once with Ed Burns where he said that he cast himself in The Brothers McMullen because then he always knew that at least one person would show up on shoot days. Well, I'm not an actress, but what I do have is a fairly large - for a one-bedroom in Los Angeles - apartment. And so we shot a lot of my Stage 5 TV Continuum film short, "Zero Sight: Bad Call," in my space. The entire first, fat day of shooting of a two-day shoot, to be specific. Now, I have an odd hobby in life of going through my things and getting rid of stuff. It's an ongoing, process, and I have a lot less…

• Be

  lizriz

  4 May 2013 | 4:44 pm

  On May 1st I did something I've never done before. I changed my New Year's Resolution to something completely different. Those playing along at home may remember that my New Year's Resolution was to Break Some Rules and Kick Some Ass. This was really fitting while I was working on my upcoming film short, Zero Sight: Bad Call. (Premiering May 14th on Stage 5 TV's YouTube show, The Continuum!) I did indeed break some rules, and I did my damndest to kick some ass. But as I transition forward from that project, other ongoing personal work has risen to the surface, eclipsing the need for…

• Feel vs. Look (Feel Wins)

  lizriz

  25 Apr 2013 | 7:54 am

  Have you seen this new video from Dove? I kinda hate it: For a while, I couldn't quite put my finger on why. It's rather treacly and contrived, which I find unpleasant, but just this morning I realized that what really pokes at me is that as I watch this video, particularly towards the end, it's just a whole lot of emotion and energy about looks. How a women thinks she looks. How other people think she looks. Women. Looks. Looks. Women. It's too much. I care about how I look, but I care a whole hell of a lot more about how I feel. How my body works and how it feels while it's working. How it…

• "Award-Winning" - It Only Takes One

  lizriz

  27 Mar 2013 | 8:28 am

  It's a common saying in the industry: Instead of going to film school, you should spend that money making a film. It's always bemused me, this notion. Because so many people in the entertainment industry have money and come from some level of money and opportunity, and I tend to think that this thought process, especially ten-ish years ago and before, comes from that worldview. Whenever I would hear someone say this I would think, "Yeah, but the government won't give you money to make a film, but they WILL give you money to go to film school." Plus, if you make a bad film that no one sees -…

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  Bath & Body

• Black Soapshea

  admin

  19 May 2013 | 1:52 pm

  Black Soapshea African Black Soap/ Shea Butter for blemishes, dark marks, pimples ect..really works!!

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  Journey Mama

• Not Supermom.

  Rachel Devenish Ford

  16 May 2013 | 12:55 am

  Mother's Day came and went on the weekend. It didn't make many ripples over here, and it usually doesn't, always coming on the heels of my birthday. The kids are already spent. Didn't we just celebrate you? their eyes seem to ask. They did, and they do. I've been mulling over motherhood a bit more than normal, mostly because I'm parenting on my own at the moment (halfway done!) and I find myself thrust up against my own existence as a mother, without even a break to catch my breath. And now, with a ten year difference between my oldest and youngest, I find myself doing these very different…

• Adventures in eating.

  Rachel Devenish Ford

  8 May 2013 | 6:27 pm

  (Photo by Kai)I've discovered by experience that Isaac is really, really sad if I eat chillies. This is tricky in Thailand. If we're out eating at a market stall type of place and I ask for food that's not spicy, people think, "Sure, of course she wants it a little less spicy," and give me only one chili. So then I ask for no chillies at all, and somehow, there are still chillies in my food. I think it's reflexive... the hand reaches out for the chillies right after the fish sauce. The hand is putting the chillies in the pan! There's no calling the hand back!!My new plan is to only order food…

• I can smell the rain.

  Rachel Devenish Ford

  2 May 2013 | 8:20 am

  It was a very busy day. I wrote before the sun was up. Then Kai and Kenya (Kid A and YaYa)  finished work on Kenya's stopmotion movie. They worked on one with friends who came over yesterday. A school project- they did it from beginning to end, but when we watched it, we saw things that needed to be fixed. The camera moved too much- there was too much extra room visible. So Kenya got back to work right away and made another movie. She shot it all herself and I showed her how to adjust photo levels. Kai did some sound engineering this morning.I'm very proud of them.We showed it to Chinua…

• What I'm loving right now.

  Rachel Devenish Ford

  29 Apr 2013 | 5:48 pm

  * Railroad tracks. I will always love them.* Cool mornings. Today my alarm went off at 5:30 because the coolest, quietest hours take place even before the sun lofts itself over the mountains. When I stop to listen, there are actually roosters all over the city, I can hear a chorus of them in the distance, some of them close enough to pick out individually. There are the plentiful Common Mynahs, grunting and clicking and singing, and there are people pulling their food carts out to the street. But this falls into the background of morning sounds--none of this noise applies to me, I don't have…

• Comings and goings.

  Rachel Devenish Ford

  26 Apr 2013 | 9:00 pm

  The heat is getting away with me. It carries me off with it sometime in the late morning and doesn't let my brain go until around 3:00 am, when I turn over in my sleep and sigh into the cool air from the window. It's been over 40 degrees for a long time. I like to cheer the clouds on when I see them peeking into the edges of the valley. "Come on guys! You can do it!" A little rain would be lovely.Until then, we flee to the pool in the late afternoons, when we can no longer function, when play fighting among the kids turns to real fighting. I am back home from my retreat, back among my family.

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  deCOMPOSE

• Cormac McCarthy’s “The Road” — Masterpiece or Piece of Crap?

  Mike Duran

  17 May 2013 | 5:38 am

  Cormac McCarthy’s The Road won the 2006 Pulitzer Prize. It also currently has 312 one-star reviews at Amazon and over 8,000 one-star reviews on Goodreads. Pulitzer Prize. Lotsa one- star reviews. Best book of the year. Worst book of the year. Classic! Piece of crap! I read the book when it first came out. It was my first (and only) Cormac McCarthy novel. I loved it. I enjoyed the minimalist use of language, the sparse, bleak, apocalypse the characters traversed. The Road was my favorite book of that year. It won numerous awards and critical praise, which I thought McCarthy deserved. As…

• Interview w/ Debut Author Christopher Fisher

  Mike Duran

  15 May 2013 | 5:23 am

  So I was thrilled to hear that long-time writing friend Christopher Fisher had released his first novel A History of Stone and Steel. Chris and I had crossed paths a while back at an online writer’s group. It wasn’t long after that he enrolled in the Stonecoast Creative Writing program, received his MFA, and resurfaced as Editor-in-Chief for Relief Journal. He’s since started his own indie label and published his first novel. Chris took a few minutes to answer some questions about his writing journey, his experience as an editor, his new book, and why the things his…

• When Is Submission to Authority, Abuse?

  Mike Duran

  13 May 2013 | 11:51 am

  Our oldest daughter, Melody, went through quite a rebellious stretch in her senior year of high school. Up until that point, she’d been at the top of her class, a model student and child. Then something snapped (which occasionally happens to sixteen year-olds). She began lying to us, sneaking out of the house, and openly disobeying us. But how do you discipline a sixteen year-old? You can’t spank them. You can’t lock them in their room. You can’t boot them out of the house. Lisa and I were at our wits end. So we looked for more creative ways to discipline her. One of…

• Rob Bell and Andrew Wilson Discuss Homosexuality

  Mike Duran

  12 May 2013 | 4:10 pm

  This very civil, very intelligent, debate about the legitimacy of homosexual relationships within Christianity is well worth 20 minutes of your viewing time. (Thanks to pastor friend Dennis McGuire for the link.) I’ll post some thoughts on this later, but I’d love to hear your observations.

• Default Position: Agent on Tightrope

  Mike Duran

  9 May 2013 | 5:31 am

  Yesterday my agent confessed that she “messed up royally.” Actually,  Rachelle’s post was a clarification of her previous post entitled Will My Publisher Let Me Self-Publish Too? This post stirred up lots of pushback, most notably from self-published authors who felt she was siding with “Big Pub.” Frankly, I thought it was an overreaction on the part of many of the commenters and reminded me a lot of THIS POST where I suggested that waiting to self-publish was a good idea, was linked to some guerrilla self-publishers, called bad names, and ended up doing a lot…

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  TAKING THE PLUNGE

• Learning MySQL

  kevinleeme

  7 May 2013 | 11:24 pm

  While prepping for my new role, I’ve been watching a few MySQL classes on Udemy recently and am fortunate enough to find that it’s fairly intuitive. My dev buddies always laugh and say how easy it is due to the simple syntax and as I progress through the classes, I’m starting to see why. For [...]

• Taking the Plunge

  kevinleeme

  6 May 2013 | 7:27 pm

  Life’s taken a wild turn as I took the plunge last week and quit my 8 month stint as an investment banker to pursue product management at Kabam, a highly successful gaming company in San Francisco. Although banking was a terribly ruthless experience that I refer to as “career bootcamp,” I know that these 8 [...]

• Interview with Fred Wilson

  kevinleeme

  11 Jul 2011 | 4:30 pm

  A great hour long interview with Fred Wilson of Union Square Ventures. Skip to 6:30 to begin the interview.

• Kleiner Perkins Caufield & Byers

  kevinleeme

  14 May 2011 | 1:03 pm

  A few nights ago, I had the pleasure of attending a fireside chat with Tom Perkins & Frank Caufield of KPCB (more info). Although I had already listened to most of the chat’s content before, (from Tom’s interviews in the 2011 documentary Something Ventured) I had always admired Tom Perkins and his role in co-founding [...]

• 

  Leftos - Lessons for the Opposite Sex

• Stop worrying.

  10 May 2013 | 8:10 am

  New Answer - If you trust her, why are you worried about this situation? I think you're overthinking things. Going out to eat with a group of friends is not worthy of jealousy, even if an ex is among the group, even if she didn't tell you where she'd be going. Does she have to tell you whenever she does anything social? Personally, I would start thinking about dumping a boyfriend if he were so jealous that I had to tell him whenever I interacted with an ex. You say you trust her, so do it. There can be bits of doubt and jealousy in every relationship, but in good, lasting relationships,…

• Wrong place to ask.

  10 May 2013 | 7:57 am

  New Answer - These are questions you ask a doctor, not some strangers on the internet. A UTI is no big deal. See a doctor and get some antibiotics for it, if it is in fact a UTI. You could have probably asked someone at that clinic you went to for the pills and tests. Mature adults should not me so shy about asking a medical professional about their sexual health in person that they chicken out and ask strangers on the internet instead.

• Not worth worrying about.

  10 May 2013 | 7:52 am

  New Answer - I'm a graduate student who teaches undergraduates, and I can totally see why this situation might be awkward. There can be serious consequences for teachers who are suspected of inappropriate relationships with their students. Even if nothing goes on, you don't want anybody to even suspect that something might be going on. I never received gifts from my students, but I would have felt very awkward about it if someone wanted to stop by and give me something in front of my colleagues. Plus, who knows what his summer plans were. Maybe he's not really proud of what he's planning to…

• did i make him uncomfortable?

  8 May 2013 | 1:12 pm

  New Question - The other day I was talking to my mentor, who was my teacher in freshman year college. We are not close but not strangers either, just havent talked much throughout the year except for the past few weeks. I came down to his office to give him a gift, which wasn't a surprise because i told him about it. All his co-workers were dere so we weren't alone. We were just talking about things, then I asked "(his name), what you're gonna do this summer?" to which he replied "hmm...i dont know..i dont have any plan..." while looking away, at his coworker and not at me. It's like his…

• Relationship Advice

  7 May 2013 | 5:19 pm

  New Question - My girlfriend of 5 months has recently been going over to her ex-boyfriend's apartment to visit "their" cats (there are 2 cats). The reason I say "their" is because although they adopted them together, her ex will not let her take one of the cats or take turns taking care of the cats which is the reason why she goes and visits them. I can appreciate how hard it is to never see a pet again that you have raised and was one of your own because I have gone through a similar situation with my ex-girlfriend and her's and my dog. I trust my girlfriend because she hasn't given me a…

• 

  LIFE AS A HUMAN

• The Fashionista

  Gab Halasz

  19 May 2013 | 4:00 am

  The proclamation that her first grandchild was getting married has reduced my mom to spasmodic fits of exultation. “It is so wonderful,” she gushes. “Finally getting married.” She says this as if her granddaughter were approaching her late seventies, and if not for this intervention from God, Wodin, and Mithras, she would have died a lonely, bitter, cat-food-eating spinster. Then the joy leaves her body like a balloon which has developed a slow leak, and she puts on her tragic face. “If only your brother would get married my happiness would be complete,” she cries piteously. I…

• Tarmac Meditations #123: Love Poem #38

  Michael Lebowitz

  19 May 2013 | 4:00 am

  Written over many years, this piece came back to me this morning. I thought that I wanted to run but it turned out that I needed to write. Love Poem #38 Up here on the north coast there are many days when all there is to see is distance and rain. It’s hard to know why it began or how it should have played out. Why it ended the way it did. After a few months there was nothing left. Before I left the island the last time I walked on our favorite beach. I remembered that someone once said they were here to make some preliminary arrangements for the apocalypse. Maybe they watched the sunset…

• What the World Needs Now

  Amanda Makrides

  18 May 2013 | 4:00 am

  I have great appreciation for Michael Leunig’s work. In fact, I believe he is one of the world’s greatest cartoonists and his poetry is equally thought provoking. So when I heard he was giving a talk at a local bookstore I jumped at the opportunity to attend. At this talk, he commented that what was missing in politics today is love and I totally agree with him. In Australia, at present, there is a push towards a more conservative government. This translates into funding cuts for any service to those in our society who are in greatest need. Basically, if you can’t pay for something…

• Trailer Park Poet – Part 3

  Guest Author

  18 May 2013 | 3:00 am

  She knew he hit her. She knew he hit. She knew he punched walls to make her listen. She felt the words. She scrubbed the floor. She knew he was a liar. She knew he’d destroy her. She planned. She went to doctors. She told them. She went to psychologists who showed her the wheels of where he’d take her. She knew where he would take her, if he knew. She felt the appreciation, she thanked, pleaded. She had to pay her rent. She told him no, I never heard of Frank Sinatra. She asked him, did you ever hear of Hank Snow. She turned her eyes in, when he laughed at her interest in art. She…

• Making A Difference: Katie Mogan Graham – Global Mothers

  Life As A Human Team

  17 May 2013 | 4:00 am

  A Life As A Human interview with Katie Mogan Graham We believe that every product has a story, and that this story should be told. Global Mothers works with NGOs in the Global South, helping artisans design and make fair-trade products for women and children in North America. We are committed to sharing the stories of our artisans with our customers, and vice versa. Help artisans in the Global South care for their families and communities by choosing to Buy Good. Website: Global Mothers       Follow: Facebook | Twitter | LinkedIn   LAAH: What exactly is it that you do? KMG: I am…

• 

  Then Life Happens

• Your Life Instruction Book

  Angela Schaefers

  16 May 2013 | 4:15 am

  Create Your Life Instruction Book While there are several books titled ‘life instructions’, ‘how to live life’, ‘life 101 manual’ and more, none of them really have the ‘answers’ to life. Some people think that books, guidelines (theirs or others), rules (including ones passed down in generation after generation) provide a magical solution to how to live life. While many good tips, advice and guidelines do exist and can be helpful, there is no one way to live life successfully. I think guidelines, plans and goals are great when it comes to living our best life. I do not agree…

• Make A Decision

  Angela Schaefers

  2 May 2013 | 8:05 pm

  You can Make a Decision in Five Days! Sometimes making decisions can be challenging. Whether it is a big decision, like making a long term commitment or the simple choices everyday of what to do, eat and wear it can take some thought. Some people are more inclined to make decisions easily or choose the easiest and path of less resistance. Sometimes these people are methodical and routine oriented which helps in their decision making process. Or there are the other people, like me. I have never been an overly structured person or one to be into the same routine, day after day. When I have made…

• Stop Doing It The Same Old Way

  Angela Schaefers

  9 Apr 2013 | 6:17 pm

  Sometimes we get so used to doing something the same way as we always have. Routines are automatic. How we respond to people and circumstances is automatic, how we care for others is automatic, how we jump to conclusions and make assumptions are automatic, how we play the same old messages in our mind is automatic. But, we can stop doing it the same old way! Having consistency, routines, and doing things the way they work best or being a way that works best for us is great. Yet sometimes it is necessary to stop doing things the same old way and stop being the same way that we’ve always…

• Words of Influence

  Angela Schaefers

  29 Mar 2013 | 12:51 pm

  I believe we all have words of influence and that our words are very powerful. I also believe that the words others speak to us and about us are very powerful. I have seen how words spoken to someone have harmed their soul and had an adverse long-lasting effect. I have recognized in many the impact negative self-talk has had on them. There is an old childhood saying ‘sticks and stones will break your bones, but words will never hurt you’ that is very far from the truth! Words from others have created pain, shame, doubt and fear within many of us. Perhaps we tell ourselves that others…

• The Performance Of Your LIfe

  Angela Schaefers

  7 Mar 2013 | 4:04 pm

  There is a quote that is a great reminder that life is important, today, in the here and now. “Life is not a dress rehearsal.” – Rose Tremain. Each day is the only day before us. Yesterday is over and tomorrow has not arrived. If you live each day as if you are rehearsing, rather than giving the performance of your life, you are not living your best life. Yes life is about trying to be and do better, and some days we do better compared to other days. But many times ‘practicing’ at life is the choice we make because we think there is time to actually ‘perform‘ (give our best)…

• 

  Pixelonomics

• Lamborghini Egoista – Anniversary Special Hot Wheels

  Siddharth Vishwakarma

  14 May 2013 | 5:23 am

  Lamborghini Egoista 1 seater monster Lamborghini Egoista, Anniversary special – You beast Never would you imagine Lamborghini’s 50th birthday to be such chaotic and wild. Launched at a private event this real top gun was 50th Anniversary to present. Carrying forward its wildness spree from Lamborghini Veneno, now you got “Lego inspired” Lamborghini Egoista. Such monster I tell you. Conjuring the appearance of an Apache helicopter, Egoista is a 1 seater powerhouse. Bearing more lines , angles, edges and Formula 1-like nose, Egoista is sure to make some heads turn with bewilderment.

• Dance & Design – what’s similar?

  Siddharth Vishwakarma

  10 May 2013 | 7:22 am

  Dance & Design – what’s similar? Dance & Design – what’s similar? Being a mechanical engineer and a dancer/choreographer it was very difficult to gulp down the basics of Design. Design to me is as alien as acting for a geek; No relation absolutely whatsoever. Being here in this lovely office at Sparklin, where you can listen to Music of your choice, surrounded by passionate, self driven, creative folks and admiring the historical debilitated tomb the moment you turn your head, Design does get a bit easier.  Dance has always been in my DNA. But Design??? Okay, let’s…

• Nokia Asha with dedicated Whatsapp Button

  Abhishek Natraj

  3 May 2013 | 7:16 am

  Nokia Asha with dedicated Whatsapp Button Whatsapp is big. Period. For those of you who have been living under the rock, few facts and figures to set the  record straight. Whatsapp processed 18 billion messages on the New Year’s Eve 2013 and they are currently rumoured to be in talks for a billion dollar acquisition by Google. All said and done, Whatsapp is taking ubiquity to a whole new level by creating a product which works cross platforms and yet offers far more possibilities than the traditional SMS. Nokia with its Asha 210 series went the Blackberry route and began offering the phone…

• Our favorites from Webby

  Gurpreet Bedi

  22 Apr 2013 | 7:25 am

  Our favorites from Webby Webby are undoubtedly called the “Oscars of the web”. The annual awards celebrates the best of the internet, ranging from podcasts to websites. Each category gets two winners one decided by the Academy organizing the awards and the other by public voting.   For the uninitiated the Awards are grouped into five major verticals: 1. Mobile & Apps 2. Social 3. Online Film & Video 4. Interactive Advertising & Media 5. Websites   With a number of subcategories further along, the sheer number of nominees could overwhelm anybody even after taking into…

• Bangalore Diaries – Sparklin

  Himanshu Khanna

  16 Apr 2013 | 6:32 am

  Microsoft accelerator in Bangalore There are various reasons why people love to travel. For some it is the love of the food, others the joy of seeing new places yet for others the whole concept of meeting interesting people is rewarding enough that it justifies the action of travelling across the length of the country. Sparklin made its annual pilgrimage to startup capital of India “Bangalore” with the entire team onboard. What followed were days of learning, fun and action. Here is our pick of the top three highlights from the adventure. 1. Sports Enthusiasts What do cricket fanatics…

• 

  aloftyexistence

• (Mis)Diagnosing Personality

  Alee

  17 May 2013 | 12:00 pm

  Does our culture promote the labeling of regular variations in behavior and personality as abnormal and disordered? It has been announced that the fifth edition of the Diagnostic and Statistical Manual of Mental Disorders, DSM-V, will contain some significant updates. The DSM, published by the American Psychiatric Association (APA), is considered the standard for understanding and classifying mental disorders in the U.S. and around the world. With recent changes, however, the manual and the 30,000+ psychiatrists who oversee its contents have come under heavy criticism. This is because the new…

• Open Question: Does Persistence Pay Off?

  Alee

  9 May 2013 | 1:33 pm

  Everyone has their view on whether being persistent in dating works and whether one should even bother trying to get the attention and affections of a person who hasn’t reciprocated their interest. Many also have the opinion that being overly persistent can be an invasion of another person’s personal space and peace of mind. But does being persistent actually work or is it simply the last measure in a desperate situation? My view on persistence is that it is highly dependent on the particular situation — sometimes it works wonderfully, other times it fails miserably. If the…

• Zoe Saldana

  Alee

  29 Apr 2013 | 1:00 pm

  Zoe Yadira Saldana is an American actress, dancer, and model of Dominican and Puerto Rican descent. She is known for such best-selling films like Colombiana and Avatar. She is set to star in the upcoming film Star Trek Into Darkness and as Nina Simone in an upcoming biopic on the jazz singer. Born in New Jersey, as a child Zoe moved to the Dominican Republic with her mother and sisters after her father’s passing. There she cultivated her love of dance and theater, taking ballet lessons and attending the ECOS Espacio de Danza Academy, a renowned school of dance in the Dominican Republic.

• Techniques of the Manipulator: Gaslighting

  Alee

  10 Apr 2013 | 1:10 pm

  Today’s discussion on commonly used tactics and tools of the manipulative personality is gaslighting. Gaslighting is a form of psychological abuse and control where a person is made to doubt their memory and perception of reality. In order to achieve this aim gaslighters present another, untrue version of events or ideas to the person they are trying to gaslight, while continuously denying said person’s claims as false, if not delusional. Out of all forms of emotional warfare, gaslighting is one of the most intriguing. It is subtle, cunning, and extremely malevolent, but can…

• A Look Into the Mind of a Woman

  Alee

  3 Apr 2013 | 1:35 pm

  Note: This is a (mostly) satirical post Adam, Eve. Regis, Kelly. Men, women. There are many similarities between the two, yet many differences. Members of both genders complain that the other is hard to understand or get along with. This could be a legitimate complaint and that’s why here I present a quick and fun guide for men to the opposite gender, women. These ideas are reflective of the thoughts, behavior, and attitudes of some women, not necessarily all. -It’s not PMS. It’s you Before you conclude that a woman who is irritable or cranky must be having premenstrual…

• 

  ColorMePink!

• Italian Sausage and Tomato, Mozzarella, Basil, Pasta Salad

  Christine

  15 May 2013 | 5:30 pm

  A quick search of this blog will show you that I really like Caprese Salads – but there really are a lot of different things you can do if you don’t mind being ever so slightly unconventional. A dear friend gifted me some hand made Italian sausage that her father gets in Miami and I was very excited to try it – I decided a pasta salad twist would be wonderful with it. Today, when I was at the market, I saw beautiful, yellow, grape tomatoes and knew that they’d be perfect for my dish “Italian Sausage and Tomato, Mozzarella, Basil, Pasta Salad”! 2 pints…

• Slyce Bistro Ocala

  Christine

  7 May 2013 | 6:56 pm

  This afternoon, my daughter and I were out running errands and participating in a little retail therapy in some of our favorite stores.  We were getting hungry and couldn’t decide where to go, when I remembered that I’d heard really good things about Slyce Bistro.  Since it’s very near our house, we decided to give it a try and boy were we glad we did. Located in a very small space, it’s easy to overlook, but trust me – don’t.  We were very warmly greeted when we walked in -  by the staff, as well as other patrons – it’s a very friendly…

• Pulled Pork Stuffed Peppers

  Christine

  20 Apr 2013 | 8:12 am

  We just moved and we’ve been eating less than appetizing things.  We even had Burger King on moving day and it was truly awful.  So, while I wouldn’t exactly call this health food, I would call it satisfying, delicious and better for you than something you ordered while sitting in your car. The idea came to me the other day and I had to try it. So, here’s my take on combining two of my favorite things – Pulled Pork Stuffed Peppers.  (Also, my camera battery was dead from the move – so please forgive the phone photos. =) 1 half picnic pork roast 1 28 oz. can…

• Indian Spiced Slow Cooker Stew

  Christine

  4 Apr 2013 | 6:29 pm

  Remember a couple of weeks ago when I attempted my first curry?  Well, this is my second attempt at Indian Cuisine and while I’m not sure it’s exactly traditional – I wanted to use what I had on hand and really start to get to know these unfamiliar spices. Here’s my take on Indian Spiced Slow Cooker Stew.  I made mine vegetarian.  You could absolutely make this with chicken, beef, lamb, whatever… I’d brown the meat first, set aside, follow the rest of the recipe and add the meat back to the cooker after you add the tomatoes. Let me know if you try it and…

• Basil Infused Oil

  Christine

  30 Mar 2013 | 4:17 pm

  On more than one occasion, I have thought to myself that I spend far too much money on flavored oils.  Although, there is a blood orange infused oil made by “O” that I buy at Stella’s that I can’t live without, but I digress.  Anyway.  I have this beautiful basil plant that is chock full of big, tender leaves and I thought I’d give this a try.  I’m so glad I did.  The basil infused oil was so flavorful, that I’m going to try it with every other herb I can get my hands on. a handful of basil leaves coarse sea salt (or kosher) extra virgin olive…

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  Zara Stone Rabinowicz

• Plus Minus Lights: Learn about electric circuits with stylish home decor lamp

  admin

  11 May 2013 | 2:06 pm

  Parsons New School has a reputation for honing creative talent. Past alumni include past alum are Ai Weiwei, Jeff Banks and Donna Karan, to give you a taster. Jason Kim is one such product, but the beautiful simplicity of his Plus Minus lamp project can be attributed as much to his own vision, as to his MFA in Design and Technology. Kim showcased his Plus Minus Lamp Design Kit at the Parsons Festival 2013 in New York. A slim man, Kim has a languid grace about him, and his enthusiasm about Plus Minus was infectious. “I learned about the basics of circuity in design,” Kim said.

• Hair Wars Detroit celebrates extreme hair styling

  admin

  19 Apr 2013 | 3:49 pm

  Hair Wars, the show where mainstream taste comes to die, and hair artistes let their freak flag fly. Hair Wars is an extremely  unique event that celebrates hair creations. It’s held annually in Detroit, and attracts the elite of the world’s extreme hair stylists. It’s not a competition, it’s a platform for hairdressers to show their flair and funside. Each year has a different theme, and they have ranged from Car Show to Breast Cancer Awareness. The Hair Wars show has deep roots in Detroit history, founded in 1985 as a gimmick to entertained the nightclub crowds. DJ…

• Selfless portraits lets you doodle strangers Facebook profile photos

  admin

  7 Apr 2013 | 2:44 pm

  Think DrawSomething meets Facebook meets weird blind date and you’ll have a vague idea of what Selfless Portratits are. I say vague, as it’s hard to define- the app is still in its infancy so what you see now might evolve into something completely different. The basic premise is that  you login via Facebook and agree to draw a picture of someone else. They could be anywhere in the world, and you get a glimpse of their Facebook Profile photo and need to create an artistic replica within 48 hours. In return, someone, somewhere will do the same for you- but likely not the…

• Outgrow.Me is a store for ALL Kickstarter success stories

  admin

  18 Mar 2013 | 8:56 pm

  It seems that everyone has a Kickstarter or crowdfunding program at the moment, and though you’ve heard of the big BIG success stories, what about all the people with smaller goals and mini-dreams? Sure, not every project gets funded, but many that reach fulfillment only asked for small sums to let them kickstart their idea. These are the guys that DON’T get massive media attention, and pretty much drop off the radar when they’re done. Outgrow.me seeks to solve this problem- and yes, I realize it’s a problem you might not have know you had which makes it even more…

• Kerrie Luft 3D Printed shoes: High Tech style

  admin

  13 Mar 2013 | 5:03 pm

  3D Printing is this years buzzword; a brand new way of thinking about how mainstream products are created and manufactured. It was  even referenced by President Obama in his Feb 2013 State of the Union address. He said, “3D printing that has the potential to revolutionize the way we make almost everything”. True, 3D printing is pretty unique in that it truly allows the creative process to actuaize itself  going from concept to product with a push of a button (and some technical stuff).  British shoe designer Kerrie Luft is using this technology to blend style with 3D…

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  Tolstoy is my Cat

• 'Minotaur' by Benjamin Tammuz

  Lyndsay Wheble

  29 Apr 2013 | 9:16 am

  The keen readers amongst you will have noticed a few Europa Editions posts amongst my reviews of late; this, the third, is Minotaur by Benjamin Tammuz. Minotaur, an Israeli novel originally published in Hebrew in 1989, is the story of a handful of individuals who form the four-corners-of-a-love-square, if you will, bound and connected by obsession, desire and perverse, destructive love. Each character takes a part of the narrative, which begins with an Israeli secret agent noticing a beautiful teenager on a London…

• 'The Hunger Games Trilogy' by Suzanne Collins

  Lyndsay Wheble

  15 Apr 2013 | 10:50 am

  I know I'm possibly the last book blogger on earth to read Suzanne CollinsThe Hunger Games Trilogy, so I'm not going to go on about them because, frankly, what's the point? There must be thousands of beautifully written reviews of these three books out there and I don't feel a great need to add to them, so let me just say I LOVED these books.  I ate up all three in three days and haven't stopped thinking about them since. And Katniss! What a character. What a feminist icon, although I imagine she's sick of meaning so much to so many, so I'll say that once and move on. Full, fleshed-out,…

• 'My Brilliant Friend' by Elena Ferrante

  Lyndsay Wheble

  14 Mar 2013 | 9:13 am

  I'm breaking my silence of almost a month for a book I absolutely loved - My Brilliant Friend by Elena Ferrante. It tells the story of Elena and Lila, two girls growing up in 1950s Naples, which is as brutal and volatile as you might imagine, and in this book is vividly and evocatively portrayed. The complex friendship that exists between the two girlscontains all the elements that I recall from the close friendships of my teens: their bond is combative, competitive, intimate and subject to an ever changing power dynamic, played out across some of the most formative years of their lives. I…

• In Which I Have Some Quiet Time...

  Lyndsay Wheble

  15 Feb 2013 | 8:28 am

  Hey all, apologies for the quiet on here as late, but I am tres busy doing many things and have rediscovered a somewhat forgotten pleasure: reading for myself, and myself alone. It won't last too long I don't think - I'll very soon have something I am desperate to say - but for now I'm enjoying the experience of it being just me, myself and my page. In the last few weeks I have read Lewis Hyde's The Gift: How the Creative Spirit Transforms the World, which was quite beautiful and profound, and made me realise some truths like I'm not at all unusual for the type of person I am, and that I'll…

• 'The Mussel Feast' by Birgit Vanderbeke

  Lyndsay Wheble

  31 Jan 2013 | 9:50 am

  Although not part an official part of mine and Sam's triumphant Peirene Press Readathon which came to a close last week, The Mussel Feast by Birgit Vanderbeke is the newest Peirene Press publication upcoming so I thought I'd review it here using the same pattern as before. Regular readers of this blog will now be more than familiar with the Peirene brand (!) so will understand what I mean when I say that this book is the first in the 'Turning Points: Revolutionary Moments' series So,  in short, The Mussel Feast is about a small scale revolution that happens within a German family one…

• 

  Lightening Up and Letting Go

• How to Make Your Next Kiss Your Best Kiss Ever

  Jerry

  3 May 2013 | 12:14 pm

    Was just chatting with a teenage girl. She is sixteen and has had exactly three kisses. The first one she said was OK, the second one was in a tree and it didn’t work so well. “I don’t really understand what the big deal about kissing is.” she said. “It really isn’t that fun.” [...]

• How to Have More Passion

  Jerry

  26 Mar 2013 | 2:31 pm

  The first time I met her I trusted her immediately…with life and limb.  This amazing woman with vibrant, pink streaks of hair surrounding her sparkling smile is the tattoo artist I found to add more meaning to my life and arm.  I showed her the picture I wanted and showed her where I wanted it [...]

• Farewell to Fear

  Jerry

  19 Mar 2013 | 11:21 am

    I am about to talk about a terrible subject, but a very important one. Please read to the end of this article. It will only take you about three minutes. In that time you will discover something that will transform you life. I have been exploring human potential and how to expand it for [...]

• Letting Go is Part of Life

  Jerry

  22 Feb 2013 | 7:56 am

  At a birthday party you receive presents. At an unbirthday party you give things away. Waking-up is an unbirthday party at which you let go of all that you have accumulated or built. But before you can let go you need to accumulate. You need to make a life worth living. You need to succeed and fail often and tackle big things. You [...]

• 3 Things You Have to Give Up to Get Closer to the Present

  Jerry

  28 Jan 2013 | 1:41 pm

  People talk about being more present or wanting to “be here now.” But few are willing or able to pay the necessary fare to get “here now.” There are three things you must give up to experience the present. 1. free choice 2. separateness 3.control It is likely you don’t wish to give up any [...]

• 

  Amy Mac

• Summer Sunsets, Slumber Parties and Sanpellegrino

  17 May 2013 | 12:50 pm

  Doesn't a Sanpellegrino straight from the ice box sound like a delectable drink to get summer started? (Though not sure the word BLOOD in BOLD TYPE is a great marketing move. But obviously I work past that roadblock and drink it anyways.) Please note on the slumber party snack tray, all food and beverage with precisely zero nutrition has been annihilated. The semi-healthy granola bars I tried to slip in? Returned to pantry undisturbed. I know ... this looks just like every single sunset picture everyone has been posting lately. But it's just so pretty. And makes me think summer is finally…

• 7 Rules for Kids on Instagram

  16 May 2013 | 8:56 am

  I recently read a fantastic blog post written by a church youth group leader about Instagram. It's a very informative article with thoughtful advice on helping your kids guard against some prevalent pitfalls of  the photo-sharing website. (Read the original post here. For a very brief overview of Instagram, read this post.) I have two daughters. Both will be in middle school in August. Both have Instagram accounts, as do the vast majority of their friends. But just like I wouldn't set them loose to babysit colic-ridden infant twins in an unfamiliar city without some thorough…

• Cause and Effect and Frankie Valli

  10 May 2013 | 9:02 am

  That's me. With Frankie Valli. Unless you're my mom. Then that guy's just a pretender. This is a lesson on cause and effect. Last year, I saw Jersey Boys at the Fabulous Fox Theatre. For those unfamiliar, Jersey Boys is a Broadway musical about the career trajectory of Frankie Valli and the Four Seasons. The Fox is the historic theatre where Vivian Leigh and Clark Gable debuted a little film called Gone with the Wind, and is the best place ever to catch a show. Cause: Quite on accident, my friend landed us front row tickets to the show.  Effect: We fell in love with Frankie Valli and…

• How to Handle a Downsizing on Your Resume

  8 May 2013 | 11:01 am

  I've been contacted several times over the last few months by good, honest, hard-working professional folks who were downsized from their job. Then downsized again. And, for good measure, maybe one more time. Now they have a resume that looks like they can't hold a job down for more than a year ... and it isn't a reflection of anything other than the not-so-hot economy of these last few years. The question is always the same: "How do I explain on my resume that I'm not job hopping, and that I don't have any performance issues?"  This can be tricky. It's paramount to be transparent about…

• Master of the Mental Game

  2 May 2013 | 7:07 am

  Everybody. Always. Never. When one of my girls throws out these terms (as in "everyone thinks this" or "I always forget my math homework" or "I'll never be able to do this") I put on the proverbial brakes. "Name every person who thinks this. I want names." "Have you literally not turned in your math homework ever?" "So there's never been a time when you completed something just as challenging?" Inevitably, only one or two names (if that) can be presented as evidence. The online math grade proves homework has, in fact, been turned in to the teacher. And the "never" can be reframed as "I have…

• 

  JohnRWallace.com

• Called To Generosity…

  John Wallace

  15 May 2013 | 5:54 am

  You should remember the words of the Lord Jesus: ‘It is more blessed to give than to receive.’ Acts 20:35b We have all heard that verse or phrase that is better to give than to receive. And truthfully, as a child, I had very little understanding of this…most kids don’t. But as an adult and as a hopefully, ever-growing Christian, I see the power in this verse. Lately, more than ever, I feel the Lord is cultivating my heart to be more generous. I can see it in my own life as well as my wife’s. Giving, however, doesn’t come naturally. I have to fight urges all…

• God Wants To Bless You…

  John Wallace

  13 May 2013 | 6:45 am

  “Commit your way to the Lord; trust in him and he will do this: He will make your righteousness shine like the dawn, the justice of your cause like the noonday sun.” Psalm 37:5-6 God wants to bless you! He is not a cosmic cop waiting for you to screw up so that he can zap you. He is not a cranky old man that you should feel like you are always bothering. He is friend, loving father, protector, Savior. He is faithful and also unchanging. And being that he is unchanging, he has a perfect track record with keeping his word. He will make your righteousness shine… You may be…

• Finding Freedom…

  John Wallace

  1 May 2013 | 6:44 am

  Freedom is something we all want. Sometimes we think we have it but we actually don’t. I believe there are two major keys to living a life of freedom: 1) Do what you were wired to do! What are you passionate about? What are your deepest desires? What are your hopes and dreams? The first key to living in freedom is to do those things. Nothing will make you feel more bound and caged, then when you are doing and pursuing things that you were not meant to do. A very good way to become burnt out and feel boxed in is to live against how you were wired. I came to realize this truth: God…

• Putting “Things” in Their Proper Place…

  John Wallace

  22 Apr 2013 | 6:18 am

  “All the believers were one in heart and mind. No one claimed that any of their possessions was their own, but they shared everything they had. With great power the apostles continued to testify to the resurrection of the Lord Jesus. And God’s grace was so powerfully at work in them all that there were no needy persons among them. For from time to time those who owned land or houses sold them, brought the money from the sales and put it at the apostles’ feet,and it was distributed to anyone who had need.” Acts 4:32-35 We all have “things” in our lives that…

• Are You Giving God Your Best…

  John Wallace

  18 Apr 2013 | 5:39 am

  “When you bring blind animals for sacrifice, is that not wrong? When you sacrifice crippled or diseased animals, is that not wrong? Try offering them to your governor! Would he be pleased with you? Would he accept you?” says the Lord Almighty. Malachi 1:8 Ask yourself this question: Do I give God my best. Honestly, I don’t always give my God my best. In fact, sometimes it is just scraps. Thank God for his grace and his love. The verse above points to a powerful comparison. Now we are under a new covenant and so we are no longer sacrificing animals. Jesus become our ultimate…

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  Mrbonchapeau's Musings

• Conversations: face-to-face in a virtual-crazy world

  Mrbonchapeau

  12 May 2013 | 10:11 pm

  Hunter-DesportesUnited but disconnected?Recently I read some articles about how we as 21st century westerners are communicating more than ever before and yet have never been so disconnected. We do funny things like barge into people on the street, because we've been absorbed by our little mobile screen while sending a text. (In fact a lady would have quite possibly bumped me off the path today, if I hadn't kind of stepped off the path and stopped, waiting for the collision!) I personally find it bizarre when I see a couple at a cafe texting rather than giving their 100% to the very person in…

• What Makes a Great Engineering Lecturer?

  Mrbonchapeau

  25 Sep 2012 | 8:56 pm

  Photobucket: Faryal the lecturer * Is it possible to be a good researcher and lecturer at the same time?Have you ever had a really good teacher or lecturer who has just made a subject interesting, applicable and even a bit fun? I hope so, because an exceptional lecturer is a rare breed, it seems. I guess that's why they're exceptional! And this is particularly true of engineering at the University of Western Australia (UWA). UWA is a research university, meaning that any given engineering lecturer is also juggling various research projects, and for some lecturers, have up to 20 thesis…

• 26 Aug 2012 | 6:24 am

  Mrbonchapeau

  26 Aug 2012 | 6:24 am

  The Art of Evading Mr. Distraction Have you ever stopped a conversation sometimes to answer the phone or check for a text? Have you ever gone onto Facebook when you meant to do something else? (Have you ever ended up reading a blog post when you meant to write to a friend? hehe Oh, the irony, if you're distracted, reading a post about distraction!) I've recently been reflecting on the times I get distracted. Why do I succumb? Why do I find it so hard to focus on a task?  I hope this blog post is of help in dealing with your own distractions. Know thine Enemy. Know…

• Taking myself less seriously

  Mrbonchapeau

  19 Aug 2012 | 9:18 pm

  (via Stefano Moscardini)Have you ever written a sentence, just any sentence, and then after you look over it, you become dissatisfied with how you've written it? You first notice that you've mispelt 'cynicism' and then you realise you need to put a comma before the 'and', and finally you realise what you wrote didn't make much sense after all! So you 'select all', delete what you wrote and start again. That's been my experience as a writer. I'm trying to word things well. Unfortunately for me, this produces a reluctance to do regular writing, because of my desire to write at a very high…

• Nine-tenths of education is encouragement: the reflections of a tutor

  Mrbonchapeau

  7 Jul 2012 | 1:07 am

  Tutoring kids is a wonderful job. By 'tutor' I mean a private after-hours 1-to-1 student assistant. Speaking from experience, I view tutoring as a joy, as it is an opportunity to share precious learning moments with young students, seeing them mature in personality and character. Tutoring is also a juggling act. It often involves more than just explaining core concepts that the student doesn't understand; often it also involves 'behavioural management' for when kids misbehave or become restless, due to their limited attention span. Tutoring kids is a partnership between the tutee and the…

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  Bucket List Journey

• A Note of Inspiration From South America

  Annette White

  15 May 2013 | 2:52 pm

  I was sitting at the dinner table last night in the personal home of an Argentine winery owner, with his wife and the winemaker, and felt an overwhelming inspiration to write you all a quick note from South America. For the past week I have been doing a once-in-a-lifetime wine tour of Chile and Argentina with a wine importer from California. The experience is unlike no other. We have tasted over 60 varieties of wine, some not even bottled, been welcomed into the homes of winemakers and been treated like we are family. We have bonded over empanadas, heard heartwarming stories and have had so…

• Hunting for a Souvenir at Khamthiang Market in Chiang Mai

  Annette White

  10 May 2013 | 6:04 am

  Typically, photos are my only traveling souvenir, but there was one thing in Thailand that I was not going home without. A smiling ceramic garden sculpture. Not a gnome. But, similar. There were two hanging from a tree at my Chiang Mai hotel, The 3 Sis. I was immediately obsessed. It turned out these little buggers weren’t easy to find. They were not at the Saturday night market, nor the famous Sunday one. The Night Bazaar didn’t even have one, either did the flower market. I was about to give up when the hotel reception shed a little light on the mystery. My coveted souvenir…

• I’m Going to South America With a Wine Importer. Today.

  Annette White

  6 May 2013 | 6:53 am

  There are so many incredible wine perks to owning a restaurant, like the private wine tasting at Napa Valley’s Trinchero that included a stay at the invitation-only Sutter Home Victorian Inn. That was pretty great, but this next adventurous bonus may be even better. We are heading to Chile and Argentina with Copa Fina Imports for an exclusive tour of select South America wine valleys and their wineries. That’s right. Ten entire days in South America filled with drinking wine. Lots of it. And there will be meat eating too. Lots of it. Why you? Peter and I purchase…

• Bucket List of 17 Things to do in Hong Kong

  Annette White

  1 May 2013 | 10:33 pm

  While traveling to Hong Kong, in Asia, I knocked quite a few items off my Bucket List. And found quite a few more to add to yours. Bucket List of 17 Things to do in Hong Kong 1. RIDE THE LONGEST ESCALATOR IN THE WORLD Rest your weary feet from Hong Kong’s hilly streets and get a lift on the longest outdoor escalator in the world. The Central Mid-Levels is a 2624 foot bucket list worthy ride that links the Central and Western districts on Hong Kong Island, with many shops and dining stops along the way. Not only a touristy must-do, but very practical too. 2. EAT DESSERT FIRST Hong…

• Hong Kong’s Bucket List View is at The Peak

  Annette White

  29 Apr 2013 | 7:44 am

  I am a huge fan of going to one of the highest places in each city I visit to check out the view and to get my bearings. In Florence it was the top of the Duomo, Seattle the Space Needle and Georgia’s St. Simon’s was a lighthouse climb.  And almost every city has some sort of pinnacle that requires stairs or an elevator. But seeing Hong Kong’s best view at The Peak required something a bit more unique, a steep tram ride and several floors of escalators. Hong Kong’s spectacular bucket list view is from the Sky Terrace at The Peak, the highest 360 degree viewing…

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  arsène hodali

• brief exposures of now imprisoned men

  arsène hodali

  7 May 2013 | 8:24 pm

  #5304 067734 oh, the pleasure i get from knowing that hell too must open its lips to take me in how i’ve masturbated! to the thought of eyes bulging surprised— at how big i am       #0804 065304 when i was fourteen i discovered biggie the sex pistols and prince i knew what every women wanted and i fantasized about stripping i’d heard you’d get to swing your dick all day that you’d how’s your mother? men your father’s age and that didn’t sound half-bad to me       #3704 060804 guys, don’t have sex outside!

• william james sidis

  arsène hodali

  6 May 2013 | 7:53 am

  it’s the pause after the question’s asked that eventually kills you the whole room turning its head

• a couple of definitions

  arsène hodali

  5 May 2013 | 1:07 pm

  to enjoy something means ‘to be in Joy’      ex.  a man feeds a baby ice-cream             and the baby’s eyes croon of her being in Joy;             dancing, for all of two seconds, in front of this man      ex.  a baby sees ice-cream fall on a man’s shoes             and her self-given round-of-applause speaks of her…

• hear i am

  arsène hodali

  28 Apr 2013 | 4:10 am

  the next time someone asks me                                           who are you? i’m going to tell them                                           i am…

• forgive me

  arsène hodali

  26 Apr 2013 | 11:29 am

  William Kentridge, Flagellant (1996-7) i write this while i’m in the mood of writing. i’ve not yet learned how to face the void (myself) when i’m not in the mood. i’ve tried though, so forgive me. and! i’ll try again, tomorrow, i swear.

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  12 Most

• 12 Most Lip-Smacking Recipes for a Memorial Day Cookout

  Mary Dell Harrington

  17 May 2013 | 6:00 am

  12 Most HE6TKNU4H59Q By Mary Dell Harrington   At the end of every month, I tear off another page of our oversize family calendar and toss the tattered sheet away. April lands in the recycling bin and I am gleeful. There, on the last line for May, is the gateway to summer: Memorial Day Weekend. At Grown and [...]

• 12 Most Critical Prerequisites of a Brand Refresh

  Frank Gullo

  16 May 2013 | 6:00 am

  12 Most HE6TKNU4H59Q By Frank Gullo My company recently completed a major brand refresh project. The new brand was unveiled after nearly two years of research, deliberation, ideation, and creative execution. In the end, everything came together successfully, but it was a challenging process at times. For others contemplating a brand refresh or for the merely curious, here [...]

• 12 Most Surefire Ways Your Business Can Think Like Zuck and WIN!

  Rebekah Radice

  15 May 2013 | 6:00 am

  12 Most HE6TKNU4H59Q By Rebekah Radice   Ekaterina Walter is a recognized business and marketing thought leader and the author of “Think Like Zuck: The Five Business Secrets of Facebook’s Improbably Brilliant CEO Mark Zuckerberg.” Her book can be misconstrued as being completely about Facebook Founder, Mark Zuckerburg, yet it is so much more. I had the great [...]

• 12 Most Annoying Ways to Tick People Off on Social Media

  Rachel Thompson

  14 May 2013 | 6:00 am

  12 Most HE6TKNU4H59Q By Rachel Thompson Are you one of those people on social media who lives to “mix it up?” Then this article is for you. There are numerous ways to irritate and annoy others in real life, of course. But I’m talking about the online world — blogging started as the original place to speak your [...]

• 12 Most Magnetic Ways to Curate Awesome Content

  Susan Silver

  13 May 2013 | 6:00 am

  12 Most HE6TKNU4H59Q By Susan Silver A community manager needs to stay organized. It is the only way to stay on top of our PR, marketing, and outreach responsibilities. One of the most difficult aspects is finding the great content to share when there isn’t a marketing message going through the pipes. That, for me, is the real [...]

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  DC Dana

• Iraq Part 6 - Dohuk

  DC Dana

  16 May 2013 | 4:37 pm

  We had to go the long way around to our next city because the direct route would've taken us through Kirkuk, outside of the Kurdish controlled region, and subjected us to possible deportation for not having Iraq-proper visas.Kirkuk started experiencing regular bombings shortly after we left and at one point, the Peshmerga - the Kurdish Army - lined up against Iraqi forces there as well. Thankfully things have calmed down again a bit but, yikes...We drove through rain and mud and it cleared just in time for us to have the picnic that some of our friends had spent all morning preparing.So…

• Iraq part 5

  DC Dana

  13 May 2013 | 3:41 pm

  Before we left Sulay, there was one other thing that sticks out in my mind. One of the churches there all came together to hang out with us We saw this all over the country. People creating events just because we were in town. People spending hours preparing special meals for us so we could all have picnics together and be honored. The Minister of Tourism in one of the cities invited our entire group into his office because he was so excited that such a “large” (10 of us) group of Americans were touring his country. And even the Arab youth we spent time with came out in…

• Iraq part...4? Still Sulay

  DC Dana

  6 May 2013 | 6:26 pm

  I'm finding it hard again to even start explaining more about our trip because I feel like we saw so much, so this will all come tumbling out, stream-of-conscience style per usual or else I'll never get done with these posts. Things I remember from Sulymaniyah...(or "Sulay" for short):Being within an hour away from Halabja on the 25th Anniversary of the horrific gas bomb attacks that killed thousands there. You can read a little of that day HERE. Saddam sent shells in to break windows so that later that day, the gas he ordered to be dropped there would fill the houses even…

• Iraq Continued - Sulaymaniyah

  DC Dana

  25 Apr 2013 | 11:24 am

  It's hard for me to describe what all we experienced in Iraqi Kurdistan because so much of the Kurds' experience is so foreign to our experience as Americans. There, it's very common for someone to be mid-conversation and casually mention "yeah, so then I was in the 3rd grade...and that's when my father was buried alive by Saddam...and then we went to fourth grade..." They don't miss a beat, it's so common of an experience there to have lost one or both parents, or to have been imprisoned or been tortured. Just in our short time there, we had the following occur (along with many other similar…

• Running For Boston

  DC Dana

  23 Apr 2013 | 4:00 pm

  I’m putting off my Iraq posts yet again to talk about running.Because after what happened in Boston last week, the running community that I’ve loved has become even closer. I’ve ran with three different groups in the last week, all who were running “for Boston” and I had to share about last night’s run because it’s such a perfect example of why I love runners.A marathoner here in D.C. decided to put together a Memorial Run for 4.09 miles, the time on the race clock in Boston when the first bomb went off. This event went viral and spread through both social and traditional media…

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  Found the Marbles

• Giving Back to New Jersey

  Jessica

  17 May 2013 | 6:01 am

• Thoughtful Thursday: Handbags & Hearts

  Jessica

  15 May 2013 | 5:41 pm

• How to Teach your Kids about Stranger Danger

  Jessica

  15 May 2013 | 3:00 am

• Open Letter to Food Allergy Parents

  Jessica

  13 May 2013 | 4:32 am

• Strong is What’s Beautiful

  Jessica

  10 May 2013 | 4:53 am

• 

  thevoiceofjobseekers.com

• Finding Diversity and Inclusion Careers with Fields Jackson [AUDIO]

  Mark Anthony Dyson

  15 May 2013 | 1:00 am

    Fields Jackson (@fleejack) is an influential Diversity and Inclusion advocate and expert who publishes Racing Toward Diversity magazine. He advocates that job seekers conduct their due diligence in finding Diverse work place opportunities through research, networking, and asking the right questions. He is very passionate about this discussion as it is compelling and infectious. If you ever get a chance to look at his Twitter feed, you will see job postings especially from companies that actively promote a diverse and inclusive workplace. Some of our discussion is based around these…

• The Evolution of The Career Internship [INFOGRAPHIC]

  Mark Anthony Dyson

  13 May 2013 | 1:00 am

  It’s hard to believe that the predecessor of today’s internship came to life in the 11th century. The interns in the past were actually apprentices seeking practical experience to grow their skill set in a trade, art, or calling. Today, students embark on internships during their college years to gain out-of-the-classroom experience prior to entering their industry. But just like the 11th century, internships are key to gaining the necessary experience to get hired in a full-time position. InternMatch, an online platform connecting the best intern candidates and employers, compiled the…

• May Day! My Job Search is Crashing! Panel Discussion

  Mark Anthony Dyson

  8 May 2013 | 1:54 am

    Last Sunday, I facilitated a job search workshop providing job seekers employed, unemployed, and underemployed information to help position them better for employment. We gave away a couple of career books that each winner will enjoy. I also invited two of the blog’s contributors to participate in a panel discussion about using social media for the job search. Bianca Thompson aka “Sassy HR Girl” and Sandra Tedford were both prepared and ready to offer her perspective. Collectively and individually, she displayed expertise and candor that engaged the audience who, I…

• What Soft Skills do Employers Want From Job Seekers?

  Mark Anthony Dyson

  6 May 2013 | 1:00 am

  Soft skills are critical to demonstrate throughout the hiring process, and become evident as all skills are discussed. In fact, there are surveys like the one below that suggest candidates lack showcasing them in the workplace. The other suggestion is that job seekers that demonstrate them will stand out in addition to having the hard skills needed for any position. Recently, the December 2012 issue of Business Communication Quarterly published a paper citing top 10 soft skills Executives need in the workplace: 1) Communication 2) Courtesy 3) Flexibility 4) Integrity 5) Interpersonal skills…

• Desperate Job Seekers are NEVER Attractive

  Bianca Thompson

  1 May 2013 | 7:46 am

    image credit Guess what? There are record amounts of qualified people looking for a job. I am sure that this is probably not breaking news to you or something that you care to hear again. My goal is not to insult your intelligence or cause you emotional stress. I do want to smack you with the reality of what is fact. Outside of overbearing facts about your qualified and competing job seekers, I want to take a look at the different styles of job seekers. Where do you fit? What’s your style? Is it working for you? Why is this important? Your initial reaction to these questions may…

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  Success & Prosperity Blog

• Postcard from the Sabbatical 1

  Randy Gage

  18 May 2013 | 7:33 pm

  Greetings from a sunny Sunday in Sydney.  As most of you know, I’m currently off the public stage, on a sabbatical.   This postcard is an experiment.  I simply want to share a story with you.  If you find value in it, please share this post.  Since I’m completely off social media, I’m counting on you guys to spread the word this.  If you see the value and it gets disseminated, I’ll post other postcards along the journey from time to time. So the next move is up to you…  I’m sharing the story because it offers some fascinating lessons on thinking big, and expanding your…

• Until We Meet Again…

  Randy Gage

  29 Apr 2013 | 9:35 am

  I have been a teacher for more than 20 years now.  At its essence helping people is about recognizing and responding to their potential.  And this calling must begin by recognizing and responding to one’s own potential.  I’ve been providing a lot of content on a weekly basis:  A new episode of Prosperity TV, five blog posts, and many shorter posts on social media channels.  This is all done in addition to giving many speeches, consulting, writing books, and authoring other resources. This has been a rewarding and intoxicating process, and I feel that I am working at the highest level…

• When Religion is Deadly

  Randy Gage

  27 Apr 2013 | 7:01 am

  Sorry to have been absent for a few days, but I’ve been reflecting on this post, and wanted to make sure I could write it without emotional distractions, and bring up some of the serious issues we face.  The events of the recent Boston Marathon bombings drive home yet again how harmful and dangerous religious beliefs can be.  This applies both to those that hold them, and unfortunately – also and especially to those who don’t. And because those beliefs are created by mind viruses – highly charged with emotion and often indoctrinated at a young age – most of the people with these…

• Think Differently

  Randy Gage

  23 Apr 2013 | 6:55 am

  Here’s a fact – both metaphysical and scientific:  Healthy people think differently than sick people, happy people think differently than depressed people, and wealthy people think differently than broke people.  Unfortunately, it seems natural when you’re sick to think about your runny nose, cough, aches, or pain.  When you’re depressed, it’s easy to think about all the things that haven’t gone the way you want.  And when you’re broke, the stress of looming bills can dominate your thoughts. But the only way to change your results – is to change the way you think. -RG

• Prosperity is Forward

  Randy Gage

  22 Apr 2013 | 6:46 am

  Today many countries celebrate Earth Day.  A noble act, and protecting our planet is vital.  But be wary of negative and limiting memes that often surround this cause… Conventional thinking is seldom very insightful, and sometimes the surface problems aren’t the real causes.  And the answer is not moving backwards. The planet is made up mostly of water.  Yet kids die of thirst every day.  That is a crime.  But it’s not because it’s a water shortage.  It’s because the process of desalinizing water has not become viable enough to work everywhere in the world.  Like a lot of…

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  Amusing Planet

• Fire Rainbows: A Rare Cloud Phenomenon

  Kaushik

  19 May 2013 | 8:39 am

  “Fire Rainbows” are neither fire, nor rainbows, but are so called because of their brilliant pastel colors and flame like appearance. Technically they are known as circumhorizontal arc - an ice halo formed by hexagonal, plate-shaped ice crystals in high level cirrus clouds. The halo is so large that the arc appears parallel to the horizon, hence the name. Brightly colored circumhorizontal arc occur mostly during the summer and between particular latitudes. When the sun is very high in the sky, sunlight entering flat, hexagon shaped ice crystals gets split into individual colors just like…

• Dietmar Eckell’s Photos of Plane Wrecks With “Happy Ends”

  Kaushik

  19 May 2013 | 12:10 am

  Airplane wrecks usually denote tragedies, but photographer Dietmar Eckell aims to highlight the rare miracles from the history of aviation where everyone survived. "'Happy End' is a photo-project about miracles in aviation history - 15 airplanes that had forced landings but all on board survived and were rescued from the remote locations," says Dietmar Eckell a photographer from Dusseldorf, Germany. For nearly three years, Eckell trekked to extremely isolated locations across the world — nine countries on four continents — from Australia to Iceland looking for abandoned…

• Photographer Tracks Down Abandoned Sets From Star Wars in Tunisia

  Kaushik

  18 May 2013 | 11:07 pm

  New York-based Italian photographer Rä di Martino first discovered the ruins of the sets of Star Wars and The English Patient near Chott el Djerid in Tunisi on Google Maps. Determined to get a first person view of the location, the visual artist and filmmaker travelled to Tunisia in September 2010 to track down the three Star Wars sets. “With only my Google map as a guide, I struggled at first to find anything,” said Martino to The Guardian. “Then I met a driver who knew the desert well and offered to take me to the sites. We still ended up asking for directions at a police station and…

• Art and Decor of Moscow Metro Stations

  Kaushik

  18 May 2013 | 8:50 am

  The Metro began operating in Moscow in 1935 with a single 11 km line connecting just thirteen stations, but it has since grown into the world’s fourth busiest transit system, spanning more than 300 kilometers and offering 188 stops along the way. The Moscow Metro was one of the USSR’s most extravagant architectural projects, with stations constructed as luxurious “palaces for the people”. Built under the command of Stalin, the iron-fisted leader ordered the metro’s artists and architects to design a structure that embodied svet (radiance or brilliance) and svetloe budushchee (a…

• Waitomo Glowworm Caves, New Zealand

  Kaushik

  15 May 2013 | 10:38 am

  The Waitomo Glowworm Caves, located just outside the main Waitomo township on the North Island of New Zealand, is a famous attraction because of a sizeable population of glowworms that live in the caves. Glowworms or Arachnocampa luminosa are tiny, bioluminescent creatures that produce a blue-green light and are found exclusively in New Zealand. The Waitomo Glowworm Caves were first explored in 1887 by local Maori Chief Tane Tinorau accompanied by an English surveyor Fred Mace. Local Maori people knew of the Caves existence, but the subterranean caverns had never been extensively explored…

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  Annie Infinite - Possibilitarian, Author, Speaker

• Observing the Truth and Staying Aware

  AnnieInfinite

  5 May 2013 | 2:37 am

  Recently I put a post out on Facebook, a video that questioned the facts around a recent “act of terrorism” claiming the these acts were perpetrated by the countries own government to instill fear into the populace. The comment I made prefacing the video was this: “I tend to believe in the obvious fact that terrorism is used and even manufactured by our governments to keep us docile along with lots of other events and habits that are encouraged by them to keep us looking away while they enact a slight of hand over there. I wonder about all this controversy about the Bombing…

• In the Silence You Can Hear.. YOU

  AnnieInfinite

  27 Apr 2013 | 3:16 pm

  It’s funny isn’t it? How we can yearn for silence and solitude in this noisy, people filled world and yet when we are given just that some of us feel threatened. We don’t know exactly what we are afraid of we just know we are afraid. This week I was speaking on Skype to New Zealand to a woman who is a serial monogamist, one partner after another with hardly any time in between to reset her own priorities. She finally rang me because she had a panic attack at the airport after the plane that was taking her daughters family to Australia left. Yes, finally after months of…

• Change Your Thoughts Change Your Body

  AnnieInfinite

  17 Apr 2013 | 4:36 pm

  Changing your thoughts can actually change how your brain communicates with the rest of your body, thereby altering the body’s biochemistry. Yes! it’s really true. Psych-oneuro-immunology for PNI, first pioneered by medical researchers like Candice Pert proves that our physical bodies are governed by the chemistry our body creates from our thoughts. These chemical cocktails made up of different neurotransmitters then filter down changing our body chemistry depending on the chemical make up of them, negative, depressive thoughts create chemical cocktails that alter the cells in our…

• Consequences of Maintainng a Facade of Perfection

  AnnieInfinite

  15 Feb 2013 | 10:29 pm

  I am going to tell you a story, a story about someone I have met and who over the time that I have known them has cemented my beliefs about the facade of perfection. The person, is so manically wrapped up in their looks that their whole life is affected by one drama after the other, day in day out. This facade of perfection is very centered on this person’s looks, only the correct photographs can be allowed to be seen, only those photo’s that are exactly right according to this persons own view of perfection. Only the correct (perfect) shots of video can be used, so all usable…

• The Magic of Nothing and Zero

  AnnieInfinite

  18 Jan 2013 | 4:01 pm

  Are you like most people and feel so stressed when things are chaotic in your life? Are there times when you feel as though you have accomplished nothing, have nothing, are nothing? You’re not alone, most of us at one time or another have felt like this. when chaos happens in our lives it can feel as if the whole world is against us, nothing works the way it should and it can be so hard to wrap our minds around the changes needed to cope with the world shifting under our feet. “STOP! the world I want to get off!” Can I make a suggestion? Instead of asking the world to stop,…

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  Life with Boys

• I LOVE this show.  I look forward to this coming back on once...

  16 May 2013 | 10:17 am

  I LOVE this show.  I look forward to this coming back on once the warmer weather gets here. And this young man is exactly who I would vote for. He’s confident on stage, he’s smooth, but when he spoke with the judges he was sweet and humble.  Hope he does well in Vegas!

• I’m not a fan of the company.  Nevermind that they...

  16 May 2013 | 8:39 am

  I’m not a fan of the company.  Nevermind that they don’t make X-large or above for women, but I’m pretty sure there sizing is based on Barbie Dolls…not my look. Their kid’s clothing is the same way!  NONE of my five boys are heavy, and yet Hayden at 9 is wearing an X-Large?  Huh? But this video rocked, and I will be selling two one sweatshirt and one polo shirt we do have from this store at the yard sale we are having this weekend. No, scratch that..I’m going to give them away.

• I’m sure most people that watch the news have heard about...

  15 May 2013 | 9:59 am

  I’m sure most people that watch the news have heard about Angelina Jolie’s brave decision.  And make no mistake, I think her decision to have a double mastectomy and then to speak about it so openly was indeed a very brave move. BUT, what has surprised me is people’s reaction to the fact that Brad Pitt is standing by her side. Umm..why wouldn’t he?  This is the woman he says he loves (I only use the word ‘says’ because I don’t know the intimate details of their relationship and we only know what he says), the mother of his children.  They’ve been together almost ten…

• S--rc- C-d-

  15 May 2013 | 7:32 am

  S--rc- C-d-: I’m a husband, father, developer, designer, and provider. Among other things, I...

• How MUCH, Mommy?

  14 May 2013 | 6:59 am

  A few more Deanisms: (and a Haydenism thrown in at the end) Christina Perri’s “A...

• 

  Chic Galleria

• Pick 6: Mary Kay Products I Use

  Beth Anderson

  18 May 2013 | 3:44 am

  Back in 1989, I was a new mommie. I was busy with a baby and itching to start a business.  I met a woman, though I can’t remember quite how, who was a Mary Kay consultant.  After much conversation, she convinced me to join the ranks.  I became a Mary Kay consultant.  Admittedly, I was a HORRIBLE consultant.  I bugged my mom, friends and never quite got the hang of selling products at parties. After using most of my inventory myself, I decided that it wasn’t going to be my calling in life.  BUT, I have been a loyal customer for the last 23 years. Having turned 50 this year, I…

• Style: Feminine & Floral

  Cheyenne Headrick

  17 May 2013 | 10:16 am

  I’ve really been into florals lately and the weather has been so nice here in Washington this past week that I just had to put together an ensemble filled with flowers! All of the pieces in the outfit happen to be from Urban Outfitters. Lace shorts are very popular for the spring so I’m glad I snagged a pair last week. And I thought that the flowers on the cardigan give the outfit a whimsical look. I loved how light the cardigan was since it was warm out. I’m expecting to get a lot of mileage out of this purple tank top because I love that it’s a light purple color and…

• Wedding Headbands for the Summer Bride

  Editor

  17 May 2013 | 3:53 am

  What is the best way to spice up your outfit without breaking your wallet budget? It’s simple, angelic and very trendy this year – headbands. Whether it’s your casual lunch outfit or your big day down the aisle in that phenomenal white dress, it definitely adds some class and elegance to any attire. Although the answer seems yet so simple, don’t be fooled because there are so many styles and designs nowadays with headbands that the choices are endless. Bride’s to be are looking at these accessories to add to their white outfit to make the ‘I Do’ day more memorable. This one…

• Plum Dumplings

  Grace Newman

  16 May 2013 | 11:39 am

  These dumplings (Knedle ze Śliwkami, in Polish) are quite hearty and were often eaten in Poland as a somewhat sweet main course for dinner. Traditionally, this particular dough is based on mashed potatoes. When it encases a sweet plum, that first bite releases a mouthful of delightful flavors that instantly beg for more. When Laura Zeranski, co-author of Polish Classic Recipes (Classics Series), first tested the recipe, Peter Zeranski had not tasted these dumplings for many years. But the first bite immediately recalled the memory of his childhood when his mom made them as an…

• Summer Sunglasses Trends

  Editor

  16 May 2013 | 3:36 am

  With summer burgeoning just beyond the horizon, many of us are itching to pull out our jean shorts, bouncy skirts and colorful swimsuits in preparation for the rising temperatures. Of course, no sunny outfit would be complete without a stylish pair of sunglasses! Check out what’s trending this summer to find a design that inspires. This season, forget playing it cool and go for something bold and bright. Current trends are all about statement making hues and playful patterns. Floral patterns are gaining momentum, especially when featured on an ample, upper rim.  Frames’ tips are becoming…

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  The Accidental Olympian

• SQUATTERS

  Ashley, The Accidental Olympian

  16 May 2013 | 9:42 am

  This is what our lives have looked like since APRIL 22ND. It is now May 16th and we are still without basic things like a real bed, chairs that don't collapse, or things like cooking utensils. Thankfully our things arrive tomorrow (!!!!!) and by the end of the weekend, knowing Adam and I, every single item will be put away by Sunday night. When you go without your things for weeks and then you suddenly have them all again you enter a state of frantic unpacking and refuse to stop until everything is complete.  Recently I was thinking about the last home cooked meal we had. It was April 25th,…

• ILLNESS

  Ashley, The Accidental Olympian

  14 May 2013 | 11:05 am

  I feel ill and I'm not sure why, but I have some theories. Maybe it's because I'm sick of living like a squatter with nothing more than camp chairs and an air bed in an empty house that still doesn't feel like home. Maybe it's because I haven't cooked a meal in my own home since April 22nd and have been living off corn dogs, jerky and restaurants.  Maybe I feel ill because change is hard and the last three weeks have been nothing but change followed by more change, followed by more change, on top of some change, with a side of change.  Maybe it's because in the move I forgot to fill my…

• DON'T BLINK

  Ashley, The Accidental Olympian

  9 May 2013 | 9:52 am

  I was in Alaska, and then for 6 days we drove across Canada to get to Chicago, and then we were in Chicago, and then before I knew it I was on a plane retracing all that ground I covered in the car and landing in Seattle. Then I was saying hi to coworkers, and then saying hi to friends and babies who got so big since I last saw them and yes I'd love a glass of wine and let's stay up till way past my bedtime talking about nothing and everything and man I love this place.  Tonight it's another marathon catch-up, another amazing friend happens to be in town, oh look this meeting at work is my…

• ALASKA TO CHICAGO ROAD TRIP – DAY 5, 6, & WE MADE IT!

  Ashley, The Accidental Olympian

  3 May 2013 | 12:04 pm

  A. Anchorage, AK – Start B. Haines Junction, Yukon – Day 1  C. Muncho Lake, British Columbia – Day 2 D. Valleyview, Alberta  –Day 3 E. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – Day 4 F. Grand Forks, ND – Day 5 G. HOME! Lake Bluff, IL – Day 6 (one day ahead of schedule!) TOTAL MILES COVERED: 3,582 miles Last time I checked in it was at the end of Day 4 when we arrived in blizzarding Saskatoon, Saskatchewan. Day 5 was all about getting the HELL out of the late April blizzard and making it back into the US. If you follow me on Instagram you saw that as far as getting out of the snow, we…

• ALASKA TO CHICAGO ROAD TRIP – DAY 4

  Ashley, The Accidental Olympian

  29 Apr 2013 | 10:01 pm

  A. Anchorage, AK – Start B. Haines Junction, Yukon – Day 1  C. Muncho Lake, British Columbia – Day 2 D. Valleyview, Alberta  –Day 3 E. Saskatoon, Saskatchewan – Day 4 TOTAL MILES: 2,264  Making progress, but we're still at minimum two days out. Today was pretty lame by all accounts because it turns out the middle of Canada is flat, flat, and more flat, and really boring. I can't sleep in cars, trains or planes, and even I tried to curl up in a ball and fall asleep to pass the time. Sorry Alberta and Saskatchewan, I wont be coming back to vacation. Ever.  One thing that helped…

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  Transforming Seminarian

• Loot Crate Highlight of the Month - April 2013

  Mark Baker-Wright

  24 Apr 2013 | 10:00 am

  So I'm still getting the hang of this Loot Crate thing. It wasn't until some time after I'd posted last month's highlight, featuring a Darth Vader Bobble-Head, that I'd realized "Maybe some people don't want to get spoiled by the subject line or the image they see before they've even clicked the link...". No one posted any angry comments last month, but I'm going to play this a little more coy this time around. If you want to see which item I've highlighted from this month's Loot Crate, click the "Read more" link (or keep reading the…

• On "Microagressions" and Continuing Gender Inequality

  Mark Baker-Wright

  19 Apr 2013 | 10:00 am

  Given the nature of my blog, it is perhaps not surprising that, when I bring up issues related to gender inequality (which, naturally, tends to mean oppression of women. Although I fully acknowledge that it can happen to men, it would be disingenuous to suggest that oppression of men happens with anything like the same frequency or effect), I tend to discuss the topic predominantly in relation to the church. Yet it is obvious that these things happen in the rest of the world, as well. I was therefore intrigued by an article written by clinical psychiatrist Dr. Andrea Letamendi, written for…

• Transformers Feature - Platinum Edition "Year of the Snake" Omega Supreme

  Mark Baker-Wright

  11 Apr 2013 | 10:00 am

  I've reached a point in my Transformers collecting where more of my purchases are likely to be online than at the local store, as the vast majority of what's on the shelf holds little interest compared to the prices now being charged. This actually comes as a surprise to me. While I certainly understand the reality that shipping items costs money, the thought of having to pay for shipping always incites in me a visceral reaction of aversion. Thankfully, Omega Supreme is exclusive to Amazon.com (well, also to BigBadToyStore) in the US, and shipped for free as it's well over…

• Loot Crate Highlight of the Month - Darth Vader Vinyl Bobble-Head

  Mark Baker-Wright

  21 Mar 2013 | 7:30 pm

  About a month ago, I decided to give Loot Crate a try. For those not familiar with the program, here's the idea: for a nominal fee, you get a box packed with items intended to appeal to geek and gaming culture. The items that will be in the box are not revealed in advance, so there's admittedly a risk involved that you might not get anything that particularly appeals to you. The upside is that there is an opportunity for a little bit of Christmas once a month when the package arrives, and since you know that the items are geared toward geeky interests, if those interests apply to you…

• Special Reminders of Value

  Mark Baker-Wright

  20 Mar 2013 | 4:00 pm

  It seems like the legacy of Mister Rogers has been on a lot of people's minds lately. I feel like most of the few posts I've been able to finish since the beginning of the new year have mentioned him, and usually that's been in response to something I've seen elsewhere on the web. Today would have been Mister Rogers' 85th birthday, and a number of websites have posted their own homages to Fred Rogers and his work. Here are just a couple.Read more »

• 

  Dejavu

• The Revelation

  Pallav Gogoi

  12 May 2013 | 5:28 am

  Nobody is perfect in this world.  You can be rich, extremely handsome,  extremely gorgeous,  you can be THE LOSER,  still you will stay unique,  and that uniqueness makes you THE Superman, superwoman.  Explore life till you get the best, and always BEST people in this world  are Imperfect/clueless/lost but stable... A Sudden Revelation made me write this  which I never wanted to write.

• Messy Hair – The Perfect Hair Fashion For The Stylish And The Restless Generation

  Pallav Gogoi

  5 May 2013 | 3:57 am

  I stay in a place where all the good looking people hangout. All artsy types from NIFT, the professional girls and guys from various corporate offices, the vagabond types from ad agencies, struggling movie makers and models are my neighbours. I stay in the same place where Sharukh Khan stayed when he was in Delhi; I stay in the same place where the Big B of Bollywood has his residence. Yes! You are right I stay near Green Park and Gulmohar Park. I stay in a place called Gautam Nagar, where most of people are either students or professionals. This place is affordable and quite happening. The…

• Are Working Women Good In Bed?

  Pallav Gogoi

  2 May 2013 | 8:47 am

  There’s a difference between girls in metro and girls in small towns and villages. Life in a metro is tough, full of running around things, chasing dreams and aspirations. Women in big cities want to do something, they want a name, they want recognition and most importantly they need love. Love is something very rare to find amid the busy schedule. Love takes a back seat because of the chaos around. The practicality around kills the fiction, you slowly forget the meaning of love. Women in big cities want a male companion, who can stand by her. The fact is they have so much to do in so…

• I am no magician...

  Pallav Gogoi

  27 Apr 2013 | 2:27 am

  I am no magician But I can turn you on I am no magician But I can make you fly I am the everlasting dream I am toxic, I am a secret I am a mystery You entered, you disappeared You came in, I am no magician But I can give you fairytale I can give you nightmare I will get inside your veins I will stay silent I will create that long lost mayhem. I love chaos, I love agony I love pain, I want more of them I grow bigger with each ache I am the master of the world I am your last wish I epitomise narcissism I am not scared of death I am no magician I am your dream, I am the reincarnation of the Pied…

• Your body is like dark red wine…

  Pallav Gogoi

  24 Apr 2013 | 9:02 am

  My body is your body, your body mine. When both meet, there's that enormous quantum that metaphysical detonation, unknown yet super cunningly awesome. Let the spell exude the forgotten shivering, Let the darkness evolve from the dungeon to the end. Let the moonbeams break the noise hidden somewhere in your retina. Let the yell surround you; Let it come out from the seldom visited alleys Let the heart moan Let stars fall Let the blanket of desire Confer you wings to silently die in oblivion.

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  Spy Travelogue

• The Hobo Delimma

  charlie grosso

  15 May 2013 | 5:17 pm

  I’m tired of looking like a hobo when I am on the road. The concept of synthesis has been on my mind for a long while now; trying to find a way to make each re-entry back into my NYC life a little less startling and each exit for the road less dramatic and devil may care. It’s time for ownership. It’s time to own up to who I am, what I do and stop pretending like I am still twenty-something on my first backpacking trip. Nothing to prove is a mindset I’ve arrived at. Sure I can live with next to nothing and be a hot mess but badge of honor has been won and it’s time to…

• The Music Says Run; The Recipes Says Stay

  charlie grosso

  1 May 2013 | 10:16 am

  Bits and pieces of lyrics from these songs have been playing on repeat in my head for the past month. Timeless by The Airborne Toxic Event And I wished that our lives were just endless Cause it’s all too short, and I’m leaving soon I am Disappeared by Frank Turner And on the worst days When it feels like life weighs ten thousand tons I sleep with my passport One eye on the back door So I can always run I can get up, shower, and in half an hour I’ll be gone Wanderlust by Frank Turner I didn’t choose, no I was chosen by a life that must be lived in passing through, And though…

• Ritual. Honor. Are You My Person?

  charlie grosso

  26 Apr 2013 | 10:59 am

  A short month of courtship. We were clear with each other from the start. Casual has reached the point of diminishing return and both of us are on the serious business of looking for our person. Cheap and easy this is not. Are you my person? No. I am not for him and he is not for me. We are both clear on that. Yet there is something here, a bond, a recognition of each other on a cosmic level beyond the intellect. We investigate with sweet kisses, long conversations and tea. Cups and cups of tea sweetened with lots and lots of time. Time I hold precious and rarely want to share. An incident…

• Both A Pioneer and a Refuegee

  charlie grosso

  18 Apr 2013 | 10:42 am

  An informal engagement party for a dear friend of mine. There are lots of familiar faces in the room…mid-career creative professionals ends up traveling in a tight circle in Gotham. It is not surprising when my darling friend ended up with someone I am connected to in this social web. A couple of hours of casual conversation with friendly strangers who I am connected with professionally and socially left me with an overwhelming sense of sadness. By all calculations these people are my peers. Yet I feel entirely alien from them. As a traveler, you get this question all the time, aren’t you…

• Wanderlust Will Take Me….

  charlie grosso

  9 Apr 2013 | 8:45 am

  Ota (Mongol Rally Vet, 2012) meet me at the Rhinecliff station in NY a couple of Saturday ago. Too many months, too many countries, around the world and back, we meet again at last in upstate NY. Without skipping a beat, we immediately launch right back into anything and everything. Within minutes we were back on the steeps of Mongolia, the river crossings, the dodgy back alley — and we both light up from the inside. The rally pulse within me still, except I don’t want to be stuck in yesterday. So I am off again on May 1 for new countries to stretch my limits, to see with new eyes…

• 

  I Really Lived!

• The Ultimate Connector

  8 May 2013 | 9:38 pm

  I love to connect with people. In fact, I had an old boss that told me that I should be called "the Connector" because I was so good at connecting with people and helping them to connect with other people or with resources that they needed. It wasn't until she said that that I realized that this is perhaps a gift I've been given. I'm not sure where it comes from, or even how I developed it, but it's a huge part of who I am. Whenever I first meet someone new I find myself trying to figure out, "Who is this person? How can I best help them with what they are wanting to accomplish? Who would be…

• I Saw a Kindness Angel

  10 Feb 2013 | 8:15 pm

  Yesterday I witnessed something extraordinary.  It was one of those simple, unplanned moments that touched my heart.  Let me tell you what happened.  I was at work.  Currently I help manage a small distribution center at the Dallas LDS Temple.  It was an incredibly busy day and it seemed that we had an endless flow of customers coming in and there were only two of us working. So needless to say I was helping one customer after the next, doing my best to give good customer service, but also to do it quickly so that we could get everyone served in a timely fashion.

• 2013 = I Will!

  20 Jan 2013 | 11:27 am

  I know that New Year's was nearly three weeks ago and I'm a little late in posting my goals for this year.  I started writing down my goals right before the New Year, but then I got really busy with a few different things and sort of decided to put them on hold.  So I am not starting my goals right on January 1 and I am totally okay with that.  I feel like right now is the perfect time for me to write down my goals, make the commitment and start moving forward. Last year I worked on my goals with the thought of "I CAN" to this.  This year, my focus is "I WILL" do…

• My Thoughts This Christmas Eve --- It's All About Family

  24 Dec 2012 | 8:09 pm

  This is my first time in eleven years not being home for Christmas.  I'm sad I am missing our annual pizza making contest, going out to the movies on Christmas Day and playing games until late every night.  I love our Christmas traditions and hopefully will be home next year. I am grateful that I do get to spend Christmas with my family here in Texas and I love being around my niece and nephews.  There is always a little extra magic on Christmas when there are kids there.  Tonight we drank hot chocolate and ate cinnamon muffins with yummy icing. We watched a few shows on…

• Setting out to do something EXTRAORDINARY

  10 Dec 2012 | 8:52 pm

  I love to organize things and get people together. I think it's because I love to see people connect with each other and begin new friendships or strengthen old bonds. Connecting others with others is something I find great joy in, as well as connecting with others myself. I love being around people! My little sister and I were talking on the phone the other day. She lives in Utah, I'm down here in Texas. She and my mom ran a half marathon in each month of 2012...so they ran 12 half marathons this year. I've ran two half marathons in my life, but I really loved running them and have been…

• 

  Coming to Grips

• Coming to Grips with Motherhood

  Polly Scott

  10 May 2013 | 3:10 pm

  Motherhood.  What does that even mean? Right now, to me, it means: I’m a mother.  Put a hood over my head. After years of travel, doing whatever I wanted with my time and my money and my body, I became a mother because my friend Tiffany told me I had to. “Your ovaries are getting dusty.  It’s now or never,” she said. And I had the perfect resume for motherhood: video store manager . . . copywriter . . . track coach . . .    So basically, it’s been a disaster.  Motherhood: When you rent your uterus to someone without checking their credit score. Labor…

• Coming to Grips with Listen to Your Mother

  Polly Scott

  8 May 2013 | 9:03 am

  I bought a new baggy shirt to cover . . . well if I told you what it's covering, that would ruin it. But now that I think about it, I must tell the truth. I have a gut.  There it is. If you come to Listen to Your Mother tomorrow, you'll get to hear me speak. Which is fine. I feel bad for you because you'll miss the best part of me. My gut.  Covered by a baggy shirt.  Sorry.  But some things are left best to the imagination. Now, go to, and Listen to Your Mother.  Unless she is telling you to wear nylons.

• Coming to Grips with Data Recovery

  Polly Scott

  1 May 2013 | 6:37 am

  My computer just attended it's first 12-step meeting.  My husband and I did an intervention.  iMac didn't want to go, but what can you do when the people you love say, "You have a problem." We knew something was wrong when 6,000 photos went missing.  My sons' baby pictures - missing.  We looked everywhere.  Who would take them?  Where did they go?  Only someone with a serious problem would turn to baby pictures in a weak moment. The Data Recovery staff has been amazing.  After four days in rehab, iMac is home and we're beginning to sort through all the…

• Coming to Grips with Satiation Therapy

  Polly Scott

  15 Apr 2013 | 7:09 am

  After sending a family-wide email describing a diet that literally lost him five pounds, Grandpa asked my husband (a patent attorney) to “please use all of your legal skills to secure a copyright on the following diet plan that I have discovered.” This plan consisted of the following things: 1. “Breakfast of steel cut oats and fruit as recommended by Polly Scott.” 2. “Glazed donut covered with chocolate.” 3. “Later my wife went out and could not protest my indulgence thereof, so I had a small saucer with Fritos covered with [melted] cheese . . . and a Dr. Pepper.” 4. “A…

• Coming to Grips with Harsh Realities

  Polly Scott

  3 Apr 2013 | 12:45 pm

  Stopped at a stop light near an in-patient long-term care hospital, Ove glared as nurses carefully abstracted a patient, tubes and all, from an ambulance. Sensing a teaching moment . . . why?  Why do I always take the bait? Sensing a teaching moment, I said, “Ove, did you know that sometimes people get so hurt they can’t breath.” He looked at the patient. “Sometimes, they get so hurt, they can’t walk or talk or eat food.” I let this sink in. "Sometimes, they get so hurt, they lose their legs or arms." I let this sink it. And then Ove spoke.  “Mom, sometimes they get so…

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  Jude; The diary of a baby and a stroke

• A lesson in simplicity and Emily's weekend.

  12 May 2013 | 7:57 pm

  As I sat down to write tonight I tried to form all the words I wanted to put in my blog. I wanted to write about two subjects that tie together. First will be Emily's pageant and then my quest to get home to Jude. I blogged the other day of how Emily mustered the courage to try Miss Tarrant teen only two weeks after Miss Dallas Teen. Some people see pageants as shallow, but if you knew all the work these girls put into this "sport" you wouldn't ever think that again. The other night we had some of Emily's friends over and they wanted me to ask them practice pageant questions. So these…

• Hitting the nail on the head

  10 May 2013 | 7:00 am

  My cousin is an amazing writer and she also loves a great read. Today she sent me Heather Lanier's, "Waiting To Love My Child". Since I come into work early on Friday and cannot make phone calls I took a minute to read over the article. It literally took my breath away. What a profound outlook on life this woman has and she expresses perfectly what I have wanted to say. Recently I was sitting on the couch holding Jude and I was talking to him in my mom voice. He looked up me with these big bright brown eyes. He knew he was my baby and he knew I loved him with all my heart. At that moment I…

• Jude is home and with an update

  8 May 2013 | 8:08 am

  Jude is home from the hospital. He actually came home Monday afternoon I just haven't had much time to update my blog. He had pneumonia in the mid left lobe. He was very happy to be home and gave us lots of smiles on Monday afternoon. However, yesterday Charlotte noted that Jude needed to be held and was grumpy. When I got home he was the same way. Jude was not happy unless someone was holding him and even then he complained a lot. Granted he is still ill and pneumonia takes awhile to conquer, but of course it concerned me. He also felt like he was heating up again to me, but luckily his temp…

• Jude's update

  4 May 2013 | 7:22 pm

  We are at Cook's Childrens. We bought Jude ito the ER yesterday hoping they could give him an iv round of antibiotics with fluids and send us home, but that wasn't the case. They ended up admitting him. Thepneumonia in his lower left lung had gotten worse.  WE thought this might be the case because Jude kept vomitting and therefore couldn't get the medication into his system. Also, when he vomits he aspirates and thats what starts the pneumonia in the first place.They took Jude off all his feeds to let his tummy rest. They gave him his antibiotics and fluids all by IV. They are doing…

• Jude is just sick or is he better? I am so confused!!!

  2 May 2013 | 7:55 pm

  I look back at my teenage years and I wonder why I waisted my time and not furthered my education. I would have proudly have become a nurse or a doctor, but I didn't take the necessary steps to fulfill that career. However, somehow I got thrust into that field. I sometimes think about pursuing a medical career and then I have nights like tonight. I am confused. I want to think Jude is getting better, but it doesn't seem like it tonight, but then again it does. I am so confused that I couldn't tie my own shoes right now! When I got home Jude was asleep on his futon which is unusual at 6:30. He…

• 

  Mojito Mother

• Why I don’t care about government budgets?

  Caz Makepeace

  15 May 2013 | 8:06 pm

  The budget was released yesterday, or wait was it the day before? I don’t really remember. All I know was I heard the words deficit and surplus mentioned several times and members of both political parties tearing each up yet again. Yawn. Switch over to The Voice, something that at least inspires me to reach greater heights. I often feel bad at my total disdain and lack of interest in politics and budgets. I mean I really should care shouldn’t I? Isn’t it these things that determine my fate? Shouldn’t I be more concerned with how the country is being run and what it…

• Win some ME time with an Ultimate Republica Coffee break – worth $350

  Caz Makepeace

  14 May 2013 | 4:51 pm

  One of my favourite things to do is sit in a cafe and drink coffee. I could easily relocate my home office to my local Gnostic Cafe and work there everyday tapping away and drinking soy cappuccinos. But, it is not great for the wallet. To compensate for this last year we brought an espresso coffee machine for our home office. Craig and I recently became certified baristas with a barista course we did at Barista Basics in Sydney. So yeah, we are serious about making good coffee at home.  (Read more coffee facts here) I cannot stand instant coffee and when buying my espresso coffee I am always…

• Walk for a cure in the Domain

  Caz Makepeace

  12 May 2013 | 4:10 pm

  For Mother’s Day we spent the day in the Domain with Craig’s family walking for a cure for breast cancer. Craig’s Mum was diagnosed with breast cancer at the start of this year. Thankfuly, due to early diagnosis, they got it when it was really small and in the early stages. She was operated on and all is fine. She has to have chemo to ensure it won’t return. It’s knocking her around a bit as you would expect. She’s a bloody trooper though. So amazingly strong and positive about the whole situation. She just put her head down and said, “Right,…

• How do we overcome our fear?

  Caz Makepeace

  9 May 2013 | 5:40 pm

  Do you jump? You’re standing at the edge of a ravine. You have a harness around your ankle and attached is a really long chord which is firmly attached to a steel bridge. You hope. You’re terrified and feel as if you are going to pass out. But, you’re told that if you jump, a part of you that is used to giving into fear will be smashed to smithereens. From now on you’ll be able to do anything. You’re tired of being fearful, so are willing to scare the shit out of yourself and jump, praying that you won’t die just to prove something to yourself. This is your chance to get rid of…

• Stepping up to the dream to road trip around Oz

  Caz Makepeace

  6 May 2013 | 6:14 pm

  Let’s make it happen We’ve had this ultimate vision for sometime. Taking off with the kids and travelling around Australia for at least a year. Something quite unsurprising happened in the two and a half years since we moved back to Australia. We fell in love with it. Australia is such a unique, diverse and stunning country. The food and wine is superb, the climate varied, yet pretty good and the people fab. I’ve spent far too much of my life exploring the rest of the world and running away from Australia. Now I just want to stay. When you have a plan as big as ours you…

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  Like a Bump on a Blog

• ‘Matryoshka! for Kids’ by Kidoteca is Simple Fun for Young Children @Kidoteca

  Amberr Meadows

  17 May 2013 | 5:30 pm

  “Matryoshka! for Kids” by Kidoteca is Simpl [...]The post ‘Matryoshka! for Kids’ by Kidoteca is Simple Fun for Young Children @Kidoteca appeared first on Like a Bump on a Blog.

• Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder : A Romantic Suspense with a Twist

  Amberr Meadows

  12 May 2013 | 7:37 pm

  Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder is romantic suspense. It w [...]The post Mocha, Moonlight, and Murder : A Romantic Suspense with a Twist appeared first on Like a Bump on a Blog.

• London for Music Lovers

  Amberr Meadows

  12 May 2013 | 6:58 pm

  London for Music Lovers Thanks to an outstanding histor [...]The post London for Music Lovers appeared first on Like a Bump on a Blog.

• Ultimate Garcinia Weight Loss Supplement Review and Give Away

  Amberr Meadows

  12 May 2013 | 6:24 pm

  Ultimate Garcinia Weight Loss Supplement Review and Giv [...]The post Ultimate Garcinia Weight Loss Supplement Review and Give Away appeared first on Like a Bump on a Blog.

• Spring Shoes Frenzy on Sweet Relish @sweetrelish

  Amberr Meadows

  5 May 2013 | 7:20 pm

  Spring Shoes Frenzy on Sweet Relish I’m not overl [...]The post Spring Shoes Frenzy on Sweet Relish @sweetrelish appeared first on Like a Bump on a Blog.

• 

  WordPress.com News

• Freshly Pressed: Friday Faves

  Cheri Lucas Rowlands

  17 May 2013 | 9:00 am

  An ode to a father, a story of growing up with two mothers, a request for a cloak of visibility, and a reflection on goodbyes. Here are four Freshly Pressed standouts from this week — all quite personal pieces that have resonated with many readers. Go ahead and dive in: Why I Don’t Diet — An Ode to My Father My father spent his years fighting his size, wishing he was smaller, weaker, less of a giant. He was taught to hate his body, and he was ashamed of the amount of space he took up. But he passed his strength to me, and I won’t squander my inheritance. I will not let…

• New Theme: Snap

  Nate Schaumburg

  16 May 2013 | 10:00 am

  Happy Theme Thursday! Sharing and managing your work online should be easy, and today I’m thrilled to announce a new theme from our friends at The Theme Foundry that helps you do just that! Snap is a responsive, lightweight, and minimalist theme that makes it easy to feature your projects. Snap’s clean grid based blog layout and configurable page templates also make it incredibly flexible. Snap: Home Page Read more about Snap in the Theme Showcase, or test drive it for yourself by going to Appearance → Themes in your Dashboard.

• Widget Visibility and You

  Christopher Finke

  15 May 2013 | 7:00 am

  Since the dawn of time, humankind has yearned for control. While we can’t give you more control over most of your life, we can give you more control over your widgets. And today, with the new widget visibility tool, you can configure your widgets to be shown or hidden only on certain pages. Widgets are a way to add new content (like your Twitter stream, a tag cloud, or a link to your blog archives) in the sidebar, header, or footer of your site. To see the widgets you have available to you, log in to your WordPress.com dashboard and click on Appearance » Widgets. To add a widget,…

• Websites for the Greater Good: Non-Profits on WordPress.com

  michelle w.

  14 May 2013 | 11:47 am

  All kinds of organizations make their home on WordPress.com: small businesses, municipalities, religious organizations, schools, community groups. We also provide an online HQ for quite a few non-profits, from the global to the hyperlocal. They turn to WordPress.com for an easy-to-use, low cost solution that gets them an effective web presence without diverting thousands of dollars from their missions: helping others. Here are just a few of the organizations that call WordPress.com home, and some of the ways they’ve used WordPress.com to create compelling sites that tell their stories…

• Five Minutes with Philip Arthur Moore

  Lauren Orsini

  13 May 2013 | 9:30 am

  Every few weeks, we’re sitting down with an Automattician to help you get to know the people who work behind the scenes to build new features, keep Automattic running, and make WordPress.com the best it can be. This week, we’re very pleased to introduce you to Mr. Philip Arthur Moore: Theme Broker, global nomad, and emoticon expert. What kinds of awesome things do you do at Automattic? Philip Arthur Moore I’m currently the Premium Theme Team lead at WordPress.com. The majority of my waking hours are spent feverishly obsessing over making premium themes a world-class experience for…

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  A.M.H.'s Blog

• The Dialogue or Conversational Form

  Anthony

  14 May 2013 | 6:21 am

  Hi All...I am sorry I haven't had the opportunity to post here in a while.  I'll try to do a better job of updating my blog in the future-and reading your blog posts as well. :)    In my first blog post, I said that I would try to posit my authentic thoughts-unfiltered by heavy editing and/or ruminating.  For the most part, I have attempted to stay true to that mission-at least in the posts that do not link to my freelance articles.  However, I feel that the act of organizing my thoughts into paragraphs frustrates my mission to some extent.  That is because I…

• I Apologize for My Absence

  Anthony

  22 Apr 2013 | 4:32 am

  Hi All, I wanted to quickly write to you all and apologize for not posting anything to my blog in the last few days.  I have been pretty busy.  I will try to create a new post (and read through all of your blog posts) soon. Anthony

• Snakes and Snow-Truly Ironic!

  Anthony

  5 Apr 2013 | 3:00 am

  Snow outside of my house. Yesterday was certainly interesting.  I was clearing some brush and leaves when it started to snow-SNOW!  Keep in mind that it rarely snows in southwest Virginia in April.  Even more surprising, as I was raking leaves, I came upon a small garter snake.  I was amazed to see a snake slithering around in near freezing temperatures; they usually stay in their burrows in this type of weather (heck, most of the snakes are probably still hibernating).  So, imagine me (or anyone really) raking leaves and moving brush during a snowstorm (in a month…

• My Bracket Has Been Busted

  Anthony

  27 Mar 2013 | 7:51 am

  Well, I have had better NCAA brackets over the years-that is for sure.  You know it's not a going to be a good year when you check your bracket only to find out that it is ranked in the bottom 2.5% in a prominent, national bracket contest.  I have improved to about 11% or so now...Perhaps I will get really lucky and will be able to move up to around 25% (from the bottom, not the top 25%)...Needless, to say, I should not have picked so many upsets (and should not have counted on mid-majors breaking through the ceiling this year).  How are your brackets coming along? …

• My 2013 NCAA Tourney Picks

  Anthony

  21 Mar 2013 | 9:34 am

  The NCAA Men's Basketball Tournament's second round games (the first round consists of the play-in games) have begun.  Here are my picks in this year's NCAA Tourney.  Like the millions of other people who have filled out a bracket, I probably won't have to wait long to suffer my first loss (just hope it is not a bracket busting one).  Bracket comes from ESPN.

• 

  Navigating Cyberloss

• Stream of Consciousness Sunday: Off The Wagon

  Casey B

  19 May 2013 | 5:47 am

      Today, I’m linking up with Jana’s Stream of Consciousness Sunday. Her optional prompt is ‘Off The Wagon’: what have you fallen out of the habit of doing or not doing?  Looking at today’s prompt, I am more uncomfortably aware … Continue reading →

• Misunderstandings and missed understanding

  Casey B

  15 May 2013 | 5:00 pm

  Hi, friends. It’s late, and I’m blogging in advance tonight. (10pm Wednesday here) The past two days have been challenging, as I had an appointment in which we made a lot of progress, although I’ve felt out of sorts ever … Continue reading →

• Stream of Consciousness Sunday: Dealing (with stuff)

  Casey B

  5 May 2013 | 12:54 pm

  Today, I’m linking up with Stream of Consciousness Sunday at Jana’s Thinking Place. The (optional) prompt is dealing with stuff. Off the top of my head, when asked how I deal with stuff (for me that means grief) I can … Continue reading →

• Cyberloss in six word memoirs

  Casey B

  3 May 2013 | 12:10 pm

  Inspired by What’s Your Grief, I have decided to use their latest blog post as inspiration for my own. The authors write: ‘Legend has it, famous author Ernest Hemingway, out to lunch at the Algonquin, bet a table full of fellow … Continue reading →

• Balance disguised as healing

  Casey B

  27 Apr 2013 | 5:00 pm

  Hi, friends. I hope this post finds you well. I am once more in that hallowed state where I could almost believe that none of ‘this’ has happened. As of this moment, the experiences I have had do not consume … Continue reading →

• 

  Los Angeles Actress - Claire Bahn » Blog

• Is the Entertainment Industry “Fair”? …An Actor’s Conundrum

  Claire Bahn

  8 May 2013 | 4:53 am

  It’s been a bit slow as far as auditioning goes, so I went back to my previous blog What You Can Do If You Have a Slow Week for inspiration.  To keep up my A- game I doubled down and am taking an improv class at The Groundlings, my regular classes with Annie Grindley, as well as, taking casting director workshops to keep myself busy. I recently had a conversation with a family member about doing casting director workshops and how frustrating it can sometimes be. When I talk to other actors that do casting director workshops most of them are in the same boat that I am….You get great…

• New York vs Los Angeles- part 2

  Claire Bahn

  11 Apr 2013 | 4:23 am

  As this blog goes out, I am about to start the trek to Indio, California for Coachella.  I’m so excited!  Anyway, so after my last blog I thought of some other New York vs Los Angeles comparisons and my grandmother wanted me to compare the traffic (thanks for the request Grandma!).   How the two cities compare for the actor:   Number of Union TV/ Film acting gigs I tried to find actual numbers for this comparison, but couldn’t find them.  More of the industry is in LA and therefore more casting for TV, film and commercials is done in LA, union and non-union.  This is the…

• New York City vs. Los Angeles

  Claire Bahn

  29 Mar 2013 | 11:46 am

  So last week I had the undesirable task of packing up my New York City apartment to do the final move to Los Angeles. It was not fun to say the least, I felt like I packed for 8 solid days, then the movers came and they packed the stuff I couldn’t pack, it was endless.  It was a bittersweet visit.  I’m sad to get rid of my old apartment, that I won’t be able to see my NYC friends as often as before and I’ll miss the great restaurants. Photo taken after late lunch in Malibu. While I was in NYC this last time, I noticed some glaring differences.  Here’s my list: New York Los…

• Do I Have to Wear a Bikini to Every Audition?

  Claire Bahn

  7 Mar 2013 | 7:19 pm

  I had 3 commercial auditions recently and I had to wear a bikini in all of them.  Is this a trend?  Now that the weather in LA is warming up, does that mean the bikini auditions will start?  Just to be clear two of the auditions were for household items (not bikinis) and the other was for a vacation spot.  I’m not the most modest person, but I certainly don’t wear a bikini all day and it’s not my favorite item of clothing.  I definitely needed my blog post from last year “How to Survive and Audition in a Bikini”.   I didn’t have enough lead time to get a spray tan so I…

• Being in the Game

  Claire Bahn

  21 Feb 2013 | 11:59 am

  I’m really happy I moved to LA.  Why?  I recently had two series regular auditions for upcoming pilots.  I prepared for the auditions with my acting coach and I felt really good in the audition room.  My goal when auditioning is to make the casting directors “fans” of my work.  I think I did just that. An actor friend once told me that it’s our job as actors to “book the room, not the job.”  To explain, there are so many factors go into actually booking a job that you have no control over: height, weight, ethnicity, if you look like the directors ex-girlfriend (which…

• 

  Ranjit Gaind

• GoPro New Zealand

  Ranjit Gaind

  7 May 2013 | 7:33 pm

  A long time ago but the footage has only just become available. Skiing above the clouds at The Remarkables was just that, although we were a little early in the season so the pow pow was limited! So Los Tres Toros hit Queenstown last year with a relatively new GoPro…. this was the result. Now we have two, Japan beckons for 2014 with more Toros in tow (hopefully), with better perspectives and possibly some more adventurous filming and action! I’m new to this video editing malarkey but getting better slowly, I’m just using Movie Maker at the moment which isn’t very…

• Training day

  Ranjit Gaind

  28 Apr 2013 | 2:29 am

  Just finished Level 1 and Level 2 training for the Clipper round the World race. The idea being that as Gosport is pretty far from Sydney Id do them back to back. It worked out pretty well albeit very tiring. The first week was super organised and naturally we were all keen as buttons to get involved, the second week was a little slower and by day 11 I got a stomach bug so my enthusiasm and sense of humour waned some what! Nevertheless it was great training and massive amounts of experience and knowledge were gained. Emergency procedures, sail changes, racing tactics, drills, points of sale…

• Clipper training!

  Ranjit Gaind

  5 Apr 2013 | 7:51 am

  Two of the new 70 footers! The adventure starts here! My home for the next two weeks – level 1 & 2 training, bring it! Tagged: Clipper, ranjitgaind, roundtheworld

• Down Under

  Ranjit Gaind

  26 Mar 2013 | 9:20 pm

  Really enjoying being in Manly, similar in some ways to Camps Bay in Cape Town, Manly’s got that village feel to it without feeling far from everything. Sandwiched between two beaches we are perfectly placed with the parks and views from north head only a short cycle ride away. It has the best snorkeling in New South Wales and fantastic surf plus we could eat at a different restaurant every night of the year if we could afford it! Heading off to the UK for a month and will sorely miss the southern hemisphere. Back to back compulsory training on level 1 & level 2 for the clipper…

• My neighbourhood – some more amore!

  Ranjit Gaind

  9 Mar 2013 | 11:44 pm

  The walkway / boardwalk from Manly to Shelly beach is awesome, and I guess these couples thought so too! It’s not quite the Ponte Milvio in Rome, but I love this gesture. Some have braids and engravings – great bit of urban graffiti! I didn’t see any with combination locks…..which was nice! My Neighbourhood Tagged: My neighbourhood, postaday, Ranjit Gaind

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  Goal Setting Workshop

• Take Things In Stride

  Jorge Blanco

  27 Apr 2013 | 12:38 pm

   

• Are You Truly Expressing Yourself at Work?

  Jorge Blanco

  19 Apr 2013 | 2:37 pm

• Slow Down

  Jorge Blanco

  18 Apr 2013 | 12:58 pm

• Is Multitasking More Efficient?

  Jorge Blanco

  7 Apr 2013 | 4:20 pm

  I bet multitasking is not foreign to you. You’ve probably done it at least once today. You might even be doing it right now. Multitasking is our easy escape to completing tasks. However, is it efficient? Does it really do more good than harm? In this article, we will answer these questions, test our multitasking abilities, and gain an insight on the most efficient way to increase productivity. Measuring Your Multitasking Skill First up, let us take a look at how great you are at multitasking. Below, you will see a short exercise on multitasking. Take the test and come right back once…

• Increasing Productivity at Home and at Work

  Jorge Blanco

  4 Apr 2013 | 12:32 pm

  We’ve recently made a guest post on MidwaySimplicity. In that article, we talk about increasing your chances of being productive whether you’re at home or at work. We basically talk about two tips: Develop a Morning Habit – and stick with it Be in a Work-Friendly Environment – and maintain it You can read more on the tips at: http://midwaysimplicity.com/become-more-productive/. If you like the article, be sure to give it a Like and share it to everyone who needs it.

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  30 by Thirty

• Lennon & Maisy

  Kiki Gagnon

  19 May 2013 | 3:00 am

  Such a talented little duo.These girls make my heart smile.They do dear Canada proud.Enjoy!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=n-lLlEtoAS8

• #tbt: Capital “C” Chocolate Brownies 1

  Kiki Gagnon

  16 May 2013 | 3:00 am

  ThrowBack Thursday. Revisiting a classic post. Enjoy.Capital "C" Chocolate Brownies 121:     Hey, what are you doing?Kiki:   Not too much. You?21:     Running around like a crazy person.Kiki:   Typical.21:     Whatever. Are you close to a computer?Kiki:   I am in fact.21:     I need to check an address in an email. Can you log in for me?Kiki:   Sure. 21@hotmail?21:     Ya. Hotmail dot com.Kiki:   I thought it was dot ca?21:  …

• Wednesday's Lifesong: Grudge

  Kiki Gagnon

  15 May 2013 | 5:00 am

  SUNDAY, OCTOBER 23, 2005GrudgeGrudgeTo be reluctant to give or admit; a deep-seated feeling of resentment.I was humbled tonight. I think I need to be humbled every night. I have been bearing a grudge. Someone has hurt and offended me and I have let the unforgiveness win. Every time my mind recalls the situation, I become offended again, hurt again, angry again. Although I feel as though I was perhaps wronged, it is time that I let go, I forgive and I drop the garbage that I'm allowing to cling to me.We've heard it said, that the only person we're hurting is ourselves.There is no point in…

• Dancing in the Rain

  Kiki Gagnon

  13 May 2013 | 3:00 am

  People who make life lists, buckets lists of sorts, often have a set of random goals and must-dos, included among the must-sees and must-eats. These items embrace ideas such as; learn to rollerblade, DJ for a night or solve a Rubik’s Cube. Smushed into the “random” notions also entail moments that people hope to accomplish. These instants often derive from make believe worlds, accompanied by background music and the perfect lighting, which we adopt as realities that are needed in order to make our lives fully complete. Dancing in the rain. I’m not sure if it was Gene Kelly’s…

• Vivaldi

  Kiki Gagnon

  12 May 2013 | 3:00 am

  As per the request of 12.The Piano Guys have been my most played tracks all week.Epic.Classic.Beautiful.Haunting.Amazing.Enjoy!http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=09RUuTAM2H0

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  Elton Says Things

• 4 Stupid Things The Internet Has To Stop Saying...Right NOW!

  Elton Edgar

  9 May 2013 | 2:56 am

        Certain things must end: seasons, species, procedures that begin with "Bend over and relax, you may feel a...slight discomfort.". That isn't to say that some of that stuff isn't necessary. I would love for the "getting my ass fingered by a doctor" thing to disappear but, it allows me to keep blindly disregarding my prostate for few years. As for species ending, some of them are useless and

• 3 Weird Ways The Internet Taught Me To Reduce Stress

  Elton Edgar

  30 Apr 2013 | 11:53 pm

        Unfortunately, my life fucking sucks at the moment. I can't seem to get ahead in anything. My blog is lagging like a freshly bombed marathon runner, I have no plausible career outside of begging for change and I have almost instant b.o...right out of the shower. Life has definitely taken a down turn.       This, coupled with all the fucking stress,  I'd consider leaning on a booze crutch

• The Big Fat Internet Insanity Club...For God

  Elton Edgar

  1 Apr 2013 | 9:49 pm

        So, recently, I've taken to writing on a site called HubPages. Basically, it's a content site that pays you a portion of ad revenue generated by whatever shit you happen to write about. There are tons of sites like these and surprisingly, not all of them are hundreds of articles about "getting rich quick" or "how to pirate porno" or "how to get rich making porno about pirates". Instead,

• The Elton Says Things: Almost Advertising Road Show Pt. 4

  Elton Edgar

  18 Mar 2013 | 10:07 pm

        Trying to put the "this guy means sex" thought to rest was difficult, especially when he asked me to follow him to the back of the depot. "It's not for sex!", he repeatedly assured. With growing trepidation, I shuffled behind him, while still keeping my distance. The grass, brown and dead crunched beneath my feet. He lead me toward a dented, rust spotted dumpster that looked a week past

• The Elton Says Things: Almost Advertising Road Show Pt. 3

  Elton Edgar

  11 Feb 2013 | 8:15 am

  If you're just tuning in...you can start this from the beginning by clicking here.             Defeated, I left the bus station to linger outside, wallowing in a hopeless, depressed state. Maybe someone would feel sorry for me and toss a quarter at me. Hard. Probably not. Only winners got quarters thrown at them. Losers had to contend with sobbing openly, while winners got all the quarters.

• 

  Chocolates and Miracles.

• Hello Teachers!

  14 May 2013 | 7:04 am

  Ms Cheong isn't such a bad FT after all.. She's changed a lot – brought us candies, asked a lot about our welfare during FT periods, kept her promises.. I would like to take back everything I said about her last time.. But then : No, you can't take back your words. Because once you say them, there's no refund. So I can only apologize for the negative things I have said about her. She even wished each of us (individually) good luck when she handed us our exam papers – it really helped to brighten my mood! And Mr Chong. I miss him. I used to dislike him because he would just come into class…

• Ending Soon!

  14 May 2013 | 7:01 am

  It's Tuesday! Everyday is a day closer to the end of MYE! I had my Chemistry, MT and POA papers today. Chemistry was manageable! I had thought that it would be really really difficult but I guess all the studying paid off. I don't think I can manage an A grade though – maybe a B.. Hopefully a B grade! I couldn't do the mole calculation questions (Maths related – total shutdown of my brain) and a few of the other stuffs.. But the rest was OK. Would have to wait for the results though. Mother Tongue. I have got mixed feelings about this one. It's difficult and easy at the same time. Managed…

• Hot. And Humid.

  14 May 2013 | 6:59 am

  Ugh. The weather.. The heat.. Totally unbearable. It has been hot and humid here in Singapore since forever but it is definitely a lot worse this year. I envy the countries in the temperate climates. It is neither too hot nor too cold.. Unlike us – hot and humid all year round. I might even be able to fry an egg on the road under the afternoon sun!Morning : 32°C. Afternoon : 32°C. Night : 32°C. At least it says on the NEA website that it is 32°C.. It feels more like 34°C or something. Been sleeping and studying with the air-conditioner on and I know that it would contribute to global…

• Screwed Up!

  13 May 2013 | 6:52 am

  Had my English and Maths papers today. Gosh.. I totally screwed both my papers. English has always been my favorite subject (it still is) and Ms Sue is a great teacher. She taught us a few of her godlike skills for comprehension and they actually work – she has proven that to us time and again! But the truth is that I have no idea how to apply the skills to the questions. Sure, I studied them but up until now, I still have absolutely no idea how to apply them. It's just that I'm used to answering comprehension questions in.. My own way I guess.. Been doing that since primary school – old…

• Exam Stress

  1 May 2013 | 6:26 am

  The mid-year exams are just around the corner – just two days away before the first paper to be exact! It's a good thing that I had started revising for Social Studies since last week. I'm done with the theme on Conflict and Healthcare and I'm just starting on Globalisation. Hopefully, I'll be able to remember everything. There's also an English paper on Friday.. Editing and writing. I'm kind of looking forward to Ms Sue's lesson. She had a whole lesson dedicated to editing a few days back and it was kind of fun! She brought a jar of chocolates with her to class and had a game. She would…

• 

  Ish Ism

• PHOTO: Sunset on the Oregon Coast

  drishism

  19 May 2013 | 12:54 pm

  This was taken May 11th, 2013… on a day where I took a break from my master’s paper. Today, May 19th, I am finishing suggested revisions for the master’s paper … and it is due tomorrow. I hope you all … Continue reading →

• More adventures with opossums, or, this is how marriage works

  drishism

  13 May 2013 | 12:38 pm

  Reblogged from Ranting About Rectangles: This morning started out like any other morning. I was half awake, in my pajamas, outside feeding the rabbits and chickens. And then my husband shouted from the garage door "There's an opossum in the cat food!" … Continue reading →

• Why I Run For Charity! — Happy Mother’s Day

  drishism

  12 May 2013 | 9:26 am

  First of all, Happy Mother’s Day to all the mothers, and to the future mothers. The work of motherhood is not easy and often overlooked. Second, this post is a long overdue … because it describes why I run for … Continue reading →

• America Invests in the Future of College Coaches

  drishism

  10 May 2013 | 7:41 am

  Greetings. Each week I try to post at least one comic strip or graphic that makes you (or me) think. The above graphic shows who is the highest-paid public employee for each state. Public employee means they work at a … Continue reading →

• Old Spock versus New Spock – Nimoy vs. Quinto

  drishism

  7 May 2013 | 9:58 pm

  What happens when old school goes head to head with new school in a battle of speed and wits? Leonard Nimoy takes on newbie Zachary Quinto and his all-new Audi S7. Only the coolest people will appreciate the sheer awesomeness … Continue reading →

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  mishberries

• Hi, For the First Time in One Month ^^

  mish berries

  9 May 2013 | 1:19 am

  I've been pondering lately, whether to let my blog simply die out or to continue.  I've been on this tab numerous time, each time opening and then closing it even before I pen the first few words but once I start I guess it's easier to go on rather than stopping down.I am fine, to all of you kind souls who left me messages asking if I am alright, I am very fine ^^ Just been buried by lots of things lately and it dreads my inner guilt that I have not been visiting each of your blog for close to a month.  I was a bit 'star struck' truth be told and it's not easy to keep up but here I…

• Which is Your Type of Fuel??

  mish berries

  16 Apr 2013 | 11:34 pm

  Petrol?  Gasoline? Diesel?  Which is your type of fuel that runs your engine?  NO LOL, not talking about THAT type of fuel and THAT type of Engine.Last weekend, I met up with an old friend and we got into talking about relationships and personal characteristic, what are we looking for and he said something really interesting.  He described it as "her love is what's keeping my engine running" and that got me thinking.  I think it's a really nice metaphor to correctly describe a lot of situations that we are in today.The engine that we are talking about here is our…

• Some Hardcore Truth about Relationship - Are you IN or are you OUT?

  mish berries

  10 Apr 2013 | 8:41 pm

  No, not another love story or another 50 list of what you should do to improve your relationship or finding your "One True Love".  You know I am not corny like that >DYesterday I came across this really good read, written by Ian, about relationship and I think it's one of the best relationship article that I've read in a very long time so I would really like to share it with you.It sticks to reality and not fantasies but it rings a bell of truth in each sentence.Original Image from HereIan's wise words:During a seminar, a woman asked," How do I know if I am with the right person?The…

• Questing in Online Gaming = Chasing After Girls

  mish berries

  3 Apr 2013 | 9:05 pm

  Random Thursday thoughts.I am actually a semi huge online game person, especially MMORPG aka Massively Multiplayer Online Role Playing Game.  No, not those type of BDSM Role play games but rather those like Guild Wars, Ragnarok Online or Left for Dead 2 where there are ready made characters and you may or may not be able to change the appearance of the characters, usually does not have a preset story lines and you could just do whatever you want in the game like hunting monsters or finishing quests to get an item or to level up, or just go online and chat with people from all over the…

• 100th Followers! Time to Celebrate!

  mish berries

  1 Apr 2013 | 9:10 am

  Yes I am a very direct person so as the title implicates, YAY TO HUNDREDTH FOLLOWER on BOTH Google Friend Connect (though it's going away soon) and also Facebook!! To be very honest, though I've always wished to have that many readers one day, I've never dreamt that this day would come and it came so fast that I felt like I've been hit by a bullet train.  That's how happy I am!When I first started out (there goes the grandmother story), I always content myself that as long as there's just ONE reader out there reading my blog, I will continue writing and what do I know, 9 months later and…

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  Living Our Story

• Lil Chris Got 2 More Teeth This Week

  Chris Benton

  26 Apr 2013 | 9:45 am

  We knew it had to be close because Lil Chris’ gums were all swollen and it has been 6 months since any other teeth. He already had 7 teeth and he got his first tooth when he was 5 1/2 months old. Back in Oct 2012 he got 3 in one week and that was the last time we saw any teeth until this week. He is now 15 months old, will be 16 months old on May 11th. It has been so amazing watching him grow. For many years I wasn’t sure if I wanted a child but now I am so glad that I changed my mind on that because Lil Chris has been such a Blessing in our lives. I had no idea the joy I was…

• New Easter Picture!

  Chris Benton

  8 Apr 2013 | 2:34 pm

  Chris & Sandy Benton – Easter 2013 Every year our church, Savannah Christian Church has Easter Pictures that we can get them to do between Easter Services. It is amazing the growth of Lil Chris from last Easter to this Easter. He will be 15 months old on April 11, just a short few days from now. I still can’t believe how much he has grown and what all he can do I never really knew if I wanted kids but I am so glad I decided to have him because he has been so awesome. He has changed my life 100% and I know that he also changed Sandy’s life. W aren’t like most…

• Lil Chris is now 1 Year Old!

  Chris Benton

  11 Jan 2013 | 12:37 pm

  WOW, we have made it one year with Lil Chris. It has been one amazing adventure with him. If I could have imagined my ideal baby, it would have been him. He has been the most awesome Blessing in our lives. We could not have asked for a better first year with him. A few weeks ago he started walking which is awesome.  Dec. 14th he took his first steps by himself then exactly two weeks later on Dec 28th, he started walking. Now he is walking really good since he has been walking for two weeks now. Sandy was on the phone with her mom in the bedroom and I was with Lil Chris in the living room. We…

• Lil’ Chris is 9 months old

  Chris Benton

  11 Oct 2012 | 2:12 pm

  WOW, it is so hard to believe that Lil Chris turned 9 months old on Oct 11th. It has been one awesome adventure watching him grow up already. There have been so many things people tried to tell us before we had him about babies that just isn’t the full truth. For several years we always said that if we do have a baby, our goal is for him to be a happy baby. We were laughed at because as they say you have no idea. Every parent told us every horror story they possibly could to prepare us for this new adventure. I am not saying they were wrong for trying to show us the negativside but I…

• Marriage Retreats

  Chris Benton

  6 Oct 2012 | 10:43 am

  As you know, marriage retreats can be a great place to refresh your marriage and to change the whole direction you are going. They are an awesome spiritual awakening for your marriage. There are many to choose from out there and next year there will be one more to choose from. Next year, my wife and I will host a marriage retreat in the fall up in the Smoky Mountains Area. In 2014, we will host 2 a year from that point. One will be in the spring in the Myrtle Beach area and the other will be in the fall up in the Smoky Mountains. We may eventually do other areas but for sure those two areas…

• 

  Sarah Cunningham

• Attention to Detail With Scot McKnight and Rebekah Lyons

  Sarah

  17 May 2013 | 12:21 pm

  Attention to Detail Today I continue the Attention to Detail series, that gathers behind-the-scenes recommendations from authors, bloggers and other influencers. Learn what they’re reading and doing when they’re off-stage. Backtrack So far, we heard from Brad Lomenick (of Catalyst) and Tim Soerens (of Inhabit), blogger Ron Edmondson and notable writer Cathleen Falsani, writer Jonathan Merritt and church leader exec Jenni Catron, conference and media influencer Scott McClellan and writer and blogger Doug Pagitt. Today, we’re pulling back the curtains and learning a little…

• Creating Meaningful Spaces – Learning Hospitality: Round 2

  Sarah

  16 May 2013 | 7:28 am

  Where We’ve Been and Where We’re Going For the last four weeks I’ve been trying out new recipes (and inviting others to do the same) for the first round of a blog series called Learning Hospitality. We’ve given away copies of Bread and Wine, Lifegiving and Eat With Joy. And today, I’m announcing the winners of two aprons made by Love to Sleep and Charming Apron. They will go to Hilary Perkins and Kara Hubbs. The Next Round of Learning Hospitality So we’ve been focusing on preparing food for the community of people that gather at our homes. We called that…

• What Is The Vagus Nerve: The Body’s Way of Helping You Connect With People and Improve Your Health

  Sarah

  15 May 2013 | 8:26 am

  Humans Need Social Connection Meditation isn’t enough. You also need connection. You maybe already figured that out from ordinary life experience. But it’s also scientifically provable. Or so that’s what a new study from Psychological Science claims, adding more information to the growing pile of research that suggests social connectedness improves a person’s well-being. The Most Recent Study This latest study involved 65 university staff and faculty members, half of whom were given an hour-long class on meditation and told to think compassionately about others. This…

• Steve Jobs vs Bill Gates: An Unlikely Friendship

  Sarah

  14 May 2013 | 6:15 am

  Steve Jobs vs Bill Gates? As Microsoft and Apple squared off around technology, did it extend into a relational boxing match: Steve Jobs vs Bill Gates? Gates doesn’t seem to think so. This week, Charlie Rose interviewed Bill Gates  and it produced another rarely-seen display of the lasting connection between Gates and his favorite and most feared competitor, Steve Jobs. Steve Jobs and Bill Gates Here, Charlie Rose shares photos and highlights from Steve Jobs and Bill Gates history which includes an unlikely journey of friendship. In it, Bill says, He and I, in a sense, grew up…

• What Are People Saying No. 4

  Sarah

  13 May 2013 | 10:57 am

  It took me longer to post my weekly links today because I was too busy enjoying reading them. Here’s hoping you enjoy as well. How joy, peace and freedom are not about pursuing pleasure and shunning pain –> from Jim Palmer How austerity kills –> from the New York Times The cost of being poor –> from Katelin Hansen How we choose to be connected or detached to a building collapse in Bangladesh –> from Matt Esperanza A review of Mike Stavlund’s book about grief –> from Jennifer Bradbury The formation of a domestic goddess –> from…

• 

  BrandonBlogs

• I Get By With A Little Help From My Friends

  1 May 2013 | 1:23 am

  It is 3:30 a.m. on the Wednesday of most of my friends final week of college. My,my,my how the time flies. Three whole days until they begin their lives as functioning members of society. Three days until they go out and change lives, or the world for that matter. Three days until the greatness that I know, the greatness that I get to experience everyday is going to be experienced by a whole group of new people who have no idea what they are in for.It's funny,  one day you are helping someone you barely know raise their bed for the first time and suddenly it's four days until graduation…

• 10 things I miss

  20 Apr 2013 | 4:37 am

  I'm sitting at night desk and I got the urge to blog. I always have my blog open just in case I really feel the need to write. This is one of those instances. I was wading through my dashboard on tumblr and I stumbled across a text post that influenced this blog. I don't remember exactly what the text post said, but I just felt the need to write. So here it is, ten things I miss.1. I miss how everything used to seem so complicated but it really wasn't.2. I miss my old friends, the ones that I thought would last and didn't.3. I miss my mom, I miss her a lot these days.4. I miss when the…

• I chose the labyrinth

  9 Apr 2013 | 1:19 am

  Hey Guys,I stumbled across an old post I started to write and I decided to finish it.So I was reading this book called Looking for Alaska and I felt inspired to blog. I'm thinking about doing a book review on my other blog but that's not what I'm going to do here. There is a line that I want to reflect on. "After all this time, it seems like straight and fast is the only way out but I choose the labyrinth."I am not sure why but for some reason this line really stands out to me. The labyrinth is our pain and suffering. Sometimes it feels like we are trapped in maze of sorrow and despair.

• Goal Post-Life

  8 Mar 2013 | 10:54 pm

  Hello there!Sorry for the hiatus everyone! There has been tons-o-stress in my life recently and I haven't had the time to blog. Well...I have had the time to blog, I just wasn't feeling it. Times they are a changin' and I finally decided to pick up the pen (or open the laptop or whatever).It's spring break (yay) and I have been contemplating the current status of my life. Let's be frank, it's a shit show! I know how popular the whole list format is so I'll break it down for ya.I have no job.I have no money.My GPA is VERY sub par.I keep racking up health problems because of my still ballooning…

• Coming out

  19 Dec 2012 | 2:07 am

  Well here it is the big reveal. Surprise!  I really don’t know how to write this post. It’s hard, ya know? Revealing your innermost darkest secret to the world is extremely….daunting. I've told some of my family and some friends and now I’m telling you, everyone else. My sexuality has always been….questionable. I am a feminine man and I do feminine things. I love chick flicks and gossiping is one of my favorite pastimes.  Everyone always assumed and I always denied it.  Well it’s time to face facts kiddos, I am in fact gay. Shocking right?I know you are…

• 

  Peter Wright - Alchemist

• Going With the Flow

  Peter

  13 May 2013 | 11:17 am

    The Best Laid Plans “The best laid plans of men and mice….” The Anglicised part of the opening stanza of Robert Burn’s poem very accurately described my week. I believe in the importance of having both long and short-term goals and a daily action plan to keep on track and make progress in life and business. While they are essential tools, sometimes we just have to let them go for a while and go with the flow of what is happening in our lives. Sometimes, to get clarity and make progress in all areas of our lives, we have to temporarily focus our attention in one…

• Is your day focused or consumed by trivia?

  Peter

  1 May 2013 | 1:17 pm

    Focus                     Are you being held back by a lack of focus? Do you feel that you are always busy but you don’t achieve your desired results no matter how many hours you work? Lack of focus, which leads to poor prioritising and a feeling of overwhelm is one of the biggest barriers to success. It has become more common since the blessing (or curse) of the Internet and email. It is a problem that affects all of us to some degree but especially entrepreneurs, small business owners, professionals and anyone who spends their…

• Spring, Time to Take Action

  Peter

  27 Apr 2013 | 6:12 am

  Spring is in the air at last after a long, cold and snowy winter in both North America and Europe. Will you use it to jump-start your life?                   Tristan Martin via Compfight Time to shake off the lethargy of winter, wake up to the fact that almost a third of the year has gone. Time to get working towards those goals and plans for 2013 that we put together so enthusiastically a few short months ago. How much progress have you made towards your 2013 goals? You may recall that I changed the design of this blog just before the end of last…

• Martial Law in Boston – A good end to a troubling event.

  Peter

  22 Apr 2013 | 11:48 am

  Last weeks events in Boston show the importance of critical thinking and asking questions. We need to ask whether the end justified the means. The outcome was almost the best that could have been expected after the tragic murder of three people by bombs at the finish line of the Boston Marathon. Whilst I am happy that a good end was achieved, I have concerns about the means to achieve it, and I do not mean that the terrorists were killed or injured, they deserved their fates. The law enforcement authorities did an excellent job by killing one of the Boston bombers and capturing the other…

• What’s Really Holding You Back?

  Peter

  19 Apr 2013 | 12:35 pm

  What is the real hurdle, block or fear that is holding you back? The subject for today’s post was triggered by a discussion in the Small Business Accelerator Group on Linked In with the title “What’s Holding You Back”. - You do need to be a member to read it. Over a year ago, I published a post  about how the limiting belief  “I am not enough” holds most of us back at some time. Some of the comments from group members include: Own Self Lack of Knowledge Not good enough Fear of success Fear of rejection Time Procrastination Most of these are related to…

• 

  Author Carmen Amato

• Book Review: False Impressions by Sandra Nikolai

  Carmen

  17 May 2013 | 8:48 am

  I not only write a mystery series, I read mysteries, too. I post reviews on this blog as well as on amazon and Goodreads. FALSE IMPRESSIONS by Canadian author Sandra Nikolai was a real gem, a nicely composed whodunit that shies away from gore and violence in favor of a dialogue-driven narrative in which the characters’ brainstorming sessions take center stage. Am I mixing metaphors? Maybe. Go buy the book. I always like reading mysteries that are set in different places and Nikolai puts the reader right in downtown Montreal, giving us a sense of the French influence as well as the shops,…

• On The Occasion of My First Anniversary of Being a Published Author

  Carmen

  14 May 2013 | 10:21 am

  In addition to being a celebration of the Mexican army’s unlikely victory over French forces at the Battle of Puebla on 5 May 1862—which has morphed into a popular celebration of Mexican culture and food–Cinco de Mayo was my first anniversary of being a published author. For some reason, Amazon lists the publication date as April but THE HIDDEN LIGHT OF MEXICO CITY was officially released 5 May 2012. Here’s the press release. Was it only a year ago The week that it was published I texted myself a wishlist of what I would consider to be success as a published author after 1…

• 3 Book Reviews of Latino Reads with Universal Appeal

  Carmen

  3 May 2013 | 7:12 am

  I write a mystery series and usually post a review of a mystery or thriller on Fridays. But today I’m parting with tradition to offer 3 reviews of Latino-themed books. Each has universal appeal that transcends their roots, but for different reasons. The Gifted Gabaldón Sisters by Lorraine M. López  In all honesty, I picked up The Gifted Gabaldón Sisters because it has an eye-catching cover. Luckily, the story inside was just as mesmerizing. It traces the lives of four sisters, who each seem endowed with a magical ability or “gift.” But it’s not fairy tale magic and it…

• Why Navigation With a Map Still Matters

  Carmen

  30 Apr 2013 | 3:22 pm

  Love your GPS? Love how easy it makes getting from Point A to Point B? If you’re like me, your GPS saves travel time, keeps you from getting lost, and provides an Australian or British voice so you can get directions from Ned Kelly or James Bond, depending on your mood. But while GPS is a great tool, I think we’re losing the skill of navigation. And basic navigation is one of those skills we need to possess in order to be confident that we can find our way, no matter where we happen to be. Navigating with a real map means– You’re self-reliant. Not wholly dependent on electricity,…

• Book Review: The Phoenix Reich by Joshua Lisec

  Carmen

  26 Apr 2013 | 7:59 am

  Not only do I write a mystery series, I read mystery novels, too. Reviews are posted every Friday. Audience A savvy literary agent once told me to make the central character a few years older than the desired reading audience. In The Phoenix Reich, college student Max Meyers is the central character, with a “voice” that should resonate across the YA spectrum, including middle grade readers who are up for a longer read. Parents looking to entice boys into reading more books should check it out as bad language is kept to a minimum and Max—while remarkably fearless and ready to rise to any…

• 

  cedonulli

• vietnam > cambodia > thailand > india

  jake

  18 May 2013 | 8:28 pm

  slowly but surely on the way to india.  couple more days till takeoff. roaming back from vietnam, through cambodia and finally thailand, the differences come into focus.  it’s different, having lived in each of those places long enough to lose perspective, and then re-visiting them all. cambodia, as much as it was a dusty shithole by the time i left, does have unique advantages. there’s no having fun motorbikes in vietnam.  the adult-only vibe that phnom penh has after dark, in a very obvious, a little unsettling, and a lot hey-baby-dammit-that-looks-hot kinda way.  if i did…

• stealth travel

  jake

  11 May 2013 | 10:30 pm

  it’s my second day at the tall cambodian girl’s place. my stop over in phnom penh cambodia, waiting on my USD funds transfer to settle.  it’s one of the few countries in this part of the world i found that have native hard currency transfer options.  cheap ones, at that. the sort of bullshit you have to contend with, if you bum around the planet at large.  vietnam, unlike cambodia, guards USD jealously.  bringing in hard currency and depositing it in a foreign currency account (so you don’t end up with inflation prone vietnam dong), means declaring it, and having a…

• hell is about the journey, not a destination

  jake

  9 May 2013 | 5:21 am

  travel.  it’s like running through a giant insect infested alien jungle in nothing but your underpants, coated in honey, screaming at the top of your lungs in a high pitched girl scout voice. all that, with no prelude.  no warning, no lead in. just, one minute you’re sitting on your couch, thumbing through netflix movies, the next moment, you, jungle, giant insects, underpants. in case you haven’t really traveled, that’s what happens. jake reporting, after a pleasant overnight bus ride, away from paradise. a whole day on a shitty bus from saigon, vietnam to phom…

• grand voyages, again

  jake

  6 May 2013 | 9:07 pm

  i’ve been dodging this particular travel scenario for like, a year and a half now. puttering around SE Asia, small hops, a little bus ride to the next lily pad at a time.  how i like it.  of course it’s no different, a longer trip.  it’s just more bus rides, train rides, plane rides.  technically.  i stay in hotels now, so what’s the difference. i just don’t like to travel. arriving anywhere, always means fighting through the tourist infested bits, the area with the inflated prices, the crankiest locals, the most pick-pockets.  i get huffy, just thinking…

• the benefits of traveling broke

  jake

  4 May 2013 | 7:22 pm

  in my 20′s, i had a fancy house on a fancy peninsula in a fancy town in florida.  i was the youngest guy on record to ever buy a house in that very exclusive neighborhood.  it didn’t have a pool, so i had one put in.  all out, including the raised hot tub, fiber lit waterfalls, landscaping. i bought a boat, and a new infiniti suv to tow it with.  it made space in the garage a bit tight, with the two new cars i already had.  getting my ducati out was a pain in the ass that still sticks in my memory. i was broke. put something in front of me, and i’ll find you the angle.

• 

  The Unwords

• Airport Scrutiny Officers

  25 Apr 2013 | 3:56 am

  An airport "security" officer was fucking around with my carry-on bag before boarding. The bag had already passed through the x-ray system and nothing "explosive" was found. But he decided to give my bag some personal attention, probably because I haven't shaved for a couple of weeks, which is apparently the first step towards becoming a terrorist.He went through my stuff and found nothing but books, toothbrushes, boxer shorts and an external hard drive."What do you have on the hard drive sir?" He asked."Actually," I replied, "the answer to that question could be found within the question you…

• The expanded second edition of The Unwords will be released this summer

  30 Mar 2013 | 3:15 pm

  The second edition of The Unwords will be entitled "The Unwords: Exposing the dishonest language of a culture in decline" and will be published through Fearache Publishings and distributed worldwide through Ingram Distributions. Official release day will be announced soon along with a more detailed summary of what will be included in this expanded second edition of The Unwords. The first edition of The Unwords is now permanently out of stock, therefore discontinued.

• Democratic leaders are neither "demo-" nor "-cratic"

  25 Feb 2013 | 6:47 am

  Stop referring to politicians as "leaders." The concept of a leader contradicts the concept of a democracy... they have nothing to do with each other. The whole essence of the democratic system is the absence of leaders. The entire system was invented by the Greeks so they could finally get rid of their "leaders." In the words "monarchy" and "oligarchy", the second element arche (ἀρχή) means "rule", or "to lead." Hey, you wouldn't happen to know who was the leader of Athens around 500 b.c, would you? Of course not, because there was none! Because they were a democracy!

• The Unguests - Media in decline

  18 Feb 2013 | 7:52 am

  We have become accustomed in learning to think, or learning to create a way of thinking, in accordance to the media and the content we see every day in news or soap operas or stuff we read in trashy magazines. We have programmed and modified our brains to think in a way that is acceptable by media and those few who are considered to be the “intellectual elite” which dictate acceptable social behavior. One could wonder what “acceptable” and "behavior" really mean today. It means limiting your beliefs and principles to what TV tells you. TV is creating today’s society. Certain…

• The Unguests - Tipped For The Win

  7 Feb 2013 | 11:50 am

  by Tzellofouska of Lucubration BlogPsychologist, heavy metal enthusiast, keen whiskey drinker and the founder of Lucubration. There is this old tradition which has been developed through time into some sort of social contract, which I am not very comfortable with. “Tipping” or “service charge” or “service fee” or “gratuity” or whatever you want to call it;It seems to originate from the 17th century England where people (usually of higher classes) used to tip or, better yet, bribe someone for the latter’s services. This trend was introduced into the United States during…

• 

  Anirudh Thakur

• Till the end of time....

  Anirudh Thakur

  14 May 2013 | 6:12 am

  My love, I don't know If you know this,But I love you like a crazy kid.I know I've probably said this a million times,But each time I mean it a little more.I love you with all my heart, body and soul,And still it seems like Its not enough.I know I may look crazy and hurt you sometimes,But It doesn't mean I don't love at those times.I will always be here, right here besides you,even when we fight and you don't want me around.I will be with you not just because I love you,But also because you love me a lot more.I sometimes can't believe how you can love me so much,It's like I mean the life to…

• When I first met you......

  Anirudh Thakur

  19 Apr 2013 | 10:42 am

  I still remember the day when I met you for the first time,It was like we were just destined to meet.We sat in the club and ordered tequila with lime,I didn't know that with you it would taste so sweet.I know those were rough, the first few days,with all the mess you were and all the feelings I had.You were stuck somewhere and facing the sun's rays,while I was down and sad with the kind of life I had.Things made no sense at that time but we had so much fun,and somehow when we were together, it was just like heaven.I know we were both confused and just wanted to run,but life was turing around…

• Would it be my end???

  Anirudh Thakur

  7 Apr 2013 | 9:35 am

  There was a time when it was all good,It was a life that I had always dreamt of.Now its so tough, I can barely breathe,It's harder than anything I had thought of.No matter how hard I try, it just gets worst,Don't know how much more I can take.I wish I was given a chance to make this a little differentDifferent from the way it all is today.I never saw it coming, noone does I guess,It just comes and take you with a splash.Sometimes I just wanna break down and cry,but I figure that's not gonna do me any good.I've tried and tried and tried with no result,I started as a kid and now I'm an…

• Friends.....crazy people...:)

  Anirudh Thakur

  23 Mar 2013 | 10:55 am

  Sometimes you don't need love,sometimes you don't want care,you only need a crazy friend,to hit you straight on the head.Life is what it is, miserableyou can't really change it,but you can always make it better,with people who can take it.Frieds are some screwed up people,who can make you go nuts,but those are the same people,when needed will get off theri butts.They make you do stupid things,but also be a part of it.They might not show that they care,but they always put their heart to it.Yes, they make you angry,but when apart they can also make you cry,Still the happiness that you get from…

• Wow....I so wanna do that....:)

  Anirudh Thakur

  18 Mar 2013 | 5:00 am

• 

  A Place To Be

• Embracing a moment in life

  Firas S.

  14 May 2013 | 5:27 pm

  Five scenes from life happening at the same moment Can we conceive them simultaneously?  Scene 1Sharing this video in a post, she commented:"This is scary. I am speechless. What a scary world we live in. My city was bombarded last night. When I called my dad in the morning, he said they had no electricity. They did not even know who did the bombing or why."After few days, it became known that this was the Israeli bombing near Qudsaya in Syria.The woman who posted the video, originally from Syria, was lucky. She was working abroad. Other women like her ended up as refugees,…

• Mind undone - spiritual rhymes on Hysterical Literature by Clayton Cubitt

  Firas S.

  7 May 2013 | 4:42 pm

   Does one need meditation classes to set loose? Hysterical Literature explores the mind/body dualism  The meeting of ego and Fanaa Projection of ideas from dead books in their* eyes, their voice is manipulated to cover for the lies Since their infancy, they were taught codes to behave; rules and patterns to make them slaveClothes, words, and make-up they choose with care; to deviate from the norms the mind won't dareMovements, looks, and sounds all under control; to fool everyone incl. the self is the goalHair, chins, and fingers are gently laid; the body firmly mounted on…

• Seven letters of free self-expression

  Firas S.

  30 Apr 2013 | 5:11 pm

   Free self-expression only for me Is it indeed free?  First letter I am completely supportive of free expression. It is a necessity for my mission on this planet to spread love and oneness. Having overcome my own ego, there is no way for the comments of others to hurt my feelings. I do not understand why some places censor sharings of others, though I never experienced such a rejection for my own. There are still narrow-minded individuals that cannot accept other peoples' point of view. I have been sometimes attacked by these. It is somewhat disappointing to find these…

• Thus spoke tree - spiritual rhymes

  Firas S.

  16 Apr 2013 | 4:56 pm

  Whispers among the rustle of the leaves A gift from a tree to receiveCan we it perceive?Heed the word of a tree my friend; not elderly, not wise, yet can see the endSince the beginning we have accompanied your race, all along the fall from your grace Closest to the flying birds you were high-up; now barely in your cubical chairs you can raise a cupSole access to the freshest and cleanest fruits you had, all you can now is scavenge dead corpses on the groundYou gave up being high close to the sky on the top-most branches, to crawl on the floor like rats in ranchesOn my trunk, smiling and…

• Being here and now?!

  Firas S.

  11 Apr 2013 | 4:14 pm

  Is it possible to be more than this in the here and now? This is almost Satori!So let us have our first child!It was an open blue: the sky, the sea,  the outer as well as the inner. A gentle and cooling breeze was  blowing on top of the waves, while they were enjoying a pleasant walk on the seashore. Breaking the tranquil silence the guy suddenly said: "Let us have a baby."The girl still dreamy and lost in the stillness of the wind, exhaled deeply embracing the blue depth of the sea.The guy repeated insistingly: "I am serious, let us have a baby"."What dear?""Let us have a…

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  chocolatekisses101

• Clearing The Money Blocks (second part)

  chocolatekisses101

  29 Apr 2013 | 11:21 pm

  “It is not the creation of wealth that is wrong, but the love of money for its own sake.” -Margaret Thatcher As promised, here is the second part of the money karmic healing guide. If you have read the first part, then you already have an idea on how to start distinguishing the blockage. Now, in this post, we will start to lift it all up as our next step in removing the money blocks in our lives. I am happy to share with you that I have finished my first booklet. it is  a 30-40 page book of tips on how to run a party and express it in your uniqueness as the host. Yes, I actually…

• Behavior and Attitude Change: Yes, it is really possible!

  chocolatekisses101

  19 Apr 2013 | 5:15 am

  “Our attitude toward life determines life’s attitude towards us.” - John N Mitchell Early this week I took my IELTS examination. On my way to the test area, I was listening to “The Master Key.” It is a part of the law of attraction teachings and it was emphasized in the lessons that to get the abundance from without, we must be in harmony from within. Because for what is from within is what we manifests to our conscious mind. In my early days of this new journey, I kept a note of the attitudes that I think I may benefit from changing. I made a note for me to…

• Journaling: Your guide to self-improvement, self-discovery, & self-healing

  chocolatekisses101

  12 Apr 2013 | 6:20 am

  “I read less of everything now. With only fond memories of others’ work, it will be interesting to give my own journal writing a try now.” -Jonathan Carroll Words– the basic means of communication. These words when being brought together form a sentence. A group of sentences are used in making  a paragraph. Well, the thought of your paragraph is what really matters. When we keep a journal, we can then actually read a record that we carry when we read our thoughts. The way we see things is a big factor on how we want things to manifest. A lot of people does’t…

• Clearing The Money Blocks (first part)

  chocolatekisses101

  4 Apr 2013 | 3:47 am

  “The lack of money is the root of all evil.” Mark Twain Money. Finances. Business. These are words when spoken, somehow gives others joy and to others, worry. I have been struggling with my money blocks and I decided to put an end to this struggle. 3 weeks ago, I decided to undergo a money relationship healing therapy. I am presently undergoing through its process. So far, I have learned that like other childhood issues, money issues were also often   unaddressed, wasn’t given enough explanation, and attention to most families. Instead, what arises are the emotions that…

• The rocking world of Healing through Compassion

  chocolatekisses101

  28 Mar 2013 | 12:07 am

  “If we have no peace, it is because we have forgotten that we belong to each other.” ― Mother Teresa Lately, I have this feeling of missing someone but I know I have boundaries and limitations to respect so I chose to put my energies  into reading, meditating, and writing.  Recently, a friend said that in order to make an important decision and move on, I must be able to try to turn the page. I believe it is true that when we feel deeply resentful and worried, we become an easy prey for  suspicion, frustration, and anything but love. Yes, these frustrations may turn a small…