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Hi Guys this is a guy who sent me a pic in my email and ask if we could get together sometime . I love big black cocks so I met him at motel 6. I loved sucking his big cock and It felt so good when he slid it in my pussy and started pumping me. Ohh ! and I just hate to let good cum go to waste so after he shot his load I sucked his cum out of the condom and swallowed it down. I know I'm not supposed to do that but I can't pass up a good cum load . mmmmm! I love cum. If you guys want to get in touch with me just click on the link to my site and go to my free message board. you can email me from there or IM me or just leave a message for me on the board. I really do love hearing from you guys . Love ruthie
M* Uk 19 Year Old Second Post - This is my second posting; I last posted on the 17th of August. I enjoyed, so I back again. Thanks for all the nice comments people say about. It made me so feel so good, knowing people enjoyed looking at. I got so turned on over the comments that people left and actually doing these pictures. People said they loved my cock, so here are some more pictures of it. Along with pictures showing my head of my cock. Some people wanted to see pictures of me cuming, I am trying to get a good set together, but it is hard to do take pictures, why I am cuming. Some people also wanted me to trim my hair; I promise I do it soon. Please get with me, as I would love to trade pictures with anybody. Or if anybody got any requests they want me to do. I will try to do as many requests as possible. Thanks Steven
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text:
Save the date: Sunday May 4th from 1 – 4 Momo will be celebrating Kodomo no Hi or Japanese Children's Day with local author Toni Yuly and kids' clothing designer Helen Shor-Wong of Growing Marigolds.
Toni, a Seattle native and local librarian, will be here to sign her delightful new book Early Bird (Feiwel & Friends/Macmillan). Early Bird is a tale about an early-rising bird and her morning adventures searching for breakfast. Full of sweet, colorful illustrations (Toni studied painting with the famed Jacob Lawrence) this is a terrific book for wee ones and older ones alike.
|Good morning!
|Loving attention to detail.

subset: commoncrawl


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This was a fairly early purchase for us. P has always seemed to like sleep but we wanted to make her transition from the co-sleeper crib in our room, to her own cot, as easy on her as possible. Having read The Gentle Sleep Book by Sarah Ockwell-Smith, I was well aware of the benefits of using red LED lighting and a diffuser with lavender oil to aid baby sleep, so this seemed a logical purchase.
We've been impressed. The seven coloured lights are useful for baby sensory activities and the fact that it can be set to one colour, namely red, at night time, is great. It just so happens that red is the first colour that appears, so no waiting for the full spectrum to pass, which is great if you're impatient like me.
It has two mist settings – high and low. We keep ours on low as this is ample for diffusing the aroma of lavender around the room. High mist would be useful were your child poorly and in need of more moisture in the air. The mist can be set to one, three or six hours, or constant. It will automatically shut off after that time, or of the water runs out. Slightly annoyingly. The light goes off with it, even though the light can be switched on independently of the mist. A very minor niggle.
The tank needs emptying, wiping with a soft cloth and filling with fresh water each day. You will also need to air the room daily if the diffuser has been on a while/overnight as the moisture can cause mould and mildew.
The only downside (that isn't really a downside): after about 6 weeks, the diffuser broke. The lights still worked and the mist was being produced but it wasn't coming out, for some reason. I followed all the cleaning instructions but eventually emailed AUKEY and they sent a replacement. Their customer service was very good. I now realise the inside of the spout needs cleaning daily/every other day, which is tricky, because it's so narrow – I drag a hanky or small muslin through but a thin bottle brush would also work.
For use with the diffuser:
We use the same Tisserand lavender oil I used when pregnant and in labour. DoTerra oils are also worth checking out. Make sure you are buying actual essential oil, not the cheaper, synthetic 'fragrance oil' and only use a few tiny drops each time. Camomile is safe for babies too, if you dislike the smell of lavender (or if, like my husband, you think it smells like old ladies.) Further aromatherapy information is available here
When she's had a cold, we have also used the Snufflebabe Vapour Oil. Again, just a tiny amount is needed.
NB: This review is not a sponsored post


text:
I have been watching my son's breaths since he was born, 22 years ago in a cabin in the woods, welcomed by his sister and brother and father, welcomed to a circle of light and peace by his midwives.
Nights watching your child breathe can be long sometimes. The terrors of pneumonia, the times I sat up holding him against my body, willing his breath to continue, in, out, in, moment by moment while the moon crossed the sky and the dawn slowly unfolded, with birdsong & exhaustion—those were times at the edge.
I almost fell. It was an April morning the last time I seriously considered an early exit from this beautiful and painful world, an exit in which I felt I had to take my fragile child. I am a good mother.
I sought and received help. But I have faced inner and outer bleakness, and these nights as I set up machines to help my boy relax and breathe and sleep, as I adjust the mask and hoses, as I time my heartbeats by the pulse of oxygen, and do not sleep, I consider this fragile world.
There's a rush of image and information. There's my throat closing with grief.
My son stopped speaking during the bombing of Gaza two years ago, first telling me he loved all his family but, as he said, "thinking hurts too much". Be-fore that he had begged me to save the children, to stop the walls from falling, to deal with the wolves that came out of the air and frightened him.
Last night I read of two NATO bombings in Libya and I gasped with pain. Yes, one was the strike—such an innocuous word, like the lighting of a birthday candle—that murdered Khadafi's 29 year old youngest son, and three grand-children under 12.
I felt the walls falling, as I do each time I see those dry reports across a geography of pain—a wedding party, a young soldier, a marketplace, a dance, a school, a hospital.
The other report from Libya was of the bombing of a school for children who, like my son, have Down Syndrome.
I remember a photo from Iraq, maybe 5 years ago, from such a school. Smiling children who looked a bit like Gabe danced in a careful circle, wearing bright paper hats, as the sky shattered with bombs.
Sometimes my son's efforts to get oxygen to his heart and fingertips and brain only get him to a bit above 60% of the 100% oxygen the human body craves.
I think we are all gasping for air now. Gasping for hope, compassion, sense.
I watched the Royal Wedding as I timed Gabe's breaths and monitored the machines. Such lovely lace, such luxurious satin. How sweet the little brides-maids, with their lily of the valley crowns, and how pretty the row of trees. Hornbeam trees, beautiful trees of the ancient British forests, brought into the abbey to make a pretty, artificial forest to delight our eyes. Oh, I love romance and happily ever after. Yes, I once was sure I was a lost princess, when I was four.
It passed the time, this wedding. For a while I didn't think of children dying or truth tellers imprisoned, of babies without their mothers, of lost elders, of hungry people right on my own mainstreet, of despair. I just thought, gratefully, how pretty, my mind a wash of white satin and bridal bouquets.
And then I kept trying to breathe myself, adjusting the machines, the darkness there. My son was sleeping well. Dawn came again, with birdsong and a wash of pink light.
And I don't know, really, what to do with this precious world but to love it. And I don't know what to do with all the wrongs I see but name them.
And keep breathing.


text:
I wanted to write a post strictly about the Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting. It is this Sunday, December 12th at 7PM. You can do this from your home and just say a prayer for a friend, family, or even someone you have lost. The power of prayer for those who need comforting is amazing. So let's remember those we have lost and the families left to grieve by lighting a candle in remembrance.
I have created an event for this on Facebook so you can comment on someone you know or that you are lighting the candle for. You can put something about that person, why they were special, or any information you would like to share about them. The link is http://www.facebook.com/event.php?eid=183074995041113&num_event_invites=0#!/event.php?eid=183074995041113&index=1
This is a video from the 2009 Candle Lighting.
From Compassionate Friends Website:
Excitement has been building as the fourteenth Worldwide Candle Lighting December 12, 2010 approaches. The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting unites family and friends around the globe in lighting candles for one hour to honor and remember children who have died at any age from any cause. As candles are lit at 7 p.m. local time, creating a virtual wave of light, hundreds of thousands of persons commemorate and honor the memory of children in a way that transcends all ethnic, cultural, religious, and political boundaries.
Now believed to be the largest mass candle lighting on the globe, the Worldwide Candle Lighting, a gift to the bereavement community from The Compassionate Friends, creates a virtual 24-hour wave of light as it moves from time zone to time zone. Hundreds of formal candle lighting events are held and thousands of informal candle lightings are conducted in homes as families gather in quiet remembrance of children who have died, but will never be forgotten. The Worldwide Candle Lighting started in the United States in 1997 as a small Internet observance but has since swelled in numbers as word has spread throughout the world of the remembrance.
In 2009, information was submitted to TCF's national website on services in 15 countries outside the United States. In total, we received nearly 530 services. TCF has been joined in recent years by chapters of several organizations including MISS, MADD, Parents of Murdered Children, SIDS Network, Gilda's Club, and BPUSA and services were held in all 50 states plus Washington D.C. and Puerto Rico. There is no way to know how many hundreds of additional services were held in the U.S. and around the world without the information being to us.
The Compassionate Friends and allied organizations were joined in 2009 by local bereavement groups, churches, funeral homes, hospitals, hospices, children's gardens, schools, cemeteries, and community centers. Services have ranged in size from just a few people to nearly a thousand.
You are also invited to post a message in the Remembrance Book which will be available during the event at TCF's national website. Last year in that short one day span, thousands of messages were received and posted from every U.S. state and Washington D.C., every territory, as well as dozens of other countries, some in foreign languages. The Remembrance Book will remain accessible to read until the 2011 Worldwide Candle Lighting.
Here in the United States, publicity about the event is widespread, being featured over the years in Dear Abby, Annie's Mailbox, Ann Landers column, Parade Magazine, Guideposts magazine, and literally hundreds of U.S. newspapers, dozens of television stations, and numerous websites and hundreds of personal blogs. Information on the Worldwide Candle Lighting and planned memorial candle lighting services (of which we are advised) is posted on TCF's national website every year as the event nears.
If no Worldwide Candle Lighting service was held near you in 2009, please feel free to plan one open to the public this year. You are welcome to use TCF's "Suggestions to Help Plan a Memorial Service in Conjunction with The Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting©" to help in planning the service. All allied bereavement organizations, churches, funeral homes, hospices and formal and informal bereavement groups are invited to join in the remembrance. Don't forget to return to this site later this year before the Worldwide Candle Lighting and submit the event information form so TCF can list your service with the many hundreds held in the United States and around the world. The Worldwide Candle Lighting gives bereaved families everywhere the opportunity to remember their child . . . that their light may always shine!
With Love,
December 10, 2010
Compassionate Friends Worldwide Candle Lighting
With Love Heather at Friday, December 10, 2010
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Last night I noticed a tweet about a live opportunity Jarrett Krosoczka was offering for students today.
I immediately emailed my teachers about it. As usual, most were skeptical, but my two go-getter, willing to try anything, 4th grade teachers jumped at the 11:00 opportunity. They even asked questions during the feed and Jarrett answered them!
Wanting to get more teachers on board, I asked these two to reply to my email about how cool it was (sneaky, I know, but hey, it worked!) and I brought it up with them in the teacher's lounge at lunch since he was doing another one at 1:00 our time.
Once they heard how easy and fabulous it was, the rest of the teachers were all on board. During the feed, Jarrett introduces his Platypus Police Squad books and how he draws the characters. Some of my kinder students were even drawing along!
He also showed how he changes characters facial expressions by drawing different lines around the eyes. Here is a 2nd grader practicing.
What a super way to connect with kids and get kids excited about reading. With summer coming up, I know what books my students are going to be looking for at the library.
Here are some actual quotes from some 5th graders about the experience.
"We are learning about his books online without him actually being here"
"We loved that it was interactive"
"Not only did he talk about his books, but he showed us how he illustrated them too"
"He gave us a sneak peak of his next book"
"We got to look at a live screen at a famous author that students across the country were able to see at the same time"
Thanks Mr. Krosoczka for a fabulous 20 min that our students will remember!


text:
Open-hole, Cased-hole, Closed Chamber, Onshore and Off-shore.
We design, manufacture and service our own tools.
Northstar's Field Engineers travelled to East-Asia to train a new client's staff.
Good job, thank you for your help. Excellent crew on this job. Note: Oryx office commented to me on the good response and support provided by yourself to prepare for the job.
Mike and the boys did a great job for us! Very experienced and timely with operations. Will definately use North Star in the future and will recommend your services to everybody! Great Job!
Would keep all crew on future zones. All very professional and hard working.
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Staff is pro-active and keen, equipment all functioned without fault!
Unlock the full potential of your reservoir.
Achieve better results.


text:
THE Approach AND Authorized Mother nature OF Worldwide SANCTIONS
International Sanctions
There is no very clear definition of sanctions underneath the UN Charter. Within the literal sense, a sanction can be a evaluate imposed versus disobedience from the regulation. It refers to a reaction imposed versus a point out or person accused of committing an internationally prohibited act. During the exact vein, international sanctions are steps imposed with the worldwide local community in reaction to noncompliance with global law. This definition extends to sanctions imposed via the Protection Council to maintain global peace and protection. Global sanctions are used to give protection to civilians, counter terrorism, and settle condition conflicts.
The Scope of Global Sanctions
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text: A friend of mine let me borrow Mockingjay, the third installment of The Hunger Games Series, on Friday. I started Saturday afternoon. I finished Monday afternoon. Suzanne Collins keeps your attention from the first sentence in The Hunger Games to the Epilogue of Mockingjay. I was absolutely speechless at the end and really didn't want it to be over. Yesterday, after I finished and periodically throughout today, I would reflect on the entire series thinking, "I could start it all over right now and still be blown away." Definitely an awesome series and highly recommended!


text:
Sausage Roll Bites/
Well, that was fun! We had such a great Christmas here and I'm hoping the same for you. But it's time to move on to what for me is the funnest week of the year...between Christmas and New Years. We do a lot of partying during this week around here and keep ourselves entertained with bowl games and football pools and lots of fun party food.
Over the years I've amassed quite a collection of party app recipes and this year I'll be adding these yummy little sausage roll bites to the list. I found the recipe in the New York Times (David Tanis), and it took me no time to get them made up. I loved the story behind these little rolls, which are British in origin, and are traditionally made for Boxing Day (the day after Christmas) when all of the servants were given the day off. Seeing as how my servants were going to be taking that day off as well, I thought I'd make up a batch for the household. Actually my servants have every day off. Bah!
I don't know if this happens to you, but sometimes when I look at a food photo, I often make assumptions about what I'm looking at based on what I subconsciously hope it actually is, and in this case, I totally thought that these were made from pizza dough or bread dough of some kind. But in reality, they were made with puff pastry. A little research confirmed that Boxing Day sausage rolls are indeed made with pastry dough, but I still wanted them to be made with pizza dough so that's what I did. And we loved them very much. You could, of course, make them with puff pastry or pie dough or whatever dough you like, really.
Mr. Tanis made up his own sausage mixture, which I would like to try sometime. But being a bit pressed for time, I thawed out some Italian sausages I had in the freezer, removed the casings and just laid them on the dough before wrapping and slicing them up.
So, so easy. Then it's just a matter of baking them and getting them out on some platters, definitely to be eaten warm from the oven. We dipped them in mustard which seemed rather perfect.
And as a bonus which I am most definitely going to be trying soon, the King Arthur flour people have come up a few different fillings for these, all of which sound pretty great. Here's a link to those recipes. Whether your servants have the day off or not, you really must work some sausage rolls into your holiday party plans. Here's the recipe…
Sausage Roll Bites
Click here for a printable recipe
The original recipe as written in The Times uses a homemade pastry for the rolls, but this can be subbed out with frozen puff pastry sheets. I used ½ recipe of my homemade pizza dough, but store-bought pizza dough would work great too. I've provided a link to David Tanis' recipe in case you would like to make his sausage filling, but for simplicity's sake, I just used link sausage with the casings removed. You could also use bulk sausage and form it into a 1-inch diameter roll.
Recipe adapted from the New York Times
½ lb pizza dough
4 links of your favorite sausage (raw), about a pound, casings removed
Mustard of your choice for dipping, or if using Italian sausage, warm marinara makes a lovely dipping sauce
Preheat your oven to 375 degrees.
Sprinkle your counter with a little flour and roll out your pizza dough to just under 1/4 –inch thick and cut into 4 rectangles, each about 8 inches by 4 inches.
Working with 1 rectangle of dough at a time, lay the sausage in the center of the dough. It should reach to the ends of the dough, so trim off any excess.
Pull the dough up over the sausage and crimp the edges closed to fit tightly over the sausage. I rolled it around a bit on the counter to make sure it was tightly sealed.
Using a sharp knife, cut your roll into 1-inch slices and place them on a parchment-lined baking sheet. Brush the dough with a little olive oil and sprinkle with a little kosher salt if desired. Repeat with the remaining pieces of dough and sausage.
Bake for 25 to 30 minutes or until lightly golden brown and cooked through. Let cool briefly before serving warm with mustard for dipping.


text: The other problem with Digital data is storage. Computer storage technology keeps evolving, standards/formats keep changing. CDs and DVDs don't last forever especially the recordable kind (Dyes fade, storage devices fail/become obsolete). HDD spindles wear out and fail over time. Even digital data is prone to corruption. Multiple copies should be made and stored on separate sets of media to ensure that you have redundancy. One has to keep transferring the data to newer storage mediums and if you have a lot of data this may or may not be a PITA. While one needs to store film well, once you have done so, you don't have to do the above every 5 yrs or so. Date: Tue, 13 Jan 2009 14:47:51 -0800From: genej2ster@xxxxxxxxxxx: rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxxx: [rollei_list] Re: age old "digital vs film" debate...again...was RE: OT Ancient ComputersOn reflection, there ARE a lot of ways in which digital cameras have become superior to film cameras. Convenience and operating cost are 2. No way I could provide my local ballet company with 1000 exposures of a performance on film. Neither they nor I could afford it. And the resolution and total visual information on a good 10-plus Mpixel camera can be very high. I did a 40 inch tall poster that looked really nice. I am probably going to buy a 5D Mk2 here pretty soon because it is such a powerful tool for these kinds of things. I will not be giving up my film cameras though; and it is not just because I am so sentimental about the medium. I really do find the response curve of digital sensors to be significantly inferior to film as of my Rebel Xsi or my buddy's 5D. Not even close really. The transition to shadow or highlight is so much smoother and more beautiful on film to my eye. Everyone who looks at the prints notices it. The 5d MK2 is supposed to be better. I will reserve judgement. In any case, I have no doubt, the gap will continue to narrow, and one day I WILL be using film because I just love working with it and my old cameras, enlargers, etc. On Tue, Jan 13, 2009 at 9:09 AM, Frank Dernie <Frank.Dernie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: On the contrary, Frank, I believe both statements to be true. In all my recent experience digital -is- in all practical ways superior to film. OTOH it is a matter of personal choice so if somebody wants to use film that is fine by me :-) On 13 Jan, 2009, at 16:46, Eric Goldstein wrote: Frank, glad to read this much more reasonable and modest statementabout digital's capabilities, and your own personal abilities andtastes, in contrast to this earlier statement: In all practical ways digital has exceeded the capability of film for some time. Certainly if there is aneffect which one wishes to achieve, using a vintage LF lens for example, film may have to be thechoice but that does not make film better, just an appropriate choice in some circumstances.Eric Goldstein--On Tue, Jan 13, 2009 at 10:10 AM, Frank Dernie<Frank.Dernie@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx> wrote: I quite agree, a matter of personal choice. I get p*ssed off when people sayit meeds 67, or choose any other number, megapixels for digital to matchfilm which is patently ridiculous. Which film? what other parameter thanresolution?I get better dynamic range, a smoother look and plenty of resolution fromdigital. My prints look more 3 dimensional and real - particularly skintones. I still like the look of B&W film for portraits, actually, but notfor anything else.Some photographers prefer film so for them it is better, obviously.best regards,FrankOn 13 Jan, 2009, at 13:56, austin.franklin@xxxxxxxxxxx wrote: But that doesn't mitigate that the other works "better" for others, and noamount of discussion is going to change that. Even if it is as simple assomeone likes to use a particular camera, that's good enough IMO.---Rollei List- Post to rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subscribe at rollei_list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'subscribe'in the subject field OR by logging into www.freelists.org- Unsubscribe at rollei_list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with'unsubscribe' in the subject field OR by logging into www.freelists.org- Online, searchable archives are available at//www.freelists.org/archives/rollei_list---Rollei List- Post to rollei_list@xxxxxxxxxxxxxx Subscribe at rollei_list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with 'subscribe'in the subject field OR by logging into www.freelists.org- Unsubscribe at rollei_list-request@xxxxxxxxxxxxx with'unsubscribe' in the subject field OR by logging into www.freelists.org- Online, searchable archives are available at//www.freelists.org/archives/rollei_list-- Be Just and Fear Not _________________________________________________________________ Holiday cheer from Messenger. Download free emoticons today! http://livelife.ninemsn.com.au/article.aspx?id=669758


text:
BYOB Painting Classes in Plano, TX
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2 Hours • $29
Welcome to Sip N Doodle Plano, the FUN place to paint! At our studio, everyone chooses their own picture to paint! We have over 800 images to pick from or you can bring your own. No worries though, an experienced and caring artist will guide you from start to finish. You will leave happy and satisfied with a finished masterpiece ready to hang.
Sip N Doodle Plano is BYOB and BYOSnacks, except for the complimentary freshly popped buttery movie theater popcorn. So grab some friends, set a date and make your reservation today. Hurry, seats fill fast!
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You will never look at art the same again! Our artist led classes allow everyone to paint something different. No two paintings are alike. We have over 500 images to choose from or you can bring in your own picture.
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Using our Reckless Abandon Method™ you will have a stress free painting experience…guaranteed! So grab some friends or come by yourself! Our classes fill fast so reserve your seat today!


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Today is Star Wars Day, so let us extend a heartfelt "May the 4th Be with You!" NASA also wants to get in on the festivities and has collaborated with Star Wars to bring you an extraterrestrial transmission. NASA flight engineer Rick Mastracchio is attempting to send a message to Star Wars fans from the International Space Station, but the Empire has other plans. Luckily, a very recognizable little astromech droid is on hand to help out.
Hit the jump to watch the Star Wars "May the 4th" video from NASA.
Check out the NASA and Star Wars "May the 4th" video below (via Space.com):
In celebration of Star Wars Day, NASA flight engineer Rick Mastracchio hopes to deliver a special message from the International Space Station. Little does he know, however, that the Empire plans to jam his transmissions. Thankfully, R2-D2 is on the case.
Click here for all of our Star Wars coverage, or take a look at recent articles below:
- Teaser Trailer for STAR WARS REBELS; Full Trailer to Be Released on Sunday
- THE COLLISION: Episode 86 – STAR WARS: EPISODE VII Casting
- Four New Images from STAR WARS REBELS; Trailer to Be Released on May 4th
- Exclusive STAR WARS Posters for "May the 4th" from Acme Archives Featuring Work from Timothy Anderson, Steve Thomas & Amy Mebberson
- STAR WARS: EPISODE VII Cast Announced; Includes John Boyega, Oscar Isaac, Domhnall Gleeson, Adam Driver, and More; First Photo Released
- Harrison Ford Reportedly Has "Gigantic Role" in STAR WARS: EPISODE VII; Oscar Isaac Rumored for Role


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Microsoft Establishes Anti-Virus Reward Program
Nov 14 2003, 02:19 PM
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Microsoft Establishes Anti-Virus Reward Program
...Microsoft has announced an old-fashioned criminal-justice tactic to help solve a modern-day problem -- a monetary reward.Initially funded by Microsoft with US$5 million, the Anti-Virus Reward Program will help the Federal Bureau of Investigation and the United States Secret Service, in coordination with Interpol, to identify and arrest those who commit crimes by illegally unleashing malicious viruses and worms on the Internet. In particular, Microsoft is offering two rewards of $250,000 each for information that results in the arrest and conviction of those responsible for launching the MSBlast.A worm and Sobig virus...
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Family House Exquisitely Designed by Dane Design Australia
P048 project was designed by Dane Design Australia in Dunsborough, Western Australia for a family eager to start a new life. This is a tranquil and restful house that features two floors and frames the best beach-views from the surrounding area. A cantilevered balcony (top floor) is the house's most impressive addition. It connects the inhabitants with the sea on a visual level, offering them an inspiring everyday image. In the evenings, as the sun is setting down in the sea, residents can enjoy the calming sound of the waves while basking in the company of their loved ones.
Exterior of the house is coated in glass, allowing light and fresh air inside. "Shutters clad with sawn timber battens adds a balance of texture to the rendered and glass façades. Black stone floors used throughout living spaces with carbonised oak flooring and timber detail to compliment the stone. Simple and elegant bathrooms that combine matt white with additional use of the black stone." The striking simple design as well as the serenity encompassing the house played a key elements in completing this wonderful, uncluttered home.


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Electronic components held in hand in laboratory, close up | © Monty Rakusen/Getty Images
Germany boasts an unparalleled density of renowned R&D institutes and world-leading manufacturers and suppliers for electrical and electronic materials, components, and equipment across the value chain; ranging from microelectronic components to electrical household appliances, automation systems, electronic medical equipment, and automotive electronics.
Investment opportunities are many and varied. Plug in and find out why Germany satisfies the essential conditions for market success in one of the world's most dynamic industry sectors.


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Fayetteville-Manlius High School fields two Science Olympiad teams: Varsity and Junior Varsity.
Varsity Team
Each year, students participate in a series of tryouts to gain a spot on one of the two teams. Students on the Varsity team compete at all competitions, earning an opportunity to compete at States and Nationals upon eligibility (placing in the top five at the Regionals, then in the top two at States). This team may be made up of 9th-12th graders. However, national rules stipulate a maximum number of seniors on a team. At FM, the Varsity team may have a maximum of:
- 7 - Freshmen
- 7 - Sophomores
- 7 - Juniors
- 7 - Seniors
Junior Varsity Team
Students on the Junior Varsity team are mostly 9th & 10th graders. Members are chosen based on each candidate's performance during the tryout process, teacher recommendations, and past experience with Science Olympiad. This team competes at competitions up through and including the New York Mid-State Regional.
Participation on this team provides students an opportunity to develop their skills in science, team work, and competitive spirit. Often, students from the JV team are selected for the Varsity team the following year. The JV team is an essential resource in developing enriching activities and practice for the Varsity team, as well as a basis for future Varsity teams.
The Fayetteville-Manlius Science Olympiad program owes its rewarding performance year after year to every student on both teams. Students, coaches, and parents work tirelessly to perfect a highly-effective, competitive team.
Our goal every year is to continue our tradition of an unwavering commitment to excellence and development of the 21st century learner. Given that the Science Olympiad competition is a one/two day opportunity to succeed, students need to be well prepared to compete.
1. Personal choices affect everyone on the team. If you are considering a winter/spring sport, the musical, or other extra curricular activity, then you may not have enough time to meet your extra curricular activity, homework, family and Science Olympiad commitments. Time is valuable!
2. Each practice counts. Therefore, students should meet deadlines assigned by coaches and produce something measurable that can withstand the challenges from all competitive teams.
3. Realize that success and achievement come through consistent hard work. For example, building events require repeated testing well in advance of competition. Do not be satisfied with a device because it works, but aim for what works best. Self motivation drives excellence.
4. Talent is the follower of will. Sheer intellect and high grades do NOT mean you will make the team. Practices will be held most days in December, January, February and the first two weeks in March. Don't procrastinate. More if we keep winning.
5. Experience is the most painful teacher. Attention to detail is critical to success. Avoid blunders. Pay attention to coaches and coordinators at events. Be prepared and be aware. When things do go wrong, don't dwell on them as failures; utilize them as opportunities to learn and improve.
6. Seniors: need to be readers and leaders. The team is limited to only 7 seniors and these people are the ones who take on the bulk of the events.
7. Failure: accept it and move on. Be willing to accept criticism and suggestions for improvement from your team members and coaches alike.


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For more great rhymes of mine check out The Vocabuverse!!!You/Your/You're
Here's what you should and shouldn't do
When you use the pro-noun "you"
You know, the word you use to designate
The person you are addressing
As in, "Gosh you are depressing"
When referring to another person's state
But listen here my little friend
If "r" is found at "you's" rear end
The word takes on a sudden transformation
For then the word it does take on
The very essence of "belongs"
As in, "Excuse me sir but is this your train station?"
But if you add an "r" and "e"
After an apostrophe
What you mean is something someone's doing
Like, "You're certainly disturbing me
If you're wearing that to tea,
Doing so will end up your undoing!"
So please don't be a moron
When you need to put an r on
Otherwise you might cop some abuse
For your and you're might seem the same
But they're not, THEY'RE NOT the same!
And after reading this you've no excuse!
When of a person you must show
Which or what one is then know
The interrogative used for such is "who"
As in "Who stole my pajamas?"
Or "Who here likes piranhas?"
Are some examples just to name a few.
But something you must learn
The word "who" can be turned
Into a word relating things to it
That certain word is "whose"
And here is a small clue
To help you to ensure you don't abuse it:
"A person whose pajamas
Were eaten by piranhas"
Is a phrase in which it seems to fit.
But now here's the trick
So that no one thinks you thick
And to give your grammar razzmatazz
Remove from "whose" the little "e"
To it add an apostrophe
And "who's" will now mean "who is" or "who has"
"That man who's in pajamas,
Who's screaming loudly, 'Argh! Piranhas!'"
Exemplifies the essence of these truths
So when writing keep in mind
That your audience don't find
Improper use of who and who's and whose
It's worth elucidating
When referring to a thing
We give that thing the designation 'it'
But add the letter 's'
And the meaning will address
The things relating specifically to it
Like, "that dog loves its bone",
Or "that cat has lost its home"
Hopefully by now you get the drift?
Just don't make the catastrophe
By adding an apostrophe
Or else the grammar police will get miffed!
So the word is not abused
An apostrophe is used
With regards to "it has" or "it is"
Like "That dog, it's got a bone
It's the cat that had no home!"
Then the grammar goblins won't get in a tizz!
If someone lends you a hand
It would pay to understand
That such an individual is your aide
But the action in itself
When someone gives you help
The thing that they are offering is aid
It's important that you see
That the little letter 'e'
Actually can make quite a difference
Although it can't be heard
Adding the letter to the word
Separates assistant from assistance!
All Poems written by Kerin Gedge
Copyright 2013
Copyright 2013
For more great rhymes of mine check out The Vocabuverse!!!
Come find me on YouTube!


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With or without Congress, immigration reform moves along
One year ago, thousands of young undocumented immigrants across the country started lining up for a program that would allow them stay in the country legally -- a program President Obama enacted administratively in the absence of congressional action.
Since then, more than 500,000 people have applied Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (DACA) program, and more than 400,000 of them have been accepted into it, giving them two years to stop worrying about being deported as well as the freedom to work legally. States in the past year have shaped their own policies around the program while waiting for more federal action.
The debate over comprehensive immigration reform, however, doesn't appear to be over in Congress, based on remarks from Republicans this month. And one of the biggest GOP proponents of immigration reform suggested this week that if Congress doesn't act, Mr. Obama could make more immigration policy decisions on his own.
- Rep. Steve King stands by divisive immigration comments
- Looming budget fight could doom immigration reform
"I believe that this president tempted, will be tempted, if nothing happens in Congress, to issue an executive order as he did for the Dream Act kids a year ago, where he basically legalizes 11 million people by the sign of a pen," Rubio said in an interview Tuesday on WFLA radio's "The Morning Show with Preston Scott." Immigration reform advocates have, in fact, called on Mr. Obama to halt his aggressive deportation policies while Washington hashes out a bill.
Rubio was one of the four Republicans in the Senate who worked with four of their Democratic colleagues to draft a comprehensive immigration reform bill. The measure managed to pass in the Senate, but Rubio has lost some political capital over the issue, and House GOP leaders say they're not willing to put the bill up for the vote.
Still, they're not abandoning the issue all together, and town hall meetings with constituents this August has served as a sort of barometer for GOP support.
"I think the Senate made tremendous progress," Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., said in a meeting last week with the Modesto, Calif., Chamber of Commerce. "It was done bipartisan, and I thought that would be enough to get the House moving forward."
Rep. Joe Heck, R-Nev., took some heat from his constituents earlier this summer for supporting immigration reform efforts, but he nevertheless expressed his support for the Senate bill at a recent forum.
"I believe that the pathway that the Senate bill has laid out is a reasonable pathway," he said. "I think when you look at having to go through background checks, having to pay a fine, having to make sure that your tax liabilities are paid, making sure that you're in a provisional status for a period of time, where you have to learn English, you have to show that you've got a job -- there's a lot of safeguards here."
House Republican leaders have endorsed a "step-by-step" approach to immigration legislation, with House Majority Leader Eric Cantor, R-Va., even backing a Republican version of the Dream Act -- the policy proposal that would effectively write into law Mr. Obama's policy of letting well-qualified undocumented youth stay in the country legally.
Still, those opposed to immigration reform aren't backing down. Rep. Steve King, R-Iowa, attended a "Stop Amnesty Now" event on Monday in Virginia, near Cantor's district, and railed against immigration policies he said would "benefit the elitists, political power brokers, employers of illegals."
While Congress continues its debate, undocumented youth have shown a great deal of enthusiasm for DACA. The Migration Policy Institute (MPI) this week published new findings on the program, showing that nearly half of the undocumented youth eligible for the program applied. By comparison, the MPI's Michael Fix noted Wednesday, when a path to citizenship was offered for undocumented immigrants in starting in 1986, just about 20 percent of those eligible applied in the first year.
MPI policy analyst Sarah Hooker said the application rate is "quite impressive" but noted that "substantial barriers" remain for those who haven't -- such as the $465 application fee. The organization estimates that 35 percent of currently DACA-eligible youth live with families with incomes below 100 percent of the federal poverty level, while two-thirds live with families with incomes below 200 percent of the federal poverty level.
MPI also estimated that there are 423,000 undocumented youth who meet the age requirement for DACA but not the educational requirement -- eligible applicants, if they're not an honorably-discharged veteran, must be enrolled in school, have a high school diploma or have earned a GED.
At least one state is taking steps to increase the number of students who meet those eligibility requirements: New York City officials announced last month they plan to spend $18 million over the next two years on adult education classes and GED programs specifically for undocumented workers, so they can qualify for DACA. The city is making the investment since existing adult education programs in the city are already at capacity.
"We can't let the opportunity... fall short because we didn't do what we need to do," City Council Speaker Christine Quinn told the New York Daily News. "We're talking about children who were brought here by their parents... They're New Yorkers, for God's sakes."


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I've been off the blogging radar for the past month and it feels really great to be tapping away on my laptop again! I've got a great reason for being MIA and it's because I have a wonderful new job :).
I'm working for an amazing non-profit organization called Wellness in the Schools. Wellness in the Schools works nationwide to fight the childhood obesity epidemic in the US by partnering with public schools to provide nutrition and fitness education, working with school food staff to implement healthier school lunch menus as well as to provide brilliant active recess sessions. They are a totally awesome and inspirational team 😀.
The elementary school I'm working in is in Brooklyn, New York and it is implementing this program for the first time. I work alongside the school food cooks helping them deliver the healthier lunch menu to students as well as being a general resource for healthy eating and wellness that the school can use. I will also be teaching cooking and nutrition classes to students, the first of which starts in a few days time. I am super excited to be working in the classroom again.
I'll be blogging more about this throughout this academic year so keep an eye out for new posts!


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Mao Zedong: A Political and Intellectual Portrait
Mao Zedong: A Political and Intellectual Portrait
ISBN: 978-0-745-63107-3 December 2006 Polity 232 Pages
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From his role as leader of a communist revolution in a war-torn and largely rural country to the disasters of the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution, the relationship between Mao's ideas and his political action is highly disputed. With unparalleled authority, Meisner shows how Mao's unique sinification of Marxism provides the key to looking at this extraordinary political career. The first part of the book is devoted to Mao's revolutionary leadership before 1949, in particular the influence of the liberal and anarchist ideas of the May Fourth era, his discovery of Marxism, Leninism and his conviction that peasants held the potential for revolution. In the second part, Meisner analyses Mao's early successes as a nationalist unifier and modernizer, the failure of his socialism and his eventual transformation into a tyrant.
Table of contents
A Note on Chinese Names.
1. Youth (1893-1921).
2. Communism and Marxism.
3. Peasant Revolution.
4. Nationalism and Social Revolution, 1935-49.
5. Mao Zedong in Power: Nationalism and Modernization (1949-57).
6. Utopianism.
7. The Cultural Revolution and the Exhaustion of Maoism.
Epilogue: Progress and Tyranny, Marxism and Maoism.
Writings of Mao Zedong.
"Meisner is uniquely qualified by political commitment, professional experience, and scholarly talent to produce this important new biography of Mao. He offers a reasoned, indeed regretful, Marxist analysis of Mao's role in the Chinese revolution, acknowledging his successes but particularly seeking to understand the roots of Maos dictatorship and the many tragedies befell China under his sway. In this way, Meisner offers a useful and compelling narrative that truly provides food for thought."
Timothy Cheek, University of British Columbia
"Meisner's updated assessment of Mao Zedong once again offers the best available intellectual history of Mao's life and deeds."
Lee Feigon, University of Chicago
- Major new political biography of Mao, written by one of the world's leading authorities on Chinese revolutionary politics
- Offers a clear and unbiased account of Mao's political and intellectual development
- Gives a detailed analysis of Mao's pre-revolutionary career and how he came to power
- Discusses his role in the failures of the Great Leap Forward and the Cultural Revolution
- Considers Mao's huge legacy for China at the start of the twenty-first century


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Trinity Hill - Hawkes Bay Syrah 2014Australian Red Wine
In Stock
Country of OriginNew Zealand
Producer Information
Key Information
- BrandTrinity Hill
- RegionHawkes Bay
Grape Information
- 100%Shiraz / Syrah
Other Information
- BodyFull Bodied
- Food MatchRed Meats
- Grape TypeShiraz/Syrah
- Type of closureScrew Cap
- Vintage2014
This wine combines spice and pepper with ripe blackberry fruit for a rich and soft palate with a long and complex finish.
Great with red meat, especially roast lamb.
100% Syrah.
8 from Trinity Hill
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UK Football
Rookie receivers must learn fast
It took Dicky Lyons Jr. just one play in Kentucky's first fall scrimmage to let him know he was in a different world than he's been in the last two seasons.
In 2006 and 2007, Lyons was lined up next to experienced playmakers in Steve Johnson, Keenan Burton and Jacob Tamme. But when Lyons broke out of the huddle last Saturday, he looked over and saw freshmen receivers Matt Roark, Eric Adeyemi and Gene McCaskill in the play. The play call was a bubble screen, but it didn't get executed quite like Lyons had been used to.
"The freshmen didn't pick up the blocking scheme, so (senior cornerback Robbie) McAtee came down, shed the block and knocked the wind out of me," Lyons said. "I was so mad and I was saying to myself, if the freshmen don't know what they're doing, not only am I not going to catch the ball, I'm going to get killed."
Later that week, Lyons ran the same play with junior DeMoreo Ford as his lead blocker, and the result was different.
"It was the same blocking scheme, but I didn't even have to look out there, because I knew he was going to get the job done," Lyons said.
Kentucky Coach Rich Brooks feels good about Lyons, who has caught 116 passes for 1,477 yards and 16 touchdowns the past two seasons. But he's not sure what other pass-catchers he has at his disposal.
Ford, a physical fourth-year junior, has played in 30 career games but missed practice time this week after returning to LaGrange, Ga., to attend the funeral of his older brother, Kendall Thomas, who died of heart failure last Sunday. Ford is also recovering from a torn patella tendon suffered in the spring.
Kyrus Lanxter appeared in five games as a true freshman but just had a cast removed from a wrist he injured over the summer.
"At least those guys know what to do," Brooks said of his veterans. "The others still are on a learning curve, and I'm losing patience with that learning curve."
Brooks and Lyons might have to live with rookie mistakes, though, because several of those freshmen will be in the rotation this fall, and while they might not know what to do just yet, they bring talent to the table.
The 6-foot-6 Roark has been one of fall camp's biggest surprises. He came to UK as a quarterback but has been impressive enough at receiver that there's a good chance he could be in the starting lineup when the Wildcats take on Louisville next Sunday.
Adeyemi, a speedster from Miami, and McCaskill, a South Carolina native, have also been getting repetitions. E.J. Adams is a junior but is in his first full season playing receiver after starting out at cornerback.
"Matt's shown he's tough enough to play wide receiver," offensive coordinator and receivers coach Joker Phillips said. "I think he's athletic enough and fast enough as well. I really believe he'll be a big-time player for us before it's all over."
The wild card is Randall Cobb, another true freshman who has been seeing the majority of his practice time at quarterback but could see some time at receiver also. Lyons gave Cobb a ringing endorsement as a receiver.
"I don't think there's any doubt he'd be the No. 2 guy if he worked strictly at wide receiver," Lyons said. "He's that good."
One of the toughest things the rookies have had to deal with is fighting through the dog days of fall camp. Freshman Aaron Boyd from Henry Clay was out with mono but returned to practice Friday. Another freshman, E.J. Fields of Frankfort, has been slowed by a hamstring pull.
The only freshman who hasn't missed is Roark.
"Some guys have a little 'owie' and can't get through a practice, then they'll miss one, then they come back, and then they'll miss another one," Brooks said. "We've still got our work cut out for us, but we better start getting crisper in the next three or four days."
The Wildcats have three options at tight end, and all have contrasting styles. Junior Maurice Grinter is a converted fullback with soft hands who could thrive on intermediate routes; junior T.C. Drake is a tall target and a physical blocker who had a good spring catching the ball; and junior Ross Bogue is mainly a blocker.
While things might look a little rough right now, Phillips thinks his unit is headed in the right direction. "I think there'll be some mistakes early, but when all is said and done, we'll be strong at wide receiver," Phillips said.


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Clean Up and Refresh Landscaping
Rolling Hills
These clients were wanting to refresh their landscaping in the front and back yard. We uncovered a hidden flagstone path and reinstalled the path to its natural beauty. There was a distinctive berm near the entry of their home which had grown Monkey Grass where you could not see the massive rocks. We removed unwanted growth and moved the stones into a more attractive postion for mulch & flowers. This project was very rewarding because we got to work with the homeowners and got to know them as people not just customers.
Removal & Refresh
Twin Bridges
This project was almost a complete transformation of removing current bushes and shrubbery with flowering perrenials and annuals. The black mulch sets off the bright colors of the flowers. These customers were very pleased with the outcome and we enjoyed working for them. We will be helping them with a monthly maintenance program.


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- Follow Inbound with Whiskey on WordPress.com
Recent Posts
- 2018 New England Airport Diners May 10, 2018
- Birthday Eclipse August 24, 2017
- My First Oshkosh, Part III (Final) August 15, 2017
- My First Oshkosh, Part II August 8, 2017
- My First Oshkosh, Part I August 4, 2017
- July Dream Flight July 24, 2017
- Harrison Ford is a Good Pilot… and I'm not just saying that because he's still hot at 74 years old July 6, 2017
- Every Time I Land a Plane, I'm a Bad@ss April 10, 2017
- Night Flight with The Monkey April 4, 2017
- Above the Clouds with JetBlue March 13, 2017
Tag Archives: Success
July Dream Flight
Posted on July 24, 2017 by skyalive
This weekend was another successful Dream Flight event with Above the Clouds. I served as Flight Coordinator for a young boy named Justin, who was referred to us by Boston Children's Hospital where he is a patient. Justin was very … Continue reading →
Posted in Aviation, Flying, Uncategorized, Volunteer | Tagged Above the Clouds, Adventure, airlines, Airport, AirVenture, Aviation, Charity, Flight, Flying, Hanscom, Hero, JetBlue, KBED, KOSH, KOWD, Landing, Life, Living, Love, Making a difference, Massachusetts, Norwood, OSH, Oshkosh, OWD, Piedmont Aviation, Success, Volunteer, Volunteering | Leave a comment
Every Time I Land a Plane, I'm a Bad@ss
Posted on April 10, 2017 by skyalive
"BAM, that's how that shit is done!!!" I texted out shortly after landing in Norwood (KOWD) Sunday morning. Every time I land a plane, I feel like a total badass. Every time I land a plane perfectly, or near perfectly … Continue reading →
Posted in Aviation, Flying, Volunteer | Tagged Above the Clouds, Adventure, Airport, Aviation, crosswind landing, dunkin donuts, Flying, Happy, KASH, KBED, KOWD, Landing, Life, Living, Love, monkey, Pilot, Solo, Success, Volunteer, Volunteering, Woman Pilot, Women Pilots, Yeehaw | 8 Comments
Night Flight with The Monkey
Posted on April 4, 2017 by skyalive
CLICK HERE for backstory on The Monkey. ~~~ Flying… it's definitely a drug. If I were to ever OD on something, I'd want it to be aviation. I've been working 'round the clock the last few weeks. I'm passionate about what I … Continue reading →
Posted in Aviation, Flying, Ninety-Nines | Tagged Adventure, airlines, Airport, Aviation, Chicks Fly, Cross Country, dunkin donuts, Flight, Flying, happiness, Happy, KBED, KPWM, Landing, Life, Living, Love, Massachusetts, monkey, Piper Warrior, Planes, Portland, Success, Sunset, travelling, Women in Aviation | 2 Comments
Above the Clouds with JetBlue
Posted on March 13, 2017 by skyalive
Rolling into a small local airport, you're almost always guaranteed to see two things… old men and equally old planes. A wave is created every time something outside the norm happens – a pilot has to make more than one go-around, a warbird lands, … Continue reading →
Posted in Aviation, Ninety-Nines, Volunteer | Tagged Above the Clouds, Adventure, airbus, airlines, Airport, Aviation, Charity, Flight, Flying, happiness, Happy, JetBlue, KBOS, Life, Living, Love, Making a difference, Operations Tower, Planes, Solo, Success, Volunteer, Volunteering | 3 Comments
Surviving a Plane Crash in Water
Posted on March 1, 2017 by skyalive
AUTHOR'S NOTE: After making this post, with the permission of Survival Systems USA, a longer, more refined version was accepted for publication in Plane & Pilot magazine. That article can be found here: Dunk Tank Training ~~~ "Brace, Brace, Brace," I repeated … Continue reading →
Posted in Aviation, Survival Training, Training | Tagged Adventure, airlines, Aviation, David Lee Roth, Egress, Female Pilot, Flight, Flying, John and Martha King, John King, Landing, Life, Living, Martha King, murphy's law, Plane Crash, Planes, Simulation, Success, Survival, Survival Systems, Survival Training, Surviving, Underwater Egress, Van Halen | 1 Comment
Adventure Day 6, Part II – Flight to Grand Canyon and beyond
Posted on February 15, 2017 by skyalive
After a morning of playing in the flight simulator, my friend had to skip off to a meeting for a while. I spent the next few hours bumming around the airport. Was a beautiful place to bum around… After lunch, … Continue reading →
Posted in Aviation | Tagged Adventure, airlines, Airplanes, Airport, Aviation, Cirrus, Cross Country, Flight, Flight Simulator, Flying, food, Grand Canyon, Happy, High Performance, Hoover Dam, Lake Mead, Landing, Las Vegas, Life, Living, Lost City, Love, monkey, Plane, SR22, Success, Sunset, Takeoff, The Narrows, travelling, Valley of Fire | 1 Comment
Adventure Day 2, National US Air Force Museum
Posted on February 10, 2017 by skyalive
Not much time to write. One of the other pilots arrived to Dayton late last night, so we are going to meet up for breakfast in a few minutes and then head to the airport to check out the plane. … Continue reading →


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Last weekend, my cousins from California and Australia were in town visting. I was playing tour guide, and took them to see all the touristy spots in DC. However... that day was the dreariest and foggiest days ever.
The photo above, if you didn't notice, is a picture of the Washington Monument. Not too scenic eh? I was feeling pretty bummed out showing my cousins all these barely visible monuments. It then got closer to dusk and we walked towards the Lincoln Memorial.
I've been by the Lincoln memorial numerous times. On sunny days, cloudy days, and also in the evenings. This time though, I've never seen it so mystical and as beautiful as that night. The glow of the memorial from the lights bouncing off the fog made the trip worthwhile. It just made me remember... sometimes we need the dreariness and darkness so that we can appreciate the beauty of the light.


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Commitmentphobe Freelancer – What to Do?!
/ Commitmentphobe Freelancer – What to Do?!
Commitmentphobe Freelancer – What to Do?!
March 6, 2018
Marina Piazza
Question: I've been freelancing for awhile, and although I've stopped looking for a full-time/employee position, I'm not sure if freelancing is "forever" for me. What should I do – incorporate or keep being taxed as an individual?
Answer from Richard M. Prinzi, Jr., CPA & Co-Founder of F-Sharp Tax Services:
There is no real choice, as you will pay less tax as a corporation, always. This was always the best advice for freelancers, but under the Tax Reform Act of 2018, in my opinion, it's now a required consideration for anyone privileged enough to make their living as a freelancer. Saving tax is not the only reason to incorporate, but it should be a major concern.
If it's not cost effective for a particular individual, I generally advise against it, as there is a cost to prepare tax returns each year and you must pay a fee to the state where you incorporate. The annual state fee can range from $25 to $800, and formation cost ranges from $400 to $700.
It is best to have a tax professional do this for you. It seems simple and cheap if you look on the internet for low-cost options, but they almost always sell you things you do not need, fail to file the necessary tax documents and will cost you much more in the long run. Plus, they offer no quality advice on how to use the entity to your advantage. They are only offering to help with the legal retirements to form, NOT with the tax implications. If you are considering incorporating, selecting the right tax advisor is more important than saving a few bucks on the formation. Pay an extra $100 to get it right and begin a relationship with the professional that will deliver more savings than any other person you could ever hire.
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On the Enjoyment Paradox: Meaningful Work Is Not Always Fun/
Those with dogged perseverance can move mountains—even if given only a spoon to do it.
By Sam Yang - Get similar updates here
[This is part I of the Enjoyment Paradox; you can read part II here.]
I never think of consistency as an accomplishment—it doesn't deserve to be, but that's what it has become. Consistency is like standing in line with everyone you know, and you are asked by an unseen voice, "Whoever is the strongest among you, step forward." Then you look around, and you're out in the front—not because you stepped forward, but because everyone else stepped backward. Consistency is not about what you did, but what you didn't do. There are times where you actually have to step forward, like running into a burning house or running for office, but consistency is about sticking to things you were already doing, even while others drop out. In the past, this wouldn't have made you an outlier. An outlier isn't always an arbiter of change; sometimes an outlier stands his or her ground while others change for the worst.
I started martial arts at age six, and I haven't stopped. Why? When people quit all the time? I've often wondered, since there are many other things I've ended prematurely—things I've enjoyed more. But is enjoyment the best indicator of commitment?
We cycle through the same regrets: "I really enjoy the piano, I should play more;" "I really enjoy yoga, I should practice more;" "I really enjoy exercise when I do it." We are baffled by the correlation between things we enjoy and things we don't do, but maybe that's the rule, not the exception. Maybe if enjoyment is all you have, it's not enough. We wish it were, but the world we wish we lived in is not the same as the world we do live in. Enjoyment is nice when it's around, but it does not occupy the space of need and virtue. Things we need, when it's not around, we notice, and we seek it wherever we go.
Like many of you, I have a lot going on—valid reasons to skip the training hall (as you have valid reasons to skip whatever your main practice is). I don't always want to go, but I somehow end up showing up. Someone told me I must really love it. Love isn't the right word. I don't do it because I love it, I do it because it's meaningful. There's a lot of things we love that we stop doing. We don't stop doing meaningful things. It's a part of who we are. Is it fun to reveal a long-held secret? Is it comfortable to be authentic, especially if it goes against societal norms? Will we love society's judgment? What if our family disavows us? So why do we do it? Why must we reveal ourselves? Because it is meaningful. It's a part of who we are. We won't die over something that is fun, something we only enjoy, but even when meaning lacks pleasure, we are willing to die for it. That's how important it is to us. And if we forget, we might come to value the wrong things and eliminate meaning from our lives. Removing our reason to live.
The Journey Makes the Hero
American mythologist Joseph Campbell spent a career studying shared universal mythologies. What are stories trying to teach us? They begin with a journey:
We emulate heroes, and in doing so, we challenge convention and create progress. The hero's journey is a template for a life worth living.
However, in the modern media, when a regular mortal rises to the rank of hero (whether as an inventor, super-athlete, or pioneer), we paint a portrait of them not as a mortal hero, but as a god. Gods don't need journeys, their greatness is intrinsic to who they are. It's not just the media, our short attention span is also to blame. You can't fit the realities of a person's journey into a headline. There's no sizzle in saying they worked hard at something until their ability could no longer be denied. That takes the mystery (and fun) out of it. It makes the person we idolize, another one of us. One of us who worked hard. Heroism no longer serves as a template for others to follow—it is now click-bait.
But greatness is the byproduct of a long and arduous journey. Even a prolific writer such as Mark Twain had to learn how to crawl, walk, and talk before becoming a decent writer. From there he had to pull himself out of the primordial ooze and learn to write well. But writing well is the bare minimum—the starting line. It would still be decades before Twain became the grey-haired and bushy-browed writer extraordinaire we now know. History only remembers what it believes to be the end product, but that's only part of the story. Within all of us are the multitudes—every version of us that preceded who we are now, and every version of us we've yet to become.
Giving up before We Start
We romanticize people who are good at what they do—that one day they woke up with a divine gift. But real life is much fairer than that; we can all be good at things—with practice. To stick to practice is not just a matter of motivation or keeping things fun, it's about being able to endure. Endurance is the opposite of motivation. Where motivation ends, endurance begins. Even when you hate doing something, endurance can overcome your hate. Why? Because the more you practice, the more you can endure. The more you can endure, the more meaningful your practice.
Mass consumerism will ask, "Why bother with meaning and doing when you can live vicariously? Isn't it easier to buy products to be like your heroes?" But the things we really need are often free. The barriers that hold us back are our own beliefs. Endurance is a character trait, and character traits have no paywall. Rather than seeking to bypass the discomforts of character, we must actively develop it. And character can only be developed through activities that require it. What is a frivolous life but a life without character—a life without meaning? We wouldn't say "it builds character" for an easy task. It wouldn't need it. There is no staying power without challenge. But those with dogged perseverance can move mountains—even if only given a spoon to do it.
The Boredom-Enjoyment Paradox
When something is challenging, we don't always enjoy it. But when it's not challenging, we say it's boring. And when it's boring, we stop. Boredom doesn't involve explanation—it's the symptom and the cause. "It's boring, so of course I stopped." We have become so indoctrinated in our revulsion to boredom, we stopped asking questions. We wrongly believe its immorality is self-evident. (We not only do this with ideas but also with people. That's indoctrination: if you start with people early enough, you don't need evidence to support your claims.) Our reasoning is circular: It's bad because it is. This is how it's always been.
But boredom is new; it didn't become a word until the late 1800s. And even after its invention, it was more of a novelty, for poetic use, literary magic to make a detail seem more interesting. Hyperbole. (Thank Charles Dickens for this as he was the first to popularize it. But that's part of what good writing is, to make nothing sound interesting. And to do that meant making us believe nothing was awful. Boring! Ew! Perhaps then, pure entertainment is the opposite of philosophy and science, as philosophy and science both value nothingness. This then explains why many find science and philosophy to be boring. However, this was not always the sentiment. In the past, people were willing to risk their lives for more access to scientific and philosophical knowledge.)
However, only after the invention of television did the boredom virus take off. But unlike a physical disease that starts in a third-world country, boredom was a first-world intellectual contagion. Also unlike a real virus, boredom is a placebo—it only exists if you think it exists. But with any radicalized dogma, once you buy into it, it's an uncomfortable journey to agnosticism.
The Evolution of Boredom
The modern view of boredom is this: Idle time is bad. We converted to a dogma where all time should be productive, and leisure a sin. Post-industrialization created the right fertile grounds for this interpretation to germinate. Guilt and shame did the rest.
But fun is an even newer concept than boredom—only coming into existence in the 1900s. Prior to then, fun meant fake, hoax, or taking advantage. (And I would argue it still means mostly that. The day-to-day tricks and harm are products of people having fun. They were just kidding.) But before fun and boredom, people just lived. Moment by moment. And whatever sensation perceived became a part of how we defined the moment. This is how it feels... to be alive.
But even deep into the post-boredom era, it was still unusual for boredom to mean anything substantive. "I can't do this because it's boring" was usually met with, "So what?" To this day, the world is split on boredom. Is it real or is it not? Is it a myth—is it like Bigfoot?
One might say, "I'm bored. It makes me want to scream. I'm telling you everything you need to know." While another might say, "You think you're telling me something, but you've actually told me nothing." It's similar to how people are adopting the term "whatever" to make a point that can't be made. "It's whatever." "How did you like the movie?" "It's whatever." "Oh, you stopped guitar lessons?" "Yeah, it was whatever." Two people can engage in a conversation and think they are communicating and understanding one another when nothing was actually communicated or understood. It's equivalent to me saying "I blah, blah, blah, and blah," followed by you saying, "Oh. Yeah. I get it." And when someone asks you what we talked about, what do you say? "Oh, nothing." Even in saying "nothing" you still don't really get—no, we really talked about nothing. You're not just saying that.
It's hard to pull away from our automatic beliefs, to see things as they are vs. not seeing things at all. Boredom is immaterial; it's not something you can touch, and it's not something someone else can feel or understand on your behalf. It only exists in your head. Your parents love you and care for you (I hope they do anyway). If you suffer, they suffer. That's empathy, and they are hardwired to empathize with you more than anyone else. But your boredom will not trigger their empathy. It's not one of the evolutionary instincts we're programmed to care about. If for instance, you couldn't mow the lawn, your parents would ask: Are you physically okay? Are you feeling well? Are you sick? Boredom is unseen, but unlike other unseen conditions like depression or loneliness, it's not something you can even describe. It's whatever. (In some countries, it's an urban legend. What is this mystical thing they have in first-world countries called boredom? The culmination of needs met and free time? Sounds like a utopia.)
As we grew more fragile and pleasure seeking, we needed a separate word for mild unpleasantness—to say mild unpleasantness was no joke. We fought to give the idea power until boredom became the primary reason to stop a pursuit. And any discomfort beyond mild became anxiety. This is the current state of our modern psyche.
Imagine an old nomadic tribe who rely on sheep as their lifeline losing their flock because the attendant watching got bored and abandoned his duties. Without their flock, this tribe will die. Does it sound implausible that anyone would cause such predicament due to an inability to deal with boredom? Let me put it another way: How many of our problems are due to our inability to sit with boredom? Let me be clearer: Where do you think you would be if you never had a problem with boredom? What classes could you have taken? What books could you have read? What could you have learned? It would be no different from a superpower. Making peace with boredom would be like unlocking your full potential.
Isaac Newton contributed to science more than any one person, and he did it through sitting with boredom. Before modern equipment and automated computing, discoveries had to be made through the human mind, in pristine solitude. Nobel laureate Bertrand Russell called this process "fruitful monotony." Rather than dramatic obstacles, it's mundane boredom that stops us from living to our potentials.
Why does the story of a tribe losing their flock to boredom seem unreasonable? Because boredom is a privilege. It exists in a vacuum of gratitude—as a byproduct of having too much, not from having too little. A nomadic tribe might not have that privilege, but we do.
Comedian-philosopher Louis C.K. once told an audience:
First-World Problems
Only in a first-world country, during a time of abundance, can boredom be the worst thing that has ever happened to you. But to many, it is. Picky eating used to be a symptom of first-world problems, however, boredom is pickiness over everything. "Look at those starving kids in Africa with nothing to eat" sounds less trivial when compared to "Look at those kids in Africa, they just want food, and you're complaining about your Xbox." Imagine your mom immigrating from Vietnam to the US after the war, just to hear you tell her you are bored. Or you tell your Holocaust survivor dad that you are bored, and you want him to feel sorry for you. Yes, in both cases, when you say it, it makes complete sense to you. It will be completely baffling, however, to your parents. To them, what you call boredom is the life they fought and nearly died for. Boredom is the creature comforts they dreamed for their children—a sign that they are finally safe. To your parents it sounds great, so what's wrong with our perspective? Rather than lacking, are we spoiled? (Obese rather than malnourished.)
Boredom Is the Point
Let's say a student comes to me and wants to learn how to punch. I'd put her to work on the jab. If in the middle of working the jab, she were to tell me it was boring, I'd tell her I understood and have her keep going. Did I misunderstand her or does she misunderstand herself? She described to me a feeling, and I took it for what it was. Perhaps that's not how you took it. Perhaps you've been in her shoes, or rather, you've played the same mind games. She's seeing if she can stop or have me change what she's doing. But rather than stopping herself or stating her needs, she's putting the burden on me by complaining—she wants me to do something about how she feels. Complaining, however, is not an action. It's a form of manipulation to get someone else to act on your behalf. By not acting on your weakness and having someone else do it, you're preserving your ego. And in the student's case, whatever the outcome wholly becomes my responsibility. She lacks ownership and endurance; it's already the wrong mindset for practice. We've heard this in school, "I failed math because I had a bad teacher." Then why did everyone else pass? They probably also felt the same way about the teacher, so they did something about it. They controlled what they could control, their own results, rather than imposing it on someone else. You never want your life in anyone else's hands but your own.
The student is feeling repetitive and tedious, she interprets this as boredom, but misses the point—that's how it's supposed to feel. What you're feeling is what you're doing. Most of us have the wrong illusions about practice. If you want entertainment, seek that—go see a movie. But the point of practice is practice. And practice means to repeat. (Dojo was originally a Zen term for hall of repetition. Within the repetition is Zen.) But once the student says she's bored, she'll keep repeating it. You do what you practice, and she's practiced complaining. It become a habit, and just as complaining and addiction can become habits, so can excellence. I train because that's my habit.
The student believes boredom is an affliction, a serious condition, a viral disease to be avoided. Boredom to her is more than a description, it's a value-judgment. All descriptions now come with judgment. Say a car is blue, but to you blue automatically means the car is ugly. You wouldn't say blue is ugly because you would believe that is self-evident. From your egocentric worldview, this is the truth of blue. But that's an opinion, just as our beliefs about boredom are opinions. (The ancient Stoics explained: to maintain equanimity, understand that everything we believe is an opinion, not a fact. Everything we see is a perspective, not the truth.) Observe without value-judgment. (Value-judgment only pertains to judgments of good and bad.) If not, every action or inaction will be at the expense of your mental health.
Acute injury is harmful and never boring. Boredom is often beneficial and typically harmless. How did neutral become repugnant? (How did bland food become gross?) How did acute and harmful become more attractive than dull and helpful? (Perhaps when the lack of a compliment became the same as an insult and moderate and calm began to annoy people.) Saying a conversation is boring means the end of a conversation. Telling someone they are boring means the end of that relationship. If I am teaching someone for their benefit and I find their complaints about boredom tiresome, cliché, and yes, boring, should I quit on them as well? It's an infinite loop, the disdain for boredom makes you a bore, which bores others and makes you terrible to be around—which only increases your hostility. For bores, everything exists for their entertainment. As with most first-world problems, it centers around self-importance. As it becomes harder to get along with others, depression, loneliness, and isolation rise. We are losing our ability to sit with ourselves—to sit with our discomforts and work through them. "I am bored. Just make it go away."
Is it better to have relationships that are meaningless but fun? If the choice is boring or toxic, how often have we picked toxic? Should we leave those who are kind and meaningful if they are boring? If every one of us stuck with our hobbies rather than picking up damaging activities, we'd all be expert-generalists with less baggage.
Yet we have been conditioned to chase the next burst of enjoyment, the next "high." Why do we emotionally eat? Because in conditioning, food and treats are rewards. Why do we chase pleasure? Because fun was always the main incentive—Chuck E. Cheese's until we threw up. So why is everyone confused by a society that engages in self-harm when in this same society, boredom has no value? Boredom has no societal value because it does not incentivize behavior. It exists for self-knowledge. And in naming self-knowledge boredom, we came to dislike ourselves. We came to find displeasure in our own company.
Path of Nonjudgment
We have fallen into a dangerous dualism, a binary either-or without grays. It started the moment someone said the world is made up of good and evil. Then, like an infection, the idea took off. No more uncertainty, everything could be understood quickly and explained simply—even to a child. It's either good or bad. Friend or foe. Boring or enjoyable. Yet reality can be both: boring-enjoyable, love-hate, yin-yang.
Boredom is just boredom, yet it's treated the same as injustice: it must be stopped immediately before it gets worse. It can physically upset us. Saying "You're boring me" is like saying "You're hurting me"—we think of them as interchangeable ways to say stop when they are conceptually different and different in feeling. But if given a choice, which would we pick? Pain or boredom? The rational you would say boredom, but in lab tests, when subjects had a choice to be left alone in a room for six minutes with nothing other than their thoughts to keep them company or be painfully shocked, most picked pain. It does not mean pain is the new rational, it means there is something wrong with the way the modern mind operates. No other animal would choose harm over safety. A mind that can't sit with itself is not in its natural state. However, this is not our destiny.
Celebrated author Neil Gaiman said of boredom:
We don't really hate boredom, but rather, we're addicted to distraction. Addicts don't shoot up to avoid boredom, nor do they do it because they find it meaningful. They shoot up because they're addicted to drugs—and any moment they are not doing it is the absence of doing drugs. It's not sitting there that bothers you, it's the lack of multitasking that bothers you. It's not that we love harm, we can't tolerate the lack of distraction. What we're feeling isn't boredom, it's withdrawal. We're addicted. It's fun, it's exhilarating, and it will replace meaning. Addiction, like meaning, can keep us committed to the end of the line. But unlike meaning, addiction never gets anything done. It only destroys.
Sit With It
Just recently, an acquaintance told me she went to a Beverly Hills sweat spa and spent an hour in a sauna while wearing a sweat suit. Why? Because she does not like who she is. It was a $200 nearly fatal way to lose weight. In another conversation, she complained about how hot the gym she goes to is. But being at that gym, I know it is not hot. She is hot from exercising (a more natural and safer form of heat than the sweat spa); however, the gym is cold. Her opinion over the sensation of heat varies because these are her choices. She chooses to complain. This is her pattern. She complains about the distance from her car to the gym when her primary activity at the gym is walking on the treadmill (while on her phone and listening to music). Privilege and unhappiness, not boredom and unhappiness, go hand in hand. But her unhappiness is the effect of her decisions. She is both uncomfortable with her body and the methods in which to change her body. She is a walking contradiction that avoids discomfort only to find more discomfort. What she needs is to sit with herself, with who she is, and the feelings she has towards herself and work them out. What is she running from? What is she afraid of? Whenever she becomes aware of herself, she hates it. To work out her inconsistencies and understand why she has them, she must sit with discomfort. That's what boredom is, the absence of distraction and presence with yourself. You are walking; you are sweating; you are a being.
In the bustle of contemporary life, boredom is a luxury. What greater joy than having a blank slate on your schedule? Time for ourselves. It's what our ancestors worked so hard for, so that we may sit here peacefully bored, without their worries, and as a byproduct, without their endurance.
Some will argue boredom is just a poor use of time; they will tell you to find something fun to do. That's not what I'm saying. I'm not saying take your idle time and make fun out of it—I'm saying the opposite. All those clichés about distracting boredom only reinforce distraction. They reinforce guilt over idle time. If you're always supposed to keep yourself busy, what about deep thinking, or meditation, mindfulness, or cultivating inner peace? What about the wonder of daydreaming? When will these spiritual needs ever be met if you're mindset is busyness? It makes us unable to sleep in. Leisure, idle time, and sleeping in are not bad. Time that is slow and quiet is worthwhile. Only when you can work your way through the hard part of boredom will you benefit. If you skip boredom and go straight to distraction, you'll miss everything. You'll never light up the best parts of your brain. It's like trying to grow grit by avoiding hard work. You'll only grow fragility.
The Brain Needs Boredom
In neuroscience, boredom is called diffuse mode thinking, the hotbed for new ideas. (In the arc of history, a large portion of humankind has always been allergic to new ideas, and thus, allergic to boredom.) You sit there, like many innovators before you, bored, bored, bored, until a new idea sprouts, a new pattern you didn't recognize, and you work it, and you work it until you are ready to show the world. If we were never bored, we would never create. We'd all be puking our brains out from fun overload.
It is rare nowadays to have a moment of nothingness last long enough to be "boring," so I am grateful when I have it. I love boring books and dull movies for this reason. And when I say this, I am not confusing this word with relaxing or calming, nor do I believe if I can find joy in it, it can no longer be boring. (That would take the charm out of lazy Sundays.) Boring is not automatically depression and depression is not boring. You can be depressed while having fun (like feeling lonely at a party); you can also be bored and happy. We talk about feelings as if one leads to the other when feelings are rich and embedded.
Mindful Presence
Joy is a matter of perspective. Boredom is a description, one that implies repetitiveness but also uncertainty. (What will happen if I keep doing this?) Such is practice. When I'm aware of boredom, this is no different than noticing the color of the sky; it's just an observation and not a judgment of value. Boredom can become mindful presence and gratitude. In fact, when people describe their struggles with mindfulness, it is identical to the sensation of boredom. But a closed mind may never understand that these are two words for the same process. What is different is the intent, do I want this or don't I? Just as my acquaintance in the sauna suit was conflicted over heat. It's a choice.
Mindfulness is about doing things, not because they are enjoyable but because they need to be done. Even in the West, the adage goes, "Be mindful of your work." There is a tyranny of "should" in the first-world, that every activity should be entertaining. (That everything should exist for me.) Mindfulness is not about taking things as we think they should be, but taking things as they are, and working with what we have.
In the Tao Te Ching, Lao Tzu writes:
Bores are self-centered, they project themselves onto the world. They see themselves in everything and thus hate everything they see. Mindfulness is other-centered. You observe with neither distraction nor judgment. You can appreciate the nature of ten thousand things without changing them into your own nature. Thus only when you can observe the world correctly can you correctly observe yourself. Only when you can appreciate the world, can you appreciate yourself.
[To read part II, click here.]
Useful Companions (Improve Your Education and This Site by Buying a Book):
- For learning how to stop procrastination and enjoy the work, read Deep Work: Rules for Focused Success in a Distracted World by Cal Newport
- In So Good They Can't Ignore You: Why Skills Trump Passion in the Quest for Work You Love, Cal Newport explains why it's not about dramatic change, but rather, incremental improvements.
- On understanding how boredom is an invaluable feature of genius, read Bored and Brilliant: How Spacing Out Can Unlock Your Most Productive and Creative Self by Manoush Zomorodi
- To understand how the brain works and different modes of thinking, like boredom, read Mindshift: Break Through Obstacles to Learning and Discover Your Hidden Potential by Barbara Oakley
- For the definitive book on the hero's journey, read The Hero With A Thousand Faces by Joseph Campbell
- For the definitive book on mindset, read Mindset: The New Psychology of Success by Carol S. Dweck
- When things are neutral, slow, and you are present in the moment, you are in the zone. Using tennis, W. Timothy Gallwey explores this topic in The Inner Game of Tennis: The Classic Guide to the Mental Side of Peak Performance
- For more of Neil Gaiman's work, read The View from the Cheap Seats: Selected Nonfiction
- For more on the life of Neil deGrasse Tyson, read The Sky Is Not the Limit: Adventures of an Urban Astrophysicist
- There are many translations of the Tao Te Ching, but I find the version translated by Jonathan Star to be the most accessible.