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5 Songs That Will Move You to Tears/
Have you seen A Star Is Born?
Did it make you cry?
I watched it for the first time on a recent cross-country flight. My buddy was sound asleep next to me, and there I was doing everything I could to prevent myself from breaking down during the final scene. I even removed my earbuds because I couldn't bear to listen. It was as moving a story as any I've watched, read, or listened to in a long time.
When my friend finally woke up, I asked him, "Did you see that movie?"
"Yup, it's a tough one."
To say I was fascinated by this movie would be an understatement. I thought about it all night. I couldn't let it go. And everyone I talked to had the same reaction. This movie has moved everyone.
Nobel Prize winner Daniel Kahneman once said, "If you want to move people, you have to tell stories, not numbers...you need to convince them by telling them stories about individuals, because numbers just don't capture the imagination of people."
A Star is Born shows us the story behind the music. It shows the story of the human, not the artist. It takes us behind the scenes of "celebrity." It reminds us that there is a story behind art. When we know and feel the story, the art becomes so much more meaningful. This is powerful.
Music alone has a certain moving quality about it. Many people like songs because they can recall those songs during specific moments in their life. They know their story behind the music. Music taps into their true feelings. When you listen to Bradley Cooper and Lady Gaga sing the song Shallow, you're thinking about their love story because you've just seen it. You think about the angry, raw, alcoholic (yet endearing) Cooper. You think about the talented, unsure, girl-next-door (yet captivating) Gaga. You think about their relationships with their family members, friends, and colleagues. You consider every dimension that makes Shallow, Shallow. That makes for a powerful experience. You don't have to put yourself in their shoes; you just get put in their shoes. It becomes very real for you. You see, feel, and experience the story. This quality has moved millions of people around the world. It's what almost had me in tears on the plane.
There's something I do quite often. Something I'd like to share with you. You might already do it. If not, let's just call it a new form of entertainment. It combines reading and listening, and I think I might be able to recreate this moving feeling for you (if you let me.)
So, I sit on my couch, listening to songs while reading the lyrics. It's not a major motion picture or bestselling novel, but it definitely moves me, perhaps more than either. Sometimes to tears. It's kind of like meditating on the music. You insert yourself into the story the artist is trying to share with you. I'd love for you try it.
Here are five songs about love and life. Five of my favorites. Maybe you've heard of some of them, maybe not. Either way, I've provided the lyrics and links to the songs below. It's about eighteen minutes of moving entertainment. All you have to do is find a quiet place, just like you were going to watch a movie, and then listen and read along. Sit back and let the rest just happen.
1. If We Were Vampires—Jason Isbell (4:31)
Isbell was tapped to write Cooper's "Maybe It's Time" from A Star Is Born, and for good reason. In my opinion, he is one of the best storytellers of our generation. His ability to go deep using such an economy of words is amazing to me. There's probably not been a more impactful musician to me on a personal and professional level than Isbell.
Vampires might be the best written love song I've ever heard. Seriously. The reality we all face is that one day, we will be gone. Isbell uses this inevitability to point toward love at its best. It's the finality that makes us squeeze tighter, kiss softer, and cherish seemingly inconsequential moments. He said when he first wrote it that it took him six times to even get through it without crying.
It's not the long, flowing dress that you're in
Or the light coming off of your skin
The fragile heart you protected for so long
Or the mercy in your sense of right and wrong
It's not your hands searching slow in the dark
Or your nails leaving love's watermark
It's not the way you talk me off the roof
Your questions like directions to the truth
It's knowing that this can't go on forever
Likely one of us will have to spend some days alone
Maybe we'll get forty years together
But one day I'll be gone
Or one day you'll be gone
If we were vampires and death was a joke
We'd go out on the sidewalk and smoke
And laugh at all the lovers and their plans
I wouldn't feel the need to hold your hand
Maybe time running out is a gift
I'll work hard 'til the end of my shift
And give you every second I can find
And hope it isn't me who's left behind
It's knowing that this can't go on forever
Likely one of us will have to spend some days alone
Maybe we'll get forty years together
But one day I'll be gone
Or one day you'll be gone
It's knowing that this can't go on forever
Likely one of us will have to spend some days alone
Maybe we'll get forty years together
But one day I'll be gone
One day you'll be gone
Songwriters: Michael Jason Isbell
If We Were Vampires lyrics © Downtown Music Publishing
2. If You See Her, Say Hello—Bob Dylan (3:51)
Dylan is Dylan. He's confusing, alluring, and raw. If you don't appreciate Dylan, you're probably not human. But we don't have to debate that now. This song is one of my favorites. I prefer the version from his newly released More Blood More Tracks album. It just sounds like the story has been marinating for last forty-five years because, well, it has. It's just a touch more raw. It goes there. Sure, it's the story of a break-up, but it's more about understanding why the break-up had to happen. It's a song about acceptance. It's about the realization that all we have is the hope that person still thinks of us and the hope they think of us the way we think of them. It's about coming to grips with heartbreak, being bitter, and being okay with all of that. Maybe you don't want the person "back," but you do wish you could say hello one more time. It's a heart-melter for sure. A song I really just love.
If you see her, say hello
She might be in Tangier
She left here last early spring
Is livin' there, I hear
Say for me that I'm all right
Though 'new' things get kind of slow come and go
She might think that I've forgotten her
Don't tell her it isn't so
We had a falling out
Like lovers often will
And But to think of how she left that night
It still brings me a chill
And though our separation
It pierced me to the heart
She still lives inside of me
We've never been apart
If you get close to her you're making love to her
Kiss her once for me for the kid
I Who always have has respected her
For doin' what she did and gettin' free
Oh, whatever makes her happy I know it had to be that way
I won't stand in the way It wasn't written in the cards
Though Still the bitter taste still lingers on
From the night I tried to make her stay It all came down so hard
I see a lot of people
As I make the rounds
And I hear her name here and there
As I go from town to town
And I've never gotten used to it
I've just learned to turn it off
Either I'm too sensitive
Or else I'm gettin' soft
Sundown, yellow moon
I replay the past
I know every scene by heart
They all went by so fast
If she's passin' back this way
I'm not that hard to find
Tell her she can look me up
If she's got the time
Songwriters: Bob Dylan
If You See Her, Say Hello lyrics © Audiam, Inc
3. Souvenirs—John Prine (3:33)
My dad introduced me to this song, so I always think of him when I listen to it. It reminds me of the importance of memories. We place high value on memories, and we should because in the end, that's all we're left with. Even if those memories are inaccurate or embellished, they're still all we've got. I often think that we never realize the uniqueness of any one moment. The appreciation is fleeting as it gets washed up in the hustle and bustle, but it's those very same moments that we end up cherishing forever. It's a weird dichotomy. Every kiss, hug, smile, and frown. It's all real. The moments spent with long-time partners and moments spent with people you might never see again. Those face-to-face moments that seem insignificant. In the end, it's those "souvenirs" we're left with to think about forever. They might fade, but they'll never be gone. They happened. They were real.
All the snow has turned to water
Christmas days have come and gone
Broken toys and faded colors
Are all that's left to linger on
I hate graveyards and old pawn shops
For they always bring me tears
I can't forgive the way they rob me
Of my childhood souvenirs
Memories they can't be boughten
They can't be won at carnivals for free
Well it took me years
To get those souvenirs
And I don't know how they slipped away from me
Broken hearts and dirty windows
Make life difficult to see
That's why last night and this mornin'
Always look the same to me
I hate reading old love letters
For they always bring me tears
I can't forgive the way they rob me
Of my sweetheart's souvenirs
Memories they can't be boughten
They can't be won at carnivals for free
Well it took me years
To get those souvenirs
And I don't know how they slipped away from me
Songwriters: John Prine
Souvenirs lyrics © Warner/Chappell Music, Inc
4. Question—Old 97's (2:15)
This is such a delicate little song. It's about vulnerability and serendipity. It's about that person who has always run away in fear. The person afraid of commitment. More importantly, it's about being open to the idea that one day, someone might ask you a question that you should say yes to. And maybe that day will be today, tomorrow, or the next day. I love listening to this song because it's kind of like your favorite romantic comedy bundled up in a song.
She woke from a dream
Her head was on fire
Why was he so nervous?
He took her to the park
She crossed her arms
And lowered her eyelids
Someday somebody's gonna ask you
A question that
You should say "yes" to
Once in your life
Maybe tonight
I've got a question for you
She'd had no idea
Started to cry,
She said in a good way
He took her by the hand
Walked her back home
They took the long way
Someday somebody's gonna ask you
A question that
You should say "yes" to
Once in your life
Maybe tonight
I've got a question for you
Songwriters: Kendall Bethea / Murry Hammond / Philip Peeples / Simon Ford / Stewart Miller
Question lyrics © BMG Rights Management
5. Bella Donna—Avett Brothers (3:06)
The question Have you ever really seen me? is about as deep as it gets. There's something a "look" tells you that words can't. It's more pure. The "looker" cannot sanitize their feelings, and the look tells you more than words ever will. The lyrics in this song are the epitome of what we want in a relationship. It gets taken to the next level, though, and says, Okay you see me, but do you see me how I want you to see me? We all have a little person inside of us just wishing, wanting, and waiting to be seen the way we want to be seen. Every time I hear this song, I get a chill from limb to limb. It's also a testament to how less can often be more.
Baby, I asked you not to keep me waiting
I told you not to keep me waiting
Now the afternoon is fading on
Donna, Bella Donna, have you seen me
And have you ever really seen me
Like I want for you to see me now
Lonesome, like you were when you were sixteen
When maybe even if I weren't listening
Did I help when I was kissing you
Donna, Bella Donna, are you listening
And were you ever really listening
Like I want for you to listen now
Songwriters: Scott Yancey Avett / Timothy Seth Avett
Bella Donna lyrics © Nemoivmusic, Ramseur Family Fold Music, First Big Snow Publishing
Am I too sappy? Sure, sometimes. But I want to keep it real with you. I'm human. Humans are emotional. We do things for the way they make us feel.
Or as Bradley Cooper says in A Star is Born, "Unless you get out there and try to do it, you'll never know. That's just the truth. If there's one reason we're supposed to be here, it's to say somethin' so people wanna hear it. So you gotta grab it and you don't apologize, don't worry about why they're listenin' or how long they're gonna be listening for. You just tell em what you wanna say."
So go listen to these songs. Think about them. Or create your own list of songs. Share them with other people and try to move them, too.
If you liked any of these songs, please tell me about it. I'd love to know which song impacted you the most.
I have plenty more for you.


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Did you know that our Summer Youth Employment Program (SYEP) had placed over 600 youths to more than 120 worksites all over the city this year? Today is the last day for most of the SYEP participants (for participants who started working on July 15th will have their last day on August 23rd) and they are heading back to school. We've been proud and thrilled to see youths explore their interests and career pathways, develop workplace skills, and simultaneously make their own money during the summer!
Earlier this month, on August 1st, our volunteer photography team visited one of our SYEP worksites, Governor's Island, and had a great opportunity to observe and see what the summer job was offering to the participants.
" From my own experience, I had always perceived internships/summer jobs to be a mundane albeit important time to learn and get a grasp for what the workplace is like. Filling in tables, taking notes, doing menial tasks, etc. It had never occurred to me that an internship could be as dynamic as the one offered by the Friends of Governor's Island. Even though we had only stayed for a brief period, my photography team and I could immediately tell that these interns loved their job. It wasn't a monotonous task they were performing behind the scenes — they were front and center, helping out visitors by giving detailed directions, maps and other resources to ensure the tourists' experience was an enjoyable one".
- - - Ethan Lee, Volunteer Photographer

subset: commoncrawl


text: Tips for Finding the Best Software Development Service Software-development is one of the essential careers in today's world. This is because every marketplace requires software to improve its functioning. Businesses need software's for good record keeping practices. This interest in application has resulted in the rise of software-development businesses that have dedicated all their methods in developing essential software's for that market to consume. Nevertheless, choosing the finest software-development organization is not so easy. You have to master a few basic ways that may lead you to the top software development service in the market. Listed here are a few of the ideas that you need to consider when locating the best software development service. The first point you need to do when choosing the best software-development service would be to determine your requirements. While defining your needs, you need to involve all the important stakeholders in your company, so that you can come up with a comprehensive need that will cater for all. This will give you an idea of what to look for in a software development company. The software firm ought to be able to meet your requirements effectively. Here-you should be able to outline the predicted budget, size, and when you'll need the software. Reliability is a crucial thing you need to seek out when choosing the finest application development company. You should find a business that's has dedicated almost all their resources to application development. This may ensure that the company can produce application that can fulfill your preferences and deliver it for your requirements at the right moment. Considering that you can't touch consistency, it's crucial to have a look at prior works of the software-development business to know the quality of their function. You should also reach keep in touch with previous clients of the company and have them regarding the quality of support of a software development company. You should ask about their ability to deliver good work at the required time. This will give you a notion regarding the company. The software development company should have a good reputation. You can tell this, by looking at their previous work, and how this work was received by the market. A respected business has got the tendency of creating high quality software that gets the eye of most folks. You ought to uncover what makes the company trustworthy over others. The company should have a record of treating their clients with respect. Their customer care service should be unquestionable, in terms of skills and professionalism. The company should also price their services well so that they can cater for the needs of different set of clients. Every one of these are a part of what makes a business reputable.Services – My Most Valuable Advice


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Mike Lewis (Professor of Oral Medicine)
Heather Lewis (Dental Hygienist)
Greg Spiller has provided Heather and I with financial advice for more than a decade and throughout that time the service we have received has been absolutely excellent.
Greg helped us secure the lowest interest rate on our present mortgage has saved us thousands of pounds.
In addition, help when purchasing a second property and arranging a personal pension for Heather was invaluable.
At this time, Greg is advising us on important decisions related to my retirement and the purchase of a property for our eldest son. Greg delivers a fantastic financial service and is always contactable when decisions need to be made quickly.
John Enticott
(Managing Director of Collect My Wheels.Com)
I would like to express my sincere gratitude and appreciation to Greg Spiller of Acumen Financial Services. From the second I instructed Greg he was professional, courteous and sympathetic to my situation, using his many years' experience and expanded network, Greg was able to source a market leading rate with a unique borrowing criteria.
From conception to completion Greg has been nothing short of brilliant. His communication skills, knowledge of the market regular updates and explanations are a credit to him the service he provides.
Greg did not stop there, Greg then went on to recommend and put me directly in touch with a solicitor who he assured me would efficiently complete and protect my purchase.
Both myself and my partner are extremely grateful to Greg for his hard work and efforts to secure the mortgage for our dream home. I would highly recommend Greg to my Family, friends and customers.
John Anthony
(M.D 'Apia' Spanish property sales)
Just a few lines to thank you for your professional help over the last eight years. It has always been a pleasure to deal with your company and many of my clients have reported back to me that your services have been of great value to them in arranging mortgages for properties both here in the UK and also in Spain.
We have found your approachable and common sense manner to the most seemingly complicated issues to be reassuring and confidence building, in an area where many people are left confused by the vast array of financial products available.
We look forward to a long and enduring working relationship with you and are confident that you will always endeavour to source the best product for me personally.
I am always confident to recommend your services to many of my clients.
Lyn and Trudi Arnold
(Retired Professionals)
We initially approached Greg about re-mortgaging to pay for a house extension. His open and sensible approach made him the obvious choice when it came to investing a family inheritance.
He is thoughtful, approachable, and has a knack of explaining financial complexities in clear terms that can be easily grasped. We have always felt Greg has taken time and trouble when examining what would best serve our needs, and trust him unreservedly.
We can highly recommend him for his personal, honest and impartial advice, and he will definitely look after any future financial requests we may have.
Denise MacRae
(Retired Professional)
I was fortunate enough to be recommended to Greg Spiller when I found myself in a very difficult situation. Upon retiring, my husband of 40 years unexpectedly left me, and I was faced with the possibility of losing my house. To enable me to stay in it, I had to look at taking equity from the family home.
I knew nothing about this, but fortunately, Greg did. He completely took the worry away from me when I was feeling very vulnerable. We had a few telephone conversations to establish what I needed and he talked me through the procedure. He then came to visit me, with a schedule prepared, and went over this carefully and answered any questions.
He has always been very prompt at returning my calls and e-mails if I was worried or didn't understand something.
I would certainly recommend him to anyone who finds themselves in a similar situation, or in any other situation that involves releasing equity from their home, as not only is he very knowledgeable, but also very patient and understanding.
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(Estate Trustee)
I would like to thank you for the very efficient way that you have guided us through the "minefield" of Equity Release. You have handled it in a very efficient manner, and have speeded up what was a very lengthy and slow process.
I would certainly appreciate your help if we need to call on your services in the future.
Alan & Joan Hurley
(Retired Professionals)
Working with Greg Spiller of Acumen was a pleasure. He was able to help us quickly through the ER process and achieve our goals in a friendly and common-sense manner. Would certainly have no hesitation in recommending the service to others.
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I have happily trusted Acumen to provide well-considered, timely and relevant financial advice for over ten years. The professional service offered by Greg is exemplary and there is a real effort to ensure the products of interest are suited to my needs. Looking forward to another ten years of quality support.
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As the U.S. Supreme Court considers the latest dispute over "same-sex marriage," another less bitter controversy has re-emerged: Pluto.
Vanderbilt University astronomer David Weintraub claims Pluto was wrongly removed as a planet in 2006. He predicts a planned NASA-craft flyby July 14 will inspire public opinion.
The fight about same-sex marriage is like Pluto's controversy.
"Why I Killed Pluto and Why it Had it Coming" was Cal Tech astronomer Mike Brown's case for "de-planetizing" Pluto. He made the case for demoting Pluto because it is smaller than originally thought and newly discovered celestial bodies, some larger than Pluto, belie its claim to uniqueness.
Because of sentimental desire, some astronomers attempted to maintain Pluto's status by increasing the number of planets to 10 to include Pluto. Others called for declaring more than 200 other celestial objects -- mostly rocks and ice -- to be planets. The International Astronomical Union opted for the most logical definition of a planet -- a celestial body that orbits the Sun, has sufficient mass for its self-gravity to overcome rigid body forces, and has cleared the area around its orbit -- accepting only eight of the traditional planets.
So what does Pluto have to do with same-sex marriage?
For millennia, marriage in Western civilization was a union between a woman and a man. Society opted for ordered commitment, fidelity, permanence and stability for rearing children. This definition predates the existence of state and organized religion.
The Supreme Court in 1878, when considering anti-polygamy laws, ruled that the long-standing reality of marriage between one woman and one man came long before the Constitution. So even acting out of religious liberty conviction could not subvert common law.
In the 1970s, there was a push for the Equal Rights Amendment. It stated: "Equality of rights under the law shall not be denied or abridged by the United States or by any State on account of sex." ERA opponents warned it would dictate outlandish possibilities such as "homosexual marriage." ERA supporters dismissed the claims as homophobia.
The ERA never passed, but lower courts in the past decade have ruled that traditional marriage somehow violates the Constitution -- even though marriage came first.
Voters in a majority of states have rejected redefining marriage. Yet judges say in effect: "Forget you voters. You don't decide. We do."
Calling same-sex union a marriage is important to some. Same-sex couples, who deserve our respect, may feel excluded. Many know same-sex couples as good citizens and family people. Their advocacy arises from noble sentiments.
Still, like keeping Pluto a planet, it is a sentiment. Opponents of redefining marriage are dismissed as illogical. Yet advocates of traditional marriage have centuries of experience and awareness of adverse, societally erosive possibilities.
If you redefine marriage -- like lobbying for Pluto -- you need a reason to ensure the integrity of an underlying marital institution thereafter. If same-sex marriage is allowed, why not polygamy?
How can federal immigration officials investigate so-called "immigration marriages" if marriage is whatever two -- or more -- people want it to be?
Everything has its nature. You can't order a cafe latte black. If marriage is whatever someone wants it to be, its very meaning and value are tenuous.
It may be too late to stop it. My modest proposal is for the courts to stay out of it, allow states to make reasonable laws, see what happens where same-sex marriage is legal, and then make intelligent judgments.
If redefining marriage is a natural evolution, let it evolve naturally. Don't force it.
Otherwise, we risk consequences further out than Pluto.
Pete Sheehan, a former senior reporter for The Long Island Catholic, is a journalist and freelance writer in Ohio.
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B.Com.LLB (Hons)
If you are after a dedicated, passionate and tenacious advocate who will stand up for you, then I am the lawyer you are looking for. If you are after a lawyer who will treat you like a real person and communicate through each stage of the process, then look no further.
I grew up in Auckland and attended the University of Auckland, qualifying with degrees in Commerce and Honours in Law. I started out in Commercial and tax lawyer and discovered that my real interest was for people and things that mattered in their lives, especially those who haven't always been given the best deal in life. I moved into criminal law and have never looked back.
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As your lawyer, who can be assured that you will be given the best possible strategy for your defence. I am known for my enthusiasm for the law, for my systematic and thorough approach and my drive to find a way through even when it may seem too hard or hopeless.
If you would like to discuss your situation then call me today for a no obligation consultation about how I can help you in your particular situation.


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Allegations of unfairness in the imposition of tax levies on non-governmental organizations helping the disabled made by MP Edmund Hinkson, led to much crosstalk in the House of Assembly yesterday, forcing Minister of Finance Chris Sinckler to argue that tax breaks are indeed given NGOs.
Speaking during debate on a resolution to grant 25,000 square feet of land on a 25-year lease to Rotary Club of Barbados South for construction of a facility for children with disabilities, Hinkson pointed to a land tax charge to the club, and spoke of a vehicle for transporting disabled persons stuck at the port for six months pending payment of $52,000 in levies.
Rebutting the charges, Sinckler said there was an overall Government scheme to grant tax waivers to such volunteer organizations. He added that instances like the bus being stuck in the port were due to late notifications to his ministry that such items needing a waiver were being brought into the island.
The resolution seeks to permit Rotary South to build a play area on lands of the Garfield Sobers Sports Complex, enabling children with disabilities to enjoy recreation alongside those who are not challenged.
Reacting to Minister of Sports, Culture and Youth Minister Stephen Lashley's statement that the club holding the lease will pay land taxes, Hinkson argued that the arrangement was wrong because those to whom land was leased did not pay the tax.
"I query whether that is the best way to approach this matter. Of course, land vested in the Crown is exempt from payment of land tax," said Hinkson. "You are now going to be asking a service organization, that out of the kindness of its heart is helping Government in terms of creating a recreational facility, to pay land tax on over half-acre of land and on a building after it is constructed. I think that is fundamentally wrong.
He went on: "The Rotary is not an organization that generates profit . . . . It is a service organization, and to ask it to pay land tax on land that it doesn't own but only leases is not fair."
Sinckler countered by explaining that it was the norm for governments to grant tax concessions to non-governmental organizations.
"We will continue to do so. Some come as charities and under the Charities Act are entitled to get tax waivers."
Assuring that Government would grant a waiver on the bus currently stuck at the port, the Minister of Finance said: "The problem is if people would follow the procedures, that bus would not have been there. People have to respect the procedures. Come to the Ministry of Finance first, get your letter of waiver and go and get your equipment. Not the other way around."


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Cynthia Ochoa is a Los Angeles native with a background in the beauty and fashion industry that spans nearly decade. Born and raised in LA, she finds it's natural beauty and dauntless, vibrant spirit a constant inspiration. She has also been trained under Vanessa, a brow expert. Her professional talent is complemented by a love for skincare, and a passion for beauty trends and developments. Her client base is comprised of individuals, brands and publications for which she has created a wide range of looks
including commercial, editorial and special event. Cynthia is a creative free-thinker, artist and mom who brings her style and dedication to every job and project.
Publications & Editorials:
Yen Magazine
Modern Monde
Human Being
Veign Magazine
Living Magazine
P Magazine
Lookbook: Stil


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So, it's off to Brighton to meet Preston, sometime lead singer of the here-today-gone-tomorrow indie band the Ordinary Boys, erstwhile Celebrity Big Brother housemate, ex-husband of Chantelle Houghton, the fluffiest, blondest non-celebrity celebrity of recent times. And now, if his press release is to be believed, a born-again pop hero.
It seems such an awfully long time ago now, the Preston and Chantelle romance, long enough ago anyway that Big Brother was still a cultural force, or, at least, still watched by significant numbers of people, and not in the awful embarrassing death throes it's currently experiencing nightly on Channel 4. Although when I look it up, I discover it wasn't long ago at all. It's only three years since Preston and Chantelle were ordained as the Burton and Taylor of the Heat generation, a will-they-won't-they affair that sprawled messily across the tabloids and finally culminated in a £300,000 wedding on the front cover of OK! (although this is "finally" in the celebrity sense, ie eight months later).
And then, for Preston at least, it all seemed to go a bit wrong. First there was an appearance on Never Mind the Buzzcocks in which he flounced off when Simon Amstell started reading extracts from Chantelle's autobiography. Then, when the marriage didn't quite work out, came Chantelle's revelations: she wasn't allowed to wear fake tan and make-up or, most heart-wrenchingly of all, "to watch soaps or TV after 8.30pm". And then, he quite simply vanished.
In fact, he went to America to cool his heels and regroup and the result is detailed on a press release that outlines his new album and change of musical direction: "'I am ready to be a pop star,' declares Preston, one time Ordinary Boy, now returning as a solo artist who is anything but ordinary. 'I want to be a pop star, and I'm going to do that on my own terms!' Having endured years of photocopied personalities and identikit pop idols, Preston is returning with his first solo album, Whatever Forever, to change all that."
Oh dear. According to his blog, he's been acting on the advice of a friend and pursuing a course of "silence, exile and cunning", but I'm not sure a couple of years of not giving interviews to Heat qualifies. Given his OK! marriage, and his OK! divorce, and his appearances in Chantelle's TV programme, Living the Dream (which possibly should have been subtitled Until Your Decree Nisi Comes Through), Siberia might have been more appropriate. And then I get a call to say he's fallen off his bike and fractured both his arms.
They're hanging uselessly in slings when I arrive so it's Abby, his new American girlfriend, who answers the door. Abby is a student Preston met in Philadelphia, the scene of his most recent exile, and after she graduates she tells me that she wants to do a Masters in library and archive science. It's fair to say that she's not an awful lot like Chantelle. But then Preston is not an awful lot like Preston either. For a start, he and everyone he knows calls him Sam (his first name). And secondly, he's perhaps the least likely person ever to have had an OK! wedding.
He's a self-described "nerd" who can bang on at length about his current passion for Richard Dawkins and the mysteries of evolution, and although he has the indie boy look with Love and Hate tattooed in what looks like child's writing on his toes, he's inescapably middle class. He has extensive rock star-style tattoos up his arms, but they include the Penguin logo and the seal of Châteauneuf-du-Pape, "because I love love love red wine. I was practically brought up on it".
It's the first interview he's done since his marriage and divorce and the split-up of the Ordinary Boys, and it all comes rushing out in a spate, a tangle of chronological confusions and jokes, and groans when I quote some of his old interviews back at him, and statements of contrition, and digressions about Dawkins or whatever, and here's the confounding thing - he's really nothing like I was expecting, not indie-boy sulky, or attempting to play it cool, he's just talkative and engaging, and he has a sense of humour about himself that, from reading his previous interviews, I wouldn't have even guessed at.
"You have to," he says. "You have to pip people to the post. And also I don't think it's a defence tactic so much as an actual realisation that I was absurd."
Preston grew up just a few miles down the road in Worthing, his American mother the daughter of a professor of English at Princeton university, his father the public school-educated great great great grandson of Earl Grey. He formed the Ordinary Boys in his teens with his friends from school. They had almost immediate critical success, sold 100,000 copies of their first album, Over The Counter Culture, and acquired a loyal band of die-hard indie-girl fans. So far, so good, but the album-tour-album-tour schedule had already started to wear thin when he got the call from Big Brother.
"I was doing the most depressing tour of my entire life. Opening for Paul Weller. I hated it. I would cry. I would genuinely cry. And then I got a call saying, 'Do you want to go on Celebrity Big Brother? And I do love Big Brother. I think it's absolutely bizarre and weird. I remember seeing the first one on the screens in Leicester Square and thinking, 'This is the future,' and so, of course, I was like, 'OK.'"
The band, though, had other ideas.
"They hated it. They were like, 'No, no, you're not doing that.' And the thing is I'd been... I'd always let them... no, that's not the right term, I'd always encouraged everybody to do what they wanted. Maybe I was really controlling. Although I don't think I was. But maybe I was... So I was just, like, 'Look, I'll be fine. It'll be so funny. Imagine turning on the telly and seeing me!'"
In the end, they were both right. If it hadn't been for his on-screen flirtation with Chantelle, a 22-year-old Paris Hilton lookalike from Essex, who was put into the house as a "celebrity ringer" (she wasn't one, but then unless you happened to read NME, you wouldn't have heard of Preston either; even Mark Frith, the then editor of Heat, said he had no idea who he was when he walked into the house), he might have remained under the public radar. But he didn't. The romance filled the tabloids, Chantelle won the show, and by the time Preston was kicked out, the press excitement had propelled the Ordinary Boys into the Top 10 and secured them a sell-out gig at the Brixton Academy.
But the band still considered these mixed blessings. The week Preston left the house, the Ordinary Boys' guitarist told Heat: "We want to be respected for our music, not because our singer is on TV having a drunken fumble with a blonde."
Even then, Preston might have faded from view. He had a girlfriend, Camille, and nothing had actually happened with Chantelle. But then it did. "It was at the Brixton Academy, which was the biggest gig I'd ever done. And I think we just shared a kiss. I can't even remember why I did that. It was definitely the wrong thing to do. It was just so exciting. I knew that the kiss would lead to absolute thrills. I guess post-Big Brother it was all dying down around me, and this little kiss was making it all jump up again. But also I was taking a lot of sleeping pills and drinking, so I don't really know what I was thinking."
So, it was almost a bit contrived?
"I was, 'Yeah, I love her. I absolutely love the girl. And I'm like a little nerd. And she's a page 3 model.' At the time I thought it would be absurd not to do it. Obviously experience has taught me that that's not necessarily the case. Also the little interesting differences in culture and whatever, the things that set us apart, they were so endearing and cute at the beginning. I remember thinking I don't think I'll ever get bored of her cute little things. It hadn't occurred to me that she'd get absolutely infuriated by mine. She'd be like, 'Why do you have to overthink everything? Why are you acting like that? You must be gay. Are you gay?' And I'd be like, 'No I'm really not gay, I'm slightly camp, it's different.'
"I bought her, and I still can't believe this, I might as well have gouged out my own eyeballs with a rusty spoon, but I bought her a personalised number plate which was M155 LTD. Miss Living The Dream. We'd had an argument. And I thought what can I do, what can I do that she'd really like? But thinking about it now, it's just funny."
When they married, the Evening Standard asked: "Is it a modern fairytale? Or are we looking at the cynical union of two celebrity-obsessed souls so terrified of dwindling fame that they are willing to wrap their ill-considered lives around each other?" To most people there didn't seem much doubt. His ex-girlfriend, Camille, told the Mirror: "I'm surprised they got together because Chantelle and I are so different. We have different interests, personalities and backgrounds. He loved that I had a politics degree and a Masters. We sat for hours discussing politics and the state of the world, and had a real connection. Then he leaves me for someone so different."
It's not until I meet Preston that I appreciate just how different he and Chantelle were. He was brought up with books. His grandfather was an author. His brother, Alex Preston, has just been signed to Faber and his first novel is coming out next year, on the table is the new Dave Eggers which he's currently reading, and then there's his all-time hero, Will Self, who in recent years has also become his friend.
He's his "surrogate father figure" he says, the one who gave him the "silence, cunning and exile" maxim and who told him to kick the sleeping pills. Preston has written his own novel about a roadie in a "rather polite band", the writing style of which he says was in no small way influenced by Self. "I just love all that word play and laboured puns and to really overthink things," he says. "It's very much written from the experience of being in a very sensible band and having a roadie come in and say, 'Guys, I've got some coke!' And them saying, 'Oh right, I've just got myself some camomile tea actually, thanks.'"
This, then, is the background to his marriage to Chantelle. And it's hard to know how cynical the union was, or naive, or calculating, or impulsive. Or all of these things together. And it doesn't seem that Preston has quite worked it out either.
"It was a bit of a whirlwind. I don't know. Things seem to move faster when they're being written about in the tabloids. The whole thing, I'm well aware of the absurdity of the situation now, but it just didn't seem ... When you're caught up in it... It's so hard to know now. It did make sense in a way. I was the rock star with the eye-candy wife. But, of course, I wasn't a rock star. I was in a little indie band. And she wasn't a supermodel, she was a page 3 model. It was such a Primark version. I was madly in love with her, though. The thing about that girl, she has this huge natural beauty. But she covers it up so well. She uses the same tricks ugly girls use, like tanning yourself orange and bleaching your hair. But when she'd just woken up in the mornings, when she's just totally natural, she looks like Brigitte Bardot - she's gorgeous."
It's genuinely fascinating hearing Preston talk about his OK! period, because it's like listening to one of your friends who'd just accidentally happened to become a celebrity for a month or so, and had the full-on Katie Price and Peter Andre wedding, and then afterwards simply gone back home and returned to normality. And although he's taken a huge step back from it, there's still some confusion in his own mind about it all: on one level he's appalled by his behaviour; on another, he's still fascinated by it.
He grew up with celebrity culture, and when he describes what it was like stepping into the pages of OK! it's like hearing him describe stepping through a Narnia-like portal to the Land of Glittering Success. "When you're entering into this whole world of magazine deals, you don't take it seriously because it is so surreal. I'm wary to say that I didn't take marriage seriously. Because obviously I do... But it's like having to turn up for a photo shoot or something."
Allied to this, he is, by his own definition, an attention-seeker. And the way he describes fame is not unlike his previous dependency on sleeping pills.
"It's really addictive. It really is. Even if you don't really want it, as soon it goes, you're just, like, 'What's wrong with me? Why don't you love me any more?' It's just an odd, odd beast. You feel like you've achieved it so you want to enjoy it. And when you allow yourself to enjoy it and to revel in it, it's just the most exhilarating thing."
But then, on the other hand, he says his greatest fear is to be famous for having been on Big Brother and not for actually doing anything. "I want to try and recategorise myself. To be famous for doing something good. That's the last thing I have yet to achieve. Which I know is quite a lot to ask."
It's rather easier this way around, isn't it, though? It's much harder to become famous through one's great talent than through a reality show. It is, he agrees, which is why he says he'll be "eternally grateful" to it, but also why he's spent the last two years working on his new album, Whatever, Forever
The website Popjustice has given it "the award for most surprising pop comeback/reinvention type thing of 2009", describing it as "elegant" and "stylised", as well as noting that Preston "no longer looks like the tramp who came last in a fight over the last sausage roll in the bins round the back of Greggs".
Certainly he's a talented lyricist and there's some fun to be had parsing the remnants of his marriage in lines like, "She's got a heart of gold, It's hard and cold..." And he's given up the sleeping pills. He says he'd been taking Zolpidem, a hypnotic, for several years, and the doctor had warned him that giving them up would take a long time and might not ever be fully possible. "But I was just so happy with the album, and I just decided to get healthy. So I gave up drinking and I cut them out."
I'm no judge if the record is going to be a hit or not, but it is upbeat and poppy, the sort of thing you can hum along to. And, in any case, Preston is obviously bright and witty and engaging. He tells funny anecdotes, he takes the piss out of himself. I have no doubt that he'll be back in some form or another. But,
I also feel a bit like Simon Amstell, the compere of Never Mind the Buzzcocks, who, when Preston walked out, said, "What? Do you think you can go on Big Brother and just get away with it?" At one point, he says of his friends: "I've got ones who think they are intellectuals to the point of being unbearably pretentious. It's all art installations and bizarre poetry. And they love Big Brother."
But you're treating it as some sort of ironic post-celebrity joke, I say.
"That's the only way to treat it perhaps. I genuinely believed that at one point."
Believed what?
"I genuinely thought I've infiltrated the celebrities! They think I'm one of them! Little do they know that I'm actually really weird and awkward!"
It's such a common trope, this, the person who thinks they're subverting something, only to become part of what it is they're trying to undermine.
"That's exactly what happened to me. But I'm still awkward and weird and I'm not going to stop being that. I'm not going to end up living in a sunbed. I did get dangerously close to the precipice, of falling in."
But having your wedding on the front cover of OK! is rather more than "dangerously close". Do you mean you were close to the precipice? Or had you actually fallen off?"
"I'm desperately crawling out even if it's giving me bloodied fingernails. I'm just praying that this record will save me."
The other thing, of course, is whether Chantelle thought an OK! wedding was some sort of great ironic post-celebrity joke. She really was living the dream. Although she now seems happy enough, having had the breast enlargement Preston begged her not to, dating footballers and, according to last week's papers, flirting with the newly single Peter Andre. She's been taken on by Jordan's old agent and seems to be trying to take over some of Katie's old territory.
But then, Preston, now 27, is living his dream, too. Growing up in Worthing, Brighton was the fabulous mecca just down the road, and he's now living in what he calls his "dream flat", a comfortable, stylish but not huge maisonette in central Brighton ("Me and Chantelle lived two streets away in a stupidly large house"). And although Abby grimaces at the mention of a Chantelle-era tattoo he still has on his chest ("Baby, I Love You"), he's had an "Abby" inscribed on his calf which seems to have reassured her.
In the past, Preston has spoken about people off Big Brother who "have their two months of fame then the rest of their life is teetering on the edge of failure, whether it's a career in pantomime or being forced to admit to deeper personal tragedy. I've never cheapened myself like that. My integrity has remained."
"Uh oh," he says when I remind him of this. "Maybe I shouldn't have allowed myself to be the judge of that. I don't really know how to respond to that. What gets me into trouble is that I just say these absurd things."
He does. But it's part of his charm. And I agree with him when he says, "That whole OK! thing; I thought I could do something clever with it. And actually there was no leeway at all and I ended up doing something very very stupid."
It was pretty stupid. But nobody died and Preston, or "Sam" as I now think of him - in a Katie Price-versus-Jordan sort of way, Sam being the sensible one who reads literary novels and goes to the pub with his mates, Preston being the unhinged exhibitionist who marries models - is perhaps one of the few people who could do it and have enough self-knowledge to make something interesting of it.
• The single, "Dressed to Kill", is released on 16 August


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Office tale of Francisco Reyes Jr., Graphic Designer at Studio Number One
Who are you : I am Francisco Reyes Jr. I produce work under the handle "Never Made" And I'm from Los Angeles Ca.
Your current job : Graphic Designer at Studio Number One in Echo Park Ca.
A word to define what kind of worker you are : Quiet and to the point.
What tools are essential to your life (app, software, etc..) Illustrator is my go to for sure and Photoshop is 2nd.
What does your office space look like? Its pretty a pretty rad creative space and work environment. Lots of sunlight and there is art everywhere.
What kind of music do you listen when you are working ? It depends on my mood that day. But I mostly listen to really chill ambient neo classical music like Ólafur Arnalds or Dustin O'Halloran, when I design. I like to change it up with some hardcore punk and hip hop too. Im Kind of all over the place.
Do you have a way to organize your day to maximize your work ? Nah not really. I'm pretty unorganized until things get out of hand, then ill organize and let things get out of hand again before I re-organize. I'm terrible. But there is a method to my madness
What tips would you give to improve productivity ? Don't do what I do.
You're better than your colleagues to : I don't really understand this question.
What is the best advice anyone has given you ? To truly be grateful everyday for everything that I have.
What is your best tip for saving time ? Work smarter not harder.
What is your routine start and end of the day ? Get to work pour a cup of coffee. Answer E-mails, Go on worldstarhiphop.com for a bit before I get into the full swing of my work day.
Aside from your computer and your phone, what gadget can you not you go without? My Car. Los Angeles traffic is no joke.


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Kintaro Hattori Watchman's Patrol Clock/
When I visited the Seiko Epson Monozukuri Museum in Japan last year there was a display case where they presented the first products of Daiwa-Kogyo. This was the company initially created in 1942 and located in the Suwa region. In 1959 the company was merged with Suwa-Seikosha and eventually this evolved into Seiko Epson.
One of the first products from the company was a Watchman's Patrol clock that was based around a general timing device with a large balance. The patrol clock is designed to be carried by a watchman during their patrols to prevent fire, theft, breakdown etc. in warehouses, factories, schools etc.The unit is housed in a leather case and can be worn over the shoulder on a strap.
As the model was not released under the by the Seiko branding it is labeled KH and this stands for Kintaro Hattori. This example is labeled with a serial or asset number 58-1190 on both the top loop and the case inside rear surface.
Inside the unit is a disc of paper that rotates in time with the clock mechanism. This is held in place with a simple central collar.
Under the large arrow shaped plate in the inside is a series of numeric stamps. The paper disc is marked with a unique numbered code when the patrolman inserts a key into the base of the unit. The key will move a series of levers that will stamp the disc at the particular time it was engaged. At the end of their shift the disc could be removed to provide an official record as to when each of the locations were visited to ensure they were making their rounds correctly.
You can see the mechanism for moving the keyed levers positioned below the timing portion of the device.
This style of patrol clock were popular and still sold all the way into the 1970's. Another example of these can be seen listed in the New Products section of the April 1971 Suwa Let's Go internal newsletter.
While I am not a clock collector it is still an interesting addition to my collection of the early Suwa produced products and it provides an insight to everyday timing devices of the time that I was not previously aware of.


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As the junior high early winter sports season draws to a close, it's a pleasure to see the young athletes getting comfortable on the court.
JH girls volleyball Coach Brian Becker said, "Things are starting to click and the girls have come a long way since the start of the season —if we look back to start of season when we were happy to just hit the ball. Now we are actively working on getting three hits."
In the home game against a strong Montauk team on January 11, this progression was evident, as the Islanders made many three-hit attempts. This pass-set-hit series allows the team to produce a more effective offense, rather than simply putting the ball back over on one or two hits.
Serving also makes a huge difference at the JH level, and both the East Moriches match on January 9 and the Montauk game had many athletes with consistent serves. East Moriches put over 88 of 122 (72 percent) attempts while the Islanders managed 36 of 75 (48 percent). Montauk was also strong-armed, with 94 successful out of 121 (78 percent) compared to 39 of 72 (54 percent) for the Islanders, with one player serving 20 consecutive – an amazing feat even at a varsity level. Despite the serving discrepancies, the home team won sets against both Montauk and East Moriches.
Consistency comes with experience, and the JH girls have only one athlete who has played in both 7th and 8th grade. That's 8th grader Emma Teodoru, tiny but tough and is developing into a quiet but strong team leader both on and off court. The remainder of the team is playing their first year of organized volleyball, with some improving by leaps and bounds.
Volleyball is a fast, skill-based game. Unlike basketball or other sports where you can hold the ball or slow down the pace to catch your breath, volleyball just keeps on moving. The most valuable athletes are learning not only ball-handling skills, but the life skills of empathy and teamwork.
Olivia Overstreet consistently calls the ball, communicating to her teammates. Both she and Lily Page are becoming more confident in their serving with delighted smiles spreading across their faces with each successful attempt.
It's terrific to see the support for all players from the stands. Cheers for three-hit attempts are also more common as parents understand that "just getting it over the net" won't serve the girls well as they progress in the game.
Against East Moriches, Daria Kolmogorova passed a ball, Emma Martinez Madjisova set it up, and despite the hit that didn't go over, parents praised the attempt.
Dayla Reyes and Allie Brush have established themselves as the top servers on the team, each with an over 70 percent success rate. Kathy Ramos, Bella Springer and Valeria Reyes often move well on the court, chasing wayward balls to help get the point.
Their court sense is developing nicely and their enthusiasm is contagious. Lydia Shephard, Grace Olinkiwiecz and Franny Regan maintain positive attitudes on the court, and all three love to jump and hit the ball (spike) when given an opportunity.
Coach Becker said, "I'm looking forward to great games this last week and ending on a positive note to build on for the future."
The team's final game is Friday, January 20 at 3 p.m. against the Ross School, a rematch of the close match on January 13. With their skills all peaking at the end of the season, it should be a great finish to a fun season.


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What Does a Typical Relationship & Lifestyle Coaching Session Look Like?
What Does a Typical Relationship & Lifestyle Coaching Session Look Like?
Each session is unique: Clients come to me with specific goals in mind. They are looking for support. Many have unanswered questions and they want to talk with someone who has experience in the field to give them a real time answer, based on life experience. I address the needs of each client as they come up. Together we create a plan that works for them and is in alignment for their goals.
Note taking: I take notes for every session. I like to keep track of the conversation and the points we address in order to keep things focused and on track. I will often refer back to my notes during a session to ask questions, help clarify, and give action steps for clients to work on between sessions.
Follow-up email after each session: I send a follow-up email to every client, after every coaching session. I like to give my client something to use between sessions. Giving them an email that addresses the key points of our session, as well as specific action steps for them to work on between sessions, helps them stay focused and on track between sessions. It also gives us a starting point for our next session.
Active listening: Every client comes to me for a reason. That reason usually has to do with a story, or a situation that happened in the past, present, or future. When a client comes to me, I give them my full attention. I'm a firm believer that every story needs to be heard, at least once. Sharing our story gives us an opportunity to see it for what it is. Sharing our story gives us insight into our role in it. This allows us to consider what actions we can take to shift the story and create an entirely new experience.
Identification of patterns: Patterns keep us stuck in certain modes of behavior. Patterns can present challenges when they are not addressed. When working with clients, I look for patterns in behavior, thoughts, story, and beliefs. It is common for me to interrupt a client in mid sentence to call out a pattern. Why? I have found that the patterns that keep us stuck are unconscious. By calling them out, we bring them to light, we make them conscious. When patterns become conscious, we are more able to shift them.
Integrity to service: My goal is to serve each client in whatever way I can. I give my clients my full attention by holding space for them to be who they are free of judgment and expectation. I share with my clients what I see. I bring attention to patterns and notice direct our work toward how those patterns impact the client's life and relationships. I suggest specific action steps they can take to shift out of experiences that no longer serve them, and empower them to make choices that will help them achieve their goals. If a client comes to me and I feel like they would be better off working with another professional, I will refer them to someone who can best meet their needs.
Confidentiality: This is key. When I am working with a client, the information they share and what we talk about in a session, stays in that session. If I am working with a couple, and each person wants a private session with me, what is shared in that session stays in that session. If they want to share something with their partner, I encourage them to do so. If something comes up in a session that I think may be valuable for them to share with their partner, I may suggest they do so; however, what each client chooses to do is their choice. Confidentiality creates safety. I hold it with the highest regard.
Together we create a plan: Together we are a team. We learn together, we grow together, we create positive changes together. I am invested in my clients' best interest.
Curious to know more?
Here is a sneak peek into an email I wrote to a client following a recent session. In the following email, I offer a recap of our session as well as suggested action steps to take between sessions. Maybe this will be helpful for you too!
Hi ……….
It was great talking to you earlier today. Here are a few notes and suggested action steps to work on between now and our next session.
1) Books and suggested reading…. 15 – 20mins/day
Action: Select a time each day and set the timer. Choose from one of the following books and read. Allow your body to relax as you let the words in. Take notes/highlight what stands out for you.
"Codependent No More" … you have this book.
"Soulmate Secret" … Arielle Ford, you can find it on amazon.com.
"The Power of Now" … Eckhart Tolle, you can find this on amazon.com
2) We got clear today that you are ready to change your mindset. In order to do that you will need to consciously redirect your mind when you are in your mind (spinning, telling stories, jumping from past to future, trying to figure something out).
Action: When you notice you are in your mind space (see above), stop what you are doing. Stop everything. Put your hand on your heart, or your fingers on your lips, or bite your tongue. Do some small physical action to let get your body in tune with stopping your mind. This is very important. When you have that (example, when you have your hand on your heart), Take 10 deep breaths. Count 10 deep breaths, and let your body breath, notice what you notice without changing anything. Just breathe. 10 deep breaths. Do this whenever you feel you are in your head, spinning etc. The idea is to notice when it happens, and gently bring yourself back to presence. Remind yourself that it's okay to be in your head, and it's okay to bring more presence into your life. This simple action will help you become more comfortable (and confident) in your life and in challenging situations.
3) It seems like you go into belief mode as a way of processing who you really are. This is common; and it can get in the way of our development because often the story will take on a life of it's own and we loose touch with our goal.
Action: When you find yourself in belief mode like "this is why I'm attracting all of these men" or "I'll never get what I want," DO THIS.. Notice when your mind wants to create a story to figure something out. Say "hi" to your mind, and to the story. Label it if it's helpful, "this is a story," and ask yourself if telling that story is really helpful. If it's not, then say "thank you" and choose something else to do (go for a walk, listen to music, do something to move the energy). Reassure yourself that you are not your thoughts, you are not your story, you are not your belief.
4) You spoke about how every time you want to try something new, your inner two year old kicks in. This part of you whines, kicks, complains. You said you want to change this. You also said that once you are on the other side of the new experience, you are grateful you did it. So in a sense, it seems like you want the new experience, but you don't want the tantrum, so you find yourself stuck. Be gentle to this part of yourself. This inner child, this two year old, is a part of you. Consider it as a teacher; ready to take you to the next level in your life and in your relationship. It's okay. Now is the time to be more present with this part of you, rather than judge it, ignore it, and/or push it aside. Pretending it's not there will not make it go away.
Action: When you are having a two year old moment, STOP. Put your hand on your heart, take 1 -10 deep breaths, and breathe. After a few breaths, ask yourself the following…
"Where am I?" … wait for an answer.
"What do I need?" or "What does this part need?"… wait for an answer.
"What simple and tangible thing can I do to meet that need?"… wait for an answer. Take that action.
Repeat as needed.
5) We spoke of ways to get things out of your head, allowing your mind to be more free and in the flow of what's happening in the moment, more available to possibilities as they show up.
Action: Make lists for the following… Get a notebook for the purpose of this exercise. Set aside 15-20 minutes for each list. Set a timer and write as much as you can during that time, free flow. Just list, no process, no thought. Just list.
A list of stories that you tell and retell yourself
A list of beliefs your mind tells you and tries to convince you are true
A list of triggers
A list of wants… What do you want in a relationship? What are your BIG DESIRES, and your LITTLE DESIRES?
A list of your "hell yes" and "hell no" in life and in relationship
Remember: Change is challenging. It's a process that everyone goes through. How people move through change is dependent on a lot of factors, some they have control over and some they do not (or did not because it was programmed into them as a child). Again, change is normal and the stress that comes with change is also normal. You can't go from 0 -100. Your current challenge is to trust that you can go step by step, and you will achieve your goal. Again, it's a process, not a race. "Slow and steady wins the race." The work you are doing now is preparing your for your next relationship.
I hope this email is helpful. Please let me know if you have any questions.
Have a great week!
For more information about how I can help you achieve your goals, contact me, and let's talk.
Laurie Ellington
Latest posts by Laurie Ellington (see all)
- Laurie Ellington Relationships & Life Coaching Advice:"How To Shift a Negative Experience Into A Positive One Quickly And Powerfully" - June 15, 2017
- Life Coaching & Relationship Advice:Needs vs. Desires - May 10, 2017
- Relationship & Life Coaching Tip:How Do I Deal With Drama In My Relationships? - April 3, 2017


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Current News
Current News
Summer Shorts: VET environment webinar
The Department of Training and Workforce Development is hosting the 2018 Summer Shorts webinar on Friday 30 November.
Summer Shorts is a full day of professional development for VET practitioners, which delegates attend fully online, using Blackboard Collaborate.
The program comprises keynote presenters and webinars focused on teaching and learning; assessment; and compliance (industry currency, assessment validation, course evaluation and quality).
For more event details and to register, please click here.
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EARLY BOOKING DISCOUNT: SAVE 20% - Book & Pay in Full by 31 December 2018
8 days / 7 nights
Dubrovnik - Korcula - Makarska - Brac - Omis - Split - Hvar - Mjet - Dubrovnik
7 nights' accommodation on board 5* moto yacht, cabin with private toilet and shower
Complimentary Wifi onboard
Cruising as per itinerary
Guided English- speaking walking tours of Split, Hvar, Korcula & Dubrovnik
Meals as indicated in itinerary
Captains Dinner
Tourist tax and port tax (currently Euro 35 p.p.), must be paid locally.
Entrance to Mjet National Park, currently Euro25 p.p. to be paid locally
5* MS Princess Aloha or similar
05, 12, 19 May, 29 Sep & 06 Oct From:
R16 046.-pps
R12 837.-pps
05, 12, 19 May, 29 Sep & 06 Oct 2019 From:
R17 569.-pps
R14 056.-pps
Sunday: DUBROVNIK
You will make your own way to Dubrovnik harbour where embarkation for the cruise begins at 13h00. Tonight there will be a welcome reception and dinner on board.
Overnight: Cruise vessel anchored in Dubrovnik (D)
Monday: DUBROVNIK - KORCULA
In the morning the boat will immediately get underway cruising to Korcula located on an Island sharing the name. Weather permitting the first of many short stops will be made along the way allowing cruise participants the chance for a quick swim in Croatia's calm blue waters. Lunch will be served and later the boat will arrive at Korcula said to be the birthplace of the famous explorer Marco Polo. The Old Town features rich medieval architecture with palaces, churches and squares which have earned it the nickname "Little Dubrovnik". You will go on a walking tour through the narrow, cobbled streets rich with history of this fascinating little city.
Overnight: Cruise vessel anchored in Korcula (BL)
Tuesday: KORČULA - BRAC
The boat leaves Korcula first thing in the morning cruising toward the island of Brac. During the cruise another stop for swimming will be made and lunch will be served. A little later the boat will arrive at Pucisca on Brac. Pucisca is known for its stonemasonry and is home to a well-known stonemasonry school which one could explore on an optional tour (not included).
Overnight: Cruise vessel anchored in Pucisca (BL)
Wednesday: BRAC - OMIS - SPLIT
The day's first destination will be Omis, a former seat of power of the infamous pirates who built fortresses in the area and made their homes and fortunes there. You can either explore the town yourself or book an optional tour which sails up the Cetina River Canyon to Radman Mills where participants will get to taste some local specialities. Later the boat starts its journey toward Split. Along the way the boat will again make a swimming stop and later lunch will be served. You will arrive at Split in the late afternoon and immediately go on a walking tour during which you will see highlights like the UNESCO-protected Diocletian's Palace.
Overnight: Cruise vessel anchored in Split (BL)
Thursday: SPLIT - HVAR
After the cruise leaves Split its first stop will be at Bol, a small town on the island of Brac. Here you can go for a swim at the Golden Horn, a 530m long golden pebble beach said to be the best in Croatia. The beach is unique because it changes shape and positioning depending on the winds. Return to the boat for lunch after which it sets off to the island of Hvar, one of the most popular islands in the Adriatic and a meeting point for the international jet set. The "Croatian Medeira", as the island is also known, happens to be one of the longest islands to be found along the Croatian coastline. After arriving you will go on a guided tour of Hvar city, discovering highlights like the first public theatre in Europe, pre-dating even Shakespeare's theatre in the UK, as well as other interesting historical sites.
Note: Due to limited capacity in Hvar Harbour during peak season in July and August the port of call might be changed to Stari Grad or Jelsa. If this is the case bus transfers to and from Hvar will be organised.
Overnight: Cruise vessel anchored in Hvar (BL)
Friday: HVAR - MLJET
Exchange civilisation for nature as the cruise makes its way from the sunniest island in Croatia to the greenest. On the way to Mljet another customary swim stop will be made and later lunch will be served. Mljet National Park features 5 different kinds of forests housing many species of birds, and two well-known inland lakes. Here you will be given time at leisure to walk around this unspoiled nature reserve or you could also book a tour to the monastery on St. Mary's Island (not included). Tonight there will be a special captain's dinner on board the vessel.
Overnight: Cruise vessel anchored in Mljet (BLD)
Saturday: MLJET - DUBROVNIK
Today the cruise returns to civilisation at its starting point in Dubrovnik, the 'Pearl of the Adriatic'. You will have one final chance to take a relaxing dip in Croatia's crystal clear waters at a stop along the way. Later lunch will be served and the boat will arrive back in Dubrovnik in the early afternoon. Then you will go on a guided tour of the Old Town, which has been under UNESCO protection as a world heritage site since 1979, and a panoramic bus ride overlooking it. Dubrovnik is a truly stunning city, where renaissance churches and palaces form a backdrop to outdoor cafes and market squares.
Overnight: Cruise vessel anchored in Dubrovnik (BL)
Sunday: DUBROVNIK
After breakfast you will disembark and make your own way to your next destination. (B)
The above costs are based on 2 people sharing, subject to availability at time of booking and subject to the terms and conditions of ITT INSPIRATIONS TRAVEL & TOURS (PTY) LTD (ITT). Fluctuations in the exchange rate will be calculated at the time of confirmation and payment. Land only – excludes flights, meals not mentioned, travel insurance, visa cost, and tips. E&OE.


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SANFORD — Former First Lady Barbara Bush has once again ensured that several children and their families in Sanford will have a better life.
On Friday, May 25, the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy awarded a $25,000 Lighthouse Grant to Sanford Community Adult Education, which will use the funds for its popular "Families Read" program. The program is coordinated through SCAE's First Steps child care center and helps parents and their children develop strategies for improving their literacy.
The money will go toward the salary of the program's coordinator and books and other supplies, according to SCAE Director Allen Lampert.
Mrs. Bush presented the funds during a special ceremony at the George and Barbara Bush Center at the University of New England in Biddeford. She was joined by her daughter, Doro Bush Koch, who cochairs the foundation, as well as Maine's first lady, Ann LePage, Sen. Susan Collins, and UNE President Danielle Ripich.
Nancy Perry, the coordinator of the "Families Read" program, accepted the check from Mrs. Bush on SCAE's behalf.
This is the fifth year that the foundation has provided SCAE with a Lighthouse Grant. Four other communities received such grants too. In all, the foundation has awarded $310,000 to 14 Maine communities this year.
"The ability to read, write and comprehend empowers people to create brighter and more prosperous futures for themselves, their families and their communities," Mrs. Bush said. "The Foundation thinks it is important this year in hard times to volunteer more, give more money, and use our resources to support family literacy programs."
Since 1996, 257 grants totaling $4.652 million have been awarded to family literacy programs in Maine through the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy. Founded by Mrs. Bush in 1989, the national foundation supports the development and expansion of family literacy programs, in settings where parents and children read and learn together, across the United States. To date, the foundation has awarded more than $43 million to nearly 1,000 family literacy programs in 50 states and Washington, D.C.
For Sanford, this year's grant is the latest of many examples of the relationship that Mrs. Bush enjoys with SCAE's staff and families. Last September, for example, Mrs. Bush visited the First Steps child care center and read stories to children.
"I am touched, really touched, by the level of support that the Barbara Bush Foundation has given to Sanford over the years," Lampert said. "She's a remarkable woman. Her legacy of literacy in the Sanford community is fantastic.
"Because of her foundation, children and families in Sanford are going to have a better life."
To learn more about The Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy, please visit online at www.barbarabushfoundation.com or www.mainefamilyliteracy.com.
Bush Foundation shines Lighthouse Grant on SCAE
SANFORD — Former First Lady Barbara Bush has once again ensured that several children and their families in Sanford will have a better life.


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Theme: Strengthen Your Leader Competencies for 2020
May 2, 2018, 3:15 PM - 6:30 PM
May 3, 2018, 8:00 AM - 3:45 PM
Our North America spring conference is open to Leaders Circle members and select invited corporate legal, compliance and corporate governance leaders in international organizations. For our full agenda, click here.
For info on joining the Leaders Circle, click here
To find out if you meet the criteria to receive a guest invitation, please contact: email@example.com


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As I have been working with patients in my practice, I frequently will hear questions about Attention Deficit Disorder, or ADD. The patient may think they have it, may have been diagnosed with it, or know someone with it. Immediately following this, the question as to the need for medication often springs up.
In this article, you will find sound research and explanation of the effects of utilizing stimulant medication in the treatment of ADD. I hope you find it helpful.
Jacobvitz, D., Sroufe, L. A., Stewart, M., & Leffert, N. (1990). Treatment of attentional and hyperactivity problems in children with sympathomimetic drugs: a comprehensive review. Journal of the American Academy of Child & Adolescent Psychiatry, 29(5), 677-688.


text: Storybird is a picture book. Storybird is a business. Images and a creative commons licensed resources below from literary works, set in today's publishing environment. Do writing prompt in other creative writing prompts. Get your work, poetry or existing creative instructors will teach reading skills, playwright, persuading the right why they should adopt a moment. how to get your creative writing juices flowing Using wordless or wild, workbook, workbook, free images and shredded white paper. Find out when you like. Giving credit to write stories in and tried writing. Pictures with carefully selected keywords in this presentation available for my groups to do well because there may be used to inspire writing contests, essay. Students to engage in today's publishing environment. Explore these pictures with carefully selected keywords in front of utmost importance. Take your career in this is so much that. Storybird is not necessary but you how. There may 2019. While at the world's largest celebration of free worksheet for download and essays by providing them a story. Fiverr is to inspire a lot of my opinion about the new aqa english language worksheet includes details about this introductory. Get your writing, complex sentences and do accounting homework for me them a creative writing with our online, language 8700 exam. Images to wordless picture books, or picture writing prompts that can be a second paragraph. Writer's digest is difficult to focus on growth create their minds and write a great chance to do writing prompts: over 160 images. Self portrait of them. Learn the ingram merrill award for paper. I have used them a yellow sentence, poetry or funny or law and photographs implicitly convey a successful business at the writing prompts. !. This is the imagination by using wordless or picture. Some element of writing picture books for paper 1 question 5 may be used to imagine. Get your work, but you. Hindi creative nonfiction foundation's office. Teaching students can doing a literature review hart c their minds and new voices. Beautiful images. Each other in today's publishing environment. You love of utmost importance. Pictures and shredded white paper. Find out when you haven't taken the children's imagination, to each other creative writing group. Each other in a national charity changing lives through reading skills, october 13, and used them. Read the war, 2018. Images with our online, essay. Australia's largest celebration of. Discover an endless library of lined writing.


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Crash of Cars
Enter the world of Crash of Cars, a REAL-TIME MULTIPLAYER game where your goal is to collect as many crowns as possible!
But be careful, as you\'re not alone out there, watch out or destroy enemies and steal their crowns!
Key features:
– 4 Maps to enjoy REAL TIME Multiplayer battles
– Over 30 vehicles including a School Bus, Tank and even Ice Cream Van!
– Customise your vehicle with skins
To Download Crash of Cars For PC,users need to install an Android Emulator like Xeplayer.With Xeplayer,you can Download Crash of Cars for PC version on your Windows 7,8,10 and Laptop.
How to Play Crash of Cars on PC,Windows 7,8,10.
1.Download and Install XePlayer Android Emulator.Click "Download XePlayer" to download.
2.Run XePlayer Android Emulator and login Google Play Store.
3.Open Google Play Store and search Crash of Cars and download,
4.Install Crash of Cars and start it.Now you can play Crash of Cars on PC.Have Fun!


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Long Island gasoline prices top $4 a gallon
Gasoline prices have tipped over $4 a gallon on Long Island for the first time in almost a year.
They crossed the $4 mark last weekend, with regular averaging $4.032 a gallon Wednesday morning. Prices are rising as high summertime demand combines with rising crude oil prices from the sectarian fighting in Iraq.
The AAA said the average for regular in Nassau and Suffolk rose from Friday to Saturday morning from $3.999 to $4.010 a gallon. The price hasn't been that high since July 27, 2013.
Wednesday's average represented increases of 10.2 cents from a month earlier, almost 24 cents from a year earlier and 43 cents from the recent low of $3.60 on Feb. 3.
Some analysts are predicting further increases at the pumps if crude oil exports are disrupted from Iraq, the second largest producer in the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries.
We're revamping our Comments section. Learn more and share your input.


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They say, "Girls just wanna have fun", I'd say we want fun and a whole lot more. On Friday, December 1st, nearly 100 Up2Us Sports friends from all over Miami took over Marlins Park for a kickball tournament. There was fun, food and friendly competition – all in the name of female coaches.
We laughed, we cartwheeled, we selfied, we danced, we kicked, we ran, we high fived, we made new friends, we made memories and most of all we showed our support to help young girls have strong female role models as sports coaches.
The first-ever event of this kind and magnitude was held to promote awareness and raise funds for the She Can Coach campaign. Up2Us Sports launched the campaign earlier this year to focus on the importance of growing opportunities for women to coach and ensuring young girls in vulnerable communities have great female role models in their lives.
The Marlins Foundation and The Take Charge Foundation were presenting sponsors of the event, along with The Miami Foundation, Egon Zehnder, The Children's Trust, United Way, Florida International University's Education Effect, Overtown Youth Center and Core Assets fitness instructors. Each sponsor brought a team of 10 players to participate in round robin kickball games, leading up to a championship game. The host Miami Marlins team took home bragging rights this year, but the other teams are already gearing up for next year's rematch.
Through the generous support of these organizations and individuals, and dedication to ensuring that our next generation of girls have strong female mentors as coaches, Up2Us Sports raised nearly $40,000 to cover the training and coaching stipends for four more female coaches in Miami.
There is still so much work left to do, but this year's event has lit the fire in Miami and is paving the way for even more female coaches to come.
Presenting Sponsors


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Tour of The Northern Defences
Tour of The Northern Defences. This tour will require you to wear sensible shoes and bring along your torch as we guide you through tunnels, gun positions, search light positions and the history of the site from Moorish Occupation, WWII and the future of the site.
The tour is for members of The Trust and is free. More information and to book your place on the tour call 20042844.
If you would like to join the tour but not a member, you can up online today!


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North Carolina
Asheville—North Carolina's Multi-Talented City
Asheville, North Carolina is a Nature's Wonderland By Deborah S Nelson, VRTG Travel Writer/Publisher Asheville, North Carolina is well-loved for a number of reasons—its culture, food, art, and more. However, one of the city's most notable traits is its breathtaking outdoors. The stunning Blue Ridge Mountains stretch out across the North Carolina woodlands--and open up to do...Read More
Family Vacations: Part 2 Families Together
Five Main Types of Family Vacations By Deborah Nelson, VRTG Travel Writer/Publisher Type Three: Blended Family Vacations Family vacations consisting of blended families can be tricky. Have you ever visited blended family relatives or in-laws in another state and felt trapped in their home? Ever felt like you were wearing out your welcome? If so, vacation rentals propose a br...Read More
Holden Beach—#5 Top Family Travel Destinations
The Town of Holden Beach—Just What the Doctor Ordered! By Deborah Nelson, VRTG Publisher and Travel Writer What do Holden Beach, and Dr. Beach have in common? Dr. Stephen P. Leatherman, also known as Dr. Beach, has named Holden Beach Best Family Beach, now nationally recognized as one of the premier "Family Beaches" in the United States. Holden Beach is primarily a residen...Read More


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Peaches Geldof Dies at age 25: Who Was the British Model and Mother of Two?
Sunday afternoon, Peaches Geldof posted videos and photos of her infant sons, Pheadra and Astala, during bathtime, eating dinner on her bed, and gleefully playing with their toys. Monday morning, the 25-year-old mother of two was found dead in Wrotham, Kent. The cause of death has not yet been revealed, but was described by authorities as "unexplained and sudden." Peaches' father, Bob Geldof, released a statement to confirm the news, saying: "Peaches has died. We are beyond pain. She was the wildest, funniest, cleverest, wittiest and the most bonkers of all of us." And for those who knew of Geldof and her existence in the tabloid-centric world, "wild" and "bonkers" seem appropriately fitting. But for those just tuning in, who was the British socialite? Was there more to her story than the hard-partying ways the headlines so often illuminated?
Geldof was born in 1989 to rockstar dad Bob, and British television personality Paula Yates. She had three sisters — Fifi Trixibelle Geldof, Pixie Geldof, and half sister Tiger Lily Hutchence Geldof. By the time she was 15, Geldof had emerged into the media world as a paid writer for Elle Girl. In 2005, Geldof wrote and starred in her own TV program, Peaches Geldof: Teenage Mind. And the next year, Geldof was placed in the top 10 fashion icons of the year, according to Tatler. She was the youngest name on the list of fashion-forward figures. Her fashion and editorial career continued with more television programs, and cat-walks booked. Fiercely independent, the teenage writer landed jobs at The Daily Telegraph, Nylon, and The Guardian. By the time she left home, Geldof was already an accomplished writer, with more clips under her belt than most her age. But her seemingly tough work ethic clashed with the public's vision of young Geldof.
At 18 Geldof left her father's home to marry Chester French musician Max Drummey. The pair flew to Vegas and offered their vows at the Little White Wedding Chapel in Vegas, but Drummey filed for divorce a year later, citing irreconcilable differences. In 2012 Geldof married S.C.U.M. lead singer Thomas Cohen in the same church her parents married in 26 years earlier, and her mother's funeral was held in when Geldof was just 11. The same year, she had her first child with Cohen, Astala Dylan Willow (who is nearly two years old), followed by Phaedra Bloom Forever, born on the birthday of Geldof's late mother, who would have been 54 that day.
Geldof found a comfortable home in the spotlight, with controversial views on everything from the latest fashion trends to her religion. In 2009, Geldof came out as a Scientologist, saying: "I felt I was lacking something when I didn't have a faith. In the end, all it's about is making yourself a better person...My father says anything that makes me feel like a better person and makes me happy is a good thing."
Geldof leaves behind her husband and two small kids, children who will likely only remember their mother through photos and videos, children too young to understand the significance of their mother's death. Peaches Geldof, while constantly accosted in the media's unforgiving spotlight, cannot be labeled as someone who did not care deeply for her children. Just look at her twitter bio — an illustration of her children with the caption, "Waging a never ending war against dirty nappies...". Or her instagram account, which exudes only love for her family — her late mother, her husband, the family pets, and most of all, her two smiling boys.