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Interview with Sculptor Terry Cook
Interview with Sculptor Terry Cook
On July 16, 2019 the Happy Valley Rotating Sculpture Garden Program unveiled six new sculptures outside of City Hall. Joined by City Council and art enthusiasts, residents toured the installations and met program artists, who were present to share their stories and artistic inspiration.
Want to know more about the artists? We do, too! Read on to learn more about Troutdale artist, Terry Cook, and his sculpture, FOTIZO.
So, Terry, tell me about yourself.
TC: Born in Bozeman, Montana mid-20th century, when I graduated from high school, I decided that Bozeman was a fine place to be from (unlike it is today where it is known to be a great place to be). So, like all impulsive young people discontented with their hometown, I emigrated to Oregon to attend the University of Oregon, run track and hopefully, acquire an employable skill.
My first college decision: what do I want to be when I grow up—i.e. what will I major in? I chose pre-law. A sensible decision but not very dramatic. Before the first term was over, it dawned on me that there must be more to this college stuff than reading books and writing papers. I wanted to do things, make stuff, work with my hands. Was there a college degree for that?
A friend encouraged me to take a painting class and while my artistic abilities at the time were underwhelming, I found I loved the creative process. This class didn't transform me into a Van Gogh, but it did challenge me to look at things differently—to see options where I had seen none before. Was life a problem to be solved or a mystery to be lived? I chose the latter. I was making stuff, working with my hands and having fun. If this was an employable skill, I was all in.
From this first introduction to formal art training, I went on to study jewelry making and sculpture and discovered that while I loved the idea of law and knew it was sensible, fine art was drawing me into its mystery. But that was just the first of my discoveries—not the only nor the last.
Over the next two years, I learned two life lessons (well, at least two): 1) creativity is part of human DNA in one form or another. Whether literary, musical, performing, graphic or any number of other creative arts, when the creativity switch is flipped, we excite something in us that feels at home. Our creative expression, I believe, is neither accidental nor evolutionary—it's how we are created, reflecting a Creator God who made us in His image. Like Him, we too are creators. As one looks around, His creativity is as obvious as it is profound. When we express our own creativity, it reflects this profundity. When we create, we find ourselves "at home", sometimes frustrated but nevertheless satisfied that in some way just feels right. A mystery.
And 2) there's a reason that "struggling" usually precedes the word "artist".
Loving the creative arts but wondering if I could make it a paying career, I slowly and pensively came to believe that fame and fortune may only arrive posthumously. But I wanted to create. So, I looked for another way to stay in that world and make a living before dying. While fine art was unrestricted, free flowing, sometimes amorphous and messy, it was nevertheless satisfying to the soul. But it was also inherently unpredictable. Architecture as a profession would be much more likely to provide a reasonably well-paying future, but it seemed too controlled, too restrictive and too buttoned down for me. Where was the middle ground?
A teammate on the track team suggested that I look at a course of study to which he'd recently been introduced–Landscape Architecture. Now that sounded interesting, a marriage of the freedom found in nature and the deliberateness of design inherent to architecture. It seemed to be a way to combine the free expression of art, working with soil and plants and making places of beauty without most of the restrictions accompanying building design. It also hinted at a higher likelihood of employment than as that of a young sculptor.
Decision made—if they would have a late comer into a relatively structured curriculum. Fortunately, since I was coming (albeit late) into the department from the design/artistic side instead of the engineering side, I was admitted despite starting mid-year. Apparently, the department was looking to move the field of study towards greater emphasis on design than the more practical but equally boring engineering field of its predecessors. One more lesson learned: timing is important to success.
Acquiring a degree in landscape architecture was step one in a satisfying career in the landscape design and construction profession, and one in which I was indeed able to make a living before dying. Immediately out of college (and foolishly I add) I started a landscape design/build company taking on numerous projects throughout the Pacific Northwest from 1973-1982. The landscape profession culminated in a grand finale assignment to turn part of the desert outside Riyadh, Saudi Arabia into a garden at the King Khaled International Airport (KKIA), 1982-1985. When built by the Bechtel Company, KKIA was the largest airport in the world, created whole cloth out of nothing but barren desert.
The numbers were a bit overwhelming for a young man from Oregon: from zero to 450 employees, a workforce of mostly Third Country Nationals (TCN) consisting of Philipino, Pakistani, Egyptian and half a dozen other Middle Eastern and African nationalities; a supervisory staff of 15 British and Americans and me as the project manager. 600 Date Palm trees all over 20' tall, tens of thousands flowering plants and shrubs, over 100 miles of electrical cable for 600+ electric irrigation valves accompanied by about 100,000 cubic yards of soil to make and install, the project was indeed significant. But, while transforming the desert into a garden was extremely satisfying, new creative endeavors were calling.
After returning to the States in 1985 I took the next step in my creativity journey by developing real estate. In development, I was able to influence all stages of the design cycle from site selection to structure, combining both art and architecture with my landscape background to create livable places. From site planning to historic building rehabilitation, single family homes to condos and apartments, my development career spanned the next 32 years as new mysteries were experienced and occasionally solved. Throughout my development career I never lost sight of my first love of sculpture though, always looking for the opportunity to create beauty in the environments in which we live.
After my introduction to the creative arts in that initial painting class at the UO, I returned in 2017 to my first love of sculpture, making stuff with my hands full time in my studio, designed and built to add beauty to our world with accompanying smiles from those who see it. This story is just beginning…
Not a short bio, but hopefully entertaining
What is your earliest memory about art or creating art?
TC: Being bored in a church service one Sunday when I was about 10, I used the comment cards in the pew to draw pictures. I realized right then that to make something recognizable let alone beautiful, was not as easy as it looked. But I wanted to be able to do that.
When did you know that you wanted to become a professional artist?
TC: I grew up thinking artists were cool—in a weird sort of way—but hardly 'professional'. I assumed those ranks were reserved for doctors and dentists, architects, lawyers—people that generally possessed oversized egos but undersized ability to create stuff. I knew (or thought I did) that all artists started out struggling—the standard story of the person that moved to Hollywood to become a star only to work as a waiter or waitress for 10 years waiting to be discovered. I didn't connect the concept of professionalism (earning a living) with art until well into my landscape profession when I saw that sculptors had a real role to play in creating mystery (how DID she do that?) and beauty. Then I discovered the internationally renowned Chihuly and local artists like Rip Caswell…and, well, that settled it. There was such a thing as a contemporary, living, professional artist. Even so, there aren't many Chihulys and Caswells out there.
What themes or concepts inspire your artistic style?
TC: While studying landscape architecture, I discovered a Brazilian artist, Roberto Burle Marx, who frequently painted his landscapes before he built them. While he is known as a landscape architect, he was also a painter, print maker, ecologist, naturalist, artist and musician. His designs of parks and gardens made him world-famous, and he was accredited with having introduced modernist landscape architecture to Brazil. His Copacabana Beach promenade design inspired a vision of seamlessly weaving art into the landscape, creating parks as a natural canvas for sculpture, painting the landscape with plants and structure for me. My interpretation of that seamlessness extends to my sculptures whose best setting is not a gallery but a garden.
How has your artistic style changed over time?
TC: There is insufficient time in life to learn everything there is to learn in order to create beauty. Consequently, I've limited my style to creating with metal, realizing that once one learns how to melt steel, there's little he/she can't do…with a vision. Incorporating light with metal and wood is a direction I am pursuing as it combines the best of natural and man-made elements in aesthetic and challenging ways. My goal is always a creation that elicits a smile, a "that's cool" response that provides a moment of shalom—even if only momentary contentment or peace in an otherwise discontented and disturbed world.
One of your sculptures, FOTIZO, is currently on display at City Hall as part of the 2019-2021 City Hall Sculpture Garden program. FOTIZO abstractly depicts three flowers towering over a cluster of sheet metal leaves. Can you tell me more about the inspiration behind FOTIZO?
TC: This goes back a while. A 'sketch problem' was assigned to students in a landscape design class at Oregon to create a flower garden. Simple enough, but with only two days to do it, the purpose was as much to gauge how students were thinking, approaching the problem as much as how skilled each was in creating it. Solutions varied from tightly designed foam cutout flower gardens in a residential setting to outsized and abstract creations. Since flowers are meant to be seen—an attractant to those whose mission is to pollinate—I settled on highly visible flowers—big and bright, very visible. I used 4'-6' long thin dowels as stems and mounted 12" to 18" blooms made of brightly colored paper that when mounted to the dowels, tended to wave with even the lightest air movement. The piece was not to scale and nothing in nature mimicked it, (except possibly the Gunnera plant, a.k.a. the Dinosaur plant) but you couldn't miss it walking down the hall. Had I known of the Gunnera at the time, I would have made an even larger flower…opportunity lost.
The concept of outsized plants has for years intrigued me. Imagine the succulent Aloe Vera leaf crossed with the graceful Lilly of the Valley that supports a multi-petal flower that's a cross between a dinner plate Dahlia and a Black-Eyed Susan–in larger than life scale: that's Fotizo. It mimics organic elements of flowers and trees but created in the permanence of steel. To skip the big words, I combined flowers.
Throughout my career, a commonly requested attribute for the gardens I designed was "beauty with low to no maintenance"…a beautifully manicured garden that grows very slowly, always stays green, needs little water or fertilizer with a carpet of grass that rarely needs mowing—perfect beauty with low maintenance. The difficulty of course is that if it's living, which most gardens are at least intended to be, these attributes are mutually exclusive. Life is messy.
While I was unable to design an entire garden to the ideal of low to no maintenance, I discovered how to make the most low-maintenance plants of all. Fotizo: the ultimate in low maintenance garden design.
FOTIZO has a hidden design feature: all three flowers light up! Your sculpture is capable of drawing power from solar energy, batteries and conventional electrical outlets. Is there a significance to your use of lighting elements in sculptural art?
TC: Well-designed gardens are those that delight by day and intrigue by night. Art in the garden likewise can and should be accessible and enjoyed by day as well as by night. What if art could perform double duty—aesthetically pleasing and surprising by day, functional by night? Fotizo was designed with that in mind. How one uses light can either enhance or detract from the experience.
Surprise is a second element of good garden design. Paths meandering through a garden can be straight and predictable or serpentine and unpredictable but, in both instances, surprise enhances the experience. Interesting pathway lighting is a high priority for enjoying the garden at night. With the number of events and meetings held at the Happy Valley City Hall after sunset, providing light for the walk and simultaneously illuminating the sculpture would make Fotizo serendipitously beneficial.
The chance to incorporate light into the sculpture was an opportunity not to be missed. The piece was designed to provide surprise resulting from a light that is activated by a motion detector when activated. A 5-watt, stainless steel light fixture makes up the bud in the center of the flower which when lit, reflects on the flower petals through a diffuser in front. The diffuser is rounded with a highly polished concave side to reflect light back onto the bloom while the convex side is patterned, and heat colored to provide imagery of the center bud of a flower while hiding the light fixture behind. Each of the three blooms are similarly built and are attached to a 1" steel tube stem inside of which are run wires from the controller located in the base. Fotizo was intended to provide visual interest by day and surprise illumination by night, an element of surprise with function–no mushroom lights!
Fotizo can be powered in three different ways. One is through direct 110v power through extension cord or hard wired into the base from power run from the building. There is a power controller and transformer in the base that converts 110V line voltage to 12V low voltage power for the lights. A second means is using a rechargeable 12V battery also contained in the base. The battery can be removed and recharged when it is depleted. The third option is to use a single solar cell mounted anywhere in the garden that daily recharges the battery. All power related equipment fits in the base of the sculpture and is accessed through a cover plate in back for easy servicing. The solar cell option eliminates the need to remove and recharge the battery.
FOTIZO was first submitted to the Sculpture Garden in the form of concept art, meaning that it had not yet been constructed. How long did it take to design and fabricate FOTIZO? Did you have an artistic process?
TC: Longer than I would have liked. A few setbacks along the way and the need for advice on self-contained, solar energy producing systems and equipment somewhat complicated the process. But since learning is always a deliberate intention in my work, I wildly succeeded thanks to multiple opportunities.
The design process was relatively fast—not counting think time. Once I had a clear vision of what I wanted, the design was laid out in a few hours work. Then came the engineering—figuring out how to build it so it could be transported in multiple pieces, easily handled and reassembled on site. Preceding the construction of Fotizo, I had designed and developed a system of rods and sleeves that allowed my smaller sculptures to be built in components, put in boxes for shipping and reassembled quickly at their destination (no tools required). I applied this system to Fotizo which worked perfectly.
With the "how to" settled, patterns were made for the leaves and flower blooms, and each were cut out of sheet metal and square tubing respectively. The leaves were rolled to shape, heat treated for the desired bronze finish, reinforced with steel rod and welded onto the central core. The bloom petals were cut from 2" and 4" square tubes, ground to the desired finish and assembled around the stainless-steel light fixture using a jig made to help with consistency in shape and size. Stems were then cut, shaped and heat treated to a bronze finish and sealed with clearcoat. The blooms were powder coated with clearcoat after being assembled. Total fabrication of the entire piece took 180 hours, of which about 15-20% of the time was a redo or a re-engineering of something just built. As is said, if you think education is expensive, try ignorance…which was available in abundance at the start but reduced to a trickle by the end.
Then there was the electrical…but thanks to expert help, this ended up being relatively understandable and accomplished in just a few hours.
What message do you hope to convey to Happy Valley residents with your work? What reaction do you hope to receive?
TC: The message I hope to convey is real straight forward: Beauty can be found in art; it need not be an expression of angst or anger or political animosity. It's OK to simply enjoy looking at art, appreciate how it's made, its scale and scope and be contented with the smile it brings to your face. If its existence pleases or intrigues you, mission accomplished.
I hope Fotizo will elicit a sense of whimsy and appreciation, a love for the piece. As mentioned earlier, a "wow—that's beautiful" would be a great reaction. If it isn't, don't tell anybody–call me.
What advice would you give to an aspiring artist?
TC: Remember, there's history behind the "struggling artist" concept for good reason. Making good art can be a bit like a golf game. Every once and a while you hit a real golf shot—an eagle or a birdie. And it makes you want to do it again. But for the uncommitted, that fantastic golf shot happens only rarely. So, commit yourself to your passion, dream big, get to work, learn something new on every project and never quit! Even if you need to step away for a time, let your love draw you back.
King Solomon said: "Do you see a man skilled in his work? He will stand before kings; He will not stand before obscure men." This is true, and not just metaphorically. My experience in Saudi Arabia gave me firsthand experience with it. Of the assignments I had, three were most interesting: 1) design a garden for a prince whose palace in Taif was adjacent to his father's, the King; 2) design and install a pool surround in a royal palace in Jubail; and 3) landscape both the interior and exterior of the Royal Palace at the international airport (KKIA) in Riyadh. In the latter case, I was blessed to experience Solomon's wisdom as I saw my work stand in the Royal Terminal before King Fahad.
Every artist gets frustrated from time to time—always happens when creating something from nothing. When it happens don't be surprised. Take a break, then go back to work. Don't give up. Change things up, experiment. Try a new idea. And don't be afraid to take on a new challenge, something you haven't mastered yet. Above all else, work toward understanding that success is loving what you and doing what you love. The rest is just fluff.
All this will either develop your skills and character or destroy you. Embrace the former, reject the later.
Do you find benefit in municipal art programs? Why or why not?
TC: Yes.
Another of many life lessons learned working in public-private partnerships is that the role of the municipality can be exponentially expanded in its influence if two simple concepts are taken to heart. It takes just four words to define these two ideas. However, if everyone working in the public sector embraced them, watch–remarkable things will be accomplished.
- Create Opportunities
Case in point is Happy Valley's Sculpture Park. Inviting artists to create and display their work in a public location provides a certain legitimacy to the work and consequently is a rare opportunity for new artists. The artist must rise or fall on his/her own merits, but the public agency in this case provides a canvas, a stage on which the artist can bring ideas to life. That is significant and should be encouraged and embraced by everyone. Opportunity guarantees no outcome; it simply provides a chance or possibility for a recipient. It's why an opportunity is such a terrible thing to waste. What other opportunities could a city, state or nation create for its people if it decided to?
- Remove Obstacles
With every opportunity come hurdles to overcome. If it weren't so, if an opportunity had no roadblocks or problems to solve, it would be a right, something guaranteed. There is no such thing as guaranteed outcomes with opportunities, just possibilities. With every opportunity there will be forces seeking to control, reduce or even eliminate it. In my opinion, the BEST thing a public body can do after creating an opportunity is to run interference to insure it's not lost or worst yet, stolen.
Happy Valley's support of public art is a significant opportunity not just for the artists but for the community as well. We all get to visit a living gallery—a garden in which art is equaled only by the environment in which it is displayed. What is better than that?
Thank you for making this opportunity available. I'm grateful to be a part of it.
The City thanks Mr. Cook for his contribution to the Sculpture Garden. FOTIZO has been on exhibit at City Hall since July 2019 and will remain through June 2021. For questions and purchasing inquiries, please contact Jaimie Huff, 503-783-3828, [email protected].
To see more art by Terry Cook, visit his webpage at https://cookdevelopment.com/metal-sculptures/
Per this websites' appropriate use and disclaimer statement, reference herein to any specific commercial products, processes, or services by trade name, trademark, manufacturer, or otherwise, does not necessarily constitute or imply its endorsement, recommendation, or favoring by the City. The views and opinions of authors expressed herein do not necessarily state or reflect those of the City and shall not be used for advertising or product endorsement purposes.


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16 hours ago
Saturday, June 30, 2018
SL Video: "Stamp On The Ground" At The Sunweaver Islands
(Click here if the video fails to play)
By Nydia Tungsten on June 28, "I saw a few videos with this song and decided to try my hand at it, and I figured why not show you all more of where we do this at. Every one of the shots was taped in a public area in the Sunweaver Island chain, where we live and play in the world we call Second Life."
Labels: dance, dancing, islands, music, Nydia Tungsten, Second Life, Secondlife, sl, SL video, Sunweaver Estates, Sunweavers, video
RFL Announcement: "Cancer Kickin' Tunes"
Saturday June 30th
At Southern Cross
Cancer Kickin' Tunes all day long and into the night! We are raising funds for The American Cancer Society with this Multi-Team Event. Bring your kiosk along for the ride...........
8:00-9:30 Roseanne Aura-Cure Chasers
9:30-11:00 Aryon Dagger-Team Shadow
11:00-12:30 Cowboy Swansen-Cure Chasers
12:30-2:00 Madonna Daehlie-Team Shadow
2:00-3:30 Leza PTF Swansen-Cure Chasers
3:30-5:00 Otenth Paderborn -Team ACTS
5:00-630 A-Team-Friends For a Cure
6:30-8:00 Bella1 Abbot-Bonanza Country
8:00-10:00 Hollyrose24-Cure Chasers
Once again, thank you from The Cure Chasers and Team Shadow!
Gem Sunkiller
Labels: announcement, Cure Chasers, event, fundraiser, music, Relay for Life, RFL, Second Life, Secondlife, sl, Team ACTS, Team Bonanza, Team Shadow
Reader Submitted: At The Tera Summer Festival
Malya Violetsong's reports on the MMO "Tera."
TERA Newsfox Malya, President of the Bixyl Fan Club of TERA (and Vice-President, with a vice only for fresh pepper!) reporting that the TERA Summer Festival has gone off without a hitch, since the posts were removed after mounting horses or dragons was deemed to be too perverted... Tonight at the Temple of the Wisdom Tree it seems the Vampirs are having a bloody-good time... not so much for their human hostages, but hit them with a holy spell and even Vampirs will run around high on the hog since they get turned into... hogs and their bacon gets fried! Holy bad pun-ch lines, Batnotman! Even the sloths in the temple are having a party! But it's a rather crappy situation for those who clean it up... trust me, at the moment the entrance smells like real big dump at the moment! Shaved ice, on the other hand, is this summer's coolest treat, and quite cold when it falls off it's cone and hits you. I recommend wearing strawberry red dresses like mine, so the stains of Vampir's Blood flavoring doesn't stain! ...much! Tank battles seem to happen here a lot for some reason! And being tanked, it is no wonder why the the players driving them can't hit anything! Anywho, this is Newsfox Malya of the Bixyl Fan Club of TERA, signing off! And autographs! This message was brought to you by TERA-Bull Vampir Repellant and Shaved Ice Flavorings, the vendor stall where the featherweight jokes are so bad they will tickle DJ SnowBuns into fleeing from last week's bakery as one hawt, cross Bun to say "BOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!" No actual bunnies or DJs were tickled in response to the making of this advertisement, thank you!
Malya Violetsong
Labels: comedy, fun article, funny, game, humor, Malya Violetsong, MMO, reader submission, Reader Submitted, Terra
Friday, June 29, 2018
Scenes From The Sunbeamer Air Show
See the pictures in Events.
Posted by Bixyl Shuftan at 6:05 PM No comments:
Labels: aerial, air show, aircraft, airplane, airplanes, Bixyl Shuftan, blimp, Cynthia Farshore, dogfight, dunk tank, events, Farshore Field, Goblin Cave, parachuting, Second Life, Secondlife, sl, Sunlight Bay
Reader Submitted: Game Review - Subnautica, Part Seven
Read Rita's reader submission in Other Grids, MMOs, and Games.
Posted by Bixyl Shuftan at 6:05 AM 1 comment:
Labels: aquatic, game, ocean, Other Grids MMOs and Games, reader submission, Reader Submitted, Rita Mariner, single-player, Subnautica, survival, underwater
The Stagbucks Cafe and the Trotsdale Library
Skye Wishbringer and Amehana Arashi.
Read Deaf's story in Places.
Labels: Amehana Arashi, Deaflegacy, library, Places, ponies, pony, Second Life, Secondlife, Skye Wishbringer, sl, Stagbucks, Trotsdale
SL15B Volunteer Closing Party, AKA "Cake Explosion" This Sunday
"Volunteer Closing Party. -- We hope you are enjoying exploring SL15B for this whole week without lag or crowds! The closing party will be on Sunday 1st July at around 12pm SLT through to 4pm SLT. We will be at Mikati's stage for the explosion, then move on to Stage Left, The Serpent. Check notices running up to the weekend for more info."
Treacle Darlandes
*Addition* After the announcement on Thursday night, there was a correction saying the "Cake Explosion" was at 4PM, not Noon.
Posted by Bixyl Shuftan at 6:03 AM No comments:
Labels: announcement, birthday, cake, closing, explosion, Mikati Slade, party, Second Life, Secondlife, sl, SL15B
Cross-Country Giant Snail Races in Raglan Shire
On Saturday June 23 at a little after 10:30 AM, the Giant Snail Racers had a cross-sim race that started on their home sim, and went through the sims of the Raglan Shire tiny community. The race had the usual zany antics of the Snail Races, with cannons launching the snails over gaps in the race track.
The order of those finishing went as follows:
Magnek Fang 1
Alden Cortes 2
BrianTopp Resident 3
CharlieCosmic Resident 4
Lobbie Riggles 5
Tindallia Soothsayer 6
Linn Darkwatch 7
Caleb Kit 8
Diego Savagard 9
ZackOakley Resident 10
The race was held in part to raise funds for the Relay for Life
Labels: cross-sim, Giant Snail Races, giant snails, RacerX Gullwing, racing, Raglan Shire, Relay for Life, RFL, Second Life, Secondlife, sl, snail racing
Relay Events This Weekend
EVENT: Cancer Kickin' Tunes
HOSTED BY: Cure Chasers and Team Shadow
TIME: 8:00am-8:00pm
LOCATION: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Kindred%20Sancuary/167/67/27
EVENT: Game Night
HOSTED BY: Heroes Helping Heroes
TIME: 6:00pm-8:00pm
LOCATION: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Excelsior/57/117/1534
EVENT: Fantasy Breedables Fennux Auction RFL Panel
HOSTED BY: Fantasy Breedables Fight Against Cancer Team
TIME: 4:00pm-6:00pm
LOCATION: http://maps.secondlife.com/secondlife/Jirina/84/77/3202
Labels: announcement, auction, Cure Chasers, events, Fantasy Breedables, Fennux, Heroes Helping Heroes, Relay for Life, RFL, Second Life, Secondlife, sl, Team Shadow, weekend
Announcement: This Week At The Science Circle, Two Events
"Psychological Benefits of Walking in a Virtual Nature"
Friday June 29
9AM to 10 AM PST
By Benny Rigaux-Bricmont
For more information, Click Here.
Natmoud Island (52/137/28)
* * * * *
"Updating Darwinian Evolution Part II: The Role of Sexual Selection"
Saturday June 30
9AM to 10 AM PST
By Dr. Stephen L. Gasior
"The most common conception of evolution is that the hardiest survive. Darwin proposed another type of competition–that for mates within a species. When competing for mating partners the ability to find the right match and display your wares become important forces shaping the evolution of physiology, chemistry, and the brain. This talk explores the science of sexual selection in humans. Sexual selection has been well established in animal species for half a century, but the ability to study it in humans is relatively recent. Using the documentary The Science of Sex Appeal as a scaffold, this talk helps us update Darwin's Theory of Evolution. "
For more information, Click Here.
The Science Circle (61/127/32)
Labels: announcement, benefits, Benny Rigaux-Bricmont, Darwinian, education, learning, nature, psychological, science, Science Circle, Second Life, Secondlife, selection, sexual, sl, Stephen Gasior, virtual
Thursday, June 28, 2018
Interview with SLB Exhibitor Kimble
Read Deaflegacy's interview in People.
Labels: change, climate, climate-change, climatology, Deaflegacy, exhibit, exhibtor, interview, Kimble, kimblecoles, People, science, Second Life, Secondlife, sl, SL15B, SL15B Electrify
Relay Weekend Sims Going Up
With the Second Life Birthday coming to a close, the attention of residents on the lookout for goings-on across the Grid falls on the next big yearly event: the Relay Weekend. The sims are on the ground, and the track has been laid out, the one over the American Cancer Society sim made as a bridge.
Thirty sims make up this year's track. This is a little more than last year's track. Besides the yearly names such as Hope, Healing, Inspire, and others, there are also the names of continents added, such as Antarctica and Australia south of the ACS sim. And there are a few off-track sims set up for events, such as boating.
The Relay Weekend is on Saturday July 14 to Sunday July 15. Stay tuned for more updates and sneak peaks as the clock ticks to the big event.
Bixyl Shuftan
Labels: arrived, Bixyl Shuftan, event, new, Relay for Life, Relay Weekend, RFL, Second Life, Secondlife, set-up, sims, sl, track, Up
At the RFL Black Sea Raft-Up
Raft-Up" event. This was a six-hour Relay event held by the Sail for Life team. There was music, dancing, and lots of boats of all sizes.
Besides the Relay kiosks, one could also donate by purchasing tickets to a raffle. One would "add" the ticket, then touch the raffle drawing they wanted to enter. Single tickets cost 100L each, with larger amounts costing less per ticket. Among the prizes available were boats and sailboats.
team page shows them as having raised $1015 US dollars, or a little over 250,000 Lindens, Platinum level fundraising.
Image Credit: Debi Dast
Bixyl Shuftan.
Labels: Bixyl Shuftan, Blake Sea, Debi Dast, event, fundraising, raffle, Relay for Life, RFL, Sail for Life, Second Life, Secondlife, sl
Wednesday, June 27, 2018
Cartoon of the Day
Taken at Eternal Desires. For those who don't get the joke, Click Here.
By Bixyl Shuftan
Posted by Bixyl Shuftan at 6:05 AM 1 comment:
Labels: avatar, Bixyl Shuftan, Cartoon, Cartoon of the Day, Eternal Desires, funny, gremlin, humor, joke, Second Life, Secondlife, sl
What Is A True Friend In Second Life?
Read the story in People.
Labels: Ari, Arisa Vita, Bixyl Shuftan, Deaflegacy, friends, People, Second Life, Secondlife, Six String, Skylark Lefavre, sl, True
Satirical Aritst Kake Broek Banned From Second Life
Read more in Extra.
Labels: Adolf Chaplin, art, artist, banned, banning, Bixyl Shuftan, expelled, Extra, Kake Broek, Linden Lab, protest, protests, satire, satirical, satirist, Second Life, Secondlife, sl
Fundraiser at Veterans Isle Raises Over 150,000 Linden Dollars
Waya Snowpaw was the DJ for the first hour. Then David Csiszer sung live to the crowd. Following them was the band Quadradix. But there was someone extra among thing, singer Maxilillion Klene. It was in their hour that the money donated shot past the 100,000 mark. They were followed up by Nina Bing and Lyndon Heart.
The event raised a total of 153,200 Linden dollars. This was the biggest event that the Newser has seen at the Isle in months in terms of audience and cash donated.
To learn more about the Homes For Our Troops visit https://www.hfotusa.org .
Bixyl Shuftan
Labels: benefit, charity, David Csiszer, event, Frets Nirvana, fundraiser, HFOT, Homes For Our Troops, live performances, Lyndon Heart, Maximillion Kleene, music, Nina Bing, Second Life, Secondlife, sl, Veterans, vets
Tuesday, June 26, 2018
Events This Week at the Sunweaver, Montecito Bay, and Furry Fashion Clubs
Club Cutlass: Best in 'O' and 'P,' Red and Black, Outer Space
The Happy Vixen: Superheroes, Bad, Tails, TBA, Scalies, Sharknado, Vampires, TBA, Pasties and Things
Club Zero Gravity: Best in Stripes, Come As You Are
Momtecito Bay: Taco Tuesday, After Dark,
Furry Fashion Lounge: Sci-Fi, Formal, Fantasy, Goth, Back to the Beach, 80s, Horror
Read the schedules in SL Clubbin'
Updated 8AM
Labels: club, Club Cutlass, dance, events, fun, furry, Furry Fashion, Happy Vixen, Magnum Opus, Montecito Bay, music, Purrfection, Second Life, Secondlife, sl, SL Clubbin', Sunweaver Bay, Sunweaver Space, Zero Gravity
Reader Submitted: DJing At Stage North
Labels: crystal, dance, DJ Grease, Grease Coakes, music, reader submission, Reader Submitted, Second Life, Second Life Birthday, Secondlife, sl, SL15B, stage, Stage North
Monday, June 25, 2018
More SL15B Exhibits
Read Gemma's story in Design.
Posted by Bixyl Shuftan at 1:05 PM No comments:
Labels: anniversary, birthday, Caro Fayray, Crystal Anniversary, design, exhibits, Gemma Cleanslate, Ginger Lorakeet, Marianne McCann, RacerX Gullwing, Second Life, Secondlife, sl, SL15B, SLB
Read Deaflegacy's article in Places.
Labels: community, DC the Cyberfoxy, Deaflegacy, Death Berger, MLP, My Little Pony, Places, ponies, pony, Second Life, Secondlife, sl, Trotsdale
The Last Day of Second Life Birthday Events
Sunday June 24 was the last day, at least officially, for events at the Second Life Birthday grounds. And people had one last chance to enjoy the parties there. And there were a number.
At 8PM the night before, it was the "Live Music with Dance and Special Light Show" by "Tuna Oddfellow. It wasn't at one of the stages, but at a special platform over 650 meters in the air. For those who hadn't seen his "Odd Ball" performances before, it was quite an experience. For those interested, Tuna has recently resumed his Odd Ball. Instant-message him to find out when his performances take place.
At 12 Noon at the Cake Stage, DJ Tantari.played some tunes for the crowd. She played her "Space First Stage" set of music.
For about two hours, the high-energy blue vixen wowed the crowd with her sci-fi tunes.
Not everyone listening was on two legs. At one point a black unicorn showed up.
The exhibits were up and running as always, though the action was mostly at the clubs
By late in the night, the events at Stage North (above), the Central Stage, and even Stage Left wound down. The action was at The Cake.
At 11PM, people gathered at The Cake for the last official party, and in a sense the last hurrah.
DJ A.F.I. (Ladigirl Resident), a real-life DJ from Hollywood California, spun the tunes.
Besides the regular-sized avatars, there was a giant, and a large anthro dragon.
But regardless of how we looked, we were there for the same reason, to end the celebrations with a bang.
Among those there was cake builder Mikati Slade.
But all good things must come to an end. And at Midnight, DJ A.F.I. closed her set with a display of fireworks.
But while this is the end of the official events, this is not the end of "The Birthday." The sims will remain up and open to the public until July 1, and so most of the exhibits will remain as well (It always seems at least one guy jumps the gun and leaves right away). And there is the tradition of the "Cake Explosion," which will be sometime later this week.
"Happy 15th Birthday Second Life."
Bixyl Shuftan
Posted by Bixyl Shuftan at 6:02 AM 1 comment:
Labels: anniversary, birthday, Bixyl Shuftan, celebration, crystal, DJ A.F.I., DJ Tantari, events, exhibit, final, goodbye, last, Mikati Slade, Second Life, Secondlife, sl, SL15B, the end
Reader Submitted: Reporting From Terra
"Hello! TERA's very own news fox and the president of the TERA Bixyl News Fox Fan Club (and vice president... with no vices!) here! Big news tonight! Participants of the PvP Battleground "Kumas Royale" found their challenge tonight to not so much be a piece of cake... as the battle was to bake cakes! Not as easy as pie, it would seem! As the red team got creamed with pies, it seems! Consensual, being a battleground, of course!
In the end, the strain proved to be too much for one Human as he ended up completely baked on his own brownies, which ironically did not score very high. In the end, it was a star player in another game who won and beat them all, eggs included. The one and only Naughty Nydia baked a cake so royale it became a total flush across the internet for the players in Kumas, their failed attempt becoming only a royale pain in the tail to clean up.
Signing off, live from the local studio TERA Bull Puns and News, the one and only News Fox Malya, Bixyl News Fox Fan Club President! This message was brought to you by the following sponsor: Half-Baked Puns-R-Us, where the puns are so stale, they make DJ Snowy go 'BOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!!'
Malya Violetsong
Labels: battleground, comedy, fun article, Malya Violetsong, PvP, reader submission, Reader Submitted, Terra
Sunday, June 24, 2018
Cartoon of the Day
Labels: Bixyl Shuftan, Cartoon, Cartoon of the Day, colors, Female Winslet, Fox, funny, Happy Vixen, humor, joke, Rainbow, Second Life, Secondlife, sl
Scenes From the SL15B: Stage Left - "The Serpent"
While the Cake Stage at the Second Life Birthday has been a longtime favorite, for the past three years, the Stage Left builds constructed by Faust Steamer have gotten some attention, and for good reason.
Faust has made his Stage Left builds with skill, with both detail and that they're able to move. This year's build, "The Serpent," has a huge snake winding around a dark, foreboding structure.
Not exactly the most comforting thing, seeing a huge enormous predator, especially when it's looking right at you.
But while the place may be scary, the music by the DJs are plenty of fun. Stage Left is at SL15B Mesmerize (128/227/25).
This is the last day of SL15B events. The sims will remain open to the public until July 1, but if you want to catch any more of the parties, stop by today.
Bixyl Shuftan
Posted by Bixyl Shuftan at 6:04 AM 1 comment:
Labels: anniversary, Bixyl Shuftan, build, celebration, crystal, Faust Steamer, Second Life, Secondlife, serpent, sl, SL15B, spooky, stage, Stage Left
Mod Monday at Montecito Bay
Featuring this month InZoxi, Crazy Kobold Creations, Orange Toad Studios and Bullseye/Caboodle! As always, join us for live host/dj, prizes and discounts! See you there!
Labels: Avagora, contests, DJ, fun, Mod Monday, mods, Monday, Montecito Bay, music, Second Life, Secondlife, sl
Announcement: RFL Blake Sea Raft-Up At 9AM
Come down, sail down or just TP over for the 6th Annual Blake Sea Raft-Up. Raffle prizes, live DJ's ALL day and of course boats and more boats. All proceeds benefit RFL and Sail4Life. It's a HUGE four sim party. Look forward to seeing u there.
Labels: announcement, Blake Sea, boating, boats, event, music, prizes, Raft-Up, Relay for Life, RFL, Sail 4 Life, Sail for Life, Second Life, Secondlife, sl
Saturday, June 23, 2018
SL15B: Another Whole Week To Go
Read Gemma's article in Places.
Labels: 15th, anniversary, birthday, celebration, crystal, exhibits, fifteenth, Gemma Cleanslate, Places, Second Life, Secondlife, sl, SL15B
Relay Events Today: Raglan Shire Giant Snail Cross-Sim Race
Should be a crazy race. I'm not done setting out arrwos yet but if you want to test the track come on on over and follow the "snail arrows." Gullwing Coast Racers (129,91,30)
Everything you need is inside, theme is nature.
Any donation is welcome 500 suggested.
"This year not using the acorns, it's slingshots and cannons. Starts right here, crosses over on the bridge (leading to Raglan), then ends at the sili cube."
See you at the races.
Labels: announcement, cross-sim, Giant Snail Races, giant snails, race, RacerX Gullwing, racing, Raglan Shire, Relay for Life, RFL, Second Life, Secondlife, sl
SL Video: "Zombie"
(Click here if the video fails to play)
By Furry Alex on June 3
Labels: dance, Furry Alex, music, Second Life, Secondlife, sl, SL video, video, zombies
Friday, June 22, 2018
Scenes From the SL15B
See the pictures in Events.
Posted by Bixyl Shuftan at 6:05 PM No comments:
Labels: anniversary, auditorium, birthday, Bixyl Shuftan, cake stage, Catboy Qunhua, CDS, celebration, crystal, events, exhibts, gift grab, Han Held, Second Life, Secondlife, sl, SL15B, Xiola Linden
The RFL DSD Rabbit V2 Mod
Read Deaflegacy's article in Design.
Labels: Astra Noctura, avatar, bunnies, bunny, Deaflegacy, design, DSD, fundraiser, Meli's Maniacs, mod, modification, modify, purple, rabbit, Relay for Life, RFL, Second Life, Secondlife, sl, V2
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Ever used a holiday promotion for your business?
Even a company that sells business to business can benefit from a creative campaign that is executed with sound criteria.
Sarah Kicinski, Vice President of PostcardMania, shared information with me about her company's Valentine's Day campaign and how she helped her client's with their marketing efforts.
In 2012, PostcardMania put together a Valentine's Day postcard marketing package to encourage clients to keep up with their postcard mailing strategy. In addition to thanking their loyal clients, PostcardMania wanted to use the campaign to strengthen their social media presence. The package included a Valentine's Day card, wax lips, and a wax mustache.
The special offer was a free copy of the company's CEO Joy Gendusa's book, The Ultimate Postcard Marketing Success Manual, for any recipient who posted a picture of themselves, wearing the wax lips and mustache, on their Facebook wall.
They sent the package out to 500 of their top clients and this is what happened:
Social Media Results:
Received 20 new "Likes" for their Facebook page during the week of Valentine's Day with 18 clients who posted their wax lips and mustache pictures on the page. They also got 3 thank you emails.
Revenue Generated:
Of the 500 clients, 68 placed new orders during the week of Valentine's Day. Their 68 orders generated $120,637 of revenue for the postcard company. Raw materials for the campaign, including the production of the cards, purchase of the wax lips and mustaches, and postage, cost only $3000.
I don't know how much of that is incremental, since she didn't say what a typical week's revenues are, but still, this sounds pretty impressive.
Lessons learned? A strong house list of your best customers really pulls. A clever 3-D mailer, with clear direction to take a photo of yourself and post it on our Facebook page, gets the Social Media buzz going.
Memorable. Fun. Interactive. And I'm assuming from her descriptions, that the clients who bought postcards from them went on to additional marketing success. Kinda makes you want to do your own postcard plus clever holiday tie-in mailer to your customers, doesn't it?
Sarah has three suggestions to keep in mind with holiday marketing using postcards:
- First, the early bird gets the worm, and the early marketer gets the customer. Start your postcard mailing early, so your prospects have repeated exposure to your offers by the peak of the holiday excitement. The more they see your offers, the more likely they are to accept them.
- Next, make sure you have a creative special offer featured on your postcard — especially if your business isn't directly relevant to the holiday, like flowers and jewelry. You want to engage your prospects' interest with an attractive offer presented in a way that is relevant to the holiday buzz. For instance, a dentist can offer a discount on teeth whitening before Valentine's Day. It's a relevant service, made attractive with a special discount.
- Finally, social media is a great tool during holidays. You can use social media during holidays to fortify your postcard marketing message, or you can use your postcards to strengthen your online presence. You can fuel the buzz and excitement amongst online followers by posting on holiday specific topics, which will make your postcards more effective once they reach them. You can also encourage online interaction on your postcards with a social media related call to action. This will bolster your online presence and lead to even more marketing benefits down the road.
If you enjoyed hearing this case study, you might enjoy more case studies from PostcardMania.
Editor's note: This was a guest blog post interview. While I don't usually accept guest posts, Sarah and her staff did all the leg work to pull together this case study that I think will be of interest to the readers of Branding & Marketing. So readers, now's your chance. Was this blog post helpful and interesting to you? Leave a comment below.


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Value, Integrity, Service, Quality
About Us
We continually educate by keeping you aware of the changing seasonal aspects of your landscape.
Established in 1979, EarthWorks, Inc. is a full-service commercial landscape management company. Our difference lies in our commitment to the highest quality service to each one of our customers.
Our consultative method of account management offers you better long term results.
We build relationships instead of performing sales calls. Our goal is to partner with you long-term. Account managers use smart phones and email to stay connected with you at your convenience and estimates are provided within 48 hours in most cases.
EarthWorks has the manpower to perform installations usually within a timely manner, even during the peak season. And with our staff resources we can prepare multiple sites for owner inspection or investor tours within a single day, even on short notice.
We also care for the environment by recycling all organic debris for re-use and utilizing plastic bags made from recycled materials. For your tenants' safety and health we use only "green light", non-toxic chemicals that have been approved by the Texas Department of Agriculture.
Educating clients creates better results for both of us.
Visit our Knowledge Center for information on how we strive to help our clients help themselves in many areas of commercial landscape management. Through consulting and classes we help you understand underlying issues pertaining to landscape design beyond simply the beautification of your property.
Also take advantage of our other services such as landscape audits of potential property acquisitions and conceptual budgeting classes for on-site managers to assist in making wise decisions within your budget. By planning strategically and addressing issues like irrigation and potential liabilities early, future damage at greater expense can be prevented giving significant cost savings.
Choose EarthWorks to meet all of your landscape needs.
Value • Integrity • Service • Quality


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5 Fast-Growing Startups Like Uber Freight
With global consumption growth, particularly in online shopping, the logistics and transport industry struggles to keep up. However, where an opportunity exists to build a business, innovators, entrepreneurs, and startups are willing to step up and take a pivotal role.
Specifically, five fast-growing on-demand trucking startups in the logistics and transport sector are getting the attention they deserve.
5 Fast-Growing On-Demand Trucking Startups
This article looks at startups like Convoy and Uber Freight and how they're adding value to a booming industry due to eCommerce success.
Uber Freight
Uber launched its Uber Freight trucking business in May 2017. From the USA the company expanded to Canada and Europe. Uber Freight connects truckers with shippers, pretty, in the same way, the company's ride-hailing app pairs drivers with those looking for a ride. It is a part of Uber's "other bets," like food delivery service, Uber Eats, and its New Mobility ventures like Jump-branded electric bikes and scooters.
Uber for trucking offers many possibilities to its users like booking freight delivery using the app, access to transparent pricing and quick payments, tracking the delivery process from the moment of loading to delivery, and submission of PODs (POD – proof of delivery) and fleet management. The system matches shippers to carriers intelligently and can calculate a quote based on market conditions and other factors.
Many big companies like LG, Procter & Gamble, Wis-Pak, Premier Packaging etc., are already successfully using Uber's benefits for shipments.
Making sure that our freight is moving correctly, on time, and at the right price is getting more complex just about every day.… Having an innovation partner is supercritical. We see Uber Freight as a partner who can help us get there.
— says Paul Heffernan, Vice President, Supply Chain, LG Electronics USA
It's worth mentioning that while the big businesses have been enjoying the benefits of these apps, anyone can create their own application like uber for trucking and this is exciting for all innovators and entrepreneurs.
The company launched its app in 2015 when smartphones just started to be widespread among truck drivers. Co-founders of Seattle-based Convoy are Dan Lewis and Grant Goodale, both former Amazon employees, who handled a massive logistics task.
During these 5 years, Convoy raised $265 million and reached a valuation of more than $1 billion. Business is interesting for these well-known investors like CapitalG, the venture arm of Google parent company, Alphabet, Bono, Bill Gates, Jeff Bezos, Salesforce.com CEO Marc Benioff and
Expedia chairman Barry Diller.
The main aim of this startup is to bring efficiency to the supply chain industry. There are 2 ways to achieve this goal. First, they reduce the number of empty trails trips currently 40% of the USA's highway miles. Second, they try to spread the Convoy trucking services app among small firms with just three or four trucks which make up most of the trucking industry.
Convoy helps these truckers operate more efficiently and gives its customers (GE Appliances, Home Depot, Anheuser-Busch and Unilever, among them) better tracking and pricing data. The app also offers free access to all available loads, payment with Convoy QuickPay™ without fees, upload of documents electronically etc. The company makes money by taking a percentage of each transaction on its platform.
Founders Dan Lewis and Grant Goodale are confident that by using data-driven software to better match up shippers and truckers, they can save time, money and CO2 output.
An Indian startup founded in 2015, BlackBuck is trying to overcome a big inefficiency problem in India's trucking system. Truck drivers often struggle to find any work on their way back from the unloading point. BlackBuck helps them to see 25% to 30% more work opportunities. The startup makes money by taking a fee between 15% and 20%.
Knowing the Indian realities, BlackBuck has developed a simple app for truck drivers, who typically aren't avid smartphone users, to help them find work and quickly navigate to their destination using Google Maps. On the client-side, businesses can use a similar app to place orders. Recently it also tied up with insurance company Acko to secure all the trucks on its network.
BlackBuck's matchmaking technology is similar to Uber for Trucking and includes dynamic pricing that considers route demand and job requirements. Indian on-demand trucking apps can offer loads across Europe and India with no registration fee, payment guarantee, and always available issues management.
Today, BlackBuck is the largest trucking network in India, and the company's technology platforms deliver reliability, efficiency and seamless experience for shippers and truck drivers. And that is not all, in 2019, BlackBuck has entered the European market and operates in Germany, Poland, France, Denmark and other countries.
BlackBuck has over 30000 shippers and forwarders that provide over 5000 shipments a day to about 10000 clients like Unilever, Nestle, Mondelez, P&G, Colgate, and Samsung, Reckitt Benckiser, Coca-Cola and others.
As the country with the largest population and developing production system, China is also trying to be on the top of all newest technologies and logistics know-how. 75% of all commercial cargos in China are done by local companies. To minimize fuel costs and increase efficiency, some companies have also started to use on-demand trucking technologies.
Huochebang, founded in 2008, is the largest trucking company in China with 6 thousand employees and a network of 5.2 million drivers. The cloud-based logistics platform helped decrease the fuel costs and carbon emissions by matching the supply and demand at needed time and place. Thanks to O2O (Online-to-Offline) truck freight platform company provides integrated services to both shippers and truck owners in real-time.
The startup's revenue model is pretty unique, as the company doesn't take any fee for essential matching services. Huochebang earns money by offering additional services, starting from loans and insurance for its truckers to selling auto parts and second-hand trucks. Huochebang also partnered with Alibaba's cloud unit and Zhong An Online Property and Casualty Insurance, China's first internet-only insurer.
Like Uber, the Huochebang platform has a rating system where shippers can evaluate the trucker on punctuality, services, reliability, prices etc.
In this way, drivers are motivated to provide a better quality of their services for higher ratings, leading to a higher possibility of getting the next order and more clients. It is essential for individuals who own trucks (90% of freight trucks in China are owned by individuals) and don't have many clients and orders.
Using this platform, they can avoid downtimes, empty return freights and overconsumption of fuel (as the app finds more fuel-efficient routes).
Huochebang has achieved huge growth in the last couple of years. Big giants like Tencent Holdings, Baidu and International Finance Corp. came as investors and companies raised about US$370 million in a financing round that valued the startup currently at over $1 billion.
Due to the fragmentation and colossal information asymmetry in the Brazilian trucking market on-demand tracking startups have an excellent opportunity to take their place in the sun. With about 400 000 trucks in Brazil, 40% of the time they are running empty. So such a startup as CargoX, even with no assets, can get benefits matching the shippers and the truck drivers.
CargoX was founded in 2013 by Federico Vega. Headquarter is located in San Paulo, Brazil. The business is so attractive that even Uber co-founder Oscar Salazary became one of the investors.
The company's main idea is to offer a free market for transport, which mainly connects the cargo with the transport companies, where the shipper, for example, has access to track in real-time his shipment.
In 2013, they launched only web-site as most truck drivers had no emails or anything related to the internet. But with the appearance of free phone calls in WhatsApp and increasing smartphone usage, CargoX decided to invest in the on-demand trucking app. And the percentage of truck drivers using the application was higher than those who used the website.
Later the company also launched a shipping platform based on blockchain technology which offers a secure and decentralized environment to shippers and freight forwarders to exchange digital documents in a secured manner.
The pandemic also influences the additional functions of the app. Due to the country's pandemic restrictions, CargoX inserted a tracking for snack bars and stops for truck drivers that were in operation on the platform. That shows that the company is flexible and ready to develop themselves and adapt to new conditions.
Currently, CargoX has a network of 150,000 trucks. Sometimes truckers only contact the company if they've made a delivery and are looking for freight to take on their return trip. But there are already stable clients who get all their freight from the company.
New startups that inspire encourage us to aspire to improve and offer more in our respective industries. Apps are the now and the future, so it's no surprise these five startups have done well with their on-demand trucking apps.
But even in this space, there is still a lot of room for improvement and development. For example, the smaller markets and companies which lack the new technologies are not getting rewards from having on-demand apps.
Maybe it's as straightforward as just add some specific features to stand out from competitors, and who knows, maybe your App will be the next Uber?


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Mental health resources for Black and Indigenous people of color (BIPOC) can be hard to find and unreliable. However, there are a lot of great BIPOC mental health resources in North Carolina. It is important to know that these resources are not exhaustive and that you should always do your own research before selecting a provider. Thank you for your interest in BIPOC mental health!
Read Post
One of the best things you can do for your mental and emotional health is to try multicultural counseling in North Carolina. During counseling, you can address underlying trauma, embrace your power, and process your feelings. An important part of us providing you with BIPOC mental health resources is giving you a place to heal from oppression. There are a lot of things that should be taken into consideration in therapy if you are a part of the BIPOC or Latinx community. Including:
Our multicultural counselors based in Asheville, NC are specially trained and understand how unique your experiences are. Therapy is the best BIPOC mental resource that there is. Additionally, in BIPOC and multicultural counseling, you will be given coping tools and additional tools that are right for you.
At Resilient Mind Counseling, we believe that black lives matter and that black is beautiful. This is why we are determined to ensure that all of our therapy services are inclusive to everyone. Regardless of race, gender, sexuality, or anything else.
Visit Us
Mental health is an important part of overall wellness, yet some communities face greater barriers to accessing quality mental health care. The first step is to find a BIPOC therapist who can understand you and your struggles, feelings, and trauma. In order to receive the quality mental health care that you deserve you have to feel supported. Counseling should be a place that is judgment free, inclusive of your culture and beliefs, and a place where you are comfortable fully expressing your authentic self. Community members are encouraged to reach out to their local organizations for additional support.
Mental health services can be lifesavers for people of color (POC) living with a mental illness. However, these services are not always accessible or reliable. If you are looking for BIPOC mental health resources in North Carolina, this post is for you.
Though it is often overlooked, people of color experience mental health conditions at the same rate as other demographics. However, they do not always have access to the same quality of resources. In North Carolina, there are a number of excellent organizations providing support to BIPOC individuals struggling with mental health conditions. Whether you are a BIPOC individual looking for help, or you know someone who is, multicultural counseling can make a real difference in your life.
The first place to start for BIPOC mental health resources is with multicultural counseling in North Carolina. Resilient Mind Counseling is here to support you and your mental health. We will help you find a multicultural counselor in Asheville, NC that is the right fit for you! Your experience and beliefs are unique and our online therapists understand that. While taking the first step can be hard we make it easier with these three steps.
Find Us Here!


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SAN RAMON, Calif.–(BUSINESS WIRE)–Chevron Corporation (NYSE:CVX) today announced a 2018 capital and exploratory spending program of $18.3 billion. This figure includes $5.5 billion for the company's share of expenditures by affiliated companies.
"Our 2018 budget is down for the fourth consecutive year, reflecting project completions, improved efficiencies, and investment high-grading," said Chairman and CEO John Watson. "We're fully funding our advantaged Permian Basin position and dedicating approximately three-quarters of our spend to projects that are expected to realize cash flow within two years."
Watson continued, "With production currently exceeding guidance in the Permian, our 2018 plan should deliver both strong production growth and solid free cash flow, at prices comparable to what we've seen this year."
Details of the 2018 Capital and Exploratory Spending Program include:
|Chevron 2018 Planned Capital & Exploratory Expenditures
$ Billions
|U.S. Upstream
|International Upstream
|Total Upstream
|U.S. Downstream
|International Downstream
|Total Downstream
|TOTAL (Including Chevron's Share of Expenditures by Affiliated Companies)
|Expenditures by Affiliated Companies
|Cash Expenditures by Chevron Consolidated Companies
In the upstream business, approximately $8.7 billion is forecasted to sustain currently producing assets, including $3.3 billion for the Permian and $1.0 billion for other shale and tight rock investments. Approximately $5.5 billion of the upstream program is planned for major capital projects underway, including $3.7 billion associated with the Future Growth Project at the Tengiz field in Kazakhstan. Global exploration funding is expected to be about $1.1 billion. Remaining upstream spend will be for early stage projects supporting potential future developments.
Approximately $2.2 billion of planned capital spending is associated with the company's downstream businesses that refine, market and transport fuels, and manufacture and distribute lubricants, additives and petrochemicals.
Chevron Corporation is one of the world's leading integrated energy companies. Through its subsidiaries that conduct business worldwide, the company is involved in virtually every facet of the energy industry. Chevron explores for, produces and transports crude oil and natural gas; refines, markets and distributes transportation fuels and lubricants; manufactures and sells petrochemicals and additives; generates power; and develops and deploys technologies that enhance business value in every aspect of the company's operations. Chevron is based in San Ramon, Calif. More information about Chevron is available at www.chevron.com.


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They pride themselves on the personal relationships they develop with each traveler. Each potential traveler is matched with a dedicated career specialist who takes the time to listen and learn their specific needs, goals, and personal preferences. Once a travel contract has been accepted, they maintain regular contact and provide support to all of their travelers throughout the assignment and often years into the future. Their team of Nurse Advocates is also available to their travelers for additional assistance. They know healthcare is a 24/7 operation, so they provide 24/7/365 support. Should a traveler need immediate assistance after hours, they can call the support line to be directed to a live member of their team at any time.
trustaff does have Clinical Nurse Liaison who is always available for a word of advice or as a helping hand in all clinical situations. They also have been certified by The Joint Commission, is a member of NATHO, and is committed to abiding by and furthering ethical business practices in the travel industry. trustaff intent on providing great service, maintaining HIPAA compliance, and pursuing continuous excellence in healthcare staffing.
Having a good relationship with your recruiter is critical to having a positive experience throughout your travel career. Every traveler wants a recruiter who will provide great service, communicate well, and above all, listen—but there's more to it than that. It's also about making a personal connection built on trust and respect. What works best for one personality might not work best for another, and finding that right match is part of the process. Any traveler is welcome to switch recruiters simply by asking a manager or they have a form on their website where any traveler is welcome to fill out their travel style and the type of recruiter they're looking for so they can find the best fit for them.
trustaff offers several medical plan options through United Healthcare, dental, and vision insurance. Plans cover each employee as well as options for additional family members and dependents. Benefits continue seamlessly even when you change assignments, as long as you don't have a break between assignments longer than 28 days.
Their employees are eligible to make contributions to a 401k savings account managed by USB, upon taking their first assignment. After completion of one year of employment and at least 1,000 hours of work, trustaff will match your contributions at 50%, up to the first 4% of contributions.
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Kassem G is the YouTube name of Kassem Gharaibeh, an American web based comedian of Middle Eastern origin, who got famous for his video series "California On" and "Going Deep" that feature comic interviews made with ordinary people.
Kassem made a big comeback in March 2017 with a new video series "Kassem Live Show" after being almost inactive on YouTube for three years.
Kassem Gharaibeh has two channels on YouTube that give him in total almost three million subscribers, half a billion views, and a net worth of impressive $4 million.
But that is not where the majority of his wealth comes from. And there is an amusing story behind it. If you want to know why did Kassem G disappear from YouTube and what made him come back, continue on reading.
Early Years
Kassem Gharaibeh was born in Jordan on 10th of October 1983. He lived in Saudi Arabia as a baby, but as he turned four, the family moved to Florida. Kassem grew up in Ventura County, California.
There is no info on Gharaibeh's education. We know he worked in retail for 10 years, serving at Best Buy, before deciding to start a youtube career.
On the weekends Kassem performed stand-up comedy at restaurants and cafes. Gharaibeh said he started doing comedy as a way of defense because he felt different.
Career Development
Kassem G Joined YouTube on the 24th of October 2006 after a video friend made went viral and got him thinking he should try filming his jokes.
Kassem G started by doing a series called "CaliforniaOn" where he stopped people in the street and asked them about a random topic, often something news related. The trick was the people Kassem G picked up were all but ordinary, and Kassem was in his made up character. The comedy was in the combination of the two. Kassem reinvented himself as an awkward nerd and talked to mostly what looked like drunk or plain weird guys and very hot girls.
Gharaibeh also made a series called "Street music" where he and a friend played music on the street looking for people's reactions to it.
In 2009 Kassem Gharaibeh created a new channel "KassemGTwo" meant to host videos for a new series he started called "AsKassem", but he stopped uploading videos on it in the middle of 2012. Nevertheless, this secondary channel has almost half a million subscribers and 35 million views, and today the main channel has more than 2.5 million subscribers and 441 million views.
Kassem G was a guest in the popular web series "Equals Three", by Ray William Johnson. He also starred in the YouTube film "Agents of Secret Stuff". Gharaibeh appeared several times on the cannabis culture-oriented podcast "Getting Doug With High" and in TV series "Smosh", "Four Kings" and "Next Time on Lonny".
Kassem Gharaibeh won the Streamy Award for Best Host in 2013 for his "California On" series, beating Larry King, who was one of the other four nominees in the category.
A year later, in the midst of 2014, Kassen G made a sudden small fortune and at same time almost stopped uploading new videos. Kassem was a co-founder of the Maker Studios, an American multi-channel network that got sold to The Walt Disney Company for $500 million. Some of other co-founders were Lisa Donovan, Ben Donovan and Danny Zappin.
Since Makers Studios got sold, Kassem uploaded just 10 new videos in the course of the next three years, sometimes making even a few months long breaks between them, and in the meantime lost some of his subscribers.
In the March 2017 Kassem Gharaibeh posted his first new video after seven months of silence. The video was almost an hour long improvised talk show Kassem made with his brother Omar and friend Peter Gilroy, and it started a new series of videos called "Kassem LiveShow". Since then, his channel has a new video uploaded once a week.
The first video in the series "Kassem Live Show" has close to 130 thousand views as of the beginning of May 2017 that shows the big YouTube comedian has a lot more to give.
Fans speculated why Kassem disappeared in the first place, saying he returned to video making because he'd spent "the Disney money" he got when Maker Studios was sold. Gharaibeh responded he was still "very, very rich" and that he thought now is the best time to go back to video making because he doesn't need to do it.
Even before taking a break Kassem honestly spoke of something he referred to as "getting stuck creatively", saying he was trying to find balance between doing the stuff fans are used to and trying out something new. Gharaibeh also confessed he gets the most upset when he doesn't have new content to upload.
Personal Life
Kassem G's parents are both Middle Eastern, his father is from Jordan and mother from Egypt.
Kassem G as a comedian jokes a lot about others and his own life, so there is not much data about his private life. There has been no word of a girlfriend or any other partner in his life, nor has he talked joke-freely about his sexuality.
Full name: Kassem G. Gharaibeh
Nick name: Kassem G
Date of birth: 10th of October 1983
Birth-sign: Libra
Birth place: Jordan
Residence: Venice, California, USA
Age: 34
Occupation: YouTube personality, comedian
Education: /
Awards: Streamy Award, Best Host in 2013
Personal Life and Family
Nationality: American
Ethnicity: Middle Eastern
Religion: Unknown
Father name: Unknown
Mother name: Unknown
Brother name: /
Sister name: /
Marital status: Unknown
Girlfriend: Unknown
Sexual Orientation: Unknown
Children: /
Hobbies: /
Pet own: /
Personal Look and Measurements
Height: 185 cm (6 feet 1 inch)
Weight: Unknown
Body: Slim
Hair Color: Dark brown
Eye color: Dark brown
Shoe Size: /
Measurements: /
Distinctive Features: Prominent nose, wears glasses
Net Worth and Salary
Net worth of Kassem G is estimated to be around $4 million in 2017. His overall income has been gathered from acting, video hosting, endorsements and business deals.
Social networks
Kassem Gharaibeh posts regularly on Twitter were 335 thousand people follow him and also on Facebook where he has 228 thousand followers and 296 thousand likes.
Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/gmessak/ (@gmessak)
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/gmessak (@gmessak)
Twitter: https://twitter.com/kassemg (@kassemg)
Snapchat: /
Youtube: https://www.youtube.com/user/KassemG/
Interesting Facts about Kassem G
Kassem acted a small roles in the movie "Transformers: Age of Extinction" and also "Boner Police: The Movie".
In the YouTube series "Epic Rap Battles of History" Kassem played himself in first two seasons and in the third season premiere appeared as Lando Calrissian.
Gharaibeh thinks he is so good at doing comedy on YouTube because he got to know his comedic niche. Kassem's biggest inspirations in comedy are Bill Cosby and Louis C.K.
Kassem G answered fan questions on Reddit on the making of his show and revealed that the "Going Deeps" episode filming was not easy to book and that some of the guests thought they were doing Kassem a favor by appearing on the show.
Making "California On" was hard work because it was often time consuming to find people that can fit the show profile and be interesting to talk to. Kassem said there are a lot of intelligent people in Venice, but they are not as funny.
Quick Summary
Kassem G is an American comedian of Middle Eastern origin, famous for his YouTube series "California On" and "Going Deep" who has almost three million subscribers, half a billion views, and a net worth of $4 million.
Kassem, as co-founder, earned a share when American multi-channel network Maker Studios got sold to The Walt Disney Company for $500 million. The channel Kassem G then got neglected for three years, since new uploads ware rare and followed by months of inactivity.
Kassem came back in March 2017 with a new video series "Kassem Live Show" and uploads a new episode every week getting thousands of views.


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Lived 1903 - 1972
Watchman Nee (1903–1972) was a Chinese Christian author and church leader during the early 20th Century. He spent the last 20 years of his life in prison and was severely persecuted by the Communists in China. Watchman Nee became a Christian in 1920 at age 17 and began writing in the same year. During his 30 years of ministry, beginning in 1922, Nee traveled throughout China planting churches among the rural communities and holding Christian conferences in Shanghai. In 1952 he was imprisoned for his faith; he remained in prison until his death in 1972.
The Normal Christian Life(111 pages)
Probably the best known book of Watchman Nee's is The Normal Christian Life. It was based on talks given by Watchman Nee at the time of and subsequent to his trip through Europe in 1938-1939. It expressed theological views on the first few chapters of the New Testament book of Romans. In the later sections of the book he presented his views on what the normal Christian life should be.


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The product is priced at $2,999 for new users, $399 to upgrade from Authorware 6.5 and $899 to upgrade from Authorware 5.x and 6.0, with educational pricing at $499. Macromedia eLearning Suite is priced at $3,499 for new users, with educational pricing at $599. Authorware 7 and eLearning Suite are available in English only. Volume licensing is also available. Authorware 7 runs on Windows 98 SE, 2000 and XP.
Authorware 7 integrates graphics, sound, animation, text and video into valuable e-learning experiences. Macromedia Authorware 7 uses the same intuitive user interface that is featured across the Macromedia MX family of products, while retaining the product's visual flowline authoring metaphor and drag-and-drop functionality. The product also enables developers to leverage existing Microsoft PowerPoint presentations to create rich e-learning content. Authorware 7 now supports the import of DVD video so that this popular video format can be used in Authorware interactive applications.
"Macromedia Authorware 7 is the most robust tool in the industry for authoring e-learning applications that integrate with learning management systems," suggests Jacquie Beck, vp of e-learning, Brookwood Media Arts, a Macromedia Alliance partner. "The new features in Authorware raise the bar for both development and tracking."
Authorware 7 is available as both a standalone product or as part of the eLearning Suite, which also includes Macromedia Flash MX and Macromedia Dreamweaver MX.
San Francisco-based Macromedia software is intended for use on the Internet, on fixed media, on wireless and on digital devices. For more information, visit www.macromedia.com/go/aw7/.


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The red phoenix is one of the "four guardians" in Feng Shui, ruling the southern sky in ancient Asian astrology. In most interpretations, the guardians were considered "gods" or "symbols" of gods because they ruled over the heavens (the sky). The red phoenix, also called the red bird or the vermilion bird is closely associated with the fire element and the summer season.
The Symbolism of the Red Phoenix Feng Shui Guardian
When you think of the red phoenix, think of a majestic spirited bird flying free and high over the landscape searching for opportunities! In Feng Shui folklore, the red phoenix is associated with great inspiration. This graceful bird symbolizes freedom and an openness to receive new ideas, new opportunities, and new people into one's life. The red phoenix can help you be more receptive to trying new things and expanding your horizons. The red phoenix also represents what you see in front of you and the psychologically need that most people have for an open view rather than a closed view. Most people think better and feel better if they have an open view in front of them.
The symbolism of the color red and the fire element linked to the red phoenix relates to its own lifecycle. It is said that at the end of its life, the red phoenix doesn't really die but instead bursts into flames. The bird is then "reborn" from the ashes of the fire. In this way, the red phoenix is a symbol of starting over. It can also be a symbol of a radical transformation of mind or deeds. For example, a person may suddenly have an epiphany that changes them to the core. If you need a fresh start on life, a new career, a new way of thinking, a new dedication to your family, or you need to break some old habits, the red phoenix is a good Feng Shui cure to help you accomplish any of these goals.
Red Phoenix Placement In and Around the Home
The red phoenix's energy is the south bagua of your home, the area around the main entrance to your home. It is also the view from the front door looking out. The red phoenix needs open space and an unobstructed view, or the energy will not flow properly. A front door that looks out on a tall building or a close mountain will obstruct your ability to see the sky and the grounds in front of you. This can be psychologically damaging and limit your potential. It can also prevent new opportunities and new ideas from entering your life. On the other hand, an open view outside your front door welcomes the energy afforded by the red phoenix. This is auspicious for new opportunities and new ideas.
To welcome the energy of the red phoenix, you should never place a tall fence in front of your home. A short fence is fine, and in fact, can actually help to filter out and protect you from any bad opportunities or bad ideas. However, you should be able to see over it and beyond it easily. Tall dense vegetation and or tall trees with thick trunks and dense foliage should also be avoided in the red phoenix area for the same reason. However, like a short fence, smaller vegetation like bushes and flower beds, or small sculptures and benches, can help you avoid bad energy while still welcoming the positive energy of the red phoenix.
Do you want to be more creative or invite more opportunities in your life? You can place splashes of red in your front yard to invite the spirit of the red phoenix to visit you more. You could also place a small figurine of the red phoenix, or a piece of artwork depicting its beautiful image, near your front door to enhance the qi (chi) of the red phoenix. Always place the red phoenix higher than the other three guardians of Feng Shui good energy as it needs to feel free and have this broad perspective.
Red Phoenix Placement in Work and Business
If you work at a desk or spend a lot of time at a particular workspace, the most important guidance you can receive from the Feng Shui red phoenix is to orient your desk or workspace so that you're looking out toward the entrance to your office or business. This puts you in the command position, ready for any opportunities that come your way. If you must have your desk or workspace facing a wall, the next best thing is to hang a mirror on the wall above your desk so you can easily see what's behind you.
If you have no other choice than to work in a cubicle, where there is no way to create open space in front of you, and a mirror won't help, one possible Feng Shui cure to this situation is to hang a large photograph or painting depicting a landscape scene with a distant perspective. For example, the scene could be from the top of a hill looking far and wide. Try to pick artwork that contains splashes of the color red, such as red wildflowers or a red sunrise or sunset. Put this landscape in front of your primary workspace so you can gaze upon it periodically and gain the perspective of the red phoenix during your workday.
The Red Phoenix and the Green Dragon in Marriage
The red phoenix represents the yin (feminine energy) that complements the yang (masculine energy) of the green dragon, the Feng Shui guardian of the east. This is why these two guardians are often paired together to bring about harmony and cohesiveness in a marriage. It strengthens the bond of marriage too. While the green dragon can reel in the free spirit of the red phoenix if it gets too carried away, the red phoenix brings fresh creative ideas to the green dragon. This allows both partners to become better versions of themselves.
Artwork depicting the red phoenix in a circular dance with the green dragon is a popular Feng Shui cure for married couples striving for a good marriage. This circular dance forms an image reminiscent of the yin-yang symbol, It should be placed in a southwest corner of the home, according to the bagua map, where the "south" is the front door and the "west" is the right side of the home as you enter through the front door. The joining of these two Feng Shui guardians in a dance is a beautiful expression of how the yin and yang energies, each allowed to be expressed to their full potential, can be blended in the harmonious union — at least that's the aspiration of a happy marriage in Feng Shui tradition!


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While others are raving about Singles' Day sales, and camping by their computers to check out their carts, you might want to take some time out on this day for yourself. We all know Singles'Day is a commercial event, but who's to say you can't have that day to yourself?
Here are 11 things you can try doing for yourself on Singles' Day–and perhaps any other day of the year. The point is to get offline and try something new for yourself!
#1. Explore the nature reserves
It is somewhat relaxing to ditch the couch once in a while for a hike. There is beauty in exploring the nooks and crannies of various nature reserves around Singapore — try hiking trails along the coast or Southern Ridges. If you're lucky, you might catch some wild animal or bird sightings
Taking time out to do a hike with a good music playlist might prove to be useful for the much-needed fitness!
#2. Dine at your favourite restaurant
There isn't a hard and fast rule that says you shouldn't have a meal at your favourite restaurant by yourself. Yes, while it is nice to have someone to share a basket of truffle tater tots with, dining alone has its perks too!
When you find yourself sitting comfortably in a corner seat and browsing the menu, you'll realise that there isn't a need to accommodate someone else's preference. Take time to enjoy the food completely and observe the world pass you by as you indulge in your favourite dessert.
#3. Pamper yourself at a spa
Spas are made for pampering and alone time, which is great when your body is in need of the love it deserves! Aroma-therapy and saunas have proven to be helpful for those with anxiety and frequent headaches.
Take the day off if you have to and soak in some skin-nourishing goodness!
#4. Surprise yourself with new styles by renting clothes
While most would indulge in a shopping spree, do something different by trying out a rental subscription.
Besides having new looks to wear daily and saving yourself the trouble of heading out, you're actually doing something sustainable for the environment. So why not surprise yourself by wearing new styles you've always wanted to try?
#5. Indulge with company
"Singles' Day is for the lonely" – said no one ever! The idea of being able to kick back and act like yourself completely around your closest friends couldn't be more tempting–especially if you're looking to end off a tiring workday with some fun.
So if spending time with loved ones is your way of treating yourself, go for drinks and snacks at the usual hangout, or sing your hearts out at the new karaoke bar.
#6. Go minimal and make space
If you're in need of some quiet time and thinking space– and meditation or doing nothing makes you feeling restless, put on some music and do a wardrobe cleanse!
Yes, going through a wardrobe cleanse, or as many have termed it "Marie Kondo-ing" may come off as clichébut you'll be surprised at how much time passes during the process. Aside from being productive, tt's calming and very much satisfying to see the final output of a clean and neat wardrobe! It's much more of a meditative task than a chore.
#7. Clean and maintaining your designer bags
Love the idea of owning a designer bag, but not the idea of maintaining it? We feel you. With ownership of designer bags, it's important to regularly maintain the leather and material to have it kept in pristine condition. That would mean to store them in low humidity and away from direct sunlight. As with wardrobe cleansing, this can be meditative too.
If you feel this is too much work, consign your designer bags and leave it to the experts to clean and restore the bags while you earn whenever your bags are rented out. Simply take a photo of your bag and send it in a valuation quote.
#8. Go for a comedy show
If you find yourself in need of a little laughter, try booking seats for a comedy show and actually dress up for a fun night out
Rather than staying home and rewatching episodes of The Big Bang Theory, watching a show in the theatres once in a while might prove to be a nice treat for yourself. Besides, laughing helps improve blood circulation, lower blood pressure, and improve your overall mood!
#9. Watch the sunrise
While catching the sunset is the more popular choice as no one wants to lose sleep, catching the sunrise at least once in your life should be on your bucket list. There isn't a better way to start your day than watching the day break.
Try it once! Sleep early the night before, make a flask of hot coffee or tea, and set out early to your nearest point of sunrise view. The early hours of the day and warm orange view can be breathtakingly beautiful if you give it a chance.
#10. Experiment with cooking
Spending the day on your own can mean skipping your meals or ordering in — but let's face it, it's lazy and unhealthy.
If you find yourself in that predicament, try experimenting with recipes in the kitchen. Cooking alone may seem daunting when there's no one to help you with dishes, but you'll find that there's less distraction when there is zero friction and no cooperation. That very time in the kitchen gives you room to experiment with cooking or baking what you really enjoy.
#11. Unplug
Take an afternoon to draw yourself away from the world of social media and pop culture. The serenity from having some quiet time to yourself can be quite empowering. Indulge in a yoga or meditation session in the comfort of your own room helps to relieve stress.
You might find yourself more rejuvenated with a clearer mind to tackle any oncoming activities.
If you can't find the time to unwind, treat yourself by booking upcoming activities and make time for it.
With Style Theory, we're all about community events and putting your mental wellness first. Try taking up a new class or join in the community fun with our subscribers and friends!


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THE dream of the Irish community in Glasgow of having a fitting memorial to the dead and displaced from Ireland's tragic years of hunger received an enormous boost this month as a quarter of the fundraising target was reached in a single day.
More than £20,000 was raised in a bucket collection at Celtic Park on the day of the club's home match against Aberdeen, with scores of volunteers (above) patrolling the area around the stadium to gather the funds which were so generously offered by ordinary members of the Irish community.
An important principle of the of the work of the Coiste Cuimhneachain An Gorta Mór (Irish Famine Commemoration Committee) is that the memorial will be one created for the multi-generational Irish community by the community, and the Glasgow Irish rallied around the committee to continue the work of ensuring the target is met.
"We are delighted by the support that was shown during our bucket collection at Celtic Park and would like to thank all those who generously donated and to the volunteers who braved the elements to help us reach as many people as possible," Coiste Cuimhneachain An Gorta Mór told The Irish Voice. "The fantastic sum of £20,100 which was raised will go a log way to helping us reach our target and deliver John McCarron's striking and eagerly awaited memorial.
"We now continue our fundraising efforts to make good on our promise to ensure Glasgow finally has a fitting tribute to the victims of the Great Hunger and their descendants who have had, and continue to have, such a powerful impact on the city they made their home."
St Patrick's Day celebrations offered a further avenue for fundraising with a Coiste Cuimhneachain An Gorta Mór stall at the Glasgow St Patrick's Day festival event in Merchant Square and a concert in St Mary's Church also raising funds for the memorial.
Future fundraising
Many more fundraising events are planned over the coming months and Coiste Cuimhneachain An Gorta Mór have called on those who would like to offer their support by organising their own fundraising efforts to get in touch and do their bit for the campaign.
"Over the coming months we will be carrying on with this vital stage of creating the monument and are confident that with support of the multi-generational Irish community of Glasgow and their friends from across Ireland, Britain and the rest of the world we will soon have the necessary funds," Coiste Cuimhneachain An Gorta Mór explained. "On St Patrick's Day weekend the Cór Gael Choir from Cork performed at St Mary's Church, Calton—where our memorial will be sited—and we were delighted to have the opportunity take up a collection in support of our work at this concert.
"We are grateful for the continued generosity of the community and look forward to the day when they can visit the memorial and reflect on and remember our past. We Are Building It!"
The memorial—designed by Mr McCarron of Donegal and titled 'Tower of Silence'—will depict a trio of gaunt figures atop a three metre high plinth, which will bear engravings of the poem The Stricken Land and ensure a permanent visual reminder to the suffering of the Irish people who fled to Glasgow in desperation.
Mr McCarron's design was chosen after much consultation with the multi-generational Irish community in Glasgow, and the fact it will be situated at St Mary's Church is a particular cause for excitement for the sculptor.
"The fact that my sculpture, 'Tower of Silence' will now stand outside Glasgow's St Mary's Church, Carlton, on the corner of Abercrombie Street, means so much to me," he told Donegal Now. "Don't forget, this was the Church of Brother Walfrid who founded Glasgow Celtic Football Club, to feed the starving Irish people in Glasgow.
"But, more importantly, what I realised as I got more and more involved with the project and visited Glasgow and spoke and listened to the people who took part in the public consultation, was that the Irish community in Glasgow and throughout Scotland, has a deep emotional investment in the Coiste Cuimhneachain An Gorta Mór project.
"I am full of admiration for their drive, energy and ambition to get a fitting memorial erected… to the Famine Irish.
"I am also thrilled, delighted and honoured Coiste Cuimhneachain An Gorta Mór chose my design, my vision for how the memorial should look. I am really looking forward to getting to work on the project now and hopefully we will see it in situ in 2019,"
Among those who offered their financial support for the campaign was English footballer Stan Collymore, who donated £100 on the day of the bucket collection at Celtic Park, and who offered his contribution 'in the spirit of Amistad,' the 19th century slave ship which was the site of an uprising.
"I would like to donate £100 to the An Gorta Mor memorial fund, so please add that to whatever is raised at Paradise," Collymore said. "In the spirit of Amistad from an Englishman."