text:
Is a pilgrim's voice. The boy is on a mental cross road. The heart speaks to him in a manner he has never before explored. It asks questions, gives directions, challenges his mind and makes him conscious of himself. It wakes up his thoughts and shows him the way to happiness, wealth and dreams of his life. It gives him demands; and commands him to have a say in his life. It teaches him the complexities of life and simplifies it in a way he can best understand it. It's unapologetic and dwells on reflective thinking that comes with inspired thought. Its message is summed up in a thought that, "It's the simple things in life that are the most extraordinary and only the wise men are able to understand them". And that every person is capable of being wise, once they intend to be so.
"If it's true that we are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?" – Unknown
THE Boy stood irresolutely at the cross road. There were four paths ahead of him. The one he came with and the three others he had to choose the right one to follow; either the one on his left or the one on his right, or the one in front of him. At first he thought he had three options from which to choose. But the longer he stood there, his mind blazing out incomprehensibly; he realized that, even the root that brought him there was still an option too. The sun was rising steadily from the eastern horizon. It was a new day. The past had gone with all its joys and sadness. What he was going decide then was going to determine one of the two. Choice seemed to have appeared as the most difficult things he had come to face in his life. He realized that, when one was ignorance all that matters was to follow the narrow path of what he knew; and that made the most of his happiness. But the moment he became aware of the reality of things, he saw so many contradictory things in his life. And he was faced with the battle of choosing the best for his life. And that was a war so hard and fast to wage. But he had to make that one choice.
His heart suddenly leapt. At first he thought it was out of anxiety and tiredness from the walk. But when it tooted the third time, he knew it was speaking to him. At that moment a fresh feel of the atmosphere blew passed him. He could smell the aroma of something he had never before nosed in. It was neither sweet nor sour, but carried the fragrance that never gave a feeling of regret. It was mysteriously amazing, intriguing him to want to suggest for building a home just there in the middle of the mysterious junction. He observed the rays of the sun become lighter and brighter as they gradually blinded his eyes. But he had no urge to make a choice; at least not at that time. His heart rushed through his chest again, but he ignored its cutting pain with inquisitiveness.
Suddenly he started conversing with his heart. He wanted to seek its help for the mind seemed to have gone mute to his indecisions on the cross road.
"Who I am matters less. What I am is all why I am here with you", he heard his heart poke out in his chest. He didn't know what to say, for his reason of being there that morning was totally an issue of happenstance. He could have been somewhere else enjoying the smell of roasted sausage or steak, but without his knowing, he found himself there standing in the middle of the four divergent paths. And with shock, his own bodily organ was mocking him with a talk.
"There is always a time in your life when you think that whatever you have, you have because you are supposed to have whatever it is that you have. This attitude often times coils you in a mental capillary of invincibility and perfectionism. You delude yourself as to think that you are capable of standing alone no matter how much you have in our hands. Yet you forget that you are what you are today because of others", the heart humbly and coarsely spoke. The boy squeezed his palms in gesture of guiltiness. The message was piercing and mind-poking. He had gotten to pick up his own struggles and challenges with no-one else's help because he believed all its contractions were his to amend. And to hear a contradictory statement from his heart was like having a close friend speaking behind your back.
"If only people could realize this, could they foster their goals and lives towards essential things in their daily endeavors. The talents you have you owe them to your God Almighty. From childhood, He breathed in you the special skills that can be learned but which needed personal artifact for them to yield fruits. This has been your miracle attitude: you thanked God for the great blessings He endowed in you; the talents of creativity, imagination, innovation, writing, knowledge, passion and reason", the heart voiced out. The boy embraced his chest, his eyes gazing at the bright sun, clearly seeing the round ball of fire in the middle of the sparkling rays. All he could feel around him was nothing but the heard trotting from one chamber of the chest to another. He didn't know hearts could speak.
"From the time as a boy, you came to discover these crafts so early so much that, you intended to be focused in enhancing them by doing them. Everyday deep down in me your heart I hear you thank your former Teacher for English, whose irritating critiques of your compositions drove you higher in outshining his observations. It was through his 'mockery' in class that gave you a dire zeal and articulation of sharpening your desire in writing. I daily feel your gratefulness for him, because without his other side of looking at your work; all these marvelous works would have just been pipe dreams today", the heart reminded him. How it knew all those secrets he had never told anyone, he could not understand. He wondered whether really there was such a thing as secrets, if some parts of human life were moving recorders that sucked and stored everything that man did and spoke about.
"Growing up in a society where reading of books is like a show off", the heart continued, "you always thank all those who by their powers and interest in reading influenced you to the levels whereby you would not leave any piece of paper lying around the place without knowing what it contained. I know you owe this inculcation much to your Father who never missed a daily newspaper and stocked a lot of books in his shelves in the living room. Without his influence, which was nevertheless so involuntary, your passion for writing wouldn't have been as flavored as it is now. Mixing with so many kinds of people from so many different aspects of life, gave you huge ideas of how humanity is and behaves; and gave you a variety of stocks of character and experiences of all sorts of tastes life could offer. This indulgence though with caution, armed you with a mentality that today stands as a positive mark in your life as a writer. I surely know you owe this growth to your friend Chali; the only young man you came to realize his friendship was neither that of hook nor crook for he kept changing his course of direction every now and then just to make sure you never lost any nerve during your hour of need", the boy laughed. 'What the heavens, is going on?' he murmured to himself, enjoying the cozy warmth of the sun that was however making him sweat by every second that passed. Listening to his heart probe him, was like standing before a judge being accused of stealing someone's under wear, when you have never known how one looks like.
"I know you think I am mad. But I know too that you thank Sebastian as well; a man whose character is akin to that of a youth who is still so excited with the new discoveries of his body; he taught you what makes men die popular even in old age; Kievoy too; a young man whose hair turned so white at a tender age claiming that his thoughts have been diluted with the brain. His companionship, and accommodativeness adds up to biblical times when no one was a stranger even in a strange land. I know too that you think of Caphus as well; another young man who kept growing fat, despite what he was going through; showed you how some men with weak sense of fight get worried so easily and tell themselves to grab whatever comes across as long as it would give them a living", the boy blurted out in amused laughter. How dare could the heart go so deep into him that it could figure out all such hidden truths about his friends.
"Then there is Gabriel; a zealous young man with a sense of smile and liveliness. From him you got a tinge of relaxation that everything has its time. His love for the skirts, much of a talk than reality though, showed you how some men can be so life-loving yet still be serious with it at the same time. This is the man who believed that going through a phase of tough time is a payment for the wrongs one did in the past; some kind of experiencing hell on Earth for someone's perfection before being right with his God", the boy felt a wave of coldness rush down his spine cord. The mention of Gabriel brought so many memories he had once forgotten on how much thankful he was for what he did for him. But then his heart disturbed his thoughts.
"Memories, no matter how sad they may seem to be, must be cherished because; every one of them came for a reason – to make you realize the real you. These examples of men, I prettily surely know that you thank them so much, because they sow a seed of brotherhood in you. They inspired your instincts and resolve to realize that life needs records that pump some life in others who may be going through what others are experiencing. There were also the 'sucker' punchers who would tell you in your face what you didn't do when all was heaven for you. They would feed you, give you where to sleep and tell you to be careful next time you are fine as to remember those who helped you when you were in need. Such encounters inspired you to resolve your beliefs and to see life from the different angle. Without their frank talk, you wouldn't have known or learnt what it means to lack", the heart spoke. And the boy nodded his head in agreement. What the heart said was bloodily an excusable and palatable serious to listen to.
"There were some who gossiped about you intentionally knowing you are listening just to see how you would react. I know you thank them so much too, because they trained your patience and putting up. They tested your spirits so much that you could know how far you would go with such, for better things never come on a silver plate. You may not work hard for them in the sense of a definition of mankind, but what you may mentally go through could be a tough challenge that needs only the tougher to succeed", the heart said, making the boy teary. He had never wanted anyone to remind him of the past. The days he had not known the whys, and hows to his life. But then his heart still went back to his archives tabled those files for him to read.
"Then there was your Mother and you Father; happy couple despite being in need. Their look at things inspired you to be realistic and always 'walk by faith and not by sight'. Their words were touchy, their actions so parental like one handling a newly born baby. I feel your gratitude towards them; it exceeds anything else you could do for them. It's at this point in your life when you realized the importance of family; the reason why a parent's desire in his or her child is not to be helped, but to see the child be able to stand on his or her own and help him or herself. Shame often times pours on your head when you realize if one's contributions of thanks giving to their parents doesn't even fill a tea cup. It becomes lessons learnt so hard.
"I know you think of your brothers and sisters too who from their meager living, always put a smile for you; narrated stories of passion for goodness and stories of prosperity; stories of love and stories of fighting till the last drop of energy. Who wouldn't be inspired when your own blood sees your life being better than you think it is yourself? I feel the thank you for them to the pinnacle of my heart, because their involvement in your life story, speaks volumes of how much they are wise and loved", the boy stood there in the sun, tears dropping down his cheeks. The journey had been long, but the destination had not seemed to appear so soon; and the heart was there palpating him on matters that provoked his soul.
"And there are the three people; Chichi, Junior and Lulu. They hardly talked any sense but their intriguing questions and sentiments to you were more sensible than sensibility itself, especially coming from the brains of their ages. Such zigzags opened your sixth sense to see gold in mud and see salvation in the cross. They inspired you to realize that, love turns everything golden; that care and laughter paints one's life with a new coat of inner joy and happiness because these are children, innocent as they are but are able to see life from the spiritual side where an adult may be so blind to realize till they mention it. Without them in your life, this journey you have started would have been a none-starter. I surely know that you thank them as your special gifts to your life". The boy sweating, but his body was cold as ice cold water from a deep freezer. He was heaving like a tree in a tornado. His mind was shut; his brain was locked; but for the heart that was busy tooting in his chest.
"After all is said, appreciated and done, do you intend to aspire to inspire someone today, tomorrow, the other day or month or year? What do you have to do for others instead of you asking for others to do something for you?" the heart asked. And the boy could feel the urge to talk.
"But if it's true that human beings are here to help others, then what exactly are the others here for?"
"That is a wise one. True indeed; what are the others here for? Interesting enough, you are all 'the others' at one point in your lives, because life is a cycle. Today, you are the giver, tomorrow you are the receiver. So what do you have to do for others instead of you asking for others to do something for you? What is your intention in life?" The boy zipped up his mouth. Such questions to him were matters for the heart; but it was the heart asking him. He didn't know what to say. The warmth of the sun was as great as the sense of being ignorant.
"People who are selfish have little problems but they seem big. People who are generous have big problems but they seem little." - Mother Theresa
IT was mid-morning. The sun was doing what it knew best; scotching anything that it laid heat on. The boy stood there like a motionless pole of electricity in the middle of nowhere. His clothes were soaked in boiling sweat. He couldn't know where exactly he was. His world was so thin and limited. It revolved just within the diameters of his feet. Anything else beyond a centimeter away was in abyss of his knowledge. His heart was tooting like a motor in car cylinder of an eighteen valve engine sports car at supersonic speed.
"So often you don't know what you want to do in life and when you know what you want to do in life, often time you dare not to dare walk your talk" the heart blizzard through his veins, letting the warmth of his body rise further.
"Times you try to put foot to peddle and ride your passion in search of your dream life, just one pitfall, sees you back to point one. Little do you realize that actually, a pitfall was not a mere accident, but a deliberate point in your life to see how creative and resourceful you are for you to successfully use this dream or destiny once you acquire it", the heart spoke; and the boy couldn't agree more, for the words contained the valor that opened the reality of his battles he had waged all his life. The battles that continued to push him to the limits of his decisions on whether it was worthy celebrating life.
He realized that each day of his life, when he woke up, he always looked forward to something new to happen; something he had never experienced before, and often times such a thing he always expected it to be good. And indeed every time he woke up, so many good things did happen to him and his life, but he rarely saw those things or occurrences with his two naked eyes. He could feel empty and disconnected, and he always wondered why.
"This is so because, you fail to connect yesterday to today and see the difference. All you see is the sky, the sun and the house you live in. Your observation of your breath, your face, your clothes, your neighbor, your blankets, your surrounding doesn't find space in your life because you take them for granted" the heart replied to his troubled thoughts.
The boy recalled his readings far back in his days as a lover of books. Somewhere it was written that "when each day is the same as the next, it's because people fail to recognize the good things that happen in their lives every day that the sun rises". He didn't know what it exactly meant. But then, standing there, some senses were re-germinating from the sub-human mind.
"You have conditioned yourself to certain formulas of life; to a routine that is unconsciously programmed so much that when you skip a certain point of action you feel you have wronged your body or your consciousness. Your whole day goes out as 'awkward', boring, lifeless and unproductive. In this realm of situation, even when a golden opportunity lurks on you, you are unable to see it or smell it, because you are very unfamiliar with its territory for your sixth sense doesn't operate; its dead and it can't differentiate yesterday from today" the heart interrupted him. The sentiments sounded familiar, but the invocations the heart brought was so refreshed and was like trading on virgin lands. "Your personal problems become huger than the problems of others. Your needs become more serious than the needs of others. Your happiness means so much to you than the happiness of others" the heart went ahead. The boy's mind revisited another thought he had read years back that, "People who are selfish have little problems but they seem big. People who are generous have big problems but they seem little".
"Your language is that of arrogance as if you are the only one who has suffered to be where you are; even when you didn't even suffer as the word in the ordinary sense of it suggests. But because you are deluded with this spirit of 'me, myself and I' attitude you, encircle yourself to give an impression that you 'worked' for what you have and need not be bothered. In your day to day life, you never intend to aspire to inspire anyone human being as to how you managed to be where you are. You owe your success to no-one but yourself deceiving those you come in contact with" the heart scalded. The boy felt his blood clout for once. It was like he was in a court room; fixed in the accused box to answer charges that he knew he was so much guilt of.
"To be a human being you need to sacrifice your own happiness for the sake of others. You need to look into our own closet and realize that you are no better than others. You need to perform an act of generosity once in a while as a remedy for such an act that was performed by others to you somewhere. Have you ever heard an ancient saying, that, 'He who has saved one life has as it were saved the world entire? 'A human being need to chart a life of making others feel human, loved and cared for. You don't need money to do that, neither do you need to be wealth for you to do that. A word that is able to make someone smile even in times of total depression brings the other side of life to that person. A hand that is able to lift someone who is completely tired of walking, is a gesture showing that, no man is an island". It was deep for the boy. He felt like a zombie; pure puppet tied to the master trick star controlling all his movements. He was stiff and nerve racking, but the sun kept him blind from anything that surrounded him, if at all there was anything surrounding him.
He knew everyone needed a good, happy life, where everything anyone needed came as needed. But he also knew that very few managed to have such needs yet day in and day out they woke up and went for work and got paid lump sums at the end of the months; but they yet still were unable to get what they needed; their money grew wings and flew away as soon as they got it and they cursed that they weren't paid well. He couldn't understand why.
"To amass wealth, the Babylonians did one act of generosity every time they got paid or got profit from their businesses; they shared tenth of their dues to the poor, the hopeless, the needy and the strangers and in turn their wages were increased two folds. That's the miracle of life. Blessed is the hand that gives. Have you read a book that says, "Honor the Lord with your wealth, with the fruits of all your crops; then your barns will be filled to overflowing, and your vats will brim over with new wine?" the heart asked gently. The boy tried to tilt his head in a nod, but his neck was stiff; so he innately nodded. He knew the heart would see and feel the nod even when done innately, but what the heart was suggesting was something he had not come across in all his intensive readings. He felt more and more oblivious.
"In giving you are performing an act of aspiration that inspires the given to give out too in their own small ways. And when the whole world turns out to be a 'giving' world; which person will starve or get thirsty? Who will walk naked or cry for help? The same book you have never read before says, 'One man gives freely, yet gains even more; another withholds unduly, but comes to poverty. A generous man will prosper; he who refreshes others will himself be refreshed.' The rub at your neck therefore should be: Are you just making a living or are you making a difference in your life? What is your intention? You need to know that only those who have a powerful sense of purpose always want to make a positive difference to the people around them" the heart convulsed. The boy was no-longer sane. His mind was distant. The rays of the sun percolated all his veins transforming him into one of the rays. His humanly feelings were gone. An indescribable feeling of security encircled the place where he stood.
"Where you are stands my secrets buried in the twin that sustains your life in my form", the heart spoke. The boy couldn't understand what the heart meant by being a twin of its form. But his position was so far from recovering his voice of the natural being. It was disconnected from him. "Here you draw the zeal to inspire others to have to do whatever it takes for them to excite people into action. It's here where you awake them up to the reality of how powerful and influential their intentions are in making their lives be how they want them to be, depending on what they do, say and think. Great minds of old said, 'The purpose of life is a life of purpose'. And the moment you take a powerful purpose or intention it will make you unstoppable. People, who always intend to aspire to inspire others, always get inspired themselves to live their lives to the fullest" the heart informed. The boy was endeared. The provocations from the heart were instigating a potent spell of authoritative energy in him. He could feel it advancing towards his melting flesh.
"Just read the story of Paul after that miraculous meeting on his way to carry on his destructive works. Paul's story captivates anyone's blood stream. It inspires even those who do not believe in the book where this story is found, because it's an ordinary story of an ordinary man who becomes the center of events with an intention of carrying good actions, words and thoughts over wicked ones. It's an epic or an adventurous story of perdition turned into dreamland. Or take for instance the story of Job. It's not all about faith alone that we find in these stories, but about courage, resilience and perseverance too in the ordinary sense of an ordinary person like you, which are followed with positive intentions" the heart expounded. The boy could see the azure of creation below him as he flew above the ethers of vegetation. He liked the feeling that engulfed him. It had no word to explain; just like the feeling one felt when sharing the pleasure of intimacy with the other soul of the opposite nature.
"What about the story of Emma himself? It is all about an intention to inspire the down trodden; to pump hope and happiness in them; to aspire to bring joy in the lives of those who think they have reached the end of their journey, with an intention of showing how tremendous Supreme Human's love to His people is. Just the mere fact that some people today call Emma as 'one of the most influential and great teachers to have walked on the Earth' even when he is more than that, signifies how he inspired and has continued to inspire people, believers and none believers alike because they still cheer at his intention". The boy was abounding into the atmosphere of logical reality. What he knew then was a drop in an ocean of a wealth of knowledge he was able to perceive. There as abundant of it; endless and amazingly heart throbbing.
"It's not true that such aspirations are only meant for those 'chosen ones'; no. Everyone is chosen. You have the capacity to intend to inspire anyone and even intend to change his or their life; because no-one is at the same level in life, neither, do you experience, the same things nor do you have the same talents. You are all unique in your own ways and it's this specialty that must give you the drive to uplift others' lives and bring uniformity of purpose to everyone, as long as you faithfully intend it with your thoughts, actions and words.
"Those ordinary men and women who have chosen to abide by their gifts and intended to aspire to inspire others, have come in contact with inner joy and happiness in their lives, and what you call miracles have followed them everywhere they have gone. Their wealth and prosperity is intact because it's intended on a foundation that is unbreakable – the foundation of inner joy; because inner joy is the fuel of success. That's where I the heart stay. You can always be whatever you want to be, or do whatever you want to do in life; just intend it, believe in it, talk about it, act like you have it and think about it, and you will see what happens to your life. That's what I know because I have seen it, that's the power of thought" the heart titillated, and the boy gradually drew back to his position. The stand above was a different level; a level only seen by those who aspired to do so; a level that confused him to say the least. Down on his feet, the sun was blazing towards overhead. He stood his grounds, for his mission was unknown yet.
"It takes so much to be a full human being that there are very few who have the enlightenment or the courage to pay the price; and that one has to accept pain as a condition of existence" - Morris West
THE boy commandeered his energy in the sun. The magnified rays were grinning down on him on the axis of his head. He had been there since sun rise, but he felt as though he had stood there since eternity. Cicadas were bursting out their balloon tummies as they wept for a cool atmosphere. The vibration of their sharp cries was all the vibes he could feel. Their annoying noise was being swallowed up in the maze of the heat. The heart on one side was pounding with all its muscles. He could feel its punches as it hit the blanket of its cover.
"It's such a common factor to many like you; the wealthy and the needy alike. Very few of you have the guts to leave what you have even when you could see that it doesn't make sense to you, in search of something better. I understand you, because it's your human nature to stay with what you can see than looking for something you can't see. Ironically even you, who proclaim your faith in your religion, practice the, "seeing is believing" ideology. Yet every week you proclaim your faith in God whom you can't see" the heart expounded rather seriously. The boy could feel its strength and tenacity. It seemed to have been on a trail of mastering the plan for him; and he had no reason to abate its duty.
"It's all a principle of fearing to lose what you have because you are scared of taking risks of life, searching for something unknown, because you are not sure whether or not you will find something better after all. You lack moral faith in you. You have no resolve. You become so complacent with what you have. You get too satisfied too easily, and lack the eagerness to go beyond your limits. You always think you can't be like others you know who have made it. You demean yourself and look down upon yourself. And that makes you a dormant lazy human". The boy was all peevish. How could the heart be so rude and scornful to him when it was him who made it relevant for its survival in his chest? Didn't it know that if he wanted, he could have right away intoxicated it and made it useless? The boy silently told himself. The truth was so punchy and painful. But what he knew was that it was after all the heart's use; to remind one the correct way of how things were.
"You fail to understand that it's a risk not to risk. If you fear to lose what you have, nothing better will come to you. Because it's through sacrifice that you gain abundantly; because through such sacrifices you donate what's so valuable to you, and share it with others. Through such sacrifices you are rendering a noble cause of generosity; and this gesture is one of the ways you come closer to the face of grace".
The boy listened with a clutched mind. He remembered Paul Tillich's words in his book, Shaking of the Foundations in which he says, "grace strikes us when we are in great pain and restlessness. It strikes us when we walk through the dark valley of a meaningless and empty life. It strikes us when we feel that our separation is deeper than usual, because we have estranged. It strikes us when our disgust for our own being, our indifference, our weakness, our hostility, and our lack of direction and composure has become intolerable to us. It strikes us when, year after year, the longed-for perfection of life does not appear, when the old compulsion reign within us as they have for years, when despair destroys all joy and courage. Sometimes at that moment a wave of light breaks into our darkness, and it is as though a voice were saying: 'You are accepted…'". The heart seemed to have been reminding him of the lessons he had read ages ago, but which he had neglected to heed. He recalled Morris West's notions as well in his writings, The Shoes of the Fisherman which he bumped into long time past which said that it takes so much to be a full human being that there are very few who have the enlightenment or the courage to pay the price; and that one has to accept pain as a condition of existence; that one has to court doubt and darkness as the cost of existence and that one needs a will stubborn in conflict, but suitable always for the total acceptance of living and dying.
The world was opening before him. The life of things' reality was silently paving a path into his ignorant mind. The fortification of his collapse was building up. Suddenly Mary Craig's thoughts in her writings, Blessings, hit his nap; "it's only through suffering that we can hope to come to self-knowledge; when the journey starts, there is no going back, but the land ahead is unknown and the road uncharted. Here are dragons a-plenty, but the worst enemy is that composite self-delusion and self-pity…our tragedy is not that we suffer but that we waste suffering; that we waste the opportunity of growing into compassion…we cannot run away from our battles without losing ourselves in the process". He could not understand why all of the instance, things were falling in place; ancient knowledge he came across a while ago was running back into his memory like it was being attracted by a magnetic force. "Antoine De Saint-Exupery explains that, 'It is with the heart that one sees rightly; what is essential is invisible to the eye'" the boy murmured, and immediately the heart thumped jovially against his chest. It realized the boy's mind was being rebooted back to normal.
"So if you want to get to your goals get out of your cocoon and look out. It's better to lose all that you have, that does not make you progress and step out in search of a better life. Sometimes it may happen accidentally like getting fired, redundant, retrenched or repatriated; its good time for you. Don't grumble, or cry, shout or insult. Look at every moment or situation that comes to you as a blessing. Always look out for a silver lining in any situation that seems bad. Get to terms with it and move on" the heart responded, and the boy felt a smiling sensation run through his body. The heat of the sun became part of him. He was becoming like the rays again. His body was getting lighter like a piece of paper.
"It was so tough for you when you left the Stool you sat on for a long time; it was like the whole sky had fallen on you. Everything you looked at seemed like laughing at you or mocking you. Even strangers seemed to have known that you had lost your Stool, because all that was in your mind. You had chosen a path of denial and you cried for clinging on to the Stool that you had already lost. It was so foolish a thought because it made you more miserable than being more measurable. Instead of you knowing that your food was finished there and you needed to look for some more somewhere else, you decided to search for it in a place you knew you won't find it. Wasn't that irritating and frustrating?" the heart asked, and the boy heaved with a frenzy of jitteriness. Old work-outs pissed him off. He dreaded the thoughts of the old bitter past; yet the heart was there reminding him of it. He breathed out deeply, and just then the words of Spencer Johnson in his book, Who Moved My Cheese rang in his mind, "It's safer to search in the maze than remain in a cheese-less station". He doubted it whether or not he was ready for that. But the heart probed him that it was indeed better to get into the wilderness in search of his destiny, than to be at a place where he knew there was nothing for him. "It's so, because there, in the wilderness, you will go places you have not been before. You will see suffering, happiness, laughter, sadness and then you will be able to compare with your sadness and happiness; and realize that actually you may be better off. Then you will see the real life and count yourself a human being" the heart explained. The boy as mute as a mule; things of the heart were so delicate to argue against.
"If you are afraid of taking risks, then risks will take you along. Your ability to stay focused on your mission in the face of constant diversion will determine your ultimate levels of success. The number one reason why you die inside is that you severely underestimate your own abilities. You believe all the lies you have been told about yourself by others during your lifetime and you have eventually become bitter and not better". The message was cranky and obtuse to him, but deep down his capillaries, it dissolved into the energy he needed to live. He knew every time he hated something, then the things he disliked was helpful and good. That was his way of gauging things.
"The moment you sit back complacently, the more you become useless. You lose your focus, your goals and your destiny in life. You become feathers that are blown anywhere with the wind and land yourself into deep waters of sorrow. You need at all times to be persistence with our desire because; desire is only true when you are prepared to pay the price to achieve it. You need to be ready to take risks and close down all distractions that are looming around you and focus at the bright light at the end of the tunnel. The journey may not be easy, but the undertaking is worthy employing, remembering that "God's delays are not God's denials". With time, your time will come too. You need to realize that, anything in life is a risk. And only when you come to terms with this, can you realize how formidable you are for victory" the heart propounded. The boy was dared. His ego was fussing. But he suddenly educed Henze's collection of works entitled Insights. One poem, called Risk reflected in his mind exactly the way he read it several years ago:
To laugh is to risk appearing the fool.
To weep is to risk appearing sentimental.
To reach out is to risk involvement.
To expose feelings is to risk exposing your true self.
To place your ideas and dreams before the crowd is to risk their love.
To love is to risk not being loved in turn.
To live is to risk dying.
To hope is to risk despair.
To try is to risk failure.
But the greatest risk in life is to risk nothing.
The one who risks nothing does nothing and has nothing and finally is nothing.
He may avoid suffering and sorrow.
But he simply cannot learn, feel, change, grow or love.
Chained by his certitude, he is a slave; he has forfeited freedom.
Only one who risks is free!
"This is the true nature of real humanity. Only those who take risks, get what they want in life. When you left the Stool, you had to risk being away from your beautiful family and your comfortable abode and beautiful property and friends around. I your heart was bleeding, but the risk was worthy taking for I your heart knew, when the time of reckoning comes, all the risks taken, will not even matter, because none of you would even remember them, for only happiness and togetherness would be the order of the day. You would have missed one other so much, but the rewards would be greater than the times you were apart" the softly spoke as if consoling him. The boy was stiff-necked with derision. The pitiful past drained his energy. He disdained looking back at it. But it was so easy for the heart to remember and remind him of it.
"The only formula that makes all humans to succeed in achieving their destiny is in never saying die. Never, ever give up because victory and triumphs are the fruits of persistence, strength of mind and firmness. You need to believe in what you are looking for and tell the world that, nothing will stop you from getting it" the heart encouraged. And the boy's mind flushed out memories of Mike Lipkin's words, 'We become what we believe. If you believe that you are not destined for greatest, then you will die mediocre. But if you truly believe that you are the greatest, and you are willing to do whatever it takes to prove your beliefs to the world, you will become great!'
"Your level of happiness is a function of the meaning you attach to what happens to you, and if you consistently apply negative meaning to events around us, you will be consistently miserable, anxious and frustrated" the heart added to his thoughts that were already in the reformatted state, ready to load that which was new and usable.
"The quicker you let go of old cheese the sooner you find new cheese."- Dr. Spencer Johnson
THE cross-road was mild with shades of trees as the rays of the sun slant, hitting the boy on the back from the western angle of the dome. His eyes were shut. They were so itchy and bloody red. He couldn't face the cool breeze that blew from the east as it chased the lowering ball of sun in the west. His body was greasily shimmering with the effects of flames of mid-day heat. From a far distance, he could hear the cooing of the roosters as they returned from their daily perking. His back was warmer and dry, as the somber rays of the sun dried the remains of the dripping sweat from his body. There he was; standing from on the junction from morning facing the east like a gate parade guard at Burking House Palace. Nothing seemed wrong, but everything seemed awkward though. Who could be normal and still paraded himself the way he did in the middle of the bush like a maniac? Maybe he was demented after all. But all those thoughts never meant anything to him. He believed in fate. At least for that while then. He would never go against anything that he would not control. So he had to let nature be his guide.
"What next now; was your question remember?" the heart softly spoke as if waking up from slumber. "You asked yourself as you sat on that small Stool, oblivious of what to do next, now that it all came so unexpected to you. You opted for a fight that would last as long as you breathed and for the next five days, you were totally confused. What had happened to you was a bolt from a blue. In actual matter of fact, you didn't know what to do next. It was like walking in darkness and you lose your way and hit into a wall. What a loud scream, that would have been from such a painful smack! And I totally empathize with you" the heart spoke, bit by bit gaining strength in its tone.
"Foolishly the longer you sat idly lost in filthy thoughts, the more hopeless and useless you became. Your life had come to a standstill. You were swallowed up in anger, hurt and disgust. All what you wanted to do was to let it out on someone. Desperation stalked in and eventually fear followed; you were getting mad. All that was in you, was "why you?" This wasn't the right route to take, because you were going backwards, instead of forward. You were in limbo locked up in horns of indecisions". The boy ran his mind round his whole body. He could not feel his existence. He was like numb. He had gone over what the heart was reminding him, and it was getting on his nerves hearing about it again. But he needed to keep his cool, if he had to understand the heart's intentions.
"Someone needed to take the blame and mend your broken life. It was a wrong bed to lie on. Everyone so often times hit a snug like you did. And everyone insistently suffer from insomnia. Your mind get tangled into all sorts of negativity, blamefulness, desperation and indecision. Instead of getting up and getting dressed, you sit down and remain naked. Instead of breathing a deep breath of relief, you breathe out hot air that makes you sweat the hell out of you. Instead of answering, "yes sir I am gone, thank you!" you go round noising out your self-pity blaming everyone for the misfortune. Meanwhile, time is ticking; and as you know time lost has to be caught up with; and only the strong minded, are able to beat it" the heart hastily retorted. The boy was calm trying by all hustles to keep contented.
"Listen to me, and learn wisely. When you hit a snug you must act fast, and fast enough to move with time. Don't let time take away your ability to survive. Don't let time robe you of your energy to face the bull by its horns. Don't allow self-pity engulf you into silly tears. When you hit a snug, ask yourself, 'what is so good in this bad situation?' Stand up and scrutinize your problem to find a silver lining in it; because it's from this point you can get to understand yourself better. You need always to know that, nothing happens for nothing. Everything that you encounter in your life is timed and was meant to happen, because of what you put in our mind days or years earlier. If you sow negative thoughts that time, you end up getting yourself into bad situations. If you sow positivity, you find yourself excelling in almost everything you do". He had heard about that before, but he had never given it any serious thought. He had thought it was one of those statements coming out of drunken stupors. But the heart then was repeating it to him. That signified importance on the matter.
"So when you hit a snug, dress up and say, 'Next destination, here I come. Thank you so much Mr. Former Destination for giving me a life and experience. Your gifts will be my strengths'. Make a quick decision; the ones businessmen call, immediate goals to make you move a step ahead before you design long term goals. Don't waste time being a cry baby, thinking that your life is now reaching a dead end. We were all born to be free and to live happily. The quickest way for you to forget your situation is to remove all the grudges you have had in in me your heart against anyone you felt was involved in your misfortune". The boy let out a heavy and thick air of resignation. Some things were too hard to forget; he needed time to go pass them. They were so nasty and mind blowing to just tune them off his mind. They made him sink so low that even goats could blurt at him with shame. And the heart was telling him to overlook them instantly.
"Grudges, hate, jealousy and revenge, are all branches of misdemeanor to your success. They are burdens that will make you restless and force you to sit down and stay naked. The moment you forgive yourself for anything that you hated about yourself, then be ready to forgive anyone you felt that they wronged you. And always ask for forgiveness from anyone you wronged. This spirit will make you freer. You will walk your talk and me; your heart will ever be at peace. It doesn't matter if those you ask for forgiveness forgive you or not. It's their burden to carry if they feel they don't want to forgive you. You will have done your job, and ready to explore the world and be a new person. In this way, your omens will gather and give you your next destination, faster than you would have expected. That's the true picture of life. You can't get what you want when me your heart is loaded with things that are enslaving you. I suffocate as well and transmit the suffocation to your whole bodily system". It progressively made sense to the boy. If the heart was the anchor of life, and then it found itself suffering because of what he thought about life, then anything that his mind harbored was stored in the heart, and eventually that affected his whole life.
"When you hit a snug, the quicker you make a decision the better and the quicker you will find your next destination; depending on what you want to happen to you anyway. If you want to die of frustration, then stay in denial and pity yourself. Sit down naked in shame and don't make any slight movement; and depression will be your best friend in such a situation. In achieving our destiny you need to accept our current situations and look forward to that which you want to have. You need to take a first step into looking for it, believing as you go that you will actually find it. Staying in a limbo akimbo will not help you realize the greatness you have within you. Blessings come in all sorts of ways and it's your duty to discover them and take advantage of them" the heart stood still. And for a second he could feel his lungs filling up. He was finding it difficult to breath. He then realized that, he could not do without it, and if he needed it so much then it could not lie to him. It spoke to him so he could take the best course of action in his life. Abruptly the words of Paulo Coelho echoed in his mind, 'Every blessing ignored becomes a curse'. Then heart started pumping again. It was a test perhaps. The boy realized that if one got swallowed up into indecision, when they are supposed to be pro-active and energetic, they denied themselves the golden chances of recognizing blessings when they were knocking on the doors of their lives. He remembered the book Mampodi written by Mike Lipkins; at one page it said, 'If you are going to go, go. If you are going to stay, stay'. It was so challenging to him. He realized how important yet hard it was to make decisions when options were so limited. He was there almost half day on the cross-road, trying to figure out the right path to follow; yet he couldn't yet make a resolve. 'Life is beautiful', he murmured to himself.
"If you are going to do it, do it. Decide to decide. Nothing will kill you faster than indecision" the heart spelled out, and the boy recalled exactly Spencer Johnson's Who Moved My Cheese, 'The quicker you let go of old cheese the sooner you find new cheese.'
"You need to let go of the past or be doomed to the past because the number one quality you need to thrive on in the future is flexibility – the flexibility to keep trying new approaches until you discover one that is yours" the heart taught. The boy for the first time in such a long time, he cleared his throat. The sun was just a reddish ball of impotent fire blinking lifelessly behind the trees in the west.
"Imagining myself enjoying the cheese even before I find it, leads me to it" - Dr. Johnson
DARKNESS approached the cross-road like a hungry hawk preying on chicks whose mother hen has been slaughtered by the owner to please a town visitor. The sun had sunk below the western hemisphere, and the trees around were enlivened up by the noise of nocturnal wild creatures that had been sleeping all day long. The boy slowly but surely opened his eyes. It was brighter than the darkness of his closed eyes yet it was half past the hour after sunset. He had to make a decision. The four paths had to be abandoned. The heart had told him so much about making decisions. He couldn't be there any longer; he had to decide to decide. He recalled the character in the book of The Alchemist who said that everything in life had its price; and that when each day was the same as the next, it was because people failed to recognize the good things that happened in their lives every day that the sun rose. The character had gone on saying that people needed to forget about the future and live each day according to the teachings, confident that God loved his children because each day in itself brought with it an eternity. Without any second thoughts, the boy turned and walked back the way he had come with. He knew that when one got lost, the best way to find home was to go back where they lost missed the way and start all over again.
"No matter how hard the times, if you live each day at a time, know exactly what you want in life, why shouldn't you have it when it's there? The price of a soccer player who trains consistently is scoring goals. The price of studying so hard at school is not just passing an exam but also being knowledgeable and intelligent. The price of eagerly fighting for something in life is having it. The price of being idle is starving, laziness, dull and always a loser" the heart drummed as he walked steadily to the west balancing himself on the lone path as he tried to familiarize his eyes with the enveloping night.
"Each day you live is not the same as the day before. And it's only when you see yourself living in abundance that you are able to see the difference each day brings along. When you focus on what you want to achieve, and see yourself achieving it, you let all your energies to start galloping towards your achievement. You start seeing yourself happy, excited and jubilant because you are living your destiny already.
He walked on, his eyes more awake than before; his mind more alert than ever; yet his heart was the most active of all organs in him. He tried to make connections between his brain, mind, body and heart, when suddenly a stroke of thought flashed in his mind. 'Give every person more in use value than you take from them in cash value'. He read it in one of Wallace Wattles' books The Science of Getting Rich explaining the theory that never take money from anyone without giving more in use value than the money you are receiving in your job, in your business, and in every part of your life. The principle always caught his mind and made him to wake up each day with a fully blown out eagerness to come up with brilliant ideas on anything and most often bizarre ideas that left many dumb found were always created.
"When you sit down and dream about your dreams; seeing yourself achieving that, which you see in our dreams, not long enough do you actually see your dreams manifesting. The only problem is that you so often don't realize that each person has a treasure in life they are waiting to have. Have you forgotten the writings of Paulo? In one book he describes us the hearts as he says; 'We people's hearts seldom say much about those treasures because people no longer want to go in search of them. We speak of them only to children. Later we simply let life proceed in its own direction toward its own fate. But unfortunately very few of you follow the path laid out for you – the path to you destinies, and to happiness. Most people see the world as a threatening place and because they do, the world turns out indeed to be a threatening place. So we their hearts speak more and more softly. We never stop speaking out, but we begin to hope that our words won't be heard: we don't want people to suffer because they don't follow their hearts'". The heart spoke as it thudded hard against the boy's left part of the chest making him stop. A snake stood its head high in the air waiting for him to come closer so it could strike. He realized the thudding was a warning. He stood there for a while looking at it with curious eyes and it nonchalantly withdrew its head to the ground and crawled away into the bush. He learnt that in the eyes lay the power of the soul of man. When directed at a weaker soul, that soul submits.
"You realized this early on, and that helped you when you left the Stool, you easily got 'accepted', and you listened to me, your heart and discovered that I had a lot of secrets for you to follow. But you chose one secret that was most astounding; that's the secret to achieve your destiny. You started to focus on it, dreaming your dream, visualizing your mission and destination, day by day, each day was becoming brighter and brighter; you were growing into full happiness and you realized you were on the right path. The path set out for you by me your heart. You could hear my voice, the way you do now, louder and louder and you were ready to take whatever it was to reach out to your destiny; just in that process, you were already a winner because you could see the light of your destiny at the end of the tunnel. You then believed, imagination is indeed the preview of the life to come" the heart complimented. And the boy smiled in the thick darkness of the night. The path was through a maze of fine stones and thick shrubs, yet he could not feel the pain of the rough ground or the scarily atmosphere of the surrounding. The one sided conversation with the heart was getting inspiring. The thought of Johnson's words, 'Imagining myself enjoying the cheese even before I find it, leads me to it', filled his soul with magnanimous witty and bliss.
"Because it's the smell of the well prepared meal that will make you salivate and be urged to find means and ways of eating that meal; because what life is without dreams? It's the possibility of having a dream come true that makes life interesting" the heart responded as if reading his thoughts. And the boy clogged on another memory from Ralph Rolls in his writings Image and Imagination where a poet called imagination 'that inward eye' where man could see beyond himself, beyond his immediate environment and circumstances; where he could see a picture in his mind and then make the picture into something more real, more concrete outside himself – a painting, a sculpture, a machine, a building, a bowl, a design, a poem, a play, a story, a loaf of bread. Where the inner vision could be transformed into a work, a creation that man a creator calling this process of being creative as what makes man distinctively human.
"One wise man explains that, 'Imagination is more important than knowledge because imagination is what you do with knowledge' because if dreaming is the way you keep our spirit alive, imagination is the way you guarantee the achievement of your desired results. In your own mind you can be whoever and whatever you want to be. You can amaze and dumbfound others and then you can go out there and do it in reality and celebrate your victory" the heart promulgated. The listened as he walked mindlessly. His thoughts were sparkly out numerous bits of enigmatic inundated ideas. Mike Lipkin's writing, 'true miracles happen on the inside when we change the way we look at the outside' cross his medulla. He realized that the moment one changed their attitudes towards life; they then experienced a massive shift of internal energy from negative to positive.
"For every problem there is a solution. For every rogue there is an angel. The challenge for you is to sustain your beliefs during the dark times; to focus on the rose while acknowledging the thorns because without pain there would be no pleasure. Without loss, there would be no victory." The boy smiled as he heard the heart console him. Doubt would sometime blanket his reasoning, but other times like those, he would feel so livened up and inspired so much that he would fly without any troubles.
"that's the very principle Christians follow that, through Jesus' death they got salvation; that every time they look at the cross, they celebrate His victory of conquering death and bringing salvation to mankind. Meaning that even the time Jesus was nailed to the cross he was already a winner because he accepted his situation with glory and through that happiness came sustained victory for us mankind. We hearts mostly help those who are trying to realize their destinies" the heart explained. And the boy stopped his hands akimbo with gratitude. He released his journey into nowhere, had purpose; an aim to liberate him from whatever it was that he needed to be free from. And he was determined to see it through.


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RORY SABBATINI may have put himself in position for his first title in three years, but his achievements were overshadowed by the appearance of Annika Sorenstam at the Bank of America Colonial Golf tournament.
With enormous galleries following her every move, Sorenstam stole the spotlight, and she did not melt under it, shooting a one-over-par 71.
The first woman in 58 years and only the second in history to play in a PGA Tour event, Sorenstam held her own against the boys, totalling one birdie, two bogeys and 15 pars on a warm, damp day at Colonial Country Club.
Sabbatini - a 27-year-old South African who attended the University of Arizona shortly after Sorenstam and claimed his only tour win at the 2000 Air Canada Championship - carded a six-under-par 64 late in the day to grab a one-stroke lead.
"It's always nice to have the lead," he said. "I don't mind if they don't notice. I just hope they don't notice until Monday. That would be even better."
The day belonged to Sorenstam, who joined Babe Zaharias - voted the greatest female athlete of the 20th century - as the only women to play in a PGA Tour event.
Thousands of fans realised the historic significance, swarming to Colonial to see Sorenstam for themselves. Even PGA Tour players were taken aback by the size of the galleries.
"It looked like Tiger Woods' gallery when he's in town," said Dan Forsman, who was tied for second, two shots off the pace.
It was an impressive performance by the 32-year-old Swede, who breathed a sigh of relief and feigned a collapse after hitting her first drive, then over-came nerves on each ensuing stroke.
The butterflies never disappeared, even with hordes of fans cheering and chanting her name through 18 holes.
"I felt a little sick in my stomach, my hands were a little sweaty - every-thing that you feel when you are under pressure and stress," she said. "I've been nervous before, but this was a little more than usual."
A Hall of Famer in waiting who has been criticised for accepting a sponsor's exemption, Sorenstam began her round with three pars before sinking a 15-foot birdie putt from the fringe at the 178-yard, par-three 13th.
What followed was the kind of consistency that has made her the best player on the LPGA Tour. She hit 13-of-14 fairways and 14-of-18 greens, including 13 in a row.
"I just expected her to hit good shot after good shot," said playing partner Aaron Barber. Sorenstam bogeyed the 470-yard, par-four fifth, known as 'Death Valley', and the 402-yard, par-four ninth, missing putts of six and eight feet.
Expected to be a factor, distance made a difference at the fifth hole, once named the most challenging parfour on the PGA Tour.
She hit her second-farthest drive of the day - 271 yards - but sent it left into the rough.
While it was the only fairway she missed, it was costly. Partially blocked by a tree, she could only find the front right side of the green, 63 feet from the cup. A three-putt dropped her to even par.
Sorenstam also bogeyed the ninth, where her approach rolled just off the back of the green. She putted it eight feet past and missed the comebacker, going over par for the first time all day - a feat that impressed PGA Tour members.
Because of the closing bogey, Sorenstam was dangerously close to missing the cut, which includes the top 30 players, plus ties.
"I would love to make the cut, but if I play like I did in the first round, then it really doesn't matter," she said.

subset: commoncrawl


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Ehob Large Foot Waffle suspends the heel off the surface of the bed, while sustaining the integrity of the foot, ankle, calf and Achilles tendon. Designed with two air chambers to cradle the calf, promote circulation, and reduce plantar flexion and foot drop. Air-venting holes and cotton lining keep the patient cool, dry and comfortable. For sizing, measure the calf circumference. Ships pre-inflated.Medium fits Calf Size 12" - 14".
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People ask me what I like to knit. The answer? Just about anything from easy, peasy garter stitch to intricate lace. This is where you can sneak a peek at what I've got on my needles.
Beech Hill by Leah McGlone (as published in the Acadia Collection for Kelbourne Woolens)
Yarn: The Fibre Company "Acadia" in Kelp – 7 skeins
Needles: US size 7 circular


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VentureBlog asks when are bloggers off the record? This is why I never mention my company in this blog, though I could give you a three page post about stuff they are doing wrong. We have horrible management and a culture that makes sure young bright iconoclasts are broken down until they toe the line like everyone else. This whole issue of what is or is not appropriate can get very complex. To my knowledge, no blogger has yet been sued over a post, but the day is coming I am sure.
Those of you who want more links could try to be the first. I am sure the story would make it's way rapidly through the blogosphere! And since you would be the first, you would probably get off easy.
UPDATE: Well it has happened at least once.


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Machinery Brass Parts Short Description
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2. Material: Brass H59
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9. Packing: Inner with plastic bag and PE Foam, outer with carton. We can pack as per customer's requirement.


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As two former police officers stand trial for killing a man with a taser.Gregory towns was stunned more than a dozen times by two ex-east point police officers. A jury has listened to both prosecution and defense arguments for more than a week. CBS46 court reporter Brittany Miller is at the Fulton county courthouse with what we can expect next.
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Police: Man critically injured in gang-related shooting
Nov. 07, 2017
BOSTON (AP) — Police have shut down a Boston street following a shooting that left one man hospitalized in critical condition.
Police Commissioner William Evans says the shooting was reported around 8 p.m. Monday near Symphony Hall. Evans says two drivers were ramming each other's cars before one fired multiple shots at the other.
The victim crashed into parked cars, and he was taken to Boston Medical Center with life-threatening injuries.
Evans says investigators believe it was a gang-related shooting. He says the victim was "well-known" to police.
No bystanders were hurt.
Anyone with information on the shooting is asked to call Boston police.


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Kia ora! Hola! Bonjour! سلام! こんにちは! नमस्ते Namastē! مرحبا! 您好!Hallå! Hallo! Selamat Datang! ☮ Welcome to DarkintheBoy! ⭐(★´♡‿♡`+)⭐


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WINCHESTER, Va. – A career day for junior Sebastian Hendi pushed the Marymount men's soccer team past Shenandoah University on the road Wednesday night, 5-2, as he put away a career-high seven points off a hat trick of goals and an assist.
It was the Hornets that had the first opportunity on offense to kick off the match, earning an early header on target in the seventh minute, but nothing sophomore goalkeeper John Valcicak couldn't pull in the keep the game scoreless.
Several minutes later, the Saints put the first goal on the board off the feet of Hendi.
By the 20th minute, Shenandoah answered, drawing the score even at 1-1 which held to the break.
In the second half, Marymount exploded on offense, putting away four more goals including a pair of collegiate firsts by freshmen Levis Lopez and Ridwaan Robinson. Three of the four goals were tacked on in the closing eight minutes as the Saints battled to a 5-2 victory and their second-straight in two days.
Of the 13 shots the Hornets took in the contest, six were on target. Valcicak, who tended for the full 90 minutes, pulled in four for the contest in route to his second win in the net this season.
The men will round out their five-game road series on Saturday, September 16 at Hamden-Sydney College. First touch is set for 7 p.m.


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Six years ago I became intensely involved in the company. I started in sales and business development and advanced to project manager and board member. After completing my MBA I will return to my family's business to execute our expansion plan. I have already started by founding a timber company in Central America and designing a pilot for a smart fueling project in Nigeria and Ghana. My immediate next goal is to focus on growing our telecommunications department. Due to recent investments, this department has potential to serve most of Western Africa with low marginal cost. I intend on leveraging this position by leading our company into other countries, including Nigeria, Liberia and Cameroon.


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A 45-year-old printer from the Jacksonville area has been identified as the man who died after being beaten and thrown from his van near Lake Worth, Palm Beach County Sheriff`s deputies said Sunday.
James Stidfole of Orange Park, in Clay County, died at 8 p.m. Saturday at Doctors Hospital near Lake Worth.
Six hours earlier, he was thrown to the pavement in the Barnett Bank parking lot, just south of the southeast corner of 10th Avenue North and Congress Avenue, deputies said.
``It`s a homicide. Cause of death is blunt trauma,`` Sheriff`s Detective Wes Buxton said. Detectives are unsure if the fatal blow to the head that Stidfole received occurred before or after he was tossed from his van.
``He was hit by a blunt object or he hit a blunt object,`` Buxton said. ``The possible motive is robbery.``
Stidfole was apparently on business in the area but deputies aren`t sure where he was staying, according to Buxton, who is heading up the investigation with Detective Rick Oetinger.
Prior to being thrown from the van, Stidfole was seen leaving a bar with two men and a woman he had been drinking with. Three people are believed to have taken part in the crime, Buxton said.
Two drove off from the bank lot in Stidfole`s van, while a third fled on foot. On Sunday, the stolen van was recovered by deputies in the area of Kirk Road and Forest Hill Boulevard, Buxton said.
Detectives described the man who fled on foot as white, 25 to 30 years old, 165 to 170 pounds, 6-foot to 6-foot-2, with sandy, shoulder-length hair. He had a mustache and a beard and was wearing a long-sleeved dark blue shirt, tan pants, work boots and a light blue bandana around his head.
The man got into a yellow cab at Barnett Street and 10th Avenue and was dropped off at the Winn Dixie Shopping Center at 12th Avenue South and Dixie Highway in Lake Worth, detectives said.


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"Hiring the right team is critical to planning your dream wedding…and it can also be quite stressful.
How do you find the right match for you? How do you know whom to trust? Where do you go for
First of all, this is not an easy task and it's totally normal for couples to feel overwhelmed, frustrated
or confused. It's not like you plan a wedding every day! This is all probably brand new to you, so be patient with
A few tips to finding the right ones for you…
Do Your Homework. You'll get much more out of a meeting or conversation with a wedding
professional if you do a little background homework first.
Spend some time on the internet or talking to friends who've recently been married. Find out the
average prices in your area and what services are available. Get an idea of what you like and don't
like. Wedding websites and chat rooms can be a great resource. This way when you meet with a
wedding professional you'll be able to ask better questions and have an idea of what to look out for.
Meet With Them. An in-person meeting is the best way to interview a potential wedding vendor. It
lets you get the full experience of their personality style and professionalism. If that's not possible,
have a phone or Skype conversation.
Ask Questions. There are no stupid questions! Make sure you get clear, specific answers to your
questions. If you aren't sure what something means, ask them to clarify. Keep asking questions until
you completely understand.
If a wedding vendor has a problem with you asking questions, they probably aren't the one for you.
The best wedding professionals are patient, understanding and take the time to help you make the
best choices for your wedding.
Listen. Don't just hear the words they say, really listen. Watch the vendor's body language. Are
they confident and comfortable with their response? Do they look and sound nervous? Do you get a
"funny feeling" about them? Take all the sights, sounds and feelings into account along with their
responses; if your gut tells you something isn't right, it probably isn't.
Check References. Portfolios are hand-picked to show off the best work, but they may not
represent the "average" wedding performance. Videos are edited for the optimum presentation. But
real referrals from satisfied clients are hard to fake.
Call up both client and professional references. Ask questions and use those listening skills. Even if
they give a rave review, you'll often be able to "read between the lines" if there were any issues or
Ask around and search the internet for reviews. Check the Better Business Bureau for any
outstanding complaints against the business. Weigh all of this information into your choices.
Here are 8 Must Ask Questions to ask ALL your potential wedding professionals before
1. How many weddings do you do per year? How much experience do you have?
This is an extremely important question. Ideally, your wedding professional should have
ample experience specifically with weddings, but not be doing so many that personal
attention to each client is compromised. Not only will they be more skilled in their craft, this
also, makes them a valuable source of information and ensures that your wedding day goes
2. How much do you cost?
Price is often relative, especially when you factor in experience, reputation and expert skill.
Generally, the most talented professionals have a higher price tag because they are worth it.
3. How much is the deposit/booking fee?
4. What specifically is included in that cost?
Because packages often vary, it's likely that you won't be able to compare one vendor
exactly to the next without doing a little figuring. The lowest cost isn't necessarily the best
deal; some higher quotes include services that you have to pay extra for in other packages.
Make sure you take this into account.
5. What happens if I cancel? What happens if you cancel?
Find out if your deposit is refundable under any conditions. Does the wedding professional
have a backup plan if something happens to them?
6. Do you use a contract?
If the answer is No, RUN! A contract is designed to protect both you and the wedding
professional. Don't settle for a verbal agreement that won't hold up in court.
7. Are there any additional fees?
Taxes, service charges, and travel fees can add up quickly. Make sure you understand exactly
what is included and if there are any other fees you'll have to pay. This should be clearly
defined in your contract.
8. Do you carry professional indemnity and liability insurance?
The answer you're looking for here is Yes. This protects you in case an unfortunate accident
should occur on your wedding day. It's also a sign that this is a reputable business since
most "fly by night" operations don't invest in insurance."
+1. Special question for wedding photographers.
Are you a Certified Professional Photographer?
If answer Yes, it's good, because Certified Professional Photographers Give You:
- Consistency. Certified Professional Photographers know how to achieve great results — every time.
- Technical Skills. Certified Professional Photographers are more than picture takers. They are students of art, lighting, posing, fashion and even interior design.
- Unique Artistry. Certified Professional Photographers have the skills to create unique, customized works of art—not cookie-cutter pictures. They follow an artistic vision.
It's your story captured as a collection of art.
- Professionalism. When you hire a Certified Professional Photographer, you know you're
getting someone who is willing to go the extra mile to deliver the best possible images.
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It goes without saying that your hotel relies heavily on reservations to survive – walk-ins just won't cut it. And nowadays, you have step up your marketing efforts to get your hotel noticed. While sleek and functional Hospitality Renovations – like the kind offered by Jaguar Hospitality – will certainly do the trick, here are some additional tips to help gain those well-needed leads.
Boost Your Social Media
Popular social media platforms like Facebook and Twitter are a great opportunity to reach out to both existing and potential clients, to say nothing of the visibility. Social media also adds an element of interaction that allows you to engage with patrons, highlight special deals, or even address feedback.
Socialize Your Hotel Experience
Optimize the power of your social media network by putting up signs asking for clients to follow your account. Encourage visitors to check-in at your restaurant, perhaps with the added incentive of a complementary appetizer. People love to take photos make it work for you and you'll reach audiences you didn't even know you had.
Try a Flash
How many hoteliers shun the idea of a flash sale on sites like GroupOn and Living Social, such groups have millions of followers and a massive subscription list, meaning you'll be receiving tremendous marketing exposure.
Of course, your best bet for drawing in clients is having an attractive and functional establishment that will wow them at first sight. That's why you need Jaguar Hospitality, the leading specialist in a wide range of Hospitality RenovationServices. To learn more, call us at (214) 295-3574.


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We hope you enjoy these background images. Be sure to share them with your friends and take the chance to promote Obliteride!
We love that you are out promoting Obliteride; these resources will help you represent our mission clearly and consistency:
Here are a few resources to help guide you:


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Cooperation on detection technology and computer science for sub-atomic physicsProject ID: INTAS-1010-CT93-0024
Funded under:
Cooperation on detection technology and computer science for sub-atomic physics
Project details
Total cost:Not available
EU contribution:EUR 100 000
Coordinated in:France
Topic(s):14 - Nuclear Physics
The research is based on the extensive knowledge of several laboratories in the NIS in the technology of particle and radiation detection and in the formal aspects of computer science. The objective of the collaboration is to provide support to these groups to maintain and develop their expertise in these domains. The expected scientific outputs are: software for symbolic algebra in nuclear and particle physics; software for data analysis; and construction of detector prototypes based on several technologies including plastic scintillators, semi-conductor detectors and high purity crystals.
Both theorists and experimentalists from IN2P3 will take part in the research. The theorists will participate in the design and the choice of strategies to tackle the 1-loop computation. The experimentalists will play a major role as an interface between theory and experiment, in the development of an event generator using the output of the Russian package, in the event simulation in real detectors, and in the design of expert systems for numerical and symbolic integration.
IN2P3 is engaged in the NOMAD experiment at CERN studing neutrino oscillations and neutrino scattering physics, and is constructing the Transition Radiation Detector for NOMAD, made of nine planes of proportional tubes filled with xenon-methane. For the radiation detector the IN2P3 will put emphasis on intrinsic-parity breaking modes in actinide nuclei, on beta-v angular correlations in superallowed beta-decay, on neutrinoless double beta emission using the 16 multidetector Ge HP telescope, to investigate high-order effects in conversion electron spectra with the high-resolution electrostatic spectrometer.
Development studies in the domain of radiation will include development of specific semi-conductor multi-detector systems for nuclear structure studies (Ge, Si, BaF2 detectors for experiments), development of low-energy electron spectroscopy and production of gas targets and hyperthin radioactive sources as well as experimental studies), and the construction of a low background telescope spectrometer (Ge HP multidetector) for investigations of neutrino properties in nuclear beta-decay.
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Fax: +33-1-44965004
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Lismore Connoisseur has been especially crafted for the whisky lover, a range of specialty barware that perfectly enhances the flavours of your favourite drink. A finely tuned selection of tumblers crafted from the finest crystal allow for the full experience of taste and aroma, not to mention their good looks and expert craftsmanship.
Enjoy your favourite craft beers with the Lismore Connoisseur Beer Collection, a stylish and sparkling way to bring the microbrew trend into your home. Give the gift of an exceptional beer glass and add a touch of sophistication to the moment.
207ml Capacity 8.1cm Tall
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207ml Capacity 8.1cm Tall
207ml Capacity 8.1cm Tall
207ml Capacity 8.1cm Tall
567.8ml Capacity 11.9cm Tall
500ml Capacity 23cm Tall
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550ml Capacity 17.5cm Tall
428.8ml Capacity 20cm Tall
170ml Capacity 11.6cm Tall
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400ml Capacity 11.2cm Tall
Decanter: 400ml Capacity Tumbler: 200ml Capacity
532ml Capacity 15.1cm Tall
570ml Capacity 18.7cm Tall
16.8cm Tall
21.3cm Tall


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This is an awesome 'Live In Concert' virtual set. See in HD & you'll love it. Its a live concert with cheering crowd simulation created with AE's in built plugins. Drop in your footage or pics & get ready to rock !! It includes 4 Comps with different camera angles.
You can play with light effects, fogs & clouds (Included) to create different effects & also control Brightness/Cont. of the background screens. Cut full length songs or small promos with this stunning AE template. You may also use background screens alone without a stage with full visibility.
Note: : Every single bit of this project has been made in After Effects CS3 so you can also use it as 3D Model.
Pre-keyed Footage, Music & Sfx are only for preview purpose. (NOT Included).
Resolution: HD1920x1080 (HD720, PAL, NTSC also Included)
Plugins Required: Trapcode Lux, though you can see how it looks without -
'Lux' between 17-22 sec in preview.
AE Version: Adobe After Effects CS3 (CS4, CS5 Compatible)
Delivery Format: (.zip) Zipped File
File Size: 40,378 KB


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Big Data Implementation in Education Industry In recent years, across all types of industries, big data has turned out to be a big game changer. As big data persists to seep into our lives, there has been a major shift of focus from the hype going
Big Data Hadoop in Healthcare Sector Saving Lives & Money Both We all have heard a lot about Hadoop in various industries. Specifically within the healthcare industry, it is an important entity. Healthcare projects the next frontier
How Does Big Data Hadoop Empower Retail Sector Just a few years and big data Hadoop has made a really great impact on businesses. Let's talk about the retail market a few years back when no big data was introduced. Ea
Did you know Big Data plays an important role in Cricketing domain too? Yes, it's true, the game of cricket too is a universe of data that can be analysed for greater insights. Before any major tournament like World Cup Cricket or
Have you ever noticed why professionals and students rush to big data training in Delhi? Have you ever tried to understand the role big data has to play in various sectors? Let's understand it through this example of an airline industry that us
As businesses filter out their big data, make it ready and formulate query and analytics, isn't it said to be too early to work upon a reporting framework that can show data in a way that could make it more actionable. A few years
Big Data in 2016: Potential that it Holds A latest survey carried out by Syncsort on 250 eminent respondents including IT managers, data scientists, business/intelligence data analysts, developers and data scientists that revealed some interesting
Differences between Big Data Hadoop and Spark you should Know What you observe when you listen to any conversation regarding big data? Of course, you listen to a lot of about Hadoop or Apache Spark. In case you want to know more these
Consider these tips for a Successful Journey of Hadoop You know what's cool about Hadoop? Well, it's flexibility. It is the best platform for storing large amounts of data. It works like an active archive and a system for do
How Big Data is Revolutionising Indian Railways to Ease the Pain of getting Tatkal Ticket If we talk about the most comfortable means of transport in India, then without a thought we would say "Railways" or the "Train". Ye
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I am very pleased and excited to present to you all the very first Fircroft College student blog post. I hope you enjoy it and please don't hesitate to submit work of your own to be featured.
This weeks offering is by Mr Raymond Howell.
I heard about Fircroft on the air of wishes sent into the ether by an acquaintance. The information about Fircroft arrived via the ping of an email that beseeched me, begged on bended knees almost, to try a Creative Writing course. On reflection I think they were really trying to say DONT SEND ME ANYMORE Scribbles to read… until you learn to write better. Take this course at Fircroft, please, you will like it, it will help you and they have a good reputation, the food is not bad either.
I was not quite at the find me a noose stage, but I had too many doubts to be comfortable with the idea. At my age returning to school after a 47 year absence without a suitable note from my parents, which I haven't forged, is almost certain to invite the cane. On top of that I have never been classroom material. I'm not good with groups of people either. I'm also dyslexic and a general mess. What could Fircroft offer me, or I them come to that? I am certainly not student material but, I must admit, I do like to cover pages in ink tattoos, it is how I keep sane.
What to do? I've been dumped at a strange crossroads without a pelican or a crossing button. Thanks friend. Unusual for me I had no control over the situation. Apparently the booking was already made and I was politely told to attend. By nature I don't like waste. Reluctantly I packed a bag, a week before time because I worry about being late, and on the day I set off early to brave the outside world. This was the first time I had ventured forth on an unfamiliar undertaking on my own for a long while, years in fact. It was not an easy journey, trepidation dogged my footsteps, billboard ads mocked, apparently I stink and need deodorant that lasts for days and how can I live without life insurance; the bus was late and newspaper headlines boded ill, chocolate was going to cost more because of the Brexit sleeping pill. Within twenty minutes I was stressed enough to think about returning home. Why shouldn't I, I am neither an academic, nor a writer and neither did I wish to move on to take a degree. I had no aspirations, expectations or even hopes other than the one I expressed as I boarded the bus, please let me get off at the correct stop. On my arrival I was nervous, doubtful, maybe even a little defensive, as well as a tad agoraphobic. So, with all that clutter filling my suitcase that afternoon I fell nervously through the doors of Fircroft College, flash-backs to 1966 when the world had less need of a social fix, we had won the world cup and I was a new boy in the big school.
I worried before the receptionist, who turned out to be brilliant, she eased my discomfort and a small flake of nervousness slipped from my shoulder. From nowhere other attendees came and queued up behind me, too many, I suddenly needed air. I grabbed the paperwork and throwing out a backward, thanks, I immediately dived through another set of doors and fled out into the grounds, where I stumbled upon a sunhat bobbing low and slow in amongst the flowers of a busy border.
"It's a great day, isn't it?" A fox glove seemingly inquired of me. Wow thought I, immediately beguiled, I felt a little like Alice in her wonderland, when she met bright dancing plants which spoke with wit and knowledge and sung at the queen's command. Plants that talk, I smiled. Well, why not? This was to be a creative writing course.
"Don't mind me on my knees" the voice continued, where a rustle and a bustle grew a lady in gloves, who continued to unfold until she stepped forward and offered me a jolly smile. Again I couldn't help feeling a little beguiled. She sighed a little but not sadly, more with a fondness for the task ahead.
"It's a lovely garden but such a battle to keep things in order," she confessed wistfully as she looked across the flower beds like a doting mother at her happy mud splattered child. Her soft tone and words made a confederate of the nervous orphaned learner stood by her side. "I'm sure it is" I lamely replied.
She continued as if my words had been profound; "I need a hand really there's a lot to do in the garden". She paused to let the seed settle to the ground and then she added a splash of water, "We might be looking for volunteer garden helpers…"
Another pause and glance, I guess to gauge my reaction, then like a general in the pre-dawn light surveying her battle-lines she scanned the gardens for a moment, as if walking through her visions of the one-day-soon-put-to-order grounds. Then buoyantly she explained her grand plan, she ended by saying. "I'm sure you'll enjoy helping. Give it a thought" she lightly breezed "but now I must dash, I have lots to do, interviews for a gardener… Ah, and here's the first one; nice to meet you. Don't forget, think about it."
I tottered in the rustle of her departing wake, a little bemused and suddenly I slipped through the door of the esoteric; Why me? Had she sensed I was scared and diffused…, in need of a comfort blanket, my confusions defused? Rationally I guessed my fears must have shown, but the esoteric thrill of the encounter would not be blown.
"Ah. I see you met the principle", a student said humorously as he joined me. "Watch it," he laughed, "she's on the hunt for helpers. I'm John by the way, I've been here loads of time before, and I'm sure I'll return again for more." He looked at me as he prophesied, "and something tells me that you'll be returning here too. See you later, I'm off to meet the happy band of hardcore regulars gathering inside."
Even as he spoke the place began to hum like a hive, out from which greetings shrieked and noisy hugs replied. This was not what I expected to find. Where for a start was the black billowing gowns, the stern faces, the strident stomps across the quad, and thankfully there was not a cane in sight either, other than those needed to prop up the Clematis of course. Why had I ever worried?
Looking around the garden at the bodies lazing on the lawn as they carelessly sprinkled light laughter around like dandelion parachutes, I considered Fircroft; this place is just a relaxed meeting of like minds and hearts beating with the same purpose. The only threat here is self doubt; then I smiled inwardly as I thought, I bet Fircroft has a course on how to turn my doubts into an asset. 'Don't mock', my inner voice scolded, 'you are now a part of this too.' A sudden burst of warmth came from nowhere and nudged more of my nervousness to one side, I was a part of this. A smile tugged at my face as I hovered by the half tamed bed listening to a frolic of happy voices issuing from inside the lounge. I have to admit I started to people-watch the promenaders inside and when one female voice much clearer than the others shouted enthusiastically, "Welcome to Fircroft." I peered around to see where her words landed.
"Yeh you," The voice laughed as the owner poked her head out the door, "Creative Writing, right? Don't just stand there on your own, come in, we're on the same course."
In a mere ten minutes, 600 seconds, time enough to drown twice or to plant a flag at the peak of a personal summit, I was not cured of my various self doubts, it's true, but in that brief time they skipped from me and went off to enjoy a spot of sunbathing out on the lawns. I think one or two of them might still be lying there somewhere amongst the daisies and dandelions. Its rude to say good riddance, but, sometimes… it is nice.
I met some curious, idea-provoking and fascinating down to earth people here, and my tutor was, well, I think she deserves her own chapter, but suffice to say, she was interesting, inspiring at times, fixed of purpose and VERY keen to teach, but that is enough of that we must get on, mustn't we? The most important idea I took away with me at the end of the course is that, what I have to say matters, and the style of the telling can be whatever I want it to be, there are no rules. I liked that, a lot.
Everyone has a story to tell and I believe stories grow from inspiration enriched by enlightenment and confidence. Welcome to Fircroft College with its rambling gardens, its confidence building curriculum, the colourful, naturalness of the 'we are of the people' tutors, and an excited welcome to the humble beginnings of many new wonderful stories.
Written By Raymond Howell
To write for our blog, please send submissions to – email@example.com and include the phrase "blog post" in the subject line.