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● First, this is truly heartbreaking. Suicide is tragic and I can't imagine what brings people to that point, but I can understand how dark it must be. I also can't imagine what the parents are going through.
● I can say that I find it deeply sick that someone would even think to play a trick like this. There is something sub-humanly cruel in that little girl and others like her.
● I read the comments in some of the articles and I see the rotten side of humanity creeping out. The cynicism. The smug superiority. The knee-jerk smears of the innocent. This kid was eleven. He was probably dealing with his first crush. He had no idea how to handle the complete inversion of all that euphoria into a ripping sense of loss. How can anyone say he was stupid or should have known better? Fuck you. I doubt you're as competent as you think you are, trolls.
Some are blaming the parents because "how could the boy not feel he could go to them." I hate to break this to you, ignorants, but most suicides hide their sorrow. Their friends and family would love to help them, but they don't give anyone the chance. How can you cure what you don't even know is there? Moreover, as the father of an 11 year old who is hell bent on living her life without parental oversight, let me tell you that some kids are great at hiding what is going on with them. It's a puzzle, not a photograph with these kids because they are exploring the world and they want freedom to do it. I can tell you that my skills as a lawyer have helped immensely and I know a lot more about my daughter's friends than their parents do because I am a suspicious bastard. That's not to say they are bad parents, it's just how it is with kids. No matter how much they trust you or love you, many still want a private life and you have no control over what they choose to hide there.
● That said, I do blame the parents of the girl. One of the first things I learned about kids was that they are cruel little amoral monsters out of the box. You need to teach that out of them. You need to teach them to be selfless, to be kind, not to hurt others. At times, I've seen our kids do things that were shocking to me as a well-adjusted adult. Each time, I took them aside and explained how they could have injured XXX for the rest of their lives or ruined someone's life or destroyed a trust or a friendship, and I asked them how they would feel about that. And do you know what? It never happened again because they understood what they had done was wrong.
But other kids I see with sh*tty parents don't get those lessons. They grow up thinking cruelty is funny. They think hurting others makes them cool. This little girl lacks human decency. She thought nothing of trying to impose about as painful an emotional harm as you can on someone who cared about her -- the law calls that a fiduciary relationship because you have a heightened responsibility for such a person. She saw that as a weapon for a little fun rather than a trust. That's sick. And her parents are to blame for not teaching her enough right and wrong that she could understand just how f*cked up that was. Her friends are just as bad too for helping out. Not one of them thought this was cruel and tried to stop it? Really? Those parents really need to look at their little creatures and ask just what the hell kind of monster they've created.
● I think our culture encourages this kind of cruelty too. I look around and I see so much rage. The "mic drop" and the insulting exit has replaced the fond goodbye. You don't break up anymore, you "ghost" or you get even for whatever you didn't like. Ghetto culture (for all races) is about being tougher than everyone and making others feel weak. Movies and television shows glorify "pranks" that should be crimes. There is no sense of perspective in terms of the effects on the victims. Heck, you aren't cool on film if you don't hurt someone. Look at our politics, with the left trying desperately to destroy friends and family who voted the wrong way. Look at sports arenas where people cheer for opposing players to be injured. All of this, I think, makes our culture remarkably difficult for people in trouble. And I'm not talking about the narcissistic snowflakes, I mean people who don't know how to handle their problems and really need the support systems that we've systematically destroyed... church, families, friends, right and wrong, decency, good manners...
● Finally, I need to say that after several decades of feminism, I am shocked at what I see in young women these days. We are told how wonderful girls are: they aren't violent and cruel like icky boys, they are inherently good. Well, that's bull. I can tell you that I am routinely dealing with the fallout from acts of my daughter's friends and frenemies that are ruthless, cruel, cold-hearted and sadistic. Seemingly sweet girls when they talk to you, spend their time trying to destroy each other, even their friends, the moment backs are turned. Why? What in the past decade of liberal social engineering has caused this? What makes these modern girls think it's acceptable to try to break each other?
I don't get it. I never saw behavior like this growing up and, if I did, it was one person everyone knew to avoid. Today... today, this is herd behavior.
Sorry for the depressing post, but this bugs me.


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subset: commoncrawl


text:
The Sacramento Angels, together with the Sierra Angels, led a multi-million dollar financing for San Francisco web annotation startup company, Reframe It. They were joined by other regional angel groups and individual angels. You can read the web press release here, and see another report of the financing gathered, in part, from the filing with the SEC of Form D here.
There are a couple of interesting points for entrepreneurs about this financing. First, you can see that to raise this kind of money from Angels, it takes a lead (the lead negotiates the deal terms, does the due diligence, and then actively seeks additional investors to fill the round; it takes time!). Second, Form D is a way for entrepreneurs to get some idea of the financing that, say, a competitor has previously obtained. It does not reveal much detail but it certainly gives some idea of how much has been raised.
This deal is a great example of how Angel groups are collaborating and syndicating deals to increase the amount of money a company can raise
You can search companies on the SEC web site here. Just enter the company name and look for Form D(s). You can see the Reframe It Form D here. To learn more about Form D go here.


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These are so easy, I mean as in really easy!!!
1. Slice 2 potatoes super thin
2. spray a cookie sheet with Pam (haha)
3. spread potatoes out in a single layer
4. Bake at 450 for 8-10 minutes
5. turn after 5 minutes
6. Put sea salt on top of chips
7. Eat
Oh so yummy! My girls said these are the best ever. I really am trying to have less things at my house. If I can buy potatoes and make bake potatoes, mash potatoes, fries and potato chips then that is a ton of little things I do not need (boxed mash potatoes, frozen fries and potato chips).


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More and more consumers are looking for thinner and slimmer electronics. We like slim TVs. We like thin cameras. And this fascination with increasingly slender profiles has clearly extended to the world of notebook computers too, but the MacBook Air from Apple isn't the only thin game in town. Samsung wants to take a bite out of that market too.
We were first introduced to the Samsung Series 9 family of slim notebooks at CES 2011 in Las Vegas earlier this year. Now, that beauty of a laptop has hit the market and we've got our hands on a review sample. And yes, it's the higher end version to boot.
Features and Specifications
At this time, there are basically two different versions of the Samsung Series 9. They both share the same chassis and design, meaning you get a package that measures between 0.62-inches and 0.64-inches in thickness. They also both come with what Samsung calls a Duralumin enclosure, which offers twice the strength of aluminium in an ultra-light aircraft-grade package. Beautiful.
The SKU that we've got here is the Samsung NP-900X3A-A02CA, which carries an MSRP of $2,399.99. For that price, you get a second-generation Intel Core i5-2537M processor, Windows 7 Professional (64-bit), 8GB of DDR3-1333 memory (two sticks of 4GB), 13.3-inch LED HD (1366x768) matte display, 256GB SSD, Intel GMA HD GT2 graphics, 802.11b/g/n 2x2 (MIMO), Bluetooth 3.0, 1.3MP webcam, Intel Wireless Display support, Intel Trusted Platform Module (TPM) based security, a 6-cell battery, and an image sensor touchpad.
If you want to save a few hundred dollars, there's also the Samsung NP-900X3A-A01CA. With an MSRP of $1,699.99, you get bumped down to 4GB of RAM, 128GB SSD, and no TPM support. Aside from that, the substantially cheaper model is basically the same.
What's in the Box?
So, what do you find when you crack open the box? Check out my unboxing video to find out:
In case you're not the video-watching type, opening up the high quality retail box, we find the Samsung Series 9 notebook PC itself, as well as the power cable and power supply, which is quite a bit smaller than most other laptops. This takes a page out of Apple's book, so to speak, because the "brick" part is right at the plug rather than being a separate brick. They've also included swappable prongs, so you can travel internationally a little more easily.
Beyond that, you get with a cleaning cloth, an Ethernet network adapter, system recovery CD, and a slew of the usual supporting documentation, like warranty information and a quick start guide.
Input and Output Ports and Jacks
So, how can you connect this beast to the rest of the world and with your existing assortment of peripherals and accessories? It's clear that Samsung has borrowed a fair bit of inspiration from Apple, because the Series 9 features the same kind of "flip-out" port mechanism as the MacBook Air, except it does it on both sides.
Among the ports is one for micro HDMI out, which can be very handy when you want to dock the slim machine to a larger LCD monitor or HDTV. Instead of having separate headphone and microphone jacks, the Series 9 is more like a smartphone with its combined port. There's a USB port on either side with USB 2.0 on the right and "SS USB" on the left; the latter is effectively USB 3.0, but it's not blue.
Rounding out the ports is a microSD card reader (but not an SD/SDHC card reader) and a port for connecting the provided networking adapter with RJ45 Gigabit LAN support. Of course, there's a power port for DC power too.


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This page provides links to the websites of main stakeholders and other relevant information elsewhere on the internet. The links on this page will open in new windows.
Study team
Responsible Directorate-General
Other Directorate-Generals
- DG Environment (IPP, Ecolabel, ETAP, GPP, IPPC, Industrial sectoral, E-PRTR, etc.)
- DG Climate Action (ECCP)
- DG Growth
Ecodesign/Labelling overview sites
- ECEEE Ecodesign - Overview of status Ecodesign studies/measures
Other studies related to Ecodesign and/or Energy Labelling
- Evaluation of Energy Labelling Directive (2013-2014)
- Material-efficiency module for MEErP (finalised December 2013)
- MEEuP Methodology Report (2005)
- Working plan 2015-2017 (2014)


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From George Washington to Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons, 10 February 1777
To Brigadier General Samuel Holden Parsons
Morris Town. February 10th 1777.
Since I wrote to you on the 8th Int. I have been compelled from the spreading of the Small pox in our Army to submit to the necessity of Innoculation, & have accordingly ordered all the Continental Troops now here & coming from the Western States, to be innoculated immediately on their Arrival—You will therefore give Orders for the Innoculating the Connecticut Troops; and as Govr Cook is desired to forward on the Rhode Island Troops to Connecticut for this purpose, you will also have proper Attention paid to them—I need not recommend to you the greatest Secresy & Dispatch in this business; because a Moment's reflection will inform you that should the Enemy discover our situation they can not fail of taking advantage of it.
You may perhaps not be able to reconcile this Order with the Enterprize proposed in my former Letter agt Long Island1—If that can be carried on at the same time with Innoculation, I would by no means have you decline it; But if one must give way to the other (of which you will be the best Judge) Innoculation, being of the greatest Importance, must have the preferance & the Enterprize laid aside. It will be best to draw the Troops within as small a Circle as possible & towards Peekskill—to have them innoculated; by this means, if proper Care is used, the danger of the Infection's spreadg will be small & the Country have but little cause to dread it. I am Sir Yr most obedient H. Sert.
Df, in George Johnston's writing, DLC:GW; Varick transcript, DLC:GW. Apparently this letter failed to reach Parsons (see Parsons to GW, 23 Feb. 1777).
1. In the draft Johnston struck out the words "the East End" before the words "of Long Island."


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A Frederick business owner in the 5000 block of Tipple Parkway reported that someone altered his check to cash it for more. It happened in Weld County's jurisdiction and was referred to the sheriff's office for additional follow-up.
Longmont officers were dispatched to a suspicious situation at 10:25 p.m. Sunday in the 600 block of Peck Drive. An unknown woman who is homeless was banging on an apartment door asking for help. The woman had an active warrant from a different police agency. She was arrested and taken to the Boulder County Jail.
Shortly before 11 p.m. Sunday, Longmont police responded to a man passed out in a vehicle in the 2000 block of Ken Pratt Boulevard. He was arrested on suspicion of DUI.


text:
Edited by Marie Hodgkinson
Foreword by Phillip Mann
Cover by KC Bailey
Print and ebook design by Marie Hodgkinson
Writing on the theme of strange tales of Aotearoa New Zealand, seven Kiwi authors weave stories of people and creatures displaced in time and space, risky odysseys, and even more dangerous discoveries.
Click on the titles below to read an excerpt from each story:
Lee Murray and Piper Mejia's odyssey through a dystopic future: Mika
A.C. Buchanan's story of creatures and people displaced in time and space: Bree's Dinosaur
Grant Stone's tale of jealous muses and musical prodigy: The Last
A husband with a secret in I.K. Paterson-Harkness' Pocket Wife
Tim Jones' exploration of desperation and betrayal on New Zealand's shores: Landfall
Grief, ghosts, and atoms in Octavia Cade's The Ghost of Matter
SHORTCUTS: Track 1 is available to order from your favourite bookstore and from a variety of online stores including Amazon, Kobo and Apple Books.
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SHORTCUTS: Track 1
A collection of six novelettes showcasing the weird, wild and wonderful of local SFF. Includes postage within New Zealand only.
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A collection of six novelettes showcasing the weird, wild and wonderful of local SFF. Includes international postage.


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2010 Spy Valley Riesling
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- Cellar Drink Now - 4 years (2011-2015)
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Bright pale straw colour with watery hue. The nose displays top notes of ripe limes followed by some tropical fruits, citrus and orange blossom. Medium dry the palate is quite fruity with flavours of tropical fruits and ripe limes followed by some citrus. Clean finish with aftertaste of tropical fruits and ripe lime.
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text:
Did you know that Jesus commands us to love one another? He doesn't suggest that we love one another. He doesn't say, "I think it would be good for you to love one another," or "If you feel like loving one another, that's your choice. I'm good with whatever you do!" Jesus doesn't say any…Read More
"If she is really your friend, why is she talking about you behind your back, mom?" my young son asked as he was working on homework at the kitchen table. His question caught me off guard. First of all, I had no idea that he was listening to the conversation between my husband and me,…Read More
As we come to a close of this blog series, I wanted to end with the words of Jesus. As we transition into the Easter season, my focus today is on the love of Jesus. His love for you, His love for me, and His love for everyone. On the night of His betrayal and…Read More
With only a few more days of February left, we are wrapping up the month of love and this month's blog series. I hope that you have enjoyed reading about love as much as I have enjoyed writing about it! Today's weekend inspiration comes from Matthew 5:44-45, "Love your enemies and pray for those who…Read More
*My monthly series, Women of the Bible, returns today. On the third Tuesday of every month, I will feature a woman in Scripture who found her strength in the Lord when faced with adversity or circumstances beyond her control.* She stood there in disbelief, tears streaming down her face, her body going numb, and her…Read More
As February progresses, the days are getting longer, the snow is melting, and while I know that we may have few more snow showers here and there, there is a relief knowing that spring is so close! In continuing with the blog theme of love, 1 Corinthians 13:4-8 is one of the most well-known verses…Read More
Last year, I participated in Proverbs 31's First 5 study of Song of Solomon. This beautiful love story not only focuses on the love between a man and a woman but it is also a clear reminder that God created romance for His children to be expressed fully, and He wants us to enjoy that…Read More
On Tuesday's blog post, I wrote about "agape" love. Agape love is God's unwavering, steadfast and enduring love for us. A love that is so powerful nothing could ever change it. In this dark world filled with sin, it's encouraging to know that the love of God will never leave us. Romans 5:8 Agape love…Read More
A few years ago, when my boys were in elementary school, celebrating Valentine's Day was the highlight of February. They were so excited to go to the store and pick out just the right cards and treats. They carefully wrote their classmate's names on them and created a special mailbox to put all the cards…Read More
"January was a tough year, but we made it!" I laughed so hard when I read this meme yesterday! Due to the extremely frigid temperatures, the boys and I have been home from school and work. With our low of -22, Antartica was warmer than central Illinois! I knew that this week was going to…Read More


text:
Army Recruit 'Booker' May Be Planning 'Fort Hood-Inspired Jihad' According To FBI
The FBI is looking for a U.S. Army recruit who is believed to be planning an attack on a U.S. military base.
Fox News learned of the search when it obtained portions of an alert issued by the FBI's Kansas City Division. That alert had been sent to the Kansas City Police Department as well as the U.S. Marine Corps. It states the recruit may be planning a "Fort Hood-inspired jihad against U.S. Soldiers."
The recruit is referred to in the alert as "Booker" and says he also goes by the name Muhammad Abdullah Hassan. He was recruited by the U.S. Army in Kansas City, Mo., in February and was scheduled to report for basic training April 7. Hassan was discharged by the Army last week after authorities learned of his plan.
The alert was titled, "Planned Fort Hood-inspired Jihad against US Soldiers by Army Recruit."
It read in part:
"On 20 March 2014, the Kansas City Division FBI became aware of an individual named BOOKER aka Muhammad Abdullah Hassan who had publicly stated his intention to commit jihad, bidding farewell to his friends and making comments indicating his jihad was imminent."
A Marine Corps spokesman has confirmed that the alert is legitimate but officials have not yet commented on it. A spokeswoman at the FBI Kansas City Division simply told Fox News that she did "not have any information to provide in regards to your inquiry."
The Fort Hood shooting, referenced in the alert, took place in 2009 when Army Maj. Nidal Malik Hasan opened fire at the Fort Hood Soldier Readiness Processing Center. That facility administered medical checkups to soldiers preparing to deploy to Afghanistan. The rampage left 13 dead and another 32 wounded.
Hasan, who acted as his own attorney at his trial, was convicted and sentenced to death in August. If he is put death he will be the first service member executed since 1961 according to The Washington Post.
Sources: Fox News, Washington Post


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text:
Edited by Eli Eliav
ISSN 0033-6572 (print) • ISSN 1936-7163 (online)
September 2009
40 , Issue
Selected mechanical and physical properties and clinical application of a new low-shrinkage composite restoration
Sillas Duarte Jr, DDS, MS, PhD/Ana Carolina Botta, DDS, MS/Jin-Ho Phark, DDS, Dr Med Dent/Avishai Sadan, DMD
Polymerization shrinkage is a major concern for bonded direct posterior restorations. Recently, a new low-shrinkage composite resin restorative material was developed. However, few data are available regarding clinical manipulation of this composite. Silorane-based composites represent an alternative to conventional methacrylate-based composites for direct posterior restorations. This article critically discusses the latest peer-reviewed reports related to polymerization, bonding, polishing, and color stability of silorane composite, focusing on its clinical application. Initial evaluation of this new category of composite material shows acceptable mechanical and physical properties. (Quintessence Int 2009;40:631�638)
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text:
Larger Degree Pullback Coming, But No Market Top Likely YET
While the market is searching for a top before the next larger pullback begins, I have no indications just yet that such a top has been struck. But, I still believe we will revisit the 2300SPX region before we begin the next larger rally phase towards 2600SPX.
After we struck a new all-time high on June 9th, and then reversed strongly, many were convinced that the market had struck a major top. However, since the high struck that day was a 3-wave structure, it made it more likely than not that we would see a higher all-time high before any significant top was struck. As we have seen, that perspective turned out to be quite accurate.
However, we are now in a similar position. The high struck on June 20th was also completed as what counts best as a 3-wave structure. For this reason, I still think that a higher high is sitting out there over the next week or so. While my preference is that any higher high struck is only the completion to wave v of 3 in the larger degree wave (v) of (3) off the February 2016 lows, the closer we get to 2500SPX, the higher the risk we run that wave (v) of (3) completes, and that wave (4) takes us back towards the 2300SPX region.
Yet, what the overlapping structure is saying to use is that the market has run too far too fast. That is often why we see diagonals at the end of a market move. It suggests that much of the buying has been spent in the prior 3rd wave and that consistent buying is waning.
Unfortunately, due to the structure with which we have been dealing since April, the pattern up into the current region has the potential for several interpretations, with the one I have on my chart most aligning with Fibonacci Pinball, at least in my humble opinion. The ideal structure I have been following still has me looking for at least one more higher high (and preferably two more) as long as we remain over our upper support region in the 2410-2427SPX region, to complete waves 3, 4 and 5 of wave (v) of (3).
A break down below 2410SPX makes me view the structure as potentially still needing a higher high in a larger ending diagonal for wave (v) of (3), or having already completed that pattern in a shortened format. But, as I explained in prior weeks, I really would rather see us coming much closer to the 2500SPX region before I am comfortable that wave (v) of (3) has completed.
But, since we are approximately within the last 50 points before we strike our ideal target for wave (3) set long ago, it is probably best to avoid any aggressive long-side plays, since the downside potential represents 140 points lower from where we closed on Friday.


text: MOVIES 'Maleficent' Sequel Moving Forward at Disney 4:26 PM PDT 6/15/2015 by Rebecca Ford FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME 'Maleficent' Linda Woolverton, who wrote the first film, is in talks to pen the live-action sequel, and Angelina Jolie is likely to return to star. Disney is moving forward with a sequel to its live-action hit Maleficent, tapping Linda Woolverton to write the script. Woolverton, who is in talks to pen the sequel, has become quite a major part of Disney's live-action creation team. She wrote the script for the first Maleficent, which starred Angelina Jolie and earned a magical $758.4 million worldwide. She also wrote the script for the sequel Alice Through the Looking Glass, which stars Mia Wasikowska, Johnny Depp and Anne Hathaway. And through the years she's worked on some of Disney's animated classics, including Beauty and the Beast (which also is being made into a live-action film starring Emma Watson), The Lion King and Mulan. Jolie is expected to return for the Maleficent sequel, although a deal is not yet in place. The films center on the iconic villainess from the Sleeping Beauty animated film. Woolverton is repped by WME. FACEBOOK TWITTER EMAIL ME Rebecca Ford email@example.com beccamford


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HP Follows Dell's Lead, Bans e-Waste Exports
Photo via goosmurf via Flickr CC
A little less than a year ago, Dell announced that it was not going to export e-waste to developing countries - a corporate policy that is only surprising in that every single electronics manufacturer doesn't already have it on the books. While it seems like an obvious part of acting as a responsible company, it's a notion that has yet to make it into more companies' consciousness. However, thankfully HP is stepping up and following Dell's lead. They've just updated their corporate policy to include a ban on sending e-waste from rich nations into poor nations to be dismantled. The Environmental Leader reports that HP's new version of its e-waste policy now states that "HP does not permit electronic waste to be exported from developed (member) countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) and the European Union (EU) to developing (non-OECD/EU) countries, either directly or through intermediaries."
While non-hazardous materials - as defined by the Basel Action Network - and equipment intended for donation or resale can be exported, any e-waste that is toxic in nature will be tracked through the recycling chain as it is processed by responsible recyclers who are audited by HP on an annual basis to make sure they conform to social and environmental responsibility (SER) policies.
Typically when manufacturers or policy makers create standards like this, they leave a little wiggle room to bend the rules. However, even the Electronics Take-Back Coalition and the Basel Action Network are applauding HP, showing that the company has made a strong move.
"This announcement shows that HP is an environmental leader in this industry," said Barbara Kyle, Electronics TakeBack Coalition National Coordinator, in a press release. "Companies managing e-waste need strict programs in place to prevent pushing our problems on developing nations and to stem the stream of toxic waste. With this policy, HP is making a commitment to do their part to stop the global dumping of e-waste."
While this is a no-brainer move and is frustrating that it isn't yet universal, we have to give props where they're due. And both Dell and now HP deserve applause for being more proactive on e-waste than much of the electronics industry. It's wonderful to see companies stepping up, and now there's even less of a reason for other companies to not do the same. Though stronger regulation and enforcement is still needed on the part of the government to ensure that companies less forward-thinking as Dell and HP cannot export toxic gadgets to e-waste dumps.
"The U.S. doesn't have laws that make it illegal to dump our e-waste on developing nations," said Jim Puckett, Executive Director of the Basel Action Network (BAN), a global watchdog group on toxic trade, that has produced films and reports exposing the global e-waste dumping problem. "HP should be commended for this new policy, which goes beyond U.S. laws."
More on e-Waste
Trash Talk: US Considers Tighter Regulations for E-Waste Exports
It's Time to Say Goodbye to e-Waste: Why Our Gadgets are Toxic to Developing Nations
What's Your e-Waste IQ? Quiz


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What lies beyond the Law of AttractionPosted: November 8, 2011 Filed under: Larry Dossey, law of attraction, The Lotus and The Lily | Tags: janet conner, law of attraction, my soul pages, prosperity, soul writing, spiritual practice, The Lotus and The Lily, Writing Down Your Soul Leave a comment
The hidden gift of NovemberPosted: November 13, 2010 Filed under: Creating a magical year, intuition, Kevin Spacey, law of attraction, The Lotus and The Lily, Uncategorized | Tags: janet conner, Kevin Spacey, law of attraction, The Lotus and The Lily, Writing Down Your Soul Leave a comment
We have a tendency to skip over November. It has one rather nice American holiday–Thanksgiving. But after all that eating, and even taking a moment to be grateful, November typically gets hustled out of the way. Its primary function, it seems, is to usher in the "real" holidays of December. And there are oodles of them: Hanukkah, Christmas, Eid, Solstice, Kwanzaa…every spiritual tradition has a festival in December.
Why? Why is December celebration central? Because it is the natural culmination of the earth's life cycle. Solstice marks the longest night of the year, the entrance into death and darkness. And in the cold and the dark, the seed of life is born again. The earth does continue to spin, and as humanity applauds, the sun does indeed rise again to renew the cycle of the seasons. Our ancient ancestors saw this cycle and burned a big fat log on a long cold night to celebrate the earth's renewal by the light.
We may have forgotten why, but we keep coming together all December long in spiritual and secular celebrations. We give gifts, go to parties, light candles, shop like crazy, eat massive amounts of glorious food; why, some of us even pray.
But what does all this have to do with November? To find the riches buried in November, look at a calendar. Last January, you entered 2010 with new hopes for a better year, right? As winter faded into spring, and spring into summer, did those dreams melt or morph into something else? Are you today, 11 months later, living the life you hoped for on January 1st? Most of us would say no. Some of us would whisper a weak, "Not exactly." Some of us would scream,"HELL, NO!"
Why? Why, if we have such high hopes on January 1, do we not experience what we want? Kevin Spacey has the answer. Yes, really. Kevin Spacey. Listen to Kevin Spacey for 1 minute 45 seconds. It could be the most important spiritual message you hear all year. Listen
Now, do you see why you aren't experiencing your January dreams? Because desire is not enough. Dedicating every breath of your body is.
So what does this have to do with November? Everything. November is the cusp month. It is the month when the cold and dark settles in. (At least in the Northern Hemisphere.) In this dark, you stand at the threshold of a big decision. Am I ready to dedicate myself to become the person I'm here to become–not for the "stuff" but for the joy of being my full, authentic, holy self?
When you make that decision, you shift 180 degrees from desire to dedication. In that moment, the Great Paradox springs to life. Jesus and Buddha taught the Great Paradox in remarkably clear and similar language. When you dedicate your whole being to living your divine purpose, the universe has no choice but to provide everything you need–even things you didn't ask for. It works. Just look at Kevin Spacey.
I made the decision to shift from desire to dedication last November. At the time I had no idea what I was doing, or how profound a step I was taking, or that I was about to stumble headlong into the Great Paradox. I just threw myself into intense daily deep soul writing and spiritual practice in the hopes of fending off bankruptcy. I knew desire alone wasn't cutting it–that was painfully obvious–but I didn't know then that dedication was the magic. I didn't know that making the commitment to achieve the life I'm here to live would not only transform my life, but yours as well.
So I give you the gift of November. (Well, I don't; Life does.) Take it. Open it. Stare at it. Ask yourself what you really, really want. If it's a bit more "stuff," try the popular conception of the Law of Attraction. Maybe it will work for you.
But if you want to play big, if you want to fulfill your soul's purpose, if you want to make a difference, if you want to bring your gifts to full, vibrant, raucous life… then, recognize this cusp moment of November. Explore it. Write about it. Digest its possibilities. And make your decision.
You have a choice. A sacred choice. You can waltz through December as you always have and see what the new year brings, or you can walk consciously and intentionally through each and every day of December, engaging in spiritual practice and deep soul exploration, and wake with the sun on January 1, knowing you are ready to call in a magical new year.
I've made my decision. On November 29, I'm going to begin The Lotus and The Lily telecourse not only as a teacher but as a daily active participant. One year ago, this process changed my life, but I sense there are even more miracles ahead. And I'm ready. I'm ready to say yes to the life I'm here to live, even if I don't know exactly what that looks like.
Somehow, even though the outcome is unknown, I feel safe and guided. And excited. Like Tony, I'm singing:
Something's comin;
I don't know
what it is
but it is
gonna be grand.
From bankrupt to bank-full with the help of a lilyPosted: March 22, 2010 Filed under: Creating a magical year, Intention Mandala, law of attraction | Tags: December Plan, janet conner, law of attraction, Writing Down Your Soul, You are a Lily 6 Comments
If you were raised in a Christian tradition, you will recognize this sweet saying. If it's unfamiliar, read it and see if you don't fall in love with it, too. In this scene, recounted in Luke and Matthew, Jesus is teaching people how to pray. The issue of worrying about having enough money comes up. Jesus says:
"Consider the lilies, they do not toil nor spin, yet I tell you Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed as one of them. Now if that is how God clothes the flowers, which are here today and in the furnace tomorrow, consider what God will do for you…You must not set your hearts on things to eat or things to wear; nor must you worry…. No, set your hearts on the kingdom and these other things will be given you as well."
It is oddly comforting to me that people two thousand years ago had the same money worries I have. Of course, it's even more comforting to learn what to do about them. I heard "Consider the lilies" many many times growing up, but until this year, I didn't understand it. And I certainly didn't live it. But I do now. And the result is, well — miraculous. In 62 days I went from bankrupt to bank-full. With the help of a lily. Here's what happened.
2009 was an astonishing year for me–and for so many. Writing Down Your Soul came out January 1. The next 11 months were filled with teaching, speaking, promoting, and traveling. Invitations trickled in at first, but by summer they poured in. I said yes to every one because the deal I have with Spirit is: Spirit sends the invitations; I show up and spread the joy of deep soul writing. It's been a prolific relationship.
Between January and November last year, I:
- taught deep soul writing to 1100 people
- held events at 15 bookstores in 8 states
- spoke and taught workshops at 14 churches in 9 states
- addressed 4 organizations for writers, 1 national convention for hypnotists, and 1 holistic health expo
- taught at 2 art galleries, 3 libraries, 1 community college, and 1 homeless shelter
- was interviewed for 16 radio shows, 1 TV show and 3 newspaper articles
As I typed this list for a book proposal, I thought no wonder I'm exhausted. But it wasn't only my body that was depleted. My bank account was empty, too. By the end of last year, it looked like the only solution was bankruptcy.
Does that surprise you? Here's the economic reality of being an author, especially a new one. That old image of a writer on a "book tour" is a fantasy. Unless you're a celebrity or show up regularly on bestseller lists, your "book tour" consists of you begging friends to let you visit. Then, you research the area. You get yourself invited to speak. You cover your travel. You create the flyers. You market the event. With each appearance, I built a larger and larger community for Writing Down Your Soul, but I also dug a deeper and deeper hole in my finances. In December, I faced facts and with the help of my friend and real estate genius, Jane Mak, I made an appointment to see a bankruptcy attorney in February.
If you were reading this blog last December, you know I created a "December Plan" to call in a magical new year. Now you know why. I did it for you, yes, but the first person who needed it was me! Hundreds of you stepped in and played, too. Then, on January 1, I created my Intention Mandala following Thich Nhat Hanh's profound teaching, "When conditions are sufficient, there is manifestation."
On the periphery of my Intention Mandala, I drew images of what I want. But at the center, I drew a lily to remind myself to do the six things that will create the conditions that will manifest all that I want. Or, to use Jesus' words, how I will "set my heart on the kingdom" — the vibrant living presence of Spirit. Looking at the lily every day reminds me to focus not on what I want, but on how I choose to live to express and fulfill my soul's divine purpose.
It's a paradox, I know. By not focusing on what I want, I get what I want. Have you noticed hat the universe loves paradox? It would be nice if someone told us in advance that profound spiritual truths always come in a box marked, "Warning! Paradox Inside." But I guess we all get to discover that for ourselves.
Since January 1st, I've been living my "Lily Life." I wake every morning whispering "I am a lily" and like a flower, turn my face to the Light. Feeling the kiss of Spirit on my cheeks, I bound out of bed with a grin on my face, delighted to embrace my day. Then I scoot into my office, say my prayers, and get to work. If you snapped a picture of me working in my office today and compared it to a picture of me working in my office last year, you wouldn't see anything different — unless you noticed me smiling at the lily on my Intention Mandala several times a day.
On February 4, I met the bankruptcy attorney as scheduled. He looked at my debt and income and said I definitely qualify. He explained the process and asked if I had any questions. "Yes," I said, "I made $10,000 in January. Is that a problem?"
He looked at me for a long moment. "Yeah," he said, "that's a problem. You can only have a thousand dollars in your account. Call me when you only have a thousand dollars."
Driving home, I had a little chat with my beloved Voice. "Thank you for that appointment," I said. "Turns out I'm not bankrupt after all. I am bank-full. And you know what, I love this feeling. I am thankful to be bank-full." I giggled. "I am thankful to be bank-full!" I sang my new mantra all the way home.
Now, whenever I receive or spend money, I say, "I am thankful to be bank-full!" For the first time in my life, I laugh as I pay bills.
Several women at a recent event took me aside to tell me they love my book and my workshops because I'm so "real." I laughed. Yup, that's me. I feel like the spiritual Mikey. Remember the kid in the commercial who ate the Life cereal first? Well, I do seem to eat some interesting "cereals of life" first:
- I have the atrocious divorce, discover deep soul writing, and pass it on to you.
- I forgive my husband, experience an eye-popping miracle, and start teaching forgiveness.
- I discover how to write a book by plugging into "The Intersection" and now teach creatives how to Plug In!
- I discover the joy of mystical poetry and now everywhere I go, people fall in love with Hafiz, the great Sufi poet.
So, I guess it makes sense that I had to step into the pain and panic of feeling bankrupt in order to be willing to explore the spiritual paradox of getting what I want by focusing on creating the conditions that lead to the delightful state of being bank-full.
And please understand, when I say bank-full, I am not talking just about money. Money is delightful, but prosperity is so much more. It's friendship, growth, freedom. It is loving relationships, a peaceful home, and joyful work. It is in a word — love. Love of life, love of others, love of Spirit, love of who you are and why you're here. The feeling of being bank-full is the feeling of love overflowing onto your hands, your heart, and yes, your bank account.
Well, the deal I have with Spirit, don't forget, is I say yes. Yes to having the experience, yes to plunging into the paradox, and yes to sharing what I learn in the process. So, now it's time say yes to sharing the profound adventure of "considering the lilies" and creating a magical, joyful, abundant life.
Would you like to join me? I created the "You are a Lily" telecourse to share this magical co-creative process with you.
From your lips to God's ear–reallyPosted: February 9, 2010 Filed under: Creating a magical year, Intention Mandala, law of attraction | Tags: Daily Word, December Plan, janet conner, law of attraction, Magical new year, Writing Down Your Soul 4 Comments
If you've been reading this blog, you know I experienced a big shift January 1st when I sat down to create my Intention Mandala for 2010. I shifted 180 degrees from focusing on what I want to focusing on creating the conditions that make all that possible. Many of you are making the same shift.
So, I thought you might enjoy hearing what has happened in the first five weeks of 2010. Think of this as The December Plan–January Report
I have stuck faithfully to my plan. Every morning before I get up,
I turn my face to imaginary sunlight, feel it on my cheeks, and commit once more to love my work and do it in joy. This new morning habit is now, well, a habit. A really nice habit. And it's working. I wake up happy. Big happy. Smile-on-my-face happy. Leap-out-of-bed-excited-to-work happy.
Then, before I touch my computer, I stand in front of my Intention Mandala and look–really look–at the image at the center. I speak the six ways I create the conditions to become who I want to be out loud. That's important, I think. I say my prayers out loud.
Then, I write down my soul and get to work. On the surface, nothing appears to really be all that different. I spend my days in my writing office at the computer just like I always did. But something is different.
And I have proof that it's working. Here are two examples.
Two weeks ago, I sent Daniel Ladinsky, the incredible Hafiz translator, an email asking if he'd like to join me for a Hafiz Love Fest teleclass. I thought it would be such fun to just read Hafiz poems to one another. And I was confident that a hundred people would join us. But Daniel said no. Turns out he doesn't like the phone. And he says his vocal renderings of Hafiz are, let's just say, idiosyncratic. For lots of reasons, Daniel said no. Hmmph, I thought. So much for that great idea.
But you know that sweet saying, "From your lips to God's ears?" Have you heard that? I think of it as a Jewish saying. Not quite sure why. But I do. If you haven't heard the saying before, the idea is, "May God hear what you are saying and make it so."
Well, the day after Daniel said no, Cherry Lea, owner of Dancing Moon Bookstore in Raleigh called. She was responding to an email I'd sent about my schedule. When I went online to make reservations for my trip, the Sunday afternoon flight I wanted disappeared off Southwest's screen. I mean that.
It just disappeared and suddenly the only option was 7:30PM. So I sent Cherry an email saying she was kinda stuck with me on Sunday and I'd be happy to come to the store and sign books or whatever she wanted.
Cherry said they'd be delighted to have me come to the store on Sunday. I could certainly sign books, she said, "But you know what we'd really love you to do? It's Valentine's Day and we'd really love you to read Hafiz poetry while we serve tea and pastries."
And that's how the first ever Mystical Poetry Love Fest came to be. Straight "from my lips, to God's ears." In 48 hours, no less.
Want another example?
I sent an email to Sharon Jebbens, manager of Wings Bookstore in St Petersburg on Saturday telling her I'd be delighted to pop into Wings and sign the March Daily Word. (I wrote the feature article on deep soul writing.)
One minute later, I got an email from the new events coordinator at Wings inviting me to teach an all-day workshop. I thought, wow, that was fast! But when Andi called to talk about details, she knew nothing about my email to Sharon. She said she emailed me simply because so many people had come into the store talking about the book and asking when I'd teach again.
From my lips to God's ear. In record speed.
I cannot predict everything that will happen in 2010. But five weeks into the year, here's what I see:
- I am happy–deliciously happy
- Invitations to speak, teach, and be interviewed are flying in the door
- I ask for what I want and receive it (sometimes instantly!)
- January has been the most prosperous month of my entire writing life
Are all these things happening because I begin my day with my face to the Light? Because I commit to a day of love and joy? Because I keep my focus on creating the conditions that generate the life I want rather than on the things themselves?
I think so. I think this whole "December Plan' idea that began on December 1 has been a divine adventure. And the best is yet to come.
What about you? What is happening since you set your Intention for the year? What words have emanated from your lips and landed on God's ears? Tell me, I'd love to know.
Our one and only jobPosted: January 20, 2010 Filed under: Creating a magical year, Daniel Ladinksy, December Plan, Hafiz, Intention Mandala, law of attraction, mystical poetry, Visual Prayer | Tags: Daniel Ladinsky, December Plan, Hafiz, janet conner, law of attraction, The Gift, Thich Nhat Hanh, Writing Down Your Soul, You are Here 10 Comments
My last blog post ended with a description of the mystical mandala I created on January 1 to call in my magical new year. The real magic, I discovered, was in centering my focus not on what I want, but on creating the conditions in my heart, my mind, my body, my soul, and my environment that will magnetically attract what I want.
After all we've heard and read about the law of attraction, I was rather stunned to realize I'd missed something so big and, once it was right in front of me, so obvious. This isn't anti-law of attraction. Rather, I think it's a deeper, more profound understanding of the true law behind the law of attraction.
I realized the magnetic power isn't in wanting, or rather it isn't just in wanting. Mind you, wanting is good. Wanting is important. Wanting sends a vibrational message into the universe. I'm not voting that we stop wanting. But I've had, and I know you've had, the experience of wanting and wanting and wanting but experiencing nothing in response. So the power isn't generated just by the feeling or expression of wanting. It's deeper than that.
That's how I interpret Thich Nhat Hahn's stunning sentence, "When conditions are sufficient, there is a manifestion." You are Here.
When I read those words, I felt Thich Nhat Hahn was whispering in my ear: Don't focus on the manifestation, Janet, focus on creating the conditions; the manifestations will take care of themselves.
That's why the center of my mandala suddenly had to be a lily. As in, "Consider the lilies, they do not toil nor spin, but I tell you that Solomon in all his glory was not arrayed as one of them." (Matthew 6: 28-29) As the Voice and I had chats on the page on how to create the perfect conditions, I found myself drawing a lily with six petals. Each petal states one essential daily activity. As I repeat all six every day, I create the conditions that cannot help but generate my desires.
Petal 1 – Hold my intention to be of service
Petal 2 – Say my prayers aloud
Petal 3 – Create and cherish my sacred work space
Petal 4 – Do my holy work
Petal 5 – Keep my focus on the good (not the fear)
Petal 6 – Have a grateful heart
Of course you don't have to draw a lily or follow my six conditions. Choose a symbol and the condition-creating activities that speak to you. Perhaps you see yourself and your perfect conditions as a star or ripples of water or something else. The specific image doesn't matter. Thoughtfully choosing one, does.
But even if you're not using a flower, please stick with me for a moment on this flower image because I think it holds a simple but profound truth.
What does a flower, or any other plant, do to grow? It doesn't generate it's food, the sun does that. It just has to turn to the sun and absorb the light. Nature takes it from there. Well, what if that's true for us, too. What if our job, really our only job, is to turn toward our Sun — Spirit — and absorb the light. If we keep our eyes on God, we can't help but blossom and grow.
Kahlil Gibran said it simply and clearly: "Be like the flowers, turn your face to the sun."
The great Sufi mystic Hafiz expressed this idea in perfect poetry in "The Lute Will Beg" from The Gift. When Daniel Ladinsky gave me permission to quote his translations of the mystical poets, he said I had to include this poem in my next book.
The Lute Will Beg
You need to become a pen
In the Sun's hand.
We need for the earth to sing
Through out pores and eyes.
The body will again become restless
Until your soul paints all its beauty
Upon the sky.
Don't tell me, dear ones,
That what Hafiz says is not true,
For when the heart tastes its glorious destiny
And you awake to our constant need for your love
God's lute will beg
For your
We are all pens. And God is begging for our hands. God's presence in this world comes through our pens, our computers, our eyes, our art, our words, our work, our beauty. And to feed our souls, to find the energy to do our holy work and create the life we are here to live, we have only one job: to turn our faces to the Light.
This morning when I woke, I imagined divine Light on my face. In my mind, I turned my face to that sweet warm nourishing Light and whispered, "God, God, God."
Try it. It's a delicious way to welcome a new day. A new day in which your soul once again paints all its beauty upon the sky.
Jumpstart 2010 with a "Conditions" MandalaPosted: January 5, 2010 Filed under: Angels, Creating a magical year, December Plan, I want, Intention Mandala, law of attraction, Practical spirituality, Soul Day | Tags: December Plan, janet conner, Magical new year, mandala, New Year, new year intentions, Thich Nhat Hahn, Writing Down Your Soul 7 Comments
Heaven communicates with us so many ways. Synchronicity. Animal messengers. Signs and symbols. Dreams. Nudging. Knowing. Intuition. And deep soul writing, of course.
But have you noticed that when you are ready to hear something really important, something that may well be the next step in your soul's great human adventure, it falls into your hands through a human voice? It might be something someone says, but often it comes through the pages of a book.
That's what happened to me. As you know, I wrote about how to create a magical new year throughout December. I thought about it every day and shared my experiences with you in this newsletter and in my blog. I thought I had the process pretty well figured out.
Until New Year's morning.
I spent the morning in deep dialogue with my divine Voice putting 2009 to bed and calling in a magical 2010. It's a process I've followed for a decade and I know it works. But this year, I did something different. Before I said my prayers, before I picked up a pen, before I did anything, I picked up a library book. As I sipped my coffee, I read Thich Nhat Hanh's slender new book, you are here.
Midway through I had to stop and catch my breath. Because everything in my understanding suddenly shifted 180 degrees.
Let me explain.
A week ago, I decided that the perfect name for 2010 is "My Breakthrough Year." It's perfect because it captures where I am. I'm in the fifth year of my writing career: In 2006, I called in my publisher. In 2007, I wrote Writing Down Your Soul. In 2008, I learned what happens after you turn in your manuscript: editing, book layout, cover design… In 2009, I learned what happens when your book comes out: how to speak, teach, travel, communicate through social media, work with a publicist, interview and be interviewed… Whew.
And so, in year five, I'm ready for the big breakthroughs. You know: the income, agent, multi-book contract, well-paid speaking invitations. I'm ready for my ships to come in.
And reading Thich Nhat Hanh, I discovered how to do that. Which is a really good thing, because I had something wrong, and I'm willing to bet you do, too.
Until I read You Are Here, I visualized my year as me breaking through barriers to reach what I want. But listen to what the Buddha has to say about creating: "This is, because that is."
Not clear? Don't worry. That's why God gave us Thich Nhat Hanh, the Nobel Peace Prize-winning Vietnamese Buddhist monk. To explain this profound teaching Thich Nhat Hanh writes: "This refers to the manifestation of phenomena on the basis of the law of interdependent origination. When conditions are sufficient, there is manifestation." (p. 87) To illustrate, he points out that in winter you don't see sunflowers, but that doesn't mean sunflowers don't exist. They are just waiting for the condition of sunshine to call them forth.
My eyes couldn't leave the sentence, "When conditions are sufficient, there is manifestation." I wrote it several times in my journal. I wrote it on my white board. I sat staring in space letting it seep into my cells.
"When conditions are sufficient, there is manifestation."
I am still calling 2010 "My Breakthrough Year," but I see now that my way to get that to happen is not to focus on me breaking through to what I want; it is to focus on creating the conditions that allow everything I want to break through to me.
Do you hear the difference? It's huge. And it's the miracle-maker that will create the year I want — and the year you want.
So how do you create those conditions? Well, my Voice and I had long, rich talks about how I can create the fertile field for my "sunflowers" to break through the soil and grow, grow, grow. Well, actually we talked about lilies. Ever since Michael said, "You are a lily," in an angel reading with Margo Mastromarchi in 2007, I've had lilies on my altar. I love seeing myself as one of Spirit's cared-for lilies.
Once I was clear on the conditions to allow all I want to manifest, I made a prayer mandala to imprint that image in my sub-conscious. I traced a dinner plate on a large sheet of paper. I drew a lily at the center of the circle. On each of her six petals I wrote something I do to create the perfect conditions for my year. Around the lily, I drew twelve small circles, each with a symbol of something I want to break through to me in 2010.
I finished with an angel reading, using Doreen Virtue's Archangel Oracle deck and pasted copies of the four cards to the corners. Delighted with the results, I pinned my 2010 mandala to the wall next to my desk where it will bless me for the next 365 days.
That magical new year you want? It's all yours. Here's how.Posted: December 30, 2009 Filed under: Creating a magical year, December Plan, I want, law of attraction, Practical spirituality, Soul Day | Tags: December Plan, how to create your new year, janet conner, law of attraction, Writing Down Your Soul 3 Comments
Your Magical New Year starts Right Now
Thank you for joining me in this delightful adventure to call in a divine new year. I share your excitement for what we are creating. Thanks for your emails and comments.
But please don't worry if you haven't started.
In the past, I did the whole thing in a couple hours the morning of January 1st. And I'm living proof that such compressed intention-setting works. So whether you've been preparing to call in your new year all month, or thought about it off and on, or are just now deciding that you do indeed want to call in a joyous new year filled with blessings and grace, I've got a plan. A Soul Plan. Take it. It's my gift to you.
In Writing Down Your Soul, there's a full description of a "Soul Day." Here's a shorter, specific January 1st Soul Day process to call in a divinely-guided and supported year.
If January 1st is not an option in your house, it's OK. Just pick a time in the next few days when you will have a couple hours to yourself. The date doesn't matter. Giving yourself the gift of a moment of time to stand in your power, acknowledge your heart's desires, and call to you in concert with heaven does.
Here's the New Year Soul Day that always works for me:
Set your intention.
- The universe is run on intention. Use that power to kickstart your year. Place a notepad next to your bed. As you fall asleep on Dec 31, ask for guidance on your Soul Day.You can ask for general guidance or specific questions like what is the name of my year.
- When you awake, lie still for a few minutes and allow insights from the night to come to you while you still have access to the theta brain wave state. When you're ready to get up, jot down any insights, blessings, images.
Begin with prayer
- As you step into the space where you are going to call in your year, say the prayers that mean the most to you. If you don't have a prayer process, start now.
- Stand and speak your prayers. Request Spirit, the angels, and your divinely-appointed guides to be with you as you begin the next twelve months in your soul's adventure here on earth.
Have a nice long conversation with the Voice about 2009
- Ask for help identifying all the gifts buried in the experiences of the last twelve months. List them. Name them. Bless them. Say thank you for both the beautiful gifts you received and the more difficult learnings. Learnings are gifts, too.
- Review everything you accomplished this year. Let your heart be filled with pride for all that you accomplished.
- Forgive yourself for everything you didn't get done. And anything you did that you wish you hadn't.
- Release your prisoners. If you are holding someone prisoner in your internal dungeon for the harm they've done to you, let them out. (see blog posts on week 3 below)
Have a nice long conversation with the Voice about 2010
- Start talking with the Voice about what you want in 2010. Review the list of the blessings you created in your December Plan or make your list now in partnership with your divine Voice. Discuss what you want until you have a focused list of five to eight desires.
- For each of your desires, create a prayer statement describing it in the present tense as it looks fulfilled. For example, if you want a new job, write something like "I am doing my perfect work joyous as a result of my efforts." You'll type these statements up and say them every day for the next 365 days.
- Ask for a name for your magical new year.
- If you have card sets that you love, do a card reading or two asking for guidance on your year. I love to do a Medicine Card reading and an Angel Guidance reading.
Create a visual prayer for 2010
Create a prayer mandala for 2010.
- Use a dinner plate to make a good-sized circle on a piece of firm paper. Write a phrase or word for each of your prayer requests inside the rim of the circle (like numbers on a clock).
- Write the name of your year across the top. 2010 is "My Break Through Year."
- Decorate the mandala. I like to write my core prayers in a border around the circle. Words like: I know. I trust. I love. I'm not sure what words I'll add this year. Have to wait to see what the Voice suggests on January 1.
- At the center of the mandala, draw an image that captures your year. My "Break Through Year" is symbolized by a chair. (see Dec 28 post) I'll draw a chair at the center and put a small wooden doll house chair on my altar.
- Conclude your Soul Day with prayers of gratitude and joy. You have been heard, supported, and guided to stand in your power and declare the life you want. Be thankful.
- Bless your prayer mandala and post it where you'll see it every day.
- Type or print your prayer statements and put them where you'll say them at least twice a day.
- Eat in joy. Have a delightful meal and toast the blessings of the magical new year that are coming to you
Bring your year to life
- At least once a day for the next 365 days, stand in front of your mandala, say your prayer statements and SEE all the good you have declared coming to you. Visualize it. Feel the joy you'll feel when it happens. Smile. Say thank you in advance.
- Keep your thoughts and your eyes focused on what you want to attract in 2010. When you stray into fear and doubt, put yourself back in front of your mandala and remind yourself that you are divinely guided and all is well.
- Recognize good things when they come to you. Save evidence of your desires being fulfilled on your Evidence Shelf. (p. 228 in Writing Down Your Soul.)
- Keep communication between you and your Divine Voice wide open. Write down your soul every day. Pray every day. Ask for guidance and you will receive it.
See how easy it is to call in a magical new year? January 1st is my favorite morning of the year. When I pin my 2010 prayer mandala to the wall, I always feel lifted. I feel my angels beside me clapping and laughing. I know that I am blessed.
And you are, too.
I'll be thinking of you on January 1st. And throughout the year as together we call in our magical years. 2010 is in for a big surprise! We alchemists are changing not just our own individual lives, but the life of the whole planet.
Please let me know how your New Year's Day unfolds..


text:
Posted: Feb 03, 2018
BRISTOL, Tenn. – The King University men's volleyball team hosted Emmanuel College Saturday afternoon in a Conference Carolinas matchup. The Tornado offense was strong throughout the match and proved to be too much for the Lions as King swept Emmanuel in straight sets. In the win, Jeff Sprayberry recorded his 1,000th kill, a mark that has never been eclipsed by a King University men's volleyball player.
FINAL SCORE: King 3, Emmanuel 0 (25-16, 25-18, 25-17)
LOCATION: Student Center Complex; Bristol, Tenn.
RECORDS: King 7-2, 4-0 Conference Carolinas; Emmanuel 2-6, 1-3 Conference Carolinas
- The first set was close early on, but a 7-0 run midway through the set propelled the Tornado to a 19-12 lead. Kiel Bell finished off the run with a kill from Nick Drooker.
- A kill by Jon Wheaton followed by a kill by Bell finished off the Lions in the first set 25-16.
- Adrian Besson and Bell each recorded four kills in the set, while Wheaton posted three kills.
- Sprayberry took over in the second set as he posted eight kills on only 11 attempts. Sprayberry's seventh kill of the set gave the Tornado a 18-15 lead and was the kill that put him at the 1,000 mark.
- Wheaton and Bell teamed up for a block to finish off the Lions in the second set as King took the set 25-18.
- The Tornado jumped out to a 9-4 lead early in the third set following a Bell kill from Drooker.
- Another Bell kill gave King a 13-7 lead and forced an Emmanuel timeout.
- Drooker dished the ball around during the remaining points of the set as five different King players recorded a kill.
- A Lions error gave the Tornado the third set victory 25-17 and ultimately the match 3-0.
- Bell posted 13 kills and nine digs to lead the Tornado offense.
- Sprayberry recorded 12 kills and six digs for King.
- Drooker dished out 35 assists and had seven digs.
- Wheaton put up six kills and five blocks, while Besson chipped in seven kills for the Tornado.
- Ackeem West led the way for the Lions with nine kills and two blocks.
- Alejandro Robles posted six kills and six digs, while teammate Don Thompson recorded six terminations.
- Sprayberry became the first Tornado to eclipse the 1,000 kill mark.
- King has won 18 straight sets dating back to January 18.
- King hosts Coker College Saturday February 10 at 7:00 pm in a nonconference matchup.
- Emmanuel travels to Lincoln Memorial University Wednesday night.


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Jenny, our intern, gives some tips and advice about job hunting and how she tackles it.
With just less than two months left in my role as Graduate Intern at the Careers Centre I have begun the task of job hunting and like most people I dread it. To me job hunting is an epic task which I often have no motivation for. However this time round I have an advantage, I just so happen to work with people who specialise in student and graduate careers.
So what have I learnt that changes the way I tackle the dreaded job hunt?
Be creative about your job search
I admittedly have never looked very far for a job, using the generic job sites to look for roles or signing up to receive daily emails about opportunities. Although I do have a great role now because of this traditional job search there are other ways to search for your dream career.
For example I spend a lot of time on social media, especially twitter, following companies I would like to work for and doing regular searches with keywords. I often see jobs advertised on social media before anywhere else. This is also much more fun than the traditional method.
For more information about a creative job search visit our webpage.
Create a skills audit
This is not as complicated as it sounds. Creating this simple 3 column table will ensure that you know what transferable skills you have and it allows you to make sure your CV is representative of what you can do.
For example my dissertation was a project that demonstrated skills that I could have included on my CV that I had never considered including before.
|ResearchCommunicationAttention to detailProblem SolvingMotivation
|Interviewing survey participants
When broken down into these sections I can then use the STAR method (Situation, Task, Action and Result) to better explain my skills..
Research: Whilst studying for my degree I was required to write a dissertation, carrying out my own secondary research using many resources, including journals, websites and surveys, and collating the information to provide a clear and encouraging argument. My theory was well argued and I received a high 2:1 for my final paper.
By creating a skills audit of all the things you have done, you can easily adapt your CV to meet the job description of the role you are applying for and ensure that your skills are highlighted clearly.
Have a plan
One of the bests bits of advice I have found for keeping myself motivated is to set myself targets and time to look and apply for roles. I would love to get my dream job with little effort but the truth is getting a job which I want and will enjoy takes time, energy and a lot of hard work. By setting small targets I can break down the job hunt to smaller less scary pieces and am able to see a positive progression.
Good luck job hunting.


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Ending the dog days of summer on pawsitive note
Posted on
August the 29th, 2018
The sunny season is winding down, many schools have reopened their doors, and you might want to squeeze in one more good weekend trip to the coast or a nearby lake. If you're not going to board your pets, then your four-legged family members will likely be joining you. Read up on how to keep their play safe when water is involved!
First and foremost, it's a good idea to teach any new dog you bring into your home how to swim or to enroll them in swimming lessons if you frequently visit bodies of water with the whole family. At some point or another you will need to be involved in the swim training process but the effort will be worth knowing that your dog is not only safe but now can play in these wet environments!
Remember not to neglect water safety when you plan to be on but not in the water! If your family will be going out on a boat, it is imperative that you get your canine companion a life jacket, especially if their swimming skills are less than perfect. It's also important that you bring aboard fresh water for your dog to drink, especially if you will be away from shore for any extended period of time. Oftentimes, catching some rays in the summer heat makes us thirsty and the same is true for them. Whether your dog has a shady place to lie or not, consider bringing doggy sunscreen with you too, particularly if your dog has a short coat or white fur! The water reflects the rays of the sun back up and so the risk of sunburn is actually increased.
Once again, simply being around water requires that you take safety precautions similar to those you would take for a toddler. If you will be visiting family or friends for Labor Day and they have a pool, ensure that your dog does not have access to it unsupervised. Dogs have to learn to swim just as humans do, and they can have the same accidents as we do, such as falling into a pool and unable to get out. If for any reason your dog must be left outside near a pool, ensure that a sturdy cover will prevent them from getting into the water (or drinking it, yuck).
WebMD Pets urges pet parents to check the temperature of any pool or body of water before allowing your pooch to dive in, as their bodies are particularly sensitive to cold water. That same temperature sensitivity makes it important for you to towel dry your dog whenever they are done swimming. Any mammal can succumb to hypothermia! If you can, give your dog a thorough rinse before drying them because it's ideal to rinse away any exposure to chlorine or other minerals. Besides, if your dog is wet already why not get bath time out of the way too?
If you will be spending time by a river or the ocean be sure to test the current and find out about riptide risk ahead of time. Even proficient swimmers, human or canine, can get swept away by these impressive forces. If you have any doubts, keep your dog and yourself out of the water—there's nothing wrong with having a little picnic on the beach instead.
Lastly, one of the best skills you can learn as a pet parent is first aid and CPR specific to your pets. Should an accident occur, you will be able to take action and maybe even save your best friend's life! Find out where you can obtain your certification locally via Pet Tech by clicking here.
Enjoy the last dog days of summer!


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Seattle Police Department Carmen Best, Chief of Police
Department Fact Sheet
The Seattle Police Department is the largest Municipal law enforcement agency in Washington State.
About the City
Seattle Population: 713,700 (2017)
Seattle Physical Size: 143 square miles
Population of King County: 2.18 million (2017)
Washington State Population: 7.4 million (2017)
About the Department
Sworn Officers – 1,444
Civilian Employees - 580
911 Calls – 782,672 calls per year
Public Disclosure Requests - 6,236 (2017)
Responds to an average of 609 calls for service a day.
Proactively engages in 373 incidents a day.
Primary Duties of the Department
- Foot, car and bike patrols in all five precincts.
- Harbor Unit patrol of 59 square miles of waterways.
- 9-1-1 Communication Center answers all calls for police, fire and medical emergencies in the city.
- Traffic Enforcement.
- Parking Enforcement.
- K9 Unit.
Sworn Officer Rank Structure
Policing involves a chain-of-command, with sworn officers of higher rank giving direction to those working under them as follows
- Chief of Police
- Deputy Chief
- Assistant Chief
- Captain
- Lieutenant
- Sergeant
- Officers and Detectives


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Back when I lived in China, I wrote regular "Life Lately" posts to share what I was doing or learning that particular week. Those posts were both informational for readers and therapeutic for me. I enjoy processing through putting words out into the world. So since this blog is new, I want to continue that pastime with regular "Life Lately" posts that will go live most Fridays. Here, I'll share what I'm learning, reading, doing, etc. while including links to resources that may be valuable to others!
I have news, my friends! I'm going to start taking on clients for freelance writing projects! It's something I've considered doing for years but it wasn't until I started seeing significant improvement in my health that I even thought it could be possible. To be honest, I wasn't sure I could meet deadlines when my health was inconsistent. Now though, I'm confident I can do it!
Like with any new challenge or adventure I pursue, I'm researching as much as possible to become more effective in the craft. If you need a freelance copywriter, blogger, or PR gal, please check out my website.
This post contains affiliate links.
My health continues to get better and better! Some days, Jonathan and I just look at each other and marvel over the healing God brought to my body, mind, and spirit. A big part of the healing journey has been through using the Dynamic Neural Retraining System. I can't say enough good things about this program! It was the missing piece of the puzzle I needed for recovery.
I recently told a friend that not only had I worked every day this week but I had the energy to clean our house, go to the store, and make dinners and lunches. She goes, "Yay! You're fully human again! That's how life is supposed to be." I couldn't help but feel even more grateful for seemingly "normal" life stuff.
Have you ever used Right Now Media? Our church has a subscription plan for our members to use Right Now Media, and I absolutely love it! (Also, I'm not an affiliate for Right Now Media. I just enjoy it and think you could, too.) Our young married couples Sunday school class is currently doing Chip Ingram's study, Effective Parenting in a Defective World. Even though Jonathan and I aren't ready to have kids quite yet, it's been wonderful to learn about parenthood. We're able to talk through how we see parenting in the future so we can be intentional parents once the time comes.


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Injuries Make Career Anderson at MU Stagnant
Injuries Make Career Anderson at MU Stagnant
Manchester – Anderson no longer uniform Manchester United and will start a new adventure together with Brazilian club Internacional. Anderson laments injury storm that hit making career with United stagnant.
After 7.5 years of living in Old Trafford, after his move worth 26 million pounds of Porto, Anderson decided to return home to join with Internacional.
Although a four Premier League titles and one Champions League trophy, arguably Anderson's career with Manchester United is not brilliant. Yet as one of the young footballers at the time, Anderson mentioned would emerge as a top player.
A total of just 181 appearances and nine goals made during his eight seasons strengthen MU, with a loan to Fiorentina in the middle of last season.
Had become the primary choice in his first four seasons, Anderson's performance tends to decline mainly due to successive injuries befall him.
As reported by Transfermarkt, there are seven times Anderson injured during strengthen MU, with at most whack her knees, and forced him to miss a total of 69 games.
"I played for eight years in Manchester. I want to thank the club. In the first four years I won all the trophies – Champions League, Premier League and Club World Cup. I then got a knee injury and was too fast to play again. I played but conditions do not support my knees and I was back injury, "Anderson said in the Guardian.
"Do you think I do not fit? Players are always going to be criticized. I often injured before, but I am now healthier and will be answered through the performance on the field," he continued.
"The honor for me to play at a club like Internacional. I want to feel happy here as in the previous clubs. I returned to Porto Alegre because Inter want me. The President is very attention to me. I was practicing at United but never played," said the 26-year it.


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Someone recently got me thinking on the idea of the concept of normal. That person and I were both considering how nice it would be for life to return to normal. That made me consider what is it that is normal for me? Darkness is normal. This was not the trigger, it's just the word I needed to write.
The first thing I thought of was the top goal on my list every year since roughly 2000. Every year around Christmas and the new year I make new goals, New Year's resolutions if you will. They are part of my rituals for the pagan holiday Yule, which occurs this time of year. I make six to ten of them and the first one on the list has always been the same… Yes, I have had the same most important goal for 15 years. And yet, every year I've accomplished it, it went right back on my list. Because it always felt at risk. It was a very simple goal, yet at the same time always felt like it would be the hardest to achieve. "Survive Another Year." It was an indicator of the darkness in my heart. It was an indicator that darkness is normal.
Yet, this year it doesn't seem at risk. However, I want my life to return to "normal." So that means it has to go on the list? How does one reconcile the want to return to normal after the holidays with the fact that that means returning to darkness, depression, and despair? For me to look back to a time when "normal" meant "happy" I'd have to look all the way into my early childhood. It was suggested that I should change the definition of normal. If I don't change the definition of normal over the next year I'm going to spend more time in darkness. Darkness is Normal. The definition as it stands is as follows:
"nor·mal [ˈnôrməl] ADJECTIVE: conforming to a standard; usual, typical, or expected"
If I look back at what is typical for my life, that means depression, that means pushing emotion down and bottling it up. It means being unsure of myself. If I look at what is usual it means going with the flow, not changing and not growing. In my life the usual has meant survival. I feel like finally my survival is no longer at risk. Yet I find out of habit have written down "Survive Another Year" as the top item on my list of goals this year. When I wrote that on the morning on January 2, 2016. I WAS SHOCKED. How could I even consider that a goal? For the first year, since 2000 I feel like that isn't going to be a challenge. It kicked me out of my thought process and made me question everything I had done this year. No other goals were written.
I slipped instantly back into the mind of 'Joe' and I've been stuck there all day. I've questioned everything I've done over the past year and asked myself have I really made progress? The shadow instantly fell down on my life again. I don't feel any more comfortable with physical intimacy. I have taken steps backward on being able to deal with and cope with emotion. Sure I have more physical characteristics of a female but I am still embarrassed about my body. I still have very masculine traits and components that would take surgery to fix. I am stuck between male and female. I am no closer to having the courage to face surgery. I still seethe and anger to see my name. It's still all over my mail, it's plastered on my bank accounts and credit cards. Everything, everything, still says Joseph. Even a great deal of stuff at work still says Joseph. I have changed my gender in one place, yet everywhere else it remains male.
It has been a whole year of transition; I feel as if I have gotten nowhere. The darkness has returned. For a little while on this day, I regretted continuing to survive. Ah, well I guess I am back to normal. As I sit here in the evening of January 2nd there remains only one thing on my list. Survive another Year. I thought this would be the first year in a long time that would not be on my list. So much for that. I guess it does still belong on my list. Maybe next year I'll be able to put it behind me. At least I have another year to try to put that behind me. Maybe…
Maybe normal isn't such a good idea… Somehow I'm trapped again. All of a sudden I feel like I've been hit across the head. I've been knocked to the floor. Knocked out by these three words on once piece of paper. I hope, no, hope is the wrong word. I expect to make more progress in the next year and hope I won't have to list these three words again. I thought I was past this. I've learned that I'm not, even the smallest things can kick me back on my ass. Maybe I've been in a beautiful dream for the last year? Was I imagining this happiness? All of a sudden it's gone again. If I go outside into the cold night and start counting stars will the right amount be there? I've counted the stars over and over again. That act is normal. I can only count the stars from the darkness. Darkness is Normal. When I was in the light, only one star shined… That was abnormal. There was only one… Josie shined so bright. Where has her light gone?


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The Eclipse of Dawn(1971)
A novel by Gordon Eklund
If you think political campaigns are getting stranger and stranger, consider the Presidential campaign of 1988: When the United States has virtually collapsed after civil war and a foreign embargo; When DC lies in ruins and the White House is in California; And when Robert Colonby, Presidential candidate, promises to rebuild the nation with help from an awesome, godlike race of beings on Jupiter. An inventive, fast-paced novel about this startling campaign..a behind-the-scenes look at one of our possible futures.
Used availability for Gordon Eklund's The Eclipse of Dawn


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Peter McCarthy, Ph.D
Research Professor
Research Technician
Graduate Student
David J. Bradshaw II is a PhD student who started working in the McCarthy lab in Fall 2015. The main objective of his PhD dissertation research is to determine the diversity of bacterial and archaeal communities in the Indian River Lagoon, FL, an economically and biologically important estuary. He will be determining how prokaryotic populations change in response to natural and human impacts including trace metals and fine grained, highly organic muck. The ultimate goal of this research is to determine whether community members or diversity metrics can act as community based indicators of ecological health. His research includes four main stages: a two year lagoon-wide study to act as a baseline, a study focused on how dredging muck changes the microbial communities, an examination into how the microbial communities differ from heavy metal impacted marinas to nearby less impacted sites, and finally a study involving shotgun sequencing to determine the functional diversity differences between these impacted and less impacted sites.
Microbial populations are important members of the ecosystem since they play a significant role in nutrient cycling, serve as the base of the food chain, and can change the toxicity of pollutants. His research will be the first study to focus on the microbial diversity of this estuarine system. This research will also contribute to our understanding of the water and sediment quality of the Indian River Lagoon and its geochemical properties in terms of bioaccessible trace metals. Once community based indicators are found, they will be a tool which can be used in understanding how the microbial ecosystem responds to variations in water and sediment quality; these can then be applied to other aquatic systems.
He graduated magna cum laude from the University of Illinois at Urbana Champaign with a Bachelors of Science in molecular and cellular biology in 2010. He spent a little over two years at Strich School of Medicine as part of the Naval Health Professions Scholarship Program and the Inactive Reserves, but withdrew to pursue a research focused career. He worked as the Safety Director for Environmental Cleansing Corporation while applying to transfer between Corps in the Navy. After the Navy could not accommodate this transfer due to inexperience, he applied to graduate programs. His career goal after graduation is to rejoin the Navy and work as a microbial researcher.
Graduate Student
Hunter N. Hines is a Ph.D. student in the McCarthy lab working on microbial ecology, focusing on the biogeography and biodiversity of ciliates, a large and diverse group of single-celled eukaryotic organisms. He is registered through Bournemouth University (England) under the joint primary supervision of Dr. Genoveva Esteban (BU, UK) and Dr. Peter McCarthy (FAU, USA). Through this international collaboration, he is conducting research into ciliate communities found in the tropical aquatic ecosystems present in Florida, such as freshwater ponds. His research to date has included the identification of several novel flagship species; some being first records out of Africa, and/or first records for the Americas. Hunter's discovery of the ciliate Loxodes rex led to a major publication, which can be seen here: http://link.springer.com/article/10.1007%2Fs00248-015-0656-x. Several other papers on the ecology of novel ciliates are in preparation.
The recent discoveries of flagship ciliates in new locations and also several apparently new species of ciliates are the current focus of his research which will include intensive sampling leading to detailed ecological and morphological descriptions.
Hunter was accepted into the 'Biodiversity Conservation' masters program at Bournemouth University (UK) in 2013. His dissertation on microbial ecology was supervised by Dr. Genoveva Esteban and included the discovery of a new species of ciliate, for which he was awarded an MSc with distinction. Prior to his graduate work, he attended Palm Beach Atlantic University (Florida, USA) receiving a B.S. in Biology, with a minor in Oceanography.
Several short videos of the large, charismatic ciliates he has found thriving in Florida have been uploaded to YouTube and can be viewed here: https://www.youtube.com/channel/UCYEVRS3yeQDNGTF_eVuvvOg
Graduate Student
Brandon McHenry is a recent graduate from Florida Atlantic University (Spring 2016) with a bachelor's degree in Biological Sciences. Brandon participated in Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute's Semester by the Sea Program for undergraduates in Spring 2015. Here, he immersed himself in the science of marine biology and gained real world experience aboard the R.V. Bellows during a short research cruise in the Gulf of Mexico. During this same semester Brandon became a volunteer in the lab of Dr. Peter McCarthy under recent Ph.D. graduate, Gabby Barbarite, doing research on pathogenic Vibrio bacteria in the Indian River Lagoon with emphasis on human recreational health. The following year Brandon participated in a Directed Independent Study for the Semester of Fall 2015 where he worked on the presence of these estuarinebacteria in Mangrove Snapper meat with focus on foodborne illness and safety. The summer after his graduation from FAU, Brandon was accepted to participate in the 10-week Harbor Branch Oceanographic Institute Summer Internship. During this study Brandon assessed the effects of freshwater discharge and tidal influences on the presence and abundance of Vibrio spp. in the local IRL. Additionally, Brandon and his mentor, Gabby Barbarite, sampled 250 miles of Florida's east coast to investigate the claim that these pathogens could be found at the beach, which was thought to be outside of their ecological niche. Brandon plans to continue his research on Vibrio bacteria in relation to a stress induced state known as Viable But Not Culturable (VBNC). His Master's project involves examining the response of pathogenic Vibrio bacteria to changes in salinity, a parameter that these organisms are highly influenced by. The goal of this project is to understand the possible effects that anthropogenic runoff and discharge may have on both the distribution and abundance of these pathogens.
Graduate Student
Dr. Gabrielle Barbarite is a successful Pathways Student who completed her Bachelor of Science degree in Marine Biology at FAU in 2008 and entered the Integrative Biology Doctoral Program in 2010. She also completed a Masters Along the Way in 2015. As a Ph.D. student in the McCarthy lab, Dr. Barbarite's research focus was marine microbiology and ecosystem health. Her dissertation research on Vibrio vulnificus helped to educate an anxious South Florida community. Vibrio vulnificus is a bacterium that has caused three local deaths in the past four years after victims came into contact with Indian River Lagoon water. Dr. Barbarite's study was the first to systematically examine pathogenic vibrios in the Lagoon. Her work included an assessment of Vibrio infection risk to the local recreational community, specifically anglers. Information about the study, including frequently asked questions and safety tips, is available at http://www.fau.edu/hboi/mbbr/vibrio.php
Graduate Student
Carlie Perricone completed her Master of Science degree in Biology at FAU in 2017. As a Masters student in the McCarthy lab, her thesis research involved microbial source tracking as an assessment of fecal pollution in surface waters throughout the St. Lucie Estuary and Indian River Lagoon. She monitored the distribution and seasonal occurrence of fecal indicator bacteria using standard cultivation to enumerate enterococci. She performed quantitative PCR to detect a bacterial genetic marker (Bacteroides HF183) associated with the human gut in order to identify septic tanks as a polluting source. Her study helped contribute to a better understanding of how environmental factors and anthropogenic activities can influence recreational water quality.


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Bots are complicated. They're made to process repetitive actions autonomously and can be fairly easy to build, but they aren't always working on the side of good. Here's what you need to know.
Each year, EContent magazine compiles a list of the 100 companies that matter most in the digital content industry.
Voting is now closed. We'll announce the results of the first-ever EContent 100 list chosen by the people!
Peggy Chen
May 10, 2017
When a company is looking to expand globally, the challenges of localizing content are magnified. Many organizations underestimate the difficulty and the importance of localizing campaigns for new markets – something as simple as overlooking a cultural sensitivity in a specific market can cost a company both in sales and customers. To avoid this, marketers should ensure that each step of the localization process is picked through with a fine-tooth comb so that nothing is missed.
An Insights Research study that examined the role of technology in the translation industry found that nearly 72% of all respondents believe they would lose competitive advantage without translation productivity tools. The evolution of communication, from letters to email to texting, would not have been possible without the technology behind it. The next wave of communication technology is eliminating language barriers – and businesses are wise to embrace the tools that enables them to meet their desired audience where they are.
While translating content into the correct language for each audience is an important first step, it's not the only step to consider when working to break into a new market. There are several common pitfalls of a multilingual strategy that a company looking to go global might run into. For instance, there is the common assumption that an online audience speaks English when, in reality, only 27% of people actually speak English as a first language. Maintaining a consistent global brand presence while also catering messages to local audiences is a complex balancing act. A few best practices to consider for successful communications on both a global and local level include:
When the nuances of language get lost, it's all too easy for the overall message intended to get lost as well. Brands trying to break into new markets will not succeed if they are unable to match their communication to the audience they intend to reach. In fact, poor translation can easily damage brand reputation if the company becomes associated with a negative or confusing customer experience.
The future of successful globalization lies in personalization and a better user experience. There are several ways to successfully expand overall reach to a global audience. One of the most important pieces of the translation puzzle is utilizing local resources such as region-specific translation capabilities. With the right technology, cultural sensitivity and marketing plan, any brand can successfully scale seamlessly to reach new regions and achieve global success.


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Is the GAPS Diet Low-Carb?
The GAPS diet is not necessarily a low-carb diet. Fruits, veggies, lentils, white beans, and honey are all allowed on the diet. But, I've tended to shy away from things like lentils and white beans while on GAPS because they can cause digestive upset for some of the other members of my family. I also tend to not each much fruit, as I don't really crave sweet things like I used to years ago. So for me, the GAPS diet can easily be very low carb.
Who Needs Carbs?
Other popular low-carb diets, such as Primal and Atkins, are quick to point out that people do not need carbs, since the body can manufacture them from other energy sources. However, it became clear to me that I do need plenty of carbs to have normal energy levels.
My daughter and husband, who are also on the GAPS diet, have not had the same energy complaints. It seems that perhaps being a woman, or specifically being a breastfeeding mother, can cause me to need more carbs. Or who knows, maybe it has to do with the foods my ancestors ate for thousands of years. Whatever the cause, it is clear that I can't follow a low-carb diet without having energy problems. I do know that there are plenty of other people, women specifically, who have complained of energy problems on GAPS.
Carbs and Adrenal Fatigue
Recently I've noticed that some of my old adrenal fatigue symptoms have been coming back: balding lower legs, vertical lines on the inside of my fingertips, and cold hands. As I've been researching the cause, I've learned that eating a low-carb diet can tax the adrenal glands! When the diet is low-carb, the adrenals have to keep sending out hormones to signal the liver to release glucose. I'm thinking that the return of my adrenal problems signals that I still haven't been eating enough carbs while on GAPS to properly nourish my body.
Steady Energy
To keep the energy levels more steady throughout the day, I'm eating more carbs. I include at least one of the following with each meal:
- Milk kefir or plain yogurt
- Winter squash, such as butternut or spaghetti: These seem to be fairly high in carbs compared to other veggies.
- Lentils
- White navy beans
Energy Boosts
To deal with any spells of extreme lethargy or fatigue, I find that eating one the the following helps.These give a quick energy boost and chase that lethargic feeling away.
- Fruit: I generally eat at least 3-4 pieces each day while on GAPS. Apples, pears, bananas, oranges, cherries, and blueberries all seem to work well for a quick energy boost.
- Macaroons: I keep a stash of frozen macaroons in the freezer. If I get that awful lethargic feeling, I'll go eat one right away.
- A small spoonful of honey
This post is part of Frugal Days, Sustainable Ways, Fat Tuesday and Monday Mania!


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Mario Konig-Super 88 Celebrity Sedan
Hi guys,
my name is Mario and i come from Germany.
My car is a 1960 Olds Super 88 Celebrity Sedan which was sold by SCRIPTURE OLDSMOBILE in San Rafael, CA.
The Olds was sold on March 3. 1960 to a man from Santa Rosa, CA. I have all the papers including Owners Manual, Owners Protection Policy, 30.000 Mile Guarantee Certificate and the original Bill of Sale.
In 1991 the car was sold to a German guy who brought it to Germany. Then 6 years later i saw the car, in original condition, at a dealer near my hometown.I was impressed about the size and there were no fins what makes the car even longer. It was love at first sight, this was the car i wanted to own. The engine was not running because of the heads and the intake was missing. I made a deal with the guys there and they built in a chevy 350/350 combo.
It works. In 1997, me and my wife drove all summer long to all the small and big car-meetings. But after that we decided that it was time to do some things like replacing the carpet, the headliner and a litle bit more. That was the beginning of a complete restauration which was finished in 1999. Since then we had only much fun with our GoldenOlds.
with friendly greetings,
Mario (goldenolds)