Personal Growth from the Inside Out

Lu Ting ate at a Greek restaurant because Papadopoulos, the owner, made really good fried rice. Each evening he would come in and order “flied lice”. This always caused Papadopoulos to fall down with laughter. Sometimes he would have two or three friends standing nearby just to hear Lu Ting order his “flied lice.” Eventually the Chinese’s pride was so hurt that he took a special diction lesson just to be able to say “fried rice” correctly. The next time he went to the restaurant he said very plainly, “Fried rice, please.” Unable to believe his ears, Papadopoulos asked, “What did you say?” Lu Ting shouted, “You heard what I said, you Gleek plick!” ~ A story from Joy: The Happiness That Comes from Within Why Inner Work? A reader asked me once – why is this entire blog about inner work? What about changing from the outside? Even the series on changing behaviours focused on inner meditations, and nothing external. In my experience, true change begins from within, from the consciousness that underlies everything else. There is a time for external work – for example, when one needs fast results – but otherwise, we are just covering up the real problem. Who You Are Speaks Too Loudly Perhaps an example would make it easier to see. Many popular books and workshops on social and dating skills teach external change. Touch creates bonding, they say, so strategically touch your target on the elbow as you speak. They teach structures of conversation, ways of listening, how to project your voice, proper body language, and on and on it goes. Sometimes, this fools those around you long enough to “work”. But at best, the eager student has merely learnt to be a carbon copy of someone who has really “got it”. I remember meeting a woman once. Her perfectly practiced words and gestures told me she cared; her eyes revealed something else. She seemed cold, selfish, and manipulative, and that was all that mattered. Most around her saw right through her facade after a few days. As Ralph Waldo Emerson said – Who you are speaks so loudly I cant hear what youre saying. One Door Closes, Another Opens I began personal development in a similar way. I was shy and lacked self-respect, and I was sick of it. So I tried developing confidence from the outside in. I tried a thousand and one things. I took on a teaching role in a small institution, I forced myself to meet strangers in a bar, and I forced myself to try public speaking. The first few times I was so nervous I nearly fell over. But eventually I became comfortable and was even having fun. Many of my new friends called me a social butterfly, impressed with how comfortable I made them feel, how easy I struck up a conversation. Did that mean I was genuinely confident and secure? No. I had only changed superficially – I had learnt to say “fried rice”. I felt surprised and even a little confused at the compliments I received, for they were aimed at the facade I was hiding behind, not me, never for me. Underneath it all, I was still the same little boy, playing dress-up in a superhero costume. Instead of becoming happier, I became stiffer, and more on guard. I was deathly afraid my mask will fall off, that my secret identity –together with all my fear, my bitterness, and my jealousy – would be exposed. And so no real change occurred. These unresolved issues manifested in many ways, an irrational fear of intimacy, for example. So what if I was now charming and smooth? When a woman got close enough, this fear arose subconsciously and without even knowing why, I would immediately sabotage the relationship, sometimes just cutting it off without a word. As Osho said – this is not the way of transformation. One door closes, another opens. Changing the outer is easy, but the real work consists in changing the underpinning of everything else – our inner consciousness. Another Perspective Nothing can change permanently without a corresponding shift in our consciousness. There was a point in time I used to smoke heavily, and this habit was driven by the same insecurities and fears I had struggled with for most of my adult life. Before I realised this, I applied the usual quitting techniques. I forced myself to quit through sheer willpower, and succeeded – for a while. However, each time I was stressed, whenever I was reminded of my insecurities, I found myself reaching for another cigarette. Sometimes I used a substitute; in fact the cigarette habit was itself a replacement for something else. It took a lot of work, but when I finally freed myself of those insecurities, these habits fell away on their own, with no need for replacements. And surprisingly, so did most of my other vices. This is why I dont agree with what many people shout about learning to love ourselves. Book a massage; treat yourself to a bubble bath; spend a day lounging in the sun. Find a new lover. Get more money, more possessions. Perhaps we are satisfied, relaxed, rejuvenated – but only for a while. But soon, very soon, everything comes rushing back, for who you are has not changed. The Transformation of Consciousness For some people, consciousness can change overnight. For most others, it is long, hard work. But it is the only work worth doing, for everything else falls into place. With a flowering consciousness, we develop courage to face the obstacles in any part of our life; we find a willingness to do what has to be done. We overcome the downwards pull of our pride, our anger, and our fears. Our consciousness determines our subjective experience of life – to a large extent, our very joy. A Newcomer’s Guide So how, exactly, do we do this? There are many approaches to inner work, and this blog covers my explorations of the best I’ve discovered, so go to the archives and start looking around! I’m also preparing a newcomer’s guide to UrbanMonk.Net, so look for that next. Stay tuned! Link Love In the personal development blog niche, there are a few up-and-comers, written with a lot of heart, that I’m proud to highlight here. The first is Seeking Mind by Sunny Jamiel. A mix of “standard” personal development and consciousness-oriented spirituality, with lots of free motivational wallpapers for his readers. A recent post you might like: 18 Truths about Life. Next is Quest for Balance by Lisis. Written with a lot of honesty and heart, and a lot of humour mixed in too. A recent post: The Beginner’s Guide to EXTREME Candle Meditation. Copyright UrbanMonk.Net

Florentijn Hofman' big monkey

'Dozens dead' in Baghdad bombing

At least 69 people die in a blast at a market in Baghdad's Sadr City, six days before US troops pull out of Iraqi cities.

A Higher IQ and Less Fat

Brain exercises and fat loss, nothing more. Simple brain exercise can boost IQ -- The exercise involves tracking small squares on a screen that pop into a new location every three seconds. Volunteers have to press a button when the current location is a duplicate of two views earlier. At the same time, consonants are played through headphones and a button is pressed if the letter is the same as that heard two "plays" earlier. If participants perform well, the interval to be tracked (n) increases to three or more stages earlier. Fat burning 101 -- How do we actually lose fat? What do we mean by fat "burning"? Here's a very simple, (dumbed down) explanation of what actually goes on to create a fat loss effect. High levels of fat mobilization + High levels of fat oxidation = Accelerated fat loss. The Top 5 Reasons to Get Even Leaner -- A leaner organism is a more effective organism. Come with minimal luggage. Don't bring more than you really need. Lean determines the ratio between work and rest, between production and administration, between muscle and fat. The more muscle that is at work against less and less superfluous weight -- as opposed to specific workload -- the more effective is the whole system. Think bureaucracy. Think governments. So, exercise that mind and that body and let the summer come. Now. Related Items Cascading Diet Recommendations Multiply Exercise and Nutrition to Look Even Better in 2008 The Top 5 Reasons to Get Even Leaner Free ebook Peer pressure, vanity and behavior, motivation tricks and hacks, success and pain, and how to excel, Celebrate Your Beauty.

UK building

NY Islanders Team Report

Before they can determine if John Tavares is going to come to the Islanders, the Islanders went to John Tavares. April 20, owner Charles Wang and general manager Garth Snow traveled to Ontario to personally scout Tavares, the London Knights center whom the Isles are strongly considering drafting with the No. 1 overall selection in the June entry draft. "I told Garth, 'If you draft John, he'd look forward to playing for your organization," Tavares' agent Pat Brisson told Newsday. "If he's drafted by the Islanders, he probably has a chance to play right away and contribute, and it's the New York market. We had a nice talk." Swedish defenseman Victor Hedman and Brampton center Matt Duchene also are rated among the top draft-eligible prospects, and Isles assistant GM Ryan Jankowski also scouted Duchene in the Ontario Hockey League playoffs on April 21. The Isles won the draft lottery after finishing the regular season with the worst record (26-47-9) in the 30-team NHL, but they did post two important "wins" since the playoffs began. San Jose's first-round loss to Anaheim bumped up their first-round pick, which the Islanders acquired just before the trade deadline from Ottawa, to 26th overall. The conditional pick the Islanders received in a late-season trade from Pittsburgh for captain Bill Guerin also has been upgraded from a fifth-round pick to a third-rounder because the Penguins advanced to the second round after eliminating Philadelphia in their first playoff series. SEASON HIGHLIGHT: It's hard to pinpoint many bright spots from a dead-last campaign. But in a season defined by growing pains for a slew of young players, resurgent veteran Doug Weight recorded his 1,000th NHL point in January and wound up third on the team in scoring (38 points) despite missing 29 games because of injury. The 38-year-old center also was rewarded with a one-year contract extension in early April. TURNING POINT: The first red flag flew atop Nassau Coliseum as soon as goalie Rick DiPietro was unable to play in the season opener. The team's franchise goalie underwent two surgeries on his left knee and ended up appearing in just five games because of complications, pretty much torpedoing any chance the Isles had of remaining competitive this season.NOTES, QUOTESG Rick DiPietro, who appeared in just five games all season due to two knee surgeries, has been spotted around Long Island on crutches since the season ended. DiPietro has 12 seasons remaining on his landmark 15-year contract, and he already has undergone two hip surgeries, two knee operations while also missing time with groin and concussion problems. "I'm sure what our fans want to know is whether Rick is on schedule to be with us for the start of training camp. The answer to that is yes," GM Garth Snow told the team-sponsored website islanderspointblank.com. "The plan is for him to begin skating in the summer and then (have him) with us for the opening of camp in Saskatoon.'Former Islander captain Ed Westfall won two Stanley Cup rings with Boston before joining the Islanders in the 1972 expansion draft, and he was a broadcaster during the Isles' Stanley Cup run in the 1980s. Westfall believes ancient and recent history has proven that the Isles are on the right track and can become competitive quickly if the right pieces are added. "I saw it happen in Boston and here on the Island. I played on teams that were worst in the league that became the best in the league. It can happen," Westfall told Newsday. "I'd like to think (the Islanders) will take a page from two teams who are just like them. St. Louis and Chicago were doormats after having a lot of success and now they've turned it around with good management people and rebuilt through the draft."QUOTE TO NOTE: "How could we travel all that way and not say hello?" GM Garth Snow, after he and Islanders owner Charles Wang traveled to London, Ontario on April 20 to scout and speak to potential No.1 overall draft pick John Tavares. ROSTER REPORT MOST VALUABLE PLAYER: D Mark Streit's signing for $20.5 million last summer drew some snickers around the NHL, but the Swiss-born former Canadien proved to be a bargain and far more than the power-play specialist he was branded as in Montreal. Streit led the Isles with more than 25 minutes per game and finished seventh among all NHL defensemen in scoring with 56 points despite missing eight games with injuries. MOST DISAPPOINTING PLAYER: LW Jeff Tambellini wasn't a disappointment to those who didn't think he could put up big numbers at the NHL level. But the Islanders have to wonder if it's ever going to happen at this level for the former first-round pick and AHL scoring whiz after Tambellini had just seven goals and 15 points in 65 games. FREE AGENT FOCUS: GM Garth Snow actually went 2-for-2 with the signings of Mark Streit and Doug Weight last summer. And with immediate holes all over, it makes sense that the Isles will look to supplement their young roster again with a few more veteran bargains. After career minor-leaguers Joey MacDonald and Yann Danis were forced into 49 and 31 appearances, respectively, the Isles also might seek to find a proven NHL backup as insurance in case Rick DiPietro continues to be plagued by injuries. With Weight re-signed, forwards Dean McAmmond and Andy Hilbert, defenseman Thomas Pock and the two backup goalies are the only significant regulars eligible to be unrestricted free agents. PLAYER NOTES:RW Blake Comeau returned sooner than expected from a fractured wrist suffered late in the regular season (April 7). He played for AHL Bridgeport in their first-round playoff series against the Scranton-Wilkes Barre Penguins.LW Sean Bergenheim, who missed four games late in the regular season, was not cleared by the Islanders' medical staff to play for Team Finland at the IIHL World Championships in Switzerland. RW Rhett Rakhshani, the Islanders' fourth-round pick in the 2006 entry draft, reportedly has decided to return to the University of Denver for his senior season instead of signing his first professional contract. MEDICAL WATCH:RW Blake Comeau suffered a fractured wrist April 7 in Carolina and missed the rest of the regular season.G Rick DiPietro appeared in just five games because of multiple injuries, and none after Jan. 2, with swelling in his surgically repaired left knee. RW Trent Hunter suffered a fractured left ankle Feb. 21 against New Jersey and missed the remainder of the season.C Dean McAmmond missed the final six games with an undisclosed illness.RW Kurtis McLean suffered a torn Achilles tendon March 12 and was out for the season.D Freddy Meyer missed the final 40 games with a groin strain suffered Jan. 5. C Mike Sillinger underwent season-ending hip surgery for the second straight season on Jan. 26. D Andy Sutton underwent surgery on a broken right foot suffered Dec. 19 and missed the remainder of the season.

Is my Business Plan a Weapon or Just another Word Document (Cory Isaacson)

Drew's Note:p As I try to do every Friday, I'm pleased to bring you a guest post.p Meet anotherp thought leader who shares his insights via the blogosphere. So without further ado...Cory Isaacson.p Again. Enjoy!The economy is challenging investors and entrepreneurs like never before.p The bottomless well of funding has officially dried up as the fight for investment capital has become an all out war.p Yesterday’s business plan needs to be today’s battle plan, and for an entrepreneur, the ultimate validation for the battle plan will be its ability to connect a defined value proposition to a clear and attainable business metric. If not, then the real question one has to ask is “who really cares?”p As glib as that may sound, it should be a fundamental concern for any entrepreneur with a vision and the inspiration to put forth his or her thinking. pFirst things first, you need a clearly defined value proposition that answers two simple questions:p how will it disrupt the marketplace? how will it be profitable?p Coming up with the answers to these questions will be a challenge – it should not be a comfortable process, challenging yourself never is.p If those two questions are not answered, forget about it and head back to the drawing board.p Conversely, if it does answer those two questions, then you’re one step closer to arming yourself with a battle plan. pA bullet proof value proposition becomes your arsenal and shield, capable of mounting a solid offensive as well as defending the battle plan from the nonbelievers and an unpredictable business climate.p By clearly demonstrating how the value proposition can transcend the challenges posed by the marketplace, an entrepreneur will then be able illustrate the opportunity for growth. By illustrating that opportunity for growth, you’re ready for war.p It was with this very concise but simple approach that we drove the creation of the original Walton Isaacson battle plan for “The Planet’s Most Interesting Agency” – and in turn, generated the interest and funding of entrepreneur, media mogul, NBA legend and our partner, Earvin “Magic” Johnson.There will be more losers than winners during this time of economic crisis.p However, those entrepreneurs who fiercely believe in what they’re doing stand the best chance of winning.p The only factor any investor really cares about is results, and if results can be clearly communicated through your value proposition in a simple and direct manner, your vision and battle plan will become a well-funded reality.Cory Isaacson's expertise in developing and executing highly successful marketing programs is widely regarded throughout the industry. Over the years he has been recognized for his groundbreaking work, including Jack Daniel’s Studio #7, Hanes Hosiery / Tina Turner, Kodak / House of Blues, Burger King / Backstreet Boys, HP Moving Fashion Forward, Budweiser / Rolling Stones, and Ericsson’s “Power ofp Voice” with Celine Dion.p His unique approach has earned him numerous industry awards, including PROMO’s Pro Award, Ex Awards and Effies.p pIsaacson holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in history from the University of Wisconsin and has taught MBA classes on entertainment marketing at Tulane University.p Cory currently resides with his family in Chicago and is a partner at Walton Isaacson.pp Every Friday is "grab the mic" day.p Want to grab the mic and be a guest blogger on Drew's Marketing Minute?p Shoot me an e-mail.

Bind is actually rather an understatement...

Battlestar Galactica 403 (or 405) "Ties that Bind"That was dark even by the really, really high standards this show has set for being dark and unsettling. It was an unrelenting parade of deeply screwed up people in torment, and the relationships that torment them. Naturally, I loved it, but if it wasn't so well written and acted, it'd be insufferably gloomy.Bullet points -- if you haven't seen it, and plan to, look away.The directing in this show was very overt, a lot of very artistic effects -- Starbuck only being shown from the back, a lot of blurred backgrounds and voice in Cally's point-of-view shots, the rotating star design motif. Most of it worked -- I thought that keeping us from seeing Starbuck's face was very effective. I could have done without the kind of druggy shots of the kid's mobile or whatever the heck that was.I was spoiled on Cally's death, but the spoiler note implied it was a suicide, so I was surprised by both the addition of the baby in the scene (which made it about 100 times darker), and by Tory's involvement. I guess we'll find out next week whether Tory told Chief what she did.I realize this is an odd place to make a stand on plausibility but... let me get this straight. Kara's crew has her, presumably pretty widely known in the fleet even before she died and came back; Helo, notorious as "the guy who married the toaster", plus he ran the refugees for a while, and he was Galactica's XO; and Anders, world famous athlete. All three of these people can just disappear for three weeks without anybody noticing?This is true: at the beginning of the episode I was thinking, hmm... on a spaceship it's never warm enough for people to get uncomfortable and sweaty. Then they cut to the Starbuck ship, which made Cool Hand Luke look like Ice Age (Cool Hand Luke = sweatiest movie ever in the pilot for Cheers... so it's a joke. Get it?).Haven't even covered: They made clear some things about Cally that were almost subliminal, about how she feels about Chief and all... thought that was nice to see. Also, Lee remains the easiest person to manipulate in the entire history of the Galaxy. Presumably Zarek nominated him to the council so he could always have one person he could con into doing goofy things.

Call for papers issue 16: children in the library (libreas)

Call for Papers Issue 16: Children in the Library (LIBREAS)http://www.libreas.eu/formal/english.htmChildren represent one of the largest groups of patrons served by the public library. This may be one of the reasons why many positive associations are linked to these institutions in society. Despite their importance, children lack representation within the LIS literature or, if they are subjects of literature, authors refer to well-intentioned but more paternalistic strategies which result in one-sided approaches. For instance, literacy is one of the main issues at which libraries work is aimed. However, a short glance in public libraries reveals that literacy programs constitute only one small portion of the children’s interaction with the library – children mostly make use of a library as a playground and a place for adventure.Apart from the practice-oriented discussion, LIS literature also lacks interdisciplinary connectivity to fields such as pedagogy, educational research, anthropology and sociology to name a few. One may assume that the already achieved knowledge which scrutinizes one-sided approaches to learning activities may influence the discussion. One may also expect a growing influence of the ongoing debate about new perspectives on early childhood education in the LIS literature.Last but not least, recent demographic changes within western societies are changing the social structure that children inhabit. On one hand, immigration leads to a higher proportion of children with multi-cultural backgrounds; on the other hand children are growing up in a more distinguished media landscape. These developments are undeniable and cause new challenges in practise. Nevertheless, there is a striking discrepancy between reality and scientific discourse.LIBREAS aims at shedding light on this discrepancy and proposes an interdisciplinary symposium held in Berlin complementing issue #16. ...

9 Hot and Cold Dips for Every Occasion

Dips are a party delight that everyone seems to love. There are all kinds of dip options to match your taste or diet, and many can be made in advance.Of course, dip needs something to stick to or sit on, and the choices here are also numerous - chips, crackers, veggies (aka crudit

Moving on...

Oh, the opportunities with SharePoint. Oh the places I’ll go! I have a lot to thank Microsoft and SharePoint. It’s was one of the hardest, but best decisions I ever made taking a pay cut to come work for Microsoft, and moving my family from Plano (Murphy), Texas to a Redmond Washington suburb, Duvall. It’s been a wonderful ride and I have a ton of people to thank for both the opportunities to work with them whether for pleasure or lessons learned through hard knocks. If SharePoint was a person then I’d give her a big kiss. She’s been really great. I'd also tell her, I'm not going anywhere. I'll still be there for her. So, I’m on to the next step in my career. What will I be doing? That’s an interesting question. · SharePoint Global evangelism · SharePoint Consulting, whitepapers, advisory and analyst work · SharePoint Community involvement · Speaking at SharePoint and Technical conferences around the globe All of the above. What I don’t know is who I’ll be doing these things for yet, or if I’ll be doing them for myself. I do plan to make a decision one way or another in the next few weeks. Don’t miss me, cause I’m not going anywhere. I’m still Joel Oleson in the blogosphere and I’m still as passionate about SharePoint as I was yesterday. Love, Joel Oleson Your favorite SharePoint Blogger.

is technology making people lazy and overweight?

DO YOU THINK THAT PEOPLE HAVE BECOME LAZY AND GOTTEN FAT BECAUSE OF TODAY'S TECHNOLOGY? WHEN I WAS YOUNG WE DIDNT HAVE MICROWAVES AND REMOTE CONTROLS. WE HAD TO GET UP AND CHANGE THE CHANNEL MANUALLY. IT SOUNDS CRAZY AND DREADFUL. I DONT WANT TO SCARE YOUNG PEOPLE OUT THERE IN myLot LAND BUT YES WE ACTUALLY HAD TO GET UP AND CHANGE THE CHANNEL DIRECTLY. WE ALSO HAD TO USE THE STOVE TO HEAT THINGS UP. WHEN MICROWAVES CAME OUT, PEOPLE WERE AMAZED. MICROWAVE POPCORN WAS INGENIUS. COMPARED TO WHAT WE HAVE TODAY THOSE THINGS SEEM SO SMALL. DVD'S AND DIRECT TV HAVE MADE IT SO WE DONT HAVE TO GO TO THE MOVIES. WE CAN JUST STAY AT HOME. NO MORE DRIVE-INS, MINI GOLF,NOT TOO MANY ARCADES. WE CAN GET IT ALL AT HOME. EVEN IF YOU'RE ALLERGIC TO DOGS, YOU CAN NOW ADOPT A VIRTUAL PET. ALL THESE THINGS ARE GREAT. HOWEVER, PEOPLE ARE BECOMING LAZY. WHY SHOULD THEY GO OUT WHEN THEY CAN GET ON THE COMPUTER AND DO THINGS VIRTUALLY. THE AVERAGE WEIGHT INDEX IS HIGHER. THEY HAVE TO CHANGE THE CRITERIA. NOW ITS BASED ON LOTS OF TECHNOLGICAL FACTORS. DO YOU THINK PEOPLE ARE BECOMING LAZY AND OVERWEIGHT DUE TO THE WAY TECHNOLOGY HAS MAD OUR LIVES EASIER? WHAT IS YOUR OPINION ON TECHNOLOGY?

Nokia N97

Revisi sebelumnya Revisi per 23:28, 11 Mei 2009 Baris 1: Baris 1: + {{hapuskelayakan, [[WP:NPOVNPOV]]}} Nokia N97: ponsel multimedia berkapasitas besar Nokia N97: ponsel multimedia berkapasitas besar Baris 8: Baris 9: Direncanakan ponsel ini akan hadir di kawasan Eropa dan Asia, termasuk Indonesia, di Quarter 2 2009, atau sekitar bulan April. Warna yang tersedia adalah hitam dan putih. Harga dasar yang ditawarkan adalah EUR 550, atau dengan kurs sekarang sekitar IDR 8.4 juta. Tentunya harganya tidak mengikat. Apakah N97 merupakan jawaban untuk kebutuhan multimedia dan jaringan sosial Anda? Direncanakan ponsel ini akan hadir di kawasan Eropa dan Asia, termasuk Indonesia, di Quarter 2 2009, atau sekitar bulan April. Warna yang tersedia adalah hitam dan putih. Harga dasar yang ditawarkan adalah EUR 550, atau dengan kurs sekarang sekitar IDR 8.4 juta. Tentunya harganya tidak mengikat. Apakah N97 merupakan jawaban untuk kebutuhan multimedia dan jaringan sosial Anda?

Bmw Z4 by AC Schnitzer

Posted on 05.11.2009 18:30 by Terence KeonFiled under: AC Schnitzer BMW bmw Z4 car tuningThe Z4 is BMW's newest roadster, and the German tuner AC Schnitzer have just released the first wheel and tire combination for the future bimmer. The tuners are currently working on performance enhancements, suspension set-ups, interior accessories and aero parts. Press release after the jump. PRESS RELEASE We are delighted to welcome the latest member of the BMW family and - in good time for the official launch - can already supply a range of AC Schnitzer wheel and tyre combinations for (...)

Capetown Cameos #3

To finish up the Capetown trip, I will share a few pictures of the third day. After another wonderful sunrise from the roof deck,and breakfast on the pretty little front patio, we trundled off to Woodstock, in search of three of the top Galleries in the Cape, which are fortunately all in one building, a converted industrial space that was absolutely perfect for the display of art. Goodman Gallery had a fabulous review of some of South Africas iconic contemporary artists from the last 7 decades, and it was a treat seeing works by artists one can often only enjoy in textbooks. Then back to explore the charming De Waterkant district, which has such a fascinating vibe and unique character. It is such a delight wandering through the narrow cobbled streets, browsing through eclectic shops and cafes, and ending up in the Cape Quarter, at a fab Italian Restaurant.Then, reluctantly off to pack and get to the airport, for the return flight to PE. A pretty end to a blissful interlude, and both Julie and I can't wait to go back with our husbands to share this magical spot with them!Thanks for the visit. Please note that all photos are clickable if you want to see them full size.

Iranians In Your Backyard

For a while now, there have been concerns that Venezuela, one of this hemispheres more outspoken critics (or, depending on whom you listen to, avowed enemies) of the United States, is cozying up to Iran, and its (understandably) troubling. Why? Well, three days out of five, Iran is the greatest threat to global peace and prosperity since that Saddam guy was oh-so-flawlessly ousted from power, and the thought that theyre getting a significant political and economic foothold in the Americas is enough to keep, I imagine, the United States counterintelligence nerds awake at night. Thats one half of the threat, of course; the other is that Iran is proving all too happy to provide a wide variety of fairly advanced military hardware to Venezuela, with all the inherent implications for regional stability that suggests. Turns out, though, that while everyones been watching Venezuela, Irans been cozying up to an even closer neighbor of ours. See, it seems that Iran and Nicaragua are fast becoming buddies, again. Hell, a lot of the players are the same as last time around; deja vu all over again. NightWatch notes that not only does Nicaragua border Mexico, but members of the IRGC have reportedly been seen in the country this month, which is a little bit alarming. President Ortega, to judge from his recent public statements, dislikes the United States just as much as Hugo Chavez does, if not more. Yet, nobody seems to care particularly much that Nicaragua is fast becoming very much a proxy for Iranian interests in this hemisphere. The State Departments official line seems to be that Iran has no historical major interests in this part of the world, so theres nothing to see here, move along. Lets put this in perspective: If it was the spring of 1979, or even 1989, and an enemy country - Russia, China, North Korea, or one of their more obvious proxies (Albania, anyone?) were making huge and historically-unprecedented increases in their presence in this hemisphere, the U.S. government would have been crapping themselves not just at the thought of enemy agents on our doorstep, but those same powers getting access to indigenous human assets. (Im not a fluent speaker of Spanish; can you tell a Nicaraguan from a Mexican? How about if theyre speaking fluent English? How about just on sight? Didnt think so&) Even today, if China were developing new inroads in Central America, you can be sure itd be a matter of grave concern. But everyones decided that Venezuela is the problem, and anything that distracts from that message needs to be ignored. Never mind that, fairly literally, all that stands between Irans newest and bestest friend in the whole wide world and the good old US of A is this hemispheres most corrupt, lawless, and porous-bordered country. Nope, Venezuela is the problem, no more and no less. Oh, well; Im sure Irans interests in this part of the world are completely and utterly innocuous, and nothing to be concerned about at all, whatsoever

NY Mexican Consulate shuts down due to Other Campaign protest to free Atenco's political prisoners

MEXICAN CONSULATE SHUTS DOWN IN FACE OF PROTEST FROM THE OTHER CAMPAIGN NEW YORK DEMANDING FREEDOM FOR POLITICAL PRISONERS OF ATENCOOn the third anniversary of state repression against the people of Atenco, the Mexican Consulate in New York was “taken over” by the pro-zapatista group Movement for Justice in El Barrio.Authorities decided to close down the Consulate for the entire day.During a press conference the Consul, who was very angry, denounced and blamed the members of The Other Campaign New York.PRESS RELEASE FROM THE OTHER CAMPAIGN NEW YORKMOVEMENT FOR JUSTICE IN EL BARRIOTo our sisters and brothers from the People’s Front in Defense of the Land:To our Zapatista sisters and brothers:To our compañer@s of the Other Campaign:To our compañer@s from the Zezta Internazional:To our compañer@s who are adherents of the International Campaign in Defense of El Barrio and our allies from all over the world:Receive this greeting in solidarity from the women, men, and children, those marginalized in society who belong to the Other Campaign New York, Movement for Justice in El Barrio, in Zapatista East Harlem.Today, May 4, 2009, the Other Campaign New York took over the Mexican Consulate in New York to demand the liberation of the 12 political prisoners who have been brutally repressed for resisting neoliberal urbanization projects that are destructive to human life and culture, specifically the construction of an airport in Atenco, and for protecting displaced flower vendors in Texcoco.Today, on this third anniversary of the repression, the arrests, the violations, the torture, and the breaking and entering made by the military police in Atenco, a delegation of members of Movement for Justice in El Barrio succeeded in entering the offices of the Consulate of Mexico in New York despite the fact that these offices have been under strict and tightened security since precisely 3 years ago when Mexicans of The Other Campaign New York with real heart and memory, demanded the liberation of the political prisoners of Atenco. We succeeded in entering the offices to hold a non-violent protest demanding the immediate release of the prisoners of Atenco.Once inside, the compañer@s of the Other Campaign New York, amongst the clamor of: “Freedom for political prisoners (Presos politicos, libertad)!, Liberty, liberty, to those prisoners for fighting (Libertad, libertad, a los presos por luchar)!, We are all Atenco (Todos Somos Atenco)!”, along with other chants, and with our signs, some with prison bars to look like a cell, and also with bandanas, gave out to our fellow country men and women at the Consulate DVD’s of the video "Breaking the Siege", about the repression in Atenco, and informational flyers where we explain our main demands.Later, we demanded to speak with the consul Ruben Beltran in order to give him a letter of demands. First, they told us that he was not there because he was in Mexico, but we knew that this was a lie, since the day before the consul was in El Barrio at an event proselytizing for PAN during the imposed Cinco de Mayo celebration.After a while, the authorities of the Consulate told us that the Consul was in New York but that he could not be found in the Consulate, and they closed consular services to the public, asking all of their clients to abandon the offices. By the end of our action, the consul arrived. We gave him a giant size letter on a poster-board with the following demands: 1. Liberty for the political prisoners in Atenco. 2. Cancel the arrest warrants for those 2 who are being persecuted. 3. Revoke and appeal the sentences. 4. Complete respect for the human rights of the detained and the persecuted. 5. Punishment for those responsible for the violations of human rights.The consul, Rubén Beltrán, first told us that he was open to engage in dialogue with all Mexican people in New York and listen to all opinions, but then blamed us – and our cause, the liberation of the prisoners in Atenco – for having closed the services of the Consulate and for having left so many people unattended.We consider that the consul’s reaction is an act of great injustice and cynicism, since if the Mexican government would not torture, kill, rape and unjustly incarcerate its people for resisting its doing business with huge transnational companies that turn everything even water into merchandise, these things would not have to happen.Nonetheless, we are satisfied for having done this successful protest for the liberation of the martyrs of Atenco, and now we know that many Mexicans in New York will be able to inform themselves through alternative media like the DVD "Breaking the Siege".Afterwards, in the afternoon of this same day, the press was convened to gather at the Consulate for another event, and the consul took advantage to denounce us, and say that because of us the Consulate had to close for the entire workday. In this early evening event, the consul showed the press photographs of us from distinct angles. In this respect it was clear that our demonstration was peaceful. If he had retaliated against us for having exercised our right to freedom of expression in Mexican territory (as is in whatever representation of the Mexican government in other countries), this would mean that the Consulate’s authorities would have been violating our rights, just as they don’t respect the rights of the people of Atenco.It brings us much pain that dignified fighters for social justice, the real defenders of our land and our country, remain in prison. We will not rest until they are liberated. Human beings are not merchandise. They can’t move us & place us anywhere they wish so that they can build airports and hotels, not in Atenco, nor in Agua Azul, nor in our Barrio in East Harlem.From the Other Campaign New York, fraternally: ¡WE ARE ALL ATENCO! ¡FREEDOM FOR POLITICAL PRISONERS OF ATENCO!Movement for Justice in El Barrio, New York, May 4, 2009.

AirTran to offer Wi-Fi on all flights

In a bid to win over Internet-savvy travelers, AirTran Airways (AAI) this summer will become the first large U.S. airline to offer wireless Internet access on every flight nationwide.AirTran plans to have all 136 of its Boeing 737 and 717 jets equipped with in-flight wireless service by late July, CEO Bob Fornaro said Monday.For a fee, the Orlando-based, low-fare carrier will offer Wi-Fi for passengers' wireless-enabled laptops, smartphones and personal digital assistants. The airline plans to make the announcement today.AirTran began equipping its jets last month at Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta, its largest hub airport. Fornaro would not divulge the size of AirTran's investment or the revenue it could generate from the service."We think this is going to become a necessity" for airlines, Fornaro said. "Some carriers have it on some flights. We're going to offer passengers certainty, and I think that will give us a leg up."Airborne wireless service is gaining traction across the airline industry, which is going from experimentation to installation as it searches for new sources of revenue and a competitive edge.AirTran's decision to put it in fleetwide could accelerate adoption of the new service, which lets fliers access the Web from a handheld device or laptop for $7.95 to $12.95 a flight, depending on the device and the length of the flight.According to Aircell, the Chicago-based provider of the Gogo wireless service, more than 1,000 jets from several North American carriers will be Wi-Fi-equipped by year's end, up from about 30 at the end of 2008."That will be a huge sea change," says Aircell CEO Jack Blumenstein.He says a typical narrow-body jet can be equipped with the 125 pounds of necessary equipment and fiber-optic cable during an overnight stay at an airport for about $100,000.Once it's installed, air passengers will see a pop-up on their laptop, smartphone or PDA screen at 10,000 feet and connect to the Web through Gogo by providing their credit card information.Other carriers are at various stages of adoption. San Francisco-based start-up Virgin America says it will have Wi-Fi service on all 28 of its planes by May 25.Several of the USA's biggest carriers, including No. 1 Delta Air Lines (DAL) and No. 2 American Airlines (AMR), have begun equipping their fleets with Wi-Fi but won't be able to guarantee it on every domestic flight for some time.Delta said Monday that it has equipped 139 or about half of its domestic jetliners and expects to have all 300 full-size domestic jets equipped by September, but Delta's large regional jet fleet will not be.In June, Delta will start selling Wi-Fi passes that are good for a month. Delta acquired Northwest Airlines last year, and 200 old Northwest jets will be undergoing installation next year.American said in March it planned to equip more than 300 of its narrow-body domestic jets with Gogo wireless during the next couple years.Since August, American has tested wireless service on 15 wide-body Boeing 767s used on transcontinental flights and now plans to install Gogo on its narrow-body fleet.United Airlines (UAUA) and Air Canada also have plans to begin installing Wi-Fi capability later this year.

Believing in the Improbable

Bugs and books, naming names, and the improbable improbable from Kevin Kelly and Brian Eno. Scientists find bugs that eat waste and excrete petrol -- Silicon Valley is experimenting with bacteria that have been genetically altered to provide 'renewable petroleum'. Books that changed my life -- I don't mean merely great books, or memorable ones, or favorite ones. I mean books that altered your behavior, changed your mind, redirected the course of your life. Books as levers. Unthinkable futures -- Improbability is still a strong bias to overcome. Much that is happening today would have been dismissed as unbelievably bad science fiction only 15 years ago. The US with secret prisons torturing Muslims? Street sweepers in India with their own cell phones? Obesity a contagious disease? A trusted encyclopedia written by anyone? Yeah, right, give me a break. [...] This list of unthinkable futures -- probabilities we tend to dismiss without thinking -- was published 15 years ago in the Summer, 1993 issue of Whole Earth Review. Our intent was less to correctly predict the future (thus the silliness) and more to predict how unpredictable the actual future would be. Believing in the improbable is quickly becoming a survival skill. A new profession -- cosmetic psychiatry -- is born. People visit "plastic psychiatrists" to get interesting neuroses and obsessions added into their makeup. A new kind of holiday becomes popular: you are dropped by helicopter in an unknown place, with two weeks' supply of food and water. You are assured that you will not see anyone else in this time. There is a panic button just in case. Seed companies start selling packets of unpredictable mutants produced by random genetic engineering programmes: "JUST PLANT 'EM AND SEE WHAT COMES UP!" Suburbia is covered with exotic new blooms and giant cucumbers. The first Bio-Olympics, where athletes can have anything added to or subtracted from their bodies, take place in 2004. A microbe engineered to eat oil slicks evolves a taste for rubber. [Ed.--See above.] Traveling as a process enjoys a revival. People abandon the idea of "getting from A to B" and begin to develop (or re-discover) a culture of traveling: semi-nomadism. Lots of people acquire super new faxed-and-modemed versions of the mobile home. It becomes distinctly "lower-class" to live in a fixed location. A two-part rule for naming your Startup -- Our minds are built to make connections, mostly at a subconscious level. When a metaphor is detected, it triggers a process in our brains that associates the metaphor with the next object or reference. This naming system forces the mind to take the cognitive step of associating the metaphor to the product it represents, thus forming a positive association to the brand. And once your brain has woven the connection, it sticks, so there’s a great chance your company name won’t be forgotten. Where nothing is improbable, nothing is impossible either. Related Items Tales of Virtuosity: Excellence at its Best Free ebook Peer pressure, vanity and behavior, motivation tricks and hacks, success and pain, and how to excel, Celebrate Your Beauty.

Al Qaeda's Heroin War in Luton

Thank you Anonymous for posting this linkDaily Star article belowGod bless the Daily Star and the reporters who have decided to take to the streets in Luton to see whether or not what is at the core of this blog is true or not. Those who did will have no doubt in the authenticity of what I write about concerning the Pakistani Moslem Heroin trade in Luton, their direct links to Al Qaeda in Pakistan/Afghanistan, and how Heroin is being used as a 'weapon of war' against us and our society as is proven in this article.(Even down to the the fine details stating the 'Gambinos' are on the streets.)I wonder whether the Government, Military, and Security Services will now lock this area down with the full force of the British State and clean up the mess that Al Qaeda and their Moslems counterparts in Britain have caused on the ground here in this locality seen as though the organised criminal networks are beyond the polices capability now that it isn't just criminality, it is an' Al Qaeda' guerrilla war effort, with Pakistani Moslem Heroin Barons that have direct links to Al Qaeda and terrorism being deeply entrenched in the area after having an unhindered reign for the past 20 - 30 years here. They have been swimming in wealth beyond most peoples imagination which has come as a direct result of poisoning and killing our people with this 'chemical weapon' that comes direct from the poppy fields of Afghanistan and then processed in Pakistan their ancestral homeland. Is it any wonder our streets are awash with this deadly destructive and very lucrative chemical.God knows who the Barons are, so it is only a matter of time now until you are removed!The military wing of your religion wants war with the British people, as was declared on 7/7 and with the fertiliser/Dirty bomb plot, with both originating in Luton, so you will reap what you have sown because nobody can escape the truth and its consequences.Heroin: The Golden Sword of JihadDaily Star(Links in this Daily Star article are links to my supporting blog posts)ASIAN TERROR GANGS TARGET UK WITH KILLER HEROINTERROR chiefs plan to flood our streets with heroin in a terrifying plot to wage “chemical jihad” on Britain.And they have been using hate-filled Muslim gangs as their UK dealers.Pakistani and Afghan-based al-Qaida and Taliban warlords are sitting on a £6billion stash of deadly heroin.And they have ordered their dealers to sell it only to non-Muslims.The ruthless racket is a two-pronged attack which peddles death and misery with heroin while netting massive sums to pay for future terror attacks.A senior security source told the Daily Star Sunday: “The Afghan poppy fields are probably the biggest financial contributor to al-Qaida and the Taliban.“The UK’s heroin trade is increasing at an alarming rate and most of the cash helps arm terrorists with bombs and guns.”The US has already been ­targeted in the evil campaign which mirrors a terror plot in the new James Bond novel Devil May Care.Between 1990 and 2005 Taliban-linked drug peddler Haji Baz Mohammed raked in a staggering £17billion by pouring heroin into North America.He told a US court that “selling heroin was a jihad because they were taking Americans’ money and the heroin was killing them”.Now the fanatics have made the UK their top target. A whopping 30 tonnes of heroin is being smuggled into Britain every year.The drug is grown in the Afghan badlands and bought for £1,500 a kilo in neighbouring Pakistan.It’s finally sold on Britain’s streets, often in the backs of cabs or over kebab shop counters, at between £30 and £50 a gram.Asian gangs are operating in South London, Luton, Preston, Manchester, Leeds, Oldham, Birmingham and Bradford.Our investigators went on the hunt for heroin in Luton and did a deal in the back of a taxi.Pulling out a handful of wraps, the ­driver said: “I’ll sort you a fix for £10 but a gram’s £50. It’s knockout gear.” Asked where the drugs came from he said: “Poppy fields between Pakistan and Afghanistan.“The big bosses have Taliban and al-Qaida connections and we’re often told only to deal it to non-Muslims. They call it ­chemical jihad and hope to ruin lives while ­getting massive payouts at the same time.“I’m more interested in the money. I knock it out to anyone, ­whatever their beliefs.“But there are lots of big-­hitters who only sell to non-Muslims – to poison them.”One of the Asian gangs is the so-called Gambino clan – a 100-strong mob named after the ­notorious US crime family.A 40-year-old small-time dealer turned Christian told us: “The Gambinos are the Pakistani Muslim gang that control most of the drug trade in Luton – and they’ve all got good connections to al-Qaida.“Heroin and crack are on sale 24 hours a day and they get local taxi drivers to drive the gear around and do deals.“It’s a massive business. They’re untouchable.”But the gangs are leaving a trail of misery. Just ask hollow-eyed junkie Greg Yates, one of 280,000 addicts in the UK.Huddled up and shaking on a bridge near Luton rail station, the 42-year-old former mechanic told us his £80-a-day habit had destroyed his life.“I can’t function without the hits,” he sobbed. “I’ve lost my job, my home and my family.“Heroin has killed me.”

Banks try social networking, jump on Twitter wagon

Social networking is becoming an increasingly popular way for banks to reach consumers amid the economic downturn.Wells Fargo (WFC) and Bank of America (BAC) have begun to "tweet" post messages of 140 characters or less on Twitter.com with customers about everything from bank fees to product features. Discover Financial (DFS), American Express (AXP) and Citigroup (C) have launched Facebook or MySpace pages. Some banks even put marketing videos on YouTube."Social media is a whole new world, and you cannot afford to not be a part of it," says Pamela Blase, a spokeswoman for UMB Financial of Kansas City, Mo., which tweets about everything from the bank's financial stability to the industry's prospects.Banks say they're establishing presences on social-networking sites to tap into a growing demographic and to control the conversation about their brands. Yet the economic turmoil, some say, makes it even more important to reach out to customers any way they can."There's a lot of worry out there," says Ed Terpening, vice president of social media at Wells Fargo, one of the first banks with a group of employees dedicated to social networking. "That means that we have to stay close to our customers."The appeal of social networking, according to Steve Furman, Discover's director of e-commerce, is that it provides "pure, instant" communication with customers.In general, banks and card issuers have been slower to embrace social networking than other industries have. But social networking has become popular enough that, for many institutions, it's not a question of if but when to establish a presence on these sites, says James McGovern of Corporate Insight, a financial-services research firm.Yet as a growing number of banks become proficient in the social-networking world, the norms of customer service are being upended. Increasingly, today's online interactions between banks and consumers are peppered with shorthand, typos and even slang. "It sounds like you need 2 talk 2 someone abt your specific situation," read a recent Twitter post from a Wells Fargo rep.Adding to banks' challenges, social-networking sites are becoming another venue for consumers to complain and complain is exactly what they're doing as credit card rates and fees rise even as the economy struggles and unemployment rises.Jesse Hattabaugh, a software engineer from San Francisco, recently posted this message to banks on Twitter: "Stop making your living off my late fees! You fine me more than you loan me!"

Horrible clouds,is anger!?