Hill,Joe. Heart-Shaped Box. New York, NY: Harper, 2008.

This book blew my mind. It was suggested to me by one of the other fiction writers I know whose opinion I completely value, so I gave in and picked it up. I didn’t pay money for it, since I had never read anything by Hill (just his father). I got it at the library. I’m actually considering paying money for it now!

The plot is relatively simple, but totally worth it. Jude Coyne, an aging rock star, lead singer of Jude’s Hammer buys a suit online that is supposedly haunted, hearing that the ghost of the man will be included in the purchase. Jude thinks this is a joke and he assumes the seller is a complete stranger. It turns out that neither is true. Jude wants the ghost gone; The ghost wants Jude dead.

The true horror of the story revolves around Jude’s past as much as it does with anything supernatural. His dawning self-awareness balances out the gore and horror of the novel.

Joe Hill’s grasp of prose is precise, not at all like his father’s. It feels solid. Every detail is fresh and brings the story to life. His pacing is amazing. The novel never drags, but it also doesn’t move too quickly. The allusions to music are well placed and bring the story the feel of listening to a CD that is playing in your mind at just the write moment. It’s almost as if the book comes with its own soundtrack.

I highly recommend this book if you’re into the horror genre at all. I also recommend it if you love Stephen King books but were never able to read 800 pages. Joe Hill takes Stephen King’s narrative style but cuts out 400 pages of description and boring buildup without losing any of the plot and style.

This was Joe Hill’s novel debut. I will soon be reviewing his comic book series Locke and Key as well as his collection of short stories: 20^th Century Ghosts.

Ending of Kuroshitsuji.

I'm Alive by BECCA. Ending song of Kuroshitsuji

One last thing about nurturing the spark - don't take life seriously. One of my yoga teachers used to make students laugh during classes. One student asked him if these jokes would take away something from the yoga practice. The teacher said - don't be serious, be sincere. This quote has defined my work ever since. Whether its my writing, my job, my relationships or any of my goals. I get thousands of opinions on my writing everyday. There is heaps of praise, there is intense criticism. If I take it all seriously, how will I write? Or rather, how will I live? Life is not to be taken seriously, as we are really temporary here. We are like a pre-paid card with limited validity. If we are lucky, we may last another 50 years. And 50 years is just 2,500 weekends. Do we really need to get so worked up? It's ok, bunk a few classes, goof up a few interviews, fall in love. We are people, not programmed devices.
I've told you three things - reasonable goals, balance and not taking it too seriously that will nurture the spark. However, there are four storms in life that will threaten to completely put out the flame. These must be guarded against. These are disappointment, frustration, unfairness and loneliness of purpose.
Disappointment will come when your effort does not give you the expected return. If things don't go as planned or if you face failure. Failure is extremely difficult to handle, but those that do come out stronger. What did this failure teach me? is the question you will need to ask. You will feel miserable. You will want to quit, like I wanted to when nine publishers rejected my first book. Some IITians kill themselves over low grades – how silly is that? But that is how much failure can hurt you. But it's life. If challenges could always be overcome, they would cease to be a challenge. And remember - if you are failing at something, that means you are at your limit or potential. And that's where you want to be.
Disappointment's cousin is frustration, the second storm. Have you ever been frustrated? It happens when things are stuck. This is especially relevant in India. From traffic jams to getting that job you deserve, sometimes things take so long that you don't know if you chose the right goal. After books, I set the goal of writing for Bollywood, as I thought they needed writers. I am called extremely lucky, but it took me five years to get close to a release. Frustration saps excitement, and turns your initial energy into something negative, making you a bitter person. How did I deal with it? A realistic assessment of the time involved – movies take a long time to make even though they are watched quickly, seeking a certain enjoyment in the process rather than the end result – at least I was learning how to write scripts, having a side plan – I had my third book to write and even something as simple as pleasurable distractions in your life - friends, food, travel can help you overcome it. Remember, nothing is to be taken seriously. Frustration is a sign somewhere, you took it too seriously.
Unfairness - this is hardest to deal with, but unfortunately that is how our country works. People with connections, rich dads, beautiful faces, pedigree find it easier to make it – not just in Bollywood, but everywhere. And sometimes it is just plain luck. There are so few opportunities in India, so many stars need to be aligned for you to make it happen. Merit and hard work is not always linked to achievement in the short term, but the long term correlation is high, and ultimately things do work out. But realize, there will be some people luckier than you. In fact, to have an opportunity to go to college and understand this speech in English means you are pretty damm lucky by Indian standards. Let's be grateful for what we have and get the strength to accept what we don't. I have so much love from my readers that other writers cannot even imagine it. However, I don't get literary praise. It's ok. I don't look like Aishwarya Rai, but I have two boys who I think are more beautiful than her. It's ok. Don't let unfairness kill your spark.
Finally, the last point that can kill your spark is isolation. As you grow older you will realize you are unique. When you are little, all kids want Ice cream and Spiderman. As you grow older to college, you still are a lot like your friends. But ten years later and you realize you are unique. What you want, what you believe in, what makes you feel, may be different from even the people closest to you. This can create conflict as your goals may not match with others. . And you may drop some of them. Basketball captains in college invariably stop playing basketball by the time they have their second child. They give up something that meant so much to them. They do it for their family. But in doing that, the spark dies. Never, ever make that compromise. Love yourself first, and then others.
There you go. I've told you the four thunderstorms - disappointment, frustration, unfairness and isolation. You cannot avoid them, as like the monsoon they will come into your life at regular intervals. You just need to keep the raincoat handy to not let the spark die.
I welcome you again to the most wonderful years of your life. If someone gave me the choice to go back in time, I will surely choose college. But I also hope that ten years later as well, your eyes will shine the same way as they do today.. That you will Keep the Spark alive, not only through college, but through the next 2,500 weekends. And I hope not just you, but my whole country will keep that spark alive, as we really need it now more than any moment in history. And there is something cool about saying - I come from the land of a billion sparks.
Thank You!

"Sunshine upon my face
A new song for me to sing
Tell the world how I feel inside
Even though it might cost me everything
Now that I know this is beyond my control
'cause I could never turn my back away
Now that I see you
I can never look away

I, I feel so alive
For the very first time
I can't deny you
I feel so alive
I, I feel so alive
For the very first time
And I think I can fly"

The BeautyFirst Glam Squad and National City Bank have come together to honor those women who share their loved ones in service with the United States Armed Forces by hosting a “Hero’s Homecoming” contest. The winner will receive a $500 shopping spree and a full makeover by the BeautyFirst Glam Squad.

 This contest will capture the essence of a soldier’s return home – the anticipation, the preparation, of seeing someone you love who you haven’t seen in a long time. Now through November 12, the BeautyFirst Glam Squad is accepting submissions for a woman who wants to surprise their loved one returning home from duty with a new and improved look. The winner will be notified by November 19, 2008. If you know of a deserving lady or are one yourself, please send us a photo and a few details about yourself, including when your hero is coming home. Submissions can be emailed to beauty_first1@yahoo.com or call (502) 327-0881 with questions.

1. Start with a healthy breakfast! This is crucial, you have heard it before. So if you still skip breakfast, why do you do it?! You do have the time to eat breakfast, and this will make you productive for the rest of the day.
2. Wake up at a suitable time: I have mentioned before how routine in sleeping is extremely productive. It helps you feel more energised if you wake roughly at the same time every day. However, you could also try to wake up early to make your days really productive - even half an hour can give you time for something (for example breakfast!).
3. Decide what your goals for the day are - this might include writing your to-do list or simply figuring out what your purpose is for that day!
4. Start incorporating hobbies into your morning - use your time productively. You can read the paper over breakfast, or read some of your favourite book. You may also have time to study for exams, or even a quick meditation session.

This guide is a very basic outline. You will need to really be strict with yourself and first, and figure out what it is that you need in your morning. Often, getting things done in the morning can really spur on our productivity for the rest of the day, so think hard about how you want to use this time.

Abbey Road on the River is pleased to present Not So Long of a Winding Road to Abbey Road on the River, its first annual Fall benefit concert, with net proceeds benefiting St. Joe’s Children’s Home. The concert will take place on Friday, November 7th from 4:00pm-Midnight at the Executive Inn Hotel in Louisville. The event marks the halfway point to the world's largest Beatles tribute festival (Abbey Road on the River) and will include an encore performance of The Abbey Road Album by Athens, GA’s Abbey Road Live!, with additional concerts from The Steve Sizemore Group, Peter Conrad, plus Louisville’s own Nervous Melvin and the Mistakes, Johnny Doughnut Experience, and The Vinyl Kings. Several items will be raffled off throughout the event, including unique Beatles memorabilia and an all-inclusive weekend package for two to Abbey Road on the River 2009. Tickets are $12 in advance or $20 at the door and can be purchased at www.abbeyroadontheriver.com.

 “We are introducing this ‘halfway’ concert to give our fans another chance to come together and experience the excitement of Abbey Road on the River,” says event producer Gary Jacob. “We also wanted to use the concert as a platform to raise money for a charity during the gift-giving season, and St. Joe’s was selected because of its mission and reputation within the community.”

 “Without the thoughtfulness and generous support of sponsors such as Abbey Road on the River, we would be unable to provide services to the neediest children in Kentucky,” says Barry Walker, Executive Director of St. Joe’s.

 The Courier-Journal’s Abbey Road on the River 2009, featuring over 60 of the world’s most accomplished Beatles and 60’s era bands, will be held in Louisville for its fifth consecutive year, May 21 – 25, 2009, at the Belvedere Festival Park and Galt House Hotel & Suites. The festival is the largest event of its kind in the world, and last year it attracted the largest crowd to date with over 25,000 attendees.

Scripture for today:  Nehemiah 9; Nehemiah 10; Acts 2 (New International Version) 

Scripture-My special verse today:  Acts 2:25 David said about him: 

   " 'I saw the Lord always before me. 
      Because he is at my right hand, 
      I will not be shaken. 
 26Therefore my heart is glad and my tongue rejoices; 
      my body also will live in hope, 
 27because you will not abandon me to the grave, 
      nor will you let your Holy One see decay. 
 28You have made known to me the paths of life; 

      you will fill me with joy in your presence.'^[e] 

Observation:  David is being quoted by Peter at a time when Christ has just ascended to heaven.  He has left them, or they believe he has, and Peter is trying to rally the troops.  He quotes David to give validity to his message because the Jews see him as a true source concerning God.  They would listen to the words of David and hear them as truth.  Peter was wise to quote him.

 Application:  Drawing upon the insights of David concerning how Jesus would not be held down by the grave, Peter tells the people that Christ is still alive.  He excites the crowd by reminding them that the Holy One, Jesus, cannot be conquered by the grave and fills the believer with joy.  He is still alive!!

As I go about daily tasks, I need to remember the Joy of Jesus in the every day.  He conquered death so that I, as a believer, might live through him each and every day.  May I live as a believer.

 Prayer:  Let me live out the joy of my salvation.

Actin' as cold as ice
When we wanna be
Just a foolish game we play
You couldn't hurt me bad enough
To make me give it up
And walk away

CHORUS
We can't stop
The feeling's too strong
We've got the will to hang on
Can't stop
We struggle and fight to survive
Keepin' the love alive

We try to forget the past
So many times
It's hard to make those memories leave
With all we have at stake
We'll bend until we break
Cause we both believe

CHORUS

If we stand the test of time
Love will be the lasting kind

CHORUS

I'm alive - and the dawn breaks across the sky
I'm alive - and the sun rises up so high
Lost in another world (far away), never another word (till today)
But what can I say? I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive

(Instrumental break)

Suddenly came the dawn (from the night), suddenly I was born (into light)
How can it be real? I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive

I'm alive - and the world shines for me today
I'm alive - suddenly I am here today
Seems like forever (and a day), thought I could never (feel this way)
Is this really me? I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive

(Instrumental break)

I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive, I'm alive

Everyday I prayed that I would find a lover
Then I looked into your eyes and I discovered
Something was changing in my life
Turning the darkness into light

When I'm with you I come alive
I feel I'm living in heaven
You make the wrong turn out so right
I'm gonna love you forever

There is not a thing that I would change about you
And my life was never quite the same without you
You made the rain clouds go away
Bringing me sunshine everyday

When I'm with you I come alive
I feel I'm living in heaven
You make the wrong turn out so right
I'm gonna love you forever

In your arms you make me warm
You give me strength to carry on
I know I won't be alone
As long as I'm with you

Noul stil de dans, stilul tecktonik:

Fenomen muzical, urban si mai recent un fenomen de moda, miscarea tecktonik a explodat in acest an in cluburile franceze. De la un fenomen de periferie a devenit un subiect star, ocupand deja multe pagini din revistele de moda pentru adolescenti. Emisiunile TV au inceput sa exploreze acest fenomen, iar show-ul de final al tendintelor la targul prêt-à-porter Who's next din septembrie a fost…tecktonik.  Motive suficiente pentru a arunca o privire din interiorul acestei miscari.

La baza acestui fenomen stau petrecerile organizate de mai multi ani,

de discoteci belgiene cu muzica hardtech, hardtrance, eurodance. Acestui mix muzical ii corespundea un stil de dans specific - jumpstyle.  Conceptul acestor petreceri a fost importat in Franta in urma cu 7 ani intr-o discoteca din periferia pariziana - Métropolis (http://www.metropolis.fr/).  Gratie unei echipe - Tecktonik Events - aici au aparut seri care au popularizat genul muzical (electro si trance), intr-o versiune mai putin violenta si mai comerciala.  Seriile Tecktonik Killer au castigat notorietate in decursul timpului adunand pana la 8.000 de persoane si numerosi DJ internationali.  Inainte de a deveni un fenomen de moda/urban/muzical, Tecktonik este astfel numele unor seri foarte populare in Paris.  Odata cu succesul, Tecktonik (http://www.tck01.fr/) a devenit o veritabila marca.  Din 2006 exista compilatii, o linie vestimentara si chiar o bautura energizanta.

Popularitatea s-a aliat cu tot ce inseamna mijloc de comunicare in lumea adolescentilor.  Tele realitatea, myspace, blogurile au contribuit pe deplin la explozia acestei "culturi clubbing".  Pe internet (www.soonnight.com) exista sute de clipuri sau fotografii care ii arata pe tinerii dansatori sau "confruntarile" de dans improvizate pe strada si in curtile scolilor, "confruntari" populare, de altfel, si in alte stiluri muzicale.

Miscarea tecktonik are la baza muzica, in general hard-tech, iar dansul inedit are elemente din jumpstyle, folosind in general bratele (ca in Vogging sau breakdance).  Clubberii numesc aceasta miscare a bratelor - hardstyle.  Ei si-au stilizat imaginea mereu in variantele extreme ale modei (jeansi slim, stele si o coafura "futurista") exportand-o pe strada.  De la periferia Parisului ei au invadat "centrul", adunandu-se in zona Châtelet.

Ca orice subcultura urbana, look-ul este esential la acesti tineri pentru a se identifica.  A fi "fashion" este esential pentru ei: pantaloni slim (albi, negri, colorati) cu talia lasata foarte jos, caschete colorate, tricouri stramte, veste cu gluga, curele cu tinte, Conversi colorati, detalii tip plasa, stele, dungi, mansete de tricot, jambiere.

Detaliu important: aproape toate tinutele sunt marime XS.  Ca in toate subculturile stylingul este esential.  Accesorii marunte si colorate, piese vestimentare deturnate completeaza look-ul in mod original.  Azi un basket de o culoare si celalalt de alta, maine baticuri legate la un picior, peste 2 zile jeansii au unul din picioare camuflat de o jambiera …  Adesea codurile lor evolueaza la fel de repede cum se schimba vitrinele magazinelor din zona unde se intalnesc.

Miscarea nu are inca un concept clar definit si poate singura filozofie comuna este aceea de a se distra la maxim punand un mare accent pe imaginea personala / stilul individual.  Altfel spus o miscare in care moda este un punct central, fapt exploatat deja de cateva marci streetwear din Paris.  Nu e de mirare ca punctele in care ei se intalnesc in oras graviteaza in zona Rivoli-Les Halles, cu un popas important in fata magazinului H&M.

La recent incheiatul targ de prêt-à-porter, "Who's next", showul de tendinte a avut finalul organizat in jurul unei teme tecktonik.  O suita de baieti si fete in haine multicolore au invadat scena in ritmuri techno prezentand o parte din tendintele de primavara streetwear: tricouri polo viu colorate (fuchsia, verde iarba, galben lamaie, albastru electric), pantaloni albi cargo, mansete in culori stridente sau alb-negru sah, jambiere dungate, pantofi sport cu talpa compesata.

Tecktonik - tendinta pasagera sau un nou stil urban?  Ramane de vazut cat va dura acest fenomen care celebreaza pofta de a trai a adolescentilor.  Cert este ca generatia este impatimita de moda - mina de aur pentru branduri in urmatoarele sezoane!

Pentru cei ce asculta Tecktonik, am pregatit aici un pack pentru voi :)

Tecktonik (click 4 download)

(parola/pass: proxy )

Gratitude, appreciation, giving thanks. No matter what words you use, they all mean the same thing. Happy. We're supposed to be happy. Grateful for friends, family. Happy just to be alive. Whether we like it or not. . Appreciating small victories. Admiring the struggle it takes simply to be human. Maybe we're thankful for the familiar things we know. And maybe we're thankful for the things we'll never know. At the end of the day, the fact that we have the courage to still be standing is reason enough to celebrate.

The gameplay is really clever. The puzzles are really well made, and just the right level of difficulty. The whole portal concept is brilliantly implemented, and since it hasn't really been done before, you can guarantee an original experience. It's definitely not a cookie-cutter game.

The story, all 2 hours of it, is really well written, and delivered in a fun and quirky way. The characters (well, character, you only ever interact with one character) is amazing, I loved how well developed she was. And the voice acting for her, even digitally warped, was just terrific. And towards the end of the game, the real crux of the story, is so absorbing, I couldn't stop playing.

Portal has one of the better endings I've seen in a game, wrapping things up nicely and yet still leaving it open. Also, the actual credits, well, they just made me happy. Youtube 'portal credits song' or something if you want to see them. Brilliant.

The game environment is really sparse and simplistic, which only adds to the feel of the game, and when you get out of the main 'testing' areas and into the broken down, 'backstage' areas, the contrast is obvious. Aesthetically, Portal gets full marks, I wouldn't change a thing.

A few things I would like to see, though, to make Portal perfect. I would like it to be longer, for one. The challenges extend the life of the game, definitely, but they lack the story that makes the game really compelling. I would like to know more about Chell, the main character, and about the world outside the building. More specifically, how it fits into the Half Life universe. I would like to know more about the other participant, who you never meet, and whose fate is unknown.

And those are minor complaints, really. All in all, Portal was simply amazing, and my only regret is that I've already finished it. Luckily for me, they're making a Portal 2, and I cannot wait until that comes out.

I thoroughly recommend you all to play Portal. I urge you to. I'm begging you to. It's one of the best games I've played, and there isn't anyone it wouldn't appeal to.

10/10. Seriously, I'm not even taking points of for any of my petty qualms.

intrigued but
uncertain a drugged heart
paces in my stomach,
makes me nauseous in the speed
with which it moves
up my throat,
catching the indrawn air and
hanging weightless,
remorseless,
reminds me of the fragile
shattered exchanges
of breath that came before,
leaving me lightheaded and doubtful
that they ever came before at all.

Julian Lesser wants to be interesting and compelling. Revealing but not too revealing. He wants for his work to be worth something. But not just in a ledger. This Astoria-based artist has a gift. He's modest but not shy when it comes to his art. His acclaimed collection, "Future Gardens and Other Destinations" recently opened in Upstate New York. Some of the same work will be descending on SoHo in

December. He's no stranger to experimentation. He likes a good challenge. He thinks of New York as home. But to Lesser, life is fragmented. To Lesser, we are all ripped apart inside by ideas and emotions. And when the Molecule recently asked the young painter to bring us in a little bit closer to his art, we found a bit more in the process.

UM: What was a typical "day in the life" at the Lesser homestead growing up?

JL: Good question. It changed from day to day. Things would be normal for some time and then they’d completely get out of hand. When it was normal it was nice. Our family was very safe, very loving. We enjoyed cooking together, traveling and learning together. My mom is an artist as well. When I was a boy I would spend time drawing and painting in her studio. She always encouraged my creativity. Like I said, the good times were good. And then there were the bad times. Difficult. Stressful. There were times when we were in financial crisis and had to move from where we lived. Times my parents weren’t happily married and my brother and I were forced to weather the storms from the sidelines.

UM: How has living in New York affected your art?

JL: Living in NYC has made me realize that I was meant to make art. I grew up in Westchester and went to school in the Hudson Valley, which has a very vibrant artistic community. I was able to focus on my art in the mountains of New Paltz. Then I moved to NYC after graduating from college. I engaged my art in the city while finding a way to survive. I often wished I could quit everything and just paint, but quickly realized the city wasn’t supportive of my kind.

In a sense I’ve always lived in NYC. We would often come to see family or do other things, so I felt like a New Yorker early on. The city inspires me. Not only my art, but my drive. Every day is inspiring and challenging. Every day is a day to create something new, to strive to be bigger, better, stronger. New York City makes you want to succeed. You can’t be passive in any way. It’s fast and rough, and makes you explore your motives and inspirations and goals, your soul.

UM: More and more creative types are relocating to Astoria. How is it living in Queens as an artist?

JL: There is so much energy, very much like the energy you find in the city. And it’s very close – a quick train ride – so I don’t feel like I’m missing parts of the art community. But being here gives me peace and quiet too. There’s also a sense of community you might not find in Manhattan. It allows me the space I need without worrying about whether or not I can afford to eat. It’s ideal here. I get the space I need to create my work and I’m slightly removed from the social distractions of the city, so I’m not always tempted by sex or partying. Well, I still do get distracted sometimes. I’m not a prude. Besides, some of those city activities are part of my inspiration.

UM: What comes to mind when I say the word "bodies"?

JL: Bodies of water. Bodies of land. Collections. Mass groupings of a particular thing. The human body, which in itself is a massive collection of cells and neurons. Bodies are collections, groupings, families. Bodies…it’s really a huge word that can relate to so many things. It relates to my work, I think. It’s an overview of a larger picture, an umbrella with thousands of layers below it. My work is a final image with thousands of layers, ideas and emotions below it, peeking through and lying underneath. A body of work, bodies of work…it’s a very artful term.

UM: Your work has taken several turns with respect to media. Ink, acrylic, mixed. Is there a clear progression? Introduce us to your personal artistic evolution.

JL: [sighs] I’m an experimenter. I love to try new things. I feel like I’m at a place where it’s working, like I don’t have to experiment with materials as much, but now I can focus more on content. My multimedia work comes from the need to create a history and substance. The textures. The layers. I have a process where I create layers and history first, then work with my content. Painting without exploring is of no interest to me. My paintings are journeys, small adventures. Still life is of no interest to me. I’m more interested in creating a history or finding a problem, then figuring out how to visually resolve them in a painting.

UM: You recently had a successful opening in upstate New York.

JL: The opening was great! The show had 51 pieces in it, my largest show ever. I created the body of work over the course of 3 to 4 months. Friends, family, art buyers and others came. I sold 12 pieces opening night. I hope the show continues to sell. It’s showing through November 2nd. I dedicated the show to my nephew, Nathaniel Lesser, who died of Sudden Infant Death Syndrome (SIDS) at 4 months back in early July. Whenever I got tired I remembered what, who I was working for. He was my motivation.

UM: You have a show coming up in SOHO.

JL: The show is at Bobby Berk Gallery. Bobby and I have been acquaintances for many years. We know a lot of the same people and share many friends. He has always had an interest in my art but didn’t have a space until early this year. It wasn’t until recently that he decided that my work would suit his space. He invited me to show a past collection of my work – it’s actually there now. He loved my new work and thought it would look great in the space. Of course I agreed.

We’ve grown our friendship and developed a business partnership, promoting his space and showing my work. The opening is December 11. The show is called “Escaping Manhattan: Future Gardens and Other Destinations Continued.” It will be some of the work from my most recent exhibition, “Future Gardens and Other Destinations,” as well as additional work I will complete over the next few months. I’m very excited about it.

UM: You were recently almost set on fire.

JL: Yes I was. Two cars in front of my apartment were parked next to a heaping pile of garbage on the curb. The blaze was bright and crackling and woke me up. I’m lucky one of those cars didn’t explode. I sleep naked so I would have really been fucked if fire had come through the window, or if I had to leave my apartment in a hurry. Since then I’ve been sleeping in shorts.

UM: In “Future Gardens” you fuse city structures with organic images.

JL: The collection is about traveling to cities, gardens and other landscapes. It’s about escaping New York and finding more. Of course I can’t leave right now…there’s too much going on. So, I decided to take a trip in my mind, to create my own adventures. While doing that I’ve found time to relax and reflect in my studio, or on the subway, or in Central Park. I made these paintings all over the city.

UM: Many of your human figures appear fractured. How did this style originate?

JL: As most of my work originates, without initial intention. This started with sketches and spills that were uncontrollable. But it felt right. Soon I realized it was a way to show self-reflection. To show all the sides of the people I was portraying. We are all fragmented, scattered, ripped apart inside by what we want versus what we need; what is right and what is wrong; how we feel versus what we think.  The fragmented figures represent the daily internal and external struggles each and every one of us goes through as humans.

UM: What's next?

JL: What's next? Ha! Make more art. Keep exploring this crazy, overwhelming inspiring world we live in. There is no next except this! This is what I must do: self-explore. Try to figure out the way we all fit together. Do I make a difference? Do any of us make a difference? What’s the point of being here if you aren’t going to contribute in the best, most eager way you know how? We all must do our part to contribute whatever it is we have to offer the world, to make a difference. To inspire each other. To make this existence worth a damn.

I started October strong and then quickly failed the following days due to work and school restraints, but I'm still trying.

You know how people say to think positively or that how you think about something affects the way you see the world? Like if you're grumpy and you bemoan the fact that you're having a bad day, thing just seem to constantly get worse? These are things that everyone, through the experience of human life, generally know to be true whether you can quantify it or not, but researchers from the Vanderbilt University in Nashville, Tennessee have finally applied scientific laboratory research to see if this is true, and their results were fascinating.

"Letting your imagination run away with you may actually influence how you see the world. New research from Vanderbilt University has found that mental imagery—what we see with the "mind's eye"—directly impacts our visual perception.

"We found that imagery leads to a short-term memory trace that can bias future perception," says Joel Pearson, research associate in the Vanderbilt Department of Psychology. and lead author of the study. "This is the first research to definitively show that imagining something changes vision both while you are imagining it and later on."

"These findings are important because they suggest a potential mechanism by which top-down expectations or recollections of previous experiences might shape perception itself," Pearson and his co-authors write.

It is well known that a powerful perceptual experience can change the way a person sees things later. Just think of what can happen if you discover an unwanted pest in your kitchen, such as a mouse. Suddenly you see mice in every dust ball and dark corner—or think you do. Is it possible that imagining something, just once, might also change how you perceive things?

"You might think you need to imagine something 10 times or 100 times before it has an impact," says Frank Tong, associate professor of psychology and co-author of the study. "Our results show that even a single instance of imagery can tilt how you see the world one way or another, dramatically, if the conditions are right."

- Science Daily (July 4th, 2008)
- http://www.sciencedaily.com/releases/2008/07/080703145849.htm
-The Functional Impact of Mental Imagery on Conscious Perception

I had come across this article when I had been struck with the desire to see if there was anything written out there on the topic of how we see things in the world, at least in respects to reality vs. mental interpretation. For a while I have tossed around the issue in my head about how I can remember what friends of mine physically looked like before I met them and then how differently they appear to me perceptually after I get to know them. I'm of course talking here about the "mind's eye" interpretation, not true physical traits like they were heavier or had purple hair before I knew them and once we were friends they changed, but more projected applied mental creations of who those people are.

When we encounter someone we don't know, especially if its at a distance (as in even without verbal communication), you immediately begin grouping and categorizing, deciding things about who this person is, how this is important in relation to you, analyzing body language, etc... and all of these things culminate in creating a picture of who this person is in your head. Once you have had time to gain history and experiences with someone, all that added information begins to affect your mental image of them.

I find it interesting at times to compare and contrast the past versions of my friends and loved ones with their current versions I carry with me in my head. It helps you to see the potential flaws in the way you might judge others before you get to know them, seeing your biases. And for me personally it has helped me become better at giving people a chance, because I have seen first hand, based on my own experiences (empirical data!), how often I can be wrong about people, and that makes me feel like quite the fool.

I'm not sure yet whats up next on my research list, but I have a lot of work to do before November prepping for all the writing I'll be doing. I'm sure I will find something neat to read about!

Until next time,
-Moniker Vise
"I'm the sage of absurd"

Herewith, a few pithy remarks concerning the first three movies in this batch o’ bloodbaths. And no, Evil will not be rating them “one to four skulls” or something stupid like that. Though, if you’re curious—or if you look to the Evil as your guide to right living, as you should—he will recommend or condemn each one.

The Exorcism of Emily Rose: The long awaited courtroom-drama-meets-Satanic-horror movie. It’s what we all hoped A Few Good Men would be but wasn’t. “This movie is based on a true story,” claims the opening credits. If so, Evil regrets that he wasn’t on the jury for that case. Overall, a nice atmospheric piece of near-horror. It’s not really spooky, and only has a couple of those “LOUD NOISE! Wait—it’s only a cat, whew” moments. And for an exorcism movie, not much pea soup vomit. Which makes it perfect if you’re looking to watch a semi-scary movie with someone who doesn’t care for the genre.

Hellraiser: Evil never got around to seeing this back in the day. Though here’s an anecdote: waaaaaay back in high school, he went over to a friend’s house to watch Alive. When Evil arrived, said friend told him Blockbuster was out of Alive . . . “So I rented this.” This being Hellraiser III: Hell on Earth. One supposes said friend didn’t quite get what Alive was all about, just that he had heard it involved cannibalism. Anyway, Hellraiser the First: A+ for concept, C for execution. And it’s hard to get past the 80’s hair—at some points, Evil couldn’t remember if he was watching a horror movie or a T’Pau video.

Re-Animator: Or, more precisely, “H.P. Lovecraft’s Re-Animator”, though Evil doubts H.P. would recognize this as “his.” Given the fact that it’s an Evil Dead-style farce of a horror movie (though it predates Evil Dead, for those keeping score), Evil wonders whom the filmmakers thought attaching Lovecraft’s name to the title would lure in. Anyone sold on seeing this movie solely for its Lovecraftian elements would be sorely disappointed. But otherwise, Evil highly recommends Re-Animator. Just so you can see how one can force a severed head to sit upright on a table. You need to know these things . . .

That’s all for now. More to come . . .

Cel de-al patrulea extras pe single de pe albumul "Free" al lui Kate Ryan, pe care il puteti cumpara din Romania cu aprox. 30 lei, este "Surrender", dupa ce celelalte trei piese lansate s-au bucurat de un succes fulminant. Drept dovada, piesa "Ella elle l'a", de care v-am vorbit si eu, s-a mentinut 7 saptamani pe locul 1 in topul vanzarilor din Spania, iar pana acum s-au vandut peste 150.000 de exemplare din acest single doar in Spania! Asta inseamna de 7 ori platina!

Ascultati mai jos "Surrender", o piesa pe care o veti fredona deja dupa prima ascultare si care are si ea toate ingredientele unui viitor hit!

15 minutes (actual teaching time – more time should be allotted for the plants to change.)

Description

This object lesson helps participants understand that Jesus rose from the dead after three days. It takes at least an hour for the plants to show signs of life, so you will want to conduct this object lesson at the beginning of class. If you are teaching a multi-day program, you can do PART 1 on the first day and PART 2 on the second.

Materials

· Several Resurrection Plants (a.k.a. The Rose of Jericho). They can be ordered online or through a local nursery.

· A shallow dish or bowl for each plant.

· A little water for each dish or bowl.

· Ziplock bags (optional)

Preparation

Put a little water into the bottom of each bowl.

Practice the script.

Procedure

PART 1

Use the following script (or modify to suit your needs):

· “I’m going to need a few volunteers.” (Select one volunteer per Resurrection Plant.)

· “I would like each of you to take one of these.” (Hand out plants to each child.)

· “What do you think that is?”

· “Would you agree that it looks pretty dead?”

· “Yeah, it looks dead to me, too, but I know something about these plants. They are very special.”

· “In front of each of you, there is a plate/bowl with a little water in it. I would like for each of you to put your plant in that water.”

· “We are going to leave those there for a little bit and see what happens.” (Allow volunteers to return to their seats and continue with other parts of your lesson. The plants will need at least an hour to show a difference.)

PART 2

Use the following script (or modify to suit your needs):

· “Let’s take another look at those plants.” (Ask your volunteers to rejoin you up at the front.)

· “Take a look at your plant. What do you think?” (Have them hold up their plants so that everyone can see them.)

· “Isn’t that amazing! Didn’t they look dead before?”

· “We call them Resurrection Plants, because ‘resurrection’ means to ‘come back to life.’”

· “That’s just what Jesus did. He died and was buried, but three days later, He came back to life! These plants are a good reminder that Jesus is risen!”

· “God puts many things in nature to remind us of Him and of His truths. The resurrection plants are an example of that. Can you think of any other examples from nature that teach us about God or His truth?” (The children might have all types of ideas, but here are a few to help if they can’t think of any:

o At night, the sun goes away, but the moon continues to reflect its light (Jesus is like the sun, and we are like the moon.)

o Sheep follow their shepherd just like Jesus wants us to follow Him.

o Dogs know how to show unconditional love. Even if you forget to feed them one day, they forgive you right away.)

· “Can anyone think of anything that dies and comes back to life?” (Take responses. If they struggle, you can remind them that seeds from fruits and plants have to die and be buried in order to grow into the trees and plants that they one day become.)

· “So God has left all these things for us as reminders of what His Son did.”

· (Allow volunteers to return to their seats. You can let them put the plants in ziplock bags and take them home, or you can let they dry out so that you can use them again later.)

Love we spread, remember
From a keyboard to a screen
Secret codes for blind people
We were lone to read

Hidden lovers
Slipping through the net
Like a slick Arsene
Never caught
Never bent
Love we spent
Lavishly
Capricious children we were
Quarelling over grown-up pea
Is still alive
And blind
Watching a flame too long
Flickering
Wandering
Why

Two magnets
Larger than life
You are far
I am too
No games anymore
No daily pictures
Nor thoughts of pleasure
No more dew

Crying from ancient lands
Blowing in ancestral winds
To nowaseconds
Struggling
Stubborn as a mule
Denying fate
Which used to lie for most

But found no path
Our love
Into one labyrinth
Where it trapped itself
Waiting
Waiting to ripen
Until mischance come its way
In the cause of stillness

That love
I love
You never avowed
But between words
I never confessed
To go forward

Everlasting love
Never-ending lake
I couldn't help it
I always chose the wrong bark
I knocked me out of the park
Twas not the done thing

Fathoming too late
While it stinged
I loved you
And the reverse was true
I remain bewildered
Unplugged
From that love
We used to sing

Mae Linat © 2008