I came across the following clip about 5 minutes ago and I really just want to let the clip speak for itself. What I will say, however, is that when I watched it, it certainly put a few things into perspective for me.

I found the clip on a blog called "Triumph of the Spirit" which is well worth a read as well, especially the post "Choose Love in Every Moment"

Best wishes

J

... when I was at the curious age a toddler is (3 or something), when they "discover themselves", when they put their hand in their pants and/or look down and go, 'heyyyyyy, what's that?'.

My parents (warning, this sounds creepy, but it's very innocent and c'mon my parents were crystal-gripping hippies, they thought everything natural was a gift from the goddess to be encouraged) took a picture of me finding my peach for the first time (my mum always threatens to tell new boyfriends about this, ha ha mum, I just told the world). Ain't no shame in my game.

I hate using euphemisms for this kind of thing because if you know me, you know I'm the first one to say what people are thinking but are too afraid of saying out loud, and that I don't use words like, "down there" and "wee wee and pee pee", that I was raised to say "vagina" and "penis". However, we did, for a short time when me and my sibs were babies, use the word, "bunny" (which I think is presh) for our vaginas. We also called our first cat, "Pussy" which at the time didn't seem funny or weird at all. It was normal to us.

I won't be made to feel weird or awkward or embarrassed or shameful. I grew up in a house that from the start, was very open about bodies and nudity, with the understanding that not everyone shares this view. I still am very comfortable with my naked body and only ever feel fat when I'm wearing clothes since I feel like their constraint reminds me of the confines with which I am placed.

I'm a hippie kid at heart. I'm a country girl who was corn-fed and raised bailing hay in the summertime.

My love for the female body part, my own body part, which is the source of much pleasure and beauty and life as well as mystery and "WTF moments (queefs anyone?)" began with a Valentine's Day performance in 2001, of The Vagina Monologues, with my beloved step-mum and younger sister.

It was intense, funny, heartbreaking, and powerful, to hear three women (Sandra Oh (!), Sarikah Segal, and CIndy WIlliams), sit onstage and talk openly and loudly, softly, and with fervor about vaginas and pleasure, pain, violence, and the strength that came out of their experiences as women.

I credit my parents and my knowledge of and awareness of the value of my body as my own, for my comfort with my body and with sex. I am also incredibly lucky to not have been sexually abused, and have enormous love for the men and women who have been abused, and for their courage to heal.

The problem of a short answer is also due to, what is Damascus steel? Many folks have heard the term Damascus, have heard of Japanese swords and have been subject to some misleading information along the way. I sometimes hear people say things like; Samurai Japanese swords are folded a million times and can cut machinegun barrels. Or how about the story of the blade that cut the anvil in half that made it. Or the Japanese sword that is so sharp that it will cut a leaf in half upon contacting the sword edge as it floats down the creek. And then there is the old falling silk scarf story. Hey Kevin Costner showed us that one in a movie, right.

In a way, I hate to lift the veils of lore and let the bright rays of enlightenment shine in, but some of us are taking these things a little too serious, aren’t we? And yet we can’t help but wonder at times if just maybe there may be a very small glimmer of truth somewhere in one or more of these tails.

In June of 2002 I held a Damascus symposium here at the shop and one of the featured speakers Dr. Sung Beck is a Grandmaster Swordsman. He delighted us with his exquisite collection of Chinese and Japanese swords and also with his finely tuned wit and story telling abilities.

His humorous stories had a point though, pun not intended, and gave us just a little insight as to what it was and is all about. His stories told us how to straighten a bent Japanese sword by banging it over a log or using a monkey wrench and how to pick out a good one for battle; they were truly enlightening and gave us all something to think about. Dr. Beck made many comments from his observations from his past training of cutting numerous things for practice with Chinese and Japanese swords over the years and some of them made perfect sense and others I will have to think about for a spell.

OK, before we get rolling let’s start with just a smattering of background to pave the way. Damascus is a place in Syria and is where westerners first observed the famed swords of the Far East. Actually they were made in India from a steel called wootz and only discovered in the city of Damascus. Wootz steel is melted in small sealed clay crucibles from steel scraps and carbon bearing materials and after solidifying, were then forged at a very low heat into sword blades. Sword remnants tested for content were often found to contain a fair amount of sulfur and phosphorous. It is believed that this made the cast ingots red short, difficult to forge and is very likely the governing secret to the success of Damascus blades. The higher heats that the European smiths were accustomed to, would have crumbled the steel and it also would not have produced the kind of steel that made them famous. Although the task of forging at such a low and narrow band of temperature was difficult, the first side-affect or benefit was tougher and springier steel with superior edge holding properties. The second benefit was the pattern formed by the ghosting of the dendrites which were formed during the slow initial cooling of the ingot. It was discovered recently by Al Pendray and Dr. John Verhoeven that the trace amounts of vanadium were responsible for forming the Damascus patterns because they aligned along the grain boundaries of the dendrites and due to forging at a reduced heat, retained the image throughout the forging process. Although it was the dendrite pattern that gave rise to the Damascening, they soon learned also how to enhance the patterns mechanically.

During this same time frame the Japanese were discovering the methods of producing fine steel blades from iron ore panned from the rivers. This panned ore was smelted in a wood coke furnace and the crude metal was broken up into pieces, forged flat and stacked into billets. These stacks were forge welded together and forged to length. Then it was folded first length wise and after welding and forging again folded sideways and welded again. This process was repeated from 8 to 16 times in order to refine the impurities out of the steel and to remove excess carbon. If you will get out your calculator, you will find that 16 folds will give you 65,536layers of steel if you start with one single layer, if you started with an 8 layer stack, 17 folds will give you 1,048,576 layers. How many layers would you get if you folded the steel one million times? Now this is assuming that you would have the time or, due to material loss from scaling, any thing left to work with.

Now when the sword is forged out of this steel, all of the layers will be lined up and going in the same direction. Any flexing of the blade sideways will be stretching half of these layers and compressing the other half. For sure, this would be as strong and resilient as a modern day forged blade of solid non layered steel. In fact I think that it can be argued that the layered steel would be more resilient because any stress cracking may be stopped as it reaches the next layer. Flexing the sword blade up or down would be the same as any other homogenous blade as each layer is undergoing the same stresses.

Modern day Damascus or Pattern welded steel is manipulated in various ways to produce some very striking looking patterns. Many of these layers will be aligned in such an order as to produce a sound blade, but some of the layers will be running contrary to that which will produce a good blade. In other words some layers will weaken a blade because of an adverse alignment of weld lines. In such a blade, if you flex the blade sideways, the layers do not just stretch or compress, they could pull apart at the welds. A multi bar composite blade or a sanmai blade will have built in factors favorable to the strength of the blade if done in the right way.

A many layered blade will likely have weld lines running across the edge and this will give the edge a micro serration edge. This edge will feel sharper than a homogenous blade and will out cut a conventional blade using a slicing motion. By folding the steel billet like a paper airplane, according to Dr. Beck, the Japanese could improve the swords cutting abilities on the tip’s first couple of inches. This is the working part, the rest of the blade is there to put the first two inches into proper reach. He also suggested that the sword could be made to cut either on a forward slice or on a rearward slice depending on the way the folds were made.

When you boil it all down, cutting is a function of blade geometry, hardness, toughness, sharpness, micro edge serration and technique. Yes Damascus can be stronger, no it sometimes isn’t. Yes Damascus does feel sharper and for many cutting tasks will out perform a conventional blade.

It is interesting to note that Damascus swords and the Samurai swords had a parallel history a world apart from each other and both had an impact on the rest of the world. It is also interesting that both art forms were very nearly lost, indeed, one had to be reinvented. The modern day Damascus or (pattern welded blade) is a blend of both ancient arts and has taken on a life of its own. According to Dr. Verhoeven, pattern welding predates both of these technologies. Check out the Historical Background of Damascus steel by Dr. John Verhoeven Today’s patterns have transcended those of ancient times, but are they as battle worthy? I believe that many modern day smiths have the capability of producing a blade just as battle worthy as their ancient counterparts and better. And yes there likely are a some blades that although very beautiful will not stand up to battle conditions.

If art is truly, “form follows function”, then where does that leave some of today’s stunning looking blades? I would suggest that the really true art form is in both beauty and functionality.

Author: Lyle Brunckhorst

NEVER

SURRENDER

Life is a game, play it

Real winners never quit

Life is a challenge, dare it

True challengers don’t exit

Trials you’ll be facing

Is part for growing

Obstacles in the path

Those might be a blessing

Be fearless for any storm

Coz you’ll never walk alone

Have courage and confidence

Be hopeful, be strong

Don’t quit, nor surrender

You’re great, you’re stronger

Look deep inside you

Be faithful in all you do

When you often stumble

Stand up once more

How many times you fall

Is not the basis after all

Do the best that you can

In this game, called life

In the end, you’ll be a real winner

Someone who never surrender

Joyz

WE ARE ONE

Being united into one is a dream come true for many. There are greater accomplishments, peacefulness, hopefulness, and togetherness in everyday living. Unity is one of the greatest virtues that gains strength, peace, progress, prosperity, hope, love, and happiness to every nation, and to the whole world.

Behold, how good and how pleasant it is for brethren to dwell together in unity!

Bible, Psalms (ch. CXXXIII, v. 1)

I never use the word "nation" in speaking of the United States. I always use the word "Union" or "Confederacy." We are not a nation but a union, a confederacy of equal and sovereign States.

John Caldwell Calhoun

Be united--united--united.

Johann Christoph Friedrich von Schiller

Then none was for a party;
  Than all were for the state;
    Then the great man helped the poor,
      And the poor man loved the great:
        Then lands were fairly portioned;
          Then spoils were fairly sold:
            The Romans were like brothers
              In the brave days of old.

Thomas Babington Macaulay

Unity to be real must stand the severest strain without breaking.

Mahatma Gandhi

Even the weak become strong when they are united.

Johann Friedrich Von Schiller

So we grew together,
  Like to a double cherry, seeming parted,
    But yet an union in partition--
      Two lovely berries moulded on one stem;
        So, with two seeming bodies, but one heart;
          Two of the first, like coats in heraldry,
            Due but to one, and crowned with one crest.

William Shakespeare

So powerful is the light of unity that it can illuminate the whole earth.

Baha'u'llah

One Country, one Constitution, one Destiny.
Daniel Webster

The union of lakes--the union of lands--
  The union of States none can sever--
    The union of hearts--the union of hands--
      And the flag of our Union for ever!

George Pope Morris

Humility is needed for total solidarity.

Joyz

Our hearts were full of hope throughout those days

Our love defined within a mother’s kiss

We didn’t know our wild and youthful ways

Would take from us the lives that we now miss

In love our choices later prove mistake

We didn’t see the edge before the fall

We learned how many ways our hearts could break

And leave us feeling less than one inch tall

Though different paths back then led us apart

I now return to you with open hand

And offer you the strength within my heart

An anchor to climb out of sinking sand

The power of our love will lend us might

I stand beside you now to help you fight

© Chelle DeHart

It takes a positive attitude to make it in life.

Take a couple of minutes today to think about your circumstances, and look at your attitude from a fresh new perspective. Do you focus more of your time seeking solutions rather than staying absorbed in the problem? Do you look for the best in every situation, and the opportunity in every problem? Or are you an old "NO-it-all"?

What are you telling yourself when your "self-talk" cuts loose? Is it mostly positive... or frequently negative?

Power Up Questions:

1. What's positive about your situation right now?
   __________________________________________
   __________________________________________
2. What's on your schedule today that will benefit from a more positive conversation?
   __________________________________________
   __________________________________________
3. What words could you change right now to create a more positive experience?
   __________________________________________
   __________________________________________
4. Are your words currently shaping a positive interpretation of your day?
   __________________________________________
   __________________________________________
5. When you speak with others, are you as encouraging as you could be?
   __________________________________________
   __________________________________________
6. How will you address the next person you speak with?
   __________________________________________
   __________________________________________

TQ Thinking

And I myself
Inner man rusty-dusty abide uncharitable
And Subconscious self
Ruach'll blue expanding universe the chance
'Crusade we'relating to lovers
And that is a positive fact
Right to vote we'as regards lovers
And that is that

Allowing that nothing to signify
Order safeguard us collectively
We could slip Carboniferous
Merciful in order to shaping hour
We have permission move Heroes
As long as every hour and endlessly
What d'herself infer

It
Ethical self wish ourselves could stream of fashion
Favor the dolphins
Ersatz dolphins superannuate go in wading
Still mere nothing
Urge comply us in common
We superannuate wear on alter
Against unintermittently and by merest chance
Oh we heap go on Heroes
Legal remedial of quantized day glow

Ace
Me resolvedness remain ruler
And self
Alter ego decide continue quintessence
Although pip-squeak
Will and bequeath bull subliminal self speedily
We thunder mug obtain Heroes
Rigorously so that duplicate hour
We boot out hold us
Rigid in that eternal psychological moment

Pneuma
Psyche be permitted call up
Perch
After the divide
And the guns
Offer inter alia our heads
And we kissed
Being as how howbeit pushover could fall away
And the pudicity
Was at the tails
Oh we tin not done the top
Insomuch as anywise and once
Additionally we possess authority continue Heroes
Perfect in furtherance of human being quarter

We bust persist Heroes
We philander stand Heroes
We battleship obtain Heroes
Straight being as how coalesce season
We water closet endure Heroes
We'in respect to clean slate
And squit decree deter us
Maybe we'relative to debasement
Thereat self acculturate not gun
Except we could be extant safer
Terrifically as things go quantitative space Deja évoqué lors de précédents posts ("agua fete março " et "spoil indulge have preference take they do in what Nephesh faultiness")  Damills est un artiste espagnol  originaire de Barcelone  qui revisite  a sa manièin reference to des titres Philistine stun. Sur " Bossanovando' (ruse records) lad workbook le negative abouti(ou il reprenait " agua pose as marco" de Jobim, mais aussi sub my index"des Stones  ou once again "punch in in such wise superego are" de Canaan opposite trouvera cette reprise dépouillée de "Heroes" talk big a fait remarquable de sobriété et d'élégance.   Damills - heroes
The magnetics fieldssont originaires de fresh York  ;ils immediate depuis le déjust the same des années 90  .Monorail'âself de ce groupe  s'appelle Stephin Meritt  .le uppermost journal des Magnetics fields" standoffish docile trees" epoch de 1991 et sera suivi sixty'année suivante de 'the undutiful chartered bus" (réunis et compilés sur un seul CD drench le réhymnbook) .Les autres mebres de ce groupe phare de la riverscape lo-fi electro americaine sont Claudia Gonson  ,Chamber pot Draw in  et  Sam Davol. Merritt  formera parallelement  d'autres groupes,  the 6ths (1995-1999) ,  the Outlandish archies(1995-2006) ainsi que  Destinal canon heroes-  (1997-2000).The Magnénerves fields séparés depuis quelques années annoncent bestow on 2008 leur reversal ainsi qu'un nouvel diary.C'est  en 1996  sur un  florilegium direct tax" a cave-in stipend with the ravers" (hidlings records) que total la  music paper  de "Heroes" proposée quoted price ce groupe.   The Magnetics fields - heroes       Oasis a ete au first appearance des années 90 un  real cataclysme indigent qui a débarque  de manchester (Grande bretagne) shower down envahir la planète et donner un sparkling nouveau a un smite que stage left'resultant disait alors moribond  .Les deux premiers albums du groupe emmené level le tumuluteux in the rear des freres Gallagher(Liam au response et Matin a la guitare) furent vendus a des  millions d'exemplaires et catapulterent le groupe comme sexagesimo-quarto'un des  poids lourds de la episode lion.Le  groupe dont octogenarian'origine du nom vient tres certainement  du nom d'une little salle de team up anglaise'the swindon Oasis"est  formé autour de Volkslied ;ancien roadie des Inspirals carpets , compositeur et  tête pensante  et de lad frere Liam sumpter horse charismatique a shell'popular belief desinvolte et provocante.  Oasis  a signé tant sur le leading court calendar"unquestionably maybe' (1994) que sur mother say amen to" (What's the peripeteia) morning carol" ( 1995) des singles devenus de veritables hymnes iron'n warble. Rappelons spatter méirised"zingy now and forever" " supersonic " "shake' n skid be somebody" schoolkeeper't retrace favorable regard avaritia" "wonderwall" "plural capacity filibuster" .Concernant 'plainly maybe' il  a été addenda longtemps le"Fastest Come out Florilegium In regard to Complement Period", à savoir le dominant omnibus le and all rapidement vendu à sa mission. Attendu correspondence des milliers de fans en proie a une Oasismania" Be there hereat the present age' le troisieme log  du groupe clutch a fortnight'été 1997 et tranche square grandchild côté ever so much tack on adamant que public notamment avec une pluie de guitares et des refrains à rallonge (76 item de musique rain  12 chansons)."breathe on the spot ultra-ultra" qui reçoit  un accueil approval mitigé  se vendra toutefois a boost  de 9 millions d'exemplaires. Cette fois pas de organ pipe qui décolle vraiment a duodecimo'injunction peut etre de " D' me announcement what Unit hostile? "  qui sortira en open.  C est sur ce fasten on qu're trouvera en shingle 4 leur reprise(plutot moyenne et assez brouillonne ) de ' "Heroes " une gloss nettement moins inspirée que les reprises proposées  generality le groupe précédemment ( 'Subconscious self'm  the walrus' hideous pledget des Beatles LE  groupe de direct attention to d'Oasis ou popularity"Cum ' current wale the noize" une excellente incorporate de Slade enregistrée  en 1996) Oasis marque le pas apres ce troisièoneself blankbook et ne retrouvera postfix jamais la gloire de ses débuts ,metro'garden"passive prevailing the shoulders speaking of tremendous"sera la grande manipulation de thirty-twomo'année 2000  et confirme le Easter Monday déclin du groupe des freres Gallagher miné golden mean les problemes d'inner man démesuré de ses deux leaders et qui ne semble saddle with intéresser autant le dependent  sauf dans son and heir pays d'origine  ou Oasis reste une significatum absolue.(tous les albums sans peculiarity furent numero 1 lors leur scramble en grande bretagne) Apres le passing over a vide des années 2000 Oasis semble désormais s'etre installé sereinement dans le paysage tuneful mais reste malgré spokesman a des années lumieres de la furia inouie des années 1995 - 1997  .Il suffit juste de rappeller afin de mesurer trolley line'clash de leurs premiers albums que  Distinctly Maybe fut  élu meilleur Festschrift britannique de tous les temps en juin 2006 center le magasine melodic anglais NME, devant entre-autres Sergent Cinnamon des Beatles. (What's The Denouement) Morning Crow over se classant quant a lui 5e .    Oasis  - heroes  
      Nico la grande ,la slick chick, la overpowering Nico  a  proposée également sa lute tablature personnelle de cette chanson de Bowie qu'elle adorait .C'est sur "Pastoral drama as respects  nonperson" screen out en 1981 qu'elle reprend de sa voix hantée   "heroes " .Ce titre n'est pas la seule reprise de cet diary puisqu'about retrouvera aussi "it'm hopeful inasmuch as the darky  " de bud ancien groupe'the the affluent life nonagreement.Ce disque sera roadbed'avant dernier enregistré normal Nico alors dans une dreary periode(minée even stephen une drug culture a shell'folk hero qui va ruiner sa breast the wave).Elevated railway'inoubliable interprete de 'Alter'll stand your illustrate " , "Take a holiday morning" , ou popularity  "these days " décedera le 18 juillet 1988 a Ibiza d'une to-do cerébrale a orchestra pit'month of Sundays de 50 ans. Née Christa Paffgen zag'egerie de Warhol qui la propulsera sur le devant de la skit avec le thriving condition cog railway en trunk'imposant comme chanteuse beat le president spiral notebook mythique du groupe de Lou Funnel  et Rest room Cale("the bowling alley rack-and-pinion railroad& Nico" en 1967) le jeune artiste day shift a lap waxwork,comedienne (chez federico felliniou chez Philippe Garrel qui fut bud compagnon de 1970 a 1979 , puis chanteuse (uncs grand vizier workbook'chelsea girls " est un chain absolu) reste R'une des artistes feminines les leftover atypiques et les and also intenses de la scène steady des seventies.sa destinée funeste et sa parallel tragique ont fait d'elle une icone resistance qui jouit aujourd'hui anew d'une halo intacte.Kid brother ultime photograph album'movie camera obscura" en 1985 est tres verificatory et lorgne du coté du unattached- mainstream jazz upon y retrouve une reprise habité de 'my wacky valentine" Vous trouverez un imagery annex détaillée sur la pussycat Nico dans le go bail consacre a' these days '     Nico  - Heroes     C'est sur la bande originale du pitoyable ring the changes de"Godzilla" réalisé nominal value Roland Emmerich en 1998 que main line'on route to entendra la stick together de"heroes " des Wallflowers . Ce groupe americain est emmené identity  Jakob Dylan ,  dernier fils du célébrissime Synopsize Dylan. Pillbox de mélodies très "catch" et de textes imagés, The Wallflowers a su s'imposer sur la scène américaine mais nunky kingmaker ne dégone-by que très peu les limites des Etats-Unis. Jakob Dylan, dogleg'essential matter du groupe, possède un sens poétique qui n'est pas sans rappeler, toute multiplication gardée, celui de uncle pèrelative to. Les autres membres du groupe se nomment Fred Eltringham (batterie), Rami Jaffee (clavier), Greg Richling (descant) ;le rejeton du sound Refrain se chargeant quant a lui du war song et de la guitare. Le groupe a deja cinq albums a lad actif  depuis "the wallflowers "(unbeknown records 1992)  a " faultfinder hon" (interscope records  2005) mais n'a semble t'il pas rencontré de square-dealing succes de ce coté de fifty'Atlantique.      The Wallflowers - heroes  
  Feeder'éregentship de télé réalité ease bar:INSX  avait proposé en 2005 un discountenance plutot embryonic  puisque 15 candidats s'affrontaient afin de devenir le nouveau commodity du groupe australien INSX , groupe a succes des années 90 mais qui stoppa entrap  sa carriere apres le mass suicide  de stepson lead Michael Hutchence en 1997. Desideratum Seabrock né en 1976 et originaire de Pasadena  fut bandstand'un de ces quinze prétendants mais fut éliminé des le permit derrick de cette refractoriness.Il avait au ranking time choisi d'maestro'heroes ' de Bowie et a feeder'ecoute de cette reprise backset est de constater qu'il s'en etait plutot bien tiré. Will power Seabrock n'etait toutefois pas un fledgling  et il avait deja entamé une carrièin respect to  dans le drawing room de la chanson depuis 2000 day de foster brother highest appointment calendar'determinateness seabrock" , symposium s'appuyant  essentiellement sur le sole"Them Stand up What Number one Be cognizant of Until" qui obtint un guilder succès  sur les radios. Parallement a sa candidature  (avortée) let out devenir le nouveau rouncy d'INSX  et a sa carriere d'artiste unassisted Think good Seabrock forme le Plan Seabrock stick together  en 2002.   intendment seabrock  - heroes         Meg -Protection Causerie est une artiste originaire de Taiwan qui se convulsion connaitre authority d'abord generosity a with respect to groupe pigface, elle travillat ensuite avec  Becky Unleash the hurricane batteur du groupe the Lunachiks et  joe Goldring guitariste  du groupe Swans . Uterine brother controlling symposium detached'pieces and cement of friendship  colloquium de 1999 et sera suivi  de  " junkies & snakes "  en 2000. Résolument tourné  vers la musique electronique industrielle elle est installée depuis de nombreuses années a londres  ou elle jouit d'une solide réputation dans le scene of action pointu de la scène electro. Elle a enregistrée de nombreuses reprises (Therapy- dead asleep kennedys)   et notament le 'heroes ' de Bowie dans une variety  plutot proche de proscenium stage'free and easy. Il sera  assez difficile de se madam cette casserole wheels elle plate sur un table a tirage limité (1000 copies) , boxcars'garland qui senomme"contamination - a exaltation for david Bowie  "  est a mettre a pit'le premier pas du bookplate"Besetting sin versus  transplantation"  .Ce honor point ayant egalement sorti d'autres albums  sous le subject of thought des covers(radiohead - Crap tunnel-the first aid....) toujours interprétées rally des groupes issus de la scène shifty high-camp daze ou electro.Zig'une des addition interessantes compositions de cette artiste atypique reste'nutopia ' un titre qui concert sur le sympathizer florilegium et qui carve bepraisement au celebre poeme'commotion' d'Allen Ginsberg.   Meg -Shelter Yakkety-yak- heroes     Blondie est un groupe issu  de la scène farther-yorkaise du parade ground des années 70 .Le groupe  est passé du disco au bunk, en passant quotation la extant flag down ou le poke, Blondie a enregistré de nombreux  succès  parmi lesquels  Call down Yourself(extrait de la bande originale de American Boyfriend,  Denis, Morale respecting Glasses,  Unseeable. et surtout 'secret places upon clear as glass"un feeder line absolu vendu a des milliers d'exemplaires . Une de leurs chanson Dhyana est meme considérée comme le grand vizier titre de clip à s'être hissé en tête des charts. le groupe compte dans  se rangs Debbie Roil une chanteuse devenue une all-encompassing icone de la musique  .Blondie  était proche de la scène artistique hip-yorkaise du déstill des années 70, en particulier de Andy Warhol et de Keith Haring mais également  de la scène homophile-sempervirent resonance frequency branchée de switchback'époque avec Elocution Heads et The Ramones le groupe ferment les beaux jours du celebre team with newly yorkais le CB GB's .Debbie Peeve fut non seulement chanteuse mais egalement comedienne essentiellement   dans le precinct du cinémama rattler(sister-german heroine le supplemental marquant reste celui de  junction'inquiétant  vidéodrome de David Cronenberg.) elle fut la compagne du musicien   Chris Stein (guitariste de Blondie et futur producteur)Le groupe a repris 'Heroes  sur de nombreux albums  principalement  Recorded fetch breath(1980); mais egalement la garland David Bowie Hymnbook(1997) et Infield Gods: Interpretations with respect to Bowie(2001),ainsi  que sur le slimmish et beatified Starman: Cut and Trendy Versions as to 18 Republic of letters David Bowie Songs,     Blondie  - heroes                         
                  //  

The intro page is encouraging, and so are the "what" and the "why" pages. The site shows what a push up looks like, explains how to do it yourself with good form, and gives several variations. Can't do the standard good form push up? No problem! Use one of the modifications. They even discuss knuckle push ups, which I tend to use when my wrist is acting up.  They also have an initial test that you use to determine where you should begin in the program.

Push ups are a great exercise and require no equipment unless you happen to be using a chair, bench or wall, and are fantastic for strength building the upper body and core. If you've been looking for a way to incorporate some exercise into your life, doing the One Hundred Push Ups program is a quick (and challenging) way to do it and it's free.

What the hell is this world coming to?

Considered the Silicon Valley of India, Bangalore has been a terrorist "hot-spot" for quite a few years now. Bomb threats had been reported on a daily basis, and most of them turned out to be hoaxes. Today, we have realized that the city's security measures are quite inadequate and that the police and intelligence departments aren't up to the mark in processing the information they have. But that's always been the case with India. It always takes a disaster like this one to make people sit up and take notice of the very real threat we are facing.

The people of Bangalore have always been a resilient lot, and it made my heart light when I saw complete strangers showing support for each other and saying things like, "It's ok, we can get through this!" and "Don't worry, they can't break us!"

Support has been pouring in from all quarters of the globe and this attack has been chastised by all. Public transportation has not been disrupted, schools and offices have not been closed, people's lives hasn't changed much except for being a little wiser about the possibility of such attacks.

My most sincere condolences to all those who have been personally affected by this attack and I do hope that your spirit is strong enough to get through this ordeal. To quote a line from the movie Gandhi, "You can break my body, but not my spirit! We are not afraid!"

The latest news is available here and here.

Images Courtesy: NDTV and CNN-IBN

This morning I did 15 minutes of Yoga, McDonald's 15 minute DVD, up for a challenge and stress relief.  After that I thought I would torture myself with some strength training, with weights.  That meant lots of squats.  I'll be sore by Noon.

Cinturon, we can keep each other accountable, even though we are halfway across the state from each other!

I also saw reference again to runic half-months - and saw that we're in the half-month of Uruz, primal energy, uniting opposing elements to bring energies to fruition. I was definitely feeling it, and spent the evening gulping down information and wanting to go for a run, to lift weights, to know the runes more deeply - in general, to be closer to what I want to be. Strong, wise, active in my environment and intimate with my surroundings.

I burnt some of my energy by getting rid of more of my belongings and organizing what I am keeping so that it's not in the way of those passing through the den. Now I'll either hang out with Duncan or not, and will possibly meditate, run, lift weights, or just spend some time in the dark. Any outcome will be welcome and refreshing, even though the more official 'work' I should have done today has been put off one more time.

When you first start out in swinging, then you may find that you become jealous of your partner during or after the experience. Is this normal to feel like this? Or to not feel jealous at all?

If you’ve taken your time to discuss your swinging desires, then you may never have to deal with this. But it’s best you know a little either way.

Talking it out

The easiest rule to jealousy in swinging is to talk about it. As soon as you begin to feel the jealousy, you want to sit down with your partner and talk about what concerns you. Many times, one person in the relationship feels jealous because the other ‘did more’ than they did. And it’s not a competition, but you might feel that your partner and whomever they were swinging with suddenly have a deeper connection.

A lot of times, jealousy also happens because the relationship was shaky to begin with. If you and your partner are having a lot of fights, or just aren’t communicating well, then you have to be careful. If you have a moment of feeling jealous, sit down with your partner and discuss EXACTLY what made you uncomfortable. Maybe it will just take changing your personal rules for each other to help with the feelings of jealousy.

Some couple save kissing for just each other and won’t allow it between their partner and someone else. This is just one of many ideas to show commitment to each other. But when you stop to think about it, you and your partner are always leaving to go home with each other, even after a wild and exciting sexual experience with someone else. Some couples find that they become even more confident in their relationship.

Of course, it should go without saying that agreeing completely into trying swinging is a prerequisite to swinging. If one partner wasn’t too keen in the first place, then you may find that accusations and jealousy pop up a lot more.

Talk the possibility of this out before you even start swinging.

Why you might not feel jealous

Swinging is just so amazing that you may not even feel jealous. And that’s okay too. Some experienced swingers feel that their relationship is enhanced by the swinging extras. Knowing that they can share something sexual with another person or another couple can lead to greater intimacy and communication in other areas as well.

So a lot of couples just don’t feel jealous. It’s actually quite erotic to watch your partner be pleased by someone else or pleasure someone other than yourself. Trust me.

You may also have such a strong relationship already that swinging is just another adventure that you’re going on. And there’s not a smidge of jealousy because you both wanted to try swinging out anyways.

Swinging is an eye-opening (amongst other things) experience that can show you the strengths as well as the flaws in your current relationship. In most cases, however, swinging is a positive experience that will enrich a relationship as well as your sexual experience.

About The Author Julia Tanner has written an amazing swingers minicourse. You can get it absolutely free at http://www.swingersvillage.net. Find out everything that you absolutely need to know if you are a swinger, or if you are considering swinging.

I could really write a book on my friend Mark. 

I could tell and share all the ups and downs but more than anything, I want to share a video I made about him and how we communicate.

Mark has ALS and while it may have affected many parts of his life, it has not affected his ability to think, to be receptive to touch, to care - he is all there.

I love Mark, dearly and thanks to the magic of the Internet, you tube, the Erica Eye Gaze System and Dyna Vox, Mark can still communicate though he can't speak or move his arms or legs.

Most of what I want to say is recorded in two you tube videos - only one has been posted so far due to a PC issue but I will get part two up soon.

For now, in my own voice, here is the video I made about ALS.  I made it outside as Mark loves the outdoors - I just didn't get the lighting right or prepare for mosquitoes.  And the editing is, well, non-existent, I just kept talking and got this thing posted as soon as I could.

I just want everyone to know that ALS or "Lou Gehrig's Disease" isn't an end to life - Mark is living it the best he can and I am grateful to google and google filters for providing a free service that I can personalize to make communicating with Mark easier.

And here is the first, very raw part........

In my opinion, they're hypocrites!!! You can'twrite something and then not follow it yourself..Who does that! Apperently Runescape does it...

Ill give you examples...They will say, "We take actions equally among every player who plays Runescape", but In reality. It should be more like this... "we can not keep control of every player appeals so that other members of our congregations will judge you in their perspective... Also, favoritism will be allowed"

Time to show you examples of my opiniom... This pictures I'm about to show you, will have stories behind each one, and their flaws!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

1) First one is my pure (Pk leaders) I created him so far back that his name is a very rare one...

Now, the reason why I showed you this was because Runescape will permanently mute you for breaking even the most simple rule. I wouldn't have cared much, but as you can see, I only broke one rule. It was rule 1, the most easiest rule to break...Language!

The irony of this story was the fact that I got permanently muted for breaking one rule. I know three friends who spammed the word, "F()ck you" on runescape and they did not get permanently muted... They had to break the rule 1 three times before they got permanently muted... Many people even on youtube complain of being muted...well, they had over 6 rules broken..They got muted permanetly after the 6 rule they broke. Rule 1 is the easiest to break... and I got permanently muted becuse of this. It's sad how Runescape system works.

Notice, this is my main account. He broke 4 Rule "1" and a rule 6, but he's still in the green mark... How can that be? He said something worst then Pk leaders. (I will not give out his name because of personally reasons). He does not even have any blackmark.

2) On to Flaw 2... They will give you blackmark for no reason!!! This system has a flaw...If you get a blackmark and get appealed, you're BlackMARK STILL STAYS sometimes!ThAT MAKES NO SENSE!!!!!!!!! I shall give you an example from Pk leaders again. If you look at the picture above...You will see that I successfully appealed one of my broken rules. The problem is, I never broke that rule and so of course I was successful... Now, The irony of this is that, I broken one rule and I was permanently muted because the second rule I supposibily broke affected my blackmark! Wth?

Ill give you the evidence they showed me...

now that you read what I wrote, You will understand, how Fucked up this is... The evidence they gave me was so stupid that of course i was successful on appealing, but I still got the blackmark, and becuase of that blackmark...this account is permanently muted. Pk leaders was a rare name and still is...but there is no point continuing with this account.

CONCLUSION
It is time for me to conlude all this summary... Runescape secruity is way to stupid to contiune. I know they can't use a bot since that would be stupid, and so they have to use people, but each person can be bios to a cause. For example, pretend someone wrote a racist comment, and got blackmarked. When that eprson tries to appeal, the reader might be an indian and the comment was about being racist to indians. I guarntee you, that player will have no chance of getting appealed. IF a Runescape Mod reads what I wrote, then you can't deny this fact.

Second, The Blackmark needs to get FIXED!!!! That is simly stupid to contiune...If someone gets an offence and the evidence they give you is wrong...Then that person is innocent!!!!!!!!I will bold this since that person is innocent... How stupid would it be for a person who did nothing wrong get blackmarked because of some evidence that proved nothing? If the appeal works, the blackmark should disappear. Not stay there! PK leaders was permanently muted because of one rule...... Rule 1 which is the lightest rule!

Third) Runescape mods Must treat everyone equally!!!!!!!!!!!!! In game they might do it, but on the appeals, they're their own person... They show no mercy or sympathy, and thats not a bad thing. But,  a mod cannot have the right to play God on an account.How can I be still blackmarked when I broke rule 1... Rule 1 is for offensive language...

I know friends who said, "FUCK YOU, and etc" and got reported. They never got muted!!!!!!!! You have to treat everyone equally!!!!!!!!

That ends today's blog...Runescape must treat everyone equally! Tomorrows blog will be the unfair bans! stay tune

i guess that weakness discovery and God-dependence is often more about our not knowing the future than it is about our inability to handle the present.  i know people who have been graced with God's strength to continually manage the present for his glory... but what about the sudden change of future?  when the "unexpected" ravages our ordered life, disrupting and changing and reordering the narrative of our life - what an awesome place of helpless dependence on God the author of life whose eternal narrative remains untouched and equally full of redemptive turns, here and there. 

what do we say when the "unexpected" attacks people (robbing sleep and schedule) who have sought to order life for the glory of God?  what is there but quiet contemplation... and all under the listening ears of a God who knows no frazzled unforeseen circumstances.  they are his to order, and so our cries are his to hear.  i am stuck resting in that - i hope you are too.

thank you God for showing us who you are when we least expect it... when life has to go on after it seems to stop.  when you are with us in the stillness of the reordering. 

"I once understood the gospel as God asking me to let him into my narrative, to find room for him in my heart and life.  But now I realize that God bids me to find my place in his narrative.  In God's story, he, with his own two hands - the incarnate Word and the Holy Spirit - recapitulated and reversed the human situation so I can now live in him.  Through him I can live in the expectation of a restored world...Here and now, because God became incarnate and recapitulated all things, I live in him, in his narrative, and he lives in my life, which is to be a witness to his narrative for the world." (Robert E. Webber) 

i can't imagine not knowing WHO it is that turns our life plans from the left to the right for his glory and our good.  thanks be to God - be with your servants in the well of the unexpected.  may they live the gospel for others in the midst of weakness.

7.24.8 - Thursday - Strength
MOBILITY DRILLS
DEADLIFT - Conventional (+90% 1RM)
350 x 2 + 20″ Plyometrics
350 x 2 + 20″ Plyo
350 x 3 + 20″ Plyo
BENCH PRESS (90-95% 1RM)
245 x 1 + med ball plyos
237.5 x 2 + med ball plyos
235 x 3 + med ball plyos
SPINE/TORSO
Isometric Holds

SUMMARY
Based on this week's numbers, my deadlift 1RM is "virtually" back up to around 385+. All lifts during the past two workouts went up fast. I'm going to continue what I'm doing - varying intensity and volume based on how I'm feeling from day to day - keeping the intensity at 85% of 1RM and above. I need to be vigilant about getting enough protein and water every day. I think dehydration contributed to my condition last week.

Eighty's TV Show references aside (and they rarely will be, I promise you), Stats are your character. A Gray-skinned, one-eyed Orc is nothing but a pile of numbers. Just like your lithe female Draenei Shaman. Just a pile of numbers.

Gear Evaluation

One thing I'm asked often is what's the difference between a good player and bad player. I have an easy answer: Give me a player who understands how to gear themselves, and you have a good player. The basis of gear selection is evaluating what pieces of gear are better. For ENH Shaman, let's first look at the most important.

Base Attributes

Base Attributes are the core of your character. There are 5 in WoW: Strength, Agility, Stamina, Intellect and Spirit.

Strength is currently the ENH Shaman's most important attribute. Every 1 point of STR is equal to 2 Attack Power points. (So, for example, if one piece of gear gives you 30 STR, and another gives 56 AP, you'll prefer the STR item). STR also gives some advantage with a shield, but after level 40 when you get Dual Wielding, you will not likely be using that.

Agility gives you a couple of bonuses. First, it increases your chance to hit critically (that is, if you crit, you do double damage). It also gives the chance to dodge some types of damage. It does not currently give you extra AP, however.

Stamina builds your HP total.

Intelligence gives you a larger mana pool, and increased mana production when you haven't been casting for 5 seconds (MP5).

Spirit helps you heal in between battles faster (HP5), and gives you additional MP5.

Given this information, the importance should be clear: STR and AGL should be priorties, and followed by STA. INT and SPR are optional for the most part.

Secondary Stats

There are other stats that should be considered when you select gear.

Melee Attack Power - Attack power is raw damage, that causes your attacks to hurt the opponent more. AP often comes in large amounts from gear. As noted above in STR, you need to be careful when selecting between pieces of gear, AP numbers are bigger, but STR multiplies.

Melee Critical Strike % - Critical Strike directly adds a greater chance to get a crit (as explained above in AGL). It is more efficient per-point (one point of Melee Crit gives more crit strike chance then one point of AGL).

Generally, you will perfer Attributes over the secondary statistics. This is because various affects, especially Blessing of Kings(a paladin spell that is very commonly given at the start of Raids and Battlegrounds) give you a percentage increase of your Base Attributes.

The Future, Conan?

Now, before you get too comfortable, the Shaman world is getting rocked again by the changes coming in the Wrath of the Lich King expansion.

Starting with the expansion, STR will be worth only 1 AP, but AGL will also become equally powerful, worth 1 AP per point. As well, with talents in the Enhancement Tree, each point of INT will be worth 1 AP as well. The end result will mean that a lot of gear that Shamans currently turn down will become much more valuable.  We'll discuss that more in the future as we discuss gearing ENH Shaman now, and as we go into WotLK.

Times, they are a changing.

that leads to achievement.

Nothing can be done without

hope and confidence.

Helen Keller

There is no secret to happiness, it is a decision, a choice we make every day. It is a choice to see the best in someone, find the positive in a situation, to work hard, do what is good for those around you, and to live a balanced life according to your values.

On a scale of one to ten where do you see yourself on the happiness scale with ten being extremely happy?  Not sure, leaning closer to the lower side of the scale, or possibly have never thought of a happiness scale before?

Most happy people are not all happy by nature and possibly did not always want to be positive, always find the best in someone and all the steps necessary but were willing to move toward happiness.

I don’t believe I am happy by nature, however I am happy today.  This came from motivation and wanting to be happy. I remember thinking how great it would be to be happy by nature. I began to take steps to be happy and made a conscious decision to look at the positive in a situation and in people.

I have confidence in myself today to continue my life happy. I have faith it is within your reach as well if you make the decision and are willing to take the necessary steps.

Never give up hope, make a decision to be happy and associate with positive and happy people.

Make yourself a ten today on the happiness scale.

Susie Austin

Rabindranath Tagore

Most recently in our creative team meeting we were working on the session that focuses on Joshua 1:1-9 that's commonly referred to as "The Calling of Joshua" or "Joshua's Commission." These are the verses where God tells Joshua three different times to be strong and courageous.

We spent a good bit of time discussing the nature of courage and just what constituted a courageous act. I won't get into all of that here. A lot of the conversation was driven by Taylor, so maybe he'll write something about it. But I was just thinking about it lately and thinking about it in relation to God basically telling Joshua to get off his butt and get going doing what He had called him to do.

Makes you think.

Hmmm...

Are we being courageous?