Latest Entries »

PhotoScape: Getting Into A New Dimension

Filed Under: Singles — horm678 — Comments Off
November 22, 2011

PhotoScape is a cool photograph editing application that will let you basically fix & enhance pictures. With the Viewer function of PhotoScape you can view pictures in your folder or generate a slide show.

The Editor function will enable you take the following actions: resizing, brightness & color manipulation, white balance, backlight correction, frames, balloons, mosaic mode, adding text, drawing pictures, cropping, filters, red-eye removal, blooming, clone stamp.

Some of its key features include a batch editor that can edit multiple photos at the same time, a page editor that unites multiple photos to generate one last photo, combines multiple photos either vertically or horizontally to produce one concluding photo and able to make a final animated GIF format photo from multiple photos. PhotoScape can also print portrait, carte de visited (CDV) and passport photos, lined, graph, music and calendar paper. It has a splitter that slices a picture into multiple pieces, captures a screen shot so you can save it, a color picker that searches and picks a color when the picture was zoomed, renames photo file names by batch and converts RAW to JPG. PhotoScape also have this awesome feature that finds similar faces on the Internet to match with yours.

PhotoScape’s new features in this release comprises of an added Clone Stamp (Editor -> Tools Tab), added a Paint Brush (Editor -> Tools Tab) and an added Color Picker (Editor -> Tools Tab & Object tab). It also has an improved Mosaic Filter which has a mosaic pixel size that is selectable, just go to the Tools Tab just below the Editor tab.

PhotoScape also integrated a changed editor — a region tab name from ‘Region’ to ‘Tools’, added a Print button to Viewer and Editor, has added 59 travel icons and 6 makeup icons, a Photo Development Service with FOTO.COM (EU Only), and a photo viewer that demonstrates photos in regular sequence as a1, a10, a2, a3 into a1, a2, a3, a10. At combine, with PhotoScape, the first photo’s EXIF information would be saved and PhotoScape run ‘R.

And with its new release, PhotoScape now supports 34 languages: English, Korean, Chinese, Traditional Chinese, German, Dutch, Spanish (Spain), Spanish (Mexico, Latin America), French, Japanese, Russian, Polish, Italian, Portuguese, Portuguese (Brazil), Portuguese (Colombian), Thai, Hungarian, Turkish, Catalan, Slovak, Czech, Norwegian, Bulgarian, Ukrainian, Swedish, Estonian, Danish, Romanian, Hebrew, Galician, Finnish, Indonesian and Arabic.

PhotoScape was marked as ad-supported software because it offers to change the default search engine for web browsers installed in the system and presents to download or install software or components (Google Toolbar, Google Chrome) that the program does not need to fully function.

Permalink

How To Choose A Wedding Photographer For Your Wedding

Filed Under: Reconnecting — horm678 — Comments Off
November 22, 2011

How to Choose Your Wedding Photographer

As your wedding day is booked, the venue, the car, and all those good things that make your wedding day a day to remember, and in that list one of the most important things to remember to do is to book the photographer. It is his or her duty to capture those precious moments on in your wedding photographs that you will have for the rest of your life. But when it comes to choosing your photographer how can you be sure you have found the right one?

Interview Your Wedding Photographers

A good photographer will know how to get the best from the wedded couple and their guests and will be able to select the best light and backgrounds for the photographs. When you meet a photographer who may potentially be the photographer for your wedding, ask about creativity and his or her suggestion for creating the wedding album in terms of style of images. The photographer you choose has a role that goes beyond simply taking pictures. A good photographer will know how to create opportunities and scenarios that will create interesting and fun images. Remember, your idea of fun may not be the same as your photographer. For example, at a recent wedding I photographed the Bride was picked up and held by the Groom and the Groom’s Men and the Father’s of the Bride and Groom while she reclined in their arms. This is a common image, but not one that I personally would ever suggest as it is just not my idea of either a nice image or a fun thing to do. However, it is what they wanted and I was happy to go along with the show.

Your Photographer’s Personality

This brings me to the next important thing to remember, the wedding is your day, not the photographers, this is a day for you to have fun and have a good time. People relate differently various personality types. Choose a friendly wedding photographer that can make you smile, one who can sense the mood of the guests and allow things to flow naturally and with a sense of joy for the occasion. This will make photographs look more natural and relaxed.

Try to have a pre-wedding photo shoot, this will help you to understand your photographer and more importantly him to understand you and how you feel in front of the camera. With the exception of your partner you will spend more time with the photographer than with any one else on the day of your wedding, so make sure you can get on well with him or her.

Evaluate Portfolios

What is the most beautiful picture in the world? You may have an answer, but another person may disagree with you because the answer is subjective. The old saying is true ‘beauty is in the eye of the beholder.’ The portfolio of any good wedding photographer will look good to most people; you must make sure it looks good to you. Look at their portfolio to make sure that the photographer’s style reflects your own style and creativity. If a set of images or a sample album looks good, ask to see all the photographs from that wedding. If the photographer has visited you at your home and this requires a seconded visit, then so be it.

Get Estimates

Most wedding photographers suggest different “packages”, allowing you to select a deal that will best suit your budget. Compare the pricing packages of several photographers to find your best option for evaluating the price along with all the other factors, including quality of their work, reviews by other clients, their flexibility and personality. Don’t just go for the cheep and cheerful option either; you are paying for talent and ability.

A Flexible Approach

A photographer should be flexible with their timetable for the day. Make sure that they will be around through both wedding and reception if you need them to be. A good photographer will only book one wedding on any one day, as he or she will know that things can go wrong and the photographer may need to stay a little longer.

As a photographer I have taken guests to the reception because the taxi has not arrived. Gone and collected gas and balloons to decorate the hall, stayed later than anticipated (recently by six hours) because there has been a problem with guests or family and the photos would not have been taken if we had stuck to the original agreement. For all of these things there was no extra charge, as it is all part of the service that a photographer should provide if he or she is both flexible and personable.

Check The Paperwork

There are three or possibly four things it is worth checking with your photographer, and dare I say you should ask to see the evidence of. I can only speak from a British Photographers Point of view on this as other countries will have different organisation and rules, but still check!

First, check the photographer’s Public Liability Insurance Policy, if Great Aunt Agnes trips on the tripod and fractures her hip is the photographer covered?

Second, check the photographer’s Professional Indemnity Insurance; if the photographer looses all your photos can you get compensation?

Third, is the photographer a member of a professional body like the British Institute of Professional Photographers? Ask to see his or her ID

Fourth, is the photographer’s car covered adequately with breakdown cover? If his or her car does not start will they get to your wedding?

Finally, if you do find you need help with those little extras like taking guests to the reception venue, ask if the photographer’s car insurance covers business, because if not, then your guests will not be insured to travel in the car.

Tags: , ,
Permalink

The Internet Dating Crash Course – Lesson 4 – Using the Online Dating Database Correctly

Filed Under: Post Divorce — horm678 — Comments Off
November 22, 2011

The worst thing you can do is set up a profile and then sit back and wait for the magic to happen. This is a database that’s readily available to you, so I want to show you how to make the most out of it.

Why You Have to Reach Out on a Dating Site

Everyone is shy to a certain degree. You may have the perfect match waiting in the wings, but he or she just isn’t going to make the first move. Do you really want to miss out on a soul mate because you weren’t proactive enough to play cupid for yourself?

You want communication to work both ways – you want to reach out to people and have some members trying to connect to you, also. Some people may have simply given up hope, so they stopped searching and just keep an active profile in case someone like you came along to find them.

Plus, you want to get out of your comfort zone. Chances are, you’ve become too content sitting at home alone – and the interaction between other singles can be a welcomes addition to your social life once it gets going.

Freshen Up Your Profile and Picture

You might create your profile and expect a flood of responses that very same night. Give people time to find you! Some people check in periodically. Or, you could find someone inquiring about you mere minutes into the process.

Some online dating sites actually boost member exposure based on who logged into the site most recently. So continuing to sign in and freshen up your profile will work in your favor and gain you additional coverage.

Let’s talk a little bit about making a good profile pic – since many of you will freeze in terror at the very thought of it.

Here are some good tips to help you make an awesome profile image to represent you to prospective suitors:

• Don’t use shoddy equipment. If your lens on your camera is smudged, wipe it off so that your picture is crystal clear. Don’t use an old cell phone to shoot it with if your digital camera is much better at presenting a sharper image.

• See which is your “best side” and go with that – you want to feel confident about your profile picture. Take it from an above the head angle, even, right, left, front, etc.

• Use natural lighting. Don’t make the picture too dark and creepy – and avoid having a bright light shining right on your face for the shoot.

• Watch what’s in the background of your photo. Are you holding a 20-ounce beer in your hand? Is that the image you want to project?

• Don’t dress like it’s the prom. There’s no need for a tuxedo or evening dress. You should dress like you do normally, every day – except maybe if you work from home in your pajamas.

• Smile! Unless you want to project a very serious side of yourself, smile for the camera. It makes your profile more welcoming to others who might be interesting in you. A serious picture can seem intimidating.

• Make sure they can actually see your face. You wouldn’t believe how many people use a profile of them with a scuba diving mask on or post a pic with something like their toes showing. People want to connect a face to the personality.

Browse Profiles and Make Connections

Every single day someone just like you is signing up as a newcomer to an online dating site – and some sites have hundreds of sign ups each day!

You want to log in regularly and scour the database to see what types of matches there are for you. Some sites will automatically email those to you, but some have you do it manually.

If you’re a woman from a generation where men did all the asking, keep in mind that online dating is a two-way street. You should be active in contacting your possible romantic interests – don’t sit back and wait for them to introduce themselves to you.

Avoid Being Too “Friendly” Right Away

Some people find someone they’re attracted to. They see that they’re online and immediately start flirting with the person in a way that scares them off within minutes.

Most people want to get to know you a little bit before engaging in overt flirty conversation or sexual discussions. Ease into it if that’s what you’re there for – and make it clear on your profile, too – so that some unsuspecting innocent member doesn’t stumble onto you and get shocked with something they weren’t prepared for.

Don’t Ignore the Possibility of Valuable Friendships

Even if you didn’t list “friendships” as one of your desires on your profile, it’s okay to reach out and befriend someone who you feel may not make a good romantic partner, but could be a great friend.

In fact, you might be somewhat similar, but not enough for a perfect match – and you could help each other find the people who would be a good match for each other.

It’s a little different when you have a friend from an online dating site helping you find potential matches because they know what you’re going through. Unlike well-meaning family members who are clueless about setting you up with someone they would like to see you with.

Watch for Who’s Online at That Time

If you’re anxious to start connecting with people, you’ll be happy to know that most online dating sites have special notification systems that indicate who’s logged into the site at that time.

Most also have a “hide me” feature that lets you browse through the site unnoticed. But making yourself available on the site can be a wonderful thing, if you’re prepared for it.

You might get invited to a chat. Or someone might send you an email or message right there to see if you react positively. Remember, they’re often nervous too – and they don’t want to send a message and wait days or weeks to get a reply.

Don’t Put All Your Eggs in One Basket

I don’t care if you think you’ve found “the one” on your first day on the site. Make sure you don’t limit yourself – find more than one or two acceptable matches for your profile.

You want to put your membership (even if it is free initially) to good use, maximizing it to the best of your abilities. Continue using your online dating site until a perfect match is made and the two of you decide to become exclusive in your relationship.

Utilize All of the Features on Your Dating Site

Chat is one of the best features your dating site can offer. If you’re in the mood to interact with others, make sure your profile states that you’re currently available so that people can invite you to hang out online.

This is great for those of you who are shy or intimidated about getting to know people in this setting because it doesn’t have to be one-on-one. It can be a group setting.

Or, if it is one-on-one, it will be easy for you to leave the conversation without it being embarrassing like it would be if you had to excuse yourself from an in-person date.

What to Do If Your Contact Disappears

One of the hardest situations to deal with is when you find someone amazing on an online dating site, you’re communicating with them, and suddenly the interaction is over!

You don’t know what happened! Was it something you said? Realize that this happens to just about everyone online at some point – try not to take it personally.

It could be a blessing in disguise. Maybe they were married and got busted talking to you on the site. Or perhaps they were communicating with more than one person and simply found the other contact to be more suitable for a match.

Some members even practice having communication with some members just to feel more confident – they may not have had any intention of following through in the first place.

When this type of situation occurs, just move on and continue seeking out the right kind of individual. There will never usually be a bullseye the first time you throw a dart – you have to throw a few to get closer to the center of the circle, and it’s no different with online dating – or dating in the offline world, for that matter!

Tasks for You to Accomplish Until Tomorrow’s Lesson: I want you to seek out someone for friendship on the site first. Contact them and just let them know it’s not a romantic connection, but you’re interested in knowing more members.

Next, browse the profiles and find at least 3 possible members who you would like to make a connection with to see if there’s anything worth pursuing.

Tags: , , , , , , ,
Permalink

Which Element of the Horoscope are You?

Filed Under: Marriage — horm678 — Comments Off
November 22, 2011

No doubt that millions of persons begin their journey rushing through the newspapers to see the daily horoscope. We want the horoscope to tell us positive things will happen in the next 24 hours, like how will somebody look at us nicely, how fast we will be rich, or our love compatibility. In contrast, we are less interested to come up with a horror-scope like ‘today is not your day for love, business deals are not in the stars for you today.’

But first of all, which element of the horoscope are You? Hmm… don’t really know what the horoscope is? Well, the horoscope is an astrological chart for a specific person or group that correlates each zodiac sign as they are crossed by the Sun, Moon and planets and the position of planets in astrology. Now, the elements Fire, Earth, Air and Water are based on ancient Greek philosophy; they are the building blocks of life: the solid earth upon which we stand, the running water we use as a resource, the air we breathe and the fire which keeps us warm and aids in the creation of additional resources. The horoscope elements reflect a quality of human nature and correspond also with the Tarot: Fire = Wands; Earth = Coins; Air = Swords; Water = Cups.

Here are the list of the Sun Signs elements, but if you still don’t know, ask mom for your birthday and keep reading this:

1. Earth Signs

Well-grounded, and realistic, your earth sign makes sure you stay in the real world. When it comes to friendship, no-one is more rock steady than you. A builder of long-lasting bonds, you are talented in business and good with money. You find fulfillment in seeing tangible results for your efforts.

Earth signs are: Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn.

Taurus (April 21 – May 21): They are faithful and generous friends with a great capacity for affection, but rarely make friends with anyone outside their social rank. The ruling planet for Taurus is Venus; the color of choice is Pink, and its star stone is the Emerald.

Virgo (August 23 – September 23): They need the stimulus of practical problems to be solved rather than the mere routine or working to set specifications that need no thought. The ruling planet for Virgo is Mercury; the colors are Green and Dark Brown, and its star stone is the Sardonyx.

Capricorn (December 22 – January 20): They plan carefully to fulfill their ambitions; they are economical without meanness, and able to achieve great results due to their organizing ability. The ruling planet for Capricorn is Saturn; the color of choice is Brown, and its star stone is the Black Onyx.

2. Fire Signs

These three are the sexiest signs in the Horoscope. Enthusiastic and creative, courageous and spontaneous, confident and fun-loving, you are ardent in love. Other cooler signs may be dazzled by your bright flame.

Fire signs are: Leo, Aries and Sagittarius.

Leo (July 23 – August 22): Their personal magnetism and innate courtesy of mind bring out the best of loyalty from subordinates. The ruling planet for Leo is the Sun; the color of choice is Gold, and its star stone is the red Ruby.

Aries (March 21 – April 20): The Arian is a pioneer both in thought and action, adventurous, ambitious, and impulsive. The ruling planet for Aries is Mars; the color of choice is Red, and its star stone is the precious Diamond.

Sagittarius (November 23 – December 21): Their strongly idealistic natures can also suffer many disappointments without being affected. The ruling planet for Sagittarius is Jupiter; the color of choice is the Rich Purple, and its star stone is the Topaz.

3. Air Signs

These three are the most intellectual signs of the Horoscope. Their skills make them great thinkers and problems solvers.

Air signs are: Gemini, Libra and Aquarius.

Gemini (May 22 – June 21): Since they lack the quality of conscientiousness, they are apt to fight a losing battle in any attempts they make to be moral. The ruling planet for Gemini is Mercury; the color of choice is Green, and its star stone is the Agate.

Libra (September 24 – October 23): Librans are sensitive and have the psychic gift of understanding the emotional needs of their companions and meeting them with their own innate optimism. The ruling planet for Libra is Venus; the color of choice is Blues, and its star stone is the Sapphire.

Aquarius (January 21 – February 19): Many are psychically intuitive to the Age of Aquarius, an age in which mankind will experience a great spiritual awakening. The ruling planet for Aquarius is Uranus; the color of choice is Turquoise, and its star stone is the Turquoise.

4. Water Signs

These three always stay tuned to their feelings, conscious and subconscious, with a level of intuitiveness sometimes bordering on the psychic. Water is the element of the poet, which have them ready to interpret the universe.

Air signs are: Cancer, Scorpio and Pisces.

Cancer (June 22 – July 22): The Cancerian character is the least clear-cut of all those associated with the signs of the zodiac: It can range from the timid, dull, shy and withdrawn to the most brilliant, and famous. The ruling planet for Cancer is the Moon; the color of choice is Silver, and its star stone is the Pearl.

Scorpio (October 24 – November 22): They are like a volcano; they can erupt at any moment. Their tenacity and willpower are immense. The ruling planet for Scorpio is Pluto; the color of choice is dark Red to Maroon, and its star stone is Opal.

Pisces (February 20 – March 20): They are more readily concerned with the problems of others than with their own. Their psychic and spiritual qualities can lead them into careers in the church or as mediums and mystics. They are also sexually delicate. The ruling planet for Pisces is Neptune; the color of choice is soft Sea Green, and its star stone is the Moonstone.

Tags: ,
Permalink

Married Women, Keep The Spark Alive

Filed Under: Friendship — horm678 — Comments Off
November 22, 2011

There are times when a relationship can appear to fall into a rut. With a bit of thought and desire married women can keep the spark alive. Of course the married man must help the married woman. However it may fall to the wife to initiate the changes, luckily it is well worth the effort.

Think about why you married who you did. Most often, women married the men they loved, the men who would be good husbands, fathers and partners. Try to remember the traits that attracted you in the first place. Day to day life at times can cause one to forget why they fell in love in the first place.

How to keep the spark alive.

. Romance him. Do the cute, thoughtful things that you did in the beginning of the relationship. He will be happy and more likely to want to make you happy. Make time for each other. Date night should be a priority for both of you.

. Accept him as he is and let him know that you do. One of the biggest issues men have in relationships is feeling that he is not accepted as he is. Don’t try to change him. Compliment him on things he does well.

. Loosen up and let go in the bedroom. Try new things, talk about what you both like and do not like. Discuss your fantasies. Make it fun and exciting like it was in the beginning. It should not be a chore,

. Listen to your heart. You know how to be loving and how to make your relationship work. Sometimes your head can over rule your heart. Of course you cannot totally ignore your head, if for instance you are being hurt and abused, your head telling you to get out is correct. However, if your mate works late to help catch up on bills, your head may say he is not spending enough time with you, while your heart is saying, he is doing it out of love. In that case, listen to your heart.

Remember that just as woman married men that they love and want to be with, men also marry the woman that he loves and wants to be with. You both found that something special in each other. Do all that you can to keep the spark alive. Relationships do not have to fall into a rut, many can and do stay exciting and romantic. The love you have can grow stronger each and every year. Each year gives you more history together, and brings you closer to each other. Sure every day life can put a wedge in even the best romantic plans, during those times, remember to laugh together.

Tags: , , , ,
Permalink

Stop Divorce – Ten Danger Signals to Watch For in Your Marriage

Filed Under: Engagements — horm678 — Comments Off
November 22, 2011

Healthy marriages require time, attention, energy, and vigilance. It’s not realistic to think that you can have a super marriage without effort on your part.

It pays to be observant, to ask questions when you don’t understand something, and to notice changes in behavior, tone of voice, and attitude. Communication experts have found that only seven percent of our communication is verbal, while the other ninety-three percent depends on body language and tone of voice. Thus, it only makes good sense to pay attention to much more than just the actual words a spouse says.

There are ten danger signals that can help you to head off trouble in your marriage before problems become more serious. Pay attention when:

1. Your spouse acts upset but says “Nothing’s wrong” when you ask, yet you’re sure there’s more to it. Trust your intuition about this. Females in particular are prone to say “Nothing” when asked “What’s wrong?” This often indicates that there is something they need to say, but they don’t feel comfortable saying it. Work on creating a safe environment for the sharing of mutual concerns.

2. You ask your spouse about something and get a listless, barely audible “Okay, that’s fine,” but the tone doesn’t sound sincere. This response is similar to number one. What’s usually obvious from the tone of voice and other non-verbal communication is that most assuredly something is wrong. Everything is not fine. And if that “something” doesn’t come out into the open where it can be resolved, it will pop up later and cause difficulties.

3. Your spouse is unusually anxious or agitated when you walk in unexpectedly while he or she is on the computer. It may just be a coincidence, but it could also be that your partner is involved in doing something that he or she doesn’t want you to see. To know if it’s nothing or if something is brewing will take observation over a period of time. Becoming involved with someone online isn’t harmless, as some spouses will claim. It robs a marriage of commitment and focused energy, plus it can lead to an affair in real time.

4. You observe that your spouse is being secretive about cell phone calls or text messages. Sometimes spouses will find a partner hiding in the closet or locked in the bathroom talking on the cell phone. This is certainly something to pay attention to, but don’t jump to conclusions. Just observe for awhile. Sometime there’s a rational explanation such as a spouse who is making secret calls to set up a surprise birthday party for the partner. But if that’s not the case, the secret calls could be a signal that your marriage is in danger.

5. Your spouse has a significant change in moods, enjoyment of life, socialization patterns, or grooming/appearance. A spouse can become depressed and sometimes the partner doesn’t put the clues together to realize what’s happening. The spouse who is feeling depressed may experience changes in sleep patterns, eating, appearance, and hygiene. There may also be uncharacteristic isolation from friends and family, as well as crying spells or loss of interest in things that used to bring pleasure. If this happens, it’s time to consult with your spouse’s physician.

6. You realize that your spouse is developing a pattern of trying to avoid going to bed at the same time you do and sleeping in the same bed with you. Numerous wives have shared in counseling that they deliberately stay up later than their husbands to avoid sex. Or they say that a child won’t go to sleep unless they lie down with them. Often, then, the parent ends up going to sleep in the child’s room, giving the excuse that they didn’t want to wake the partner or that they fell asleep without meaning to. The warning sign comes when this turns into a nightly pattern, not an occasional occurrence.

7. You realize that you don’t know who your spouse really is any more. This is certainly a wake-up call that it’s time to make your marriage a top priority. You’ll want to spend extra time together talking and sharing from the heart. One common lament marriage counselors hear is, “He (or she) doesn’t really know me. I’m just a paycheck to her (or just someone who keeps the house clean and takes care of the kids). Take the time to find out what your spouse is really thinking and feeling.

8. Your relationship feels stale and dull. If this stage continues, both you and your spouse could be more susceptible to the lure of an affair. Deliberately schedule plans to do new things and go new places, and of course, look at how you could spice up your sex life with your partner. Do you need to trade off babysitting time with a friend so you can leave the kids and take a weekend trip with your spouse? Or let the friend keep the kids while you and your partner stay home alone?

9. You find yourself co-existing in the same house with your spouse but never really connecting. When this happens, it’s time to schedule a time each day to sit, talk, share feelings, hold hands, hug, and reconnect. You can’t afford to lose your feeling of closeness and bonding with your partner. Cut back on extra activities and immediately make your marriage your priority. Without emotional intimacy, your marriage will lose its momentum and passion.

10. You realize your sense of fun and joy has been replaced by resignation and complacency. It’s time to shake things up. Have you gotten in a rut? Turn things upside down and put some variety in your marriage. Maybe it’s time for those dance lessons your wife has been begging you to take with her. Or maybe it’s time to go on that camping trip your husband has been talking about for months. Whatever you do, don’t just sit there-plan something fun!

Tags: , , , ,
Permalink

Woman! Vital But Poisonous Being

Filed Under: Divorce — horm678 — Comments Off
November 22, 2011

Oh woman

You are a beautiful creature

You are ordained from the day you were created

In the Garden of Eden

You are sweet and attractive

You are created special for a special purpose

You are good and vital,

You are bad and dangerous

You have built hundred walls

You have destroy thousand walls

You are necessary but evil

Your chest are built with magnets

That helps you draw men to yourself,

Make use of them as it pleases you…

You west is a distracting machine

That stops men going were they wish to…

Your lips is full of deceits

Sweet like a sugar

Test like saccharine

Shape than razor

You have used it to cut off mighty men.

Who kissed your lips and went home free?

Who touched your chest and went home loaded?

Who have touched your west without been hurt?

Your sweet mouth waste life

With it you have pull down your built world…

You cherish men and cares for them

You waste them like animals

You prepare men to look attractive

You prolong life of your lovers.

You shorten the life of your ignorant lover.

Whom you didn’t kill lives longer…

You love money and hate true love

From creation you made yourself a career killer

Your love is never real and straight when needed…

With your nasty love you have capture Sampson of old

Get rid of him without caring,

The anointed man of God

You made him a play boy, your dearest…

You made Ahab the worst king of Israel

You made him go after Elijah

The anointed man of God

What about, great king Solomon

He was counted as a sinner because of you

You have killed warriors and despise their power.

Is it not you who said

I am old and the Lord has prevented me from bearing children

Go into my maid

That I shall obtain children by her

When you have obtained child by her and yourself

You said cast out this slave woman with her son

For the son of this slave shall not be heir with my son

By this you made Ishmael

Wander in the wilderness.

The man whom you didn’t capture his life secured…

All in you gives pleasure but

You have made them poison

Without you the world is an empty place

Without you there will be nothing called sin.

Till date I am afraid of you.

I need you in my life, but

I think I have to undergo training

To have the knowledge about you and live longer

As proposed by my creator.

Please change… Make changes…

Make thing happen for real…

Tags:
Permalink

TV Review: Leverage (TNT)

Filed Under: Cross Cultural — horm678 — Comments Off
November 22, 2011

(4/5 stars)

Leverage

December 7, 2008

John Rogers and Chris Downey have created a wild ride of great characters that form a full circle of thieves-turned-Robin Hoods. A band of gypsies gone rogue that include a mastermind, a grifter, a hacker, a hitter and a thief come together to fight for those who have been taken advantage of has been done before. There are so many underlying stories to give the episodes a continued stream of antics.

Timothy Hutton (Nathan Ford) and Christian Kane (Eliot Spencer) are the veterans of the cast, bringing their movie and television experience. Gina Bellman (Sophie Devereaux) is an import from the UK with a TV and filmography repertoire that proves her wide ranging acting skill. Beth Riesgraf (Parker) has limited experience as a full time cast member of a series but she will quickly win over the viewers. Aldis Hodge (Alec Hardison) just turned 21 as the pilot filming got underway. The baby of the bunch will prove his worth as the comedy/computer geek.

Nate Ford (Timothy Hutton), “Brains”, is a former insurance investigator whose son becomes extremely ill. When an experimental procedure was regarded as the last resort, his company refuses to pay, allowing the young boy to die. After losing his son, divorced from his wife, and losing his job at IYS, he drowns his life in the bottle. Nate connects with others skilled in different areas to form a team that runs cons on those not likely to get retribution from those who have stolen from them. The skills of planning that he developed while working for the insurance company makes him the leader who can delegate the cons. After successfully completing their first con, forcing their first mark to own up, the team agrees to stay together. His skill at manipulation has high risk consequences to the clients. The team is exposed to very dangerous situations that propel Nate to switch gears in the middle of a scam to insure that the client is rewarded. His alcoholism plays a major role in his conduct, and with his unwillingness to discuss his problems, it puts tension within the team that adds to the job of getting the mark.

Sophie Devereaux (Gina Bellman) “Grifter” met Nate Ford when he was with IYS and was pursuing her as an art thief. Their relationship has intertwined between good guy-bad guy to love of the heart. Sophie Devereaux is not her real name, as her list of aliases is longer than a legal pad of paper. She loves the arts and entertainment, although her acting career is often stifled by the fact that she cannot act. However, put her in grifter gear where she immerses herself in a character to pull off the con, and she is award winning. Proficient multi-lingualist and a quick study of accents, she is able to move fluently among those unsuspecting of who she really is.

Alec Hardison (Aldis Hodge), “Hacker” has computer skills that make him indispensable when a door needs unlocked, a computer needs hacked, or electronics are involved. He is a geek science fiction fan who was raised by an older foster parent who is more mild mannered than superman. The dry sense of humor he brings to the team is sometimes not even heard as he often spills his frustration through comedy that is revealed only to himself. He is the least complicated character that can become rigidly intense when his electronics are in jeopardy. He prefers to stay locked inside, but when he needs to be a physical, presence in the outside world and invest himself in a con he is flustered and hard pressed to stay focused.

Eliot Spencer (Christian Kane), “Hitter”, schooled in martial arts and weapons makes him invaluable in the field. The team’s protector, he is called in to make sure the bad-guys goons are intercepted before physically harming the group. His protection is old school as he is less likely to confront with a gun but rather enjoys the physical contact of a fight. His past is hidden deep inside and rarely does he open up to any of the team regarding his personal life.

Parker (Beth Riesgraf), “Theif”, was raised in foster care and unlike Hardison’s experience; hers contained child abuse which escapes in her inability to be socially connected to other human beings. She demonstrates her physically abilities when using her skills of concentrated strength acrobatics to maneuver using her gear to enter and exit highly secured areas. Her socially lacking skills leave her brain without an edit button so she speaks freely without thinking about who hears or what they think.

Each character’s skill is indispensible for the group to complete the cons and get the justice no one else is able to get for the client. The fact that things go wrong at different points during each show keeps the audience guessing as to how they will succeed. The writers bring mystery to the gun fight, since when you know the “who done it” they can concentrate on an altered brainteaser with the issue of how the group can get back what the client has lost. “Lovejoy” comes to mind in the writing of the twist and turns that plague the group.

The director (Dean Devlin) has given a quick feel to some of the scenes that dictate the pace of the show. Devlin directs the first two, the last two, and one episode in the middle of season one, and does an excellent job bringing this group to life. The camera work is not too cinematic but more home spun and great for television. Some directors too often want to bring big screen complex visuals to the small screen which are unnecessary and used more often due to a lack of script content. That is anything but the case for “Leverage,” as the scripts have continued storylines and new weekly cons for the gang to bring about righteousness for those who lost everything from money to integrity.

Tags: , ,
Permalink

My Friend the Car Smasher

Filed Under: Commitment — horm678 — Comments Off
November 22, 2011

Car Smasher builds garage

It took me some time to persuade my friend Andy Smith to visit Kenya with me, as I felt his church needed a third world focus as well as the great work he was already doing in the Roehampton Estate, which is one of the largest council estates in Europe.

Andy was a little squeamish about coming with me to Africa, even though some of the stories he told me concerning the work on the estate made me somewhat careful, things like the fact that if you want home deliver Pizza then you have to phone and arrange to meet the delivery man on the other side of the main road, they won’t deliver on the estate because they lose their deliver bike, money and pizzas. Great place to live it seemed to me, give me Africa any day. Andy took to Kenya like a duck to water so to speak.

The following year 2005 he decided to go again this time with some of the young people from Roehampton including Luke, Luke was famous on the estate or rather infamous, he had dropped in to the Regenerate club but also took a liking to stealing Andy’s car and rolling it down hills into brick walls. Just for fun you know. Seemed a bit surprising to me that Andy was still willing to take him with him, but he did.

Kenya turned Luke Clifford’s life around, along with giving him a vision for a garage the trip changed his life and he came back with the idea to build the garage to help people by supplying work. He has since raised over ?6000 for the project, and been back 3 times to help with the project.

He came back from that first visit and told us he had found God, more than that he was determined to help young people there, from his own small wages he gave Andy money each week and made it quickly possible to buy land and prepare for his dream of building a garage for the youngsters there.

Last February 2007 Luke won the Anthony Walker Memorial Prize, the top Champions of Respect award from the Evangelical Alliance. Luke was honoured for initiating the garage project in Kenya. Click here to see Luke receiving his award. http://www.eauk.org/media/respect-champions-of-respect-awards.cfm

Local press, Premier Radio, have all picked up this story, and some have even donated money for the project.

Back in Roehampton Luke, has now stopped trashing Andy’s car and is helping to facilitate all the other good work on the estate there such as the Juice bar drop in site the Bus programme; and the many, many other things to change the thinking really to Regenerate. If you want to know more have a look at the web site.

http://www.regenerateuk.co.uk

Tags:
Permalink

How Long Should I Wait For A Real Commitment?

Filed Under: Affairs — horm678 — Comments Off
November 22, 2011

Very often women ask this question. Here is a sample story…

A relationship could look quite settled. A couple spend time together four to five days per week, possibly at his home. And they have been in this relationship for two to three years. The woman feels that she is ready for them to move in together. Her boyfriend agrees, but he fears that after moving in together their relationship could possibly break up. He is mindful that some of their friends have had relationship problems – a couple did split up after moving in together. However he admits he has never felt about anyone like he feels about her now, but he is worried about hurting her feelings if they do break up.

A woman may feel he is not ready for a real commitment and doesn’t know what to do. She wants to continue nurturing a serious relationship with him and has strong feelings towards him. He appears not to be too sure about living together as he does value his independence. Also he is busy with his career and has taken on a new project.

I understand a woman in such a situation feels frustration or uncertainty about her future in this relationship. A good point in this case is that her boyfriend explained his reasons.

However, there is a need to examine his answers, to understand his fears of intimacy and where he is coming from. In fact, it’s healthier and more honest than someone who blindly throws himself into a relationship, and then later on, puts up emotional barriers. I actually feel that a man who says “I’m not ready” might be behaving with incredible honour and respect for you – he doesn’t want to commit until he feels right in every possible way.

Here are some points to consider when analysing commitment issues:

1. Sometimes men are afraid to discuss their fears of making a commitment because the woman in their life seems so sure that everything will be alright, and he doesn’t want to hurt her feelings. Still, it is important for you to share your own concerns about mutual issues, and give him reassurance – for example, that you want to work together with him to make sure the spark is kept alive in the relationship. Let him know that you feel hurt when he doesn’t want you around permanently. With your reassurance he may find his fears and uncertainty will dissolve.

2. Some men could feel financially insecure and need to put lots of energy into developing their career. This may indicate an honest and responsible approach to building up a committed relationship. A question then arises: is there room for a serious relationship in his life now in view of his current lifestyle choices? In this case it can be useful to ask him when he will be ready for you both to live together.

3. Some men don’t like change. If he feels comfortable with the present arrangement, why would he want to make changes? An extra effort is needed when new demands and added responsibilities are put on a relationship. It is unfair not to consider the needs of a person who loves you and her feelings of wanting added security. Some men could make excuses for not making a commitment which could leave the relationship in limbo.

4. Some men could have negative experiences from past relationships, or make judgments based on comments from their friends or family. Well, each case is individual and we cannot go into a healthy relationship if we don’t have faith that there will be a positive outcome.

5. A man could still have doubts as to whether a woman is really the right person for him. And this situation could be unfair to her, as she will continue to hope, as she has put her heart and soul into developing the relationship, in addition to expending her time and energy.

To create a lasting relationship requires a mutual effort.

It can be a valuable test moving in together as this provides an opportunity for a couple to analyze how they manage life together. You may have heard the saying – falling in love is easy, to stay in love is challenging.

What does make a lasting relationship? Is it only a desire to be together? I believe something more is needed. In order for it to work each partner needs to exercise a willingness to be patient, trustworthy and flexible. You can add to that the ability to compromise and be financially responsible.

However, by creating a relationship nobody can guarantee one hundred percent that there will be a successful outcome that will last forever. As Mark Twain said only one thing is permanent and that is uncertainly for the future.

Constant changes are always taking place in a life partnership with such things as economics, environment, our jobs, desires, physical body, mind and so on. You cannot just sit back, do nothing and hope for it all to work out for the best. When living together you will get exposure to each other’s full range of emotional reactions too. One of you may find that your partner‘s lifestyle doesn’t fit with yours, something that would not be discovered unless the same living space was shared over a period of time.

There is always a percentage risk in making a decision to live together. But on the positive side there is a good chance to make the best possible relationship.

Perhaps, not everyone has such capabilities or a willingness to give up their own independence in order to share their life with someone else. Who knows some men may not be ready to really commit to a relationship ten years from now. On the other hand, it is a very lonely feeling to be deeply in love with somebody and want a future with that person, but that person does not want a future with you. Why do you want someone who doesn’t want you forever?

In some cases if someone feels they have met the right person they can then find extra strength and energy to make each other happy in their relationship. This love can grow into something that is strong enough to last a lifetime based on a sense of individuality with sharing the same goals and values. For any two people it is very important to feel safe and secure in a relationship.

Also romantic relationships have phases of progression and evolvement. This is a process where two people reach the point where they can decide if they have a future together or not. If two people don’t share the same vision and are not prepared to understand each other’s needs then it takes time to rethink compatibility issues for a harmonious relationship.

Tags: , , , , , ,
Permalink
Powered by Blog.com