"Now if you are going to win any battle you have to do one thing. You have to make the mind run the body. Never let the body tell the mind what to do. The body will always give up. It is always tired in the morning, noon, and night. But the body is never tired if the mind is not tired."
- George S. Patton, U.S. Army General, 1912 Olympian
"Bloom where you are planted" - Joel Osteen, From Your Best Life Now
"Our inner world is the architect of our outer world" - Susan L. Taylor
"Girls do what their mothers tell them. Ladies do what society tells them. Women make up their own minds." - Karen Kijweski
"The pitiful truth is that sometimes the best thing, the only thing, we can do for another person is just show up" - Carolyn Jourdan
"All I know is this moment"
For so long we have been taught to stop, take our time and think carefully before making an important decision.
However, before we go head first into the world of lengthy analysis and research to get our answers, let’s take a moment to acknowledge the value and reliability of our impressions and snap judgments.
According to Malcolm Gladwell, author of “Blink,” in complex situations, our first impressions are often more accurate than lengthy analysis. Gladwell argues that, “Knowing too much — learning too much information, processing too many variables — often backfires. It makes our judgment more prone to error.”
For example, recent studies have shown how accurate first impressions of Facebook photos are in conveying information about our personalities. “Simply by just looking at natural photos of other people, you can usually do a pretty good job of accurately gauging nine out of 10 personality characteristics: We look through Facebook profiles and gain a rather accurate account of individuals based on pictures, personal descriptions and status updates.”
In an article in BusinessWeek, Gladwell says focus groups should be abolished because of the bias they create. Essentially, the problem lies in the lack of a natural setting. Often times, focus groups allow people to change their mind about topics more than once or twice based on time, language and the opinions of others.
Having more information and more people to bounce ideas off creates a tendency for people to talk themselves out of their gut instincts. This weakens research because natural, unbiased attitudes are often missing.
It’s also important to recognize that surveys too have a tendency to create inconsistent reactions out of people, based on the language, bias, tone or length of the question. Always keep in mind that individuals do stifle real opinions based on the language or context of the survey or focus group.
What about when snap judgments are false? According to Gladwell, it’s crucial to pay attention and use our common sense to differentiate between good and bad cognition. However, in some instances our two-second judgments lead us astray, most often when one of the following is involved:
- Gender
- Race
- The wrong context/environment
- High states of stress/arousal
Claiming that a tall person would make an effective leader is one example Gladwell uses as bad cognition. We can avoid errors and differentiate situations better if we are aware of what it is that triggers our judgments.
The take home message here is to never dismiss your impressions and snap judgments. On a greater context, I think it's incredibly valuable to think twice about spending time and money on research that may be less beneficial than what you or your team already know. For specific numbers and many obvious unknown details, extensive research is necessary. Nonetheless, I genuinely believe we'd be better off foregoing the hassling surveys and focus groups - for the common sense.
1. Half Marathon in May!
2. Wake up early, to bed early
3. Drink more water
4. Cook more!
5. Make list of agencies/jobs in the Northwest and SF.
6. Conquer fear of public speaking
Look how it takes the crowd about 5 seconds to get completely into the song after the guitar riff chimes in. They're music live is perfection. Also, I would like to point out the bass player skipping to the beat in his green and white 1982 nikes.
- Tim Christensen
- Royskopp
- Peter Doherty
- Ida Maria
- The Whitest Boy Alive
- The Dodos
- Nick Cave & The Bad Seeds
1. Bon Iver - stacks, skinny love, blindsided
2. Explosions in the sky - your hand in mine
3. Blind Pilot - one red thread
4. Blitzen Trapper - black river killer
5. Ray Lamontagne - I still care for you
6. Adele - hometown glory, cold shoulder...all of them really
7. Girltalk- Overtime
8. Martha Wainright - B.M. F.A. - bloody mother fucking asshole is the real name
9. Eric Hutchinson - It hasnt been long enough
10. St. Vincent - Human Racing
11. Dent May & his magnificent Ukulele - College town boy, you can't force a dance party
12. A.C. Newman - Miracle Drug
13. Jose gonzales - down the line
Not even for one second am I ashamed to tell you that I will buy Kris Allen's album the second it goes on sale. I am beyond lured by his passion.
Read more...1. Fleet foxes playing in my ear
2. Sunny day, warm clothes
3. My sasquatch tickets sitting in front of me
4. Eric Hutchinson lyrics
5. Roadtrip tomorrow
6. I went to bed early last night
7. Woke up early this morning and laid in bed for a luxurious 45 minutes while the sun poured through my room
8. Clean clothes that smell like mmm
9. My shuffle (equivalent of my beating heart)
10. My face doesn't look tired
11. I don't feel like I need a shower
12. Copenhagen trip is set in stone
13. Kings of Leon to look forward to
14. Several important papers finished
15. Good talk with old friend last night. Told me I was a sexy ass. I believed it.
16. So You Think You Can Dance starts tomorrow night!!!!!!
17. Finale of American Idol is happening i think tonight?
18. i don't care that my room needs cleaning or that my nails are still bitten too short...this usually pisses me off, today, no
19. I love my daddy.
1. Wake up 30 Minutes Early.
Get up 30 minutes before the alarm goes off and take the first half hour for yourself. Once you get busy and into the day there never seems to be the time for yourself. Take this time to plan getting the most from the day.
2. Read, Listen, or Watch Something Uplifting.
Make this a daily habit. Get out of starting the day with no mental food. A great day does not begin with the news or the paper, it begins with ideas or energy that will propel you through the day. What you first hear will stay with you throughout the day.
3. Eat a Good Breakfast to Start You Off Right.
Get something good into your body to wake it up and get it going. Think about the energy you will need to perform. Everyday we run a marathon. What would you need to eat and drink to win it.
4. Choose Your Winning Attitude.
There is enough to go wrong without sabotaging yourself. Your attitude is a choice you make. Don't let it come between you and your success. Be careful to keep it positive all day long.
5. Be Aware of What They are Telling You.
The people around us have a profound effect on how we get through life. Our closest friends and family are our greatest environmental influences. Make sure you have the best advisers you can find.
6. Make the Most of What You Do.
When you get to your work, make it the best place to be. Most people go to work and never think about work while they are there. Focus on your contribution. What would it be like if you were not around. Strive to give a 100% each and every day.
7. Always Remember that People are Listening.
Make a point of talking well of others. Wish others the best in life. What goes around does come around. Don't talk negative about anyone. Try to understand their circumstances. Practice being a support system to your friends and family. They need you.
8. Be Honest and Fair to Others.
It does make a difference. What you give to others is usually what you get from others. Practice integrity that people can see and feel. Be aware of what you say. Learn to walk your talk at all times. The more people trust you, the more of their time they will trust with you.
9. Pace Your Energy to Last All Day.
Be careful of bursts of energy. Pace your energy throughout the day. If you get to crazy early in the day, you will reach a point of exhaustion before the day is over. By planning your entire day before you begin, you will have what you need. You've heard the old saying "look alive."
10. Get in Bed Early and Study for the Future.
I have a friend who keeps a journal at his bedside. Every night he writes what he learned new on that day. The only way to keep one step above the masses is to learn new ways to do things. Develop the habit of reading a work or personal development book before you go to sleep. Reading for 30 minutes a day is like a year of college. You can't succeed if you don't read. Remember throughout your day that life is what we make it, day by day. Practice having the best day ever. It adds up to a great life.
by Geno Stampora
This is a bold statement, but I truly believe the greatest blessing in life is the ability to have moments of clarity. I experienced one while taking this picture in the middle of Lake Shasta last weekend. We were going 5 miles per hour on a houseboat (desperately trying to make it to the marina to fix a broken septic tank and engine), in therapeutic 85 degree weather. The noise around me was white, the sky above me was clear. It was a feeling of gratitude. And it was a turning point in my life (I could feel it). Three years into college - having gone through identity crisises, heartbreaks, the feeling of worthlessness, feeling invisible...misunderstood, unfocused, without vision, without reciprocated love...I finally realized that life is - poetic. I realized every moment I spent tormented by anything, were moments of poetry. Yes, I believe we experience lowest lows to have ups. But more importantly, I think we need to recognize that life is more special with those darker moments. It means we are living. It means we are worthy; that we are living deeply and with intention. Thank god because of it. It shouldn't be common to feel that anyone or anything has gotten the best of us. My alltime favorite quote of the year comes from Amy Curtis. One day she told me, "Play offense in life." It was a day that had gotten the best of me. She could tell I had been defeated. She said, "Jenna, have confidence in who you are. If people don't respond accordingly that's their fault - they are pawns in your life." That's the greatest thing we can do for ourselves. Play offense. We can't be convinced that we are less than we are if we love who we are. College, especially is a time to be selfish. My mom told me that once during freshman year, and I've (clearly) run with it. I talked to at least four friends this weekend, all who I knoww feel deeply and personally defeated by life in different ways, and understandably so. The most important thing is to remember that we can love who we are in any given moment. Our essence never goes away. But also, we have control over what makes us, us - no one else has that power. If we are pleased with who we are, nothing else matters. Relying on other people to validate us takes too long, and the outcome won't meet our expectations when we do finally get that "validation". People can surprise us. In my opinion, it's the best part. By putting "me" first, we put others (no matter how disappointed in them we are) in the position to exceed our expectations.
I will fall
That I know
Say you don't feel the same
And I will go
I have been sitting here
You have told
Me of your reasons why
And I'm not sold
I am so lost in what you believe
I am so lost in what you believe
With these eyes
All made clear
Why we still find ourselves
Right back here
I see you terrified
Love so new
Tell me you have with him
All we do
I am so lost in what you believe
I am so lost in what you believe
And I would love to be the one to find
The way to help you to
Unlock the chains to your own mind
But I have said enough
You will fall
To what you know
Say you don't want to be with me
And I will go
I may have out of fear
Come on too strong
But I would not be standing here
If I was wrong
I am so lost in what you believe
I am so lost in what you believe
And I would love to be the one to find
The way to help you to
Unlock the chains to your own mind
But I have said
I have said
You got me lost in
All your excuses
You are not crazy
No you are not crazy
We are all alone
You can be open
You can be open
You can let me in
And I would love to be the one to find
The way to help you to
Unlock the chains to your own mind
But I have said
I have said
I have said enough
1. Eric Hutchinson - entire album called "Sounds Like This"
2. Matt Simons - "I have said enough"
3. New Dave Matthews - "Funny the Way It Is" plus DMB Live Trax
4. Playlist.com - (Credit entirely given to Lady Robbins)
5. Yellow Legal Pad post-its.....shameless plug for my two favorite office supplies, combined at last.
6. V8 juice - peach and mango- full serving of vegetables and fruit in one. plus tastes like a dream.
7. Lilacs - the dreamiest of the dreamy
8. Low cal gatorade - at last!
9. SO YOU THINK YOU CAN DANCE!!!!!!!! - starts MAY 21st!!!!!!
10. "Taken" - Best movie I have seen in YEARS. Mind-blowingly good. LIAM NEESON is a my new Indiana Jones status Hero.
11. Garth Brooks - who fucking knew? - I'm so late on this. Like decades...
12. Gmail - the best email service of all -I yesss I think I have tried them all.
13. Not my blackberry pearl - I'm still ready to chuck it into the willamette
14. The new amazing drapey shirts at American Apparel - sex in a shirt
15. Kris Allen from American Idol - cause Im a loser and he's a winner
16. Drop Top Beer - tastey for once
17. Buying an entire block of sharp cheddar cheese for all very needed purposes - very cost effective
18. Taking math classes Pass/No Pass during springterm. Genius move on my behalf
19. Being nice to your bose speakers - they are not invincible - I am blowing them out day by day - it is heartbreaking
20. Wearing a giant turquoise ring that people think is by some miracle real - $3 forev 21 baby
21. Owning a shuffle - lightweight - mysterious playlists - free engraving with my phone number on back - perfect for working out - creates my ability to have a life soundtrack
22. Blow Pops - why did I ever stop buying them
OMG I NEED TO STOP PROCRASTINATING
The River of Life
I have been isolated
Yet I have been surrounded
Each of these a learning curve
Never ceasing to twist and turn
On this river of life
The greatest of fortunes have been brought to me
Though none come easily
The dreariest of days
Have encapsulated my soul
Yet all are worth what they have given
On this river of life
Shallow are the depths of some encountered
But this does not make them less meaningful
Or less brave, or less wise
I have come to find that differences are not just that
Now seeking to learn what is offered
If a chance is given
On this river of life
I have been captivated
Yet I have been challenged
To love and, more, allow it to be received
To let it flow through my mind
And encapsulate my very being
Forgiveness has not been an easy task
As difficulties have arisen, and attacked my depths
Like jumping into a freezing river with no escape
On this river of life
My mind has been flooded
With confusions and externalities
But ever so clear is this river now
Some rivers go a lifetime untouched, unloved, unforgiven for their murkiness
All rivers rise and fall in time
The lessons I have learned from my river of life
And the people who have come to float its course
Have been ever changing, ever loving, ever teaching
Though some as constant as the morning sun
I hope they will always remember the time spent on this river
As it will always remember their visits
And welcome them again
Remember this river as a fun summer vacation, though some summer murkier than others
Although, no river can ever be perfect
And that is just fine
The depths of this river are now hopeful and calm
Yet thankful for the most wonderful visitors it could have encountered
And loving of those who continue to bless its existence
Ever knowing the next wonderful addition to this river of life
Lies just beyond the bend
By Taylor Hines
"To laugh often and much;
to win the respect of intelligent people and the affection of children;
to earn the appreciation of honest critics and to endure the betrayal
of false friends; to appreciate beauty;to find the best in others;to
leave the world a bit better whether by healthy child, a garden patch
or a redeemed social condition;
to know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived.
This is to have succeeded."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
(just got this in the mail from my mom. quotes like this have the power to turn your whole day around)
"Finish every day and be done with it...You have
done what you could; some blunders and
absurdities no doubt crept in; forget them
as soon as you can. Tomorrow is a new day; you
shall begin it...serenely, and with too high a spirit
to be cumbered with your old nonsense."
- Ralph Waldo Emerson
(this has been on my fridge for two years now. you couldn't pay me enough money to take it down)
And this is what I mean when I say I love books, but never finish them. You can attest to that with this list.
(Me Talk Pretty One Day) David Sedaris is actually brilliant, and actually hilarious.
(Outliers) I have never sat down with a book so intently before in my life. Outliers is about success. Full of cool case studies and fascinating tid bits. I loved reading about why the Beatles and Bill Gates are as raw as they are. Same author who wrote Tipping Point and Blink. Gladwell is the man. 
(Freakenomics) Reminds me a lot of Malcolm Gladwell books. Sat on the floor of the DuckStore for an hour reading the first half the other day. Very cool insight. Cocktail party chat facts for years with this book.
"Fun Home" is a graphic/comic memoir I read in my literature class this week. Its inspiring me to want to write something of my own. I stopped paying attention in lecture one day and filled like four pages with profound snapshots of my life that I could depict in my book. And there are MANY glorious, dysfunctional family moments I'd love to share and know would go over quite well in a book such as this. I love the idea of graphic memoirs. Non-linear, images of everything, thought bubbles, scattered thoughts, visual epiphanies. Relatable and inspiring. 
(Time Paradox) Let me just steal a line right off the cover - "Reclaim yesterday, enjoy today and master tomorrow" And I said hell yes, please someone make sense of Time to me, because it stresses me out. And now i feel better about life, and think I should officially be a psychologist because of it. (psychology is actually the hardest word to spell)
(The Song Is You) I read the back of it in the bookstore and snatched it so quick. Reason why is this line: "each song that shuffles through triggers a memory, songs for all occassions...his life's soundtrack -and life itself -start to play again."
(Reading Like a Writer) This I only read random pages of, but it intrigues me ever time I glance at it on my bedside table. I'm actually secretly passionate about becoming a better writer. If only if only!
(I Hope They Serve Beer In Hell) This guy, Tucker Max, is the duschebag of all duschebags (there's the second hardest word to spell next to pyschology. see cant do it). I HATE him, but I love him for writing this. Pure gold.
(College Cookbook)This cookbook is full of simple yet genius ideas. However, I will not be making beer bread any time soon.
(Kite Runner) Havn't finished this either, but I'm in love. There's something about eloquently written international life stories that just GETS me every time. I can't wait to find time to read more.
"I find hope in the darkest of days, and focus in the brightest. I do not judge the universe."
"All major religious traditions carry basically the same message, that is love, compassion and forgiveness the important thing is they should be part of our daily lives."
"Old friends pass away, new friends appear. It is just like the days. An old day passes, a new day arrives. The important thing is to make it meaningful: a meaningful friend - or a meaningful day."
“I believe that the very purpose of life is to be happy. From the very core of our being, we desire contentment. In my own limited experience I have found that the more we care for the happiness of others, the greater is our own sense of well-being. Cultivating a close, warmhearted feeling for others automatically puts the mind at ease. It helps remove whatever fears or insecurities we may have and gives us the strength to cope with any obstacles we encounter. It is the principal source of success in life. Since we are not solely material creatures, it is a mistake to place all our hopes for happiness on external development alone. The key is to develop inner peace.”
This is a view from the top of Grizzly Peak, located about a five minute drive from my house in Kensington. And it happens to be my favorite place in the entire world. This picture captures how vast and magical the view of the bay is in my mind. I was given a lot of freedom with this project. We were asked to talk about anything regarding our families or home towns. I knew right away I had to talk about how special Kensington and Berkeley are not just to me, but everyone that has ever stopped through.
Every time I get the chance to drive around the Berkeley hills and see the golden gate across from me, my heart swells. I find myself beaming and smiling for no reason at all every time I really pay attention. What I love most about home, is that everyone else is just as proud. The inarticulable love affair is there in everyone. I know this because no one can explain it, only pictures and poems and music make sense of it. No wonder my town is filled with award winning poets, artists and musicians. And no wonder everyone who moves to Kensington, lives there till they die. The landscape and the pure satisfaction that radiates from the bay, make the love affair effortless. 
(These last two photos were taken driving down Moser, the street below my friend Margo's house, on the way to Camp Windrush, our amazing hippie middle school in El Cerrito)
And here is a beautiful and incredibly heart-felt poem Margo is letting me read for my project. I'm reading it because it describes the love affair I'm talking about, the one everyone that lives there has.
“Repetitions of Home”
I’ve travelled oceans away from where I learned
to define myself.
I know who I am in California
but now I’ve seen the world
(or at least a new pinpoint on the map)
and I’m not who I was when I left.
California gave birth to me.
California shaped me.
California whispered to me all I know.
I see the world through California eyes.
Golden citrus westward eyes.
I’m happy to be away
but I dream of going back.
Flying through the night over San Francisco
dodging the clouds and peeking at the lights
that flank the bay in silent clusters.
My city is winking hello and welcoming me home.
The undulating terrain below is so familiar
stamped into my mind.
Unforgettable as the face of my father—
burned into my blood.
My blood that pumps California through my fingertips.
My blood that paints California in my toenails.
My blood that heats my cheeks with California.
I know who I am in California
but who does that make me here?
If I meet you now you cannot possibly know me
until you know me
in California.
There’s a void in my chest when I’m away from home.
I asked Tony Bennett to keep his eyes peeled
because I’m sure I left my heart
in the same spot that he did.
California makes my hair grow.
California glues my joints together.
California keeps this new air flowing through my lungs.
But the air here doesn’t taste like California.
I miss the scent of clean fog on green redwood trees.
I miss the freshwater and saltwater mixing at my feet
in an opposite embrace.
Flowing in and out
in and out
beneath the brick-red bridge that I love.
California is my random luck.
California is my secret wish.
California is my reason to smile.
A single speakable Spanish word
buried at the foundation of centuries of dreams.
Doesn’t everyone want to be home in California?
-By Margo Winton
1. brandi carlile - portland june 11 aladdin, currently sold out. San Fran June 7 American Music Hall
2. Outside Lands - end of August
3. Neko Case- June 7
4. Band of Horses - September 1
5. Sep 5th - Eric Hutchinson @ Bumbershoot in Seattle
All of these songs jumped out at me this week for strange reasons in coffee shops, Tv, and parties... Innitialy I just liked the melodies. However, on a rare occasion I sat on my computer and googled the lyrics, they all freak me out how meaningful every single one of them is to my life right now. Amazing.
1. Time to move on -Tom Petty
2. Numb - Sia
3. Full Moon - The Black Ghosts
4. Falling Slowly - Glen Hansard
5. Standing in the sun - Howie Day
6. Just Wait - Blues Traveler
Glen Hansard - Falling Slowly Lyrics
I don't know you
But I want you
All the more for that
Words fall through me
And always fool me
And I can't react
And games that never amount
To more than they're meant
Will play themselves out
Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you have a choice
You'll make it now
Falling slowly, eyes that know me
And I can't go back
Moods that take me and erase me
And I'm painted black
You have suffered enough
And warred with yourself
It's time that you won
Take this sinking boat and point it home
We've still got time
Raise your hopeful voice you had a choice
You've made it now
Falling slowly sing your melody
I'll sing along
I am that college student today. I went to sleep at 5:45am exactly two nights in a row. How did I manage this you ask? I'm not a quiter is my answer. I am a freak of nature. I can handle strangers coming up to me the next day asking if I'm okay because I look like I'm about to cry. My eyes are red and barely open. My hair is five shades darker than usual, and in what I like to call the up-do clean palate-like bun we see on America's Next Top Model. My fleece jacket has become my second skin, usually with trident gum wrappers in every pocket. I can't remember what water tastes like because I'm hooked to a medical IV of diet pepsi. Unfortunately, I get it free at the union market. And I speak in half sentences because full sentences are farrr too arduous. This usually provides a needed dose of pity.
I can always sense when days like this are coming....we all do. We allow ourselves to freak out when it's getting late on Sunday and write at least one facebook update about being stressed out. Eventually we accept that we are due for that all nighter, and then prepare with a trip to 7eleven. This particular two-day sequence began with the mental decision to stay up and actually MISS mardi gras for a J202 outline... so I could hate life and stare at my yellow legal pad with five to do lists and gross numbers of exclamation marks. Sure enough, by the time I'm done cleaning my room, taking a shower, rearranging the living room and feeling finally mentally prepared for beginning the actual work - everyone comes home from their parties. Always with fun stories and usually a tag-along cute boy...who acts as the friendly reminder that I really missed out. Do I care? Strangely no. I enjoy being the struggling roomate that sits home waiting to hear the fun I missed. It allows me to feel like grandma. Aside from the complete lack of sleep, the non celebration of mardi gras and the abusive comments from strangers, I at least cleaned my room, played the mom role of the household for once, and actually finished my outline. What'd you know, productivity from more angles than you would guess. This is why I like being a seven, I am disgustingly and unecessarily positive in the most impossible and trying of situations.
Dear Dr. Laura,
Thank you for doing so much to educate people regarding God's Law. I have learned a great deal from your show, and I try to share that knowledge with as many people as I can. When someone tries to defend the homosexual lifestyle, for example, I simply remind him that Leviticus 18:22 clearly states it to be an abomination. End of debate. I do need some advice from you, however, regarding some of the specific laws and how to best follow them.
When I burn a bull on the altar as a sacrifice, I know it creates a pleasing odour for the Lord (Lev. 1:9). The problem is my neighbors. They claim the odour is not pleasing to them. Should I smite them?
I would like to sell my daughter into slavery, as sanctioned in Exodus 21:7. In this day and age, what do you think would be a fair price for her?
I know that I am allowed no contact with a woman while she is in her period of menstrual uncleanliness (Lev. 15:19-24). The problem is, how do I tell? I have tried asking, but most women take offense.
Lev. 25:44 states that I may indeed possess slaves, both male and female, provided they are purchased from neighboring nations. A friend of mine claims that this applies to Mexicans, but not Canadians. Can you clarify? Why can't I own Canadians?
I have a neighbor who insists on working on the Sabbath. Exodus 35:2 clearly states he should be put to death. Am I morally obligated to kill him myself?
A friend of mine feels that even though eating shellfish is an abomination (Lev. 11:10), it is a lesser abomination than homosexuality. I don't agree. Can you settle this?
Lev. 21:20 states that I may not approach the altar of God if I have a defect in my sight. I have to admit that I wear reading glasses. Does my vision have to be 20/20, or is there some wiggle room here?
Most of my male friends get their hair trimmed, including the hair around their temples, even though this is expressly forbidden by Lev.19:27. How should they die?
I know from Lev. 11:6-8 that touching the skin of a dead pig makes me unclean, but may I still play football if I wear gloves?
My uncle has a farm. He violates Lev. 19:19 by planting two different crops in the same field, as does his wife by wearing garments made of two different kinds of thread (cotton/polyester blend). He also tends to curse and blaspheme a lot. Is it really necessary that we go to all the trouble of getting the whole town together to stone them? (Lev.24:10-16) Couldn't we just burn them to death at a private family affair like we do with people who sleep with their in-laws? (Lev.20:14)
I know you have studied these things extensively, so I am confident you can help. Thank you again for reminding us that God's word is eternal and unchanging.
Your devoted disciple and adoring fan,
J. Kent Ashcraft
1. Closer
2. Crawl
3. Sex On Fire
4. Use Somebody
5. Manhattan
6. Revelry
7. 17
8. Notion
9. I Want You
10. Be Somebody
11. Cold Desert
1: Jessie Baylin -aside from being breathtakingly beautiful and reminiscent of penny lane from almost famous, she probably has one of thee most seductive and soultry voices since nora jones on day one. however, i prefer ms. baylin. aside from all this, shes extremely down to earth and humble. she signed our posters and gave us a wink and nudge on the shoulder. best friends!
but realtalk ppl, take my word for it. listen to her music, it will put you at ease and make your heart smile. "tennesse gem" "see how i run" "ill cry for the both of us" "contradicting words" "was i on your mind?" ...oh all are wonderful....
2. 
Alice Smith - gorgeous bluesy vocalist, opened for Citizen cope. And I'd say the perfect mix between Alicia Keys, Joss Stone and John Legend. Download her new album: For Lovers. Dreamers & Me. I like the songs "Gary's Song" "Know that I..." "Love Endeavor"
3. Kings of Leon - lead singer has thee sexiest voice of all time. from me, thats saying a lot. "Sex on Fire" is out of control good.
4. The Secret Life of Bees - incredible book, incredible movie. Did not think they would be able to justify the book so well. I cried five times; tears of joy, sadness and just tears of love for humankind. I want queen latifa and alicia keys in my life after seeing that movie. beautiful beautiful women. oh and dakota fanning is all grown up, and officially an incredible actress. My roomate had the balls to say she may be the next Kate Hudson. I dont know about that, but its sayin something
5. K-OS - the new Outkast-like band, but mmm more fun. Personal opinion.
6. Song called "Pachuca Sunrise" by Minus the Bear - I don't know, but its amazing. "Midnight on a beach in the Meditteranean...i miss you" mmmmm
7. Book called "The Psychology of Time" - Im not done with it (obviously, its me. I pick up thirteen books at the same time). But seriously its great. It provides so much clarity about how to approach all those burning questions about how to make the most of your life. Mmm yes the power of psychology.
8. Minute Maid Pomogranite Juice - literally the perfect juice. my family buys three at the same time. lol dont make fun of me for this one.
9. Taking a shower with just candles for light - just think... spa in a spanish oasis.... haha something along those lines
10. Overheard in New York website - Probably the funniest thing I've ever read. My friend Sarah introduced me to about a dozen new blogs and websites, this one being one of the best. Its really just a posting of the random and awesome conversations between people in New York.
exerpt:
(SpongeBob Turned Out to Be Gayer Than Anyone Suspected)
Older woman #1: Baby and I are watching SpongeBob No Pants tonight! Is that what they're calling it nowadays?
Older woman #2: I believe so!
--23rd & 3rd Ave
11. Urban Dictionary - Okay, Im sure many already know about this. But I just learned, and it has changed my life.
For example:
"boyfriend drop" - Subtly adding the fact that you have a boyfriend into the conversation in order to deter anyone who is potentially interested. The first time this happens is the boyfriend drop. Also can be used in describing this event by the other person who was interested.
or "presponse" -To respond to a question before it is finished, often confusing the asker. lol
I promise, you will have trouble not incorporating some of these words and phrases into your permanent vocabulary.
12. Missed Connections - Its a branch off craigslist, in the personals section....Its a place where people post messages about people they meet in random places (i.e. the grogercy store) in very hopeful optimism that that person will see the post and connect with them. Example: To the girl with the red hoodie and purple hat, you are beautiful. We exchanged glances in the supermarket. I think we should meet up... Lol. talk about ruthless. i love it. go check it out. and who knows maybe theres someone out there that posted something about you.
1. Falling Like This
2. Life as a House
3. Once
4. Juno
5.For the bible told them so
6. Factory girl
in person hes so shy, and so awkward..but of coarse like a true musician he comes alive when he performs. apparently he was the heart of third eye blind when they started, he wrote half of that huge first album third eye blind did. According to other neighbor friends of ours Kevin got in a tiff with lead singer Steven Jenkins, whom my brother says is &iqutoe a jackass. lol go figure. and please go listen to "chill" or "million times the sky". he is so talented; fucking weird that i babysit his girls and that he lives right across the street.
reminds me so much of Jason Mraz' sound. love the chorus, love the guitar licks.mmm and hes crazy cute. look up his video on youtube, you will not be dissapointed
show:
Oct 13 2008 8:00P
Berbattis Pan Portland, OR
"fake plastic trees""karma police""there there""paranoid android" my fav of the night. but no youtube video from the night. this ones rad though.
We could barely see, but we didnt fucking care. I just needed my ears and the atmosphere and it was bliss. The show was magical and I'm soooo glad joe convinced my parents to keep the ticket for me. It kinda reaffirmed something for me....I neeed a music man. It just makes me gitty to see a sweet boy with passion for music. when will that ever change? lol never.
1. vanilla sky soundtrack
2. high fidelity soundtrack
3. blow soundtrack
4. Devil wears prada
A little slice of home. This is a photo I found on flickr of the old drug store right across the street from my house in Kensington. :)
Stop This Train by John Mayer
No, I'm not colorblind
I know the world is black and white
Try to keep an open mind
But I just can't sleep on this tonight
Stop this train
I wanna get off
And go home again
I can't take the speed it's moving in
I know I can't
But honestly, won't someone stop this train?
Don't know how else to say it
Don't want to see my parents go
One generation's length away
From fighting life out on my own
Stop this train
I wanna get off
And go home again
I can't take the speed it's moving in
I know I can't
But honestly, won't someone stop this train?
So scared of getting older
I'm only good at being young
So I play the numbers game
To find a way to say that life has just begun
Had a talk with my old man
Said "help me understand"
He said "turn sixty-eight
You renegotiate"
"Don't stop this train
Don't for a minute change the place you're in
stop this train by john mayer
And don't think I couldn't ever understand
I tried my hand
John, honestly we'll never stop this train"
Once in awhile, when it's good
It'll feel like it should
And they're all still around
And you're still safe and sound
And you don't miss a thing
Till you cry when you're driving away in the dark
Singing
Stop this train
I wanna get off
And go home again
I can't take the speed it's moving in
I know I can
Cause now I see I'll never stop this train
conclusion: keep moving forward. "thats life". must experience the tough to experience the wonderful .....
-"Warwick Avenue" by Duffy
-"Profanity Prayers" by Beck
-"Earthquake Weather" by Beck
-"Apologies" by Grace Potter & the Nocturnals
-"Delayed Devotion" by Duffy
- "1963" By Rachael Yamagata
- "Closer to you" by Brandi Carlile
-"What Can I Say" - Brandi Carlile
- "Crossroads" by John Mayer Trio
-"Good love is on the way" - John Mayer Trio
- "When I go" - Brett Dennen
- "Reckoner" by Radiohead
-"Closer" by Goapale
-"Closer" by Neyo
-"Make love in this club" - Usher
-"Beautiful" By Meshell Ndegeocello
-"Take a picture" By Filter
-"Blinded" - Third Eye blind
-"If you could only see(acoustic)" -Tonic
-"Runnin' with a gun' by Slightly Stoopid
1. Catch 22
2. Clockwork orange
3. Kite Runner
4. Angels and Deamons
5. I hope they serve beer in hell
6.
Become Fearless
Let Yourself Be Afraid
My favorite definition of fearlessness is this: the ability to remain soft and open, even under very difficult circumstances. Most often, fear causes us to shut down to our own and others' humanity. We just want to get away, but the quickest way out is to stay. If you can slow down a bit, you can see that fear rises, abides and dissolves on its own. Allowing this process is the mark of the spiritual warrior. The coward turns attention toward fighting fear; the warrior accommodates it.
Try this: The next time you notice fear rising, whether it appears as anxiety, melancholy, or anger, stop, grab a piece of paper, and write one short sentence that describes your fear. Start with the words "I'm afraid…," then scribble the first thoughts that come to mind, without regard for grammar or rationale. It could be something such as, "I'm afraid to check my e-mail because I've already got too much to do," or, "I'm afraid about an upcoming conversation with my boyfriend," or, "I'm afraid I have cancer." Slowly read your words over three times. Take a full inhalation and exhalation after each reading. Avoid any attempt at amping up or toning down your agitation....
More from Oprah.com
Who's Sorry Now?
Six steps to regret-proof your life
By Martha Beck
Illustration: Guy Billout
So here's the story: After a lifetime of handcopying ancient texts, an elderly monk became abbot of his monastery. Realizing that for centuries his order had been making copies of copies, he decided to examine some of the monastery's original documents. Days later, the other monks found him in the cellar, weeping over a crumbling manuscript and moaning, "It says 'celebrate,' not 'celibate!'"
Ah, regret. The forehead-slap of hindsight, the woeful fuel of country ballads, the self-recrimination I feel for eating a quart of pudding in a crafty but unsuccessful attempt to avoid writing this column. If you've ever made a bad decision or suffered an accident, regret has been your roommate, if not your conjoined twin. It's a difficult companion, prone to accusatory comments and dark moods, and it changes you, leaving you both tougher and more tender. You get to decide, however, whether your toughness will look like unreachable bitterness or unstoppable resilience; your tenderness the raw vulnerability of a never-healing wound, or a kindness so deep it heals every wound it touches. Regret can be your worst enemy or your best friend. You get to decide which.
There are at least two time zones where you can choose to make regret's powerful energy healing rather than destructive: the past and the future. Both can be transformed by what you decide to do right now, in this moment.
Let's start by changing the past. If you think that can't be done, think again. Literally. The past doesn't exist except as a memory, a mental story, and though past events aren't changeable, your stories about them are. You can act now to transform the way you tell the story of your past, ultimately making it a stalwart protector of your future. Try these steps, more or less in order.
Don't Put Off Reading This!
By Tim Jarvis
Photo: Chris Eckert
Since the late 1980s, Nike has been telling us, "Just Do It!" If only we simply needed a sneakered kick in the butt. "The world is designed to create procrastination problems," says Dan Ariely, PhD, James B. Duke professor of behavioral economics at Duke University and the author of Predictably Irrational. "Our emotions get the better of us, and we tend to forsake our long-term goals in favor of short-term desires. It's a major source of human misery."
Ariely surveyed almost 3,000 Oprah.com users to explore how procrastination toys with our lives. He found that while people have a general tendency to drag their feet, certain tasks are real "back burners" for pretty much everyone. Of the 12 activities listed (including chores like holiday shopping, paying bills, and scheduling doctors' appointments), exercising and starting a diet are the two people put off the most, topped only by evaluating their retirement plan. Work duties like completing assignments and returning voice mails are attended to much more promptly. Even when people express a willingness to deal with their most avoided to-dos by setting deadlines, the data revealed, they are likely not to follow through. "Just recognizing the problem," says Ariely, "is the first step to overcoming it." Here are a few more strategies:
1. Pull a Ulysses
"The hero of The Odyssey realized that, left to his own devices, he would succumb to the seduction of the Sirens' song, so he had himself tied to the mast of his ship, limiting his ability to behave badly later," says Ariely. Try to outsmart the temptation of your short-term desires. Don't go grocery shopping when you're hungry, and ask the waiter not to even show you the dessert menu.
2. Borrow from your own success.
If you're good at handling job demands, translate the same tactics to the areas where you procrastinate. "Work seems more urgent because others are depending on you and there are deadlines to meet," Ariely says. "That's what helps make it a priority." Invest in a trainer to give your workouts more structure, or arrange to walk regularly with a friend, whom you'll let down if you don't show up.
3. Get in your own face.
Celebrity trainer Jim Karas adds that constant reminders of your mission will help keep you from deferring it. Find a photo of yourself when you last felt happy and confident about your appearance, and make it your screen saver. Put mirrors all over your house and look at yourself constantly, he suggests. "People go around wearing blinders. They don't want to see reality. The more you look at yourself, the more you will want to make a difference—now."
i saw this the other night and felt so connected by it.
stumbling through eric clapton youtube videos for my dad.....and came across this incredibly talented girl singing tears in heaven. i was expecting something lame, but she straight up sold me. she has hundreds of covers on youtube and now, low and behold she is famous, thanks youtube. signed by justin timberlake. was even on Oprah...which we all know defines her as legitimate. talk about humble beginnings. and my favorite part: shes from Denmark! lovvvinn ittt get em girl
singing with one republic.
jill scott song. so weird that she records herself like this...but its actually really soulful and funky. honest opinion she needs to record these kinds of songs. id buy em.
with justin timberlake
this is probably one of the purest and most calming songs ive ever heard. beautiful. plus the video is just so spiritual and bohemian, so of coarse i like it too. lol
was AMAZING in the new batman. apparently he spent a month or two in a hotel trying to perfect the role of the joker. and my personal opinion is that becoming the joker made him crazy in the end. i will be seeing this movie again. i loved it! love at first sight, me and heath. 10 things i hate about you, the paint ball kissing scene anyone!???
Read more...1. Thao with the get down stay down ------July 31st @ 7:30 ---SF at the Independent
2. Feist ----------------------------July 19th---Greek Theater Berkeley
3. John Mayer------------------------July 27th----Shoreline, Mountain View ($36.50 for grass)
4. Dave Matthews---------------------Sep 5, 6, 7----Greek Theather Berkeley
