joycejohnson Blog

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Sat, 23 Oct 2010 22:43:44 GMT

Craps tournaments popularity is increasing lately. If you are a novice craps player who is still intimidated by the great selection of bets or you find the fuss around the craps tables too loud, you might not be able to enjoy playing craps tournaments. If you are an enthusiastic craps shooter, taking part in a craps tournament is a great way to enjoy a more intensive craps playing experience, meet other craps fans and, of course, a chance to win bigger cash prizes as well as the desired title. Many casinos hold different types of craps tournaments to suit the different levels of skills and budgets of the players. Here you can find tips on the different types of casino craps tournaments including tips on how to choose the most suitable and enjoyable craps tournament as possible. In addition, you can find here tips on how to win in craps tournament. Choosing a Craps Tournament Cost: The cost of playing in a craps tournament can range from a free entry and a low buy in to an expensive entry fee with a high buy in. The prizes, needless to say, are corresponding; the higher the entry fee the larger the grand prize. The free tournaments are usually held on a weekly basis for promotional purposes while the high stack tourneys are pre scheduled, last for more than one day and their expensive entry fees include a cocktail party, free accommodation and other freebies. Competition: Evaluating the level of the competition you are going to face in advance can be tough. However, the number of entrants allowed to take part in the tournament can give you a basic indication on the level of the competition. Rules: Casinos often set different rules in craps tournaments. For example, some casinos require players to place a pass or dont pass bet each play on top of any other bets or limit the proposition bet to 25 dollars. Winning a Craps Tournament The main difference between playing a traditional craps game and a craps tournament is that with the latter you suddenly find yourself surrounded by competitors. While in a regular craps game you are used to compete against the house, in a craps tournament you are playing against the other entrants and especially against those who have managed to accumulate the biggest amount of chips. Therefore, playing craps tournaments requires amending of you strategy. Primarily, you can no longer ignore your opponents; you must keep an eye on their moves! Tips Always pay attention to your opponent’s chips; bear in mind that they might have been hiding chips to confuse the other players. Pay attention especially to your closest opponents; watch their moves and conclude your future bets so you will stay far behind. Start by playing conservatively; place small bets on pass and come bets. When an opportunity comes up, for example after making two consecutive points change your pattern and make dont pass bet. If during the final rolls you are still not leading, it is time to play aggressively; place large even bet your entire bankroll on one number and then hope for the best. Have fun.

. Keywords: craps tournaments, craps tables, craps tournament,

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Clutterbugs

Fri, 15 Oct 2010 12:18:45 GMT

"This house is so cluttered I can't find anything," said my husband. I looked around, and realized that most of the clutter was his, on that particular day, anyway. He seemed to be oblivious to that fact. He's not only a closet packrat, he builds guitars. He rebuilds guitars- guitars that don't quite meet his specifications when he buys them. Our living room is a guitar parts morgue. We could open up a store... They ought to make tables that have a slight angle to them, because every flat surface in our house gets piled with guitar parts, newspapers, mail, art supplies, telephones (yes we have several that don't even work, but "might be salvageable"), and all the equipment that goes along with the guitar building and playing. His "workroom" has a tendency to overflow into the living areas. He said, just the other day, that he wanted to use the other bedroom to "store" stuff, too. I had to make a decision, to blatantly show him that most of the clutter is his, or keep quiet and put all his things away in his used-to-be-a-bedroom "workroom". He surely would complain then, because it would be "put up." We can't ever find things that are "put up." We "put it up" so well, that it's never to be seen again. Might as well go buy another one, for all the good it's gonna' do us looking for it. The trouble is, I think, we have too much stuff. If someone came by today and asked us to take up our cross and follow Christ (or Yeshua), we wouldn't be able to find it. The Spring cleaning bug has died, too. It comes around once a year around March. Things get spruced up and "put up" and then it slowly fades away, back to the way it was. Little baskets I put around to hide the parts, and pocket contents he dumps out when he comes home are filled to the brim with all kinds of things- gloves, dog leashes, papers, and one even has an amplifier balanced on top of it. Dust is another problem. We live in the Southwest, where rain is as scarce as change from a vending machine. Lots of dust causes lots of static electricity, which in turn causes computer freeze-ups and malfunctions. With both of us being avowed computer geeks, that certainly is a problem. We are frequently unplugging everything and plugging it back in to release the charge. I even bought some anti-static spray the other day, but alas, it is lost, after just one use. We live in Colorado, but you'd think I was back in West Texas with all the dust that seems to creep in here. I work at home, so my husband thinks I have all day to just go around and dust, and find things. He has no idea... Well, occasionally I do the chores, but anything that needs dusting that's more than five feet high, isn't going to get dusted. If I can't see it, it isn't there. It doesn't bother me, as long as I can't see it. Maybe I'll start building pianos. They have lots of parts. And they're really big. Nah. They have a flat surface on top. I'd never be able to get into them to work on them. Besides, I'd never get anything else done, just playing the piano all day...

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Cartoons: Why I Loved Saturdays

Mon, 11 Oct 2010 13:13:19 GMT

There are a lot of reasons that most kids love Saturdays. Kids love Saturdays because it means they do not have to get up early and go to school. Kids love Saturdays because they usually get to relax or play with friends. Kids love Saturdays because it means they got to stay up late on Friday night. But as a kid I loved Saturdays for a totally different reason: Saturday morning cartoons.

One of the highlights of my childhood was watching Saturday morning cartoons. My siblings and I looked forward to it all week long. We made it through five long days of school, homework, going to bed early, and eating healthy breakfast foods in order to get to the next Saturday. And though the wait for Saturday felt like forever, eventually it always came. And with it came our special Saturday routine. Although Saturday is the perfect day to sleep in, we usually got up just as early as we would for school, and we did not even need alarm clocks! Whoever woke up first would run to wake up all the others and together we would go quickly to the family room and turn on the television and flip to our favorite channel: the one with the best Saturday morning cartoons.

Oh, we loved our cartoons. We kept track of what was happening in all our favorite cartoons and we waiting with anticipation for the next episode. We were glued to the television with eyes so huge we did not miss a thing. We would laugh outloud, talk to our favorite cartoon characters outloud, and get mad at the television outloud anytime the cartoons did not go like we thought they should. We were so into our favorite cartoons that only one thing could pull us away from the tube. Dad's pancakes.

Dad's special, Saturday-only pancakes were amazing. We could eat as many as we wanted and we could put anything in them we wanted: blueberries, chocolate chips or even M&M's. We looked forward to our Dad's pancakes almost as much as we looked forward to watching our favorite cartoons. Our parents even started letting us eat our pancakes in front of the television so we would not have to miss a cartoon! What a deal! Saturday was the only day the good cartoons were on, it was the only day that Dad made his signature, unhealthy pancakes, and it was definitely the only day we could eat in front of the television in the family room.

So while I liked not having to go to school on Saturdays and I liked being able to play with friends and stay up later, the real reason I loved Saturdays was not even my Dad's great pancakes. The real reason, the biggest reason that I grew up loving Saturdays was simple: Saturday morning cartoons.
Summary:

. . . My sibli...covered calls

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Beneath the Armor of The Iron Man

Fri, 08 Oct 2010 14:50:16 GMT

Heroes are often defined and made what they are by two things: the villains they face and the burdens they carry. Superman carries the burden of fear and anxiety, living a life afraid of breaking something, of killing someone should be be careless with his power. In some ways, Spider-man fought off depression after the death of his Uncle Ben by turning to crime-fighting. Batman turned his fear and anxiety into a weapon in his personal war, fueling his lone crusade against crime. However, in very few heroes is the relationship between burden and heroism as blatant and as prominent as in Tony Stark, the Iron Man. The armor worn by the Iron Man, unlike the costumes of so many other heroes, is more than a mere tool for fighting crime. The armor also bears several components designed to help him cope with his physical ailments. Tony Stark's heart was compromised in Vietnam, such that the armor's primary purpose was to sustain him – keep him alive and moving – long enough to get proper medical care. In many ways, the early years of his career was marked with mild hints of depression. The armor was less of a tool in his eyes, and more a reminder of the frailty of his condition. The fact that the chronic pain he felt was alleviated better by the armor than by medication only added to his problems. Still, despite the frailties, the Iron Man continued to do what he felt needed to be done. More so than any other hero, he risks his life whenever he engages his enemies in battle. The slightest malfunction or damage to his armor could prove fatal for him. The slightest disruption in the systems could cause the systems to go berserk and take many innocent civilians along with him. The burden has, at certain times, been too great for the character to bear. In a contrast to many other superheroes around him, Tony Stark tried to fight his depression and the pressures of his life in a very human way: alcohol. Of course the decision to make him an alcoholic was controversial, but then, Marvel Comics has always pushed the line that way. Harry Osborne had been a drug user in an even more sensational storyline from the Spider-man comics. However, the difference here was that, unlike Osborne, Stark was a hero. As a hero, he was supposed to be above the petty squabbles and flaws of ordinary human beings. He eventually recovered, but not before his alcoholism caused great turmoil among his teammates and pushed his already strained relationships to near-breaking point. The Iron Man character is often overlooked in the long list of superheroes that have become more human over the years. This is probably due to the fact that Tony Stark isn't quite as fitting into the comic book niche-worlds that others seem designed for. Spider-man is the everyman of the superhero world, designed so that anyone who reads his comic can find something about him that they can relate to. Superman is the vision of an ideal, a dream given form and power. The Batman represents the darkness in everyone, honed and shaped into an overwhelming power. It is arguable, but there are some that would say Tony Stark is more human than any of the above. The armor may make him seem invincible, but like a turtle, underneath the shell is something soft and vulnerable.

Summary: There are countless superheroes out there, each one forever given a legacy in the comic world by their persona, their villains, and their burdens. There are very few that can argue that Tony Stark, the Iron Man, does not carry a great burden on his shoulders each time he dons his infamous invincible armor. It is arguable that, given his situation and his flaws, Tony Stark is among the most human characters in comic books today. Keywords: fear and anxiety, depression, relationship, chronic pain

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Audio Books - 5 Unheard of Uses

Tue, 05 Oct 2010 16:54:35 GMT

Five Reasons to Listen to Audio Books You May Never Have Thought Of The typical hardcover or paperback book is not going anywhere. The format shows no signs of ever dying off, even after considering the many technological advances made in recent years. It would, however, be foolish to deny the obvious and not so obvious benefits of listening to audio books. Here are some ways audio books could be put to use: 1. Do you like reading poetry? Then experience it in the way it was meant to be experienced: with your ears! Back in the good old days, it was not uncommon for poets to recite their works before a swooning audience. The great Irish poet and playwright, W.B. Yeats, was said to have written poetry in such a manner that, when vocalized, it would have a certain effect on the ears of its hearers. If you like the writings of T.S. Eliot, there is actually available a recording, on compact disc, of Mr. Eliot himself reading his own poetry. It’s obviously a fascinating investment for fans of Eliot. It’s only one in a series called The Voice of the Poet. 2. Fight road rage while listening to audio books—seriously. Statistics show that violent crime resulting from what is commonly known as “road rage” has increased tremendously over the past couple of years. If you happen to be one of those individuals with a bit of a mean-streak when behind the wheel, then don’t take to the boulevard without Waitley’s Optimal Stress Reduction in your passenger seat—or simply check out a few of the innumerable audio book titles available from an audio book rental club or in your local book store in the self-help section 3. Revisit the “Golden Age of Radio”. It is now possible to find a vast array of classic radio dramas on compact disc. Fans of The Shadow radio program have known this, and are undoubtedly pleased. Also, if you happen to like The Twilight Zone television series, then try to get your hands on a copy of The Twilight Zone Radio Dramas—Lou Diamond Phillips and Adam West are among the talent contributing to these programs. 4. Struggling in child-rearing? Audio books just might be part of the solution. Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix is a hit with the kids (just as every other Harry Potter book has been); and an obvious choice might be an audio book from the Lord of the Rings series—these classic Tolkien works are available in abridged and unabridged editions. 5. Learn another language… in your sleep. When you fall asleep your brain doesn’t just turn off. On the contrary, research has shown that the sleeping brain does receive, process and perhaps even store information. So why not use your good nights sleep effectively by listening to one of the many foreign language audio books. And while this technique may not be the only means of mastering a second or third language, it will make things a little bit easier. If these uses don’t seem practical to you, they might put you in the mindset to think of your own ways to utilize audio books. And although some may say that listening to audio books is no substitute for reading, the growing popularity of audio book rental services such as Jiggerbug.com may eradicate paper books completely or at least come close!

Summary: You probably know what audio books are, but do you know what they can do? This article discusses the not so obvious uses for audio books and the seemless integration of them into an ordinary persons life. Keywords: audio books, audio, books, audiobook, audio book, audiobooks, book

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Article directories add value

Fri, 01 Oct 2010 14:12:38 GMT

Article Directories follow the metaphysical law of Reciprocation. What this means in Layman's Terms is: you scratch my back and I'll scratch yours. Both parties get something out of the arrangement, and all is good. If you contrast this particular method of marketing to the more odious method of "scraping content", and you'll quickly see why article directories are considered to be the wave of the future when it comes to interactive and co-operative marketing. Article directories allow for participation by: 1)webmasters who want to use the articles 2)The Webmaster who wrote the article and who receives promotional credit for publishing it 3)The end user who gets high quality content that may not have been available otherwise. If you haven't already begun article creation, you better get started soon. Right now, the article directory industry is exploding. What better way to promote your website than to write expert articles that make you and your subject matter stand out from the crowd? If you're an excellent writer, you can greatly expand the audience of your website by expanding your reach on the internet. Once you're published on a multitude of websites, you can expect a great deal of direct traffic as well as search engine juice from your many installed articles. If you think about 10 articles that are on over 100 sites, you can quickly see that's 1,000 pages that now link to you with information about you and your website. Done consistently, for months on end, there is no better way of increasing your exposure than authoring and submitting articles on your favorite subjects. If you're not already an expert on a subject, then what better time to start than now? You are best off writing individual articles for the web directories that do not appear on your own website. Otherwise, you may run into the very real risk of the article directory outranking you for your very own content! Generally article directories are very popular website with a great deal of traffic and link popularity, so they often will rank for your article. If you use original content, you can expect additional traffic, that doesn't interfere with your websites traffic at all. Submitting content to article directories is not a miracle cure for all of your ranking blues, but it's a great start for a deserving website on the road to recognition. Only by getting the word out, can you expect others to be able to find the wonderful resource that is your website. The Article Directory at Webs-Best-Directory.com is a human-edited, categorized search engine friendly web directory. Add your website today. View their website at: .

Summary: People in the internet marketing community have discovered a new form of marketing web pages and exchanging links, and this method is quickly gaining a large head of steam. The basic system works like this: a person will write a page of content, and then allow a foreign website to publish that content in exchange for a link in a resource box on the page. This idea appeals to both parties for several reasons, which I'll outline. Keywords: Directory,Vietnam directory,optionbit

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Bank Foreclosure Profit Opportunities

Tue, 28 Sep 2010 14:46:05 GMT

In Many Cases, The Lender Or Agency Simply Wants To Get Rid Of Foreclosure Bank Owned Properties Quickly – Even If It Means Selling At A Low Price
Upkeep of foreclosure bank owned properties costs more than selling them cheap. Whether you are a homebuyer or a foreclosure homes investor, foreclosure bank owned properties allow you to buy properties at a fraction of their market value. Lenders aren't chartered to own and manage property, so they face close scrutiny and pressure from state and federal regulators to dispose of foreclosed properties quickly - especially if they're on a regulator's "watch list". The second reason why foreclosure bank owned properties are sold at below market value has to do with their condition. And because they're dealing directly with the bank they can eliminate the 6 percent sales commission if they act fast - before the bank lists the property with a real estate agent. Bank foreclosed homes are sought out by investors because of their profit potential. In many cases, the lender or agency simply wants to get rid of foreclosure bank owned properties quickly – even if it means selling at a low price. Foreclosure bank owned properties are an excellent opportunity for anyone who wants to save money on their next real estate purchase. It is not uncommon to find bank foreclosed homes sold at prices much lower than their market value. Foreclosure bank owned properties are priced at up to 5% to 50% off their market value, simply because of the way you can buy and sell foreclosure bank owned properties. It is possible to gain a nice return on your investment when you invest in bank foreclosed homes. Foreclosure bank owned properties are homes that have been repossessed by a government agency or lender due to non-payment of the mortgage. When their REO departments are loaded with foreclosures, investors are able to finagle below-market interest rates with little or no cash down. When A Homeowner Cannot Pay The Mortgage For A Few Months At A Time, The Bank Will Initiate Foreclosure Proceedings Against The Owner
In order to get the best deals on foreclosure bank owned properties, you need to be prepared and shop wisely. The owner will be anxious to sell to avoid having a foreclosure as a black mark on their credit report. Bank foreclosed homes are homes that are owned by banks or other lending institutions because of the lender having foreclosed on the property. Once you find some foreclosure bank owned properties you like, though, you still need to research. Researching foreclosure bank owned properties can help you tell the deals from the duds. After the foreclosure is final, the bank foreclosed home will be offered for sale, either directly by the bank, or through real estate auctions. When a homeowner cannot pay the mortgage for a few months at a time, the bank will initiate foreclosure proceedings against the owner. You cannot let emotions rule your purchase, and you cannot assume that all foreclosure bank owned properties are sold at below market value. If the property has accumulated enough equity, the investor will make a very nice profit. What Are Bank Foreclosed Homes? Bank Foreclosed Homes Auctions
Bank Foreclosed Homes Auctions. For each home you consider, determine your closing costs, actual house costs, incidental costs, and financing costs. Sometimes the bank foreclosed homes will be sold at real estate auctions. Once you calculate the cost of any repairs needed, add it to the total cost of the property. Remember to account for the time that it will take to repair the bank foreclosed home. This approach means that you wouldn't reimburse them for any accumulated charges such as interest, late charges, foreclosure fees, legal fees, nor any advances they might have made toward senior loans, property taxes, insurance. Sometimes an inspection is not possible, so you should only make bids that leave a nice margin for any unknown repairs. Get a market value for the home and an estimate for the repairs that need to be done. To figure the number of loan payments made, start when the deed of trust recorded and end with the delinquency date that's listed on the recorded Notice of Default. On the other hand, if you do it carelessly, you could end up paying a lot more for the bank foreclosed home than it is worth. Hiring a professional assessor and inspector to examine the property for you. Find out how much homes in the same neighborhood sell for as well. At the most, you shouldn't pay the bank any more for their equity in the property than what they originally lent on it minus the payments that were actually made on the loan. If You Are Looking For An Investment, Make Sure That You Will Get At Least 15% Or More In Profit Through Renting Or Selling, And Remember That Many Foreclosure Bank Owned Properties Allow You To Earn More On Your Investment
An important aspect of investing in bank foreclosed homes is having good listings so that you can get to the properties before they are gone. Good bank foreclosed homes do not stay in the market long. If you are seeking a home, look for foreclosure bank owned properties in areas you would like to live that have the amenities you want. A better use of your time and money is to sign up with an online bank foreclosed homes listings service. Whether you are looking for foreclosure bank owned properties that are investments or a home will determine which foreclosure bank owned properties are deals for you. These foreclosure bank owned properties you are considering should save you money on your home so that you can enjoy equity fast. If you are looking for an investment, make sure that you will get at least 15% or more in profit through renting or selling, and remember that many foreclosure bank owned properties allow you to earn more on your investment. Bank Foreclosed Homes Listings. Buying up lenders' REO's (real estate owned) is a workable approach when it's a Buyer's market and lenders have lots of REO's they are anxious to get rid of. Finally, insist that the lender provide you with all the customary buyer safeguards such as escrow, title insurance, homeowner's warranty, termite clearance. You can get bank foreclosed homes listings from courthouses, lending institutions, government agencies. And Lender Deals Typically Include Title Insurance, Which Removes Much Of The Risk That Accompanies Buying Homes Earlier In The Foreclosure Process
If the property fails to sell at auction, or if the lender ends up as the highest bidder, the home becomes REO, or "real estate owned" by the bank. Often these homes are sold to buyers who don't even know they are buying a foreclosure, and go through the entire process as they would with any other home. And lender deals typically include title insurance, which removes much of the risk that accompanies buying homes earlier in the foreclosure process.

Summary: Whether you are a homebuyer or a foreclosure homes investor, foreclosure bank owned properties allow you to buy properties at a fraction of their market value. Lenders aren't chartered to own and manage property, so they face close scrutiny and pressure from state and federal regulators to dispose of foreclosed properties quickly - especially if they're on a regulator's list. binary options optionbit

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You Must Be An Artist

Mon, 27 Sep 2010 13:25:57 GMT

“...Meet this solemn question with a strong, simple ‘I must,’ then build your life in accordance with this necessity; your whole life, even into its humblest and most indifferent hour, must become a sign and witness to this impulse.” - Rilke We are, all of us, meant to create. We are creat-ures, thus it is evident in the world around us that as a spider spins a web, a bird builds a nest, humans are possessed of a spiritual and biological mandate to spin and build a world of beauty and function. The human distinction is the ability to make symbols. Symbolism is the art of investing the world around us with meaning by expressing the invisible or intangible through visible or sensuous representation. This is the simplest, the least unsettling definition of art and creativity. From this definition, we have come to believe and to thoroughly accept without question that art belongs to those who paint the paintings, write the words, and mold the clay, into those representations of the intangible and the invisible. Art has therefore been divided into those who do and those who don’t. The reinstatement of art into every one of our lives, both in our ability to receive and to recreate it, is to return to living with meaning. Creativity is, like evolution, like all growth and change, an irrepressible force in nature. Thus far, only humans have attempted to turn away from this call, and a case can be made that it is this turning away that is the cause of so much of our pain, suffering, and longing. This suffering, however, is the result of confusion and misdirection, not hapless circumstance. Art, like science, philosophy, and civility, is our best defense against the insupportable weight of all that we don’t know. If we could disperse the weight among us citizen artists, come up with a more inclusive outlook, we could lighten the formidable load of ignorance. In the broadest sense, art is a response in whatever form it takes--an expression of the love and beauty and terror as it is given to us through the visible bounty of Nature—that pulls us further out of the mire. Creativity is anything that fosters that indwelling spirit, any creation or activity that advances the progression of the unimpedable energy of growth that is life. The replication of that love and beauty, the balm that soothes the terror, or the release provided by the recognition of that terror, is our task, is the way of art and creativity, a whole-some response to existence. Whether you are a fireman, a pathologist, a babysitter, or a banker, you must be an artist. Must be means, first of all, the recognition of this as your identity, as in, “Oh, you must be an artist...” Secondly, must be makes it imperative. You must respond to the dignity evolving out of creaturehood toward a greater man, toward God, and remain fearless as well as awe-struck by the vast implications. In the meeting of this challenge, you will be recognized by a light in the eye of those you encounter, as extraordinary. The commitment to creativity, like any other commitment, will become an integral, necessary, part of our life once we realize that not only does our art spring from and define the core of, yes, our own identities, but more importantly, that it is an expression of that which is greater than ourselves. Thus who we are becomes linked with the world, and it is given meaning and purpose by what we do with this link. Creativity is the purveyor of meaning. We begin with a sense that there is something within us that must act and express. We begin by going beyond the sadness we have experienced at having this something repressed, discouraged, buried. We begin with the thin person with the fat body, the sober, healthy being underneath the addict’s skin, the lover inside our neglected hearts. We begin with the hope and the longing of the creative force within ourselves.

Summary: “...Meet this solemn question with a strong, simple ‘I must,’ then build your life in accordance with this necessity; your whole life, even into its humblest and most indifferent hour, must become a sign and witness to this impulse.” - Rilke We are, all of us, meant to create. We are creat-ures, thus it is evident in the world around us that as a spider spins a web, a bird builds a nest, humans are possessed of a spiritual and biological mandate to spin and build a world o... Keywords: art,artists,creativity,meaning

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Abstract Art and I

Sat, 25 Sep 2010 00:44:19 GMT

I have always loved bright colors and movement, like dancing its healing, relaxing fulfilling and challenging as well. The bottom line is the feeling and message that I want to convey through the medium. When I paint, every attempt is to capture the feel of warmth, passion, joy and bliss in none objective or figurative composition. I enjoy experimentation of different media and subjects. My subject varies based on my emotion and statement but my love for colors is constant. In spite of this, viewers see different forms or figures in my abstract expressions. The good thing about these expressions is the freedom of the viewers to see and appreciate the forms in their mind's eyes, like face painting in the eye of the viewer. Its also important to mention that "Uli" which is my traditional art style has played a major role in my age long career. The symbols and forms of this art style are reflected in my cubism, abstract images, abstract relief sculpture, seascape, drawing, pastels and watercolor painting. People see different forms or images in abstract art, the depth of what you actually see when you look at the paintings is partly based on individual exposure and understanding of art forms, color, shapes, line and texture; which are the physical elements that combine to make up the artworks. A selection of different dark hues, shapes and forms may give various impressions to different minds; light, airy images as mystical; balanced, temperate forms as peaceful. Uli organic forms and shape are symbolical such as colors and forms have meaning in and of themselves. It is a simple truth that you can't give what you don't have. I am a believer and my work time is also a meditation time, which can go either way depending on the spiritual consciousness of the creative mind. To me, my work section is an intimate moment between I, canvas and colors. At this creative moment there is a spiritual impartation from the artist to the Art. Hence the emotional reaction to these elements even if they create no recognizable object for us to hang onto. I enjoy the inclusion and deletion of space. The handling of space or the illusion of space is another powerful element in the artist's mind. If you are drawn into a yard of three-dimensional space stretching beyond the framework of the painting to sculpture, you are not alone. The impression of depth, perspective, airiness, solidity, textures and other spatial relations are created and controlled to achieve a desired goal. The overall composition or design of my painting or sculpture is created to guide the viewer's eyes to understanding and appreciation of the images. I must admit, most of my figurative compositions is a celebration of womanhood, which I am very proud to be part of for they are the seats of wisdom and knowledge. I pride in the feeling and reactions of my clients and viewers to my creations. I feel blessed in many ways than words can express. The challenge sometimes is getting the composition right, or balancing the elements of color, lines and shapes while maintaining a dynamic tension and massage beneath. Energy is the life force that is present in all good art. This is not something that is easily defined. The life force of every work I do is the same, but different energy and different statements. It is this peculiar energy that makes my works speak to you, and makes them unique, original and identifiable to me. This energy is created out of experience and self-awareness, materials and tools, but the end is more than the means in the same sense that a musical composition is so much more than a collection of notes. You are welcome into my world of abstract wall art or modern art, relax and let your eye leisurely wander over the collection of verities of art forms and styles. Let your heart and mind react to my colors, shapes, figures and textures. Come and spoil yourself a little in the illusion of vibrant spaces, the movement of lines and the mood of blissful atmosphere. Come, come up close and explore the intricacies of brushstrokes, spatula- strokes, paint thickness, textures and compositional details. Enjoy how the parts are woven together to form the whole. Take your time. My artwork cannot be understood and appreciated in a ten second glance. Allow my art to grow on you, becoming more interesting and more enjoyable to look at as you live with it. ,, Summary: I pride in the feeling and reactions of my clients and viewers to my creations. I feel blessed in many ways than words can express. The challenge sometimes is getting the composition right, or balancing the elements of color, lines and shapes while maintaining a dynamic tension and massage beneath. ,

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A higher yuan

Sun, 19 Sep 2010 19:22:27 GMT

The big news this past weekend was China's decision to let its currency, the yuan, trade with more “flexibility” - in other words, higher. As you know, we've been expecting such a move for some time, but with more dread than optimism. Nonetheless, this slight change is no reason to panic. True, our long-term opinion on the yuan remains unchanged. A freely floating yuan means a higher yuan and (for Americans) it means higher prices for all commodities, especially gold. The case is straightforward. A higher yuan will make commodities more affordable for China. China will then step up its purchases, adding to global commodity demand. In turn, that will raise commodity prices, in currencies other than the yuan, such as the U.S. dollar and the euro. Meanwhile, a higher and more widely traded yuan will lead to the U.S. dollar losing value and importance. China will have good reason to switch more of its vast reserves from dollars into gold, driving up gold prices. None of this bodes well for the U.S. in its current state. Over the past decade, we've already seen the prices of many important commodities climb four times higher – even though U.S. consumption of them has been flat to lower. A higher yuan will continue this trend, adding to inflationary pressure and making economic growth more difficult. Fortunately, in the short-term, China's announcement may not be a big deal. Most likely, China simply doesn't want the U.S. to label it a currency manipulator, particularly with the G20 meeting coming up, so it struck a conciliatory tone. However, this is not 2005. Instead of a sharp and significant rise in the yuan followed by a 3-year sustained increase, the Chinese currency will probably move only slightly in the near term. The reason is that the U.S. and European economies are considerably weaker now, and will likely stay weak for some time. Both Europe and the U.S. will actually benefit from a small gain in the yuan this time. A sight weakening of the major currencies will boost Western exports and shore up Western economies. If we're wrong and China does allow the yuan to rise sharply, we may have to redo our math. But rest assured we will keep you informed about what to do in that instance. Meanwhile, the sad truth is that the U.S. and Europe could actually stand a little more currency devaluation in order to get their respective economies moving again. It boggles our minds that Europeans, facing no growth and unemployment as high as 20% in some regions, think they can solve their problems with fiscal restraint. They seem to have forgotten the lessons of the Great Depression – and are risking a replay with such policies. Similarly, the latest U.S. statistics imply that we may be facing another economic slowdown. We don't know if a full-fledged double-dip recession will result, but we are concerned. Weakness in money supply, high unemployment insurance claims, weak housing starts... these are not signs that meaningful growth is taking place. Rather, they warn that consumer sentiment and spending could head in the wrong direction. The U.S. may in fact need another round of quantitative easing to get the economy onto its legs. Unlike a slight gain in the yuan, QE would be a real game changer. If it happens, the major beneficiary will be gold prices, as investors flee to gold as the one currency that can't be devalued with QE. For that reason, we continue to recommend you have a stake in gold, even though a correction is possible in the near term. Gold did shoot past its previous high last night and could continue to be carried higher on the back of further weakness in Europe and quantitative easing in the U.S. Nonetheless, any short-term benefit the U.S. or Europe receives from a higher yuan could cause a dip in gold prices, which you must be ready to either ride out or use as a buying opportunity. MORE ON TECHNOLOGY-RELATED INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES Last week, we discussed how technological innovation over the past decade or two has been focused on the wrong areas. We are a little embarrassed that we neglected to mention the biggest technological failure that has been in the news recently – that which led to the Gulf of Mexico oil spill. To recap, most of our recent technology advances have been in the area of computerized number crunching. For example, IBM apparently has a computer that understands human language well enough to play Jeopardy. Bully for them. Yet, when it comes to vital creative tasks – such as capping a well on the ocean floor – computers aren't much help. Nor have we been developing new, non-fossil energy technologies on the scale needed to avert a severe energy crisis over the next decade. Nor have we figured out how to develop the few remaining fossil fuel deposits without risking an environmental catastrophe. To take another example, the latest issue of Scientific American contained an article on gas fracturing – a process of extracting natural gas from large shale formations, such as the Marcellus formation which runs from New York to Tennessee. Natural gas has its advantages, but most experts agree that the fracturing process risks putting a huge amount of toxins such as benzene into the air. The process also uses a lot of fresh water, which is growing scarce, and generates a lot of poisoned water which may not be recyclable. New York State thinks fracturing is so risky that it simply won't allow it at all. But other states are not so cautious. We have to wonder how many other disasters like the one in the Gulf it will take before we start putting research efforts into safer ways to produce energy. We have very little time to get our act together. That said, we think investors can make a lot of money from energy-related companies that are relatively immune to environmental disasters.