Dear Colleagues,

We are pleased to announce the 4th MPA Meeting (International Meeting on Developments in Materials, Processes and Applications of Emerging Technologies) to be held in Braga, Portugal during 28-30 July 2010. More details on this meeting on www.mpa-meeting.com

The topics for MPA 2010 include:

1. Commercialisation of Advanced Technologies (Nanotechnology)

2. Surface Technology (Coatings; Thick & Thin Films; Surface Fabrication, Modification & Characterisation)

3. Materials for Energy Applications

4. Applied Bio-Nanotechnology

5. Carbon Nanotubes/Wires/Rods & their Applications

6. Advanced Nanometrology and Nanomanufacturing Techniques

MPA-2010 HIGHLIGHTS

Plenary lecture – The plenary lecture will be given by a very prominent person. Details about the plenary lecture will follow very soon.

Invited talks – there will be a host of invited people from academia and industry.

Posters – there will be poster display sessions in between the technical talks. We are looking to give out prizes for the best posters.

Oral contributions – people from academia and those from industry or those doing applied research will be given the opportunity to give short presentations on their most recent work.

Exhibition – companies will have the opportunity to exhibit during this event which will attract people from all over the world.

Short courses – short courses about special topics relating to nanofabrication , nano-characterisation and nano-market applications will be given by experts (eg. Nanofabrication techniques, Bionanosystems, Nano-entrepeneurship, Clean room maintenance, etc.).

Interactive discussion forum – the conference will end with an interactive open discussion forum consisting of academics and industrialists all under one roof discussing issues relating to materials, processes and applications of nanotechnology.

Publications – Papers presented at MPA-2010 will be considered for publication in special issues of the following journals:

Journal of Nanoscience and Nanotechnology (JNN)

Journal of Nano Research (JNanoR)

You can submit your abstracts by sending them to abstracts@mpa-meeting.com by 15 April 2010

Looking forward to receiving your abstracts

Sincerely

MPA 2010 Team.

___________________________________

4th MPA 2010

INNOSPACE, 2nd Floor, Minshull House
Chorlton Street, Manchester
M1 3FY, United Kingdom
Tel: +44 (0) 161 921 8172
Fax: +44 (0) 161 247 6820
Email: info@mpa-meeting.com

www.mpa-meeting.com

As many of you may know by now, CIGS stands for The Community Involvement Growth Strategy.  The CIGS strategy is a business plan development and special events management model I have been using since my days in the military and entertainment industry.

The CIGS strategic organizational growth model (as it is officially called) is a fusion of all of the logistics based functions I served in my jobs as a logistics supply and maintenance clerk for my transportation terminal unit in the US Army and my role as an A&R Business Administration Assistant at LaFace Records.  Over the years, I continued adding and perfecting the model as my career blossomed through experiences with the production pools at Coca-Cola USA, the C-Level General Management team at Burrell Communications Group, and the award winning Atlanta Multi-Housing Team at CB Richard Ellis.  Top that off with a one year detail with the Planning and Environmental Accountability Branch at The Environmental Protection Agency, one could easily see how my passion for logistics, marketing, community/economic development and environmental activism has developed and strengthened.

Right now, I am currently working on several key projects that allow me to fold all of my talents under one umbrella.  Thanks to the philanthropic interests and goals of ProFast Development Group, I will be spearheading several marketing initiatives over the next two to five years.  They are:

• ProFast TRENDS Golf Tournament
• Adamsville, GA Master Plan Development Project
• 2010 TRENDS R&D Forum (based on the ITEST Grant)
• NEXT Steps Youth Entrepreneur Program Initiatives
• 2010 TRENDS Summer Internship/Jobs Program

All of our initiatives and programs will have a common thread tying each program’s goals and objectives into the other.  Through ProFast Development Group and ProFast Marine Group, our goals are to support students, teachers and community groups that have expressed significant interests, created innovative projects and/or inventions, and have discovered unique trends or occurrences that could benefit or further advance their participation and contributions to the science, technology, engineering and mathematics industries.

Through funding, collaborative partnership efforts, and the CIGS strategic organizational growth model, ProFast can help these groups utilize and maximize the resources  available to them “in their own backyards”.  In return, each partner walks away with the ability to create and complete measurable results,  future development projects , and potential avenues to extend community, workforce and economic development opportunities that benefit their groups and communities overall.

More Info

Smoke assist is the new alternative to cigarettes!  It provides the look and feel of real cigarettes, as well as the flavor of tabacco, without smoke or nicotine!

This past Monday, Brandon, Nik and myself got dirty.

We did actually do some work too…

This is not a truck.

Tie down straps are overrated anyway.

He’s scheduled to appear on America’s Next Top Model 2010!

Poop.

PV Tech, perhaps the best web newsletter out there, and Tom Cheyney (ditto for kudos for him, individually), had a valuable article on Solibro’s CIGS status and plans. For the first time, it seems that CIGS could be becoming mainstream and predictable. Solibro is at 45 MW of production and is finishing 90 more, for 135 MW total in 2010. Their modules are at about 11% (like First Solar’s CdTe) but aim to surpass 12%, and may even reach 15% with steady progress in a five or so years. (These are very similar to First Solar’s recent projections, too.) In the past, such projections from the CIGS start-ups were purely speculative. Now at least we are getting a firmer set of actual manufacturers.

The other steady producer is Wurth, also evaporation of the elements onto glass. This is the traditional method developed over the last 25 years in the US and Europe, with the National Renewable Energy Lab in Golden, CO, still the world record holder at almost 20% cell efficiency. Lars Stolt works at Solibro, and he is one of the long-term contributors to the CIGS technology.

Global Solar of Solon makes CIGS on flexible foil; Ascent had recent success making integrated CIGS modules on flexible plastic; and a few others such as Showa are working on glass.

Interestingly, we have not seen the new breed of VC-backed companies emerge from the tunnel yet. Similarly, the ones with tangible production and expansion are working on glass. Ten years later, all the famous talk in the late 1990s about the new breed of CIGS start-ups was either the ignorance of new entrants or the spin of those raising money.

Solibro didn’t tell us what cost they are making CIGS modules for now, but they told us their goals of about 0.8 euros/W. I will guess this means about $1.1/W based on a wildly fluctuating dollar-euro price (of course, it is closer to $1.2/W now). It wasn’t clear what their projected efficiencies assumed were, but let’s take a round number 12% for comparison sake, and $1.3/W for right now.

Using our own spreadsheet estimates (and uniform 30% module margins and near-10% integrator margins), we can stack up Solibro’s CIGS modules against the field and see how they rate. These are engineering estimates, and not purchasable prices – they do not account for the margins and middle men between us and our hardware. But at least they are on a common basis, which allows for comparisons.

Before looking at their goals, let’s look at Solibro using their assumed efficiency of 11% and $1.27/W total, today. This may be too kind to them (perhaps in terms of yield and current equipment costs).

Figure 1. Comparing technologies at the large-ground mounted system level using today’s assumed Solibro numbers: 11% modules and $1.27/W direct cost.

Note that they are only competitive against amorphous silicon on glass using these numbers. Now let’s look at their goal of 12% and $1.1/W.

Figure 2. Solibro’s goals: 12% modules and $1.1/W. Still not competitive with either today’s CdTe or better silicon producers, but closer.

In the past, lack of cost competitiveness was not as much an issue, as every module made was sold, and those who were cheaper had larger margins. Today it is different. Still, these are good numbers for an emerging technology, and it would be healthy for consumers if markets were robust enough to support the continued progress of CIGS to keep up the competitive pressure on the incumbents.

Dr. Stolt made the remark that 1% of module improvement was worth as much as halving the capital cost. This actually allows one to back out their capital costs. 1% module improvement from 11% to 12% is a 1/11^th , or 9% cost reduction. 9% of their area cost is about $12/m2. This means their capital cost is about $24/m2, which at 11% and 7 years depreciation is about $1.5/W. This seems like a reasonable assumption for their factories, now that they are being simplified. It used to be $3/W, so this is big progress.

Is CIGS turning the corner. Alright, maybe it is still a little too soon, but it is good to see them reach a point where it makes sense to actually calculate their place in the competitive landscape.

Ken Zweibel

i took some adderall and felt a ‘ boost’ of energy

i felt in control of ‘ things’

i had a need to go on the internet

i went on facebook and looked at my new friends

6 hours went by and i was alone in the library, looking up things on the internet

‘damn’

‘ fuck’

the effects of the adderall have died down and now i feel ‘ tired’ and useless

i should of done something

the lonliness button in my brain broke or something

what happened to my overwhelming feelings of  ‘ lonliness and despair ‘

i feel like those feelings will come back

i am afraid of those feelings coming back

those feelings feel  familiar

familiar like the voice of your mother or something

i sometimes think about people that i hate

i imagine a shark eating all of those people

i should draw a picture of a shark on my wall next to my bed

i should get some  sheets with sharks on them

i get a really intense feeling of ‘ comfort’

when i a picture the face of a person who was an ‘ asshole’ to me

in the jaws of large shark

hehe

hehe

hehe

seems funny

i should write something down about ‘ getting drunk’

drinking improves my life

i think

i know

wait

not sure

seems fun

Manaus, capital do Amazonas…Onde encontramos os rios Negro e Solimões!
Fuso Horário: – 1h
Tempo de Viagem SP – AM: Aproximadamente 5h de vôo.

Quem diria…Manaus….quando meu noivo me disse, vamos para Manaus…eu fiquei pensando: ‘O que eu farei naquele fim de mundo?’
Pesquisei no google a palavra ‘Manaus’ em imagens…e a primeira que veio é de um Hotel fantástico que tem lá…e eu comentei: ‘Só se for para ficar nesse hotel!’

Ele foi a trabalho…eu fui a passeio…e que passeio…Um lugar simplesmente maravilhoso…espetacular…o retrato do Brasil…
Muita coisa para ver e conhecer lá…para viver!

5 dias…ficaria uma vida por lá!!

E foi naquele hotel que ficamos…no 4º andar…em um quarto de frente para a piscina e o Rio Negro…

Primeiro dia: Um dia de madame, piscina o dia todo…um Sol de fritar ovo na cabeça…e o Noivo trabalhando!!! Jantar em um lugar muito legal…rodizio de tudo: carnes, massas, peixe…muito bom!

Segundo dia: Visitar uma empresa de manhã…piscina a tarde…e fomos ver o Encontro das Águas…é algo muito interessante…Rio Negro, o próprio nome já diz: A água é negra e quente…Solimões: uma água marrom barrenta e fria! E elas não se juntam…e fiquei embasbacada com isso…é demais!

A noite fomos conhecer o Teatro Amazonas…lindo o lugar!!!

Terceiro dia: Passeio de barco…Museu da Borracha…Ixi, é tanta coisa que fica dificil de escrever…Conhecemos as casas flutuantes e em uma dela vimos e pegamos um bicho preguiça, um periquito e uma cobra…que vivem com uma família nesse lugar. Almoçamos na beira do Rio Negro e nadamos nele também…muito quente a água…e limpa, por mais que não pareça por causa da cor. Vimos de perto, algo que eu achava que só existia nos livros de escola: Vitório Régia…
Conhecemos o Hotel onde foi filmado Anaconda…chama-se Ariaú Amazon Towers…simplesmente inusitado esse hotel…Por fora parece fuleiro…mas por dentro é demais…

Macacos…macacos que comem nas mãos de uma moradora do Hotel (para quem assiste Lost…ela parece a Rousseau). Me encantei com eles.

Assitimos a um ritual indigena…dança e música…lindo o que eles fazem. Os indiozinhos são lindos!!!

Mas o mais marcante de tudo…o mais ’sem palavras’ foi nadar com um Boto Cor de Rosa…a imagem vale mais que mil palavras:

A volta para o Hotel foi algo que eu nunca vi e jamais esquecerei…de barco pelo Rio Negro:
A minha frente e a direita eu via raios…muitos raios que pareciam sair da água…
A minha frente e a esquerda uma Lua Cheia redonda, brilhante e refletida no Rio…
Atrás de mim…O Pôr do Sol…o céu azul, rosa, laranja…algo indescritível…Só vendo para saber…

Nesse dia jantamos um peixe local (não me lembro qual agora) com molho de camarão…bom viu!!! E de sobremesa Creme de Cupuaçu (era esse né, Thi?)…bom também!!!

Quarto dia: Chovendo…mas nada que atrapalhasse nosso passeio…esse era o dia de ir embora…então logo cedo fomos conhecer o Zoo do CIGS (Centro de Instrução de Guerra na Selva). Varios bichos bonitos…mas os macacos são minha paixão..como eles são alegres e brincalhões e pestes…rs*

No aeroporto descobrimos que nosso vôo estava atrasado e não faria a escala prevista em Manaus…ou seja, teriamos que esperar outro vôo…e o outro era somente no dia seguinte…as 15h. Pois então…que venha o 5º dia.

Quinto dia: Ficamos (por conta da Gol) no Hotel ao lado do que estavámos anteriormente…ele é mais antigo, mais classico…aproveitamos para conhecer o Zoo que existe dentro do Hotel…bem menor…mas com bichos bonitos…e macacos claro! Aproveitamos a piscina…choveu bastante nesse dia, mas deu para aproveitar…

Volta para casa: Embarcamos no vôo das 15h. E vimos o Pôr do Sol de cima…sem palavras:

Manaus é um lugar quente e muito úmido por causa do Rio Negro…com bastante trânsito em horário de pico…mas é maravilhoso…
Um lugar que eu quero voltar com ainda mais tempo e fazer tudo que fiz e ainda mais.
Passear de Barco, assistir uma peça no Teatro Amazonas, voltar ao Ariaú, nadar com o Boto Cor de Rosa, estar perto dos macacos pestes, almoçar na beira do Rio Negro, passear por entre os Igarapés, passar em frente ao ensaio da Festa do Boi…Entre outras coisas…

Recomendo para aqueles que apreciam a natureza e acreditam que esse Brasil vai muito além…

Ê Brasilzão!!!

I decide that going to get more high in my woods is a great idea, only to end up covered in burrs. Also while on the same high..

• Kissed an ex boyfriend.
• Chose chinese food over Taco Bell (the chinese was cold and gross).
• Forgot to get cigs.
• Felt like painting but poked a hole in the middle of the canvas.

I friggin rule!

I have quit smoking for 12 days now, and started a blog about it.  Tuesday September 22 @ 3:30 pm I had a cigarette and havent had one since.  So the questions are how do I feel? am I OK ? do I want one?  All those questions can be answered by first analyzing why I quit.

1) The primary reason for quitting was so that I dont collapse while playing basketball on a new recreational team that was formed and I was part of.  Trust me, I could have kept smoking and still played basketball no problem, but it would have been though.

2) The second reason why I quit is that I have a wife and kids and want to grow old with them, want to see their successes and failures, their joys and disappointments,  and want them to have a husband and father.

3) The third reason is for overall health purposes – my HDL was creeping down around 25, I am 5′6″ and almost 200 pounds, I am out of breath when I walk up a hill and at 34 none of it is acceptable.  Is it all due to smoking? No, but smoking slows me down from doing the things (exercise) that will help reverse some of those ill health numbers.

So considering the reasons why I quit, I can take a stab at the questions I asked at the beginning of the post.  How do I feel?  I feel great, health wise it couldnt have been better – I can walk up a hill without being out of breath and overall my breathing is better…still havent started to excercise except for basketball.  Am I OK? this quit attempt has showed me that I can overcome the power and control that cigarettes had on me.  It is probably the most awesome emotion I have had in terms of personal accomplishment because I guess at some point I realized how much power this “drug” had on me.  I have never felt a sense of personal pride as much as I do now.  Last question – do I want one?  Hell yes, like nothing I have wanted more in my life.  It takes a lot to keep me from going to the store and buying a new pack and starting again, but then I think about my family and my health.  It really is easier said than done when it comes to this.  Its been 12 days of hell – I havent lashed out at anyone, or been a miserable person to be around but deep down inside there is a big battle going on between the smoking me and the non smoking me and till now the good side (the non smoking me) has won out, but stay tuned.  Hopefully the day counting goes to eternity but for now – 12 days out.  Please share, I would like to know if I am the only one that goes through this much thought when it comes to smoking.

[Note: this post was lost in WordPress somehow. Hit this link for new post sans my expanded commentary from the lost original.]

Almeno 350 lavoratori in cassa integrazione permanente, congelamento delle dinamiche retributive e disdetta degli accordi sindacali vigenti. Secondo quanto risulta al Velino, sono questi, in estrema sintesi, i principali punti del “business plan” di Atitech, presentato il 4 settembre scorso dalla società Meridie, presieduta da Gianni Lettieri, alla Cai e ai dipendenti della società dislocata a Capodichino. Un piano che, se accettato, smonterebbe pezzo pezzo ciò che ad oggi rimane dell’azienda di “terra” ex Alitalia e che impiega oltre 650 persone. L’ipotesi di ristrutturazione ridisegna gli obiettivi e la missione della nuova società in pochi punti programmatici, limitando l’operatività della società, almeno per i primi tempi, alla revisione dei soli velivoli A300F, B737 e MD80 in servizo con la Cai. A saltare subito agli occhi è l’analisi che riguarda le politiche aziendali da attuare nei confronti del personale e dei costi. Secondo quanto si legge a pagina 3 del documento ancora riservato, tra le proposte della Meridie c’è la “quantificazione del personale necessario, in relazione ai volumi dei attività generati, dimensionando ciascuna linea produttiva con personale diretto in 55 risorse più 10 di staff per ogni singola linea. Per le risorse in eccesso – si legge –, rispetto all’organico ridimensionato è prevista la Cassa integrazione (Cgis)”. Una proposta che di fatto andrebbe a tagliare di circa il 50 per cento la forza lavoro attualmente impiegata a Capodichino, poiché secondo quanto si apprende sarebbero previste “solo” quattro linee produttive per altrettanti velivoli. La proposta della Meridie, inoltre, prevede di “congelare per quattro anni la dinamica retributiva, la sospensione per altrettanto tempo dell’erogazione dei benefit benzina, la riduzione drastica dell’orario di lavoro (da 7.30 ore a 6.15) e la riduzione della maggiorazione notturna”. Tutti provvedimenti che andrebbero a incidere fortemente sulle entrate degli operai e degli impiegati. Il piano, inoltre, contempla anche la “significativa” riduzione delle posizioni manageriali e l’accorpamento di numerosi comparti, come quello tra l’officina meccanica ed elettroavionica o quello tra Ingegneria ed Acquisti. Grandi novità anche per quanto riguarda la rappresentanza aziendale che, di fatto, verrebbe azzerata. La proposta del 4 settembre scorso, infatti, ipotizza sia la “rivisitazione del modello delle agibilità sindacali e il passaggio a Rsu (ovvero rappresentanza sindacale unitaria, ben altra cosa rispetto alla presenza di ogni singolo sindacato)”, ma soprattutto propone “la disdetta di tutti gli accordi aziendali e la disdetta dell’attuale accordo sindacale e delle relative indennità economiche” e persino la “eliminazione della pausa refezione”. Quest’ultimo punto è legato a doppio filo con la proposta di riorganizzare l’orario di lavoro assottigliando di fatto i turni di lavoro (si prevede l’operatività dell’azienda dalle 8 alle 14/15 e dalle 13.45 alle 20) e, soprattutto, alla volontà di chiudere l’impianto durante l’intero periodo estivo e le giornate festive. Una riorganizzazione totale, dunque, che se approvata andrebbe a definire una nuova vera e propria rivoluzione tra la vecchia Atitech e la nuova. Nel piano, comunque, ci sono anche le previsioni di crescita per i prossimi tre anni a cui si legherebbe il possibile rientro in azienda di coloro che andrebbero subito in cassa integrazione. Previsioni che, tuttavia, non sembrano rosee visto che ci sarebbe un incremento minimo del volume di commesse (si passerebbe dalle 96 totali previste per il 2010 alle 110 previste per il 2012). A questo punto si attendono i rilievi e le opinioni delle parti sociali a riguardo.Intanto la tensione nello stabilimento di Capodichino sembra destinata cresce già nelle prossime ore.

There comes a time, in everyone’s life, when one thinks to oneself … I think I’ve had enough. Things can’t continue like this anymore. I don’t think I can take this any further.

Above : For the ka-zillionth time !

I’ve tried it infinite times already. But somewhere I feel that time’s a running out. So this will be my infinite + one-nt attempt.

Starting tomorrow.

Arggh. Procrastination has set in already !

Update : 8th Sep ‘09 : Failed attempt. Will try tomorrow.

Die Firma Innovalight arbeitet seit sieben Jahren an der Entwicklung von Solarzellen, die mit Hilfe einer Nanopartikel-Tinte direkt auf eine Oberfläche aufgedruckt werden können. Das Unternehmen hat sich dabei zuerst darauf konzentriert, dieses Produkt auf Basis von Silizium herzustellen, doch für einen neuen Ansatz wird jetzt eine Materialkombination aus Kupfer-Indium-Gallium-Selenid (CIGS) verwendet. Mit Hilfe dieser Technologie soll es möglich sein, die Produktionskosten im Vergleich zu herkömmlichen Solarmodulen um bis zu 90 Prozent zu senken.

Die neuartigen Solarzellen könnten etwa auf Rollen aufgebracht werden, oder auf Dächer und Wände, ja sogar direkt auf Fenster aufgesprüht werden. In dieser Hinsicht erinnert die “Solartinte” an jene organischen Dünnschichtzellen, über die ich im Jui berichtet habe. Beide Ansätze dürften gemein haben, dass bis zur Marktreife der jeweiligen Produkte noch einiges an Forschungsarbeit notwendig ist. Der Wirkungsgrad der Solarzellen von Innovalight liegt momentan erst bei 1 Prozent und soll innerhalb von drei bis fünf Jahren auf zumindest 10 Prozent angehoben werden, um wirklich konkurrenzfähig zu werden.

Bild von Jason-Morrison – Möglicherweise eine echte Alternative zu herkömmlichen Solaranlagen?

Wenn das gelingt, dann würde eine preisgünstige Alternative im Photovoltaikbereich entstehen, die aufgrund der Unsichtbarkeit der Solarzellen auch hohen gestalterischen Ansprüchen entgegenkommen würde. In einigen Jahren werden wir sehen, ob diese hohen Erwartungen wirklich erfüllt werden können.

I stopped out to Innovation Park (actually to a big field just behind Innovation Park) this afternoon to see how construction is coming along on Penn State’s entry in this year’s Solar Decathlon.

The decathlon, held every other year, is sponsored by the U.S. Department of Energy. It pits student teams from various schools against each other to see who can build the best solar house, with the houses displayed on the national mall in Washington, D.C., in October. Penn State finished fourth in 2007 with an entry called MorningStar—which you can still see; it now sits next to the Centre County Visitors Center across from Beaver Stadium.

This year’s entry is called Natural Fusion. It’s small, as you can see in the photo above—the competition requirements stipulate that its “footprint” be no more than 800 sq. ft.—and it will be entirely powered by solar energy.

Here are a couple of photos from this afternoon’s visit. The first is of Dan Sutton (an architecture major from Evans City, Pa.) and Kyle Macht ’09 Eng (a recent grad who is the team leader) installing a window on the rear of the house:

And here is a stack of solar panels waiting to be installed. They’re made of a kind of solar cell called CIGS (short for copper indium gallium selenide).

Much of the material for the house has either been donated or sold to the students at a discount; the team has worked with Penn State’s fundraising staff to identify corporate entities who can support the effort.

In this next shot, Brian Goodykoontz ’09, ’09g explains the solar-energy system that’s supplying power for the construction process. Brian graduated in May with a bachelor’s and master’s in architectural engineering and is the construction project manager.

And this last shot is of Dan Sutton, whose hardhat sports the logo of this year’s team.

The overall crew—numbering about 150 students—is currently racing to get the house finished by mid- to late-September. A big target date is Sept. 25, when they’ll be offering tours of the house to the public—and when actor and environmental activist Ed Begley Jr. will be in town to see the house and give a public talk.

Tina Hay, editor

Alcohol. Music. Sex. Yoga. Sleeping. Drugs. Arson. Venting. Exercise. Caffeine. Shopping. Self-Harm. Cigs. Food. Porn. Gambling. Violence.

These are just a few examples of outlets; things that we do to relieve stress, take out our anger, and even absorb our tears.

Some of them work better than others for certain people than others, but arguably, they all seem to do the job; provide us with an escape from things we have to deal with in life.

On of this list, there are both positive and negative outlets; some are addictive, have the ability to ruin your relationship with everyone, and can lead to depression,
while others are perfectly healthy.

Without stating specific ones I’ve used, or maybe even been addicted to, [remember the part I said "I value my privacy?" Enough randoms read this blog, WHICH IS GREAT, but I don't want to get personal considering that I'm not going to password protect this post], I’ll neutrally state that I have tried numerous outlets; the one that’s bolded is what I’ve been trying to use now, and it’s not necessarily bad for me.

Although I stated that some of these are negative,
I didn’t say they didn’t work; there is a reason why people get into it and find themselves lost in a world of addiction.

So if you for some reason felt like you had no one to turn to,
nowhere to run.
After time spent being depressed, you would crave a good feeling, because you’re human and want some sort of pleasure in your life.
So what do you do?
Buy a hooker, make cuts in your wrist, sniff cocaine, burn things, and maybe even swallow ecstasy . . . just so you’ll enjoy that hooker even more.
[Well hopefully you specifically aren't into any of that; I was providing a mind setting for those who are addicted to these sort of things.]
These are the more powerful options; it’s a lot more obvious when you escape.
For example,
Depending on which drug you use, you could spend hours fascinated by the lines in the palm of your hand, or imagining you’re in a whole different world.
I could continue on, describing how the negative ones are evident forms of elusion, but I think you get the point.

I’m not suggesting that weak people need more intense escapes, but if you’re able to tolerate issues in your life well, then you won’t need feel reliant on things that will potentially change your life in a despicable way.
I quit being dependent on those bad outlets because I became stronger as an individual.
Even when horrible events occur, as tempting as it is to turn to them sometimes; I don’t.

So, if you haven’t found that strength yet,
Then go a day, then 2, then a week, a month, 3 months, 6 months, a year without abusing anyone/sex that doesn’t = love/violence/arson/self-harm/drugs/emotional spending or eating/porn/smoking/alch.
It’ll make you a much better person;
There’s no reason not to believe that, when it’s coming from someone who was there.
Find an alternative; blast music, talk to someone that cares, invest in one of those epic punching bags.
Do whatever it takes.
Start.

Well, I am quickly coming to the last couple days that I can enjoy puffing away on a cigarette. August 1st is quickly drawing close, and I am finding myself having to “Adjust” to the thought of not smoking.

I have found that I do have the ability to not smoke, and to deal with my nicotine withdrawals, even without the form of any aid. I also have found that I have more strength in me to do this than I ever really thought I would, mostly in thanks to the encouragement of people around me here and in the world of social media.

The thought that most disturbs me is the lack of routine. That lack of something. I find my days in the past are marked continually by the process through a pack of cigarettes, or the number of cigarettes smoked.  You count your small change in cigarette packs. When going on a road trip, or any trip, you think beforehand on your qty of smokes.  Needless to say, it gets very old.

This will be the first time I have actually “Quit”. I tried a couple times throughout the last 5 years or so to start cutting back, but that is never a success story, especially when you are quitting for other people’s reasons, and not so much your own.

Well, I wanted to add more to this update, but I am pressed for time, and have to make sure I have enough work done, so I can attend the Modesto TweetUp 5 tonight @6p.  (For further info on Modesto TweetUp 5, refer to www.modestotweetup.com)

Chiediamo al governo di intervenire per garantire a tutti i lavoratori il pagamento delle casse integrazioni in modo tempestivo. La situazione si sta aggravando e aumentano le situazioni coinvolte dalla crisi che rischia di diventare insostenibile in autunno. Sappiamo che le risorse per la Cassa Integrazione in deroga sono arrivate con molto ritardo e parzialmente liquidate fino al mese di giugno. Le domande presentate alle Direzioni regionali per l`impiego si sono accumulate e determinano ritardi intollerabili nelle erogazioni. Ci sono casi, addirittura, nei quali i lavoratori collocati inCassa Integrazione in deroga da febbraio non hanno ancora ricevuto alcuna indennità. Occorre quindi intervenire rapidamente.