Cardio was = Walking

Dance of the Day was = “Hoodoo Voodoo” Billy Bragg & Wilco

Improvised Acting Video I uploaded to my other blog was = “Fat Joke References”

Anything to Note =

I took Stuart to see the Briarwood apartment today as it seems to be something we (me) are very interested in. I did take that video of the apartment but figured he had to see it with his own eyes. We actually saw two apartments in the building as coincidentally another similar unit came on the market just yesterday – so now we have to really think…

Most of today was about me gathering materials and submitting them to a mortgage broker that we use at work to see what we could be pre-approved for. No idea what they will come up with from us paupers!! Speaking of that – it just made me think about the lottery we played yesterday so must check that ticket!!

So we were asked to check our credit scores online today to give them a sense of what scores Stuart and I have. I’ve never actually checked my credit score before – everything turned out ok though as was waiting for something bad or random on there – glad I paid off my credit cards a few months ago!

BUT…

…I didn’t read the fine print on this website I was on and managed to get signed up for a monthly credit report membership instead of the advertised “free” check. I was rushing as had so much I was also doing at work at the same time and then as it was loading I briefly saw the $17.95 at the bottom in teeny weeny writing…and it was one of those “ah crap” moments

I’m glad I saw that figure in my peripheral vision as wouldn’t have known. As after my free trial I would have been charged almost $18 a month to an account that would not be able to accomodate that!

So then I had to search for how to cancel this sudden membership – which of course could only be done via phone! And on the phone it took forever as she (the salesperson) of course wanted to sell me every possible option – long read out speeches, one after another, of options I could still have if a member. After the fourth courtesy listen I then kept interrupting  with “no thank you” every time she revved up for another speech.

Finally she said “I guess you have your mind made up to cancel everything”

YA THINK????!!!!!!

Sidenote: I wrote some notes about this blog on my blackberry, as I do every day along my day to remember things to 365 blog about later, and I ended up on the wrong subway train at the wrong stop! UGH!!

Lesson today then – don’t take things for granted. Don’t take things at face value!!

Named after the fact that Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold went out bowling the morning before they tragically went wrong, Bowling for Columbine takes us to the ten pins. After some frightening images here and there, Michael Moore can never seem to help

A frightening image of a man.

attacking the administrations in power (more often Republican than Democrat) and the wrong things they always do (never the right). With a documentary such as this that tackles everything related to and around guns, Michael Moore correctly attempts to narrow down the cause for all the gun violence in America.

He compares the U.S. to other countries, examines what other people have blamed for gun violence, and brings it all crashing down on Charlton Heston, head of the NRA. In what I thought was his best

Let me just scare Charlton Heston into saying he’s sorry. Will that help?

segment of the documentary, Michael Moore allowed Marilyn Manson to defend himself with a wider audience than he may get otherwise. (Not to say he doesn’t, he’s an amazingly talented and magnetic performer.) Manson proves himself to be an intelligent and understanding person (contrary to the images and rants against him) and shows that compassion and listening may have helped the shooting and others around the world.

But I stop here for a moment to acknowledge information that has come to my attention. Thanks Wikipedia, although you may be wrong some of the times, you bring things to light I never knew. In the

Marilyn Manson, a wonderfully talented man and artist.

criticisms of Michael Moore’s documentary, he is annihilated. Some of it may have been by conservatives who believe in the right to bear arms, but a lot of it is coming from those he wronged in the film and otherwise. He was wrong about Lockheed and the particular plant he went to. He was wrong about the violence rates and some of the causes. And he ambushed Charlton Heston (as I felt he did) and inaccurately portrayed Trey Parker by associating him with the cartoon he showed minutes after.

Here’s where most people should come up against a brick wall with Michael Moore. He’s fat. He’s gross. These two aspects of his outer appearance would frighten most people he would talk to or try to approach. (I can understand that police officer wandering off when Michael Moore complained about the Hollywood sign. He had better things to do.) When listening to him talk and seeing the way he presents himself, it almost appears that he has a mental disorder. No joke. The way he holds himself in his documentaries gives a lot of people pissed off impressions of him. And sometimes rightly so.

One of the more well done parts with Moore helping out victims of Columbine.

Because it didn’t just stop here. He goes on to make 4 MORE DOCUMENTARIES ATTACKING THE REPUBLICAN ADMINISTRATION. At this point, he has turned into a huge gargantuan baby who is fed up with the system. He whines and puts up his yellow police tape and carries his bag around crying for money for the people. His head got bigger than it should have after the success of his first few documentaries and he thought that was a green light for as much more as he wanted to make. For shame.

So although I liked the idea and parts of this documentary, when Michale Moore puts his name on something, expect the huge range of bias he’s bringing to the table. Don’t take everything at face value. Because although in this very documentary, Michael Moore says that America has a state of fear going on, he is

Well deserved? You be the judge.

perpetuating it and stirring things up more by showing us why we should be afraid and not other things like invigorated to fight or do something. Damn it, Michael Moore, show some class. And that’s my rant. Bowling for Columbine, 6.1 out of 10. Michael Moore as of today, a whiny baby 0 out of 10.

Yup. Four days.

Oh dear. Well, what can I say? I’ve been blogging since I was thirteen, and I’m eighteen, so I suppose five years could form something of an obsessive habit. I love it, though, so I don’t mind.

Anyway, brilliant moments tend to strike me in the shower, and in this odd place I came up with the idea to do a post featuring all the various ‘couples’ from my stories. I thought it could be fun and a good exercise for me, to see how they all tick and what their similarities and differences are. Not all the couples are romantically involved – some are, some aren’t yet, some never will be – but I’m going to call them ‘couples’ anyway. First off is everybody’s favorite (well, most people’s) – Eristor and Sienna! (NOTE: Eristor is being bombarded with questions by fellow bloggers/writer-groupies/facebook friends which will all be answered on my blog very soon, so if you have any questions for him of silly or serious persuasion, just ask them in a comment!)

Eristor and Sienna – “The Elmeria Chronicles”

Now, where they are right now in the series, they aren’t a couple. They still borderline hate each other and only semi-get along. However, Sienna is beginning to make an effor toward understanding Eristor, and it seems he may even be doing a little bit to not snap at her every time he sees her. In fact, recently, she had a nightmare and he was flat-out nice to her, in his own rough way. I was very proud of my prince. They don’t have much in the way of chemistry – Sienna’s barely eighteen, and Eristor would probably kill whoever suggested the word. They’re still working on being friends, and it looks as if it might – just might – end up being a real, loyal friendship sometime in the near future.

Kate and Chace – “Face Value”

Ah,  I love them. Kate is a bright, no-nonsense high school graduate looking for college credits, and her Mom happens to be head of PR for PopNote. Chace is an egotistical rock-pop star who may be deeper than he comes across, and Kate - for the sake of college credits and helping her mother – is hired to tutor him so he can graduate high school before he turns twenty-one. When they first meet, Chace is yelling at his manager and mistakes Kate for a fan (even though she hates pretty much all of his music and anything to do with pop culture). And so begins a relationship that has no cooperation on either side, until Chace begins to loosen up and Kate begins to realize that his life has not been nearly as easy as she thought.

Brand and Tameena – “Wolfsguard”

Wow. I haven’t written  them in a long time, though I still have the book and the ideas and I still love all the characters (well, except Morgan and Morwen. Them, I still despise. But that is as it should be). Brand is a Wolfsguard, i.e. he serves in the King’s private guard along with four other men and their captain. Tameena is a High Protector – her entire life is dedicated to protecting the seer-princess Artemia. Other relationships are forbidden – and so when Brand and Tameena are reunited for the first time since they were teenagers, Tameena tries to avoid Brand. But, as providence would have it, they are supposed to be together – but how can they, when Tameena’s Covenant would punish her for disobedience through whatever means necessary – including killing Brand? Ah yes, star-crossed lovers. I love it. ^.^ *rubs hands together with a gleeful cackle*

Simon and Reese – “ArchAngel”

Ah, Simon and Reese, how do I love thee? Let me count the ways – oh wait,  I couldn’t, there’s too many. Let’s start with Simon’s adorable British accent, his dry, self-deprecating humor, and his epic NYPD-cop-ness. And then let’s start with the fact I based Reese off of Karen Gillan, and she’s very smart-mouthy even though she’s really a very gentle soul. Simon has been in love with Reese for a long time, but she’s the girlfriend of his honorary younger-brother Gabriel Singer, so he hasn’t made a move. Reese only thinks of Simon as a friend, in a vague kind of way, until they’re both thrown together in a desperate attempt to save Gabe’s life.

Dr. Eva Stewart and Subject 13 – “Monster”

Aha. This is a new project. You sha’ant read about it until I post June Snippets, because I am just that mean. HAHAHAHAMWAHAHAHAHAhackcoughwheeeeeze. Ahem.

I have a little more exciting news -

My short story ‘In Time’ has ALSO been accepted for publication in Magpie Eclectic Press’s anthology, which hopefully comes out sometime next year. *wooot* Celebratory dance!!!

Because it’s clocks and one of my favorite songs even if it’s Japanese (and it’s one of my favorite Korean groups) and it’s about ticking time and the dance is really cool and I love to do the little clock-finger-thing and… um… sorry, Mom, Iloveyou!!! ^.^

Credendo Vides,

Mirriam

Brooklyn artist Son-Ray is preparing for the release of his full length project Face Value, early this summer. As a preview for his fans, Son-Ray has been dropping visuals and downloads around as an audio teaser. The latest track to hit the airwaves is “Music Is My Life”, which features Duckdown’s own Skyzoo and Babieqirl on the hook. The song is a lyrical ode to one’s work ethic when it comes to making it in this industry. This song could serve as an anthem for some… Not all. Download, take a listen and add it into your rotation. Look out for the Face Value download link here and make sure you get a copy! Purchase here —–> Music Is My Life

Adam Brooke is just coming off a Sanctuary case guarding a true slimeball and looking for some downtime when his boss pulls him into the largest investigation that organization has ever faced – the Bullen case.  Sanctuary is still guarding the two main eye witnesses against the Bullen family and now the FBI wants to take over both the investigation and the witnesses themselves.  Adam is to be the Sanctuary liaison with the FBI, a job he hates given the fact that the FBI forced him to resign after accusations he was “dirty”, his pain only compounded by the fact that his accusser was his Bureau partner and lover.

Lee Meyers is a straight up FBI agent assigned as the Bureau liaison to Sanctuary, an independent security agency in possession of two key witnesses to the high profile Bullen case.  Lee is aware that his ex-lover, Adam, now works for Sanctuary and hopes the case will finally give him the answers to Adam’s betrayal in the past.  Can Lee work past Adam’s animosity and Adam get through his anger and pain long enough to get the evidence both agencies need in order to solve the case?  Or will their past bring the case down around them?

Still Waters continues the story arc of the Bullen family  who are steeped deep in crime and politics.  And with each book, the case against the Bullens gets more complicated with sticky threads like those of a spider’s web stretching out to larger events and more characters than initially thought.  I love this part of the Sanctuary series. Just as you think Sanctuary and its agents have the case solved and the witnesses protected, another murder, another double agent or double cross pops up and all bets are off.  Still Waters moves the Bullen investigation forward only to see the organization retreat in the face of insufficient evidence and  increased pressure by the FBI to turn the case over to them.  We still don’t know the identity of the FBI mole but as a government agency the FBI has powers of authority that Sanctuary, a private firm, does not.  So the threat of the FBI takeover contributes to the mounting sense of anxiety for the reader as the book continues.  The threat the FBI poses is even more dangerous considering that the two men held in protective custody are Morgan (Guarding Morgan) and Beckett Jamieson aka Robert Bullen from
Face Value.  Morgan and Beckett have also become lovers to Sanctuary agents and we have come to love both couples as the saga continues.

Each new book introduces us to a new Sanctuary agent and their potential/past lover.  In Still Waters, we meet Adam Brooke, a former FBI agent falsely accused of misconduct by his lover and FBI agent partner Lee Meyers.  I loved Adam Brooke.  Filled full of bitterness at his betrayal by the FBI and the one person who should have stood  by him, his pain and loss are evident in his caustic manner and aggressive style.  Adam is a totally believable character in every respect, including his love for Lee.  He hates that he still has feelings for him  and it makes him cold and ruthless in his dealings with those outside the firm.  I think my problem with Still Waters is that where Adam seems fully realized, Lee does not, mostly due to Lee’s backstory.  Lee comes across as naive and filled with an idealism for the Bureau that would be fitting in a Rookie agent. But the storyline is that he has been an agent for years. For me that naive rigid outlook of Lee’s just seems unlikely for the seasoned agent he is supposed to be. Also when Lee is promoted to the Bureau’s Internal Investigation unit early, he doesn’t realize how his actions would effect his agent partner/lover.  Really?  Anyone in an internal investigations unit knows how they are perceived by other members of the department. For the reader to like Lee, you must be able to empathize with him, but his actions with regard to his lover make that hard as does his continuing belief that Adam really is “dirty”.  Lee just does not add up on so many levels, that at parts of the story I just wanted to see Adam dump him and find someone more worthwhile.  I can’t reveal more about Lee and his situation without going into spoiler territory which I won’t do.  I just wish RJ Scott had made Lee a rookie, complete with rookie mistakes.  That would have changed everything for me, including his believability and my ability to like him.  So let’s just say I am in love with half of this couple.  Of course, it would not be a Sanctuary novel without the appearances of agents from past novels, so we meet up with Kayden and Dale again as well as Manny, their IT genius.

But the real star of this book is the Bullen Family Investigation that is being stretched over the series.  So make sure you read the books in the order they are written. This is the only way you will meet the cast of characters mentioned all through the books and understand at least the starting points of the investigation. RJ Scott keeps one on the proverbial pins and needles here.  Just when you think you know who the mole is and that the investigation is wrapping up, the author throws more mysteries at you.  The criminals behavior is not what it should be, more shadow players are lurking in the background, and what is going on at Ops?  Still Waters ends but the Bullen Families crimes are still being uncovered and nothing is wrapped up.  I love that!  Book #5 is called Full Circle and RJ Scott has said that Sanctuary is a 5 book series.  But I can’t see how this convoluted case can be wrapped up in one book and I hear rumblings about another book with Dale and Joseph from The Only Easy Day which would make this reviewer’s day and then some.  So here I am waiting in anticipation for the Bullens to be brought to justice and Manny’s story.  I am confident that RJ Scott will give us another great read, and give Manny a lover worthy of such a great quirky character.

Cover: Artist Reese Dante.  I love that there is  continuity in using some of the same models throughout the series covers as the same characters popup  in each story.  Great cover, wonderful stories.  Perfect matchup.

Books are in order they are written:

Guarding Morgan (Sanctuary #1) by RJ Scott

The Only Easy Day (Sanctuary #2) by RJ Scott

Face Value (Sanctuary #3) by RJ Scott

Still Waters (Sanctuary #4) by RJ Scott

Full Circle (Sanctuary #5) by RJ Scott  (coming soon)

Why investors love gold and silver? Firstly, we need to understand what is happening around us in order to know why it is a need to accumulate physical gold and silver bullion.

Since 1982, US debt as a percentage of GDP has soared to more than 300% of gross domestic product, a level last approached since thousands of banks were collapsing in the 1930s.

The U.S. consumer spending accounts for a fifth of global GDP. Despite the rise of China and emerging markets as core players in the global economy, the world still relies on U.S. as a key consumer spending contributor to the global economy. Around 60% of US paper dollars are circulated outside the US and majority of US Treasury bonds owned by foreigners. If the faith in the dollar were lost, there would be no one to finance the current account deficits in our savings-deficient economy.

Would monetary authorities of any country hold 100 percent of their reserves in paper currency? Probably not.

On the other hand, physical gold has always been recognized as an alternative currency. Over the last few decades, gold has gained a solid reputation of safe haven assets, unlikely to depreciate over time. Owning physical gold is an effective hedge against inflation and currency crisis. Investors have recognized the value of gold over time. Coupled with rising physical demand, the relative inverse relation with the US dollar, and strong backing from the major economies such as China and US, gold prices have skyrocketed since the 1980s of US$500/oz to current levels of US$1650/oz.

Every single currency has fallen against gold, perhaps gold is likely to be sold by International Monetary Fund, which may end up being bought by central banks. We have seen central banks step in to accumulate large amounts of gold. Gold has been accumulated by several countries, such as Russia, China, Japan, US and India. China and India by far have one of the largest holdings of gold, with demand of gold jewelry rampant in India. China and many other countries.

If central banks and institutions were to diversify their assets away from currencies and start massively buying gold, price of gold is very likely to sky-rocket to levels unseen, provided that macro-economic factors favors gold. As such, there remains enormous potential to institutional demand for physical gold, which will help to push gold prices up further.

US dollar value vs. gold value

The sudden jump in the price of gold after the demise of the Bretton Woods accords was a result of the significant prior debasement of the US dollar due to excessive inflation of the monetary supply via central banks (Federal Reserve) coordinated fractional reserve banking under the Bretton Woods partial gold standard. In the absence of an international mechanism tying the dollar to gold via fixed exchange rates, the dollar became a pure fiat currency and as such fell to its free market exchange price versus gold. Consequently, the price of gold rose from $35 per troy ounce (1.125 $/g) in 1969 to almost $500 (29 $/g) in 1980.

Value of Dollar from 1954 to 2011

The supply of physical gold and silver has weakened, and a new avenue of demand has risen. ETF gold exchange traded funds allows investors around the globe to buy and hold representative amounts of gold with a click of their mouse.

Owning physical gold and silver can protect investors during unpredictable seasons, such as wars, currency and stock market crisis, which helps to act as security against national crisis.

Gold Bullion Coins versus Gold Bullion Bars

Physical gold bullion coins and gold bars are easy tradable in Singapore and they are liquid. Commonly traded gold bullion coins and gold bullion bars weigh 1 troy ounce (1 oz), 31.1 gram.

For gold coins with a face value, there will be a slight premium above gold bullion value. It is good to own some face value gold bullion coins of other countries as it not only holds its intrinsic gold value, but includes a face value to the coin as well, which adds to its appeal to investors.

Besides, owning US face valued gold bullion coins are not subjected to US governmental rules and regulations of calling back gold coins from consumers and buying back at face value. Thus, it is always good to keep face value gold coins in your investment portfolio.

Why People Invest In Gold?

Historically, physical gold bullion bars have been a proven method of preserving value when a national currency was losing value. If your current investments are valued in a depreciating currency, allocating a portion to gold assets will be similar to a financial insurance policy. In the past few years, the climb in the gold price goes above $800 per ounce is due to many factors, one being that the dollar is losing its value.

As the matter of fact, if you ask hundreds of gold buyers why they like to own gold, a respectable majority would answer, “For diversification.” Most investors equate diversification with peace of mind. Diversification implies preparation for a variety of potential economic events. If the portfolio is properly structured, it does not matter whether stock markets crash, bonds lose value, or currencies suffer debasement, the hard assets of portfolio will definitely pick up the slack.

Swiss money managers, renowned for their abilities to handle money and manage investments for some of the wealthiest people, recommend a diversification into gold of 10 to 20 percent.

Beyond normal risks of market fluctuations associated with stock and bond investments, there is additional danger of depreciation in the currency underlying stocks or bonds. Denominated in domestic currency example pesos, yen, euros, and dollars, these investments reply on sound central bank and government currency management policies to maintain their values. It is conceivable that a corporation or municipality, could be perfectly managed, yet its  bonds could still erode in value due to politically expedient currency debasement on the part of federal authorities.

Silver as an investment

Physical silver, like other precious metals, may be used as an investment. For more than four thousand years, silver has been regarded as a form of money and store of value. However, since the end of the silver standard, silver has lost its role as legal tender in many developed countries such as the United States. In 2009, the main demand for silver was for industrial applications (40%), jewellery, bullion coins and exchange-traded products.

Why Invest In Physical Silver?

In precious metals bull markets, investing in silver instead of investing in gold provides greater percentage gains because silver outperforms gold in precious metals bull markets. In rising demand of precious metals markets, silver turns in greater percentage gains than gold. Diversification is a good choice when investing in precious metals.

Adding to the appeal of silver to investors is the huge and growing industrial demand for silver, which means that investing in silver could be profitable for years to come.

But, the primary reason investing in silver instead of gold results in greater profits is that silver is “the poor man’s gold.” When the masses come to this market, people buy silver, and in the aggregate the masses have more money than the wealthy.

Silver coins are possibly the oldest mass produced form of coinage. Silver has been used as a coinage metal since the times of the Greeks. Their silver drachmas were popular trade coins.

As with all collectible coins, many factors determine the value of a collectible silver coin, such as its rarity, demand, condition and the number originally minted. Ancient silver coins coveted by collectors include the Denarius and Miliarense, while more recent collectible silver coins include the Morgan Dollar and the Spanish Milled Dollar.

Other than collector’s silver coins, silver bullion coins are popular among people who desire a “hedge” against currency inflation or store of value. Silver has an international currency symbol of XAG under ISO 4217.

Before 1797, British pennies used to be made out of silver while the ancient Persians used silver coins between 612-330 BC.

Why silver is used for coinage

Silver coins were among the first coins ever used, thousands of years ago. The silver standard was used for centuries in many places of the world. And the use of silver for coins instead of other materials, has many reasons:

Silver is liquid, easily tradable, and with a low spread between the prices to buy and sell. A low spread typically occurs when an item is fungible.

• Silver is easily transportable. Silver and gold have a high value to weight ratio.

• Silver can be divisible into small units without destroying its value; precious metals can be coined from bars, or melted down into bars again.

• A silver coin is fungible: that is, one unit or piece must be equivalent to another.

• A silver coin has a certain weight, or measure, to be verifiably countable.

• A silver coin is long lasting and durable. A silver coin is not subject to decay.

• A silver coin has a stable value and an intrinsic value. Silver has been an ever scarce metal

Silver Bars

A traditional way of investing in silver is by buying actual bullion bars. In some countries, like Switzerland and Liechtenstein, bullion bars can be bought or sold over the counter at major banks.

The flat, rectangular shape of silver bars makes them ideal for storage in a home safe, a safe deposit box at a bank, or placed in allocated (also known as non-fungible) or unallocated (fungible or pooled) storage with a bank or dealer. Silver is traded in the spot market with the code “XAG”. When settled in United States Dollars, the code is “XAGUSD“.

Various sizes of silver bars:

• 1000 oz troy bars – These bars weigh about 68 pounds avoirdupois (31 kg) and vary about 10% as to weight, as bars range from 900 ozt to about 1,100 ozt (28 to 34 kg). These are COMEX and LBMA good delivery bars.

• 100 oz troy bars – These bars weigh 6.8 pounds (3.11 kg) and are among the most popular with retail investors. Popular brands are Engelhard and Johnson Matthey. Those brands cost a bit more, usually about 40 cents to 2.00 dollars per troy ounce above the spot price, but that price may vary with market conditions.

• Odd weight retail bars – These bars cost less and generally have a wider spread, due to the extra work it takes to calculate their value and the extra risk due to the lack of a good brand name.

• 1 kilogram bars (32.15 oz troy)

• 10 oz troy bars and 1 oz troy bars (311 and 31.1 g)

Silver Coins and Silver Rounds

Buying silver coins is another popular method of physically holding silver. Examples are the one ounce 99.99% pure Canadian Silver Maple Leaf and the one ounce 99.9% pure American Silver Eagle. Coins may be minted as either fine silver or junk silver, the latter being older coins with a smaller percentage of silver. U.S. coins 1964 and older (half dollars, dimes, and quarters) are 25 grams per dollar of face value and 90% silver (22½ g silver per dollar). All 1965-1970 and one half of the 1975-1976 Bicentennial San Francisco proof and mint set Kennedy half dollars are “clad” in a silver alloy and contain just under one half of the silver in the pre-1965 issues.

Junk-silver coins are also available as sterling silver coins, which were officially minted until 1919 in the United Kingdom and Canada and 1945 in Australia. These coins are 92.5% silver and are in the form of (in decreasing weight) Crowns, Half-crowns, Florins, Shillings, Sixpences, and threepence. The tiny threepence weighs 1.41 grams, and the Crowns are 28.27 grams (1.54 grams heavier than a US $1). Canada produced silver coins with 80% silver content from 1920 to 1967.

Other hard money enthusiasts use .999 fine silver rounds as a store of value. A cross between bars and coins, silver rounds are produced by a huge array of mints, generally contain a troy ounce of silver in the shape of a coin, but have no status as legal tender. Rounds can be ordered with a custom design stamped on the faces or in assorted batches.

Gold Price Singapore provides one of the most precious gold and silver for the consumer market. We are now one of the main physical gold & silver trading companies in Singapore. We strive to sell physical gold and silver products to consumers and investors at best value.

Post courtesy of Gold Price Singapore.

Looking to Buy Gold in Singapore or Buy Silver in Singapore? Look no further, only at Gold Price Singapore, your trusted gold and silver dealer in Singapore.

We all have our different versions of beauty: whether it be the version depicted by the media, the version our parents taught us or the version we have created for ourselves. For most of us we end up using a combined amalgamation of the three to decide of what beauty means to us and it takes a rather large standing upon our lives. Even those who describe themselves as unaesthetic, focusing on what lies inside a person rather than on what stands before them in reality, still manage to mould the world around them to adjust to what looks good. Surrounded by designer labels, overused make-up and bulked out muscles, the life of a teenager becomes a ‘who looks the most like a celebrity?’ contest and thus the true meaning of beauty is lost. Beauty shouldn’t be able to be defined, it shouldn’t be universal either. Beauty is a personal expression of what you deem to be perfect, what makes you heart stop for a second so that you can take it all in. That sensation, whether caused through a person, a song, a landscape, a painting, a room, a memory or a situation, is different for every individual so fighting to look like something your not should be rendered useless naturally.

A person will always be beautiful to someone else so forcing yourself to be something your not is just stopping that person from finding you. Hair colour, nose size, eyelash length, thigh circumference, muscle size. We all wish for something we don’t have and whilst it is good to aspire to something, this desire can easily become unhealthy so the next time you look in the mirror, don’t look for something to change, something you could improve, something you hate or something you wish would disappear, look for something you’re proud of, something you love, something that makes you you. there will always be someone out here that loves that mole on your neck, the size of your ears, the length of your fingers, because to an individual out there, their beauty may be defined through you.

Beauty isn’t standardised, its personal and would it still be so special if it was the same to every person? No for when you find that person who finds you utterly beautiful you will know that its not because you fit into a universal description, its because you are you and nothing else.

Anendlesshope <3

Integrity simply means not violating one’s own identity. Erich Fromm

Imagine how great the world would be if everyone did exactly what they said they were going to do, when they said they were going to do it. More and more often procrastination, excuses and other obstacles get in the way preventing a lot of people from delivering this. Before we know it, we’re wearing thin because our integrity is being ignored.

Integrity regards internal consistency as a virtue, and suggests that parties holding apparently conflicting values should account for the discrepancy or alter their beliefs. Essentially, living with integrity is aligning your values with your actions.

A lot of the time when we aren’t living with integrity it is affecting (i.e. letting down) other people. How many times have you heard someone promise something to charity – and not do it? How many times have you been let down socially? What about when working as part of a team in the office? Are you the person you want to be at the moment, or can you see some areas where you are letting yourself and others down?

The importance of integrity
Integrity is important in everybody’s lives as it will lead to strong personal relationships, long term success, consistency in one’s life and it is great for leadership skills. We can’t lead and inspire others if we are not acting with integrity. In fact, if you want to be a positive influence, act with integrity, treat others with respect and live by positive values.

Integrity is first knowing yourself – your values, desires, talents, dreams … and then being true to that self in all actions and interactions. It’s having behaviour that is congruent with your values. When your actions are aligned with your values, you conduct yourself authentically, sincerely and openly. When you clarify your values, it assists with setting goals that are consistent with those values – bringing purposes and passion to your life.

Some values to help you act with integrity
Below are some values to assist you in acting with integrity.
Responsibility: Take responsibility and ownership of your life, your actions and who you are as a person.
Attitude: Be confident and comfortable within yourself and you will have no reason to belittle others or act with arrogance. You can build confidence simply by working on your communication skills.
Commitment: Align your words and actions and follow through with anything you say you will do. When we keep our commitments, trust is built.
Honesty: Be open about your objectives and motives with other people. Where there is high trust, what you see is what you get.
Values: Make sure you have a strong set of core beliefs. If you wish to alter any of these, I highly recommend looking into Schema Therapy.
Consistency: Make the right decisions and do it consistently. Don’t lie to anyone about anything.
Reinforcement: Choose your behaviour to reflect your values and you’ll move through life with authenticity, sincerity and wholeness. Some examples of aligning your actions with your values may include:
Value: Honesty = be truthful
Value: Commitment = follow through
Value: Independence = do your own thing.

Benefits of living with integrity
Life coach Cheryl Richardson says that living without integrity makes goals harder to reach, attracts people into your life who will make you feel bad, and you start losing faith in yourself.
- People living with integrity are often seen as: trustworthy, decent, honest, moral, virtuous, appropriate, mindful, ethical, authentic, fair and credible.
- When you live with integrity, you succeed. You are open and honest. Your life is uncomplicated and less stressful.
- Integrity can be like a butterfly effect – people follow your example and act more honestly.
- Living with integrity means you live with less regrets – you stick to what you know is right or wrong.
- Integrity helps us handle criticism more easily.
- When you make a mistake, it’s easier to accept responsibility and move forward.

How to live with integrity
(1) Concentrate on how you spend your time and money. To live a life with integrity, you spend your time according to what is of most value to you. This could be working, seeing family, working for charity, taking care of yourself (exercising, meditating/reflecting, cooking, sleeping etc). When it comes to money – maximise your real hourly wage, be conscious of your spending, eliminate spending money on things with low value.
(2) Don’t settle for less than what you deserve in your relationships. Start challenging yourself – ask yourself what life would be like if you had the ideal partner, more supportive friends, a more gratifying job or a happier and more fulfilling life. Ask yourself how those changes look and feel. You’ll find that because they look and feel better than what you’re currently experiencing, you’ll be more compelled to make the changes that align with that new vision of your life.
(3) Ask for what you want. Understanding your needs helps you establish solid boundaries. Making your needs known to those around you, helps you to enforce those boundaries and teaches others how to treat us.
(4) Speak your truth (even if it upsets people). Expressing our truths is one of the most powerful privileges we have as humans. If we speak our truth with caring and respect, then the message can be that much more effective.
(5) Be true to yourself. Make decisions based on your beliefs.

Looking for more information about acting with integrity? Check out this fantastic clip on YouTube by Sagebrush Community!

It improves your FACE VALUE!

Pass it on!

Book 3 in the Sanctuary series

Guarding Morgan (Sanctuary #1)
The Only Easy Day (Sanctuary #2)

Book 3 – Face Value
Beckett Jamieson, AKA Robert Bullen, has been rescued by Sanctuary from a situation in which he nearly died and is left temporarily blind.

Doctor Kayden Summers is the Sanctuary operative assigned to look out for him.

It soon becomes clear Beckett is the key to evidence left by his mom. Evidence that may well destroy the Bullen family. The two men become involved in a critical retrieval situation and when bullets start to fly there is only one thing between Beckett and death. Kayden.

Buy Link

by Chloe Hawker

Sometimes, I forget that I don’t look at life the same way that most people do. Today in my poetry class, my professor was talking about a famous 20th century poet (whose name I don’t remember) who was very well-liked by critics, but not always so popular with readers. The only real reason was that his poetry was famous for being dark. An interviewer once asked him why that was.

The poet told a story about how he had once asked a priest about what he thought of human nature, specifically what the priest had learned by listening to so many confessions over the years. The priest told him that people are so much more unhappy than you might think they are. He also said that humanity is so broken, and so is our world. The poet relayed that he wanted to stay true to that.

But he also said that humanity, essentially, is a bunch of muck that came out of nothing, and soon became aware of itself, picked itself up and began to walk on two legs, began to think and talk and create. And that, he said, is a miracle. He said he always tried to form his poetry, however dark, against that miracle of a backdrop.

My poetry professor finished reading out of the book he had about the poet, put the book down, and said, “Isn’t that sad?”

I had been smiling. The question surprised me, though it didn’t seem to faze anyone else in the room. No, I thought. It isn’t sad. The fact that humanity is a miracle is sad? That isn’t what he meant, of course. He meant the fact that our only glimmer of hope is that humanity’s existence is an inexplicable miracle is sad. Which, I suppose, would be, if you took it at face value.

But here’s where I differ from most people. I both firmly believe that humanity is broken and fallen, our nature is bent and twisted out of the shape that it was meant to be, and that that shape was beautiful and perfect and flawless. So I hold a sort of cognitive dissonance about humanity: on the one hand, we are tragically fallen and flawed. On the other, the nature to which we long to return, the way we were meant to be, is a thing full of beauty, a thing bearing the fingerprints of its Maker. I am both devastated by the tragic state in which humanity finds itself and chronically optimistic about its true nature, the nature it was meant to have, the nature that sometimes manages to peek through all the grime and grit and destruction.

Humanity is a miracle. A God-breathed, blessed miracle. And that, and its cause, has to be the backdrop of everything. Our poetry may be sad, dark, broken, but it sits upon the promise of redemption and restoration. And that, I think, isn’t sad at all.

For you created my inmost being; 
   you knit me together in my mother’s womb. 
I praise you because I am fearfully and wonderfully made; 
   your works are wonderful, 
   I know that full well. ~Psalm 139:13-14

Therefore, I now introduce you to Chace Tomlinson; known on stage as SOLAR!

Solar was more or less introduced to you in the last post, with my excerpts from Face Value. The gist of the book is this: Scholarly high school graduate Kate Frietag (a nod to amazing author Jenny Frietag from The Penslayer and the lovely Katie from Whisperings of the Pen) is roped into tutoring the twenty-year-old Chace Tomlinson; a famous rock-and-pop star who goes by Solar on stage. Her mother happens to be Chace’s PR Angent, and so Kate doesn’t have much of a choice (not to mention it’s earning major credits toward her favorite college). The deal: Chace’s GPA has to raise to 3.0 and he has to graduate high school before he turns twenty-one, or PopNote cuts him loose. Kate gets paid handsomely and receives college credits toward her favorite college, which she could never afford otherwise.

The only trouble is, Chace isn’t easy to get along with. He’s attitude and a smirk on two legs. He’s shallow, self-centered, arrogant, just-plain-trouble and has always had it easy…

Or so Kate thinks.

The two don’t get along at all to begin with – Chace isn’t the least bit interested in his schoolwork, and Kate’s just trying to not hit him over the head with a two-by-four every time they see each other. But little by little, as their lives begin to unfold, Kate begins to see that the boy she thought she knew is only a mask for someone much deeper and much, much different.

Chace was born Ji So-Kwon in Seoul, Korea but was abandoned by his parents when he was four. He was adopted by Americans and re-named Chace Tomlinson – but his adoption turned out to be far from wonderful. He suffered abusive parents until his talent was discovered over a radio show when he was fifteen, and PopNote gave him a contract.

Kate knows none of this at the beginning of the book, and instantly judges him by what she sees over music videos and what her mother reports (her friend, Birdie, is a huge fan of Solar). However, one incident changes the way she sees him, and she begins to realize that not everyone can be taken at Face Value.

I’ve been working on this one for about two months and have just passed fifty pages (insert spastic happy dance here) – and so, to celebrate, I’m going to give you a few more snippets. =) One of the awesome things about this book is that I’ve taken many of the events from the life of a real person, adding an element of realism in an otherwise YA fiction book.

So without further gilding the lily -

As if by magic, the dozens of people who had positioned themselves on the stairs, waiting for Solar to walk by, rushed after him. She walked at a slower pace behind them, just wanting to reach the vending machine below and wondering how people could be that crazy, when she heard a noise above the shrieking of fans.

            A child screaming.

            Her heart jumped into her throat and she tried to find the source of the sound amid the throng below – was it being trampled? She saw Solar turn around, his bodyguards now slightly ahead of them where they had cleared the way for him to get through. His eyes searched, like Kate’s, for the source of the screaming.

            And what he did gave Kate the shock of her life.

            He turned around and ran into the mob, like a shark diver swimming into a feeding frenzy. He disappeared amid other bodies for a moment, and Kate climbed up onto the railing trying to see what had happened to him.

            Her heart, already in her throat, gave another lurch as she saw Solar was crouched on the floor, his body curled protectively around a small boy who could not have been any older than three or four…

 **************************************************************************

Kate stared, unable to believe the amount of people attending the concert. She had seen the lines outside, stretching a full three blocks and mostly consisted of screaming teenaged girls. She wanted to go up to them and shout “THE CONCERT HASN’T EVEN STARTED YET!” but she didn’t think it would have gone over very well, assuming she could have made herself heard.

*************************************************************

Her face flaming with embarrassment, Kate stepped out from behind the rack of clothes and stood as stiff as a poker for Rock Star Inspection.

            He leaned a little, holding his elbow with one hand and rubbing his chin with the other. “You look like you just got electrocuted,” he said finally, after thirty seconds of study.

            Kate glared at him. “Thanks a lot, Armani. You designed the dress, you know.”

            He waved a hand. “It’s not the dress,” he said, one lip curling slightly. “It’s you. You’re standing like you think you’re a coat rack instead of a person. Relax a little, would ya?”

            Kate frowned and tried to situate her body into something more model-like. “That better?”

            He looked doubtful. “Well… just…” He grabbed her by the shoulders and shook her. “Loosen! Up!” he barked.

            Kate was so taken aback that she could only stand and gape. “What on earth-”

            “There,” he interrupted, smiling. “You look better already.” He lifted the balloon and blew, filling it until it was basketball-round. “Now,” he said, tying the end off and attaching a string that had been in his pocket, “take this.”

            “I look like I’m six years old,” Kate complained.

            “The line is for summer, you’re supposed to look carefree,” was the answer.

            “Well, I’m not,” Kate grumbled, taking the balloon. “I feel like a total idiot.”

            He posed a thoughtful expression, his eyes alive with mischief. “Hmm, I wonder why that would be.”

            Kate fought back the urge to hit him. Hard. “Shut up and tell me where to stand,” she growled.

********************************************

“Hey, honey.”

            “Hi, mom – where’s Chace? It’s like ten minutes to school time and I can’t find him.”

            “Oh, he’s probably in the studio, filming for the new Stellar CF-thing.”

            “Stellar?” Kate asked, puzzled.

            “You know, Stellar. Solar’s clothing line.”

            Kate’s voice dripped with disbelief. “He has a clothing line?”

            “And more,” said Mrs. Frietag, obviously not catching her daughter’s incredulous tone. “It’s practically a given these days.”

**************************************************************

He twisted his mouth but said nothing, so Kate asked “Which Caesar reportedly started a fire inRome, only to help with rescuing the wounded afterward?”

            “Um… Nero?”

            “Right.” Kate felt an inordinate amount of pride in the correct answer. “Who was the last emperor of the Flavian Dynasty?”

            Chace’s eyes opened farther and he blinked several times at Kate before waving a hand. “Who cares?”

            “The author of the book cares. Your GPA cares. Answer the question.”

            “I dunno.”

            Kate let out a loud sigh. “Casperius Aelianus. Remember that.”

            He gave her a sarcastic thumbs-up. “Sure thing.”

********************************************************************

His movements lacked the trademark energy they ordinarily sizzled with, and his voice sounded strained, even in the softer parts. She was fishing her phone from her purse to text her mother when it happened.

            The heavy chorus was building up to execution, and Chace’s well-rehearsed dance steps were bringing him closer to the edge of the stage.

            “BURN! BURN! BURN!”

            Rockets ejected from their places around the stage. Kate saw Chace stumble, and he stopped singing, the music sounding strangely bare without his voice to fill it in. It took the crowd only seconds to realize what had happened.

            Chace stood, swaying slightly, and collapsed onto the stage.

There you have a bit o’me book, ladies and gentlemen! I hope you enjoyed reading as much as I enjoyed writing =)

To find the good company to invest in is very easy if you choose right tools with right strategy. I normally use Moneycontrol.com data and Google Finance Chart to find out fundamentally sound company. Here are the steps which if you follow you will always earn very good return from the market in long-term. Keep in mind that fundamental stock investment is not quick rick scheme its long-term hold commitment.

Step 1: Market Capitalization of Company

Market Cap = (Share Price + Number of Shares).

So basically number of shares trading in open market is very important factor to keep an eye on. So choose company which will have market cap greater than or equals to 500 cr. In addition, I always choose company which trades above Rs. 20 mark. There is no reason at all but still I am doing this.

Step 2: P/E Price to Earnings Ratio

P/E = (Price / Earnings)

Equation itself says that if earnings are higher, then the PE ratio would go lower. So choose stock which has lower PE ratio. I would recommend choosing stock which has PE below 4. One important factor to watch at this point of time is Industry PE. Compare company PE with industry PE and you will realize the price potential to go up.

Step 3: Last 5 Years Earning Growth

If company do not earn well how do you expect to earn good return from your investment. According to me, last 5 years earnings are very important factor. Choose company which is consistently performing well year on year basis. Spare some time to research company’s core business, products and expansion plan. Believe me guys it is not so hard. Once you do this you will realize that how easy it is.

Step 4: P/B Price to Book Value

P/B = (Price / Book Value).

Book value of any company is asset value and this is the fair price of company share. So you should lookout for company share price trading below book value. Search company which should have P/B below 1.

Step 5: Face Value of Share

Face value is the true value of share meaning price of share without adding any premium amount. I always choose stock which has face value in multiple of 10. Face value is important when company declares dividend.

Step 6: Dividend Yield

According to Investopedia, Dividend yield is financial ratio that shows how much a company pays out in dividends each year relative to its share price. So it’s good to choose company which has higher dividend yield %. I would normally search company which has dividend yield % above 3.

Step 7: Study Chart (Candlestick and MACD)

After applying all of the above filters you will find best companies to invest in. But how will you decide at which price you should enter? Entry point is very important if you are investing big amount at once. For SIP investment it does not matter a much. So finding entry point is very import all-n-all. I use Google Finance for chart study to find entry point. I normally use candlestick chart type and add MACD Indicator in chart. Enter when MACD line start trading above signal line and Histogram bar just above 0 line.

Here I am completing wealth creation series posting on my blog I hope you all have enjoyed reading and will get benefit from these posts.

My last pick was Rolta India by following all of the above steps. In my next post I will share how I find Rolta India amongst all IT companies, at which level I was entered in trade and Am I still holding Rolta India or not?

Don’t forget to visit my website !

Share your views and ideas!

Whatever the case, you sort of got your hopes up until he said that final piece.  And because you met online, now you feel no rush to actually meet him in person.  He’s that guy that texts you when he’s sick and wants to see if you’re free to bring him some soup, or the one who’s always heading out of town, so he has to cancel that dinner that you finally set up because you’re tired of having an acquaintance rather than a friend.

Obviously, I know such a guy.  I’ve known him now for about 8 months, and every time we set things up (truly with the best intentions), plans always fall through.  Normally, I’d just give up on someone like this, just because I really can’t stand flaky behavior.  But, for whatever reason, I find myself wondering why we get along so well when we actually do talk; how is it that he always understand?  Is he SURE he isn’t really ready to pursue anything with anyone?  Maybe he doesn’t really KNOW he’s ready.

No, no, NO.  I have to remind myself sometimes that they really are that simple.  If he wanted something, he’d say so.  If we were going to hang out and the stars aligned our schedules, we’d meet up.  In the meantime, don’t waste your time thinking about this guy.  He’s taken himself out of the equation, and you should too.

This was shared with me,

I myself have NOT rested

my case on the subject.

What are your thoughts?

” Think I may be selfish for always wanting love and to give love, never be away from it.

May be an imbalance of affection and attention”.

At face value, I think this is one of the most unselfish things I have ever read…but that wouldn’t be a post worthy if I didn’t have more to say about it.

I think it is worth qualifying the type of love we are talking about here, because there are different types. For the sake of the post, I’m going to take it back to the Greek:

Storge-  natural affection, familial love

Philia-  friendship or affectionate love; dispassionate, virtuous love

Éros- passionate love with sensual longing and desire

Agápe- unconditional love

While I can’t say I listed the different types from the least to the greatest, I’d argue that I listed them from the easiest to come by to the hardest to attain.  I’ll treat them each, one at time.

You can’t get away from family love. Doesn’t matter how hard you try, how mad you get at any family member. I’m famous for saying “I love you, but I don’t always like you”, and more often than not, I’m talking about my family members. Trust and believe, when it comes down to it, I will do whatever I can to make sure they are okay, whether I am near or far. Even though we don’t always agree with each other about everything, we are always there for each other when it counts. If I can’t count on anything else, I can count on that.

All good relationships, friendship or otherwise, should start with philia love. That is the kind of love where loyalty is key; friendships can fall apart over a lack of the same. For many friendships are a trial by fire. While similar interests and sharing good times are important, people tend to define their friendships by the support those friends give them during difficult times. The best friendships are balanced. A friend might tell you the truth when it is the last thing you want to hear. A friend will be there to celebrate your successes, lend a listening ear or a helping hand when you need it. They might be someone you talk to every day or someone you catch up with from time to time and despite those lags you feel like the friendship remains.

In terms wanting love and wanting to give love, these are the kind that you give everyday. These types of love might also include the love each of us can have for our fellow-man, though I know good and hell well that isn’t what my friend meant. I offer those definitions because in the absence of romantic love, those, along with love of self, love for our pets, and a generalized love for each of our fellow-men are the ones that should come to fill our lives when we don’t have either type of romantic love.

Éros can be hard to contain and maintain. As no one can control who he or she falls in and out of love with, this type of love can be pleasurable and painful. When you also consider the fact that one person’s capacity or expression of love may not jibe with their partners it can make this type of love pretty complicated. Wanting to give and receive love are in and of themselves basic human needs, but things get messy when we add those elements. Depending on how urgent those needs are, they can make us accept things in our mates and ourselves that we might not otherwise, especially when our definition of love includes the physical element.  This love may linger for one partner when it is absent for another just as it might also be stronger for one partner as in another, but should a couple be able to nurture it mutually it can be a beautiful thing.

The last love, unconditional love, is the greatest of them all. For some, a progression of philia to agape is the natural progression of a relationship, while for others, they may have some starts and stops depending on how their love grows. Some people lead separate lives -sometimes complete with families and children- until life finds a way to bring them back to one another and they realize that love never ended. Perhaps distance and time made the heart grow fonder.  This might not be the love that leads to a story book happily ever after, but it is the one that lingers.

None of these are mutually exclusive and finding the path between the last three can be a journey. No matter what, it is always one that is worthwile.