Wanted today to highlight the complexity a typical CIO faces in his everyday work (by far, not all dimensions were actually listed …)

Above challenges become even more daunting when relying on simple geometry concepts. Adding a node (or a new technology component) has often a snowball effect when attempting to integrate it within existing components

Key issue becomes then: if your company is conceptually close to the third Red scenario, will you continue to run the risk of having one or several dual combinations impacting at some point in time your long quest for trouble-free IS/IT operations?

or will you get ready to proceed with ‘Lean’ IS/IT initiatives where simplification brings rapid cost savings and leaner operations conducive to greater overall corporate agility?

1. Identify your users’ stories

As I studied users’ thoughts, I found patterns in what my project was really designed to do, above and beyond what the project brief said. I listened to what my mind was drawn to listen to. These were the users’ stories — what was most important in their working lives.

There are no right or wrong answers in listening. Be honest with your users that you’re there to add value to the way they work and their stories – needs, expectations, attitudes and capabilities – will become clear.

2. Embrace your users’ needs

Once I am aware of users’ needs, it is far easier to design according to them. When faced with a decision, I can compare it to their values by documentation as personas, and see it will bring me closer to a solution that is fit for them, rather than what is easiest for the project team to produce.

3. Accept expanding feature sets

A ZenAgile mind does not struggle. It accepts users’ needs as they truly are. A rock is a rock. It will remain that way no matter how much you worry, wish, or pressure it into changing. Worrying about requirements and ever expanding user wants are the same way. I accept requirements for what they are, do not waste time or energy fretting over it, and group them into feature sets for delivery in such a way that, as a whole, they add value to users’ work.

4. Energise for change

A ZenAgile mind can give you extra energy for change as you are not wasting energy fighting against the inevitable. As above, there is a large rock in your way. You have three options:

• run into the rock repeatedly
• agonize about the rock being in the way, or
• find a way around the rock.

Before ZenAgile, I chose the first two options. With ZenAgile, I now accept the rock for what it is: an obstacle. I accept that you cannot go through it. I do not panic, and waste time and energy worrying about the obstacle. Instead I make my own path around the obstacle, either over the rock, around the rock, or under the rock.

This is Seijaku (静寂) — the energised calm.

5. Enhance knowledge of yourself

As I practice ZenAgile, I spend a fair amount of time in conversation with others and thereby understanding myself and how I come to terms with change: change in the project context, changes in requirements, and changes that need to occur to the solution.

In time, I’ve learned to quiet my mind. I’ve listened to the same fears for projects repeating themselves which inspired me to change what was causing those fears. I’ve realised, for example, that lack of a user-centred approach was a large source of anxiety, and so it was time for a change. Without time to think and meditate on the conversations in a project, we tend to ignore what our mind is telling us, and remain locked into our old patterns of doing things.

6. Gain confidence in the agile way

As you reflect on your inner self, you become conscious of who you really are, your role, and the skills you bring to aspects of the agile project. You learn what makes you happy, what is beneficial to your project, and where you fit into the multidisciplinary team. You bypass the fears and anxieties of your mind, what role you play — Business Analyst, Project Manager, Information Architecture, User Experience Designer, Change Manager — and focus on doing what needs to be done. Boldly and passionately complete the iteration. The opinions of traditional organisations like PMI, IIBA, ABAA, etc, do not matter, because you know you are doing what is right.

7. Appreciate the iterative project lifecycle

I accept the project as it truly is – evolutionary in nature, rather than revolutionary. You will always uncover new aspects of users’ needs. You will always uncover the unknown as you proceed boldly through the project. Some will be surprises like a starry evening, a stroll by the river, or a night of solitude. Each will have their own unique characteristics to be appreciated. Mundane user needs also hold their own charm. Observing the quiet details of the project lends value to the less appealing aspects, and brings peace and joy in commonplace tasks.

8. Increase consideration for others

Each person on the project is interconnected. We are all searching for the solution, requirements, and a meaningful project to work on. It is much harder to be angry at the user who argues with you about scope when you realise they are on the same path, just at a different point in their journey.

9. Simplify your project and your documentation

Conversation not documentation helps you differentiate between needs and wants. To document things completely today is to suggest that it will fix users and their workplace in time until the project has been completed. By focussing, instead, on a minimalist, simple project solution delivered in a short period of time, with just enough documentation to describe the decisions made, you are able to deliver value to people now and then build upon that solution to meet their future needs.

This is Kanso (簡素) — simplicity and elimination of clutter from the project

10. Cultivate a giving spirit by mentoring others in the team

When you are doing your role in the best way you can, your heart fills with joy. You are doing what you were put on this earth to do, and doing it to the best of your ability. Your life is simple, you are living your values, and you have a clear mind. You can then give to others, mentoring and teaching with a loving spirit, to help them along their path.

This is the True Way of ZenAgile

M

So I’m still in the middle of watching Brideshead Revisited. Stay tuned for that update later.

This post is not part of the original project but it seems connected to the intention for which I started this blog.

In my first post here I mentioned that I admired Jeremy Irons fearlessness and ability to take risks. Well about a month ago I met an actor and he is like Jeremy Irons: a brave soul who is willing and able to take risks.

I feel like the wish I put forth on this blog to learn to be braver is being fulfilled. Not just through this project but through crossing paths with Michael who is to be my new roommate.

Michael likes to find my boundaries and push them out a little. I won’t lie, it’s uncomfortable and scary. In fact there are times when he scares me so much I’d really like to bolt in the other direction. Half the time I can’t even look him in the face because I feel like he can see right inside my head.

I worry about what he’ll think when he sees me trying. I worry that I’ll make a mistake. I worry that I’ll just look stupid or worse yet I’m worried I’ll fail. Despite all this I have tried new things.

Three weeks ago I sang Karaoke in a bar for the first time. I was really scared but Michael wouldn’t let me back down. In the end it wasn’t as bad as I thought. Just last week I was back trying again and this time I really improved.

Ok, so singing Karaoke in a bar is a small thing to some but not to me. Standing up there in front of all those people makes me feel really vulnerable. I’m not too keen on that feeling.

I admire Michael for being able to do stuff like that without fear and doing it well. I hope that eventually I can be as strong.

Solicitor’s Opinion: The Gold Standard

By Brian Madigan LL.B.

When it comes to conveyancing practice, the solicitor’s opinion is the gold standard, not a title insurance policy.

Let’s have a look at the policy and determine where it fits in.

First, it is an insurance policy. Historically, insurance has been against the law because it is akin to gambling, or drawing lots. Many ancient societies, and many modern ones too have made gambling a crime.

In the 17th century, the basic principles of insurance were accepted. In fact, they generally seemed to be beneficial to society. If someone’s house burnt down, the cost of replacement was borne by the neighbours. The neighbours arrived to put out the fire, probably too late, cleared the debris the following day, and housed the victims until their house could be rebuilt. Pools of capital were formed to help, in the case of need. Gradually, this organized pool of capital funds led to insurance companies.

Insurance contracts were developed, and there had to be a specific exemption from the existing statutes governing crimes and gaming.

Remember that gaming was gambling, “playing the odds” as it were, which had led to fraud over the centuries. Trickery and slight of hand were illegal, as were bets and taking odds. Consequently, even in the modern society of 17th century England, insurance companies had a great deal of difficulty being accepted as legitimate. As part of their marketing, advertising and promotion campaign for “acceptability” they would often host or sponsor local fire brigades, the forerunners of fire departments. In effect, charity and altruism were the cover for their otherwise illegal activities. In some cases, that’s still true today!

So, what is a title insurance policy? It is a not really a guarantee of title, which it is often thought to be. It is a simple insurance contract. If something goes wrong, the company will help with the loss. They don’t say, there will be no loss, they only say that they will help you out if there is one.

If you are looking for a guarantee, then look to the solicitor’s opinion. That’s basically as close as you’re going to get.

Let’s look at the issue of unpaid taxes, unpaid utilities and unpaid executions.

A lawyer will conduct a search in respect to these items. There will be a clear answer, one way or the other. They are paid, or they’re not paid. It is a simple matter, and a fact that can be determined.

A title insurance company on the other hand will “play the odds”. Most of the time, the taxes are paid, there are no utility arrears and there are no executions effecting the title. Looking at the particular transaction at hand they see that:

1) the vendor said there were no such arrears, and

2) the vendor agreed to pay, should there be any such arrears.

So, they “take a chance”. They say that they will assume the risk when it comes to taxes, utilities and executions. However, the buyer will have to buy a policy and pay the premium.

In order to induce the buyer to opt for this “solution”, the insurer will state that no taxes need be checked, no utilities need be checked and no executions need be checked.

This results in a saving of fees paid to the municipality, the utility companies and the Sheriff to check their records. It also results in a saving of legal fees that would otherwise have been charged.

The solicitor’s opinion provides the true and correct answer. The insurance is just a “guess”. If the insurance company guesses incorrectly, then it will pay. If it turns out that there are arrears of taxes, utilities or an unpaid execution, then they can still insist that the vendor pay. The insurer has the right of subrogation and will sue the vendor if necessary.

Now, the real problems arise when it comes to title, searching title, easements, encroachments, restrictive covenants, title defects, and the extent of title as determined by a survey.

Again, we have the same fairly cavalier approach by the title insurance companies. The insurance principle is based upon spreading known, measurable and predictable risks among a great many people. Quantity is of course more important than quality. High volumes lower overall risks. High volumes lower premiums.

No one here is seeking excellence. There is no reward for being correct or accurate. The reward will only exist with the “law of large numbers”. If you do enough deals, and given that most will take place without problems, the few problems that do arise can be paid out of the savings by participating in the gamble in the first place.

However, if you are a developer, you need the correct, accurate answer. You’re not looking for guesswork. You’re not trying to save little bits of money at the front end. Also, there’s an upper end limit on the title policy claim.

If you are a developer and you find out you can’t build a 50 storey condo, and you thought you could, you’re going to be very upset.

In these cases, spend a little extra money upfront. You don’t need to gamble. Go for the gold standard and obtain a solicitor’s opinion!

Brian Madigan LL.B., Broker is an author and commentator on real estate matters, Royal LePage Innovators Realty
905-796-8888
www.OntarioRealEstateSource.com

That’s it — enough.
I can get a lot more naked than I am right now, so watch me;
Let them raise their brows, but I’m about to go for broke.
No more playing to their pessimistic bets.

So much time just burning,
Sitting quiet, counting other people’s cards.
Well, I apologize.
Didn’t mean to drag this out, but
Who we kidding?
All you do is lose unless you risk enough to win.

So, fuck these poker faces, look me in the eye.
That’s right –
I’m smiling.
And I’m finished asking anybody else
How I should play my cards.
This round,
When it comes back to me,
You’re getting everything that I’ve been holding back;
I think I figured out what’s in your hand.

Er nimmt nicht einen Raketenwissenschaftler, um festzustellen, dass ein Geschäft, das das Berichten über keinen Profit für drei oder fünf Jahre hat, einfach überflüssig ist. Zu hängen ist nicht ratsam, an einer Beschäftigung, oder das Geschäft für fünf Jahre, die Sie nichts haben darzustellen für, Sachen hoffend verbessert sich. Mein Ratschlag ist abschätzen Ihr Leben, sehen, wenn Ihr Anblick verwirklicht wird mit, was Sie z.Z. tun.

Die meisten Leute fürchten das Unbekannte und was andere sagen, wenn sie ausfallen. Das Leben ist über die berechneten und geplanten Risiken Nehmens gut. Ich höre Leute zu bitten, „, was, wenn ich ausfalle?“ Aber sie können bitten nicht, „, was, wenn ich folge?“ Die Erwartung der Gesellschaft ist, meistens dass wir zu jeder Zeit uns einleiten etwas und festhalten möglicherweise an einer bestimmten Linie der Weiterentwicklung folgen.

Wenn wir geschehen auszufallen, beenden sie das Sagen oben, dass es offensichtlich etwas verkehrt mit uns gibt. Es ist diese Mentalität, die einige von uns Furcht in neue Geschäftschancen Ausfallen folglich hat riskieren gelassen, um Geschäftserfolg zu erzielen, und so Halt auf Projekten, die keine Frucht entblössen. Seien Sie genug und Tendenz fett, wo andere sich fürchten, denn Geschäft ist ganz über das Eingehen von Risiken. Alles, das Sie fordern, um zu tun, ist, die abzuschwächen Risiko und Sie verdienen Geld.

Die Wirklichkeit bleibt, dass, wenn Sachen nicht ausarbeiten, es Zeit ist, damit Sie weitergehen, sei es die kluge Karriere oder Geschäft. Seien Sie zu anderen Gelegenheiten geöffnet, lassen Sie einen Fall zurück planen, weil manchmal Sachen wie erwartet ausarbeiten nicht können können. Umgeben Sie sich mit aufgeschlossenen Einzelpersonen, Leute, die eher als Pessimist optimistisch sind. Hängen Sie heraus mit Völkern, die neue Geschäftsideen und -spitzen holen, Sie ist überrascht, dass es leuchtende Geschäftschancen gibt, in denen Sie ein Nebeneinkommen erwerben können. Beginnen Sie Ihren Kleinbetrieb heute und ergänzen Sie Ihr Monatseinkommen.

Über den Autor:

Stephen teilt seine Erfahrung auf on-line-Geschäfts-Ideen und Geschäfts-Marketingstrategien. Web site: Geschäftsstrategien

Artikel-Quelle: ArticlesBase.com – wann man Sektor-Gelegenheiten versucht

Er nimmt nicht einen Raketenwissenschaftler, um festzustellen, dass ein Geschäft, das das Berichten über keinen Profit für drei oder fünf Jahre hat, einfach überflüssig ist. Zu hängen ist nicht ratsam, an einer Beschäftigung, oder das Geschäft für fünf Jahre, die Sie nichts haben darzustellen für, Sachen hoffend verbessert sich. Mein Ratschlag ist abschätzen Ihr Leben, sehen, wenn Ihr Anblick verwirklicht wird mit, was Sie z.Z. tun.

Die meisten Leute fürchten das Unbekannte und was andere sagen, wenn sie ausfallen. Das Leben ist über die berechneten und geplanten Risiken Nehmens gut. Ich höre Leute zu bitten, „, was, wenn ich ausfalle?“ Aber sie können bitten nicht, „, was, wenn ich folge?“ Die Erwartung der Gesellschaft ist, meistens dass wir zu jeder Zeit uns einleiten etwas und festhalten möglicherweise an einer bestimmten Linie der Weiterentwicklung folgen.

Wenn wir geschehen auszufallen, beenden sie das Sagen oben, dass es offensichtlich etwas verkehrt mit uns gibt. Es ist diese Mentalität, die einige von uns Furcht in neue Geschäftschancen Ausfallen folglich hat riskieren gelassen, um Geschäftserfolg zu erzielen, und so Halt auf Projekten, die keine Frucht entblössen. Seien Sie genug und Tendenz fett, wo andere sich fürchten, denn Geschäft ist ganz über das Eingehen von Risiken. Alles, das Sie fordern, um zu tun, ist, die abzuschwächen Risiko und Sie verdienen Geld.

Die Wirklichkeit bleibt, dass, wenn Sachen nicht ausarbeiten, es Zeit ist, damit Sie weitergehen, sei es die kluge Karriere oder Geschäft. Seien Sie zu anderen Gelegenheiten geöffnet, lassen Sie einen Fall zurück planen, weil manchmal Sachen wie erwartet ausarbeiten nicht können können. Umgeben Sie sich mit aufgeschlossenen Einzelpersonen, Leute, die eher als Pessimist optimistisch sind. Hängen Sie heraus mit Völkern, die neue Geschäftsideen und -spitzen holen, Sie ist überrascht, dass es leuchtende Geschäftschancen gibt, in denen Sie ein Nebeneinkommen erwerben können. Beginnen Sie Ihren Kleinbetrieb heute und ergänzen Sie Ihr Monatseinkommen.

In August I wrote a post about resilience.  Since then, I have worked with a few clients on how to actually become resilient.   The main question was whether resilience is a trait that some people are born with and some aren’t and whether it can be cultivated.

What emerged from the work was that while some people are resilient naturally, that is, they strive and thrive in the face of difficulty, the rest of us can cultivate resilience.

We become resilient when we fail.  There is something tricky to work out here.  Often, if we believe that our capabilities are fixed, for whatever reason, so we would only seek interactions and activities that would prove us right, that is, we will only engage with tasks in which we cannot fail.  This behaviour represents our limitations and also our sense of capability.

People who have conflicting feelings in certain situations, can understand this.  By conflicting feelings I mean wanting something to happen so we feel valued and at the same not wanting it so we can confirm our negative beliefs about ourselves.  Think about love, relationships, promotions and blind dates as examples.

But, failure is also where we meet our potential to learn and to me learning is growth.  When we learn, we enter a state of mind in which failing or succeeding become less relevant, what is relevant is the information we absorb and that we feel smart by just learning.

So what’s the trick? Adding activities into our lives in which we have a 50/50 or larger chance to fail, regardless of what the activity is as long as it has a sense of risk taking and as small as it may seem.  And fail and fail and fail. The more we fail, the more resilient we become and if we maintain the element of learning in the process we can see ourselves as being successful.

Have a look at this piece in TheCelebrityCafe.com. It seems environmental activist Erin Brockovich is speaking out against outdated chemical laws which still allow BPA and other harmful chemicals to be used in the production of cans and packaging in the USA.

It is well documented that the use of BPA has been restricted in many American states and in Canada due to a list of negative health risks and increased studies linking exposure from BPA to reproductive abnormalities, breast and prostate cancers, type II diabetes,  impaired immune function, obesity, and heart disease.

Brockovich has teamed up with other grassroots campaigners to take the Million Baby Crawl Campaign to key American cities and educate the public about The Kid Safe Chemical Act, a new toxic chemical bill being presented to Congress this month. She says

“This effort is about creating awareness and encouraging parents to be the watchdog for their children”

We are very proud to say that all BornFree™ products are 100% Free of BPA, Phthalates and PVC and are the safe and smart choice for you and your baby.

These days many companies  are removing these chemicals from children’s items. We never used them. Ever.

It is our hope that awareness in the UK will spread and the British public will put pressure on the government to outlaw the use of BPA in products meant for the use of children.

It is really great news that a well known champion of underdogs like Erin Brockovich has joined in the fight against BPA. Go Erin!

For more information on the Million Baby Crawl please visit the campaign website  www.millionbabycrawl.com

“I believe that one of life’s greatest risks is never daring to risk.”

- Oprah Winfrey

What are the H1N1 Swine Flu vaccination risks and side effects?

Genevieve Kiger-Natural Heath Examiner

With the first shipments of H1N1 swine flu vaccine only days away, many people are concerned about the possible risks of the swine flu shots.  At the top of the list of worries, is a resurgence of rumors from the 1976 swine flu vaccinations, of a rare but paralyzing condition known as Guillain-Barre syndrome.  But just how much of a risk are any of these side effects?

Common Side Effects of the Swine Flu Vaccine

Because the swine flu vaccine was hurried to get out to the population, the testing done was, some claim, not nearly sufficient to look for rarer negative reactions.  But, there was plenty of testing to confirm that the side effects of the H1N1 vaccine look very similar to those of the regular seasonal flu shot — which, in effect, it is virtually identical to save for the virus itself.

No deaths or extremely severe side effects were reported, in the multiple, though relatively small, studies conducted.  The most common side effects were localized problems at the injection site, including tenderness, pain, redness, swelling, and bruising.  There were also some more encompassing reactions reported, by less than half of those in the testing.  These included headache, malaise, muscle pain, chills, nausea, fever, and vomiting.  Most the these reports were mild, with a few being moderate, and less than 1 percent being severe.

The FluMist nasal spray has a higher frequency of side effects, which are often very similar, though less severe, than H1N1 symptoms itself.

Fears Rise About Risks of More Severe Side Effects of the Swine Flu Vaccine

Because rare adverse reactions are – by definition – rare, it is hard for a small test group of only several hundred people to reveal them.  Thus, some may come to light only after mass vaccinations have begun.

The fear of the sometimes paralyzing Guillain-Barre syndrome come, as stated earlier, from the 1976 vaccinations for another strain of the swine flu.  Of the 45 million people vaccinated then, some 500 cases were reported. The CDC maintains that the risk is no greater than the seasonal flu vaccine, which is no higher than one case of Guillain-Barre syndrome per million people vaccinated.

The question, of course, is: which is the greater risk?  The swine flu shots, or coming down with swine flu symptoms?

Many people seem to feel the vaccine is the greater risk, with the shadow of potentially unknown side effects.  But many health officials feel that the H1N1 virus poses the larger risk.  For instance, one study in Chicago states that preschool aged children were being hospitalized because of the H1N1 swine flu at a rate two and a half times greater than any risk posed by Guillain-Barre syndrome.

In the end, it is up to the individual, with the help of their doctors, to decide if swine flu symptoms or the swine flu shot pose the greater risk.

http://www.examiner.com/x-18331-Natural-Health-Examiner~y2009m10d5-What-are-the-possible-side-effects-of-the-H1N1-Swine-Flu-vaccinations

A friend of mine, Willie Butler, was once part of a worship team called FACE DOWN.  Frankly up until a week ago, I didn’t know about this part of his past.

Well, the group had broken up several years ago as all of the team members went on to their various ministries that God had called them to.

The group decided to get together for a night of worship at the Church they had all attended as kids and young men, First Baptist Church in Flower Mound, Texas.  All but one were in the area and it seemed a good time to get together.

One member is now a church planting missionary in Poland.   He obviously couldn’t make it -0r did he.  They set up a camera in the sanctuary so he could see what was going on and they set up a skype connection.  It was so immediate.  He got to say hi to his mom and dad who were attending and they had the opportunity to tell him how proud they were of him.  He talked about what they were doing and their prayer requests.  He also took questions from people.

It was really awesome.  I’m wondering what this could mean for the future of the Church when you can use an internet technology like Skype.  Could it mean that technology like this could be used for pastor’s conferences in third world nations?  Would that be a good thing?  Or would it lead to even more relationship problems.

I was amazed at the technology.  What could it be used for?  What are the possibilities?  What are the risks?

In places that are remote and we want to build schools but maybe we don’t have teachers there, can we use technology like this to bring teachers into the classroom?  I don’t know.    But it’s worth thinking about and questioning.

The only constant in advertising is change. To maintain success, you have to keep up. That isn’t easy. Especially with this revolutionary change we’re experiencing in communications.  I try to learn something new every day. I know that to do so is essential for my ability to survive, let alone succeed.

“In times of change, learners inherit the Earth, while the learned find themselves beautifully equipped to deal with a world that no longer exists.”

Eric Hoffer, American Social Writer

I have great respect for Tim Williams. He is the author of the book Take a Stand for Your Brand, an important read for every small-to mid-size agency CEO. In a recent AdvertisingAge article he writes,

“… we’re at the nexus of the Great Recession and the Great Transformation of Marketing. In circumstances like these, a strategy of “just try harder” won’t take you very far.”

Tim shares 15 things your agency can’t afford to risk during these current times of change:

1. A skill set built mostly around interruption instead of engagement.
2. A digital department in place of a digital competency.
3. Core competencies focused on “one to many” instead of “one to one.”
4. Creating brand-to-consumer communications at the expense of consumer-to-consumer communications.
5. Lack of analytics and tools to measure effectiveness.
6. Production systems that are linear instead of organic.
7. Developing media plans instead of channel plans.
8. Placing media instead of creating media.
9. Creating brand transactions instead of brand relationships.
10. Focusing on “the big idea” instead of “big multichannel ideas.”
11. Traditional production staff instead of “producers.”
12. Expecting account executives to be both strategic leaders and project managers.
13. Continuing to allocate client budgets to media instead of creative.
14. A business strategy that attempts to support high-value offerings (strategy and ideation) as well as increasingly low-value offerings (basic production and execution).
15. Selling hours worked instead of value created.

I would add a 16th risks that agencies can’t afford to take:

Beginning 2010 without a written new business strategy, that includes social media as a primary component, to generate inbound leads.

Read the entire article, Agencies: 15 Risks You Can’t Afford Not to Take

Social Media is also impacting ad agency new business …

• Four Ways Social Media is Changing Advertising Agencies New Business
• Ad agency having explosive new business growth by leading with social media
• Ad Agency Survey Finds Traditional New Business Methods Aren’t Working
• “Social Media ‘Teaches’ Ad Agencies to Promote Themselves the Right Way”

Article courtesy of petside.com by Dr. Cori Gross DVM on September 16, 2009.

Spaying or neutering your dog or cat is an important part of pet ownership. There are many health and behavioral benefits, and it saves lives by helping to control the pet overpopulation problem.

The term “spay,” also called an ovariohysterectomy, applies to female animals. It is an abdominal surgery involving removal of the uterus and both ovaries. The term “neuter” applies to male animals and involves the surgical removal of both testes.

Health Benefits
The most significant benefit is the reduction of your pet’s cancer risk. Mammary gland cancer can be life-threatening, yet the chance of developing mammary tumors is almost non-existent if the female pet is spayed prior to her first heat cycle. This risk increases to 7% by waiting until after the first heat, and then jumps to 25% after the second heat. Sterilization also prevents ovarian, uterine, and testicular cancer.

Neutering your male dog prevents benign prostatic hyperplasia, a painful swelling of the prostate gland.

For both dogs and cats, spaying prevents pyometra, an infection of the uterus that can be fatal.

Behavioral Benefits
The behavioral benefits of spaying and neutering make the pet easier to live with and much happier. The positive aspects of the pet’s personality will remain unchanged yet any aggression, mounting behavior, and the desire to roam away from home are significantly reduced. In cats, neutering will result in a 90% reduction in urine spraying, fighting, and roaming.

Spayed female pets are much calmer and happier because their heat cycles disappear. The term “heat” refers to the period when the female is receptive to the male. During this period the pet is highly agitated, and cats often spend this time yowling and searching for a male.

Risks to the Pet
Spaying and neutering are surgical procedures, so standard surgical risks apply. These include anesthetic complications, post-operative bleeding, and infection. These occurrences are rare and sterilization is considered safe and routine.

Unfortunately, it is not uncommon for a pet to become overweight following their surgery. The metabolism slows down, and the pet will require fewer calories. The resulting weight gain is almost always caused by overfeeding, and can be easily prevented by portion control.

The Surgery
During a neuter, an incision is made on or near the scrotum. The procedure is quick and noninvasive, so recovery is rapid. The spay procedure requires an incision into the abdominal cavity, so recovery is slightly longer than for neutering. Either way, the veterinarian may keep your pet overnight for observation. Most pets are back to their normal selves within a day or two. Some veterinarians will leave stitches in the skin that required removal, but often the stitches are placed beneath the skin and dissolve on their own.

Most animal shelters typically sterilize puppies and kittens between two and four months of age, but the traditional age for sterilization at a veterinary clinic is approximately six months

Cost
The price of the procedure can vary significantly depending on your region and on the veterinary clinic. There are many low cost spay-neuter clinics and subsidy programs to insure that all owners are able to afford the surgery. Call your local animal shelter for more information. The lifetime benefits gained from spaying or neutering your pet easily offset this one-time expense.

Sterilizing your pet is also the socially responsible choice. Three to four million unwanted pets are euthanized by animal shelters every year. Surprisingly, the majority of these unwanted dogs and cats are the offspring of household pets that were never sterilized, as opposed to stray animals or from breeding operations.

From cancer prevention to decreased aggression, the benefits of sterilization far outweigh the risks. The surgery is simple, safe, and relatively inexpensive. Call your veterinarian today to schedule your pet’s spay or neuter surgery.

Pit bulls are the most common dog found in shelters, often being 50% or more of any shelter population. They are also the most euthanized due to overpopulation and unwilling and uneducated prospective adopters.

Spay and Neuter your pet today!

“Mistakes are the portals of discovery.”

– James Joyce, 20th century Irish writer and poet

Do you make mistakes? You bet I do! But I try to avoid regrets and learn from them as part of life’s lessons.

“Mistakes are a part of being a human. Appreciate your mistakes for what they are: precious life lessons that can only be learned the hard way.”

– Al Franken, Comedian, author, television and radio host, and recently elected Senator from Minnesota

Stop living. Then you won’t make mistakes. Making mistakes is just a part of life.

“A life spent making mistakes is not only more honorable, but more useful than a life spent doing nothing.”

– George Bernard Shaw, 20th century Irish playwright

Taking risks, stepping outside your comfort zone, means at times mistakes will occur.

“The greatest mistake you can make in life is to be continually fearing you will make one.”

– Elbert Hubbard, 20th century American writer, publisher, artist and philosopher

So mistakes can have a good side. Value the good and the lessons that come from making mistakes.

“If I had my life to live over . . . I’d make more mistakes the next time”.

– Nadine Stair, 20th century author and humorist

i’m really pushing my luck here. gambling with funds i don’t have, betting with hopes.

living on a prayer, in a sense.

but hey, anything you have to work hard at is always worth it in the end, isn’t it?

How much sense does this make?

I don’t want to think about something too much because if it doesn’t work out, I would’ve put too much mental and emotional effort into it..

But I don’t have a very positive outlook on things.. So I feel kind of safe thinking about something that I think probably won’t happen..

But I realize at the same time that I am nervous about the unknown and if things did work out in my favor then I had no reason to worry..

And at the same time I don’t want to put all of my eggs (thoughts) into one basket (situation)..

Perhaps the best solution would be for me to find a hobby or something to take some of this idle time.. Problem is..

Most of these thoughts occur while I’m in bed.. I can’t find that many hobbies!!!

The past couple days have been.. Different.. In a good way.. But have aroused some feelings.. Feelings I didn’t know existed.. The way I feel is different.. I keep trying to keep myself from saying that.. B/c I don’t halfway believe it.. But also because I don’t want to admit it..

This is new.. And I feel like I’m working on jeopardizing a good thing because of my fear.. I said I would take things a moment at a time.. But its hard.. I’m trying..

I’m going to keep trying.. Because I don’t want to not take a risk that could’ve paid off..

Two cheers for risk-taking…

Today I watched the video for Russian Roulette.. While dark and questionable.. I found it to be easy to conceptualize.. But this isn’t a video review.. I am just going to speak on the song..

The first time I heard the song.. I thought WOW.. I was honestly blown away.. The song really is not that wonderful.. But I was amazed nonetheless..

Many people have criticized Rihanna for singing the song (written by Ne-Yo) for its dark content and intent.. And while I understand a 14 year old may take “just pull the trigger” literally.. I tried to grasp the concept of the song..

I would like to believe this song is (obviously) about risk taking.. The game of russian roulette is a based around risking your life and being unsure.. Its focus is clearly on fear..

This reminds me a bit of love.. In a warped non-fairy tale way..

In the song, the guy tells her to go ahead and do it.. Don’t worry, just breathe.. It’ll be okay.. He’s clearly done this before.. And I thought.. This sounds like a man speaking to a woman with baggage.. Trying to assure her that by taking the risk of loving him that things would be okay.. But her fear is that.. This time.. Love would fail again and kill her (spirit?)..

I never thought the song was about playing a real game of russian roulette or suicide.. Of course not.. Not one songwriter is that obvious..

I concluded that this song was about love.. Love can be a risky and dangerous game.. There is much uncertainty which gives into fear.. Causing us to contemplate the risk we are taking.. We don’t want to dive in head first.. We need time to think and decide.. Because.. people can fail us.. in the game.. we may end up with the bullet..

I honestly found the song to be beautiful in a dark and somber way.. Using my interpretation.. Him asking her to take a chance that may fail.. And her contemplating it..

But I know that I am not like other people.. I think deep.. Sometimes too. Deep..

The other interpretation I came up with was sex.. But duh.. Leave that for someone else to explain..

No matter what the sports pundits today say, Bill Belichick made the right call.

In the NFL, the average success rate of a 4th and short is 60%. That’s already decent odds. The Patriots, however, are usually even better.

4th down conversion rate by Patriots last 5 years (sort for year):

• 08-09: 77.3%
• 07-08: 71.4%
• 06-07: 80.0%
• 05-06: 76.5%
• 04-05: 40.0%

That’s pretty darn good. Better than league average, as the Pats are in most things. My point is, if those are your odds, why not go for it? If you fail, you fail. But Peyton Manning is averaging 7.2 yards per attempt, and the Colts can make back a lot of ground awfully fast. Even with a decent punter, who averages 44 yards a punt, you’re not getting much more than you would have if you had gone for it, particularly with the risk of a short punt. Those 44 yards go in a hurry if you’re playing Peyton Manning.

In fact, with the probability of success, why not go for it on 4th down more often? Coaches rarely go for it, even though it makes sense most of the time, particularly near midfield, when punting it will probably get a decent runback with little yardage actually gained and possession voluntarily thrown away. (Maybe it has something to do with the barrage of criticism afterwards?)

Your defense has given up two quick-strike 2-minute drill touchdowns over the length of the field. Plus, did I mention you were playing Peyton Manning — the man born to run 2-minute drills? Did I mention that you screwed up your time-out use and have to get a first down here to keep the ball in your hands?

Strangely, if Belichick had not gone for it and punted, as is conventional for NFL coaches who want to avoid criticism, he would have probably still lost the game and avoided the firestorm of criticism. NFL coaches hate being criticized and their job security requires them to take fewer risks, even if the rewards make it worthwhile. The conventional play, even if it is hugely wrong and misguided and still leads to the exact same loss, is viewed with a shrug by fans and commentators alike.

I dislike Bill Belichick, but one of the things that makes him great is that unlike other coaches, he will probably not care about the criticism at all. I mean, the next time it’s 4th and 2 against a quick-scoring, methodical offensive team, will Belichick will do any differently? I doubt it.