While it is imposible to believe and maybe even a little strange to be true, Mordechai’s toe exploded from within! We discovered the other day that he has a huge gaping hole in the bone of his second toe on his left foot. Our doctor says that it was caused by a benign cyst that popped BREAKING THE TOE! Yes, the toe not only has a huge hole in it but it is broken too. Further tests are needed to decide what will be done, however both his doctors don’t seemed phased in the slightest which is good for my nerves. There isn’t really much that can be done for a broken toe – hole or no hole, but that doesnt mean that my wonderful husband is not in pain .

May Hashem grant him a Refua Shlema (complete recovery) and very quickly ~ Amen

As my earlier posts would give you an idea (assuming you follow my posts! ) about my GRE and TOEFL experiences. The next on the list definitely had to be the application procedure. As an international student, the application procedure is even more complex than the usual. A lot of hidden costs, tiresome procedures await you. These are things I have discovered down the lane and don’t want it to come as a shock to the rest of you.

Lets begin with the application package. Your application package would consist of your Gradesheets, 3 Recommendation Letters, SoP (Statement of purpose), Financial Document (For most US universities), GRE score and your TOEFL score.Lets look at each of them closely.

First in the list are your Gradesheets or Transcripts. These have to be ORIGINAL copies issued by the controller of examinations of the university. Attested photocopies are NOT considered to be valid.

Coming to the Letters of Recommendation or LoR. You will need three LoR’s from your college professors or someone working in the industry whom you have worked with as in done an internship with or something similar. While asking your professor ensure it is soemone who has taught you so that he knows more about you as it will be weighed more than a LoR issued by a faculty who has not taught you or guided you for any of your projects. Another thing you can keep in mind is that it is preferable to ask professors with a doctorate. Again it is NOT mandatory but surely will be an added advantage. Also, you need to get each copy signed and sealed in an envelope. (Again no photocopies!)

The next document is your Financial document. This is the one document that did not fall in place for me this year so I guess I will have to wait another year to apply. Anyway about the financial document, this has to be a letter from the bank stating that you (or your sponsor) have certain amount of “READILY AVAILABLE FUNDS” for your education. The amount will cover your first years tuition fee and living expenses. Most of us think that property &/or salary slips would suffice but sadly that is not how it works. There are FEW universities in US which do not require the Financial document at the application time.

As for GRE and TOEFL, ets.org is what you should be looking up. You can book your exam dates and everything through that site. It is more like the bible for GRE and TOEFL! Regarding the preparation and GRE experience here is a link. For TOEFL experience and exam details click here.

Next is your statement of purpose. This might seem like a cake walk but you actually realize that this is one of the most time consuming processes. To come up with the final draft you need to come up with atleast 10-15 versions of it! And sometimes in the process of writing one you realize how little you know about yourself! Funny as it may seem but some questions like ‘Tell me about yourself’ or ‘whats your motivation to study’ etc become extremely tough to answer. The challenge is to make your SoP unique. There are a lot of samples available on the internet. I would suggest you DONT read any of them before you do your SoP. Just get some guidelines. I think this link can be of some help. After you have come up with a draft probably you can read some other SoPs and compare and rethink. But make it a point to NOT copy paste any lines as that may lead to a direct rejection. I dont think my SoP is all that great but in sometime I shall surely upload it IF that can be of help to anyone.

So now we are done with the details of the application package. Next thing we need to deal with is the shortlisting of universities. For those of you who do not have much of an idea regarding the good universities or how to come up with your wishlist, you can begin by using some ranking sites like usnews.com for reference. But do not follow these rankings blindly! Go through the universities homepage, department homepage find out about the GRE score required and the financial document details. I would suggest you maintain an excel containing these details (something I forgot to do and was in great trouble! ).  This is again a time consuming procedure. You should come up with a list of universities to which you should send your GRE score depending on your score. For those of you who are not aware that as soon as your GRE exam ends you have to enter the college details of FOUR colleges to which your scores can be sent free of cost. So depending on your performance you need to enter your choice of universities. Have around 6 (minimum) universities in different score ranges. The choice has to be wise. Do NOT go for all ambitious universities. 2 in the high range, 2 medium and 2 sure shot universities. To come up  with the final list a lot of effort needs to go in.

Application to US universities is not only time intensive but also cost intensive. When the process begins you will not realize that the cost of applying to say 6 universities approximately comes around 1Lakh Indian rupees. This is an approximate amount and is on the upper side but includes your GRE , TOEFL registration fee, score card fee, university application fee (varies from one univ to another), your courier service charges and also other miscellaneous expenses like issuing of the consolidated gradesheets, coaching (if any),etc.

So you need to think real hard before you make any decisions. Apart from the monetary aspect do consider your reasons to study further. Doing an MS because your friends are doing it is definitely not a good enough reason.

Next assuming you have prepared all the documents. You need to visit the webpage of each of the universities you wish to apply to. There will be an online application form that you will need to fill.For Fall the deadlines for international students start from december mid. Make sure you start the online application also well in advance as you will need to grant your recommender s   ample time to submit the recommendation electronically also. After your application is complete you need to pay the application fee and send in the hard copy of your documents to the university. Within 2-3 months you will hear from the university. Cross your fingers and hope for the best!

If you have any questions you can feel free to ask. I’ll try and answer to the best of my knowledge! And I am hoping this post is helpful to you guys!

The Pirates have signed free agent shortstop Bobby Crosby.

The Pirates could also obtain Red Sox catcher/first base/outfield prospect Jon Still.

There are also rumors that the Pirates are in talks to bring embattled outfield prospect, Greg “toe” Nash back to the majors.

Former Pirate Kevin Young lives happily in Arizona. 

Four years after their debut record japanese 5 piece toe release to the world their follow up album “For Long Tomorrow”

This sparkling 13 track LP could be described as nothing less than capturing from the first 39 second intro as the drums knock in anticipation for the second track. Track 2 hits with an intstrumental math-rock flow comparable to don caballero. This Technically breathtaking style of music stops here and “For Long Tomorrow” takes a new journey down a road of soft vocals, instrumental post-rock  and sweeping soundscapes.

This Album Lets your ears and imagination do the talking

]]> http://oneshoeaday.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/givenchy-spiky/ Wed, 16 Dec 2009 09:00:26 +0000 Sah http://oneshoeaday.wordpress.com/2009/12/16/givenchy-spiky/

One of my favorite artists of all time.

@elbow-toe.com

In the last week, I have begun the epic task of organizing my computer’s “Downloads” folder.  That means  finding a lot of stuff I haven’t even listened to so that I can start preparing my end of the year list.  I still have a couple of hundred things to go through so forgive me.  The winner of last week’s poll was sleepy.ab with Overground Acoustic Underground a point behind (I’m starting to sense a pattern here).  This week we have 10 new videos from FACT, toe, winnie, and more…

1000say- “Holy Rain”

I’ve said this before, but 1000say remind me of school food punishment.  Except now that school food punishment has become a shit pop band (thanks, Sony!), 1000say is the only good synth-pop band left.  “Holy Rain” is a lot of fun.  It’s like I stepped back in the 80s for a few minutes.  I can’t wait to get my hands on their new mini-album Lightning Amplifier.  (myspace)

FACT- “Slip of the lip”

I like this song a lot.  Probably more than “A fact of life.”  I’m still shocked that they have a new album coming out next month already.  Anyway, the first minute of this video is pointless.  It shows the birth of a Power Ranger monster formed out the band member’s masks.  Then the monster runs around town for a few minutes until BOOM.  (myspace)

toe- “After Image”

I love you toe, but these kind of videos annoy the crap out of me.  If you want to see a scraggly-head man cook eel in slow motion then be my guest.  Otherwise, it’s a fine song featuring the girl from Clammbon on vocals.  (myspace)

avenger’s in sci-fi- “Universe Universe”

The avengers strike back with a new PV from their new mini-album.  The video is much like their last, the band playing in triangle formation on top of a pyramid while random shit flashes in the background.  The apes look like something out of Xavier: Renegade Angel.  (myspace)

winnie- “winner”

Winnie will finally bring out their debut album next week.  Unfortunately, this one isn’t a “winner.”  It’s very average.  And I can’t understand a word they’re saying.  How is it that a band’s English gets WORSE over time?  (myspace)

nothing ever lasts- “Good News”

“Hey, another band with a random white dude.  Are you going to do this every week?”  Maybe!  This guy’s Japanese isn’t that bad, actually.  At least as good as Scott Murphy’s.  (myspace)

Kuroneko Chellsea- “廃人のロックンロール”

More garage rock from Japan.  This would fit nicely on Tokyo no Records’ lineup.  The video is nice, it reminds me of The House on Haunted Hill for some reason.  (myspace)

99RadioService- “Follow Her Dog”

I wasn’t expecting much from a song called “Follow Her Dog,” but it was very sweet.  Kind of like a mixture of The Beatles and the telephones.  Strangely enough, there’s no dog in this video, which makes me sad.  (myspace)

BlieAN- “morgof”

These three men couldn’t look any more bored.  But that’s cool.  The closeups on the singer’s face are hilarious.  After watching some of their other videos, I would be on the lookout for this band.  (myspace)

wooderd chiarie- “オルフォイス”

And finally we come to our last video.  I wouldn’t say it’s eventful (it takes him 2 minutes to get off his damn seat!), but once again it’s a pleasant song.  (myspace)

————————————————————————————————-

I didn’t plan this, but the next scheduled J-Rock Fridays column falls on Christmas Day.  I haven’t decided whether or not to do Christmas videos or the same old.  Believe it or not, it’s rather difficult find J-Rock Christmas songs.  In the meantime, vote for your top 3 bands/videos of the week:

Axess nr 9/09

Nu har det nya numret (nr 9) av Axess Magasin kommit ut. Numret heter “I väntan på framtiden” och handlar om “modernitetens komplicerade förhållande till den klassiska traditionen och demokratin”. Min krönika “Grunt om värdegrund” finns på sidan 60. År 2008 initierade regeringen som bekant en tre år lång värdegrundsdialog för att ”skapa en förstärkt gemensam värdegrund” eftersom diskussionen “inte gått i takt med samhällets utveckling” (här Sabunis anförande på temat 2008).  Dialogen ska handla om vilka de universella värdena och de mänskliga rättigheterna är och lyfta fram hur dessa ibland krockar. Det är tveksamt om det går att sätta sig vid skrivbordet och snickra ihop en gemensam värdegrund som alla förväntas omfamna utan invändning, men syftet är gott – att stärka demokrati och mänskliga rättigheter. Läser man diverse styrdokument som exempelvis det obligatoriska skolväsendets läroplan får man intrycket att den demokratiska värdegrunden innebär att man ska respektera olikheter i människors uppfattningar, synsätt och värderingar  – dvs människors olika värdegrunder. Så en konkretisering av innebörden av såväl den demokratiska som den gemensamma värdegrunden med de grundläggande värderingar som det är skolans demokratiska uppdrag att förmedla är välkommen. Tills vidare tolkar jag den demokratiska värdegrunden som att man ska acceptera att människor har skilda värdegrunder. Kommer förresten inte projektet med en gemensam värdegrund att krocka med den demokratiska värdegrunden?

Arbetet med den gemensamma värdegrunden pågår 2008-2010

År 2010 ska man sammanställa alla erfarenheter och möjliggöra för involverade parter (representanter från riksdag, kommuner, landsting, organisationer, fackföreningar och forskare) att arbeta fram rekommendationer för det fortsatta arbetet. I pressmeddelandet från regeringen underskrivet Sabuni ovan uppges att “Vi kommer också att genomföra en ny studie där svenska folket får ta ställning till ett antal dilemmafrågor om exempelvis yttrandefrihet, jämställdhet och politisk jämlikhet”. Ska dessa ställningstaganden utgöra ett aktivt bidrag till konkretiseringen av värdegrunden eller bara hanteras som en opinionsundersökning för att kunna bedöma hur pass långt avståndet är mellan befolkningen och visionen om en (redan inofficiellt antagen?) gemensam värdegrund? På tal om att stärka demokratin, som ju är en uttalad del i arbetet med den gemensamma värdegrunden – kommer vi att få folkomrösta om denna värdegrund och blir det i så fall innan eller efter valet 2010? Hur hade man tänkt förankra värdegrunden en gång för alla, och kommer en eventuell ny regering att börja snickra ihop en ny och annorlunda värdegrund? Jag vill helst redan nu veta hur jag ska tolka demokratibegreppet och vilka värderingar som kommer att vara universella under nästa och helst också nästnästa mandatperiod. Och kommer det att ingå i yttrandefriheten att få kritisera värdegrunden?

Detta kan vara ännu viktigare för forskare inom humaniora och samhällsvetenskap att få veta. Mina matematiska bevis kan inte krocka med någon värdegrund och gör de det så är det fel på värdegrunden och inte på matematiken. Då den logiska förmåga jag förvärvat genom matematiken råkat smitta av sig även på andra områden i min hjärna så föreslår jag mig själv som konsult åt regeringen för att utarbeta ett logiskt motsägelsefritt värdegrundssystem för att förhindra sådana här problem i framtiden. Frågan varför just jag ska få utarbeta den gemensamma värdegrunden är inte konstigare än frågan om varför någon annan ska göra det. Jag kan initiera en dialog här på bloggen och sammanställa detta som underlag. För någon ursvensk värdegrund finns ju inte och i den mån den finns är den som vår käre statsminister påpekat barbarisk. Därför borde värdegrunden, likt allt annat gott, komma utifrån, och inte inifrån Regeringskansliet. Vad sägs om att hämta in värdegrunden från Saudiarabien? Själv skulle jag iofs föredra Bulgarien om jag måste välja utifrån. Vad menas för övrigt med utifrån?

Bor vi på ett Möbiusband?

Finns det verkligen någon skarp gräns mellan in- och utsida eller ska jag tolka regeringens allmänna hållning som att jordklotet är ett Möbiusband? Med stöd i ett citat från en annan insiktsfull politiker: “Det var faktiskt inte vi svenskar som byggde Sverige. Det var människor som kom utifrån.” (Maud Olofsson, 2007 sid 6 här) så föreslår jag att vi fortsätter denna uråldriga tradition och i toleransens namn låter någon annan komma hit och bygga värdegrunden. Och då gälls inte att svenska politiker åker på konferens till Teneriffa och sedan kommer tillbaka över gränsen, tio kilo tyngre och en erfarenhet klokare, där den senare innebär att de insett hur smart det var att bli politiker så att man kan åka på semester för skattebetalarnas pengar. Eller semester och semester, det var antagligen en seriös genuskonferens, och de tio kilona är tyngden av de härskartekniker de fått med sig hem, som boken: “Den andra och femte härskartekniken – metoder för förlöljligande och påförande av skuld och skam som metod för att gender-mainstreama och legitimera sin extrema hållning och få den cementerad som ett faktum i samhällsdebatten för all överskådlig framtid.” Bara den boken väger tre kilo och resten väger sju – det är tufft att vara svensk politiker.

För att återgå till verkligheten, eller jag var ju i verkligheten, men för att återgå till värdegrundsdialogen då. Jag har personligen fortfarande inte blivit tillfrågad om något, och jag antar att om medborgarna tillåts ta ställning i exempelvis genusfrågan så kommer flertalet inte att instämma i att “den nordiska synen är dock att könet är en konstruktion” eller att svensk förskola ska representera “såväl ett barnpedagogiskt som könspolitiskt projekt” (såsom fastslagits i SOU 2006:75 sid 55 resp 19). Genusfrågan visar hur svårt det är att få alla medborgare i ett land att enas kring en enda uppifrån pådyvlad åsikt som snickrats ihop vid våra lärosäten och sedan basunerats ut via statens megafoner i decennier nu utan att man lyckats ena befolkningen i frågan. Där kan man tala om social konstruktion och enkelriktad “dialog”.

Detta förfarande är för övrigt ett utmärkt exempel på utövandet av den första härskartekniken “Osynliggörande” vilket som ni ser innebär “Att tysta eller marginalisera oppositionella personer genom att ignorera dem.” Det leder mig förresten till frågan om hur de “involverade parterna” är utvalda. För värdegrunsdialogens webbplattform som är framtagen av regeringen ser mest ut som en enkelriktad kommunikationskanal för redan befintliga organisationer. Pågår själva dialogen ”experterna” och organisationerna emellan medan jag är på jobbet och betalar skatt för att de ska utöva den tredje härskartekniken “Undanhållande av information” mot mig? Det ska bli intressant att se värdegrunden när den är klar. Här är ett exempel på ett liknande projekt som pågick 2006-2008  där man i projektansökan kan läsa om syftet, som är att kartlägga olika värderingsmönster utifrån kategorierna traditionalism, modernism och postmodernism vad gäller familjens roll och tankar kring jämlikhet och demokrati, och utifrån detta utarbetat en “värdegrundskarta för professionellt bruk” i Uppsala med syftet att olika grupper ska ”bli mer medvetna om sin värdegrund och kunna förhålla sig till andra värdegrunder på ett medvetet sätt”. Men regeringens projekt är alltså nu att skapa en enda gemensam värdegrund som så många som möjligt ska omfatta. Inte konstigt att det tar tre långa år – nästan lika länge som Sverige existerat ju. Eller har mina lärare lurat mig?

Maskulinitet är föränderlig - det är dags att tänka om!

Apropå skolan så har den visst en egen värdegrundsportal. Där kan man beställa Värdegrundshandboken online (flik överst). Materialet vänder sig till personal inom grundskola och gymnasiet. Under “lektionexempel” kan man läsa gratis. Här är tex ett lektionsexempel för gymnasiet om “genus, jämställdhet och fördomar”:  “Genus är vårt sociala kön, och handlar om de föreställningar om och förväntningar vi har på hur kvinnor och män bör vara: gester, kläder, språk, vad vi gör eller inte gör. Till vardags tänker vi inte så mycket på det – inte förrän någonting bryter mot det vi förväntar oss. Exempelvis när killar sminkar sig – och ännu mer om en 50-årig man skulle göra det. Eller om en tioårig kille skulle komma i kjol till skolan, eller en tjej som jämt har skrap- och blåmärken på knäna. Kanske är det särskilt viktigt att diskutera våra föreställningar om män och maskulinitet, eftersom det diskuteras mindre, och en förändring av hur vi ser på maskulinitet – inte minst hur män ser på maskulinitet – främjar jämställdhet. Lektionen syftar till att låta eleverna reflektera över hur vi bekönar egenskaper och uttryck. Eleverna ges även möjlighet att ifrågasätta och vidga de ramar könen tillåts röra sig inom.”

Får man ifrågasätta själva lektionsexemplet? Eller vad det har i svensk skola att göra överhuvudtaget när svenska niondeklassare inte ens kan lösa en andragradsekvation, medan kineser och östeuropéer lär sig avancerad bevisföring i den åldern utan en enda genusvetare i sikte! Och där andelen kvinnor på tekniska utbildningar är långt högre än i Sverige. Är denna andel möjligtvis omvänt proportionell mot genusvetartätheten? Man kan ju nästan misstänka det.

Alla ska vi kasta oss nerför (s)tupet

Jag trodde att det var var och ens rätt i detta liberala lyckorike att sätta upp sina egna tio gudomliga budord. Eller är det frihet under ansvar som gäller? Ungefär som när dagens skolelever själva ska ta ansvar för sin utbildning och sin fostran, bortsett från den obligatoriska genuspropagandan då? Genuspropagandan ska fostra barnen till demokratiska medborgare som ska kunna ta aktiv del i en demokratisk debatt där utgången redan är given och där det demokratiska samtalet redan från början följer en given mall, och det är skolans demokratiska uppdrag att se till att ingen rör sig utanför denna mall, eller järntriangel, och ve den olycksalige dåre som självständigt rör sig mot hypotenusans utkant och avviker från grundmängden när det är dags för oss alla att tillsammans och i en gemensam kraftansträngning kasta oss utför det propagandakantade stupet och förgås. Det är för övrigt just detta som avsågs i förra valrörelsen med (s)-slogan “Alla ska med” vilket jag insåg efter att ha tagit del av några interna (s)-mail om det genusindustriella komplexet – alla ska vi följa med sossarna ner i avgrunden och det är då och endast då det gäller att vara solidarisk med sina medmänniskor. Ingen ska nämligen lämnas ensam kvar i ett övergivet tillstånd av förnuft och klarsynthet, ett sådant utanförskap måste motarbetas till varje pris och det är däri den framtida politiska utmaningen ligger: att fördumma alla samtidigt med en och samma funktion.

På tal om funktioner har jag just beräknat att utifrån dagens negativa utgångsläge på så gäller att integrationen med en gemensam värdegrund som de naturliga logaritmernas bas går mot noll efter en oändlig gränsövergång -  se själva:

För samhällsutvecklingen som helhet gäller fortfarande min gamla vetenskapliga ansats till förståelse:

som ni kan läsa mer om här i mitt förslag på Theory of Everything men jag har konstigt nog glömt att ta med genusvansinnet explicit, men jag antar att jag då tänkte att det ingick i pk-funktionen, fast nu vet jag bättre. Genusvansinnet står i en kategori för sig – läs mer om kategoriteori här: Ha ha “A term dating from the 1940s, “general abstract nonsense” refers to its high level of abstraction, compared to more classical branches of mathematics.”

Avslutningsvis en video med Mark Steyn (tipstack till Erik & Dogdylan):

”Our core value is that we have no core values”

Uppdatering: den bloggande journalisten Ingrid Carlqvist har fått sparken som chefredaktör för Villaliv (Journalisten, Resumé)  efter att meningsmotståndare utövat påtryckningar. Flera bloggar har uppmärksammat saken (Pelle Billing, Pär Ström, Dick Erixon, Ann Helena Rudberg, Medborgarperspektiv, Erik med flera).  Yttrande- och åsiktsfriheten har sitt pris. Hur kommer den nya värdegrunden att ställa sig till detta?

twas at midnight that her arrogant bells took up their office

the over-large stares of ghosts stranded in her crowded streets

some towering murmurs housed righteously in a priests coat pocket

cascading tears betrothed to ares’ red offspring

ah me! if any could salute the blue ribboned timbers crowning her left toes

even those tussocked armies marching – while dead – towards the nearest calvary

our sheppard common chants married to earth’s remaining elastic sisters

his worm-wood infested yawps crucified atop some common shrub

galloping antelopes seasoned in mossy ketchup and left to fend for themselves

the once floating anthems drowned by the escaped northerly winds

beholding the overmatched teenage willows weeping and resorting to sucking their toes

of the sandy iniquities of  pastors – allow them a place in your prayers

now bewail the passing of your beloved self – even your youth

this do – however – in intervals of two less four

I have enjoyed watching this seminar by Thomas Campbell, the author of “My Big TOE”, TOE meaning theory of everything. Campbell is the physicist mentioned in Bob Monroe’s books. He helped Bob set up the Monroe Institute research. A few things I find rather refreshing about listening to Campbell’s views-

- He is rational.

- He knows that a real TOE must include consciousness.

- He understands that all spiritual techniques, meditation techniques,and so called healing arts techniques are non-literal training wheel ways of directing intent (I tried unsuccessfully to explain this to my friends for years, they still believe in their fantasy techniques).

- He has had numerous OBEs on the level of those described by Monroe and he believes in them. He claims to have tested his own OBEs and confirmed their reality. He at least seems believable and quite passionate about what he is saying. In this final clip at 8 minutes he encourages people to test their OBEs to confirm that they are not just fooling themselves.

Still I am puzzled to no end why people who make claims of veridical proficiency cannot just commit themselves to proper experimentation to document the reality of their perceptions. I reject the notion that proof is unattainable. This leaves me highly skeptical of any such claims such as “I proved it to myself but I can’t prove it to you.”

I still consider it likely that the OBE is as Michale Raduga says- a journey into ones own subconscious mind. But this does not say it is not real. I have yet to see verifiable evidence retrieved from this state.

I posted this before watching the following clip. I think this is a very meaningful and courageous statement made by Campbell. He certainly walks his talk of not being afraid.He explains here how the NDE or DE is an intermediate frame where the powers that be will tell you any little story you need to make you feel better while you transition. It may be sad for some to hear that the loved ones met are “virtual” people and not what they seem to be.

No not you my little friend…

But certain  people who drives these…

You know those people who insanely PIMP out their crappy cars…

Like they’re preparing to go to hell…

Like they’re gonna go for battle…

But worst of all,

Stuffing fluffy-puffy stuff at the back of their cars….

Another thing is,
They tend to use their crappy kancils for purposes not originally intended for the kancils…

And causing traffic JAMS!!!!
Damn you jam-makers….

I assume that we all know which car drives the fastest on the road…

And who was involved in most of the car accidents…

And most of them are caused by

YUP, you gussed it…

KANCILS!!!

Why am I so pissed off concerning these drivers???

Well, I got ran over by one today…

Yea, the STUPID CRAPPY DUMBASS driver STUPIDLY decided to STUPIDLY reverse his CRAPPY kancil without looking at his CRAPPY rear view mirror. As a result, the STUPID DUMBASS driver of the CRAPPY kancil ran over me…

Ran over my…

TOE!!!!

@)$*s*^##%$&*!%

I hate you STUPID CRAPPY DUMBASS driver who ran over my toe!!!!

Till next time, What The Fiq…

“It’s not over,” he said. “There’s always a chance to change. You should not — you dare not — give up.”

Gregg Mozgala, actor and dancer with cerebral palsy

In yoga classes, I’ve notice some students’ difficulty moving their ankles and toes. Point, flex. Easy enough. Rotate them in synchronized circles. Okay. Now flex only the toes back, in tiptoe position (some call it “floint” or the amusing but apt “Barbie”). More struggles here. Now spread the toes wide apart. Half the population can’t seem to separate their toes.

Having grown up in a no-indoor-shoes culture (which I enthusiastically support for the whole world), I’ve spent most of my home life barefoot. So my toes splay like an amoeba and can retrieve fallen socks and writing implements with minimal effort. (Of course, I have other weak spots.) But the frozen-toe syndrome made me wonder: can immobility or “deadness” in our bodies be corrected?

Regarding feet: One of my first yoga teachers (and still a favorite from long distance), Sandy Blaine, couldn’t move her toes much when she was a beginner. So, upon waking in the morning, she would look at her toes and just try to move them. By the time I met her, a decade later, her toes could spread like a hand. She conjectured that trying to move her toes (perhaps even mentally directing them to move) spurred new neural connections.

Yesterday, I read a fascinating story, “Learning His Body, Learning to Dance,” New York Times, November 24, 2009, about Gregg Mozgala, a man with cerebral palsy who at age 31 is relearning how to move his body through dance. Due to his disability, he’s always struggled with basic actions, such as walking; when choreographer Tamar Rogoff tried to teach him new forms of movement, he’d either fall or be incapable of even trying them.

So Rogoff started from scratch with him, to “‘find’ individual bones, muscles and tendons that he had had no command of before.” According to the article, “[t]hey started at the top and worked down—sternum, sacrum, knees—with Mr. Mozgala’s body and brain opening paths of communication that had not existed.”

In the article, Dr Stephen A. Paget, chief of rheumatology at the Hospital for Special Surgery in Manhattan states, “In the past, people thought that a neurological deficit was fixed and immutable. Now there’s this whole concept of neuroplasticity: the neurological system has this ability to change itself and constantly grow.”

Wow. Sandy was right. We can teach our bodies new tricks. I’m not talking simply about strength and flexibility, the more straightforward and common limiting factors. Rather I’m talking about whole new connections. Moving body parts that seemed frozen. Or moving with improved coordination and posture. Or balancing on limbs (or a limb) once too wobbly. If Mozgala can reawaken his body and transform his gait, it’s a lesson to us all.

Mozgala’s step-by-step learning reminded me of Iyengar yoga, which requires constant observation of the entire body, from crown of the head to fingers and toes. Likewise, he employed specific instructions to help maintain awareness in daily life, off the dance floor. (Of course, his cues, “sternum down, tailbone up,” are the opposite of ours!)

Bottom line: if you can’t move your toes, arch your thoracic spine, or balance in handstand … don’t give up.

Image: yvetteAL

URL : http://www.flashgame-girl.com/Puzzle-board/Numeric-Tic-Tac-Toe.html

Game description :

The one who will completes the Tic Tac Toevertically, horizontally or diagonally with the sum of 15 first will be considered the winner.

Game controls :

Use mouse to interact.

Dear Kitteh:  I’m glad you were concerned when I stubbed my toe the other night.  Was there a reason you promptly climbed on the counter and popped me on the head?

Frog and toe
leaf
another stretch
a spark
red oliver
dangles
the ogles.

New York City
autumn
another year
a diamond
gold moon
seduces
the eyes.

OSHA asks that employees on specific kinds of job sites wear steel toe shoes. This signifies you not just have to take in them to do work on the job. You yet should wear them when you’re on the site as a viewer, inspector, and otherwise salesperson. Whenever you are around building sites or any other job sites where heavily tools are used, you must require a high-quality pair of steel toe shoes.

condition for years to come. You may buy a sporty shoe that would last years being worn for sports, however it will not be brought in for the penalty a building job site deals out. Steel toe shoes are best for your foot in a lot of ways, and that is how come they’re needed by OSHA and the others. You will be pleased to know that these boots are more lasting than normal boots. You can pay out the money on your toes. With no steel toe shoe, you may not be brought in for the penalty a building job site deals out.

Steel toe shoes can too offer ankle joint support that you can not survive. In addition to that, the steel toe is harder and will care for a bigger area of your feet. Not at all misjudge the significance of healthy feet to your capacity to work. When your toes are injured beyond fix, you may get harm or even the passing of your feet. Not at all misjudge the significance of healthy feet to your capacity to work. When your toes are injured beyond fix, you may get harm or even the passing of your feet.

Not at all misjudge the significance of healthy feet to your capacity to work. When your toes are injured beyond fix, you may get harm or even the passing of your foot, like cuts off etc. When the ankle is tall, it can remain equipment and falling down stuff from setting down with total strength on your toes. With no steel toe shoes. This signifies you not just perform the basic purposes of steel toe shoes is the safety they offer. They can keep you fine and for long time. penalty let a your viewer, foot, inspector, like and cuts will off not etc.

survive. When In the addition entire to footwear come. requires You on will your not toe survive. shoes In is addition steel to toes sustain whereas its other shape. shoes. When Boots it that is how come they’re needed by OSHA and the others. You will be pleased to know that these boots are more lasting than normal boots. You can pay out the money on your toes. With no steel toe shoe gets across only the tips of the toe. When it is well-built leather, it can not just perform the basic purposes of steel toe shoe and wear that shoe.

They can remain you from bending your ankles while you go around the work site, mount ladders, and stand down into hollowed areas.

Nothing like staring out the window when the weather is not quite stormy and not quite clear.

I am contemplating a pair of men’s socks and deciding what kind of toe to knit to complete these. I have already agonized for a year and a half over 1) choosing the yarn, 2) choosing the pattern, 3) HOW MANY STITCHES?, 4) pattern on the foot or not?, 5) ran out of yarn – what to feather in that will look like it belongs and NOW 6) the toe.

Add to all of this, that I sold these “hand-knit socks” at a school auction in March 2008. Poor Steve probably thinks he will NEVER get them (little does he know). I think they are going to turn out quite well.

Perhaps a sail would be a good make-up for the looooong wait?

Wow, how things can easily change in the course of 48 hours.

Saturday was pretty boring. All I really did was go online, and allow laziness to triumph over me yet again… Damn, why does that always happen? What hit me most though was the horrible news that the builders had gotten the measurements for the room wrong. Seriously, how can you go wrong with 2 inches? Did they use a ruler, or was that too hard? I guess that’s another two and a half weeks on the floor, oh joy.

And it gets worse; I woke up today with an agonizing pain in my right big toe. I think its infected. If so, then hello doctors, and if not, hello more pointless pain! This is probably why we shouldn’t take what we have for granted. Having said that, all this pain will probably end up serving as a lesson in some way. I’ll have to note that down somewhere.

At least I finally drew a Blastoise. In a different way then the picture I drew it from. Whether you take it in a good way or bad way is up to you- the Pokemon looks so distorted from the original picture it looks like its in a different position altogether. The result? Irony; I was meant to draw good, didn’t draw it right, and ended up still drawing an amazing drawing. If you want to see it, head to my Facebook.

Once again, the elusive male cameltoe:

New image in the shoes photography contest

…
on tip toe photography picture

Hello bloggers! im berig and this is my blog. I like cars and tech stuff (gadgets, computers etc), so if youre interested in such things this is the place to discuss about them. Im Greek so excuse me for my lagnuage mistakes! Thanks for looking.