Health

Texas Governor Rick Perry may not have been able to recall if he wanted to shut down the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency, but all Americans should remember the public service that he and his fellow Texans have done by challenging EPA's overreaching regulation. This week the federal Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals obliterated a 2010 EPA ruling that disapproved Texas's program to meet national air-quality standards. These standards are set by the EPA, but it's up to individual states to figure out how to meet them under the Clean Air Act. EPA has the authority to reject such plans, but only with cause. Such cooperative federalism is rooted in the constitutional balance of state and federal power that was so much on display this week in the Supreme Court's consideration of ObamaCare. This week the appellate court found that the EPA "failed to identify a single provision of the Act that Texas's program violated, let alone explain its reasons for reaching its conclusion." The court noted that the EPA had missed the statutory deadline for issuing a rejection by more than three years. It's hard to find a clearer example of Washington-created uncertainty than fact-free rulings that an agency lacks the authority even to issue. The feds wanted to use their approval power to dictate the details of clean-air plans, a job that has always fallen to the states. That was especially true in this case, which focused on permitting for pollution-control efforts under "minor New Source Review." The rules cover plants that aren't expected to be major sources of pollution, so they traditionally had a (relatively) light touch from Washington. You might expect that when a federal agency bigfoots into areas traditionally reserved to the states, it would cite some kind of authority. Perhaps the Constitution, or maybe a law passed by Congress? The Fifth Circuit reports that "authorities" cited by the EPA in this case included "several internal memoranda and guidance documents." Are emails among agency staff now authorization for the exercise of power in the Obama era? Instead the EPA resorted to claiming that the plan somehow violated Texas law. The Fifth Circuit drop-kicked this argument and called it "arbitrary and capricious" because even the EPA itself has recognized that the Clean Air Act gives the EPA zero authority to judge whether such plans comply with state laws. The appeals court examined other EPA justifications and concluded in one instance that the agency's argument had "no legal basis" and in another that the EPA was applying criteria "created out of whole cloth." This is not a compliment. Across a range of rule-makings, EPA administrator Lisa Jackson has made it clear that she intends to use laws passed by Congress to restrict so-called greenhouse gas emissions, even if Congress never intended such use. In this case the Obama-Jackson EPA sought to transfer power from the states to the federal government, even if Congress never intended that either. Team Obama erred in messing with Texas. Americans still struggling with a weak economy should be grateful for the Lone Star State's feisty defense of its authority.

8 Tips for Happier Holidays withYour kids It's time once again to begin preparing for the holidays and gearing up for family, fun, and festivals. The kids will be getting excited and home for school vacation. Here are eight tips for ensuring a happier holiday season. TIP # 1: Good Behavior in Someone Else's Home At some point prior to arriving at someone else's home for a holiday party, get to your child's eye level and go over the rules for being at the party. You may even ask them to explain the rules to you and don't be surprised if they already know. Throughout the event, acknowledge them every time you witness the behavior you want. If their behavior has been a problem in the past, tell them there will be a consequence to bad behavior and that consequence will be leaving the party. If you choose this option, be ready to implement it immediately, and don't punish them. The punishment is the departure itself and your complete silence on the drive home. TIP # 2: Reduce the Toys and Gifts A few weeks before the holiday season arrives, allow your child to lead an activity to thin out the usable toys and clothes they already have and then donate them to a local charity. Let your child have as much participation in the process, especially the delivery to the donation center. Commit to buying your children less toys. Too many can create visual chaos and excess stimulation, and certainly do not teach crucial lessons of moderation and limits. TIP # 3: Take Care of Yourself When you become stressed over the holidays, your appearance of being frantic and frazzled will be felt by the children and they too will begin to simulate it in their own way. Take time out for yourself to recharge your batteries. You need extra rest, exercise, and healthy eating, ingredients for greater self-control and patience. TIP # 4: Teach Children Gratitude Make it a priority to get your family involved in a giving exercise this holiday season. Donate your time to volunteer for a charitable organization by wrapping gifts for a gift collection agency, delivering a meal to a shut-in, or serving the hungry at a soup kitchen. This act of compassion will remain with your children for a very long time. During the thanksgiving holiday, my family and I would prepare and deliver a meal to an elderly person living alone. I'll never forget the year we delivered our dinner to an elderly lady who was so grateful for our gift, she cried as we left. My son was silent as we drove away and he had tears welling in his eyes. TIP # 5: Don't Over Schedule During the holidays we automatically think about wanting to connect and be with family and friends. But if past holidays have not been fond memories because of over scheduling, reconsider your plans for this year and commit to simplifying the family calendar or take a vacation away from home. This move may require having to say no to some invitations or changing routines. One family we connect with often makes it a point to avoid the holiday rush. They plan plenty of get-togethers throughout the year and then disappear at Thanksgiving and/or Christmas to take cruises, go to Disney, or travel to see family out of state. TIP # 6: Set Realistic Expectations for the Kids Let's face it; November and December are exciting times for the kids and stressful or busy times for you. This guarantees that your children are going to behave differently and it will be a challenge getting them to cooperate and remain calm. Clarify your boundaries and rules and be patient when their excitement gets in the way. Remind yourself about the true meaning of the holidays; it's not about having the perfect family. A big mistake parents make is remembering the holidays from their childhood and trying to recreate them today. TIP # 7: Create the Reverence of New Traditions Participating in family traditions that were passed down can be fun and exciting, but it can also add to the stress of the holidays when it means having to recreate complex meals, trips, and events that originally belonged to someone else. Take bold steps to create new traditions for your immediate family that will leave lasting impressions, regardless of how simple they might be. When my children were young, we started a new tradition of allowing the kids to open one gift on Christmas Eve. We intentionally gave them new pajamas in this one special gift and they would be the pajamas they would wear to bed that night. Each year after that, I came up with fun and creative ways of disguising the gift to keep them guessing, because they knew what they would find in the packages. Creating new and fun traditions and faithfully celebrating them each year with consistency will teach your children how to do it themselves when they have families of their own. TIP # 8: Be the Person You Want Your Children to Be Finally, there is no better way to teach your children how to enjoy the holidays than to demonstrate being the person you want them to be. The most powerful training your children will ever have is the observations they make of your behavior on a daily basis. Work hard to remain calm and loving throughout the holidays. When you find yourself on the threshold of an emotional reaction to someone else's behavior, ask yourself if what you're about to say or do will bring your family closer together, or create more distance. Being close of course, is what the holidays are all about! Little children can be a challenge around the holidays. The excitement of people coming and going, visitors to your home, and the additional excitement of Santa, gifts, or celebrations can make it difficult to manage their behavior and get more cooperation from them when you need it most. I've launched a Web site to help parents with younger children and more resources will be added there over time. Check it out at www.StopTheTantrums.com. I wish you all a fabulous holiday season with your children and families. I know I will with mine! Sincerely, Bill Corbett Cooperative Kids, LLC P.O. Box 432 Enfield, CT 06083-0432 Toll Free (866) 570-6824 info@CooperativeKids.com www.CooperativeKids.com

What can I say another great story... Dana Head Crabtree Here's my before/after and story from my website: Hi, I’m Dana Crabtree, I’m 39 years old, I’m a wife and mom of 2, and I lost 85 lbs. in 1 year using Beachbody’s home fitness programs, nutrition plans, and Shakeology. If you think you’ll never be able to get back down to a former weight and state of health, then my story is for YOU. After having our second child, my weight had ballooned to 210 on my 5’5” frame due to stress eating. I had lost some weight after having my first child through “dieting”, but I never developed consistent exercise habits, nor did I pay enough attention to how to eat the right nutrients to fuel my body. All the extra weight made it much harder to do the things I loved, and I was a cranky wife and mom. My husband and I are opera singers by profession. In Ma y 2011, I was getting ready to sing a concert and for the first time in my life, I was actually dreading being in front of an audience because I felt so uncomfortable. One night, after trying on yet another dress for the event that just didn’t work, I declared out loud to my husband, “I think I’m done performing. I just can’t do this anymore.” I couldn’t believe what had just come out of my mouth. I knew I had to make a change, because there was no way I could walk away from something God had created me to do. On May 17, 2011, the day following the concert, I started Slim in 6, struggling and very out of shape, but determined to never return to this place again. I followed the nutrition plan consistently, reasoning that if I was doing all this hard physical work that I wouldn’t dare sabotage it with my eating. I lost my first 20 lbs. at the end of the 6 weeks of Slim in 6, was feeling much better, and kept going with more Beachbody programs and Shakeology. I had actually developed exercise and nutrition habits, with real fitness goals, something I’d never truly done before! I remember thinking that it would be impossible to get back down to 125, what I weighed when I got married, that I’d never have my pre-baby body back again, and if I got down to 145, I’d be fine. I reached 145 about 9 months later, but I simply continued in my newfound lifestyle, and to my amazement, I reached 125 in May 2012. I fit back into my wedding dress from 12 years before, but with more muscle! Not only do I have my life and my health back, but I can do things I haven’t been able to do since childhood. No quick fixes, just hard work. Beachbody gives you everything you need to make a lifestyle change, all in one place: fitness, nutrition, and support. I became a coach to pay forward the gift that I received and be the support for those who have given up hope. We are dedicated to getting our nation back to health by ending the trend of obesity, one success story at a time. It would be my honor to walk beside you in your own journey. Let’s DO this! Here's my before/after and story from my website: Hi, I’m Dana Crabtree, I’m 39 years old, I’m a wife and mom of 2, and I lost 85 lbs. in 1 year using Beachbody’s home fitness programs, nutrition plans, and Shakeology. If you think you’ll never be able to get back down to a former weight and state of health, then my story is for YOU. After having our second child, my weight had ballooned to 210 on my 5’5” frame due to stress eating. I had lost some weight after having my first child through “dieting”, but I never developed consistent exercise habits, nor did I pay enough attention to how to eat the right nutrients to fuel my body. All the extra weight made it much harder to do the things I loved, and I was a cranky wife and mom. My husband and I are opera singers by profession. In May 2011, I was getting ready to sing a concert and for the first time in my life, I was actually dreading being in front of an audience because I felt so uncomfortable. One night, after trying on yet another dress for the event that just didn’t work, I declared out loud to my husband, “I think I’m done performing. I just can’t do this anymore.” I couldn’t believe what had just come out of my mouth. I knew I had to make a change, because there was no way I could walk away from something God had created me to do. On May 17, 2011, the day following the concert, I started Slim in 6, struggling and very out of shape, but determined to never return to this place again. I followed the nutrition plan consistently, reasoning that if I was doing all this hard physical work that I wouldn’t dare sabotage it with my eating. I lost my first 20 lbs. at the end of the 6 weeks of Slim in 6, was feeling much better, and kept going with more Beachbody programs and Shakeology. I had actually developed exercise and nutrition habits, with real fitness goals, something I’d never truly done before! I remember thinking that it would be impossible to get back down to 125, what I weighed when I got married, that I’d never have my pre-baby body back again, and if I got down to 145, I’d be fine. I reached 145 about 9 months later, but I simply continued in my newfound lifestyle, and to my amazement, I reached 125 in May 2012. I fit back into my wedding dress from 12 years before, but with more muscle! Not only do I have my life and my health back, but I can do things I haven’t been able to do since childhood. No quick fixes, just hard work. Beachbody gives you everything you need to make a lifestyle change, all in one place: fitness, nutrition, and support. I became a coach to pay forward the gift that I received and be the support for those who have given up hope. We are dedicated to getting our nation back to health by ending the trend of obesity, one success story at a time. It would be my honor to walk beside you in your own journey. Let’s DO this!

ek tha sagar

Hey everyone! Got home Thursday actually got tossed out ....was suppossed to go home Friday morning change of plans thursday afternoon. Feeling so- so. Still trying to get my feet back under me and head on streight. Heading out for a walk (crutches) taking puppy maybe 1/2 mile or so. Need the exercise. Back Later! :-)

Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly, and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for there will always be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe; no less than the trees and the stars, you have the right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labours and aspirations in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. With all its sham drudgery and broken dreams it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

THE SECRET COVENANT Of THE ILLUMINATI. An illusion it will be, so large, so vast it will escape theirperception.Those who will see it will be thought of as insane.We will create separate fronts to prevent them from seeing theconnection between us.We will behave as if we are not connected to keep the illusion alive.Our goal will be accomplished one drop at a time so as to never bringsuspicion upon ourselves. This will also prevent them from seeingthe changes as they occur.We will always stand above the relative field of their experiencefor we know the secrets of the absolute.We will work together always and will remain bound by blood andsecrecy. Death will come to he who speaks.We will keep their lifespan short and their minds weak whilepretending to do the opposite.We will use our knowledge of science and technology in subtleways so they will never see what is happening.We will use soft metals, aging accelerators and sedatives infood and water, also in the air.They will be blanketed by poisons everywhere they turn.The soft metals will cause them to lose their minds. We willpromise to find a cure from our many fronts, yet we willfeed them more poison.The poisons will be absorbed trough their skin and mouths,they will destroy their minds and reproductive systems.From all this, their children will be born dead, and we will concealthis information.The poisons will be hidden in everything that surrounds them,in what they drink, eat, breathe and wear.We must be ingenious in dispensing the poisons for theycan see far.We will teach them that the poisons are good, with fun imagesand musical tones.Those they look up to will help. We will enlist them topush our poisons.They will see our products being used in film andwill grow accustomed to them and will never knowtheir true effect.When they give birth we will inject poisons into the bloodof their children and convince them its for their help.We will start early on, when their minds are young, we willtarget their children with what children love most, sweetthings.When their teeth decay we will fill them with metalsthat will kill their mind and steal their future.When their ability to learn has been affected,we will create medicine that will make them sicker and cause otherdiseases for which we will create yet more medicine.We will render them docile and weak before us by our power.They will grow depressed, slow and obese, and when theycome to us for help, we will give them more poison.We will focus their attention toward money and material goodsso they many never connect with their inner self. We will distractthem with fornication, external pleasures and games so they maynever be one with the oneness of it all.Their minds will belong to us and they will do as we say.If they refuse we shall find ways to implement mind-altering technologyinto their lives. We will use fear as our weapon.We will establish their governments and establish opposites within.We will own both sides.We will always hide our objective but carry out our plan.They will perform the labor for us and we shall prosper from their toil.Our families will never mix with theirs. Our blood must be purealways, for it is the way.We will make them kill each other when it suits us.We will keep them separated from the oneness by dogma and religion.We will control all aspects of their lives and tell them what to think and how.We will guide them kindly and gently letting them think they are guidingthemselves.We will foment animosity between them through our factions.When a light shall shine among them, we shall extinguish it by ridicule,or death, whichever suits us best.We will make them rip each other's hearts apart and kill their own children.We will accomplish this by using hate as our ally, anger as our friend.The hate will blind them totally, and never shall they see that from theirconflicts we emerge as their rulers. They will be busy killing each other.They will bathe in their own blood and kill their neighbors for as longas we see fit.We will benefit greatly from this, for they will not see us, for theycannot see us.We will continue to prosper from their wars and their deaths.We shall repeat this over and over until our ultimate goal isaccomplished.We will continue to make them live in fear and angerthough images and sounds.We will use all the tools we have to accomplish this.The tools will be provided by their labor.We will make them hate themselves and their neighbors.We will always hide the divine truth from them, that we are all one.This they must never know!They must never know that color is an illusion, they must alwaysthink they are not equal.Drop by drop, drop by drop we will advance our goal.We will take over their land, resources and wealth to exercise totalcontrol over them.We will deceive them into accepting laws that will steal the littlefreedom they will have.We will establish a money system that will imprison them forever,keeping them and their children in debt.When they shall ban together, we shall accuse them of crimes and present adifferent story to the world for we shall own all the media.We will use our media to control the flow of information and their sentimentin our favor.When they shall rise up against us we will crush them like insects, forthey are less than that.They will be helpless to do anything for they will have no weapons.We will recruit some of their own to carry out our plans, we will promise themeternal life, but eternal life they will never have for they are not of us.The recruits will be called "initiates" and will be indoctrinated to believefalse rites of passage to higher realms. Members ofthese groups will think they are one with us never knowing the truth.They must never learn this truth for they will turn against us.For their work they will be rewarded with earthly things and great titles,but never will they become immortal and join us, never will they receivethe light and travel the stars.They will never reach the higher realms, for the killing of their own kindwill prevent passage to the realm of enlightenment. This they will never know.The truth will be hidden in their face, so close they will not be able to focuson it until its too late.Oh yes, so grand the illusion of freedom will be, that they will never know theyare our slaves.When all is in place, the reality we will have created for them will own them.This reality will be their prison. They will live in self-delusion.When our goal is accomplished a new era of domination will begin.Their minds will be bound by their beliefs, the beliefs we have establishedfrom time immemorial.But if they ever find out they are our equal, we shall perish then. THIS THEYMUST NEVER KNOW.If they ever find out that together they can vanquish us, they will take action.They must never, ever find out what we have done, for if they do, we shallhave no place to run, for it will be easy to see who we are once the veil hasfallen. Our actions will have revealed who we are and they will hunt us downand no person shall give u. s shelter.This is the secret covenant by which we shall live the rest of our presentand future lives, for this reality will transcend many generations and lifespans.This covenant is sealed by blood, our blood. We, the ones who fromheaven to earth came.This covenant must NEVER, EVER be known to exist. It must NEVER, EVERbe written or spoken of for if it is, the consciousness it will spawn will releasethe fury of the PRIME CREATOR upon us and we shall be cast to the depthsfrom whence we came and remain there until the end time of infinity itself. ● The Zionist Matrix of Power, is an excellent and truthful expose on Zionist power past and present. It accurately identifies the real seats of power in the modern world and the real ruling class that now dominates the modern world through their unholy trinity: ▲ World Media, ▲ Finance, ▲ Politics. http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=JJO3la_ZHw8&sns=fb

About to get this day started because i have to leave for work about 4:20pm. I have to get my exercise on, do a little house work before i go. After tonight i am off until November 26, 2012 YEA ME!! No plans except for tomorrow with my girl O. Other than that i will just be resting.

Microsoft is in deep trouble, their two main product lines are failing, and the blame game is intensifying. Steve Sinofsky gets the blame this time for the failure of Windows 8, but the real problem is the patterns that are so clearly illustrated by these actions. Microsoft is largely irrelevant to computing of late, the only markets they still play in are evaporating with stunning rapidity. Their long history of circling the wagons tighter and tighter works decently as long as there is not a credible alternative, and that strategy has been the entirety of the Microsoft playbook for so long that there is nothing else now. It works, and as the walls grow higher, customer enmity builds while the value of an alternative grows. This cycle repeats as long as there is no alternative. If there is, everything unravels with frightening rapidity. A company that plays this game for too long becomes set in their ways, and any chance of real change simply becomes impossible. Microsoft is there, and has been for a long long time. Their product lines have stagnated, creating customer lock in is prioritized over creating customer value, and the supply chain is controlled by an iron fisted monopoly. Any attempt at innovation with a Windows PC has been shut out for over a decade, woe betide anyone who tried to buck that trend. The history books are littered with the corpses of companies that tried to make change the ‘Windows experience’. Microsoft’s displeasure is swift and fatal to those that try. Or at least it was. In the end, Windows advanced only to the point of undercutting any competition, and even then to the minimum extent possible. The rules in Redmond were, “Do not change anything unless it is to crush someone doing something innovative”. They didn’t unless they did, and it worked. And the market stagnated. Ask yourself when the last time Microsoft did something innovative? Did it come from internal impetuses, or a clone of the competition? Sooner or later, someone will come along and do a better job than the treacle that Microsoft, offers. Actually that happens all the time. How about, sooner or later, someone will come along and do a better job than the treacle that Microsoft offers, and for some reason, Microsoft won’t be able to crush them like a bug. Then the circled wagons have an alternative. Then the decades of built up enmity have an outlet. Then Microsoft is in trouble. In such a situation, a company has two choices, both of which are quite stark. They can radically change their ways or they can wither and die. Before you point to Windows 8 and say, “But they are changing and innovating”, hold off a moment, it isn’t what you think. Microsoft has three product lines that underpin everything, Windows, Windows Server, and Windows Mobile/Phone/WART/whatevertheynameitthisweek. On those, the other moneymakers, Office and Exchange, run exclusively. The apps use protocols that are locked down with dubious methods, and will not run on any competition. The competition is likewise excluded from doing what Microsoft can, either directly like Novell, or by raising the cost to the point of it not being profitable. This is how the wagons are circled, with every iteration, the cost of competing go up, and value of alternatives go up too. The problem is that if you are locked in with a choice of 100% Microsoft or 0% Microsoft, once someone goes, it isn’t a baby step, they are gone. Once you start using Google Docs and the related suites, you have no need for Office. That means you, or likely your company, saves several hundred dollars a head. No need for Office means no need for Exchange. No need for Exchange means no need for Windows Server. No need for Office means no need for Windows. Once the snowball starts rolling, it picks up speed a frightening pace. And that is where we are. The barriers to exit are now even more potent barriers to entry. If you read the story about Steve Sinofsky being fired, err leaving at the peak of his success like Windows 8, you will see some interesting quotes. Take a look at the AllThingsD story, especially the update. Take a look at the quote from Steve Ballmer, “I am grateful for the many years of work that Steven has contributed to the company,” CEO Steve Ballmer said. “The products and services we have delivered to the market in the past few months mark the launch of a new era at Microsoft. We’ve built an incredible foundation with new releases of Microsoft Office, Windows 8, Windows Phone 8, Microsoft Surface, Windows Server 2012 and ‘Halo 4,’ and great integration of services such as Bing, Skype and Xbox across all our products. To continue this success it is imperative that we continue to drive alignment across all Microsoft teams, and have more integrated and rapid development cycles for our offerings“. You will see that one sentence is taken up by the normal excuse train when canning a top exec. The next three are spent on a tangent where Ballmer goes off about how well integrated their product lines are, and how successful that is making them. Any guesses why he went off on such an aside? Start back a ways, Microsoft’s mobile OS line was failing, it was the laughingstock of the industry pre-Windows Phone 7. Microsoft totally revamped that OS with a new look, new paradigms, and a completely incompatible OS with all the apps that came before it. They spent almost half a billion dollars advertising it. They bought Nokia to both kill off one competitor and to buy their market share. Microsoft at the time had approximately 12% smartphone OS marketshare, Nokia a bit over 30%. With the collaboration, Nokia and Microsoft, together with all the other OS partners selling Windows Phone 7.x, sales are now hovering around 2% of smartphone market share. Subsidies are massive and increasing, and Windows Phone 8 is just coming out. Luckily it is incompatible with the 7 variants that preceded it, and anyone who bought one got obsoleted without warning. Microsoft’s mobile aspirations have failed so spectacularly that it is almost impossible to account for. Rather than fix the lock in that excludes the overwhelming majority of the market that does not have a Windows phone, Microsoft doubled down with the new iteration playing the same compatibility games they did before to lock out developers, competitors, and innovators. Laughably they did so in the name of compatibility. With Windows 8, current marketshare rounding to zero, every other bit of software written for Windows is excluded. Windows phone hasn’t paid for the last ad campaign, much less made dollar one, and likely never will. Then came Windows 8, the all new tabletized UI, and WART. It is a miserable experience for the corporate user, and anyone spending serious time using one finds out the halo wears off surprisingly quickly. To make matters worse, Microsoft dropped the Surface bomb on all of their partners, you know, the ones they have under their thumb and locked down with monopolistic might. They are livid, angry beyond words, and were afraid of angering Redmond. As we exclusively brought you the story, HP dumped WART. They are now much more afraid of what happens if they don’t leave. Then Acer postponed Windows RT devices until Q2, Taiwanese OEM-speak for it is stone cold dead. Other are looking for an alternative, any alternative, as a top priority. This exodus has never happened before, and is a one way street. Microsoft jacked up the price of WART to untenable levels, undercut their partners pricing on hardware, and made it impossible for any vendor to make a WART device profitably, and then surprised them with the news. The shocking bit? Microsoft feigned surprise that their entire partner base was not overjoyed at their entering the market and undercutting them. As a fix to placate OEMs, Microsoft picked a scapegoat and fired him, then went ahead with their plans at full speed. Partners somehow weren’t fooled. To the surprise of no one, Steve Ballmer just described Surface sales as, “modest”Mr Ballmer is not one to understate anything, modest for Stevish means abject failure in English. Surface sales are said to be roughly four million after about a month of sales, hardly modest. Then again, to put the number in perspective, Apple was said to sell five million iPhone 5s on the first day, mainly because they were severely supply limited, and three million iPad Minis over the first sales weekend. Modest indeed, and no word about returns which SemiAccurate hears are astoundingly high. Surface is a failure too. Apple didn’t have a massive ad campaign to back it up either, they just released the products. This means the two mobile compute markets that Microsoft was locked out of have been attacked full on by Windows Phone 7.x and 8, Surface, WART, Windows 8, plus the might of the entire Microsoft ecosystem. This has been backed by hundreds of millions of dollars in advertising, more in OEM incentives, and sold through an dealer and retail network that is locked in to a monopolistic supplier. With all of this, filtering out the initial sales bump of a new product, Microsoft isn’t even holding it’s ground in phone and tablets. Failure is not nearly a strong enough term for Microsoft’s mobile ambitions. And that brings us to Windows 8 itself, the laughing stock of the OS world. Not since Windows Vista has there been an OS so widely derided as 8. Initially it seems like a fun experience, but as we said, that halo wears off quickly. For use on an older computer, it is miserable, you need touch. Unfortunately touch does not work on a vertical surface, there have been decades of studies to show this. Unless you are using a tablet, Windows 8 quickly becomes an exercise in frustration and arm pain. Worse yet, it is simply not workable for doing what most business users need to do, write a letter, make a spreadsheet, and reply to an email. How fun do you think pulling your hand off the keyboard to touch the screen every time you want to click a menu in Word is? Fun edgy UI or carpal tunnel nightmare? Luckily for those realizing this problem, Microsoft got in front of that potential deal breaker and, well, made it so there is no other way. You can’t avoid the new UI, and it is unsuitable for corporate work. For developers, Windows 8 is a nightmare too. High end games are the one area where Windows still has no serious competition, but Microsoft doesn’t seem to care about this. Even with that lack of attention, Windows 8 has outdone itself in turning off the developer community. First Valve publicly trashed Windows 8, then came Blizzard backing Valve. Several other very large and influential development houses have expressed far worse sentiment for Microsoft and Windows 8 to SemiAccurate in private. No one likes what Microsoft has done, some just don’t say it publicly. Microsoft has gone from a position of overwhelming power in software and games to one where they have to pay developers to port. This is usually the death knell for a platform, and most developers are already looking away to greener pastures. The strongest draw for consumers died with Windows 8, and pay to play is not sustainable even with Microsoft’s deep pockets. The sales of products will never justify third party investments at this point, without Windows 7 and earlier compatibility, there is no market. The mainstream market isn’t doing well for Windows 8 either. OEMs, chipmakers, and Wall Street have collectively tried to minimize ever dwindling PC sales as a collective wait for Windows 8. With the release of that OS, sales in Q4 and Q1 were predicted to go up by 5-10% as the pent up demand was fed, good times ahead. Anecdotal evidence seen by SemiAccurate said otherwise, but it is just that, anecdotal. Then came the first hard evidence, Joanne Feeney of Longbow Research came out with two notes on the health of the PC market. In it, she claims that laptops are going to be flat in Q4, desktops down by 5-10%, numbers in line with the whispers. Windows 8 launched and sales go down? During Christmas and Chinese New Year? Really? Stop and think about that, the last few releases you read stories about people camping out for midnight sales, this time a new OS tanks sales. Does that scream market acceptance to you? So here we sit, Microsoft has utterly failed in phones, utterly failed in tablets, and is seen as a has been by the next generation. The company can point to technical superiority all day, but people aren’t buying. Windows 8 itself seems to be dropping sales of PCs too, and that will have a knock on effect to their server OS as well, something that is also losing share at a frightening pace. To stop the decline after only losing the majority of their marketshare, Microsoft took the unfathomable move of forcing a touch UI on servers. If this doesn’t make clear the depths of how lost Microsoft is, and how reactionary their fixes are, nothing will. To fix things, Ballmer didn’t acknowledge the massive problems confronting the company, didn’t address how their purported fixes are not only failing to stem the losses but also destroying the market for previously safe products, and he didn’t even announce anything to look forward to at all. Instead, he picked a scapegoat, canned Steve Sinofsky, and claimed Surface sales were, “modest”. iPad sales are not modest. iPhone sales are not modest. Android phone sales are not modest. Android tablet sales are modest only in comparison to Apple products. Surface sales are not modest either, they are an absolute disaster. Getting back to Ballmer’s eulogy for Sinofsky, remember that? He said that the guy gave his all, did a great job, and took the fall for, well, Ballmer most likely. The rest of the quote goes on to say how integrated the whole of Microsoft is now, go team. It all works together, and is a single whole unit. In fact, you would be forgiven if you thought of it all as one piece that will get tighter integration as we move forward. Great. Unless you own an iPhone, iPad, Android phone, or Android tablet, they don’t play well with Microsoft by Microsoft’s design. You can’t have Office on them, you can’t properly integrate them in to the Server 2012 offerings, and they can’t run the scant few Windows 8/WART programs out there. They sure can’t run Halo 4, and will never be a surface, but do have an app selection that dwarfs what Microsoft can offer, not to mention music and video libraries that again are without peer. If you give up your iPhone, iPad, Android phone, or Android tablet, you can be with the 2% of loyal Microsoft customers that have bought all of the offerings and are enjoying an existence free of non-Microsoft products. Somehow, 98% of the market doesn’t seem to be moved to abandoning their current devices. In fact, you could say just the opposite is happening. Windows 8 sales are withering, and the target market doesn’t seem to want to pay more for less functionality just so they can get an OS that has “modest” sales and no apps. For a good reason. Give up iTunes and their reams of purchased songs, movies, and TV shows? Android or iOS apps that have no equivalent in the Microsoft ecosystem? All for more money and a clunky frustrating interface? What’s not to love? Why would any consumer not want to re-buy all of their libraries so they can move to a Surface? Somehow people are not just staying away in droves, customers who previously bought Windows desktop and were purportedly waiting to upgrade either decided not to or were actually gone long ago. The whole death spiral of low marketshare has doomed Windows Phone 7 and 8, made WART and Surface non-starters, and the entire OEM space is hell bent on making viable alternatives to Windows itself. Microsoft is said to have internally written of any chance of corporate adoption for Windows 8 too. That means all the goodies that Server 2012 brings, we assume there are some, are only going to work with a Windows 8 desktop just like the last 4-5 generations. Microsoft is nothing if they are not predictable. So Android and iOS are not losing ground to Microsoft, instead they are pulling sales from Windows 8 proper. That means Server 2012 has less appeal to customers as well. OEMs are incentivized to push anything but Microsoft, and so it goes. There is a whole generation that has tablets that don’t run Windows anything. They use Google Docs, not Office. They use Gmail not Outlook or Exchange. They could use Microsoft’s purportedly spiffy Office 365, but somehow don’t seem to want to spend the money on the full Office desktop license it seems to require. There are ways to pay for the service as a standalone too, but no one is. The whole cloud integration with Windows 8 in all forms doesn’t do much for you if you don’t use Windows 8. If you build it, they will come. They built it, and the users came. Microsoft built another, and wonders why no one wants to buy their expensive tickets anymore, especially since the fine print on the back binds you to not going elsewhere else ever again. In the end, the death spiral for Microsoft is in full effect, and management is expending a lot of effort to speed it up. Anyone who dares point out that the entire system is collapsing, or worse yet suggests an alternative, gets Sinofsky’d. Or was it Guggenheimer’d? In any case, Microsoft is unwilling to change, and that is very clear. Even if they wanted to, they are culturally far beyond the point of being able to. What was a slow bleed of marketshare is now gushing, and management is clueless, intransigent, and myopic. Game over, the thrashing will continue for a bit, but it won’t change the outcome. Microsoft has failed.S|A

Weigh in was bad so off to work out then rethinking food and exercise plans for the holidays.

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St. Elizabeth of Hungary, also called St. Elizabeth of Thuringia, born in Hungary, probably at Pressburg, 1207; died at Marburg, Hesse, 17 November (not 19 November), 1231. She was a daughter of King Andrew II of Hungary (1205-35) and his wife Gertrude, a member of the family of the Counts of Andechs-Meran; Elizabeth's brother succeeded his father on the throne of Hungary as Bela IV; the sister of her mother, Gertrude, was St. Hedwig, wife of Duke Heinrich I, the Bearded, of Silesia, while another saint, St. Elizabeth (Isabel) of Portugal (d. 1336), the wife of the tyrannical King Diniz of that country, was her great-niece. In 1211 a formal embassy was sent by Landgrave Hermann I of Thuringia to Hungary to arrange, as was customary in that age, a marriage between his eldest son Hermann and Elizabeth, who was then four years old. This plan of a marriage was the result of political considerations and was intended to be the ratification of a great alliance which in the political schemes of the time it was sought to form against the German Emperor Otto IV, a member of the house of Guelph, who had quarrelled with the Church. Not long after this the little girl was taken to the Thuringian court to be brought up with her future husband and, in the course of time, to be betrothed to him. The court of Thuringia was at this period famous for its magnificence. Its centre was the stately castle of the Wartburg, splendidly placed on a hill in the Thuringian Forest near Eisenach, where the Landgrave Hermann lived surrounded by poets and minnesingers, to whom he was a generous patron. Notwithstanding the turbulence and purely secular life of the court and the pomp of her surroundings, the little girl grew up a very religious child with an evident inclination to prayer and pious observances and small acts of self-mortification. These religious impulses were undoubtedly strengthened by the sorrowful experiences of her life. In 1213 Elizabeth's mother, Gertrude, was murdered by Hungarian nobles, probably out of hatred of the Germans. On 31 December, 1216, the oldest son of the landgrave, Hermann, who Elizabeth was to marry, died; after this she was betrothed to Ludwig, the second son. It was probably in these years that Elizabeth had to suffer the hostility of the more frivolous members of the Thuringian court, to whom the contemplative and pious child was a constant rebuke. Ludwig, however, must have soon come to her protection against any ill-treatment. The legend that arose later is incorrect in making Elizabeth's mother-in-law, the Landgravine Sophia, a member of the reigning family of Bavaria, the leader of this court party. On the contrary, Sophia was a very religious and charitable woman and a kindly mother to the little Elizabeth. The political plans of the old Landgrave Hermann involved him in great difficulties and reverses; he was excommunicated, lost his mind towards the end of his life, and died, 25 April, 1217, unreconciled with the Church. He was succeeded by his son Ludwig IV, who, in 1221, was also made regent of Meissen and the East Mark. The same year (1221) Ludwig and Elizabeth were married, the groom being twenty-one years old and the bride fourteen. The marriage was in every regard a happy and exemplary one, and the couple were devotedly attached to each other. Ludwig proved himself worthy of his wife. He gave his protection to her acts of charity, penance, and her vigils, and often held Elizabeth's hands as she knelt praying at night beside his bed. He was also a capable ruler and brave soldier. The Germans call him St. Ludwig, an appellation given to him as one of the best men of his age and the pious husband of St. Elizabeth. They had three children: Hermann II (1222-41), who died young; Sophia (1224-84), who married Henry II, Duke of Brabant, and was the ancestress of the Landgraves of Hesse, as in the war of the Thuringian succession she won Hesse for her son Heinrich I, called the Child; Gertrude (1227-97), Elizabeth's third child, was born several weeks after the death of her father; in after-life she became abbess of the convent of Altenberg near Wetzlar. Shortly after their marriage, Elizabeth and Ludwig made a journey to Hungary; Ludwig was often after this employed by the Emperor Frederick II, to whom he was much attached, in the affairs of the empire. In the spring of 1226, when floods, famine, and the pest wrought havoc in Thuringia, Ludwig was in Italy attending the Diet at Cremona on behalf of the emperor and the empire. Under these circumstances Elizabeth assumed control of affairs, distributed alms in all parts of the territory of her husband, giving even state robes and ornaments to the poor. In order to care personally for the unfortunate she built below the Wartburg a hospital with twenty-eight beds and visited the inmates daily to attend to their wants; at the same time she aided nine hundred poor daily. It is this period of her life that has preserved Elizabeth's fame to posterity as the gentle and charitable chételaine of the Wartburg. Ludwig on his return confirmed all she had done. The next year (1227) he started with the Emperor Frederick II on a crusade to Palestine but died, 11 September of the same year at Otranto, from the pest. The news did not reach Elizabeth until October, just after she had given birth to her third child. On hearing the tidings Elizabeth, who was only twenty years old, cried out: "The world with all its joys is now dead to me." The fact that in 1221 the followers of St. Francis of Assisi (d. 1226) made their first permanent settlement in Germany was one of great importance in the later career of Elizabeth. Brother Rodeger, one of the first Germans whom the provincial for Germany, Caesarius of Speier, received into the order, was for a time the spiritual instructor of Elizabeth at the Wartburg; in his teachings he unfolded to her the ideals of St. Francis, and these strongly appealed to her. With the aid of Elizabeth the Franciscans in 1225 founded a monastery in Eisenach; Brother Rodeger, as his fellow-companion in the order, Jordanus, reports, instructed Elizabeth, to observe, according to her state of life, chastity, humility, patience, the exercise of prayer, and charity. Her position prevented the attainment of the other ideal of St. Francis, voluntary and complete poverty. Various remarks of Elizabeth to her female attendants make it clear how ardently she desired the life of poverty. After a while the post Brother Rodeger had filled was assumed by Master Conrad of Marburg, who belonged to no order, but was a very ascetic and, it must be acknowledged, a somewhat rough and very severe man. He was well known as a preacher of the crusade and also as an inquisitor or judge in cases of heresy. On account of the latter activity he has been more severely judged than is just; at the present day, however, the estimate of him is a fairer one. Pope Gregory IX, who wrote at times to Elizabeth, recommended her himself to the God-fearing preacher. Conrad treated Elizabeth with inexorable severity, even using corporal means of correction; nevertheless, he brought her with a firm hand by the road of self-mortification to sanctity, and after her death was very active in her canonization. Although he forbade her to follow St. Francis in complete poverty as a beggar, yet, on the other hand, by the command to keep her dower she was enabled to perform works of charity and tenderness. Up to 1888 it was believed, on account of the testimony of one of Elizabeth's servants in the process of canonization, that Elizabeth was driven from the Wartburg in the winter of 1227 by her brother-in-law, Heinrich Raspe, who acted as regent for her son, then only five years old. About 1888 various investigators (Börner, Mielke, Wenck, E. Michael, etc.) asserted that Elizabeth left the Wartburg voluntarily, the only compulsion being a moral one. She was not able at the castle to follow Conrad's command to eat only food obtained in a way that was certainly right and proper. Lately, however, Huyskens (1907) tried to prove that Elizabeth was driven from the castle at Marburg in Hesse, which was hers by dower right. Consequently, the Te Deum that she directed the Franciscans to sing on the night of her expulsion would have been sung in the Franciscan monastery at Marburg. Accompanied by two female attendants, Elizabeth left the castle that stands on a height commanding Marburg. The next day her children were brought to her, but they were soon taken elsewhere to be cared for. Elizabeth's aunt, Matilda, Abbess of the Benedictine nunnery of Kitzingen near Würzburg, took charge of the unfortunate landgravine and sent her to her uncle Eckbert, Bishop of Bamberg. The bishop, however, was intent on arranging another marriage for her, although during the lifetime of her husband Elizabeth had made a vow of continence in case of his death; the same vow had also been taken by her attendants. While Elizabeth was maintaining her position against her uncle the remains of her husband were brought to Bamberg by his faithful followers who had carried them from Italy. Weeping bitterly, she buried the body in the family vault of the landgraves of Thuringia in the monastery of Reinhardsbrunn. With the aid of Conrad she now received the value of her dower in money, namely two thousand marks; of this sum she divided five hundred marks in one day among the poor. On Good Friday, 1228, in the Franciscan house at Eisenach Elizabeth formally renounced the world; then going to Master Conrad at Marburg, she and her maids received from him the dress of the Third Order of St. Francis, thus being among the first tertiaries of Germany. In the summer of 1228 she built the Franciscan hospital at Marburg and on its completion devoted herself entirely to the care of the sick, especially to those afflicted with the most loathsome diseases. Conrad of Marburg still imposed many self-mortifications and spiritual renunciations, while at the same time he even took from Elizabeth her devoted domestics. Constant in her devotion to God, Elizabeth's strength was consumed by her charitable labours, and she passed away at the age of twenty-four, a time when life to most human beings is just opening. Very soon after the death of Elizabeth miracles began to be worked at her grave in the church of the hospital, especially miracles of healing. Master Conrad showed great zeal in advancing the process of canonization. By papal command three examinations were held of those who had been healed: namely, in August, 1232, January, 1233, and January, 1235. Before the process reached its end, however, Conrad was murdered, 30 July, 1233. But the Teutonic Knights in 1233 founded a house at Marburg, and in November, 1234, Conrad, Landgrave of Thuringia, the brother-in-law of Elizabeth, entered the order. At Pentecost (28 May) of the year 1235, the solemn ceremony of canonization of the "greatest woman of the German Middle Ages" was celebrated by Gregory IX at Perugia, Landgrave Conrad being present. In August of the same year (1235) the corner-stone of the beautiful Gothic church of St. Elizabeth was laid at Marburg; on 1 May, 1236, Emperor Frederick II attended the taking-up of the body of the saint; in 1249 the remains were placed in the choir of the church of St. Elizabeth, which was not consecrated until 1283. Pilgrimages to the grave soon increased to such importance that at times they could be compared to those to the shrine of Santiago de Compostela. In 1539 Philip the Magnanimous, Landgrave of Hesse, who had become a Protestant, put an end to the pilgrimages by unjustifiable interference with the church that belonged to the Teutonic Order and by forcibly removing the relics and all that was sacred to Elizabeth. Nevertheless, the entire German people still honour the "dear St. Elizabeth" as she is called; in 1907 a new impulse was given to her veneration in Germany and Austria by the celebration of the seven hundredth anniversary of her birth. St. Elizabeth is generally represented as a princess graciously giving alms to the wretched poor or as holding roses in her lap; in the latter case she is portrayed either alone or as surprised by her husband, who, according to a legend, which is, however, related of other saints as well, met her unexpectedly as she went secretly on an errand of mercy, and, so the story runs, the bread she was trying to conceal was suddenly turned into roses.

"A Simple exercise to create more joy and happiness." When many people think of finding happiness, they look to some future event such as getting a new car, a better job, finding a partner, getting a bigger home, etc. And looking to the future is a good thing. We need to have plans and direction so we know where we are going. But, if you are always looking to the future for your happiness, you’ll always be waiting for it to arrive. Many guru’s say that you should live in the moment and find your happiness there. This is something that you should most definitely aspire to achieving, but it does take a lot of practice to get there. The good news is there is an interim step that’s easy to do and will ultimately lead you to being joyful and happy in the moment. It’s simply recalling a happy or joyous event from your past, re-experiencing it and being grateful for it. If you do this 2 or 3 times a day, with 2 weeks you’ll be amazed at how much better you are feeling, all day – not just while you are doing it. There are a couple of other benefits as well: 1.You’ll be raising your vibration so you’ll be more sdapt to working with Source to deliberately creating your own life. 2.The things that you “want” in your future will have less importance attached to them. This always makes it easier to attract anything you want into your life. 3.Without even realising it, you’ll begin living more and more in the moment, and finding your joy and happiness there. Now, some people are doing to find this hard to do because they don’t believe they have anything to be grateful for! So, it would be cool if you could help them – All you need to do is reply in the comments section with some of the simple things from your past that you are grateful for. I’ll get the ball rolling with 2 things: 1.It fills my heart with love to recall how my friends helped me through a rough patch in my life about 12 years ago. 2.It always brings a huge smile to my face when I recall the smell of “Jasmine” because it reminds me of the awesome summers I had at the beach when I was growing up. Your turn…

For the third time straight I have tried to exercise this week and can't get to it!. Closed Monday for Vetran's Day. No class Thursday. Instructor out of town. Can't swim this morning, race. They will open the pool at 1:00. But that just shoots my plan of shopping in Hickory this afternoon all to pieces. Oh well, Dennie's coming down this afternoon anyway. Looks like shopping in Lenoir instead. And this gives me time to clean a little, which I didn't have in my plans this weekend.

Good Saturday morning my Friends! Smile! It's a beautiful day!!! "It is important for us to understand that in the midst of all the stuff and nonsense of our lives, in the midst of all the anger that swirls around us; in the midst of all the world's antagonists, and all the things that don't go our way, and all the people who don't care, the universe is always at peace with itself and God remains to the heart completely undisturbed, entirely creative and totally responsive to all those who want to know better, do better and grow beautifully." <3

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PRIMARY ONE SECTION ONE INTRODUCTION TO INFORMATION TOOLS General Objective: The pupil will: 1. understand information 2. recognize the sources of information tools UNIT SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES CONTENT TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES EVALUATION UNIT 1 SOURCES OF INFORMATION The pupil will be able to: 1.1.1 explain Information 1.1.2 identify sources of Information Definition of Information? • Something told e.g. news, message, story Sources of information : • people • news • letters • films • teaching • announcements • bulletins • magazines • news papers • books • music etc. Ask a pupil to tell the class how she/he spent the weekend. Teacher explains that information is based on the above activity. Let pupils understand that ideas, thoughts and messages are referred to as information. Pupils in groups discuss a given topic and share the information with the rest of the class. Pupils brainstorm to come up with the various sources of information. Display real or pictures of various sources of information for pupils to identify and discuss. Exercise: Pupils to describe what the people in the picture are doing. Assignment: Pupils to find out more sources of information and report in class UNIT SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES CONTENT TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES EVALUATION UNIT 2 MOUSE CLICKING UNIT 3 HOME ROW KEYS OF THE KEYBOARD The pupil will be able to: 1.1.3 name tools for sending and receiving information 1.2.1 single click the mouse 1.3.1 identify the home row keys on the keyboard 1.3.2 type letters of the home row keys using Notepad Tools for sending and receiving information : • Radio – news, announcements etc • TV- news, announcement, films, drama, events from other countries, etc • Calculator – information on calculations • Telephone (including mobile phones) - messages • Camera- sending pictures • Microphone – talking to large audience • Talking drums – sending messages • Computer – information, sending and receiving messages Mouse skills: Mouse clicking Keyboarding skills: Home row keys on the keyboard Typing letters of the home row keys using Notepad Display real objects or pictures of tools of Information. Let pupils name the things they see in the picture. Discuss the uses of the various tools as in content. Let pupils handle and operate some of the tools. Let pupils practise how to hold the mouse correctly. Guide pupils to use the mouse pointer to identify icons on the desktop. Assist pupils to practise how to click the mouse. Assist pupils to identify the home row keys on the keyboard. Guide pupils to type the home row keys using Notepad. Home work: Pupils to draw and name any four tools of information and report to class. Home work: Pupils practise typing on the home row keys using NotePad SECTION TWO INTRODUCTION TO COMMUNICATIONS TOOLS General Objective: The pupil will: 1. identify communication tools UNIT SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES CONTENT TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES EVALUATION UNIT 1 TOOLS FOR COMMUNICATION The pupil will be able to: 2.1.1 explain communication 2.1.2 identify communication tools and their uses Definition of Communication It Is a way people exchange ideas, information etc. Tools for communication : • person • radio • TV • radio cassette recorder • telephone • computer • talking drum Uses of tools for Communication e.g. • telephone for conversation • radio for news, announcements • TV for news, announcements • talking drum for announcements • bell (Dawuro) for announcements Review lesson on information tools and sources through questions and answers. Ask two pupils to chat on a given topic (Teacher should make sure that both are involved in the dialogue) Let pupils understand that when they talk to friends, parents, teachers and others and they also talk to them, they are communicating. So giving information and receiving response is communication. Ask pupils to tell how they can talk to their parents in their homes whilst in school e.g by letter or telephone Let pupils mention other tools that can be used to communicate. Display real objects or pictures of tools for communication for pupils to identify and discuss their uses. NOTE: Pictures should include people using the tools Assignment: Pupils to draw people communicating using the tools. 2. use communication tool such as mouse and keyboard UNIT SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES CONTENT TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES EVALUATION UNIT 2 FORMS OF COMMUNICATON UNIT 3 DRAGGING OF MOUSE (1) UNT 4 TOP ROW KEYS OF THE KEYBOARD The pupil will be able to: 2.2.1 Identify forms of communication 2.3.1 drag items using the mouse 2.4.1 type letters of the qwerty row using Notepad Forms of communication: • Verbal e.g. conversation, teaching • Written e.g. letters, class exercises, homework - posters - announcements, directions - signs - road signs, traffic lights, sign board • body language - smiling, weeping, nodding, Mouse skills: Using the mouse to drag items Keyboarding skills: Typing letters of the ‘qwerty’ row using Notepad Discuss the forms of communication as in content. Pupils use body language to communicate e.g. nodding of head, winking of the eye, shrugging shoulders etc. Teacher takes pupils out on a visit to identify road signs, posters etc Pupils in groups draw and label road signs and posters. Teacher to open Paint Application for pupils to draw any object of their choice to improve upon mouse skills. Guide pupils to use the mouse to draw some letters of the alphabet eg. A - D Guide pupils to type letters of the ‘qwerty’ row using Notepad. Class Exercise: Pupils to draw objects using the Paint Application. Pupils to type two – three letter words SECTION THREE INTRODUCTION TO TECHNOLOGY TOOLS General Objective: The pupil will: 1. recognise technology tools and their uses 2. use technology tool such as mouse and keyboard UNIT SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES CONTENT TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES EVALUATION UNIT 1 TECHNOLOGY TOOLS The pupil will be able to: 3.1.1 explain Technology 3.1.2 identity and state the uses of Technology tools Definition of Technology e.g Tools and equipment that help to make work easy. Technology tools: • radio • thermometer • radio Cassette Recorder • telephone • computer • television etc. Uses of Technology tools e.g. • telephone for conversation • radio for news etc • computer for typing letters, communicate • receiving and sending information • thermometer for temperature • weighing scale for weighing things etc. Review lesson on information and communication through questions and answers. Show real or pictures of technology tools for pupils to identify and describe their uses. Discuss and demonstrate how technology tools are used in sending and receiving information. Pupils in pairs to improvise and demonstrate how to use the following Technology tools to communicate: Telephone Radio Cassette Recorder Television Field Trip: A visit to a Technology Centre Take pupils out to a Technology Centre e.g. communication centre or community centre to observe how technology tools are used. Pupils to report in class on what they saw. Group work: Pupils to make improvised technology tools UNIT SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES CONTENT TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES EVALUATION UNIT 2 DRAGGING OF MOUSE (2) UNIT 3 HOME AND TOP ROW KEYS The pupil will be able to: 3.2.1 drag the mouse pointer to draw shapes. 3.3.1 type words using the home and ‘qwerty’ rows Mouse skills: Dragging of mouse pointer to drawing shapes e.g. circle, square, triangle Keyboarding skills: Typing of words using home and qwerty row Guide pupils to drag the mouse pointer to draw shapes e.g. circles, squares, triangles Assist pupils to type names and words using the home and qwerty row e.g. Word, type, the, so, what, you, due, are, etc Exercises: Pupils to drag mouse pointer to draw circles, triangles and squares Pupils to type words and names using the home and qwerty row PRIMARY TWO SECTION ONE MOUSE AND KEYBOARDING SKILLS (1) General Objective The pupil will: 1. acquire more skills in the use of the mouse and keyboard UNIT SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES CONTENT TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES EVALUATION UNIT 1 DOUBLE CLICKING OF MOUSE UNIT 2 THE USE OF SPACEBAR AND BACKSPACE KEYS UNIT 3 INTRODUCTION TO GAMES APPLICATION The pupil will be able to: 1.1.1 double click the mouse 1.2.1 use the spacebar and backspace to type words 1.3.1 use Games Application to reinforce mouse skills Mouse skills: Double-clicking of mouse opening icons on the desktop Keyboarding skills: Using spacebar and backspace keys to type words using home and qwerty rows. Using Games Application to reinforce mouse skills Guide pupils to practise double clicking on the desktop. Pupils practise double clicking to open icons on the desktop. Let pupils type words leaving space in between using the spacebar. Guide pupils to use the backspace key in typing and explain its uses e.g. - Used for correcting letters wrongly typed - Used to close up spaces in between words Guide students to open any Games Application involving the use of mouse to play. Exercises Pupils practise double clicking on the desktop Pupils to type and separate word using the space bar. Students to use Games Application to practise mouse skills SECTION TWO MOUSE AND KEYBOARDING SKILLS (2) General Objective The pupil will: 1. acquire skills mouse and keyboarding UNIT SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES CONTENT TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES EVALUATION UNIT 1 DRAGGING OF MOUSE UNIT 2 BOTTOM ROW KEYS OF THE KEYBOARD UNIT 3 THE USE OF GAMES APPLICATION The pupil will be able to: 2.1.1 drag the mouse pointer to draw and colour shapes using the mouse in Paint Application 2.2.1 type words using the home, bottom and qwerty row 2.3.1 use Games Application to reinforce mouse skills Mouse skills: Dragging the mouse pointer to draw and colour shapes using the mouse in Paint Application Keyboarding skills: Typing of words using the home, bottom and qwerty row Using Games Application to reinforce mouse skills Assist pupils to select some Paint Application tools to draw and colour shapes using the mouse. NOTE. The focus should be on dragging of the mouse pointer not on the drawing Guide pupils to type meaningful words using the home, bottom and qwerty row Let pupils practice typing more short sentences to improve upon keyboarding skills NOTE Let pupils use Notepad Application Students to open any Games Application involving the use of mouse to play. SECTION THREE MOUSE AND KEYBOARDING SKILLS (3) General Objective The pupil will: 1. improve upon mouse and keyboarding skills UNIT SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES CONTENT TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES EVALUATION UNIT 1 USING DRAWINGS AND IMAGES TO PRESENT INFORMATION UNIT 2 TYPING SHORT SENTENCES UNIT 3 THE USE OF GAMES APPLICATION The pupil will be able to: 3.1.1 use drawings and images to present information 3.2.1 type two short sentences using spacebar, backspace in Notepad 3.3.1 use Games Application to reinforce mouse skills Using drawings and images to record and present information Typing – reinforcement of spacebar and backspace using Notepad Using Games Application to reinforce mouse skills Guide pupils to use Paint Application to draw images to present information. Pupils to explain in class the information they want to carry through the images drawn. Teacher should assist pupils do more practice in keyboarding. Students to open any Games Application involving the use of mouse to play. Pupils to type short sentences using spacebar and backspace using Notepad PRIMARY THREE SECTION ONE INTRODUCTION TO ICT TOOLS General Objective: The pupil will: 1. be aware of the uses of ICT tools in everyday life 2. acquire skill in doubling clicking. UNIT SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES CONTENT TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES EVALUATION UNIT 1 USES OF ICT TOOLS IN EVERYDAY LIFE UNIT 2 DOUBLE-CLICKING OF THE MOUSE (2) UNIT 3 THE USE OF GAMES APPLICATION The pupil will be able to: 1.1.1 identify ways in which ICT tools can be used in everyday life 1.2.1 double click the mouse 1.3.1 use Games Application to reinforce mouse skills Uses of ICT tools in everyday life: • reproduction of copies of text by duplicating machine e.g. Photocopies, • using networking in banking • digital thermometer for temperature • speedometer for speed, • weighing scale for weighing • calculator for computations Computer for processing , document, for entertainment, music, films etc. Double clicking of the mouse Using Games Application to reinforce mouse skills Pupils brainstorm and discuss the uses of ICT tools in everyday life as in content. Use the computer to demonstrate how music, games, movies are played on the computer. Pupils practice playing music and games on the computer. Guide pupils to practise double clicking on icons on the desktop and let them describe what happens when an icon is double clicked. Students to open any Games Application involving the use of mouse to play. Assignment: Pupils to find out and report in class more about the uses of computers. SECTION TWO MOUSE AND KEYBOARDING SKILLS General Objective: The pupil will: 1. improve upon mouse and keyboarding skills UNIT SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES CONTENT TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES EVALUATION UNIT 1 MOUSE SKILLS REVIEW UNIT 2 USE OF LOWER AND UPPER CASE CHARACTERS IN TYPING UNIT 3 THE USE OF GAMES APPLICATION The pupil will be able to: 2.1.1 use the mouse to locate and click on the Start menu, Paint and Notepad Applications 2.2.1 use upper and lower case characters to type short sentences and phrase 2.3.1 use Games Application to reinforce mouse skills Using the mouse to locate • Paint Application • Notepad Application • Start menu Combining lower and upper case characters in typing Using Games Application to reinforce mouse skills Assist pupils to use the mouse to locate and open Start menu, Paint and Notepad Application. Assist pupils to type short sentences and phrases using lower and upper case characters. Students to open any Games Application involving the use of mouse to play. Exercise: Open Notepad and type five short sentences using lower and upper case characters. SECTION THREE INTRODUCTION TO WINDOW MANAGEMENT General Objective : The pupil will: 1. be able to manage windows 2. be able to apply colours to drawings UNIT SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES CONTENT TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES EVALUATION UNIT 1 BASIC WINDOW MANAGEMENT UNIT 2 DRAWING AND COLOURING IMAGES WITH PAINT APPLICATION TOOLS The pupil will be able to: 3.1.1 maximize and restore Notepad/Text Editor Application window using the maximize and restore buttons in the control box 3.1.2 type short sentences using Notepad/Text Editor Application 3.1.3 minimize and close Notepad Application window using the minimize and close buttons in the control box 3.2.1 draw shapes and objects using the Pencil tool of Paint Application 3.2.2 colour shapes and images using the Fill With Colour tool of the Paint Application tool Maximizing and restoring Notepad/ Text Editor Application window using the maximize and restore buttons in the control box Maximize restore Typing short sentences using Notepad/Text Editor Application Minimizing and closing Notepad Application window using the minimize and close buttons in the control box Minimize close Drawing shapes and objects using the Pencil tool of the Paint Application Colour shapes and objects using the Fill With Colour tool of the Paint Application tool Assist pupils to open Notepad/Text Editor Application and practise how to maximize and restore the window using the appropriate buttons. Pupils to type short sentences after restoring the window. Pupils to minimize and close the window after typing. Assist pupils open Paint Application window and use Pencil tool to draw shapes and objects. Assist pupils to pick colours from the Colour Pallet and use the Fill With Colour tool to colour the shapes and objects drawn. Exercise: Pupils to draw objects and shapes and colour PRIMARY FOUR SECTION ONE CARE OF ICT TOOLS AND INTRODUCTION TO TYPING SKILLS General Objective: The pupil will: 1. appreciate a clean environment 2. acquire further mouse and typing skills UNIT SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES CONTENT TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES EVALUATION UNIT 1 GENERAL CARE OF ICT TOOLS AND ENVIRONMENT UNIT 2 DRAG AND DROP The pupil will be able to: 1.1.1 care for ICT tools and maintain a clean computer environment 1.2.1 use the mouse to drag, hold and drop Taking care of ICT tools e.g. • daily cleaning • occasional blowing off dust • disconnect power when not in use • do not tamper with any form of electrical cable • occasional servicing • covering when not in use • cleaning of software Maintaining a clean environment. • No food • No drinks • No litter etc. Using mouse to click, hold, drag and drop • Left click and hold • Click, drag and drop Discuss the care of ICT tools and the environment. Pupils discuss the need for keeping ICT tools and environment clean. NOTE: Draw pupils attention to the danger of tampering with electrical cables e.g. electric shock Demonstrate how to click, drag and drop using the game of solitaire. Pupils practise click, drag and drop by playing the game of solitaire. NOTE: Teacher should make sure that pupils do not drop icons into different programmes Assignment: Pupils to write the ‘dos’ and ‘don’ts’ of the use of the computer laboratory Exercise: Pupils to perform - Left single click - Left click and hold - Left Double click UNIT SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES CONTENT TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES EVALUATION UNIT 3 TYPING THE NUMBER ROW The pupil will be able to: 1.2.2 use a graphic program to draw objects and shapes 1.2.3 type numbers using the number row. Using graphic program to draw • objects • shapes • images Typing of numbers using the number row. Demonstrate the use of a graphic program to draw • images e.g. Ghana flag • objects e.g. fruits, animal • shapes e.g. rectangle, house Assist pupils to type numbers using the number row Pupils to draw and colour themes and events that they know about. Pupils to type 1 – 100 using WordPad SECTION TWO OPENING OF APPLICATION AND TYPING SKILLS General Objective: The pupil will: 1. be able to turn on the computer and open Application using the start menu 2. to type short passages in WordPad UNIT SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES CONTENT TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES EVALUATION UNIT 1 OPENING APPLICATION USING START MENU UNIT 2 FAIR COPYING The pupil will be able to: 2.1.1 turn on the computer 2.1.2 open Application using the Start Menu button 2.2.1 type short passages using Text Editor or WordPad Turning on the computer: • System Unit before the Monitor Opening Applications using the Start Menu button Typing short passages using Text Editor or WordPad Demonstrate the procedure for turning on the computer: 1. turn on System Unit 2. turn on the Monitor Pupils to practise how to turn on the computer: Guide pupils to open Applications using the Start Menu button e.g. WordPad, Paint, Encarta Assist pupils to open any Text Editor or Word Pad and type short passages SECTION THREE INTRODUCTION TO BASIC PARTS OF THE COMPUTER HARDWARE General Objective: The pupil will: 1. recognise of the basic parts and functions of the computer hardware 2. improve on keyboarding skills UNIT SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES CONTENT TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES EVALUATION UNIT 1 BASIC PARTS OF THE COMPUTER HARDWARE UNIT 2 SUSTAINED COPYING The pupil will be able to: 3.1.1 identify the basic parts and functions of the computer hardware 3.2.1 type using the appropriate keys of the keyboard 3.2.2 type a longer passages applying the typing skills acquired The basic parts of the computer hardware : Monitor, System Unit, Keyboard, Mouse Functions of the basic parts of the computer hardware • System Unit – performs the main task of the computer • Monitor – shows what is happening in the System Unit like the TV • Keyboard – used for typing • Mouse – used for pointing to things on the Monitor • Ports and connectors Using the appropriate keys of the keyboard to type Typing longer passages applying the typing skills acquired . Assist pupils to identify the basic parts of computer hardware. Discuss with pupils the basic functions of the computer hardware. Students practise typing using the appropriate keys and fingers Assign pupils to type longer passages applying all the skills ( lower, bottom qwerty number rows and lower and upper case characters) Pupils to label parts of a computer from a picture to be provided by teacher and state their functions Pupils to type a longer passage using WordPad. PRIMARY FIVE SECTION ONE CREATING AND SAVING DOCUMENT General Objective The pupil will: 1. acquire skills in creating and saving document on the desktop 2. improve upon typing skills UNIT SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES CONTENT TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES EVALUATION UNIT 1 INTRODUCTION TO THE DESKTOP SCREEN UNIT 2 CREATING AND SAVING NEW DOCUMENT The pupil will be able to: 1.1.1 identify the features on the desktop screen and state their importance 1.2.1 open and type passage (s) using Text Editor or WordPad 1.2.2 save documents with a name on the desktop ‘Save As’ command Features on the desktop screen • icons • start button , • clock Importance of the features on the desktop screen • Icon – used to open programmes, folder and files • Start Menu button – used to open programmes and view all programmes installed • Clock – shows time and date Opening and typing of passage(s) using Text Editor or WordPad Saving documents on the desktop using the ‘Save As’ command Assist pupils to identify features and discuss their importance e.g. icons, start menu, clock Assist pupils to open Text Editor or WordPad Give pupils passage(s) to type using Text Editor or WordPad Assist pupils to name and save documents on the desktop using the ‘Save As’ command e.g. - click file - click Save As - select desktop - type file name - click save Discuss with pupils the importance of naming files e.g. for storage and easy retrieval Pupils to type passage(s) and save it on the desktop. UNIT SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES CONTENT TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES EVALUATION UNIT 3 SAVING FILE IN PAINT APPLICATION UNIT 4 BASIC TYPING DEVELOPMENT The pupil will be able to: 1.3.1 open Paint Application and draw objects using the drawing tools. 1.3.2 save a file with a name on the desktop 1.4.1 use Typing Software (e.g. Typing Tutor, Mavis Beacon) to improve their fundamental skills in typing. Opening Paint Application Drawing objects using Paint Application tools: circle, ellipse, square Saving a file with a name on the desktop Practicing typing using software drills (e.g. Typing Tutor, Mavis Beacon) in the home keys Assist pupils to open Paint Application and use the drawing tools to draw objects Guide pupils to apply the skills in naming and saving files to save their work on the desktop Guide pupils to open a typing software e.g. Typing Tutor, Mavis Beacon and practice typing the home keys NOTE: Pupils to do a lot of practice to acquire more skills in typing SECTION TWO TYPING SPEED DEVELOPMENT AND RE-NAMING OF FILE General Objective The pupil will: 1. acquire speed in typing 2. acquire skills in, and recognise the importance of re-saving file UNIT SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES CONTENT TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES EVALUATION UNIT 1 TYPING SPEED DEVELOPMENT (15 -20 WORDS PM) UNIT 2 RE-SAVING FILE The pupil will be able to: 2.1.1 type with speed 2.2.1 open an existing file on the desktop 2.2.2 type short sentences to an existing file 2.2.3 re-saving file using the ‘Save’ Improving speed in typing using typing software: e.g. Typing Tutor or Mavis Beacon Typing with speed i.e. 15 – 20 words per minute Opening an existing file on the desktop Typing of sentences to an existing file. Re-saving of file using the ‘Save As’ command in the file menu . Pupils to use typing software to type. Pupils to check their speed with the help of the typing software used NOTE: Emphasis should be on speed not accuracy. Pupils practise opening file on the desktop Pupils add a paragraph to an existing file. Pupils to re-save using the ‘Save As command Discuss the difference between ‘Save’ and ‘Save As’ commands SECTION THREE CREATION OF FOLDERS AND TYPING SPEED DEVELOPMENT General Objective: The pupil will: 1. acquire basic skills in folder creation 2. improve upon typing speed UNIT SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES CONTENT TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES EVALUATION UNIT 1 CREATING OF FOLDERS UNIT 2 TYPING SPEED DEVELOPMENT (20 -25 WORDS PM) The pupil will be able to: 3.1.1 create and name folders on the desktop 3.1.2 open folders applying skills in double-clicking 3.2.1 type with speed Creating and naming folders on the desktop Opening of folders applying skills in double-clicking Improving speed in typing using a typing software: e.g. Typing Tutor or Mavis Beacon Typing with speed i.e. 20 – 25 words per minute Assist pupils to create and name folders on the desktop Let pupils apply double clicking skills to open their folders. Pupils to use typing software to type with speed and accuracy. Pupils to check their speed with the help of the typing software used NOTE: Teacher assist pupils to check their speed on the software used. Pupils to create folders on the desktop. Exercise: Pupils to type 20 – 25 words per minute for 5 minutes PRIMARY SIX SECTION ONE BASIC TEXT FORMATTING General Objective: The pupil will : 1. acquire skills in changing font, font size and style 2. improve upon typing speed UNIT SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES CONTENT TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES EVALUATION UNIT 1 CHANGING FONT, FONT SIZE, AND STYLE UNIT 2 TYPING SPEED DEVELOPMENT (20 – 30 WORD PM) The pupil will be able to: 1.1.1 change font, font size and style using the format menu in Text Editor or WordPad 1.2.1 type with speed Changing font, font size and style using the format menu in Text Editor or WordPad • select/highlight text by applying the mouse skills • click format on the menu • click font • select a number under Size in the font dialog box • click OK • remove highlighting Improving speed in typing using a typing software: e.g. Typing Tutor or Mavis Beacon Typing with speed i.e. 25 – 30 words per minute Give pupils a passage to type and change the font, font size and font style using the format menu NOTE: Assist pupils change the font, font size and font style before closing the dialogue box. Pupils to use typing software to type with speed. Pupils to check their speed with the help of the typing software used Exercise: Pupils to type 25 – 30 words per minute for 5 minutes. SECTION TWO INTRODUCTION TO INTERNET AND TYPING SPEED DEVELOPMENT General Objective: The pupil will: 1. acquire basic skills in Internet Application 2. improve upon typing speed UNIT SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES CONTENT TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES EVALUATION UNIT 1 INTRODUCTION TO INTERNET UNIT 2 TYPING SPEED DEVELOPMENT The pupil will be able to: 1.1.1 explain the concept of Internet 1.1.2 state the importance of Internet 1.1.3 explore a website to get information from other countries 1.2.1 type with speed Concept of Internet • Internet is an International Network that links global communities In the use of the Internet: • There are no borders • There are no Police personnel • There are bad people who want to take advantage of others e.g. (419) The importance of Internet • source of free information. • access to free educational materials e.g. books, lesson plans and notes, educational games • easy and free communication Exploring a website for information Improving speed in typing using a typing software: e.g. Typing Tutor or Mavis Beacon Typing with speed i.e. 30 – 35 words per minute Pupils brainstorm and discuss the concept of Internet Pupils in groups, discuss and present the importance of Internet Pupils to explore a website for information Pupils to use typing software to type with speed Pupils to check their speed with the help of the typing software used Pupils answer questions from given websites SECTION THREE TYPING AND MOUSE SKILLS General Objective: The pupil will: 1. acquire speed and accuracy in typing 2. acquire skills in re-naming files and folders using the right mouse click 3. acquire skills in printing documents UNIT SPECIFIC OBJECTIVES CONTENT TEACHING AND LEARNING ACTIVITIES EVALUATION UNIT 1 TYPING SPEED DEVELOPMENT (25 – 30 WORDS PM) UNIT 2 THE USE OF THE RIGHT MOUSE CLICK UNIT 3 PRINTING OF DOCUMENT The pupil will be able to: 3.1.1 type with speed 3.2.1 use the right mouse click to re- name files and folders 3.3.1 print a document using the print icon Improving speed using a typing software: e.g. Typing Tutor or Mavis Beacon Typing with speed i.e. 25 – 30 words per minute Using right mouse click to rename files and folders on the desktop: - select file or folder - click the right button of the mouse - click rename - type new file name - press the enter key Printing of document using the print icon Pupils to use typing software to type to improve upon their speed. Pupils to check their speed with the help of the typing software used Assist pupils to rename files and folders on the desktop using the right mouse click Pupils type letters and print using the print icon Pupils to type and print letters for assessment.

P90X Blog-Day Six ... DASHING THROUGH MY DAY ... "Are you okay?" "You need to sit down and rest." "I'm worried about you." I am hearing these comments more and more. Know why? Because I am literally DASHING THROUGH MY DAY! Where is all this boundless energy coming from? Well, I bet you can see where I'm going with this. Let me tell you what a typical day used to be like for me. Upon waking, I would continue to lie in bed like a big slug, unwilling (both physically & mentally) to face the day ahead. Drag myself up, make coffee - instant - because I didn't have the will or the energy or the patience to set up the coffee maker and wait. Put on my fuzzy robe, curl up in my fuzzy chair, blink my fuzzy eyes stupidly over my coffee, and pray that soon my fuzzy brain would wake up. And it would take at least an hour for me to come the point that I could have a coherent thought. Don't try to talk to me ...talk to the hand! EVERY morning was so hard to face and it took SUCH a long time for me to be able to face it. I LOVED Saturdays, not for the right reasons, though. I loved Saturday because it was the one day where I could just lay there, sleep late, and not have to face it. I have been doing some type of BB exercise program for the past seven months. At 225.5 lbs, I began doing Power 90, then Power 90 Master Series, and now P90X. I am now at 168 lbs. With P90X, I have also begun taking Activit, Shakeology, and Results & Recovery drink - I've been on them for one week. In the past, I have taken so-called miracle supplements that NEVER lived up to their name. Time wasted, money down the drain. By the end of this week, my mornings have UTTERLY changed. Today, SATURDAY, no less ... I woke up before my alarm went off. My brain already buzzing with great big Saturday plans. Coffee? Didn't need it. Put my robe on and walked the dog (my husband always walks the dog, 'cause I'm still in bed). I am actually looking forward to attacking my P90x workout in just a few minutes. I am quite literally ready to bound up and bring it! I find myself looking forward to this day with an incredible sense of anticipation. instead of wasting it in bed or in my fuzzy chair, I am sitting here mulling over this glorious thought ... "How much fun can I pack into this one day?" With all this incredible new energy ... the possibilities are mind-boggling!

Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy. Desiderata(a list of things desirable in life) Restful sabbath to all.xo

My Saturday plans: rest, read & write and hopefully finish paper tonight, visit friend at hospital (with surprise gifts), exercise at some point...I think that's it until my hubby comes home

GO placidly amid the noise and remember what peace there is in silence. AS far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons . SPEAK you truth quietly and clearly , and listen to others , even the dull and ignorant , they to have their story. Avoid loud and aggresive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit . If you compare yourself to others you may become vain and BITTER, for ALWAYS there WILL be GREATER and LESSER persons than yourself ,Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your career however HUMBLE . IT is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time , Exercise caution in your business affairs , for the WORLD is FULL of TRICKERY, but let this NOT BLIND you to what Virtue there is ,Many persons strive for high ideals , and every where life is full of HEROISM , back soon

Zero Defects Mentality A ‘zero defects mentality’ is a bad thing in the military. “Demanding such a rigid standard produces timid leaders afraid to make tough decisions in crisis, unwilling to take the risks necessary for success in military operations,” Perry said. “This zero defects mindset creates conditions that will lead inevitably to failure ….”[1] A Military Tradition William G. Pagonis, director of Logistics during the Gulf War of 1991, wrote about the time he led his small company into crossfire to rescue stranded soldiers, against the orders of his commander: “…following a time-honored tradition in the military, I developed ‘radio trouble’ – that is, I turned the communications gear off…” and led a volunteer team to the rescue.[2] William McKnight, who created the 3M culture of innovation, once said “Those to whom we delegate authority and responsibility, if they are good people, are going to want to do their jobs in their own way. Mistakes will be made. But if a person is essentially right, the mistakes he or she makes are not as serious in the long run as the mistakes management will make if it undertakes to tell people exactly how they must do their jobs.” [3] Good organizations understand that in a dynamic environment, the safest course is to develop intelligent, courageous people who understand that they are expected to exercise their own initiative. Most organizations would like to think that they empower people, but their behavior would suggest otherwise. What Would You Do? Ponder this: What is your organization’s instinctive reaction when things go wrong? Reorganize. Develop a better plan. Send in a swat team to improve the processes. Work with the front line people to find out what they think is wrong and how it can be fixed. Collin Powell has said: “Organization doesn’t really accomplish anything. Plans don’t accomplish anything, either. Theories of management don’t much matter. Endeavors succeed or fail because of the people involved.”[4] So you can imagine what his choice would be. The Paradox: Superior Performance Comes From Low Control Organizations which tolerate mistakes and overlook disobedience build an organizational culture in which everyone knows that the best way to tackle the really tough problems is through the people who are closest to them. They also build a cadre of front line workers who are not afraid to think and act on their own. Such organizations are the envy of their industries, even as their competitors try to reorganize, plan and improve processes in an attempt to compete. __________________

Boko Haram: Rep cautions media against sensationalism Written by Doyin Adebusuyi, Ado-Ekiti Saturday, 17 November 2012 05:00 Rep Opeyemi Bamidele representing Ado/Irepodun/Ifelodun federal constituency in the Lower Chamber of the National Assembly, has cautioned the media to avoid undue sensationalism and misleading headlines when reporting the activities of terrorist groups in the country. The lawmaker also said that the federal government should go beyond negotiating with the dreaded Boko Haram sect by finding a permanent solution to poverty and unemployment ravaging the nation. He said government plans to dialogue with the militant group would amount to futility unless the two issues were adequately addressed. Hon Bamidele, in a lecture entitled “Nigerian Media and the Emerging Trends of Terrorism” he delivered yesterday in Ado-Ekiti, Ekiti state as part of activities to mark the Press Week of the Nigeria Union of Journalists, Ekiti Council, said even though journalists had a constitutional duty to report events in the country but that they should exercise restraint in order not to stunt the growth of the nation’s fragile democracy. The lawmaker also advocated adequate funding of the security agencies and stop unhealthy rivalry among them, saying this would help to further reinforce the level of security in the land.

DESIDERATA by Max Ehrmann Go placidly amid the noise and the haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible, without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even to the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons; they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter, for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs, for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals, and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love, for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment, it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace in your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy.

A Cutting ability Maximum Accurate; efficient; deep A Health Maximum Resistant to disease and stress A Gameness Maximum Tries to destroy the opponent 100% of the time A Fighting Style Maximum Intelligent, adaptive, head back B Strength High Capable of powerful blows B Speed High Able to overwhelm/avoid opponent B Endurance High Ability to give and take for long periods of time B Body size/type/conformation High Avg 5 lb/upright/football B Station High High B Disposition High Gentle B Winning percentage High 70% C Bone size Medium Medium C Spur Alignment Medium Low on shank/aligns with prop toe C Eye color Medium Red or Orange C Plumage condition Medium Flexible, long feathers D Leg color Low Characteristic of the breed D Comb type Low Characteristic of the breed D Plumage Color Low Characteristic of the breed Step 2: Identifying and Obtaining Broodfowl Finding and obtaining the broodfowl that will meet or exceed expectations is essential to success as a breeder. The fowl the breeder starts his program with are the foundation of the breeding program. A breeder should take his time before rushing out and buying fowl, because finding the good ones is not easy. There are several approaches that can be used, although some methods work better than others. Identifying a desirable bloodline is best determined by their offspring’s performance in the pit. Fight reports, recommendations from friends, and attending derbies are all ways to get an idea of how they have performed for other cockers. The fowl should be very strong in the group A and B traits that were identified when planning the goals of the breeding program, and adequate or better in as many of the group C traits as possible. The closer to the goal we are at the beginning, the more quickly it can be reached. A breeder must be completely honest in his evaluation of the merits and demerits of the prospective bloodlines. The purchasing of broodfowl is a lot like getting married… make sure you can live with what you bring home. If a breeder sees something he doesn’t like, and breeds these fowl, chances are that this trait will likely be passed into the future generations of his fowl. The most certain way of obtaining good fowl is through friendship. Often a good friend is willing to share his best, compete in a combined entry in derbies, and to swap broodfowl in the future as needed. The advantage of getting fowl through friends is that the breeder has seen the birds compete and knows their strengths and weaknesses and can plan the breeding program accordingly. Another method is to attend derbies and watch for breeders that show fowl that consistently display the qualities the buyer is looking for. The key is to attend derbies at the same or better level of competition than the level at which the buyer plans to compete in the future (average cocks look good against mediocre competition, but look flat-footed and slow in fast company). Once the sights have been set on a particular bloodline, it would help the buyer to become friends with the breeder. The buyer should inquire how the cocks are bred, how long he has had the bloodline, the origin of the bloodline, and the breeder’s opinion on some important traits and qualities. The breeder may or may not be interested in selling any broodfowl. If not, the buyer may be able to purchase battlefowl instead, test the battlecrosses, and if they pass the test, continue to try to get some broodstock. A buyer should always be respectful and persistent. If the buyer can find out where this successful breeder obtained his fowl, he may be able to get similar fowl from the same source. Another method is purchasing through the magazines or from the internet. This is definitely the method with the highest rate of failure. There are excellent, legitimate breeders that advertise and those who are not; it is very hard from an advertisement or website to determine who will ship you the type of fowl the buyer wants. If hecan travel to the breeder’s farm, it would improve the chances of getting the good ones, but this, of course, is not a foolproof method. Step 3. Selecting Superior Individuals Once the bloodline has been identified and the breeder has agreed to sell some of his fowl, the selection of specific individuals is required. If the buyer order chickens though an advertisement, he must clearly specify his requirements to the breeder and ask if he has fowl that will meet the criteria (e.g., station, body type, fighting style). Once again, visiting the breeder at his farm is a significant advantage when selecting brood or battlefowl. There are often subtle differences between individuals within the same bloodline. For example, if the buyer has a choice between two superb physical specimens with one having a better disposition, it will assist the breeding program to start with the calmer, gentler bird. The goals for the breeding program should be consulted during the selection process. Every cock and hen should be evaluated with respect to the goals. Selected individuals must be extremely healthy, active and in good flesh. They should be balanced, proportional and represent the characteristics of the bloodline. Both cocks and hens should be relatively calm and good natured. Although mature stags and pullets from winning families are perfectly acceptable for breeding, I prefer fowl that are 2 to 5 years of age so that I have had a chance to test them and their immediate family before introducing them into the breeding program. Waiting until cocks and hens are mature also helps identify any desirable or undesirable traits that may not be readily apparent in stags and pullets (e.g., spraddle legs, nervous personality, late developing fighting ability). I consider what we do as cockers very similar to what happens in nature, where every individual is competing for survival each and every day. Individuals that can’t compete or adapt do not survive, thus their DNA does not get passed to the next generation. Consider how efficiently birds of prey hunt, pursue and capture their quarry. It stands to reason that the best hunters, those that can adapt to different prey, different habitats, adverse weather conditions and can win territorial disputes will have the greatest reproductive success, thus passing the good genes on the next generation. Likewise, cockers should try to select individuals that have proven their worth in the pit and/or whose brothers, offspring, immediate family have proven themselves in the pit. Only through competition can we select individuals that have the mental and physical attributes to get the job done. These individuals should be the cornerstones of our breeding programs. Step 4. Choosing the Right Breeding Strategies Much has been written about breeding strategies and techniques that have been used successfully to produce ace cocks. Inbreeding, linebreeding, outcrossing, and crossbreeding are breeding strategies that all have their place in the overall breeding program. These methods, when used appropriately, offer the breeder the best chance to maintain bloodlines and to produce consistently competitive battlefowl. The breeder should keep in mind that the foundation of any breeding method is to breed physically and mentally sound cocks and hens that come from winning families. Before I discuss breeding methods, a quick discussion of basic genetics is needed. Genetics is a very complex subject. The inheritance and expression of DNA is subject to several known and unknown mechanisms of action, of which college textbooks cover in great detail. Complex genetic interactions, the inheritance of sex-linked traits, and traits influenced by multiple genes are certainly relevant to gamefowl breeding but are beyond the scope of this article. Genes are made up of pieces of DNA, which carries the information about a particular trait. The genotype is the sum of all genes present on the chromosomes. The phenotype is the appearance of the traits, a visual expression of the genotype. Genes almost always occur in pairs. This means that each cock or hen has two copies of any given gene for a specific trait, one derived from the father and one from the mother. A bird that has two different genes for a specific trait is said to be heterozygous for that trait. A bird that has the same two genes for a given trait is homozygous for that trait. Some genes and their corresponding traits are dominant or incompletely dominant and others are recessive. A cock that is heterozygous for a particular trait (has one dominant gene and one recessive gene) will look the same as, or similar to (incomplete dominance), to one that is homozygous dominant (has two of the same dominant genes) for that trait. Recessive genes are hidden when paired with a dominant gene. When recessive genes are in a homozygous state (both are identical), they are expressed in the phenotype. An example of this with white and yellow leg color. The gene for white legs is dominant to the gene for yellow legs, meaning a white legged cock or hen could have one gene for white legs (W)and one gene for yellow legs (y), or two genes for white legs (WW). If two heterozygous white legged fowl were bred together (Wy x Wy), the offspring would be approximately 75% white legged [WW or Wy] and 25 % yellow legged [yy] because there is an equal probability that the parent will pass the white legged or yellow legged gene to the offspring. In this case, the ratio of genes in the offspring would be 1 WW: 2 Wy : 1 yy. Another way to say this is that 75% of the chicks would carry the dominant gene for white legs and 25% would receive a recessive yellow legged gene fromeach parent. In this case where the recessive yellow legged gene is in a homozygous state, it is expressed in the phenotype as yellow legs. Inbreeding is the breeding of two individuals who are related to each other. Typically all fowl from the same family of fowl are related to some degree, thus inbreeding is practiced whenever we maintain a “pure” line. Linebreeding is a form of inbreeding where particularly superior individuals are used in several generations, which tends to emphasize the genetic influence of the individual in the family. Inbreeding increases the probability that the two copies of any given gene for a particular trait will be identical, or homozygous for that gene. If the cock and hen are related, there is a chance that the two genes in the offspring are both identical copies contributed by the common ancestor. Close inbreeding uncovers hidden, often undesirable homozygous recessive genes that are carried by both parent fowl. Inbreeding depression is a term used to describe the reduction in performance caused by the expression of these recessive genes in inbred individuals. Some cockers will use this as a tool to test a new bloodline by fighting year old stags from a brother/sister mating, since this intensive form of inbreeding will quickly bring undesirable qualities to the surface such as lack of gameness. Since mating related and phenotypically-identical individuals also tends to increase the number of homozygous dominant genes in the progeny, fowl become more uniform in those traits emphasized in the breeding program. Although true with any breeding system, additional care must be taken with intensive inbreeding (breeding closely related, inbred individuals). Only the very best physical specimens should be retained for maintaining the bloodline and crossing with other bloodlines. Producing these exceptional individuals requires hatching and raising a lot of chicks to increase the probability of the right genetic combination occurring in the offspring. Increasing homozygous genes in a family through inbreeding increases the probability of producing “prepotent” individuals. Prepotency is the ability of an individual to pass their desirable dominant genes to their offspring. For this reason, prepotent individuals are extremely valuable in linebreeding systems to improve and maintain bloodlines. Although inbreeding will increase the probability of producing prepotency, in my own experience an ace crossbred battlecock was prepotent. Nearly all of his stags were virtually identical to the cock, including fighting style, body shape and station, leg color, a plumage color. They even sounded the same as they all had his distinctive voice. Outcrossing is the mating of individuals within the same bloodline but having no close ancestral relationships. For example, a trio of Clarets was single mated producing a dozen stags from each hen. When the stags matured into cocks, they were fought and the best multiple time winners were selected for breeding purposes. The original hens were bred to their best sons, and the original cock was used once in the third year in each family. For the next 7 years, the two lines were kept separate, and the original hen and her exceptional son were bred several times in the following generations to increase their genetic contribution to each family. After 10 years, the lines were bred together, resulting in an outcross. The offspring from this mating were tested and the best individuals were bred back to the separate lines. This method of breeding, along with careful selection and progeny testing, can be used to maintain pure families without introducing outside blood. Using linebred, prepotent individuals is highly desirable when outcrossing. Crossbreeding occurs when two unrelated fowl are mated. Crossbred individuals have many more heterozygous dominant genes present in their genotype. In a heterozygous genotype, dominant genes mask the influence of undesirable or desirable recessive genes. Many of the most successful battlecrosses are produced from crossing two or more unrelated, inbred families of fowl. In fact, the primary reason for maintaining inbred families of fowl is to produce individuals that can be used in crossbreeding systems. This is because crossing two unrelated, inbred bloodlines often results in hybrid vigor in the offspring. Hybrid vigor, or ‘heterosis,’ is the term used when a crossbred individual outperforms the parent fowl. Crossbreeding is widely used in commercial animal production and has proven successful. Hybrid animals and plants tend to grow faster, be more productive and more resistant to stress and disease. Once again, it must be emphasized that the greatest degree of heterosis is seen when inbred, prepotent individuals are used as the parent fowl. So how does one select the breeds to cross? Some gamefowl breeders advocate crossing fowl that complement each other, such as breeding a power cock over speed hens, in hopes of producing the ultimate combination of desirable qualities. Others advocate breeding fowl that are similar in type and action, contending that the resulting offspring are more likely to be consistent and predictable. In my opinion, both schools of thought are likely correct because both have proven to be successful. For example, the popular cross of various Hatch and Roundhead families clearly indicate the theory of complementary families is valid. Highly competitive crosses made up of similar families like the Kelso and Albany fowl prove that crossing families that have similar attributes is also effective. The success and failure of any cross is dependent upon the compatibility of the genes and the only way of knowing if the fowl will “nick” is to breed them together and test their progeny. Crossbred fowl can be used in the breeding program. Many breeders will use superior crosses to add new blood into one or both of the parent lines, especially if the parent lines are intensively inbred and showing signs of inbreeding depression. After the initial introduction, the new blood is bred out in succeeding generations. The introduced family should be of unquestioned quality, as the introduction of inferior genes into an inbred family is an irreversible process. Recently I was given a trio of Regular Greys from a great friend. The fowl have an excellent winning percentage in the gaff and fight a smart style that would be effective in any weapon. They are deep game, deadly cutters, have great bodies and are good natured. Their major shortcoming is that the old cock and his two daughters are medium stationed. Since my goal is to produce high stationed cocks, I have developed a plan to increase their station. Since all three of the adult fowl are medium stationed, I am not hopeful that any of the stags and pullets out of this trio will be high stationed. However, there is a possibility that a recessive gene for high station is being masked, so I am breeding them pure to see if the recessive genes will pair up and produce some high stationed offspring. As an insurance policy, I bred a high station Claret broodstag out of a solid Claret bloodline from the same breeder to one of the Grey hens this year. From the stags and pullets I raise from this mating, I will keep the best overall individuals with the highest station to breed back to Greys next season. Since the pullets of any mating often more closely resemble the broodcock, I expect several of the ½ Grey ½ Claret pullets from this mating to be high stationed like the Claret stag. Like wise, the best performing high stationed ¾ Grey and ¼ Claret cocks (which should be carrying the genes for high station from the ½ and ½ pullets) will be bred over the pure Grey hens. If the pure Greys I’m breeding this year produce any high stationed stags or pullets, they will also be bred to the high stationed Grey/Claret crosses and back to the parent fowl. The goal is to eventually breed the Claret contribution down to a 1/16 or 1/32, while retaining the genes for higher station. Although breeding crossbred fowl to each other is usually unsuccessful, some two-way crosses nick with a third bloodline. Some of the best fowl I have ever raised were out of a ½ Butcher ½ Lacy Roundhead cock and a Hatch hen. If all three of the original parent fowl are from inbred families, the 3-way crosses can be very consistent in appearance and style. When breeding crosses to crosses, a few excellent individuals may be produced but the pairings of the thousands of possible genetic combinations tends to produce predominantly average or mediocre individuals. An exception to the rule might be a four-way cross produced by mating a two-way cross cock out of two unrelated inbred families (e.g., Hatch and Kelso) to a two-way cross hen out of two unrelated inbred families (e.g., Butcher and Roundhead). Some animal experiments have indicated an additional boost of hybrid vigor is possible from the resulting four-way cross. This is something you may want to try if you have four inbred families. All modern breeders acknowledge that the fowl used to develop today’s bloodlines were crosses. However, the successful bloodlines the great breeders in the past developed from these crosses were refined over many years through selection of superior individuals, inbreeding, testing and extensive culling. No discussion of breeding is complete without addressing single mating, flock mating and yard breeding. The most haphazard and careless way to breed could be called ‘yard breeding.’ This is when the cocker lets his hens runs loose on the yard with cocks on strings. Yard breeding will result in chicks out of several different cocks and hens, as hens will often lay in the same nest, and the breeder will have no idea which hen and cock produced the dunghill or what combination produced the ace. Likewise, another questionable method is flock mating, when one cock is bred simultaneously to several hens of different breeds. The breeder may get some good chickens, but without trapnesting, it is impossible to know what hen laid the golden eggs. A somewhat better flock mating method is to breed a cock to full sisters. However, there are some hens that are much superior producers than their sisters, and with this system it is impossible to know which hens are the best. I recommend for the serious breeder of inbred families, single mating a cock with individually penned hens. In this way, the best individuals are rapidly identified. Their offspring can be single mated and the best retained from those future generations. Once the best hens are identified, they can be used in a flock mating system to produce battlecocks. Single mating can be a lot of work even if the breeder has just a few cocks and hens. It requires moving the cock every 1-3 days to each hen pen. This year I used a chain link dog kennel 12’ wide and 16’ long to single mate three hens. I built a tee-pee shelter in three corners with a roost and nest box in each one, and tied the hens out on tie-cords. I covered the pen with 2” poultry netting and turned the cock loose among the hens. The hens laid in their individual nests and I didn’t have to move the cock, as he visited each hen several times per day. Based on my hatching rate, he did a fine job, and I know exactly what hen and cock produced each chick. In summary, consider these key points: Inbreeding is a long-term breeding strategy. It is most useful as a way to strengthen and preserve valuable genetic information in a bloodline. Individuals from these inbred bloodlines are valuable for producing hybrid battle crosses. Inbreeding increases the number of homozygous genes. Remember that this applies to desirable and undesirable genes equally. If inbred fowl are mated and the progeny display undesirable traits, both parents and offspring should be removed from the breeding program because the parents are carriers for the recessive, undesirable gene expressed in the offspring. These individuals could be retained for crossing. Linebreeding is a form of inbreeding in which superior individuals are used multiple times in several generations in the development and maintenance of a bloodline. Linebreeding increases the probability that desirable genes from the superior individuals are passed on to the subsequent generations. Care must be taken when linebreeding apparently superior fowl to other closely related individuals because of the potential for uncovering and passing on undesirable genes. Outcrossing is the mating of unrelated individuals within a bloodline. It is a valuable strategy to maintain a bloodline with minimal effects from inbreeding depression. This strategy requires the maintenance of two or more families within a bloodline. Crossbreeding is the mating of unrelated individuals from two or more separate bloodlines. When compatible bloodlines are used, crossbreeding often results in hybrid vigor, which occurs when the offspring exceeds the performance of the parent fowl. Step 5. Evaluating the Progeny The ultimate measure of success of any breeding program is the quality of the resulting offspring. The relative success of the matings is determined by the ability of the offspring to meet the criteria defined in the goals of the breeding program in Step 1. When breeding inbred families to produce broodfowl, it is only possible to initially evaluate their outward appearance, body structure, health and disposition; the ultimate test for the worth of broodfowl is their ability to produce winners and future generations of top quality broodfowl. This can make mistakes very costly considering the time and money required to determine the quality of their offspring. Competition in the pit tests the offspring of the broodfowl and skill of the breeder. Information learned about fighting style, speed, cutting ability and other important traits should be gathered, analyzed, and used to guide the breeding program in future breeding seasons. Only through experience and being present at the pit when his warriors are doing battle can the breeder learn the weaknesses and strengths of his fowl and make adjustments to the breeding program. It is true that superior battlecocks don’t always make superior broodcocks. However, history has proven that superior battlecocks make great broodcocks frequently enough to consider breeding a few great winners every year. I like to use great battlecocks over inbred pullets from another breed to make three-way crosses. Some of the greatest breeders of the past bought spectacular crossbred cocks at the pit and bred them into various ‘yards’ or families. They had to discard many of these yards after the offspring were tested, but some of these crossbred yards produced lines that are winning today. The level of competition is an important factor to consider when evaluating battlefowl. It is a good idea for the breeder to compete a few times each year at the highest level of competition that he can afford. In this way the breeder can get a better idea of how his fowl measure up to the big boys. Step 6. Managing Broodfowl It is often said that if two cockers were given identical bloodlines, it would take just a few generations for the descendents of the original parent fowl to look and act completely different. Most of this phenomenon may be related to a different emphasis on specific traits when selecting broodfowl, and it is also related to differing environments (soil, water, climate, feed). However, another significant effect is due to management. For example, one management technique is to supply artificial lighting to stimulate early egg production. Early eggs mean earlier chicks, which tends to produce larger adult fowl than those hatched in late spring. This simple management technique can have a significant impact on body size. Another example is the effect of the health of the broodfowl upon the health of the offspring. Since health is one of the most important traits we select for, we must manage the broodfowl to maximize health. The following generic recommendations should be considered to optimize the productivity and performance of the broodfowl. Specific management techniques should be employed in certain situations (e.g., disease; predators; environmental conditions, etc.). 1. Employ a regular de-worming and de-lousing program. 2. Control the body weight of the broodfowl through diet and exercise. Fat broodcocks tend to produce a lower percentage hatch. Likewise, fat hens lay fewer eggs. Trim the feathers around the vent of each cock and hen to maximize the mating efficiency. 3. Provide enough pen space to minimize stress from overcrowding. In my experience, the minimum floorspace for a single mating broodpen (one cock and hen) is 4’ x 5’ or 20 square feet. 4. Provide a round roost pole, approximately 2.5 inches in diameter. In flock mating system, adequate roost space is an important detail, as the dominant hens will force the submissive hens off the roost until it is nearly dark. This is stressful on all of the fowl. 5. Provide clean, fresh and dry bedding material in the pen. 6. Provide a nest that is big enough so the hen can turn around freely and is protected from the weather. Use clean straw, shavings, or other material in the nest. In a flock mating system, use one nest per 3 hens if the eggs are picked up daily. 7. When using an incubator or a surrogate mother to hatch the eggs, eggs should be picked up at least once per day, kept clean and stored between 55 and 60 degrees Fahrenheit. 8. Discard undersized, oversized and odd-shaped eggs. 9. Wash dirty eggs soon after gathering. Use hot water and soap or plain hot water and dip in a diluted bleach solution. 10. Feed a breeder pellet if available. The breeder diet is balanced to promote optimum fertility and hatchability, as well as good egg shell quality. Laying pellets are formulated for the commercial production of eggs without consideration of the requirements of the developing embryo or newly hatched chick. 11. Provide oyster shells free-choice for strong eggshells. 12. Feed fruit and vegetables to penned fowl. 13. Always provide clean fresh water and use a high quality vitamin/electrolyte product 1-3 days per week or more often during extreme heat. 14. During the off-season when fowl are not breeding, allow them access to grass. 15. Practice biosecurity. Keep visitors to a minimum, and require shoe disinfection for those who do visit. 16. Minimize the introduction of new fowl onto the premises. New fowl are potential disease carriers. Isolate new fowl for at least two weeks before introducing them into your breeding program. Step 7. Record Keeping To keep track of the specific individuals and matings used in the breeding program, it is necessary to keep accurate records. This will help when the breeder needs to go back and figure out exactly how specific fowl were bred or to determine the degree of relationship between certain individuals within a family or bloodline. Records should identify the individuals used in the brood pen, including their bloodline, toe mark and wingband number. The toemark and wingband numbers for the chicks produced from this mating also needs recording in the record book. I also record the number of eggs set, chicks hatched, and date hatched. During the growing period, I also record mortality caused from predators, disease, culling or other reasons, and note the broodpen number. If I use medication or vaccinate, I record what, when, and why it was used and the results. Summary: Most cockers probably breed a family of fowl 5 or 6 years before they lose the ‘pure’ individuals and can’t maintain it or the fowl do not measure up to their standards and are discarded. Probably most gamefowl families out there don’t measure up to the requirements of a serious, top-level competitor. However, numerous stories exist of cockers discarding or losing families of fowl only to realize later that they were, in fact, a great bloodline. I have had this experience and I’ll bet most cockers with some breeding experience have also had this unpleasant realization. Recognizing ‘diamonds in the rough’ is a challenge. If the breeder is starting with deep game cocks, he’ll have a great foundation and with some luck and intelligent breeding decisions, he’ll have something to be proud of. A breeder has to have patience and stick with it. He must breed as many as he can, cull them hard, keep accurate and detailed records, and spend as much time as possible just observing the fowl. Over time, some cockers even develop a ‘gut feel’ for mating individuals or crossing specific bloodlines. Regardless if you become a legendary breeder or stay down to earth on the backyard level, the point is to enjoy the process of creating extremely competitive, awe-inspiring, and absolutely beautiful feathered warriors.

Contents of the IFRS for SMEs Section Preface 1 Small and Medium-sized Entities 2 Concepts and Pervasive Principles 3 Financial Statement Presentation 4 Statement of Financial Position 5 Statement of Comprehensive Income and Income Statement 6 Statement of Changes in Equity and Statement of Comprehensive Income and Retained Earnings 7 Statement of Cash Flows 8 Notes to the Financial Statements 9 Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements 10 Accounting Policies, Estimates and Errors 11 Basic Financial Instruments 12 Additional Financial Instruments Issues 13 Inventories 14 Investments in Associates 15 Investments in Joint Ventures 16 Investment Property 17 Property, Plant and Equipment 18 Intangible Assets other than Goodwill 19 Business Combinations and Goodwill 20 Leases 21 Provisions and Contingencies 22 Liabilities and Equity 23 Revenue 24 Government Grants 25 Borrowing Costs 26 Share-based Payment 27 Impairment of Assets 28 Employee Benefits 29 Income Tax 30 Foreign Currency Translation 31 Hyperinflation 32 Events after the End of the Reporting Period 33 Related Party Disclosures 34 Specialised Activities 35 Transition to the IFRS for SMEs Glossary Derivation Table Separate Booklets Basis for Conclusions Illustrative Financial Statements and Presentation and Disclosure Checklist Section-by-Section Summary of the IFRS for SMEs Preface The IFRS for Small and Medium-sized Entities is organised by topic, with each topic presented in a separate section. All of the paragraphs in the standard have equal authority. The standard is appropriate for general purpose financial statements and other financial reporting of all profit-oriented entities. General purpose financial statements are directed towards the common information needs of a wide range of users, for example, shareholders, creditors, employees and the public at large. The IASB intends to issue a comprehensively reviewed standard after two year's implementation, to address issues identified and also, if appropriate, recent changes to full IFRSs. Thereafter, an omnibus proposal of amendments will be issued, if necessary, once every three years. Section 1 Small and Medium-sized Entities Defines SME as used by IASB: Small and medium-sized entities are entities that: (a) do not have public accountability, and (b) publish general purpose financial statements for external users. Examples of external users include owners who are not involved in managing the business, existing and potential creditors, and credit rating agencies. General purpose financial statements are those that present fairly financial position, operating results, and cash flows for external capital providers and others. An entity has public accountability if: (a) its debt or equity instruments are traded in a public market or it is in the process of issuing such instruments for trading in a public market (a domestic or foreign stock exchange or an over-the-counter market, including local and regional markets), or (b) it holds assets in a fiduciary capacity for a broad group of outsiders as one of its primary businesses. This is typically the case for banks, credit unions, insurance companies, securities brokers/dealers, mutual funds and investment banks. If an entity holds assets in a fiduciary capacity as an incidental part of its business, that does not make it publicly accountable. Entities that fall into this category may include public utilities, travel and real estate agents, schools, and charities. The standard does not contain a limit on the size of an entity that may use the IFRS for SMEs provided that it does not have public accountability Nor is there a restriction on its use by a public utility, not-for-profit entity, or public sector entity A subsidiary whose parent or group uses full IFRSs may use the IFRS for SMEs if the subsidiary itself does not have public accountability The standard does not require any special approval by the owners of an SME for it to be eligible to use the IFRS for SME Listed companies, no matter how small, may not use the IFRS for SMEs Q&A 2011/01 (published June 2011) states that a parent entity assesses its eligibility to use the IFRS for SMEs in its separate financial statements on the basis of its own public accountability without considering whether other group entities have, or the group as a whole has, public accountability. Section 2 Concepts and Pervasive Principles Objective of SMEs' financial statements: To provide information about financial position, performance, cash flows Also shows results of stewardship of management over resources Qualitative characteristics (understandability, relevance, materiality, reliability, substance over form, prudence, completeness, comparability, timeliness, balance between benefit and cost) Definitions: Asset: Resource with future economic benefits Liability: Present obligation arising from past events, result in outflow of resources Income: Inflows of resources that increase equity, other than owner investments Expenses: Outflows of resources that decrease equity, other than owner withdrawals Financial position: the relationship of assets and liabilities at a specific date Performance: the relationship of income and expenses during a reporting period Total comprehensive income: arithmetic difference between income and expenses Profit or loss: arithmetic difference between income and expenses other than those items of income or expense that are classified as 'other comprehensive income'. There are only 3 items of other comprehensive income (OCI) in the IFRS for SMEs: Some foreign exchange gains and losses relating to a net investment in a foreign operation (see Section 30) Some changes in fair values of hedging instruments – in a hedge of variable interest rate risk of a recognised financial instrument, foreign exchange risk or commodity price risk in a firm commitment or highly probable forecast transaction, or a net investment in a foreign operation (see Section 12) (Note that hedge accounting is optional) Some actuarial gains and losses (see Section 28) (Note that reporting actuarial gains and losses in OCI is optional) Basic recognition concept – An item that meets the definition of an asset, liability, income, or expense is recognised in the financial statements if: it is probable that future benefits associated with the item will flow to or from the entity, and the item has a cost or value that can be measured reliably Basic measurement concepts Historical cost and fair value are described Basic financial assets and liabilities are generally measured at amortised cost Other financial assets and liabilities are generally measured at fair value through profit or loss Non-financial assets are generally measured using a cost-based measure Non-financial liabilities are generally measured at settlement amount Section 2 includes pervasive recognition and measurement principles Source of guidance if a specific issue is not addressed in the IFRS for SMEs (see Section 10) Concepts of profit or loss and total comprehensive income Offsetting of assets and liabilities or of income and expenses is prohibited unless expressly required or permitted Section 3 Financial Statement Presentation Fair presentation: presumed to result if the IFRS for SMEs is followed (may be a need for supplemental disclosures) State compliance with IFRS for SMEs only if the financial statements comply in full Does include 'true and fair override' but this should be 'extremely rare' IFRS for SMEs presumes the reporting entity is a going concern SMEs shall present a complete set of financial statements at least annually At least one year comparative prior period financial statements and note data Presentation and classification of items should be consistent from one period to the next Must justify and disclose any change in presentation or classification of items in financial statements Materiality: an omission or misstatement is material if it could influence economic Complete set of financial statements: Statement of financial position Either a single statement of comprehensive income, or two statements: an income statement and a statement of comprehensive income Statement of changes in equity Statement of cash flows Notes If the only changes to equity arise from profit or loss, payment of dividends, corrections of errors, and changes in accounting policy, an entity may present a single (combined) statement of income and retained earnings instead of the separate statements of comprehensive income and of changes in equity (see Section 6) An entity may present only an income statement (no statement of comprehensive income) if it has no items of other comprehensive income (OCI) The only OCI items under the IFRS for SMEs are: Some foreign exchange gains and losses relating to a net investment in a foreign operation (see Section 30) Some changes in fair values of hedging instruments – in a hedge of variable interest rate risk of a recognised financial instrument, foreign exchange risk or commodity price risk in a firm commitment or highly probable forecast transaction, or a net investment in a foreign operation (see Section 12) Some actuarial gains and losses (see Section 28) Section 4 Statement of Financial Position May still be called 'balance sheet' Current/non-current split is not required if the entity concludes that a liquidity approach produces more relevant information Some minimum line items required. These include: Cash and equivalents Receivables Financial assets Inventories Property, plant, and equipment Investment property at fair value Intangible assets Biological assets at cost Biological assets at fair value Investment in associates Investment in joint ventures Payables Financial liabilities Current tax assets and liabilities Deferred tax assets and liabilities Provisions Non-controlling interest Equity of owners of parent And some required items may be presented in the statement or in the notes Categories of property, plant, and equipment Info about assets with binding sale agreements Categories of receivables Categories of inventories Categories of payables Employee benefit obligations Classes of equity, including OCI and reserves Details about share capital Sequencing, format, and titles are not mandated Section 5 Statement of Comprehensive Income and Income Statement One-statement or two-statement approach – either a single statement of comprehensive income, or two statements: an income statement and a statement of comprehensive income Must segregate discontinued operations Must present 'profit or loss' subtotal if the entity has any items of other comprehensive income Bottom line ('profit or loss' in the income statement and 'total comprehensive income' in the statement of comprehensive income) is before allocating those amounts to non-controlling interest and owners of the parent No item may be labelled 'extraordinary' But unusual items can be separately presented Expenses may be presented by nature (depreciation, purchases of materials, transport costs, employee benefits, etc) or by function (cost of sales, distribution costs, administrative costs, etc) either on face of the statement of comprehensive income (or income statement) or in the notes Single statement of comprehensive income: Revenue Expenses, showing separately: finance costs profit or loss from associates and jointly controlled entities tax expense discontinued operations) Profit or loss (may omit if no OCI) Items of other comprehensive income Total comprehensive income (may label Profit or Loss if no OCI) Separate statements of income and comprehensive income: Income Statement: Bottom line is profit or loss (as above) Statement of Comprehensive Income: Begins with profit or loss Shows each item of other comprehensive income Bottom line is Total Comprehensive Income Section 6 Statement of Changes in Equity and Statement of Comprehensive Income and Retained Earnings Shows all changes to equity including total comprehensive income owners' investments dividends owners' withdrawals of capital treasury share transactions Can omit the statement of changes in equity if the entity has no owner investments or withdrawals other than dividends and elects to present a combined statement of comprehensive income and retained earnings Section 7 Statement of Cash Flows Presents information about an entity's changes in cash and cash equivalents for a period Cash equivalents are short-term, highly liquid investments (expected to be converted to cash in three months) held to meet short-term cash needs rather than for investment or other purposes Cash flows are classified as operating, investing, and financing cash flows Option to use the indirect method or the direct method to present operating cash flows Interest paid and interest and dividends received may be operating, investing, or financing Dividends paid may be operating or investing Income tax cash flows are operating unless specifically identified with investing or financing activities Separate disclosure is required of some non-cash investing and financing transactions (for example, acquisition of assets by issue of debt) Reconciliation of components of cash Section 8 Notes to the Financial Statements Notes are normally in this sequence: Basis of preparation (ie IFRS for SMEs) Summary of significant accounting policies, including Information about judgements Information about key sources of estimation uncertainty Supporting information for items in financial statements Other disclosures Comparative prior period amounts are required by Section 3 (unless another section allows omission of prior period amounts) Section 9 Consolidated and Separate Financial Statements Consolidated financial statements are required when a parent company controls another entity (a subsidiary). Control: Power to govern financial and operating policies to obtain benefits More than 50% of voting power: control presumed Control exists when entity owns less than 50% but has power to govern by agreement or statute, or power to appoint majority of the board, or power to cast majority of votes at board meetings Control can be achieved by currently exercisable options that, if exercised, would result in control A subsidiary is not excluded from consolidation because: Investor is a venture capital organisation Subsidiary's business activities are dissimilar to those of parent or other subs Subsidiary operates in a jurisdiction that imposes restrictions on transferring cash or other assets out of the jurisdiction However, consolidated financial statements are not required, even if a parent-subsidiary relationship exists if: Subsidiary was acquired with intent to dispose within one year Parent itself is a subsidiary and its parent or ultimate parent uses IFRSs or IFRS for SMEs Must consolidate all controlled special-purpose entities (SPEs) Consolidation procedures: Eliminate intracompany transactions and balances Uniform reporting date unless impracticable Uniform accounting policies Non-controlling interest is presented as part of equity Losses are allocated to a subsidiary even if non-controlling interest goes negative Guidance on separate financial statements (but they are not required). In a parent's separate financial statements, it may account for subsidiaries, associates, and joint ventures that are not held for sale at cost or fair value through profit and loss. Guidance on combined financial statements (but they are not required) If investor loses control but continues to hold some investment: If the subsidiary becomes an associate, follow Section 14 If the subsidiary becomes a jointly controlled entity, follow Section 15 If investment does not qualify as an associate or jointly controlled entity, treat it as a financial asset under Sections 11 and 12 Section 10 Accounting Policies, Estimates and Errors If the IFRS for SMEs addresses an issue, the entity must follow the IFRS for SMEs If the IFRS for SMEs does not address an issue: Choose policy that results in the most relevant and reliable information Try to analogise from standards in the IFRS for SMEs Or use the concepts and pervasive principles in Section 2 Entity may look to guidance in full IFRSs (but not required) Change in accounting policy: If mandated, follow the transition guidance as mandated If voluntary, retrospective Change in accounting estimate: prospective Correction of prior period error: restate prior periods if practicable Section 11 Basic Financial Instruments IFRS for SMEs has two sections on financial instruments: Section 11 on Basic Financial Instruments Section 12 on Other FI Transactions Option to follow IAS 39 instead of sections 11 and 12 Even if IAS 39 is followed, make Section 11 and 12 disclosures (not IFRS 7 disclosures) Essentially, Section 11 is an amortised historical cost model Except for equity investments with quoted price or readily determinable fair value. These are measured at fair value through profit or loss. Scope of Section 11 includes: Cash Demand and fixed deposits Commercial paper and bills Accounts and notes receivable and payable Debt instruments where returns to the holder are fixed or referenced to an observable rate Investments in nonconvertible and non-puttable ordinary and preference shares Most commitments to receive a loan Initial measurement: Basic financial assets and financial liabilities are initially measured at the transaction price (including transaction costs except in the initial measurement of financial assets and liabilities that are measured at fair value through profit or loss) unless the arrangement constitutes, in effect, a financing transaction. A financing transaction may be indicated in relation to the sale of goods or services, for example, if payment is deferred beyond normal business terms or is financed at a rate of interest that is not a market rate. If the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, measure the financial asset or financial liability at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument. Measurement subsequent to initial recognition: Debt instruments at amortised cost using the effective interest method Debt instruments that are classified as current assets or current liabilities are measured at the undiscounted amount of the cash or other consideration expected to be paid or received (ie net of impairment) unless the arrangement constitutes, in effect, a financing transaction. If the arrangement constitutes a financing transaction, the entity shall measure the debt instrument at the present value of the future payments discounted at a market rate of interest for a similar debt instrument. Investments in non-convertible preference shares and non-puttable ordinary or preference shares: if the shares are publicly traded or their fair value can otherwise be measured reliably, measure at fair value with changes in fair value recognised in profit or loss measure all other such investments at cost less impairment Must test all amortised cost instruments for impairment or uncollectibility Previously recognised impairment is reversed if an event occurring after the impairment was first recognised causes the original impairment loss to decrease Guidance is provided on determining fair values of financial instruments The most reliable is a quoted price in an active market When a quoted price is not available the most recent transaction price provides evidence of fair value If there is no active market or recent market transactions, a valuation technique may be used Guidance is provided on the effective interest method Derecognise a financial asset when: the contractual rights to the cash flows from the financial asset expire or are settled; the entity transfers to another party all of the significant risks and rewards relating to the financial asset; or the entity, despite having retained some significant risks and rewards relating to the financial asset, has transferred the ability to sell the asset in its entirety to an unrelated third party who is able to exercise that ability unilaterally and without needing to impose additional restrictions on the transfer. Derecognise a financial liability when the obligation is discharged, cancelled, or expires Disclosures: Categories of financial instruments Details of debt and other instruments Details of derecognitions Collateral Defaults and breaches on loans payable Items of income and expense Section 12 Additional Financial Instruments Issues Financial instruments not covered by Section 11 (and, therefore, are within Section 12) are measured at fair value through profit or loss. This includes: Investments in convertible and puttable ordinary and preference shares Options, forwards, swaps, and other derivatives Financial assets that would otherwise be in Section 11 but that have 'exotic' provisions that could cause gain/loss to the holder or issuer Hedge accounting involves matching the gains and losses on a hedging instrument and hedged item. It is allowed only for the following kinds of risks: interest rate risk of a debt instrument measured at amortised cost foreign exchange or interest rate risk in a firm commitment or a highly probable forecast transaction price risk of a commodity that it holds or in a firm commitment or highly probable forecast transaction to purchase or sell a commodity foreign exchange risk in a net investment in a foreign operation. Section 12 defines the type of hedging instrument required for hedge accounting. Hedges must be documented up front to qualify for hedge accounting Section 12 provides guidance for measuring assessing effectiveness Special disclosures are required Section 13 Inventories Inventories include assets for sale in the ordinary course of business, being produced for sale, or to be consumed in production Measured at the lower cost and estimated selling price less costs to complete and sell Cost is determined using: specific identification is required for large items option to choose FIFO or weighted average for others LIFO is not permitted Inventory cost includes costs to purchase, costs of conversion, and costs to bring the asset to present location and condition Inventory cost excludes abnormal waste and storage, administrative, and selling costs If a production process creates joint products and/or by-products, the costs are allocated on a consistent and rational basis A manufacturer allocates fixed production overheads to inventories based on normal capacity Standard costing, retail method, and most recent purchase price may be used only if the result approximates actual cost Impairment – write down to net realisable value (selling price less costs to complete and sell – see Section 27) Section 14 Investments in Associates Associates are investments where significant influence exists. Significant influence is defined as the power to participate in the financial and operating policy decisions of the associate but where there is neither control nor joint control over those policies. Presumption that significant influence exists if investor owns 20% or more of the voting shares. Option to use: Cost-impairment model (except if there is a published quotation – then must use fair value through profit or loss) Equity method (investor recognises its share of profit or loss of the associate – detailed guidance is provided) Fair value through profit or loss Investments in associates are always classified as non-current assets Section 15 Investments in Joint Ventures For investments in jointly controlled entities, there is an option for the venturer to use: Cost model (except if there is a published quotation – then must use fair value through profit or loss) Equity method (using the guidance in Section 14) Fair value through profit or loss Proportionate consolidation is prohibited For jointly controlled operations, the venturer should recognise assets that it controls and liabilities it incurs as well as its share of income earned and expenses that are incurred For jointly controlled assets, the venturer should recognise its share of the assets and liabilities it incurs as well as income it earns and expenses that are incurred Section 16 Investment Property Investment property is investments in land, buildings (or part of a building), and some property interests in finance leases held to earn rentals or for capital appreciation or both Property interests that are held under an operating lease may be classified as an investment property provided the property would otherwise have met the definition of an investment property Mixed use property must be separated between investment and operating property If fair value can be measured reliably without undue cost or effort, use the fair value through profit or loss model Otherwise, an entity must treat investment property as property, plant and equipment using Section 17 Section 17 Property, Plant and Equipment Historical cost-depreciation-impairment model only The revaluation model (as in IAS 16) is not permitted Section 17 applies to most investment property as well (but if fair value of investment property can be measured reliably without undue cost or effort then the fair value model in Section 16 applies) Section 17 applies to property held for sale – there is no special section on assets held for sale. Holding for sale is an indicator of possible impairment. Measurement is initially at cost, including costs to get the property ready for its intended use Subsequent to acquisition, the entity uses the cost-depreciation-impairment model, which recognises depreciation and impairment of the carrying amount The carrying amount of an asset, less estimated residual value, is depreciated over the asset's anticipated useful life. The method of depreciation shall be the method that best reflects the consumption of the asset's benefits over its life. Separate significant components should be depreciated separately. Component depreciation only if major parts of an item of PP&E have 'significantly different patterns of consumption of economic benefits' Review useful life, residual value, depreciation rate only if there is a significant change in the asset or how it is used. Any adjustment is a change in estimate (prospective). Impairment testing and reversal – follow Section 27 Section 18 Intangible Assets other than Goodwill No recognition of internally generated intangible assets. Therefore: Charge all research and development costs to expense Charge the following items to expense when incurred: Costs of internally generated brands, logos, and masthead, start-up costs, training costs, advertising, and relocating of a division or entity Amortisation model for intangibles that are purchased separately, acquired in a business combination, acquired by grant, and acquired by exchange of other assets Amortise over useful life. If the entity is unable to estimate useful life, then use 10 years. Review useful life, residual value, depreciation rate only if there is a significant change in the asset or how it is used. Any adjustment is a change in estimate (prospective) Impairment testing – follow Section 27 Any revaluation of intangible assets is prohibited Section 19 Business Combinations and Goodwill Section does not apply to combinations of entities under common control Acquisition (purchase) method. Under this method: An acquirer must always be identified The cost of the business combination is measured. Cost is the fair value of assets given, liabilities incurred or assumed, and equity instruments issued, plus costs directly attributable to the combination At the acquisition date, the cost is allocated to the assets acquired and liabilities and provisions for contingent liabilities assumed. The identifiable assets acquired and liabilities and provisions for contingent liabilities assumed are measured at their fair values. Any difference between cost and amounts allocated to identifiable assets and liabilities (including provisions) is recognised as goodwill or so-called 'negative goodwill'. All goodwill must be amortised. If the entity is unable to estimate useful life, then use 10 years. 'Negative goodwill' – first reassess original accounting. If that is ok, then immediate credit to profit or loss Impairment testing of goodwill – follow Section 27 Reversal of goodwill impairment is not permitted Section 20 Leases Scope includes arrangements that contain a lease [IFRIC 4] Leases are classified as either finance leases or operating leases. Finance leases result in substantially all the risks and rewards incidental to ownership being transferred between the parties, while operating leases do not. Substantially all risks and rewards of ownership are presumed transferred if: the lease transfers ownership of the asset to the lessee by the end of the lease term the lessee has a 'bargain purchase option' the lease term is for the major part of the economic life of the asset even if title is not transferred at the inception of the lease the present value of the minimum lease payments amounts to at least substantially all of the fair value of the leased asset the leased assets are of such a specialised nature that only the lessee can use them without major modifications the lessee bears the lessor losses if cancelled a secondary rental period at below market rates the residual value risk is borne by the lessee. Lessees – finance leases: The rights and obligations are to be recognised as assets and liabilities at fair value, or, if lower, the present value of the minimum lease payments. Any direct costs of the lessee are added to the asset amount recognised. Subsequently, payments are to be spilt between a finance charge and reduction of the liability. The asset should be depreciated either over the useful life or the lease term. Lessees – operating leases: Payments are to be recognised as an expense on the straight line basis, unless payments are structured to increase in line with expected general inflation or another systematic basis is better representative of the time pattern of the user's benefit. Lessors – finance leases: The rights are to be recognised as assets held, i.e. as a receivable at an amount equal to the net investment in the lease. The net investment in a lease is the lessor's gross investment in the lease (including unguaranteed residual value) discounted at the interest rate implicit in the lease. For finance leases other than those involving manufacturer or dealer lessors, initial direct costs are included in the initial measurement of the finance lease receivable and reduce the amount of income recognised over the lease term. If there is an indication that the estimated unguaranteed residual value used in computing the lessor's gross investment in the lease has changed significantly, the income allocation over the lease term is revised, and any reduction in respect of amounts accrued is recognised immediately in profit or loss. Lessors – finance leases by a manufacturer or dealer: A finance lease of an asset by a manufacturer or dealer lessor gives rise to two types of income: profit or loss equivalent to the profit or loss resulting from an outright sale of the asset being leased, at normal selling prices, reflecting any applicable volume or trade discounts; and finance income over the lease term. The sales revenue recognised at the commencement of the lease term by a manufacturer or dealer lessor is the fair value of the asset or, if lower, the present value of the minimum lease payments accruing to the lessor, computed at a market rate of interest. The cost of sale recognised at the commencement of the lease term is the cost, or carrying amount if different, of the leased property less the present value of the unguaranteed residual value. The difference between the sales revenue and the cost of sale is the selling profit, which is recognised in accordance with the entity's policy for outright sales. If artificially low rates of interest are quoted, selling profit shall be restricted to that which would apply if a market rate of interest were charged. Costs incurred by manufacturer or dealer lessors in connection with negotiating and arranging a lease shall be recognised as an expense when the selling profit is recognised. Lessors – operating leases: Lessors retain the assets on their balance sheet and payments are to be recognised as income on the straight line basis, unless payments are structured to increase in line with expected general inflation or another systematic basis is better representative of the time pattern of the user's benefit. Sale and leaseback: If a sale and leaseback results in a finance lease, the seller should not recognise any excess as a profit, but recognise the excess over the lease term If a sale and leaseback results in an operating lease, and the transaction was at fair value, the seller shall recognise any profits immediately. Section 21 Provisions and Contingencies Provisions: Provisions are recognised only when (a) there is a present obligation as a result of a past event, (b) it is probable that the entity will be required to transfer economic benefits, and (c) the amount can be estimated reliably The obligation may arise due to contract or law or when there is a constructive obligation due to valid expectations having been created from past events. However, these do not include any future actions that may create an expectation. Nor can expected future losses be recognised as provisions. Initially recognised at the best possible estimate at the reporting date. This value should take into any time value of money if this is considered material. When all or part of a provision may be reimbursed by a third party, the reimbursement is to be recognised separately only when it is virtually certain payment will be received. Subsequently, provisions are to be reviewed at each reporting date and adjusted to meet the best current estimate. Any adjustments are recognised in profit and loss while any unwinding of discounts is to be treated as a finance cost. Must accrue provisions for (examples): Onerous contracts Warranties Restructuring if legal or constructive obligation to restructure Sales refunds May NOT accrue provisions for (example): Future operating losses, no matter how probable Possible future restructuring (plan but not yet a legal or constructive obligation) Contingent liabilities: These are not recognised as liabilities Unless remote, disclose an estimate of the financial effect, indications of the uncertainties relating to timing or amount, and the possibility of reimbursement Contingent assets: These are not recognised as assets. Disclose a description of the nature and the financial effect. Section 22 Liabilities and Equity Guidance on classifying an instrument as liability or equity An instrument is a liability if the issuer could be required to pay cash Puttable financial instruments are only recognised as equity if it has all of the following features: The holder is entitled to a pro rata share of the entity's net assets in the event of liquidation. The instrument is the most subordinate class. All financial instruments in the most subordinate class have identical features. Apart from the puttable features the instrument includes no other financial instrument features. The total expected cash flows attributable to the instrument over the life of the instrument are based substantially on the change in the value of the entity. Members' shares in co-operative entities and similar instruments are only classified as equity if the entity has an unconditional right to refuse redemption of the members' shares or the redemption is unconditionally prohibited by local law, regulation or the entity's governing charter. If the entity could not refuse redemption, the members' shares are classified as liabilities. Covers some material not covered by full IFRSs, including: original issuance of shares and other equity instruments. Shares are only recognised as equity when another party is obliged to provide cash or other resources in exchange for the instruments. The instruments are measured at the fair value of cash or resources received, net of direct costs of issuing the equity instruments, unless the time value of money is significant in which case initial measurement is at the present value amount. When shares are issued before the cash or other resources are received, the amount receivable is presented as an offset to equity in the statement of financial position and not as an asset. Any shares subscribed for which no cash is received are not recognised as equity before the shares are issued. sales of options, rights and warrants stock dividends and stock splits – these do not result in changes to total equity but, rather, reclassification of amounts within equity. 'Split accounting' is required to account for issuance of convertible instruments Proceeds on issue of convertible and other compound financial instruments are split between liability component and equity component. The liability is measured at its fair value, and the residual amount is the equity component. The liability is subsequently measured using the effective interest rate, with the original issue discount amortised as added interest expense. A comprehensive example of split accounting is included Treasury shares (an entity's own shares that are reacquired) are measured at the fair value of the consideration paid and are deducted from the equity. No gain or loss is recognised on subsequent resale of treasury shares. Minority interest changes that do not affect control do not result in a gain or loss being recognised in profit and loss. They are equity transactions between the entity and its owners. Dividends paid in the form of distribution of assets other than cash are recognised when the entity has an obligation to distribute the non-cash assets. The dividend liability is measured at the fair value of the assets to be distributed. Section 23 Revenue Revenue results from the sale of goods, services being rendered, construction contracts income by the contractor and the use by others of your assets Some types of revenue are excluded from this section and dealt with elsewhere: leases (section 20) dividends from equity accounted entities (section 14 and 15) changes in fair value of financial instruments (section 11 and 12) initial recognition and subsequent re-measurement of biological assets (section 34) and initial recognition of agricultural produce (section 34) Principle for measurement of revenue is the fair value of the consideration received or receivable, taking into account any possible trade discounts or rebates, including volume rebates and prompt settlement discounts If payment is deferred beyond normal payment terms, there is a financing component to the transaction. In that case, revenue is measured at the present value of all future receipts. The difference is recognised as interest revenue. Recognition – sale of goods: An entity shall recognise revenue from the sale of goods when all the following conditions are satisfied: (a) the entity has transferred to the buyer the significant risks and rewards of ownership of the goods. (b) the entity retains neither continuing managerial involvement to the degree usually associated with ownership nor effective control over the goods sold. (c) the amount of revenue can be measured reliably. (d) it is probable that the economic benefits associated with the transaction will flow to the entity. (e) the costs incurred or to be incurred in respect of the transaction can be measured reliably. Recognition – sale of services: Use the percentage of completion method if the outcome of the transaction can be estimated reliably. Otherwise use the cost-recovery method. Recognition – construction contracts: Use the percentage of completion method if the outcome of the contract can be estimated reliably. Otherwise use the cost-recovery method. Recognition – interest: Interest shall be recognised using the effective interest method as described in Section 11 Recognition – royalties: Royalties shall be recognised on an accrual basis in accordance with the substance of the relevant agreement. Recognition – dividends: Dividends shall be recognised when the shareholder's right to receive payment is established. Appendix of examples of revenue recognition under the principles in Section 23 Award credits or other customer loyalty plan awards need to be accounted for separately. The fair value of such awards reduces the amount of revenue initially recognised and, instead, is recognised when awards are redeemed. Section 24 Government Grants This section does not apply to any 'grants' in the form of income tax benefits All grants are measured at the fair value of the asset received or receivable Recognition as income: Grants without future performance conditions are recognised in profit or loss when proceeds are receivable If there are performance conditions, the grant is recognised in profit or loss only when the conditions are met Section 25 Borrowing Costs Borrowing costs are interest and other costs arising on an entity's financial liabilities and finance lease obligations All borrowing costs are charged to expense when incurred – none are capitalised Section 26 Share-based Payment Basic principle: all share-based payment must be recognised Equity-settled: Transactions with other than employees are recorded at the fair value of the goods and services received, if these can be estimated reliably Transactions with employees or where the fair value of goods and services received cannot be reliably measured are measured with reference to the fair value of the equity instruments granted Cash-settled: Liability is measured at fair value on grant date and at each reporting date and settlement date, with each adjustment through profit or loss. For employees where shares only vest after a specific period of service has been completed, recognise the expense as the service is rendered. Share-based payment with cash alternatives: Account for all such transactions as cash settled, unless the entity has a past practice of settling by issuing equity instruments or the option has no commercial substance because the cash settlement amount bears no relationship to, and is likely to be lower in value than, the fair value of the equity instrument. Fair value of equity instruments granted: (a) Observable market price if available (b) If no observable price, use entity-specific market data such as a recent share transaction or valuation of the entity (c) If (a) and (b) are impracticable, directors must use their judgement to estimate fair value Certain government-mandated plans provide for equity investors (such as employees) to acquire equity without providing goods or services that can be specifically identified (or by providing goods or services that are clearly less than the fair value of the equity instruments granted). These are equity-settled share-based payment transactions within the scope of this section. Section 27 Impairment of Assets Inventories – write down, in profit or loss, to lower of cost and selling price less costs to complete and sell, if below carrying amount. When the circumstances that led to the impairment no longer exist, the impairment is reversed through profit or loss. Other assets – write down, in profit or loss, to recoverable amount, if below carrying amount. When the circumstances that led to the impairment no longer exist, the impairment is reversed through profit or loss. Recoverable amount is the greater of fair value less costs to sell and value in use If recoverable amount of an individual asset cannot be determined, measure recoverable amount of that asset's cash generating unit If an impairment indicator exists, the entity should review the useful life and the depreciation methods even though an impairment may not be recognised Simplified guidance on computing impairment of goodwill when goodwill cannot be allocated to cash generating units Section 28 Employee Benefits Short-term benefits: Measured at an undiscounted rate and recognised as the services are rendered. Other costs such as annual leave are recognised as a liability as services are rendered and expensed when the leave is taken or used. Bonus payments are only recognised when an obligation exists and the amount can be reliably estimated. Post-Employment Benefits – Defined Contribution Plans: Contributions are recognised as a liability or an expense when the contributions are made or due. Post-Employment Benefits – Defined benefit plans Recognise a liability based on the net of present value of defined benefit obligations less the fair value of any plan assets at balance sheet date. The projected unit credit method is only used when it could be applied without undue cost or effort. Otherwise, en entity can simplify its calculation: Ignore estimated future salary increases Ignore future service of current employees (assume closure of plan) Ignore possible future in-service mortality Plan introductions, changes, curtailments, settlements: Immediate recognition (no deferrals) For group plans, consolidated amount may be allocated to parent and subsidiaries on a reasonable basis Actuarial gains and losses may be recognised in profit or loss or as an item of other comprehensive income – but... No deferral of actuarial gains or losses, including no corridor approach All past service cost is recognised immediately in profit or loss Other Long-Term benefits: The entity shall recognise a liability at the present value of the benefit obligation less any fair value of plan assets. Termination benefits: These are recognised in profit and loss immediately as there are no future economic benefits to the entity. Section 29 Income Tax Requires a temporary difference approach, similar to IAS 12 Current tax: Recognise a current tax liability if the current tax payable exceeds the current tax paid at that point in time. Recognise a current tax asset when current tax paid exceeds current tax payable or the entity has carried a loss forward from the prior year and this can be used to recover current tax in the current year. Current tax assets and liabilities for current and prior periods are measured at the actual amount that is owed or the entity owes using the applicable tax rates enacted or substantively enacted at the reporting date. The measurement must include the effect of the possible outcomes of a review by the tax authorities. Deferred tax: If an asset or liability is expected to affect taxable profit if it recovered or settled for its carrying amount, then a deferred tax asset or liability is recognised If the entity expects to recover an asset through sale, and capital gains tax is zero, then no deferred tax is recognised, because recovery is not expected to affect taxable profit Temporary difference arises if the tax basis of such assets or liabilities is different from carrying amount Tax basis assumes recovery by sale. Exception: No deferred tax on unremitted earnings of foreign subsidiaries and jointly controlled entities Recognise deferred tax assets in full, with a valuation allowance Criterion is that realisation is probable (more likely than not) Take uncertainty into account in measuring all current and deferred taxes – assume tax authorities will examine reported amounts and have full knowledge of all relevant information Deferred taxes are all presented as non-current Recognition of changes in current or deferred tax must be allocated to the related components of profit or loss, other comprehensive income and equity. Section 30 Foreign Currency Translation Functional currency approach similar to that in IAS 21 An entity's functional currency, is the currency of the primary economic environment in which it operates It is a matter of fact, not an accounting policy choice A change in functional currency is applied prospectively from the date of the change To record a foreign currency transaction in an entity's functional currency: On initial recognition, record the transaction by applying the spot rate at the date of the transaction. An average rate may be used, unless there are significant fluctuations in the rate. At reporting date, translate foreign currency monetary items using the closing rate. For non-monetary items measured at historical cost, use the exchange at the date of the transaction. For non-monetary items measured at fair value, use the exchange at the date when the fair value was determined. For monetary and non-monetary item translations, gains or losses are recognised where they were initially recognised – either in profit or loss, comprehensive income, or equity Exchange differences arising from a monetary item that forms part of the net investment in a foreign operation are recognised in equity and are not 'recycled' through profit or loss on disposal of the investment Goodwill arising on acquisition of a foreign operation is deemed to be an asset of the subsidiary, and translated at the closing rate at year end An entity may present its financial statements in a currency different from its functional currency (a 'presentation currency'). If the entity's functional currency is not hyperinflationary, translation of assets, liabilities, income, and expense from functional currency into presentation currency is done as follows: Assets and liabilities for each statement of financial position presented are translated at the closing rate at the date of that statement of financial position Income and expenses are translated at exchange rates at the dates of the transactions All resulting exchange differences are recognised in other comprehensive income. Section 31 Hyperinflation An entity must prepare general price-level adjusted financial statements when its functional currency is hyperinflationary IFRS for SMEs provides indicators of hyperinflation but not an absolute rate. One indicator is where cumulative inflation approaches or exceeds 100% over a 3 year period. In price-level adjusted financial statements, all amounts are stated in terms of the (hyperinflationary) presentation currency at the end of the reporting period. Comparative information and any information presented in respect of earlier periods must also be restated in the presentation currency. All assets and liabilities not recorded at the presentation currency at the end of the reporting period must be restated by applying the general price index (generally an index published by the government). All amounts in the statement of comprehensive income and statement of cash flows must also be recorded at the presentation currency at the end of the reporting period. These amounts are restated by applying the general price index from the dates when they were recorded. The gain or loss on translating the net monetary position is included in profit or loss. However, that gain or loss is adjusted for those assets and liabilities linked by agreement to changes in prices. Section 32 Events after the End of the Reporting Period Adjust financial statements to reflect adjusting events – events after the balance sheet date that provide further evidence of conditions that existed at the end of the reporting period. Do not adjust for non-adjusting events – events or conditions that arose after the end of the reporting period. For these, the entity must disclose the nature of event and an estimate of its financial effect. If an entity declares dividends after the reporting period, the entity shall not recognise those dividends as a liability at the end of the reporting period. That is a non-adjusting event. Section 33 Related Party Disclosures Disclose parent-subsidiary relationships, including the name of the parent and (if any) the ultimate controlling party. Disclose key management personnel compensation in total for all key management. Compensation includes salaries, short-term benefits, post-employment benefits, other long-term benefits, termination benefits and share-based payments. Key management personnel are persons responsible for planning, directing and controlling the activities of an entity, and include executive and non-executive directors. Disclose the following for transactions between related parties: Nature of the relationship Information about the transactions and outstanding balances necessary to understand the potential impact on the financial statements Amount of the transaction Provisions for uncollectible receivables Any expense recognised during the period in respect of an amount owed by a related party Government departments and agencies are not related parties simply by virtue of their normal dealings with an entity Section 34 Specialised Activities Agriculture: If the fair value of a class of biological asset is readily determinable without undue cost or effort, use the fair value through profit or loss model. If the fair value is not readily determinable, or is determinable only with undue cost or effort, measure the biological assets at cost less and accumulated depreciation and impairment. At harvest, agricultural produce is be measured at fair value less estimated costs to sell. Thereafter it is accounted for an inventory. Extractive industries: Not required to charge exploration costs to expense, but must test for impairment Expenditure on tangible or intangible assets used in extractive activities is accounted for under Section 17 Property, Plant and Equipment and Section 18 Intangible Assets other than Goodwill An obligation to dismantle or remove items or restore sites is accounted for using Section 17 and Section 21 Provisions and Contingencies. Service concession arrangements: Guidance is provided on how the operator accounts for a service concession arrangement. The operator either recognises a financial asset or an intangible asset depending on whether the grantor (government) has provided an unconditional guarantee of payment or not. A financial asset is recognised to the extent that the operator has an unconditional contractual right to receive cash or another financial asset from or at the direction of the grantor for the construction services. An intangible asset is recognised to the extent that the operator receives a right or license to charge users for the public service. Section 35 Transition to the IFRS for SMEs First-time adoption is the first set of financial statements in which the entity makes an explicit and unreserved statement of compliance with the IFRS for SMEs: '...in conformity with the International Financial Reporting Standard for Small and Medium-sized Entities'. Can be switching from: National GAAP Full IFRSs Or never published General Purpose Financial Statements in the past Date of transition is beginning of earliest period presented Select accounting policies based on IFRS for SMEs at end of reporting period of first-time adoption Many accounting policy decisions depend on circumstances – not 'free choice' But some are pure 'free choice' Prepare current year and one prior year's financial statements using the IFRS for SMEs But there are many exceptions from restating specific items Some exceptions are optional Some exceptions are mandatory And a general exemption for impracticability All of the special exemptions in IFRS 1 are included in the IFRS for SMEs

CULTURAL OBSERVATIONS : OFFICES WITHOUT PHONES First, cell phone plans and costs are absurdly cheap here. I think in the states I tend to pay well over a hundred a month, and close to two hundred. During heavy business usage plans run six to fifteen hundred a month. (And yes, I have enough knowledge of the different phone companies to know how much of that is wasted on marketing to customers who are not loyal, and how much poorly our regulators protect us from penalty pricing. In penatlty pricing the profits are made by enticing customers with low prices and setting low limits on account usage and charging absurd penalties for going over those limits. This violates the principle of asymmetry of knowledge. And it ends up sending the lower classes to collection and further charges. So yes, I think it's a hazard, and yes, I think it violates libertarian property rights. Second, when you go into an office here, at least the offices that I've been into, it's just not a given that everyone will have a company provided phone, unless they absolutely need one for their work. Desks, as we know them. are places where you can store clerical equipment. they are workbenches for people who calculate abstractions rather than modify the physical world. But if you have a laptop and a cell phone (or a laptop and skype) you pretty much can work lying down on a couch, or standing at a bar, or in my favorite repose, sitting in a chair with your feet up. Now the truth is, that comfortable seating inversely proportional the the impact on your health. We need to walk. We compensate by standing at standing-desks. Some of us have discovereed the abdominal value of sitting on an exercise ball at a desk, which works your abs eight ours a day. Most of us sit in chairs at desks, which if we use reasonable posture is bad for our hearts and waistlines, but that's all. Ohters of us recline in couches and chairs, because all we have to do is talk or write text, and a desk is unnecessary, but this is the worst possible place to put your body if you don't get up and move around every thirty minutes or so. All that said, if we don't need phones, at least some portion of us don't need desks. But that's probably bad for our health. So, the next work environment I"m going to put together will have desks at the perimeter, and lots of lounges for working comfortably, and ad-hoc, with the people that you need to. Now, I realize that technologists are a narrow segment. And that technologists don't necessarily signal using office spaces. But for some of us, it's just paradise to sit in a comfy chair and crank out our ideas. Offices need not be structured around phones.

"Go placidly amid the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender, be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexations to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain and bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and lonliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. And whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life, keep peace with your soul. With all its sham, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be careful. Strive to be happy."

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Press Release ALL AFRICA STUDENTS UNION INTERNATIONAL STUDENTS DAY 17th November, 2012 The International Students' Day is an international observance of the student community, held annually on November 17. Background: This day dates way back from 1939 in the city of Prague when nine students and professors were executed without trial on the 17th of November. In a demonstration held by students against the Nazi invasion of Czechoslovakia a student by the name of Jan Opletal and worker Václav Sedláčekhe where shot dead. After the death of Jan Opletal on 11th September, on the 15th of November his body was meant to be transported from Prague back to his home in Moravia. His funeral procession consisted of thousands of students, who turned this event into an anti-Nazi demonstration. However, this resulted in drastic measures being taken by the Nazis. All Czech higher education institutions were closed down, more than 1,200 students were arrested and sent to concentration camps, and nine students and professors were executed without trial on the 17th of November. Due to this, 17 November was declared as International Students’ Day. It’s against this background therefore that this day is designed to remember and celebrate the lives of students who have sacrificed their lives in bid to champion the cause of students against oppression, human rights abuse, and advocate for better standards of education all over the world. The students fraternity and activism has produced some African icons to reckon with such as Ghana’s Nkwame Nkrumah, Uganda’s Dr. Milton Obote, South Africa’s Nelson Mandela, Cote d’viore’s Soros to mention but a few. All these have been involved in freedom struggles on the continent. Today however, we wish to draw your attention to factors affecting the education system in Africa. In a nutshell these include: quality of education, poor and inadequate infrastructure in institutions, increased HIV/AIDS prevalence in institutions of higher learning, continuous political instability, Corruption, employment. Africa’s quality of education still has a lot to be desired. The education levels are still not up to proper standard in most parts of the continent despite great strides being made by the authorities towards quality assurance. This ranges from the course content that does not fully consider the needs of the local African society. The education curriculum needs to be designed to cater for the African needs unlike the current system that lets students know more about other continents than their own. Furthermore the education curriculum produces more of job seekers than entrepreneurs. The educational infrastructure is in bad shape. The facilities are not enough leave alone being not of quality. We have more students than the institutions can handle especially at primary and secondary school level. Also most governments are encouraging the study of sciences but most institutions do not have the up to date scientific equipments to provide the required quality of education. The teacher student ratio isn’t to standard especially in public schools. This compromises quality considering that one teacher has a very big class and thus cannot offer the desired attention every student would have actually required. The level of corruption on the continent is alarming. Funds meant for educational development are squandered by the managers and little or no action at times is taken to curb this. Alot of money is injected into the educational sector and yet yielding very little improvement due to corruption based on the fact that it doesn't reach the beneficiaries. As a result of corruption and poor governance on the continent, the discontent has led to civil wars and unrest on the continent. The victims have always been students/ youth who are recruited as fighters instead of spending time in school. This has thus increased the illiteracy levels considering that most Africans of school going age spend most of their youthful age in conflict than in school. Political instability thus has created a large un educated/semi educated population without the required qualifications to be engaged into meaningful employment and thus maintaining a large but poor and un productive population which is more of a burden than a resource to the continent. The dissatisfaction by the citizen then leads to unrest and the violence and poverty circle keeps on. The HIV/AIDS scourge is now a bigger threat in institutions of higher learning with infections going up every day. The level of ignorance on the disease has led to carelessness among the youth. The increasing numbers of infections among the youth at institutional level does not give security to the much needed labor stability for a developing continent. More education on HIV/AIDS and other sexually transmitted diseases must be emphasized to curb the spread of this dreadful disease. We also cannot rule out the fact that conflict affected areas are also very vulnerable to HIV/AIDS. A violent environment gives room to dangerous sexual malpractices such as rape, defilement and also the mere fact that educators are afraid of operating in such risky environments, and also health facilities for the infected are not easily available. In lieu to the above, it is clear that political stability is a priority on the continent. Leaders need to exercise best leadership practices. Respect democratic principles of governance to avoid rebellion which gives everyone an opportunity to attend school and also create a stable environment for investment in order to increase employment opportunities. Also there is need to invest more in education sector. This however will require discipline and honesty as regards the resource management to ensure maximum output from whatever funds are invested. It is the only way Africa can improve the standard of its education as it embarks on providing free education for all by 2015 in the fulfillment of the millennium development goals, a project that should consider quality if it’s to achieve its desired aims. In conclusion therefore it’s important that the youth who comprise over 60% of Africa’s population should set the agenda in Africa’s governance due to the mere fact that they have the capacity of using their voting numbers to attract the attention of the political leadership. Other than politicians dictating manifestos on the youth, the youth should rather dictate by influencing governments to design the country’s development plans to combat circumstances affecting them. Finally, we call upon countries that are engaging in elections this year 2012 such as Kenya, Burkina Faso, Sierra Leon and Ghana among others to accommodate and exercise tolerance for all political parties involved so as to ensure free and fair elections. It’s the only way we can ensure peace on the continent. FROM: THE OFFICE OF THE SECRETARY GENERAL ALL AFRICA STUDENTS UNION SECRETARIAT ACCRA, GHANA TEL: +233 (0) 243 101626, (0) 243 414 223

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One more time His love is proven to be real in my life, He came to my rescue and calmed the sea that threatened to take my life away. I knew what was coming and new I had no control over it, and knew evil could have had taken some lives away in a second, but His listening ears to the prayer of His children, His provision of safety and His authority over the powers of darkness overcame the situation. I am here, and my love ones are here, in the safety of His mighty power, and the forces of darkness had to obey and surrender at His mighty intervention. How am I not going to be a God's freak if He is so good to me, my strong tower, who has good plans for me, and not for destruction, to give me a future and a hope? I can claim to Him and exercise the power of His authority at any moment and experience the victory that only comes from the supernatural power of my Lord. I believe, I believe because I have been and lived to tell about it! TO GOD BE THE GLORY, PRAISE THE LORD OH MY SOUL!!!!!

Go placidly amidst the noise and haste, and remember what peace there may be in silence. As far as possible without surrender be on good terms with all persons. Speak your truth quietly and clearly; and listen to others, even the dull and the ignorant; they too have their story. Avoid loud and aggressive persons, they are vexatious to the spirit. If you compare yourself with others, you may become vain or bitter; for always there will be greater and lesser persons than yourself. Enjoy your achievements as well as your plans. Keep interested in your own career, however humble; it is a real possession in the changing fortunes of time. Exercise caution in your business affairs; for the world is full of trickery. But let this not blind you to what virtue there is; many persons strive for high ideals; and everywhere life is full of heroism. Be yourself. Especially, do not feign affection. Neither be cynical about love; for in the face of all aridity and disenchantment it is as perennial as the grass. Take kindly the counsel of the years, gracefully surrendering the things of youth. Nurture strength of spirit to shield you in sudden misfortune. But do not distress yourself with dark imaginings. Many fears are born of fatigue and loneliness. Beyond a wholesome discipline, be gentle with yourself. You are a child of the universe, no less than the trees and the stars; you have a right to be here. And whether or not it is clear to you, no doubt the universe is unfolding as it should. Therefore be at peace with God, whatever you conceive Him to be, and whatever your labors and aspirations, in the noisy confusion of life keep peace with your soul. With all its shams, drudgery, and broken dreams, it is still a beautiful world. Be cheerful. Strive to be happy

NIGERIA’S LEADERSHIP DEFICIT AND ITS IMPACT By Prof. Akin Oyebode Despite Nigeria’s much vaunted claim to leadership of the African continent, if not, in fact, the entire Black race, it seems a veritable paradox that at home, the country has been manifesting symptoms of serious leadership failure almost bordering on the onset of rigor mortis. The fact is not lost on the general population that if we somehow manage to get the leadership question right, nearly all the problems besetting our dear country would be inching towards a solution. Yet, the self-assured can-do mentality of most Nigerians has not been reflected in the clueless, underperforming successive leadership that has been thrust on the country since political independence. On the contrary, the general feeling in Nigeria is that the country is tottering and inching toward the precipice so much so that if drastic decisions are not taken in the immediate future, we might well start preparing the pyre for the nation-state. It is in these less than propitious circumstances that we are being called upon to interrogate the inadequacies of the different factions and fractions of the Nigerian ruling class in relation to their much-vaunted task of steering the ship of state in order, as the shibboleth goes, to “move the nation forward.” Even if the jury might still be out on the question of the fate of the country as a credible and viable member of the international community, the fact bears re-stating that many observers, both within and outside the country, have all but given up hope on the future of socio-economic formation known as Nigeria. How did we get to this sorry pass? When and how did things start going wrong? Could the impending apocalypse have been avoided? Who is really to blame for the present situation, the leadership or followership? These and related questions, it seems to me, are some of the issues, which need to be confronted by this august assembly if indeed we as a people have to make positive progress along the path of change and societal progress. For, except, unless and only to the extent that we are able to provide answers to these question can this gathering prove worthwhile and be able to make a remarkable and meaningful contribution to the search for a panacea to the multifarious problems afflicting the country today. THE ROLE OF LEADERSHIP IN THE SCHEME OF THINGS As our people are wont to say, fish starts getting rotten from the head. Accordingly, those placed in leadership positions have to be able to envision goals and aspirations for societies, communities and nation-states over which they exercise leadership roles. It is only after leaders have come up with policies, plans and programmes that the rest of the population would be able to key-in and synchronize their own projects and proposals with those enunciated by the leadership. While it is fashionable in certain circles to espouse the quip of Joseph de Maistre to the effect that a people get the government or leadership they deserve, that sentiment could quite easily become an apologia for incompetence and bad governance, if not indeed, abdication of responsibility by a failed leadership. Just as the tail cannot wag the dog, leadership implies setting goals, aspirations and objectives of society and seeking the wherewithal for actualization of the set goals and objectives. This presupposes superior apprehension of the problems confronting society and ability to elaborate scenarios and optimal approaches for transcending the indentified difficulties in the way of actualizing the objectives of society. A wise leadership cannot afford to be too far ahead of the people or alienate them in the developmental process. Such a situation much sooner than later becomes a recipe for failure as a people not carried along by the leadership loses interest and becomes disenchanted by the otherwise lofty programmes and policies adumbrated by the leadership. Disconnect gives rise to lethargy and lethargy generates docility and inaction from the intended beneficiaries of the grandiose ideas articulated by the leadership. Accordingly, it is a matter of utmost necessity for the leadership to strike a very good balance between its proposals and yearnings of the generality of the people if it wishes to succeed in the actualization of its vision. Accountability, transparency and commitment to the tenets of democracy and good governance constitute the leitmotif to responsible leadership. On the part of the led, it needs be stated that a dose of skepticism, if not indeed cynicism, is very healthy for good governance. The people should not be too trusting of their leaders and should not fight shy of asking troublesome questions from those that hold themselves out as their leaders. In fact, the people have to be one or two steps ahead of their leaders in order to ensure that they are not taken for granted or discounted in the scheme of things. This, inevitably, entails conscientisation, access to requisite information and mobilization of the rank and file. Once all this is in place, it would be very difficult, if not impossible, to ignore them in the process of policy formulation and, particularly, implementation of policies and programmes enunciated by the leadership. NIGERIA’S LEADERSHIP FAILURE AND NATIONAL UNDERDEVELOPMENT It was just barely twenty years now that Chinua Achebe in his small book, The Trouble with Nigeria declared: “The trouble with Nigeria is simply and squarely a failure of leadership. There is nothing basically wrong with the Nigerian land or climate or water or air or anything else. The Nigerian problem is the unwillingness or inability of its leaders to rise to the responsibility, to the challenge of personal example, which are the hallmarks of true leadership…” Undoubtedly, Nigeria’s leadership deficit has continued to constitute perhaps the greatest clog in the wheel of national progress. With all the promise and potential to be the exemplar for Africa and indeed the entire Black race, Nigeria is wracked by endemic poverty in the midst of phenomenal wealth, suffocating squalor, incredible ignorance and superstition, as well as ravaging diseases aggravated by corruption, incompetence and leadership failure so much so that it is truly remarkable that Nigeria still remains on the geographical map of the world. A country where the best has continued to elude us while at the same time the very worst has somehow been avoided, Nigeria has remained just a potentially great country and been unable to actualize its potentialities. The failure to actualize the county’s fabled potential lies squarely with successive self-seeking, self-centred, self-opinionated and self-perpetuating leadership that had forced itself on the country’s political landscape. Bereft of the great insight and foresight of Africa’s first generations’ post-colonial leaders, those that found themselves on the saddle of the largest concentration of people in the Black world have not failed to amaze at their level of venality and banality so much so that the country has become the butt of cruel jokes within the diplomatic cocktail circuit. That Nigeria has been going round and round in circles in an unending motion without movement such that the more things appear to change, the more they remained the same, has been so stupefying that not a few among more discerning Nigerians have all but given up on the country. Whereas all that is needed is a leadership that is ready and able to arrest the current drift in the country, Nigeria seems to have resigned to divine solutions to the country’s numerous problems as the numbers of churches, mosques and spiritual homes continue to rise exponentially. The misplaced priorities of the ruling class, conspicuous consumption lifestyles embraced by the elite, the ever-widening gap between rich and poor and a dysfunctional and counter-productive disarticulate economy, have forced many of our best and brightest including the youth to vote with their feet, having lost any hope that there could be a turnaround in the nation’s destiny. While the jury is presumably still out regarding whether Nigeria was a failed or failing state, it is an inescapable fact that all is not well with the country as it is constituted and run today. TRANSCENDING THE CURRENT STASIS The quick answer to the country’s current stagnation would be a massive dose of shock therapy or what, in popular parlance is referred to as a revolution. However, students of revolution know that not only is a revolution not a tea-party, it occurs in a conjuncture of the coincidence of both the objective and subjective conditions. In other words, the Law of Transformation of Quantity into Quality cannot operate except where and when the pre-requisites of a revolution are present. This is why romanticizing about an African summer as a response to the Arab spring is largely a pipe-dream as Nigeria is nowhere yet near a revolutionary situation. In a situation of deepening crises of the Nigerian political economy, perhaps the role of the masses of the people is that of conscientisation and clarification of issues, as well as intensification of the organizational capacity of the oppressed in order not to repeat the truncation of ultimate failure of mass action during the fuel subsidy debacle last January. An unorganized mass poses little threat to a callous, incorrigible and selfish leadership. It has been said repeatedly that the masses have to take their destiny in their hands but the meaning and consequences of this, I daresay, are yet to be well articulated. Besides, leadership failure in the country dictates that the people realize that there is no pot of gold at the end of the rainbow. Confronting a bankrupt leadership warrants realization by the people that the race to socio-economic and political emancipation is not going to be a 100-metre dash but indeed a marathon. SUMMARY It is quite clear that most Nigerians are uncomfortable with, if not totally disillusioned, by Nigeria’s current leadership in practically all sectors of human endeavour. Nevertheless, it does not appear that the people are well schooled regarding what needs to be done in order to midwife a leadership that is wedded to their needs, interests and aspirations. Accordingly, it seems that any leadership change would only throw up more of the same, however, distasteful that might sound. It is my hope that this engagement would assist in clarifying issues and highlighting the choices that face the people in the task of installing a leadership that would be somewhat sympathetic to the existential conditions of our much abused and long-suffering preponderant majority of our people.

sms/call/whatsapp订购 016-9481088 rainbow 或按这里inbox留言给我https://www.facebook.com/messages/rainbowbabeworld FB Fans Page :https://www.facebook.com/rainbowbabeworld (帮忙按个赞)谢谢 要直接购买现货，可以到klang parade对面的cubie house购买~ 陆陆续续会有更多的顾客见证啦~ 您。。心动了吗？那么，怎么还不行动呢？快快订购1个疗程来吃哦，乘新年前也变瘦瘦，皮肤美美哦，快快成为我们的下一个顾客见证^_^

016 9481088 rainbow (sms/call/line/whatsapp) 或按这里inbox留言给我https://www.facebook.com/messages/rainbowbabeworld FB Fans Page :https://www.facebook.com/rainbowbabeworld (帮忙按个赞)谢谢

016 9481088 rainbow (sms/call/line/whatsapp) 或按这里inbox留言给我https://www.facebook.com/messages/rainbowbabeworld FB Fans Page :https://www.facebook.com/rainbowbabeworld (帮忙按个赞)谢谢

Jorge F. Vargas Honorable Butch Otter, This Friday, November 16, I understand you are expected to submit plans for a Health Insurance Exchange, as called for under ObamaCare. Governor Otter please do NOT move forward on a state exchange! Let them know we in Idaho will not comply! Silence and not submitting a plan is NOT consent! My understanding is: an appointed health insurance exchange working group voted overwhelmingly to comply with ObamaCare and build an exchange. Because of this are you going to concede to the wishes of these unelected officials or listen to the will of Idaho citizens? While the U.S. Supreme Court found the individual mandate to purchase insurance Constitutional – albeit reclassified as a tax – they also found that the federal government cannot force states to comply with federal mandates on the threat of losing existing federal funding. The court said that, "the legitimacy of Congress's exercise of the spending power... rests on whether the State VOLUNTARILY and KNOWINGLY accepts the terms of the contract." (Emphasis added.) They went on to confirm that STATES HAVE THE RIGHT AS INDEPENDENT SOVEREIGNS TO REFUSE TO ACT ON federal mandates they do not like. Well, the citizens of Idaho more than dislike this mandate! Where will it lead? Where will it end? We must set the precedence - we WILL not have this mandate shoved upon us! If a state simply refuses to accept federal mandates (and the associated “bribe” money) to implement ObamaCare Exchanges, as the court explicitly affirms is within its power, the entire law should collapse upon itself. Over the last 2 years, Idahoans have rallied against the takeover of their health care. With the decision of this unelected panel, there is serious uncertainty about what will happen on this issue. We whole heartedly and fervently call upon you to NOT “voluntarily and knowingly” succumb to the national takeover of our health care. Please protect us Idahoans by refusing to build an insurance exchange as called for in ObamaCare. As our governor it is your responsibility under the 10th Amendment to stand up to federal over-reach and assert state sovereignty. Why did it ever get this far? When Nancy Pelosi so eloquently stated...let's pass it into law to find out what is in it...why or why was this not a red flag to nullify it? Sincerely, Jorge Vargas

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现在全部卖家都没有货了啦~只有我们有哦^_^要瘦的你们，还不快快来订购吗~ ？ 瘦？好像很久没有再瘦了吗？那你还在等什么啦~ sms/call/whatsapp订购 016-9481088 rainbow 或按这里inbox留言给我https://www.facebook.com/messages/rainbowbabeworld 要直接购买现货，可以到klang parade对面的cubie house购买~ 1个月销售500罐的acai berry xs-living, 顾客吃了还是回来购买，介绍朋友们来购买，或提供照片给我们证明了他们瘦了。。。 陆陆续续会有更多的顾客见证啦~ 您。。心动了吗？那么，怎么还不行动呢？快快订购1个疗程来吃哦，乘新年前也变瘦瘦，皮肤美美哦，快快成为我们的下一个顾客见证^_^ FB Fans Page :https://www.facebook.com/rainbowbabeworld (帮忙按个赞)谢谢

The "Madrid Protocol" The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic TreatyHuman Impacts | Conservation | Fisheries | Tourism | Pollution | Mining | Whales and seals | Antarctic Treaty -summary | Antarctic Treaty - full | Endangered animals | Dogs in Antarctica | Ozone Hole Antarctica Fact File | What's it like in Antarctica? page 1 page 2 | Fascinating Facts | FAQ's | Threats | Antarctica Fire History Antarctica animals | Antarctic glossary A - H I - Z | Antarctic slang | Antarctica Views | Antarctica blogs | Quiz | Antarctica Lite Cold and survival: Humans | Hypothermia | Food | More on Food | Clothing | Clothing 2 | Penguins | Animal Adaptations Climate / Weather | Weather phenomena | graphs: Comparisons | Australian Coastal | Deep South Climate Change: Global Warming | GW Antarctica | Misconceptions | Carbon sinks | Carbon cycle | Prevention | Offsetting | Tree Planting Summary of The Antarctic Treaty and list of Treaty Nations Antarctic Treaty in full Additions to the Antarctic Treaty are known as "protocols", they are usually named after the place where they were signed. The most significant of recent protocols was signed in Madrid in 1991 therefore being known as the Madrid Protocol, though it's official title is, "The Protocol on Environmental Protection to the Antarctic Treaty".The Antarctic Treaty Nations agreed on this in 1991, it came into force in 1998. The purpose of the Protocol was essentially to protect Antarctica for 50 years from commercial exploitation primarily of its mineral wealth, it's rather wordy and not easy to read or understand, but I keep getting asked for it, so here it is: Preamble The States Parties to this Protocol to the Antarctic Treaty, hereinafter referred to as the Parties, Convinced of the need to enhance the protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems; Convinced of the need to strengthen the Antarctic Treaty system so as to ensure that Antarctica shall continue forever to be used exclusively for peaceful purposes and shall not become the scene or object of international discord; Bearing in mind the special legal and political status of Antarctica and the special responsibility of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties to ensure that all activities in Antarctica are consistent with the purposes and principals of the Antarctic Treaty; Recalling the designation of Antarctica as a Special Conservation Area and other measures adopted under the Antarctic Treaty system to protect the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems; Acknowledging further the unique opportunities Antarctica offers for scientific monitoring of and research on processes of global as well as regional importance; Reaffirming the conservation principles of the Convention on the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources; Convinced that the development of a Comprehensive regime for the protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems is in the interest of mankind as a whole; Desiring to supplement the Antarctic Treaty to this end; Have agreed as follows: Article 1 Definitions For the purposes of this Protocol: (a) "The Antarctic Treaty" means the Antarctic Treaty done at Washington on 1 December 1959; (b) "Antarctic Treaty area" means the area to which the provisions of the Antarctic Treaty apply in accordance with Article VI of that Treaty; (c) "Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings" means the meetings referred to in Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty; (d) "Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties" means the Contracting Parties to the Antarctic Treaty entitled to appoint representatives to participate in the meetings referred to in Article IX of that Treaty; (e) "Antarctic Treaty system" means the Antarctic Treaty, the measures in effect under that Treaty, its associated separate international instruments in force and the measures in effect under those instruments; (f) "Arbitral Tribunal" means the arbitral Tribunal established in accordance with the Schedule to this Protocol, which forms an integral part thereof; (g) "Committee" means the Committee for Environmental Protection established in accordance with Article 11. Article 2 Objective and Designation The Parties commit themselves to the comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems and hereby designate Antarctica as a natural reserve, devoted to peace and science. Article 3 Environmental Principles 1 The protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems and the intrinsic value of Antarctica, including its wilderness and aesthetic values and its value as an area for the conduct of scientific research, in particular research essential to understanding the global environment, shall be fundamental considerations in the planning and conduct of all activities in the Antarctic Treaty area. 2 To this end: (a) activities in the Antarctic Treaty area shall be planned and conducted so as to limit adverse impacts on the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems; (b) activities in the Antarctic Treaty area shall be planned and conducted so as to avoid: (i) adverse effects on climate or weather patterns; (ii) significant adverse effects on air or water quality; (iii) significant changes in the atmospheric, terrestrial (including aquatic), glacial or marine environments; (iv) detrimental changes in the distribution, abundance or productivity of species of populations of species of fauna and flora; (v) further jeopardy to endangered or threatened species or populations of such species; or (vi) degradation of, or substantial risk to, areas of biological, scientific, historic, aesthetic or wilderness significance; (c) activities in the Antarctic Treaty area shall be planned and conducted on the basis of information sufficient to allow prior assessments of, and informed judgements about, their possible impacts on the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems and on the value of Antarctica for the conduct of scientific research; such judgements shall take account of: (i) the scope of the activity, including its area, duration and intensity; (ii) the cumulative impacts of the activity, both by itself and in combination with other activities in the Antarctic Treaty area; (iii) whether the activity will detrimentally affect any other activity in the Antarctic Treaty area; (iv) whether technology and procedures are available to provide for environmentally safe operations; (v) whether there exists the capacity to monitor key environmental parameters and ecosystem components so as to identify and provide early warning of any adverse effects of the activity and to provide for such modification of operating procedures as may be necessary in the light of the results of monitoring or increased knowledge of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems; and (vi) whether there exists the capacity to respond promptly and effectively to accidents, particularly those with potential environmental effects; (d) regular and effective monitoring shall take place to all assessment of the impacts of ongoing activities, including the verification of predicted impacts; (e) regular and effective monitoring shall take place to facilitate early detection of the possible unforeseen effects of activities carried on both within and outside the Antarctic Treaty area on the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems. 3 Activities shall be planned and conducted in the Antarctic Treaty area so as to accord priority to scientific research and to preserve the value of Antarctica as an area for the conduct of such research, including research essential to understanding the global environment. 4 Activities undertaken in the Antarctic Treaty area pursuant to scientific research programs, tourism and all other governmental and non-governmental activities in the Antarctic Treaty area for which advance notice is required in accordance with Article VII (5) of the Antarctic Treaty, including associated logistic activities, shall: (a) take place in a manner consistent with the principles in this Article; and (b) be modified, suspended or cancelled if they result in or threaten to result in impacts upon the Antarctic environment or dependent or associated ecosystems inconsistent with those principles. Article 4 Relationship with other Components of the Antarctic Treaty System 1 This Protocol shall supplement the Antarctic Treaty and shall neither modify nor amend that Treaty. 2 Nothing in this Protocol shall derogate from the rights and obligations of the Parties to this Protocol under the other international instruments in force within the Antarctic Treaty system. Article 5 Consistency with other Components of the Antarctic Treaty System The Parties shall consult and co-operate with the Contracting Parties to the other international instruments in force within the Antarctic Treaty system and their respective institutions with a view to ensuring the achievement of the objectives and principles of this Protocol and avoiding any interference with the achievement of the objectives and principles of those instruments or any inconsistency between the implementation of those instruments and of this Protocol. Article 6 Co-operation 1 The Parties shall co-operate in the planning and conduct of activities in the Antarctic Treaty area. To this end, each Party shall endeavour to: (a) promote co-operative programs of scientific, technical and educational value, concerning the protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems; (b) provide appropriate assistance to other Parties in the preparation of environmental impact assessments; (c) provide to other Parties upon request information relevant to any potential environmental risk and assistance to minimise the effects of accidents which may damage the Antarctic environment or dependent and associated ecosystems; (d) consult with other Parties with regard to the choice of sites for prospective station sand other facilities so as to avoid the cumulative impacts caused by their excessive concentration in any location; (e) where appropriate, undertake joint expeditions and share the use of stations and other facilities; and (f) carry out such steps as may be agreed upon at Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings. 2 Each Party undertakes, to the extent possible, to share information that may be helpful to other Parties in planning and conducting their activities in the Antarctic Treaty area, with a view to the protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems. 3 The Parties shall co-operate with those Parties which may exercise jurisdiction in areas adjacent to the Antarctic Treaty area with a view to ensuring that activities in the Antarctic Treaty area do not have adverse environmental impacts on those areas. Article 7 Prohibition of Mineral Resource Activities Any activity relating to mineral resources, other than scientific research, shall be prohibited. Article 8 Environmental Impact and Assessment 1 Proposed activities referred to in paragraph 2 below shall be subject to the procedures set out in Annex I for prior assessment of the impacts of those activities on the Antarctic environment or on dependent or associated ecosystems according to whether those activities are identified as having: (a) less than a minor or transitory impact; (b) a minor or transitory impact; or (c) more than a minor or transitory impact. 2 Each Party shall ensure that the assessment procedures set out in Annex I are applied in the planning processes leading to decisions about any activities undertaken in the Antarctic Treaty area pursuant to scientific research programs, tourism and all other governmental and non-governmental activities in the Antarctic Treaty area for which advance notice is required under Article VII (5) of the Antarctic Treaty, including associated logistic support activities. 3 The assessment procedures set out in Annex I shall apply to any change in an activity whether the change arises from an increase or decrease in the intensity of an existing activity, from the addition of an activity, the decommissioning of a facility, or otherwise. 4 Where activities are planned jointly by more than one Party, the Parties involved shall nominate one of their number to co-ordinate the implementation of the environmental impact assessment procedures set out in Annex I. Article 9 Annexes 1 The Annexes to this Protocol shall form an integral part thereof. 2 Annexes, additional to Annexes I-IV, may be adopted and become effective in accordance with Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty. 3 Amendments and modifications to Annexes may be adopted and become effective in accordance with Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty, provided that any Annex may itself make provision for amendments and modifications to become effective on an accelerated basis 4 Annexes and any amendments and modifications thereto which have become effective in accordance with paragraphs 2 and 3 above shall, unless an Annex itself provides otherwise in respect of the entry into effect of any amendment or modification thereto, become effective for a Contracting Party to the Antarctic Treaty which is not an Antarctic Treaty Consultative Party, or which was not an Antarctic Treaty Consultative Party at the time of the adoption, when notice of approval of that Contracting Party has been received by the Depositary. 5 Annexes shall, except to the extent that an Annex provides otherwise, be subject to the procedures for dispute settlement set out in Articles 18 to 20. Article 10 Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings 1 Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings shall, drawing upon the best scientific and technical advice available: (a) define, in accordance with the provisions of this Protocol, the general policy for the comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems; and (b) adopt measures under Article IX of the Antarctic Treaty for the implementation of this Protocol. 2 Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings shall review the work of the Committee and shall draw fully upon its advice and recommendations in carrying out the tasks referred to in paragraph 1 above, as well as upon the advice of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research. Article 11 Committee for Environmental Protection 1 There is hereby established the Committee for Environmental Protection. 2 Each Party shall be entitled to be a member of the Committee and to appoint a representative who may be accompanied by experts and advisers. 3 Observer status in the Committee shall be open to any Contracting Party to the Antarctic Treaty which is not a Party to this Protocol. 4 The Committee shall invite the President of the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research and the Chairman of the Scientific Committee for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources to participate as observers at its sessions. The Committee may also, with the approval of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, invite such other relevant scientific, environmental and technical organisations which can contribute to its work to participate as observers at its sessions. 5 The Committee shall present a report on each of its sessions to the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. The report shall cover all matters considered at the session and shall reflect the views expressed. The report shall be circulated to the Parties and to observers attending the session, and shall thereupon be made publicly available. 6 The Committee shall adopt its rules of procedure which shall be subject to approval by the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. Article 12 Functions of the Committee 1 The functions of the Committee shall be to provide advice and formulate recommendations to the Parties in connection with the implementation of this Protocol, including the operation of its Annexes, for consideration at Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings, and to perform such other functions as may be referred to it by the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings. In particular, it shall provide advice on: (a) the effectiveness of measures taken pursuant to this Protocol; (b) the need to update, strengthen or otherwise improve such measures; (c) the need for additional measures, including the need for additional Annexes, where appropriate; (d) the application and implementation of the environmental impact assessment procedures set out in Article 8 and Annex I; (e) means of minimising or mitigating environmental impacts of activities in the Antarctic Treaty area; (f) procedures for situations requiring urgent action, including response action in environmental emergencies; (g) the operation and further elaboration of the Antarctic Protected Area system; (h) inspection procedures, including formats for inspection reports and checklists for the conduct of inspections; (i) the collection, archiving, exchange and evaluation of information related to environmental protection; (j) the state of the Antarctic environment; and (k) the need for scientific research, including environmental monitoring, related to the implementation of this Protocol. 2 In carrying out its functions, the Committee shall, as appropriate, consult with the Scientific Committee on Antarctic Research, the Scientific Committee for the Conservation of Antarctic Marine Living Resources and other relevant scientific, environmental and technical organisations. Article 13 Compliance with this Protocol 1 Each Party shall take appropriate measures within its competence, including the adoption of laws and regulations, administrative actions and enforcement measures, to ensure compliance with this Protocol. 2 Each Party shall exert appropriate efforts, consistent with the Charter of the United Nations, to the end that no one engages in any activity contrary to this Protocol. 3 Each Party shall notify all other Parties of the measures it takes pursuant to paragraphs 1 and 2 above. 4 Each Party shall draw the attention of all other Parties to any activity which in its opinion affects the implementation of the objectives and principles of this Protocol . 5 The Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings shall draw the attention of any State which is not a Party to this Protocol to any activity undertaken by that State, its agencies, instrumentalities, natural or juridical persons, ships, aircraft or other means of transport which affects the implementation of the objectives and principles of this Protocol. Article 14 Inspection 1 In order to promote the protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems, and to ensure compliance with this Protocol, the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties shall arrange, individually or collectively, for inspections by observers to be made in accordance with Article VII of the Antarctic Treaty. 2 Observers are: (a) observers designated by any Antarctic Treaty Consultative Party who shall be nationals of that Party; and (b) any observers designated at Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings to carry out inspections under procedures to be established by an Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting. 3 Parties shall co-operate fully with observers undertaking inspections, and shall ensure that during inspections, observers are given access to all parts of stations, installations, equipment, ships and aircraft open to inspection under Article VII (3) of the Antarctic Treaty, as well as to all records maintained thereon which are called for pursuant to this Protocol. 4 Reports of inspections shall be sent to the Parties whose stations, installations, equipment, ships or aircraft are covered by the reports. After those Parties have been given the opportunity to comment, the reports and any comments thereon shall be circulated to all the Parties and to the Committee, considered at Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, and thereafter made publicly available. Article 15 Emergency Response Action In order to respond to environmental emergencies in ^ Antarctic Treaty area, each Party agrees to: (a) provide for prompt and effective response action to such emergencies which might arise in the performance of scientific research programs, tourism and all other governmental and non-governmental activities in the Antarctic Treaty area for which advance notice is required under Article VII (5) of the Antarctic Treaty, including associated logistic support activities; and (b) establish contingency plans for response to incidents with potential adverse effects on the Antarctic environment or dependent and associated ecosystems. 2 To this end, the Parties shall: (a) co-operate in the formulation and implementation of such contingency plans; and (b) establish procedures for immediate notification of, and co-operative response to, environmental emergencies. 3 In the implementation of this Article, the Parties shall draw upon the advice of the appropriate international organisations. Article 16 Liability Consistent with the objectives of this Protocol for the comprehensive protection of the Antarctic environment and dependent and associated ecosystems, the Parties undertake to elaborate rules and procedures relating to liability for damage arising from activities taking place in the Antarctic Treaty area and covered by this Protocol. Those rules and procedures shall be included in one or more Annexes to be adopted in accordance with Article 9 (2). Article 17 Annual Report by Parties 1 Each Party shall report annually on the steps taken to implement this Protocol. Such reports shall include notifications made in accordance with Article 13 (3), contingency plans established in accordance with Article 15 and any other notifications and information called for pursuant to this Protocol for which there is no other provision concerning the circulation and exchange of information. 2 Reports made in accordance with paragraph 1 above shall be circulated to all Parties and to the Committee, considered at the next Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meeting, and made publicly available. Article 18 Dispute Settlement If a dispute arises concerning the interpretation or application of this Protocol, the parties to the dispute shall, at the request of any one of them, consult among themselves as soon as possible with a view to having the dispute resolved by negotiation, inquiry, mediation, conciliation, arbitration, judicial settlement or other . which the parties to the dispute agree. Article 19 Choice of Dispute Settlement Procedure 1 Each Party, when signing, ratifying, accepting, approving or acceding to this Protocol, or at any time thereafter, may choose, by written declaration, one or both of the following means for the settlement of disputes concerning the interpretation or application of Articles 7, 8 and 15 and, except to the extent that an Annex provides otherwise, the provisions of any Annex and, insofar as it relates to these Articles and provisions, Article 13: (a) the International Court of Justice; (b)the Arbitral Tribunal. 2 A declaration made under paragraph 1 above shall not affect the operation of Article 18 and Article 20 (2). 3 A Party which has not made a declaration under paragraph 1 above or in respect of which a declaration is no longer in force shall be deemed to have accepted the competence of the Arbitral Tribunal. 4 If the parties to a dispute have accepted the same means for the settlement of a dispute, the dispute may be submitted only to that procedure, unless the parties otherwise agree. 5 If the parties to a dispute have not accepted the same means for the settlement of a dispute, or if they have both accepted both means, the dispute may be submitted only to the Arbitral Tribunal, unless the parties otherwise agree. 6 A declaration made under paragraph 1 above shall remain in force until it expires in accordance with its terms or until three months after written notice of revocation has been deposited with the Depositary. 7 A new declaration, a notice of revocation or the expiry of a declaration shall not in any way affect proceedings pending before the International Court of Justice or the Arbitral Tribunal, unless the parties to the dispute otherwise agree. 8 Declarations and notices referred to in this Article shall be deposited with the Depositary who shall transmit copies thereof to all Parties. Article 20 Dispute Settling Procedure 1 If the parties to a dispute concerning the interpretation or application of Articles 7, 8 or 15 or, except to the extent that an Annex provides otherwise, the provisions of any Annex or, insofar as it relates to these Articles and provisions, Article 13, have not agreed on a means for resolving it within 12 months of the request for consultation pursuant to Article 18, the dispute shall be referred, at the request of any party to the dispute, for settlement in accordance with the procedure determined by Article 19 (4) and (5). 2 The Arbitral Tribunal shall not be competent to decide or rule upon any matter within the scope of Article IV of the Antarctic Treaty. In addition, nothing in this Protocol shall be interpreted as conferring competence or jurisdiction on the International Court of Justice or any other tribunal established for the purpose of settling disputes between Parties to decide or otherwise rule upon any matter within the scope of Article IV of the Antarctic Treaty. Article 21 Signature This Protocol shall be open for signature at Madrid on the 4th of October 1991 and thereafter at Washington until the 3rd of October 1992 by any State which is a Contracting Party to the Antarctic Treaty Article 22 Ratification, Acceptance, Approval or Accession 1 This Protocol is subject to ratification, acceptance or approval by signatory States. 2 After the 3rd of October 1992 this Protocol shall be open for accession by any State which is a Contracting Party to the Antarctic Treaty. 3 Instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession shall be deposited with the Government of the United States of America, hereby designated as the Depository. 4 After the date on which this Protocol has entered into force, the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties shall not act upon a notification regarding the entitlement of a Contracting Party to the Antarctic Treaty to appoint representatives to participate in Antarctic Treaty Consultative Meetings in accordance with Article IX (2) of the Antarctic Treaty unless that Contracting Party has first ratified, accepted, approved or acceded to this Protocol. Article 23 Entry into Force 1 This Protocol shall enter into force on the thirtieth day following the date of deposit of instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession by all States which are Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties at the date on which this Protocol is adopted. 2 For each Contracting Party to the Antarctic Treaty which, subsequent to the date of entry into force of this Protocol, deposits an instrument of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession, this Protocol shall enter into force on the thirtieth day following such deposit. Article 24 Reservations Reservations to this Protocol shall not be permitted. Article 25 Modification or Amendment 1 Without prejudice to the provisions of Article 9, this Protocol may be modified or amended at any time in accordance with the procedures set forth in Article XII (1) (a) and (b) of the Antarctic Treaty. 2 If, after the expiration of 50 years from the date of entry into force of this Protocol, any of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties so requests by a communication addressed to the Depositary, a conference shall be held as soon as practicable to review the operation of this Protocol. 3 A modification or amendment proposed at any Review Conference called pursuant to paragraph 2 above shall be adopted by a majority of the Parties, including three-quarters of the States which are Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties at the time of adoption of this Protocol. 4 A modification or amendment adopted pursuant to paragraph 3 above shall enter into force upon ratification, acceptance, approval or accession by three-quarters of the Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties, including ratification, acceptance, approval or accession by all States which are Antarctic Treaty Consultative Parties at the time of adoption of this Protocol. 5 (a) With respect to Article 7. the prohibition on Antarctic mineral resource activities contained therein shall continue unless there is in force a binding legal regime on Antarctic mineral resource activities that includes an agreed means for determining whether, and if so, under which conditions, any such activities would be acceptable. This regime shall fully safeguard the interests of all States referred to in Article IV of the Antarctic Treaty and apply the principles thereof. Therefore, if a modification or amendment to Article 7 is proposed at a Review Conference referred to in paragraph 2 above, it shall include such a binding legal regime. (b) If any such modification or amendment has not entered into force within 3 years of the date of its adoption, any Party may at any time thereafter notify to the Depositary of its withdrawal from the Protocol, and such withdrawal shall take effect 2 years after receipt of the notification by the Depositary. Article 26 Notifications by the Depositary The Depositary shall notify all Contracting Parties to the Antarctic Treaty of the following: (a) signatures of this Protocol and the deposit of instruments of ratification, acceptance, approval or accession; (b) the date of entry into force of this Protocol and any additional Annex thereto; (c) the date of entry into force of any amendment or modification to this Protocol; (d) the deposit of declarations and notices pursuant to Article 19; and (e) any notification received pursuant to Article 25 (5) (b). Article 27 Authentic Texts and Registration with the United Nations 1 This Protocol, done in the English, French, Russian and Spanish languages, each version being equally authentic, shall be deposited in the archives of the Government of the United States of America, which shall transmit duly certified copies thereof to all Contracting Parties to the Antarctic Treaty. 2 This Protocol shall be registered by the Depositary pursuant to Article 102 of the Charter of the United Nations.

It's almost the holiday season, so that means buying gifts, making dinner and party plans and missing your family. The Navy offers some advice on how to stay stress-free this time of year.

30 Challenges for 30 Days of Growth By MARC We are what we repeatedly do. Excellence then, is not an act, but a habit. - Aristotle Scientists have suggested that, with a little willpower, it takes roughly 30 days for a person to form a new habit. As with mastering anything new, the act of starting and getting beyond the preliminary stage where everything feels awkward is 80% of the battle. This is precisely why it’s important to make small, positive changes every day over the course of at least a 30 day period. It’s like the old saying: “How do you eat an elephant? One bite at a time.” The same philosophy holds true for making changes in your life. Trying to bite off more than you can chew will only make you choke. But taking smaller, manageable bites, one at a time – eating a little healthier, exercising a little, creating some simple productive habits, for example – is an amazing way to make positive changes and get excited about life. And when you start small like this, you won’t need a lot of motivation either. The simple act of getting started and doing something will give you the momentum you need, and soon you’ll find yourself in a positive spiral of changes – one building on the other. When I started doing this in my life, I was so excited about it that I started this blog to share it with the world. Below you will find 30 challenges to be accomplished over the course of 30 days. If carried out diligently each of them has the potential to create a new positive habit in your life. Yes, there is some slight overlap between a few of them. And no, you don’t have to attempt all at once. Pick 2 to 5 and commit the next 30 days, wholeheartedly, to successfully completing the challenge. Then once you feel comfortable with these habits, challenge yourself with a few more the following month. 1. Use words that encourage happiness. – Typically, when I ask someone “How are you?” they reply, “I’m fine” or “I’m okay.” But one lazy Monday afternoon last month a new colleague of mine replied, “Oh, I am fabulous!” It made me smile, so I asked him what was making him feel so fabulous and he said, “I’m healthy, my family is healthy, and we live in a free country. So I don’t have any reason not to be happy.” The difference was simply his attitude and his choice of words. He wasn’t necessarily any better off than anyone else, but he seemed twenty times happier. Spend the next 30 days using words that encourage a smile. 2. Try one new thing every day. – Variety truly is the spice of life. You can see or do something a million times, but you can only see or do it for the first time once. As a result, first time experiences often leave reflective marks in our minds for the rest of our lives. Make an effort to try something new every day for the next 30 days. It can be a whole new activity or just a small experience, such as talking to a stranger. Once you get the ball rolling many of these new experiences will open doors to life changing opportunities. 3. Perform one selfless act every day. – In life, you get what you put in. When you make a positive impact in someone else’s life, you also make a positive impact in your own life. Do something that’s greater than you, something that helps someone else be happy or suffer less. I promise, it will be an extremely rewarding experience. One you’ll likely remember forever. Obviously your options here are limitless, but if you’re looking to assist an ordinary person in need without leaving your chair, check out GoFundMe. 4. Learn and practice one new skill every day. – Self-reliance is a vital key to living a healthy, productive life. To be self-reliant one must master a basic set of skills, more or less making them a jack of all trades. Contrary to what you may have learned in school, a jack of all trades is far more equipped to deal with life than a specialized master of only one. And besides, learning new skills is fun. 5. Teach someone something new every day. – We all have natural strengths and talents that can dramatically help those around us. What comes easy for you is no doubt challenging for others. We tend to take these gifts for granted, often hardly noticing what we have to offer, and thus we rarely share them with others. Inner happiness and zeal come from using these inherent gifts on a routine basis. What do people thank you for? What do people routinely ask for your help with? Most people’s passions and talents help others in one way or another. Perhaps for you it’s painting, teaching math, cooking a good meal or leading an exercise class. For the next 30 days devote some time each day to sharing your talents and expertise. 6. Dedicate an hour a day to something you’re passionate about.– Take part in something you passionately believe in. This could be anything. Some people take an active role in their city council, some find refuge in religious faith, some join social clubs supporting causes they believe in and others find passion in their hobbies. In each case the psychological outcome is the same. They engage themselves in something they strongly believe in. This engagement brings happiness and meaning into their lives. Read Stumbling on Happiness . 7. Treat everyone nicely, even those who are rude to you. – Being nice to someone you dislike doesn’t mean you’re fake. It means you’re mature enough to control your emotions. Treat everyone with kindness and respect, even those who are rude to you – not because they’re nice, but because you are. Do this for 30 days and I guarantee you’ll see the rudeness around you dissipate. 8. Concentrate on being positive at all times. – The real winners in life cultivate optimism. They have the ability to manufacture their own happiness and drive. No matter what the situation, the successful diva is the chick who will always find a way to put an optimistic spin on it. She knows failure only as an opportunity to grow and learn a new lesson from life. People who think optimistically see the world as a place packed with endless opportunities, especially in trying times. Try to spend the next 30 days looking at the bright side of things. 9. Address and acknowledge the lesson in inconvenient situations. – It’s important to remember that everything is a life lesson. Everyone you meet, everything you encounter, etc. They’re all part of the learning experience we call ‘life.’ Never forget to acknowledge the lesson, especially when things don’t go your way. If you don’t get a job you wanted or a relationship doesn’t work, it only means something better is out there waiting. And the lesson you just learned is the first step toward it. Over the next 30 days keep a written log of all the lessons life taught you. 10. Pay attention and enjoy your life as it happens. – When I watched the Academy Awards a few months ago I realized that most of the speeches actors and actresses make when they accept an award go something like this: “This means so much so me. My whole life has been leading up to this moment.” But the truth is, our whole lives have been leading up to every moment. Think about that for a second. Every single thing you’ve gone through in life, every high, every low and everything in between, it has led you to this moment right now. Ask yourself this: How much of life are you actually living? If you’re like most people, the answer is likely: “Not enough.” The key is to concentrate on a little less on doing and a little more on being. Remember, right now is the only moment guaranteed to you. Right now is life. Spend the next 30 days living in the now, for real. 11. Get rid of one thing a day for 30 days. – We have so much clutter surrounding us at any given moment (at the office, in our cars, in our homes) and we’ve become so accustomed to it that we no longer notice how it affects us. If you start cleaning up some of this external clutter, a lot of internal clutter will disappear as well. Choose one needless item each and every day and get rid of it. It’s that simple. It might be difficult at first, so expect some resistance. But after some time you will begin to learn to let go of your packrat tendencies, and your mind will thank you for your efforts. 12. Create something brand new in 30 days or less. – Creation is a process like none other. Putting to use your innovative faculties and constructing something with your own two hands will leave you with an indescribable sense of wholeness. There is no substitute for it. The only caveat is that it must be related to something you actually care about. If you are creating financial plans for clients all day and you hate it, that doesn’t really count. But if you can find something you love, and create something related to it, it will make all the difference in your life. If you haven’t created something in a while just for the sake of creating, do so. Take the next 30 days and let your creativity run wild. 13. Don’t tell a single lie for 30 days. – With all the seemingly innocent, white lies that trickle out of us, this is way harder than it sounds. But you can do it. Stop deceiving yourself and others, speak from the heart, speak the whole truth. 14. Wake up 30 minutes early every morning. – Get up 30 minutes earlier than usual so you don’t have to rush around like a mad man. That 30 minutes will help you avoid speeding tickets, tardiness and other unnecessary headaches. Give it a legitimate try for 30 days straight and see how it impacts your life. 15. Ditch 3 bad habits for 30 days. – Do you eat too much fast food? Do you play too many video games? Do you argue with your siblings? You know some of your bad habits. Pick 3 and quit doing them for 30 days. Period. 16. Watch less than 30 minutes of TV every day. – Entertain yourself with real-world experiences. Great memories are the product of interesting life experiences. So turn off the television (or the computer if that’s how you watch your TV programs) and get outdoors. Interact with the world, appreciate nature, take notice of the simple pleasures life has to offer, and just watch as life unfolds in front of you. 17. Define one long-term goal and work on it for an hour every day. – Break your goal down into bite-sized pieces and focus on achieving each one piece at a time. It really is all about taking baby steps, and taking the first step is often the hardest. Spend an hour every day for the next 30 days working toward something you’ve always wanted to accomplish. Take a small dream and make it a reality. Read Getting Things Done . 18. Read one chapter of a good book every day. – With the Web’s endless stream of informative, easy-to-skim textual snippets and collaborative written works, people are spending more and more time reading online. Nevertheless, the Web cannot replace the authoritative wisdom from certain classic books that have delivered (or will deliver) profound ideas around the globe for generations. Books open doors, in your mind and in your life. Read an online book list and find a good book to grab at the library today. Then spend the next 30 days reading at least one chapter a day until you reach the end. 19. Every morning, watch or read something that inspires you. – Sometimes all you need is a little pep talk. For the next 30 days, before you eat breakfast, or leave the house, watch a motivational video or read something (quotation, blog post, short story, etc.) that inspires you. 20. Do something every day after lunch that makes you laugh. – Watch a funny video clip on YouTube, read your favorite comic strip, or find a good joke online. A good chuckle stimulates the mind and can give you a renewed level on energy. The best time for this laugh is during the lull in the mid-afternoon, when you need it most. 21. Go alcohol and drug free for 30 days. – This challenge depends on your individual circumstance. If you are a heavy user of alcohol or a particular drug it is not recommended that you quit cold turkey. You need to see a physician and ease off of the substance slowly. But if you are a casual user, quit right now for 30 days. If you’re looking for a natural energy boosting alternative to a substance, check out 50 Natural Ways To Boost Your Energy. 22. Exercise for 30 minutes every day for 30 days. – Your health is your life. Don’t let it go. Eat right, exercise and get an annual physical check-up. The 4-Hour Body is an insightful and entertaining read on this topic. 23. Get uncomfortable and face a fear every day. – With a strategy of continuous small steps into uncomfortable territory we are often able to sidestep the biggest barrier to positive change: Fear. Sometimes we’re afraid we’ll fail. Sometimes we’re subconsciously afraid we’ll succeed and then we’d have to deal with all the disruption (growth) and change that follows success. And other times it’s our fear of rejection or simply our fear of looking like a fool. The best way to defeat fear is to stare it down. Connect to your fear, feel it in your body, realize it and steadily address it. Greet it by name if you have to: “Welcome, fear.” Fear can be a guiding friend if you learn how to swallow it, and listen to it only when it serves its true purpose of warning you when you are in danger. Spend an hour every day for the next 30 day’s addressing a fear that is holding you back. 24. Cook one brand new, healthy recipe every day. – Cooking is fun, challenges your mind, and if done correctly, provides vital nutrients to your body. Win-Win-Win. How to Cook Everything by Mark Bittman is great tool for this challenge. Packed with 900 pages of simple instructions on how to cook everything you could ever dream of eating, it’s pretty much the greatest cookbook ever written. Prepare one new, healthy recipe every day for the next 30 days. 25. Spend 10 minutes every evening reflecting on what went well.– For the next 30 days spend 10 minutes every evening pondering the small successes that occurred during the course of the day. This process of positive reflection will remind you of all the tiny blessings in your life, and help you to celebrate your personal growth. 26. Have a conversation every day with someone you rarely speak to. – People are interesting creatures, and no two people are exactly alike. Interacting with different people will open your mind to fascinating ideas and perspectives. So for the next 30 days strike up a conversation daily with someone you rarely speak to, or someone you’ve never met before. Find out what makes them tick. 27. Pay down debt and don’t create any new debt for 30 days. – Live well below your means. Don’t buy stuff you don’t need. Sleep on big purchases. Create a budget and savings plan and stick to them. For the next 30 days pay for things in cash and micro-manage every cent you make and spend. Read I Will Teach You To Be Rich . 28. Let go of one relationship that constantly hurts you. – Keep people in your life who truly love you, motivate you, encourage you, enhance you, and make you happy. If you know people who do none of these things, let them go and make room for new positive relationships. Over the next 30 days, if relevant to your situation, gradually let go of one person in your life who has been continuously hurting you and holding you back. 29. Publicly forgive someone who deserves another chance. – Sometimes good relationships end abruptly because of big egos and arguments based on isolated incidents. If there’s someone in your life who truly deserves another chance, give it to them. If you need to apologize too, do it. Over the next 30 days give your story together a new chapter. 30. Document every day with one photograph and one paragraph.– For 30 days bring a camera with you wherever you go. Do your best to take one photograph that represents a standout experience from each day. Then, before you go to bed each night, write one paragraph in a notebook or journal that highlights your day. If do it all digitally you can unite your daily photograph and paragraph in one digital space (like a personal blog), which can be easily reviewed in the future. Many moons from now these old photos and journal entries will ignite your recollection of interesting memories you would have otherwise forgotten. As you progress through these challenges remember, personal growth is a slow, steady process. It can’t be rushed. You need to work on it gradually every day. There is ample time for you to be who you want to be in life. Don’t settle for less than what you think you deserve, or less than you know you can be. Despite the struggles you’ll face along the way, never give up on yourself. You’re braver than you believe, stronger than you seem, smarter than you think, and twice as capable as you have ever imagined.

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