no faith and nothing but faith
balance eludes both
one tree is not a forest- Topher ZiCornell
Recently in Writings Category
Let he who has an ear to hear listen to my words that they may not be
scattered by the winds before they can take root in fertile ground.
Advertisers, read:
I have nothing against advertising on web-sites. In fact, I think it's a Very Good thing. It allows web-sites to be supported by chosen sponsors, or even a big group of sponsors. Great, that! It encourages people to build web-sites that provide real value. I'm all about real value.
Thus I do not arbitrarily block ads. I do not seek to eliminate all advertising from my web experience. But I do use selective ad blockers.
There is one thing and one thing only that causes me to add a new rule to my ad blocker. ANNOYANCE.
I don't relish my ad blocking capabilities. I don't flaunt them or swing them around my head like a morning star ready to take out any who come within arms-reach. I'm just a bit selfish. I just want to be able to get at the web-sites I'm trying to get at. Is that so wrong?
. Topher
I have nothing against advertising on web-sites. In fact, I think it's a Very Good thing. It allows web-sites to be supported by chosen sponsors, or even a big group of sponsors. Great, that! It encourages people to build web-sites that provide real value. I'm all about real value.
Thus I do not arbitrarily block ads. I do not seek to eliminate all advertising from my web experience. But I do use selective ad blockers.
There is one thing and one thing only that causes me to add a new rule to my ad blocker. ANNOYANCE.
- If your ad prohibits me from seeing the web page I'm trying to view until I pay attention to it, I'll block it.
- If your ad blinks or flashes in a epileptic-enducing pattern, I'll block it.
- If your ad pops up another window that I then have to manually close, I'll block it.
I don't relish my ad blocking capabilities. I don't flaunt them or swing them around my head like a morning star ready to take out any who come within arms-reach. I'm just a bit selfish. I just want to be able to get at the web-sites I'm trying to get at. Is that so wrong?
. Topher
Alright. Enough of my babbling. The short of this whole smile business:
The single, most impactful, most significant thing you can do to make
you a better person is to smile. Smile to be pretty, smile to be smart,
smile to get girls and smile for your heart.
They say laughter is the best medicine. Well it may not be the best, we have some pretty good stuff these days, but still. Did you know that laughter actually boosts the human immune system?
The Archives of Internal Medicine recently published a study by a team of Dutch researches which found that being optimistic significantly reduced the risk of demise by heart disease in men. A blurb from a brief of the report:
"Just the facts, Ma'am."
After exposure to humor, there is a general increase in activity within the immune system, including an increase in the number and activity level of natural killer cells that attack viral infected cells and some types of cancer and tumor cells, an increase in activated T cells (T lymphocytes) [...], an increase in the antibody IgA (immunoglobulin A), which fights upper respiratory tract insults and infections, [... and it keeps going!]
[ source: Holistic Online ]
The Archives of Internal Medicine recently published a study by a team of Dutch researches which found that being optimistic significantly reduced the risk of demise by heart disease in men. A blurb from a brief of the report:
Among men ages 64 to 84 who were free of cardiovascular disease and cancer, those who consistently looked at the bright side of life and had generally positive expectations had a 55% lower risk for cardiovascular mortality compared with gloomy pessimistic men.
[ source: MedPage Today ]
"Just the facts, Ma'am."
Again, the most consistent advice given by guys who are good with women
to guys who aren't: relax and smile. Oh, but what's more: make her smile.
Don Diebel, publisher of a self-proclaiming newletter on dating, says, "Single women love a man with a good sense of humor. If you can make her laugh, she will really be attracted to you."
Tip #3 in the Top 6 Dating Tips To Help You Date Women And Succeed At It! at EzineArticles quips, "If you can make her laugh half your battle is already won."
I think there's really no mystery here: People like to laugh. Not only that but they like to share their laughter too. In a dating environment, these two things work together quite well to form and strengthen attractions. Of course having a good sense of humor in dating is no guarantee of anything, but if things don't work out at least you got a laugh out of it.
Don Diebel, publisher of a self-proclaiming newletter on dating, says, "Single women love a man with a good sense of humor. If you can make her laugh, she will really be attracted to you."
Tip #3 in the Top 6 Dating Tips To Help You Date Women And Succeed At It! at EzineArticles quips, "If you can make her laugh half your battle is already won."
I think there's really no mystery here: People like to laugh. Not only that but they like to share their laughter too. In a dating environment, these two things work together quite well to form and strengthen attractions. Of course having a good sense of humor in dating is no guarantee of anything, but if things don't work out at least you got a laugh out of it.
The most consistent advice given by self-help professionals around the
world on how to interact with other people in any given situation is to
smile.
A great quote by Henry Miller:
"Mighty glad!" Love that.
Go to any career advising site and look up their interviewing tips and tricks or whatever similar. They'll have it listed right there, just like CareerOne in Australia:
The short of it: It is profitable to smile.
A great quote by Henry Miller:
When you speak to people -- smile. It is a wonderful thing when you meet someone and they just instinctively smile and say "I am mighty glad to know you." There is power in a smile. It is one of the best relaxation exercises of which I know.
"Mighty glad!" Love that.
Go to any career advising site and look up their interviewing tips and tricks or whatever similar. They'll have it listed right there, just like CareerOne in Australia:
On the way to the interview, walk tall and smile. Strangers will smile back at you and the receptionist at the interview firm will be nice to you. By the time you hit the interview, you'll feel good.
The short of it: It is profitable to smile.
Say, "Cheeeeeeeeze."
Yes, it's true! You can be more photogenic just by smiling. Look at this:
Now look at this:
I think the evidence speaks for itself on this one.
Yes, it's true! You can be more photogenic just by smiling. Look at this:
Now look at this:
I think the evidence speaks for itself on this one.
Alright, so enough with my antics already. Let's get down to business.
I think you've already figured out what I'm trying to say, "Smile." The
defiant among you might respond with a flippant, "Why should I?"
I could just say it makes me feel good if you smile, but we all know that Copernicus was wrong, that each of our respective universes really does center upon ourselves. So what I think really isn't much of a motivator for you. Instead, let me ask you a few questions. We can all sing-along the answer.
Do you want to be more photogenic? Smile.
Do you want to get a new job? Smile.
Do you want to better success in your dating life? Smile.
Do you want to be healthier? Smile.
I could just say it makes me feel good if you smile, but we all know that Copernicus was wrong, that each of our respective universes really does center upon ourselves. So what I think really isn't much of a motivator for you. Instead, let me ask you a few questions. We can all sing-along the answer.
Do you want to be more photogenic? Smile.
Do you want to get a new job? Smile.
Do you want to better success in your dating life? Smile.
Do you want to be healthier? Smile.
I have this particular friend. He was always willing to appreciate the
beauty around us in all shapes and sizes, if you know what I mean
(nudge, nudge, wink, wink).
He had a rare and peculiar wisdom. One might even call it obscure at times. But on one particular day when his wisdom was more obvious, a woman passed him by. The woman was gorgeous by our American standards. Lovely eyes... blond hair styled oh-so-right... with those well-proportioned... hands! (What did you think I was going to say?!) But she had this scowl on her face that could crack open a bank vault. This wise man turned to another friend of mine and said, "Beauty is skin deep; Attitude is to the bone."
Personally, I think he was quoting a song.
He had a rare and peculiar wisdom. One might even call it obscure at times. But on one particular day when his wisdom was more obvious, a woman passed him by. The woman was gorgeous by our American standards. Lovely eyes... blond hair styled oh-so-right... with those well-proportioned... hands! (What did you think I was going to say?!) But she had this scowl on her face that could crack open a bank vault. This wise man turned to another friend of mine and said, "Beauty is skin deep; Attitude is to the bone."
Personally, I think he was quoting a song.
I'm not a bad person. Really. Well, ok, I might have a few moments of
evil chuckling at the sight of a cat being chased by a cute little rottweiler, but that's only because I know the cat won't get caught.
Probably.
But I want to be better. I want to be one of those people who everybody is happy to see. I want to be one of those people who light up the room when they walk in, one of those people who looks happy even in those strangely lit surprise pictures. You know the ones I mean, those pictures taken when you were busy minding your own business picking the nuts out of a brownie, pretending you understand what auntie Jane is blabbing on about when you mother suddenly yells your name causing you to look around only to be blinded by the flash of her camera as she memorializes that precious moment for all eternity.
And I think I've found the secret. It's almost too slight a thing to believe it could be so key. In fact, it almost feels like one of those dream ideas that seems so great while you're asleep... but no, this one is real. I've tried it, tested it, proved it. It's surprising sometimes, but it works.
Just smile.
But I want to be better. I want to be one of those people who everybody is happy to see. I want to be one of those people who light up the room when they walk in, one of those people who looks happy even in those strangely lit surprise pictures. You know the ones I mean, those pictures taken when you were busy minding your own business picking the nuts out of a brownie, pretending you understand what auntie Jane is blabbing on about when you mother suddenly yells your name causing you to look around only to be blinded by the flash of her camera as she memorializes that precious moment for all eternity.
And I think I've found the secret. It's almost too slight a thing to believe it could be so key. In fact, it almost feels like one of those dream ideas that seems so great while you're asleep... but no, this one is real. I've tried it, tested it, proved it. It's surprising sometimes, but it works.
Just smile.
