Neel's Tips & Tidbits

Seattle Real Estae

2009-11-15T23:17:00.000-08:00

As I migrate away from this page and begin blogging for business, please check in with either this page, or my new Seattle Real Estate page. I will continue to post personal blurbs on this page, while my new page will be related to my occupation (or at least one of them.)

I miss my readers and giving my bit to the blogosphere, but it's great to be back!

Test of Time

2007-06-04T00:54:00.000-07:00

For forty one years you should be proud

As your son I want to shout aloud

To be a part of something so wonderful, magical, and full of love

So admired, envied, and fondly thought of

And on this day remembered with tears in your eyes

Think of each other, your children, your wedding sighs

For there is something you must hold truly sublime

Your love, which has stood the test of time

Lagging

2007-05-11T02:24:00.000-07:00

I can't believe that I only posted twice in 2006 and not at all this year! I certainly need to dust this thing off and get back to work. My life has been constantly changing in the last few years. I am still trying to figure out where I want to live and what i want to be when I grow up, so hang in there and I will let you know.

Disclaimer: This may take a while.

Air Travel Made Easy Part 2

2006-11-10T19:00:00.000-08:00

Before beginning this post read "Air Travel Made Easy" below.

”What?” came the first reply. They were not pleased, I believe that is when the woman declared all out war on me. “You got a problem?” My mind raced and I began thinking about all the ruling against un-ruley passengers and began to think, am I acting like one of them? In case I lost you, approximately 7 to 10 years ago a new term was coined “air rage.” It was not long after “road rage” and slightly before “bowling rage” (okay, the last one I made up).

Where was I? Oh yeah, explaining why I am stuck in Newark. After a brief argument with the woman and the man (who chimed in at the end) I was standing with my case in the same place I had stood for the last 20 minutes. “Okay, look I’m sorry” I said, groveling, hoping for them not to deny me a seat on the flight, after all I had read about Courtney Love, The guy from Lock Stock, and Dianna Ross, all being handcuffed as they deplaned. “Can you just check my bag…please?” I asked. “You gotta take it over there to security!” she said, now quite perturbed. “You know, there are new rules in effect!” “I know, I just flew last week.” I had just flown from Seattle to New York the week before, and only about 2 weeks before that I had flown from Seattle to Manchester, England, and from Manchester to Warsaw and so on. I was well aware of the “new rules.”

”Maybe it was a different airline!” She was determined to come out the winner. Now she was just being rude. I realized what they were telling me, they didn’t take the bags and turn around and put them on the conveyor anymore, at least not this airline. So I picked up my bag and gathered my thoughts as well as my things. As I took the first step away from my two biggest fans I heard, “HAVE A NICE DA – AY!” I walked to TSA (another story completely) gave him the bag to run through security, then I turned around and walked back to her, “What is your name?” I said, looking at her badge. It’s Lat-oy-yah!” She bitched back, “Do you want me to spell that for you?!!!” “No, I’ll manage.” I walked away trembling as my blood boiled, with her face, name badge, and smirk etched in my mind.

I understand there are unruly passengers, I understand there are threats of terrorism, and I understand that airline employees may have been treated badly at some time in the past, but that does not give them the right to treat passengers badly now. Try flying most any other carrier outside North America and you will find a very different situation, most of the people working on these airlines want to help and seem to enjoy their jobs. If KLM can treat their passengers with dignity and respect why can’t Delta, Northwest, or Delta?

Air Travel Made Easy

2006-11-07T07:57:00.000-08:00

It seems to say the least ironic that my most recent run-in with the air industry comes on a day that I read “Face the Nation” in this months issue of GQ, while…wait for it…sitting in the airport! Jim Nelson the periodicals Editor and Chief writes a witty yet poignant piece about how we can no longer carry our much needed grooming products making us feel much safer in the air these days.

While he was at JFK, I am at Newark. (A vast improvement, if he ever sees this I am sure he will be quite envious to say the least!) I am sitting perched in a very uncomfortable chair where an internet connection costs $7.95 whether you use it for 3 seconds or 23 hours! I had the sheer fortune of traveling over 20,000 miles in the last month, and every airline as well as every airport has their own version or their own interpretation of what the new security measures should be, or rather ARE!

At some point I should let you know the approximate cost per hour of living in an airport, those guys at $50 (“Frommers”, the publication that puts out books such as, “England on $50 a day.”) would have a very hard time here.

So back to the point behind my writing this bit. After being shunned at the NWA (no not the rap group from the late 80s) I find out that my flight is cancelled and I will have to take the next one which is due to take off in 12 hours! So I get to the ticket counter well in advance of the requisite two hours before my flight is scheduled to depart. I lug my cases to the counter where two ticketing agents are engaged in extremely important conversation with a security official of how Britney managed to lose the weight without pills OR a trainer! I approached and asked to be helped; I was shunned to the machine to check in electronically, although there were approximately 5 agents at 3 posts not attending to anyone. I followed orders like a good little soldier, but I couldn’t help feeling a bit rejected and also bothered by the fact that these people were doing nothing. I can understand using this policy when you are very busy, but when you have nothing to do, it seems you would want to service your customers hence the term, “customer service”.

Okay after a couple of failed attempts I managed to get the machine to accept my reservation and passport. Then I had to return to the agents to check my bag. “Hang on its printing.” said the agent rather in a rather curt fashion. I waited. It printed. They asked, “You going to Tee-gel” “Sorry?” I replied. “You going to Tee-Gel, we need to see your passport.” One said. “Oh…”I replied, reaching for my passport, “Why did you have my go through the machine, it wanted my passport as well, could you not have saved time by just checking me in here instead of having a chat with the security officer?”

Stay tuned more to come!

Blog Revival

2006-10-06T23:16:00.000-07:00

Time to dust off the old blog and get back to work. Stay tuned for new and improved posts!

Indigo

2005-12-12T18:24:00.000-08:00

The word Indigo has a deep cultural history, its root being derived from the Greek word indicum, meaning a substance from India. Dyes were a highly priced commodity in the early 17th century amongst the silk route and made popular by the East India Company. Named after the plant which bears the same name, Indigo the color (or dye) was being sold in finished textiles rather than raw material by the mid 17th century.

During the second half of the 18th century Bengal and Bihar became the major processors of Indigo through promotion by the East India Company. Much to the distress of the rest of the country Bengal quickly became the world's biggest producer of indigo causing riots in Bihar and other parts of the vast country.

Indigo made a major contribution to the fashions of the 20th and 21st century when it was used to color denim used for dungarees (jeans). First made popular by Levi Strauss in the 1800s. during the gold rush. So, the next time you purchase a pair of jeans or anything colored with this rich and beautiful dye, you can be reminded of the rich history of indigo.

Wilde

2005-10-10T20:21:00.000-07:00

Women love us for our defects. If we have enough of them, they will forgive us everything, even our gigantic intellects.

Oscar Wilde

Blogged Out

2005-09-20T01:03:00.000-07:00

Please forgive my absence of late. I have been informed by some of my readers that my material is getting staid and that I am, “a slacker”. Although that is a true comment, I have also been a bit busy, and a bit blogged out.

I know from reading other blogs that many of you get blogger burn out at times, and I hope you will continue to come back to this page after I the blog fog has been lifted. My buddy Jaxe pointed out that I am too serious at times with some of my posts, which is probably a fairly accurate statement.

I’ll tell you what. Why don’t you (my beloved readers) tell me what I should write about? The person with the most clever and original subject or idea will win this contest of sorts, and I shall attempt to immortalize my muse in words

Blogs Give Businesses A Boost

2005-09-06T00:05:00.000-07:00

As we all continue to ponder why we blog, it seems many business are blasting off into the stratosphere, or perphaps the blogosphere, on thier journey to the top. I recently read an article in Business 2.0 which was actually about company startups in the ever evolving and highly technological world in which we live.

It has been noted that many large corporations are starting to pay more and more attention to bloggers, giving them a great deal of power and voice. Amongst the plethora of blogs in what some refer to as the "blogosphere", consumers have been enabled to obtain critical information about new products or services as they hit the market. They can now easily make educated decisions about buying these products or services, and even review and make recommendations for other similarly interested consumers. Some of the countries newest startups have blogs to thank for their success.

Music - Coming Soon To A Blog Near You!

2005-08-27T15:57:00.000-07:00

If you have been following my blog for a while, you know that my first love is music, listening to it yeah, but playing it, and writing it gives me immense satisfaction. I started playing guitar at the age of 12, and although I gave up more than once as a young whipper snapper, I eventually learned how to bang out a few chords and play a decent rhythm while singing.

I have had my brief brushes with fame, working with a famous producer in Germany and working and becoming friends with some of the biggest names in pop and rock music. I owned two fairly infamous bars in downtown Seattle which became the favored night spots by the rock and roll elite.

Most recently, I have had the good fortune of meeting Jaxe (pronounced Jakes, yeah I too thought it was Jacks). Anyway, he has been sending files; that I am going to try and add tracks to, we will post them for your review eventually, but it’s a rather slow process. I am working on a solo track to post in the meantime, probably a cover, but its better than nothing. Stay tuned; more to come….

The Perfect Kiss

2005-08-17T14:02:00.000-07:00

"It's just a kiss" he might say, as he tries to convince you for that elusive kiss goodnight. As you contemplate whether or not to allow him that very personal contact with what you consider a very intimate touch and part of your body, your head spins with thoughts that this could be it, but alas he moves in for the kiss and blows it within the first second.

My friend told me that she had a first date over the weekend and that it turned out to be a fiasco, with a bad kiss being the icing on the cake of a terrible evening. The week following the date (the kiss) she has been avioding calls from who she reffers to as, "Bad Kisser."

Some say that a woman decides within the first 5 minutes of meeting a man whether or not she would be willing to have sex with him. I have talked to enough women to know that they may initially decide to have sex with him, but something he does later in the evening can blow it, not just for that evening but forever! One of the worst things a man can do to ruin his chances is not know how to kiss her. Not only that, it seems a bad kiss amongst single women can be a reoccurring topic of discussion.

I don’t know if it's because most guys think it's not masculine to kiss, or if it's because most of their pleasure comes from lower down, but I know from my male friends that they just don’t care much about kissing. I don’t get it, I love kissing, if it's done properly its wonderful, and it’s the perfect foreplay increasing blood flow to the entire body and heightening arousal for both parties. However, it takes two to tango. I can't begin to tell you how many times I have started to kiss someone for the first time and found out she can't kiss! At times I try to teach them by gently trying to get them to emulate my own technique, but it can be like wrestling with an alligator! At some point you just have to give up.

To be continued.

Blogger Down

2005-08-03T11:36:00.000-07:00

Please forgive my absence of late, not only from commenting on your blogs, but posting new entries on my own. I just underwent major sinus surgery with a side order of septoplasty, six procedures in all!

The procedures were done Monday and I only had to spend a day and a half in the hospital. I am pretty doped up right now, so I will leave this here, and then add more later. Please feel free to ask questions, but there may be some delay in response time over the next week or so. Cheers!

Writers Block

2005-07-26T00:17:00.000-07:00

The pen felt odd in my hand, as I scribbled feverishly in the old leather-bound notebook my grandfather had left behind. I glanced down at the slightly yellowed page; the indigo ink had smeared from the perspiration my hand had left. I wiped my brow and looked again at what I had so hastily written:

Sometimes I wake to watch you sleep
To see the angles fall like rain
That rest by your side
And feel your warm breath against my chest
The look of peace upon your face
And distant yet familiar smile….

The ennui seemed to have permiated my very being. I stared again, at the clumsy words, but nothing more would come.

Blasts Fail

2005-07-22T00:37:00.000-07:00

Another attempt to disrupt the lives of Londoners seemed to fail miserably, as bombs placed in three underground trains and one bus failed to cause any major damage and injured only one person.

London Police are saying it is too early to tell if these attacks are the work of a copycat, or a more sophisticated terror group however, they say the evidence shows the latest attempts be amateurish. Experts are saying that the explosives probably came from the same tainted batch and this would be the cause of them failing.

Free Katie Holmes!

2005-07-15T16:42:00.000-07:00

I heard an amusing interview with Rock Icon Iggy Pop yesterday on NPR. I have known of Iggy Pop for 25 years or so, but I have never been a huge fan, the way I am of his friend and rock and roll collaborator David Bowie. Iggy commanded the interview yesterday and made the interviewer laugh and look rather silly on more than one occasion.

He discussed his exercise regime of sex and Qigong (pronounced Chi Gong), but it was when Iggy was asked why he often did not wear a shirt that I burst out laughing. Iggy told the interviewer that he respected the Pharos of Egypt and they never wore a shirt. He went on to say that clothes say so much about a person and he didn’t want to send the wrong message, for example he could wear a T-shirt that said, "Free Katie Holmes!"

By now I think most of us have seen or heard of the infamous Tom Cruise interview and the recent media circus started when he commented on Brooke Shield’s use of therapy and drugs to help her get through a very difficult ordeal with postpartum depression. Brook fired back with a letter explaining her condition and stating, "I'm going to take a wild guess and say that Mr. Cruise has never suffered from postpartum depression." I thought that Shield's letter was well written and considerate.

Love them or hate them, Tom, Katie and Brooke all live in world very different to the majority of us, a world where what they say can hurt, haunt, and hinder their lives. Iggy Pop lives in a similar world, but he seems to choose his words carefully although it doesn’t seem as though he cares much about what people think of him.

So Busy

2005-07-10T19:20:00.000-07:00

I have been doing nothing but going to doctors lately. While I am recovering (got the splints out yesterday) I am not writing as much, but I thought I needed a new post. So you can check out my other blogs, i have some cool info on there and the newest one is a contest of sorts for a few of us to try and get in better shape. Let me know what you think, and if you have any suggestions.

http://fit4her.blogspot.com/

http://cooking4her.blogspot.com/

http://projectfitblog.blogspot.com/

London Calling

2005-07-08T23:58:00.000-07:00

I was very happy that London was awarded the 2012 Olympics, but this was quickly overshadowed by tragedy. Although I was sickened by the events that took place in London on the 7th, I admire the courage, stoicism, and resilience of Londoners. London Bloggers are calling for protests and solidarity.

Like my brother Robi, I was most concerned for my friends and family that reside there. Fortunately, no one close to me was hurt. My cousin missed the bomb at King's Cross by one hour during his daily commute to work.

London holds a very special place in my heart. I have lived for short periods in London and traveled the "Tubes", hundreds if not thousands of times. My heart goes out to all of those who lost their lives or their loved ones. We can all help by donating anything we can to The British Red Cross.

Diagnosis

2005-07-01T14:11:00.000-07:00

My MRI was read yesterday and the diagnosis was positive for a herniated disc at L5 S1 (a coordinate at the specific location in the spine.) I wanted to thank everyone who has sent me well wishes and also to let you know I am fine. I am quite a stoic person when it comes to pain.

The doctor prescribed me morphine last week, but I only took it for 2 days. Currently I am just trying to rest; my hope is that the inflammation dies down without the need for surgery. Oddly enough my younger brother just had surgery for this exact same thing in March however; the disc (in precisely the same location) was bulging quite substantially and causing him major complications with sciatica and numbness.

I will write more later. Again, thank you all, but you don’t have to be concerned as I am coping just fine.

What Did You Say?

2005-06-26T23:11:00.000-07:00

Interpretation can be defined as an explanation or conceptualization by a critic of a work of literature, painting, music, or other art form; or something that serves to explain or clarify. The interesting and often funny thing is how we interpret one another in our day to day activities. It is hard enough to try and interpret spoken language while interacting with our friends and family, but even harder to interpret someone we don’t know well, like a salesperson, co-worker, or tech support operator.

Now throw in sarcasm, politics and religion and it’s a wonder we understand each other at all at times. Language is constantly evolving, and English is the best known example of this. Expressions, colloquialisms, deviations, and derivations illustrate the ever-changing complexity of the English language. The language adopts hundreds of new words per year, as they evolve via use and misuse alike, coincidentally "blog" was picked as word of the year in 2004 by Merriam-Webster.

Technology has added new factors to hinder the way we interpret each other. Emails, instant messages, and text messages are just some of the mediums causing some of us wondering, "What the hell was he/she saying?"

A common problem, and one that I just experienced, is what is the sender trying to say in an email, a commonly misinterpreted item. Emails are usually written very quickly, not proof read and not very detailed, which can cause a great deal of misinterpretation. For this very reason, a piece that I had written had been misinterpreted, but upon re-reading what I had written I could see how it could be misunderstood.

When you eliminate the subtle nuances of speech such as tone, inflection, and implication, you lose and important piece of the puzzle. The reader can get frustrated, confused, and even angry if they do not understand what the sender is trying to say. Sometimes a follow up email, a phone call, or speaking in person is the only way to clear up the confusion. We live in a complicated world, and these forms of technology are not making interpreting each other any easier.

Oh My Aching Back!

2005-06-22T17:15:00.000-07:00

I have been having back problems for about 15 years now. The pain is in the lumbar region of my spine, and causes me agony sometimes making it nearly impossible for me to walk. I have seen several doctors over the years, taken loads of medication and even had some physical therapy. At times the pain is quite severe and certain activities can cause exacerbation.

I am the fortunate child of a physician, I say this facetiously because doctors never think that anything is wrong with their own children. My father told me several times this was probably just a muscular problem (the muscles were weak, injured or torn). Until yesterday I was nearly convinced this was the extent of the problem.

In the last 12 months I have nearly been immobilized by the pain on several occasions, I am currently experiencing such an occasion. Last night my father examined me and when he bent my left leg at the knee and rotated it slightly, I suddenly felt as though I was being skewered with a hot iron poker! The pain shot up my spine and caused me to cry out.

The diagnosis, I most likely have a herniated disc. Needless to say, I am having a great deal of difficulty moving and will not be posting for a few days.

Bring Back The Romance

2005-06-18T00:50:00.000-07:00

This is a recycled post I wrote a few months ago. But at the moment I dont have much time to write anything new, so I thought I would re-post it. Although, it was written with the heterosexual male reader in mind, it can be quite easily modified to suit each individuals taste. I would also appreciate any feedback my readers are willing to give.

Remember, these are just ideas, so you can make them your own. Also, don’t smother you partner, feel her out to know if you are giving her enough, too little, or even too much attention. You should be sincere in your efforts and not make them seem contrived.

Give her a massage. Just as you like a good massage, so do women. Give her a foot massage when she gets home from work. If this is a first date, a foot massage may not be appropriate, but a back massage might be, listen to her ask her what she likes and do just that.

Tell her she is beautiful. This can be worded many ways. Its important not to say the same thing over again and again, this makes the comment seems insincere. Tell her she looks great, or radiant. Comment on her outfit, her hair, her eyes, and her skin. Try something like, "You have gorgeous eyes, or your lips are beautiful."

Tell her how bright or smart she is. Comment on something she says and reply a complimentary manner like, “Wow, you really know your stuff when it comes to literature.”

Pack her lunch. Include a hand written note telling her how special she is or that you love her, also take an opportunity to tell her she is beautiful, remember women love to be told they are beautiful, just don’t say it too often or it will lose its special meaning.

Take her shopping or go shopping with her. Help her pick something out; she will really appreciate the attention. It's important to show genuine interest, she will know if you are faking it, or if you seem distracted.

Give her flowers, just because. Just like giving a little gift, giving her flowers out of the blue will score you more points than if you give them on a specific day.

Run her a bubble bath. Have a hot bath ready for her when she gets home from work, or sneak off during a TV show and get it ready for her. Light some scented candles, this will certainly score you points plus she will smell great when you she gets in bed!

Get dressed up. Put on something that you know she will like. If you need help in picking something out ask a salesperson in your favorite department store or boutique.

Listen to her. One of the most common complaints of women is that their men do not listen. Try to show her you are listening by reaffirming what she says, for example she says, "I'm thinking about changing my hairstyle." You respond, "Really dear, you're thinking about a change? Tell me about it." This tells her you are interested and you care about her. Another great way to show her you care, is to ask her how her day was, but make sure you are prepared, if she has had a bad day, she may need to vent.

Go to Bed with Two Women!

2005-06-15T10:26:00.000-07:00

In a recent Men's Health issue I read an article entitled, "Oh So Tempting." Well, with a title like that you just know its going to be good. But it gets better the author; Kate Daily has broken theses articles up into vignettes or mini-articles; each begining with whether you should indulge or resist in doing something rather tempting in your workplace or in your personal life.

One I found particularly naughty and rather funny, was called "Go to Bed with Two Women." Daily feels you should "of course" indulge! She tells the reader that according to Lou Paget, a sex educator and author of The Great Lover Playbook, these fantasies are not what men expect them to be once carried out. Daily recommends first choosing someone who you and your partner do not know well (someone you will not run into in a social setting), but someone you feel you can trust. (I'm not sure if I get that).

This is the best part; Ms. Daily feels that you should sit down as a group and decide what and who each person is going to do, and how long the "encounter" will last! What are you supposed to do, set an alarm? She says to be prepared for your partner's reaction, anything from, "disgust to girls rule!"

From what I know about the subject, it seems that it might be a bit awkward to sit down and plan it out before the incident. I would expect that most of these encounters are not planned however, I would say that it is probably not wise to do this with someone you care deeply about, because in the end someone will most likely end up getting hurt.

Read the full article here: Oh So Tempting

Blog Hack - Protect Your Words

2005-06-10T23:54:00.000-07:00

Update:
It seems a lot of people have not been reading the following post carefully. I clearly state, that this hack can "deter" people from borrowing content, not protect against them. Also I state that there is at least one loophole. If you read the comments, I have updated the information to cover many of the other items that people have been commenting on. Yes, the only true protection is a genuine copyright, not just putting Copyright at the bottom of your page, but having your documents legally copyrighted.

I have been asked several times now how I have protected my blog against the infamous "right click". I should first point out that I got this information from Carolvs' blog, so he should get the credit for finding this. I actually worry about putting some items on my blog without a proper copyright.

This hack can deter would-be plagiarizers from stealing content from your blog and trying to pass it off as their own. However it should be noted that there are loopholes to this bit of security. If you would like help, just let me know.

Musical Minded Meme

2005-06-07T15:46:00.000-07:00

Thanks Gulnaz, I appolgise for not posting this sooner as I said I would. I am an amature musicain, I have been playing guitar for over 25 years, and singing all my life. I write songs, and at one time wanted to earn my living playing music, it is one of the things I am most passionate about in life.

Total volume of music files on my computer:
Few, I still tend to throw a CD into my personal CD player when working out, or in the car, of course I try to pick one that has mostly songs I like.

The last CD I bought was:
I bought about twenty while I was in England from December to March, those included U2's latest, Keane, Athlete, Franz Ferdinand and the Killers. But most recenlty I have bought the new Coldplay single, and Beck's latest.

Songs playing right now:
I still tend to play Coldplay's Rush of Blood to the Head albumb a lot. I am also quite partial to Keane and all the bands or solo artists I mentioned above. Usually most anything Bowie, or Beatles. I love Jazz, world music, such as Indian and Brazilain, classical, what is now considered Classic Rock, Drum and Bass, Bangra, some Rap and a lot of pop music.

Five songs i listen to a lot, or that mean a lot to me:
I have way more than 5 but I will list a few.
I'm only sleeping - The Beatles
Cosmic Dancer - T-Rex
Yellowbrick Road - Elton John
Amsterdam - Coldplay
Sonnet - The Verve
Heros - David Bowie
Wild Horses - The Rolling Stones
Bend and Break - Keane
Wires - Athlete
There are many, many more, but I will leave it there for now.

Five people to whom I’m passing the baton: (I have a few more than five)
Cedia, Lorena, Ms. Laughs, Robi, Transience, Gus Greeper, Mitzzee, Mermaid, M, Nasra, Nicole, Natasha, Sk8Rn and Deem, and any other who might want to take the this up. If I forgot your name it was not intentional, I was supposed to limit this to 5 but I added a few more.

Relationships (Part One)

2005-06-05T12:16:00.000-07:00

I recently visited another blog where I read an entry that caused me to do a bit of thinking. I am often asked why I am not married or have not married. The strange thing is that in our society it is totally acceptable, in today's terms, to have been married and divorced by your late twenties or early thirties, perhaps even twice!

I have been in several committed and long term relationships; the longest of these was three years. Within the last of the 3 years both she and I began to notice signs that we probably shouldn’t be together. The thing is the longer you are together, at least in my opinion, the harder it is to break it off. Eventually we broke up on very amicable terms.

The longer you stay in a relationship that you feel is flawed, the longer you perpetuate the problem. Sometimes only one person feels this way, but the likelihood is, that if you feel uncomfortable your partner probably does too. The best thing to do in the short term is try to talk about it. You may even try counseling, but in the long run if you feel something in the pit of your stomach, and a little voice telling you this is not the right person for you, you should probably follow your instincts.

Thirteen

2005-06-04T19:54:00.000-07:00

There are so many amazing poets that have blogs. Many of you have recently become part of my virtual peer group, or virtual friends. I don't consider myself a poet, but here are some lyrics to a song I wrote many years ago:

Wandering so slowly cross the line
Cast between reality and time
Treading on the shadow left by you
Nothing left that anyone can do

Realizing love is the answer
To the meaning of your scarlet dreams
And ego left behind in the meadow
Blowing forever tranquil in the breeze

Why do we Blog? (part one)

2005-05-31T16:49:00.000-07:00

I recently wrote a blurb about blogging. After reading the comments of that entry, some agile thought, and a bit of daydreaming, I decided to look into why blogs are becoming so apparently ubiquitous.

There are blogs covering most every subject under the sun, everything from the war in Iraq to cleaning your kitchen sink properly, I wouldn’t be surprised if Paris Hilton's dog soon has a blog.

The more I dug into what blogs were all about, the more the question arose, "Why do we blog?" I discovered that many bloggers use their blogs much like they would a daily diary, but their entries have suddenly become interactive.

When once we would have written our thoughts for the day down and just closed the book, tucked it neatly back into its safe place, and forgotten about it until the next day or the next time we felt inclined to write an entry, now as soon as we put our thoughts down, we are logging back into our pages to see what others think of what we have just written.

It is part of our nature to not only care, but to be curious of what others think. But for most of us, this also changes the entries into our little diaries, where we might have been uninhibited writing for our eyes only, we now sensor our writing knowing that others will be reading it and voicing their opinions.

Of course there are those who have something to say and simply do not care about what others think, then there are also blogs that do not allow comments. Each and every blogger has their reasons for spewing out words onto the pages that are peppered throughout the Internet; as for this author, I am still trying to figure out what that reason is.

The Lake District

2005-05-28T14:27:00.000-07:00

She shivered under the covers, her thin gown not serving as much protection against the frigid air. He seemed to have been gone for an eternity; she picked up her watch from the bedside table and looked at it again, how long could it take to chop a bit of wood? Looking out the mullioned windows; she could see a few stars and the trees slightly lit by the glow of the nearly full moon. Just then the door to the tiny cottage flung open and she heard his heavy footsteps as he crossed the floor, she could hear him loading the wood into the stove. The banging and clanking persisted for a few minutes before all she could hear was the crackling and popping of the wood.

His silhouette appeared in the doorway; he ducked slightly as he stepped into the room. He tugged at the heavy woolen cable knit jumper, stretching it over his head and tossing it on the floor beside her. The illuminations of the candle light danced across his skin still glistening from the sweat of his labor. His muscles were swollen and taught, he looked like an Adonis standing before her, she thought to herself. He removed his heavy corduroy dungarees, she grinned as they fell to the floor revealing his naked body in its entire splendor.

He lifted the covers of the bed peeling back the blankets and downy duvet; he slid his body next to hers. She breathed in the heady aroma of smoke, wood sap and sweat, it was quite intoxicating. She no longer felt cold.

Tribute to my Readers

2005-05-26T20:07:00.000-07:00

Thanks to all of you who have been visiting and commenting on my blog. I am very fortunate to have some readers who have been with me from the begining and now I am getting new readership.

I have promised (to some of my readers) to write a short story on here, we will have to see how that goes, maybe you can give me some ideas. I figured something a bit erotic is always a good read, what do you think?

Perhaps when I have a bit more time I will do something like Cedia did and thank you each individually. If you would like me to add a link to your blog or site, just let me know. Again, many thanks!

Sleeping is the Enemy?

2005-05-24T14:27:00.000-07:00

I recently wrote an article on sleep and sleep disturbances, and was surprised at how many responses I got. I am a new blogger and don’t have many readers yet, but when I get 5 or more comments right now, I consider that a lot.

A huge number of people suffer from sleeping disorders. It is estimated that over 12 million suffer from Insomnia alone. There are many medications used for sleep, most are some type of anti-anxiety or anti-depressant. Even if the sufferer does not feel depressed these medications work well, because one of the side effects is somnolence. I am currently taking a medication called Remeron which seems to help me sleep through the night most nights, although I sleep longer than I used to.

Not getting enough sleep can also cause a plethora of problems, such as irritability, making mistakes at work and home, traffic accidents, and most recently scientist and researchers have discovered that lack of sleep can lead to weight gain. Naps taken in the middle of day can make a marked difference in a persons overall daily performance, although it is important to awaken refreshed each day so you can eat healthy and have the stamina for some exercise even if it is just a walk.

More-on Advertising

2005-05-23T00:39:00.000-07:00

If anyone has been paying attention to this silly little blog, you will have noticed Cedia and I have been discussing new and unique places in which to advertise. We thought we had come up with some bright and new ideas, but it would seem that each and every one (with the exception of one) had already been executed.

My friend pointed me to EBay and showed me some of the auctions going on there. He also showed me some of the closed auctions where companies had paid as much as $37,000 to advertise across someone’s forehead, cleavage is quite popular as well. Currently this young lady is fetching the highest price. Have a look for yourself.

Can't Sleep?

2005-05-20T23:40:00.000-07:00

I have had difficulty sleeping in one way or another since I was a child. Not only do I have insomnia but I have also been told that I stop breathing briefly while sleeping, this is called sleep apnea. Contrary to popular belief, sleep apnea does not only affect the over weight, although most of those who suffer from the ailment are over weight.

I recently underwent a sleep study where I was connected to approximately 20 electrodes which monitor heart rate and rhythm, chest and abdominal movement, airflow through the mouth and nose, and blood oxygen levels.

I have not yet received the results of the study, but I may have to wear a CPAP machine while I sleep, alternatively there is surgery and I just recently read about a pillar procedure where they sew small pillars into the soft palate. Neither option sounds like much fun to me.

To Blog or Not To Blog

2005-05-17T11:13:00.000-07:00

Most of us using blogger.com have become well acquainted with the format and subjects upon which we discuss, review, rant, and even rage about; however it would seem that unknown to many of us, we are being watched and perhaps even studied.

According to Charlene Li, blogs are quickly becoming a source of influential information. Forrester Research believes that blogging will grow in importance, and at a minimum, companies should monitor blogs to learn what is being said about their products and services.

This being said bloggers are going to have more power than they realize, not to mention some moral and ethical obligations to report information that is true and accurate. Obviously if you use your blog as a diary of sorts, or a means to track your travels through Europe, these obligations may not be as important as say, reviewing the latest hybrid car.

My brother Robi, a long time blogger, has been threatened for content on his blog. He enjoys discussing and writing about political subjects that people tend to have very strong feelings about. In his words, "You just have to ignore the comments of those who are way out there."

If you intend to take your blog to the next level (get a publishing deal, take a position at a magazine, or even take a position blogging for a large corporation) you should probably mind your Ps and Qs, but if you just enjoy blogging, then by all means continue to blog about whatever tickles your fancy.

Book Reviews - Change Your Life In 7 Days

2005-05-16T22:26:00.000-07:00

According to Paul McKenna, in order to attract abundance into one’s life, it’s important to keep a positive outlook and maintain a particular “can do” psychology. This seems like common sense to me, but in our busy world it is easy to lose sight of this type of thinking. We have all been told to have a positive outlook at some time in our lives. McKenna shows ways in which we can make this routine a daily process.

The book also contains a mind programming CD. At this point I have not listened to the CD enough to give a fair review of it. However, I feel that the book can definitely help anyone, and would recommend it. The book is an easy read for those who can't find enough time to read with their busy work schedules, I am now reading it for the second time.

Simple Programming For Your Home Confuser

2005-05-16T20:31:00.000-07:00

I started low level programming back in the mid eighties. (Yes, I am that old). At that time I was a kid and it was very uncommon for people to even have home computers, I had to suffer a bit of ridicule from my friends about being a "computer geek".

I continued to dabble in computers for years, but never really got to be an expert in any area. Over the years I studied a bit of C, C++, Java, and Pearl (just to name a few) and worked with mulitiple platforms including UNIX, Linux, Windows and others.

Although I competed a certification in HTML in the late 90s, I have used it very little. Just like a spoken language, a written one (including programming languages) is easy to forget when it's not being used.

As I continue to blog, I am finding that I need to re-learn some basic HTML, which can be confusing when you are used to other programming langauges, but it's just a matter of practice. There are multiple sites available for HTML if you need help such as htmlgoodies.

If you really want to trick out your blog, you can use your own editor such as Macromedia's Dreamweaver, but many of the sites such as blogger.com have made it easy for most anyone to create a blog in just minutes.

More on Adverts

2005-05-15T13:28:00.000-07:00

As previously discussed, advertising is everywhere today. When I was a boy English football teams wore jerseys with their name and number on them, nothing else. I can even remember a time when the Grand Prix cars had nothing but a number and usually the drivers name below the cockpit, but look at all the ads out there today, even the football pitches have ads on them!

A very clever lass indeed, had another brilliant idea. She thought of advertising across one's cleavage, but once again this idea was taken.

Hmm, back to the drawing board...

Ass-vertising?

2005-05-15T10:40:00.000-07:00

After all the posts yesterday to do with ads, I had a bit of silly banter with my friend and fellow blogger Cedia. We thought we had a great and original idea (seems there are few left) and then I found this!

You be the judge, what do you think?

More photos here.

Contradiction

2005-05-14T15:45:00.000-07:00

Okay, I realise that i have been contradicting myself. I am ranting on and on about advertising, yet I have several advertisments on my blog. I just clicked on the Amazon one, and what came up.... those wristbands!!!

I had originally put the Amazon ads up planning to promote books that I was reading, but I haven't quite fingered out how to do that yet.

Get A-Head in Advertising

2005-05-14T15:01:00.000-07:00

This is a follow up to my previous post. BTW the title of this post is tribute to one of my favorite films starring, Richard E. Grant, "How to get ahead in Advertising. In my previous post I ranted a bit about how what was a great idea to raise money for Lance Armstrong's charity had become more about fashion, advertising, and financial gain than about charity.

To illustrate how advertising has really gone to extremes, I thought I would share this information with those of you that don't already know about it. Advertisers are now purchasing space on people's foreheads, yes you heard right peoples foreheads!

Gee, I seem to be getting political now, and that wasn't the original intent of this blog.

Rubber Wristbands

2005-05-14T12:58:00.000-07:00

I would love your thoughts on this subject. I thought it was great when Lance Armstrong first introduced the "Livestrong" wristbands for his charity. But I think the makers of these things are going overboard and so are the consumers, because without buyers of course they wouldn't sell.

We are now seeing all kinds of promotions on these things such as, Freedom, Support Our Troops, Faith, Git R Done, and of course my favorite (insert sarcasm here) the Patriot band.

I am sure I am going to catch some flack for this post. Let me try to get something straight. I have nothing against patriotism, or supporting ones faith (as long as it is not violent toward others), it is the makers and distributors of these products that I have a problem with. They are trying to capitalize on anything possible or advertise anywhere possible.

We are very fortunate to have free speech in the Western World and sometimes we forget that, but this issue is, once again, a case of big corporations capitalizing on a fashion trends. We have taken advertising to rediculous extremes.

Commentary - New Music

2005-05-12T15:59:00.000-07:00

You should really check out Keane, The Killers, and Athlete. They are all great bands and you can check them out on their own sites or try MSN or Apple. Happy listening!

British English vs American English

2005-05-11T23:40:00.000-07:00

Once again the spunky Cedia has inspired me to write another entry. I was fortunate enough to be born to an English mother and an Indian father who had just emigrated from London when I was born. Although I have American Nationality I feel very English because of the fact that we spent 3 months a year in England. I have also been able to watch the progression of UK English as well as that of American.

Most notably in the past 10 years or so I have seen UK English adopt dozens upon dozens of American slang words that they pick up from the widely available American Television programs and films. However, it is nice to see what they evolve into at times, I recently heard a version of, “getting jiggy with it” which became, “getting cheeky with it”, and I love that!

You may notice from time to time on this blog I will spell a word the English (UK) way without actually intending to, some of the words just make more sense to me spelled the other way. Once again, I could go on and on about this subject, but I will try to give you some examples.

I love when the British say, “gagging for something” such as a shag, a cocktail, or a beer.

You have heard that fanny means vagina.

Also, rubber means eraser. I knew an English guy working in the States who asked his new secretary for a rubber, you can imagine how that went down!

At one time in the "old days" there used to be someone who would go from house to house knocking on doors to wake people, this person was called the knocker up. So if you were the recipient, you were getting, "knocked up"!

I will be adding more terms on here from time to time.

Please click here

2005-05-10T00:44:00.000-07:00

We all gotta earn a buck, and if you check out these ads, I can earn a few cents.

So scroll down to the bottom of the page and please click on each link. Thanks!

Commentary - Grooming

2005-05-10T00:17:00.000-07:00

I was reading one of Cedia's older posts where she was asking to be pampered with a massage etc. Guess what, guys like to be pampered too! In fact, men's salons are becoming a "big thing" these days. One thing about us guys though, we are still a bit sensitive about being perceived as effeminate.

Salons that cater to men exclusively are becoming very popular because the men that frequent them do not have to feel funny about being in a salon which might cater mostly to women, Also, they can get the manicure, pedicure or facial without feeling like anyone is really watching (just a bunch of other guys getting the same sort of thing). This phenomenon has become such a big deal that men’s salons are making money hand over fist. I am considering opening one myself.

Check out more about this subject here.

Cedia's original post that inspired this rant.

Commentary - Cedia's Blog

2005-05-02T22:57:00.000-07:00

I have to agree with my new friend Natasha, Cedia has a very entertaining and enlightening blog. http://cedia.blogspot.com/

Commentary - For Natasha

2005-05-02T22:37:00.000-07:00

Thanks Natasha for the nice words, sorry about the delay in posts, I have had a lot going on. I just watched Gross Point Blank again for only the second time. The last time I saw the film was at least 5 years ago.

I love when Minnie Driver's character tells John Cusack's character that he needs a Shakabuku ("It's a swift, spiritual kick to the head that alters your reality forever.")

I would highly recommend this film to anyone it has elements of comedy, action/thriller, drama as well as being a great love story.

Commentary - New Books

2005-04-16T03:32:00.000-07:00

I have been asked recently when I expect my books to hit the book stand. I am currently in the process of meeting with publishers and agents. I hope to have something out before the end of the year. I will post more when I have more information.

Commentary - Grooming

2005-04-14T22:56:00.000-07:00

As mentioned earlier women want their man to take care of himself. Do you need a makeover? Are you still wearing your hair the way you did in high school? Have you changed your hairstyle in the last decade? Perhaps its time for a change; look at some men's fashion magazines, find something you like and take the picture with you to the hairdresser, they will be thrilled to help you change your look. If you are still wearing the same mullet you wore in 1984 and you think it looks fine, get some other opinions.

There are also day spas to treat the whole body. Get a manicure or a pedicure (if you wear open toes shoes, your toes should look good.) Get a facial, the esthetician (the person who gives you the treatment) will also tell you what products you should use on your skin and give you samples, you don’t have to buy anything from the salon, you can buy the same type of products at your choice of stores. Get a massage; this is a great way to reduce stress and to rid your body of nasty toxins. Most of all follow the common theme in this book and have fun, you will feel better and look better with an update, plus (as I have said before) women like a man who takes care of himself.

Why is it that the older we get the more hair we grow, everywhere but on our heads. Recently I noticed my hair looking frizzy at the back, upon closer inspection I realized these fine hairs were on my ears! Needless to say, I trimmed the hairs and my hobbit looking ears looked human again.

The shower is a great place to get a lot of work done. You can shave, wash your face (remember to use a facial cleanser), exfoliate with a facial and body scrub, wash your body (duh), and your hair.

You will find a plethora of products out there today; everything from mud and clay to rubber for your hair alone. Make sure your hair is clean and neat.

Commentary - Jeans, the new Trousers

2005-04-12T17:32:00.000-07:00

A friend of mine came to me recently and said he was going on a first date with a girl he really liked, she was very stylish and he felt a bit intimidated. He asked if I thought it would be okay if he wore jeans although he was planning to take her to a nice restaurant. I said as long as the jeans were appropriate (not covered in holes or acid washed) he could pull it off. (Note: some fine dining restaurants and country clubs have policies against wearing jeans)

Jeans are extremely versatile; they can be worn very casually or very dressed up. Pair them with a solid T-Shirt and a sport coat or jacket and you will have an outfit that can be worn most anywhere, you can go out to a decent restaurant in this outfit, then just remove the jacket later for a bit of dancing or a drink at your favorite bar.

Dress this same outfit up a bit by combining (or replacing) the T-Shirt with a dress shirt or button up collared casual shirt and you have another hip and fun outfit with a lot of versatility. Wear the shirt un-tucked, and if you are wearing it over the T, wear it unbuttoned or partially unbuttoned.

Don’t be afraid to borrow your ideas. Check out your favorite rock star, TV, or movie star; get ideas from them (but be sure to choose carefully, even some stars have no idea what they are doing.) Getting hints from stars or even people you know may be a great idea, but be sure to be an individual, add something to your outfit to personalize it. For example if you are into motorcycles make the T-Shirt in your outfit a vintage Norton or Ducatti Shirt. Try to stay away from pictures on your T-Shirt, logos are usually much cooler.

My friend ended wearing a velvet blazer (very cool), which he wore with a very hip striped shirt, and a cool pair of low rise jeans. His date thought he looked amazing, and she showed him how she felt when she got him home later that night!

Commentary - schizophrenic blog

2005-04-08T18:49:00.000-07:00

This blog is begining to have multiple personalities. You can now find tips on cooking, diet and exercise on their own blogs. You can either use the URLs:

http://cooking4her.blogspot.com/

http://fit4her.blogspot.com/

Or navigate from this site through the links on the right control pannel. Good luck and enjoy!

Commentary – CD and DVD Clubs.

2005-03-29T22:08:00.000-08:00

If you are considering joining one of these clubs, think again! The clubs are designed to get you in with a great deal like, “7 free CDs, buy 1 at full price with nothing more to buy ever!” This will reel you in, and then they start sending you a CD or DVD every month. The hard part is getting them to stop; this isn’t just hard, it’s nearly impossible! The staff is trained to try and sell you the club if you try to quit, so they will offer incentives. The site actually has a “cancel membership” option if you search and scour very hard, but once you get there the page says this:

We're sorry! Our website is unavailable right now, while we perform System maintenance. We apologize for the inconvenience. Please stop by later today, when our site will be back up and running.

The page has been like this for 10 days so far, obviously another tactic to try and keep your credit card on file, so they can continue sending you these DVDs that seem to continue coming no matter what you do. They are like zombies in a horror film, they just won’t die! Of course, there are handy links on the cancel membership page and this lovely line:

If you are interested in joining the ColumbiaHouse.com Music or DVD Clubs, click on one of the links below.

VIEW THIS PAGE HERE

Dating - Quick tips to score you big points on a date:

2005-03-26T15:09:00.000-08:00

If you are having her over to your place, buy a tablecloth, flowers, and some candlesticks. Set the table with the tablecloth, flowers, and candlesticks, she will be very impressed and perhaps even aroused. Make sure your place is clean, don't just pick things up, vacuum, dust and wipe things down with household cleaners. Now cook or barbeque something you know she will enjoy. Have a bottle of wine chilling if she likes white or opened if she likes red. Do not drink too much on your own or when she gets there, you may do something foolish which will only lose you points.

Have a small gift and a card with a handwritten note in it, the gift can be something as simple as a scarf or a bottle of perfume, but you will score more points for getting her something thoughtful. Giving a gift just because you are thinking of her is much more romantic than giving her a gift on her birthday or Valentine's Day, because it is unexpected.

If you haven’t taken her out for a while, take her on an official date. One of the most common complaints from women in long term relationships is their mate no longer takes them out or does special things for them. Take her on a first date again; this will be fun for both of you. Pretend you are going to prom again, rent a limo, take her to a nice dinner then out for a drink and some dancing, you are sure to get bedroom point for this.

Get involved in an activity together. Sign up for a Spanish class, or a pottery class, but you will score a lot more points if it’s a dance class, women love to dance. Give her a card telling her you have signed up for the classes, because you love her.

Don’t talk too much. She will want to share equally in the conversation. If she is dominating the conversation tell her, but nicely. And don’t talk too fast, this makes you appear nervous.

Make and hold eye contact. It appears that you are not paying attention if you are not looking in the eye of the person who is speaking to you, even though you may be. It is also considered rude not to be looking at the person who is speaking to you.

Stand or sit up straight. This shows confidence and good manners.

Practice good hygiene. Women want a man who takes care of himself. Make sure your nails are not too long and do not have dirt under them. Make sure you don’t smell, if you have been told you have body odor, use deodorant and a little aftershave, but don’t use too much this will only put her off (you should only need about one sprits.) Learn more about hygiene in the chapter on grooming.

Listen to your mother. Your mother probably told you not to chew with your mouth open, or not to talk with your mouth full, to sit up straight, etc. Women also respect a man who has a good relationship with his mother.

Recipes - Frittata Primavera

2005-03-26T14:11:00.000-08:00

This is an Italian omelet that can be served for a starter or a main course, it’s quite easy to make, and very tasty. Primavera means springtime, so it should have a mix of fresh vegetables.

3 teaspoons olive oil
I medium onion
½ cup fresh asparagus pieces
8 oz of fresh spinach
handful of finely chopped fresh parsley or a tsp of dried
salt and pepper to taste
2 cups egg substitute or 6 eggs
1 tablespoon grated Parmesan cheese

Heat 1 teaspoon of the oil in a skillet and cook the onion 2 or 3 minutes or until soft. Stir in the asparagus, spinach, and pepper, and cook, stirring occasionally until tender but still slightly crisp, 3 to 5 minutes.

Preheat the broiler. Beat the egg substitute or eggs season with a bit of salt and pepper. Pour in the egg mixture and cook until just set on the bottom and around the edges, but still wet on the top, 1 minute. Scatter the parsley over the top and set in the oven to finish cooking, 2 minutes. Dust the top with the Parmesan cheese, cut into wedges and serve.

Impress Her - Cook For Her

2005-03-25T19:55:00.000-08:00

Some say that nothing turns a woman on more than a man who knows how to cook. All the recipes in this blog are all quite easy, just take your time and don’t get stressed. Cooking should be fun and enjoyable. Put some music on and relax.

You will need to inventory your kitchen and perhaps get a few new items. Make sure to use the proper utensils. If you have not really cooked before, you may not own knives or pots and pans. Buy yourself a decent quality set of knives, although I use a chef's knife for most everything. Make sure to keep you knives sharp. There are many varieties of knife sharpeners are that are easy to use. There is nothing that looks more pathetic than someone chopping vegetables with a steak knife. Salad looks best served in a salad bowl; this is pretty elementary stuff, isn’t it? Get yourself a pepper mill, fresh ground pepper tastes much better. Try to use fresh whole foods in place of prepackaged, this includes fresh herbs.

I love to cook and as you get more comfortable in the kitchen, so will you. Cooking can be therapeutic; my dad seems to get enjoyment out of cooking and is a great cook.