Can You Afford NOT To Invest In A Coach And Mentor?

By Patrick Driessen & Nancy Adler

Can you afford NOT to invest in a Coach and Mentor? My guess is that if things were going absolutely wonderfully for you in your professional and personal life, you would probably not be reading this article. 

Consider the fact that almost all highly successful people have a Coach and Mentor from which to garner guidance and support in so many different ways. Below is a list of just a few of those highly valuable assets that a Coach and Mentor can offer by advicing, counseling and coaching you.

It is of immeasurable value to have someone that allows you to learn from their mistakes. We can learn one of two ways; from our own mistakes or from the mistakes of others. Having a Coach and Mentor that has been there and done that and who is willing to share their errors so they do not have to be repeated is worth the investment in a Coach and Mentor in and of itself.

The polar opposite of learning from a Coach and Mentor’s mistakes, of course, is learning from their successes. Shortening up the learning curve and learning from their expertise saves time. And time is money. Save yourself some effort by not having to reinvent the wheel.

A Coach and Mentor serves as a strong accountability partner. Like a good friend that will tell you what you need to hear which is not always what you may want to hear. Ultimately, the goal is to hold ourselves accountable. Taking responsibility for one’s own success is most important to long term achievement of our goals and aspirations.  

A Coach and Mentor is a strong leader and will let you know what their expectations are of you.

A strong Coach and Mentor assists in setting realistic and achievable goals based on your desires. At the same time, a Coach and Mentor will build on existing strengths, unwrap hidden potential and ask that you stretch to reach your full potential! Stretching and changing can cause some short term pain and your Coach and Mentor will be the first to let you know that. The expression no pain, no gain certainly applies here.

It is a valuable asset to have someone in your corner to share your vision and validate your goals. There is value also in having a Coach and Mentor by your side to offer another way of looking at things. Another point of view can be valuable to remove one from their entrenched thinking. 

Coaching Issues

Most people turn to their coach for help on time management as well as career guidance and business advice. To a lesser but still significant extent, they seek coaching on relationships, family, wellness and spirituality. Coaching clients, who could select as many choices as were applicable, said they work with their coach on the following issues:

• Time management: 80%
• Career: 74%
• Business: 73%
• Relationships/Family: 58%
• Physical/Wellness: 52%
• Spiritual: 51%
• Personal: 45%
• Goal-setting: 40%
• Financial: 38%
• Creativity: 11%
• Other: 10%.

Your Investment

The best investment anyone can ever make is an investment in oneself! Ultimately, the investment decision is yours alone to make!

Your Return on Investment
The positive return on investment are the results of working with a coach and mentor. In various research reports 98.5% of coaching clients said their investment in a coach was well worth the money! In another study conducted by MetrixGlobal, the Return on Investment of coaching was calculated to exceed 500%!

The outcomes that coaching clients most often attribute to their coaching are a higher level of self-awareness and self-confidence, a more balanced life, smarter goal-setting and lower stress levels. Clients reported experiencing the following outcomes as a result of working with a coach:

• Self-awareness: 67%
• Setting better goals: 62%
• More balanced life: 60%
• Lower stress levels: 57%
• Self-discovery: 53%
• Self-confidence: 52%
• Improvement in quality of life: 43%
• Enhanced communication skills: 39%
• Project completion: 35%
• Health or fitness improvement: 34%
• Better relationship w/ boss, co-workers: 33%
• Better family relationship(s): 33%
• Increased energy: 31%
• More fun: 31%
• More income: 25%
• Stopped a bad habit: 25%
• Change in career: 24%
• More free time: 22%
• Increased profitability of business: 17%
• Other: 15%
• Started new business: 13%
• Empowered employees: 11%
• Business turn around: 9%
• Change in residential location: 5%.

Business Return on Investment

In business applications, the following benefits were recorded in a study conducted by Manchester Inc.

Tangible Business Impacts (frequency of impacts reported by executives):

• Increased productivity: 53%
• Increased quality: 48%
• Improved organizational strength: 48%
• Improved customer service: 39%
• Reduced complaints: 34%
• Own retention: 32%
• Cost reductions: 23%
• Increased bottom line profitability: 22%
• Increased top line revenue: 14%
• Reduced turnover: 12%
• Other business: 7%.

Intangible Business Impacts (frequency of impacts reported by executives):

• Improved relationships with direct reports: 77%
• Improved relationships with stakeholders: 71%
• Improved teamwork: 67%
• Improved relationships with peers: 63%
• Improved job satisfaction: 61%
• Reduced conflicts: 52%
• Increased organizational commitment: 44%
• Improved relationships with clients: 37%
• Other intangibles: 31%.

How to Find a Coach: To help you find a certified and experienced business, leadership or life coach, please check the International Coach Federation website, the Results website or the CoachU website.

Make this a Positive & Fruitful day....unless you have other plans!

Thanks, warm regards & success,

Patrick Driessen

ESPN "Rise," an outlet for coverage of up-and-coming high school athletes, has a feature article on LSU recruit Rachele Fico, who recently threw her 22nd career perfect game.

ND Tourism Conference

The North Dakota State Fait attended the North Dakota Tourism Conference during the begining of the week in Grand Forks. The conference opened on Friday night with an 80's party with Brat Pack, which was beyond entertaining! The next two days were filled with tons of great information. Speakers included Dr. Jeff Stamp (the inventor of Baked Lays), Matt Bailey (SEO guru) and The Honourable Lynda Haverstock (CEO of Tourism Saskatchewan). Conference attendees had the opportunity to learn about handling and recovering from emergencies, attracting and keeping happy workers as well as the importance of hospitality training. The conference closed out with a very positive tourism update from Sara Otte Coleman and the ND Tourism team. 

♥ Grunge Rock n Roll Fashion !

Current Obsession : Grunge Indie Rock n Roll Fashion.


oohh yeaaaa. lately i've been so inpired by 'Jenny Humphrey' style. the little J from Gossip Girl series. in the newest season jenny has transformed from 'nerdy chic' style into 'grunge rock' style.
loovvvss itt!. it's so edgy.. what do you think?






love.love ♥♥

The Benefits of Red Wine for Men!

By Patrick Driessen

Men who drink less than half a glass of red wine a day may live up to five years longer than teetotallers, and could have less chance of a heart attack, a Dutch study has found.

An analysis of the impact of alcohol on men's health by a team at Wageningen University in the Netherlands found that long-term light consumption - less than 20 grams daily - is more beneficial than being teetotal. Although the findings are not the first to link a moderate intake of alcohol with certain health benefits, the study is the first to examine the effects of different drinks, claiming that wine/champagne is much healthier than beer or spirits!

The research, reported in the Journal of Epidemiology and Community Health, was undertaken by a team led by Dr Marinette Streppel of the University Division of Human Nutrition, which examined the lifestyle and alcohol consumption of 1,373 Dutch men born between 1900 and 1920 whose health had been examined regularly between 1960 and 2000. The men were studied to see how much alcohol they consumed, what type, and over what period of time, to find out if their risk of dying from a heart attack, stroke or other cause was affected.
The researchers concluded that drinking up to 20 grams a day could extend men's lifespan by up to two years over those who avoided alcohol. They also found that men who drank only wine, and less than half a glass a day, lived for about two and a half years longer than those who drank beer or spirits, and almost five years more than teetotallers.

The researchers say: "Long-term wine consumers had about five years longer life expectancy at age 50 compared with non-alcohol users. Of these five years, about two years can be attributed to an effect of alcohol intake. The remaining three years can be attributed to an effect of wine consumption." For the study, 70% of the wine consumed was red. The researchers add: "This suggests that the cardioprotective effect of wine could be due to a protective effect of polyphenolic compounds in red wine, but other explanations cannot be ruled out."

Some evidence shows that very moderate alcohol intake can be beneficial, but this must be weighed up against the serious harms caused by drinking more than moderate amounts. For example, in men, drinking more than half a glass a day, there's a drop in life expectancy!
And individual risk must be taken into account. Research earlier this year found that drinking a small glass of wine per day increases the risk of cancer in women! The notion that we can somehow use alcohol for health benefit is a dangerous one. Swapping a healthy lifestyle for half a glass of wine a day would be counter-productive.

Other scientific research focused on the positive effects of red wine, has found that Pinot Noir in particular has the most positive effects on our brain and heart. It turns out that the Pinot Noir grape tends to contain significantly, often exponentially, higher amounts of what is now being revered as the most important health component in red wine found to date, and some say one of the most significant anti-aging compounds known so far: resveratrol. So... Pinot Noir would be your healthiest red wine choice!

Here are some of the health benefits of red wine in general, as found by a variety of popular research studies from over the last decade:

• The "French Paradox" studies illustrate that regular red wine consumption in moderation appears to significantly reduce the risk of heart disease and other cardiovascular problems, even despite a high-fat diet.
• Lowers risk of Alzheimer's: several studies show that resveratrol lowers the risk of developing Alzheimer's, by reducing the levels of amyloid-beta peptides, which are responsible for the disease.
• Boosts memory: researchers at Ohio State University found that moderate amounts of alcohol - amounts equivalent to two drinks per day for a human - improved the memories of laboratory rats.
• Has been shown to lower bad (LDL) cholesterol levels.
• Anti-carcinogenic/anti-cancer properties: inhibits cellular events associated with the initiation, promotion, and progression of tumors.
• Contains powerful antioxidant polyphenols, which contribute to anti-cancer, anti-aging benefits including helping to fight heart disease, vision disorders, allergies, viral infections, and more.

So now the main question is: can you and will you discipline yourself to drink less than half a glass of red wine each and every day? Knowing that this personal health investment results in a longer life; it's worth trying!

Make this a Positive & Fruitful day....unless you have other plans!

Warm regards & success,

Patrick Driessen

Brain Music - What's Your Soundtrack?

Putting the brain's soundtracks to work!

Every brain has a soundtrack. Its tempo and tone will vary, depending on mood, frame of mind, and other features of the brain itself. When that soundtrack is recorded and played back - to an emergency responder, or a firefighter - it may sharpen their reflexes during a crisis, and calm their nerves afterward.

Over the past decade, the influence of music on cognitive development, learning, and emotional well-being has emerged as a hot field of scientific study. To explore music's potential relevance to emergency response, the Dept of Homeland Security's Science & Technology Directorate (S&T) has begun a study into a form of neurotraining called "Brain Music" that uses music created in advance from listeners' own brain waves to help them deal with common ailments like insomnia, fatigue, and headaches stemming from stressful environments. The concept of Brain Music is to use the frequency, amplitude, and duration of musical sounds to move the brain from an anxious state to a more relaxed state.

"Strain comes with an emergency response job, so we are interested in finding ways to help these workers remain at the top of their game when working and get quality rest when they go off a shift," said S&T Program Manager Robert Burns. "Our goal is to find new ways to help first responders perform at the highest level possible, without increasing tasks, training, or stress levels."
If the brain "composes" the music, the first job of scientists is to take down the notes, and that is exactly what Human Bionics LLC of Purcellville, VA does. Each recording is converted into two unique musical compositions designed to trigger the body's natural responses, for example, by improving productivity while at work, or helping adjust to constantly changing work hours.
The compositions are clinically shown to promote one of two mental states in each individual: relaxation – for reduced stress and improved sleep; and alertness – for improved concentration and decision-making. Each 2-6 minute track is a composition performed on a single instrument, usually a piano. The relaxation track may sound like a "melodic, subdued Chopin sonata," while the alertness track may have "more of a Mozart sound," says Burns. (It seems there's a classical genius—or maybe two genii—in all of us. Listen to an instrumental alert track at www.dhs.gov/xlibrary/multimedia/snapshots/st_brain_music_active.mp3.

After their brain waves are set to music, each person is given a specific listening schedule, personalized to their work environment and needs. If used properly, the music can boost productivity and energy levels, or trigger a body's natural responses to stress.
The music created by Human Bionics LLC is being tested as part of the S&T Readiness Optimization Program (ROP), a wellness program that combines nutrition education and neurotraining to evaluate a cross population of first responders, including federal agents, police, and firefighters. A selected group of local area firefighters will be the first emergency responders taking part in the project.
The Brain Music component of the ROP is derived from patented technology developed at Moscow University to use brain waves as a feedback mechanism to correct physiological conditions.
In British philosopher John Locke's terms, Brain Music brings new meaning to his famous phrase: "A sound mind in a sound body, is a short, but full description of a happy state in this World." And then there's always Cervantes, who coined, "He who sings scares away his woes."

Source: http://www.dhs.gov/index.shtm

Quotes: Vitamines for the Brain!

I love quotes, because good quotes are vitamins for the brain! They stretch your thinking, they give inspiration, motivate, give (new) insights and often will help you to succeed in many ways. Below a selection of compelling quotes I find to be inspiring. Please enjoy!

• “You do not pay the price of success, you enjoy the price of success." – Zig Ziglar
• “To be a great champion you must believe you are the best! If you’re not, pretend you are!” - Muhammad Ali
• “The most beautiful thing we can experience is the mysterious. It is the source of all true art and science." – Albert Einstein
• "The time you enjoy wasting is not wasted time!" - Bertrand Russell
• "Learn to smile at every situation. See it as an opportunity to prove your strength and ability." - Joe Brown
• "Success without honor is an unseasoned dish; it will satisfy your hunger, but it won't taste good!" - Joe Paterson
• “Never be afraid to laugh at yourself, after all, you could be missing out on the joke of the century!” - Dame Edna
• "A man only learns in two ways, one by reading, and the other by association with smarter people!" - Will Rogers
• “You were born to win, but to be a winner, you must plan to win, prepare to win, and expect to win.” - Zig Ziglar
• “Most people give up just when they're about to achieve success. They quit on the one yard line. They give up at the last minute of the game one foot from a winning touchdown.” - Ross Perot
• “No man succeeds without a good woman behind him. Wife or mother, if it is both, he is twice blessed indeed.” – Harold MacMillan
• “All life is biology. All biology is physiology. All physiology is chemistry. All chemistry is physics. All physics is math” – Dr. Stephen Marquardt
• "Being deeply loved by someone gives you strength, while loving someone deeply gives you courage." - Lao Tzu
• "Goals in writting are dreams with deadlines." - Brian Tracy
• “When you are tough on yourself, life is going to be infinitely easier on you.” - Zig Ziglar
• “Do more than is required. What is the distance between someone who achieves their goals consistently and those who spend their lives and careers merely following? The extra mile.” - Gary Rayan Blair
• “Education is the ability to listen to almost anything without losing your temper or your self-confidence.” – Robert Frost
• “If you judge people, you have no time to love them.” - Mother Teresa
• "Judge your success by what you had to give up in order to get it!" - Unknown
• "A wise man gets more use from his enemies than a fool from his friends." -Baltasar Gracian
• “Success is the maximum utilization of the ability that you have.” – Zig Ziglar
• “It is hard to fail, but it is worse never to have tried to succeed.” - Theodore Roosevelt
• "No one can cheat you out of ultimate success but yourself!" - Ralph Waldo Emerson
• "To get rich never risk your health! For it is the truth that health is the wealth of wealth." - Richard Baker
• “Economic depression cannot be cured by legislative action or executive pronouncement. Economic wounds must be healed by the action of the cells of the economic body - the producers and consumers themselves.” – Herbert Hoover
• “Education is learning what you didn't even know you didn't know.” – Daniel J. Boorstin
• “Effective leadership is putting first things first. Effective management is discipline, carrying it out.” – Stephen Covey
• “Expect the best. Prepare for the worst. Capitalize on what comes.” – Zig Ziglar
• “Almost all quality improvement comes via simplification of design, manufacturing... layout, processes, and procedures.” - Tom Peters
• “If you don't see yourself as a winner, then you cannot perform as a winner.” – Zig Ziglar
• “Success consists of going from failure to failure without loss of enthusiasm.” - Winston Churchill
• “I've Learned That People Will Forget What You Said, People Will Forget What You Did, but People Will Never Forget How You Made Them Feel!” - Unknown
• “It's not what you've got, it's what you use that makes a difference.” – Zig Ziglar
• “We want to change our lives, but refuse to change our thoughts, therefore we remain bound." - James Allen
• "The richest man is not he who has the most, but he who needs the least!" - Unknown
• “Happiness is a perfume you cannot pour on others without getting a few drops on yourself” - Ralph Waldo Emerson
• "True knowledge exists in knowing that you know nothing!" - Socrates
• "They invented hugs to let people know you love them without saying anything." - Bil Keane
• “Success isn't a result of spontaneous combustion. You must set yourself on fire!” – Andrew H. Glasow
• "You will never find time for anything. If you want the time, you must make it." - Charles Buxton
• "A leader, once convinced that a particular course of action is the right one, must be undaunted when the going gets tough." - Ronald Reagan
• "Happiness is not in the mere possession of money; it lies in the joy of achievement, in the thrill of creative effort." - Franklin Roosevelt
• “Every man wants to be happy, but in order to be so he needs first to understand what happiness is.” – Rousseau
• "We make a living by what we get, we make a life by what we give." - Winston Churchill
• “I have found the paradox, that if you love until it hurts, there can be no more hurt, only more love.” - Mother Teresa
• "No man thoroughly understands a truth until he has fought against it." - Ralph Waldo Emerson
• “Change is the essence of life. Be willing to surrender what you are for what you could become.” - Unknown

Make this a Positive & Fruitful day....unless you have other plans!

Warm regards & success,

Patrick Driessen

Feeling lonely? Hug your warm TV!

Not all technology meets human needs, and some technologies provide only the illusion of having met your needs. But new research by psychologists at the University at Buffalo and Miami University, Ohio, indicates that illusionary relationships with the characters and personalities on favorite TV shows can provide people with feelings of belonging, even in the face of low self esteem or after being rejected by friends or family members.
The findings are described in four studies published in the current issue of the Journal of Experimental Social Psychology.

"The research provides evidence for the 'social surrogacy hypothesis,' which holds that humans can use technologies, like television, to provide the experience of belonging when no real belongingness has been experienced," says one of the study's authors, Shira Gabriel, Ph.D., UB assistant professor of psychology. "We also argue that other commonplace technologies such as movies, music or interactive video games, as well as television, can fulfill this need."

After writing about favored television programs, the participants in 4 different studies verbally expressed fewer feelings of loneliness or exclusion than when verbally describing either of the two control situations (essays about programs watched when nothing else is on, academic achievement). This is evidence, say the researchers, that illusionary or "parasocial" relationships with television characters or personalities can ease belongingness needs.
It remains an open question, say the researchers, whether social surrogacy suppresses belongingness needs or actually fulfills them, and they acknowledge that the kind of social surrogacy provoked by these programs can be a poor substitution for "real" human-to-human experience.
"Turning one's back on family and friends for the solace of television may be maladaptive and leave a person with fewer resources over time," says UB's Derrick, "but for those who have difficulty experiencing social interaction because of physical or environmental constraints, technologically induced belongingness may offer comfort."
Source: http://www.buffalo.edu/news/10063

Fat Food Stimulates Our Brain!

Eating fattening foods triggers the formation of long-term memories of the pleasurable pastime. This is because oleic acids from fat are transferred into a compound in the intestine known as OEA, which triggers 'memory consolidation.' It does this by turning superficial short-term memories into meaningful long-term ones. As a result the experience of eating a satisfying rich meal sticks in the mind.

Scientists said fattening foods are rare in nature. Researcher Dr Daniele Piomelli, from the University of California said: 'Remembering the location and context of a fatty meal was probably an important survival mechanism for early humans. It makes sense that mammals have this capability.'
But in today's world, with its abundance of high-calorie foods, it could encourage over-eating and obesity, say the scientists. Rebecca Wood, chief executive of the Alzheimer's Research Trust, said: 'This is fascinating research and advances our understanding of the impact that diet can have on brain activity. 'When thinking about what constitutes a healthy diet, usually what's good for the heart is also good for the head. 'While this research suggests that fatty foods could help in the formation of longer term memories, a healthy balanced diet is still the best advice for reducing the risk of developing dementia. 'Better understanding of how memories are formed could lead to new treatments that help the brain when it becomes affected by Alzheimer's.
The findings were published in the journal Proceedings of the National Academy of Sciences.
Source: http://www.uci.edu/

Round One: Owned

First off, I would like to thank Mark Followill and Bob Ortegel for outing and shaming the Wood Block Guy on TV last night. I also want to thank Bob Ortegel for saying the phrase, “Mark, you can steal my thunder any time!” It made me giggle.

The Mavs beat the Spurs in five games which was one less than I had even allowed myself to dream they could do it in. More amazing to me was the fact that ESPN’s humourously named Accuscore prediction widget, up until game time yesterday, still had the odds of San Antonio winning the series at something like 72%. The lesson? Do NOT take ESPN’s Accuscore to Vegas with you. But it kind of amazes me how “meh” the rest of the country still is about the Mavs. Don’t get me wrong. I prefer it that way. I like being the team no one cares about. I like having low expectations.

But aren’t we and the Lakers now the two Western Conference teams that got it done in five games? And didn’t the Lakers get it done against the #8 seed Jazz while we took down the San Antonio Spurs, the #3 seed? And didn’t we do it without a huge showing (until Game 5 and even then I would argue that “huge” would not be totally accurate) from our star players? Don’t we have the Sixth Man of the Year? Haven’t the Mavs gone on a 10-3 streak here at the end of the season which puts them alongside the Lakers and Cavs for that same time period? I’m just trying to figure out why the Mavs shouldn’t get a smidge more respect than they are getting. Again, I’m not complaining. I like it when the Mavs have to prove stuff.

To finally break the cycle of getting bounced from the playoffs in the first round in flagrantly embarrassing fashion seems like reward enough for me. But now I have a little bit of bloodlust and I want more. I’m not gonna lie. Denver scares the beejesus out of me. Let me rephrase that. This year and with Chauncey Billups, Denver terrifies me. In the previous two seasons, I remember going to Mavs-Nuggets games and the most entertaining things I could hope for would be a Dirk-Najera handshake or someone holding Boykins’ car keys over his head after the game was over. But now the Nuggets are good and that scares me. Which should make for good, albeit tough, basketball.

I was also astonished at how sportsmanlike and gracious both teams were after the final buzzer last night. And how very little taunting and “Suck it, Spurs!” I did last night. Even Mark and Bob commented on how friendly the atmosphere between the two teams was after the game. Which can only mean one thing. Manu Ginobli is the troublemaker. He’s the bad seed. I knew it.

The Pac 10 offers some important midweek games today, as UCLA travels to Washington, and Arizona visits ASU. In Tempe, it will be a double-header of sorts, as the teams will first finish a rain-suspended game from earlier in the season (with U-of-A in the role of home team) and then play the regularly scheduled game.

Talking about the Bruins, the latest column from ESPN.com's Graham Hays discusses how UCLA pitcher Megan Langenfeld may go down as a tranformational figure in the history of college softball.

UPDATE 1: Washington's Danielle Lawrie no-hits UCLA, as the Huskies win 3-0.

UPDATE 2: Arizona wins 3-2 over ASU in the completion of the rain-suspended game.

UPDATE 3: 'Zona makes it a sweep over ASU, 10-6.

Lee Greenwood Was Right. I Am Proud to Be An American.

I have been accused from time to time of being an anglophile. That’s wholly inaccurate. It’s true that a lot of things that I like originate from the United Kingdom. Stephen Fry is my leader. I am pretty sure the list of things I would do to James May if allowed ten minutes in a darkened room with him would violate any and all Terms of Use of Blogspot. My entire sense of humor was formed by Black Adder and Fawlty Towers as a kid. I still find the best “Awwwwwwww, snaps!” ever uttered forth to be this exchange from QI on the subject of how beetles (sorry, bugs) were discovered to have the ability to dye food red:

Alan Davies: “Yeah, but how did they find this out. Did someone just start crushing up bugs in their food one day and….”

Stephen Fry: “I think one only has to imagine that one day one of these bugs or beetles crawls in with the maize they are pounding and suddenly they go, ‘Oh, good lord, I love this pink polenta!’”

Alan Davies: (in a Speedy Gonzales accent) “You mean, ‘I love this peeeeenk poleeeeeenta’?”

Stephen Fry: “So you’re assuming this happened after the Spanish colonization of Mexico then, are you?”

Seriously, THAT’S a zinger! But outside of Stephen Fry and James May and lunches consisting of Pimm’s Cups and those sandwiches with corn in them (I don’t know why but they’re good), I’ve been to the UK a lot and it’s not that great. The weather is fun for a day or two then it becomes a total kick to the junk. Everything is expensive. It’s actually a pretty grim place. After only a few days, I find myself missing things like sunshine and reasonably priced anything and non-chicken or kebab storefronts. Here’s what cracks me up though. The smugness of Britons about how trashy, sensationalist and tabloid-y Americans and American culture is. Pot, kettle, you’ve got a lot of mutual darkness to discuss.

Sure, America can lay claim to things like TMZ, Perez Hilton and (though we’ll split the credit/blame for this one with Australia) Fox News. And yes, American press laws allow photos of children, including the children of celebrities, to be published which only encourages ass-monkey paparazzi to chase down and scare kids to get pictures of them which they will then sell to websites who will use the pictures to evaluate whether or not that particular child is hot or not. I will give Britain credit for banning the publication or sale of photos of a celebrity’s child (or any child who is involved in a crime or trial).

But where Britain takes the high road in avoiding some celebrity trash journalism (and one might even argue that’s just down to a much smaller number of celebrities residents in Britain which, in turn, leads them to cover the WAGs of footballers), they have a sub-genre of trashy journalism that never fails to blow my mind. It’s the most manipulative, incendiary and cynical kind of journalism I know of and it happens every day in Britain. It’s the LOOK AT THESE FAT PEOPLE AND OR/IMMIGRANTS AND/OR GENERALLY LAZY PEOPLE ON BENEFITS beast and it rears its head daily in the UK papers. I suppose a comparable issue would be the illegal immigration debate here in the States but the more nationalized health care and public aid becomes in a country, the bigger the font and the larger the target of hatred becomes at those on the receiving end of such benefits.

Here’s just a few recent examples of some clearly un-sensationalized stories about families on benefits.

The one about the mother of triplets

The always restrained Daily Mail called this one “The Real Telly Tubbies”. Classy.

It’s always fun to watch the four horsemen of the trashy UK news apocalypse (The Daily Mail, The Mirror, The Sun and the News of the World) quickly look for any ties between any relevant and perhaps truthful story about suspected terrorists who bent rules or overstayed their visas (which doesn’t get the public too worked up any longer) to the much more sexy “UK TERROR SUSPECT WAS LIVING ON BENEFITS AND PLAYED NINTENDO ALL DAY WHILE YOU WERE OUT WORKING HARD TO PAY FOR HIM TO SIT BACK AND EVENTUALLY TRY TO KILL YOU WITH A BOMB!” story. Now that the boogety-boo of “war on terror” and “extremists” and all those other buzz words that will be to the 2000’s like “dial-up” and “cappuccino” was in the 90’s have lost their edge, the UK press has had to find another way to MAKE EVERYONE REALLY MAD ABOUT THIS BENEFITS THING!

Enter my absolute favorite way to kill two birds with one stone. There’s an underlying issue here which is a completely valid one. There has been an Americanization of the United Kingdom (and the world, for that matter) even in the almost 15 years since I first went to London. A huge part of that has been the explosion of McDonald’s and KFCs (Holy Baby Jesus, they love their KFCs in Britain!) and any other chain that was big enough to take a risk on expanding overseas to provide cheap, deep fried food to the jagged-toothed English masses. This is such a hot button issue with a lot of people in Britain. And it goes beyond the Super Size Me argument here in America. Let’s put it this way: I can destroy a Big Mac with my mouth. But generally I think that fast food is a horrible food option unless it’s eaten as a rare treat or a “eat or die” sort of choice. In England, it goes beyond that. It’s not just an issue of health v. convenience. It’s seen as choosing the evil, awful fat American death burger over your dependable, loving old English grandmother’s home cooking just because it’s cheap and easy. It’s the reverse Benedict Arnold. That sounds dirty. And to them, it is.

So if terrorists/immigrants are not getting the traction they used to, why not use fat people who eat at McDonald’s as the next target of benefits abuse hatred? Doesn’t that make you ANGRY, good upstanding Britons? That’s your money being spent on health costs and housing benefits for these obese people who, on top of it all, got that way not by eating the always healthy staples of the British diet such as scotch eggs and bacon butties but by eating American fast food. Doesn’t that make you livid? Come on, get that xenophobia going! Start getting that mixture of smug superiority and righteous indignation to a rolling boil! It’s these tacky, Burberry-wearing chavs who are too lazy to work and are squandering YOUR hard earned tax pounds! I mean, it was okay when they were spending it at chip shops because that’s good British lard-based fried sustenance.

It kind of makes me proud to be an American when I read these articles because it reminds me that as much as Britain may claim to have finally completed the task of shaking off the shackles of the rigid class system they clung to for so long, they have come nowhere near close to doing so. The implied meaning behind all these articles is not “we’re worried about abuses in the benefits system” but “look at these lower class people and how stupid/gross/poorly-educated/nutritionally retarded/obese/unattractive/lazy they are!” On a weekly basis, I see someone purchasing food with a Lone Star/WIC card at the grocery store and a lot of the time, it’s not the soundest of nutritional choices. It’s white bread or juice boxes or something else containing the words “high fructose” or “hydrogenated” or “enriched”. Do I get morally enraged that, not only am I helping pay for their food but that my money is going towards nutritionally unwise foods? Nope. Because I am from Georgia and there are three foods that I never went more than a day or two without eating during my childhood there: butter sandwiches on white bread, bologna sandwiches on white bread and biscuits in a bowl of buttermilk.


So keep aiming for that whole “transcending classism” thing, Great Britain. Baby steps. Tiny, obese, overfed, benefits-abusing toddler steps.

Stanley Cup and Cheesecake 2009 - Semifinals Edition

Wow. Sorry for the long delay, folks. I was on the road last week, visiting my parents in Ohio with my almost-two-year-old daughter. Since the second round matchups weren't yet set until Tuesday night (the day I left), and 'cause my parents idea of cutting-edge technology is a digital watch (not to mention trying to keep up with the aforementioned daughter without her mom around to help!), I had zero chance to with art or picks for round two! My sincere apologies. I'll come correct next time around, no matter who moves on.

Anyway, we're a few games in already, but here goes:

(1) Boston Bruins vs. (6) Carolina Hurricanes

Boston was hardly tested in their sweep of Montreal, whereas Carolina needed a couple miracles to advance past the Jersey Devils in round one. Will the long layoff lead to a hangover for the Bruins, or will they continue to roll? Sadly, I fear they will. It's been entertaining to see how many of the Boston teams have suffered misfortune, coming close to ultimate victory before enduring bitter defeat, since Prince of Darkness Bill Belichek got nailed for cheating in mid-2007 (the notable exception being last year's Celtics... then again, look what happened to this year's team.) I think a great letdown is in store for the Bruins as well, but not in this round. Sorry, Davis. Bruins in five.

(2) Washington Capitals vs. (4) Pittsburgh Penguins

Historically, the Penguins have owned the Capitals in the playoffs. Of seven meetings, Pittsburgh has won six, even after losing the first game of the series in five of those times. I fondly remember the last time, in 2001...the Penguins finished Washington off for good in overtime of game six, and on the Capitals post-game wrap up show on HTS network, the disbelief, frustration and bewilderment of losing again was evident on the faces of the studio staff. There was a lot of silence, head shaking...host Al Koken could hardly find words...it seemed like all they wanted to say was "Fuck. Just...fuck. Really? Again? Fuck. See you next season." It was glorious. When it happens again sometime early next week, I'm gonna DVR it. Penguins in six.



(2) Detroit Red Wings vs. (8) Anaheim Ducks

It seems like an odd proposition, but I think the Ducks might actually have a good shot at taking out the Red Wings. They play physical, almost dirty hockey...they're riding high after knocking off the President's Trophy-winning Sharks relatively easily (BTW, I'm gonna set my account up to shoot me an email early next April that says "DON"T PICK THE FUCKING SHARKS!"). C'mon, Anaheim, the playoffs are so much more interesting with Detroit out of it. Prove me wrong and get it done. I'll even draw your shitty non-uniforms in the next round. Red Wangs in six.

(3) Vancouver Canucks vs. (4) Chicago Blackhawks

In the past few seasons, young teams who've had a ton of success in the regular season (2007 Pengiuns, 2008 Capitals) have had a hard time carrying that success into the playoffs against more experienced teams. The Blackhawks, though, seem to have bucked that trend, defeating a tough Calgary team in a series that was a bit closer than the 4-2 final tally would indicate. And boy, can they score. Things went a bit closer to script for the Canucks, who took out the upstart Blues pretty easily. If the Hawks can get a split in the first two games in Vancouver (update: they did), I think they'll be able to withstand the 'Nucks the rest of the way and advance to the Western Conference finals. Blackhawks in seven.

Eighty-Seven

The matchups aren't all quite set, but there's little doubt who I'll be picking in round two in the east, be it Bruins, Caps or Hurricanes! As I'll be on the road for the next few days, I'll post my picks for the semifinal round tomorrow, but the art will have to wait until the weekend (which means no one will care).

About the image: This is actually a portrait of my own lovely wife, created (at least in part) as the answer to her oft-asked question "When are you gonna draw me in a sports jersey?". She also specifically requested that it be a Sidney Crosby #87 Penguins jersey, though she now has no memory of ever having done so.

♥ ♛ ♫ Hennessy Artistry Party 2009 !!

Hennessy Artistry 2009 - The Global Art of Mixing.


The happening party of 2009 hit Penang Island at QEII Club on last saturday, April 25th 2009.
The party required invitations only and it pretty exclusive.
"The Global Art Of Mixing" itself combines mix of artistes from East and West - from Asia and Us, to Europe and Down Under.. mix them to one big partaayy.


I got the invitations from a friend of mine, went there with bunch of friends and it was fun.
The design was exclusive, red carpet and wall of pictures.
The music was more likely to be Drum & Bass until Caprice, the Malaysian rapper came down and brought the Hip Hop in the air.
They also gaveaway free drinks (Hennessy) in early hours.
The party was crowded, people dressed up and got pretty into it.


I was dressing up a bit 'Grungy'.. sort of a rock indie rock n roll.
I don't know, i felt like it at that moment.
Hney's dressing up a bit 'Formal'.. wore an orange Topman shirt with black tie and a black jeans.
Unfortunately the place was too hot as people got more crowded so in the pictures, he took off his tie and got messy.
Well, as for me, i got sweating up but still holding on. =)




Moving on, The guests star was..

♪ Starz Angels ♪

Combining electro house rhythms and hip hop flows, the trio have been supported by a creative and rigorous web presence.

Responding to the needs of the public, they’ve been performing and gained the respect of industry professionals within a year.
Performing regularly in Los Angeles, Las Vegas and Marbella; they’re extending their presence here to spread their musical message.
Also look out for Jmi Sissoko (is a third element of Starz Angels) who is recognized as one of the best urban artistes in France, for his additional powerful twist of sounds.

♪ Caprice ♪

One of Malaysia’s rising youth icons, Caprice isn’t just an artist, but also an entrepreneur.
His love for music led him to learn the ropes of the industry up to setting up his own record label and production house!


Over the course of a few months, he recorded a few singles, shot 2 music videos, and released 2 songs that shot to #1 on Hitz.FM.





Credit Links & Pictures :
http://www.kinkybluefairy.net/2009/04/20/hennessy-artistry-is-back-for-2009/
http://stanleywong.my/2009/04/hennessy-artistry-is-back-for-2009/

North Dakota State Fair Photo Contest!

Submit your photos to nichole@ndstatefair.com and your picture just might be the North Dakota State Fair Pic of the Day on Facebook, MySpace, and Twitter. By submitting your photos you are giving The North Dakota State Fair rights to utilize your photos, which means your talent could land you a spot on the North Dakota State Fair website, in the newspaper, on a billboard, in a magazine or in a brochure. If we use your photos to advertise the Fair you’ll even win NDSF Swag! Submit your photos now and check back daily to see if you have won bragging rights as the State Fair photo of the day!

Don’t forget to include your name and where you are from when you send in your photo.

With a two-game sweep at Missouri this weekend, Oklahoma has clinched the Big 12 title for this year.

UCLA added a Saturday-Sunday sweep over ASU (now 7-6 in the conference), to its Friday night win over U-of-A, to round out its swing through Arizona. The Bruins started out Pac 10 play at 1-4, and are now 10-4. Arizona (9-4) and Washington (8-6) split their two games. Stanford, which was perfect this weekend against the Oregon schools, is 10-5. Cal, which did likewise, is 8-7.

In the Big 10, Northwestern was swept this weekend in a two-games series with Illinois, dropping the Wildcats to a 12-4 conference record. Michigan, which took two from Wisconsin, is now 10-2 in Big 10 play; the Wolverines lost a pair of one-run games at Northwestern to open conference play, but have been perfect within the league ever since. Another team to look out for is Ohio State (12-2), which played out of conference this weekend. The Buckeyes face a tough upcoming road schedule that will likely make or break their Big 10 title hopes:

Sat, May 2 at Northwestern
Sun, May 3 at Northwestern
Wed, May 6 at Michigan (DH)

Finally, Florida (49-3 overall, 26-1 conference) continues to cruise through SEC play.

The 7 Steps to Success!

By Patrick Driessen & Brain Tracy

On a daily basis I speak with people about what's driving them, what their dreams and goals are, what their lessons learned are, their passions and how they are planning to achieve what they are dreaming of.

Besides a lot of inspirational and positive stories I often also hear stories about all the limitations, challenges, roadblocks, etc. which have led to not succeeding. This then motivates me to ask more questions to challenge the person and stretch their thinking to figure out what's really been keeping them off their success. Often I can drill their lack of success down to a couple of key causes:

• Lack of focus
• Lack of action
• Lack of determination and discipline to succeed.

Taking these things as lessons learned, please find below 7 steps to succeed, which will help, guide and support you to succeed better and faster! Success guaranteed!

“In order to succeed, your desire for success should be greater than your fear of failure!” - Bill Cosby

Discipline yourself to do what you know you need to do to be the very best in your field. Perhaps the best definition of self discipline is this: "Self discipline is the ability to make yourself do what you should do when you should do it, whether you feel like it or not." It is easy to do something when you feel like it. It's when you don't feel like it and you force yourself to do it anyway that you move your life and career onto the fast track.

What decisions do you need to make today in order to start moving toward the top of your field? Whatever it is, either to get in or get out, make a decision today and then get started. This single act alone can change the whole direction of your life.

There is a powerful seven step formula that you can use to set and achieve your goals for the rest of your life: The 7 Steps to Success. Every single successful person uses this formula or some variation of this formula to achieve vastly more than the average person. And so can you!

Here is how it works:
1. Decide What You Want

Decide exactly what it is you want in each part of your life. Become a "meaningful specific" rather than a "wandering generality."

2. Write it Down

Write down what you want, clearly and in detail. Always think on paper! A goal that is not in writing is not a goal at all. It is merely a wish and it has no energy behind it.

3. Set a Deadline

Set a deadline for each goal. A deadline acts as a "forcing system" in your subconscious mind. It motivates you to do the things necessary to make your goal come true. If it is a big enough goal, set sub-deadlines as well. Don't leave this to chance!

4. Make a List

Make a list of everything that you can think of that you are going to have to do to achieve your goal. When you think of new tasks and activities, write them on your list until your list is complete.

5. Organize Your List

Organize your list into a plan. Decide what you will have to do first and what you will have to do second. Decide what is more important and what is less important. And then write out your plan on paper, the same way you would develop a blueprint to build your dream house. Once you've written everything down on paper and your blueprint to succeed is complete, create an electronic version so you can create reminders, create mindmaps, make updates, print it out to hang it up, share a soft copy with your coach or mentor, etc.

6. Take Action

The sixth step is for you to take action on your plan. Do something. Do anything. But get busy. Get going and execute your plan! Be hard on yourself; the more actions you take, the faster you will succeed!

7. Do Something Every Day

Do something every single day that moves you in the direction of your most important goal at the moment. Develop the discipline of doing something 365 days each year that is moving you forward. You will be absolutely astonished at how much you accomplish when you utilize this formula in your life every single day!

Action Exercises

Here are two things you can do to put these ideas into action immediately. Today!

• First, decide exactly what you want, write it down with a deadline, make a plan and take action - on at least one goal - today!
• Second, determine the price you will have to pay to achieve this goal and then get busy paying that price - whatever it is!

Support

If you need additional support to help you with these 7 success steps, I advise you to get a professional and certified executive coach and mentor! A certified and experienced executive coach will result in achieving your goals faster and better!

Make this a Positive & Fruitful day....unless you have other plans!

Warm regards & success,

Patrick Driessen