Catha For Council Blog

I now consider myself an experienced writer of letters of recommendation. Now, this is not something that would appear on any business card (assuming I had business cards), nor is it something that is printed on the shirts available for purchase in the mall (unless I made my own shirt, or my own mall). But for the past few years, I’ve found myself writing many letters to many different colleges and not necessarily having the fun I could be having if I wrote “the letter.” That’s right, a letter so grand that it deserves to be in quotations. Not because of how flattering it is in regards to the student, but because it’s the exact opposite. And now I have decided to give myself the opportunity to fulfill my wish…

Recommendation for John P. Idiot

In my years of teaching, never has a student touched me so much as John P. Idiot. Even when I tell him that I do not want his hands on me, or anywhere close, he still touches me. Until someone else walks into the room, in which case he will touch that person instead.

But it’s not John’s ability to touch people that has earned him his primary reputation at our school. Even more notable is his title as the person who has asked out the most girls and subsequently been turned down the most. While this might not seem relevant to a college recommendation at first thought, I believe it shows that he is able to overcome adversity again and again and again and again and still isn’t a changed person as a result. And that’s unfortunate because there is much to be changed about John. I don’t mean that in a negative way, of course. It is just that John has more issues than a standard newspaper archive, and maybe only two or three less than a fenceless zoo.

Aside from being able to see John develop as a person (probably more than I would have liked, thanks to a mooning incident), I’ve also had the opportunity to see John develop as a scholar. When he handed in his first essay during his sophomore year, for example, it wasn’t very good. In fact, it was the worst essay I’ve ever read, real or fictional. But his next essay a couple of weeks later was one of the best in the class. In fact, the words jumped off of the page like basketball players, and the message shot out like it was in a bottle for many years. And while I later found this exact essay on the Internet, this plagiarism doesn’t take away from the fact that John was able to identify a good essay and steal it accordingly. I can’t say the same for other students, who would rather have their mothers do their work. John would never ask his parents for help, at least not after that incident with the ammonia and the match a few months ago. But that’s not important to this evaluation.

What’s truly important is that John was a stellar classroom participant. There were times when students were in the middle of a great discussion about a novel, and John would chime in, “I need to go to the bathroom.” While this completely ruined the momentum of the conversation, it showed me that John knows what he wants, and is able to identify these needs when the time arises. I noticed that when John came back, usually 15 minutes later and smelling of smoke, he seemed content in the sense that he had accomplished his goal, which is important in our goal-oriented society. Another example of his ability to achieve his goals is when I heard him proclaim, “Oh my gosh, I am totally going to fail this test” and he did exactly that.

Outside of the classroom, John is known for his involvement in extra-curricular activities, none of which should be mentioned in this letter, although they do reveal him as both a leader and a “people person.” He also attends most school functions, and will always come back into the building when he is kicked out.

In summary, John will have a major impact on your college next year if you only give him the opportunity to do so. As your college is located many miles away from where I teach, I believe it is an ideal fit for him.

Sincerely,

Gregory Gagliardi

Greg Gagliardi is a teacher and writer. His stream-of-consciousness weekly humor column, “Progressive Revelations,” has been ongoing since 1998. (http://www.ProgressiveRevelations.com)

Comments Off

I visited many forums and found that people like to do their own SEO initially and then give up later after they do not find reasonable results. I would suggest that they should keep on trying, until they really feel that their sales is directly dependent on their ranking in the search engines.

I have high respect for all the people who have achieved success using in-house/personal SEO and still are able to maintain there top spot for highly competitive keywords like digital camera software or photo software. The world of SEO has changed rapidly and so have the techniques. Now lets start with main subject which is “Making money online with SEO”.

The first well known fact:

Higher the traffic better the sales It is a proven fact that among the billions of pages that are searched by search engines only a few make it to the top and these top 30 websites make the most business. Type in digita l camera software for instance and you will understand what I mean. Do you remember how many times have you gone beyond the 3-4th page of your search page results? I would expect the same behavior from 99.9% of the Internet surfers as no one has the time to go beyond the top 30 listed pages. I am exaggerating when I say top 30 because mostly the top 10 get 75% of the hits. So if you are not at the top you are losing on a huge chunk of sales, unless you are advertising locally and are limited to a local business.

Google adwords is worth a mention at this point as there are millions who use them and know their importance. The users of google adwords know that they will get listed at the top page (sponsored listing) for the specified keywords. But they do not estimate the sales that they will make. They can easily do it in a month and then change their bid amount to be paying less in advertising on google. Getting listed in the top page doesn’t necessarily mean business. You need to have a real good sales page that will make the “buyer” feel the need to buy it. Remember its all about making him feel that he needs it.

“Search engine optimization”. will propel your page to the top 10 without having to pay for the adwords campaign which is a pay per click campaign and you might end up paying far more than your sales. Having said this if you choose the niche keywords for your campaign and have a good sales copy you are bound to make a lot out of the campaign. Out of thousands who click to your page at least 50 should buy your product.

The million dollar question

How will you benefit from SEO? How much should you spend?

If you have a good product and at a reasonable price compared to competition and feel that you can garner enough sales once your website receives traffic SEO will benefit you by providing you with exposure for the chosen keywords ( a proper keyword analysis for searches per month for that chosen keyword) will be conducted by the SEO expert. Depending on the competition you have for those keywords the plan will be chalked out by him. Sometimes only on-page SEO may take you to the top however, nowadays SEO has become a popular career with many top websites spending huge amounts on SEO to be listed in the top.

Your expense should depend on how much sale you are bound to make. A proper estimation of this can be drawn after the first month that you are listed in the top 10. Your expense can range from any where between $250-$2500. depending on the competition you face.

Be careful while choosing an SEO firm or person as they can use spammed techniques that can get you banned from search engines.

Comments Off

If you’re not quite ready for marriage, yet would still like to show your partner that you are committed. A perfect compromise would be to present them with a promise ring. Promise rings are the middle ground between an official and long term commitment and a public announcement or promise that you only have eyes for each other. Hopefully this “one other” is the proud recipient of your promise ring.

Promise rings are very popular in high schools for young couples just beginning to enjoy the first feelings of love and romance. A promise ring need not be expensive, more importantly it is about what it represents. It’s a public show of your affection, it shows your desire and intention. In fact, one could argue that it could be one of the most romantic gestures you could make. Is this an overstatement? No, I don’t think so, read on.

When was the last time you bought your partner a gift or a trinket that simply said to them that you loved them? Let’s take Valentine’s day out of the question, this is the time of year we’re expected to give our partners a gift or a card. In fact it can be argued that Valentine’s day has become so commercial that all of the real romance has been lost. If we also remove birthday’s and Christmas, it actually becomes very rare for any of us to make a gesture of love or commitment, unless we really have to.

You see, if we’re honest a lot of us will agree that the best part of love or a new relationship is always the first rush of excitement. The first glance, the first time holding hands and the inevitable first kiss. When we look closer, for a lot of us, we experienced these feelings during high school. For those of us lucky enough to remember our first promise ring, it somehow brings back all of those lost feelings.

So my recommendation to everyone is to give your loved one a promise ring. Do not wait until a special day before doing so, do it long before or long after Valentine’s day. Live for the moment and for the romance. Even if you’re already married or engaged. Promise rings can mean so more these days than just a token gesture of your love. They enlighten lost memories, allow us to relive a time when romance was exactly that, a time before bills and mortgages, a time when we showed our love just because we wanted to.

In a way, the fact that promise rings are so inexpensive adds to the romantic gesture. In a way, it is easy to mistake love and romance based on the value of a ring. However, it’s more than likely that an unsolicited gift, one that can evoke memories of a happy childhood will have a much more desirable impact.

In summary, promise rings are now back in vogue but only for the very true romantics amongst you.

For 14 years Titanium Rings Studios has been making the finest quality handmade titanium rings and carries a full line of Weddding Rings, Engagement Rings, Celtic Rings, Tension Rings, Friendship rings.

Comments Off

Mentoring and learning from each other is much more that taking a course or explicitly giving someone advice or help. Almost every moment of every day when we are with people has the potential for becoming a mentoring or a learning situation. We talk, gesture, and involve ourselves in many ways with many people. The exchange can be uplifting, informative, reassuring, kind or it can be depressing, depleting, annoying, bothersome and more! I’m sure you can think of both some good and some bad times with other people!

I teach that experiencing The Enchanted Self is unique to each person. We all have our unique ways of feeling comfortable with ourselves, when we know that our mind, body, heart and spirit are all lined up! We know that we are in stride with ourselves and our purpose in life for that moment. There is another level of Enchantment that we do reach, though and this can not be done alone. It is the shared positive experience of enchantment.

Can you even imagine what our world be like if everyone learned to tap into their Enchanted Selves often and while they were with others? I think the world would be more positive, a place where people would communicate in a friendly manner, respectful of one another’s uniqueness and feelings.

Let’s bring our discussion back to times we have all experienced. Haven’t you encountered people who exude confidence and a sense of well being? I bet you left the encounter feeling happier and more positive. Perhaps the next person you met had the opportunity to catch some of that positive energy. The truth is we all catch each other’s moods and reactions. People often talk about how a smile brings on a smile. When we connect with our Enchanted Self, the joy and confidence we feel spreads to others. It becomes important to learn how to actually bring our positive states of being to the surface in such a way that others are encouraged to join in. Certainly we all respond better to enthusiasm and praise than disparaging comments and criticisms. Unfortunately, most of us are already experts on negative thinking and harmful criticism. Being in a good mood and then finding one’s self in a negative situation is a difficult spot to be in. How quickly a positive state of mind can be interrupted!

For instance, we may be in a wonderful mood only to enter the workplace or home and be met by a scowl, a frown, or negative remark from a coworker or family member. How quickly one’s positive state of well being can dissipate. For example, if I walk into the house in a good mood and my mother, or my wife, or my husband, immediately barrages me with a list of things that I didn’t take care of, or criticizes me for chores I didn’t accomplish to their satisfaction, I will find the experience a clear interruption of my positive state of being. However, if someone were to gently say, “Can you give me a few minutes? I want to go over some of the chores we had agreed to split,” or “I want to check with you as to what has been done or what has not been done,” then I may be able to maintain not only my state of well being, but be in a good enough mood to help improve the other person.

A speaker once compared giving constructive criticism to that of a sandwich. The first slice of bread is telling the person something honest and positive about that person. The filling consists of gently leading into a suggestion or sharing ones’ feelings about how something is being done. The second slice of bread again finishes with positive reaction or remark to that person. How desperately most of us need to practice the art of positive criticism.

Learning to communicate effectively to maintain each other’s integrity and self esteem goes a long way toward creating and spreading positive, productive energy and making the world a better place!

Exercise 1: Successfully Connect with Others

This is a very simple communication exercise that requires the consent and cooperation of a partner. Begin by allowing the other person to talk about something important to him or her for at least three minutes. The topic can be anything: their opinions about a complicated subject; their expert knowledge in some field; an anecdote about something that happened in the past; or their personal feelings about something or someone. After you have listened, give back only positive feedback. This is not easy, as we often find it easier to be an ‘expert’ in criticism. However, it greatly enhances our mood to receive positive feedback. Reverse roles, and allow yourself to talk for three minutes, uninterrupted. Now it is your turn for positive feedback. I can guarantee it feels better than criticism. Try it. You’ll like it!

Exercise 2: Enhancing the Human “Touch” of Communication

This September pick a day and have the fun of creating a special meal with family or friends. Carefully set the table. You could even put a flower vase in the middle or use a cloth table covering. Perhaps you could also start the meal with each person giving a blessing or stating a positive feeling about being together. Stretch and be generous of spirit — maybe you could invite the neighbor that would never expect to be included. During the meal tell positive stories about the ‘old’ days or share funny stories about growing up. The immediacy of this type of human ‘touch’ can turn an ordinary day into an enchanted one.

About The Author

Dr. Barbara Becker Holstein , originator of THE ENCHANTED SELF®, a method of bringing delight and meaning into everyday living, invites you to view her new line of ENCHANTED WOMAN products, downloadable e-books, and free gifts at http://www.enchantedself.com. Chat with others in Dr. Holstein’s e-group, http://health.groups.yahoo.com/group/enchantedself/. Order her book, THE ENCHANTED SELF: A Positive Therapy, or the CD-rom or tape version and her book RECIPES FOR ENCHANTMENT: The Secret Ingredient is YOU!, or the ED-rom version, at http://www.enchantedself.com/ordering.htm

enchantedself@verizon.net

Comments Off

I once heard a speaker use the statement, “I have been sentenced to success!” I heard that almost twenty years ago, yet it still sticks in my
head.

Imagine that. What if we had been given a life sentence to serve, say 75
years, and the sentence was to do time in a place called “Success”? The
truth is that we have.

Let me back up. We have been given a life sentence. But, unlike a sentencing
in a real life courtroom, we get to actually choose where we will “do our
time.”

Here are some of the choices people make:

The prison of poverty. Poor people are no better or kinder or anything else
than people with money. People are people regardless of how much money they
have. Frankly, I have had little and I have had a lot, and yes, I will
choose having a lot! When you choose to live in poverty you are in a prison
that does not allow you the freedoms we were intended to experience. We are
unable to help others as we desire. My advice? Don’t choose a sentence to
the prison of poverty.

The prison of depression. Depression is like a blanket that overwhelms you
and eventually smothers you. Now before you go accusing me with, “Chris. You
just don’t understand.” Yes I do. I have had a history of depression.
Depression is rampant in my family of origin. I know firsthand what a prison
depression is. When you are locked up in depression you cannot live life as
it was intended. But you can get out! My advice? Don’t choose a sentence to
the prison of depression.

The prison of the lack of health. Lacking health is a real pain! The freedom
we lose when we choose to live in a state of a lack of health is terrible -
and unnecessary! We don’t have to live in that prison. We can choose a
different sentence! We can choose health! My advice? Don’t choose a sentence
to the prison of the lack of health.

The prison of doubt, worry, and fear. This is a dark, dark prison. It is one
that haunts you the whole time you reside there. It makes you believe that
the surroundings are worse than the really are. It keeps you from enjoying
life and becoming the kind of person you were intended to become! My advice?
Don’t choose a sentence to the prison of poverty. My advice? Don’t choose a
sentence to the prison of doubt, worry and fear.

There is another option. You can choose to be sentenced to success! You can
choose to actually be set free! You can choose to walk out of that courtroom
and live the life that you choose!

What can you experience when you are sentenced to success? How about these:

Good health
Financial abundance
Emotional freedom
Positive relationships
A career you love
Spiritual liberty

And how will you experience these? By choice. Your choice. You choose
exactly what kind of life you will live. You choose the sentence you will
serve here on earth and the experience that you have.

Will you languish in a dark prison or in the open freedom that comes from
the sentence of success? That depends on the choices you make.

I challenge you to choose this day to:

Pursue financial independence
Develop yourself spiritually
Make a change so you are in a career you love
Re-commit yourself to loving relationships
Achieve emotional health

Make a choice TODAY. Do not spend another day in a prison where you do not
belong!

Where will you serve your sentence? You get to decide.

As for me?

I have been sentenced to success!

About The Author:

Chris Widener is a popular speaker and writer as well as the President of
Made for Success, a company helping individuals and organizations turn
their potential into performance, succeed in every area of their lives and
achieve their dreams.

To see Chris “live” at the upcoming Jim Rohn Weekend Event as he speaks on
the subject of Secrets of Influence go to
http://Chris-Widener.InspiresYOU.com/ or call 800-929-0434.

Comments Off

Recently, there was a popular radio talkshow host who stated over the national airwaves that there are about 5,000 eligible bachelors seeking continual sexual companionship in the greater Chicago area. In response to his demographic remark, a Chicago woman called in immmediately saying that she had dated most of those 5,000 men during the previous three years. The host’s prompt question in reply to the women was, “did you sleep with all of them?” I was surprised when she answered the question affirmatively. She was actually proud of her libidinal exploits. Then the brief dialogue between the caller and host ended. Had I been the host, the question would have been summarily posed as to whether or not she was equally sure that none of the men she bedded were HIV positive.

Of course, such a question about AIDs might not have seemed appropriate to ask on live radio, but the caller’s confession of sleeping with over 5,000 men in a period of three years was outrageously candid, and certainly opened the door to a further exploration. There was no doubt that the probability of her contracting the HIV virus was greater than 85 percent if she actually had consensual sex with 5,000 men who were total strangers to her. And the probable influence that she had on other women listening to the talkshow was certainly more negative than positive. For there’s no way of telling how many other female appetites for promiscuous sexual abandon were aroused by this person’s capricious and unrestrained libido.

Since there’s no cure for the AIDs virus, as one is far from being developed, the awful thought of contracting HIV from indiscriminate sexual contact should pervade most people’s minds when placed in a position of choice, whether or not to engage in consensual sex with someone they don’t know. In the beginning of the AID’s crisis, even before the disease had been properly named, there were the homosexual bath houses in San Francisco and other such cities with large gay populations, where male and female orgies took place indiscriminately. When a causal link between the passage of the virus from one homosexual male to another, by the exchange of body fluids, was first proven, the gay community openly declared rebellion against the discovery, refuting the scientific findings and continuing the practice of indiscriminate sex between people of the same gender. Then the horrid dying abruptly commenced, and members of both the gay and straight communities were terrified of the eventual consequences of even the most prudent and deliberate sexual encounter. But the sexual activities continued unabated, despite the apparent fear.

Now, in the 21st Century, there seems to exist an atmosphere of abject resignation concerning the AIDs virus and a pervasive attitude among the sexually active in large American cities of “what the hell? If I get AIDs, so what?” The consensus seems to be averse to the logic of the truistic platitude, “play now, pay later.” How ludicrous it is. Millions of people are expected to die from HIV within the next 20 years, and we have a woman who is proud of her 5,000 indiscriminate sexual conquests in three years time. Carl Jung spoke of the human condition when he wrote that the bestial nature of the human mammalian is exhibited more in the sex act than at any other time. “This is where man and animal are both basically the same, unless, per chance, the human intellect interdicts the hormonal process through cognitive reason.”

Jung and other astute observers of human behavior have insisted that the capacity of the human brain to cognitively produce reasons for “not” behaving self-destructively, for the sake of temporary and episodic animal pleasure, is what elevates man above the apes. But I fear that the sensational effect of television sit-coms, motion pictures, and magazine pornography, which flagrantly advertise capricious and harmful sexual indiscretions, will only proliferate in a society where instant gratification has become a rule of thumb. This type of reasoning does not emanate from a religious or moral base, but, rather, from one philosophical and Kantian in origin. For there is no real purpose in doing anything that will eventually produce a sadly bad end, especially if the detrimental effect is realized, but ignored.

Norton R. Nowlin holds M.A. and B.A. degrees in psychology and political science from the University of Texas at Tyler, has one year of law school from Thomas Jefferson School of Law, in San Diego, California, and holds an ABA-approved advanced paralegal certification, with honors, from Edmonds Community College, in Lynnwood, Washington. Mr. Nowlin has been published numerous times as an op-ed columnist in “The Times of Snohomish County,” published by Seattle Times, Inc., and in various other newspapers and periodicals. Mr. Nowlin resides in northern Virginia with his wife, Diane, and their two very intelligent cats.

Comments Off