Dear all,
It's been a very productive month at WSTS central. Much of it is behind the scenes - for now - but has involved a lot of research, planning, and preparation for an initiative to be started later in the year. While I cannot say much about it now, it's something that I am passionate about and looking forward to working hard on. There will be others working with me who I trust as talented individuals and professionals alike. More answers will come about soon.
We've ended April and I hope that everyone has found some new purpose or goals in their new year. Back-sliding or challenges aside, I hope you are starting to feel the fruits of the labours you might have put forward so far this year. In numerological terms, this is a new year - a new beginning for many. Has it been yours? It's possible you're going through some rough times, and while it might not seem helpful at the moment, something will suddenly shift and that positive change you were looking for will suddenly be there. You don't have to be a certain religion, belong to a particular belief system, or subscribe to a specific social slot to believe that change is inevitable in life, and at some point, it's going to be in your favour if you've put some effort into the outcome in a genuine, inspired manner.
I wanted to look at one of the facets of success, that being challenging irrational or damaging beliefs. Often it's how we feel about ourselves that can determine our path. The adage of we get what we deserve is true, and sometimes we are the ones that limit what we are paid.
Stinkin' Thinkin'
An article about how to challenge our self-beliefs, check them for reality and how to call ourselves up on unhelpful or unfair definitions of ourselves. Possibly even others. We are not under any orders to be perfect, but it's hurtful to live by rules that are only there to protect us from moving forward. Even if they seemed true when formed, or even now, have you tested them for their pure validity? Could you be holding onto thoughts that support the tides working against you?
Article here.
This month's articles include:
Picking on Yourself: All About Trichotillomania
Trichotillomania is said to be an affective anxiety disorder, catagorised by obsessive picking of one's body, including scab picking, pulling out hair or incessant nail-biting. While considered minor symptoms, long-term it can cause serious health problems and a life-time of discomfort, both physically and socially.
Jem and the Rebooted Holograms
Last year, there was a revamp of the 80s cartoon, Jem and the Holograms, featuring a movie that re-captured the story of Jem and her band. While the movie was pulled out of cinemas after two weeks because it did not meet the high expectation of ticket sales, it doesn't delete the sometimes-energetic, sometimes-creative work starring Juliette Lewis. We look at the history of the Jem phenomenon and how the movie stacks up with audiences.
Sand of Thine
Sandpainting was bought into the world modern scene over the past few years via talent shows and street art, but where did it originate? The old-world art has hit the streets in many modern forms including online expression. See where it could lead you today. Applications enclosed!
As usual, I hope everyone enjoys the fruits of my recent labours and finds something useful in these articles. I try and keep them varied on subject, as the goal of the website is to expose people to content they would not normally seek out, as well as subjects they enjoy reading. Variety is how we develop.
For the next few months, other than article releases, it may appear that it's quiet at WSTS, but that's just the silence of hard work. Many projects are in the pipeline and I can't wait to share them upon completion!
All my best wishes,
The editor.
Tuesday, 2 May 2017
Sunday, 5 February 2017
January to February: New Year's Reprieve
Dear all,
It feels strange to write on the first day of February about January, but that's what it has become. Things have been through more transition, which has bumped forward some tasks. That's how life seems sometimes. We make great plans for ourselves, only to find some cosmic force wants to prevent us from staying on track. So what does it all mean? Are we destined never to change?
I recently pondered what it means to create and follow our New Years resolutions. Does anyone ever follow them? What does it mean if we fail? It became the topic of this month's lead article, New Year's Reprieve. We are so quick to judge ourselves, that if we didn't succeed, it must be our failure as human beings. In essence, it could be, but the reason is not one to reprimand ourselves, only learn, re-evaulate and re-develop our motivation and maintenance of the journey. This month I wanted to feature the idea that being competent is not about who we COULD be or SHOULD be in order to be powerful enough to solve all our problems, or complete all our tasks. Instead, I wanted to talk about the strengths in choice, reducing knee-jerk reactions and avoid the fantasism we often fall into. You don't have to be a warrior to win a battle.
Article at: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=214
The other articles we are featuring this month are:
The Pregnancy Project
This story is a few years old, but it never ceases to make you wonder how much power one person can have. Gabby Rodriguez was a girl on a mission - she just didn't know how far her plan would go. What started out a project for her social science class ended up a nation-wide, world-wide consideration. Being of Latin background, she was sick of hearing that she'd end up pregnant before college, and decided to confront the biases that existed. Her goal was to fake a pregnancy and document the change of opinions she faced within her community. What became blatantly obvious was that those around her became her boundaries, not just the "impending pregnancy" itself. The result became an American-wide acknowledgement of the negative contexts that pregnant teenagers face.
Article at: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=148
Weight Loss Joke Loses Support
With all the fads and diet plans out there, it was only time before a satirical book came out to mock them all. However, it was not regarded as amusing as the author planned. He soon found himself amongst all sort of haters who thought the book was serious. So is humour with limits? Are weight and diet jokes really the faux pas? Where do we have to show care in how we present humour? I sought to find out.
Article at: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=204
One month into the new year makes me wonder what the rest of the year will bring. Will there be new shining lights, or the same daily interactions we're used to? Only time will tell. Closing January, ready to start February, the month of romanticism, and the hope of April's chocolate endeavours.
My best wishes for the coming month,
The editor.
It feels strange to write on the first day of February about January, but that's what it has become. Things have been through more transition, which has bumped forward some tasks. That's how life seems sometimes. We make great plans for ourselves, only to find some cosmic force wants to prevent us from staying on track. So what does it all mean? Are we destined never to change?
I recently pondered what it means to create and follow our New Years resolutions. Does anyone ever follow them? What does it mean if we fail? It became the topic of this month's lead article, New Year's Reprieve. We are so quick to judge ourselves, that if we didn't succeed, it must be our failure as human beings. In essence, it could be, but the reason is not one to reprimand ourselves, only learn, re-evaulate and re-develop our motivation and maintenance of the journey. This month I wanted to feature the idea that being competent is not about who we COULD be or SHOULD be in order to be powerful enough to solve all our problems, or complete all our tasks. Instead, I wanted to talk about the strengths in choice, reducing knee-jerk reactions and avoid the fantasism we often fall into. You don't have to be a warrior to win a battle.
Article at: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=214
The other articles we are featuring this month are:
The Pregnancy Project
This story is a few years old, but it never ceases to make you wonder how much power one person can have. Gabby Rodriguez was a girl on a mission - she just didn't know how far her plan would go. What started out a project for her social science class ended up a nation-wide, world-wide consideration. Being of Latin background, she was sick of hearing that she'd end up pregnant before college, and decided to confront the biases that existed. Her goal was to fake a pregnancy and document the change of opinions she faced within her community. What became blatantly obvious was that those around her became her boundaries, not just the "impending pregnancy" itself. The result became an American-wide acknowledgement of the negative contexts that pregnant teenagers face.
Article at: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=148
Weight Loss Joke Loses Support
With all the fads and diet plans out there, it was only time before a satirical book came out to mock them all. However, it was not regarded as amusing as the author planned. He soon found himself amongst all sort of haters who thought the book was serious. So is humour with limits? Are weight and diet jokes really the faux pas? Where do we have to show care in how we present humour? I sought to find out.
Article at: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=204
One month into the new year makes me wonder what the rest of the year will bring. Will there be new shining lights, or the same daily interactions we're used to? Only time will tell. Closing January, ready to start February, the month of romanticism, and the hope of April's chocolate endeavours.
My best wishes for the coming month,
The editor.
Monday, 26 December 2016
Dear all,
It's the time of year we feel inclined to take stock of our lives, consider what the last year has afforded us, and what changes we can prepare. Personaly, I spend the time taking a break only to miss the chores I have, which further helps motivate me in developing what more I could be doing with my time, or processing where I could be saving emotional, physical or mental energy. A time of reflection, but also a time of self-evaluation.
With changes to my family situation this year, it was brought to my attention there were things I wanted to introduce. New family members - and new beliefs of others - inspired me to bring in new traditions. One of which is a Christmas eve midnight snack to celebrate the turn of the day to the 25th. A nice comforting meal to soothe the soul, tantalise the tastebuds for the coming day, and give time to talk of memories. As well as the re-introduction of Christmas movie inclusion as remaining family members love musicals as much as I do. Why not have a good fashioned sing-along? It's good for the spirit!
My goals for the coming year include many new projects which will be produced and developed during the start of 2017. The new year for me is about efficiency - not multi-tasking. Pure focus and control on tasks to complete them to create room for the next project. There's a theory that there is no such thing as multi-tasking, as humans are not able to focus fully on more than one thing. My new goal is to test this - can pure focus speed up the process and move us to the next project quicker, then the same ground is covered as multi-tasking, only goals are reached more effectively? I'm curious.
I've also returned to study in a graduate program. While I'm testing efficiency in my life, my professional growth has become quite important too. The year ahead will be busy, but anyone who knows me well will tell you I'm passionate about doing as much as I can in life as physical ability permits. As I progress through my years, it only fuels it more.
My new years resolutions are plentiful as they are most years:
1. Finish reading one book per month.
2. Keep up-to-date with my studies and never linger too close to deadlines.
3. Commit to me time and commit to recharging tasks.
4. Research, build and promote new website project #1.
5. Finish writing books.
6. Publish and promote fore-mentioned books for distribution.
7. Publish and promote new WSTS section.
8. Record video content for websites.
9. Learn the ocarina
10. Finish our new kitchen.
11. Release blogs and articles more timely.
12. Write at least 40 new articles this year.
13. Spend less energy on toxic people and spend the time productively.
14. Sparkle.
I want to wish everyone a great holiday season, whatever faith you belong to - or don't belong to. May you have joy and love during this festive time and enjoy the time you have to yourself, too.
Best wishes,
The editor.
It's the time of year we feel inclined to take stock of our lives, consider what the last year has afforded us, and what changes we can prepare. Personaly, I spend the time taking a break only to miss the chores I have, which further helps motivate me in developing what more I could be doing with my time, or processing where I could be saving emotional, physical or mental energy. A time of reflection, but also a time of self-evaluation.
With changes to my family situation this year, it was brought to my attention there were things I wanted to introduce. New family members - and new beliefs of others - inspired me to bring in new traditions. One of which is a Christmas eve midnight snack to celebrate the turn of the day to the 25th. A nice comforting meal to soothe the soul, tantalise the tastebuds for the coming day, and give time to talk of memories. As well as the re-introduction of Christmas movie inclusion as remaining family members love musicals as much as I do. Why not have a good fashioned sing-along? It's good for the spirit!
My goals for the coming year include many new projects which will be produced and developed during the start of 2017. The new year for me is about efficiency - not multi-tasking. Pure focus and control on tasks to complete them to create room for the next project. There's a theory that there is no such thing as multi-tasking, as humans are not able to focus fully on more than one thing. My new goal is to test this - can pure focus speed up the process and move us to the next project quicker, then the same ground is covered as multi-tasking, only goals are reached more effectively? I'm curious.
I've also returned to study in a graduate program. While I'm testing efficiency in my life, my professional growth has become quite important too. The year ahead will be busy, but anyone who knows me well will tell you I'm passionate about doing as much as I can in life as physical ability permits. As I progress through my years, it only fuels it more.
My new years resolutions are plentiful as they are most years:
1. Finish reading one book per month.
2. Keep up-to-date with my studies and never linger too close to deadlines.
3. Commit to me time and commit to recharging tasks.
4. Research, build and promote new website project #1.
5. Finish writing books.
6. Publish and promote fore-mentioned books for distribution.
7. Publish and promote new WSTS section.
8. Record video content for websites.
9. Learn the ocarina
10. Finish our new kitchen.
11. Release blogs and articles more timely.
12. Write at least 40 new articles this year.
13. Spend less energy on toxic people and spend the time productively.
14. Sparkle.
I want to wish everyone a great holiday season, whatever faith you belong to - or don't belong to. May you have joy and love during this festive time and enjoy the time you have to yourself, too.
Best wishes,
The editor.
Monday, 5 December 2016
November, 2016: Welcomes and restarts
Dear all,
It's been a very busy month here at WSTS central. We have continued to develop our program, ACAWS, as well as explore some constructive marketing. I'm not overly keen on paying for print ads or online banners when there might be more creative and fun ways to advertise. The world has enough banners already! In the coming year we'll be rolling out some interesting projects to both benefit the community and give branding to our programs.
Animal Caregiver Affective Wellness Services(ACAWS) is expanding its services, due to popular demand and new resources, as well as changing its name to Absent Companion and Adversity Wellbeing Services. Same acryonym, phone number, and website, only we've changed name to reflect the increase of areas we cover. While we still offer pet grief and injury counselling, we have extended our focus to offering the same free, quality care to those who are facing grief, injury and/or disability in regards to human family members or themselves. We recognise that love does not limit by "human" or "animal" in our hearts, nor does disability or illness discriminate, so people should have the same care and support whoever the injured, disabled or deceased is.
We have also upgraded technology to ensure more calls can be answered and clients maintained. If you get the answering machine, please leave a message and we will get hold of you as soon as possible -- in the same day. Your calls matter to us and we will be in touch as soon as we can -- in most cases, within the hour.
The website has been updated to reflect the expansion of services. New business cards are also ready. If your practice or place of business would like to display some for your clients, please contact us on info@acaws.info. Someone will be in touch to arrange delivery.
Over the next few months certain projects will be developed ready for distribution and sharing. My aim is to do something more useful for the community while getting the name out there. My mission has always to improve the lives of others, not fame and fortune. The motivation came from having a rough life myself, only to find hecklers and destructive beliefs got in my way. Instead of allowing myself to feel down-trodden, I instead put my energy into ensuring there are measures to help those in painful situations, rather than letting them swim with the sharks alone.
This month the article we are featuring is a special article about Holly Hanes, who was a patient with Ovarian cancer, who wanted to leave her impact on the world. She made a video called What Not To Say to Someone Who Has Cancer, and was an advocate and ambassador for the American Cancer Society. Sadly, Holly lost her battle, but we wanted to publish a story about who she was, what she meant to the cause and her family, and how she defined strength. A personal family story that might reflect in many other lives, but has its unique qualities - as beautiful as Holly's dimples.
Rather than presenting a bulk of stories, we wanted to focus on one very important one.
Our household has become a very noisy place, our now-16-week puppy wishing to explore our house with his teeth. He is currently trying to gnaw away at the barricade that stops him getting into the less puppy-proofed area of the home. Toilet-training is going well, as are the cuddle session, however, general respect for my belongings is still a work in progress, as he sees them as nothing but inanimate objects perfect for massaging his gums!
This month I return to part-time university to accelerate my professional standings. It's a love-hate relationship with studies, that's for sure. You want to run screaming, wishing never to see a book again while you're studying, but when you are finished, restlessness settles in. At least for me. I long to soak up knowledge and progress in life. So back to school I go! In the coming months, there may be comments that I'm sick of studies, but deep down you'll know I secretly love it.
McHappy day 2016 was the 12th of November. If you missed it, remember you can still donate via their website. Monies go to Ronald McDonald House, a national initiative that provides housing and meals to families with terminally-ill kids in hospital. The program is of particular help to rural parents who have to normally stay in a hotel or other paid accommodation to be close to their children in city hospitals, which can greatly affect the family who might be losing out income being away from home and work. It's a great cause, as often we forget that medical expenses sometimes include travel, work inconveniences, and distance challenges.
This month marks Thanksgiving for American people, however, not in Australia where no peaceful meal was shared between native and invader. That said, it doesn't mean we can't use this time of year to be grateful - or every day if we wish. Finding things to be grateful about is nourishing to the soul. What 10 things are you grateful about this year? This week? This month?
May your lead-up to Christmas be merry. If you don't celebrate such events, I instead wish you a happy summer.
My best,
The editor.
It's been a very busy month here at WSTS central. We have continued to develop our program, ACAWS, as well as explore some constructive marketing. I'm not overly keen on paying for print ads or online banners when there might be more creative and fun ways to advertise. The world has enough banners already! In the coming year we'll be rolling out some interesting projects to both benefit the community and give branding to our programs.
Animal Caregiver Affective Wellness Services(ACAWS) is expanding its services, due to popular demand and new resources, as well as changing its name to Absent Companion and Adversity Wellbeing Services. Same acryonym, phone number, and website, only we've changed name to reflect the increase of areas we cover. While we still offer pet grief and injury counselling, we have extended our focus to offering the same free, quality care to those who are facing grief, injury and/or disability in regards to human family members or themselves. We recognise that love does not limit by "human" or "animal" in our hearts, nor does disability or illness discriminate, so people should have the same care and support whoever the injured, disabled or deceased is.
We have also upgraded technology to ensure more calls can be answered and clients maintained. If you get the answering machine, please leave a message and we will get hold of you as soon as possible -- in the same day. Your calls matter to us and we will be in touch as soon as we can -- in most cases, within the hour.
The website has been updated to reflect the expansion of services. New business cards are also ready. If your practice or place of business would like to display some for your clients, please contact us on info@acaws.info. Someone will be in touch to arrange delivery.
Over the next few months certain projects will be developed ready for distribution and sharing. My aim is to do something more useful for the community while getting the name out there. My mission has always to improve the lives of others, not fame and fortune. The motivation came from having a rough life myself, only to find hecklers and destructive beliefs got in my way. Instead of allowing myself to feel down-trodden, I instead put my energy into ensuring there are measures to help those in painful situations, rather than letting them swim with the sharks alone.
This month the article we are featuring is a special article about Holly Hanes, who was a patient with Ovarian cancer, who wanted to leave her impact on the world. She made a video called What Not To Say to Someone Who Has Cancer, and was an advocate and ambassador for the American Cancer Society. Sadly, Holly lost her battle, but we wanted to publish a story about who she was, what she meant to the cause and her family, and how she defined strength. A personal family story that might reflect in many other lives, but has its unique qualities - as beautiful as Holly's dimples.
Rather than presenting a bulk of stories, we wanted to focus on one very important one.
Our household has become a very noisy place, our now-16-week puppy wishing to explore our house with his teeth. He is currently trying to gnaw away at the barricade that stops him getting into the less puppy-proofed area of the home. Toilet-training is going well, as are the cuddle session, however, general respect for my belongings is still a work in progress, as he sees them as nothing but inanimate objects perfect for massaging his gums!
This month I return to part-time university to accelerate my professional standings. It's a love-hate relationship with studies, that's for sure. You want to run screaming, wishing never to see a book again while you're studying, but when you are finished, restlessness settles in. At least for me. I long to soak up knowledge and progress in life. So back to school I go! In the coming months, there may be comments that I'm sick of studies, but deep down you'll know I secretly love it.
McHappy day 2016 was the 12th of November. If you missed it, remember you can still donate via their website. Monies go to Ronald McDonald House, a national initiative that provides housing and meals to families with terminally-ill kids in hospital. The program is of particular help to rural parents who have to normally stay in a hotel or other paid accommodation to be close to their children in city hospitals, which can greatly affect the family who might be losing out income being away from home and work. It's a great cause, as often we forget that medical expenses sometimes include travel, work inconveniences, and distance challenges.
This month marks Thanksgiving for American people, however, not in Australia where no peaceful meal was shared between native and invader. That said, it doesn't mean we can't use this time of year to be grateful - or every day if we wish. Finding things to be grateful about is nourishing to the soul. What 10 things are you grateful about this year? This week? This month?
May your lead-up to Christmas be merry. If you don't celebrate such events, I instead wish you a happy summer.
My best,
The editor.
Sunday, 2 October 2016
October, 2016: Mulitple Goodbyes
Dear all,
It has been quiet of late on my websites, and the reason for that was a personal one. This month I buried my girls. Both had been ill for a while, and with a heavy heart, I had to let them cross Rainbow Bridge. The vets did all the could, but as Lennon said, Time is not a friend.
My cat, Mini, passed away from old age. She had a cold, and while we tried to keep her fed and active, it was September 13th when her little feet stopped carrying her. I knew something was wrong instantly when I touched her belly - which would normally earn a bite - only for her to not even respond. The day's of hand-feeding and tucking her into bed near the heater were done. She was ready to go. I am trying to be grateful that she spent her last weeks by my side, and take comfort that I did everything I could for her.
My baby girl dog passed away the following Friday. She had been struggling with a seizure condition since April. At first it seemed quite manageable, vets ruling out any illness that would have been actionable. They concluded it was a legion or bleed in the brain which would be inoperable and to enjoy the time left with her. We did try alternative medicines including eating plans and massage sessions twice daily, only the measures weren't enough. After seven weeks of no seizures, she went into a bout of Static Epilepticus, where the brain cycles through numerous seizures which cannot be halted without vet intervention. She had 10 at home, while I rushed about getting emergency travel and care organised, it being a Friday night and all local vets closed. She had another 20 while being taken to the emergency facility, which is unfortunately over an hour away. Had I known how far it was, I could have prepared better, only when these extremes happen but several times over our long lives, you aren't able to.
Baby was put to rest after the vets made me aware that she was audibly suffering even on IV Valium. It would be unfair to keep her. After one seizure she would be stumbling for up to 24 hours, and it would be much worse after over 30 seizures in a row. The decision broke my heart, but it had to be made. Dog specialists had told me that the day would come and that I would have to be strong for her. Dogs can't tell us what they want us to do, but looking deep into her eyes as she had those first 10, I knew how trapped she felt, unable to control what her body was doing. It wasn't fair to leave her stuck between worlds.
Losing both of them within days of each other was a shock. Suddenly the house was quiet, nobody needed me to feed them, and there was nobody looking for the warmest spot in the bed. It was just my partner and I, both feeling lifeless. It was the stillness and clean rooms that bothered me. I grew up in a loud, messy family, always complete with several pets. Not having any felt so surreal, like I was asleep. It was driving me crazy.
While another animal will never be the same as my girls, I felt it was time to get another. Learn to love again and find positivity and joy in the world that felt so cold. I figured it would take ages to find another, as there are always waiting lists with breeders. That said, I found a litter of home-grown puppies that were of the two breeds I had been interested in: Jack Russels and Pugs. There was a little white one that caught my attention, who seemed very healthy, rambuncious and ready for love. He joined our family, earning the name of Ronnie, after my grandfather who passed away 3 years ago after battling Prostate cancer for 12 years. He was the kindest man I had ever known.
So while time has been rough, and websites have not been updated religiously, my life has not been easy-going. Starting this month I'll have everything back on track, including taking on more clients and projects that have been in the pipeline. I thank everyone for their well-wishes and hope that your lives are rich with happy tails and noses, whatever species they belong to.
Until next time,
The Editor.
It has been quiet of late on my websites, and the reason for that was a personal one. This month I buried my girls. Both had been ill for a while, and with a heavy heart, I had to let them cross Rainbow Bridge. The vets did all the could, but as Lennon said, Time is not a friend.
My cat, Mini, passed away from old age. She had a cold, and while we tried to keep her fed and active, it was September 13th when her little feet stopped carrying her. I knew something was wrong instantly when I touched her belly - which would normally earn a bite - only for her to not even respond. The day's of hand-feeding and tucking her into bed near the heater were done. She was ready to go. I am trying to be grateful that she spent her last weeks by my side, and take comfort that I did everything I could for her.
My baby girl dog passed away the following Friday. She had been struggling with a seizure condition since April. At first it seemed quite manageable, vets ruling out any illness that would have been actionable. They concluded it was a legion or bleed in the brain which would be inoperable and to enjoy the time left with her. We did try alternative medicines including eating plans and massage sessions twice daily, only the measures weren't enough. After seven weeks of no seizures, she went into a bout of Static Epilepticus, where the brain cycles through numerous seizures which cannot be halted without vet intervention. She had 10 at home, while I rushed about getting emergency travel and care organised, it being a Friday night and all local vets closed. She had another 20 while being taken to the emergency facility, which is unfortunately over an hour away. Had I known how far it was, I could have prepared better, only when these extremes happen but several times over our long lives, you aren't able to.
Baby was put to rest after the vets made me aware that she was audibly suffering even on IV Valium. It would be unfair to keep her. After one seizure she would be stumbling for up to 24 hours, and it would be much worse after over 30 seizures in a row. The decision broke my heart, but it had to be made. Dog specialists had told me that the day would come and that I would have to be strong for her. Dogs can't tell us what they want us to do, but looking deep into her eyes as she had those first 10, I knew how trapped she felt, unable to control what her body was doing. It wasn't fair to leave her stuck between worlds.
Losing both of them within days of each other was a shock. Suddenly the house was quiet, nobody needed me to feed them, and there was nobody looking for the warmest spot in the bed. It was just my partner and I, both feeling lifeless. It was the stillness and clean rooms that bothered me. I grew up in a loud, messy family, always complete with several pets. Not having any felt so surreal, like I was asleep. It was driving me crazy.
While another animal will never be the same as my girls, I felt it was time to get another. Learn to love again and find positivity and joy in the world that felt so cold. I figured it would take ages to find another, as there are always waiting lists with breeders. That said, I found a litter of home-grown puppies that were of the two breeds I had been interested in: Jack Russels and Pugs. There was a little white one that caught my attention, who seemed very healthy, rambuncious and ready for love. He joined our family, earning the name of Ronnie, after my grandfather who passed away 3 years ago after battling Prostate cancer for 12 years. He was the kindest man I had ever known.
So while time has been rough, and websites have not been updated religiously, my life has not been easy-going. Starting this month I'll have everything back on track, including taking on more clients and projects that have been in the pipeline. I thank everyone for their well-wishes and hope that your lives are rich with happy tails and noses, whatever species they belong to.
Until next time,
The Editor.
Friday, 3 June 2016
Caught up in Numbers
Dear all,
This month has been incredibly busy, so the actual blog to announce all the big news will have to wait until next time. It's been a huge transitional time along with a few techological delays. Unfortunately, while computers are quite helpful and meant to cause less complication in our lives, they often end up causing more during installation processes. They are the irony of our lives!
May is always a big month for me, my parents both having birthdays. This is when I joke my mother is only 30, which is often when people smirk at me in confusion. "But you're over 30? Is she a step-mother?" When I shake my head, they seem even more puzzled, until I explain, "No, she was 40 once, but then started counting backwards after that. Once she hit 30 again, she stopped counting." While it's a humour that I share with people as a joke, it also inspires me because we are only as old as we feel. Why do we let numbers dictate how we must act? Granted, we do need to meet certain standards, for example, taking on financial independence when we become adults, or gaining self-worth and competence to care for ourselves, but outside of those, what is age really? The oldest woman to ever give birth was 66 officially, however it was recently reported in the Guardian that the oldest woman to give birth was in her 70s from India. So if even our biology can't tell us "you're too old" for something, then how can we?
Ageism can be a sickness in our world. We are judged on how old we are and what we have to show. Whether you're going for a job, going to a party, or just reading a book, we are covered in expectations or pre-conceived ideas based on our age. I used to feel insecure about them myself. Years ago, my plan was to graduate university as a psychologist at the age of 24, working through school to save up for a house by 27, then settle down by 30 with a partner while going into private practice. I planned a cat around that time too. Of course, life never went to plan, but it was recently I looked around and realised that things aren't that far off what I wanted. I got my living arrangements sorted years ago, graduated in 2012, and I've been assisting in a large health organisation for almost 6 years, and now working in private practice. That's not far off what I planned. The goals were completed in alternate ways to what I had chosen, but does that really matter? At 35, I've arranged most of what I wanted, and now just want to follow through with the plans long-term. Life seemed so complicated to get into the right path, but all it took was self-belief and determination.
Over the next month there will be many changes to the websites and practice, which I'm excited to launch. It's going to be a big month of movement and I hope everyone will be watching on with best wishes and good tidings. Wherever you are, remember, that you are only limited by yourself. You are your best friend or worst enemy, based on the actions or beliefs you allow yourself. You set your bar in life. If you want to do more, listen to that, nourish that, and ask how you can make it work for you. How others want you to live is only a suggestion; what you choose for yourself is the rule.
Until next time,
The Editor.
This month has been incredibly busy, so the actual blog to announce all the big news will have to wait until next time. It's been a huge transitional time along with a few techological delays. Unfortunately, while computers are quite helpful and meant to cause less complication in our lives, they often end up causing more during installation processes. They are the irony of our lives!
May is always a big month for me, my parents both having birthdays. This is when I joke my mother is only 30, which is often when people smirk at me in confusion. "But you're over 30? Is she a step-mother?" When I shake my head, they seem even more puzzled, until I explain, "No, she was 40 once, but then started counting backwards after that. Once she hit 30 again, she stopped counting." While it's a humour that I share with people as a joke, it also inspires me because we are only as old as we feel. Why do we let numbers dictate how we must act? Granted, we do need to meet certain standards, for example, taking on financial independence when we become adults, or gaining self-worth and competence to care for ourselves, but outside of those, what is age really? The oldest woman to ever give birth was 66 officially, however it was recently reported in the Guardian that the oldest woman to give birth was in her 70s from India. So if even our biology can't tell us "you're too old" for something, then how can we?
Ageism can be a sickness in our world. We are judged on how old we are and what we have to show. Whether you're going for a job, going to a party, or just reading a book, we are covered in expectations or pre-conceived ideas based on our age. I used to feel insecure about them myself. Years ago, my plan was to graduate university as a psychologist at the age of 24, working through school to save up for a house by 27, then settle down by 30 with a partner while going into private practice. I planned a cat around that time too. Of course, life never went to plan, but it was recently I looked around and realised that things aren't that far off what I wanted. I got my living arrangements sorted years ago, graduated in 2012, and I've been assisting in a large health organisation for almost 6 years, and now working in private practice. That's not far off what I planned. The goals were completed in alternate ways to what I had chosen, but does that really matter? At 35, I've arranged most of what I wanted, and now just want to follow through with the plans long-term. Life seemed so complicated to get into the right path, but all it took was self-belief and determination.
Over the next month there will be many changes to the websites and practice, which I'm excited to launch. It's going to be a big month of movement and I hope everyone will be watching on with best wishes and good tidings. Wherever you are, remember, that you are only limited by yourself. You are your best friend or worst enemy, based on the actions or beliefs you allow yourself. You set your bar in life. If you want to do more, listen to that, nourish that, and ask how you can make it work for you. How others want you to live is only a suggestion; what you choose for yourself is the rule.
Until next time,
The Editor.
Wednesday, 4 May 2016
April, 2016
Dear all,
It's been an even crazier month than I ever thought possible! Life seemed busy before, but now even moreso.
Last month was my birthday, with a special surprise organised, which you can read about in March's edition.
The last month has been about making contact with services who have clients who might need counselling, including colleagues, health organisations, pet services and grief resources. I've had calls so the business is getting off the ground, my practice being recognised as something the community needed, particularly for those with low incomes. Getting such feedback has been encouraging, now knowing that what I'm passionate about does have its place in society, and will benefit many people who are hurting from loss. My energy goes into what matters -- the clients.
This month is a feast of articles, some that are going to make readers really think about what the world condones, supports and rejects as a whole, and how freedom of speech might be set to change.
Self-Compassion: The New Self-concept model
Self-compassion therapy is a recently popular area of psychology. It could be considered a new version of self-evaluating, bursting through the ideals that therapists have held about self-concept and self-worth. The discipline delves to go against the grain, looking at self-honesty and change, based on self-love, rather than criticism, analysis or "I'd be better if only. . . " It seeks to earn clients personal comfort via internal factors, rather than outside influences.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=208
Viewing A Pink Moon
At first inspection, Pink Moon feels like a typical drama piece where an attractive young girl is hiding a boy in her room. However, we soon find out that Ben, her boyfriend, lives two lives. What the viewer at first takes for granted is that the lifestyle being depicted is normal. Not in Pink Moon. The film aims to turn ideals of sexuality on their head, as their reality is where homosexual relationships are normal and heterosexuals, called Breeders, are not. It's a mind-altering world where all our typical beliefs of same-sex relationships are under question.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=200
Pro-Ana Unmasked
Not only did I want to look at the sites that encourage Pro-Ana and what possible tricks they are teaching that could help unmask the eating disorder, but also the new legal environment we live in. Last year, an American teenager was put up for murder charges for coaxing a man to kill himself. Could we see the same happen for websites that promote self-harming, such as anorexia maintenance websites?
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=210
Movie Review: Starving in Suburbia
Starving in Suburbia is a film about anorexia and the websites online that promote it. Hannah, 17, is caused to think about her weight, and her friend shows her a Pro-ana (pro-anorexia) site to show her how "crazy" she isn't. However, it seems to have an alternate affect. These websites (see Pro-Ana Unmasked) give tips and motivations to people -- so powerful their natural body functions are ignored and overwritten. Pro-ana sites number in the thousands and are often a mere Google search away.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=137
Dogs: Their Secret Lives
Mark Evans, vet and former chief of the RSPCA UK, fronts this series that aims to discover the lesser known facts of dogs' lives, and the little tricks they have in store for us. Using surveillance footage, new inventions and collaborating with dog experts, Evans focuses on cunning canines and the changes our society have instilled. Obesity, behaviour disorders, misconceptions about dog sociality, and their manipulations of humans.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=156
Adults Who Colour In
As children, colouring is an art encouraged for learning, aiding in memory skills (ie, remembering the diagram you are colouring), developing fine motor skills in the hands and as a fun activity. The act of colouring and its caused reflection and mindfulness will aid in reducing the stress hormones in the body -- cortisol and adrenaline. The discipline is first recognised in India with Mandalas, but westerner alternatives are not specific in shape or designed for meditation or trance, however, still invoke reflection, mindfulness, and peace.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=198
The Hunting Ground
Over the last year or two, a major movement has rapidly spread throughout America, being the Title IX activists. Rape in Universities is said to be ignored or swept under the rug, until two victims realised one of the primary human rights fell under Title IX, meaning pressure for universities to change their actions or lose funding. This movement and accompanying documentary follows the journey of two rape victims, who have fronted a modern-day revolution.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=190
Warm Bodies: Romance In Cold
Warm Bodies came out a few years ago, but is a movie that re-invents the romance genre. It is a parody of a well-known traditional love story set with new, unusual characters. The male counterpart, R, a brain-eating zombie, meets a human, Julie. Know the reference? However, this story then develops into an apocalyptic adventure when their relationship begins to cause change within both dead and living communities. The story brings on a new twist to the zombie era, without making them into fluffy bunnies too soon. Instead it creates the idea of multiple motivations among zombie "tribes" and questions the events if a zombie was not as mindless as we thought.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=167
I hope everyone is well and enjoying their month. Hope you all had a wonderful Easter!
Until next time,
The Editor.
It's been an even crazier month than I ever thought possible! Life seemed busy before, but now even moreso.
Last month was my birthday, with a special surprise organised, which you can read about in March's edition.
The last month has been about making contact with services who have clients who might need counselling, including colleagues, health organisations, pet services and grief resources. I've had calls so the business is getting off the ground, my practice being recognised as something the community needed, particularly for those with low incomes. Getting such feedback has been encouraging, now knowing that what I'm passionate about does have its place in society, and will benefit many people who are hurting from loss. My energy goes into what matters -- the clients.
This month is a feast of articles, some that are going to make readers really think about what the world condones, supports and rejects as a whole, and how freedom of speech might be set to change.
Self-Compassion: The New Self-concept model
Self-compassion therapy is a recently popular area of psychology. It could be considered a new version of self-evaluating, bursting through the ideals that therapists have held about self-concept and self-worth. The discipline delves to go against the grain, looking at self-honesty and change, based on self-love, rather than criticism, analysis or "I'd be better if only. . . " It seeks to earn clients personal comfort via internal factors, rather than outside influences.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=208
Viewing A Pink Moon
At first inspection, Pink Moon feels like a typical drama piece where an attractive young girl is hiding a boy in her room. However, we soon find out that Ben, her boyfriend, lives two lives. What the viewer at first takes for granted is that the lifestyle being depicted is normal. Not in Pink Moon. The film aims to turn ideals of sexuality on their head, as their reality is where homosexual relationships are normal and heterosexuals, called Breeders, are not. It's a mind-altering world where all our typical beliefs of same-sex relationships are under question.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=200
Pro-Ana Unmasked
Not only did I want to look at the sites that encourage Pro-Ana and what possible tricks they are teaching that could help unmask the eating disorder, but also the new legal environment we live in. Last year, an American teenager was put up for murder charges for coaxing a man to kill himself. Could we see the same happen for websites that promote self-harming, such as anorexia maintenance websites?
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=210
Movie Review: Starving in Suburbia
Starving in Suburbia is a film about anorexia and the websites online that promote it. Hannah, 17, is caused to think about her weight, and her friend shows her a Pro-ana (pro-anorexia) site to show her how "crazy" she isn't. However, it seems to have an alternate affect. These websites (see Pro-Ana Unmasked) give tips and motivations to people -- so powerful their natural body functions are ignored and overwritten. Pro-ana sites number in the thousands and are often a mere Google search away.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=137
Dogs: Their Secret Lives
Mark Evans, vet and former chief of the RSPCA UK, fronts this series that aims to discover the lesser known facts of dogs' lives, and the little tricks they have in store for us. Using surveillance footage, new inventions and collaborating with dog experts, Evans focuses on cunning canines and the changes our society have instilled. Obesity, behaviour disorders, misconceptions about dog sociality, and their manipulations of humans.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=156
Adults Who Colour In
As children, colouring is an art encouraged for learning, aiding in memory skills (ie, remembering the diagram you are colouring), developing fine motor skills in the hands and as a fun activity. The act of colouring and its caused reflection and mindfulness will aid in reducing the stress hormones in the body -- cortisol and adrenaline. The discipline is first recognised in India with Mandalas, but westerner alternatives are not specific in shape or designed for meditation or trance, however, still invoke reflection, mindfulness, and peace.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=198
The Hunting Ground
Over the last year or two, a major movement has rapidly spread throughout America, being the Title IX activists. Rape in Universities is said to be ignored or swept under the rug, until two victims realised one of the primary human rights fell under Title IX, meaning pressure for universities to change their actions or lose funding. This movement and accompanying documentary follows the journey of two rape victims, who have fronted a modern-day revolution.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=190
Warm Bodies: Romance In Cold
Warm Bodies came out a few years ago, but is a movie that re-invents the romance genre. It is a parody of a well-known traditional love story set with new, unusual characters. The male counterpart, R, a brain-eating zombie, meets a human, Julie. Know the reference? However, this story then develops into an apocalyptic adventure when their relationship begins to cause change within both dead and living communities. The story brings on a new twist to the zombie era, without making them into fluffy bunnies too soon. Instead it creates the idea of multiple motivations among zombie "tribes" and questions the events if a zombie was not as mindless as we thought.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=167
I hope everyone is well and enjoying their month. Hope you all had a wonderful Easter!
Until next time,
The Editor.
Monday, 21 March 2016
March 10, 2016 -- birthday celebrations
Dear all,
The idea of 35 was a scary concept to me, until I found the right way to celebrate it.
I know it's not an age found at the end of one's life, but 35 felt like it was a milestone that signified, well, all work and no play. It's easy to get into the mindset that a woman in her mid-30s -- and men -- are now meant to be wise, and prepare to pass it on to younger generations. You're on your way to 40 and your 20s are way behind you. Good thing? Depends on your perspective.
I was dreading it, until I found a way that made me look forward to my birthday. It had to be something special, awesome, and connect to my ideas. What would a music-loving, socially conscious, giving, website-creating individual such as myself like? Then I found it! I was researching a catch-up article on a band I simply adore, and found out they did house parties. Despite their fame worldwide and their talents that seems to know no bounds, the BordererS remain connected to social issues, work tirelessly to support good causes, show appreciation for their fans, and always give the best performance they can. It has been many years they have traveled the world, sharing their work, and I was writing to document their journey from humble beginnings when I met them when I was 14 years old.
At that time, the BordererS were assisting promoting music and creativity through schools and I was selected by my music teacher to attend the songwriting workshop they were holding. I remember being so unorganised for once, quickly scribbling lyrics to a song I had been working on because I'd forgotten the book I wrote my lyrics in. The lyrics had been practiced with its own roughly-created music I had written, but in their hands, it was a masterpiece. Their talent was picking up the lyrics we'd bought along, taking 30 seconds to discuss music style and key and then improvising a song from it. I was amazed at how quick they could construct something you could enjoy.
Over the years I've kept up to date with their work, so when I found out they were doing house parties / private parties, it intrigued me. What would it be like to see them in person again? I had to find out. I spoke to Jim and Alex, about the day of my birthday. They were very gracious. Concert via Skype was suggested by me, due to timing, as they had packing and travelling for their next gig when I asked to book. So the idea was born. They asked if I had any special requests such as songs, or special things they could do to make my day awesome. I said that I loved animals, and if they had pets, I'd love to see them.
So, March 9, I had the BordererS at my house, via Skype, and they were even better in private performance. Jim and Alex shared anecdotes about their journey as a world band, I could ask questions if something interested me, and I got to choose some of the songs they played. They are funny, adorable, inspirational and truly talented performers. I've always loved their music, so I might be biased, but often their music sounds better live than on CD. They are very conscious of world issues and very knowledgeable, so you're sure to walk away with a fascinating story you didn't know of previously. Food for the ears, soul, and brain!
I'm including some videos below of the experience. Alex and Jim were so sweet to buy me a cake with candles! Alex is sneaky! I thought she'd gone off-screen to get a drink, while Jim just made a joke about how he was going to become a solo act, trying to sing songs he wouldn't normally lead. I should have known they had a surprise! The sentiment was adorable, as was their putting up pink balloons, BordererS poster, and my name in a green tinsel "S."
Okay, so I might be a little biased, already loving their music, but ask yourself as you watch the video, is there someone in your life who would enjoy this surprise? Imagine if you invited them to your house for a coffee, having already arranged for the BordererS to call you on Skype to perform, your laptop suddenly ringing nearby. Your BordererS-loving friend or family member would be as awestruck as I was to speak to them and have them perform all my favourite songs from their long-running career. It's so awesome, I just had to share.
May all your days be filled with music!
The Editor.
CAKE TIME!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVN7KuEYahg
Raise Your Hands Up - Live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOGLfcabH6c
The idea of 35 was a scary concept to me, until I found the right way to celebrate it.
I know it's not an age found at the end of one's life, but 35 felt like it was a milestone that signified, well, all work and no play. It's easy to get into the mindset that a woman in her mid-30s -- and men -- are now meant to be wise, and prepare to pass it on to younger generations. You're on your way to 40 and your 20s are way behind you. Good thing? Depends on your perspective.
I was dreading it, until I found a way that made me look forward to my birthday. It had to be something special, awesome, and connect to my ideas. What would a music-loving, socially conscious, giving, website-creating individual such as myself like? Then I found it! I was researching a catch-up article on a band I simply adore, and found out they did house parties. Despite their fame worldwide and their talents that seems to know no bounds, the BordererS remain connected to social issues, work tirelessly to support good causes, show appreciation for their fans, and always give the best performance they can. It has been many years they have traveled the world, sharing their work, and I was writing to document their journey from humble beginnings when I met them when I was 14 years old.
At that time, the BordererS were assisting promoting music and creativity through schools and I was selected by my music teacher to attend the songwriting workshop they were holding. I remember being so unorganised for once, quickly scribbling lyrics to a song I had been working on because I'd forgotten the book I wrote my lyrics in. The lyrics had been practiced with its own roughly-created music I had written, but in their hands, it was a masterpiece. Their talent was picking up the lyrics we'd bought along, taking 30 seconds to discuss music style and key and then improvising a song from it. I was amazed at how quick they could construct something you could enjoy.
Over the years I've kept up to date with their work, so when I found out they were doing house parties / private parties, it intrigued me. What would it be like to see them in person again? I had to find out. I spoke to Jim and Alex, about the day of my birthday. They were very gracious. Concert via Skype was suggested by me, due to timing, as they had packing and travelling for their next gig when I asked to book. So the idea was born. They asked if I had any special requests such as songs, or special things they could do to make my day awesome. I said that I loved animals, and if they had pets, I'd love to see them.
So, March 9, I had the BordererS at my house, via Skype, and they were even better in private performance. Jim and Alex shared anecdotes about their journey as a world band, I could ask questions if something interested me, and I got to choose some of the songs they played. They are funny, adorable, inspirational and truly talented performers. I've always loved their music, so I might be biased, but often their music sounds better live than on CD. They are very conscious of world issues and very knowledgeable, so you're sure to walk away with a fascinating story you didn't know of previously. Food for the ears, soul, and brain!
I'm including some videos below of the experience. Alex and Jim were so sweet to buy me a cake with candles! Alex is sneaky! I thought she'd gone off-screen to get a drink, while Jim just made a joke about how he was going to become a solo act, trying to sing songs he wouldn't normally lead. I should have known they had a surprise! The sentiment was adorable, as was their putting up pink balloons, BordererS poster, and my name in a green tinsel "S."
Okay, so I might be a little biased, already loving their music, but ask yourself as you watch the video, is there someone in your life who would enjoy this surprise? Imagine if you invited them to your house for a coffee, having already arranged for the BordererS to call you on Skype to perform, your laptop suddenly ringing nearby. Your BordererS-loving friend or family member would be as awestruck as I was to speak to them and have them perform all my favourite songs from their long-running career. It's so awesome, I just had to share.
May all your days be filled with music!
The Editor.
CAKE TIME!
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=XVN7KuEYahg
Raise Your Hands Up - Live
https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xOGLfcabH6c
Saturday, 27 February 2016
ACAWS is born!
Dear readers,
It's been a crazy week and I've been exhausted. So much to prepare and complete ready for the new launches that are occurring this month.
The big news is the new phone service I'm launching. With my mission being assisting the community, I wanted to create a service that I felt would support an area that was lacking, which complemented my training and experience. The new phone service provides free counselling for pet owners and their families, who might be facing a terminally-ill, missing or deceased pet. We also cater to people who are victims of animal-related accidents or crimes, meaning we also service animal careworkers.
Named ACAWS (Animal Caregiver Affective Wellness Services), the phone line will provide immediate counselling four hours a day, with the opportunity to book appointments at other times. We also offer call-backs for rural and interstate clients, who can supply a landline, or we offer Skype counselling. We're supplying these options as we want care to be free of charge -- completely free. So often in society people miss out on care they need because they can't afford it. Our mental health is on a continuum, meaning what we treat now will not implode later.
All staff are recognised by the Australian Counselling Association, meaning quality controls and further career progression is required.
ACAWS help treat pet owners and caregivers who need assistance in their trying times. Our goal is never to dismiss the pain, but to help clients in understanding their reactions, finding a new definition of life without their beloved furry/feathered/scaled companions, and build a solid coping skillset to aid in future disappointments. Grief often shapes how we handle all of life's dramas, so having a good coping plan always sets us up for more success in our lives, particularly our personal lives.
For more information, please see www.acaws.info.
So now you can see why I've been so busy over the last few months. I had extra training to finish up, as well as all the business trimmings such as business cards, brochures, phone services to arrange, and finalise my business goals and procedures. I've been a busy little bee!
Wesaytheysay.com will continue to provide quality, original content. I've got articles written in advance. More busy-ness, but that's the way I love to be when I can manage it.
All my best,
The Editor.
It's been a crazy week and I've been exhausted. So much to prepare and complete ready for the new launches that are occurring this month.
The big news is the new phone service I'm launching. With my mission being assisting the community, I wanted to create a service that I felt would support an area that was lacking, which complemented my training and experience. The new phone service provides free counselling for pet owners and their families, who might be facing a terminally-ill, missing or deceased pet. We also cater to people who are victims of animal-related accidents or crimes, meaning we also service animal careworkers.
Named ACAWS (Animal Caregiver Affective Wellness Services), the phone line will provide immediate counselling four hours a day, with the opportunity to book appointments at other times. We also offer call-backs for rural and interstate clients, who can supply a landline, or we offer Skype counselling. We're supplying these options as we want care to be free of charge -- completely free. So often in society people miss out on care they need because they can't afford it. Our mental health is on a continuum, meaning what we treat now will not implode later.
All staff are recognised by the Australian Counselling Association, meaning quality controls and further career progression is required.
ACAWS help treat pet owners and caregivers who need assistance in their trying times. Our goal is never to dismiss the pain, but to help clients in understanding their reactions, finding a new definition of life without their beloved furry/feathered/scaled companions, and build a solid coping skillset to aid in future disappointments. Grief often shapes how we handle all of life's dramas, so having a good coping plan always sets us up for more success in our lives, particularly our personal lives.
For more information, please see www.acaws.info.
So now you can see why I've been so busy over the last few months. I had extra training to finish up, as well as all the business trimmings such as business cards, brochures, phone services to arrange, and finalise my business goals and procedures. I've been a busy little bee!
Wesaytheysay.com will continue to provide quality, original content. I've got articles written in advance. More busy-ness, but that's the way I love to be when I can manage it.
All my best,
The Editor.
February, 2016
Dear all,
It's February and it's been hectic. We're on the verge of launching the two new sections, including a special program that is being run by myself. Over the past weeks I've been in meetings and preparation mode, ensuring content of the website is ready, all aspects of procedures and ethics have been addressed, and that processes are going to work as intended. I can't say anything just yet, but it's going to be an exciting time and should help many people. It's been a long time in planning and finally we will see fruition.
Valentine's day came and went, I pray that everyone is well and enjoyed the day. Even if you're a single, remember love can come from oneself, and is often more special when it is. Too many of us rely on others to validate us, or make us feel loved, when your best friend is always a few inches deep -- if you give yourself the patience and understanding to accept who you are. If you are single during Valentine's Day, take the time to spoil yourself and reconnect to who you are. Go out to your favourite restaurant, take on a task that makes you feel good, or do something you've always intended to do, but never had the time. Attached readers, make sure you add a little self-love to your celebrations. You can love more than one person at a time, and your own self should be one of them!
This month's articles are a good selection of subjects. I didn't want to steer myself into themed months for too long, so now the holidays are over, we can return to the normal randomness that is article selection.
Cobus Potgeiter: Churches and Duct Tape
Pieter Jacobus Potgieter AKA Cobus Potgieter, 29, is a musical prodigy with an interesting journey and career. He didn't start fame with a winning demo tape that landed in a producer's lap. His rise to success began with a church and lots of duct tape. He is now a drum teacher (via DVD), a sponsored musician with endorsements from many instrument makers, and has over 146 million views as of May, 2014.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=182
Second Life: Alternative You
Second life, a game of personalities, opened in 2003, and is well-known by many people, including the 16 million who own accounts to the game. It's a hang-out more popular than most social networking sites, and it's one of the few games that is bent by the creativity of the users. On The Grid, a 9 minute documentary was made to explain Second Life, but I soon found out that Second Life is more than it seems on the surface. These are not mere characters interacting -- not even evolving, but living as their controllers wish to. It blurs the lines between the imagination and the effect if make-believe was true. We delve into the Second Life world to see how the game enriches and troubles the lives of the users.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=146
Sexting in Suburbia
Dina Van Cleve (Jenn Proske) is a girl that has everything going for her, in her mother's eyes. Her grades are high, her sporting ability even higher, and she has a loving boyfriend and many friends. But when her mother finds her dead, she knows something in the puzzle's missing. What happened to her daughter bad enough for her to take her own life? It soon comes out, Dina was sexting with her boyfriend, and the evidence destroyed her life. The film is loosely based on the Jessica Logan case in 2008. Jessica, an 18-year-old student in Ohio, sent a nude photo to her boyfriend, which he passed onto girls at school after they broke up.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=138
Sexting's Legal Long-Term Effects: What Everyone Should Know
In recent surveys, it's estimated up to 40% of teens were posting or sending sexually suggested messages. A staggering 48% of boys admitted to receiving sexual images of girls that went to their schools. Kids Helpline Australia's website states that sexting is not limited to mobile phones, but also instant messengers like Skype and social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, Tumblr and Snapchat. Adults also sext. Self magazine's research found that 92% of women had sent "sexy texts." Senders can be prosecuted for sending their images. Adults who send nude images of themselves to someone unasked can be held accountable under the Malicious Communications Act.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=139
Biological Explanations of Anxiety: The Trilogy
Society believes that anxiety is abnormal, when in fact, it's a normal biological process in the brain. Unless anxiety is stopping you from enjoying aspects of your life, or stopping you from undertaking certain tasks, then it is at a functional level. But what is the point of anxiety and what function does it serve us? Why does it exist?
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=081
Switched At Birth Culture
Imagine you are deaf, and you are arrested. How would that feel? There are lights in your face, so you cannot read their lips, your hands are cuffed behind your back, so you are unable to "speak". How would you or your mother communicate with the person who arrested you without an interpreter? Emmett found out. Switched at Birth is a new US series, which aims to give the "deaf perspective."
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=121
Free to Play: The E-Sports World
Cyber athletes or E-Sports players are becoming more recognised as celebrities, but what are E-sports and what do they entail? What is it that makes watching a video game so exciting and intriguing? We feature a documentary that explores the world of E-Sports and what it can afford young cyber athletes.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=145
Grief is the Worst Ninja
Grief is the Worst Ninja is a reactionary piece by a pet owner who experienced one of the dreaded moments by every pet owner -- when they find their animal deceased. This book is a documentation of her thoughts, feelings, and actions after the initial scene, as well as her lifestyle with Dorian and what it meant to lose him.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=203
This month will close with big news, which will be put onto Facebook and the front page of wesaytheysay.com. Keep an eye out!
For another month, I wish you well and hope the new articles and content find you well.
My best,
The Editor.
It's February and it's been hectic. We're on the verge of launching the two new sections, including a special program that is being run by myself. Over the past weeks I've been in meetings and preparation mode, ensuring content of the website is ready, all aspects of procedures and ethics have been addressed, and that processes are going to work as intended. I can't say anything just yet, but it's going to be an exciting time and should help many people. It's been a long time in planning and finally we will see fruition.
Valentine's day came and went, I pray that everyone is well and enjoyed the day. Even if you're a single, remember love can come from oneself, and is often more special when it is. Too many of us rely on others to validate us, or make us feel loved, when your best friend is always a few inches deep -- if you give yourself the patience and understanding to accept who you are. If you are single during Valentine's Day, take the time to spoil yourself and reconnect to who you are. Go out to your favourite restaurant, take on a task that makes you feel good, or do something you've always intended to do, but never had the time. Attached readers, make sure you add a little self-love to your celebrations. You can love more than one person at a time, and your own self should be one of them!
This month's articles are a good selection of subjects. I didn't want to steer myself into themed months for too long, so now the holidays are over, we can return to the normal randomness that is article selection.
Cobus Potgeiter: Churches and Duct Tape
Pieter Jacobus Potgieter AKA Cobus Potgieter, 29, is a musical prodigy with an interesting journey and career. He didn't start fame with a winning demo tape that landed in a producer's lap. His rise to success began with a church and lots of duct tape. He is now a drum teacher (via DVD), a sponsored musician with endorsements from many instrument makers, and has over 146 million views as of May, 2014.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=182
Second Life: Alternative You
Second life, a game of personalities, opened in 2003, and is well-known by many people, including the 16 million who own accounts to the game. It's a hang-out more popular than most social networking sites, and it's one of the few games that is bent by the creativity of the users. On The Grid, a 9 minute documentary was made to explain Second Life, but I soon found out that Second Life is more than it seems on the surface. These are not mere characters interacting -- not even evolving, but living as their controllers wish to. It blurs the lines between the imagination and the effect if make-believe was true. We delve into the Second Life world to see how the game enriches and troubles the lives of the users.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=146
Sexting in Suburbia
Dina Van Cleve (Jenn Proske) is a girl that has everything going for her, in her mother's eyes. Her grades are high, her sporting ability even higher, and she has a loving boyfriend and many friends. But when her mother finds her dead, she knows something in the puzzle's missing. What happened to her daughter bad enough for her to take her own life? It soon comes out, Dina was sexting with her boyfriend, and the evidence destroyed her life. The film is loosely based on the Jessica Logan case in 2008. Jessica, an 18-year-old student in Ohio, sent a nude photo to her boyfriend, which he passed onto girls at school after they broke up.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=138
Sexting's Legal Long-Term Effects: What Everyone Should Know
In recent surveys, it's estimated up to 40% of teens were posting or sending sexually suggested messages. A staggering 48% of boys admitted to receiving sexual images of girls that went to their schools. Kids Helpline Australia's website states that sexting is not limited to mobile phones, but also instant messengers like Skype and social media sites such as Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, Flickr, Tumblr and Snapchat. Adults also sext. Self magazine's research found that 92% of women had sent "sexy texts." Senders can be prosecuted for sending their images. Adults who send nude images of themselves to someone unasked can be held accountable under the Malicious Communications Act.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=139
Biological Explanations of Anxiety: The Trilogy
Society believes that anxiety is abnormal, when in fact, it's a normal biological process in the brain. Unless anxiety is stopping you from enjoying aspects of your life, or stopping you from undertaking certain tasks, then it is at a functional level. But what is the point of anxiety and what function does it serve us? Why does it exist?
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=081
Switched At Birth Culture
Imagine you are deaf, and you are arrested. How would that feel? There are lights in your face, so you cannot read their lips, your hands are cuffed behind your back, so you are unable to "speak". How would you or your mother communicate with the person who arrested you without an interpreter? Emmett found out. Switched at Birth is a new US series, which aims to give the "deaf perspective."
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=121
Free to Play: The E-Sports World
Cyber athletes or E-Sports players are becoming more recognised as celebrities, but what are E-sports and what do they entail? What is it that makes watching a video game so exciting and intriguing? We feature a documentary that explores the world of E-Sports and what it can afford young cyber athletes.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=145
Grief is the Worst Ninja
Grief is the Worst Ninja is a reactionary piece by a pet owner who experienced one of the dreaded moments by every pet owner -- when they find their animal deceased. This book is a documentation of her thoughts, feelings, and actions after the initial scene, as well as her lifestyle with Dorian and what it meant to lose him.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=203
This month will close with big news, which will be put onto Facebook and the front page of wesaytheysay.com. Keep an eye out!
For another month, I wish you well and hope the new articles and content find you well.
My best,
The Editor.
Saturday, 30 January 2016
January, 2016
Dear all,
It's the new year and there's so much to look forward to. All my studies for the year are done and I'm now able to focus on the website and the new features and sections coming. Are they huge? Maybe, but they are going to wet your appetite to experience more in this broad world of ours, or find a new contribution on today's community.
January is all about new starts and new goals. Did you do your New Years resolutions? I did. Some of mine were continuation of last year's resolutions, but amazingly, I got a few tasks ticked off for last year. It's been a while since I've done that. The new year for me is going to be full of twists and turns, which I'm excited about while being nervous too. But they say nerves is normal and good luck. If we're not nervous, it means we don't care enough about whatever we might be facing.
I wanted the January edition to be all about new starts, so much of this month's issue is about new beginnings or improving how you've done things until this point. Quite a few articles about self-improvement, and the real potential you could find within.
Alarm Clocks: Help, Hinder or Need Upgrade?
I read this rant someone had that alarm clocks were ruining their life and it made me wonder, is it really true? Psychologically and biologically, are they disrupting our natural order? The answer is yes. Studies show that being awoken by the wrong type of alarm clock can cause drunk-like states of mind which could remain for two hours after waking. They also caused stress responses in the body which resulted in low mood and inertia. So what are the options? Introducing new ways to use your alarm more effectively, along with a few amazing inventions such as Bacon clock.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=180
Life Code: Book Review
Dr. Phil McGraw has written this book, which is coined the new rules for today's world. Has the world really changed? In his opinion, yes. We are more hungry for success, but so are others, and have created what McGraw calls BAITERS (Backstabbers, Abusers, Imposters, Takers, Exploiters and/or Reckless people). His book aims to arm people against them by understand them and the Evil 8 signs to identify them. He also includes their tricks, known as the Nefarious 15. The book has been seen as a book suitable for Chicken Little, over-catastrophising social ocassions and professional connections, but are we in a world where careful is a waste?
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=165
The Power of Demanding Reciprocation
This article was inspired by a situation I was involved in, where it made me ask the questions, "do we always hold people accountable enough? What is accountable enough?" I sought to discover the truth for myself and wanted to share my thoughts with others. There is no definitive answer of course, only methods of analysing what you consider your expectations of others, and what level of respect you demand from them. What do you determine as suitable reciprocation? What can pure reciprocation afford you?
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=181
Kidnapped for Christ: The Documentary
New beginnings are sometimes found in behaviour modification programs. Katie Logan was studying Christian programs when she found she had stumbled onto something much more when she researched Escuela Caribe. Ex-students of the facility had gruesome stories to tell, and the current students seemed to be hiding something. The documentary looks at how the students of Escuela Caribe lived daily life while Logan lived on the grounds, as well as asks viewers to determine what is expected of these programs, and when they become torture instead of turning a new leaf.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=155
What Would Judy Say?
Judge Judith Sheindlin, known for her television show, Judge Judy, is a role model of mine. She always has wisdom to share and 72 years of collecting it. So what does the world's most popular judge want to tell us about life and profession? A great deal. This free e-book shares her advice and wisdom about the changing world we live in, in hopes she can inspire the next generation of professionals to hold onto functional traits and lessons that will serve them.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=184
Craiglist Joe
Joseph Garner sought out to understand how well the Internet can serve us, and how the community works together in today's society. Armed with only his clothes on his back, his laptop and phone, his passport and his toothbrush, Garner challenged himself to travel 31 days across America, surviving only on deals or contacts he made over Craigslist. How far would he get? The journey includes the people he met, their stories, and how they helped him on that leg of the journey. He was not to pay for anything -- only struggle with what he could barter or earn for himself via Craigslist.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=119
BNC210: The New Era of Anti-depressants?
A new start can sometimes be a medical break-through. BNC210 is the new compound that functions as an anti-depressant, only does not have the side effects currently found in other medications. It would mean a new start for many people if the drug continues to impress in clinical trials. The world would change for anti-depressant users, the drug being proven so far to be non-addictive, more rapidly affective with panic attacks, and doesn't impose biological and neurological side effects such as sedation, addiction, memory impairment, body movement effects, and potentially drug overdosing. So how far has this drug come so far and when is it going to be available?
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=183
I hope this month starts the new year off suitably and happily for everyone. If you haven't written up New Years resolutions yet, consider it, as they can be great motivators. If you have a goal and fall off the wagon, think about why you did, then consider a contingency plan. What can you learn from it to gain more success later? What could you change to make your goal more measurable or realistic? Remember, when writing goals, make sure they are SMART (Specific Meaningful Action-oriented Realistic Timely) goals!
(If you're unsure about what SMART goals really mean, see http://www.envisionexperience.com/~/media/images/blog/smart-goals.jpg?h=504&la=en&w=504).
It's the key to creating goals for yourself that you're more likely to achieve. An example would be:
a) I want to quit drinking NOT SMART
OR
b) I want to quit drinking by June, 2016. SMART!
c) I want to cut my drinking down to 75% of what it is currently by February 28th, 2016. SMART!
B and C are more effective because they can help us create small goals that are manageable. They are specific so you know exactly how or when you want to work towards quitting drinking. They also explain the action you want to achieve (cut down by 75%)and they are timely because they have a time-line to work through and give you a sense of planning and a little urgency. Finally, make sure your goals are meaningful and realistic. Ask yourself, how important is this for you and why? Also, how realistic is the goal? Can you do it by the due-date? If not, change the date to reflect a better plan. Goals with due dates are always most effective!
Happy January!
The Editor.
It's the new year and there's so much to look forward to. All my studies for the year are done and I'm now able to focus on the website and the new features and sections coming. Are they huge? Maybe, but they are going to wet your appetite to experience more in this broad world of ours, or find a new contribution on today's community.
January is all about new starts and new goals. Did you do your New Years resolutions? I did. Some of mine were continuation of last year's resolutions, but amazingly, I got a few tasks ticked off for last year. It's been a while since I've done that. The new year for me is going to be full of twists and turns, which I'm excited about while being nervous too. But they say nerves is normal and good luck. If we're not nervous, it means we don't care enough about whatever we might be facing.
I wanted the January edition to be all about new starts, so much of this month's issue is about new beginnings or improving how you've done things until this point. Quite a few articles about self-improvement, and the real potential you could find within.
Alarm Clocks: Help, Hinder or Need Upgrade?
I read this rant someone had that alarm clocks were ruining their life and it made me wonder, is it really true? Psychologically and biologically, are they disrupting our natural order? The answer is yes. Studies show that being awoken by the wrong type of alarm clock can cause drunk-like states of mind which could remain for two hours after waking. They also caused stress responses in the body which resulted in low mood and inertia. So what are the options? Introducing new ways to use your alarm more effectively, along with a few amazing inventions such as Bacon clock.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=180
Life Code: Book Review
Dr. Phil McGraw has written this book, which is coined the new rules for today's world. Has the world really changed? In his opinion, yes. We are more hungry for success, but so are others, and have created what McGraw calls BAITERS (Backstabbers, Abusers, Imposters, Takers, Exploiters and/or Reckless people). His book aims to arm people against them by understand them and the Evil 8 signs to identify them. He also includes their tricks, known as the Nefarious 15. The book has been seen as a book suitable for Chicken Little, over-catastrophising social ocassions and professional connections, but are we in a world where careful is a waste?
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=165
The Power of Demanding Reciprocation
This article was inspired by a situation I was involved in, where it made me ask the questions, "do we always hold people accountable enough? What is accountable enough?" I sought to discover the truth for myself and wanted to share my thoughts with others. There is no definitive answer of course, only methods of analysing what you consider your expectations of others, and what level of respect you demand from them. What do you determine as suitable reciprocation? What can pure reciprocation afford you?
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=181
Kidnapped for Christ: The Documentary
New beginnings are sometimes found in behaviour modification programs. Katie Logan was studying Christian programs when she found she had stumbled onto something much more when she researched Escuela Caribe. Ex-students of the facility had gruesome stories to tell, and the current students seemed to be hiding something. The documentary looks at how the students of Escuela Caribe lived daily life while Logan lived on the grounds, as well as asks viewers to determine what is expected of these programs, and when they become torture instead of turning a new leaf.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=155
What Would Judy Say?
Judge Judith Sheindlin, known for her television show, Judge Judy, is a role model of mine. She always has wisdom to share and 72 years of collecting it. So what does the world's most popular judge want to tell us about life and profession? A great deal. This free e-book shares her advice and wisdom about the changing world we live in, in hopes she can inspire the next generation of professionals to hold onto functional traits and lessons that will serve them.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=184
Craiglist Joe
Joseph Garner sought out to understand how well the Internet can serve us, and how the community works together in today's society. Armed with only his clothes on his back, his laptop and phone, his passport and his toothbrush, Garner challenged himself to travel 31 days across America, surviving only on deals or contacts he made over Craigslist. How far would he get? The journey includes the people he met, their stories, and how they helped him on that leg of the journey. He was not to pay for anything -- only struggle with what he could barter or earn for himself via Craigslist.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=119
BNC210: The New Era of Anti-depressants?
A new start can sometimes be a medical break-through. BNC210 is the new compound that functions as an anti-depressant, only does not have the side effects currently found in other medications. It would mean a new start for many people if the drug continues to impress in clinical trials. The world would change for anti-depressant users, the drug being proven so far to be non-addictive, more rapidly affective with panic attacks, and doesn't impose biological and neurological side effects such as sedation, addiction, memory impairment, body movement effects, and potentially drug overdosing. So how far has this drug come so far and when is it going to be available?
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=183
I hope this month starts the new year off suitably and happily for everyone. If you haven't written up New Years resolutions yet, consider it, as they can be great motivators. If you have a goal and fall off the wagon, think about why you did, then consider a contingency plan. What can you learn from it to gain more success later? What could you change to make your goal more measurable or realistic? Remember, when writing goals, make sure they are SMART (Specific Meaningful Action-oriented Realistic Timely) goals!
(If you're unsure about what SMART goals really mean, see http://www.envisionexperience.com/~/media/images/blog/smart-goals.jpg?h=504&la=en&w=504).
It's the key to creating goals for yourself that you're more likely to achieve. An example would be:
a) I want to quit drinking NOT SMART
OR
b) I want to quit drinking by June, 2016. SMART!
c) I want to cut my drinking down to 75% of what it is currently by February 28th, 2016. SMART!
B and C are more effective because they can help us create small goals that are manageable. They are specific so you know exactly how or when you want to work towards quitting drinking. They also explain the action you want to achieve (cut down by 75%)and they are timely because they have a time-line to work through and give you a sense of planning and a little urgency. Finally, make sure your goals are meaningful and realistic. Ask yourself, how important is this for you and why? Also, how realistic is the goal? Can you do it by the due-date? If not, change the date to reflect a better plan. Goals with due dates are always most effective!
Happy January!
The Editor.
Saturday, 26 December 2015
December, 2015
24th December, 2015
Dear all,
It's the end of the year and Christmas is tomorrow. Remember to hang the stockings and prepare for Santa's yearly deliveries. Also, happy birthday to all those who were born this time of year, as extra special arrivals!
The last six months have been challenging, but very rewarding. Since July I've been completing 4 units of specialisation, which I finished today. It's such a relief to have them completed. 400 hours of study over, balanced between writing articles, adding content to the website, reading and researching my new field of expertise, and a little left over for family projects and arrangements. I am exhausted! Oh, and another certificate course which I'll have finished in the next few weeks. Then a little more study and I'm free from Professional Development tasks until the end of 2016. It's always nice to be ahead of schedule.
This month I wanted to feature some articles of Christmas cheer, while throwing in some fun videos to bring joy to your week of celebrating. I realise a lot of people don't celebrate Christmas in a traditional sense, so I tried to include secular activities and subjects that people would enjoy.
WHAT WOULD JESUS BUY?
Martin Spurlock of the Supersize Me fame has created this documentary to address the debt related to Christmas and the ideals of materialism that are held during the holiday season. Featuring Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping choir, who travel the department stores and share their newly-phrased Christmas songs. A documentary for anyone who thinks presents are too focused on.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=162
PETS VS. CHRISTMAS
This is an article about all the features of Christmas celebration and what risks they hold for our furry friends. Christmas is a time of joy, not costly vet bills, so protect your fluffy companions this Christmas and make sure you are choosing pet-safe options
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=196
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=197
MINECRAFT: LEGO AND BEYOND
Minecraft is a game of creativity experience by thousands, and addicted to by many. All age brackets have enjoyed this game immensely using mods and alterations to make the game even more fun. I wanted to feature this game -- being a player of it myself -- as one of the games to share with family and friends this Christmas. A game without gore, bad language or age limitations -- even your early starters can enjoy the simplicity, but highly adaptable game modes.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=122
LHASA HAPPY HOMES
Recently, I was researching pet rescue facilities after finding some potentially abandoned kittens in our front garden, hiding under the stack of trees we've planted. It reminded me of homelessness during Christmas and what it means to have a second chance at life. Being the time of Jesus's birth, who was a symbol of new starts, I wanted to uncover what rescue homes can achieve, and what new journeys their animals can face.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=158
ANNIE AGAIN
Because Christmas is about wishing the have-nots get a joyous time too! There have been many version of Annie, the musical. We've seen her performed on stage and in film, different actresses bursting out with Tomorrow and Hard Knock Life. Now, this 2014 version seeks to reinvent the musical, but the results caused a great deal of complaint when the new Annie wasn't a ginger. How far is too far when re-creating a classic?
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=168
I also hope everyone has a wonderful New Years. With a new year coming, and all my OPD studies completed, the website almost ready for full launch, and the new initiatives of Wesaytheysay.com ready for commencement, the next year looks to be very bright from here. May your new year seem just as promising.
Stay safe, happy and loved,
Editor
Wesaytheysay.com
Dear all,
It's the end of the year and Christmas is tomorrow. Remember to hang the stockings and prepare for Santa's yearly deliveries. Also, happy birthday to all those who were born this time of year, as extra special arrivals!
The last six months have been challenging, but very rewarding. Since July I've been completing 4 units of specialisation, which I finished today. It's such a relief to have them completed. 400 hours of study over, balanced between writing articles, adding content to the website, reading and researching my new field of expertise, and a little left over for family projects and arrangements. I am exhausted! Oh, and another certificate course which I'll have finished in the next few weeks. Then a little more study and I'm free from Professional Development tasks until the end of 2016. It's always nice to be ahead of schedule.
This month I wanted to feature some articles of Christmas cheer, while throwing in some fun videos to bring joy to your week of celebrating. I realise a lot of people don't celebrate Christmas in a traditional sense, so I tried to include secular activities and subjects that people would enjoy.
WHAT WOULD JESUS BUY?
Martin Spurlock of the Supersize Me fame has created this documentary to address the debt related to Christmas and the ideals of materialism that are held during the holiday season. Featuring Reverend Billy and the Stop Shopping choir, who travel the department stores and share their newly-phrased Christmas songs. A documentary for anyone who thinks presents are too focused on.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=162
PETS VS. CHRISTMAS
This is an article about all the features of Christmas celebration and what risks they hold for our furry friends. Christmas is a time of joy, not costly vet bills, so protect your fluffy companions this Christmas and make sure you are choosing pet-safe options
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=196
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=197
MINECRAFT: LEGO AND BEYOND
Minecraft is a game of creativity experience by thousands, and addicted to by many. All age brackets have enjoyed this game immensely using mods and alterations to make the game even more fun. I wanted to feature this game -- being a player of it myself -- as one of the games to share with family and friends this Christmas. A game without gore, bad language or age limitations -- even your early starters can enjoy the simplicity, but highly adaptable game modes.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=122
LHASA HAPPY HOMES
Recently, I was researching pet rescue facilities after finding some potentially abandoned kittens in our front garden, hiding under the stack of trees we've planted. It reminded me of homelessness during Christmas and what it means to have a second chance at life. Being the time of Jesus's birth, who was a symbol of new starts, I wanted to uncover what rescue homes can achieve, and what new journeys their animals can face.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=158
ANNIE AGAIN
Because Christmas is about wishing the have-nots get a joyous time too! There have been many version of Annie, the musical. We've seen her performed on stage and in film, different actresses bursting out with Tomorrow and Hard Knock Life. Now, this 2014 version seeks to reinvent the musical, but the results caused a great deal of complaint when the new Annie wasn't a ginger. How far is too far when re-creating a classic?
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=168
I also hope everyone has a wonderful New Years. With a new year coming, and all my OPD studies completed, the website almost ready for full launch, and the new initiatives of Wesaytheysay.com ready for commencement, the next year looks to be very bright from here. May your new year seem just as promising.
Stay safe, happy and loved,
Editor
Wesaytheysay.com
Wednesday, 9 December 2015
November, 2015
Dear all,
Welcome to another blog. I'm still unsure what to include in these, so I guess it'll be all adlib.
This month I've been working hard on study. I've got 2 large courses and a smaller course to finish in my specialising, so I really want to finish them by Christmas. I'm knocking out the assessments pretty fast so I'm on track time-wise. My specialisation is connected to one of the new sections coming to the website so it's in my goals to complete them all before the holidays. That'll give me a few months of writing to get ahead of the articles, ready for when I launch one of the new sections of the website, as well as the website itself.
Life has been very busy, but very rewarding lately. I think this will be one of the first times I'll have almost all my New Years resolutions met in quite a few years. It's a good feeling. To know what you want to complete and then to actually finish is such a buzz. There will be so much progression in my life after such a busy, challenging year, and soon it'll feel worth it all. I'll be possibly exhausted and sleep throughout Christmas, but at least my goals will be complete!
This month wesaytheysay.com is featuring quite a few interesting articles, all of which should offer some different perspectives and ideas.
Parents of Primates: Darling or Danger?
There is a phenomenon that is spreading across America at the moment, and that is monkey parenting. Women are choosing to adopt and raise Capuchin monkeys as their own. These fluffy sweethearts start nice, but if not trained or cared correctly can be a burden on their families, as well as contract serious illnesses. One such case of extreme issue was the story of Charla Nash, the woman who lost her face to Travis, a human-raised chimpanzee. I sought to find out how monkeys should be cared for and if negative consequences can be avoided.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=191
Charla Nash: The Woman who Lost her Face.
In 2009, Charla Nash was brutally attacked by her friend's pet monkey, Travis. The chimpanzee had been raised by her friend, seeming to be a good pet, until many factors caused an extreme reaction on Nash's arrival to the property. While she survived the attack, it left a lot of public opinion against the keeping of wild animals as pets. A story of bravery and medical triumph. Includes graphic images to highlight the severity of the situation.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=193
Virtual Baby Kills Real Baby
The new documentary, Love Child, seeks to explain the death of Sarang, a 3-month old baby who died while her parents were working an online game to earn money. Their long hours in Prius, a game where "anima" or young mystical child followers assist the quester, were spent trying to farm gold to translate into real money to support their basic existence. Unfortunately, they lost their child and faced neglect charges upon their actions. Love Child explains what happened, what legal ramifications it causes, and the idea of gaming addicition and reliance on a virtual world to supply for real-life needs.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=135
Gaming Addiction at Home
American Psychiatrists are calling for Gaming Addiction to be added to the DSM-4, the mental illness directory, after many cases have come forward, some of which have been criminal cases where the perpetrators claimed diluted responsibility due to online activities. The American Psychiatric Association have even stated that there are biological symptoms similar to substance abuse in clients who are addicted to games, and have designed a criteria for diagnosing gaming addiction. In Korea there is even a Juvenile Protection Act, banning children under the age of 16 from playing video games between 12am and 6am. So how do we tell if someone is addicted to games? What can we do? What should we be aware of?
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=144
112 Weddings
Doug Block was a young filmmaker years ago, who soon realised that just saying you wanted to make films did not bring opportunities to your door. He decided to make some money by video taping weddings. Twenty years and 112 weddings later, he decides to visit the couples he was the videographer for years ago. It's a documentary that seeks to explain how marriage works, the modern expectations of marriage and how people adapt from the altar to the parent of a family. It's a very interesting journey to embark on.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=142
They Were Friends -- Autism and Bullying
During 2014, a story broke that a young boy had been bullied and humiliated by two young female American teens who video-taped their abuse. The young boy they targeted was autistic and even after the police charged the perpetrators, still wondered why he wasn't seeing his "friends" anymore. I went on a search for answers as to why Autistic children are more susceptible to bullying, what precautions should be considered, and what support is available to parents who wish to bully-guard their children.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=125
I hope everyone has a nice week, and a nice journey as we get closer to Christmas. May your shopping and preparations be as merry as the day itself. For my US readers, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
My best wishes,
S.
Welcome to another blog. I'm still unsure what to include in these, so I guess it'll be all adlib.
This month I've been working hard on study. I've got 2 large courses and a smaller course to finish in my specialising, so I really want to finish them by Christmas. I'm knocking out the assessments pretty fast so I'm on track time-wise. My specialisation is connected to one of the new sections coming to the website so it's in my goals to complete them all before the holidays. That'll give me a few months of writing to get ahead of the articles, ready for when I launch one of the new sections of the website, as well as the website itself.
Life has been very busy, but very rewarding lately. I think this will be one of the first times I'll have almost all my New Years resolutions met in quite a few years. It's a good feeling. To know what you want to complete and then to actually finish is such a buzz. There will be so much progression in my life after such a busy, challenging year, and soon it'll feel worth it all. I'll be possibly exhausted and sleep throughout Christmas, but at least my goals will be complete!
This month wesaytheysay.com is featuring quite a few interesting articles, all of which should offer some different perspectives and ideas.
Parents of Primates: Darling or Danger?
There is a phenomenon that is spreading across America at the moment, and that is monkey parenting. Women are choosing to adopt and raise Capuchin monkeys as their own. These fluffy sweethearts start nice, but if not trained or cared correctly can be a burden on their families, as well as contract serious illnesses. One such case of extreme issue was the story of Charla Nash, the woman who lost her face to Travis, a human-raised chimpanzee. I sought to find out how monkeys should be cared for and if negative consequences can be avoided.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=191
Charla Nash: The Woman who Lost her Face.
In 2009, Charla Nash was brutally attacked by her friend's pet monkey, Travis. The chimpanzee had been raised by her friend, seeming to be a good pet, until many factors caused an extreme reaction on Nash's arrival to the property. While she survived the attack, it left a lot of public opinion against the keeping of wild animals as pets. A story of bravery and medical triumph. Includes graphic images to highlight the severity of the situation.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=193
Virtual Baby Kills Real Baby
The new documentary, Love Child, seeks to explain the death of Sarang, a 3-month old baby who died while her parents were working an online game to earn money. Their long hours in Prius, a game where "anima" or young mystical child followers assist the quester, were spent trying to farm gold to translate into real money to support their basic existence. Unfortunately, they lost their child and faced neglect charges upon their actions. Love Child explains what happened, what legal ramifications it causes, and the idea of gaming addicition and reliance on a virtual world to supply for real-life needs.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=135
Gaming Addiction at Home
American Psychiatrists are calling for Gaming Addiction to be added to the DSM-4, the mental illness directory, after many cases have come forward, some of which have been criminal cases where the perpetrators claimed diluted responsibility due to online activities. The American Psychiatric Association have even stated that there are biological symptoms similar to substance abuse in clients who are addicted to games, and have designed a criteria for diagnosing gaming addiction. In Korea there is even a Juvenile Protection Act, banning children under the age of 16 from playing video games between 12am and 6am. So how do we tell if someone is addicted to games? What can we do? What should we be aware of?
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=144
112 Weddings
Doug Block was a young filmmaker years ago, who soon realised that just saying you wanted to make films did not bring opportunities to your door. He decided to make some money by video taping weddings. Twenty years and 112 weddings later, he decides to visit the couples he was the videographer for years ago. It's a documentary that seeks to explain how marriage works, the modern expectations of marriage and how people adapt from the altar to the parent of a family. It's a very interesting journey to embark on.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=142
They Were Friends -- Autism and Bullying
During 2014, a story broke that a young boy had been bullied and humiliated by two young female American teens who video-taped their abuse. The young boy they targeted was autistic and even after the police charged the perpetrators, still wondered why he wasn't seeing his "friends" anymore. I went on a search for answers as to why Autistic children are more susceptible to bullying, what precautions should be considered, and what support is available to parents who wish to bully-guard their children.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=125
I hope everyone has a nice week, and a nice journey as we get closer to Christmas. May your shopping and preparations be as merry as the day itself. For my US readers, HAPPY THANKSGIVING!
My best wishes,
S.
Saturday, 31 October 2015
October, 2016
Dear all,
October is here and there are many changes coming to the website. Firstly, we have a new system installed. All visitors to the site are now able to comment on articles. We want to hear what you think, have experienced or want to share. Scroll down to the end of the article and drop your thoughts in the box. Panel members will be marked with identifiable markers to show they are Panel members, as well as their business cards clickable in the post. Their bio can also be found under the Panel Members tab.
This month I wanted to publish a nice new stack of articles. It's been a while since an update so I wanted to get more subjects out there. New articles include:
* The Borderers: House Party Heroes
The Borderers are an internationally acclaimed band that have been recording for the last 20 years, starting from their humble beginnings as an independant band. We spoke to Jim and Alex on their new House Party plan, their journey to success, and the challenges they've faced, both professionally and personally.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=188
* The Mountain Man: Troubled to Saint
Dashrath Manjhi grew up during the 50s in India, during the caste system abolishment and political upheaval. Despite it all he found joy in his life, as well as challenging arranged marriage rules to win over the woman he loved. It was later after their eloping that tragedy struck. His wife, Phaguniya, fell to her death off a mountain -- a mountain Manjhi set to conquer. For 22 years, he dug through the mountain manually to create a path and better passage between his poor village and the city beyond the mountains. We look at his life and the new film that has been released to capture his adventure.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=187
* Tejano Queen: 20 Years Later
Selena Quintanilla was considered the Mexican Madonna, until tragedy struck her family band. Twenty years later, while fans are still mourning, and perpetrators still vowing for parole, we look at what happened and the effect it had on society and the world at large. Motivations of the attack are still debated to this day, but what does make sense is the family wanting to let memories live on.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=164
* Songified Struggles
The Gregory Brothers created their own form of entertainment when they started to combine auto-tuning with memorable footage from news reports and online videos. Suddenly a net-wide argument began, when they chose footage some viewers felt should remain untouched. We seek to understand what happened. In contrast, we look at another similar auto-tune that was created and applauded, and seek to analyse why two similar cases were received differently by YouTube users.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=160
* The Journey to Self-Love
Some psychologists say that the primary goal of humans is to grow as people and find love for what they do, who they include, and themselves, but the last seems almost impossible sometimes. Situations drag us down, people drain our energy, and we self-sabotage with self-blame or reprimands. Recently I've been questioning my own resilience and self-support and went looking for ideas on how to get closer to loving myself. In my research I came across directed journaling or journal healing, and took a program for a roadtest. Documented in this article is my experiences and the research behind journal healing.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=166
* A Dog's Birthday
Society has evolved from old ideals that dogs merely need a bowl of food, some water, and an old cushion in the corner to be happy. Today's pets are more pampered and pet care bills are gaining momentum. The newest phenomenon is dog birthday parties -- both group and individual. This article explores the world of dog celebrations and outings to understand the joy it brings to a family and the featured animal. We meet Annie, the Yorkie, who has a doggy daycare birthday, as well as Petey who has friends come to the house to celebrate his big day.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=141
* Movie review: Cyberbully
I've had this article in stock for a while, but it makes it no less important. Cyberbully was released last year, in an attempt to show how cyberbullying is more severe when teamed with in-school bullying as well. We meet Taylor, who although pretty and likeable is attacked over a silly prank that builds into a rumour-filled life of torture. The film received mixed reviews, however, still made an impact on society enough to cause unique voice-less videos to be made on YouTube, such as those created by Jonah Mowry.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=120
I hope the articles are of interest, and once again, please feel free to post a comment on them. Tell us if you have a similar experience, if you know further information on a subject you wish to share, or even what you liked about the article or featured product. We want to hear from you!
Best wishes,
S. Bowyer.
October is here and there are many changes coming to the website. Firstly, we have a new system installed. All visitors to the site are now able to comment on articles. We want to hear what you think, have experienced or want to share. Scroll down to the end of the article and drop your thoughts in the box. Panel members will be marked with identifiable markers to show they are Panel members, as well as their business cards clickable in the post. Their bio can also be found under the Panel Members tab.
This month I wanted to publish a nice new stack of articles. It's been a while since an update so I wanted to get more subjects out there. New articles include:
* The Borderers: House Party Heroes
The Borderers are an internationally acclaimed band that have been recording for the last 20 years, starting from their humble beginnings as an independant band. We spoke to Jim and Alex on their new House Party plan, their journey to success, and the challenges they've faced, both professionally and personally.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=188
* The Mountain Man: Troubled to Saint
Dashrath Manjhi grew up during the 50s in India, during the caste system abolishment and political upheaval. Despite it all he found joy in his life, as well as challenging arranged marriage rules to win over the woman he loved. It was later after their eloping that tragedy struck. His wife, Phaguniya, fell to her death off a mountain -- a mountain Manjhi set to conquer. For 22 years, he dug through the mountain manually to create a path and better passage between his poor village and the city beyond the mountains. We look at his life and the new film that has been released to capture his adventure.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=187
* Tejano Queen: 20 Years Later
Selena Quintanilla was considered the Mexican Madonna, until tragedy struck her family band. Twenty years later, while fans are still mourning, and perpetrators still vowing for parole, we look at what happened and the effect it had on society and the world at large. Motivations of the attack are still debated to this day, but what does make sense is the family wanting to let memories live on.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=164
* Songified Struggles
The Gregory Brothers created their own form of entertainment when they started to combine auto-tuning with memorable footage from news reports and online videos. Suddenly a net-wide argument began, when they chose footage some viewers felt should remain untouched. We seek to understand what happened. In contrast, we look at another similar auto-tune that was created and applauded, and seek to analyse why two similar cases were received differently by YouTube users.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=160
* The Journey to Self-Love
Some psychologists say that the primary goal of humans is to grow as people and find love for what they do, who they include, and themselves, but the last seems almost impossible sometimes. Situations drag us down, people drain our energy, and we self-sabotage with self-blame or reprimands. Recently I've been questioning my own resilience and self-support and went looking for ideas on how to get closer to loving myself. In my research I came across directed journaling or journal healing, and took a program for a roadtest. Documented in this article is my experiences and the research behind journal healing.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=166
* A Dog's Birthday
Society has evolved from old ideals that dogs merely need a bowl of food, some water, and an old cushion in the corner to be happy. Today's pets are more pampered and pet care bills are gaining momentum. The newest phenomenon is dog birthday parties -- both group and individual. This article explores the world of dog celebrations and outings to understand the joy it brings to a family and the featured animal. We meet Annie, the Yorkie, who has a doggy daycare birthday, as well as Petey who has friends come to the house to celebrate his big day.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=141
* Movie review: Cyberbully
I've had this article in stock for a while, but it makes it no less important. Cyberbully was released last year, in an attempt to show how cyberbullying is more severe when teamed with in-school bullying as well. We meet Taylor, who although pretty and likeable is attacked over a silly prank that builds into a rumour-filled life of torture. The film received mixed reviews, however, still made an impact on society enough to cause unique voice-less videos to be made on YouTube, such as those created by Jonah Mowry.
http://wesaytheysay.com/?id=120
I hope the articles are of interest, and once again, please feel free to post a comment on them. Tell us if you have a similar experience, if you know further information on a subject you wish to share, or even what you liked about the article or featured product. We want to hear from you!
Best wishes,
S. Bowyer.
Sunday, 6 September 2015
September, 2015
Dear all,
Well, the proverbial "time flies when you're having fun" probably won't cut it this time, as it's been so long since I've updated this blog. Part of it confusion as to what I should write. Should I keep an updated reference of marketing and behind-the-scenes planning as a possible how-to in future for other keen writers wanting to create a subject-specific site? Future entrepeneur or marketers? Is this blog meant to be a way of just announcing new articles and speak of my motivations? I'm not sure. What does the reader want? I'm unaware at current. If it's intellectual stimulation, then wesaytheysay.com itself would be the platform they dive for.
The last few months have been a time of self-exploration, and I'm now working hard at coming back. While situations are not to the best benefit, I'm fighting hard and wanting to achieve. Lots of articles to publish in reserve, which will hit the website soon. It's all about one step at a time, that's what they say. I have a tendency of exhiliaration becoming overwhelming desire to push myself too hard, which I'm also watching out on. She states, while typing with her keyboard in bed because she's meant to be on bed rest! It's 6am, couldn't sleep -- what else can I do? Life of a workaholic.
Over the next few days, I'll be writing some book reviews. I picked up some great titles online which met beyond my expectations, one being Purr Therapy by Dr. Kathy McCoy Ph.D. GORGEOUS book! I picked it up as a little pick-me-up feel-good read while in the pet section, and by the 4th chapter wanted to just hug it. Her passion for writing and her industry is amazing. Dr. McCoy is a psyschotherapist and cat lover who stumbled into animal-assisted therapy when her young cat decided to start interacting with a client she had visit her home. The story is completely true -- there's pictures of her cats on her blog -- and it really added some depth into my research of the animal-spirit bond. It's one of those books you just want to share with everyone, which is what I'm going to do. I had plans of writing reviews of books on my website anyway, but this one has just sparked me to speed up the process. It was so wonderful to read of someone in the therapy profession who is so inspired and passionate, as the helping field is fueled by intrinsic-rewarded individuals often, but so many more are needed.
Purr Therapy review: http://wesaytheysay.com/index.php/en/component/content/article?id=163
The other book I'll be reviewing is a journal-assistant book. The idea of healing through journaling has been around for some time. Some people journal to purge emotions, keep records, express thoughts, determine behaviours, find closure, but journaling programs can also help self-growth. They can help us redefine who we are and where we want to go. I've been "testing" a journal guidance book and want to feature it. It's got some very interesting writing exercises in it, possibly suitable for someone's blog of self-discovery or their own personal diary they hide in their bedroom. You don't have to be Anne Frank or Bridget Jones to revel in this one. You can just be creative and go!
In closing, found my new love of reading this month, after years of it on hiatus, and the new obsession will mean some reviews on the website. I'm excited, as I aim to cover all forms of expression on the website, including film, music, movies, books, art, intellectual articles, casual articles, and opinion pieces. The world expresses itself in many ways, and that's how I want to document it.
S.
Well, the proverbial "time flies when you're having fun" probably won't cut it this time, as it's been so long since I've updated this blog. Part of it confusion as to what I should write. Should I keep an updated reference of marketing and behind-the-scenes planning as a possible how-to in future for other keen writers wanting to create a subject-specific site? Future entrepeneur or marketers? Is this blog meant to be a way of just announcing new articles and speak of my motivations? I'm not sure. What does the reader want? I'm unaware at current. If it's intellectual stimulation, then wesaytheysay.com itself would be the platform they dive for.
The last few months have been a time of self-exploration, and I'm now working hard at coming back. While situations are not to the best benefit, I'm fighting hard and wanting to achieve. Lots of articles to publish in reserve, which will hit the website soon. It's all about one step at a time, that's what they say. I have a tendency of exhiliaration becoming overwhelming desire to push myself too hard, which I'm also watching out on. She states, while typing with her keyboard in bed because she's meant to be on bed rest! It's 6am, couldn't sleep -- what else can I do? Life of a workaholic.
Over the next few days, I'll be writing some book reviews. I picked up some great titles online which met beyond my expectations, one being Purr Therapy by Dr. Kathy McCoy Ph.D. GORGEOUS book! I picked it up as a little pick-me-up feel-good read while in the pet section, and by the 4th chapter wanted to just hug it. Her passion for writing and her industry is amazing. Dr. McCoy is a psyschotherapist and cat lover who stumbled into animal-assisted therapy when her young cat decided to start interacting with a client she had visit her home. The story is completely true -- there's pictures of her cats on her blog -- and it really added some depth into my research of the animal-spirit bond. It's one of those books you just want to share with everyone, which is what I'm going to do. I had plans of writing reviews of books on my website anyway, but this one has just sparked me to speed up the process. It was so wonderful to read of someone in the therapy profession who is so inspired and passionate, as the helping field is fueled by intrinsic-rewarded individuals often, but so many more are needed.
Purr Therapy review: http://wesaytheysay.com/index.php/en/component/content/article?id=163
The other book I'll be reviewing is a journal-assistant book. The idea of healing through journaling has been around for some time. Some people journal to purge emotions, keep records, express thoughts, determine behaviours, find closure, but journaling programs can also help self-growth. They can help us redefine who we are and where we want to go. I've been "testing" a journal guidance book and want to feature it. It's got some very interesting writing exercises in it, possibly suitable for someone's blog of self-discovery or their own personal diary they hide in their bedroom. You don't have to be Anne Frank or Bridget Jones to revel in this one. You can just be creative and go!
In closing, found my new love of reading this month, after years of it on hiatus, and the new obsession will mean some reviews on the website. I'm excited, as I aim to cover all forms of expression on the website, including film, music, movies, books, art, intellectual articles, casual articles, and opinion pieces. The world expresses itself in many ways, and that's how I want to document it.
S.
Wednesday, 4 March 2015
March, 2015
And with the blink of an eye it's the start of March. The year is no longer new, but the chores ahead are plentiful. At wesaytheysay.com, we are looking to increase output and contributors. Time is a currency I'm not looking to waste.
This week I wanted to feature some interesting articles about development. Firstly is a documentary about puppy growth and the important stages of an animal's life. Often we hear about puppy mills and many "rules" about dog care in their early years. Why do they exist? What happens between birth to the age of appropriate homing? In essence, what difficulties would a puppy suffer without following these guidelines that society has set for breeders and breeding programs?
http://wesaytheysay.com/index.php/component/content/article?id=136
The second story is one of difficulties during developmental years, namely teenage years. We look at young people with Tourettes syndrome, a condition that causes physical and vocal "ticks," or involuntary "outbursts" to sometimes simple or minor stimuli. While the condition is not considered deadly, this documentary looks at children who have unusual ticks, some of which could land them into social danger if they were not understood. For example, the reaction of yelling "bomb" when the brain is confronted by discussion or the view of an airport.
We follow the group of teenagers as they embark on the United States (from the UK) to attend a specialty camp for people of Tourettes. Their belief systems are tested, their understanding for their condition, and how they classify friendships. What happens when someone with vocal ticks meets someone with physical ticks? The result is intriguing.
http://wesaytheysay.com/index.php/component/content/article?id=118
As the week delves through, I'll be working on some other projects that will launch soon. Feel free to check back as the We Do section is completed and published.
Best wishes,
S.
This week I wanted to feature some interesting articles about development. Firstly is a documentary about puppy growth and the important stages of an animal's life. Often we hear about puppy mills and many "rules" about dog care in their early years. Why do they exist? What happens between birth to the age of appropriate homing? In essence, what difficulties would a puppy suffer without following these guidelines that society has set for breeders and breeding programs?
http://wesaytheysay.com/index.php/component/content/article?id=136
The second story is one of difficulties during developmental years, namely teenage years. We look at young people with Tourettes syndrome, a condition that causes physical and vocal "ticks," or involuntary "outbursts" to sometimes simple or minor stimuli. While the condition is not considered deadly, this documentary looks at children who have unusual ticks, some of which could land them into social danger if they were not understood. For example, the reaction of yelling "bomb" when the brain is confronted by discussion or the view of an airport.
We follow the group of teenagers as they embark on the United States (from the UK) to attend a specialty camp for people of Tourettes. Their belief systems are tested, their understanding for their condition, and how they classify friendships. What happens when someone with vocal ticks meets someone with physical ticks? The result is intriguing.
http://wesaytheysay.com/index.php/component/content/article?id=118
As the week delves through, I'll be working on some other projects that will launch soon. Feel free to check back as the We Do section is completed and published.
Best wishes,
S.
Sunday, 18 January 2015
January 18, 2015
After an extended holiday, it's now time to return to the things that are important, that being the pursuit of greater knowledge and understanding. Our power is but a sum of the information we store. While money can cause actions and effects, it would be wasted without a direction or cause.
This week I wanted to feature two very special people, who inspire and continue to make people think, what limitations? The first is Judge Judy, who has always been a respectable role model. Some do not like her overly-honest, brittle comments, but I believe a wake-up call is needed sometimes, particularly to those who have done wrong enough to be summoned to court. This isn't a naughty corner; this is a public, legally-binding reprimand.
Recently, Judge Judy was responsible for creating a new TV show, which turned the format of TV court shows around. I wanted to feature the new program, as I've seen some episodes online and found them very interesting.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/index.php/wsts-front?id=143
The second story is the story of Sam. He was born with Progeria, which is a disease where the body pre-maturely ages. During 2014 he passed away, however, his parents -- both doctors -- have begun to unlock some treatments and ideas in controlling Progeria's destruction. The research may also unlock the principles of human aging, meaning we may one day discover the secret to body clocks, and how to turn them backwards. Style gurus would certainly appreciate that. As shown in the documentary, we are but a stones-throw away from delivering age-controlled existences.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/index.php/wsts-front?id=124
I wanted to feature Sam's life and the documentary filmed last year, as so often we forget the difficulties we get to skip in life, and too busily focus on the difficulties we do. I'm not saying life is a bowl of cherries, but sometimes it helps to think of the hardships we didn't have to face. In a world of advancement, we are challenged by more stressors. That said, these advancements also mean we can escape some of the daily pressures that used to be sources of problem. For example, a parent who is concerned because their child isn't home. Call their mobile phone. A single parent who can't work outside school hours. Get a job from home.
I want to close the week with a personal thought: always listen again when you think you've heard something. The moment you take to think, might save you a world of heartache.
This week I wanted to feature two very special people, who inspire and continue to make people think, what limitations? The first is Judge Judy, who has always been a respectable role model. Some do not like her overly-honest, brittle comments, but I believe a wake-up call is needed sometimes, particularly to those who have done wrong enough to be summoned to court. This isn't a naughty corner; this is a public, legally-binding reprimand.
Recently, Judge Judy was responsible for creating a new TV show, which turned the format of TV court shows around. I wanted to feature the new program, as I've seen some episodes online and found them very interesting.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/index.php/wsts-front?id=143
The second story is the story of Sam. He was born with Progeria, which is a disease where the body pre-maturely ages. During 2014 he passed away, however, his parents -- both doctors -- have begun to unlock some treatments and ideas in controlling Progeria's destruction. The research may also unlock the principles of human aging, meaning we may one day discover the secret to body clocks, and how to turn them backwards. Style gurus would certainly appreciate that. As shown in the documentary, we are but a stones-throw away from delivering age-controlled existences.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/index.php/wsts-front?id=124
I wanted to feature Sam's life and the documentary filmed last year, as so often we forget the difficulties we get to skip in life, and too busily focus on the difficulties we do. I'm not saying life is a bowl of cherries, but sometimes it helps to think of the hardships we didn't have to face. In a world of advancement, we are challenged by more stressors. That said, these advancements also mean we can escape some of the daily pressures that used to be sources of problem. For example, a parent who is concerned because their child isn't home. Call their mobile phone. A single parent who can't work outside school hours. Get a job from home.
I want to close the week with a personal thought: always listen again when you think you've heard something. The moment you take to think, might save you a world of heartache.
Happy Holidays and Writing Lists
With Christmas complete and 2015 begun, everyone's focus is on thinking of the best times during 2014, consolidating experiences, and planning for the year ahead. Taking stock of the time is a good way to consider changes and future projects you wish to concentrate on. More than just a silly trend we attribute to diary-keepers and young people.
2014 was a year of somewhat unsteadiness, personal goals changing, and lifestyles altering. Wesaytheysay.com became a mere idea in June/July, and it felt like such a large effort to prepare it for public consumption. So much thought went into its design and development, but it felt more like an exciting venture than a chore. Maybe for others it would have seemed a hard task, but the skills used to create it are what I enjoy using. Over the last few weeks during my holidays I have begun to watch the Canadian version of Dragon's Den, a TV program where rich investors are pitched ideas for monetary involvement by enthusiastic entrepreneurs, and the main message I've seen from them is that you have enjoy the work you are doing to fully commit yourself to it. Being in a job that you don't like drains more on your emotional energy, meaning that projects feel more taxing. That said, one must also be wary of the danger of over-work or over-producing, causing burnout. It's possibly these times of the year when we can appreciate our time off, and concern ourselves with our developments and how our goals fit into our lifestyle structures.
I used to be someone who wrote long lists of New Years resolutions, who then fell "off the wagon," however find myself again considering what I would write on my list. My main goal this year is to push further into wesaytheysay.com's development, launch the new initiatives coming, recruit new contributors, and be more active in marketing duties. I used to really like promotional activities, but lost touch with the hype. The world is full of people promoting items, wanting to shove traffic to their website. How do I stand out? Is my message of sharing and non-biased entertainment enough of a selling point to get visitors? Time will tell. There is an underlying nervousness as to what the answer will be to that question, but the most I can do is try. Often there are projects on Dragon's Den, which you don't think will be favourable, yet, they have thousands of sales with little marketing. And that's stuff on sale! Aren't free resources more inclined to be utilised?
In closing, I hope everyone had a nice holiday, celebrating as they wished to, with luck, peace, and happiness, surrounded by those they admire and love.
Best wishes!
2014 was a year of somewhat unsteadiness, personal goals changing, and lifestyles altering. Wesaytheysay.com became a mere idea in June/July, and it felt like such a large effort to prepare it for public consumption. So much thought went into its design and development, but it felt more like an exciting venture than a chore. Maybe for others it would have seemed a hard task, but the skills used to create it are what I enjoy using. Over the last few weeks during my holidays I have begun to watch the Canadian version of Dragon's Den, a TV program where rich investors are pitched ideas for monetary involvement by enthusiastic entrepreneurs, and the main message I've seen from them is that you have enjoy the work you are doing to fully commit yourself to it. Being in a job that you don't like drains more on your emotional energy, meaning that projects feel more taxing. That said, one must also be wary of the danger of over-work or over-producing, causing burnout. It's possibly these times of the year when we can appreciate our time off, and concern ourselves with our developments and how our goals fit into our lifestyle structures.
I used to be someone who wrote long lists of New Years resolutions, who then fell "off the wagon," however find myself again considering what I would write on my list. My main goal this year is to push further into wesaytheysay.com's development, launch the new initiatives coming, recruit new contributors, and be more active in marketing duties. I used to really like promotional activities, but lost touch with the hype. The world is full of people promoting items, wanting to shove traffic to their website. How do I stand out? Is my message of sharing and non-biased entertainment enough of a selling point to get visitors? Time will tell. There is an underlying nervousness as to what the answer will be to that question, but the most I can do is try. Often there are projects on Dragon's Den, which you don't think will be favourable, yet, they have thousands of sales with little marketing. And that's stuff on sale! Aren't free resources more inclined to be utilised?
In closing, I hope everyone had a nice holiday, celebrating as they wished to, with luck, peace, and happiness, surrounded by those they admire and love.
Best wishes!
Thursday, 30 October 2014
Having Your Opinion: Social Faux Pas and Laws
A few busy weeks have passed, and although not much has changed on the website, wheels have been in motion. Home life had to take a front seat for a little, online projects on hold. However, online presence will increase as we get closer to christmas, as my external studies wrap up for the year.
This week new articles are coming to the website. The feature article for the week is about Social Network faux pas. In an era where the Internet is a primary source of self-expression, it's no wonder that it's also a major influence of social opinion. Recently Ray William Johnson, vlogger on YouTube, broke up with his partner, Anna, who is also a vlogger. The break up was publicly amicable, however, when Anna place a video up about her new decision to stay single for a year, the comments she gained were surprising. I wanted to document the situation and why such comments were made, when the people who broke up themselves were polite towards each other. I wanted to discover if there was some Anna hate campaign, if the online world is too tempting for trolls, or if it was just bitterness for another reason, such as the theory that over-sharing online makes people feel threatened or even expected to make personal comments.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/index.php/component/content/article?id=126
The second article is a piece of legal investigation. Being an online writer, one of the first cautions faced is your rights of expression versus the rights of those you are writing about. Granted, I never openly express my own opinions, only show the evidence or information I found based on both side's opinion. That is the way I choose to conduct my articles, as I think the experts are those involved. The question of rights seems to be a very cautious one, as whistleblower laws that are active in "real life" are not active for online materials. There are certain legal representatives who hope to change this, but they are still in the process. I think it's an article that anyone writing anything online should be wary of. What are your rights? How does freedom of speech work online, when the laws are completely different to those we know in real life? The world is ripe of defamation cases, and legal professions predict they could be on the rise.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/index.php/component/content/article?id=130
Article three is a piece written on behalf of my profession. Being a counsellor, you often find people have certain beliefs about you -- certain stereotypes. I wanted to write an article to dispel the myths. My motivation for this is because there are often instances where people don't see the mental health professional they require because of these irrational beliefs, and then find themselves in more complicated negative emotional states when things become overwhelming. As an advocate for people getting quality medical care, and as a volunteer in the mental health profession, I care that people get the help they need -- when they need it. As I have stated previously, the world is a difficult place, and I rather people know their rights and services that might help, and limit their suffering.
Myths about the profession don't surprise me, particuarly when the field itself is currently trying to evaluate how different education levels and experience determine "quality" of service. In Australia, several associations are pushing for bulk billing to be available for counselling services, with studies showing that earlier interventions mean better mental health outcomes. At this point, the government are working with industry leaders to decide what level of education/experience/speciality a counsellor needs to be deemed worthy of a provider number. In some non-profit areas, counsellors are only given a few weeks of training, meaning that sometimes they are not fully aware of their roles, and might give the wrong impressions to clients, so no surprises the general public often get the wrong image.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/index.php/component/content/article?id=95
The last is about Bubbling, which is being coined an Australian trend, for Australian people, myself included, to shrug our shoulders in confusion. The details of the phenomenon, I shall briefly describe as directing a particular body fluid in a particular way to create an effect. I decided to research this "trend", after the reports of Todd Carney's dismissal, but also the analyse where it originated from.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/index.php/component/content/article?id=117
For this week I'll close it here. There hasn't been any subjects I wish to fully explore in my blog, as my mind is busy with a new project that will be soon launched. I know -- so many projects! It's less than three months until Christmas and I have so many things on my to-do list. I want to work hard and achieve so I can feel satisfied as the new year rings in and I realise that's another year gone.
This week new articles are coming to the website. The feature article for the week is about Social Network faux pas. In an era where the Internet is a primary source of self-expression, it's no wonder that it's also a major influence of social opinion. Recently Ray William Johnson, vlogger on YouTube, broke up with his partner, Anna, who is also a vlogger. The break up was publicly amicable, however, when Anna place a video up about her new decision to stay single for a year, the comments she gained were surprising. I wanted to document the situation and why such comments were made, when the people who broke up themselves were polite towards each other. I wanted to discover if there was some Anna hate campaign, if the online world is too tempting for trolls, or if it was just bitterness for another reason, such as the theory that over-sharing online makes people feel threatened or even expected to make personal comments.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/index.php/component/content/article?id=126
The second article is a piece of legal investigation. Being an online writer, one of the first cautions faced is your rights of expression versus the rights of those you are writing about. Granted, I never openly express my own opinions, only show the evidence or information I found based on both side's opinion. That is the way I choose to conduct my articles, as I think the experts are those involved. The question of rights seems to be a very cautious one, as whistleblower laws that are active in "real life" are not active for online materials. There are certain legal representatives who hope to change this, but they are still in the process. I think it's an article that anyone writing anything online should be wary of. What are your rights? How does freedom of speech work online, when the laws are completely different to those we know in real life? The world is ripe of defamation cases, and legal professions predict they could be on the rise.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/index.php/component/content/article?id=130
Article three is a piece written on behalf of my profession. Being a counsellor, you often find people have certain beliefs about you -- certain stereotypes. I wanted to write an article to dispel the myths. My motivation for this is because there are often instances where people don't see the mental health professional they require because of these irrational beliefs, and then find themselves in more complicated negative emotional states when things become overwhelming. As an advocate for people getting quality medical care, and as a volunteer in the mental health profession, I care that people get the help they need -- when they need it. As I have stated previously, the world is a difficult place, and I rather people know their rights and services that might help, and limit their suffering.
Myths about the profession don't surprise me, particuarly when the field itself is currently trying to evaluate how different education levels and experience determine "quality" of service. In Australia, several associations are pushing for bulk billing to be available for counselling services, with studies showing that earlier interventions mean better mental health outcomes. At this point, the government are working with industry leaders to decide what level of education/experience/speciality a counsellor needs to be deemed worthy of a provider number. In some non-profit areas, counsellors are only given a few weeks of training, meaning that sometimes they are not fully aware of their roles, and might give the wrong impressions to clients, so no surprises the general public often get the wrong image.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/index.php/component/content/article?id=95
The last is about Bubbling, which is being coined an Australian trend, for Australian people, myself included, to shrug our shoulders in confusion. The details of the phenomenon, I shall briefly describe as directing a particular body fluid in a particular way to create an effect. I decided to research this "trend", after the reports of Todd Carney's dismissal, but also the analyse where it originated from.
Link: http://wesaytheysay.com/index.php/component/content/article?id=117
For this week I'll close it here. There hasn't been any subjects I wish to fully explore in my blog, as my mind is busy with a new project that will be soon launched. I know -- so many projects! It's less than three months until Christmas and I have so many things on my to-do list. I want to work hard and achieve so I can feel satisfied as the new year rings in and I realise that's another year gone.
Wednesday, 29 October 2014
What's The Motivation?
How to start a website and get readership? I'm sure millions have asked themselves that before, and I don't want to be just another website with "answers." Nor am I someone looking for fame or fortune. I'm just. . . different.
I grew up in a world that was always about labels. "Right", "wrong", "healthy", "sick". . . and I learnt by the age of 10 that such labels were only useful in brief introduction. My father almost died in an accident and he became a label magnet. Disabled, dependant, coping, damaged, stubborn. And as I got older, more situations happened in my life, and I began to realise, the labels are just the outlines of who we are -- who we were before the transformations. It's been 23 years of learning so far, and it made me realise the world is not what it used to be.
The world is cruel, people want to live within their outlines, and they often want to ignore the facts that break those wire shapes. My own silouhette has sharp edges, and what those would consider faults, but reflecting I wonder what I want to be remembered for one day when I'm gone. And one answer becomes clear: I want to be seen as a contributor.
If people want to be cruel, let them, but I still want to believe in pockets of people who care. They want to see within the outlines and silouhettes that walk this earth, they want to understand their reasons and thoughts, and they can be brave enough to think, 'maybe I didn't have all the answers after all.' Having that thought is frightening, but as much as education helps, it never teaches us everything about people. I want my website to "expose" what society is, in every little pocket or division, behind every silohuette, and behind every system in society that is meant to retain order.
I've been putting the beginnings of the website together since July, when a life situation meant that I had to face not having the conventional future I intended on. I wanted to give up and I thought life was over. But it's not. Instead, I decided that I would contribute to this world -- in whatever way I could. My skills in counselling and writing seemed to marry together in the plan I came up with. I want to help the silent parts of us speak, despite being in a world where money, bling and prominence seem to be the measures of success. I want to help the minorities and the majority speak, in a safe place, where their viewpoints are correct without having to prove it first.
Our society is so much about "right" and "wrong", and I always wonder who gets to create these distinctions, when humanity is not a precise science. The first thing I learnt when I began to study psychology was it was beyond a mathematic principle. The forefathers of the trade will tell you, 1 + 1 does not equal 2, if the person had suffered a particular tragedy or x genetic trait might have been at play. Get anyone talking beyond their labels, and they have a story where what was wrong for others was their choosing because it was right for them.
Since July I have been researching so many ideas and writing articles. It's not a simple case of throw some facts together and post the information -- I wanted to take the opinion of real people from their own perspective. The website isn't about my beliefs -- it's about sharing other people's. To be honest, I rarely give my opinion because if I'm an outsider of a subject, my input will not be as important as the people involved. Consider me a commentator on the world. Hence the name of my website: wesaytheysay.com, which depicts the two sides of every story, and the terms "we" and "they", because it's not about my thoughts -- it's not "I say." "We" and "they" also denotes a group of speakers, because at some point, there is unity in every movement, opinion or choice, be it a small or large group of people.
I'm not looking to make people change -- it's a fact people rarely change quickly or easily. Change is often a smooth glide to the left or right, and unable to be forced. Trying to change someone is like the paper aeroplane thrown into the wind, which normally is turned away from the breeze, and will return back to its beginning location. My goal is for people to gain understanding or think about the alternatives they may have never considered, but also protect themselves with knowledge. I will not be naiive and say the world is friendly everywhere -- it's not. Anyone who tries to believe that is turning a blind eye to the way society has to lock its doors and guard their privacy from strangers. Today's world is almost afraid of debates and look upon their viewpoints as "right" and 'wrong," rather than opportunity to be proven that maybe you need to look further than your own backyard.
For the opening week, I had to pick articles that gave an idea of the subjects I will cover. Those are many, because society is excited and plagued by many. This isn't just a news website where the stories disappear as quickly as the print dries, this is a living website where everything that shapes individuals -- current and past -- is documented. I'm covering social interactions and phenomenas, popular culture such as television and movies, health subjects, mental health subjects, animals (they are our saviours and providers sometimes!), amazing new creations, art, music, literature, business, education, civil rights, social trends, relationships, religion -- nothing is taboo because nothing is criminalised on this website.
The first week I have chosen to feature three articles.
* Amy's Baking Company vs. Gordon Ramsay
Amy's Baking Company was a business in trouble when Gordon Ramsay arrived. It wasn't so much what happened in the business -- although there was a lot of contraversy -- but also what happened after. The story was covered by a lot of news headlines and their reactions caused great debate, memes, and drama, but I thought the story was interesting to cover as a question on how does one react when they feel their business is being attacked? At the same time, I thought the story had overtones of the power of majority, and the power of television being such a consumable medium. I have not been involved in the millions on ABC's side, or Gordon Ramsay's side -- I simply wanted to commentate on the happenings, and maybe consider what could have been changed had time moved backwards.
Link: http://www.wesaytheysay.com/index.php/component/content/article/82-published-articles/116-amy-sbc
* Men Experience Childbirth.
This began as a random find on youtube, where two men experienced the pain of childbirth through a simulator. While the footage is hilarious, it made me wonder how far men had evolved since the days when the cliche husband shared a cigar with his buddies at the club, while the women of the family rallied around his labouring wife. Society has turned many corners since those cliches, and I spoke to Professor of Midwivery of University of Sydney, who is a currently practicing midwife. Her insights about childbirth and its potential positive and negative affects on both men and women were a new insight in what people consider everyday events.
Link: http://www.wesaytheysay.com/index.php/component/content/article/82-published-articles/123-men-childbirth
* My Stuff: A materialism experiment.
I love social experiements and analysing social phenomena. Petri Luukkainen's documentary really caught my eye. A man, who put all of his "stuff" in storage for a year, only allowed to return one item into his life per day. So at the end of the year he had 365 items, however, what was more surprising than what items he chose first and how he used them, was the emotional transformations he took. It was an amazing documentary and I rambled on and on about it to my family.
Link: http://www.wesaytheysay.com/index.php/component/content/article/82-published-articles/127-my-stuff
And so closes the first week of my new website, which I will start promoting heavily over the next few months. Part of me is nervous, because society teaches us success is based on numerical content. Will I get many readers? I hope so. At least having hits or readers means the content is being seen. That said, I read a blog where a woman said she used to get 7 hits, until one story shot her populus to over 80,000. Maybe success in the virtual world isn't an IF, it's a WHEN -- if you have something important to say. I was reviewing a documentary the other day (I have so many articles ready to go! Over 30!) about a man who was stalking a girl and he made a website all about his plans to kill her and her family. Even more concerning, the website had 100 hits on it. Someone was reading that website, but never reported it. Who was reading it? Why didn't they come forward? And if such a website can gain hits, then why not wesaytheysay.com.
I grew up in a world that was always about labels. "Right", "wrong", "healthy", "sick". . . and I learnt by the age of 10 that such labels were only useful in brief introduction. My father almost died in an accident and he became a label magnet. Disabled, dependant, coping, damaged, stubborn. And as I got older, more situations happened in my life, and I began to realise, the labels are just the outlines of who we are -- who we were before the transformations. It's been 23 years of learning so far, and it made me realise the world is not what it used to be.
The world is cruel, people want to live within their outlines, and they often want to ignore the facts that break those wire shapes. My own silouhette has sharp edges, and what those would consider faults, but reflecting I wonder what I want to be remembered for one day when I'm gone. And one answer becomes clear: I want to be seen as a contributor.
If people want to be cruel, let them, but I still want to believe in pockets of people who care. They want to see within the outlines and silouhettes that walk this earth, they want to understand their reasons and thoughts, and they can be brave enough to think, 'maybe I didn't have all the answers after all.' Having that thought is frightening, but as much as education helps, it never teaches us everything about people. I want my website to "expose" what society is, in every little pocket or division, behind every silohuette, and behind every system in society that is meant to retain order.
I've been putting the beginnings of the website together since July, when a life situation meant that I had to face not having the conventional future I intended on. I wanted to give up and I thought life was over. But it's not. Instead, I decided that I would contribute to this world -- in whatever way I could. My skills in counselling and writing seemed to marry together in the plan I came up with. I want to help the silent parts of us speak, despite being in a world where money, bling and prominence seem to be the measures of success. I want to help the minorities and the majority speak, in a safe place, where their viewpoints are correct without having to prove it first.
Our society is so much about "right" and "wrong", and I always wonder who gets to create these distinctions, when humanity is not a precise science. The first thing I learnt when I began to study psychology was it was beyond a mathematic principle. The forefathers of the trade will tell you, 1 + 1 does not equal 2, if the person had suffered a particular tragedy or x genetic trait might have been at play. Get anyone talking beyond their labels, and they have a story where what was wrong for others was their choosing because it was right for them.
Since July I have been researching so many ideas and writing articles. It's not a simple case of throw some facts together and post the information -- I wanted to take the opinion of real people from their own perspective. The website isn't about my beliefs -- it's about sharing other people's. To be honest, I rarely give my opinion because if I'm an outsider of a subject, my input will not be as important as the people involved. Consider me a commentator on the world. Hence the name of my website: wesaytheysay.com, which depicts the two sides of every story, and the terms "we" and "they", because it's not about my thoughts -- it's not "I say." "We" and "they" also denotes a group of speakers, because at some point, there is unity in every movement, opinion or choice, be it a small or large group of people.
I'm not looking to make people change -- it's a fact people rarely change quickly or easily. Change is often a smooth glide to the left or right, and unable to be forced. Trying to change someone is like the paper aeroplane thrown into the wind, which normally is turned away from the breeze, and will return back to its beginning location. My goal is for people to gain understanding or think about the alternatives they may have never considered, but also protect themselves with knowledge. I will not be naiive and say the world is friendly everywhere -- it's not. Anyone who tries to believe that is turning a blind eye to the way society has to lock its doors and guard their privacy from strangers. Today's world is almost afraid of debates and look upon their viewpoints as "right" and 'wrong," rather than opportunity to be proven that maybe you need to look further than your own backyard.
For the opening week, I had to pick articles that gave an idea of the subjects I will cover. Those are many, because society is excited and plagued by many. This isn't just a news website where the stories disappear as quickly as the print dries, this is a living website where everything that shapes individuals -- current and past -- is documented. I'm covering social interactions and phenomenas, popular culture such as television and movies, health subjects, mental health subjects, animals (they are our saviours and providers sometimes!), amazing new creations, art, music, literature, business, education, civil rights, social trends, relationships, religion -- nothing is taboo because nothing is criminalised on this website.
The first week I have chosen to feature three articles.
* Amy's Baking Company vs. Gordon Ramsay
Amy's Baking Company was a business in trouble when Gordon Ramsay arrived. It wasn't so much what happened in the business -- although there was a lot of contraversy -- but also what happened after. The story was covered by a lot of news headlines and their reactions caused great debate, memes, and drama, but I thought the story was interesting to cover as a question on how does one react when they feel their business is being attacked? At the same time, I thought the story had overtones of the power of majority, and the power of television being such a consumable medium. I have not been involved in the millions on ABC's side, or Gordon Ramsay's side -- I simply wanted to commentate on the happenings, and maybe consider what could have been changed had time moved backwards.
Link: http://www.wesaytheysay.com/index.php/component/content/article/82-published-articles/116-amy-sbc
* Men Experience Childbirth.
This began as a random find on youtube, where two men experienced the pain of childbirth through a simulator. While the footage is hilarious, it made me wonder how far men had evolved since the days when the cliche husband shared a cigar with his buddies at the club, while the women of the family rallied around his labouring wife. Society has turned many corners since those cliches, and I spoke to Professor of Midwivery of University of Sydney, who is a currently practicing midwife. Her insights about childbirth and its potential positive and negative affects on both men and women were a new insight in what people consider everyday events.
Link: http://www.wesaytheysay.com/index.php/component/content/article/82-published-articles/123-men-childbirth
* My Stuff: A materialism experiment.
I love social experiements and analysing social phenomena. Petri Luukkainen's documentary really caught my eye. A man, who put all of his "stuff" in storage for a year, only allowed to return one item into his life per day. So at the end of the year he had 365 items, however, what was more surprising than what items he chose first and how he used them, was the emotional transformations he took. It was an amazing documentary and I rambled on and on about it to my family.
Link: http://www.wesaytheysay.com/index.php/component/content/article/82-published-articles/127-my-stuff
And so closes the first week of my new website, which I will start promoting heavily over the next few months. Part of me is nervous, because society teaches us success is based on numerical content. Will I get many readers? I hope so. At least having hits or readers means the content is being seen. That said, I read a blog where a woman said she used to get 7 hits, until one story shot her populus to over 80,000. Maybe success in the virtual world isn't an IF, it's a WHEN -- if you have something important to say. I was reviewing a documentary the other day (I have so many articles ready to go! Over 30!) about a man who was stalking a girl and he made a website all about his plans to kill her and her family. Even more concerning, the website had 100 hits on it. Someone was reading that website, but never reported it. Who was reading it? Why didn't they come forward? And if such a website can gain hits, then why not wesaytheysay.com.
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