When Online, Bite Your Tongue - Especially With Those Who Do Not Deserve Respect!

It is often said that someone who is disrespected wants revenge, and on the Internet you can see this in real time when arguments break out in blog comments, on social networks, or in online forums. It's best to leave well enough alone when someone else is misbehaving online. Indeed, it even makes sense to give them the respect that they don't deserve, to prevent them from attacking you, degrading your personal character, or even making up slanderous accusations online.

Yes, this only let's them mink lashes think that such behavior is socially acceptable, when it is not. Nevertheless, you need to consider yourself in these online interactions. Yes, sometimes it just pays to bite your tongue, and not say what you're thinking.

Perhaps, this might be good advice for even the person who lashes out at you, although it would be best if you do not warn them or become the messenger who will later be attacked. It is hard to say why people act in such a disgusting and despicable way online, but it is the truth.

Some say it is because so many people are using false identities, screen names, and even avatars as they participate online. This can be a real problem. Nevertheless you should be advised not to get caught up in a situation, or trade tit-for-tat barbs at another.

Those who study the psychology of people participating on the Internet often liken it to a third grade classroom where the teacher has left the room, and will not be returning for the rest of the day, but rather a substitute teacher will replace her.

Now you can begin to understand just how bad things can get, but please don't stoop to their level, just bite your tongue and give them the respect that they do not deserve, and smile for being the better person. Please consider this.

Lance Winslow - Lance Winslow's Bio . Lance Winslow is also Founder of the Car Wash Guys, a cool little Franchise Company

Am I Being Cheated On? 3 Guaranteed Ways to Know For Sure If Your Partner is Cheating on You!

The worst thing that could ever happen to you relationship-wise is to find out your lover is committing infidelity! You see, you may love your partner to bits, but that does not excuse you from finding out if your doubts are true or false. The longer you hold doubts that your partner is loyal, the faster your relationship will deteriorate, that is why it is extremely critical that you get this sorted out right here and now. Here is how you can know for sure if your partner is cheating on you...

Have they become very closed towards you, and just aren't as mink lashes open in sharing things with you anymore? If you notice your partner keeping things from you, and hiding things they would normally share with you; that is the first sign that someone is cheating. The more you notice your mate keeping things to his/herself the more you should be aware that they are living a private life of their own.

Do they have condoms in their pockets, or keep similar protection methods around them all the time? You see, whether your mate is male or female, if you notice strange items around the house related to sex that you and your partner do not use; then this is a huge alarm that your mate is cheating. Both women and men will keep products around for such things, so don't kid yourself.

Have they become highly unpredictable, and often lash out at you? Do they fight with you on simple things? Be certain that if your lover is suddenly angered easily, impatient, argues a lot, and cannot be trusted actions wise anymore; this is because he/she feels guilty about cheating. There is no other reason someone would suddenly change their habits, especially habits that go against you, within a short period of time, unless they were sneaking around behind your back.

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The Bear Market and Real Unemployment

"This is a tough market to navigate. On the one hand the world economy is a mess and completely imbalanced. Half of the world is too dependent on exports (mostly Asia) and the other half (US and parts of Europe) is in a dream world believing that they can consume more than they can produce, can pile up almost unimaginably high debt levels and can live happily ever after."

"On the other hand, whenever the mink lashes natural market forces begin to remedy this nightmarish state, governments step in to halt the corrective process, ultimately making matters worse and pushing the day of reckoning a little further on down the road. But in the meantime, stocks can rise from the inflationary push."

Can you feel it in the air...?

The mood is slowly changing to a more optimistic one.

Living in Florida as I do, you get your share of hurricanes. Thankfully, most of them miss us, but in 2004 it was a different story. I sat in my home during Hurricane Charlie and watched it tear up the town and turn out the lights.

The television showed in real time the hurricane moving closer and closer. I couldn't see what all the fuss was about... but then, BOOM. It was like being hit with a sledgehammer as the outer layers of the storm lashed into us.

Then it was gone, leaving devastation in its wake.

Then the surreal part comes; when you're sitting in the eye of the hurricane. It's perfectly calm all of a sudden and it's tempting to sit outside even. Relief sets in and your stomach unties itself.

But of course, the calm is short-lived. As the eye of the storm passes, the outer layers pass over and usually, they're more severe than the first assault.

We're in such an eye of the storm now- the greatest financial storm in history.

We'll get to the good news in a second but let me first be very clear about something I've concluded this week:

This is the coldest, most powerful, most sinister bear market ever.

Hurricane Andrew. Hurricane Katrina. Extinction-level events for those in its path.

It wants to kill us all- even those of us who embrace it by buying gold.

Remember: A bull market wants to go up with the LEAST amount of people on its back. A bear market wants to go down with the MOST amount of people on its back.

The bulls and bears use trickery to achieve this. Both of them do what people least expect right at the time when people had given up on them.

Until now, most people had written off this latest rally. Now, they're waking up to the idea.

The market action recently was instructive and shows me the bear is doing its job by catching everyone out. We've even had big up days on the last day of the week. Usually, there's a sell-off on the last day of the week because nervous traders don't want to have any open positions over the weekend in case of bad news that may come and it didn't happen this week, so that's a real positive.

As we go into earnings season, it won't be a clear path upwards, but I see a steady rise in the market from here. As it gathers steam, more and more people will say that the bear is dead and everything is okay now.

That's how we've been conditioned, right?

Any time in the past that there's been a financial crisis, the Fed steps in and makes it better. Before long everything is back to normal. Asian crisis 1998, 9/11, 2002 recession.

So people will expect the same this time. So far, it's a re-run of 1929 to 1932. The real damage came after the so-called great crash in 1929- when everyone thought it was over.

The bear is in charge, but he disguises himself as a bull. Right at the time when even I start to doubt he's a bear, he'll take off his mask and go for the final kill. The aim is to take the most people down.

Before that though, he'll have persuaded anyone who thought it was a no-brainer to buy gold in light of the Fed printing money to dump the yellow metal. The price of gold should now sink as the market rises. As I said, he wants to kill us all.

If investing was truly a no-brainer, everyone would be rich.

So, once again, I prepare to be the lonely crank who doesn't join in with the herd.

In the gold market on the other hand, the bull is in control. And he disguises himself as a bear to go up with the least amount of people.

There simply is no question that the Fed will ultimately cause rapid and dramatic inflation and gold will rise to over $2,000 an ounce. But in the meantime, look out below. Buying opportunities lie ahead. Would I sell gold then? No. That's precisely what the market wants.

Expect the unexpected... and bet on it!

Back in the 1970s there was a major correction in gold, just before gold went parabolic, and I'm wondering whether history is ready to repeat.

What I see ahead is a temporary stabilization in house prices this Summer. This could really spark a surge upwards, especially in banking stocks.

So what will ultimately spoil this party?

Unemployment. This is setting in heavily now and it's worse than the numbers appear on the surface.

You see, it all depends on your definition of 'unemployment' and surprise, surprise, the government's definition paints a rosier picture than reality...

The numbers don't include 'discouraged workers'- people who've been unemployed for over a year and have given up looking for work. The poor guy's still unemployed though!

Also, if you get made redundant from a full-time job and then get a part-time job (as it's all you can get!), then you don't count as unemployed. BUT, your income now sure makes you feel like you're unemployed!

So, is the government hiding the true unemployment figure? No, but they certainly don't publicize it. The real figure is a shocking 15.6% unemployment!

Meanwhile, I thought I'd review some things I'd mentioned before...

Cocoa. It's recent parabolic rise and that one could bet the price would go down, the price did indeed collapse so a tasty profit there. The world can turn without chocolate...

Oil is hovering around $50 despite all the people saying it was headed south to $25. It may go higher.

The yen fell and continues to fall since I mentioned the likeliness of this event.

Gold and silver- already discussed. Your nerves are about to be tested here, I feel.

Wheat and corn. Nicely up, but as in oil, time for gain-locks.

If I wanted to play this stock market rally I would look at bombed out financials- particularly if they've been guaranteed not to fail by the government. Some of these banks are now saying they don't need any more bail out money.

So, the adventure continues. Maybe soon, people won't be so frightened to open their 401k statements when they arrive in the mail. I wish I could tell them when that time comes that it's probably a false dawn and that this is merely a chance to get out of the bear's way.

Best regards,

Mark Patricks

Mark Patricks is an author, publisher, and businessman. You can read his weekly writings in Freedom by Friday a newsletter published by the League of Power. To learn more about this newsletter or the exclusive secret society The League of Power please visit  While there you can also claim a free $27 gift.

Overeating - A Habit to Be Broken

If you're just realizing that you're an Emotional Eater, you're probably starting to see that your diet failures haven't been due to lack of willpower but something deeper. Rest assured: overeating is a mink lashes habit that can be broken.

There are two reasons that people eat. They eat for health: to nourish their bodies and minds. And they eat to soothe their emotions. Once a person learns to eat for emotional reasons, food becomes a necessary component of dealing with the stresses and strains of everyday life.

Emotional eating is a learned behavior, and it can be unlearned. If you're an emotional eater, at some point in your life you learned that food could make you feel better. Maybe it was when you were a child and your parents fought, maybe it was at college when you felt out of place, maybe it was after your children left home and you didn't know how to fill their absence. Each time you ate when you felt lonely, angry, upset, or bored you reinforced the belief that food is an effective coping mechanism. After awhile your mind began to believe that food was the only option. When that happened, controlling your weight became impossible. That's why it's been so difficult to succeed on a diet.

Through working with thousands of dieters, I've found that people overeat when they are emotionally hungry (there is an important need in their life that is unmet). What turns this emotional hunger into physical hunger is the belief that the unmet need is never going to be satisfied. When that happens, they feel powerless. I have been able to identify five different kinds of powerless experiences that contribute to emotional hunger and overeating.

Conclusion #1 - Self-Doubt Layer

1. You are asked to do something at work that you don't know how to do. You automatically come to the powerless conclusion that this proves you're stupid. To feel this way is devastating but you don't have to go to the vending machine and eat to numb this feeling. I'll show you how to talk back to your inner critic and erase the idea that the real you is stupid or defective.

Conclusion #2 - Reward/Frustration Layer

1. You go on your eighteenth date from Match.com. No one feels right despite all the hope you have going into each date. You come to the conclusion that you're defeated, and there's nothing you can do about it. The search for a good mate can be disappointing but you don't have to deal with it by stopping at a fast food restaurant on your way home. I'll show you how to work on your relationships so you don't need food as a reward.

Conclusion #3 - The Safety Layer

1. You were hurt as a child or have had bad experiences as an adult. You come to the conclusion that you're unsafe and can't protect yourself. The trauma and pain you're feeling are real, but extra layers of fat can't change what happened to you and won't protect you from anyone. I'll show you how to create real safety by dealing with real issues.

Conclusion #4 - The Rebellion Layer

1. You're angry at your kids or spouse or parents. You come to the conclusion that eating is better than expressing how you really feel. You're afraid that if you express your anger you will lash out uncontrollably. Anger can, in fact, be a frightening emotion to deal with. I'll show you the difference between childish defiance and mature assertion.

Conclusion #5 - The Emptiness Layer

1. You almost never have plans at night. When you're alone you feel empty inside and can't experience fulfillment. You come to the conclusion that food is the only thing that can fill you up. Being alone can be really overwhelming, but I'll start you on a pathway to being able to fulfill yourself.

The good news is that each of these powerless experiences is a false experience. You're not powerless even though at times you feel powerless. And feeling powerless leaves you feeling emotionally hungry. The hunger switch turns this emotional hunger into physical hunger. You actually get hungry.

The way to stop overeating is to prove to yourself that you are not powerless by finding ways to satisfy your emotional hunger in the real world. In other words, you must prove to yourself, through a series of defining experiences that you can live without using food to shut down your mind.

Overeating is the main cause of obesity and many other major health problems. Once you learn how to recover your power and satisfy your emotional hunger, you'll be able to stop eating compulsively. You'll deal more effectively with life's problems, and eating sensibly won't be a losing struggle. You'll still have to pay attention to the facts about calories. It's very easy to gain weight. If you only eat an extra 100 calories a day, one apple (or a cookie, or a latte, or a soda) more than you need, you will gain twelve pounds a year. Do this for five years and seemingly harmless overeating has made you sixty pounds overweight and obese by definition.

Overeating can take many different forms. You can overeat by going on an occasional binge. You can overeat by snacking during the day, taking larger portions than you need, or sneaking in an extra dessert. You can overeat by taking in too many liquid calories in the form of soft drinks, alcohol, or lattes.

You will have to realize the ways in which you've felt powerless and recover your power by exploring each of the five powerless conclusions above. After all, you are not really powerless. Understanding yourself better and mastering your emotional responses to life is the key to breaking this habit. Your goal is to think and act instead of overeat. You learned this pattern one food choice at a time and you unlearn it one food choice at a time, too. Each time you stop yourself from emotional eating, the stronger your mind gets and the weaker your dependence on food gets.

Roger Gould, M.D.

Psychiatrist & Associate Clinical Professor, UCLA

Author & Creator of Shrink Yourself

 is the Proven Online Program Designed to End Emotional Eating

One of the world's leading authorities on emotional eating and adult development.

Investor Fraud - Anatomy of a Conman - Identifying a Ponzi Scheme and Scam Artists - Part III of III

Part III of III in this series of articles on Ponzi schemes will examine a real world, ongoing scam, the con man behind it and a few of the hundreds of investors victimized by his criminal enterprise, Millennium III Corporation.

History: At an early age, Gregg Scott Luce was falsely led to believe that his Maine based blood line was mink lashes directly connected to the storied Time-Life Henry Luce legacy. It's unclear whether this fallacy was instilled within him by personal dementia or a collective familial dementia. Luce fled his highly dysfunctional family at age nineteen and began trafficking in marijuana. Within a five year period, petty trafficking grew to major distribution: cargo planeloads of product, much of it brought in directly from Jamaica.

Ten years into this venture, Luce realized that a much greater profit margin was to be realized in trafficking cocaine. It was the early 1980's and cocaine was a popular and accepted recreational drug amongst the establishment. There wasn't the stigma attached to the narcotic that exists today. Luce was driven to the quick fix by impatience, an entrepreneurial spirit, ruthless and boundless ambition, and an insatiable craving for the recognition, cash and cache that had eluded his family for the better part of a generation as it strived, futilely, to identify itself with the gilded Time-Life Luce lineage.

Sociopathology, single minded focus and indifference to the body count in his wake, both literally and figuratively speaking, allowed Luce to establish a port of entry distribution hub in Seattle, Washington, and rapidly dominate the unclaimed US Northwest territory. Coming from a family of commercial fishermen, Luce was well versed in nautical maps. The Pacific Northwest's unsettled, remote coastline allowed inconspicuous ingress and egress of transport planes from Colombia. Luce leased a pier and houseboats off Lake Washington, hosting cocaine fueled parties frequented by prominent area artists, business leaders, attorneys, politicos and bankers.

Within a five year period of time, the distribution network extended north to Canada and as far Southwest as Aspen, Colorado, where his cartel's administrative team oversaw operations. The growing business invested in a Nascar race team. Product was transported to merch drop points in trailers used to ferry cars and pit equipment from city to city.

As with most narco-centric businesses, Luce's venture operated on borrowed time. When the DEA and Feds broke up the drug ring, all senior personnel, save for one individual, escaped. The captured operative refused to turn state's evidence, permitting his associates to quietly seek out other business opportunities. Luce took a two year hiatus lying low and pored over recent economic trends. It was the early nineties and the Nasdaq bubble had begun to gestate. Silicon Valley, Boston, Austin and Seattle were the new Wild West. Greed and green were in the air. In the fast paced world of new media startups, the "cocktail napkin to boardroom" paradigm ruled, as did drugs, violence, treachery, and legal manipulation: otherwise known as Twenty-First Century corporate best practices. Easy deals were the currency of success; futures contracts and penny stocks were the new blow. The careful vetting of business plans demurred to the haste of being first to market with a given product . Venture capitalists indiscriminately showered IT neophytes and veterans alike with more seed money than most could realistically hope to match in profits. Boom-bust high tech gold fever was in full force. Luce couldn't have scripted a better entree into legit business.

Ponzi Scheme: Thus marked Gregg Luce's emergence from the organized crime of drug trafficking to the organized crime of Wall Street. The founding of Millennium III Corp. (MIII) commemorated Luce's introduction to Fortune 500 society at the VC cotillion. In order to fly under the radar of SEC regulations and regulators, the newly minted CEO of MIII, a broadband media streaming company, limited his initial investor pool to thirty-five non-accredited shareholders. He later violated the SEC Rule 505 exemption provision with inclusion of an additional ten investors. Rather than issue shares to investors, Luce issued "convertible note loan agreements": an instrument convertible to either buybacks or shares in MIII at maturation. Luce took his tortured business model a step further, arguing the corporation maintained a non-profitable trust that secured investor monies. In this and subsequent cons, Luce argued, with poetic license, that the initial corporate form would somehow morph into a "bank", thereby ensuring the liquidity of MIII's capital funds and the security of investor monies.

In keeping with Millennium III's smoke and mirrors business structure, its CEO was functionally illiterate in New Technology: the company's core product offering. Luce was able to successfully pass himself off as an IT avatar by surrounding himself with experienced, genuine technology specialists, providing the Ponzi scheme with a patina of legitimacy. He maintained an entourage of tech savvy advance people, lest his shareholders and clientele realize that the emperor had no clothes.

Seven years after the founding of MIII, I was retained to review intellectual property issues. Approximately twelve months into my work, original note holders began contacting me, expressing concern that they had received no annual statements from MIII -- for that matter, no communication at all from the board of directors or corporate officers for several years. More troubling, to a man, every investor had demanded buyback upon maturation of their convertible note loan agreements. Luce refused to honor the promissory notes. The paper trail showed Luce used money from the non-accredited investor pool to line his own pockets, and money from new investors to pay contracted employees that held stock options; thereby, perpetuating the ruse. A textbook definition of the classic Ponzi scheme with a slight twist: using money from new investors to pay dividends to original investors.

I approached the CEO with my concerns. He was non-responsive, as was the board. The newly enacted Sarbanes-Oxley Act provided new remedies for attorneys caught in this dilemma, allowing them the ability to whistleblow without fear of reprisal for breach of attorney-client privilege. The new law permitted me to alert the shareholders and law enforcement to Luce's misuse of corporate funds. Attorney-client privilege was a lesser concern, as Luce had long since waived any privilege enjoyed when he actively solicited me, demanded actually, that I launder corporate receipts for his conversion to personal use. As I dug deeper into the CEO's history, unearthing a deep list of accounting firms, law firms and contractors owed money, I came to learn that this was one of Luce's tricks: secreting money in his attorneys' client trust accounts, knowing that the lawyer would be obliged to release the funds to Luce as client, regardless of whether the money was dirty. In addition to confronting shareholders with Luce's malfeasance, I reported his actions to attorney general offices in two states. Formal investigations into Millennium III and its CEO were underway.

With heat turned up by law enforcement and shareholders, Luce did a money grab, embezzling from his own corporation, and fled the state to set up shop in Arizona. Luce didn't see running off with investors' money as theft. His mindset was such that he was constitutionally incapable of distinguishing between corporate assets and personal assets. As he saw it, MIII's assets were his assets; hence, there was no theft in this distorted world view. This would be a recurring theme in his subsequent Ponzi schemes. His flight left dozens of investors in Washington State, Nevada and Idaho holding the bag -- out all their money. To this day they have not recouped a penny, despite two eighteen month long concurrent investigations by AG offices in both Washington and Arizona.

A good con man seldom remains static in product or presentation. This is particularly true after a Ponzi scheme has been exposed. After Luce was chased out of Washington State and started anew in Arizona, he changed his entire business model to cater to the New Age Sedona crowd. Con men gravitate towards products and services where performance cannot be measured empirically. New Age meditations, administrations and potions proved a market ripe for exploitation, since it was largely faith based and not governed by the FDA or AMA. Under the banner of a MIII Corp. foreign corporation registered in Arizona, Luce began to solicit investors for ventures ranging from the mundane -- self-improvement courses -- to the fantastical -- space tourism. He held out his partner's Flagstaff real estate as his own, using it to collateralize investments. His shotgun approach to offering a multiplicity of services failed. After five years without seeing a return and suffering a loss in excess of $500,000 USD, Luce's partner gave him the boot, forcibly evicting him from the property. To this day, Luce holds out the property as his own, despite the fact his name is not on the title and a court order was awarded for unlawful detainer.

Luce then ventured further south to Santa Fe, New Mexico, this time altering his physical appearance to a startling degree: Luce retired the Brooks Brothers suits and button-down conservatism for 'aging rock star' couture and a metaphysical slant in pitching his "marks", completely changing his look and product. The man looked like Rod Stewart. On a bad day. Where he was reserved and presentable while working and living in Seattle, Luce now came across as a raving lunatic without someone knowledgeable, articulate and balanced fronting him at the bargaining table. These handlers were defecting in lockstep with their CEO's deteriorating psyche; Luce's entourage of competent advance men was rapidly thinning; the patina of legitimacy appearing more trompe l'oeil. To see just how "crazy" crazy is, peruse the nonsensical manifesto that appears on his MySpace page. Video clips and photos of Luce executing his various cons are linked to his homepage. Courtesy of his formidable ego, this is a rare opportunity to see a con man in action.

Near Los Alamos, the MIII CEO tapped into a group of retired physicists and businessmen working on new encryption technology. Luce managed to convince them he was an Information Technology visionary with the ability to pair product developers with financiers. Despite his new eccentric look, he nearly pulled this off, mesmerizing a young, naive investor from Los Angeles that ponied up $75,000 USD with the pledge of a much greater, second angel investor check. Before proffering this second check, the investor had the belated good sense to run the attendant paperwork by his attorney. The attorney had the joyless task of informing his client that, not only was his money gone, there was no basis for criminal or civil suit due to the nebulous nature of the "services contract" he entered into with MIII. The contract did not bind the con man to any identifiable, legally binding specific performance. As a legal document the contract was meaningless. It was convoluted enough to convince the investor to part with his money: that's where its value ended. In short, from a legal standpoint, the $75,000 was no more than a "gift" from one individual to another.

Present day: Word of Luce's reemergence in New Mexico reached my law offices this past month. I was put in contact with lawyers representing both investors and innovators to the deal. Neither attorney was surprised to find Luce was a con man, as they had arrived at that conclusion without my help. They were, however, shocked that he had such a prolific and recidivist history as an experienced confidence man. I provided them with documentation outlining Luce's Ponzi schemes in Washington and Arizona. A mere week later, Luce surfaced in Santa Monica, California, where he had settled in as interminable house guest at the demi-mansion of a successful, well-intentioned New Age marketer. In short order he had tapped into the marketer's professional network where he succeeded in both co-opting and alienating business contacts.

Like a parasite seeking out a host body, Luce would not only insinuate himself into the business lives of his marks but their personal lives, as well. The key to his con -- and that of many confidence men -- was to appropriate the professional and social networks of his victims in order to feed his scam. If one investor dries up, another in the network is primed and can be approached.

As a consequence of his relationship with Luce, the marketer was losing credibility, standing and relationships within the tight knit naturopathic community. Further fomenting discord was Luce's volcanic temper. He had a history of violent outbursts, lashing out at those that would question him, particularly minorities and women. Not exactly consistent with the New Age humanist perspective. Luce's true character was revealed when his temper flared. Despite the grave liability he presented his host, the businessman was so taken in by the scam artist's charisma that he was in denial.

The marketer's good friend, another prominent businessman in Los Angeles's homeopathic community, was not so enamored by Luce or deluded by his charisma. In fact, when introduced to the con man at a Hollywood Hills party, he found his pitch too good to be true and Googled Luce's name on his Blackberry: up popped my name with a warning to prospective Millennium III investors. He called my office the following day, sharing his concern for his friend's well being. It took repeated sit downs and patient conversations with the marketer, armed with documentation I provided him, to objectively layout Luce's history and machinations. Even with hard, tangible facts in front of him, the marketer remained incorrigible. It took a second round of documents and direct correspondence from my desk to the marketer's in order to shake him free from the con man's Svengali-like choke hold on his reasoning capacity. The marketer kicked Luce to the curb.

In the past five years, Luce has successfully mounted three separate financial scams, even being so brazen as to threaten law suits against investors who severed ties with him after realizing they had been swindled. Consistent with all successful con men, Luce has a keen eye for identifying a need in his mark, then convincing the mark that he is uniquely positioned to satisfy that need --despite lacking the intent, ability or desire to deliver on his promises.

Luce is beginning to unravel and grow ineffectual. The con man has become entangled in his own web of deceit. Unable to keep his lies straight, he contradicts and exposes himself at every turn. His temper, misogyny and racism have surfaced repeatedly as the intensifying scrutiny of law enforcement, bilked investors, lawyers and accountants attenuates stress by directing klieg lights on his various Ponzi schemes.

Con men are often difficult to apprehend, because they are not driven by monetary gain, alone. They are sustained in large part by the adrenalin rush experienced moving in for the kill, gutting then hanging their prey to bleed out. Luce is particularly skewed in this respect, often forfeiting the big score in order to slink away and mount another scam in another state. Stealing just enough cash to continue the ruse, but not so much bounty that criminal or civil suits are filed as a matter of course.

Jason M. Kays is a published author, jazz musician and intellectual property attorney. He has had extensive hands on experience debunking con men. For updates on the con man, Gregg S. Luce, including video clips of him in action, please visit the musings page found on the author's website

The Feme Fatale Image in Cinema

Some early scientists relegated women to a category somewhere above monkeys, yet below men, and the poet Milton observed that women are "a fair defect of nature"

However these were the pseudoscientific notions about female variability and vulnerability, and were used to justify sexism and discrimination in society. Perhaps out of such frustrations rose the concept of a woman who defied her stereotypical image and donned the garb of someone who is just the opposite of the popular concept, which was more or less forced upon her. The phrase mink lashes is French for 'deadly women' and was created to project a social democratic revolt against the oppressiveness of the Victorian age, where women were constricted in a corset and pushed into claustrophobic ideologies and a shrunken introverted world. She took an avatar of a female who has been created to break men's heart and to lead herself into a sunlight world. These femme fatales are allowed to have it all; power, sexuality, femininity and wealth, but they keep hankering for love and would often face a bad end because they defied the conventions. The astonished man, who had earlier created an ideal woman from his own wishful imagination, suddenly meets someone whom he cannot control or understand. He labels her as the 'bad woman'; the woman who must die or be banished because she is not the representative of his idealistic image.

Women in Hollywood- The femme fatale

Disillusioned with men and frustrated of a circumscribed life, this figure of a deadly femme fatale/ vamp- emerged as a central figure in the nineteenth century and became one of the most persistent personifications of modern female. "Who is she?" was the popular query. And the enigmatic answers would be: "She is the woman who never really is what she seem to be"

She is the black widow spider who eats her mate alive; she is ungovernable, threatening to male psyche, and a woman who challenges the patriarchal culture vehemently.

The femme fatale was a frequent character in 1940s films. Rita Hayworth as The lady from Shanghai (1948) is the most enigmatic example. She embodies the overpoweringly desirable, duplicitous and sexually insatiable femme fatale, who has been represented as a symptom of male anxieties about women. She is a creature who threatens to castrate and devour her male victim. This image of a sexual, dangerous woman is the psychological expression of a man's own internal fears of sexuality, and his need to control and repress it.

The femme fatale's appearance is always explicitly sexual with long dark or blonde hair worn loose on her back, long, sensuous legs, heavy make-up, sparkling jewelry and revealing clothes, as portrayed in Sunrise (1927). She is the 'woman of city', the urban female depicting the sexual pleasures of modern metropolitan life.

She represents an open challenge to the post war consensus of women feeling fulfilled only by their roles of wife and mothers.

Two of the most powerful screen portrayal, are Barbara Stanwyck's Phyllis Dietrichson in Double Indemnity (1944) and

Lana Turner's Cora Smith in The Postman Always Rings Twice (1946) in which both are frustrated wives married to dull and older men.

In Hollywood, the femme fatale's most characteristic role is a nightclub singer on the fringes of the underworld. She traps her victims through seductive dances and explicit display of sexual threat. Watch Ava Gardener in The Killers (1946) playing Kitty Collins as she is first glimpsed by her victim Swede (Burt Lancaster) singing " The more I know of Love" and you will see how she comes across as the apotheosis of a mythical femininity. She is sexy and feline, and has that dreamlike sensuality about her with her sloe-shaped eyes, curvaceous cheekbones, cleft chin, and full upturned mouth. All these features exude an open sexual invitation, and she is the ultimate femme fatale here.

The femme fatale often emerges from darkness into harsh light, or dissected by both to indicate certain instability.

The Good -Bad girl

However, Hollywood found a way to bring out the femme fatale from the narrow confines of the stereotype seductress who just doesn't resort to narcissism and duplicity to have her way. The femme fatale is also the beleaguered hero's helpmate sometimes. She is often shown as supporting him and believing in his innocence, or his ability to solve the problems. The figure of the good-bad girl combines the sexual stimulation of the femme fatale with the fundamental decency of a wife or a lover. She can appear to be cynical, wayward and obsessed with money, but this stems from disillusionment with men and the frustrations of a constrained life.

Veronica Lake in The Blue Dahlia (1946) and Lauren Bacall in The Big Sleep (1946) are perfect example of the type. They are cool, terse, sexually assured and independent women, and yet remain on the hero's side. To the hero they offer a slightly mocking image and allow him to feel relaxed in their company, just like they would feel with a male companion. The good-bad girls have the masculine and feminine qualities merged together and although they appear two-faced, like the typical femme fatale, they do prove themselves to be loyal. If they cannot help the hero, they can support him and believe in his ability to solve problems. The best and most complex example of this type is Rita Hayworth in Gilda (1946)

The bad women of cinema went through a noticeable transformation over the next decades and the hideously prominent false eye lashes, hard contact lenses, huge wigs, feather gowns and shimmering two piece dresses are replaced by the more chic and contemporary get-ups. They are no more limited to being the cabaret dancers, or a gangster's moll. The fun, fearless female is played by the female protagonist now, and she has emerged as the voluptuous, deeply alluring and convincingly sexy woman who knows her mind. She is also subtle, clever, sophisticated and extremely patient, waiting for the right time to strike, just like a predator.

One of the best examples of such a woman is of Famke Janssen as Xenia Ouatappo in Golden Eye (1995).

She is like none other so far. Perceived as a classic representation of femme fatale she is the 'black widow spider' woman who devours her mate after sex. She gets her sexual satisfaction by killing unscrupulously. Watch her making love on a yacht, clad in a revealing lingerie and screaming Yes...Yes...YES!!... as she crushes the man's chest between her thighs during orgasm.

Her sadistic sexual proclivities coupled with an absolute lack of conscience make her, the deadliest femme fatale.

As Bond says in the end - "She always enjoyed a good squeeze."

Women in Indian Cinema- the image and the body

Around two decades ago Indian cinema had these stereotypical heavily made up vamps that always had a bullet shot in their heaving bosom in the end, to justify the popular notion that only 'good and pure' women deserve to get the hero. Thus the climax of a film always saw our 'demure and coy' heroine snuggling in the arms of the macho hero, while the vamp lay on the ground in a bloody pool, staring up at the hero's face with life receding out from her blue (contact lenses) eyes.

However, over the years the concept went through many changes and now we don't find these blue eyed, heavily made up and inadequately clad vamps anymore. These days the female protagonists (our heroines) have taken over from those vamps of yesteryears and have gone much ahead in wearing lesser clothes and heavier makeup; leaving the customary vamps out of work forever.

Pick up the DVD of yesteryear films and you will surprisingly find the bold and daring dance numbers that appear timeless even now. The women who played the femme fatale roles had a certain body type (read hour glass) and they were always dressed more glamorously and fashionably than the heroine. They were also the best dancers of that era.

The soft focus on the nurturer/ homebuilder women

The position of women in the Indian film industry was earlier fraught with ambivalence: in those early years of cinema very few women were ready to let their photographed images appear on screen and allow thousands of unknown men's eyes gaze at their pictures. Most of the women carried cultural baggage of strict religious taboos, which did not allow them to display their bodies to the public. While such taboos have broken down gradually and now girls are queuing up in hoards to take their chance in films, one cannot overlook the fact that the concept of bad girl, provocatively dressed, dangerous vamps came out of such beliefs that an ideal woman has to appear bashful, modest and should be covered from head to toe. She must appear as the virginal daughter who is protected all her life and then given 'all intact' to her husband to become a chaste wife, whose raison d'etre is to worship her husband. The Indian heroines played such parts to perfection and it somewhat justified their entry into the big bad world of cinema, in which they portrayed the 'Ideal Indian Woman' image to perfection, and thus affirmed that they cannot be faulted by being in films. The ideal woman was conventionally recognised as the picture of 'oppressed womanhood' and was reinstated by many female actors of the Indian cinema. The yesteryear Indian heroines played such parts to hilt, and projected the perfect antithesis to those femme fatales who tried to steal their husbands and lovers.

Here is a list of some of the bad girls having all the fun:

Demi Moore played an impressive role of a sexually frustrated boss in Disclosure (1994) who turns implacably revengeful when Michael Douglas spurns her advances.

In Fatal Attraction (1987) the script follows the tale of a one night stand turned sour and Glenn Close comes across as every married man's worst nightmare, playing the role of an obsessed lover turned psychopath. She managed the role with considerable élan. Though her role cannot be termed as the typical femme fatale, it did throw light on the stormy, mutinous side of a woman who would not compromise on anything if it comes to what she wants.

Glenn Close also played the femme fatale in Dangerous Liaison (1988), where her character Marquise De Mertenti is the deadly jealous woman plotting a heartless revenge to get even with her detractors.

In Basic Instinct (1992) Sharon Stone was the ultimate femme fatale. As Catherine Tramell, the successful novelist, she eats men for breakfast, and cuts their hearts and balls to pieces, with one leg scissoring over the other.

In Body Heat (1981) Kathleen Turner is the infamous Matty Walker, the voracious, crafty and greedy femme fatale, who is a married socialite plotting to kill her husband. Watch her in the iniquitous sex scenes with William Hurt.

In Last Seduction (1994) Linda Florentino, as Bridget Gregory is the beautiful and bright femme fatale who has everything going for her except a treacherous mind that would not stop at anything to get what she wants.

In 9 1/2 Weeks (1986) when Kim Bassinger arches her back and spreads her legs in the rain in a dark stairwell, her pouty lips and smoldering eyes are the femme fatale tools polished to perfection.

Ultraviolet (2006) was a relatively bad film, but watch Milla Jovovich as the ultimate sci-fi femme fatale. With her incredible face, hair, make-up, costume, attitude and a killer body, she is absolutely a drool worthy femme fatale in the film.

In Resident Evil (2004) she was the absolute femme fatale, and handles her weapons with deadly authority. Her menacing glare and excellent sword work are something to watch out for in this film.

Uma Thurman bristled with untamed rage, in Kill Bill (2003). Consumed with revenge she moved about like a force of nature in action scenes, and despite a subtle lack of physical grace, she handled the fights with much flair.

Angelina Jolie as Lara Croft was smart, sexy, sassy and sophisticated in Tomb Raider (2001). She was near perfect in that aggressive and physically demanding role, and despite the laughably fake breasts, she came up topper in the ultimate femme fatale role.

Pamela Lee Anderson as/in Barb Wire (1996) prevails over the baddies and gets more naked in the film than she had perhaps been in her entire life taking showers. But she managed to pull off the femme fatale role impressively.

In Blade Trinity (2004) Jessica Biel with gun is a captivating sight, and she carries off the femme fatale role with talent and matching physicality. Despite the lackluster action and some atrocious dialogues in the film, she was an enchanting sight throughout.

In Underworld (2003) Kate Beckinsale is dressed in black leather, heavy boots, and carries a no nonsense attitude and a gun, with unflinching authority. She projects an ample intensity and cold hatred with a perpetual scowl on her face, and her cold dark eyes, framed with deadly arched eyebrows give her the most effective femme fatale look.

Nazia Mallick

Writer, editor, thinker, dreamer

Am I Being Cheated On? 3 Guaranteed Ways to Know For Sure If Your Partner is Cheating on You!

The worst thing that could ever happen to you relationship-wise is to find out your lover is committing infidelity! You see, you may love your partner to bits, but that does not excuse you from finding out if your doubts are true or false. The longer you hold doubts that your partner is loyal, the faster your relationship will deteriorate, that is why it is extremely critical that you get this sorted out right here and now. Here is how you can know for sure if your partner is cheating on you...

Have mink lashes they become very closed towards you, and just aren't as open in sharing things with you anymore? If you notice your partner keeping things from you, and hiding things they would normally share with you; that is the first sign that someone is cheating. The more you notice your mate keeping things to his/herself the more you should be aware that they are living a private life of their own.

Do they have condoms in their pockets, or keep similar protection methods around them all the time? You see, whether your mate is male or female, if you notice strange items around the house related to sex that you and your partner do not use; then this is a huge alarm that your mate is cheating. Both women and men will keep products around for such things, so don't kid yourself.

Have they become highly unpredictable, and often lash out at you? Do they fight with you on simple things? Be certain that if your lover is suddenly angered easily, impatient, argues a lot, and cannot be trusted actions wise anymore; this is because he/she feels guilty about cheating. There is no other reason someone would suddenly change their habits, especially habits that go against you, within a short period of time, unless they were sneaking around behind your back.

A Sure Shot Way To Track A Cheating Spouse-

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Workplace Violence in the Health Sector - An Administrator's Greatest Concern

Of all the myths, false beliefs, and misinformation that's bandied around about workplace violence in the health sector and violence in the workplace in general, there is one that is causing more harm than good. I've found that, by and large, the greatest concern of administrators and managers is not that there is violence in their facility, but in handling those situations that cannot be prevented.

Over the past few years, mink lashes the medical and healthcare sector has awakened to the fact that it has a serious problem with workplace violence. And, while it is true that some of these incidents do involve attacks from within the organization, in general the healthcare industry has one of the lowest rates of employee-initiated attacks in the form of physical violence.

However, statistics paint a very alarming picture when they show that the average nurse is assaulted on average about three times a year. In fact, in non-fatal workplace violence assaults, over two-thirds of all women attacked on the job, work in the healthcare or social services industries.

As a result, and rightly so, more and more facilities are instituting not only workplace violence prevention policies and plans, but also creating committees and boards to oversee the training and execution of these critical business elements. Unfortunately, these plans and policies have the same gaping hole as do most other plans across other industries. And this gap is present in spite of the fact that, right along with "zero tolerance" statements, banned weapons lists, and reporting policy suggestions, OSHA and other international safety organizations recommend that every company and facility have the missing element needed to fill this void.

What is this missing piece? Good question. In fact, it's the piece that will actually protect the target of aggression "during" an attack!

While every plan will have prevention elements, and the necessary procedures for reporting incidents and punishing offenders, almost all are missing the actual defensive tactics that will save a manager or coworker from being beaten, broken, or killed in a workplace violence attack. The most common reason for this lack of attention? Administrators are concerned that if employees know how to defend themselves, that they are more likely to lash out or cause excessive damage should something occur.

When in fact...the opposite is actually true.

Ask around your facility and identify those employees who have already, of their own accord, learned or are currently studying some form of self-defense or martial art. How many of these people exhibit the typical warning signs or characteristics of a potential threat?

In fact, people who feel that they can handle themselves in a dangerous situation are typically more calm under pressure, less likely to take offense or react to negative peer pressure, and will definitely cause less collateral damage than someone who panics and doesn't know what to do.

Administrator's should rethink their fears and concerns when it comes to providing workplace violence training in the areas of self-defense, attack evasion, and assault avoidance - all of which are suggested by OSHA as elements of a "complete" workplace violence plan. Don't take my word for it, either. You have access to all the scientific proof you need in your psychiatric and sociology department professionals.

If you want to make sure that your facility and employees are as safe as possible against the threat of workplace violence, I invite you to contact me through my international office in the US at (570) 988-2228 for your free initial assessment.

Jeffrey M. Miller is a former police officer, undercover investigator, private detective, and bodyguard, He is the founder of Warrior Concepts International, Inc., and a co-author of the upcoming book: "Workplace Violence In The Mental Health And General Healthcare System" For more information about training for your staff and facility, visit WCI Consulting's workplace violence prevention and training site.

Great Make Up For Under $10

We are all concerned about the prices of the things we use every day. For me one of those items is my make up. So when I realized at 8pm that my make up bag was not in my luggage and I had a meeting early in the morning I was upset because now I would have to buy a whole new set which is a small fortune so I decided to try the drug store instead. I am not a make up artist. However I have spent over 20 years in the beauty industry so I consider myself a beauty expert/addict, which on special occasions and for photo shoots I have had my face done by some of the best mink lashes artist in the world. My make up bag consist of all department store brands. So what happens to a beauty expert that has to buy cosmetics from a drug store? You get frustrated... why? No testers. However the feeling of being able to go up and down the isle and pick from several brands was quite liberating. Doing this in a department store becomes a challenge since they give you that look and then you have to decide or usually the counter reps do who is going to ring it up. So my mistake is your benefit because now I am going to share with you the fantastic stuff I discovered for under $10.00.

Foundation this is the most critical step and most difficult to find, therefore if you get this wrong it usually down hill from here. I need a little coverage however I need a foundation that I can build to provide more coverage. My pick for foundation are L'Oreal True Match ($8.79) and Black Opal True Color Foundation ($8.95) both are oil-free. In addition they were easy to blend, good wearability, nice range of shades and I found a shade that match my color and compliment my undertone. Be prepared to purchase more than one (remember no testers). Most drug stores will allow you to return the opened package with a receipt. I had no problem returning any of my items. The concealer was just has hard everything was too ashy and made my eyes look like a raccoon. So I tired Black Opal True Color Crème Stick ($9.50) and Max Factor Pan-Stik Ultra Creamy Makeup ($7.49). Both did the job and complimented my foundation for a flawless look.

To set my face I discovered Milani Pressed Powder ($5.49) in 8 shades that provide a great soft matte finish. Apply with a loose powder brush for a long lasting wear. For that natural blush of color on the cheek I really liked Revlon Matte Powder Blush ($9.99) it was ultra-soft and blends smoothly. I also used it to add a little color to my eyelid. To highlight or use as a bronzer Milani Bronzer XL All Over Glow ($4.79) is wonderful.

Never waste your money on high end pencil eyeliners the best can be found in the drug store Prestige Cosmetics Classic Khol Liners ($4.29) deliver deep strong color. Soft on the eye strong on color. I keep my eyes simple but from time-to-time I add a little color depending on my outfit. Max Factor MAXeye Shadows ($4.99) are great you get three-colors that are fashion forward. Easy to blend and they stay put. You can apply MAXeye Shadows dry for a silky-smooth day look or wet for a bolder approach at night.

False Eye Lashes are wonderful and will accentuate your face without very much else. By far Andrea Modlash ($2.96) #21 AND #53 are a good choice not only for those who suffer eyelash loss, but also for anyone who wants to accentuate the eyes. They are light and natural with short overall length and medium density. Everyone should purchase their Mascara at the drug store. They are reasonably priced; therefore you can afford to replace it every 3-4 months (to prevent eye problems caused by bacteria). I like Maybelline Colossal Volum' Express ($7.49) delivers dramatic volume with no clumps. I like the length it delivers. No flakes and easy to wash off. If you want your eyebrows to look great all the time try using Eyebrow stencils. You can use them to shape, fill in, darken or lighten. Try Fran Wilson Instant Brows Arched ($3.29). It makes a difference stay away from pencils they make harsh lines use powder eye shadow instead.

Lipstick another must buy at the drug store. I think Max Factor Vivid Impact Lip Color ($8.97) was on the mark. The shea butter conditions the lips so your lips look soft chap free and beautiful. Available in 20 shades with coordinating lip liners. Another good choice is Prestige Cosmetics Classic Lipsticks ($4.99) nice selection of 36 shades that made my lips feel soft.

While in the Prestige section I purchased Prestige Cosmetics Vinyl Wear High Shine Lip gloss ($4.99). Nice shine minus that gummy stringy thing that can happen with lip gloss. I also picked up L'Oreal Color Juice ($7.95) manufactured by the same company that makes Lancôme's Juicy Tubes for ten dollars more.

The Bottom Line

My final cosmetic bill from my drug store excursion was $71.72 vs. $330.50 (savings $258.78) if I replaced my make up at a department store. Now that you have taken care of the outside, my final tip is never to forget beauty begins in the mind.

Clarisa Wilson is beauty expert and avid collector of natural skin and hair care solutions. For more great beauty tips and de-stress remedies, visit her website

Makeup Train Case - Benefits Revealed

A makeup train case is composed of materials that will help you organize your cosmetics and toiletries in a practical way. People often find it too much to get one and often ignore the benefits that these cases offer. A makeup case can hold and store loads of cosmetics, especially when traveling.

Makeup mink lashes train cases may not be the first thing to bring along on a road trip or across the country getaways but you will most likely bring it anyway. So if you consider a makeup case, you would have more time preparing for other things on the list simply because these cases are easy to transport. They come in different sizes and designs. They have handles and sturdy latches that make them easy to carry along with luggage during travel.

The history of train cases goes way back when they became abundant during the romantic era of rail travel. However today, transportation authorities may not allow you to carry a makeup train case on board but these inventions still offers a wise investment for organization, storage and accessibility of you cosmetics, toiletries and personal belongings.

First of all train cases have tiered trays or compartments that offer usefulness when holding tools such as brushes. Cotton balls have also a designated place in the case together with applicator wands and even false eye lashes. They also have the feature of separating tools from the implements such as lipstick, eyeliner and blush-ons. If you have a train case, you would say goodbye to scourging your bag for an item you need. These are just one of the many reasons why the make up train case is so practical and convenient to use. In addition to their easy way of organizing cosmetics, most train cases serve women a full service vanity area that is complete with a mirrored lid to use in times of emergency, which makes on the makeup train case both easy and convenient.

This case is a must item today for women, it may also be an idea for a gift to someone or yourself. You can save some time cleaning and searching amongst the mess of mixed up cosmetics and personal stuff. Why suffer when you can just stash everything in a case that will keep it organized for you. It shouldn't be hard to look for a make up case that suits you preferences because it is produced by all handbag and high-end luggage companies. And you won't have to spend too much time cleaning it because these are made from man made or metal material. This material is essential to keep its function to last for a long period of time. You can clean both the exterior and interior using a soapy damp cloth to remove the residue and stains from the make up residues and stains.

Bring along a makeup train case wherever you go and you will be happy to see your handbag or luggage a little bit organized than the usual.

Krystal is a professional beauty consultant with Salon Hive

High-Achieving Superstars Are Often Prime Targets of Workplace Bullying

Workplace bullies by nature are very insecure people. It is their mission to not be "found out" as they delude themselves into a false sense of power while they secretly plot to subjugate their target. Superstar employees are frequently the targets of bullying at work.

The insecurity of workplace bullies is far reaching. They feel socially inadequate, behaviourally and morally. While they present a public image of superiority, supremacy and bravado, underneath it all they feel profoundly inadequate. Workplace bullies, instead of facing their inferiorities, choose rather to mink lashes out at anyone who threatens their superiority.

When competent, bright, self-assured people enter the domain of workplace bullies, their strategy is to attack rather than avoid. This gives them a sense of power and control, convincing them that despite their deep inadequacies they still rule.

Bullies at work use a myriad of covert methods to sabotage the competent employee. They spread rumors, misrepresent the accomplishment of the target, and often take credit for the target's work. They gossip about the individual. All of this chicanery is used to prop up their wobbly self-image.

Bullies at work will frequently constrain the work of their employees. How? By piling unreasonable amounts of work on a target, restricting budget, constantly criticizing, and anything else to undermine the target's success and sense of competency. Being in control by wielding power is an addiction for workplace bullies.

They will be unreasonable in their demands, so they can witness the failure of someone else, giving them a sinister rush as they witness the failure of one who is more competent.

Workplace bullies assume the role of overlord as they demand that the target produce something out of nothing. Workplace bullies enjoy watching the target 'sweat under the load'. They cover up their own sense of nothingness by their repetitive, intoxicating power fix.

By constantly criticizing competent employees, workplace bullies don't feel so lonely in their haunting self-criticism. In undermining the competent employee, workplace bullies convince themselves that they are still able to subjugate another, despite their brutal self-perception.

Some workplace bullying targets are savvy enough to see through the 'bullying game' and find ways to outsmart their nemesis. Eventually however, they are likely to look for greener pastures, refusing to endure the aggravation.

However, others, who do not recognize the game or choose not to compete with the bully, are not so fortunate. They will try harder and harder to please, but to no avail. Eventually they will be worn down by the bully and begin to sustain severe psychological damage.

Competent employees who become targets of bullying in the workplace are very often ethical, just, fair and honourable people. Naively, many of them expect the same of others as well. Sadly they become fodder for hungry workplace bullies waiting to satisfy their compulsion for control.

Workplace bullies need to be 'brought to heel' by exposing their Machiavellian tactics and seeing them for who they are. Employers and law-makers cannot afford to ignore this workplace epidemic any longer. They must act now to protect their brightest and best from unnecessary and deliberate ruination.

If you are a superstar, and feel that you are becoming a target of bullying in the workplace, know that you have every right to continue being the superstar in everything you do. You are more than the workplace bully's low self-image; you are a 'superstar'.

Valerie Cade is a workplace bullying expert and author of Bully Free At Work. For more tips, articles, how-to's, and podcasts, visit THE resource to stop workplace bullying

Learning Show Don't Tell

Show, Don't Tell is not only the writer's first commandment, it is also the first commandment that is broken the most often. Some things should tell!

• Newspaper articles - Ex. - The robber was last seen heading south on Main Street.
• Most magazine articles - Ex. - Joseph Hanson resigned his position with the GOP on March 26.
• Advertisements tell - Ex. - When you have a stain, Shout it out!
• Journals tell - Ex. - I had a lousy day today.

You will mink lashes notice one common denominator in all of these statements. All of them are flat, descriptive statements or commands. That is telling. It's very shallow. Very matter of fact. Of necessity, stories must do a certain amount of telling, but it is your job to recognize when you can change the telling to showing.

A listed description is always telling. For example: She had coal black hair, dark brown eyes, long lashes, and the cutest rosebud lips you ever saw.

Always release descriptions a little at a time, in one or more scenes. For example:

Lisa's coal black hair flew in the wind. Roberta and Eleanor stood watching.

"My boyfriend virtually drowns in her chocolaty eyes. I'll bet she wears false eyelashes," said Roberta.

"Nah. They're hers, alright. I have brown eyes. That's no biggie, but I'd give my arm to have rosebud lips like those," said Eleanor.

The first thing you will notice is that telling the facts took only 15 words, but showing the facts took 54 words. Keep in mind that showing is a higher law in writing than saving words. It will always take three to four times the words to show. Don't fight it.

Let's look at more examples:

Instead of writing this flat statement, "He works out at the gym and he has a great physique," we could show his awesome form by having a girl say, "He came out of the gym wearing one of those tight muscle shirts. Wow!"

Another way to show something is by using internal dialog. Let's say you have a scene in the kitchen where a woman is angry. Instead of spending too much time throwing pots and pans, let her express her feelings through her thoughts. Yes, this is a form of telling, but your reader will see it through the character's eyes. (BTW, internal dialog is always expressed in italics.)

Or yet another way is by observing the woman like a fly on the wall. Example: She stood stock still, her right hand on her hip, and one foot patting the floor. Blood engorged the vessels in her neck and temples in coordination with the crimson red that flushed her face. We all knew it was time to get out of Dodge.

More ways to learn showing:

• Read literature and pick out telling sentences
• Review your own work and looking for telling sentences
• Observe people and make a telling statement about them, then change it to showing

Learning to show will take most people several months. Be patient. It takes lots of practice. Find more writing information below.

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Communication - We Can Come From Truth Or We Can Lie - Our Choice Determines Our Happiness

Communication

This is the means for the soul to develop. We bounce our current state of evolution against another, we get a response from them and we decide if we want to react to it by standing up in our false beliefs or standing up in truth.

When mink lashes we have fear of intimacy we encounter communication issues because we are often engaged in lashing out in anger or waging a silent war. Somewhere along the way we forget to have an open hearted conversation with full permission to be wrong and to be open to learn from everyone. The secret to ending war lies in these words. When we are open to being wrong we are not defensive and listen clearly without any filters set by our minds. This gives us the humility to recognize a profound teaching from anyone and not just from enlightened teachers.

How do you stand up for yourself when you have never done it before?

With love in your heart, observe what happened to make you feel not heard in a relationship. Evaluate if this is something that is core to your emotional well being. If it is important, communicate to the person what you have experienced, what you will no longer support and what your expectations are. Do this with love and thank the person for being your teacher in helping you to understand yourself better and to stand up to your truth. If the person does not honor your wishes, break the relationship fully, which will give the other time to think. Be open to the person coming back to you or not wanting to be with you again. When anxieties arise, do not dismay. Hold on to the angels, do your daily homework of unconscious dumping and hug yourself and repeat many times, "I love you and I bless you".

You are worthy of someone who truly honors you. Living a lie for fear of loneliness is a sure recipe for misery, which gets aggravated over time.

Communication is about honoring the other person's thoughts and providing the space for another to express them freely without fear. It is about coming from a heart open place in dealing with conflicts. When differences in opinions arise, we can let go of our ideas and go with another person's belief. It is not about being right; it is about being in the knowing. This does not mean we become a doormat. When we come from a heart open place, we will know when to walk away and when to stay. This knowledge will not be available when caught in a power struggle. When we relinquish all control, it becomes very easy to move with the flow. A dance takes place in silence and tremendous healing happens to those who interact with one who is grounded in the knowing of what is real.

Maya Vidhyadharan

Author "The Power of Illusion"

Face Make-over Tips

In the early times make-up are already known mostly by women, which they continue to improve at the present. Make-up is an art that contributes to the beauty of a woman's face as well as gives them an elegant look.  Make-up somehow can really change your outside personality, depending on what you look like after putting it on. This is a simple face make-over tip that I can share from my experience as a beauty expert.

Do you think using make-up does really work among all the ladies? Knowing that we are now at the mink lashes present and modern time, ladies are being more creative in applying make-up than before. Although, make-up is not just applying it to your face but you also need to concentrate on how it suits your look.  Aside from that we should also know the difference between a day and a night make-up. You will need a lot of practice to all of this for the art of make-over to show a remarkable change your image.

First, it is very important that you know your own face and you have studied it carefully without make-up for you to have a better idea and for it to be easier for you to enhance your facial appearance. Once you have examined yourself then proceed to the daily routine and make sure you pamper yourself with skincare product. Because the natural beauty is still desirable at the end of the day and make-up is just being used to enhance it.

To begin with the face make-over be sure you have the tools and materials ready which is your make-up kit. Then apply foundation that is suitable to your skin tone. Don't forget to check the color of your face in daylight and be sure that it matches your neck. If there is any spot or discoloration apply concealer followed by light powder for a natural finishing look. To reshapes the brows use darkening pencil or brush up in place with a little sweep of clear mascara. Softly retrace penciled area (from lashes outward) with black eye shadow. Remember to make sure that the eye shadow is not so thick but just right for your eyes to be a little outstanding. You can also use beige powder eye shadow to highlight brow bones and eyelids. Choosing lighter eye shadow like pastel color looks softer while darker color looks more dramatic. But most important is that you blend the color of your eye shadow base on your outfit.

 For the eyeliner gently pull lid from eye and draw a line along upper and lower inner rim from each corner as to create a smoky effect.  Additional false eyelashes will be better if you want to have an outstanding look. Then constantly apply a pink blusher to the cheek to create a rosy effect. Finally draw a line inside the natural lip, filled in the color lipstick you want to apply. For your lips to look more kissable just coat a lip gloss on it.  By night make-up add a little more to the shade, blusher and lipstick to make it thicker as this will emphasize your face and look more sophisticated.

For a professional beauty expert there are still lots of new techniques to be learned when it comes to make-up. But what I say is that if you want your face to be more radiant you need to invest in good quality make-up and I guarantee that when you apply it you will see a big difference to the way you look. There are many beauty products in the market to choose from ask for a professional advice to a beauty expert. Feel free to visit my website:  for free access to a lot more information about beauty and health for your body. Our face is an asset as well as our body that's why we need to be knowledgeable on how to enhance it as well as how to take good care of it.

Ronald Weinland and the Final Test of a Prophet - The Weinland Window

We are nearing the end of the year. Israel's trigger finger grows more itchy by the day. America's future hangs in the balance. Rogue nations and enemy countries stand at the gates.

And RW's words remain. The name of mink lashes his book was "Endtime 2008 - Gods Final Witness". Regardless of what has happened in the past, this is make or break time.

I had wished to have this resolved by now. However, as I stated before, there is still a possibility that RW is truly a prophet of God. There is a possibility he erred in predicting events prematurely, just as there is a possibility God was using his mistake to test the faith of the people.

Ronald Weinland has declared the final timing of the events prophesied in "The Prophesied End-Time" and "Endtime 2008 - Gods Final Witness". The events are listed below:

* September 30 - 1335 Days

* November 14 - 1290 Days

* December 14 - 1260 Days

According to this timeline, December 14 is the key date. That is when, according to Ronald Weinland, Great Tribulation begins. He is also standing by his statement that there will be no new president sworn into office. Those are several verifiable predictions.

In the coming days, weeks, and months, we will further examine world events and how/if/whether they fit into Ronald Weinland's predicted timeline. Regardless of the test of his validity, however, the world is still in deep, deep chaos. Russia has recently awakened from it's slumber and has begun to lash out at neighboring countries. Only a week ago they threatened Poland with a nuclear attack.

Weather conditions continue to deteriorate rapidly as well. As of this writing, Hurricane Gustav has just been upgraded to a Category 4. A 6.1 earthquake just struck China.

Only time will tell if RW is a true or false prophet. The year 2008 is quickly running out. The Weinland Window will be closing soon. The Final Test of a Prophet begins.

The Weinland Witness is a blog created by Citizen X for objective, unbiased discussion of Ronald Weinland and his prophecies.

Our God is Bigger Than Our Troubles

Walking in God's plan for your life will make you an open target for the enemy.  He sees you, in spite of all your fears and other obstacles, still doing what God has led you to do.  It doesn't make him happy - in fact, it riles him up and the intensity of his attacks on you increases.   For example:

You have stepped out and faith and started that business God showed you was His will for you and mink lashes almost immediately you are bombarded with customer complaints and false accusations.

You make the decision to tithe in faith, even though it seems to make no sense because of your already strained bank account.   You write that tithe check and sow it in love and faith, and then - WHAMMO - your car and washing machine break down at the same time!

You have been wanting to make a career change and, after much prayer, you believe God has said, "Go for it!"  So you take that new position, hopeful and in faith, and the company bankrupts right after you start and you are now looking for another job.

You are going about your business, helping many others in many different ways - sowing faithfully into their lives love, finances, prayer, counsel and time.   All of a sudden, you experience loads of technical equipment troubles.  You are ignored by most anyone that matters and you thought would help you.  People verbally assault you for no reason.  You feel beat up, battered, and wonder, "Why the heck do I even bother anymore?"

What do you do?

Well, the human reaction is to react, to lash out, and to cast away our confidence.  The natural reaction is to scream "God!  I trusted You.  I thought I was doing what YOU wanted me to do; why did it go wrong?"  My favorite line is "Good girls are supposed to get the reward!"  What do you do when you are doing good, walking the right path, sowing into the Kingdom, yet you are attacked and don't get the reward?

One:  You must know the enemy does not want you following God's plan!  He wants to steal the love and Word of God from your heart.  He will do anything in his power to stop you.  He will send people onto your path to assault and offend you.  As the prince of the air, he will cause all sorts of technological troubles for you.  He will do whatever it takes to FRUSTRATE and DISCOURAGE you to get you to give up.  We must know this; we must know our enemy and be aware of his methods.

Two:  You need to rejoice!  Do not rejoice in the trouble itself, but rejoice in Him!  (1 Peter 4:12-14)

Three:  Allow yourself the time to get from One to Two!  Don't beat yourself up if your first reaction is "Ouch!  God!  This hurts and I am angry and hurt!"  Just don't stay in that mode.

Four:  Stay on the path you were on before the obstacle or offense was thrown at you!  Don't give up on your mission from God.  Galatians 6:9 says, "So don't get tired of doing what is good. Don't get discouraged and give up, for we will reap a harvest of blessing at the appropriate time."

Five:  Submit yourself to God, resist the devil and he will flee from you.  James 4:7   At some point, the devil will take a break because he sees your persistence and perseverance.

Remember --

"You are of God, little children, and have overcome them, because He who is in you is greater than he who is in the world."  1 John 4:4

Notice that is says "have overcome"!  That means you already have the victory, no matter the attack!  God is bigger that it all!

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Tina Marino

Minister, Author, Speaker, Business Broker