Ming's Research Pages

Event - SVAC 80s Musical 20240824

2024-08-26T02:01:00.000-07:00

世間始終你好

羅文與甄妮主唱，由顧嘉煇包辦作編曲、黃霑填詞
Wikipeda - Chinese - Song
Baidu - Hong Kong - Song
YouTube - original 1983 1998
Spotify
KKBOX

Lyrics

問世間是否此山最高?或者另有高處比天高?在世間自有山比此山更高但愛心找不到比你好

一山還比一山高 (無一可比你)真愛有如天高 (愛更高) 千百樣好

論武功俗世中不知邊個高?或者絕招同途異路但我知論愛心找不到更好待我心世間始終你好

一山還比一山高 (無一可比你)真愛有如天高 (愛更高) 千百樣好

論武功俗世中不知邊個高?或者絕招同途異路但我知論愛心找不到更好待我心世間始終你好

待我心世間始終你好

上海灘

顧嘉煇負責作曲及編曲，黃霑填詞，葉麗儀主唱
Wikipedia - Chinese - Song TV Series
Baidu - Hong Kong - TV Series
YouTube - 1980 2017
Spotify

Lyrics

浪奔　浪流

萬里滔滔江水永不休

淘盡了世間事

混作滔滔一片潮流

是喜　是愁

浪裡分不清歡笑悲憂

成功　失敗

浪裡看不出有未有

* 愛你　恨你　問君知否

似大江一發不收

轉千彎　轉千灘

亦未平復此中爭鬥

又有喜　又有愁

就算分不清歡笑悲憂

仍願翻　百千浪

在我心中起伏夠 *

(重唱 *)

仍願翻　百千浪　在我心中起伏夠

陸小鳳

作曲：顧嘉煇
填詞：盧國沾
主唱：鄭少秋
Wikipedia - Chinese - TV Series
YouTube - 1976
Spotify

Lyrics

情與義值千金

刀山去地獄去有何憾

為知心犧牲有何憾

為嬌娃甘心剖寸心

血淚為情流一死豈有恨

有誰人敢過問

塵世上相識是緣份

盡杯酒千杯怎醉君

野鶴逐閒雲生死怎過問

笑由人誰過問

只有情永在

邓伟雄作词，顾嘉辉作曲，张学友、邝美云演唱
電視劇《賊公阿牛》主題曲
Baidu - Hong Kong - Song
YouTube - 1986
Spotify
KKBOX

Lyrics

女：世間事不知怎分對錯

男：懶得問恩怨怎分開

女: 當一切若浮雲

男: 只有情永在

合: 心中記一份愛

女: 再不問問一聲應否去愛

男: 愛海內一切也應該

女: 也不怕消失去

男: 不會難替代

合: 風聲裡都找到愛

女: 未怕分開　縱使分開

亦都知美夢仍會在

男: 何必感慨　誰會意外

此心不變遷何曾改

女: 再不用口中天天說愛

男: 懶分辨心裡情意若何

女: 有朝會暫別離

男: 不會成障礙

合: 清風裡都找到愛　呀...

千山裡都找到愛

小李飛刀

唱：羅文
詞：盧國沾
曲：顧嘉煇
YouTube - 1978
Spotify
KKBOX

Lyrics

難得一身好本領

情關始終闖不過

闖不過柔情蜜意

亂揮刀劍無結果

流水滔滔斬不斷

情絲百結衝不破

刀鋒冷熱情未冷

心底更是難過

無情刀永不知錯

無緣份只嘆奈何

面對死不會驚怕

離別心淒楚

人生幾許失意

何必偏偏選中我

揮刀劍斷盟約

相識注定成大錯

無情刀永不知錯

無緣份只嘆奈何

面對死不會驚怕

離別心淒楚

人生幾許失意

何必偏偏選中我

揮刀劍斷盟約

相識注定成大錯

揮刀劍斷盟約

相識注定成大錯

心債

梅艷芳 Anita Mui
曲/編：顧嘉煇
詞：黃霑
無綫電視電視劇《香城浪子》
Wikipedia - Chinese - Song
Baidu - Song
YouTube - 1982
Spotify
KKBOX

Lyrics

重重心中癡債

原是欠下你一世

無限無盡愛在我心底

悠悠心中癡意

源源不絕撫慰

只望可補償一切

明明用盡了努力

明明事事都不計

為什麼萬般癡心

都等如枉費

原來今生心債

償還不是一世

千代千生難估計

悠悠心中癡意

源源不絕撫慰

只望可補償一切

明明用盡了努力

明明事事都不計

為什麼萬般癡心

都等如枉費

原來今生心債

償還不是一世

千代千生難估計

獅子山下

演唱：羅文(Roman Tam)
作曲：顧嘉煇
填詞：黃霑
編曲：顧嘉煇
香港電台電視劇《獅子山下》主題曲
Wikipedia - Chinese - Song TV Series
Baidu - Hong Kong - Song
RTHK - 2022 獅子山下（半小時版)
YouTube - 1979
Spotify
KKBOX

Lyrics

人生中有歡喜

難免亦常有淚

我地大家在獅子山下相遇上

總算是歡笑多於唏噓

人生不免崎嶇

難以絕無掛慮

既是同舟在獅子山下且共濟

拋棄區分求共對

放開彼此心中矛盾

理想一起去追

同舟人誓相隨

無畏更無懼

同處海角天邊

攜手踏平崎嶇

我地大家用艱辛努力寫下那

不朽香江名句

萬水千山總是情

汪明荃演唱的粵語流行歌曲，由顧嘉煇作曲、編曲，鄧偉雄填詞
Wikipedia - Chinese - Song TV Series
Baidu - Song
YouTube - 1982
Spotify
KKBOX

Lyrics

莫說青山多障礙風也急風也勁

白雲過山峰也可傳情

莫說水中多變幻水也清水也靜

柔情似水愛共永

未怕罡風吹散了熱愛

萬水千山總是情

聚散也有天註定不怨天不怨命

但求有山水共作證

莫說青山多障礙風也急風也勁

白雲過山峰也可傳情

莫說水中多變幻水也清水也靜

柔情似水愛共永

未怕罡風吹散了熱愛

萬水千山總是情

聚散也有天註定不怨天不怨命

但求有山水共作證

難為正邪定分界

1982年香港無綫電視劇《飛越十八層》的主題曲，顧嘉煇作編曲、鄭國江填詞，並由葉振棠和男低音^[1]麥志誠主唱
Wikipedia - Chinese - Song
YouTube - 1982
Sportify
KKBOX

Lyrics

人：對抗命運但我永不怕捱過去現在難題迎刃解
人生的彩筆蘸上悲歡愛恨描畫世上百千態
魔：控制命運任我巧安排看似夢幻凡人難盡瞭解
人間的好景給我一朝破壞榮辱愛恨任分派

人：努力未願平賣人性我沒法賤賣
魔：今天死結應難解
人：努力興建
魔：盡情破壞
合：彼此也在捱
人：世界腐敗犯法那需領牌（看吧邪力正強大）
人：法理若在為何強盜滿街（看吧強盜滿街）
人：人海的衝擊比那蒼海更大（啊啊）
合：難為正邪定分界

人：努力未願平賣人性我沒法賤賣
魔：今天死結應難解
人：努力興建
魔：盡情破壞
合：彼此也在捱
人：世界腐敗犯法那需領牌（看吧邪力正強大）
人：法理若在為何強盜滿街（看吧強盜滿街）
人：人海的衝擊比那蒼海更大（啊啊）
合：難為正邪定分界

浪子心聲

作詞：許冠傑/黎彼得作曲：許冠傑　編：鮑比達
電影"半斤八両"
Wikipedia - Chinese - Album Movie
Baidu - Hong Kong - Song
YouTube - 1976 2012
Spotify
KKBOX

Lyrics

難分真與假人面多險詐
幾許有共享榮華簷畔水滴不分差

無知井裡蛙徙望添聲價
空得意目光如麻誰料金屋變敗瓦

命裡有時終須有命裡無時莫強求

雷聲風雨打何用多驚怕
心公正白壁無瑕行善積德最樂也

命裡有時終須有命裡無時莫強求

人比海裡沙毋用多牽掛
君可見漫天落霞名利息間似霧化
君可見漫天落霞名利息間似霧化

似水流年

1984年香港电影《似水流年》的主题曲，由梅艳芳主唱
作曲喜多郎、黎小田
作词郑国江
编曲黎小田
Wikipedia - Chinese - Song Movie
YouTube - 1984
Spotify
KKBOX

Lyrics

望著海一片
滿懷倦無淚也無言
望著天一片
只感到情懷亂
我的心又似小木船
遠景不見
但仍向著前
誰在命裏主宰我
每天掙紮人海裏面
心中感嘆似水流年
不可以留住昨天
留下只有思念
一串串永遠纏
浩瀚煙波里
我懷念懷念往年
外貌早改變
處境都變
情懷未變
留下只有思念
一串串永遠纏
浩瀚煙波里
我懷念懷念往年
外貌早改變
處境都變
情懷未變
留下只有思念
一串串永遠纏
浩瀚煙波里
我懷念懷念往年
外貌早改變
處境都變
情懷未變
留下只有思念
一串串永遠纏
浩瀚煙波里
我懷念懷念往年
外貌早改變
處境都變
情懷未變
留下只有思念
一串串永遠纏
浩瀚煙波里

陪著你走

作詞：唐書琛
作曲：盧冠廷
編曲：盧冠廷
Baidu - Song
YouTube - 1986
Spotify
KKBOX

Lyrics

誰說　時間片刻變陳舊

全為我分秒亦停留

因我　身邊有你緊握我的手

而愛　誰說永不會長壽

陪著你一生到白頭

都能　把心中星星閃得通透

陪著你走　一生一世也不分

天天編出兩雙足印　過千山過千海

如果　走到這世界邊端

我倆已是無力前行　跟我一起飛去

不相信　時間片刻變陳舊

全為你分秒亦停留

因你　身邊有我緊握你的手

這份愛　誰說永不會長壽

陪著我一生到白頭

都能　把心中星星閃得通透

陪著你走　一生一世也不分

天天編出兩雙足印　過千山過千海

如果　走到這世界邊端

我倆已是無力前行　跟我一起飛去

陪著你走　一生一世也不分

天天編出兩雙足印　過千山過千海

如果　走到這世界邊端

我倆已是無力前行　跟我一起飛去

一世伴你同路去

漫步人生路

台灣女歌手鄧麗君1983年粵語專輯《漫步人生路》的主打曲
作曲中島美雪
作词鄭國江
编曲渡邊茂樹（渡辺茂樹）
Wikipedia - Chinese - Song Album
YouTube - 1983
Spotify
KKBOX

Lyrics

-前奏 -------
-
在你身邊路雖遠未疲倦伴你漫行一段接一段
越過高峰另一峰卻又見目標推遠讓理想永遠在前面
路縱崎嶇亦不怕受磨練願一生中苦痛快樂也..體驗
愉快悲哀在身邊轉又轉風中賞雪霧裏賞花快樂回旋
毋用計較快欣賞身邊美麗每一天還願確信美景良辰在腳邊
願將歡笑聲蓋掩苦痛那一面
悲也好喜也好每天找到新發現
讓疾風吹呀吹盡管給我倆考驗
小雨點放心灑早已決心向著前
-
--間奏 -------
-
路縱崎嶇亦不怕受磨練願一生中苦痛快樂也..體驗
愉快悲哀在身邊轉又轉風中賞雪霧裏賞花快樂回旋
毋用計較快欣賞身邊美麗每一天還願確信美景良辰在腳邊
願將歡笑聲蓋掩苦痛那一面
悲也好喜也好每天找到新發現
讓疾風吹呀吹盡管給我倆考驗
小雨點放心灑早已決心向著前
-

--再會 -----

順流逆流

演唱：徐小鳳 Paula Tsui
作曲：蔡國權
填詞：蔡國權
Baidu - Song
YouTube - 1985
Spotify
KKBOX

Lyrics

不知道在那天邊可會有盡頭，

只知道逝去光陰不會再回頭。

每一串淚水，伴每一個夢想，

不知不覺全溜走。

不經意在這圈中轉到這年頭，

只感到在這圈中經過順逆流。

每顆冷酷眼光，共每聲友善笑聲，

默然一一嘗透。

幾多艱苦當天我默默接受，

幾多辛酸也未放手。

故意挑剔今天我不在乎，

只跟心中意願去走。

不相信未作犧牲竟先可擁有，

只相信是靠雙手找到我欲求。

每一串汗水，換每一個成就，

從來得失我睇透。

不經意在這圈中轉到這年頭，

只感到在這圈中經過順逆流。

每顆冷酷眼光，共每聲友善笑聲，

默然一一嘗透。

幾多艱苦當天我默默接受，

幾多辛酸也未放手。

故意挑剔今天我不在乎，

只跟心中意願去走。

不相信未作犧牲竟先可擁有，

只相信是靠雙手找到我欲求。

每一串汗水，換每一個成就，

從來得失我睇透。

一生的滿足

主唱：鄧婉玲
作曲、作詞：三吉
編曲、監製：Daniel Ling
YouTube - 2020
Spotify

Lyrics

曾以為我的心唯一需要就是快樂

常渴求被抱擁狂歡街角尋醉於宴樂

願意拋開束縛放下承諾

享受活著的感覺

麻醉過後仍是空殼

從某年某天迷失中片段漸湧現

曾以為是滿足但空虛早代替歡笑面

若這生可扭轉我願全力

捨現在活過以前

人世可有重生上演

找尋一生的滿足

迷亂裡只找到委曲笑中痛哭

如若有上帝快救我出深谷

躲藏空虛裡尋夢能愉快轉目亦告終

人越渴望更多心亦更空

主耶穌今已臨近成活水更新我心

直湧永生人若喝下了必永久不渴

生存不單靠快樂能覓到永恆便滿足

神用愛讓我心空洞結束

尋著祢令這生豐盛滿足

Trip - Chengdu 成都, China

2023-12-17T23:03:00.000-08:00

Chengdu 成都

The capital city of the Chinese province of Sichuan 四川
With a population of 20,937,757 at the 2020 Census,^[5] it is the fourth most populous city in China, and it is the only city with a population of over 20 million apart from direct-administered municipalities.

Giant Panda 大熊猫

By December 2014, 49 giant pandas lived in captivity outside China, living in 18 zoos in 13 countries.
By March 2015, the wild giant panda population had increased to 1,864 individuals

Leshan Giant Buddha 樂山大佛

A 71-metre (233 ft) tall stone statue, built between 713 and 803 (during the Tang dynasty).
It is carved out of a cliff face of Cretaceous red bed sandstones that lies at the confluence of the Min River and Dadu River in the southern part of Sichuan Province in China, near the city of Leshan.
The stone sculpture faces Mount Emei, with the rivers flowing below its feet.
It is the largest and tallest stone Buddha statue in the world and it is by far the tallest pre-modern statue in the world.

Drainage system

Behind the Buddha’s head and between his two ears, the Leshan Giant Buddha has a unique and advanced drainage system to preserve the statue from erosion. There are several hidden gutters and channels scattered in Buddha’s hair, collar, chest, and holes in the back of his ears and chest that have been carrying out the rainwater to keep the inner areas dry.[citation needed] This complex architectural system has been preventing the statue from eroding for the past 1,200 years.

Jiuzhaigou 九寨溝

Dujiangyan irrigation system 都江堰

Originally constructed around 256 BC by the State of Qin as an irrigation and flood control project, it is still in use today. The system's infrastructure develops on the Min River (Minjiang), the longest tributary of the Yangtze 长江.
Dujiangyan Irrigation System were inscribed on the World Heritage List in 2000. It has also been declared a State Priority Protected Site, among the first batch of National Scenic Areas and Historical Sites, and a National ISO14000 Demonstration Area

Huanglong 黃龍

This area is known for its colorful travertine pools formed by calcite deposits, especially in Huanglonggou (Yellow Dragon Gully), as well as diverse forest ecosystems, snow-capped peaks, waterfalls and hot springs.
3230m (10,597) to 3576m (11,732)

Chengdu Tianfu International Airport

Reference

Chengdu (Wikipedia)

成都市 (维基百科)

Dujiangyan (Wikipedia)

都江堰

Jiuzhaigou

九寨溝風景名勝區

Huanglong

黃龍風景名勝區

23 Provinces
5 Autonomous Regions
4 Municipalities
2 Special Administrative Regions

Agile - 𝗟𝗲𝘁'𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 / 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 😱

2020-11-08T12:29:00.001-08:00

This visual shows the best analogy for me of what a sprint or iteration is. It's vessel full of your teams capacity.

Some teams may be larger & therefore have a larger cup. Others may be smaller, or less mature. Their cup is therefore smaller.

If you keep pouring more things inside that cup;

1. Recognise that it's an exceptional response. This should not be the norm.
2. If something comes in.. Something gets pushed out / de-prioritised. Simple.

If we keep pouring more work onto our people that extends beyond their capacity, 𝘁𝗵𝗲𝘆 𝘄𝗶𝗹𝗹 𝗯𝘂𝗿𝗻 𝗼𝘂𝘁. Now, more than ever

𝗔𝗰𝘁𝗶𝗼𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝘁𝗮𝗸𝗲𝘄𝗮𝘆𝘀

- 𝗘𝗻𝘀𝘂𝗿𝗲 𝘀𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗻𝘁 𝗯𝗮𝗰𝗸𝗹𝗼𝗴𝘀 𝗮𝗿𝗲 𝗽𝗿𝗶𝗼𝗿𝗶𝘁𝗶𝘀𝗲𝗱 in such a way that the teams knows the highest & least important item.
- 𝗟𝗲𝗮𝗱 𝗯𝘆 𝗲𝘅𝗮𝗺𝗽𝗹𝗲 - If you're a leader & working long hours, are involved in every meeting & sending emails at all hours of the day. You're part of the problem.
- 𝗣𝗿𝗼𝗺𝗼𝘁𝗲 𝘀𝘂𝘀𝘁𝗮𝗶𝗻𝗮𝗯𝗹𝗲 𝗳𝗹𝗼𝘄 - Teams should, after 4-5 iterations discover their velocity/ throughput. Enable them to own this. Let them know it's ok to push back when something is too much.

Reference: (30) LinkedIn

Some Information for Yellowstone National Park

2020-08-17T14:06:00.006-07:00

Do Cell Phones Work in Yellowstone? Is There WiFi?
America the Beautiful Passes
Hydrothermal Features - there are five types of hydrothermal features readily visible in Yellowstone:

Hot springs: Pools of hydrothermally heated water.
Geysers: Hot springs with constrictions in their plumbing, which causes them to periodically erupt to release the pressure that builds up.
Mudpots: Hot springs that are acidic enough to dissolve the surrounding rock, and typically also lack water in their systems.
Travertine terraces: Hot springs that rise up through limestone, dissolve the calcium carbonate, and deposit the calcite that makes the travertine terraces.
Fumaroles: These hot features, also known as steam vents, lack water in their system, and instead constantly release hot steam.

The Science Behind Yellowstone’s Rainbow Hot Spring
Yellowstone hot springs: Upsetting your color scale

Genesis 10:1 to 11:9

2020-06-12T21:54:00.002-07:00

https://www.biblegateway.com/passage/?search=Genesis%2010%3A1%20-%2011%3A9&version=CNVT;KJV

https://ourfamilybiblestudy.wordpress.com/2011/07/18/genesis-chapter-10/

https://www.conformingtojesus.com/charts-maps/en/noah_to_12_patriarchs_chart.htm

https://www.cookancestry.com/Biblical%20Genealogy/02.htm

https://glithehiddentruth.weebly.com/shemhamyepheth.html

https://www.herbertwarmstrongaudio.com/theoriginsoftheraces.htm

https://www.bible-history.com/old-testament/table-of-nations-genesis-10.html

https://aschmann.net/BibleChronology/Genesis10.pdf

New Year Resolutions

2020-04-10T20:32:00.002-07:00

How To Keep Your New Year’s Resolutions (YouTube)
Goal Setting as a Strategy for Dietary and Physical Activity Behavior Change: A Review of the Literature (PDF)
Why We Make Resolutions (And Why They Fail)
Why New Year's Resolutions Fail

Focus on one resolution, rather several;
Set realistic, specific goals. Losing weight is not a specific goal. Losing 10 pounds in 90 days would be;
Don't wait till New Year's eve to make resolutions. Make it a year long process, every day;
Take small steps. Many people quit because the goal is too big requiring too big a step all at once;
Have an accountability buddy, someone close to you that you have to report to;
Celebrate your success between milestones. Don't wait the goal to be finally completed;
Focus your thinking on new behaviors and thought patterns. You have to create new neural pathways in your brain to change habits;
Focus on the present. What's the one thing you can do today, right now, towards your goal?
Be mindful. Become physically, emotionally and mentally aware of your inner state as each external event happens,moment by moment, rather than living in the past or future.

Just 8% of People Achieve Their New Year's Resolutions. Here's How They Do It.

Keep it Simple

Keep my resolution list short
Set small, attainable goals throughout the year, rather than a singular, overwhelming goal

Make it Tangible

Be specific
Measurable

Make it Obvious

Share your goals with your friends and family as it's another way to build accountability

Keep Believing You Can Do It

How to Make (and Keep) New Year’s Resolutions

Have a Vision
Break it Down
Give Yourself Praise
Just Enjoy

New Years Resolution Statistics

30 essential wisdoms and secrets to success for women in their 30s — from women who have been there

2018-03-04T14:54:00.001-08:00

30 essential wisdoms and secrets to success for women in their 30s — from women who have been there
By Gina Ragusa | Sept. 22, 2017

First, take a breath and believe you’ll be OK

Know that career shifts are normal.
Gravitate toward women who have your back.
Focus on upsides and taking action when you’re down.
Embrace your existential crises.
Don’t have kids? Don’t stress.
Have kids? Don’t white-knuckle your way through parenting.
Clear the “toxins” from your life.

Be a money optimist

Start saving as early as possible.
Turn deal-hunting into a fun game.
Set it and forget it.
Learn about the stock market.
Talk about money with loved ones.
Never undervalue schooling.

Show kindness to your body

Don’t blow off your workout.
Kick “the habit” for a healthier life.
Focus on facts, not fears, when it comes to fertility.
Take mental health breaks.

Flex your career muscles

Make lemonade out of rejection lemons.
Walk through open doors, even if they’re a little scary.
Squash your imposter syndrome.
Stay in the game.
Get involved.

Grow old with grace

Stay grateful and engaged.
Cozy up to your changing appearance.
Maintain your groove.
Treasure your friendships.
See the lessons around you
Know the best is yet to come.
Don’t sweat the small stuff.
Savor every day.

Finally: Try your best to avoid judging other women. Because part of accepting yourself means accepting others, too.

Online Safety - Part 3

2017-03-04T20:56:00.001-08:00

Kids Health
This link will take you to an informative article for parents that provides a general overview of internet safety, as well as practical suggestions for keeping your children safe. The article is also available in Spanish.
Net Smart Teens
This website is a program from the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children. It offers videos and games that focus on internet safety for teens.
SafeTeens.com by Larry Magid
Safety & Security Center
Microsoft Computer Security, Digital Privacy and Online Safety
StaySafeOnline - National Cyber Security Alliance
Video on Chatting with Kids About Being Online
A Parents’ Guide to Facebook - 2012 (PDF)

Characteristics of Christian Fellowship

2016-02-23T18:29:00.000-08:00

Resource #1

Authenticity - 1 John 1 v 7-8
Mutuality - 1 Corinthians 12:25, Romans 1:12
Sympathy - Galatians 6:2, Colossians 3:12
Mercy - Colossians 3:13
Honesty - Ephesians 4 v 15, Galatians 6 v 1, Proverbs 28 v 23, 1 Timothy 5 v 1-2
Humility - 1 Peter 5 v 5
Courtesy - Romans 12 v 10
Confidentiality - Proverbs 6
Frequency - Hebrews 10 v 25

Resources:

Characteristics of Fellowship, Part 1 - 1 John 2:28 - 3:3

Characteristics of Fellowship: Communication, Contribution, and Companionship

Christian Fellowship

2016-02-21T19:52:00.002-08:00

Resource #1
The Greek word koinōnia is where we get our English word “fellowship” as translated in our King James Bible in twelve instances. In other occurrences, it is rendered as:

“communion” (4 times)

Google - the sharing or exchanging of intimate thoughts and feelings, especially when the exchange is on a mental or spiritual level
Wikipedia - The bond uniting Christians as individuals and groups with each other and with Jesus Christ

“communication” (once)

Google - means of connection between people or places, in particular
Wikipedia - (from Latin commūnicāre, meaning "to share"^[1]) is the purposeful activity ofinformation exchange between two or more participants in order to convey or receive the intendedmeanings through a shared system of signs and semiotic rules

“distribution” (once)

Merriam-Webster - the act of giving or delivering something to people

“contribution” (once)

Google - the part played by a person or thing in bringing about a result or helping something to advance
Wikipedia - Sharing

“to communicate” (once)

Merriam-Webster - to give information about (something) to someone by speaking, writing, moving your hands, etc.; to get someone to understand your thoughts or feelings

It comes from a root word that means “partnership”, and suggests a close relationship as expressed in God’s covenantal bond with His people. Christian fellowship among believers is an extension of that covenantal relationship of love that exists between God and His people.

This vertical relationship with God is expressed in the horizontal, mutual relationships among His people. This is what we call Christian fellowship. “If we love one another, God dwelleth in us, and his love is perfected in us” (1 John 4:12b). “He that dwelleth in love dwelleth in God, and God in him” (1 John 4:16b).

Resource #2
According to Webster’s New Collegiate Dictionary it means:
(a) companionship, company, associate (vb.);
(b) the community of interest, activity, feeling or experience, i.e., a unified body of people of equal rank sharing in common interests, goals, and characteristics, etc.;
(c) partnership, membership (an obsolete usage but an important one. It shows what has happened to our ideas of fellowship).

Concepts of
Fellowship in the New Testament

A. RELATIONSHIP: The Foundation for Fellowship

B. PARTNERSHIP: The Means of Fellowship

Relationship describes what we are: a community of people bound together by our common life and blessings that we share together through our relationship with Christ.

Partnership describes how we are related to each other in that relationship: we are partners in an enterprise and calling in which we are to work together in a common purpose to obtain common objectives for the glory of God and the gospel of Jesus Christ (cf. Phil 1:27).

C. COMPANIONSHIP: The Method of Fellowship

D. STEWARDSHIP: The Overflow of Fellowship

We have seen four words (relationship, partnership, companionship, and stewardship)20 that describe the general emphasis of this New Testament concept, but how does this carry over into specifics? How do we have the kind of fellowship that encourages, edifies (builds) and serves one another? How do we find the strength, the wisdom, and the courage to have true fellowship?

At least part of the answer comes through obedience to the many ‘one another’ commands of the New Testament. Over and over again, we are exhorted in various ways to be involved with and caring for one another. For instance, we are told:

to admonish one another (Rom. 15:14),
to comfort and encourage one another (1 Thess. 4:18; 5:11; Heb. 3:13)
to worship with one another(Eph. 5:19; Col. 3:16; Heb. 10:25)
to bear one another’s burdens (Gal. 6:2)
to always seek the good of one another (1 Thess. 5:15)
to be honest with one another (Col. 3:9)
to show hospitality to one another (1 Pet. 4:9)
to be at peace with one another (Mark 9:50).

There are many others, some fifteen categories in all, but this illustrates the point.

Resource #3
What does fellowship Include:

1. Biblical Fellowship has at its heart Love and acceptance: Eph. 3:17-19
2. It means that abrasiveness, being insensitive, showing resentment and a judgmental spirit must be replaced with an "agape" love.

3. Biblical Fellowship is a Family relationship: You become a part of the Family of God on Earth.
4. Fellowship requires having concern and a spirit of restoration one to the other. Galatians 6:1-2
5. Fellowship requires confession and forgiveness.
6. Fellowship involves encouragement and availability. We seek to serve and help each other. You cannot do that if you have something against someone else.
7. Fellowship Involves Informality and Flexibility. Heb. 13:1-2,14-16

Resource #4

Fellowship Gives Us a Picture of God>
Fellowship Makes Us Stronger
Fellowship Provides Encouragement
Fellowship Reminds Us We're Not Alone
Fellowship Helps Us Grow

Resources:

Definition of Christian Fellowship (PDF)

Christian Fellowship

What is True Biblical Fellowship?

Why is Christian Fellowship So Important?

Fellowship (4 articles)

Fellowship (Part II)

Fellowship

The Real Meaning of Christian Fellowship

What is True Fellowship?

Importance of Spiritual Fellowship

Why Christians Need Fellowship

Universities Race to Nurture Start-Up Founders of the Future - The New York Times

2015-12-29T09:26:00.001-08:00

Universities Race to Nurture Start-Up Founders of the Future - The New York Times (12/28/2015)

Rice University offers academic courses in entrepreneurship strategy and financing, extracurricular start-up workshops and a summer program for students seeking to start companies. In August, Rice announced a multimillion-dollar “entrepreneurship initiative” to develop more courses and programs in the subject. And administrators say they hope to erect an entrepreneurial center to house classes and services supporting student projects.
Harvard opened an Innovation Lab in 2011 that has helped start more than 75 companies.
Last year, New York University founded a campus entrepreneurs’ lab.
This year Northwestern University opened a student start-up center, the Garage.
“Today’s students are hungry to make an impact, and we have to be responsive,” said Gordon Jones, the dean of a new College of Innovation and Design at Boise State University in Idaho and the former director of Harvard’s Innovation Lab.
“A lot of these universities want to get in the game and serve this up because it’s hot,” Mr. Jones said. “The ones that are doing it right are investing in resources that are of high caliber and equipping students to tackle problems of importance.”
In trying to develop rich entrepreneurial ecosystems, many institutions are following a playbook established years ago by Stanford and M.I.T., which involves academic courses, practical experience and an extended alumni advisory network.
Princeton offers a variety of entrepreneurship courses. But, in a report released in May, a university advisory committee concluded that Princeton had fallen behind competing schools that had made “major upgrades” to their programs.
Among other issues, the report said, Princeton had allotted “only 1,500 square feet” for student incubator and accelerator programs, “whereas Cornell has 364,000; Penn 200,000; Berkeley 108,000; Harvard 30,000; Stanford 12,000; Yale 7,700; N.Y.U. 6,000; and Columbia 5,000.”
In November, Princeton celebrated the opening of a 10,000-square-foot Entrepreneurial Hub near campus. The university is also starting a summer internship program in Manhattan so that students can spend time at young companies. Mung Chiang, the director of the Keller Center for Innovation in Engineering Education at Princeton, said the university wanted to help students, faculty and alumni become more entrepreneurial in business, government and nonprofit work.
In 1985, college campuses in the United States offered only about 250 courses in entrepreneurship, according to a recent report from the Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation, which finances entrepreneurship education and training. In 2013, more than 400,000 students were taking such courses.
N.Y.U.’s 5,900-square-foot lab is financed by a multimillion-dollar gift from Mark Leslie, a university trustee who was the founder and chief executive of Veritas Software, and his wife, Debra. With plate glass windows overlooking Washington Place in Manhattan, the Leslie eLabprovides space for budding entrepreneurs to network, attend events and make prototypes of their products.
“Real innovation is rooted in knowledge and durable concern and interest, not just ‘I thought of something that nobody ever thought of before,’” saidJonathan Jacobs, who writes frequently about liberal education and is the chairman of the philosophy department at John Jay College of Criminal Justice of The City University of New York. “That’s not educating people, frankly.”
“Just because you have a nice space and a laundry list of entrepreneurship activities doesn’t mean there is an effective story around that program, or that students know how to navigate their way around those resources,” said Heidi Neck, a professor of entrepreneurial studies at Babson College, a business school in Wellesley, Mass.
As part of that process, Rice University introduced an interdisciplinary forum last month to promote campus research, discussion and broader courses in entrepreneurship.

The Dynamic Church - True Fellowship by John MacArthur Jr.

2015-12-08T00:26:00.001-08:00

I. THE BASIS OF FELLOWSHIP (1 John 1:3-7)
A. The Possession of Eternal Life

Anybody in fellowship with Jesus Christ is also in fellowship with anybody else in fellowship with Jesus Christ.
This is our common ground. It is not social, economic, intellectual, cosmetic, or anything else superficial.
Our common ground is that which is pulsing through the life of every Christian--the heartbeat of God.
Our common ground is that we possess a common eternal life and are children in the same family.

B. The Position of Partnership

1. THE TERM KOINONIA

The word for “fellowship” in the Greek is koinonia. Koinonia can also be translated communion, partnership, or togetherness. The simple meaning of the word is “commonness.“
Another form of the word, koinonos, means “a partner,” and koinoneomeans “to be a partner, sharer, or a partaker.“
I believe that the fellowship in the church of Jesus Christ is not basically experiential--it is positional. Positionally we are in the fellowship, therefore, we can experientially enjoy one another.

2. THE GOAL OF THE GOSPEL

The goal of the gospel was the creation of a fellowship.
The gospel is preached because God wants to draw people into His family and into a family with each other.
Truly our fellowship is with each other, with the Father, and with His Son, Jesus Christ.

C. The Potential of Unity

It’s important for us to realize that everybody who is a Christian is in the fellowship.
We are all in the family and the fellowship if we believe in the Lord Jesus Christ.

D. The Point of Contrast
II. THE NATURE OF FELLOWSHIP (Acts 2:41-47)

The basis of fellowship is salvation; the nature of fellowship - TOGETHERNESS.
Once a Christian is in the fellowship he or she has some interesting responsibilities, and they can all be summed up under the term “togetherness.

A. They Were All Saved
B. They Were All Sharing

The character of the early church was that they cared for each other and hungered for fellowship and love.
The key to unity in the church is fellowship; the key to fellowship in the church is love; and the key to love in the church is humility.

III. THE SYMBOL OF FELLOWSHIP (1 Cor. 10:16, 17)
The symbol of fellowship is found in verses 16 and 17 of 1 Corinthians chapter 10. What is it? COMMUNION.
A. The Remembrance
B. The Reality
C. The Renewal
IV. THE DANGER TO FELLOWSHIP
A. The EFFECTS of Sin on the Fellowship
1. IT RESTRICTS PERSONAL JOY
2. IT RETARDS THE MINISTERING OF SPIRITUAL GIFTS
3. IT REMOVES THE POSSIBILITY OF CAUSING JOY IN OTHERS
B. The EXCISION of Sin in the Fellowship
V. THE RESPONSIBILITY OF FELLOWSHIP
The responsibility of fellowship answers the practical questions of “What am I to do to you, with you, for you, and at you to show my fellowship?“ I like to call them the “one-anothers“ of the New Testament.
A. Confess to One Another

We’re all on the same ground, we’ve all sinned, and we all have the same struggles.
We can have an amazing breakthrough when we’re open and honest.
All Christians ought to have somebody that they can unbear their heart to, who can pray for them in their areas of weakness.

B. Forgive One Another
C. Hold Up One Another

1 . GALATIANS 6:2 says to “Bear ye one another’s burdens, and so fulfill the law of Christ.“ This is spiritual sympathy - carrying the cares of others.

2. ACTS 20:35 - Paul says, “I have shown you all things how that so laboring ye ought to support the weak, and to remember the words of the Lord Jesus, how He said, “It is more blessed to give than to receive.“ Paul says, “Support the weak help them stand up, carry them, and share their burdens.“

D. Rebuke Sin in One Another
E. Restore One Another
F. Care for One Another
G. Love One Another
H. Comfort One Another (1 Thess. 4:18; 5:11)
J. Admonish One Another (Rom. 15:14; Col. 3:16)
K. Pray for One Another (Jas. 5:16)
L. Edify One Another (Rom. 14:19; 1 Thess. 5:11)
M. Teach One Another (Col. 3:16)
VI. THE RESULT OF FELLOWSHIP
1 John 1:4 says, “These things we write unto you that your joy may be full.“ What is the result of fellowship? JOY.

Reference:

The Dynamic Church - True Fellowship, John MacArthur Jr.

Silicon Valley's financial tech boom: When your tablet becomes your adviser - San Jose Mercury News

2015-07-23T15:26:00.001-07:00

Silicon Valley's financial tech boom: When your tablet becomes your adviser - San Jose Mercury News

Personal/consumer loans:Prosper Marketplace
Lending Club
Affirm
LendUp
Springleaf
LendLift

Home loans/refinancing:
Lenda
LendingHome

Business loans:
CircleUp
Funding Circle
OnDeck Capital

Financial adviser:
FutureAdvisor
AboutLife

Stock trading:
Robinhood

Education:
SoFi
CommonBond
Affirm

Credit management:
Credit Karma
Credit Sesame

7 brilliant ways to start a presentation

2015-07-23T11:13:00.001-07:00

7 brilliant ways to start a presentation

"The beginning is the most important part of the work." —Plato

1. Tell a captivating story.

story can be about you personally, which tells the audience first-hand why you're invested in and passionate about the topic
a story about another person who the audience can learn from
tell a fable, wisdom tale, historic event, or anecdote - the idea is, start with a brief 60- to 90-second narrative that launches your speech and captivates your listeners
make sure the story encapsulates the key point of your message
questions as you craft your version of "Once upon a time":

What challenges have you (or another) faced in relation to your topic?
How did you (or another) overcome them?
Who or what helped you or harmed you?
What lessons were learned?
What do you want your audience to gain, feel, or do as a result of the story?

2. Ask a rhetorical, thought-provoking question.

"As Shakespeare wrote in 'The Merchant of Venice,' 'If you prick us, do we not bleed? If you tickle us, do we not laugh? If you poison us, do we not die? And if you wrong us, shall we not revenge?'" says Price. "As a speaker, you ask rhetorical questions for persuasive effect; you don't expect the audience to answer aloud, rather silently to themselves.

3. State a shocking statistic or headline.

the statistic, bold claim, or headline needs to be directly related to the main purpose of your presentation
its impact ideally persuades the audience to listen and respond positively to your recommendation and next steps

4. Use a powerful quote.

employ the wise words of a well-known person, because the name allows you to tap into his or her credibility, likeability, and notoriety
the quote must have meaning and relevance to the audience

5. Show a gripping photo.

a picture is worth a thousand words — maybe even more
use photos instead of text, when possible
a quality photo adds aesthetic appeal, increases comprehension, engages the audience's imagination, and makes the message more memorable

The president of an electronics equipment company needed his managers to cut costs. Rather than showing mundane charts, graphs, and spreadsheets, he opened the meeting by asking, "What sank the Titanic?" When everyone in unison replied, "an iceberg," he displayed a beautiful high-definition image of an iceberg on the screen: the tip of the iceberg was clearly visible above the water; the much larger portion was dimly visible below the surface of the water.

"The same thing is about to happen to our company," he continued. "Hidden costs — the dangers beneath the surface — are about to sink this company. I need your help." This visual metaphor spawned a creative, productive brainstorming session that inspired every business unit manager to diligently hunt for what they labeled the "icebergs". The result was saving millions and ultimately the company.

6. Use a prop or creative visual aid.
Think about how you could use items like a big wall clock, a colorful gift bag, juggling balls, a deck of cards, a bunch of carrots, or another prop, to introduce your topic, captivate the audience, inject humor, and drive home your message.

7. Play a short video.

kicking off a product management meeting with a video of compelling customer testimonials
opening a fundraising event for endangered species by showing an Amur Leopard playing with her cubs in the wild
videos evoke emotional responses
unlike text and bullet points on a slide, you can employ people, pictures, and sound to reel in the audience, add drama, and communicate the gist of your message quickly

As Walt Disney said, "I would rather entertain and hope that people learned something than educate people and hope they were entertained."

Tips for Tutoring a Child with ADHD

2015-05-24T18:20:00.001-07:00

8 Tips for Tutoring a Child With ADHD

Find ways to take a bigger subject and break it down into manageable mini lessons for your student. For example, if a child has an hour and a half of homework and studying to do, consider breaking it into three half-hour chunks with breaks of 10 to 15 minutes in between. Breaks can and should include some moving around.
All students learn better when they are allowed to learn by doing hands-on activities. Provide lots of manipulatives when working on math concepts, pull out play dough and form letters in difficult-to-spell words, get their whole body involved while practicing math facts while bouncing a basketball.
Build rewards into the lesson. Use pictures to help redirect his attention and keep focused if you need to. Anything the child can manipulate and use for creative purposes is a fun and learning-centered reward.
Look at pictures, have structured discussions and watch YouTube videos to educate and engage the student. Allowing the student to shift positions can improve focus, too.
Identify an area of passion and build on it. Do a survey with your student to tap into their likes and dislikes. Find ways to incorporate them into tutoring or your incentive system. For example, I had a student that loved to play basketball. We found a way to practice his math facts while playing basketball.
Do not assume the same thing will work with all children with ADHD. Be ready to try different techniques. Be patient and keep a positive attitude, building on any success the child has along the way. Try not to be bothered by their wiggling and movements while tutoring, resist the urge to ask them to sit still and be quiet.

30 Ideas for Teaching Children with Attention-Deficit/Hyperactivity Disorder

Use a point system, tokens, stars, or other methods to reinforce appropriate behaviors.
Give directions in simple, concrete terms. Simplify instructions, tasks and assignments. Have the child complete one step before introducing the second step.
Divide lessons into relatively short segments and use a variety of teaching aids such as films, tapes, computer programs and small group work to reinforce the child's learning.
Pause before asking questions or ask the inattentive child a question to gain his or her focus. Use the student’s name or interests in neutral ways during discussions.
Be flexible and allow a child with the ADHD disorder to stand up or squat in his chair if it helps the student complete assignments. Or, let him or her sit on the floor by you or on a large ball if that helps the child do the work. An air filled pillow or a quiet stationary exercise bike with a desk attached could also be used.

Teaching Students with ADD / ADHD

Establish eye contact with any student who has ADD/ADHD.
Keep instructions simple and structured.
Vary the pace and include different kinds of activities. Many students with ADD do well with competitive games or other activities that are rapid and intense.
Use props, charts, and other visual aids.
Allow a student with ADD/ADHD frequent breaks.

ADD / ADHD and School

Develop a “secret language” with the child with ADD/ADHD. You can use discreet gestures or words you have previously agreed upon to let the child know they are interrupting. Praise the child for interruption-free conversations.
Recognize good behavior out loud. Be specific in your praise, making sure the child knows what they did right.
Helping children with ADD/ADHD follow directions means taking measures to break down and reinforce the steps involved in your instructions, and redirecting when necessary. Try being extremely brief when giving directions, allowing the child to do one step and then come back to find out what they should do next. If the child gets off track, give a calm reminder, redirecting in a calm but firm voice. Whenever possible, write directions down in a bold marker or in colored chalk on a blackboard.
Helping children with ADD/ADHD enjoy math

They often like to hold, touch, or take part in an experience in order to learn something new.
Play games. Use memory cards, dice, or dominoes to make numbers fun. Or simply use your fingers and toes, tucking them in or wiggling them when you add or subtract.
Draw pictures. Especially for word problems, illustrations can help kids better understand mathematical concepts. If the word problem says there are twelve cars, help your child draw them from steering wheel to trunk.
Invent silly acronyms. In order to remember order of operations, for example, make up a song or phrase that uses the first letter of each operation in the correct order.

Helping children with ADD/ADHD enjoy reading

Keep in mind that reading at its most basic level made up of stories and interesting information—things that all children enjoy.
Read to children. Read with children. Make reading cozy, quality time with you.
Make predictions or “bets.” Constantly ask the child what they think might happen next. Model prediction: “The girl in the story seems pretty brave—I bet she’s going to try to save her family.”
Act out the story. Let the child choose his or her character and assign you one, too. Use funny voices and costumes to bring it to life.

About to begin tutoring ADHD student for the first time. Need advice.

ADD'ers perform better while under pressure or when they are enjoying what they're doing, or when they are very interested in the subject at hand.
Build in competitive elements or game-like scenarios with lots of challenges.
Be flexible.
Make the activities as interactive as possible. Make him give you the answers rather than you telling them to him. Constantly check for knowledge, that he is getting what you are teaching him. Make it fun.
Try to connect the curriculum to things he is interested in as well. For example, I surf skate and wakeboard and a lot of my kids do too. So I'm happy if they do their English assignments around these kind of things if it suits the criteria.
For the reading comp maybe get him to take notes or restate what he has learnt back to you to check for understanding.
For the reading comp, I would first find a topic he's interested in (asking questions like what movies do you like? What do you like to do? What was the last book you read that you liked?)
Figure out where his independent and instructional reading levels are-- that is, at what grade level can he read without assistance, what grade level can he read with your support, and what is simply too hard (frustration level). Read instructional materials with him during tutoring.

Book talks: Introduce the story line to him and lead him to a moment that makes him want to know more (think Reading Rainbows)
Projects that involve getting into the story: Having him draw pictures of a setting, asking him questions about characters as he reads (what do you think about Tom Sawyer's decision to trick someone else into painting the fence? What would you have done?), having him make connections...
Set a purpose for reading (write it down before you begin)
Model for him with a read-aloud: show him the thought processes of an experieced reader (monitoring comprehension, asking yourself questions, using context clues)
Scanning the text: this is great for textbook reading (but you could practice with a pcitue book or a book with picutres in it... or even a magazine). Have him look at the pictures and headings, and write down predictions before he reads (or you can write them for him to speed things up). Then, as you read the story, check the predictions with what actually happens in the story.

12 Habits of Exceptional Leaders

2015-05-20T20:49:00.001-07:00

12 Habits of Exceptional Leaders

1. Courage

“Courage is the first virtue that makes all other virtues possible.” —Aristotle

2. Effective Communication

“The more elaborate our means of communication, the less we communicate.” —Joseph Priestley

3. Generosity

“A good leader is a person who takes a little more than his share of the blame and a little less than his share of the credit.”

—John Maxwell

4. Humility

“Humility is not thinking less of yourself, it’s thinking of yourself less.”

—C.S. Lewis

5. Self-Awareness

“It is absurd that a man should rule others, who cannot rule himself.”
—Latin Proverb

6. Adherence to the Golden Rule +1

“The way you see people is the way you treat them, and the way you treat them is what they become.”

—Jon Wolfgang von Goethe

7. Passion

“If you just work on stuff that you like and are passionate about, you don’t have to have a master plan with how things will play out.”

—Mark Zuckerberg

8. Infectiousness

“The very essence of leadership is that you have to have a vision. It’s got to be a vision you articulate clearly and forcefully on every occasion. You can’t blow an uncertain trumpet.”
—Reverend Theodore Hesburgh

9. Authenticity

“Just be who you are and speak from your guts and heart--it’s all a man has.”

—Hubert Humphrey

10. Approachability

“Management is like holding a dove in your hand. Squeeze too hard and you kill it, not hard enough and it flies away.”
—Tommy Lasorda

11. Accountability

“The ancient Romans had a tradition: Whenever one of their engineers constructed an arch, as the capstone was hoisted into place, the engineer assumed accountability for his work in the most profound way possible: He stood under the arch.”
—Michael Armstrong

12. Sense Of Purpose

“You don’t lead by pointing and telling people some place to go. You lead by going to that place and making a case.”
—Ken Kesey

Silicon Valley companies plan hiring spree in 2015 - San Jose Mercury News

2015-05-20T19:21:00.001-07:00

Silicon Valley companies plan hiring spree in 2015 - San Jose Mercury News

Top strengths of silicon valley

1. Entrepreneurial mindset (was No. 2 in 2014)
2. Access to skilled labor (was No. 1 in 2014)
3. Proximity to customers and competitors (was No. 3 in 2014)
4. Climate and weather (was No. 5 in 2014)
5. World-class universities (was No. 4 in 2014)

MAJOR CHALLENGES FACING SILICON VALLEY

1. High housing costs (92 percent of respondents listed this as No. 1, the highest level for the category since 2009, also was No. 1 in 2014)
2. Employee recruitment (was No. 2 in 2014)
3. Traffic congestion (was No. 3 in 2014)
4. Business regulations (was No. 4 in 2014)
5. Business taxes (was No. 5 in 2014)

10 Encouraging Bible Verses with Quote Photos

2015-05-10T21:53:00.002-07:00

http://www.christianquotes.info/top-quotes/10-encouraging-bible-verses-with-quote-photos/

10 Have I not commanded you? Be strong and courageous. Do not be terrified; do not be discouraged, for the LORD your God will be with you wherever you go.

Joshua 1:9

9 And my God will meet all your needs according to his glorious riches in Christ Jesus.

Philippians 4:19

8 Be strong and of good courage, do not fear nor be afraid of them; for the Lord your God, He is the One who goes with you. He will not leave you nor forsake you.

Deuteronomy 31:6

7 Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I will fear no evil, for you are with me; your rod and your staff, they comfort me.

Psalm 23:4

6 But they that wait upon the Lord will renew their strength They shall mount up with wings as eagles; they will run and not be weary,and they shall walk and not faint.

Isaiah 40:31

5 But Jesus looked at them and said, With men it is impossible, but not with God; for with God all things are possible.

Mark 10:27

4 For I know the thoughts that I think toward you, says the Lord, thoughts of peace and not of evil, to give you a future and a hope.

Jeremiah 29:11

3 The name of the Lord is a strong tower; the righteous run to it and are safe.

Proverbs 18:10

2 I can do all things through Christ who strengthens me.

Philippians 4:13

1Come to me, all you who are weary and burdened, and I will give you rest.

Matthew 11:28

Tips and Advice for Swimmers

2015-05-01T20:56:00.001-07:00

From SRVLA May 2015 Newsletter, Coach Richard's Message:

Swimmers need to choose to learn. Practices are set up so learning will occur. Auditory learners learn through listening. Visual learners learn by reading about something and trying it or seeing an action and copying it. Kinesthetic learners learn by feel (trial and error). They learn by doing and retrying different ways until they find the best way to do things. The best athletes are kinesthetic learners, usually.

Swimmers that expect to be successful and therefore, are always figuring out the fastest
and easiest way to do things will improve dramatically. They must have all three. Expectation of success, fastest AND easiest; not one or the other. The swimmers that do these things will be really good or at least as good as they can be. If they have these things in Fly, but in Breaststroke they have no expectation of success, then they will not have the same success as in Fly no matter how much they work on their Breaststroke.

Therefore, success is totally up to the swimmer on a daily basis. Swimmers can be as good as they want to be and how fast they improve is totally up to them. Swimmers must be engaged at practice. Young people have short attention spans which can be a challenge, but if practices are designed correctly, then it will only be a small challenge.

Expect to succeed. Expect to be good enough. Feel worthy.
Then and only then will the work you put toward something show full results and be worth the effort.
Once being successful is a daily expectation, then always strive to be as fast as possible and as relaxed as possible in any skill you learn.
These seem to be the keys to success in swimming. Perhaps in LIFE too.

From SRVLA April 2015 Newsletter, Coach Richard's Message:

Something I noticed at the JO Champs was that tough swimmers were successful. They
were successful if they were focused on their goals and tough enough to handle competition. The swimmers in the age group program did very well at the JO Champs sometimes swimming better than swimmers from other teams that were bigger, faster and more talented. It has become pretty obvious that tough swimmers have a better chance of reaching their goals than talented swimmers with questionable toughness. Toughness may be the most important attribute of great athletes.

Having said that, beware the "Bulldozer Parent" ("Snowplow Parent" for you Canadians). That is the parent that pushes all obstacles out of the way for the child. Anything that we do for our swimmers that they can do for themselves makes them weaker. Orinda Aquatics has a sign on their bulletin board that says: "Prepare the child for the path, not the path for the child." Toughness is a learned trait. The swimmer has a better chance of learning it if it is expected of them early in their development.

From SRVLA March 2015 Newsletter, Coach Richard's Message:

What do swimmers need to learn to be successful?

1) They need to learn to swim goal race pace relaxed and easy.
Swimmers should be practicing high speed swims daily at race pace as efficiently and as relaxed as possible. This would be working on Opening Speed for a race. The faster one can go in a relaxed state with as low a heart rate as possible, the faster one can finish their races on Meet Day.

2) They need to learn to swim really fast underwater off of walls.
Underwater fish kicks and underwater pull downs on BRST are so very important. Get good at them and use them as a weapon in competition. He who uses them at the end of their races is the real champion. It is hard to beat someone that does 8 fish kicks off their last turn.

3) They need to learn to swim easy longer swims and drills with great technique while eliminating drag.
How fast a swimmer holds speed between propulsive movements determines who the best swimmers are. During long easy swims, work on holding stroke length and speed. Underwater shoulder down and forward on Free and Back. Chest below belly button on Fly and Breast. If water travels down both sides of the body a human body can eliminate 50% of its drag. A swimmer has to learn it going slow, first.

4) They need to learn to switch gears for speed.
Just like riding a ten speed, switch gears for each speed and distance that you want to go. Swimmers that switch gears efficiently to finish races are more successful than swimmers that try to hold on to a fatiguing stroke technique to hold speed. Learn closing speed; how to set it up, how to get to it and how to finish races well. It takes practice. This skill must be practiced in practice and in meets.

Swimmers need to learn all these things to be a well rounded swimmer with a hope of being an international competitor. The earlier the better to learn these lessons. Once a swimmer has learned these things they will have a huge advantage over their competitors.

From SRVLA February 2015 Newsletter, Coach Richard's Message:

Why does swimmer confidence have so much effect on swimmer performance? If you have ever heard the term: "Swim your own race", you can understand. Swimmers of all ages spend time in training, rehearsing the race plan they want to swim on competition day. Swimmers know exactly how to go a best time in every race. In competition, however, their are seven other swimmers in each swimmer's heat. These swimmers all swim their races differently. Some go out fast, some swim even pace and some are very erratic in their pacing. All these swimmers provide visual feedback to our swimmer. The confident swimmer takes in that visual feedback, has some self talk in their mind, handles that self talk, refocuses on their original game plan and gets back to the business of swimming their own race. This leads to a great final time.

The unconfident swimmer takes in the visual feedback, second guesses themselves, throws the practiced race plan out the window and tries some untrained swimming plan which usually leads to a poor swim. Great swimmers practice an optimal race plan and stick to it under pressure. The body will get very good at swimming races a certain way. Changing in the heat of battle usually leads to adding time. Plan your race and race your plan.

I have talked before about how the best swimmers ignore other swimmers better than average swimmers do. They race other swimmers at the end of their races when they know it will help them and ignore other swimmers early in the race and at times when they know it will do them no good. I have said this before, but when a swimmer can ignore other swimmers at a CBA+ meet, then it is time to try it at the JO Champs. When a swimmer can do it there then it is time to try ignoring other swimmers at Far Westerns and again at each step all the way up to the Olympics. That is called experience.

When you see a swimmer that can only swim fast when they have a big lead, but has trouble swimming a best time when they are not winning, that is a swimmer whose confidence is easily shaken. That is a swimmer that needs to work on handling self talk and on confidence and focus under pressure.

"Sports is 99% Mental". Now, you can understand why the above is so important. All young swimmers are front runners. From 8 years of age until we send them off to College, the above skills are so important to master to become a WINNER. Winning is not finishing first. Winning is doing well when ever the athlete decides to do so regardless of the place one is in in their heat. When the swimmer is in control of their confidence and focus, they will be in control of when and where they swim best times.

That control makes for a happy and healthy swim career and it will help them in their future adult lives as well.

From SRVLA January 2015 Newsletter, Coach Richard's Message:

Confidence is the most important trait for an athlete.

Conditioning, training, technique, practice attendance, heredity, talent, height, strength, etc. are all important but none is as important as confidence. At some point in every race, it is time to stick to your race plan and go for it (i.e.: "I am going to swim my own race for the first 100 and then really go and try to win this thing."). If a swimmer's self talk is not confident they will never be comfortable putting themselves out there and taking a risk. Self Talk must be monitored and improved on a daily basis, whether it is in practice or in competition.

To be great, at some point in each race, you must make a move and put yourself out there, announcing to the world that you want to win this race. If you are not confident, it will not happen. The swimmer thinking about protecting himself because of doubt will not take a risk. No risk equals no glory.

Swim your own race. Get out fast but smooth then somewhere late in the race, go for it and take a risk. Put yourself in the lead or come up and challenge the heat leaders and see what happens. It is a big assumption to think that they are always better than you.

Challenge them. Challenge yourself. Be aware of your own self talk and work to make it more positive. As far as your self talk is concerned, treat yourself the way you want others to treat you.

Winners win whether they finish first or not. Treat yourself like a winner and talk to yourself like a winner. Start today in your next practice and meet.

Men and the midlife crisis: Why a sports car (or an affair) won’t make things better

2015-04-26T18:38:00.001-07:00

Men and the midlife crisis: Why a sports car (or an affair) won’t make things better - San Jose Mercury News

By Martha Ross

mross@bayareanewsgroup.com

POSTED: 04/22/2015 03:00:00 PM PDT

passage to the second half of life - author Gail Sheehy
men are famous for hiding true feelings of loss, fear, shame and despair behind masks of stoicism and capability
Conditioned to "fix" things, men may take rash steps when they get that midlife sense that time is running out: quitting jobs, filing for divorce, starting affairs; or falling into destructive behaviors like alcohol or drug abuse, gambling or porn. Even a healthy pursuit, like training for triathlons, can disrupt their lives and close relationships if taken to extremes.
Growing research shows that what is popularly viewed as the "midlife crisis" is a predictable and normal dip in happiness that both men and women experience in their 40s and 50s, as Jonathan Rauch pointed out in his November 2014 Atlantic article, "The Real Roots of Midlife Crisis."
data shows a U-shaped pattern of happiness over the course of people's lives
In their 20s and 30s, people feel optimistic as it seems they have all the time in the world to pursue their dreams. But they may start to hit "roadblocks" as they enter their late 30s, Freemire says. Or, they achieve "external" measures of success -- promotions, awards, nice house, money -- but feel empty, sometimes because it seems there are no more challenges.
We become aware that our choices start to narrow in life because time starts to run away.
Parents become ill and die. Old sports injuries cause aches and pains. The flesh sags, the hair thins and sexual function and desire flag. People start to realize they'll probably never get that partnership, publish that book or climb the world's tallest peaks.
I'm just another cog in the wheel, and maybe I'm not as special as I once thought I was.
a 2011 study by Stanford University psychologist Laura Carstensen found that "the peak of emotional life" may not occur until people reach their 70s.
It's helpful for men to be able to open up to other men.
men can help one another realize they're not alone in questioning their life choices or struggling emotionally and they can also help one another figure out whether life changes need to be made.
gained enough perspective to see that what he experienced is part of life's "journey."
learning to accept aging and the inevitability of change, loss, renewal and death is probably key to surviving midlife challenges
that no one is immune from suffering. ... Everyone has a story
accepting life unfolding as it does and learning the mechanisms to embrace what's wonderful and to also work with what's tragic and difficult
http://www.contracostamenscenter.com/

Employee vs Contractor

2015-04-20T20:20:00.001-07:00

Employee vs. contractor: A tax distinction

Employee	Contractor
- your boss pays half of your Social Security and Medicare taxes (together usually referred to as FICA taxes) - withholds your half of these taxes from your pay - W-2	- you pay 100 percent of the FICA taxes when you file your tax return - Form 1099-MISC

a contractor to get more pay than an employee -- typically 25 percent to 30 percent more

The skinny on paying estimated taxes

Estimated filing schedule
Estimated tax due	For income received
April 15	Jan. 1 through March 31
June 15	April 1 through May 31
Sept. 15	June 1 through Aug. 31
Jan. 15	Sept. 1 through Dec. 31

The IRS has set up a timetable, calling for estimated tax payments four times a year. Although the payments are commonly called quarterly, they don't coincide with calendar quarters.

The four estimated tax payments are generally due each year on the 15th of April, June, September and January. But if that date falls on a weekend or federal holiday, the 1040-ES filing deadline is pushed to the following business day.

The IRS prefers you figure the total estimated tax for the entire year, divide it by four and send in equal payments according to the schedule. There's a work sheet with the Form 1040-ES package or as part of your tax software to do it.

You can send a paper check along with the Form 1040-ES voucher. Alternatively, you can file electronically with a credit card or by enrolling in the tax agency's Electronic Federal Tax Payment System, or EFTPS.

Alternate payment options

All you need is last year's tax return and statements showing current tax withholding.

Figuring estimated payments
Look at Page 2 of your last 1040, specifically the "total tax" entry. Let's say it was:	$10,000
From that, deduct any withholding you expect to have from any sources (wages, unemployment). For this example, let's use:	$3,000
That gives you the total amount to be made up by estimated tax payments:	$7,000
Dividethe result by 4, and that's what you'd pay the IRS each quarter in this scenario:	$1,750

This method works even if you expect to owe substantially more in taxes this year than you did the previous one. This is because the IRS considers estimated taxpayers compliant as long as they pay either 90 percent of their eventual tax bill or a "safe harbor" payment based on a percentage of the tax owed the previous year.

Difference between contract and full time?

From a purely financial standpoint, realize there are multiple differences that add up to a substantial gap in the after-tax value of your nominal rate of pay.

as a self-employed contractor, you pay both halves of the Social Security and Medicare taxes(in 2012 that's an extra 7.65% over what you'd pay as an employee)
no paid vacation/sick days
no paid holidays (varies by employer, but in 2012 there were 10 official Federal holidays)
no benefits such as health/dental insurance, life insurance
no 401K matching (seems like this one is overlooked; it can be a huge bump to your effective salary, as any match is essentially bonus money, and grows tax-free)

You can quantify the cumulative impact of these differences depending on what a "normal" amount of PTO and benefits looks like in your line of work. The effective take-home pay cut for moving from full to contract position at the same nominal rate:

even if you get one week's vacation and five paid holidays, with no benefits, that would be a 12% hit.
if you're getting a combined 4 weeks vacation/PTO, with good health benefits, then you might be looking at a 20% hit or more.

The amount you lose due to the above factors can be mitigated by writing off some of your income as business expenses; these can include equipment purchases used for business (laptop, cell phone, office supplies), or even part of your rent/mortgage if you keep space for a home office. But realistically, this amount may not be much; even if you're able to write off $5K in expenses, that will only translate to maybe $2K less in taxes.

The take-home message is to either ask for more money as a contractor, or expect to take a pay cut.

In the US a rule of thumb is that the fully burdened rate for a employee is 1.75 to 2.25 times their salary. The fully burdened rate includes salary, benefits, overhead and profits.

W2 vs 1099 - Rate Difference

The employment taxes (social security and medicare) amount to 15.3% of your gross wages. When you're a W2 employee, your employer pays half of this and withholds the other half from your paycheck.

When you're independent (1099) you're expected to pay the whole amount yourself, from the money you earn. You need to file a quarterly estimated tax payment to do this. You'll also need to pay quarterly estimates for your federal and state tax (in the same payments) because nobody's withholding that money from your paycheck.

Employers also pay such things as federal and state unemployment insurance premiums and workers' compensation premiums. If you're independent you won't have those things: you won't be eligible for unemployment benefits. You're self-employed. If you do hazardous work you might consider getting your own hazard insurance.

Those things are why independent (1099) contractor hourly rates are typically higher than employee rates. You should definitely earn a bare minimum of 7.65% more per hour for the same work when you're a 1099 contractor -- that's you're share of social security / medicare. You should ask for 12% or so -- e.g. $36 per hour rather than $30, or $75 rather than $60.

The good news: You're a small business. You can file a Schedule C (sole proprietorship business) with your income tax return. On Sched C you can write off lots of costs: marketing, some equipment, licenses, telecommunications, some travel, etc. You can also give yourself a Simplified Employee Pension Plan (IRA-SEPP), into which you deposit tax-deferred money for retirement.

You can also write off the costs of a home office, but be careful: the tax authorities like to audit those claims. I've never thought it was worth the trouble.

If you're a 1099 contractor, it's a good idea to get in the habit of submitting regular invoices to your customer (your employer). Find out who actually pays those invoices in your customer organization. Ask that person to check over your first invoice, and make sure everything they need to expedite payment is on there. Find out how often they write payment checks (e.g. every other Thursday, or on the 11th and 24th of each month, or whatever), and how far in advance you should submit the invoice so it can get approved and paid.

All in all the 1099 route is an excellent way to go if you're disciplined enough to save the money you need to file your quarterly estimated tax payments.

How do I determine what percentage of a billed rate should a software consultant be paid?

Most businesses will estimate that the fully loaded cost of an employee is going to be in the neighborhood of 150% of that employee's salary.

Taxes - Your employer is paying the 6.2% employer half of your Social Security tax and the 1.45% employer half of your Medicare tax that you'd have to pay if you were self employed. That's 7.65% of your salary. Plus, there are going to be additional taxes for things like unemployment, state taxes, etc.
Benefits - The amount that an employer pays for an employee's health insurance can easily exceed $10,000 a year. Then there are things like 401(k) plans and other fringe benefits that employers have to pay to establish and that employers may contribute to.
Vacations and Holidays - If you're getting 2 weeks of vacation and another 10 days off for holidays and sick time, that means that you're actually billing 48 of 52 weeks in the year. That adds ~7.7% to the employer's fully loaded cost. And that goes up if you spend a week or two a year on the bench in an average year or if you're getting more holidays.

Salaried employee vs contractor

Amount of income – What is your salary and what is the consulting pay rate you are comparing?
Dental/Medical/LTD/STD/Life – Usually you have to pay a lot more in medical premiums as a consultant, to the tune of $500/month for a family plan (and were talking a $7500 individual deductible with no maternity coverage, no pre-existing condition coverage…better coverage can cost a LOT more)
Vacation – Perms get paid vacations, consultants only get paid when they work
Sick – Perms get some paid sick days, consultants do not
Holidays – Perms get paid holidays, consultants do not
Bonuses – Perms sometimes get bonuses, consultants do not
Taxes – You must pay 7.65% in self-employment taxes if you are 1099
Moving expenses – Sometimes as a perm you will get your moving expenses paid, but not as a consultant
Misc expenses paid (i.e. cell & internet) – Sometimes as a perm you will get miscellaneous expenses paid, but not as a consultant
401k – Some companies match a percentage of your contribution to a 401k if you are a perm
Stock options – Sometimes as a perm you will get stock options
Bench time – As a consultant, if you are on the “bench” (i.e. in-between projects), you don’t get paid: you are only paid when you are working and billing the client
Training/Certifications/Conferences – Most companies will pay for training if you are a perm, and not only the cost to attend but your salary while you are in training. A consultant has to pay his own costs to attend and does not get paid while attending
Paid expenses when working at client – Some consulting gigs won’t pay your travel expenses. Perms travel expenses are paid (sidenote: If you have your expenses paid as a consultant, and you drive to a nearby city each week, it’s like having your car payment paid for. Mileage is paid at 55-cents a mile, so a 200 mile trip twice a week gets you around $950/month, subtracting the cost of gas)
Yearly salary increases – Most perms get annual bumps in salary
Overtime – Perms don’t get paid for OT, but consultants do
Frequency of pay – Perms get paid weekly or bi-weekly like clockwork, 1099 consultants have to invoice and wait up to 30 days
Promotions – Perms usually get promotions every few years. Consultants get “promotions” by finding a project that pays a higher rate
Annual reviews – Perms have annual reviews by their boss which sometimes results in a pay increase. You are your own boss as a consultant
Tax deductions – Consultants can “write off” many expenses that a perm can’t

Some other differences to keep in mind that are not related to pay:

Travel – Perms tend to have very little travel. As a consultant you could travel frequently
Laptop – Perms get a company-provided laptop. Consultants must buy their own
Length of contract – As a consultant, you always have an “end date” when you will have to start looking for another project
Work hours – Perms usually have fixed work hours, but consultants usually have more flexibility
Type of work (maintenance or development) – Perms tend to have to maintain applications they build, as well as maintain existing applications. Consultants usually move on to another project when one is completed so are frequently doing new development work
Workers comp/unemployment – Perms are eligible for workers compensation and unemployment. Consultants are not

So let’s look at a detailed example for a perm and a consultant:

Perm: Your salary is $90k, with a 10% yearly bonus. You pay $300/m for health insurance. Your company matches up to 3% of your salary for 401k (for which you need to contribute 6% of your salary to the 401k), and you get a little company stock each year worth about $1k. So your “true” salary is around $100K.

Contractor (1099): Your rate is $60/hr. Since you only get paid when you work, subtract out 80-hours for 2 weeks of vacation, 80 hours for 10 holidays, and 40 hours for sick/miscellaneous. Assume $600/m for health insurance and another $100/m for dental. Don’t forget 7.65% in self-employment tax. We will say no bench time or overtime work, and you are not paying for any training. Finally, we will say the tax deductions you get being 1099 save you $5k per year. Doing the calculations, your true salary is around $100K.

More Info:

4G LTE Information

2015-04-18T15:42:00.002-07:00

Switching carriers? You may be able to take your iPhone 5S with you (CNET, 08/17/2014)

The Future of Mobile Broadband LTE 2014 (SlideShare, 12/02/2014, 72)

List of LTE networks (Wikipedia)

AT&T - 2, 4, 5, 17
T-Mobile - 2, 4, 12
Verizon - 2, 4, 13
China Mobile (China) - 38, 39, 40, 41
China Telecom - 41
China Unicom - 38, 41
China Mobile (Hong Kong) - 3, 7, 40

Online Safety - Part 2: Social Media

2015-03-22T20:24:00.003-07:00

General Information

Social networking service (Wikipedia)
List of social networking websites (Wikipedia)
List of virtual communities with more than 100 million active users (Wikipedia)

Facebook - an online social networking service

A lot of apps you don't even remember using may be tracking your Facebook activity — here's how to stop them
Basic Privacy Settings & Tools (Facebook Help Center)
How to Set Facebook Privacy Settings
Facebook Security Best Practices
8 Facebook Privacy Settings To Check (InformationWeek, 12/10/2014)
Facebook Privacy: 10 Settings To Check (InformationWeek - 06/05/2014)
Facebook Privacy Settings (Huffington Post)
How to Update Your Facebook Privacy Settings

Twitter - an online social networking service that enables users to send and read short 140-character messages called "tweets"

Instagram - an online mobile photo-sharing, video-sharing and social networking service

Snapchat - a photo messaging application

Online Safety - Part 1

2015-03-21T22:31:00.001-07:00

Cybersecurity

Be sure to use and update your anti-virus software

Free anti-virus software

Avast (for Windows, Mac, Android, iOS/iPhone/iPad)
AVG (for Windows, Android)
Microsoft Security Essential (for Windows)

The Best Free Antivirus for 2015 (PC Magazine, 12/16/2014)

Spyware and Adware

Software that gathers user information through the Internet without their knowledge, usually for advertising
Typically bundled as a hidden component of freeware or shareware programs that can be downloaded from the Internet
Monitors your activity and sends that information to someone else undetected
Free anti-spyware/adware software

Phishing - Fraudsters send fake emails or set up fake web sites that mimic Yahoo!'s sign-in pages (or the sign-in pages of other trusted companies, such as eBay or PayPal) to trick you into disclosing your user name and password.

How Can I Identify a Phishing Website or Email?

Pop-ups are a form of online advertising intended to attract web traffic or capture information. Pop-ups appear in a separate, usually small, browser window. These windows may include advertisements or ask you to enter personal information such as your credit card account number, expiration date, and security code. By clicking on a link in a pop-up, spyware or malware may be downloaded onto your computer without your knowledge. Pop-up windows that occur even while you are not browsing the Internet may be an indicator that your computer is infected by spyware or malware.
Choose and use passwords wisely – Make certain that your password contains at least 8 characters and includes a variety of numbers, letters, and/or symbols. It's important to use different passwords for different activities — not necessarily for each site you use, but at least to segregate sensitive from nonsensitive services.
User friends-only settings - make sure all posts and profiles on social networking sites are set to be viewed by "close friends" only
Keep devices in the open - computers, smartphones, and online games should be in high traffic areas, i.e. not in the bedroom for kid
Use aliases - non-identifiable nicknames should be used on gaming and social networking sites
Keep personal information private - don't share information such as name, birth date, home town, or school name
You can't take it back - the internet is forever, so be careful about what you and your kids post
Download with care – Download images, applications, and screen savers from trusted sources only. Make certain that you know that the website you are visiting and it is one you can trust.
Do not immediately open e-mail attachments – If you receive an e-mail attachment that you were not expecting (even if it is from someone you know), do not open it—there may be a virus contained within it. Your best bet is to send e-mail back to the sender asking them to explain what the attachment contains. If it is a virus, they may not even know the e-mail was sent. This extra step can really help to protect your system!
When you receive a message that makes you feel uncomfortable, do not respond – Immediately shut off your monitor or close your laptop and talk to a parent or trusted adult.

Cybersafety

Geotagging - the storage of location based data, in the form of Latitude and Longitude inside of images; essentially tagging your photograph with the geographic location

What is geo-tagging? Securing yourself, your family and your assets.
How to disable geotagging on your smartphone
How do I disable geotagging on my smartphone?
How to disable a smart phone's geotagging feature
How do I turn off geotagging on my iPhone 5?
Here’s How to Disable Geotagging for Photos on iPhone/iPad
How to turn off GeoTagging pictures on Android devices
How to Turn Off “Geotagging” in Your Twitter, Facebook, Instagram and Pinterest
How to Turn Off Geotags in Firefox
How to remove geolocation data from iPhone photos
Consider installing a plug-in on your browser to reveal location data – such as Exif Viewer for Firefox or Opanda IExif for Internet Explorer (also as Firefox extension) , so you can see geotagged data for yourself.

Is the website I visit safe or trust worthy? There are free tools you can use to check website while you browse internet with a browser or going search (like with Google).

4 Tools To Check If A Website Is Safe For Browsing
WOT - Web of Trust (add-on for Chrome, Firefox, Internet Explorer, Opera, and Safari).

WOT displays a colored traffic light next to website links to show you which sites people trust for safe searching, surfing and shopping online: green for good, red for bad, and yellow as a warning to be cautious. The icons are shown in popular search engine results, social media, online email, shortened URL’s, and lots of other sites.
Check a Website’s Reputation and Trustworthiness in your Web Browser

Norton Safe Web (for Chrome)
McAfee SiteAdvisor (for Chrome, Firefox, IE - not free) - download free browser plug-in
Avast Online Security (for Chrome)
AVG Secure Search

Ad Blocker for browser

Adblock Plus (for Chrome, Firefox, IE)

Block tracking by website

AVG Do Not Track (for Chrome, Firefox)

How to Identify Trustworthy Informational Websites
How do I know if I can trust a website?
What to do when you lost your phone

iPhone/iPad

Android Phone

Cyber Savvy is a student-led, positive norms approach to teach upper intermediate, middle, and high school students (grades 5 – 12) about digital safety, including effective digital decision-making, safe posting of personal information, digital relationships, social networking, cyberbullying, and digital dating/exploitation. The schools that have used this program in the pilot testing have been very pleased with the results.

Cyberbullying

Stop - correspondence
Block - the offender from your communication lists
Tell - a trustworthy adult
How to deal with cyberbullying

Digital Citizen

How to be a good digital citizen
Language and Conduct

Only type something that you would say to a person’s face
No swearing or offensive comments because someone’s feelings may be hurt
Facial expressions are not able to be read on the Internet, so make sure to let a person know when you are joking; do not joke in a potentially offensive way

Internet Conduct

If you disagree with someone, express your opinions respectfully.
Typing in all capitals means that you’re yelling and may hurt someone’s feelings.
Don’t use your computer to harm others!
Just treat people online just like you would in real life – just treat others as you’d want them to treat you.

Additional Resources

StopCyberBully.org
Internet Education Foundation
Embrace Civility
FightCyberStalking.org
McAfee Security Advice Center - keep yourself up to date on the latest security threats and download free resources
McAfee Online Safety for Kids - learn more about what McAfee does to keep kids and families everywhere safe on the internet

The FIVE Dysfunctions of a TEAM

2014-10-28T20:57:00.001-07:00

Author: Patrick Lencioni (The Table Group)
Published: 2002

Reference:

Wikipedia
Summary #1 (PDF)
Summary #2 (PDF)
Summary #3 (PDF)
summary.com
Slides #1 (slideshare)
The Five Dysfunctions of a Team Quotes (goodreads)
Book Review #1 (PDF)

Ming's Research Pages

Event - SVAC 80s Musical 20240824

世間始終你好

Lyrics

上海灘

Lyrics

陸小鳳

Lyrics

只有情永在

Lyrics

小李飛刀

Lyrics

心債

Lyrics

獅子山下

Lyrics

萬水千山總是情

Lyrics

難為正邪定分界

Lyrics

浪子心聲

Lyrics

似水流年

Lyrics

陪著你走

Lyrics

漫步人生路

Lyrics

順流逆流

Lyrics

一生的滿足

Lyrics

Trip - Chengdu 成都, China

Chengdu 成都

Giant Panda 大熊猫

Leshan Giant Buddha 樂山大佛

Drainage system

Jiuzhaigou 九寨溝

Dujiangyan irrigation system 都江堰

Huanglong 黃龍

Chengdu Tianfu International AirportReference

Agile - 𝗟𝗲𝘁'𝘀 𝗷𝘂𝘀𝘁 𝗮𝗱𝗱 𝗼𝗻𝗲 𝗺𝗼𝗿𝗲 𝗳𝗲𝗮𝘁𝘂𝗿𝗲 / 𝘀𝘁𝗼𝗿𝘆 😱

Some Information for Yellowstone National Park

Genesis 10:1 to 11:9

New Year Resolutions

30 essential wisdoms and secrets to success for women in their 30s — from women who have been there

Online Safety - Part 3

Characteristics of Christian Fellowship

Christian Fellowship

Concepts of Fellowship in the New Testament

A. RELATIONSHIP: The Foundation for Fellowship

B. PARTNERSHIP: The Means of Fellowship

C. COMPANIONSHIP: The Method of Fellowship

D. STEWARDSHIP: The Overflow of Fellowship

Universities Race to Nurture Start-Up Founders of the Future - The New York Times

The Dynamic Church - True Fellowship by John MacArthur Jr.

Silicon Valley's financial tech boom: When your tablet becomes your adviser - San Jose Mercury News

7 brilliant ways to start a presentation

Tips for Tutoring a Child with ADHD

12 Habits of Exceptional Leaders

1. Courage

2. Effective Communication

3. Generosity

4. Humility

5. Self-Awareness

6. Adherence to the Golden Rule +1

7. Passion

8. Infectiousness

9. Authenticity

10. Approachability

11. Accountability

12. Sense Of Purpose

Silicon Valley companies plan hiring spree in 2015 - San Jose Mercury News

10 Encouraging Bible Verses with Quote Photos

Tips and Advice for Swimmers

Men and the midlife crisis: Why a sports car (or an affair) won’t make things better

Employee vs Contractor

Alternate payment options

4G LTE Information

Online Safety - Part 2: Social Media

Chengdu Tianfu International Airport

Reference

Concepts of
Fellowship in the New Testament