Say you’re inspired by apples; here’s the color scheme for "green apple.” Or, perhaps lighthouses are playing a prominent role in your décor. How about a garden wedding? Or, do like I did, and enter your favorite sports team. Or a favorite movie. There’s a list of pre-set color schemes if you’re not sure where to start as well as a list of the most popular searches. It’s a great place to start if you’re looking for inspiration! Be warned: this site could be a time sucker.

Money is a very big part of a marriage. Having enough to spend, and to do the things each wants to do, is important to both parties. When couples are not able to do that, then other issues pop up in the relationship. When husband and wife are not on the same page as far as family finances go, other difficulties inevitably arise.

Effective communication often emerges as the most difficult obstacle to establishing goals and expectations, and developing a financial plan. Many of us have been taught during childhood that discussing money is somehow inappropriate. Couples must understand that it is not only appropriate but absolutely necessary to managing finances in a marriage. Just as finances must be planned in a business, they must also be planned in a marriage. You must communicate in spite of any difficulty.

For example, how do you get your spouse to understand that he or she will need to curb their spending habits so that you both can begin putting money away?

There s got to be a viable agreement, because most couples discover that a lack of money, a lack of spending control, or a lack of fall-back savings eventually causes other problems in a marriage. Little things grow into much bigger things. However, as emphasized by Daniel Smith a noted financial expert cited in The Marriage Medics, future arguments over finances can be avoided by simply communicating, creating an understanding of expectations, setting objectives and agreeing on a financial roadmap.

The Marriage Medics outlines the following financial plan of attack for couples of any age:

1. Stop living beyond your means.

2. Treat the household like a business.

3. Create an income-and-expense statement.

4. Create a balance sheet.

5. Create a budget.

6. Figure out how to pay down your debt. Agree on a plan of action in which you both share equally in cutbacks.

7. Find ways to cut expenses.

8. Go on a debt diet starting with the little stuff.

9. Have only one credit card for your entire family.

10. Celebrate when you pay off a debt.

There are many resources for help in creating family budgets and living within them. For instance, Jim Miller, a Registered Investment Advisor, author of Retire Dollar Smart, and the host of a financial advice radio show is an excellent source. Visit his web site at: www.retiredollarsmart.com. In sum, married couples have an important opportunity to plant the seeds for a healthy marriage by simply talking with each other, being realistic about expectations, and making that financial plan. Money matters!

You don’t have to be a financial wizard to solve this mystery. And you certainly don’t have to be Sherlock Holmes. You see it really is an elementary concept. If you ask any elementary school student they'll tell you that you can't take 10 from 5.
There can be no negative integers in this equation. Simply put, you can’t spend more than you have! You have to fit your "living" within your "means."

For most of us living in the plastic zone, this means making some serious changes in our spending habits. It seems an impossible feat to reduce debt while still building a foundation for your financial security and independence. It Can Be Done! And it is "elementary my dear Watson!"

KNOW WHERE YOUR MONEY GOES!

~The first step is to realize where your money goes. How are you spending it? This requires a little recording keeping but is not difficult. Simply write down every purchase you make, that is not a monthly bill, for at least a week. This includes every check, debit, credit card, and cash transaction made (if married, your spouse must do this also). When finished sort these into appropriate categories to plug into your budget later. For example; dining out, lunch at work, groceries, coffee, gasoline, snacks, well you get the idea.

~Second lets tackle that debt. The monkey on your back will always insist on being fed until you take control of your money and say NO MORE! Make a commitment to stop using the credit. You must make a decision to invest in yourself from now on. Not the credit card companies. Take control by knowing what you owe , what you’re paying, and how much it is costing you. Make a list. Include Creditors Name, Amount Owed, Interest Rate, Current Minimum Monthly Payment.

Add up all of your current minimum monthly payments. This is your monthly debt reduction payment for the life of the debt. You will pay this consistent amount each month until the debt is paid in full. Roll down freed up monies from one creditor to the next as accounts are paid. For example: your list of payments include a visa you must currently pay $80 per month. You will make that $80 payment regardless of the minimum due (unless for some reason the payment goes up) until the debt is paid. When it is paid you will take that $80 and apply to another creditors monthly payment. This is the secret to paying them off before you die! And, still have time to enjoy a debt free lifestyle.

~Next, you have to write down regular monthly expenses. Things like the mortgage, cable, phone, electric, car payment,. Any expense that you pay every month. Insurance payments can be included if you pay monthly payments instead of a lump sum. Some of these expenses may not be the same each month ( like the electric bill). You should figure an average monthly amount for these. If your provider offers a budget plan where your payment can be a consistent amount each month, this makes budgeting these bills much easier. So do it!

~Now figure in the variable expenses. These are things like car maintenance, home maintenance, property taxes, income taxes, insurance’s that are not paid monthly, pet care (vet bills, and medicines), your family’s medical expenses (physician co-pays, deductibles, prescriptions (or prescription co-pays). Go through your financial records and write down every expense you can find that did not occur on a regular monthly basis. When you’re done, add the total amounts for the year, divide by twelve, and this will give you an estimate of what you should be setting aside each month to budget these expenses. This is a variable expense monthly allowance to be included in your budget as a monthly expense. You set aside this amount each month (maybe in a savings or second checking account).

This is one of the most important steps in the budgeting process. The one step that most of us forget to do. The biggest budget busters are these "unexpected expenses". They’re not really unexpected. Most of us just have a tendency to treat them as if they are unexpected. You don’t plan for them. Consequently you will not be financially prepared when they need to be taken care of. You know that the car and home require some level of maintenance, but do you actually have a plan to pay for that expense? Or, when the hot water heater goes up, will you be forced to resort to the help of the credit card companies. This is what they hope you will do. Of course the property taxes have to be paid. Will you have the payment when it is due?

To reduce debt and maintain a successful budget you have to plan for these "variables". If not, you will inevitably use the credit cards to bail out and you’ll be defeating yourself. The variable expense allowance in your monthly budget will allow you save for these expenses and will be your defense against creating more debt. This is an essential step in building financial security, investing in yourself, and remaining debt free.

~ Set a reasonable amount for your monthly savings allowance. This will be an emergency fund that can bail you out in case of tragic circumstances such as a serious illness or unemployment. Start with 10-15 % of your income and cut back to as little as 5% if you need to balance the budget. But, do save something! Anything is better than nothing. If you have to start small, as your finances improve, you should increase your savings allowance to reach at least 10% of your income.

Of course, once you have all of these figures in place you may find that you don’t have enough money to cover all the expenses. You not alone. I was amazed at how much more I was spending than I was earning. It finally made sense to me why I couldn’t get ahead. Why my debt kept increasing no matter how hard I tried to budget. This is when you have to start eliminating unnecessary spending, trimming down expenses by using some money saving strategies, or possibly considering an extra income.

It isn’t always an easy process. It depends on how much of your spending is "unnecessary", how much you’re paying out for debt, and how much you want to be free from debt and financially independent.

One things certain, if you take control of your money, and are committed to living debt free, you will find success. If you just keep doing what you’re doing, things will not change, but will inevitably get worse. You will continue to invest in credit card companies, spending money that you don’t actually have, and don’t have a plan to pay back.

So start with a good spending plan that cuts out unnecessary spending, reduces monthly bills and expenses to the bare minimum, and eliminates credit card use. Save money in every area of your budget. Remember, $10 a month doesn’t sound like a lot. But, a savings of $10 per month is $120 per year that you can apply somewhere else in the budget.

Every dollar you free up helps bring the budget into balance. Helps you live within your means. Don’t spend more than you have. It doesn’t get any more elementary than that!

Good Luck and Success! Live Debt Free to Be Free. You Deserve It!

Other slogans include: ‘Ich bin ein Duker’, ‘Spiderman is the best webdesigner’ and ‘Internet killed the video star’!

We are also looking for a mid-weight planner in London, so if you think Duke could be a good place for you and for us, drop me an email: corentin [at] duke-interactive [dot] com

A word of caution though, writing a list doesn't actually achieve anything unless you then do the stuff that's on it.

It's monday morning and I'm updating my weekly 'to do' list. The realisation is starting to hit, that my 'to do list' is never going to become a 'done' list - for every item that's crossed off, another 3 get added on.....

Yeah, right. The wet weather on Sunday didn’t help our schedule. Luckily, Oli’s parents had lent him a gazebo so we put that up to shelter us while we worked on the bike. The Bandit just squeezed down Oli and Manda’s sideway so we had plenty of space, although getting it through the gate was a wrestling match (more on this later). Glitch Number One occurred when I fitted the rear brake caliper hanger the wrong way round after we’d changed the chain and sprockets. Fortunately that was a five minute job and then Manda called us in for lunch, which was nice.

After lunch we finished off the C&S job (although I did have to text Oli after we got home to ask him to check something I might have forgotten to tighten!) and moved on to the oil change and spark plugs. Oil changes are simple unless some previous cretin owner has overtightened the oil filter when he last “serviced” the bike. There was a lot of swearing at this point. Fortunately Oli kept a cool head and was able to apply some serious muscle to the problem. When we finally got the old filter off, I saw that its base had been physically distorted by the amount of force used to screw it on. How Gumby hadn’t sheared off the oil filter feed pipe as he’d gorilla’d the old filter on, I’ll never know. We put the new one on hand-tight and gave it a quarter-turn tweak with a strap wrench. Thirty seconds to fit, three quarters of an hour to get the old one off!

With the spark plugs we faced the opposite problem. Gumby had done them up finger-tight so they were all loose, which explained the Bandit’s tendency to run unevenly. The plug tips were all white, so they’d been leaking air and causing the bike to run pretty lean. That’d explain all the previous popping and banging too! The new plugs went in finger-tight, then we gave them an extra half-turn to seal them with their built-in crush washers. Much better.

By this stage I have to admit that I was ready to go round to the previous owner’s house, set light to his coffee table and slow-roast him over the embers until he promised to never, ever touch a spanner ever again. However, Oli stood firm and wouldn’t give me the cretin’s address, the spoilsport.

After some fiddling around we worked out a way to connect the fuel tank and get access to the carb balancing screws at the same time, so the final job took about twenty minutes. Gumby must have tried balancing the carbs himself at some point (which must have been fun with four loose spark plugs!) and Number Four was so far out of adjustment that I thought my vacuum gauges had broken! Eventually I got a reading from it and was able to get them reasonably close to each other. The difference in the engine noise was striking. Most of the tick-over grumbles and rattles smoothed out as Number Four carb chimed in and I think Oli will notice an improvement in performance.

The Bandit will also have better top speed too. Gumby had fitted a smaller front sprocket to aid acceleration but we’ve returned it to standard, which means better fuel economy and a more accurate speedo. All in all, Oli’s Bandit is a fine example of a good bike spoiled by a previous owner’s incompetence. I’m glad that it’s with a more caring owner now and it does my cynical old heart good to see Oli taking a real interest in looking after his machine. It took us blummen hours to get there but I feel confident that Oli’s Bandit is ready for The Lap.

Now that the bike was back together, all we had to do was manhandle it back down the sideway, through the gate and up our improvised ramp to the front of the house. By this stage we’d been at it for over six hours and the bike felt twice as heavy as it did earlier! It was a good feeling to get the Bandit back on its sidestand and pack my tools away! I hope that Felix has had an easier time getting his NTV ready for The Lap…

Mark

Hi, Oli here, Mark has obviously forgotten in all the excitment the 45 minutes we spent sawing my padlock in half just to gain access to the garden, the property landlords built a new access and gate, however neglected to give us the key for it. I'll also get some pics up asap, when I work out why my computer wants to put them all in sideways instead of the right way up.

I've just ridden to work on it, and it is so much smoother, gear changed without even a lag in speed, the throttle is responsive, and Mark tells me that I'll save thousands on my fuel bills, or something. It even sounds meaner!

Oli

So in what seems like my new ritual and scanned for things I've bought but don't need and won't use. Now I don't mean clothing or random luxuries. No, I'm getting tighter than that.

I just returned a $10 item to WalMart, have a stash ready for Hobby Lobby that will equal maybe $15. The one I'm not sure about is Meijer & the random non perishable grocery items I didn't need for the birthday cake extravaganza. I don't even know if you can return that kind of stuff but it's unopened so I'm going to try.

It's all the little things that probably kill me anyway, I'm pretty good about spreading out or waiting on the big items. But it felt really good to load them up and get it out of here for a few bucks. Penny pinching, bleh.

I have for a long time wanted to leave the country I live in (Sweden) to travel the world for a long time. Many times I thought about moving to another country to work and in a way, start a new life. Now that plan has changed. I want to become a vagabond and travel the whole world instead. I want to, sort of, live like a bum. Do whatever it takes to get money, hitchhike, meet new people, be independent and so on.

So I will quit my job, break the ties and get rid of my apartment. This is everything I think about, every day. I am deeply afraid of getting stuck and afraid of living the life you are supposed to live. That is, getting a good job, getting a family, house, wife, kids and so on. I don't want to do that. At least, not yet.

Right now I am in the planning stage. Deciding what countries I have to visit, except those i will be visiting spontaneously. I don't know what to do about the money though, how much I will be needing if I can't find a job in another country. So I'm planning on moving to Norway to work a couple of months before going on my journey to get some hard cash.

There is so much I want to write right now, but let's end this post here so it doesn't become a book.

My colleague and I got the Engaging Supporters section. One of the proposed new targets there is a measure of how close people feel to the Trust (See post passim). And my colleague (note: not me) suggested every property has its own blog! "I know nothing about blogs" says he, "That's ok, I do" I reply. So its in our proposed plan. There's a few months of navigating its way through the regional planning group and other approvals before its there to stay, but, fingers crossed!

A lot of traffic
Comes to this site looking for answers about book covers. Generally, I'm guessing, this is more from self-publishing authors than traditional route publishers. I say this because it is rare for traditional publishers* to leave cover choice to the authors.

I thought I would add some thoughts for those visitors. Feel free to ignore it or to get in touch with questions.

Essentially there are five steps

1) Decide what genre your book fits into
I don't want to hear that your book is unique. To some degree all books are. Responding that your book is unique indicates either laziness or lack of knowledge of the market you are writing for. Should you be going ahead with this project if that is the case?

Take some time to investigate the market, search for books that have similar themes or writing styles and try and think how you can fit into those genres. The questions you need to ask yourself are, is this a definable genre? That could be as broad as General Fiction if you like, or as narrow as 19th Century British Merchant Shipping if you prefer. But make sure you know what it is.

2) Figure out how you are publishing the book
This may seem trivial, but it will have a direct impact on your work-flow. Some publishing routes are easier than others, some may require you to have cover files ready earlier than internals, some may not offer you customized covers.

Whatever way you choose find our how they want cover files submitted. This will be be as .jpg, .tiff, .psd or perhaps even .pdf. Be sure that they also tell you what DPI and size the image/file should be. All of this information will be vital to making the cover look perfect at the final stages.

I'd use this opportunity to ask them about paper weights and make decisions about gloss, matt or demi-gloss stock. No option is necessarily the right one, but each has its uses. As with 1) take some time to search out the types and styles of covers that your competition favours.

3) Write a designer brief
I'd counsel drawing up a draft designer brief to give to whoever is designing your cover, even if that person is yourself. Why?

Just putting together the details about the book will help focus on the task at hand. I have drawn up a very loose sample you can use if you like. It's here.

4) Hire a designer
You probably say this one coming but here goes. Many people who are pursuing self-publishing feel that they should be free to design their own cover, and indeed they are. However, the cover is THE key selling tool your book will have. Online and in-store, the cover is what the buyer sees first.

With that in mind, a professional, pitch perfect cover will sell more copies of your book than any other factor. Search for a good designer and pay them for their work. Don't even dream of paying more than you need to though. A good design should cost you between €600 and €900 and not more.

There are cheaper options available and places like elance.com are great sources of freelance ability.

5) Allow time for a proof or even a rethinking of your cover
Whatever your timetable is, make sure that you plan all of these steps to ensure you have sufficient time to rethink a cover. Perhaps when your designer is finished you will not be happy with their work, or it will need serious tweaking.

Don't be too worried. Even trade publishers rethink and comprehensively rework jackets at the last minute.

Wrap up

I am speaking from a trade perspective. I have heard that some academic houses do allow for authors to decide on covers if they don't want a plain or series cover. I think the money is better unspent on the authors part in such cases.

A lot of this advice is only worthwhile if an author is intent on selling copies to a wide audience. If the market is limited to a few friends, then feel free to designer your own cover in whatever way suits!

Tired but happy to be finished driving for the weekend,
Eoin

We all have access to this one thing called our very own personal timetable. Almost all of us have a love-hate relationship with ours. Our timetable is unique to every college-going individual, from the ungodly morning econometrics lectures (where besides a few suck-ups, nobody shows up until the few weeks leading up to the final exams) to the godly late night astronomy tutorials (where you get to cosy up to that cute Physics major guy sharing a telescope and observing Venus together).

I personally had the unfortunate experience of having lectures and tutorials back to back for eight hours, where lunch for me meant swallowing sandwiches at breakneck speed in between classes for one entire semester! Not fun at all, if you asked my stomach. I didn't even have time to stop and stare at my cutie -- I know exactly along which hallway he sits, at what time and in between which classes I have. 

Some days,  timetable-permitting and if I'm lucky enough, he'll appear completely off schedule at the same place, and I'll take a long, sweet moment pretending to grab a drink at the vending machine...admiring the way he runs his fingers over his head in a frustrated manner, thumbing through pages after pages of thick, intellectual-looking thread-bound books. After all the bitching about our timetable, you can't deny that there are some nice moments we can thank our schedule for.

You may disagree with me, but I am undoubtedly certain that everyone's favourite part of the timetable is, yes you guess it, the parts where it's blank, says nothing, and could only mean one thing: endless ridiculous gossipy conversations, lunching with buddies plus scoping out cuties in the cafeteria, curling up with a book in your corner in the library, doing the dirty with your latest conquest in your dorm room, catching much needed Zs...basically an extremely valuable add-on to your social calendar.

You have to make this work yourself, because like I said, everyone has their own classes, own schedules, own things-to-do (including secret rendezvouses with Miss X in the empty stairwell in between astrophysics and Descartes). Go through the classes that you want to take for the next semester carefully, making notes on when the lectures and tutorials are, and map them out. You may find a timetable builder program on your college website, or if you're nifty enough, create your own program to plot out your schedule.

First things first, you've got to free up spacious prime real estate during lunchtime, that's when everyone will flood the food court and you'd have learnt in probability that chances are higher for you to see and be seen.

If you're much sneakier, try to source out where your eyecandy hangs out often and the watering holes of the cuties, and plan your routes between walking from the library to tutorial so that you'll pass by those places. You know as well as I do that one peek at your crush instantly brightens up your day.

Leave the evenings open as much as possible. Or deliberately plan FOR evening classes so you can casually ask the girl/guy from your class to "grab a bite" for dinner "or something"...you don't need me to teach you, you know how the game goes.

With that, I shall wish you guys good luck, and have fun planning your timetable for the new semester! :-)

Love, agentjade

Meh.

If I didn't pick up 6am tomorrow at the hospital I'd get drunk and watch movies curled up in bed, alas, that will have to wait until I don't have to wake up so early. Instead I'll get my chores done like a good, boring mom and watch Army Wives. Hey, tonight's episode does look good.

*****

Update: After running errands and fixing something to eat, I hear a knock at the door.  No pants on. I dash to grab some shorts and pray it's no one who'll notice I'm braless. I dash back and the screen door is swinging open and no one is at the door. Likely the neighbor kid who got an eyeful of me dashing through the kitchen sans clothes.

I've tempted fate. Next I predict a handsome man will deliver me a bouquet of money. I'm ready with flips flops and everything on.

The topic of discussion today is not a subject you usually find on business blogs. Being sensitive is commonly associated with weakness and insecurity in business. I do not believe this however, I believe this is an essential personal characteristic, specially one that entrepreneurs must possess. Understanding this, is the result of interactions with my mentors, who have constantly impressed upon me the importance of being sensitive to your team members, customers and suppliers. I have seen and experienced this in my own interactions of working with several teams over the last couple of years. Being sensitive to the feelings of others, situations and circumstances allows you to focus on larger issues in a more comprehensive manner.

Being a team member will inevitably result in times when the situation requires compromise and taking action in ways you may not always be comfortable with. Reactions to such situations can often be the 'make or break' factor for some teams. The key factor in all of this, boils down to balance. Being either overly sensitive or insensitive, bring their own share of difficulties. Maintaining a balance between both extremes requires discipline, an open mind and flexibility. I have worked with several people who have had trouble maintaining this composure, it has invariably led to difficult situations. 

Highly effective team members understand the need for sensitivity when dealing with issues which impact the entire team. Some areas requiring sensitivity are:

1. Dealing with conflict: The manner of handling conflict is a telling sign of whether balance can be maintained between extremes. For example, an individual is in a conflict with another team mate for not contributing adequately to the team. If you were the person who brought up this issue with your team member, your tone, rationale and way of handling this issue is critical.

2. Dealing with change: Whenever an organization undergoes a structural change process, substantial friction is created. This could be when individuals are required to move out of their comfort zone. As an effective team member, it is our responsibility to ensure that everyone on the team is given enough support during this transitional period. Focusing selfishly on yourself or how this change process will impact you alone, is not a winning attitude.

3. Dealing with loss: Every organization has its share of ups and downs. It is during down periods that a team is required to come together and figure out how to fix the situation. I have learnt, dealing with organizational loss tends to bring out the ugly side of people. The fact is, no one likes to lose, but it is a part of life. The success of a team comes down to, how we react to such situations and whether we are able to handle it well collectively as a team.

I agree entirely that some people are more sensitive than others. It is important however, that everyone on the team does their best in dealing with difficult situations and individuals, with an open mind. This attitude will not only help create stronger bonds between all team members, it will also make you stronger as a person. The next time you find yourself in a difficult situation, do your best to understand where the other person is coming from as well. Always remember to treat others in the same manner you would like to be treated yourself.

Guess what? This will be the first year my return will go on actual savings! I have absolutely no consumer item in mind for the cash I'm due to get back. To give you some back story on this, ALL of my returns that I can ever remember receiving have gone on part-payments to a credit card or towards buying a consumer item. Yup, all of them. Often it would be both in one, ie a consumer item I'd charged to a credit card in readiness for my tax refund (to pay back when it arrived). Talk about stupid ...

Anyway, I just did my taxes and lodged the return online, and the estimate for my return was a total of $1358.65! Hallelujah! (*I'm happy dancing right now ...*)

Since our first goal as a debt-free family is to get our emergency fund up to $5000 by the end of the year, it looks like we are well on our way to meeting the challenge!

I should get the funds from the tax return in my account within 14 days. Added to that, we have about $350-$400 STILL owed by the university for the tutoring I did AND I should be able to put at least $300 away from our salary within 14 days (I did take the night off last Friday so I'm not getting as much in my pay packet as usual).

All of this means we could have a $2000 emergency fund on the go within weeks!

It feels like everything is starting to work out ...

I am a happy woman!

Below a number of details of conservation events in Adelaide in next few weeks.  The first one will cost $50 for anyone booking thru GEHA.  This will be vital to developing a strong environmental response to current development issues.  Peter Newman is a real expert on sustainable development/planning so a great opportunity.

Planning & Urban Development

We can prepare for the challenges of climate change and peak oil – with appropriate planning. Come and contribute to a vital discussion between the environment movement and other key sectors.

Thursday 24th July 2008, 10.00am – 4.00pm

Enterprise House, 136 Greenhill Rd, Unley  100m west of Bus Stop 1, Unley Rd]

Featuring Keynote Speaker: Professor Peter Newman from the Curtin University Sustainability Policy Institute and a panel of representatives from the local government, business, and social sectors.  Bookings Essential

To book online visit http://www.ccsa.asn.au/summits telephone 8223 5155 for a registration form or email policyreview@ccsa.asn.au Cost: CCSA member/supporter $50; Non-member $200.

Urban Development at Gawler East

GEHA has also written a letter to Delfin Lend Lease regarding questions we have about urban development at Gawler East.  Questions focus on sustainability, protection of biodiversity, maintenance of grassland habitat and open space, future proofing Gawler East from heatwave and climate change conditions, energy and water self-sufficiency, and protection of natural springs in the South Para.

**************

CCSA Co-auspiced Workshop: Navigating the Great Turning: From Empire to Earth Community – a workshop with Dr David Korten presented by the Conservation Council of SA, the People’s Health Movement and Flinders University on Wednesday 16th of July from 1 pm – 4 pm. The workshop will aim to identify short to medium term strategies for building a new economic order under the Earth Community model proposed by David Korten in his books; what small focus groups can do to advance the earth community agenda and what principles should guide their strategic approach. This workshop will provide participants with the opportunity to hear Dr David Korten who will be in Adelaide to address the Don Dunstan Foundation and will be a speaker at the 2008 Fulbright Symposium (Healthy People, Prosperous Country). The People’s health Movement and CCSA will be making presentations. Following Dr Korten’s presentation, small group discussions will be facilitated on localised strategies to advance the Earth Community agenda. For more information on Earth Community, visit http://davidkorten.org Registrations essential as there are limited places available – contact Rama Ramanathan, Research Development Manager, Health & Society Area of Research Focus, Flinders University on ramanathan.ramanathan@flinders.edu.au

Campaign Launch: Save Our Gulf Coalition Inc

The Save Our Gulf Coalition Inc is launching their “Stop the Desalination Plant at Pt Stanvac” Campaign with a photo-shoot at Brighton Esplanade, in the Bindarra Reserve next to the Brighton Surf Lifesaving Club. When: Sunday July 6^th from 10 – 11 am. The Coalition is concerned with the environmental effects on the Gulf St Vincent of the proposed desalination plant, including brine discharge causing algal blooms and damaging coast and marine habitat and the high energy consumption required to run the plant. All those interested in supporting the Coalition in their efforts to stop the desal plant and lobby the Government for alternative and sustainable water saving, recycling and re-use practices, are encouraged to attend. If possible, please bring placards. For more information email impe@internode.on.net

Water Supply in Adelaide: Understanding the 'Crisis' a talk by Professor John Argue

How much and for what purposes do we use water in Adelaide? How is our mains water affected by Adelaide Hills supply in winter and River Murray in summer? How will climate change and water trading affect our water supply? Rainwater tanks and/or desalination? Professor Argue of the SA Water Centre for Water Management and Reuse, University of SA, will offer answers to some important questions. When: Sunday July 27 2pm - 3.30pm. Venue: Pacific Cultures Gallery on Level 1. Entry: $5. Children under 15 years free. Bookings are essential on 8207 7575.

Using Bird Monitoring to Guide Ecological Management Across Multiple Spatial Scales – a Seminar

At this seminar speakers will present current research on the bird fauna of SA, including the results and benefits of long term regional bird monitoring, and habitat modelling on a patch and regional scale. Speakers include Hugh Possingham, Uni of Qld; David Paton AO, Uni of Adelaide; Mark Lethbridge, Flinders Uni; Nigel Willoughby, DEH; Joel Allan, Uni of Adelaide; and Judit Szabo, Uni of Qld. When: 31 July 2008 2pm start with drinks and a light supper to follow at 6.15. Venue: Charles Hawker Conference Centre, Uni of Adelaide, Urrbrae. RSVP on telephone 08 7127 4630 or by email tinabentz@gmail.com by July 17. Limited places.

Free Public Lecture: Backyards: The Most Important Room In The House

The Field Naturalists Society of SA is celebrating 125 years with this free public lecture featuring Professor Chris Daniels, School of Natural Sciences, University of South Australia on Wednesday, August 6th 2008 at 7.45 pm. at the Unley Civic Centre. Light refreshments will be served. Ample parking

CCSA  Level 1 157 Franklin Street SA 5000 Ph: (08) 8223 5155 - visit http://www.ccsa.asn.au

The Mirror, Vol. 12, No. 567

“Phnom Penh: An official of the Ministry of Industry Mines and Energy said that Cambodia plans to construct the first big hydro-electric dam on the upper Mekong River in Kratie in northeast Cambodia, which can generate 2,600 Megawatts.

“Secretary of State of the Ministry of Industry Mines and Energy, Mr. Ith Prang, said that the feasibility of this potential plan, to provide much electricity, is being studied by an expert company. Mr. Ith Prang stressed that if this plan could be implemented, the dam called Sambo Chumrues would be the first big hydro-electric dam in the history of Cambodia.

[As the name of the expert company is not mentioned, it is also not possible to easily verify how this gigantic plan relates to the Master Plan Study of Hydropower Development in Cambodia, made public by the Japan International Cooperation Agency - JICA – and the Ministry of Industry, Mines and Energy on 19 July 2007, and planned to be still implemented through 2008, with the consideration that there is 'Rich potential of hydropower but no master plan for orderly development' - 'Selection and prioritisation of 10 hydropower projects from environmental, technical and economic assessment' - 'Preparation of Master Plan of Hydropower Development with time horizon of 20 years' - 'Avoidance/mitigation of environmental impacts and development of priority hydropower projects for the national interests of Cambodia.' - The study covers 29 potential much smaller sites in the same area for which now also the gigantic Sambo Chumrues plan is being studied]

“Mr. Ith Prang added that Cambodia would have enough electricity, and electricity could be sold to some neighboring countries as well in the Greater Mekong Sub-Region, if the plan leads to positive results. Mr. Ith Prang expects that this plan might also help to attract investors and help poor citizens to have access to electricity at a cheap price.

“Nowadays, the price of electricity in Cambodia is still higher than in neighboring countries, such as Thailand, Laos, and Vietnam, which is a factor that makes most investors, who want to invest in Cambodia, to hesitate. To attract such investors and to meet the shortage of electricity, Cambodia, which has its natural resources as its potential, has created an ambition to develop many hydro-electric dams in different potentially suitable areas.

“Last year, Mr. Hor Namhong, Deputy Prime Minister and Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation of Cambodia, said that Cambodia will function as a battery storage of Asia, when electricity is not just enough for the needs of the country, but can also be sold to other countries.

“Regarding this plan, Mr. Ngy San, a member of the Rivers Coalition in Cambodia [and Deputy Executive Director of the NGO Forum on Cambodia], said that Cambodia welcomes all development plans of the government to produce electricity, but he suggests that the government should check its plans carefully and should publish information widely to communities and non-government-organizations before it makes final decisions for such constructions, in order to avoid negative impacts on the environment and on the eco-system. Mr. Ngy San continued that what he is worried about most is that the construction of this huge plant might destroy the quality of water and the movement of fish, and it might block shipping on this river.

“Relating to these problems, the government must carefully consider the continuity of the environment and the communities living there before it agrees to investment plans of any company [see also International Rivers – people – water - life and the Foundation for Ecological Recovery].

“The director of the Sesan, Srae Pok, and Sekong Rivers Protection Network [also called '3S Rivers Protection Network'], Mr. Kim Sangha, said that the plans of hydro-electric dams always have more effects on the environment and the eco-system than providing economic benefits. He added that he does not oppose the government development plans, but if the government does not study the context very carefully in advance, there might be serious effects on the citizens’ living and on the environment, and it might create other problems in the future.

“On 13 June 2008, the Cambodian government approved laws for the constructions of two more hydro-electric plants with the power of 246 megawatt and 338 megawatt at Stung Tatai and Stung Russey Chhrum rivers [these regions are mentioned in the joint plan of Ministry Industry Mines and Energy together and JICA, mentioned above], besides many other plants being constructed, such as the Kamchay Hydro-Electric Dam in Kampot and the Atai Hydro-Electric Dam located between Pursat and Koh Kong, which can provide 193 megawatt and 120 megawatt respectively.” Khmer Sthapana, Vol.1, #41, 5.7.2008

Newspapers Appearing on the Newsstand:
Saturday, 5 July 2008

Kampuchea Thmey, Vol.7, #1685, 5.7.2008

• The Phnom Penh Municipality Summoned Thirty Passenger Transporting Companies Advising Them Not to Increase Traveling Costs Four Days before and after the Election
• In the First Six Months of 2008, Countrywide More than 2,000 Children Had Dengue Fever, and 23 Children Died

Khmer Sthapana, Vol.1, #41, 5.7.2008

• 2,600 Megawatt Hydro-Electric Plant Is Planed to Be Built
  [Minister of Information] Mr. Khieu Kanharith Supports the Creation of a Women's Journalists' Association
• Thousands of Hectares of Forest Land in Varin District [Siem Reap] Are Being Cleared

Koh Santepheap, Vol.41, #6389, 5-6.7.2008

• At this Meeting of UNESCO in Canada: The Khmer Preah Vihear Temple Is among the 27 World Heritage Sites Proposed to Be Listed
• Two Persons [a man and a 6-year-old child] Were Shot Dead [by Thai black-clad Special Border Police] Among Twelve People, Including Men, Women, and Children, When They Tried to Cross [illegally] into Thailand [3 July 2008 – Banteay Meanchey]
• A 12-Year-Old Girl Was Raped and Drowned [in a shallow pond] in a Palm Oil Plantation [Prey Nub District, Sihanoukville – 4 July 2008]

Moneaksekar Khmer, Vol.15, #3504, 5.7.2008

• International Human Rights Organization [Human Rights Watch] Pushes Yuon [Vietnamese] Authorities to Return Tim Sakhan to Cambodia Soon
• Kampot Election Committee Keeps [Sam Rainsy Party parliamentarian] Ms. Mu Sochua’s Lawsuit Unsolved [against a deputy village chief for the attempt to hit her with a motorbike, and against the Kampot municipality deputy secretary, for the use of a car with a Royal Cambodian Armed Forces license plate during a Cambodian People’s Party’s election campaign, and for twisting her arm, so that her blouse opened and exposed her body, when she tried to take a picture of the car's license plate]

Rasmei Kampuchea, Vol.16, #4633, 5.7.2008

• Cambodia Is Strongly Determined to Implement Laws against Sexual and Human Trafficking
• [Thai Prime Minister] Samak Asserted that There Was a Clandestine Plan to Arrest Him [at an air force airport] to Start a Coup on 4 July 2008 [when he returned from his official visits to China and Brunei, but he directed his plane to land at the civilian international Suvarnabhumi Airport]
• 1.5 Billion People Might Die because of Starvation [according to the UN Food and Agriculture Organization - FAO]
• Oil Price Increases to US$146 per Barrel [in New York]

Samleng Yuvachun Khmer, Vol.15, #3351, 5.7.2008

• Cambodian People’s Party [in Kratie] Sues the No-Longer-Opposition-Party President [Mr. Sam Rainsy] for Insult [of the current leaders, as he said that they are thieves who steal from the nation, during his election campaign]

Have a look at the last editorial - Preah Vihear still in the headlines - more information about Thailand's and Cambodia's documents.

Back to top

I'm planning to do a quick study on meditation techniques later on and then make a HUGE effort to clear out my mind tonight. It'll be pretty cool, because I'm also planning on finally finishing the Book of Mormon tonight (I saved Moroni 10 specifically for this) and then asking about Moroni's Promise again.

Just moments ago, I put the link to this blog on my Facebook page, something I was a little apprehensive to do. Now that it's there, people who actually know me can come and read this. I'm a little afraid of that, but at the same time, I feel that this could add a whole new level to our friendships. The only problem I can think of would be a friend of mine reading this, but not bothering to communicate back to me. So if you're reading this and you know me, go ahead and say hi and leave feedback or something! I still think it's really cool that anyone would be interested enough to read what I write, let alone people I've actually met.

This afternoon, I discovered that I have a talent for lucid dreaming. Now, lucid dreaming is something I'd heard about before and thought was pretty weird, but never really considered it or anything like that. I'm not really into that freaky paranormal stuff.

But today I was listening to Steve Pavlina's (actually, it's his wife Erin's) podcast on it and I realized that lucid dreaming is something I've been doing for a long time. Never really fully or even with a lot of control, not even often. But sometimes in a dream I'd be like, "No, I don't want that to happen. Rewind, take it back." and take the dream a totally new direction. In a recent dream, the visualization I was trying wasn't working (I wanted to leisurely fly over a lake, but could barely avoid falling in), so I said, "This dream sucks! I quit!" and instantly woke up, not even remotely drowsy. When I was a child and I wanted to wake up, I would cut out of whatever dream I was in and go to an entire new dream of simply an eye, and the eye would open and I would wake up. Now I just cut to the space between dreams and shout to myself, "Wake up!"

Knowing now that this is something I can do is a little shocking and a little surprising. I never thought of myself as capable of any kind of ability like that, but now it's kinda opening my mind. I think this is something I'm going to do some more research on and try to learn more about.

Today when I checked my RSS feed (I just use the integrated feed in Flock) and there were ninety new things to look at. Ninety! I used to have an email problem like that, but I finally managed to push that below two hundred and eventually to zero, where I like to keep it these days.

So to clear out all those unread feeds, I started at the top with my email. Alongside a polite email from a new friend of mine and a business offer from another friend, I found this. Not too much out of the ordinary, I get one everyday. But that question, "What are you going to do next?" really made me stop and think. This morning I was reviewing my goals and eliminated all of them except my mission. At this point, keeping that focus is more important than earning my Ranger or just about anything else (together with the Silver, that's all that was on my plate). With only one thing on my list of goals kinda leaves me with the feeling of drifting, like I have no direction to go and I'm just wandering. On the other hand, I suppose I have two years to go and figure it out, so I probably shouldn't be worrying.

If you've managed to stay with me this far, thanks and sorry. While I'm impressed that you have the perseverance to keep reading in hopes of finding something coherent, I'm also sorry to tell you that you aren't going to find anything coherent in this post. In any case, I really appreciate it.

So until next time, thanks! :)

• change oil, filter and spark-plugs
• have seat cover replaced, which will be done from Monday - Tuesday by a professional

It's getting closer!

Felix

Just like in playing soccer, it is so much easier for a band when there is a goal to aim for. There are many reasons to be in a band and many can be achieved at the same time so if a few people have different aims for joining that’s fine but there has to be at least an agreement about the general direction and total aims for the act. The token line that most bands will say is that they want to be rich and famous but that can be achieved in many ways. Is selling out an option? Does it matter what style the band has or what fans they have as long as they sell a lot of records?

Starting a band is pretty fun and very little beats the excitement of playing your first gig and getting the buzz that goes with it. For many people that level is enough, being able to play in front of a few people and having the crowd cheering their name can provide a lot of excitement but for others, it is all about more. Depending on your circumstances, being in a band may be a fun hobby for a few years during school or in a job to pass the time but for others, it may be the biggest thing they will ever do and will encompass their entire life.

Dreaming of making it huge is no bad thing but it takes a lot of hard work and effort and every member of a band has to put this in for it to be a success. If someone in the band is happy to see what happens whilst the rest of the group are willing to give their all to be a success, it has to be questioned if that one person is right for the group. They may be a great person and perhaps they’ve been your friend for years but if everyone else wants to make a career and a life out of rock n roll, it can be very hard on the person who just wants some fun.

Taking the time to make a list of what you want from the band may be a good way to ensure that everyone is singing from the same page and could save a lot of bad feeling in the future. Not everyone wants to be a huge rock n roll star, some people just want to have some fun but its best to make sure you are in the band that is aiming as high as you want to.

Coach Pamela

www.coachpamela.com

Join my newsletter and receive a FREE goal setting tool