My Thoughts on Racism and Discrimination

I keep reading about hate crimes and people getting attacked simply because they are different.But who defines what’s different and what it’s not?
People are being discriminated against even physically bullied and abused because of their skin color, their ethnicity, their sexual orientation, their disabilities, their beliefs, their choices.
It hurts me to see this around me. Around the world.
I have been discriminated against and bullied because I am gay.
At school, at work, in my life in general.
But because I am gay, it doesn’t mean I am a bad person.
One part of my personality doesn’t define me.
Fortunately “The Times They Are a-Changin'” as the great Bob Dylan once said.
Fortunately, racists, people who discriminate, people who hate gays, people who can’t stand being around people who are not the mirror image of them, are now a minority.
Because the majority of the world knows how to love, how to accept.
It is your right not to accept this, but it is the truth.
You are a minority hater. Unfortunately haters will never be extinct.
It’s been decades since the end of slavery around the world, but black people are still getting discriminated against.
It’s been almost 70 years since the end of World War II and there are still Nazis out there.
It’s been millions of years since the creation of humanity but there are still stupid people out there.
No matter how much we evolve, some things never change. It never ends.
There are always going to be people around who will stand out because they hate their peers for one reason or another.
People who demand respect and for their rights to be respected, but they are not willing to respect other people and their rights. Hypocrites!
There are always going to be people around - even important people who have the power to make a difference - who will hate gays, but ask for their autograph if they are famous. One example: http://bit.ly/mz0JTm. Hypocrites!
And then there’s religion. Hypocrisy in all of its glory.
How can anyone preach about love and against hatred and that God loves all of his children and 5 minutes later say that God hates fags?
How can anyone spread hatred and exclude people because of their sexual orientation or for any other reason?
Isn’t hate simply, hate? Or its justified when it targets homosexuals? Is there such thing as justified hate? Hypocrisy!
I wish for hatred to just go away. But it’s part of human nature. It’s part of who we are.
I feel like its better when there is acceptance and love. It’s so much easier and so cathartic.
The reason I am writing this is because I wanted to express what’s in my heart.
I know that people will never change.
I know that discrimination will always be around, but I felt like I wanted to write my thoughts down and share them with the world.
I want to spread the love and I want people to understand that hatred is poison. It poisons the soul.
I don’t know if anyone is ever going to see or read this, but I wanted it to be out there.
A note of positivity and an urge to reach greatness through kindness and love.
Anyone who reads this and feels the same, share it.
Anyone who reads this and feels despair. Don’t give up.
Anyone who reads this and wants to speak, then speak.
All I am saying is don’t give up. Love is going to be around forever, hatred too, but it’s up to us to choose which way to go.
I choose love? How about you?

6 Instant Confidence Boosters

One of the biggest secrets to achieving what you want in life is letting go of certain destructive thoughts so ingrained, you don't realize they're in your head.

It's normal to have doubts in life.
Things don't always pan out, and you are bound to make mistakes in, say, love or a job interview.
But there's a problem with regularly assuming the worst outcome.
Out of ego protection or a dip in self-assurance, you prepare for possible failure and, thus, inadvertently sabotage your chances.
How do you get out of this rut?
You need to become cognizant of any pessimistic phrases you habitually feed yourself and switch your thinking to make it more cooperative with your ambitions.
Kind of faking optimism.
Here, six harmful thoughts and the instant trick to boost your confidence.

Destructive Thought #1: "I'm Not a People Person."

Many chicks resort to this spin to explain why they don't effortlessly attract tons of attention at parties or keep people spellbound with witty conversation.
But for the most part, it's just an escape clause to avoid the awkwardness almost everyone feels when it comes to chatting and mingling.
"By ascribing it to your personality, you convince yourself that it's something you can't change and it isn't your fault that you're not a social butterfly," explains life coach Judith Wright, author of The One Decision.
But the more... Continue Reading.

9/11: A Message From NY Mayor Michael Bloomberg

May 30, 2012 marks the 10th anniversary of the formal end of the nine-month recovery operations at the World Trade Center site following the 9/11 attacks.
During this time, tens of thousands of men and women went to the site to assist in any way they could.
Their selfless commitment was the first step in rebuilding the World Trade Center and revitalizing New York City.
For those who participated in the 9/11 rescue, recovery, and relief efforts, a special Thank You Tribute will be held at the 9/11 Memorial on May 30th.

A Letter From NY Mayor Michael Bloomberg

Dear 9/11 Recovery Workers: The City of New York and the National September 11 Memorial & Museum invite the men and women who participated in the 9/11 rescue, recovery, and relief efforts to attend a special Thank You Tribute at the 9/11 Memorial.
This event will be held on May 30, 2012, the 10th anniversary of the end of the recovery, starting at 6:30 p.m.
The event will take place rain or shine.
We are honored to host those who made the rebuilding of the World Trade Center possible, at the very site you helped transform.
Because capacity on the Memorial is limited as surrounding construction continues, you must register and reserve a pass to attend the Thank You Tribute.
The story of the rescue and recovery efforts following the 9/11 attacks is one that continues to inspire all of us, and will be one of the most important aspects of history preserved in the 9/11 Memorial Museum at the World Trade Center.
By registering for this event, you'll also help us build the 9/11 Memorial Museum's Recovery and Relief Workers Registry and Scroll of Honor, an important and lasting tribute to all of you who served in the aftermath of 9/11.
The Scroll of Honor will be a permanent installation surrounding the Last Column, the last steel beam to be removed from the site on May 30, 2002.
When the Museum opens, the Last Column and the surrounding Scroll of Honor will stand tall in tribute to your selfless work for generations to come.
Before making a reservation, you will be asked to answer a series of questions that will help us build this special part of the Museum.
We will contact you later to ask if you would like to provide further information about your work in the recovery efforts for the Museum's historical archives.

Please click here to reserve passes to attend the Thank You Tribute to 9/11 Recovery Workers and provide your information to the Recovery and Relief Workers Registry and Scroll of Honor.

On behalf of the entire nation, thank you for your selfless contributions 10 years ago.
We look forward to welcoming you to the 9/11 Memorial in sincere gratitude.

Sincerely,

Michael R. Bloomberg
Mayor, City of New York
Chair, National September 11 Memorial & Museum

Jacob and Sophia Most Popular Baby Names

Jacob and Sophia are America’s most popular baby names for 2011.
This is the thirteenth year in a row Jacob tops the list for boys and the first year for Sophia, who knocks Isabella to number two after a two-year stint at the top of the list for girls.
There is only one new name in the top 10 on either list this year.
Mason rocketed to number two from outside of the top ten to replace Anthony on the boys’ side.
For all the top baby names of 2011, Click Here.

Emmelyn Roettger: Mensa’s Youngest US Member. She Joined at Age 2!

When Emmelyn Roettger was an infant, doctors warned she might have serious delays.
It turns out she just needed glasses — and now she’s unstoppable.

Emmelyn Roettger loves to write, spell and count.
She’s so fascinated by science and space that she rattles off details about nebulas, black holes, Saturn’s rings and Jupiter’s size with ease.
She knows that another term for cell division is “mitosis,” and that caterpillars turn into butterflies through “metamorphosis.”
Emme just turned 3 in April.
Her parents felt a rush of gratification and relief in March when she became the youngest U.S. member of the high-IQ society Mensa — and here’s why.
When Emme was an infant, doctors had diagnosed her with “unspecified delays” and cautioned that she might have autism.
Her mom and dad were heartsick when they observed that, at 9 months old, Emme seemed to avoid eye contact and never reached for toys or tried to crawl.
Right around that time, Emme’s mother, Michelle Horne, was overcome by a hunch.
She asked to have her daughter’s vision checked.
“It turned out that she just needed glasses!” recalled Horne, 41, a former sixth-grade science teacher who lives in the D.C. area.
“It was so obvious that any delays she had were vision-related.
From there on out, she just took off.”

Continue Reading.

13 of the Best Cities for Jobs

Many factors contribute to making a city a desirable place to live.
Proximity to family or friends, affordable cost of living, strong real-estate market and weather are just a few examples.
Another reason someone might reside in a specific locale is career opportunity.
While certain areas may have better prospects for specific fields or industries, others are stronger employment markets overall.
According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, unemployment rates were lower in January than a year earlier in 345 of the 372 metropolitan areas, higher in 16 areas and unchanged in 11.
A total of 201 areas recorded January unemployment rates below the U.S. figure of 8.8 percent, 162 areas reported rates above it, and nine areas had rates equal to that of the country.
To get a sense of the cities with job markets that are recovering more quickly than others, here's a list of 13 cities with the lowest unemployment rates as of January 2012.

1. Lincoln, Neb.
Unemployment rate: 3.8 percent
Percent change from last year: -0.8
Mean annual earnings: $39,310

2. Bismarck, N.D.
Unemployment rate... Continue Reading.

Source: CareerBuilder.com

500th Post! Empire State Building About to Lose Status as Tallest in NYC

One World Trade Center, being built at the site of the fallen twin towers, could surpass the Empire State Building as the tallest building in New York as soon as next week, an official said on Tuesday.
The iconic Empire State Building, built in 1931, was the city's tallest at a height of 1,545 feet (471 meters) to the tip of its broadcast antenna until 1972 when it was overtaken by the original World Trade Center towers.
It then regained the title after the Sept. 11, 2001 attacks, which destroyed the complex.
Construction started six years ago on the new World Trade Center and now the skyscraper, formerly called the Freedom Tower, is poised to surpass the 102-story Empire State Building, Port Authority Executive Director Patrick Foye told reporters.
"Weather permitting, we expect that we could exceed the height of the Empire State Building on Monday," Foye said.
One World Trade Center will stand at 1,776 feet (541 meters) to the tip of its antenna when it's completed, possibly by late 2013.
The skyscraper, only 55 percent of which is leased, will be higher than the former twin towers, which were toppled in the 2001 attacks in which more than 3,000 people were killed.
The north tower stood 1,727 feet (526 metres) including its antenna.

Source: Reuters.com.

America's Prettiest Towns



Longview, Washington

To designate America’s most picturesque towns, Forbes called on recommendations by experts from the Travel Channel, National Geographic, the author of a book about towns in the Northwest, and Fodor’s.
Some locales have changed considerably in the last few decades, while others have remained the same for centuries.
All offer not only aesthetic reward, but also memorable activities and destinations nearby.

Newport, Rhode Island

Like a town stuck in time but with the occasional hole in the space-time continuum to allow for modern touches, Newport, with its stunning harbor and bevy of old homes, is the quintessential New England town.
Newport’s fame began... Continue Reading.

Source: Forbes, MSNBC

10 Disappearing Destinations

Climate change, deforestation, rising sea levels and overpopulation are threatening some of the world’s most spectacular natural landscapes.
Here are 10 destinations to visit responsibly — or fight for ­— before it’s too late.
America’s largest subtropical wilderness, the Everglades encompasses 1.5 million acres in southern Florida and contains the largest mangrove ecosystem in the Western Hemisphere.
It’s a sanctuary for a large number of birds and reptiles, as... Continue Reading.

10 Causes of the Titanic Tragedy

The "unsinkable" Titanic was sunk by an iceberg, but there are other reasons why the tragedy that occurred 100 years ago this month was as tragic as it was.
Even a century later, the case of the Titanic illustrates how technological failures often result from a succession of omissions, missteps and bad luck rather than one big mess-up.
"No one thing sent the Titanic to the bottom of the North Atlantic," Richard Corfield writes in a Physics World retrospective on the disaster that caused 1,514 deaths on April 14-15, 1912.
"Rather, the ship was ensnared by a perfect storm of circumstances that conspired her to her doom.
Such a chain is familiar to those who study disasters — it is called an 'event cascade.'"
The iceberg that the Titanic struck on its way from Southampton to New York is No. 1 on a top-10 list of circumstances.
Here are nine other suggested circumstances from Corfield's article and other sources:

Climate caused more icebergs:

Weather conditions in the North Atlantic were particularly conducive for corralling icebergs at the intersection of the Labrador Current and the Gulf Stream, due to... Continue Reading.