When you are looking for a wedding photographer, you want to choose the best. This is the most important day of your life, and you want to have the photographs to remind you of it for ever.
Choose the best photographer that you can afford, and you will be well rewarded with a set of photographs that make the whole day look like a fairy tale. A good photographer will make sure that you and your guests all look fantastic, whatever the weather, and whatever disasters occur!
Firstly, check that the firm you are dealing with belongs to a reputable photographic professional body. These will vary from country to country. This will help you if you have any concerns about the level of service provided, or if he lets you down and you wish to chase him up afterwards.
A good photographer will have a meeting with your beforehand, when he will talk to you about which particular shots you want taken. He will, of course, take many shots using his own skill and judgement.
The photographer should be able to assure you that he/she will be able to get a variety of shots during the service, before the wedding and during the reception, while not interrupting the proceedings.
Find a photographer that you get along with on a personal level. This will help if there is anything amiss, as you will feel more able to talk to him/her about it.
Visit the photographer's studio, or ask him to bring a selection of his work to your house, so that you can see some of his past work. He should be able to give you the names and contact details of some of his past customers, It is worthwhile taking the time to contact these people to see if they were satisfied with his work.
Many photographers today offer a digital printing service. Ask if the photographer you have chosen offers this. A very efficient photographer will be able to take photos during the day, load them onto his computer and be able to show the shots to your guests at the evening reception so that they can choose which pictures they would like prints of.
Ask about digital enhancement. If they day is very overcast, for example, the photographer can use a photographic package to brighten up your photos. He can also take out any odd hands or balloons that cut into the picture and crop them to size. This process improves your photographs immeasurably.
Whichever photograph you choose, remember that it is your day, and that you are employing him. Don't be put off by a superior manner. Say exactly what you want you won't get another chance at this one
By Susan Hibbend
About Susan
She lives in Kent in the UK and works part-time as a school librarian. She has been writing books for five years now, and has published three. The first is The Purple Butterfly, and is the diary she kept when she was undergoing treatment for Thyroid Cancer. The second is called The Little Book of Collectable British Pyrex. Her third book is The Butterfly Book of Kentish Recipes and was published in May 2008. She has also written a children's novel called Abigail Flynn, which was printed for a local school.
Saturday, February 28, 2009
DONALD LAWRENCE & CO. RELEASES 'THE LAW OF CONFESSION, PART 1': Chicago's Living Word Christian Center member releases sophomore solo CD.
Donald Lawrence is out with his sophomore solo CD that ministers directly to today's trying times.
"The Law of Confession, Part 1" is inspired by the forthcoming book "The Law of Confession" by Pastor Bill Winston (Lawrence's pastor at Chicago's Living Word Christian Center).
For those who enjoyed Lawrence's work with the Tri City Singers, the "Co." in "Donald Lawrence & Co." is comprised of some of the industry's best singers that Lawrence has met since moving to Chicago in 2001. Those he got to know since his days in North Carolina are featured; notables such as Dewayne Woods (who won the Stellar Award for Best New Artist of the Year in 2008, following his smash hit "Let Go, Let God"), the effervesce Kim McFarland-Anderson; the dynamic Jason Nelson, and Latrice Pace of the Anointed Pace Sisters. The group is rounded out with Lisa Jones, Tobbi White-Darks, Tommie White, Dawn Jordan, Blanche McAllister-Dykes, Anita Wilson, Michael Smith and Floyd Wilkinson.
"I picked lead singers based on the feel and color of the song," Lawrence states. "Since I've worked with so many singers - and I believe some of the best singers on this planet - I'm extremely picky when it comes to lead vocals. They must have a lot of heart!"
In the first single from the project, Donald Lawrence says, "Let's get back to Eden, live on top of the world," with a hook that gets your bounce on, and a Word that encourages your spirit. You can always count on Donald Lawrence to sing straight from the Word of God and "The Law of Confession Part 1" is no exception.
Interspersed throughout the CD, Lawrence shares how several of the songs were "birthed" and the theology behind them. Throughout the CD Lawrence speaks to those who may be hurting financially and otherwise during his economic recession. With a driving ballad, "Word of My Power," calls for pain, fear, debt, sickness, and more to be erased. Donald reprises a soulful rendition of "The Blessing of Abraham," made all the more stirring from the sip-le piano accompaniment.
"The Law of Confession, Part 1" is inspired by the forthcoming book "The Law of Confession" by Pastor Bill Winston (Lawrence's pastor at Chicago's Living Word Christian Center).
For those who enjoyed Lawrence's work with the Tri City Singers, the "Co." in "Donald Lawrence & Co." is comprised of some of the industry's best singers that Lawrence has met since moving to Chicago in 2001. Those he got to know since his days in North Carolina are featured; notables such as Dewayne Woods (who won the Stellar Award for Best New Artist of the Year in 2008, following his smash hit "Let Go, Let God"), the effervesce Kim McFarland-Anderson; the dynamic Jason Nelson, and Latrice Pace of the Anointed Pace Sisters. The group is rounded out with Lisa Jones, Tobbi White-Darks, Tommie White, Dawn Jordan, Blanche McAllister-Dykes, Anita Wilson, Michael Smith and Floyd Wilkinson.
"I picked lead singers based on the feel and color of the song," Lawrence states. "Since I've worked with so many singers - and I believe some of the best singers on this planet - I'm extremely picky when it comes to lead vocals. They must have a lot of heart!"
In the first single from the project, Donald Lawrence says, "Let's get back to Eden, live on top of the world," with a hook that gets your bounce on, and a Word that encourages your spirit. You can always count on Donald Lawrence to sing straight from the Word of God and "The Law of Confession Part 1" is no exception.
Interspersed throughout the CD, Lawrence shares how several of the songs were "birthed" and the theology behind them. Throughout the CD Lawrence speaks to those who may be hurting financially and otherwise during his economic recession. With a driving ballad, "Word of My Power," calls for pain, fear, debt, sickness, and more to be erased. Donald reprises a soulful rendition of "The Blessing of Abraham," made all the more stirring from the sip-le piano accompaniment.
Friday, February 27, 2009
Carling Cup Final: Man Utd v Tottenham
Venue: Wembley Stadium Date:
Sunday, 1 March
Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live, text commentary on BBC Sport website plus full commentary on BBC London 94.9, BBC London DAB and BBC London online at bbc.co.uk/london. TV coverage on Sky Sports
Sir Alex Ferguson has told youngsters Darron Gibson and Danny Welbeck they will start Sunday's Carling Cup final.
Rafael Da Silva is out with a fractured ankle but Wayne Rooney should start as he continues to build match fitness.
Tottenham's Robbie Keane, Wilson Palacios, Carlo Cudicini and Pascal Chimbonda are all cup-tied.
Jamie O'Hara (hip) has declared himself fit but on-loan Fraizer Campbell cannot play against his parent club and Ledley King (knee) will have a fitness test.
Ferguson said next Wednesday's Premier League trip to Newcastle is a bigger priority for his side than the Carling Cup final.
"We obviously want to win because the winning mentality in the club is why we have been successful, but we know what our priorities are and that will affect the team that I pick on Sunday," he said.
"We have a big game at Newcastle on Wednesday and the priority for us will always be the Premier League and the Champions League.
"The Premier League is the only place to be and Harry Redknapp is well aware of that judging by the team he picked in the Uefa Cup on Thursday."
But Ferguson dismissed suggestions that United were taking the game lightly by travelling down to London just 24 hours before the game.
"We have always travelled down to the League Cup final the day before the game," he said.
Paddy_The_Red_Devil
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp said United were his dream opponents in Sunday's final.
"You have to look forward to playing Manchester United," Redknapp said.
"When people asked when Derby won the first leg of their semi-final if it would be great if they could pull it off, I said no way.
"No disrespect but I really wanted to play United in the final. It's a way for you to test yourself against the best.
"They are the best team in Europe, and they were tremendous against Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday.
"We've had some good games against the big teams this season. At home with United we drew, with a good performance, so we've got players who can play against anyone.
"Hopefully, playing on a big stage on Sunday will bring best out of them and we'll get the bit of luck that you always need against the best teams."
Redknapp added that he had been struggling to find time to prepare for the match after a busy schedule which has included Uefa Cup matches alongside Premier League games.
"It's been difficult to enjoy the week as having so many games we haven't been able to relax," he said.
"I was going to take them to Southend to walk them up the pier and have a bowl of jellied eels and ice cream, but we just haven't had the time."
Tottenham (from): Gomes, Alnwick, Corluka, Assou-Ekotto, Woodgate, King, Bentley, Jenas, Modric, Zokora, Lennon, Pavyluchenko, Bent, O'Hara, Huddlestone, Bale, Dawson, Gunter, Giovani, Taarabt.
Man Utd (from): Foster, Kuszczak, Neville, Fabio, Gibson, Evans, Vidic, Ferdinand, O'Shea, Evra, Welbeck, Anderson, Carrick, Fletcher, Park, Scholes, Nani, Ronaldo, Giggs, Tevez, Rooney.
BIG-MATCH FACTS
Manchester United take on the holders Tottenham Hotspur in the 49th League Cup Final and the sixth sponsored by Carling.
United are vying for a unique five-timer. They have already won the World Club Championship in Japan, and stand all square at 0-0 in their last 32 Champions League tie with Inter Milan, going into the Old Trafford leg. The Red Devils are in the box seat at the top of the Premier League table, and have an away tie to Fulham in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
Tottenham will be playing their third match in seven days, having been knocked out of the Uefa Cup by Shakhtar Donetsk on Thursday. Monday's 2-1 win at Hull lifted them three points further away from the Premier League's relegation zone, but they are still uncomfortably close.
This year's final comprises two of the three most recent winners.
Both clubs had to knock out two Premier League clubs and two Championship sides to qualify for the final. Both also lost one leg of their semi-final against lower league opposition; Manchester United at Derby, Tottenham at Burnley.
The League ladder
Tottenham lie 13 places below leaders Manchester United in the Premier League table.
Referee
Chris Foy (Merseyide)
MANCHESTER UNITED
Current form
Unbeaten in 12; won 11 and drawn one in all competitions since losing 1-0, away to Derby in the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final on 7 January.
Avoided defeat in 26 of the last 27 matches.
Recent League Cup performance
The 1992 and 2006 League Cup winners are competing in their seventh final.
The Manager
Victory will give Sir Alex Ferguson his third League Cup victory. He will join a distinguished list to have achieved such a feat; Brian Clough (four wins), Bob Paisley and George Graham.
Currently in his 22nd year in charge at Old Trafford, Sir Alex boasts 10 Premier League titles, two Champions League, five FA Cups, two League Cups, the European Cup Winners' Cup, the World Club Championship, the European Super Cup, the Inter-Continental Cup and the FA Charity/Community Shield seven times, excluding the year when United were joint holders.
Player milestones
If he gets a run out, Ryan Giggs will become only the seventh player to play in five League Cup finals. The Welshman could hold the unwanted record of being the first to lose three League Cup finals with the same club.
Wayne Rooney needs a hat-trick to become the first player to score five goals in League Cup finals. He netted twice against Wigan in 2006. Chelsea's Didier Drogba currently holds that record with four.
If Dimitar Berbatov finds the back of the net, he will become the first player to have scored in the final for two different clubs, having opened Tottenham's account from the penalty spot in last season's 2-1 victory over Chelsea.
League Cup fact
United's 4-0 win against Wigan in 2006 was the biggest ever victory in a League Cup final, since the showpiece ceased to be played over two legs.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Current form
Monday's league win over Hull was their only victory in five in all competitions.
Won two of 10.
Recent League Cup performance
The 1971, 1973, 1999 and 2008 winners are competing in their seventh League Cup final and are aiming to become the third team to retain the trophy, and the first since Nottingham Forest 19 years ago.
Victory would see Spurs join Aston Villa as the second most successful club in this competition with five wins, two behind Liverpool.
The Manager
Harry Redknapp, who led Portsmouth to FA Cup victory last season, is hoping to become only the second English manager in 13 years to win the League Cup. Steve McClaren was the last to bear that distinction, with Middlesbrough in 2004.
Player milestones
If he plays, Roman Pavlyuchenko will become the first Russian to feature in a League Cup final.
League Cup fact
Last knocked out of this competition by Arsenal in the semi-finals in 2007. Since then they have played 11 games, winning nine, drawing one and losing one.
HEAD to HEAD
All competitions
Manchester United have won almost twice as many league games as they have lost against Tottenham; won 70, lost 38.
The Red Devils are undefeated in 17 league and cup games against the Londoners, and are meeting them for the third time this season.
The Premier League fixture at White Hart Lane was a goalless draw, but United subsequently knocked Spurs out of the FA Cup, 2-1 in the fourth round at Old Trafford. Paul Scholes and Berbatov both scored within a minute of each other, half an hour after Pavlychenko had given Spurs an early fifth minute lead.
League Cup
But it is a different story in the League Cup. Spurs have won five of their six meetings.
The most recent was a 3-1 triumph in the quarter-finals at the Lane on 2 December 1998, when Chris Armstrong got a brace and David Ginola the other. Teddy Sheringham replied for United. Spurs went on to lift the trophy that season, beating Leicester 1-0 in the final.
The Big Match Facts were compiled by Peter Robinson, and Infostrada Sports.
Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport2/hi/football/league_cup/7905889.stm
Published: 2009/02/27 12:06:50 GMT
© BBC MMIX
Sunday, 1 March
Kick-off: 1500 GMT
Coverage: Live commentary on BBC Radio 5 Live, text commentary on BBC Sport website plus full commentary on BBC London 94.9, BBC London DAB and BBC London online at bbc.co.uk/london. TV coverage on Sky Sports
Sir Alex Ferguson has told youngsters Darron Gibson and Danny Welbeck they will start Sunday's Carling Cup final.
Rafael Da Silva is out with a fractured ankle but Wayne Rooney should start as he continues to build match fitness.
Tottenham's Robbie Keane, Wilson Palacios, Carlo Cudicini and Pascal Chimbonda are all cup-tied.
Jamie O'Hara (hip) has declared himself fit but on-loan Fraizer Campbell cannot play against his parent club and Ledley King (knee) will have a fitness test.
Ferguson said next Wednesday's Premier League trip to Newcastle is a bigger priority for his side than the Carling Cup final.
"We obviously want to win because the winning mentality in the club is why we have been successful, but we know what our priorities are and that will affect the team that I pick on Sunday," he said.
"We have a big game at Newcastle on Wednesday and the priority for us will always be the Premier League and the Champions League.
"The Premier League is the only place to be and Harry Redknapp is well aware of that judging by the team he picked in the Uefa Cup on Thursday."
But Ferguson dismissed suggestions that United were taking the game lightly by travelling down to London just 24 hours before the game.
"We have always travelled down to the League Cup final the day before the game," he said.
Paddy_The_Red_Devil
Tottenham manager Harry Redknapp said United were his dream opponents in Sunday's final.
"You have to look forward to playing Manchester United," Redknapp said.
"When people asked when Derby won the first leg of their semi-final if it would be great if they could pull it off, I said no way.
"No disrespect but I really wanted to play United in the final. It's a way for you to test yourself against the best.
"They are the best team in Europe, and they were tremendous against Inter Milan in the Champions League on Tuesday.
"We've had some good games against the big teams this season. At home with United we drew, with a good performance, so we've got players who can play against anyone.
"Hopefully, playing on a big stage on Sunday will bring best out of them and we'll get the bit of luck that you always need against the best teams."
Redknapp added that he had been struggling to find time to prepare for the match after a busy schedule which has included Uefa Cup matches alongside Premier League games.
"It's been difficult to enjoy the week as having so many games we haven't been able to relax," he said.
"I was going to take them to Southend to walk them up the pier and have a bowl of jellied eels and ice cream, but we just haven't had the time."
Tottenham (from): Gomes, Alnwick, Corluka, Assou-Ekotto, Woodgate, King, Bentley, Jenas, Modric, Zokora, Lennon, Pavyluchenko, Bent, O'Hara, Huddlestone, Bale, Dawson, Gunter, Giovani, Taarabt.
Man Utd (from): Foster, Kuszczak, Neville, Fabio, Gibson, Evans, Vidic, Ferdinand, O'Shea, Evra, Welbeck, Anderson, Carrick, Fletcher, Park, Scholes, Nani, Ronaldo, Giggs, Tevez, Rooney.
BIG-MATCH FACTS
Manchester United take on the holders Tottenham Hotspur in the 49th League Cup Final and the sixth sponsored by Carling.
United are vying for a unique five-timer. They have already won the World Club Championship in Japan, and stand all square at 0-0 in their last 32 Champions League tie with Inter Milan, going into the Old Trafford leg. The Red Devils are in the box seat at the top of the Premier League table, and have an away tie to Fulham in the quarter-finals of the FA Cup.
Tottenham will be playing their third match in seven days, having been knocked out of the Uefa Cup by Shakhtar Donetsk on Thursday. Monday's 2-1 win at Hull lifted them three points further away from the Premier League's relegation zone, but they are still uncomfortably close.
This year's final comprises two of the three most recent winners.
Both clubs had to knock out two Premier League clubs and two Championship sides to qualify for the final. Both also lost one leg of their semi-final against lower league opposition; Manchester United at Derby, Tottenham at Burnley.
The League ladder
Tottenham lie 13 places below leaders Manchester United in the Premier League table.
Referee
Chris Foy (Merseyide)
MANCHESTER UNITED
Current form
Unbeaten in 12; won 11 and drawn one in all competitions since losing 1-0, away to Derby in the first leg of the Carling Cup semi-final on 7 January.
Avoided defeat in 26 of the last 27 matches.
Recent League Cup performance
The 1992 and 2006 League Cup winners are competing in their seventh final.
The Manager
Victory will give Sir Alex Ferguson his third League Cup victory. He will join a distinguished list to have achieved such a feat; Brian Clough (four wins), Bob Paisley and George Graham.
Currently in his 22nd year in charge at Old Trafford, Sir Alex boasts 10 Premier League titles, two Champions League, five FA Cups, two League Cups, the European Cup Winners' Cup, the World Club Championship, the European Super Cup, the Inter-Continental Cup and the FA Charity/Community Shield seven times, excluding the year when United were joint holders.
Player milestones
If he gets a run out, Ryan Giggs will become only the seventh player to play in five League Cup finals. The Welshman could hold the unwanted record of being the first to lose three League Cup finals with the same club.
Wayne Rooney needs a hat-trick to become the first player to score five goals in League Cup finals. He netted twice against Wigan in 2006. Chelsea's Didier Drogba currently holds that record with four.
If Dimitar Berbatov finds the back of the net, he will become the first player to have scored in the final for two different clubs, having opened Tottenham's account from the penalty spot in last season's 2-1 victory over Chelsea.
League Cup fact
United's 4-0 win against Wigan in 2006 was the biggest ever victory in a League Cup final, since the showpiece ceased to be played over two legs.
TOTTENHAM HOTSPUR
Current form
Monday's league win over Hull was their only victory in five in all competitions.
Won two of 10.
Recent League Cup performance
The 1971, 1973, 1999 and 2008 winners are competing in their seventh League Cup final and are aiming to become the third team to retain the trophy, and the first since Nottingham Forest 19 years ago.
Victory would see Spurs join Aston Villa as the second most successful club in this competition with five wins, two behind Liverpool.
The Manager
Harry Redknapp, who led Portsmouth to FA Cup victory last season, is hoping to become only the second English manager in 13 years to win the League Cup. Steve McClaren was the last to bear that distinction, with Middlesbrough in 2004.
Player milestones
If he plays, Roman Pavlyuchenko will become the first Russian to feature in a League Cup final.
League Cup fact
Last knocked out of this competition by Arsenal in the semi-finals in 2007. Since then they have played 11 games, winning nine, drawing one and losing one.
HEAD to HEAD
All competitions
Manchester United have won almost twice as many league games as they have lost against Tottenham; won 70, lost 38.
The Red Devils are undefeated in 17 league and cup games against the Londoners, and are meeting them for the third time this season.
The Premier League fixture at White Hart Lane was a goalless draw, but United subsequently knocked Spurs out of the FA Cup, 2-1 in the fourth round at Old Trafford. Paul Scholes and Berbatov both scored within a minute of each other, half an hour after Pavlychenko had given Spurs an early fifth minute lead.
League Cup
But it is a different story in the League Cup. Spurs have won five of their six meetings.
The most recent was a 3-1 triumph in the quarter-finals at the Lane on 2 December 1998, when Chris Armstrong got a brace and David Ginola the other. Teddy Sheringham replied for United. Spurs went on to lift the trophy that season, beating Leicester 1-0 in the final.
The Big Match Facts were compiled by Peter Robinson, and Infostrada Sports.
Story from BBC SPORT:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/go/pr/fr/-/sport2/hi/football/league_cup/7905889.stm
Published: 2009/02/27 12:06:50 GMT
© BBC MMIX
Thursday, February 26, 2009
Google joins EU antitrust complaints against Microsoft
By Justin Mann, TechSpot.com
Published: February 25, 2009, 9:48 AM EST
Shortly after the European Commission started new antitrust proceedings against Microsoft, The Mozilla Foundation went to support the cause and voiced their opinion. This was on top of other browser vendors and several parties in the industry, but as of yesterday the movement may have discovered their largest backer yet. Google has joined the complaint against Microsoft, agreeing with the Comission's findings that tying IE to Windows gives Microsoft an unfair advantage in the browser market.
Even though the newcomer Chrome has a minor share in the browser market, Google has been a Firefox supporter all along. Google claims that browsers are crucial to online innovation and that separating IE from Windows will result in better competition conditions.
Published: February 25, 2009, 9:48 AM EST
Shortly after the European Commission started new antitrust proceedings against Microsoft, The Mozilla Foundation went to support the cause and voiced their opinion. This was on top of other browser vendors and several parties in the industry, but as of yesterday the movement may have discovered their largest backer yet. Google has joined the complaint against Microsoft, agreeing with the Comission's findings that tying IE to Windows gives Microsoft an unfair advantage in the browser market.
Even though the newcomer Chrome has a minor share in the browser market, Google has been a Firefox supporter all along. Google claims that browsers are crucial to online innovation and that separating IE from Windows will result in better competition conditions.
Feb Top 10 Temporary and Disposable Email Address
Spam..Spam..Spam..Nobody loves it, but you cant help it either. The Volume of spam you get in Yahoo is much more compared to Gmail. Now if you dont want to be showered with many spam mails in your inbox, you can use these disposable Email Address on the sites where you need to give in your email id just for confirmation purpose.They provide you a temporary email address for register accounts. The emails will be forwarded to your real address. This way you do not need to exposure your real address, so you will be worry free on spam. Below are some Temporary and Disposable Email Address Services to pick from:
1. Mailinator
Mailinator was the first (and still the best!) disposable email service for people who want to protect their online identity. It is a tool that allows users to create an on-the-spot email identity that provides anonymity and fights web inertia in one easy step.
2.GuerrillaMail
GuerrillaMail provides you with disposable e-mail addresses which expire after 15 Minutes. You can read and reply to e-mails that are sent to the temporary e-mail address within the given time frame.
3.DeadAddress
DeadAddress will instantly create a disposable email address that you can use when you need to verify registrations by email. After creating an instant email accountyou can check for new incoming messages by simply refreshing your dynamically created inbox page.
4.Fake Mail Generator
Fake Mail Generator changes the domain frequently in order to prevent the address from being banned, a problem which plagues other disposable email services.
5.SpamBox.us
SpamBox allows you to create a temporary e-mail address that will forward all incoming mail to your usual e-mail address. Simply enter your e-mail address and the life time of your spambox and we will generate you a temporary @spambox.us e-mail.
6.TemporaryInbox
TemporaryInbox is a disposable email address which doesn’t require registration and can be used to avoid spam. Use this email address in forums, lotteries, or wherever. The spammers will never find out your private email address.
7.Hidzz
Hidzz lets you create as many in form xxx-name@hidzz.com Email ID remains valid for 5 days and you can access all your temporary IDs using your personal email address.
8.Spam.la
Spam.la is a fast disposable email service which requires no registration, no frills. You can see all spam being sent to all Spam.la accounts, or just your own.
9.E4ward
After you register for a free account enter an email address where e4ward.com should forward your mail. Create an alias for each of your contacts like liasusername.e4ward.com - its done.
10.Incognito Mail
Incognito Mail allows you to create a temporary e-mail account that will last 60 Minutes. Enough time to receive e-mails that contain activation or download links, and to reply to e-mails that ask for confirmation.
1. Mailinator
Mailinator was the first (and still the best!) disposable email service for people who want to protect their online identity. It is a tool that allows users to create an on-the-spot email identity that provides anonymity and fights web inertia in one easy step.
2.GuerrillaMail
GuerrillaMail provides you with disposable e-mail addresses which expire after 15 Minutes. You can read and reply to e-mails that are sent to the temporary e-mail address within the given time frame.
3.DeadAddress
DeadAddress will instantly create a disposable email address that you can use when you need to verify registrations by email. After creating an instant email accountyou can check for new incoming messages by simply refreshing your dynamically created inbox page.
4.Fake Mail Generator
Fake Mail Generator changes the domain frequently in order to prevent the address from being banned, a problem which plagues other disposable email services.
5.SpamBox.us
SpamBox allows you to create a temporary e-mail address that will forward all incoming mail to your usual e-mail address. Simply enter your e-mail address and the life time of your spambox and we will generate you a temporary @spambox.us e-mail.
6.TemporaryInbox
TemporaryInbox is a disposable email address which doesn’t require registration and can be used to avoid spam. Use this email address in forums, lotteries, or wherever. The spammers will never find out your private email address.
7.Hidzz
Hidzz lets you create as many in form xxx-name@hidzz.com Email ID remains valid for 5 days and you can access all your temporary IDs using your personal email address.
8.Spam.la
Spam.la is a fast disposable email service which requires no registration, no frills. You can see all spam being sent to all Spam.la accounts, or just your own.
9.E4ward
After you register for a free account enter an email address where e4ward.com should forward your mail. Create an alias for each of your contacts like liasusername.e4ward.com - its done.
10.Incognito Mail
Incognito Mail allows you to create a temporary e-mail account that will last 60 Minutes. Enough time to receive e-mails that contain activation or download links, and to reply to e-mails that ask for confirmation.
Wednesday, February 25, 2009
The History of Christian Hip Hop & Christian Rap
While mainstream hip hop is celebrating its 30-something birthday, its Christian counterpart is roughly ten years younger. Although the terms “”Christian Hip Hop” and “Christian Rap”” can still raise some eyebrows, the hip hop culture has always had a social conscious and flirted with all religious beliefs from Buddhism to Islam. Adding Christianity to the mix wasn’t really a surprise given its largely African-American participants’ spiritual backgrounds. If nothing else, Christ has withstood grandly within hip hop.
So where did Christian Hip Hop and Christian Rap get its start? And where is it now? The following is a (very) brief rundown at how the hip hop community is using this music to entertain and enlighten.
IN THE BEGINNING:
Because it was an emerging subculture with very little historical documentation there is actually some debate as to how and where holy hip hop got its start. At the very least, we know it first became public in the early to mid 80’s, mainly in Nashville, TN (Christian music’s capital) and through the Los Angeles underground.
Some of the first recordings were limited to singles and include M.C. Sweet’s Jesus Christ (The Gospel Beat) [Lection/Polygram, 1982] and Stephen Wiley’s Bible Break [Brentwood Records, 1985]. Both selections were heavy on the Sunday School lesson lyrics and extremely dated, Kurtis Blow-influenced beats and delivery.
In the west, groups like L.P.G. claim to have been rapping in the church since 1984. Houston’s Apocalypse put the Word on wax around the same time.
Others, like Michael Peace, S.F.C. (Soldiers for Christ), Dynamic Twins, and J.C. Crew, found a home too, with national distribution through Nashville-based companies such as Broken Records, Brainstorm Artists International, and Word Records Limited. Their musical style made some progression, but even its fans had to admit it didn’t quite match what moved crowds at the skating rink or over the airwaves.
During this time many Christian Hip Hop an Christian Rap MCs felt somewhat betwixt. They were dealing with an outside world that wouldn’t accept them and a church community that was slow to embrace. It was this mix of faith and secular music that challenged, if not vexed, many throughout the 80’s period.
Unsurprisingly, it was not until groups like Nashville’s white-break dc Talk mixed pop and rap in the early 1990’s that acceptance grew and holy hip hop started to feel at home with its brethren.
TEXAS TAKES THE CHALLENGE:
The Lone Star State also placed a key role in Christian Hip Hop and Christian Rap’s development. Aside from the aforementioned Apocalypse crew, it became home to an independent Christian gangsta rap record label and launched the genre’s first attempts at critical and editorial journalism.
Cowboy-hat-and-boot-wearing Knolly “Rubadub” Williams started his own music career from the small town of Round Rock as Grapetree Records’s first act in 1992. The label-owned, but industry-focused Heaven’s Hip-Hop Magazine published its first issue not long after. Grapetree had a street sensibility and put its money into recent converts with rap sheets and skills.
Houston’s Lil Raskull and Nuwine (now known as Wine-O) quickly became GT’s most popular and best-selling acts. They gave Gulf Coast rap fans with a heart for Christ, music that fed their spiritual and musical appetites and helped the label gross an estimated $2 million in 1998.
H-town was also treated to visuals of the national scene through Ministerz of the Underground, a holy hip hop television show produced by Apocalypse’s Eleazar, and given airtime in the wee hours of Saturday night on the public access Christian station. Mainly recorded at CRUvention (Christian Rappers United) gatherings in Orlando and L.A., the half hour showcased performances and freestyle sessions by the community’s talented and undiscovered up and comers.
BI-COASTAL BAPTISM:
While the South established its stake, the West Coast continued to make an argument that it could not be denied some shine also. Groups like Gospel Gangstas showed California could be home to both former Crips and Bloods and coffee shop backpackers like LA Symphony and the Tunnel Rats. Further north, guys like MG! the Visionary, Braille, and Illtrip (Labklik) demonstrated their faith through lyrically artistic battle raps and ballads.
Not long after, groups like the Cross Movement reminded Christians that hip hop’s origins were rooted on the East Coast. Collective projects like the Mark of the East compilation (featuring Corey Red, Precise, ADF and others) continued to have a platform at large, hip-hop focused urban ministry outings such as RapFest in the Boogie Down Bronx.
During this same time and coast (just a little further south) people like Urban D (pastor of HHH’s premier Crossover Church and founder of the Flavor Fest event) held it down in Florida with KJ-52, Pettidee and the Shabach Entertainment fam - helping pave the way for Atlanta’s burgeoning Holy Hip Hop, Inc. scene.
INTERNET IGNITES:
However, it was the late 90’s birth of the World Wide Web that accelerated the genre and made communication among a small, but scattered, community so much easier. Now, cross-bearing MCs from all over the country (and globe) could connect via e-mail and message boards on info sites like Godzhouse.com and Hiphopzone.com. Later, news sites like om95.com and the Sphereofhiphop.com would take up this mantle.
The ease of digital music downloads also expanded the genre’s audience via legal (mp3.com) and illegal (Napster) avenues. As several veteran and newer artists built a following on the Net, they were often snatched up by larger labels anxious to tap into this growing market. BEC/Tooth & Nail Records launched an entire hip hop imprint (Uprok) that signed and released projects from acts like Sup the Chemist, Peace 586, New Breed, Sev Statik, Playdough, and Ill Harmonics. After a handful of releases, some also found second homes at Nashville’s Gotee Records where they shared resources with established acts like Grits, DJ Maj and John Reuben.
Elsewhere, labels like Syntax Records decided to remain independent and launch or aid the careers of artists like Tonex, Pigeon John, Dirt, and RedCloud.
TWO THOUSAND-TODAY:
Today’s Christian Hip Hop and Christian Rap MC’s enjoy technological advances that can exponentially expand their audiences.
Web 2.0 sites like MySpace.com, YouTube.com and Twitter.com offer instant access to your youth group’s favorite MC. Electronic press kits canvas multitudes so that bloggers are chatting up the info in minutes. iTunes, The Bus Shop, and Holy Culture Download make music delivery both economical and instantaneous. And podcasts like Holy Culture Radio, HeadzUpFM and The Wade-O Show provide a pipeline playlist to a target audience ignored by traditional airwave media. Modern day favorites S.O.M., Kaboose, Lecrae, FLAME, R-Swift, shai linne, Trip Lee, Brinson, and others all reap the benefit.
Christian Hip Hop and Christian Rap has come a long way. The dated, corny rhymes have given way to hot, creative MCs who simply want to share their faith using one of today’s most popular forms of music. Its recordings and messages are moving out of Christian bookstores and church pews and into mainstream America.
How the Creator uses it from here is anyone’s guess. But as is usually the case, it’ll no doubt be amazing to watch.
So where did Christian Hip Hop and Christian Rap get its start? And where is it now? The following is a (very) brief rundown at how the hip hop community is using this music to entertain and enlighten.
IN THE BEGINNING:
Because it was an emerging subculture with very little historical documentation there is actually some debate as to how and where holy hip hop got its start. At the very least, we know it first became public in the early to mid 80’s, mainly in Nashville, TN (Christian music’s capital) and through the Los Angeles underground.
Some of the first recordings were limited to singles and include M.C. Sweet’s Jesus Christ (The Gospel Beat) [Lection/Polygram, 1982] and Stephen Wiley’s Bible Break [Brentwood Records, 1985]. Both selections were heavy on the Sunday School lesson lyrics and extremely dated, Kurtis Blow-influenced beats and delivery.
In the west, groups like L.P.G. claim to have been rapping in the church since 1984. Houston’s Apocalypse put the Word on wax around the same time.
Others, like Michael Peace, S.F.C. (Soldiers for Christ), Dynamic Twins, and J.C. Crew, found a home too, with national distribution through Nashville-based companies such as Broken Records, Brainstorm Artists International, and Word Records Limited. Their musical style made some progression, but even its fans had to admit it didn’t quite match what moved crowds at the skating rink or over the airwaves.
During this time many Christian Hip Hop an Christian Rap MCs felt somewhat betwixt. They were dealing with an outside world that wouldn’t accept them and a church community that was slow to embrace. It was this mix of faith and secular music that challenged, if not vexed, many throughout the 80’s period.
Unsurprisingly, it was not until groups like Nashville’s white-break dc Talk mixed pop and rap in the early 1990’s that acceptance grew and holy hip hop started to feel at home with its brethren.
TEXAS TAKES THE CHALLENGE:
The Lone Star State also placed a key role in Christian Hip Hop and Christian Rap’s development. Aside from the aforementioned Apocalypse crew, it became home to an independent Christian gangsta rap record label and launched the genre’s first attempts at critical and editorial journalism.
Cowboy-hat-and-boot-wearing Knolly “Rubadub” Williams started his own music career from the small town of Round Rock as Grapetree Records’s first act in 1992. The label-owned, but industry-focused Heaven’s Hip-Hop Magazine published its first issue not long after. Grapetree had a street sensibility and put its money into recent converts with rap sheets and skills.
Houston’s Lil Raskull and Nuwine (now known as Wine-O) quickly became GT’s most popular and best-selling acts. They gave Gulf Coast rap fans with a heart for Christ, music that fed their spiritual and musical appetites and helped the label gross an estimated $2 million in 1998.
H-town was also treated to visuals of the national scene through Ministerz of the Underground, a holy hip hop television show produced by Apocalypse’s Eleazar, and given airtime in the wee hours of Saturday night on the public access Christian station. Mainly recorded at CRUvention (Christian Rappers United) gatherings in Orlando and L.A., the half hour showcased performances and freestyle sessions by the community’s talented and undiscovered up and comers.
BI-COASTAL BAPTISM:
While the South established its stake, the West Coast continued to make an argument that it could not be denied some shine also. Groups like Gospel Gangstas showed California could be home to both former Crips and Bloods and coffee shop backpackers like LA Symphony and the Tunnel Rats. Further north, guys like MG! the Visionary, Braille, and Illtrip (Labklik) demonstrated their faith through lyrically artistic battle raps and ballads.
Not long after, groups like the Cross Movement reminded Christians that hip hop’s origins were rooted on the East Coast. Collective projects like the Mark of the East compilation (featuring Corey Red, Precise, ADF and others) continued to have a platform at large, hip-hop focused urban ministry outings such as RapFest in the Boogie Down Bronx.
During this same time and coast (just a little further south) people like Urban D (pastor of HHH’s premier Crossover Church and founder of the Flavor Fest event) held it down in Florida with KJ-52, Pettidee and the Shabach Entertainment fam - helping pave the way for Atlanta’s burgeoning Holy Hip Hop, Inc. scene.
INTERNET IGNITES:
However, it was the late 90’s birth of the World Wide Web that accelerated the genre and made communication among a small, but scattered, community so much easier. Now, cross-bearing MCs from all over the country (and globe) could connect via e-mail and message boards on info sites like Godzhouse.com and Hiphopzone.com. Later, news sites like om95.com and the Sphereofhiphop.com would take up this mantle.
The ease of digital music downloads also expanded the genre’s audience via legal (mp3.com) and illegal (Napster) avenues. As several veteran and newer artists built a following on the Net, they were often snatched up by larger labels anxious to tap into this growing market. BEC/Tooth & Nail Records launched an entire hip hop imprint (Uprok) that signed and released projects from acts like Sup the Chemist, Peace 586, New Breed, Sev Statik, Playdough, and Ill Harmonics. After a handful of releases, some also found second homes at Nashville’s Gotee Records where they shared resources with established acts like Grits, DJ Maj and John Reuben.
Elsewhere, labels like Syntax Records decided to remain independent and launch or aid the careers of artists like Tonex, Pigeon John, Dirt, and RedCloud.
TWO THOUSAND-TODAY:
Today’s Christian Hip Hop and Christian Rap MC’s enjoy technological advances that can exponentially expand their audiences.
Web 2.0 sites like MySpace.com, YouTube.com and Twitter.com offer instant access to your youth group’s favorite MC. Electronic press kits canvas multitudes so that bloggers are chatting up the info in minutes. iTunes, The Bus Shop, and Holy Culture Download make music delivery both economical and instantaneous. And podcasts like Holy Culture Radio, HeadzUpFM and The Wade-O Show provide a pipeline playlist to a target audience ignored by traditional airwave media. Modern day favorites S.O.M., Kaboose, Lecrae, FLAME, R-Swift, shai linne, Trip Lee, Brinson, and others all reap the benefit.
Christian Hip Hop and Christian Rap has come a long way. The dated, corny rhymes have given way to hot, creative MCs who simply want to share their faith using one of today’s most popular forms of music. Its recordings and messages are moving out of Christian bookstores and church pews and into mainstream America.
How the Creator uses it from here is anyone’s guess. But as is usually the case, it’ll no doubt be amazing to watch.
Tuesday, February 24, 2009
A Good Manager Has At Least 10 Good Qualities by Bill Gates
A good manager has at least 10 good qualities
RECENTLY I wrote about 10 qualities of a good employee, which prompted quite a few people to ask about the attributes of a good manager.
There isn't a magic formula for good management, of course, but if you're a manager, perhaps these tips will help you be more effective:
1 Choose a field thoughtfully. Make it one you enjoy. It's hard to be productive without enthusiasm. This is true whether you're a manager or employee;
2 Hire carefully and be willing to fire. You need a strong team, because a mediocre team gives mediocre results, no matter how well managed it is. One mistake is holding on to somebody who doesn't measure up. It's easy to keep this person on the job because he's not terrible at what he does. But a good manager will replace him or move him to where he can succeed unambiguously;
3 Create a productive environment. This is a particular challenge because it requires different approaches depending on the context. Sometimes you maximise productivity by giving everybody his or her own office. Sometimes you achieve it by moving everybody into open space. Sometimes you use financial incentives to stimulate productivity. A combination of approaches is usually required. One element that almost always increases productivity is providing an information system that empowers employees.
When I was building Microsoft, I set out to create an environment where software developers could thrive. I wanted a company where engineers liked to work. I wanted to create a culture that encouraged them to work together, share ideas and remain motivated. If I hadn't been a software engineer myself, there's no way I could have achieved my goal;
4 Define success. Make it clear to your employees what constitutes success and how they should measure their achievements. Goals must be realistic. Project schedules, for example, must be set by the people who do the work. People will accept a "bottoms-up" deadline they helped set, but they'll be cynical about a schedule imposed from the top that doesn't map to reality. Unachievable goals undermine an organisation. At my company, in addition to regular team meetings and one-on-one sessions between managers and employees, we use mass gatherings periodically and E-mail routinely to communicate what we expect from employees. If a reviewer or customer chooses another company's product, we analyse the situation. We say to our people, "The next time around we've got to win. What's needed?" The answers to these questions help us define success;
5 To be a good manager, you have to like people and be good at communicating. This is hard to fake. If you don't enjoy interacting with people, it'll be hard to manage them well. You must have a wide range of personal contacts within your organisation. You need relationships - not necessarily personal friendships - with a fair number of people, including your own employees. You must encourage these people to tell you what's going on and give you feedback about what people are thinking about the company and your role in it;
6 Develop your people to do their jobs better than you can. Transfer your skills to them. This is an exciting goal, but it can be threatening to a manager who worries that he's training his replacement. If you're concerned, ask your boss: "If I develop somebody who can do my job super well, does the company have some other challenge for me or not?" Many smart managers like to see their employees increase their responsibilities because it frees the managers to tackle new or undone tasks. There's no shortage of jobs for good managers. The world has an infinite amount of work to be done;
7 Build morale. Make it clear there's plenty of goodwill to go around and that it's not just you or some hotshot manager who's going to look good if things go well. Give people a sense of the importance of what they're working on - its importance to the company, its importance to customers;
8 Take on projects yourself. You need to do more than communicate. The last thing people want is a boss who just doles out stuff. From time to time, prove you can be hands-on by taking on one of the less attractive tasks and using it as an example of how your employees should meet challenges;
9 Don't make the same decision twice. Spend the time and thought to make a solid decision the first time so that you don't revisit the issue unnecessarily. If you're too willing to reopen issues, it interferes not only with your execution but also with your motivation to make a decision in the first place. People hate indecisive leadership; However, that doesn't mean you have to decide everything the moment it comes to your attention. Nor that you can't ever reconsider a decision.
10 Let people know whom to please. Maybe it's you, maybe it's your boss, and maybe it's somebody who works for you. You're in trouble and risking paralysis in your organisation when employees start saying to themselves: "Am I supposed to be making this person happy or this other person happy? They seem to have different priorities."
I don't pretend that these are the only 10 approaches a manager should keep in mind. There are lots of others. Just a month ago I encouraged leaders to demand bad news before good news from their employees. But these 10 ideas may help you manage well, and I hope they do.
# If you have any questions you would like Bill Gates to answer you can send them to askbill@microsoft.com
Gates, Bill. "A Good Manager Has At Least 10 Good Qualities." Business Week. 6 Dec. 2007.
RECENTLY I wrote about 10 qualities of a good employee, which prompted quite a few people to ask about the attributes of a good manager.
There isn't a magic formula for good management, of course, but if you're a manager, perhaps these tips will help you be more effective:
1 Choose a field thoughtfully. Make it one you enjoy. It's hard to be productive without enthusiasm. This is true whether you're a manager or employee;
2 Hire carefully and be willing to fire. You need a strong team, because a mediocre team gives mediocre results, no matter how well managed it is. One mistake is holding on to somebody who doesn't measure up. It's easy to keep this person on the job because he's not terrible at what he does. But a good manager will replace him or move him to where he can succeed unambiguously;
3 Create a productive environment. This is a particular challenge because it requires different approaches depending on the context. Sometimes you maximise productivity by giving everybody his or her own office. Sometimes you achieve it by moving everybody into open space. Sometimes you use financial incentives to stimulate productivity. A combination of approaches is usually required. One element that almost always increases productivity is providing an information system that empowers employees.
When I was building Microsoft, I set out to create an environment where software developers could thrive. I wanted a company where engineers liked to work. I wanted to create a culture that encouraged them to work together, share ideas and remain motivated. If I hadn't been a software engineer myself, there's no way I could have achieved my goal;
4 Define success. Make it clear to your employees what constitutes success and how they should measure their achievements. Goals must be realistic. Project schedules, for example, must be set by the people who do the work. People will accept a "bottoms-up" deadline they helped set, but they'll be cynical about a schedule imposed from the top that doesn't map to reality. Unachievable goals undermine an organisation. At my company, in addition to regular team meetings and one-on-one sessions between managers and employees, we use mass gatherings periodically and E-mail routinely to communicate what we expect from employees. If a reviewer or customer chooses another company's product, we analyse the situation. We say to our people, "The next time around we've got to win. What's needed?" The answers to these questions help us define success;
5 To be a good manager, you have to like people and be good at communicating. This is hard to fake. If you don't enjoy interacting with people, it'll be hard to manage them well. You must have a wide range of personal contacts within your organisation. You need relationships - not necessarily personal friendships - with a fair number of people, including your own employees. You must encourage these people to tell you what's going on and give you feedback about what people are thinking about the company and your role in it;
6 Develop your people to do their jobs better than you can. Transfer your skills to them. This is an exciting goal, but it can be threatening to a manager who worries that he's training his replacement. If you're concerned, ask your boss: "If I develop somebody who can do my job super well, does the company have some other challenge for me or not?" Many smart managers like to see their employees increase their responsibilities because it frees the managers to tackle new or undone tasks. There's no shortage of jobs for good managers. The world has an infinite amount of work to be done;
7 Build morale. Make it clear there's plenty of goodwill to go around and that it's not just you or some hotshot manager who's going to look good if things go well. Give people a sense of the importance of what they're working on - its importance to the company, its importance to customers;
8 Take on projects yourself. You need to do more than communicate. The last thing people want is a boss who just doles out stuff. From time to time, prove you can be hands-on by taking on one of the less attractive tasks and using it as an example of how your employees should meet challenges;
9 Don't make the same decision twice. Spend the time and thought to make a solid decision the first time so that you don't revisit the issue unnecessarily. If you're too willing to reopen issues, it interferes not only with your execution but also with your motivation to make a decision in the first place. People hate indecisive leadership; However, that doesn't mean you have to decide everything the moment it comes to your attention. Nor that you can't ever reconsider a decision.
10 Let people know whom to please. Maybe it's you, maybe it's your boss, and maybe it's somebody who works for you. You're in trouble and risking paralysis in your organisation when employees start saying to themselves: "Am I supposed to be making this person happy or this other person happy? They seem to have different priorities."
I don't pretend that these are the only 10 approaches a manager should keep in mind. There are lots of others. Just a month ago I encouraged leaders to demand bad news before good news from their employees. But these 10 ideas may help you manage well, and I hope they do.
# If you have any questions you would like Bill Gates to answer you can send them to askbill@microsoft.com
Gates, Bill. "A Good Manager Has At Least 10 Good Qualities." Business Week. 6 Dec. 2007
Top 10 Qualities of a Project Manager By Timothy R. Barry Project Manager Arms Folded
What qualities are most important for a project leader to be effective? Over the past few years, the people at ESI International, world leaders in Project Management Training, have looked in to what makes an effective project leader. With the unique opportunity to ask some of the most talented project leaders in the world on their Project Leadership courses ESI have managed to collect a running tally on their responses. Below are the top 10 in rank order according to frequency listed.
Inspires a Shared Vision
An effective project leader is often described as having a vision of where to go and the ability to articulate it. Visionaries thrive on change and being able to draw new boundaries. It was once said that a leader is someone who "lifts us up, gives us a reason for being and gives the vision and spirit to change." Visionary leaders enable people to feel they have a real stake in the project. They empower people to experience the vision on their own. According to Bennis "They offer people opportunities to create their own vision, to explore what the vision will mean to their jobs and lives, and to envision their future as part of the vision for the organisation." (Bennis, 1997)
Good Communicator
The ability to communicate with people at all levels is almost always named as the second most important skill by project managers and team members. Project leadership calls for clear communication about goals, responsibility, performance, expectations and feedback.
There is a great deal of value placed on openness and directness. The project leader is also the team's link to the larger organisation. The leader must have the ability to effectively negotiate and use persuasion when necessary to ensure the success of the team and project. Through effective communication, project leaders support individual and team achievements by creating explicit guidelines for accomplishing results and for the career advancement of team members.
Integrity
One of the most important things a project leader must remember is that his or her actions, and not words, set the modus operandi for the team. Good leadership demands commitment to, and demonstration of, ethical practices. Creating standards for ethical behaviour for oneself and living by these standards, as well as rewarding those who exemplify these practices, are responsibilities of project leaders. Leadership motivated by self-interest does not serve the well being of the team. Leadership based on integrity represents nothing less than a set of values others share, behaviour consistent with values and dedication to honesty with self and team members. In other words the leader "walks the talk" and in the process earns trust.
Enthusiasm
Plain and simple, we don't like leaders who are negative - they bring us down. We want leaders with enthusiasm, with a bounce in their step, with a can-do attitude. We want to believe that we are part of an invigorating journey - we want to feel alive. We tend to follow people with a can-do attitude, not those who give us 200 reasons why something can't be done. Enthusiastic leaders are committed to their goals and express this commitment through optimism. Leadership emerges as someone expresses such confident commitment to a project that others want to share his or her optimistic expectations. Enthusiasm is contagious and effective leaders know it.
Empathy
What is the difference between empathy and sympathy? Although the words are similar, they are, in fact, mutually exclusive. According to Norman Paul, in sympathy the subject is principally absorbed in his or her own feelings as they are projected into the object and has little concern for the reality and validity of the object's special experience. Empathy, on the other hand, presupposes the existence of the object as a separate individual, entitled to his or her own feelings, ideas and emotional history (Paul, 1970). As one student so eloquently put it, "It's nice when a project leader acknowledges that we all have a life outside of work."
Competence
Simply put, to enlist in another's cause, we must believe that that person knows what he or she is doing. Leadership competence does not however necessarily refer to the project leader's technical abilities in the core technology of the business. As project management continues to be recognised as a field in and of itself, project leaders will be chosen based on their ability to successfully lead others rather than on technical expertise, as in the past. Having a winning track record is the surest way to be considered competent. Expertise in leadership skills is another dimension in competence. The ability to challenge, inspire, enable, model and encourage must be demonstrated if leaders are to be seen as capable and competent.
Ability to Delegate Tasks
Trust is an essential element in the relationship of a project leader and his or her team. You demonstrate your trust in others through your actions - how much you check and control their work, how much you delegate and how much you allow people to participate. Individuals who are unable to trust other people often fail as leaders and forever remain little more that micro-managers, or end up doing all of the work themselves. As one project management student put it, "A good leader is a little lazy." An interesting perspective!
Cool Under Pressure
In a perfect world, projects would be delivered on time, under budget and with no major problems or obstacles to overcome. But we don't live in a perfect world - projects have problems. A leader with a hardy attitude will take these problems in stride. When leaders encounter a stressful event, they consider it interesting, they feel they can influence the outcome and they see it as an opportunity. "Out of the uncertainty and chaos of change, leaders rise up and articulate a new image of the future that pulls the project together." (Bennis 1997) And remember - never let them see you sweat.
Team-Building Skills
A team builder can best be defined as a strong person who provides the substance that holds the team together in common purpose toward the right objective. In order for a team to progress from a group of strangers to a single cohesive unit, the leader must understand the process and dynamics required for this transformation. He or she must also know the appropriate leadership style to use during each stage of team development. The leader must also have an understanding of the different team players styles and how to capitalise on each at the proper time, for the problem at hand.
Problem Solving Skills
Although an effective leader is said to share problem-solving responsibilities with the team, we expect our project leaders to have excellent problem-solving skills themselves. They have a "fresh, creative response to here-and-now opportunities," and not much concern with how others have performed them. (Kouzes 1987)
References
* Bennis, W., 1997. "Learning to Lead," Addison-Wesley, MA.
* Kouzes, J. M: "The Leadership Challenge," Jossey-Bass Publishers, CA.
* Norman: Parental Empathy. Parenthood, Little, Brown, NY.
Timothy R. Barry is a trainer and consultant for ESI International with more than 20 years of experience in project management. He has worked with over 40 major organisations worldwide.
With over 20 years experience, ESI International is the world's largest Project Management Training and Consulting provider. A comprehensive mix of project management, E-training, tailored corporate courses, consulting, assessment and mentoring means they are able to provide their clients with proven methods that enable them to achieve their goals. To put ESI International's Project Management Solutions to work for your company, or for more information, call +44 (0)20 7915 5099 or visit the website at www.esi-intl.co.uk External Link
Inspires a Shared Vision
An effective project leader is often described as having a vision of where to go and the ability to articulate it. Visionaries thrive on change and being able to draw new boundaries. It was once said that a leader is someone who "lifts us up, gives us a reason for being and gives the vision and spirit to change." Visionary leaders enable people to feel they have a real stake in the project. They empower people to experience the vision on their own. According to Bennis "They offer people opportunities to create their own vision, to explore what the vision will mean to their jobs and lives, and to envision their future as part of the vision for the organisation." (Bennis, 1997)
Good Communicator
The ability to communicate with people at all levels is almost always named as the second most important skill by project managers and team members. Project leadership calls for clear communication about goals, responsibility, performance, expectations and feedback.
There is a great deal of value placed on openness and directness. The project leader is also the team's link to the larger organisation. The leader must have the ability to effectively negotiate and use persuasion when necessary to ensure the success of the team and project. Through effective communication, project leaders support individual and team achievements by creating explicit guidelines for accomplishing results and for the career advancement of team members.
Integrity
One of the most important things a project leader must remember is that his or her actions, and not words, set the modus operandi for the team. Good leadership demands commitment to, and demonstration of, ethical practices. Creating standards for ethical behaviour for oneself and living by these standards, as well as rewarding those who exemplify these practices, are responsibilities of project leaders. Leadership motivated by self-interest does not serve the well being of the team. Leadership based on integrity represents nothing less than a set of values others share, behaviour consistent with values and dedication to honesty with self and team members. In other words the leader "walks the talk" and in the process earns trust.
Enthusiasm
Plain and simple, we don't like leaders who are negative - they bring us down. We want leaders with enthusiasm, with a bounce in their step, with a can-do attitude. We want to believe that we are part of an invigorating journey - we want to feel alive. We tend to follow people with a can-do attitude, not those who give us 200 reasons why something can't be done. Enthusiastic leaders are committed to their goals and express this commitment through optimism. Leadership emerges as someone expresses such confident commitment to a project that others want to share his or her optimistic expectations. Enthusiasm is contagious and effective leaders know it.
Empathy
What is the difference between empathy and sympathy? Although the words are similar, they are, in fact, mutually exclusive. According to Norman Paul, in sympathy the subject is principally absorbed in his or her own feelings as they are projected into the object and has little concern for the reality and validity of the object's special experience. Empathy, on the other hand, presupposes the existence of the object as a separate individual, entitled to his or her own feelings, ideas and emotional history (Paul, 1970). As one student so eloquently put it, "It's nice when a project leader acknowledges that we all have a life outside of work."
Competence
Simply put, to enlist in another's cause, we must believe that that person knows what he or she is doing. Leadership competence does not however necessarily refer to the project leader's technical abilities in the core technology of the business. As project management continues to be recognised as a field in and of itself, project leaders will be chosen based on their ability to successfully lead others rather than on technical expertise, as in the past. Having a winning track record is the surest way to be considered competent. Expertise in leadership skills is another dimension in competence. The ability to challenge, inspire, enable, model and encourage must be demonstrated if leaders are to be seen as capable and competent.
Ability to Delegate Tasks
Trust is an essential element in the relationship of a project leader and his or her team. You demonstrate your trust in others through your actions - how much you check and control their work, how much you delegate and how much you allow people to participate. Individuals who are unable to trust other people often fail as leaders and forever remain little more that micro-managers, or end up doing all of the work themselves. As one project management student put it, "A good leader is a little lazy." An interesting perspective!
Cool Under Pressure
In a perfect world, projects would be delivered on time, under budget and with no major problems or obstacles to overcome. But we don't live in a perfect world - projects have problems. A leader with a hardy attitude will take these problems in stride. When leaders encounter a stressful event, they consider it interesting, they feel they can influence the outcome and they see it as an opportunity. "Out of the uncertainty and chaos of change, leaders rise up and articulate a new image of the future that pulls the project together." (Bennis 1997) And remember - never let them see you sweat.
Team-Building Skills
A team builder can best be defined as a strong person who provides the substance that holds the team together in common purpose toward the right objective. In order for a team to progress from a group of strangers to a single cohesive unit, the leader must understand the process and dynamics required for this transformation. He or she must also know the appropriate leadership style to use during each stage of team development. The leader must also have an understanding of the different team players styles and how to capitalise on each at the proper time, for the problem at hand.
Problem Solving Skills
Although an effective leader is said to share problem-solving responsibilities with the team, we expect our project leaders to have excellent problem-solving skills themselves. They have a "fresh, creative response to here-and-now opportunities," and not much concern with how others have performed them. (Kouzes 1987)
References
* Bennis, W., 1997. "Learning to Lead," Addison-Wesley, MA.
* Kouzes, J. M: "The Leadership Challenge," Jossey-Bass Publishers, CA.
* Norman: Parental Empathy. Parenthood, Little, Brown, NY.
Timothy R. Barry is a trainer and consultant for ESI International with more than 20 years of experience in project management. He has worked with over 40 major organisations worldwide.
With over 20 years experience, ESI International is the world's largest Project Management Training and Consulting provider. A comprehensive mix of project management, E-training, tailored corporate courses, consulting, assessment and mentoring means they are able to provide their clients with proven methods that enable them to achieve their goals. To put ESI International's Project Management Solutions to work for your company, or for more information, call +44 (0)20 7915 5099 or visit the website at www.esi-intl.co.uk External Link
Thursday, February 19, 2009
A review of the news from around the grounds of each Barclays Premier League club
News in brief - Thurs 19th Feb
A review of the news from around the grounds of each Barclays Premier League club.
Arsenal
Arsenal Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis admits he feels the 'weight of history' on his shoulders, but is determined to help steer the Gunners towards more glory years. Gazidis officially took up his post at the start of January following some 15 years with Major Soccer League in the US, where he held the position of deputy commissioner. The 44-year-old Oxford law graduate once lived a stone's throw from Highbury, and knows full well the level of expectation of a club steeped in traditions, yet which has not won the league title since 2003/04. "There is a tremendous sense of responsibility you have in a position like this, and I do feel the weight of that," said Gazidis. "It is not just a job. You have the hopes and expectations of not only so many people, but also history. I feel that on my shoulders. It is a responsibility I take very seriously. Living up to what this club should be and what this club is, and being able to perform this role in a way which is worthy of this club is going to be the biggest challenge I face. If I can walk away someday, hopefully a long time from now, and say I did not let the club down, then I will feel pretty good."
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Aston Villa
Aston Villa Aston Villa will closely monitor the fitness of Curtis Davies after the recurrence of a shoulder problem. He dislocated his shoulder during Sunday's FA Cup tie at Everton but was able to complete the match after the joint was manipulated back into place. Davies, who took part in the UEFA Cup tie against CSKA Moscow on Wednesday night, had suffered a similar injury when playing for West Brom four years ago. Martin O'Neill said: "Curtis hurt himself during the game at Goodison Park and he has been for a scan. "He dislocated his shoulder four years ago and carried on in that particular game not knowing he had done some damage," O'Neill said. "The scan has shown some old damage which has just occurred again. He was in a bit of pain at the time but he feels okay now. He had a bit of manipulation and he felt fine again. He is good now but we will monitor the situation. If it occurs again, say twice in a short space of time, then that's something we would have to look at."
Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers Roque Santa Cruz, Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts have contributed 16 of Blackburn Rovers' 27 league goals and manager Sam Allardyce believes they should be getting more support. "We definitely need more goals from elsewhere," he said. "The strikers are paid to score goals and they get the headlines when they do, and quite rightly so. Other attacking-minded players have to come up with a few more goals to take the pressure off the forwards. Around your team you need midfielders with four or five goals, players in wide areas with five or six, centre-halves with three or four. That gets you to the total that gets you more points on the board. We have the players to score goals from all over the team and now is the time we need these players to show that."
Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers Joey O'Brien is expected to be on the sidelines for around eight weeks following an operation on his left knee. O'Brien has started rehabilitation after visiting renowned surgeon Dr Richard Steadman in Colorado last Friday for surgery over the weekend to clean out the joint. O'Brien and Bolton's medical team are pleased with the outcome, and it is hoped he will again be available for selection towards the end of April. Assistant manager Chris Evans said: "Everything went well. Richard Steadman is the leading specialist in his field and Joey has known him previously. The doctor was pleased with what he saw and the diagnosis was far better than had been feared." It has been a wretched season to date for O'Brien who has only made eight appearances, with his last on 18th October in the goalless draw with Blackburn at the Reebok Stadium. O'Brien initially sustained a hamstring injury before tearing a thigh muscle on his return to training but fortunately for the 23-year-old the current knee problem is not connected with the one which kept him out for the entire 2006-07 season.
Chelsea
Chelsea Chelsea are to play a summer friendly in America against Seattle Sounders FC. The MLS club have announced the match will take place at their Qwest Field ground on 18th July. "This will be unlike any international game ever played in the Pacific Northwest," said Sounders FC majority owner Joe Roth. The atmosphere that afternoon will be incredible." Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon added: "We are delighted to be opening our pre-season preparations in Seattle. It is a fantastic city, and we have great memories of our time there in the summer of 2004 - which went on to be a great season for us. We will be bringing a full-strength squad, so it should be a great game."
Everton
Everton Everton will play a pre-season friendly against Perth Glory if the Barclays Premier League side can organise a second match in Australia, the A-League club have announced. Glory owner Tony Sage said the club was in the advance stages of confirming a match with the Toffees, who could include Australia international Tim Cahill in their line-up for what would be a friendly encounter ahead of the Barclays Premier League season starting in August. However Everton want to play two practice matches in Australia, leaving the Glory relying on another game to be organised. "We're hopeful it will (happen)," Sage said. "We met every term Everton put to us, so we've signed on to the deal, subject to them getting another game. We had a couple of emails and again, the sticking point seems to be the teams on the eastern side of Australia. It's not financially viable for Everton to come just to Perth. They made that clear to everyone, so we're just waiting on that fixture to be set up."
Fulham
Fulham Roy Hodgson says Giles Barnes is some way off starting a match for the club. The 19-year-old joined the Cottagers at the end of last month on loan from Derby with a view to a permanent deal. But Barnes is still on his way back to full fitness after knee-ligament damage he suffered last season. And Hodgson admits he will be limited to cameo roles until he can find full fitness. "He came to the club after a long absence and is unfit," said Hodgson on the club's official website. "Our job is to get him fit and he's working hard to get fit but I don't think you'll see Giles playing any major part in our play until he's fit enough. He might be able to play a bit part and come on for 10-15 minutes as a substitute but if we're talking about him playing a serious role as a 90-minute player then first of all we have to get him physically fit. In the short time he's been with us he's shown great aptitude and has worked well. We're going to have a look at some of our players and it'll be good to see how long he lasts and can go for."
Hull City
Hull City Phil Brown says the club are in a "fearful situation" in the wake of record signing Jimmy Bullard's knee injury. The Tigers paid Barclays Premier League rivals Fulham £5m for the midfielder in the winter transfer window, despite chairman Paul Duffen now revealing the player was carrying a tear in his cartilage when he signed. Bullard - who suffered a cruciate-knee ligament injury while playing for Fulham in 2006 which ruled him out for 18 months - has since played only 37 minutes for City and it has now been decided the 30-year-old requires surgery. And Brown recognises that all associated with City will be holding their breath as they await news, saying: "Of course I understand supporters' fears. And if anyone is in a fearful situation it is Paul Duffen and his investors. As far as I'm concerned, I will take full responsibility for Jimmy being at this club." Duffen has confirmed Bullard's knee was not 100 per cent when negotiations were taking place with Fulham, but he does not see the move as a gamble. "Jimmy had a very slight tear in his cartilage when he signed. We were aware of this but did not see it as a problem," Duffen added. "Phil Brown played for 13 years in his career with a slight tear in his cartilage and did not have a problem."
liverpool
Liverpool Steven Gerrard could make his return from a hamstring injury against Manchester City on Sunday. The midfielder suffered the tear in the Merseyside derby on 4th February and was initially expected to be out for three weeks - with the Champions League tie with Real Madrid thought to be his most likely target. Now manager Rafael Benitez, whose side rely on Gerrard's surging runs and goals from behind the striker, has opened the door for a potential return from the bench at the weekend. The Spaniard said Gerrard had reacted well to treatment and was eager to get back on the pitch as soon as possible. "He is improving. In these situations each day is important. He is working with the medical staff and is progressing. Normally he is a player who recovers quickly. He needs less time than other players," Benitez told the club's official website. "I was surprised because the Spanish press said he'd play some minutes this weekend and then play against Real Madrid, but the truth is we don't know yet. Maybe he could be on the bench against City but we don't know. He wants to play every single game. He knows the game against City will be very important, and also the Real Madrid one too."
manchester city
Manchester City Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given believes the team owe it to the supporters to give a performance against FC Copenhagen in the UEFA Cup. City arrive in Denmark for this first leg match in the last round of 32 on the back of a 2-0 Barclays Premier League defeat by Portsmouth at Fratton Park at the weekend. Given said: "It was a huge disappointment at Portsmouth for everyone involved with the club. We were not good enough and we need to rectify that. Whenever you have a bad performance it is great if the next match comes quickly and you can start to put the record straight. Hopefully we can do that on Thursday. We know we let the fans down at Portsmouth when we were not good enough on the day."
MANCHESTER UNITED
Manchester United Carlos Tevez says he will not know whether he is staying at Manchester United until the summer. The Argentina international is only contracted to United until the end of the season, after he arrived at Old Trafford on an initial two-year loan after leaving West Ham. United have an agreement in place to make that move permanent, but are yet to rubberstamp the arrangement. Tevez is now left waiting to know whether he will remain at United, although he has repeatedly stated that is his intention in the past. "I have the headstart in Manchester and my idea is to stay here for a few more years," Tevez said. "It would be very difficult to have to leave one of the biggest clubs in the world. I spoke with the president of the club, but nothing is signed yet. We are now waiting until June and we will see what happens."
middlesbrough
Middlesbrough Gareth Southgate hopes to have Jeremie Aliadiere back into his squad for the match against Liverpool later this month. The former Arsenal striker has been out since early January with an ankle ligament injury. Southgate said: "Jeremie is making steady progress. He will not be ready for this weekend and the cup replay may come a little early, but he could be back in the squad against Liverpool. It will be good to have him back with us because his pace gives us options. But we won't be rushing him."
Newcastle United
Newcastle United Fabricio Coloccini is adamant he made the right move by joining Newcastle United from Deportivo La Coruna last summer, despite the club's struggles. "This experience is new for me and I am in a great club. Also, I am learning English," Coloccini said. "I am in a similar situation to the one I was in last season at Depor where I am playing in nearly every game and that is important. Now we have to move away from the bottom half of the table as soon as possible."
Portsmouth
Portsmouth Hermann Hreidarsson is delighted he stayed on at Portsmouth in the January transfer window and is now looking forward to a fresh start at the club under new management. There was a lot of speculation in the summer that Hreidarsson would leave, but the 34-year-old has confirmed he had no intention of leaving the club. He told the club's official website "I didn't want to leave in January but I wanted to play football. There were a few agents linking me with a move away but the perfect solution was to stay here and play football." The Iceland international is excited at the prospect of working under the experienced management duo of Paul Hart and Brian Kidd. Paul Hart has spoken to everyone one-to-one. He has been around a long time and deserves a lot of respect," added Hreidarsson. Brian Kidd has got a massive reputation and is someone I really admire."
stoke city
Stoke City Bristol Rovers have signed Stoke City goalkeeper Danzelle St Louis-Hamilton on loan. The 18-year-old arrives at the Memorial Stadium on a month's loan to provide cover for injured keeper Mike Green. Rovers' director of football Lennie Lawrence confirmed St Louis-Hamilton will act as back-up to No.1 keeper Steve Phillips.
sunderland
Sunderland Ricky Sbragia has moved quickly to quash rumours that he has had a falling out with Dwight Yorke. Reports suggested that Trinidad & Tobago captain Yorke has fallen out with Sbragia after insisting he will return to his homeland for their World Cup qualifiers next month despite being suspended. However, Sbragia has played down the reports and admits he is happy to "work around" scenarios where players have international fixtures during the season. "I'll be honest, I didn't read about it until Tuesday, and it was news to me," Sbragia said. "Obviously Kenwyne Jones and Carlos Edwards are in the same position in terms of having an involvement in internationals during the middle of the season, and we are prepared to work around them. I don't have a problem with it - there's no bigger honour than playing for your country. We've never fallen out about it; we've never spoken about it."
tottenham hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur Harry Redknapp is pleased to have Pascal Chimbonda for Tottenha Hotspur's UEFA Cup campaign. Chimbonda was re-signed from Sunderland in January, and ahead of the Shakhtar Donetsk, Redknapp said: "I just felt that Chimbonda gives us cover all over. I was looking for somebody who could play everywhere, that's going to be important. He has energy, gets forward and is an attacking full-back. He was outstanding at centre-back in his last game for Sunderland so can play across the back four. I always liked him and tried to get him when he was at Wigan, I think Chelsea were in for him too when he was in the Premier League team of the year."
West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion Paul Robinson could miss West Bromwich Albion's crunch trip to Fulham this weekend as he awaits the birth of his child. The full-back is set to become a father for the third time any day now and accepts he may be forced to miss Sunday's visit to the capital. "We're hoping the baby is going to be here before the weekend but if not then I'll have to have my car driven down just in case," Robinson said. "Our parents will be coming up to look after Caroline. But if anything happens I might be shooting up the M40."
West Ham United
West Ham United Gianfranco Zola is hoping to tie down Lucas Neill, Robert Green and Matthew Upson to new contracts. Midfielder Scott Parker last week signed a new deal which commits him to the Upton Park club until the summer of 2013. Parker was linked with a switch to Manchester City in January, while striker Craig Bellamy made the move to the City of Manchester Stadium for £14m. However, Zola is hopeful that goalkeeper Green and defenders Upson and Neill will also pen new deals. Zola said: "There are players that have been very important this season - people like Matthew Upson, Robert Green, Scott Parker and Lucas Neill. They are the core of this team and I believe they can be the core of this team for a long time. The club know this and are offering them contracts. It is good for stability. They are positive players and will help us to build something important. The idea is to make a blend of experienced players and young talented players to mix together and perform."
Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic South Korea midfielder Won Hee Cho could join Wigan Athletic after impressing during a trial this week. The 25-year-old, who is a free agent after his contract expired with Korean club Suwon Bluewings, has impressed manager Steve Bruce and could sign a deal next week. "Won Hee has come and trained with us for the past couple of days and has done really well," said the Latics manager of the 27-cap international. "We have been really impressed with him as a player and a person and can sign him as he is not under contract with any club."
A review of the news from around the grounds of each Barclays Premier League club.
Arsenal
Arsenal Arsenal chief executive Ivan Gazidis admits he feels the 'weight of history' on his shoulders, but is determined to help steer the Gunners towards more glory years. Gazidis officially took up his post at the start of January following some 15 years with Major Soccer League in the US, where he held the position of deputy commissioner. The 44-year-old Oxford law graduate once lived a stone's throw from Highbury, and knows full well the level of expectation of a club steeped in traditions, yet which has not won the league title since 2003/04. "There is a tremendous sense of responsibility you have in a position like this, and I do feel the weight of that," said Gazidis. "It is not just a job. You have the hopes and expectations of not only so many people, but also history. I feel that on my shoulders. It is a responsibility I take very seriously. Living up to what this club should be and what this club is, and being able to perform this role in a way which is worthy of this club is going to be the biggest challenge I face. If I can walk away someday, hopefully a long time from now, and say I did not let the club down, then I will feel pretty good."
11038
Aston Villa
Aston Villa Aston Villa will closely monitor the fitness of Curtis Davies after the recurrence of a shoulder problem. He dislocated his shoulder during Sunday's FA Cup tie at Everton but was able to complete the match after the joint was manipulated back into place. Davies, who took part in the UEFA Cup tie against CSKA Moscow on Wednesday night, had suffered a similar injury when playing for West Brom four years ago. Martin O'Neill said: "Curtis hurt himself during the game at Goodison Park and he has been for a scan. "He dislocated his shoulder four years ago and carried on in that particular game not knowing he had done some damage," O'Neill said. "The scan has shown some old damage which has just occurred again. He was in a bit of pain at the time but he feels okay now. He had a bit of manipulation and he felt fine again. He is good now but we will monitor the situation. If it occurs again, say twice in a short space of time, then that's something we would have to look at."
Blackburn Rovers
Blackburn Rovers Roque Santa Cruz, Benni McCarthy and Jason Roberts have contributed 16 of Blackburn Rovers' 27 league goals and manager Sam Allardyce believes they should be getting more support. "We definitely need more goals from elsewhere," he said. "The strikers are paid to score goals and they get the headlines when they do, and quite rightly so. Other attacking-minded players have to come up with a few more goals to take the pressure off the forwards. Around your team you need midfielders with four or five goals, players in wide areas with five or six, centre-halves with three or four. That gets you to the total that gets you more points on the board. We have the players to score goals from all over the team and now is the time we need these players to show that."
Bolton Wanderers
Bolton Wanderers Joey O'Brien is expected to be on the sidelines for around eight weeks following an operation on his left knee. O'Brien has started rehabilitation after visiting renowned surgeon Dr Richard Steadman in Colorado last Friday for surgery over the weekend to clean out the joint. O'Brien and Bolton's medical team are pleased with the outcome, and it is hoped he will again be available for selection towards the end of April. Assistant manager Chris Evans said: "Everything went well. Richard Steadman is the leading specialist in his field and Joey has known him previously. The doctor was pleased with what he saw and the diagnosis was far better than had been feared." It has been a wretched season to date for O'Brien who has only made eight appearances, with his last on 18th October in the goalless draw with Blackburn at the Reebok Stadium. O'Brien initially sustained a hamstring injury before tearing a thigh muscle on his return to training but fortunately for the 23-year-old the current knee problem is not connected with the one which kept him out for the entire 2006-07 season.
Chelsea
Chelsea Chelsea are to play a summer friendly in America against Seattle Sounders FC. The MLS club have announced the match will take place at their Qwest Field ground on 18th July. "This will be unlike any international game ever played in the Pacific Northwest," said Sounders FC majority owner Joe Roth. The atmosphere that afternoon will be incredible." Chelsea chief executive Peter Kenyon added: "We are delighted to be opening our pre-season preparations in Seattle. It is a fantastic city, and we have great memories of our time there in the summer of 2004 - which went on to be a great season for us. We will be bringing a full-strength squad, so it should be a great game."
Everton
Everton Everton will play a pre-season friendly against Perth Glory if the Barclays Premier League side can organise a second match in Australia, the A-League club have announced. Glory owner Tony Sage said the club was in the advance stages of confirming a match with the Toffees, who could include Australia international Tim Cahill in their line-up for what would be a friendly encounter ahead of the Barclays Premier League season starting in August. However Everton want to play two practice matches in Australia, leaving the Glory relying on another game to be organised. "We're hopeful it will (happen)," Sage said. "We met every term Everton put to us, so we've signed on to the deal, subject to them getting another game. We had a couple of emails and again, the sticking point seems to be the teams on the eastern side of Australia. It's not financially viable for Everton to come just to Perth. They made that clear to everyone, so we're just waiting on that fixture to be set up."
Fulham
Fulham Roy Hodgson says Giles Barnes is some way off starting a match for the club. The 19-year-old joined the Cottagers at the end of last month on loan from Derby with a view to a permanent deal. But Barnes is still on his way back to full fitness after knee-ligament damage he suffered last season. And Hodgson admits he will be limited to cameo roles until he can find full fitness. "He came to the club after a long absence and is unfit," said Hodgson on the club's official website. "Our job is to get him fit and he's working hard to get fit but I don't think you'll see Giles playing any major part in our play until he's fit enough. He might be able to play a bit part and come on for 10-15 minutes as a substitute but if we're talking about him playing a serious role as a 90-minute player then first of all we have to get him physically fit. In the short time he's been with us he's shown great aptitude and has worked well. We're going to have a look at some of our players and it'll be good to see how long he lasts and can go for."
Hull City
Hull City Phil Brown says the club are in a "fearful situation" in the wake of record signing Jimmy Bullard's knee injury. The Tigers paid Barclays Premier League rivals Fulham £5m for the midfielder in the winter transfer window, despite chairman Paul Duffen now revealing the player was carrying a tear in his cartilage when he signed. Bullard - who suffered a cruciate-knee ligament injury while playing for Fulham in 2006 which ruled him out for 18 months - has since played only 37 minutes for City and it has now been decided the 30-year-old requires surgery. And Brown recognises that all associated with City will be holding their breath as they await news, saying: "Of course I understand supporters' fears. And if anyone is in a fearful situation it is Paul Duffen and his investors. As far as I'm concerned, I will take full responsibility for Jimmy being at this club." Duffen has confirmed Bullard's knee was not 100 per cent when negotiations were taking place with Fulham, but he does not see the move as a gamble. "Jimmy had a very slight tear in his cartilage when he signed. We were aware of this but did not see it as a problem," Duffen added. "Phil Brown played for 13 years in his career with a slight tear in his cartilage and did not have a problem."
liverpool
Liverpool Steven Gerrard could make his return from a hamstring injury against Manchester City on Sunday. The midfielder suffered the tear in the Merseyside derby on 4th February and was initially expected to be out for three weeks - with the Champions League tie with Real Madrid thought to be his most likely target. Now manager Rafael Benitez, whose side rely on Gerrard's surging runs and goals from behind the striker, has opened the door for a potential return from the bench at the weekend. The Spaniard said Gerrard had reacted well to treatment and was eager to get back on the pitch as soon as possible. "He is improving. In these situations each day is important. He is working with the medical staff and is progressing. Normally he is a player who recovers quickly. He needs less time than other players," Benitez told the club's official website. "I was surprised because the Spanish press said he'd play some minutes this weekend and then play against Real Madrid, but the truth is we don't know yet. Maybe he could be on the bench against City but we don't know. He wants to play every single game. He knows the game against City will be very important, and also the Real Madrid one too."
manchester city
Manchester City Manchester City goalkeeper Shay Given believes the team owe it to the supporters to give a performance against FC Copenhagen in the UEFA Cup. City arrive in Denmark for this first leg match in the last round of 32 on the back of a 2-0 Barclays Premier League defeat by Portsmouth at Fratton Park at the weekend. Given said: "It was a huge disappointment at Portsmouth for everyone involved with the club. We were not good enough and we need to rectify that. Whenever you have a bad performance it is great if the next match comes quickly and you can start to put the record straight. Hopefully we can do that on Thursday. We know we let the fans down at Portsmouth when we were not good enough on the day."
MANCHESTER UNITED
Manchester United Carlos Tevez says he will not know whether he is staying at Manchester United until the summer. The Argentina international is only contracted to United until the end of the season, after he arrived at Old Trafford on an initial two-year loan after leaving West Ham. United have an agreement in place to make that move permanent, but are yet to rubberstamp the arrangement. Tevez is now left waiting to know whether he will remain at United, although he has repeatedly stated that is his intention in the past. "I have the headstart in Manchester and my idea is to stay here for a few more years," Tevez said. "It would be very difficult to have to leave one of the biggest clubs in the world. I spoke with the president of the club, but nothing is signed yet. We are now waiting until June and we will see what happens."
middlesbrough
Middlesbrough Gareth Southgate hopes to have Jeremie Aliadiere back into his squad for the match against Liverpool later this month. The former Arsenal striker has been out since early January with an ankle ligament injury. Southgate said: "Jeremie is making steady progress. He will not be ready for this weekend and the cup replay may come a little early, but he could be back in the squad against Liverpool. It will be good to have him back with us because his pace gives us options. But we won't be rushing him."
Newcastle United
Newcastle United Fabricio Coloccini is adamant he made the right move by joining Newcastle United from Deportivo La Coruna last summer, despite the club's struggles. "This experience is new for me and I am in a great club. Also, I am learning English," Coloccini said. "I am in a similar situation to the one I was in last season at Depor where I am playing in nearly every game and that is important. Now we have to move away from the bottom half of the table as soon as possible."
Portsmouth
Portsmouth Hermann Hreidarsson is delighted he stayed on at Portsmouth in the January transfer window and is now looking forward to a fresh start at the club under new management. There was a lot of speculation in the summer that Hreidarsson would leave, but the 34-year-old has confirmed he had no intention of leaving the club. He told the club's official website "I didn't want to leave in January but I wanted to play football. There were a few agents linking me with a move away but the perfect solution was to stay here and play football." The Iceland international is excited at the prospect of working under the experienced management duo of Paul Hart and Brian Kidd. Paul Hart has spoken to everyone one-to-one. He has been around a long time and deserves a lot of respect," added Hreidarsson. Brian Kidd has got a massive reputation and is someone I really admire."
stoke city
Stoke City Bristol Rovers have signed Stoke City goalkeeper Danzelle St Louis-Hamilton on loan. The 18-year-old arrives at the Memorial Stadium on a month's loan to provide cover for injured keeper Mike Green. Rovers' director of football Lennie Lawrence confirmed St Louis-Hamilton will act as back-up to No.1 keeper Steve Phillips.
sunderland
Sunderland Ricky Sbragia has moved quickly to quash rumours that he has had a falling out with Dwight Yorke. Reports suggested that Trinidad & Tobago captain Yorke has fallen out with Sbragia after insisting he will return to his homeland for their World Cup qualifiers next month despite being suspended. However, Sbragia has played down the reports and admits he is happy to "work around" scenarios where players have international fixtures during the season. "I'll be honest, I didn't read about it until Tuesday, and it was news to me," Sbragia said. "Obviously Kenwyne Jones and Carlos Edwards are in the same position in terms of having an involvement in internationals during the middle of the season, and we are prepared to work around them. I don't have a problem with it - there's no bigger honour than playing for your country. We've never fallen out about it; we've never spoken about it."
tottenham hotspur
Tottenham Hotspur Harry Redknapp is pleased to have Pascal Chimbonda for Tottenha Hotspur's UEFA Cup campaign. Chimbonda was re-signed from Sunderland in January, and ahead of the Shakhtar Donetsk, Redknapp said: "I just felt that Chimbonda gives us cover all over. I was looking for somebody who could play everywhere, that's going to be important. He has energy, gets forward and is an attacking full-back. He was outstanding at centre-back in his last game for Sunderland so can play across the back four. I always liked him and tried to get him when he was at Wigan, I think Chelsea were in for him too when he was in the Premier League team of the year."
West Bromwich Albion
West Bromwich Albion Paul Robinson could miss West Bromwich Albion's crunch trip to Fulham this weekend as he awaits the birth of his child. The full-back is set to become a father for the third time any day now and accepts he may be forced to miss Sunday's visit to the capital. "We're hoping the baby is going to be here before the weekend but if not then I'll have to have my car driven down just in case," Robinson said. "Our parents will be coming up to look after Caroline. But if anything happens I might be shooting up the M40."
West Ham United
West Ham United Gianfranco Zola is hoping to tie down Lucas Neill, Robert Green and Matthew Upson to new contracts. Midfielder Scott Parker last week signed a new deal which commits him to the Upton Park club until the summer of 2013. Parker was linked with a switch to Manchester City in January, while striker Craig Bellamy made the move to the City of Manchester Stadium for £14m. However, Zola is hopeful that goalkeeper Green and defenders Upson and Neill will also pen new deals. Zola said: "There are players that have been very important this season - people like Matthew Upson, Robert Green, Scott Parker and Lucas Neill. They are the core of this team and I believe they can be the core of this team for a long time. The club know this and are offering them contracts. It is good for stability. They are positive players and will help us to build something important. The idea is to make a blend of experienced players and young talented players to mix together and perform."
Wigan Athletic
Wigan Athletic South Korea midfielder Won Hee Cho could join Wigan Athletic after impressing during a trial this week. The 25-year-old, who is a free agent after his contract expired with Korean club Suwon Bluewings, has impressed manager Steve Bruce and could sign a deal next week. "Won Hee has come and trained with us for the past couple of days and has done really well," said the Latics manager of the 27-cap international. "We have been really impressed with him as a player and a person and can sign him as he is not under contract with any club."
Virtual drives - What are they?
Virtual drive
A virtual drive is a term used with respect to computers when a drive is emulated in some fashion. The drive being emulated could be a hard drive, floppy drive, CD/DVD or a network share among others.
A virtual hard drive can be created from RAM for fast read/write access.
Virtual DVDs are often mounted as disk images via disk image emulator software. This allows the content of a CD or DVD to be read from the disk image on a hard drive, rather than a disc drive. This may also allow users to run software that requires a CD or a DVD, without the need of having a registered copy in the disc drive.
Virtual Hard Disk
Virtual hard disks are most commonly used in on the fly disk encryption ("OTFE") software such as FreeOTFE and BestCrypt, where an encrypted "image" of a disk is stored on the PC. When you enter the disk's password, the disk image is "mounted", and made available as a new drive letter on your PC. Files written to this virtual drive are written to the encrypted image, and never stored in cleartext.
The process of making such an encrypted disk available for use is called "mounting", the process of removing it is called "dismounting"
Other virtual hard disks include:
Network shares mounted as local drives
FTP and SFTP can be also mapped as a virtual drive with a software called 'netdrive' or 'sftpdrive'.
VMware emulated PCs use unencrypted disk images which may be mounted on a PC outside VMware as an emulated disk
webdav - which does not exactly act like a physical disk.
Virtual Burner
A virtual CD burner is a device driver that emulates a CD/DVD Burner. It appears as another drive in the system with writing capabilities. When information is written to the drive, it creates an ISO Image representation of the CD that would, under normal circumstances, be physically created. ISO images can be compressed into CSO images.
This allows you to use any CD burning software to create what can be later mounted as a virtual drive.
A virtual drive is a term used with respect to computers when a drive is emulated in some fashion. The drive being emulated could be a hard drive, floppy drive, CD/DVD or a network share among others.
A virtual hard drive can be created from RAM for fast read/write access.
Virtual DVDs are often mounted as disk images via disk image emulator software. This allows the content of a CD or DVD to be read from the disk image on a hard drive, rather than a disc drive. This may also allow users to run software that requires a CD or a DVD, without the need of having a registered copy in the disc drive.
Virtual Hard Disk
Virtual hard disks are most commonly used in on the fly disk encryption ("OTFE") software such as FreeOTFE and BestCrypt, where an encrypted "image" of a disk is stored on the PC. When you enter the disk's password, the disk image is "mounted", and made available as a new drive letter on your PC. Files written to this virtual drive are written to the encrypted image, and never stored in cleartext.
The process of making such an encrypted disk available for use is called "mounting", the process of removing it is called "dismounting"
Other virtual hard disks include:
Network shares mounted as local drives
FTP and SFTP can be also mapped as a virtual drive with a software called 'netdrive' or 'sftpdrive'.
VMware emulated PCs use unencrypted disk images which may be mounted on a PC outside VMware as an emulated disk
webdav - which does not exactly act like a physical disk.
Virtual Burner
A virtual CD burner is a device driver that emulates a CD/DVD Burner. It appears as another drive in the system with writing capabilities. When information is written to the drive, it creates an ISO Image representation of the CD that would, under normal circumstances, be physically created. ISO images can be compressed into CSO images.
This allows you to use any CD burning software to create what can be later mounted as a virtual drive.
Tuesday, February 17, 2009
How to Disagree and Persuade without Offending persuasion
Disagreeing with someone without making him mad is an art form. So let’s talk about how to get your point across without getting into a fight.
The 6 strategies of persuasion below are best utilized when you want to be heard, understood, and considered, when you seek productive exchange, when your goals involve truth and clarity, and when you want to change someone’s mind without landing yourself in a heated argument.
Strategy #1: Be a good listener. Your ears will never get you in trouble.
Kenneth A. Wells once said, “A good listener tries to understand what the other person is saying. In the end he may disagree sharply, but because he disagrees, he wants to know exactly what it is he is disagreeing with.”
If I had to reduce this list down to just one piece of advice to help you persuade without offending, it would be this: Ask questions until you understand your opponent’s point of view.
I’ve seen far too many silly arguments that played like shadowboxing because a person wasted time attacking his own misunderstandings.
Whenever someone shows us new information (a news report, an online article, a spoken opinion), we immediately interpret that information in light of our experiences. In other words, half of what we’re hearing comes from inside our own heads!
Only by asking questions and truly listening can we escape our presuppositions and understand another’s viewpoint, and we must understand a viewpoint before we have any hope of changing it.
Strategy #2: An open mind leaves a chance for someone to drop a worthwhile idea in it.
If you’re trying to persuade someone, there’s a good chance your mind has already closed around the conviction of your argument. Therein lies the danger –- a closed mind is great at action, but not at listening. And listening is essential to pursuasion!
I would never tell you to discard your convictions, but do remain open to suggestion, and do seek clarity. If your opponent knows you’re open to his ideas, he may entertain yours.
Strategy #3: If the world were a logical place, men would ride sidesaddle.
Use phrases like “In my opinion,” “I believe that,” or ”In my experience,” to make it clear when you’re expressing a matter of personal belief instead of a quantifiable scientific fact because this will show your opponent that you understand the difference and are open to its ramifications.
If you appear reasonable, your opponent may reciprocate.
Strategy #4: Speak two languages, one of them Body.
Effective non-verbal communication sets the stage for your persuasive argument, so it’s worth paying attention to; it’s more than window dressing, even in intimate relationships where your partner knows what you’re like behind the mask.
* Smile to communicate friendliness and acceptance.
* Sit up straight to project confidence.
* Keep an open body posture (no crossed arms or legs) to communicate openness.
* Speak in a relaxed manner (mind the tone of your voice!) to project calm and clarity of thought.
* Make appropriate eye contact.
* Nod when the other person speaks – this communicates understanding, not necessarily agreement.
* Another trick to communicate understanding without compliance is to periodically say, “I understand,” or, “I hear what you’re saying.”
* Unless your opponent possesses a difficult personality that forces you to interrupt to get in a word in edgewise, let him finish his thoughts before offering yours.
Strategy #5: Just the facts, ma’am.
At one particular Internet forum, I was constantly impressed by a member who had an amazing talent for communicating complicated (sometimes controversial) ideas without making anyone angry. So what did this Zen master of persuasion do that most of us do not? Simple: He stuck to the facts and kept his ego out of it.
The block-quote immediately below is a hypothetical example of how not to foster a persuasive conversation, intended to contrast the genius of the real-life forum example from our Zen master, further down the page:
TV-Forum Newbie: Hey guys, I think all televisions are the same. I can’t understand why some of you would pay 5 grand for a TV when the one for 500 bucks is just as good. Could someone explain this to me?
Mr. Ego: I completely disagree with you. All televisions are not the same. Why don’t you read some product reviews so you’ll be able to tell the difference? You will find differences in black level, brightness, video processing, colorimetry, geometry, contrast, and other variables. Again, all televisions are not the same, and I completely disagree with the premise of this question.
Okay, so what’s wrong with the way Mr. Ego responded? At first glance, his response seems fine. I mean, it certainly could have been worse! But only one sentence in his response focuses on the facts. The rest could easily be interpreted as a selfish assertion of ego, a quest for distinction and superiority, whether intentional or not.
So how did the Zen master handle this particular exchange? He used that one sentence I’m referring to, the one sentence that answered the question and stuck to the facts (see below):
Newbie: Hey guys, I think all televisions are the same. I can’t understand why some of you would pay 5 grand for a TV when the one for 500 bucks is just as good. Could someone explain this to me?
Zen Master: You will find differences in black level, brightness, video processing, colorimetry, geometry, contrast, and other variables.
Not very interesting, is it? But the thread from which I copied this text proceeded smoothly, with the newbie asking questions and the expert responding with simple, uncolored facts. The expert was eventually recognized for his expertise, the newbie left with newfound understanding, and no one became upset. In short, a mind had been changed.
All because the Zen master stuck to the facts.
Strategy #6: Sometimes, it’s what you don’t say that counts.
The preceding example was important not merely for what was said, but for what wasn’t. We’ve already mentioned the benefits of avoiding ego driven statements, but here’s a more comprehensive list of statements that derail persuasion more often than not:
* Assertions of Superiority: I do it the right way; This is unacceptable; My way is better; Why can’t you do it like so-and-so; Your way of thinking is flawed.
* Assertions of Independence: I disagree; We don’t see eye to eye; We’re not on the same page; My position is different than yours.
* Personal Attacks: Your thinking is stupid; I can’t believe how dumb you are; Hearing you say that makes me question your morality.
Aside from the personal attacks, many of the preceding statements have their place. The key is knowing when to use them. Usually, the person seeking to persuade is better off letting the strength of his argument establish both his superiority and independence without explicitly claiming them.
These 6 simple strategies of persuasion cannot make the logic of your argument more appealing or change the nature of the person you’re trying to convince, but they can increase your odds of success. These strategies have worked for me, and I am hopeful they will work for you.
By honing your persuasive talents, you too can discover the influence inside you — an influence waiting to break free, influence others, and change the world.
The 6 strategies of persuasion below are best utilized when you want to be heard, understood, and considered, when you seek productive exchange, when your goals involve truth and clarity, and when you want to change someone’s mind without landing yourself in a heated argument.
Strategy #1: Be a good listener. Your ears will never get you in trouble.
Kenneth A. Wells once said, “A good listener tries to understand what the other person is saying. In the end he may disagree sharply, but because he disagrees, he wants to know exactly what it is he is disagreeing with.”
If I had to reduce this list down to just one piece of advice to help you persuade without offending, it would be this: Ask questions until you understand your opponent’s point of view.
I’ve seen far too many silly arguments that played like shadowboxing because a person wasted time attacking his own misunderstandings.
Whenever someone shows us new information (a news report, an online article, a spoken opinion), we immediately interpret that information in light of our experiences. In other words, half of what we’re hearing comes from inside our own heads!
Only by asking questions and truly listening can we escape our presuppositions and understand another’s viewpoint, and we must understand a viewpoint before we have any hope of changing it.
Strategy #2: An open mind leaves a chance for someone to drop a worthwhile idea in it.
If you’re trying to persuade someone, there’s a good chance your mind has already closed around the conviction of your argument. Therein lies the danger –- a closed mind is great at action, but not at listening. And listening is essential to pursuasion!
I would never tell you to discard your convictions, but do remain open to suggestion, and do seek clarity. If your opponent knows you’re open to his ideas, he may entertain yours.
Strategy #3: If the world were a logical place, men would ride sidesaddle.
Use phrases like “In my opinion,” “I believe that,” or ”In my experience,” to make it clear when you’re expressing a matter of personal belief instead of a quantifiable scientific fact because this will show your opponent that you understand the difference and are open to its ramifications.
If you appear reasonable, your opponent may reciprocate.
Strategy #4: Speak two languages, one of them Body.
Effective non-verbal communication sets the stage for your persuasive argument, so it’s worth paying attention to; it’s more than window dressing, even in intimate relationships where your partner knows what you’re like behind the mask.
* Smile to communicate friendliness and acceptance.
* Sit up straight to project confidence.
* Keep an open body posture (no crossed arms or legs) to communicate openness.
* Speak in a relaxed manner (mind the tone of your voice!) to project calm and clarity of thought.
* Make appropriate eye contact.
* Nod when the other person speaks – this communicates understanding, not necessarily agreement.
* Another trick to communicate understanding without compliance is to periodically say, “I understand,” or, “I hear what you’re saying.”
* Unless your opponent possesses a difficult personality that forces you to interrupt to get in a word in edgewise, let him finish his thoughts before offering yours.
Strategy #5: Just the facts, ma’am.
At one particular Internet forum, I was constantly impressed by a member who had an amazing talent for communicating complicated (sometimes controversial) ideas without making anyone angry. So what did this Zen master of persuasion do that most of us do not? Simple: He stuck to the facts and kept his ego out of it.
The block-quote immediately below is a hypothetical example of how not to foster a persuasive conversation, intended to contrast the genius of the real-life forum example from our Zen master, further down the page:
TV-Forum Newbie: Hey guys, I think all televisions are the same. I can’t understand why some of you would pay 5 grand for a TV when the one for 500 bucks is just as good. Could someone explain this to me?
Mr. Ego: I completely disagree with you. All televisions are not the same. Why don’t you read some product reviews so you’ll be able to tell the difference? You will find differences in black level, brightness, video processing, colorimetry, geometry, contrast, and other variables. Again, all televisions are not the same, and I completely disagree with the premise of this question.
Okay, so what’s wrong with the way Mr. Ego responded? At first glance, his response seems fine. I mean, it certainly could have been worse! But only one sentence in his response focuses on the facts. The rest could easily be interpreted as a selfish assertion of ego, a quest for distinction and superiority, whether intentional or not.
So how did the Zen master handle this particular exchange? He used that one sentence I’m referring to, the one sentence that answered the question and stuck to the facts (see below):
Newbie: Hey guys, I think all televisions are the same. I can’t understand why some of you would pay 5 grand for a TV when the one for 500 bucks is just as good. Could someone explain this to me?
Zen Master: You will find differences in black level, brightness, video processing, colorimetry, geometry, contrast, and other variables.
Not very interesting, is it? But the thread from which I copied this text proceeded smoothly, with the newbie asking questions and the expert responding with simple, uncolored facts. The expert was eventually recognized for his expertise, the newbie left with newfound understanding, and no one became upset. In short, a mind had been changed.
All because the Zen master stuck to the facts.
Strategy #6: Sometimes, it’s what you don’t say that counts.
The preceding example was important not merely for what was said, but for what wasn’t. We’ve already mentioned the benefits of avoiding ego driven statements, but here’s a more comprehensive list of statements that derail persuasion more often than not:
* Assertions of Superiority: I do it the right way; This is unacceptable; My way is better; Why can’t you do it like so-and-so; Your way of thinking is flawed.
* Assertions of Independence: I disagree; We don’t see eye to eye; We’re not on the same page; My position is different than yours.
* Personal Attacks: Your thinking is stupid; I can’t believe how dumb you are; Hearing you say that makes me question your morality.
Aside from the personal attacks, many of the preceding statements have their place. The key is knowing when to use them. Usually, the person seeking to persuade is better off letting the strength of his argument establish both his superiority and independence without explicitly claiming them.
These 6 simple strategies of persuasion cannot make the logic of your argument more appealing or change the nature of the person you’re trying to convince, but they can increase your odds of success. These strategies have worked for me, and I am hopeful they will work for you.
By honing your persuasive talents, you too can discover the influence inside you — an influence waiting to break free, influence others, and change the world.
Monday, February 16, 2009
Inter Win Milan Derby
A controversial gal by Adriano helped Serie A leaders Inter Milan to a 2-1 win over archrivals AC Milan on Sunday to all but end the Rossoneri's title hopes. Champions Inter now have an 11-point edge over third-place Milan with 14 games to go and lead Juventus by nine after Claudio Ranieri's side drew 1-1 at home to Sampdoria earlier in the day.
Adriano broke the deadlock at an electric San Siro on 28 minutes when he diverted in Maicon's cross, but replays showed the Brazil striker had used his arm. Midfielder Dejan Stankovic extended the lead on 42 minutes when he rifled in after Zlatan Ibrahimovic's knockdown.The Serb had earlier been denied six metres out by a stunning last-ditch tackle by Massimo Ambrosini.
Alexandre Pato pulled one back 20 minutes from time when he tapped in Marek Jankulovski's cross and Milan then piled on the pressure with substitute Filippo Inzaghi being flagged offside when he thought he had grabbed an equalizer.
Milan, who won the season's earlier derby 1-0, had much of the play in the first half but striker Pato was constantly isolated on his own up front with Kaka missing through injury.
Inter are bidding for their fourth straight scudetto and first under coach Jose Mourinho while Milan will have to pull off a miracle to snatch their first league title since 2004.
It was a bad night for 40-year-old Paolo Maldini in his last derby before retiring while on-loan David Beckham, who still hopes to stay at Milan despite Los Angeles Galaxy demanding he return, did little and was substituted.
Juventus hit the woodwork three times against Sampdoria but had to be content with a draw. Giampaolo Pazzini put Samp ahead on 10 minutes after Antonio Cassano, constantly linked with a move to Juve, sent his strike partner clear with a superb through ball.
Amauri's brave diving header midway through the second half levelled the scores after a teasing cross from substitute Sebastian Giovinco.Cassano's deflected cross struck the post for Samp.
Former Juve striker Adrian Mutu completed a hat-trick with the last kick to send Fiorentina up to fourth with a 3-3 draw at Genoa, who had led 3-0 but played with 10 men for an hour.
AS Roma's good run ended with a 3-0 defeat at Atalanta, who beat Inter 3-1 in Bergamo last month.Roma, second last season before having a terrible start to the current campaign, had surged up the table after going undefeated in seven.
Adriano broke the deadlock at an electric San Siro on 28 minutes when he diverted in Maicon's cross, but replays showed the Brazil striker had used his arm. Midfielder Dejan Stankovic extended the lead on 42 minutes when he rifled in after Zlatan Ibrahimovic's knockdown.The Serb had earlier been denied six metres out by a stunning last-ditch tackle by Massimo Ambrosini.
Alexandre Pato pulled one back 20 minutes from time when he tapped in Marek Jankulovski's cross and Milan then piled on the pressure with substitute Filippo Inzaghi being flagged offside when he thought he had grabbed an equalizer.
Milan, who won the season's earlier derby 1-0, had much of the play in the first half but striker Pato was constantly isolated on his own up front with Kaka missing through injury.
Inter are bidding for their fourth straight scudetto and first under coach Jose Mourinho while Milan will have to pull off a miracle to snatch their first league title since 2004.
It was a bad night for 40-year-old Paolo Maldini in his last derby before retiring while on-loan David Beckham, who still hopes to stay at Milan despite Los Angeles Galaxy demanding he return, did little and was substituted.
Juventus hit the woodwork three times against Sampdoria but had to be content with a draw. Giampaolo Pazzini put Samp ahead on 10 minutes after Antonio Cassano, constantly linked with a move to Juve, sent his strike partner clear with a superb through ball.
Amauri's brave diving header midway through the second half levelled the scores after a teasing cross from substitute Sebastian Giovinco.Cassano's deflected cross struck the post for Samp.
Former Juve striker Adrian Mutu completed a hat-trick with the last kick to send Fiorentina up to fourth with a 3-3 draw at Genoa, who had led 3-0 but played with 10 men for an hour.
AS Roma's good run ended with a 3-0 defeat at Atalanta, who beat Inter 3-1 in Bergamo last month.Roma, second last season before having a terrible start to the current campaign, had surged up the table after going undefeated in seven.
Facebook hits 175 million user mark
A little more than a month after announcing it had 150 million active users, Facebook has reached 175 million active users--the statistic the social-networking site prefers to use, rather than registered accounts overall.
Dave Morin, who runs Facebook's application platform team, announced the milestone Friday evening on his Twitter/FriendFeed. Facebook reached 150 million just more than two months after reaching 120 million and about four months after reaching 100 million.
While Facebook got its start at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. in 2004, most of this recent growth is coming from outside the U.."This includes people in every continent--even Antarctica," CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote in a blog post last month. "If Facebook were a country, it would be the eighth most populated in the world, just ahead of Japan, Russia, and Nigeria."
However, as we have pointed out before, server power is expensive, especially overseas. Facebook has raised a ton of venture capital, isreportedly hunting for more, and says it's in good financial shape. That comes back into question, however, if it's growing faster than it ever expected to.
Courtesy: cnet.com
February 15, 2009 10:30 AM PST
by Steven Musil
Dave Morin, who runs Facebook's application platform team, announced the milestone Friday evening on his Twitter/FriendFeed. Facebook reached 150 million just more than two months after reaching 120 million and about four months after reaching 100 million.
While Facebook got its start at Harvard University in Cambridge, Mass. in 2004, most of this recent growth is coming from outside the U.."This includes people in every continent--even Antarctica," CEO Mark Zuckerberg wrote in a blog post last month. "If Facebook were a country, it would be the eighth most populated in the world, just ahead of Japan, Russia, and Nigeria."
However, as we have pointed out before, server power is expensive, especially overseas. Facebook has raised a ton of venture capital, isreportedly hunting for more, and says it's in good financial shape. That comes back into question, however, if it's growing faster than it ever expected to.
Courtesy: cnet.com
February 15, 2009 10:30 AM PST
by Steven Musil
Saturday, February 14, 2009
The History of Valentine's Day
Every February, across the country, candy, flowers, and gifts are exchanged between loved ones, all in the name of St. Valentine. But who is this mysterious saint and why do we celebrate this holiday? The history of Valentine's Day — and its patron saint — is shrouded in mystery. But we do know that February has long been a month of romance. St. Valentine's Day, as we know it today, contains vestiges of both Christian and ancient Roman tradition. So, who was Saint Valentine and how did he become associated with this ancient rite? Today, the Catholic Church recognizes at least three different saints named Valentine or Valentinus, all of whom were martyred.
One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.
Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.
According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl — who may have been his jailor's daughter — who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.
While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial — which probably occurred around 270 A.D — others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to 'christianize' celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival. In ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring and was considered a time for purification. Houses were ritually cleansed by sweeping them out and then sprinkling salt and a type of wheat called spelt throughout their interiors. Lupercalia, which began at the ides of February, February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.
To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at the sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would then sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, for purification.
The boys then sliced the goat's hide into strips, dipped them in the sacrificial blood and took to the streets, gently slapping both women and fields of crops with the goathide strips. Far from being fearful, Roman women welcomed being touched with the hides because it was believed the strips would make them more fertile in the coming year. Later in the day, according to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city's bachelors would then each choose a name out of the urn and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often ended in marriage. Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D. The Roman 'lottery' system for romantic pairing was deemed un-Christian and outlawed. Later, during the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of February — Valentine's Day — should be a day for romance. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. The greeting, which was written in 1415, is part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England. Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois.
In Great Britain, Valentine's Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one's feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine's Day greetings. Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began to sell the first mass-produced valentines in America.
According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.)
Approximately 85 percent of all valentines are purchased by women. In addition to the United States, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia.
Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages (written Valentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400), and the oldest known Valentine card is on display at the British Museum. The first commercial Valentine's Day greeting cards produced in the U.S. were created in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as "scrap".
Courtesy: history.com
One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men — his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death.
Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.
According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl — who may have been his jailor's daughter — who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France.
While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial — which probably occurred around 270 A.D — others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to 'christianize' celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival. In ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring and was considered a time for purification. Houses were ritually cleansed by sweeping them out and then sprinkling salt and a type of wheat called spelt throughout their interiors. Lupercalia, which began at the ides of February, February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunus, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Remus.
To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at the sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would then sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, for purification.
The boys then sliced the goat's hide into strips, dipped them in the sacrificial blood and took to the streets, gently slapping both women and fields of crops with the goathide strips. Far from being fearful, Roman women welcomed being touched with the hides because it was believed the strips would make them more fertile in the coming year. Later in the day, according to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city's bachelors would then each choose a name out of the urn and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often ended in marriage. Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D. The Roman 'lottery' system for romantic pairing was deemed un-Christian and outlawed. Later, during the Middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of February — Valentine's Day — should be a day for romance. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. The greeting, which was written in 1415, is part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England. Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois.
In Great Britain, Valentine's Day began to be popularly celebrated around the seventeenth century. By the middle of the eighteenth century, it was common for friends and lovers in all social classes to exchange small tokens of affection or handwritten notes. By the end of the century, printed cards began to replace written letters due to improvements in printing technology. Ready-made cards were an easy way for people to express their emotions in a time when direct expression of one's feelings was discouraged. Cheaper postage rates also contributed to an increase in the popularity of sending Valentine's Day greetings. Americans probably began exchanging hand-made valentines in the early 1700s. In the 1840s, Esther A. Howland began to sell the first mass-produced valentines in America.
According to the Greeting Card Association, an estimated one billion valentine cards are sent each year, making Valentine's Day the second largest card-sending holiday of the year. (An estimated 2.6 billion cards are sent for Christmas.)
Approximately 85 percent of all valentines are purchased by women. In addition to the United States, Valentine's Day is celebrated in Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, France, and Australia.
Valentine greetings were popular as far back as the Middle Ages (written Valentine's didn't begin to appear until after 1400), and the oldest known Valentine card is on display at the British Museum. The first commercial Valentine's Day greeting cards produced in the U.S. were created in the 1840s by Esther A. Howland. Howland, known as the Mother of the Valentine, made elaborate creations with real lace, ribbons and colorful pictures known as "scrap".
Courtesy: history.com
Friday, February 13, 2009
DA' T.R.U.T.H. Wins Second Stellar Award For Rap/Hip Hop Gospel CD Of The Year
Following his big Stellar win in the Rap/Hip Hop category, Cross Movement Records recording artist, Da' T.R.U.T.H., exploded at the 24th Annual Stellar Awards telecast with a powerful and groundbreaking remixed live performance of his hit single "That Great Day." The album version was produced by producer J.R. for So Hot Productions and featured gospel greats Donnie McClurkin and Tye Tribbett. Pop producer Freddy Washington created a special remix of this hot song for this performance.<
With his electrifying presentation, Da' T.R.U.T.H. provided a rare rap segment for gospel music's largest annual ceremony and with it he has broken down barriers for all rap / hip hop artists in the Gospel genre. "We were truly pleased to add Da' T.R.U.T.H. to this year's Stellar line up of performers. His ministry proved to be one of the night's most raved about highlights--by viewers both young and old," said Don Jackson, executive producer of the Stellar Awards.
Show director Michael Johnson further stated, "I believe Da' T.R.U.T.H.'s performance will be marked as a watershed moment for his ministry and the overall growing Gospel Hip Hop movement. We look forward to working with him again." Da' T.R.U.T.H. is honored to play this pioneering role and focused more than ever on using his music and teaching platforms to point and draw a dying world to the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Stellar Awards are scheduled to air in national syndication starting this month through early March. Check out www.thestellarawards.com for a complete list of stations, air dates and times. In addition, Gospel Music Channel is the exclusive cable home of the Stellar Awards and will premiere the show on March 1, 2009.
Courtesy: Gospelcity.com
2009-01-26
With his electrifying presentation, Da' T.R.U.T.H. provided a rare rap segment for gospel music's largest annual ceremony and with it he has broken down barriers for all rap / hip hop artists in the Gospel genre. "We were truly pleased to add Da' T.R.U.T.H. to this year's Stellar line up of performers. His ministry proved to be one of the night's most raved about highlights--by viewers both young and old," said Don Jackson, executive producer of the Stellar Awards.
Show director Michael Johnson further stated, "I believe Da' T.R.U.T.H.'s performance will be marked as a watershed moment for his ministry and the overall growing Gospel Hip Hop movement. We look forward to working with him again." Da' T.R.U.T.H. is honored to play this pioneering role and focused more than ever on using his music and teaching platforms to point and draw a dying world to the Lord Jesus Christ.
The Stellar Awards are scheduled to air in national syndication starting this month through early March. Check out www.thestellarawards.com for a complete list of stations, air dates and times. In addition, Gospel Music Channel is the exclusive cable home of the Stellar Awards and will premiere the show on March 1, 2009.
Courtesy: Gospelcity.com
2009-01-26
No split at Chelsea, says Wilkins
Chelsea's assistant manager Ray Wilkins has denied reports there is a split in the dressing-room after the sacking of manager Luiz Felipe Scolari.
The Brazilian was dismissed on Monday, with suggestions that some players were not happy with his management style.
But Wilkins said: "The reports are totally untrue, we don't have any sort of split, none whatsoever.
"Every coach has their own methods and some players like them, some don't - it happens at every football club."
Captain John Terry hinted on Tuesday that the dressing-room was divided, saying: "Scolari had my full support, I'm sure two or three of the other players would say the same."
But Wilkins added: "Whenever any coach coaches a club as big as Chelsea, the players who don't play are going to be disgruntled, that's a fact and it's no different here.
"They all want to play, but you can only pick 11 people, so it's very difficult for the coach."
Wilkins is in charge for Saturday's FA Cup tie at Watford before handing over the reins to Guus Hiddink.
The Dutchman, currently boss of Russia's national team, has agreed to manage Chelsea for the rest of the season, and met with players on staff on Thursday.
He will work with Wilkins, who rejected a claim by Scolari that Chelsea do not have a special talent in their squad capable of turning matches.
Scolari, in his first interview since being dismissed, told France Football magazine that their failure to sign Robinho - who ended up at Manchester City - from Real Madrid last summer cost them dear.
"At Chelsea we didn't have the player who can make the difference by himself by producing something magical on the pitch," said Scolari.
"In the past, Arjen Robben was at Chelsea and he could make the difference. But now there is no-one.
"Robinho could have been this player. He is not afraid to dribble, to take a risk. As a Brazilian, I like this.
"The team isn't Brazilian enough. It is a 'bureaucratic' team. That's the style of the players. That's why Robinho would have done a lot of good for the team."
But Wilkins hit back: "Football is all about opinions, and Felipe has his own opinions on the game.
"My opinion is that we do have special players at this club, a number of them in fact."
Wilkins also admitted he was stunned by the announcement of Scolari's dismissal and said he enjoyed his five-month spell under the 2002 World Cup-winning manager.
"I was shocked, yes. He was a very decent man, and I enjoyed working with him immensely," he said.
"But football is a tough game and a couple of results went against us and the decision was made.
"I was shocked, yes, and disappointed, because I enjoyed his company, he was a smashing guy."
Story from BBC SPORT:
Published: 2009/02/13 11:46:37 GMT
© BBC MMIX
The Brazilian was dismissed on Monday, with suggestions that some players were not happy with his management style.
But Wilkins said: "The reports are totally untrue, we don't have any sort of split, none whatsoever.
"Every coach has their own methods and some players like them, some don't - it happens at every football club."
Captain John Terry hinted on Tuesday that the dressing-room was divided, saying: "Scolari had my full support, I'm sure two or three of the other players would say the same."
But Wilkins added: "Whenever any coach coaches a club as big as Chelsea, the players who don't play are going to be disgruntled, that's a fact and it's no different here.
"They all want to play, but you can only pick 11 people, so it's very difficult for the coach."
Wilkins is in charge for Saturday's FA Cup tie at Watford before handing over the reins to Guus Hiddink.
The Dutchman, currently boss of Russia's national team, has agreed to manage Chelsea for the rest of the season, and met with players on staff on Thursday.
He will work with Wilkins, who rejected a claim by Scolari that Chelsea do not have a special talent in their squad capable of turning matches.
Scolari, in his first interview since being dismissed, told France Football magazine that their failure to sign Robinho - who ended up at Manchester City - from Real Madrid last summer cost them dear.
"At Chelsea we didn't have the player who can make the difference by himself by producing something magical on the pitch," said Scolari.
"In the past, Arjen Robben was at Chelsea and he could make the difference. But now there is no-one.
"Robinho could have been this player. He is not afraid to dribble, to take a risk. As a Brazilian, I like this.
"The team isn't Brazilian enough. It is a 'bureaucratic' team. That's the style of the players. That's why Robinho would have done a lot of good for the team."
But Wilkins hit back: "Football is all about opinions, and Felipe has his own opinions on the game.
"My opinion is that we do have special players at this club, a number of them in fact."
Wilkins also admitted he was stunned by the announcement of Scolari's dismissal and said he enjoyed his five-month spell under the 2002 World Cup-winning manager.
"I was shocked, yes. He was a very decent man, and I enjoyed working with him immensely," he said.
"But football is a tough game and a couple of results went against us and the decision was made.
"I was shocked, yes, and disappointed, because I enjoyed his company, he was a smashing guy."
Story from BBC SPORT:
Published: 2009/02/13 11:46:37 GMT
© BBC MMIX
Monday, February 9, 2009
A complete list of winners at the 51st Annual Grammy Awards
Album of the Year: "Raising Sand," Robert Plant and Alison Krauss; T Bone Burnett, producer; Mike Piersante, engineer/mixer; Gavin Lurssen, mastering engineer (Rounder)
Rap Album: "Tha Carter III," Lil Wayne (Cash Money/Universal Motown)
Male Pop Vocal Performance: "Say," John Mayer; track from "Continuum" (Columbia)
Record of the Year: "Please Read The Letter," Robert Plant and Alison Krauss; T Bone Burnett, producer; Mike Piersante, engineer/mixer; track from "Raising Sand" (Rounder)
New Artist: Adele
Rock Album: "Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends," Coldplay (Capitol)
Pop Collaboration With Vocals: "Rich Woman," Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, track from "Raising Sand" (Rounder)
Song of the Year: "Viva La Vida," Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin, songwriters (Coldplay), track from "Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends" (Capitol Records; Publishers: Universal Music-MGB Songs)
Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals: "Stay," Sugarland, track from "Enjoy the Ride" (Mercury)
R&B Album: "Jennifer Hudson," Jennifer Hudson (Arista)
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Rick Rubin
Producer of the Year, Classical: David Frost
Female Pop Vocal Performance: "Chasing Pavements," Adele, track from "19" (Columbia/XL)Traditional Pop Vocal Album: "Still Unforgettable," Natalie Cole (DMI)
Pop Vocal Album: "Rockferry," Duffy (Mercury)
Pop Instrumental Performance: "I Dreamed There Was No War," Eagles, track from "Long Road Out of Eden" (Eagles Recording Company)
Pop Instrumental Album: "Jingle All the Way," Bela Fleck & The Flecktones (Rounder)
Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals: "Viva La Vida," Coldplay, track from "Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends" (Capitol)
Alternative Music Album: "In Rainbows," Radiohead (TBD)
Solo Rock Vocal Performance: "Gravity," John Mayer, track from "Where The Light Is: Live in Los Angeles" (Columbia)
Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals: "Sex on Fire," Kings of Leon (RCA)
Hard Rock Performance: "Wax Simulacra," The Mars Volta (Universal Motown)
Metal Performance: "My Apocalypse," Metallica, track from "Death Magnetic" (Warner Bros.)
Rock Instrumental Performance: "Peaches En Regalia," Zappa Plays Zappa featuring Steve Vai and Napoleon Murphy Brock (Strobosonic/Razor & Tie Entertainment)
Rock Song: "Girls in Their Summer Clothes," Bruce Springsteen, songwriter (Bruce Springsteen), track from "Magic" (Columbia; Publisher: Bruce Springsteen)
Rap Solo Performance: "A Milli," Lil Wayne, track from "Tha Carter III" (Cash Money/Universal Motown)
Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: "Swagga Like Us," Jay-Z and T.I. featuring Kanye West and Lil Wayne (Roc-A-Fella/Grand Hustle/Atlantic)
Rap/Sung Collaboration: "American Boy," Estelle featuring Kanye West, track from "Shine" (Homeschool/Atlantic)
Rap Song: "Lollipop," Dwayne Carter, Darius Harrison, James Scheffer, Stephen Garrett and Rex Zamor, songwriters (Lil Wayne featuring Static Major), track from "Tha Carter III" (Cash Money/Universal Motown; Publishers: Young Money Publishing/Warner-Chappell Music, Herbalicious Music/Blackfountain Music/EMI-April Music, JimiPub Music/EMI Blackwood, Three Nails and A Crown Publishing/Roynet Music)
Country Song: "Stay," Jennifer Nettles, songwriter (Sugarland), track from "Enjoy the Ride" (Mercury Records; Publisher: Jennifer Nettles Publishing)
Country Album: "Troubadour," George Strait (MCA Nashville)
Female Country Vocal Performance: "Last Name," Carrie Underwood, track from "Carnival Ride" (19/Arista/Arista Nashville)
Male Country Vocal Performance: "Letter to Me," Brad Paisley, track from "5th Gear" (Arista Nashville)
Country Collaboration with Vocals: "Killing the Blues," Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, track from "Raising Sand" (Rounder)
Country Instrumental Performance: "Cluster Pluck," Brad Paisley, James Burton, Vince Gill, John Jorgenson, Albert Lee, Brent Mason, Redd Volkaert and Steve Wariner (Arista Nashville)
R&B Song: "Miss Independent," Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen and Shaffer Smith, songwriters (Ne-Yo), track from "Year of the Gentleman" (Def Jam/Compound; Publishers: Pen in the Ground Publishing, Universal Music-Z Tunes)
Contemporary R&B Album: "Growing Pains," Mary J. Blige (Geffen)
Female R&B Vocal Solo: "Superwoman," Alicia Keys, track from "As I Am" (J)
Male R&B Vocal Solo: "Miss Independent," Ne-Yo, track from "Year of the Gentleman" (Def Jam/Compound)
R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals: "Stay With Me (By the Sea)," Al Green featuring John Legend, track from "Lay It Down" (Blue Note)
Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: "You've Got the Love I Need," Al Green featuring Anthony Hamilton, track from "Lay It Down" (Blue Note)
Urban/Alternative Performance: "Be OK," Chrisette Michele featuring will.i.am, track from "I Am" (Def Jam)
Dance Recording: "Harder Better Faster Stronger," Daft Punk, Thomas Bangalter and Guy Manuel de Homem-Christo, producers; Thomas Bangalter and Guy Manuel de Homem-Christo, mixers; track from "Alive 2007" (Virgin)
Electronic Dance Album: "Alive 2007," Daft Punk (Virgin)
Bluegrass Album: "Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass: Tribute to 1946 and 1947," Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder (Skaggs Family)
Traditional Blues Album: "One Kind Favor," B.B. King (Geffen)
Contemporary Blues Album: "City That Care Forgot," Dr. John and The Lower 911 (429)
New Age Album: "Peace Time," Jack DeJohnette (Golden Beams/Kindred Rhythm)
Contemporary Jazz Album: "Randy in Brasil," Randy Brecker (MAMA)
Jazz Vocal Album: "Loverly," Cassandra Wilson (Blue Note)
Jazz Instrumental Solo: "BE-BOP," Terence Blanchard, soloist; track from "Live at the 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival" (Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary All-Stars) (Monterey Jazz Festival)
Jazz Instrumental Album Individual or Group: "The New Crystal Silence," Chick Corea and Gary Burton (Concord)
Large Jazz Ensemble Album: "Monday Night Live at the Village Vanguard," The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra (Planet Arts Recordings)
Latin Jazz Album: "Song for Chico," Arturo O'Farrill and The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra (Zoho)
Latin Pop Album: "La Vida ... Es Un Ratico," Juanes (Universal Music Latino)
Latin Rock or Alternative Album: "45," Jaguares (EMI Music)
Latin Urban Album: "Los Extraterrestres," Wisin y Yandel (Machete Music)
Tropical Latin Album: "Senor Bachata," Jose Feliciano (Universal Music Latino)
Regional Mexican Album: "Amor, Dolor y Lagrimas: Musica Ranchera," Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings) in a tie with "Canciones de Amor," Mariachi Divas (Shea/East Side)
Tejano Album: "Viva La Revolucion," Ruben Ramos and The Mexican Revolution (Revolution)
Norteno Album: "Raices," Los Tigres Del Norte (Fonovisa)
Banda Album: "No Es De Madera" Joan Sebastian (Musart/Balboa)
Traditional Folk Album: "At 89," Pete Seeger (Appleseed Recordings)
Contemporary Folk/Americana Album: "Raising Sand," Robert Plant and Alison Krauss (Rounder)
Native American Music Album: "Come to Me Great Mystery: Native American Healing Songs," (Various Artists) Tom Wasinger, producer (Silver Wave)
Hawaiian Music Album: "Ikena," Tia Carrere and Daniel Ho (Daniel Ho Creations)
Zydeco or Cajun Music Album: "Live at the 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival," BeauSoleil and Michael Doucet (MunckMix)
Engineering Album, Classical: "Traditions and Transformations: Sounds of Silk Road Chicago," David Frost, Tom Lazarus and Christopher Willis, engineers (Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Alan Gilbert, Silk Road Ensemble, Wu Man, Yo-Yo Ma and Chicago Symphony Orchestra) (CSO Resound)
Reggae Album: "Jah Is Real," Burning Spear (Burning Music Production)
Traditional World Music Album: "Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu," Ladysmith Black Mambazo (Heads Up International)
Contemporary World Music Album: "Global Drum Project," Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain, Sikiru Adepoju and Giovanni Hidalgo (Shout! Factory)
Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: "Juno," (Various Artists) Peter Afterman, Jason Reitman and Margaret Yen, producers (Fox Music/Rhino)
Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Television or Other Visual Media: "The Dark Knight," James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer, composers (Warner Sunset/Warner Bros.)
Polka Album: "Let the Whole World Sing," Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra (Rounder)
Gospel Performance: "Get Up," Mary Mary; track from "The Sound" (Columbia)
Gospel Song: "Help Me Believe," Kirk Franklin, songwriter (Kirk Franklin); track from "The Fight of My Life" (Fo Yo Soul Ent./Zomba Gospel; Publishers: Universal Music-Z Songs/Kerrion Publishing)
Rock or Rap Gospel Album: "Alive and Transported," TobyMac (ForeFront Records EMI CMG)
Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: "Thy Kingdom Come," CeCe Winans (PureSprings Gospel/EMI Gospel)
Southern, Country, Bluegrass Gospel: "Lovin' Life," Gaither Vocal Band (Gaither Music Group)
Traditional Gospel Album: "Down in New Orleans," The Blind Boys of Alabama (Time Life)
Contemporary R&B Gospel Album: "The Fight of My Life," Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul Entertainment/Zomba Gospel)
Classical Album: "Weill: Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny," James Conlon, conductor; Anthony Dean Griffey, Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald; Fred Vogler, producer (Donnie Ray Albert, John Easterlin, Steven Humes, Mel Ulrich and Robert Worle; Los Angeles Opera Chorus; Los Angeles Opera Orchestra) (EuroArts)
Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: "Down to Earth," ("WALL-E") Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman, songwriters (Peter Gabriel) (Walt Disney/Pixar; Publishers: Walt Disney Music, Wonderland Music/Pixar Talking Pictures/Pixar Music)
Musical Show Album: "In the Heights," Kurt Deutsch, Alex Lacamoire, Andres Levin, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Joel Moss and Bill Sherman, producers; Lin-Manuel Miranda, composer/lyricist (Original Broadway Cast with Lin-Manuel Miranda and Others) (Razor & Tie Entertainment/Ghostlight)
Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Story Telling): "An Inconvenient Truth (Al Gore)," Beau Bridges, Cynthia Nixon and Blair Underwood (Simon & Schuster Audio)
Musical Album for Children: "Here Come the 123s," They Might Be Giants (Disney Sound)
Spoken Word Album Children: "Yes to Running! Bill Harley Live," Bill Harley (Round River)
Comedy Album: "It's Bad for Ya," George Carlin (Eardrum)
Instrumental Composition: "The Adventures of Mutt," (from "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," John Williams, composer (John Williams), track from "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" soundtrack (Concord)
Instrumental Arrangement: "Define Dancing," (from "WALL-E") Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman, arrangers (Thomas Newman), track from "WALL-E" soundtrack (Walt Disney)
Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s): "Here's That Rainy Day," Nan Schwartz, arranger (Natalie Cole), track from "Still Unforgettable" (DMI)
Engineered Album, Non-Classical: "Consolers of the Lonely," Joe Chiccarelli, Vance Powell and Jack White III, engineers (The Raconteurs) (Third Man/Warner Bros.)
Remixed Recording: "Electric Feel (Justice Remix)," Justice, remixers (MGMT), Track from: "Oracular Spectacular" (Columbia)
Surround Sound Album: "Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; Night on Bald Mountain; Prelude to Khovanshchina," Michael Bishop, surround mix engineer; Michael Bishop, surround mastering engineer; Robert Woods, surround producer (Paavo Jarvi and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra) (Telarc)
Opera Recording: "Weill: Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny," James Conlon, conductor; Anthony Dean Griffey, Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald; Fred Vogler, producer (Donnie Ray Albert, John Easterlin, Steven Humes, Mel Ulrich and Robert Worle; Los Angeles Opera Orchestra; Los Angeles Opera Chorus) (EuroArts)
Orchestral Performance: "Shostakovich: Symphony No. 4," Bernard Haitink, conductor (Chicago Symphony Orchestra) (CSO Resound)
Choral Performance: "Symphony of Psalms," Sir Simon Rattle, conductor; Simon Halsey, chorus master (Berliner Philharmoniker; Rundfunkchor Berlin) track from "Stravinsky: Symphonies" (EMI Classics)
Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (With Orchestra): "Schoenberg/Sibelius: Violin Concertos," Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor; Hilary Hahn (Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra) (Deutsche Grammophon)
Instrumental Soloist Performance (Without Orchestra): "Piano Music of Salonen, Stucky, and Lutoslawski," Gloria Cheng (Telarc)
Chamber Music Performance: "Carter, Elliott: String Quartets Nos. 1 and 5," Pacifica Quartet (Naxos)
Small Ensemble Performance: "Spotless Rose: Hymns to the Virgin Mary," Charles Bruffy, conductor; Phoenix Chorale (Chandos)
Classical Vocal Performance: "Corigliano: Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems of Bob Dylan," Hila Plitmann (JoAnn Falletta; Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra) (Naxos)
Classical Contemporary Composition: "Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems of Bob Dylan," John Corigliano (JoAnn Falletta); track from: "Corigliano: Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems of Bob Dylan" (Naxos)
Classical Crossover Album: "Simple Gifts," The King's Singers (Signum)
Short Form Music Video: "Pork and Beans," Weezer, Mathew Cullen, video director; Bernard Rahill, video producder (DGC/Interscope)
Long Form Music Video: "Runnin' Down a Dream," Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Peter Bogdanovich, video director; Skot Bright, video producer (Warner Bros.)
Recording Package: "Death Magnetic," Bruce Duckworth, Sarah Moffat and David Turner, art directors (Metallica) (Warner Bros.)
Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package: "In Rainbows," Stanley Donwood, Mel Maxwell and Christiaan Munro, art directors (Radiohead)
Album Notes: "Kind of Blue: 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition," Francis Davis, album notes writer (Miles Davis) (Columbia/Legacy Recordings)
Historical Album: "Art of Field Recording Volume I: Fifty Years of Traditional American Music Documented by Art Rosenbaum," Steven Lance Ledbetter and Art Rosenbaum, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineering (Various Artists) (Dust-to-Digital)
Rap Album: "Tha Carter III," Lil Wayne (Cash Money/Universal Motown)
Male Pop Vocal Performance: "Say," John Mayer; track from "Continuum" (Columbia)
Record of the Year: "Please Read The Letter," Robert Plant and Alison Krauss; T Bone Burnett, producer; Mike Piersante, engineer/mixer; track from "Raising Sand" (Rounder)
New Artist: Adele
Rock Album: "Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends," Coldplay (Capitol)
Pop Collaboration With Vocals: "Rich Woman," Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, track from "Raising Sand" (Rounder)
Song of the Year: "Viva La Vida," Guy Berryman, Jonny Buckland, Will Champion and Chris Martin, songwriters (Coldplay), track from "Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends" (Capitol Records; Publishers: Universal Music-MGB Songs)
Country Performance By A Duo Or Group With Vocals: "Stay," Sugarland, track from "Enjoy the Ride" (Mercury)
R&B Album: "Jennifer Hudson," Jennifer Hudson (Arista)
Producer of the Year, Non-Classical: Rick Rubin
Producer of the Year, Classical: David Frost
Female Pop Vocal Performance: "Chasing Pavements," Adele, track from "19" (Columbia/XL)Traditional Pop Vocal Album: "Still Unforgettable," Natalie Cole (DMI)
Pop Vocal Album: "Rockferry," Duffy (Mercury)
Pop Instrumental Performance: "I Dreamed There Was No War," Eagles, track from "Long Road Out of Eden" (Eagles Recording Company)
Pop Instrumental Album: "Jingle All the Way," Bela Fleck & The Flecktones (Rounder)
Pop Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals: "Viva La Vida," Coldplay, track from "Viva La Vida Or Death And All His Friends" (Capitol)
Alternative Music Album: "In Rainbows," Radiohead (TBD)
Solo Rock Vocal Performance: "Gravity," John Mayer, track from "Where The Light Is: Live in Los Angeles" (Columbia)
Rock Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals: "Sex on Fire," Kings of Leon (RCA)
Hard Rock Performance: "Wax Simulacra," The Mars Volta (Universal Motown)
Metal Performance: "My Apocalypse," Metallica, track from "Death Magnetic" (Warner Bros.)
Rock Instrumental Performance: "Peaches En Regalia," Zappa Plays Zappa featuring Steve Vai and Napoleon Murphy Brock (Strobosonic/Razor & Tie Entertainment)
Rock Song: "Girls in Their Summer Clothes," Bruce Springsteen, songwriter (Bruce Springsteen), track from "Magic" (Columbia; Publisher: Bruce Springsteen)
Rap Solo Performance: "A Milli," Lil Wayne, track from "Tha Carter III" (Cash Money/Universal Motown)
Rap Performance by a Duo or Group: "Swagga Like Us," Jay-Z and T.I. featuring Kanye West and Lil Wayne (Roc-A-Fella/Grand Hustle/Atlantic)
Rap/Sung Collaboration: "American Boy," Estelle featuring Kanye West, track from "Shine" (Homeschool/Atlantic)
Rap Song: "Lollipop," Dwayne Carter, Darius Harrison, James Scheffer, Stephen Garrett and Rex Zamor, songwriters (Lil Wayne featuring Static Major), track from "Tha Carter III" (Cash Money/Universal Motown; Publishers: Young Money Publishing/Warner-Chappell Music, Herbalicious Music/Blackfountain Music/EMI-April Music, JimiPub Music/EMI Blackwood, Three Nails and A Crown Publishing/Roynet Music)
Country Song: "Stay," Jennifer Nettles, songwriter (Sugarland), track from "Enjoy the Ride" (Mercury Records; Publisher: Jennifer Nettles Publishing)
Country Album: "Troubadour," George Strait (MCA Nashville)
Female Country Vocal Performance: "Last Name," Carrie Underwood, track from "Carnival Ride" (19/Arista/Arista Nashville)
Male Country Vocal Performance: "Letter to Me," Brad Paisley, track from "5th Gear" (Arista Nashville)
Country Collaboration with Vocals: "Killing the Blues," Robert Plant and Alison Krauss, track from "Raising Sand" (Rounder)
Country Instrumental Performance: "Cluster Pluck," Brad Paisley, James Burton, Vince Gill, John Jorgenson, Albert Lee, Brent Mason, Redd Volkaert and Steve Wariner (Arista Nashville)
R&B Song: "Miss Independent," Mikkel S. Eriksen, Tor Erik Hermansen and Shaffer Smith, songwriters (Ne-Yo), track from "Year of the Gentleman" (Def Jam/Compound; Publishers: Pen in the Ground Publishing, Universal Music-Z Tunes)
Contemporary R&B Album: "Growing Pains," Mary J. Blige (Geffen)
Female R&B Vocal Solo: "Superwoman," Alicia Keys, track from "As I Am" (J)
Male R&B Vocal Solo: "Miss Independent," Ne-Yo, track from "Year of the Gentleman" (Def Jam/Compound)
R&B Performance by a Duo or Group with Vocals: "Stay With Me (By the Sea)," Al Green featuring John Legend, track from "Lay It Down" (Blue Note)
Traditional R&B Vocal Performance: "You've Got the Love I Need," Al Green featuring Anthony Hamilton, track from "Lay It Down" (Blue Note)
Urban/Alternative Performance: "Be OK," Chrisette Michele featuring will.i.am, track from "I Am" (Def Jam)
Dance Recording: "Harder Better Faster Stronger," Daft Punk, Thomas Bangalter and Guy Manuel de Homem-Christo, producers; Thomas Bangalter and Guy Manuel de Homem-Christo, mixers; track from "Alive 2007" (Virgin)
Electronic Dance Album: "Alive 2007," Daft Punk (Virgin)
Bluegrass Album: "Honoring the Fathers of Bluegrass: Tribute to 1946 and 1947," Ricky Skaggs and Kentucky Thunder (Skaggs Family)
Traditional Blues Album: "One Kind Favor," B.B. King (Geffen)
Contemporary Blues Album: "City That Care Forgot," Dr. John and The Lower 911 (429)
New Age Album: "Peace Time," Jack DeJohnette (Golden Beams/Kindred Rhythm)
Contemporary Jazz Album: "Randy in Brasil," Randy Brecker (MAMA)
Jazz Vocal Album: "Loverly," Cassandra Wilson (Blue Note)
Jazz Instrumental Solo: "BE-BOP," Terence Blanchard, soloist; track from "Live at the 2007 Monterey Jazz Festival" (Monterey Jazz Festival 50th Anniversary All-Stars) (Monterey Jazz Festival)
Jazz Instrumental Album Individual or Group: "The New Crystal Silence," Chick Corea and Gary Burton (Concord)
Large Jazz Ensemble Album: "Monday Night Live at the Village Vanguard," The Vanguard Jazz Orchestra (Planet Arts Recordings)
Latin Jazz Album: "Song for Chico," Arturo O'Farrill and The Afro-Latin Jazz Orchestra (Zoho)
Latin Pop Album: "La Vida ... Es Un Ratico," Juanes (Universal Music Latino)
Latin Rock or Alternative Album: "45," Jaguares (EMI Music)
Latin Urban Album: "Los Extraterrestres," Wisin y Yandel (Machete Music)
Tropical Latin Album: "Senor Bachata," Jose Feliciano (Universal Music Latino)
Regional Mexican Album: "Amor, Dolor y Lagrimas: Musica Ranchera," Mariachi Los Camperos de Nati Cano (Smithsonian Folkways Recordings) in a tie with "Canciones de Amor," Mariachi Divas (Shea/East Side)
Tejano Album: "Viva La Revolucion," Ruben Ramos and The Mexican Revolution (Revolution)
Norteno Album: "Raices," Los Tigres Del Norte (Fonovisa)
Banda Album: "No Es De Madera" Joan Sebastian (Musart/Balboa)
Traditional Folk Album: "At 89," Pete Seeger (Appleseed Recordings)
Contemporary Folk/Americana Album: "Raising Sand," Robert Plant and Alison Krauss (Rounder)
Native American Music Album: "Come to Me Great Mystery: Native American Healing Songs," (Various Artists) Tom Wasinger, producer (Silver Wave)
Hawaiian Music Album: "Ikena," Tia Carrere and Daniel Ho (Daniel Ho Creations)
Zydeco or Cajun Music Album: "Live at the 2008 New Orleans Jazz & Heritage Festival," BeauSoleil and Michael Doucet (MunckMix)
Engineering Album, Classical: "Traditions and Transformations: Sounds of Silk Road Chicago," David Frost, Tom Lazarus and Christopher Willis, engineers (Miguel Harth-Bedoya, Alan Gilbert, Silk Road Ensemble, Wu Man, Yo-Yo Ma and Chicago Symphony Orchestra) (CSO Resound)
Reggae Album: "Jah Is Real," Burning Spear (Burning Music Production)
Traditional World Music Album: "Ilembe: Honoring Shaka Zulu," Ladysmith Black Mambazo (Heads Up International)
Contemporary World Music Album: "Global Drum Project," Mickey Hart, Zakir Hussain, Sikiru Adepoju and Giovanni Hidalgo (Shout! Factory)
Compilation Soundtrack Album for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: "Juno," (Various Artists) Peter Afterman, Jason Reitman and Margaret Yen, producers (Fox Music/Rhino)
Score Soundtrack Album for Motion Television or Other Visual Media: "The Dark Knight," James Newton Howard and Hans Zimmer, composers (Warner Sunset/Warner Bros.)
Polka Album: "Let the Whole World Sing," Jimmy Sturr and His Orchestra (Rounder)
Gospel Performance: "Get Up," Mary Mary; track from "The Sound" (Columbia)
Gospel Song: "Help Me Believe," Kirk Franklin, songwriter (Kirk Franklin); track from "The Fight of My Life" (Fo Yo Soul Ent./Zomba Gospel; Publishers: Universal Music-Z Songs/Kerrion Publishing)
Rock or Rap Gospel Album: "Alive and Transported," TobyMac (ForeFront Records EMI CMG)
Pop/Contemporary Gospel Album: "Thy Kingdom Come," CeCe Winans (PureSprings Gospel/EMI Gospel)
Southern, Country, Bluegrass Gospel: "Lovin' Life," Gaither Vocal Band (Gaither Music Group)
Traditional Gospel Album: "Down in New Orleans," The Blind Boys of Alabama (Time Life)
Contemporary R&B Gospel Album: "The Fight of My Life," Kirk Franklin (Fo Yo Soul Entertainment/Zomba Gospel)
Classical Album: "Weill: Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny," James Conlon, conductor; Anthony Dean Griffey, Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald; Fred Vogler, producer (Donnie Ray Albert, John Easterlin, Steven Humes, Mel Ulrich and Robert Worle; Los Angeles Opera Chorus; Los Angeles Opera Orchestra) (EuroArts)
Song Written for Motion Picture, Television or Other Visual Media: "Down to Earth," ("WALL-E") Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman, songwriters (Peter Gabriel) (Walt Disney/Pixar; Publishers: Walt Disney Music, Wonderland Music/Pixar Talking Pictures/Pixar Music)
Musical Show Album: "In the Heights," Kurt Deutsch, Alex Lacamoire, Andres Levin, Lin-Manuel Miranda, Joel Moss and Bill Sherman, producers; Lin-Manuel Miranda, composer/lyricist (Original Broadway Cast with Lin-Manuel Miranda and Others) (Razor & Tie Entertainment/Ghostlight)
Spoken Word Album (Includes Poetry, Audio Books & Story Telling): "An Inconvenient Truth (Al Gore)," Beau Bridges, Cynthia Nixon and Blair Underwood (Simon & Schuster Audio)
Musical Album for Children: "Here Come the 123s," They Might Be Giants (Disney Sound)
Spoken Word Album Children: "Yes to Running! Bill Harley Live," Bill Harley (Round River)
Comedy Album: "It's Bad for Ya," George Carlin (Eardrum)
Instrumental Composition: "The Adventures of Mutt," (from "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull," John Williams, composer (John Williams), track from "Indiana Jones and the Kingdom of the Crystal Skull" soundtrack (Concord)
Instrumental Arrangement: "Define Dancing," (from "WALL-E") Peter Gabriel and Thomas Newman, arrangers (Thomas Newman), track from "WALL-E" soundtrack (Walt Disney)
Instrumental Arrangement Accompanying Vocalist(s): "Here's That Rainy Day," Nan Schwartz, arranger (Natalie Cole), track from "Still Unforgettable" (DMI)
Engineered Album, Non-Classical: "Consolers of the Lonely," Joe Chiccarelli, Vance Powell and Jack White III, engineers (The Raconteurs) (Third Man/Warner Bros.)
Remixed Recording: "Electric Feel (Justice Remix)," Justice, remixers (MGMT), Track from: "Oracular Spectacular" (Columbia)
Surround Sound Album: "Mussorgsky: Pictures at an Exhibition; Night on Bald Mountain; Prelude to Khovanshchina," Michael Bishop, surround mix engineer; Michael Bishop, surround mastering engineer; Robert Woods, surround producer (Paavo Jarvi and Cincinnati Symphony Orchestra) (Telarc)
Opera Recording: "Weill: Rise and Fall of the City of Mahagonny," James Conlon, conductor; Anthony Dean Griffey, Patti LuPone and Audra McDonald; Fred Vogler, producer (Donnie Ray Albert, John Easterlin, Steven Humes, Mel Ulrich and Robert Worle; Los Angeles Opera Orchestra; Los Angeles Opera Chorus) (EuroArts)
Orchestral Performance: "Shostakovich: Symphony No. 4," Bernard Haitink, conductor (Chicago Symphony Orchestra) (CSO Resound)
Choral Performance: "Symphony of Psalms," Sir Simon Rattle, conductor; Simon Halsey, chorus master (Berliner Philharmoniker; Rundfunkchor Berlin) track from "Stravinsky: Symphonies" (EMI Classics)
Instrumental Soloist(s) Performance (With Orchestra): "Schoenberg/Sibelius: Violin Concertos," Esa-Pekka Salonen, conductor; Hilary Hahn (Swedish Radio Symphony Orchestra) (Deutsche Grammophon)
Instrumental Soloist Performance (Without Orchestra): "Piano Music of Salonen, Stucky, and Lutoslawski," Gloria Cheng (Telarc)
Chamber Music Performance: "Carter, Elliott: String Quartets Nos. 1 and 5," Pacifica Quartet (Naxos)
Small Ensemble Performance: "Spotless Rose: Hymns to the Virgin Mary," Charles Bruffy, conductor; Phoenix Chorale (Chandos)
Classical Vocal Performance: "Corigliano: Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems of Bob Dylan," Hila Plitmann (JoAnn Falletta; Buffalo Philharmonic Orchestra) (Naxos)
Classical Contemporary Composition: "Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems of Bob Dylan," John Corigliano (JoAnn Falletta); track from: "Corigliano: Mr. Tambourine Man: Seven Poems of Bob Dylan" (Naxos)
Classical Crossover Album: "Simple Gifts," The King's Singers (Signum)
Short Form Music Video: "Pork and Beans," Weezer, Mathew Cullen, video director; Bernard Rahill, video producder (DGC/Interscope)
Long Form Music Video: "Runnin' Down a Dream," Tom Petty & The Heartbreakers, Peter Bogdanovich, video director; Skot Bright, video producer (Warner Bros.)
Recording Package: "Death Magnetic," Bruce Duckworth, Sarah Moffat and David Turner, art directors (Metallica) (Warner Bros.)
Boxed or Special Limited Edition Package: "In Rainbows," Stanley Donwood, Mel Maxwell and Christiaan Munro, art directors (Radiohead)
Album Notes: "Kind of Blue: 50th Anniversary Collector's Edition," Francis Davis, album notes writer (Miles Davis) (Columbia/Legacy Recordings)
Historical Album: "Art of Field Recording Volume I: Fifty Years of Traditional American Music Documented by Art Rosenbaum," Steven Lance Ledbetter and Art Rosenbaum, compilation producers; Michael Graves, mastering engineering (Various Artists) (Dust-to-Digital)
Saturday, February 7, 2009
Top 7 Ways to Live Your Best Life
Our lives are like clay on a potter’s wheel. Each day, the wheel turns anew, and with our decisions, we shape our lives; we are sculptures formed by choices, vessels crafted by free will. Your life: your masterpiece, your unique creation.
While it’s true that we all must decide for ourselves what shape our lives should take, I offer you these 7 tips for living your best life.
1. Live within Your Means
No matter how you want to shape the clay of your life, you’ll need resources; the more you save, the more you’ll have. Overspending is truly one of the most damaging things you can do because it robs you of the means to live a life of your own design.
Besides, the emotional high that comes from buying something new is short-lived and cannot compensate for the emotional burden of carrying too much debt or the painful reality of all the opportunities you can no longer afford.
Before you make a purchase that seriously impacts your bottom line, stop and ask yourself: Is this improving my life? Is this worth it? It’s a shame how so many of us sell our potential for the empty promise of useless things.
2. Follow Your Dreams
Do you love your job? If not, why in the world are you doing it? The most common answer is bills. We need money to live; we need a job for money; therefore, we work to survive.
But the survival instinct is the basest of human motivations, and you could be so much more if you aimed higher. Yes, most of us must work to live, but there are a million jobs in the world. Why not choose one that satisfies you? Why not determine what you want, figure out how to make money with it, and go for it?
If you think chasing your dreams is hard, consider how much harder it is to work in an uninspiring job for thirty years, wasting away in a cycle of mindless production and consumption. Do something you love. Make a difference you believe in.
3. Connect
Personal relationships are the jewel of life. We’re social by nature; we can only be so happy alone. So why do we sacrifice relationships for jobs? Why do we push people away when we could be pulling them closer?
We’re so much happier when we attract a soul mate; when we bridge arguments calmly; communicate ideas confidently, without offending; when we surround ourselves with caring people.
Great accomplishments require great relationships.
4. Contribute
Our potential is revealed in the extent to which we give. And I’m not just talking about charity. For most of us, work is our primary means of contribution to society and our single most time consuming activity; this, combined with the fact that humans need each other, is the reason why jobs feel so much better when they allow us to contribute to the world in a way that is uniquely our own: We give our gift; others express appreciation; we too endorse our contribution, and the end result is that we feel good.
You can also contribute to the world by volunteering, helping a family member, or donating. The world needs you, and you need it. Give back. Receive joy.
5. Trust Yourself
Learning to trust your instincts when reading road signs on the highway of life will improve your chances of success in every endeavor. You can also learn to trust yourself in less esoteric ways: Raise your self-esteem by recognizing your accomplishments; boost your self-efficacy by practicing the skills required to reach success.
Creating a life of your own beautiful design requires that you believe in what you’re doing, as well as your ability to do it.
6. Optimize
There’s always something you could do better, faster, or cheaper. Pick an area of yourself to work on and have at it. The clay spinning on the potter’s wheel of life can only be worked into the shape of a masterpiece through continuous improvement, prolonged dedication to excellence.
7. Be Thankful
The fact that we recognize our shortcomings (so we can improve them) does not mean we can’t be thankful for all the wonderful things we already are; all the gifts we already possess. Life is the greatest gift of all, so we should all be thankful for the breath in our lungs, and I’m sure you can think of a few other blessings if you set your mind to it.
An attitude of gratitude is powerful because it helps us recognize our gifts, our talents, which helps us feel comfortable with our place in the world and highlights the unique contributions waiting to spring forth from within us, making the world a better place and leading us toward our dreams.
So there you have it: 7 tips for shaping and polishing a life of your own magnificent design.
While it’s true that we all must decide for ourselves what shape our lives should take, I offer you these 7 tips for living your best life.
1. Live within Your Means
No matter how you want to shape the clay of your life, you’ll need resources; the more you save, the more you’ll have. Overspending is truly one of the most damaging things you can do because it robs you of the means to live a life of your own design.
Besides, the emotional high that comes from buying something new is short-lived and cannot compensate for the emotional burden of carrying too much debt or the painful reality of all the opportunities you can no longer afford.
Before you make a purchase that seriously impacts your bottom line, stop and ask yourself: Is this improving my life? Is this worth it? It’s a shame how so many of us sell our potential for the empty promise of useless things.
2. Follow Your Dreams
Do you love your job? If not, why in the world are you doing it? The most common answer is bills. We need money to live; we need a job for money; therefore, we work to survive.
But the survival instinct is the basest of human motivations, and you could be so much more if you aimed higher. Yes, most of us must work to live, but there are a million jobs in the world. Why not choose one that satisfies you? Why not determine what you want, figure out how to make money with it, and go for it?
If you think chasing your dreams is hard, consider how much harder it is to work in an uninspiring job for thirty years, wasting away in a cycle of mindless production and consumption. Do something you love. Make a difference you believe in.
3. Connect
Personal relationships are the jewel of life. We’re social by nature; we can only be so happy alone. So why do we sacrifice relationships for jobs? Why do we push people away when we could be pulling them closer?
We’re so much happier when we attract a soul mate; when we bridge arguments calmly; communicate ideas confidently, without offending; when we surround ourselves with caring people.
Great accomplishments require great relationships.
4. Contribute
Our potential is revealed in the extent to which we give. And I’m not just talking about charity. For most of us, work is our primary means of contribution to society and our single most time consuming activity; this, combined with the fact that humans need each other, is the reason why jobs feel so much better when they allow us to contribute to the world in a way that is uniquely our own: We give our gift; others express appreciation; we too endorse our contribution, and the end result is that we feel good.
You can also contribute to the world by volunteering, helping a family member, or donating. The world needs you, and you need it. Give back. Receive joy.
5. Trust Yourself
Learning to trust your instincts when reading road signs on the highway of life will improve your chances of success in every endeavor. You can also learn to trust yourself in less esoteric ways: Raise your self-esteem by recognizing your accomplishments; boost your self-efficacy by practicing the skills required to reach success.
Creating a life of your own beautiful design requires that you believe in what you’re doing, as well as your ability to do it.
6. Optimize
There’s always something you could do better, faster, or cheaper. Pick an area of yourself to work on and have at it. The clay spinning on the potter’s wheel of life can only be worked into the shape of a masterpiece through continuous improvement, prolonged dedication to excellence.
7. Be Thankful
The fact that we recognize our shortcomings (so we can improve them) does not mean we can’t be thankful for all the wonderful things we already are; all the gifts we already possess. Life is the greatest gift of all, so we should all be thankful for the breath in our lungs, and I’m sure you can think of a few other blessings if you set your mind to it.
An attitude of gratitude is powerful because it helps us recognize our gifts, our talents, which helps us feel comfortable with our place in the world and highlights the unique contributions waiting to spring forth from within us, making the world a better place and leading us toward our dreams.
So there you have it: 7 tips for shaping and polishing a life of your own magnificent design.
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