Respect. You don’t need a gun to get it.

Respect means a lot of different things. Respect can be shown through behavior and it can also be felt. We can act in ways which are considered respectful, yet we can also feel respect for someone and feel respected by someone. Because it is possible to act in ways that do not reflect how we really feel, the feeling of respect is more important than the behavior without the feeling. When the feeling is there, the behavior will naturally follow.

As a new born has no concept of respect, and feels only its own needs, I believe that the only successful way to teach a child what respect is, is to earn the respect of the child as they slowly grow into a thinking human being. It is naive to believe that if someone says “Yes, Sir/ No, Sir,” it means they respect you.

As I see it, respect is something that is earned. You earn someone else’s respect easy by showing understanding of that person’s feelings, needs and thoughts into consideration. You must show your respect for someone else before it will come back to you. Respect cannot be demanded or forced, though sometimes people mistakenly believe that it can.

A New York City gang member was asked why he carried a gun. He replied: “Before I had this gun, I didn’t get no respect. Now I do.”

Or like the security officer, I saw the other day in an “all you can eat” Chinese buffet full of families with young kids: the guy was dressed in civil khakis, striped shirt and sneakers topped with heavy gun and handcuffs on his belt. He was looking odd with that big gun among the bunch of kids trying to get some food at the buffet and reminded me of the “Kindergarten Cop” movie.
Or like a friend of mine who bought a gun shortly after he acquired couple buildings with rental apartments and got few “professional renters” among the other residents. Every time he was going to visit his properties he would carry the gun and make the others well aware of it.

You don’t need a gun to get it.

There is a danger in mislabeling fear as respect. It is like if two jars in the medicine cabinet were mislabeled. What if poison ivy lotion were labeled as cough syrup, or chlorine as contact lens cleaner?

Fear is toxic
            Respect is nurturing.
             Fear destroys self-confidence. Respect builds it.
               Fear is life-threatening. Respect is life-enhancing.
          Fear is forced. Respect is earned.
Fear is learned. Respect is earned.

You don’t need a gun to get it!

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Have a nice day and goodbye! The Italian job.

On January 1, 2011 Italy is banning use of plastic shopping bags. Italians now use about 20 billion plastic bags a year, and experts say they take anywhere from 15 to a thousand years to degrade. Plastic bags, first introduced in the 1950s as a convenient way to store food, have since developed into a global scourge, littering roadsides, clogging sewer drains and landfills and getting ingested by animals and marine life.

A few countries and cities around the world Mumbai in India (2000), Himalayan state of Himachal Pradesh , Taiwan and South Africa (2003), Rwanda and Somalia (2005), Tanzania including Zanzibar (2006), Kenya and Uganda (2007), China (since 2008 banned shops from handing out free plastic bags from and made production of ultra-thin carriers illegal) among others have taken stands against plastic bags through banning them outright.

China’s decision to ban free plastic bags in 2008 alone has cut demand by some 40 billion bags, reduced plastic bag usage there by 66 percent, and saved some 1.6 million tons of petroleum. It also forced the biggest plastic bag manufacture in the world to close. One thing that could never happen in United States. Not because of the democracy. It is called conflict of commercial interests!
In March 2007, San Francisco became the first (and is still the only) major U.S. city to implement an across-the-board ban on plastic bags. Large supermarkets and pharmacies there had to ditch plastic shopping bags by early 2008 in favor of paper bags or those made from all-natural biodegradable cornstarch-based plastic. The result has been a 50 percent drop in plastic bag litter on the streets since the ban took effect.
Los Angeles followed suit and its city council voted in 2008 to ban plastic bags beginning in July 2010, but the ban will only take effect if the state of California doesn’t follow through on a statewide plan to impose a fee on shoppers who request plastic bags.

The rest of the East Cost U.S. cities, including New York, Philadelphia Baltimore, and Boston (I live nearby) do little or nothing by considering outright bans like San Francisco’s, but instead each settled instead on plastic bag recycling programs in the face of pressure from the plastics industry and retail commercial interests.
With one exception on store level: since 2009 local Massachusetts IKEA store (big fan of) does not carry plastic bags anymore. They started couple years ago to charge $0.50 per bag and later on completely removed plastic.
The rest of the grocery stores around me offer reusable bags, but still give out unlimited plastic for free. Americans go through some close to 300 billion disposable plastic bags each year, and only five billion paper ones. If the nation bans plastic bags it is likely that paper varieties would only make up a small part of the difference, in light of the proliferation of reusable canvas shopping bags as well as the availability of biodegradable cornstarch plastic.

We all know how bad plastic bags are for wildlife, they don’t break down in landfills, they aren’t easy to recycle, which is the biggest reason why 90 percent of plastic bags in the U.S. are not recycled. Yet from an estimated 500 billion to 1 trillion plastic bags are used worldwide every year, 300 billion in the U.S., and governments have been slow-moving at best to do anything about them.

If counties and cities from so called third world and developing economies can ban plastic groceries bags then why United States not following?

The answer is, as I already said, pressure from the plastics industry, big money and conflict of retail commercial interests.

Here is another story….once upon a time there was a small company that developed new type of asphalt that could absorb up to 70-80% percent of the vehicle’s highway noise and it would last 10-20 times longer compared to the conventional asphalt used on the highways nowadays. Best of all it used shredded rubber from disposed automobile tires as a fill up. Can you imagine the impact it would have: far less highway noise, extended pavement life and recycle billions of old automobile tires.
You would ask what happened. ..Well, it is called conflict of commercial interests! Big construction corporations that are winning profitable highway repair government contracts will be out of the business if the new asphalt was allowed to compete on the market. So, it was simply not allowed!

For the same reason US government puts burdens on passenger diesel vehicles with the argument that diesel pollutes the atmosphere far more than gasoline. Not quite true – today’s diesel engines are equal cleaner and more efficient than their gasoline counter parts along with superior fuel efficiency. In 13 states (including my home Massachusetts) that have adopted tight California state car emissions standards consumers cannot buy or register any new diesel vehicle as no diesel engine can pass the requirements. BlueTEC diesel engines are close by but not there yet. As a result consumers cannot take advantage of the extreme fuel efficiency the diesel has to offer. Not to mention that the diesel engine life span is at least twice longer than the gasoline one.
To make the things even more confusing consider this: you can still purchase for example an old Mercedes 300D (from New Hampshire) and register it with no problems in Massachusetts (yes can’t buy new diesel but you can register used one with more than 7500 miles on the ODO). So it is legal to pollute with old 300D “furnace”, but as ordinary citizen you cannot legally buy and register a new diesel in the above mentioned 13 states. Weird! Dealerships in the neighboring states are taking advantages of the legislator’s dumb idea and are asking $5000-10000 more on used passenger diesel vehicles then the gasoline powered same make and model

Please note that this is not in force for commercial diesel vehicles! Commercial companies are excluded!

Instead US government spends billions of the taxpayers’ dollars to create stimulus plans for buying hybrid vehicles? Hybrids are complicated and cannot match the fuel efficiency of the diesel. Period.
Why then, you may ask? Simply because the big automakers want you to buy complicated and expensive to maintain hybrid so they can make more service profits on your back. On the other hand the oil giants in United States don’t want the consumers to use fuel efficient diesels as their profits will significantly shrink. Get it! It is called conflict of commercial interests.
Citizens that feed this country with their tax dollars are and always will be at the lowest food chain level!
Remember how US government use our tax dollars to bail out all big banks but when it is time to help you keeping your miserable house there is no help or hope for one! Why the banks were not allowed to bankrupt, but the citizens who are in need are forced in bankruptcy? Why the government did not let the rotten apples to fall of the tree?
It is called conflict of commercial interests! …..and the story goes on.

Feel free to reply with comment or examples regardless of whether you agree with my “theory of conspiracy” or not.

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What to do when facing artist’s creative block

Every artist has to encounter block in some way. It doesn’t matter whether you are a painter,designer, or a writer. Creative block is part and parcel of the creative spirit. Overcoming the block can be a problem; however, it is extremely important to use both your mental state and some tools to do so. Creative block is a terrible state to be in because a lot of it is mental. You are telling yourself you can’t find the beginning of the idea. It’s a devastating thing for an artist to feel they’ve lost their inspiration, to encounter a creative block. But suffering from artist’s block doesn’t mean you’ve lost your artistic ability. When a creative person suffers from an artist block or has lost their inspiration to create it is a devastating experience.

Someone who suffers from artist block will find excuses and reasons why she or he cannot possibly create that day or ‘should’ give up the dream to pursue some other, inauthentic, vocation. If your heart literally aches from artist block then know this: your truth is that you are an artist.

You were born to fully express your artistic potential. Every bit of inspiration that you long for is already within you. The more you resist your block the more power and energy you add to this block.

Be kind and nurturing and when the time is right the creativity will flow. But I heard of an exercise that basically broke down big topics into small parts.

There’s no question that creating a work of art is hard to do. For example, it could be to write one poem, one short story, to paint two small paintings or create three works of art.

Morning in Venice by veny

Just realized my comment was simply the rambling of an exhausted person. I believe that we should not force anything I believe in reading, wandering around through our favorite places naps sunny days I believe that creativity will come. I always take a “time out,” go easy on myself, and try not to obsess about it.

Set a time table. Give yourself a time when you want your work of art to be completed. There is nothing like a deadline to help you get things done. You can tell people about the deadline or keep the information to yourself. One step at a time…baby steps get you to the top of the mountain. If you manage to do one small thing towards your artistic goal each day, you will be amazed at how fast you can accomplish it. If you are working on an artistic project and you don’t know what to do, stop and do something else; it can be anything-the laundry, mow the lawn, work in the garage.

Neighborhood Cityscape Art_Original Art by Veny

Being creative comes easily to some people and others think they don’t have a creative bone in their body.
It may simply be that you have too many things on your mind and that this is getting in the way of your creativity. Creativity researchers agree that motivation is a key ingredient in creative contribution and creative genius. On the other hand you could just be experiencing a period of simple low creativity. When this happens there are a few things you can do to restore your creativity levels at will, however what you must not do is worry or fret about it.

I found myself in that situation today and thought I’d remind myself what I could do to reinvigorate my creativity! When you sit down to draw, you are probably telling yourself in your mind “I can’t do it; I can’t draw; I have no creativity. Your brain is so busy making that come true that you can’t do it. Nature does wonders. I started life drawing that is a must or go out somewhere and do nature drawing the reason is not the subject, but the realism anything but photos for now you can use pictures for reference later but to get yourself going – Nature and life drawing it stimulates the sudden rush of what is happening around you.

Photos are static moments in time but the life and nature stuff is great kick for art. I then started to get a feel and a theory and a path I wanted to follow. I have such a fever for it now; I get frustrated sitting at work, knowing that I could be in the studio discovering new revelations.

And sleep, and let go off expectations, and do stuff with your hands: cook, clean the toilet, etc. It helps! I Hope you find that it works for you too!

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Symphony in Color Landscape Art

Life is a journey… NOT a guided tour.

Loved the story and hope you do to:

When I was a young boy, my father had one of the first telephones in
our neighborhood.. I remember the polished, old case fastened to the
wall. The shiny receiver hung on the side of the box. I was too little
to reach the telephone, but used to listen with fascination when my
mother talked to it.

Then I discovered that somewhere inside the wonderful device lived an
amazing person. Her name was “Information Please” and there was nothing
she did not know. Information Please could supply anyone’s number and
the correct time.

My personal experience with the genie-in-a-bottle came one day while my
mother was visiting a neighbor. Amusing myself at the tool bench in the
basement, I whacked my finger with a hammer, the pain was terrible, but
there seemed no point in crying because there was no one home to give
sympathy.

I walked around the house sucking my throbbing finger, finally arriving
at the stairway. The telephone! Quickly, I ran for the footstool in the
parlor and dragged it to the landing. Climbing up, I unhooked the
receiver in the parlor and held it to my ear.

“Information, please” I said into the mouthpiece just above my head.

A click or two and a small clear voice spoke into my ear.

“Information.”

“I hurt my finger…” I wailed into the phone, the tears came readily
enough
now that I had an audience.

“Isn’t your mother home?” came the question.

“Nobody’s home but me,” I blubbered.

“Are you bleeding?” the voice asked.

“No,” I replied. “I hit my finger with the hammer and it hurts.”

“Can you open the icebox?” she asked.

I said I could.

“Then chip off a little bit of ice and hold it to your finger,” said
the voice..

After that, I called “Information Please” for everything.. I asked her
for
help with my geography, and she told me where Philadelphia was. She
helped me with my math.

She told me my pet chipmunk that I had caught in the park just the day
before, would eat fruit and nuts.

Then, there was the time Petey, our pet canary, died. I called,

Information Please,” and told her the sad story.. She listened, and then
said things grown-ups say to soothe a child. But I was not consoled. I
asked her, “Why is it that birds should sing so beautifully and bring
joy to all families, only to end up as a heap of feathers on the bottom
of a cage?”

She must have sensed my deep concern, for she said quietly, ” Wayne ,
always remember that there are other worlds to sing in.”

Somehow I felt better.

Another day I was on the telephone, “Information Please.”

“Information,” said in the now familiar voice. “How do I spell fix?”

I asked.

All this took place in a small town in the Pacific Northwest . When I
was nine years old, we moved across the country to Boston . I missed my
friend very much.
“Information Please” belonged in that old wooden box back home and I
somehow never thought of trying the shiny new phone that sat on the
table in the hall. As I grew into my teens, the memories of those
childhood conversations never really left me..

Often, in moments of doubt and perplexity I would recall the serene
sense of security I had then. I appreciated now how patient,
understanding, and kind she was to have spent her time on a little boy.

A few years later, on my way west to college, my plane put down in
Seattle . I had about a half-hour or so between planes. I spent 15
minutes or so on the phone with my sister, who lived there now. Then
without thinking what I was doing, I dialed my hometown operator and
said, “Information Please.”

Miraculously, I heard the small, clear voice I knew so well.

“Information.”

I hadn’t planned this, but I heard myself saying, “Could you please
tell me how to spell fix?”

There was a long pause. Then came the soft spoken answer, “I guess your
finger must have healed by now.”

I laughed, “So it’s really you,” I said. “I wonder if you have any idea
how much you meant to me during that time?”

I wonder,” she said, “if you know how much your call meant to me.

I never had any children and I used to look forward to your calls.”

I told her how often I had thought of her over the years and I asked if
I could call her again when I came back to visit my sister.

“Please do”, she said. “Just ask for Sally.”

Three months later I was back in Seattle . A different voice answered,

“Information.” I asked for Sally.

“Are you a friend?” she said.

“Yes, a very old friend,” I answered.

“I’m sorry to have to tell you this,”She said. “Sally had been
working part time the last few years because she was sick. She died
five weeks ago.”

Before I could hang up, she said, ” Wait a minute, did you say your
name was Wayne ?” ”

Yes.” I answered.

“Well, Sally left a message for you. She wrote it down in case you
called. Let me read it to you.”

The note said, “Tell him there are other worlds to sing in. He’ll
know what I mean.”

I thanked her and hung up. I knew what Sally meant.

Never underestimate the impression you may make on others..

Life is a journey… NOT a guided tour.

This story is shared with you by ArtbyVeny.com

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Christmas Jingle or not so Christmas

It is almost Christmas. It is this time again and although there is no snow on the ground (at least here in Boston there isn’t) and the economy is not doing well (despite the government statements that it is picking up) you can feel the holiday season is here. Not that you can miss it anyway as there is 24 hours Christmas jingles radio station (only in America :)) and TV channels counting down the days left to Christmas. Like we need this so we don’t forget. I wonder how they (humans) did it before the radio and the TV…I mean how they remembered without constant media reminders. How they survived with no “black” Friday.

In old days people simple relayed on themselves or on their “internal” calendar instead on anything else. Of course don’t forget the pastor at the Sunday’s church that will always remind you handy that Jesus Christ is about to be born or other important days.

Then look at us, surrounded of gadgets, media of all types, buried under enormous loads of information, texting, blogging and we still somehow manage to forget what is Christmas is all about. Last week one of the TV channels was showing a documentary for a guy that voluntary lived for 35 years in the wilderness and was helping the national forest service to document different wild life species. He lived in log camp by himself without electricity, phone, TV or radio and “retired” at age of 87. Do we all have to do this so we can then appreciate our friends and family?
With every year pass by I receive and send less and less Christmas cards…discover fewer friends left and more people I just know for one or another reason. It is amazing how people I have mistakenly taken for friends turn around to be no better that someone I vaguely know.

The other day I was talking to someone I was counting as a friend and the conversation wasn’t going anywhere. I was trying to make a dialogue but the all I was hearing was what the other side was doing or planning to do and how great is everything my “friend” did it or was about to do. The only thing I received out of the conversation was: “I guess you are doing the things not the right way”. From a cold distance….from someone I thought was a friend once upon a time. The distances and time are taking their destructive tolls on what I once thought is a friendship….

It is not enough to say I am just disappointed. I am more devastated than anything else because I am a people person. I do have my Skype “contacts” and SMS “conversations” and phone chats but I like to meet other human been (friends) face to face to see emotions from first hand, to feel the visual contact, without hiding capabilities all of these so call media communications offer. And I am not angry with anybody, just unhappy…realizing that (as I read somewhere) the live is too short to hate someone.

So what is the cure? I wish I know, but I don’t. I’ll keep looking and let you know if I find one.

Some say back to the roots. What roots? Everything changed even the roots did.

Over the time we lose the ability to make new friendships. Whether is the lack of trust or get more experienced I don’t know, but it gets tougher and tougher, except when miracles happen. It happened to me. I met a person I actually once work with that we made great friends with.

I like to watch Hallmark channel which shows old fashioned movies about the Holiday season and Christmas. It reminds me so much for when I was little girl and still believed in Santa. What a magical time it was…..waiting for these gifts the entire year. I still remember all fears, emotions and joy… I guess I still have part of that little girl inside of me as I still love the time around Christmas the most. I wish we have a little snow and more true friends, but hey I may be asking for too much…I still have my Christmas!

Happy Holidays and Merry Christmas!

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Catholicism and the History of Art

Art by Veny Blog Post

High Quality Art

The Roman Catholic Church was responsible for commissioning some of the greatest pieces of art that exist today. The works are celebrated as some of the finest achievements of artists. These works included paintings, sculptures, tapestries and architectural feats. The main subject of most of the works are the lives of the saints, the apostles and Jesus Christ.

In the meeting houses of early Christians that were persecuted by the Roman Empire, painted frescoes have been found and these mark the earliest occurrences of Christian art. With centuries of works that were created the most recognizable today are the works from the Renaissance period. Renaissance art in its early years were not as focused on the religious aspect and were more about position and rank. This was changed by Savonarola’s Bonfire of the Vanities in which many works were burned as they represented a sin.

Masterful Works

This led to what is called the High Renaissance, were the masters Raphael, Michelangelo and Leonardo da Vinci were predominantly featured. Raphael and Michelangelo both worked directly for the church for most of their lives. Some of Raphael’s works that were commissioned by the Pope are currently now on display in Britain.

Before Michelangelo, Raphael and Leonaro da Vinci, the works of the time were rather bland. The Italian High Renaissance and an interest in Roman and Greek Cultures led to more depth and mathematical precision in the arts. Artists were put on a pedestal so to speak and their works were looked upon as miracles that were inspired by God.

These three artists contributed to the greatest works of the world. They changed the very face of art and how people see it. They greatly influenced the arts and sciences and led to many modern marvels.

Artists

Many people began to despise how artists and their art were looked upon as divinely influenced. During this time, the church sold indulgences, which were ways for one to lessen the time they spent in purgatory. This was seen by Martin Luther as a blasphemous worshipping of art as false idolatry. Martin Luther spoke out against the indulgence system in 1517 with his 95 theses he sparked a great change in the reformation of the church. Many reformationist groups were formed during this time and with all of the infighting, the artistry of the time was greatly diminished.

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I invest substantial amount of time to find and research interesting and relevant topics for my blog page.

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