Yome’s response was perfect for what I was trying to accomplish! Trying to spread the word about letter writing helps others to do just that - start themselves.  If others see that a friend of theirs is doing it, chances are they will too.  Or, I would just urge a person to try it off the bat.  He or she will experience a feeling upon receving a letter back - which is a feeling a satisfaction.  Then, with motivation underway, he or she would continue to wrtie more letters.  I do get letters back from people I write too.  It is a general rule to write someone back upon getting a letter.  I would say it would be generally rude if the addressee doesn’t get one back.  The major rule to remember is that someone has to start the chain process.  It can be compared to a snowball rolling down the hill - getting bigger and bigger.

Overall, it was great that this blogsphere has inspired someone to actually pen a letter to someone.  All it takes is a little spark to start something great.  Letter writing is just the thing to start, and is generally easy to do! Enjoy!

“Each word – each letter – was handcrafted just for me. It embodies the values of their generation, when all the little things mattered.”  What is Matthew Von Pinnon from The Forum describing?  He is describing the factors of letter writing.  In the 21^st century, the act or hobby of letter writing is often times called the ‘lost’ art of letter writing.  Communicating with written letters used to be common before the invention of the telephone, internet, and e-mail.  It is common nowadays for people to struggle with apt logic-based structure when communicating without face to face interaction because of instant messaging.  A sense of personalization, when communicating without face to face, maybe the worst lost amidst it all. 

But, headway is being made despite the overuse of 21^st century technology.  Articles are being posted online, books are being written, newspapers are producing articles, and blogs are discussing and realizing how much of a pastime it truly is.  These mediums are bringing necessary attention to the ever decreasing action of letter writing.  They are also bringing promotion and a sense of unification to letter writing, much like an act of a revolution.  There are many discussion standpoints found upon researching.  For many bloggers, the article “The Art of Letter Writing” from Art of Manliness proved many positive reinforcements.  The article summarized how powerful and pleasing letter writing can prove to be.  People responded by posting about how inspiring the article was.  One blogger said it added class and etiquette.  A negative I found was one blogger he had a problem with messy handwriting and letter writing proved to be difficult.  Another finding from a blogger was emotional value is added to a written letter in comparison to an e-mail, which it doesn’t contain emotional value.  One powerful statement from which Brett McKay, whom is the author of Art of Manliness, responded to a post, “People are hungry to take part in the letter writing tradition – they just need someone to start the chain and give them a little push.”  Another interest, upon reviewing more posts, was people are interested where they can find stationary, fountain pens, etc.  What the blogosphere has done is provoked the readers to be interested and, moreover, begin letter writing.  Finally, this post was found on ArkansasHomeSchool blog, saying, “In a technology-driven world dominated by “words” such as “LOL,” “OMG,” and “Pwnz0r’d for the win,” reviving the art of the handwritten letter doesn’t seem like such a bad idea.”

I previously used this topic in my persuasive documented essay, and I used it again now because I feel letter writing needs to be brought up on the level playing field.  I firmly believe routine letter writing should be embraced because it brings about many strong and valuable life and communication skills.  I have been personally affected within the last year with letter writing.  I would consider it a hobby of mine.  A fact that I love about this hobby is that it only requires paper, pen, and some thinking.  I can attest to the fact that upon letter writing, it gives a feeling of reflection and meaning.  When writing a letter, it has to be logically formatted.  It is much like sorting out what a person’s thoughts are on any particular subject.  Also, penmanship gives it the personal touch because it is something tangible from the writer to be given to the addressee.  I’m glad that the blogosphere has helped with reviving the lost art.  I believe we are in the worst part of the communicating era, and it can only get better.

I’m sure everyone has looked outside by now and noticed all the white powdery stuff.  Some love it; some hate it.  It can be fun; it could be dangerous.  When it comes to this time of year, I’m always cautious on the roads.  Everytime I get in the car during this season, I pray I don’t get in a crash or fender bender.  Through my personal experience, here are some tips to prevent this from happening:

1. Make sure the car is warmed up so no snow/ice is blocking your vision of the road.

2. Make sure the headlights and blickers are clear of snow too. This will help others plan on where your going.

3. Try and take the less traveled roads. Less cars = less chance of crash

4. Take time. Prepare early. Travel slowly.

5. Brake ahead of time. Leave space ahead of you.

6. Headlights on, all the time.

7. If possible, always leave yourself and ‘out.’ More like a plan B. Always think, “What if?”

Hope these help you on the roads out there. I enjoy snow! But, I always know it can be BAD too…

Hey! I wanted to share my opinion on what christmas gift giving is about.  Lately, I’ve been feeling a bit overwhemled knowing that many people in my life have been getting me gifts.  As a college student, I have a limited budget, as many of you all do! I have been feeling as if I owe everyone a same kind of gift in return, but I know I am not obligated too. Christmas gift giving is all about love and fun.  I know for certain people I am going to make something special and use the arts to give them a gift.  Letter writing and painting to name a few.  So even if you want to give it a try, you won’t be the only one doing so!

Hey all!

So I have been in the knack of finding self-improving lists to help you through your life.  And, I found another one! This time, it deals with ways to save money in college, furthermore, in a apartment too!  I find all the 118 ways extremely helpful.  Here are the topics:

Managing the Money you have

Alcohol

Books

Food

Computers

Entertainment

Apartment Living

Shopping

Transportation

Travel

Keeping In Touch

Personal

Exercise

Making a Few Bucks

The link is http://www.collegescholarships.org/student-living/save-money.htm

Enjoy

Blake

We have all done it.. Sometimes life can be boring and your around a computer.. So what do you do? Go on it! Check the vitals, such as Facebook or WCCO.  Well, I found an article that can outline some fun things to do when this happens to you!  Take a look, some, or most, could relate to you!  Source: WikiHow

1. Give your computer a makeover. Computer savvy people call it a desktop theme. Surf Google Images or proper wallpaper sites, and get a new, groovy wallpaper for your computer. Be creative-get a pretty shot of your favorite celebrity, a cool pattern, or a nice picture of your favorite magazine or brand. Get a good screen saver, too; it could be a slideshow of all your pictures or another picture. You can also change the appearance and colors of your computer, the sounds on your computer, mouse pointers, and your display settings. You can begin by clicking on My Computer and then Control Panel. In making over your computer alone, there are loads of things to do.

2. Draw a picture in Paint. With 240 settings for hue, saturation, and luminescence, Paint affords a color palette of nearly fourteen million colors (240^3=13,824,000).

3. Start a blog or your own website. (look familiar?) There are loads of great sites that let you create your own blogs and sites, including blogger.com and freewebs.com. You can create quizzes, polls, and lots more. It’s fun to start a blog or a site, so go ahead! It’ll keep you busy for hours on end! If you’ve already got a blog or your own site, give it a makeover. Explain to readers what’s going on, and then go crazy! Change the colours, fonts, styles, everything.

4. Read up on your interests on the Internet. Do you have a passion for animals? Are you interested in Jack the Ripper or fascinated by cloning? Don’t hesitate to fulfill your wonder! Read up on as many animals as you can on http://www.nationalgeographic.com/, type Jack the Ripper into Google, or browse sites on all the information you want on cloning! Not only will you learn lots of interesting new stuff, you’ll also be prepared if you start studying one of those topics in school.

5. Watch videos. Youtube.com and Google Videos allow you to watch videos other users have put up; it may be something you are interested in, such as your favorite comedian or band.

6. Browse the Internet Use programs such as StumbleUpon (HIGHLY RECOMMEND) or Digg to find interesting sites, and share them with other people.

7. Play with Google Earth Download the program “Google Earth” and see high quality satelite pictures all over the world. Fun to play with, and really good quality when you zoom in. Also try “Google StreetView” where you can go on the streets in alot of cities like London, New York and such.

Hope this sheds some light on computer funness! And of course, this list isn’t limited. If you have something else to add, put it in your comment! Peace

Hey Folks..

Looking for a way to boost that brain of yours?  Want to find ways to remember key facts better for that test?  I came upon ten cool peices of information to enrich your daily life!  Take a look..

1. Improve your memory.

“Ancient Greek bards recited 10,000-line poems by heart. Their secret? The Method of Loci. Here’s how it works: To remember, say, a shopping list, imagine walking to the store. Use items on your list to construct incongruous visual images along the way – a carton of milk perched atop a mailbox, bananas growing on a rosebush, and so on. Then, when you arrive at the store, mentally retrace your imagined steps to retrieve all the items on your list.”

2. Read Better, Faster!

“Speed-reading courses preach a form of skimming that doesn’t help comprehension or retention. The best way to pump up the pace is to read a lot – for pleasure. In a 2001 study, subjects who read assigned texts increased their speed an average of 18 percent and comprehension by 11 percent. Those who read texts of their own choosing improved speed by 87 percent and comprehension by 33 percent.”

3. Think Out Loud

“Ever notice how kids narrate what they’re doing? (“Just one more Lego and my fortress is complete!”) In the book Mind Hacks, Tom Stafford and Matt Webb call this “self-instruction.” According to a University of Maryland researcher, language helps us process multiple strands of information more efficiently. So go ahead, talk to yourself – and ignore the funny looks you get. Your results will speak for themselves.”

4. Brain Age

“Drop $150 on a Nintendo DS and the Brain Age gamepak. It is universally fun and challenging, and it works. There are several exercises that improve a range of cognitive functions. Some may argue that it only makes you better at the games themselves and not real-world brain function. However playing the game (and working to improve your age) is also a great IQ confidence booster. Confidence alone may be enough for some to perform at “amped” levels.”

5. Sleep Well

“7 hours a day. Keep a regular schedule, even on weekends—this is important for your body’s natural rhythm.”

6. Eat Well

“Balanced meals, veggies and protein and carbs, minimize the alcohol and sugar and artificial additives. Don’t skip breakfast (but it can be light). Eat dinner no less than 3 hours before bed. Eat slowly and only as much as you need.”

7. Exercise

“That word sounds like “hit the gym” to me, which I’m not into, so you can also think of it as “physical activity.” Even just walking for 20 or 30 minutes a day, consistently, does wonder. Walking around your neighborhood helps keep you connected to your neighbors and surroundings too. Doubt me? Try it. Yoga if you’re adventurous, it’s great for both mind and body.”

8. Have Downtime!

“Take breaks at work—it’s OK! Your brain needs breaks. Minimize the sensory distractions in your life. Don’t watch TV for four hours; pick just one show and Tivo it or watch it online, or just watch a DVD movie. Cancel cable if you’re brave. Fill up that time with reading, exercise, socializing instead. It’s worth it.”

9. Socialization

“Be open and relaxed. Don’t rush through your day so fast that you fail to recognize the other nice people you’re interacting with, even the cashiers or the person you open a door for. Give a little of yourself. Smile. In turn, make somebody else smile. Builds self confidence which in turn builds happiness which in turn builds productivity in all areas of your life.”

10. FEAR is the MIND KILLER

“See challenges, not problems. Recognize when you’re emotionally blocking yourself from productive action and sidestep the block. Got a complaint? Don’t whine, just take action; don’t wait for someone else to take care of it. Your brain will get used to this way of thinking and people will recognize your initiative and sense of ownership and reward you for it.”

All of these can prove to be rewarding!! Try it out..  

http://howto.wired.com/wiki/Amp_Up_Your_Brain

So as a follower of Art of Manliness, a recent new awesome thing has happened! They have created their first book!!!

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=EYw4wuMqPPk

A quick review of what AoM does is instill the ever disappering way a man should act! The book description is as follows-

“Generation X and Y is a generation of Lost Boys. We live in a Never-Never-Land where boys stay boys and never become men. More and more males today are putting off college, family, and adult responsibilities in order to play video games and do keg stands. The Art of Manliness is dedicated to helping men uncover what manliness means in the 21st century. What skills and knowledge should a 21st century man acquire? What traits should they develop? This book will have the answers.”

Brett McKay & his wife, Kate McKay, have been doing this blog website for about a year now, and I personally have been effected by their work! I feel pleased that the McKays came out with a book and couldn’t be more happy to promote their ideals and purchase this book! 

So far, I have only skimmed over the book, but it follows very closely to what the website has been explaining. Its very nice to have this in print so I can carry it with me and show others. People that I show are always interested and want to know more! This next person could be you!!

With the economy the way it is, people are out to find good deals.  This means everything, from the grocery store, gas station, and malls.  But, a person is able to find some good deals online also!!! You always have to get the most BANG of your BUCK! Here are some sample sites —-

http://deals.ebay.com/

http://www.woot.com/

The first one, from Ebay, is pretty fantastic!  It has a small list of daily tools.  I’ve seen things from backpacks to watches.  Usually the deal is offered with anywhere below or at 75% off!  How can a person beat that? With FREE SHIPPING on all products!  Its is really a good deal huh?

The second one, from Woot, is also a good place to peek at!  Why?  Everyday it has a new single item for sale.  I’ve seen big items such as computers on here!  It goes off a daily scale, so it is exciting to know the items will change 7 times a week! Unlike the first, shipping does tag along this one…

Its important to get off your butt to find some good deals!! Espically in this economy, businesses aren’t getting amazing sales like years before most likely… They attract more attention with sale items!  So take some action and get some of these DEALS!

Now this is something that sounds ancient, right? Well, this is true lately! It was only fifty years ago that this would have been a common task. And now, it is used for birthdays, get well, and thank you cards.  ArtofManliness had an article on this not to long ago and I think it’s something worth sharing.  Here is a direct quote from the reading -

“In the days of cell phones, email, and text messages, letter writing can seem hopelessly outdated. But it’s an art worth bringing back, and not because of some misplaced sense of nostalgia either. The writing and reception of letters will always offer an experience that modern technology cannot touch. Twitter is effective for broadcasting what you’re eating for lunch, and email is fantastic for quick exchanges on the most pertinent pieces of information. But when it comes to sharing one’s true thoughts, sincere sympathies, ardent love, and deepest gratitude, words traveling along an invisible superhighway will never suffice. Why?

Because sending a letter is the next best thing to showing up personally at someone’s door.”

During the last school year, I took this into consideration and thought why not give it a try?  So I did.  And I got one back.  Let’s restate that statement above because it puts it perfect, “Retrieving a letter was the next best thing to showing up personally at someone’s door.”  The sense of touching the actual paper and knowing it is shared between only the writer and the recipiant, is pretty astonishing.  Then I thought to myself, how could this art be lost?  One word pops in my mind, Technology.

After sending over thirty letters during the past half year, it has proved very worthwhile.  I would highly recommend it.  Give it a try!  In my case, I’ve been using a fountain pen, which at times can be messy.  The pen gives the letter an old fashioned look.  Furthermore, it has turned my interests into caligraphy.  My letters have been sent across the world, Florida and Belgium particularily.  I truely enjoy every aspect about starting a letter, to sending it, waiting for a return, and reading the response.  Get started today!