The Daily Word - GENTLENESS - Monday, January 31, 2011

The Daily Word - GENTLENESS - Monday, January 31, 2011:

I treat myself with gentleness.

A newborn baby needs gentle and tender care--a soft hug, a soothing touch, a cozy blanket. A crying baby calms as his or her needs are met. As a child of God, I treat myself gently and tenderly. If I feel overwhelmed or anxious, I see myself as a tiny newborn or an innocent child, and I gently ask, 'What do I need?'

Perhaps I need a short break, something to eat or a catnap. I may need a walk outside to stretch my legs, a conversation with a friend, or a few moments in the silence where I can feel God's gentle presence enfolding me.

Taking time to be gentle with myself shows that I value myself. I am a precious child of God, worthy of love and care.

Take my yoke upon you, and learn from me; for I am gentle and humble in heart, and you will find rest for your souls.--Matthew 11:29

The Daily Word - CLARITY - Friday, January 28, 2011

The Daily Word - CLARITY - Friday, January 28, 2011:

My mind is clear; my heart is open. I am at peace.

When I sense that my thoughts are turbulent and unfocused, I am best served by closing my eyes and taking a few moments to catch my breath. With each deep breath, my thoughts begin to clear. I soak in the love and peace of God. I take in this moment of serenity. As my mind stills and calms, I ask for guidance and direction, and I experience the fog lifting.

With a clear mind and heart, I make myself available to divine guidance. I no longer strain to find the answers, but rather allow them to surface in my mind and heart. What I need to know comes clearly into my awareness. Peace settles in and wisdom is revealed. I know what direction to take, and I take it.

Seek the Lord and his strength, seek his presence continually.--1 Chronicles 16:11

The Daily Word - FREE - Saturday, January 29, 2011

The Daily Word - FREE - Saturday, January 29, 2011:

Centered in Spirit, I am free.

In the midst of a health challenge or a troubled relationship, I may feel limited, burdened or out of control. These situations, however, give me a chance to consider another way.

When I remain centered in Truth, the love of Spirit flows through me, healing my body, easing my mind, and quieting my heart. I do not focus on 'can't,' 'shouldn't' or 'won't.' Through the lens of Truth, I see possibilities; limitations fall away.

What I previously viewed as lack or impossibility no longer seems so. I am free to make choices and decisions that support my highest good. I soar, unencumbered by fear, worry, doubt or regret. I am free. Joy fills my soul and blesses my heart.

You were called to freedom, brothers and sisters.--Galatians 5:13

Moment 4 Life

The Daily Word - COMFORT - Thursday, January 27, 2011

The Daily Word - COMFORT - Thursday, January 27, 2011:

I am comforted by the awareness of God's presence.

Like the comfort I feel from the warmth of a fire on a cold winter day, I feel comfort in allowing the peace and love of God to calm and comfort me. There is but one Presence, one Power and one Love. And that love lives in me. Life situations are temporary. The love of God is eternal.

I see the love of God revealed in myriad ways. I see it in nature as earth recovers and regenerates after a natural disaster. I find it revealed through the inspiration of sacred writings, poetry and song. I witness it in everyday acts of kindness and compassion.

No matter what I may be facing today, I am forever sustained by the love of God.

Even though I walk through the darkest valley, I fear no evil; for you are with me.--Psalm 23:4

Drinkable Marijuana: New Soda Drink "Canna Cola" Made With Marijuana About To Hit Stores!

Drinkable Marijuana: New Soda Drink "Canna Cola" Made With Marijuana About To Hit Stores!:

let's see how long it take before they pull this one off the shelves.

12-ounce medical marijuana beverage. s/o to ElmiSoSo

The Daily Word - FAITH - Tuesday, January 25, 2011

The Daily Word - FAITH - Tuesday, January 25, 2011:

I have faith beyond all doubt.

If I feel unsure about the direction of my life, I take a deep breath, remembering that faith is my sure foundation. It is the basis upon which I build my life. When the winds of change are blowing and my future is unclear, I remember Jesus' words to his disciples: 'If you have faith and do not doubt ... it will be done.'

I stand on this promise, knowing that I have the strength of God within me. So I not only stand firm in the face of adversity, I move forward with confidence, trusting the faith that emanates from the core of my being to guide, support and encourage me. I am a messenger of God's love and an emissary for the power of faith. All things are possible.

If you have faith and do not doubt ... even if you say to this mountain, 'Be lifted up and thrown into the sea,' it will be done.--Matthew 21:21

The Daily Word - RELATIONSHIPS - Monday, January 24, 2011

The Daily Word - RELATIONSHIPS - Monday, January 24, 2011:

I am blessed by the people in my life.

I interact with many people each day, from friends, family and co-workers to sales people, fellow drivers and passersby. While some relationships may not seem especially significant, they provide opportunities for me to positively impact the lives of others.

I might be the only one to show another person kindness or consideration today. A simple caring gesture or acknowledgment can bring light to their day. I choose my words carefully and let my connection with others be a blessing in their lives and mine. We all share this life experience together.

Through my relationship with others, I also nurture my relationship with God. Because God is in all, I choose to see God in all people.

So then, whenever we have an opportunity, let us work for the good of all.--Galatians 6:10

Exercise Your Name: How To Make A DJ Drop

Exercise Your Name: How To Make A DJ Drop:

If you are reading this, chances are you are a practicing DJ or controllerist, and aspire to perfect your craft every day. Heck, even the pros are trying to get better every day. So here’s an easy-to-make weapon for your dj tool-box that will help you stand out from other performers: Great Dj Name Drops.

Name drops can vary wildly from cheese ball ” SUPER STAR DJ MAGNUS IS THE MIX TONIGHT!” to more tasteful varieties. The core idea is regularly branding the night with your own personal touch and letting people know (live or in a mix tape) who is behind the decks. It’s usually best to keep it simple, however you can get creative and make something funny, witty, or impressive using FX, pitch adjustments, and phrasing.

LET’S MAKE ONE!

NAME DROP OPTION 1 (ROBOT) - Use the built in ‘Text-to-Speech’ function built into both PCs and Macs for a retro robot sound. In PCs, it’s Microsoft Sam. For Macs, it’s Alice (plus a few other optional voices).

For PCs:

• Go to your Start bar, and click ‘Settings’, then ‘Control Panel’.


• Next, click ‘Speech’.


• In this window, you will be able to type in whatever name drop you would like MS Sam to say.


• Record Sam saying your name drop with a sampler, DAW, or other recording device.

For Macs:

• Go to ‘System Preferences’ under the Apple icon and click ‘Speech’.


• Check the “Speak selected text when the key is pressed”, and click the ‘Set Key’ option. Click ‘OK’.


• Type your desired name drop into any text editor, and when you press your designated key combo- you will hear Alice read it aloud.


• Record Alice saying your name drop with a sampler, DAW, or other recording device.

With your favorite DAW, record your voice saying your DJ name drop, or, you can import your already recorded ‘Text-to-Speech’ sound clip for further processing. If your going to record the drop using a MIC, be sure to use a large diaphragm condenser so it picks up the full range of your voice including the essential low end.

• Tip- For a low-fi, compressed sound, the built in mic on a MAC can sound good with enough processing.

SWEETEN’R UP LIKE A PRO

I like to add FX to the vocal to really make it sound cool. Most DAWs will have the basic plug-ins, but 3rd party VSTs will give you a professional punch and sound. It’s important to keep in mind that you want your drop to sound special, but too many FX can drown out the words and make them unintelligible. Think of it like a cake- you wouldn’t want ALL frosting, would you?

Try adding:

• Pitch adjustment: Up or down, to make the vocal sound like a chipmunk or a giant.


• Reverb: Normally, a little goes a long way, but with DJ drops you can get pretty generous. Just be sure you can still understand what is being said.


• Delay: Pretty much an essential to name drops, as it will make your vocal blend into the music being played and not sound so dry.


• Chorus: Makes your drop sound robust and wide.


• Panning: Get your name to move left and right. Just keep in mind that many clubs run their sound systems in mono, which can make your drop cut out if you are only using the left or right channel.


• Compression: This one is very important. You can make the freshest name drop ever, however if it isn’t compressed on the way out, it’ll sink in your mix! In a few words, compression will raise the quiet parts of the vocal to the same percieved volume as the loud parts- making the small nuances in the vocal audible. You can read more on it here: Compress With The Best- A How-To

After getting everything recorded and sounding saucy, make sure to throw a limiter on the master output of your DAW. Although understanding limiters can be a bit daunting at times, just adjust the threshold/input to where you’re seeing some gain reduction, and bring the output down to around -0.3db.

A handy trick is to play a popular mastered track, and match your vocal so that it sounds equally as loud. You don’t want your name drop to get lost in the mix!

Examples:

• PC/Mac synthesized voice: djscratchmyass


• Recorded voice with DAW: DjScottBrio Name Drop

SO I’VE GOT A NAME DROP… NOW WHAT?

Now that you have your personal calling card, you can do a number of things with it.

• Add a cue point to the beginning and load it into an extra deck in Traktor for quick access through the night.


• Drop your name drops and samples in Serato’s sampler.


• To really get creative drop cue points on each word or even syllables so you can cut up and re-arrange the drop, controllerist style.


• Some Djs will load up their name drops and a rack of standard samples (like the classic airhorn) on a hardware sampler like the Roland SP-404


• Having the samples in hardware form means zero latency, dedicated interface and dedicated effects without the complication of 3 or more decks.

Want more on this subject? There are lots of great suggestions in the DJTT forum thread found here:

“How do you setup vocal shots/DJ tools?

The Daily Word -STRENGTH - Sunday, January 23, 2011

The Daily Word -STRENGTH - Sunday, January 23, 2011:

Aligned with Divine Mind, I am strengthened.

The mind of God is the composite of all good thoughts. I am strengthened as I align my thoughts with Divine Mind. I begin with a time of prayer, acknowledging that God and I are one. I accept that all the strength I need is already within me.

If I notice an area of my life that does not appear to be working, I pause to examine my thoughts. Do they reflect the truth of God in me? Am I centered in Divine Presence? Gently correcting any misalignment, I feel the strength of God surge through me once more.

In faith, my mind is lifted to the realm of Divine Mind. From here I receive strength. It may come in the form of mental, physical and spiritual strength, and I rely on it to fill every need.

In quietness and in trust shall be your strength.--Isaiah 30:15

The Daily Word - PERSPECTIVE -Saturday, January 22, 2011

The Daily Word - PERSPECTIVE -Saturday, January 22, 2011:

I see life from a spiritual perspective.

In some photographs, perspective influences the relationship between two objects. A person close to the camera may appear larger than a tree off in the distance.

When I face a difficulty, it may also seem out of proportion to the good in my life. Placing a challenge in proper perspective, however, I see that I have all I need to face the situation confidently. The spirit of God is powerful in me and is more than enough to overcome any circumstance.

My difficulties shrink in proportion to my faith in God. The more I trust in God, the greater my confidence. What seemed a great challenge diminishes as I see my life from a spiritual perspective.

So David prevailed over the Philistine with a sling and a stone ... there was no sword in David's hand.--1 Samuel 17:50

The Daily Word -GUIDANCE - Friday, January 21, 2011

The Daily Word -GUIDANCE - Friday, January 21, 2011:

Spirit guides my way. I know what to do and when to do it.

The spirit of God sustains my being, stirs my soul and speaks to me in quiet ways. Whenever I seek guidance about a decision, I prepare myself to receive direction by releasing any concerns or worry. I open myself to the peace of God and trust that the answers will come.

Inner guidance is revealed to me through my feelings and my awareness, and through information that flows to me without straining or striving. It comes in unmistakable, irresistible ways; it comes with an assurance I recognize and trust. Divine guidance comes with a feeling of peace, clarity and direction.

With Spirit guiding my way, I am free to live life with confidence. I know what to do and when to do it.

If we live by the Spirit, let us also be guided by the Spirit.--Galatians 5:25

Digital Insurance For Your DJ Set

Digital Insurance For Your DJ Set:

What would happen if your computer crashed or got stolen today? How many songs, cue points, beat grids, and other data would be lost forever? Now imagine that you have a gig tonight and your computer goes completely haywire. This is exactly what happened to Skrillex last night at the Majestic Theatre in Madison, WI where he had unfortunate hard drive failure that prevented him from performing at his sold-out show.

With today’s technology getting better and better, sometimes we forget that it’s still not perfect. There are few things less frustrating than technology not functioning properly, and it has a nasty habit of failing when you need it most. How can you prevent this from happening to you?

Being Prepared For A Hard Drive Failure

For Mac users, one really good option is a program called Carbon Copy Cloner by Bombich. It is a free program that allows you to create a fully bootable copy of your Mac onto an external hard drive. That means you can boot your computer onto someone else’s Mac from the external drive, giving you complete access to everything you need. If Skrillex had utilized this program he could have simply plugged his external hard drive into any Mac and loaded everything he needed for the show to go on. For more information on what kind of hard drives you can use to create a bootable backup, visit this page on Bombich’s website.

For PC users, creating a bootable backup brings up a number of large obstacles, including the need for additional serial numbers for each drive with an OS on it. However, we’re sure some of you have some great ideas as to how to get around this- leave us a comment and we’ll consider adding it to this article! A good solution for PC users to have a backup of their data is using an online file storage service like Box.net or one of the many services that we covered back in in 2009 in this article.

While it may not disappoint thousands of fans if your computer crashes, you should still back up your files. Just remember, if it can happen Skrillex, it can happen to you. Don’t be left without all of your data and feeling like you “want to kill everybody in the world” – see the video of Skrillex tearing it up below.

The Daily Word -LET GO, LET GOD - Tuesday, January 18, 2011

The Daily Word -LET GO, LET GOD - Tuesday, January 18, 2011:

My heart is peaceful as I let go and let God.

Worry may be a sign that I'm trying to manage what isn't mine. I ask myself, Is this my work or is it someone else's? If it's my work, I do it with joy. If it's not, I let it go. In a moment of revelation, it occurs to me that I can choose peace; I can let go and let God.

Setting aside any of my own frenzied efforts, I call upon the One Presence and Power. By putting my trust in God, my faith deepens and worry subsides. The same loving Power that created and sustains the universe sustains this situation now. God is with me and within me always--my present help in every need. Divine ideas and solutions now come forth with ease. My heart is peaceful as I let go and let God.

Do not let your hearts be troubled. Believe in God, believe also in me.--John 14:1

Street Fighter IV on Kinect - FAAST and GlovePIE

Best Dj Products of NAMM 2011- The NAMMIES

Best Dj Products of NAMM 2011- The NAMMIES: "

Now that the dust has settled from last week’s breakneck NAMM coverage, it’s time to reflect on what we learned and delve a little deeper into the gear. In last Friday’s first NAMM post we put together a master list of new DJ products; however, we have now whittled the list down to showcase the new technology that shows real promise, offers great value, or is very innovative. Continue reading on for my personal take on the best new DJ products from NAMM 2011 and the first annual “NAMMies”, a tongue in cheek award for new and interesting DJ gear.

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XONE DB4 (MOST LIKELY TO PRODUCE GEAR LUST)

“The Dogs Bullox” seemed like a rather confident product description, but quite frankly- it was not too far off the mark. Andy and the boys at Allen & Heath really outdid themselves with this product, creating what has to be the most feature packed and bad ass mixer we have seen in a while. While the Rane 68 beats them on one really critical feature (Dual USB ports and sound cards) the Xone wins out in the gear envy department. If you happen to have several thousand dollars to spend on a top of the line mixer this is one of two models you should absolutely consider. We smell a head to head battle between the two titans of digital mixers brewing in our office!

Price: $2899

Release Date: Available now in the US

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STOKYO’S SOUND WAVE (MOST FUN)

Stokyo is a small outfit from Japan spearheaded by Charles Ono (Vestax) and Yukihiro. They distribute boutique DJ products (like our Midi-Fighter) into Japan and also make a few products of their own (like the wildly popular Shibuya breaks records). This year Yuki brought in a little DJ instrument, built to play basslines and synth leads without a computer. It was super DIY and very much an experimental prototype but still possibly the most fun we had at NAMM.

Price: $NA

Release Date: NA

Our friends at SoundCloud recorded the instrument with their new “Record App“:

Sound Wave at NAMM on Sunday morning by lenberg

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DJ TECH X10 (BEST VALUE)

From the Dj Tech (not to be confused with this site) outfit behind the in-famous “Dj Mouse”, there comes a good little mixer that packs a lot of value and features into a small foot print. Alessio Foti, the new techincal director of Dj Tech, stopped me on the floor and told us that Dj Tech is, “very sorry for the bad words that were previously exchanged on this site and they really want to take the company into a new, more serious direction by producing more professional products”. We applaud that decision and wish them the best success.

Price: $349

Available: March-ish

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IZOTOPE STUTTER EDIT (BEST SOFTWARE)

If you can afford to shell out several hundred dollars for a plug in, you can quickly find yourself with an arsenal of perfect stutter edits waiting at your fingertips. Izotope’s first foray into the digital dj land takes a simple beat repeat and morphs it into a sonic pallete of swirls, pitch bends, and sweeps. Similar to the “Finger” from NI, Izotope’s Stutter Edit offers a bevy of one touch pre-sets mapped across a keyboard. The only thing we don’t like about this idea is that it’s hard to remember which key does what. In that regard, the Midi-Fighter (with its color-coded arcade buttons) may be the perfect compliment to this software plugin. Nonetheless, given its instant beat mayhem capacity and easy to play interface, we think that the Izotope Stutter Edit was the best looking new software at NAMM this year.

Price: $149

Release Date: Available now

Read our full coverage on the Stutter Edit software here.

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RE-LOOP JOCKEY III (BEST NEW CONTROLLER)

Re-Loop has really been getting their act together in the controller department and has quietly been putting out better controllers each year. With their newest device (the Jockey 3), Re-Loop has produced a really solid two deck controller that will give the new VCI-100 MkII some quality competition. The Re-loop Jockey 1 and 2 each had certain qualities both aesthetically and functionally that made them less than desirable controllers; however, the newer Jockey 3 not only looks significantly better but also has a smart layout with all the basic functions that you are going to want in a two deck controller.

We spoke with Mixware, Re-Loop’s brand new US distributor and got the scoop on this new controller interface. The Jockey 3 will be priced at $699 and will ship with Traktor LE at the end of March 2011. One notable feature besides the built in sound card is the fact that each channel is switchable to analog inputs so you can blend in CD, MP3 or turntable sources with your digital audio. We will be posting an extensive review and in-depth look at this unit in the next few months so stay tuned for more info!

Price: $699

Release Date: Available March

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RANE SL4 (BEST NEW AUDIO INTERFACE)

The Rane SL4 takes all the great features of the new Rane 68 mixer and condenses them into a smaller and significantly more portable package. With signal monitoring, four channels of stereo audio, and the support of two computers at once (dual USB jacks) look for this to become the new installation standard for clubs around the world. The $899 price will scare off a lot of new DJs; but for those that absolutely must have the best possible sound card for Serato Scratch Live, this is certainly the best you can buy.

Price: $899

Release Date: April

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BEST MOMENT AT NAMM – RICHIE HAWTIN INTERVIEW

It seems that every year we experience a cool moment where we bump into an artist and an interesting conversation ensues. Last year we had a great conversation with Z-trip, but this time around it was a chance encounter with Mr. Hawtin. After chopping it up for a bit we heard about the DVS anniversary and said, hey- let’s get this on camera! Coincidentally we also discovered that Richie had just ordered a new, all white Midi-Fighter, just a few days before.

Cool Gear @ NAMM: iZotope Stutter Edit

Cool Gear @ NAMM: iZotope Stutter Edit:

EDM has been bathed in stutter edits for years. Ever since Aphex Twin, glitches and stutters have been the preferred form of interrupting a musical flow for artistic and rhythmic effect. It’s not only easy to do, but really fun when connected to a MIDI controller for instant cut up mayhem. Renowned electronic producer and composer BT has been working on designing his own personal glitch edit hardware and software for years, in what one could say is his quest to find the perfect glitch. He may have struck gold by joining forces with iZotope and producing “Stutter Edit”, a brand new plug-in that is giving DJs more musical destruction power per square inch than a military salvo.



Live effects units have long lacked the ability to intelligently manipulate audio- at most, they source their parameters based on a MIDI clock or auto-detect BPM on a mixer. Stutter Edit, iZotope’s brand new effects instrument, designed by BT, empowers live performers to easily play intelligent and effects that allow realtime remixing and manipulation in your favorite DAW or VST Host.

Stutter Edit is build around a continuously live sampling engine that holds and stores a loop of playing audio while applying to that loop a series of effect and timeline presets, known as gestures. Gestures are triggered by MIDI input into your DAW – at NAMM we saw the plug-in being used with a Novation keyboard, but the possibilities for creative activation of effects are clearly one of the most exciting elements of Stutter Edit (personally, I’m dying to try it out with a custom Midifighter).

Beat Repeat’s gestures range from the likes of a super simple beat repeat to amazingly complex series of echos and pitch-modulations, that happen over the course of the timeline. The included gestures at first use seem to be very powerful and comprehensive- developed by BT and Richie Hawtin, but there’s clearly plenty more to be unlocked and discovered by users who want to develop their own. We can’t wait to see what people do with this thing

iZotope is offering the plugin for $149 until February 14th (Valentine’s Day gift idea, anyone?), after which the price increases to $249. There’s also a free trial on their website.

The Daily Word - DREAM - Monday, January 17, 2011

The Daily Word - DREAM - Monday, January 17, 2011:

I proceed confidently in the direction of my dreams.

In my heart lives my personal dream. My heart sings and my eyes light up just thinking about it. If current circumstances are less than I desire, I declare this moment a turning point and turn to God in prayer. I envision myself with the freedom, resources and God-given abilities to achieve my goals. With God as my guide, I proceed confidently toward my dreams.

Reaching beyond myself, I imagine every person free to pursue and achieve his or her dreams. Our dreams come from God as does the help we need to achieve them. I pray that all people feel their direct connection to God and realize the potential for happiness inherent within them.

For surely I know the plans I have for you, says the Lord, plans for your welfare and not for harm, to give you a future with hope.--Jeremiah 29:11

The Daily Word - FORGIVE - Sunday, January 16, 2011

The Daily Word - FORGIVE - Sunday, January 16, 2011:

I forgive, and I am whole.

When even one sheep strays from the flock, the shepherd searches to bring it safely back. As a daily practice I search my thoughts to see if I have shut anyone outside my heart. If I discover one locked out in anger, resentment or hurt, I open my heart in forgiveness.

I allow the breath of God to breathe me. With each gentle breath, I am filled with love and peace. As I think of those I wish to forgive, I recognize in their reflection the same Spirit that is in me. At the level of spiritual knowing, I understand that we are all one in God. I release the judgments of my worldly thoughts and allow forgiveness to unite us in love. As I am one in the wholeness of God, so I am one with all others.

So there will be one flock, one shepherd.--John 10:16

Spidey Sense Predicts Suck: First Look At Spider-Man’s Costume

Spidey Sense Predicts Suck: First Look At Spider-Man’s Costume:

Ever since Sony booted Tobey to reboot Spidey, it seems like our friendly neighborhood arachnid has fallen further and further into the land of wasted potential. First, there was a long and agonizing period of speculation about who would take over the role as a teenage Peter Parker. Then, we found out the replacement would be a 27-year-old American-British guy with a nice thick English accent. Oh, and let’s not even talk about that God-forsaken play. Spidey seemed to be doomed.

But wait. Just when it looks like out hero will die at the hands of a Hollywood shit show, we start to see glimmers of hope. First, Garfield gives a monster performance in the critically-acclaimed Facebook flick The Social Network and provides us with some warm and fuzzy blanket of confidence in his acting chops. Then, there’s this…

Garfield’s beginning to look more like Spidey everyday. From the bedhead to the super-slender frame, the guy is a dead ringer for the Peter Parker of the Ultimate Spider-Man universe.

The one problem? Too little, too late. If Sony and Marvel wanted this version of the wall-crawler to hit theaters they should have done it in 2002. My prediction: this movie will mark the beginning of the end of Hollywood’s comic book phase. Sorry Spidey, but Sony screwed you.

Via Marvel

The Daily Word - THIS MOMENT - Thursday, January 13, 2011

The Daily Word - THIS MOMENT - Thursday, January 13, 2011: "

I am living an abundant life now!

Living fully in the present moment, I make adjustments, changes and choices that enrich my life and prepare me for success. I am stress-free as I ease through my day, grateful for every experience and the blessing it holds.

Each moment that I am fully present to the spirit of God is a moment when I am conscious of divine intelligence and conscious of the ways in which I express my highest potential. I am learning from the Creator and realizing my dreams.

Living in the now, I am not inhibited by time. I let my present experiences flow as if they were taking me on a journey. Every turn offers me another amazing perspective on abundant living.

See, now is the acceptable time; see, now is the day of salvation!--2 Corinthians 6:2

What happen to Reggae music buyers

What happen to Reggae music buyers: "

What is wrong with the Reggae music producers? How come they are not aggressively marketing the music? Well we think that’s the case anyway as the latest figures show that Reggae albums released in 2010 undersold 2009 albums and experts want better marketing to resurrect the industry.

The sales were so bad that only three albums released in 2010 made the top 10 selling reggae albums list, according to Billboard data on the US market. The rest of the top 10 was led by albums released in 2009. Albums rarely chart beyond a year which meant that 2010 albums couldn't even outsell the residual sales from 2009 albums, which were hurt by the global recession.

The three 2010 albums that made the list included: Distant Relatives by Damian Marley and Nas, which ranked No 1 — selling some 57,000 copies in the US for its first week; Hold You by Gyptian at No 8 and The Green by The Green Band at No 9.

Outside of the US, singles Hold You by Gyptian and To The Top by German deejay Gentleman and singjay Christopher Martin were the few 'local' dancehall singles for 2010 that charted heavily in the top-10 on iTunes Reggae charts amongst 22 countries.

The Daily Word - JOY - Wednesday, January 12, 2011

The Daily Word - JOY - Wednesday, January 12, 2011:

The spirit of joy sets me free.

Laughter is contagious. When I hear others laughing freely and wholeheartedly, I am pulled into the fun. Even in tender moments, I can find precious release in the joy of laughter and in the joy of the Holy Spirit in me.

Spirit within is my constant source of joy. At any moment I can tap into the joy of simply being alive and experience true happiness in my oneness with God. Whatever I am doing, the certainty of God's joyful presence is always with me.

I share joy by expressing it in all I do. Joyful experiences are created in my life and in the lives of others because I live from the joy in my heart.

For the kingdom of God is not food and drink but righteousness and peace and joy in the Holy Spirit.--Romans 14:17

The Verizon iPhone

The Verizon iPhone: "

We've waited and waited, and now Apple and Verizon have made a million dreams come true: the iPhone is coming to Big Red. After talking up his new LTE network a bit, Verizon CEO Lowell McAdam confirmed a CDMA (non-LTE) version of the iPhone 4 is coming to Verizon Wireless next month. Talks started way back in 2008, and the phone has been in testing for a year -- it sounds like they wanted to get this one right. Current Verizon customers will be able to pre-order on Feburary 3rd for the standard $200 price for the 16GB model on a two year agreement, $300 for the 32GB version -- everyone else can order on February 10th (see it compared with AT&T's iPhone 4). Just to clarify and put any wild rumors to bed, the phone is Verizon 3G (EV-DO) only, no 4G data or GSM roaming. It's not a world phone or an AT&T + Verizon phone, it's just a Verizon phone.

Outside of Verizon connectivity, the phone is basically unchanged, although Verizon's CDMA network doesn't support simultaneous voice and data as with the GSM version. It does have the new antenna design we were hearing about last week, but that's just because CMDA requires a different configuration of antennas. (Apple says they didn't go LTE just yet because first-gen chipsets would force unwanted design decisions, and customers want a Verizon device now.) That slight modification also equates to a slight bump in where the volume buttons and mute switch -- a new case might be required. Software-wise the big innovation is five user WiFi hotspot functionality, something that's standard on Android phones, while Apple has kept the iPhone only able to tether directly to one computer.

Check out our full hands-on with the Verizon iPhone right here, and stay tuned -- we've got lots more coming up.

Gallery: Verizon iPhone 4 full hands-on

Gallery: Verizon iPhone 4 detailed comparison shots

History lesson: the run-up to the Verizon iPhone

January 11, 2011 @ 11 AM ET

Verizon iPhone Liveblog

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The Daily Word -INNER PEACE - Tuesday, January 11, 2011

The Daily Word -INNER PEACE - Tuesday, January 11, 2011:

In the silence of the Christ Presence within, I find peace.

My day is more peaceful when I spend time in meditation, contemplation and prayer. Closing my eyes, I turn within and gently disconnect from any concerns that might be weighing on my mind. I breathe into the peace of the Christ Presence within. My body and mind relax completely.

Affirming divine life, I know the wholeness of my true nature. Affirming divine substance, I know all good things are right here, right now. Affirming the light of Spirit, my guidance is assured. In this conscious awareness, I find peace. I abide in peace for long moments of silence, which energizes and prepares me for the rest of my day. Whatever is ahead for me today, I am calm and serene.

The peace of God, which surpasses all understanding, will guard your hearts and your minds in Christ Jesus.--Philippians 4:7

The Daily Word - NEW DAWN - Monday, January 10, 2011

The Daily Word - NEW DAWN - Monday, January 10, 2011:

The light of God dawns in me today.

Each morning is a sacred opportunity to begin life anew. Before I rise, I spend a moment in appreciation of and reverence for life. The fact that I've awakened tells me that life has yet another opportunity for me.

I walk my chosen path of righteousness, which means right thinking and right understanding. This day, I choose to share my joy and shine my light brightly as the light and love of God dawn in me.

I also see a dawning of greater spiritual understanding for all people. Though we may be on different paths, we are all expressions of God. Because the love of God lives in me, I share this love with others unconditionally.

But the path of the righteous is like the light of dawn, which shines brighter and brighter until full day.--Proverbs 4:18

Lil Rick - Go Dung (Crop Over 2010)

The Daily Word - PRAY FOR OTHERS - Friday, January 07, 2011

The Daily Word - PRAY FOR OTHERS - Friday, January 07, 2011:

Dear one, I hold you in prayer.

My life-affirming thoughts of my loved ones are like silent prayers reaching out to bless them in positive ways. No matter what they are going through, I support them in prayer. Affirmations of Truth are the foundation of my prayers. The power released through affirmations establishes Truth in my consciousness.

Conscious of our oneness with God, I enter into the Presence in prayer. In this way, I embrace my loved ones, near and far. I hold each one tenderly in my heart and in my thoughts, affirming their good through the power of God.

Therefore let all who are faithful offer prayer to you; at a time of distress, the rush of mighty waters shall not reach them.--Psalm 32:6

This is the best joke I've ever seen

Slide Losers

This is not what you think

The Daily Word - DIVINE ORDER - Thursday, January 06, 2011

The Daily Word - DIVINE ORDER - Thursday, January 06, 2011: "

I open my spiritual vision to divine order within and around me.

When I think of divine order, I am reminded of the exquisite order in nature. From the smallest atom to the tallest mountain, order is evident in nature, creating and supporting life, providing nourishment and shelter, and blessing all people with beauty.

The divine order evident in nature is also at work in my life. It presents opportunities for growth and renewal, introduces ideas and inspiration, provides guidance and protection. Divine order blesses me with all I need for a healthy, happy, productive life.

Right now, I open my spiritual vision to see divine order. I give thanks for the opportunities available to me. I know that the spirit of God is at work in me and all life.

In him was life, and the life was the light of all people.--John 1:4

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