Monday, February 28, 2011
Friday, February 25, 2011
Monday, February 21, 2011
The Daily Word - LEADERSHIP - Monday, February 21, 2011
Inspired by others, I am a leader of my own life.
There are many who express the gift of leadership by sharing courageous ideas in compelling and inspiring ways. They demonstrate integrity, intelligence, creativity, enthusiasm and humility.
I learn from all leaders, past and present, and I appreciate their insight and example.
From the wisdom of leaders and from my prayer work, I am inspired to lead my life well. I look to the inner guidance of Spirit, which helps me make wise decisions. As I pray and meditate, I listen for God's 'still small voice.' With spiritual understanding and good judgment, I determine my next steps. For the guidance of God, and for the leaders in my life, I am truly grateful.
O send out your light and your truth; let them lead me.--Psalm 43:3
Sunday, February 20, 2011
The Daily Word - GRACE - Sunday, February 20, 2011
The grace of God has prepared for me a life that is good.
The grace of God is not something that must be earned by sacrifice or penance. It is a free and impartial gift from God that no one can escape
.
The grace of God is more than mercy. It is complete forgiveness and full, unbounded love. It offers redemption from thoughts of lack and limitation to every person who will accept it. Grace reveals the true nature of God's presence within us and quickens in us a realization of our innate divinity.
Abiding under divine grace, I am spiritually secure. My steady, unimpeded progress toward the fullness of life and all good is assured. The grace of God opens to me the swift and glorious way of Truth.
For by grace you have been saved through faith, and this is not your own doing; it is the gift of God.--Ephesians 2:8
Saturday, February 19, 2011
The Daily Word - I SEE - Thursday, February 17, 2011
Oceans of spiritual substance flow into my mind, and I see prosperity everywhere.Knowing that the very substance of God-Mind underlies every good thought, I keep my mind open and receptive to divine ideas.
No thought or appearance of lack can linger where God is recognized as supply. Therefore I keep my thoughts uplifted.
I realize that I cannot help a single soul by seeing a world suffering from injustice, cruelty and lack. Therefore I see with the eye of faith the good that God provides. By faith I see plenty and prosperity in every circumstance. I see hearts, homes and nations enriched and blessed by the presence of God.
I have faith in God as my Support and Supply. As a child of God, I am rich--rich in consciousness, active in service, sustained in all goodness, substance and satisfaction.
God, our God, has blessed us.--Psalm 67:6
"The Daily Word - Joy - Friday, February 18, 2011
I am a joyful expression of Spirit.
I was created in joy. At the moment of my creation, the Universe sang a new song, and I am that joyous refrain. Each of us is a unique expression of one Spirit, a delightfully different 
outpouring of God's creativity.
I begin the day in prayer, connecting with the pure joy of my being. During the day, joy bubbles up through me in laughter, compassion, gratitude and a sense of well-being. I share my joy for I know that Spirit has chosen me to be a joyful presence in the world. Joy is testimony of the living, loving Christ Presence in my life.
However the day unfolds, at night I turn once more in prayer and thank God for the opportunities to be and experience joy.
My heart and my flesh sing for joy o the living God.--Psalm 84:2
Tuesday, February 15, 2011
Monday, February 14, 2011
Chris Brown - F.A.M.E (Album Cover)
The Daily Word - DIVINE ORDER - Sunday, February 13, 2011
Today is a Divine Order day. Seeing the symmetry of the world around me, I am reminded of the symmetry of mind, idea and expression that allows me to co-create my world in wonderful ways.
I affirm and give thanks for ideas that come to me. I build on these ideas to manifest abundance. Each idea, backed by action, brings fruit in its season--results that bless me and others. I am grateful for every blessing.
Today is a Divine Order day! Wholeness and serenity are my nature, and I speak words and take actions that promote healing, harmony, goodwill and joy. I surrender any need for a specific outcome and celebrate this Divine Order day!
They are like trees planted by streams of water, which yield their fruit in its season.--Psalm 1:3
The Daily Word - LOVE - Monday, February 14, 2011
I freely express love and compassion.
The story of St. Valentine performing marriage ceremonies, even when it was forbidden by the authorities, is a reminder to me: We are called to express the love of God in this world regardless of appearances. We are called to be God's love in action.
This Valentine's Day, whether I make plans with my sweetheart, reminisce with a lifelong friend, or encourage someone through a difficult time, I bring the love of God to life through my thoughts, words and actions.
The love I express is reflected back to me in great measure. Expressing empathy, listening deeply to another, being compassionate--these acts invite love to grow. I am God's love in action.
God's love has been poured into our hearts through the Holy Spirit.--Romans 5:5
Friday, February 11, 2011
The Daily Word - HARMONY - Friday, February 11, 2011
I am filled with the love of God and live in harmony with all humankind.
When I am in harmony with myself, I am attuned to the spirit of God. I am aware of my connection to higher consciousness, and I face challenges with a positive attitude.
To maintain this inner harmony, I practice prayer and keep a conscious connection to Source. Maintaining my own internal harmony allows me to reach out to others with kindness and understanding. I develop compassion and create connections with those around me.
With my intention set on peace and harmony, I honor differences and share love with all. I am filled with the love of God and live in harmony with all humankind.
Make my joy complete: be of the same mind, having the same love, being in full accord and of one mind.--Philippians 2:2
Lady GaGa - Born This Way
You heard the chorus live, the fake sneak peeks, etc, and now it's finally here! Just moments ago, Lady GaGa's new single, 'Born This Way' premiered on radio. The song is the 1st single to be released from her new album of the same name. The album will be released on May 23rd, while the single will officially impact radio stations on February 15th. GaGa will also perform the single for the very first time on the Grammys this Sunday. Check out the new single after the jump....
Thursday, February 10, 2011
The Daily Word - PROTECTION - Thursday, February 10, 2011
I rest under the cover of divine protection.
A small child sleeps well under the cover of a favorite blanket. In a similar way, I rest in the awareness that God has got me covered. Trusting that God in me is greater than the world around me, I enfold myself in thoughts of God's continual presence.
I claim divine protection from my own fearful thoughts, setting them aside the moment they reach my awareness. Moment by moment, tensions melt away. Feelings of calm and comfort flow through my heart, and a gentle song of joy rises up within me. In the early morning, throughout the day, and as I prepare for sleep, my thoughts stay on God. With deepest gratitude, I rest under the cover of divine protection.
But let all who take refuge in you rejoice; let them ever sing for joy.--Psalm 5:11
How RSS Feeds Work In Simple Terms [Technology Explained]
The reports of RSS’s death have been grossly exaggerated. RSS, which stands for Really Simple Syndication, got its start in 1999 under the direction of Dave Winer for his Scripting News website. Since that time, RSS has been used in many applications across the web and is useful in many ways which you might not even be aware of. So what is RSS and and how can you use it to help increase your daily productivity?
A RSS feed works by creating a source of data that is machine (computer) readable. RSS uses XML, which stands for eXtensible Markup Language, to encode a variety of information sources in a standardized way, allowing other websites and applications to process that information and make it readable to you however the programmer desires. XML works to place bits of text between nested tags. So for example, this article might be listed in an RSS feed as follows:
<item>
<title>How RSS Feeds Work In Simple Terms</title>
<pubDate>Wed, 08 Feb 2011 03:31:27 +0000</pubDate>
<content>The Reports of RSS's death have been grossly exagerated.
...
</content>
</item>
This format allows a computer to easily read the data and display it to the end user (you) in a pleasing and easy to read way. The tags specify what goes in between them – in the above example, pubDate is the tag that includes when a post was published.
RSS powers many interesting applications:
- News headlines on large ticker displays.
- Music playlists.
- News readers (like Google Reader).
- Software version notifications.
- Watch for new music or movie releases.
- Receive instant notifications of keywords.
- and more.
Another important aspect to RSS is that it is in chronological order. That means that new items appear at the top of the list and older items at the bottom. This gives you (or your program) a time-ordered list to compare against and determine if there are new items are not.
For example MakeUseOf has an RSS feed for its articles. When a new article is published, the list of old articles is pushed down and a new one put at the top. This means that the latest news item is on the top of the list, and any program can determine when a new article is published by quickly checking this file.
RSS files are routinely spidered by search engines and news readers. This all happens behind the scenes and is almost never seen by a normal resident of the world wide web.
All of this is well and good but how can you use RSS to simplify your life?
If you read a lot of newsy websites, RSS is a great time-saver for you. Google has an excellent RSS reader named Google Reader, but if you do not want to use it, you can use any other reader you wish. Extending it even further, Feedly is another great RSS reader which has nice integration with Google Reader and Twitter and lets you read RSS feeds in a newspaper format, ordered according to your unique interest.
To add an RSS feed to Google Reader, you will visit the Google Reader site and click “Add a subscription.” This allows you to paste in the RSS location, for MakeUseOf this location is http://feeds2.feedburner.com/Makeuseof.
After adding a few RSS sources (look for the RSS icon, shown above, on sites for the links to their RSS feeds) you will see how this can save you time. Instead of loading 10 pages and reading them (and getting past the ads) you can simply click down the row and see the latest news. You can also filter out any sites which have not had any changes, group sites into folders, and more. Before you know it you’ll be an RSS junkie like me.
That is RSS explained in a nutshell. If you are interested in a more technical overview of RSS, check out the RSS 2.0 specification in detail. RSS is a protocol which is used in many sources across the web and if you are a content producer it is definitely something that will interest you. Let us know if you have any questions about RSS either in the comments below or over at MakeUseOf Answers!
Image credit: source
Got Questions? Ask Them Now FREE on MakeUseOf Answers!
Wednesday, February 9, 2011
The Daily Word - SYNCHRONICITY - Wednesday, February 09, 2011
I am aligned with my highest good.
Noticing what appear to be happy coincidences, I find that I am in the right place at the right time with the right people. I am part of the divine flow of life. These effortless points of connection are blessings that indicate I am aligned with my highest good.
As I learn to relax into the flow, I experience more and more moments of spiritual synchronicity. A needed business connection may take place as I stand in line for coffee. A long-lost friend might suddenly re-enter my life. Any number of amazing possibilities await. In alignment with the divine flow of life, I am in harmony with Spirit.
The mountains and the hills before you shall burst into song, and all the trees of the field shall clap their hands.--Isaiah 55:12
Tuesday, February 8, 2011
The Daily Word - PROSPERITY - Monday, February 07, 2011
I set my imagination free, and I prosper!
Some beliefs create roadblocks to the infinite good that awaits me. By imagining myself free of limitations, I can achieve great things. I am gifted with the power of imagination--a God-given faculty to see beyond what is apparent in the present moment. Imagination allows me to dream, set goals and grow. Whether I am seeking greater financial, emotional or spiritual abundance, I open myself to Infinite Good--to God. I break down any barriers I have erected and set a course for success.
As my understanding increases, I have greater insight and direction. I am motivated to follow the path before me that leads to greater good. There are no limits; I set my imagination free, and I prosper!
I will sing a new song to you, O God.--Psalm 144:9
Famous First Words: 55 Of Rap’s Memorable Opening Lines
You only get one chance to make a good first impression. Attention spans are as fleeting as ever in this world of instant gratification and 140 character limits. A rapper can gain or lose fans in just a few seconds, which is why it’s so important to hitthe track hard. Over the course of Hip-Hop’s history, a few songs have become iconic based solely on the opening lines. Here are 55 songs whose opening lines are unforgettable.
1. 2Pac “Hit ‘Em Up” — “First off, f*ck ya b*tch and the clique you claim…” – You half expect him to follow up with “therefore.”
2. Rakim “Paid In Full” — “Thinkin’ of a master plan, ‘Cause ain’t nothin’ but sweat inside my hand…”
3. OC “Time’s Up” — “You lack the minerals and vitamins, Irons and the Niacins, F*ck who that I offend, rappers, sit back I’m about to begin.” – Omar prescribes your recommended daily allowance of boom bap.
4. Snoop Doggy Dogg on “Nothin’ But A ‘G’ Thang” — One, two, three and-to-the fo’/ Snoop Doggy Dogg and Dr. Dre is at the do’…” – Simple lyrics that introduced arguably one of rap’s most dynamic duos.
5. Lady Of Rage on “G Funk Intro” — “I’m sippin’ on Tanqueray, with my mind on my money and my mouth full of ganj-a/ R-A-G-to the muthaf*ckin’-E, back with my aggin S-N-Double-O-P…” – After this verse and the popularity of Snoop’s debut, no one needed to ask this Lady her name ever again.
6. Andre Nickatina “Smoke Dope & Rap” — “I smoke chewy like a muthaf*ckin’ nut…”
7. Belo of Do or Die on “Po Pimp” — “It waaas….seven double-O PM, fly low to them hoes in the BM, Sipppin’ Seagrams, crewin’ on a weed stem, touchin’ on my fo’ fin….”
8. Ghostface “Wildflower” — “B*tch I f*cked yo’ friend, Yeah you stink hoe…” – His E-Harmony profile description.
9. Twista “Kill Us All” — “Standing in the midst of a hundred thousand haters, dynamite and C-4 strapped around my waist, Bloody tears in my eyes, hit the switch making sure any m*therfucker in the vicinity blow away and die…” – Visually, this opener is as good as it gets, especially on an album named Kamikaze.
10. Notorious B.I.G “Warning” — “Who the f*ck is this pagin me at 5:46, in the mornin crack of dawnin, now I’m yawnin, wipe the cold out my eye, see who’s this pagin me and why…”
11. Ice Cube on “Straight Outta Compton” — “Straight outta Compton, a crazy motherf*cker named Ice Cube…”
12. MF DOOM “Beef Rapp” — “Beef rap, Could lead to gettin’ teeth capped, Or even a wreath for mom dukes on some grief crap…”
13. 2Pac “Hail Mary” — “I ain’t a killa but don’t push me, Revenge is like the sweetest joy next to getting pussy…” -To the end Pac was defiant. One of the hardest lines in the history of music.
14. Brother Lynch Hung “Situation On Dirty” — “I got that nigga fo’ about fo’ zones, had to get dirty though…”
15. Cam’ron “Stop Calling” – “Well I’ma tell you straight up homeboy cause it’s a cold world/Your wife, I call her ol girl’, her head make my toes curl…” – Cam obviously believes in honesty being the best policy.
16. Lil Wayne “BM JR” — “Murder capital, only key to survive is kill, If the elements don’t murder you, the riders will…” – One of Weezy’s hall of fame records started off with a bang.
17. Ma$e “I Need To Be” — “How many n*ggas out remember the, First time they try to take a girl virginity…” – In high school (or junior high), we all had this kind of pressure.
18. Freddie Gibbs “National Anthem” — “Back when I was younger, very ambitious but often blinded by my hunger, some say I dream too big and my dream gon’ take me under…”
19. Prodigy on “Survival of the Fittest” — “There’s a war going on outside, no man is safe from…”
20. Jay-Z “Dead Presidents Pt. 1″ — “While others spit that wonder-rhymer sh*t, me and my conglomerate shall remain anonymous, Caught up in the finest sh*t…”
Famous First Words
21. Slick Rick “Children’s Story” — “Once upon a time not long ago, Where people wore pajamas and lived life slow…” – Hip-Hop + nursery rhymes = the art of storytelling.
22. Nas “One Mic” — “Yo, all I need is one mic, one beat, one stage, one n*gga front, my face on the front page…”
23. Eminem “Insane” — “I was born with dick in my brain, yeah, f*cked in the head, My stepfather said that I sucked in the bed…” – Em called this a rhyme gone wrong and it’s one of the most appallingly clever lines he’s opened with.
24. Big Boi on “Myintrotoletyouknow” — “Time and time again see I be thinkin’ about that future, Back in the day when we was slaves I bet we was some cool ass n*ggas…”
25. Yelawolf “Pop the Trunk” — “Meth lab in the back and the crack smoke peels through the streets like an early morning fog…”
26. Kanye West “Stronger” — “Let’s get lost tonight, you can be my Black Kate Moss tonight…” – If there was ever a signifying moment when the fashion world became formally engaged with rap’s unruly persona, this was it.
27. Ghostface Killah on “Ice Water” — “Yo, yo, Check out the rap kingpin, the Black Jesus, I know a few n*ggas sniff coke, it cause seizures” – So random, it actually makes sense. Kiss the ring, you lackeys.
28. Lupe Fiasco “Little Weapon” — “Little Terry got a gun, he got from the store, He bought it with the money he got from his chores, He robbed candy shop told her lay down on the floor, Put the cookies in his bag took the pennies out the drawer…”
29. Run on “King Of Rock” — I’m the king of rock, there is none higher, Sucker MC’s should call me sire, To burn my kingdom, you must use fire, I won’t stop rockin’ till I RETIRE…”
30. LL Cool J “I Need Love” — When I’m alone in my room sometimes I stare at the wall, and in the back of my mind I hear my conscience call…”
31. KRS-One on “Criminal Minded” — “Criminal minded, you’ve been blinded, Looking for a style like mine, you can’t find it…”
32. Rakim “Microphone Fiend” – I was a fiend before I became a teen, I melted microphones instead of cones of ice cream…”
33. Inspectah Deck on “Triumph” — “I bomb atomically, Socrates’ philosophies and hypothesis can’t define how I be droppin’ these…”
34. Eminem “My Name Is” — “Hi kids!, Do you like violence?, Wanna see me stick Nine Inch Nails through each one of my eyelids?…”
35. Kanye West “Barry Bonds” – “Dude!, Fresh off the plane, konitchiwa b*tches,Turn around another plane, my passport on pivot, As for what I did it, that assh*le done did it…” – Have a toast for the douchebag because talking sh*t in two languages has never sounded so easy.
36. Biggie Smalls “Juicy” — “It was all a dream I used to read Word Up! magazine…”
37. AZ on “Life’s A B*tch” — “Visualizing the realism of life and actuality, F*ck who’s the baddest a person’s status depends on salary…”
38. Jay-Z “Public Service Announcement” — “Allow me to reintroduce myself, My name is Hov…” – Only Jay-Z has the gravitas needed to pull off literally reintroducing himself.
39. Black Thought on “What They Do” — “Lost generation, fast-paced nation, Word population confront their frustration…” – A reminder to slow down in this fast-paced world.
40. Dr. Dre “F*ck You” – “I just wanna f*ck bad bitches, all them nights I never had bitches, Now I’m all up in that ass bitches” — Obviously Andre’s doctorate wasn’t in Women’s Studies.
Famous First Words
41. Mobb Deep on “Shook Ones Pt 2″ — “I got you stuck off the realness, we be the infamous you heard of us, Official Queensbridge murderers…” – P’s free come March. It sure would be nice to hear this hunger again.
42. Curren$y “Elevator Music” — “Number four Jordan soles to the floor, steppin through the elevator door select the level that i wanna be on/ one push of the button, be gone…”
43. Royce da 5’9″ “Shake This” — “1977, July 5, conceived immaculately was me, my mom’s gift…”
44. Lil B – “Like A Martian” — “I’m gon’ f*ck yo’ b*tch n*ggaaaaa…”
45. Big L on “Da Graveyard” — “Big L be lightin n*ggas like incense, Getting’ men lynched to win tits, I’m killin’ infants for ten cents…” – Harlem’s still shook by L’s ghost.
46. Lauryn Hill “Lost Ones” — “It’s funny how money change a situation, Miscommunication leads to complication…” – Lauryn cuts the cord, sealing her legend and subsequent downfall.
47. Kool G Rap “Streets of New York” — “In the streets of New York, Dope fiends are leaning for morphine/ The TV screen followed the homicide scenes…” – 1980s Empire state of mind.
48. Phife Dawg on “Scenario” — “Ayo Bo knows this, (What?!) and Bo knows that (What?!), But Bo don’t know jack, cause Bo can’t rap…”
49. EPMD “You Gots To Chill” — “Relax your mind and let your conscience be free/You’re now rolling with the sound of E-P-M-D…”
50. Juvenile “Ha” — “That’s you wit’ dem bad *ss n*ggas Ha?!, That’s you that can’t keep ‘ol lady cause you keep f*ckin’ her friends ha?!”
51. Method Man “Bring Da Pain” — “I came to bring the pain hardcore from the brain, Let’s go inside my astral plane”
52. Main Source “Lookin’ At The Front Door” — “We fight every night, and that’s not kosher, I reminisce with bliss of when we was closer”
53. Andre 3000 on “Skew it on the Bar B” — “The common denominator, the n*gga numerator, Never know who the hater, n*ggas cater to your ego”
54. A Tribe Called Quest “Electric Relaxation” – “Honey check it out you got me mesmerized, With your black hair and yo’ fat ass thighs”
55. ODB “Shimmy Shimmy Ya” — “Shimmy Shimmy Ya Shimmy Yeah Shimmy Yeh!, Gimme the mic so I can take it awwayyy…”- Sometimes it’s not what you say but how you say it.
Sunday, February 6, 2011
The Daily Word - BECOMING - Sunday, February 06, 2011
I am a spiritual being, evolving and growing every day, in every way.
I am continually evolving as a spiritual being. This evolutionary process includes trials and errors as well as joys and opportunities. Each experience I encounter, each relationship I share, each insight I receive offers me the opportunity to grow.
From the moment my life began, I have been evolving and growing. As an infant, through trial and error, I learned to crawl, walk and speak. From there, I moved on to more advanced learning experiences. As an adult, day by day, I grow in harmony with the unfoldment of Spirit in me.
It gives me great peace to know that I am a work in progress, growing and evolving to become the person I am meant to be.
Clothe yourselves with the new self, created according to the likeness of God in true righteousness and holiness.--Ephesians 4:24
Saturday, February 5, 2011
The Daily Word - HEALING - Friday, February 04, 2011
God is active in me now. I am whole and well.
Another day has come for me to live and let my light shine. With every breath, the healing power of God moves in me. Regardless of any appearance of disease or disorder, the truth remains: Illness has no lasting power. Health is my true nature.
Every cell of my body responds to my love and appreciation. Divine intelligence directs the healing process. With every heartbeat, light, love and wholeness fill my mind and body. I now claim my total well-being.
In gratitude, I am assured that every organ functions in accordance with God's perfect design. I am assured that health and wholeness are expressing in, through and as me now.
If then your whole body is full of light, with no part of it in darkness, it will be as full of light as when a lamp gives you light with its rays.--Luke 11:36
Wednesday, February 2, 2011
The Daily Word - POSITIVITY - Tuesday, February 01, 2011
I choose to look at life in a positive, new way.
My attitude has a powerful influence on my daily life. It affects my relationships and the outcomes I experience. I choose to embrace this God-given day with a positive attitude.
Perhaps the most important thing about my attitude is my ability to manage it. I have power over my thoughts and actions. I can choose to hold a positive attitude rather than a negative one. I can choose to face the day with inner strength and confidence in my abilities. I can choose to hold life-affirming thoughts that lead me to my highest good.
Today I choose to have a positive attitude and look at my life in a new way. With this attitude, I receive bountiful blessings.
This is the day that the Lord has made; let us rejoice and be glad in it.--Psalm 118:24