What to Say When you Talk To Yourself

You don't have to be crazy to talk to yourself! We all talk to ourselves all of the time, usually without realising it. And most of what we tell ourselves is negative, counterproductive and damaging, preventing us from enjoying a fulfilled and successful life. Shad Helmsetter's simple but profound techniques, based on an understanding of the processes of the human brain, have enabled thousands of people to get back in control of their lives. By learning how to talk to yourself in new ways, you will notice a dramatic improvement in all areas of your life. You will feel better and accomplish more. It will help you achieve more at work and at home, lose weight, overcome fears, stop smoking and become more confident. And it works. Shad Helmsetter, Ph.D, is a bestselling author of many personal growth books, and the leading authority in the field of Self-Talk.

MULGA BILL'S BICYCLE 'Twas Mulga Bill, from Eaglehawk, that caught the cycling craze. He turned away the good old horse that served him many days; He dressed himself in cycling clothes, resplendent to be seen. He hurried off to town and bought a shiny new machine, And as he wheeled it through the door, with air of lordly pride, The grinning shop assistant said, "Excuse me, can you ride?" "See here, young man," said Mulga Bill, "from Walgett to the sea, From Conroy's Gap to Castlereagh, there's none can ride like me. I'm good all round at everything as everybody knows, Although I'm not the one to talk – I hate a man that blows. But riding is my special gift, my chiefest, sole delight; Just ask a wild duck can it swim, a wildcat can it fight. There's nothing clothed in hair or hide, or built of flesh or steel, There's nothing walks or jumps or runs, on axle, hoof or wheel, But what I'll sit, while hide will hold and girths and straps are tight. I'll ride this here two-wheeled concern right straight away at sight." 'Twas Mulga Bill, from Eaglehawk, that sought his own abode, Above the banks of Dead Man's Creek, beside the mountain road. He turned the cycle down the hill and mounted for the fray, But ere he'd gone a dozen yards it bolted clean away. It left the track, and through the trees, just like a silver steak, It whistled down the awful slope, bound straight for Dead Man's Creek. It shaved a stump by half an inch; it dodged a big white-box. The very wallaroos in fright went scrambling up the rocks; The wombats hiding in their caves dug deeper underground, As Mulga Bill, as white as chalk, sat tight to every bound. It struck a stone and gave a spring that cleared a fallen tree, It raced beside a precipice as close as close could be, And then as Mulga Bill let out one last despairing shriek, It made a leap of twenty feet and splashed in Dead Man's Creek. 'Twas Mulga Bill, from Eaglehawk, that slowly swam ashore. He said, "I've had some narrer shaves and lively rides before; I rode a wild bull round a yard to win a five-pound bet, But this was THE most awful ride that I've encountered yet. I'll give that two-wheeled outlaw best; it's shaken all my nerve To feel it whistle through the air and plunge and buck and swerve. It's safe at rest in Dead Man's Creek; we'll leave it lying still. A horse's back is good enough henceforth for Mulga Bill." by Andrew Barton (Banjo) Paterson

This is Silver-Creek, and I know that I have posted this picture before in another iteration, but I wanted to post it again to tell a story.... I consider this creek to be MY creek - I live closer to this creek then anyone else in the city (I can seriously spit out my bedroom window and hit the creek), it was the major reason why I bought the condo that I live in (Phoenix Mill - which in the late 1800s drew power from the creek), and as I know from keeping my bedroom window open at night is a major though-fare for wildlife of all sorts during the night..... I love my creek. When I woke up this morning, I noticed that my creek seemed to be a funny colour.... thinking nothing of it (I thought it was just a trick of the sunlight) I went off to work. When I got home from work my creek was definitely a funny colour.... and there were environmental clean-up trucks all over my parking lot. SOMEBODY (or group/corporation, what-have-you) has dumped tonnes of some sort of waste into the sewer system that feeds into Silver-Creek (and the Speed River). The clean-up crew has not told me yet what the substance is (but, at least they are not roaming around in haz-mat suits).......... I AM PISSED!!!!! I am seriously almost at a loss for words to describe the anger that I feel right now.... but let me start by saying THIS....... If/when the people responsible for this are caught I will find a way to "pollute" something that they hold dear (the camera is powerful tool)!

What matters most? With 10 years of research and work in 300 schools to guide them, Silver, Strong, and Perini offer four standards that can be used to help students meet the various standards dictated by districts, states, and regions:
* Rigor: helping students make sense of challenging texts and ideas. * Thought: helping students become adept users of powerful learning disciplines. * Diversity: helping students understand themselves and others. * Authenticity: helping students apply what they learn to the real world.
These standards elicit popular support-they are understandable and attractive to diverse communities and constituencies throughout the United States. They are also manageable-a majority of students can attain them. In this book, the authors use practical lessons from real classrooms to demonstrate that these four standards, when used to guide decisions about curriculum, instruction, and assessment, can prepare students to perform well on state tests while preserving the democratic traditions of U.S. education.