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The Truth About Having a Career as a Writer

Article by Wendy McCance

Can you really make a good living as a writer?  Is it a struggle or can assignments be found easily?  Can you honestly get paid a decent wage for writing an article?  These are just a few of the questions you might be asking yourself when deciding if writing for a living is for you.

I am in several writing groups on LinkedIn and I have read about the struggles writers are facing while trying to carve out their career.  Yes, you can have a career as a writer and make a good living.  No, it’s not for the faint of heart.  Below I have tackled some of the biggest questions people have as they try their hand at writing for a living.

1.  Is it hard to find opportunities as a writer?

Yes and no.  It depends on what you are willing to do.  There are always job postings for companies looking to bring on a writer.  The companies that are most often looking to hire a writer fall under the marketing/advertising field.

If you want to work as a freelance writer, you can find several opportunities. Companies like Aquent are temp agencies for writers.  There are many companies looking for temporary writers and an abundance of temp agencies that you can work with.  Here is a terrific list of places to check out.

Another option is to write for magazines and newspapers.  Here is an enormous list of magazines taking submissions.

You can also write to individual companies to see if they are interested in using a freelance writer.  I have personally found the most work by writing daily emails to companies in my local area.  I have noticed that companies generally like to work with someone who is in the area and easily accessible.

2.  Are you stuck writing articles that don’t interest you?

No.  You can target whatever markets interest you the most.  Love food and wine?  Reach out to restaurants, wineries and magazines that are heavily based on those topics.  Think about what you would like to write about and then get creative.  There are many opportunities in every field you can think of.

3.  Will you be stuck working hard writing for pennies?

Not if you refuse to do so.  Ask for what you think you are worth.  If you are having trouble figuring out what to charge, check out my price list as a guide. You can also use the Writers Digest.  The book offers several pages of low, medium and high fees writers use when pricing out assignments.  Here is the link to the FREE pricing guide.

4.  Are online sites a good place to find writing assignments?

Personally, I don’t use them.  Never have and never will.  I won’t work for such a small amount of money.  I have also heard too many stories of getting the run around once you submit your work.  It just seems to be a huge hassle and not very profitable.  That being said, there are many people who swear by those sites and have had decent experiences with them.

5.  How long does it take before you make a decent living?

It depends on how hard you are willing to work.  I prospect for business several times a week.  I probably contact close to 100 people each week.  It might sound like an exaggeration, but trust me, I want steady work and it takes continuous discipline to keep a decent income.  As time goes by, you will get repeat business which makes life much easier.

I must mention that I got ill several months back and had to stop prospecting for a few months.  It didn’t take long for me to see my opportunities dry up. Once I stopped prospecting, the assignments slowed way down.  You can seriously tell quickly how much effort you are putting in to keep up a certain wage.  Thankfully that experience is now far behind me.

6.  Do you need a college degree to work as a writer?

Not necessarily.  A degree is preferred if you want to be hired to work within a company instead of as a freelance writer.  A degree is also needed for technical writers.  If you will be working as a freelance writer and have knowledge about what you will be writing, a degree most likely won’t be necessary.  In all the years I have been writing, I have never come across a time when a company asked if I had a degree.  The companies I have worked for could care less.  They based their decision to hire me on the clips I provided.

7.  How do you get clips of your work before you get those first few jobs?

I personally think having a blog is the most powerful tool you can have.  You can demonstrate your ability to write, show off what topics you are well versed in and a company can see how the public reacts to the articles you have posted.

Another way to gather clips is to look for opportunities to guest post on other websites.  Many times you can get paid or at least be given a byline.  Here is a list of places to guest post.  Several of these sites pay very well.  I must add, these sites are looking for a well written article about a topic they discuss on their site.  You shouldn’t need to worry about showing clips of past work.

8.  Will you feel lonely working as a freelance writer?

You might.  It truly depends on how much you need to be around other people.  If you feel like you will get depressed easily, you might want to consider a job working in an office.  Writing can be lonely work simply because it is a solitary endeavor.  Another way to avoid feelings of isolation is to get out of the house and join a networking group or writing club.

Have I answered the questions you had?  Is there still something you are wondering about?  I would be happy to answer any questions you might have.  Just write your questions in the comment section below.

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Stardom The Highest (3.21.16) Review

A bit of a change from the previous reviews I’ve done on this site, with a Joshi (Japanese Female Wrestling) review. The main event of the show is Thunder Rock (Io Shirai and Mayu Iwatani) vs former rivals Kairi Hojo and Meiko Satomura for the Goddesses of Stardom Championship!

Azumi, Eimi Nishina & Kaori Yoneyama vs. Hiromi Mimura, Natsumi Maki & Starlight Kid

The match started with Yoneyama and Mimura in the ring, after Yoneyama sent Mimura off the ropes a few times she hit a hip toss. After, Mimura tagged in Maki, Kaori tagged in Eimi, as well. Azumi, Eimi, and Kaori triple-teamed Maki in the ring, Maki eventually gained the advantage and tagged in Starlight Kid, who hit a cartwheel backflip on Kaori, and then hit a Shiranui off of Mimura, and then a Frog Splash for a 2. Azumi was then tagged in, hit a DDT on starlight, Eimi then hit double knees, and Azumi finished the sequence with a brainbuster, but the pin was broken up by Mimura, who then locked in a Calf Killer on Azumi, Starlight hit a 619 on Azumi for a 2, Mimura then tagged in and hit a seated crossbody for another 2. She then hit a lariat, into a dropkick, and then a slam, but the pin was broken up by a senton by Kaori, Kaori was then taken out by a headscissors from Starlight, who was then taken out by a dropkick from Eimi, who was then hit by a Fisherman’s Neckbreaker from Maki, who was hit by a big boot from Kaori, Azumi accidentally dropkicked Kaori, and after trading a few roll-ups, Mimura was able to get the win.

Nothing really much to mention here, fun match, skippable though.

Alex Lee vs Kaitlin Diemond (w/ Kris Wolf and Act Yasukawa)

The match started with Lee locking in a Fujiwara Armbar, and then hitting multiple kicks to the chest of Diemond. Lee was tripped by Wolf and then hit with a leg drop for a 2. Diemond hit a Russian Leg Sweep for a 2, and went for a brainbuster, but was put in another Fujiwara Armbar and hit with more kicks. Lee went for something off the ropes but was hit with a backbreaker and rolled out of the ring, Diemond distracted the ref which allowed Wolf and Act to attack Lee. The three Oedo Tai members triple-teamed Lee on the apron. Back in the ring, Lee hit multiple strikes and then a Buzzsaw Kick for a 2 count. She hit a superkick and then hit a Chokebomb but Act stopped the ref. Act got on the apron and distracted Lee long enough for Diemond to get some Sake, after Lee knocked Act down, Lee went for another Chokebomb on Diemond, but Diemond spat the Sake into Lee’s mouth, Diemond then did a schoolboy for the 3 count.

Nice simple match, it was better than what I was expecting going into it.

Hiroyo Matsumoto and Kagetsu vs JKGreeeen (Jungle Kyouna and Momo Watanabe)

The match starts with Kyouna and Matsumoto, Matsumoto took Kyouna down with a shoulder block. Matsumoto eventually tagged in Kagetsu, who did a snapmare then kick to the back, and then a slam. Matsumoto tagged back in, and hit multiple chops in the corner. While Matsumoto had a stretch hold on Kyouna, Kagetsu hit a dropkick to Kyouna. The match skipped ahead to Kyouna hitting a back body drop on Kagetsu then tagging in Momo, who took Matsumoto and Kagetsu out with dropkicks and forearms, Kagetsu went for something off the top rope but Kyouna shook the ropes which allowed Momo to hit a dropkick to the back, then multiple dropkicks for a 2. They both reversed brainbuster attempts until Momo hit one for 2. Momo ran off the ropes but got hit with a Samoan Drop from Kagetsu, who tagged in Matsumoto.

Matsumoto hit some big knees to the body and after some kicks and stomps went off the ropes, but Kyouna stopped her which allowed Momo to hit a dropkick. Kyouna tagged in and Momo hit a dropkick in the corner to Matsumoto, Kyouna then hit a big splash, and then a bulldog onto Momo’s knee for a 2 count! They traded some strikes, and Kyouna eventually hit a powerslam for a 2 count. Kyouna hit a lariat on Matsumoto for a 2 count, Kyouna then went for something off the top rope but was stopped by Kagetsu, who went for a brainbuster, Matsumoto went for a Tower of Doom, but Momo hit a dropkick to Matsumoto, after double knees in the corner from Momo, Kyouna hit a splash from the top rope for a 2 count! Kyouna and Momo went for a double brainbuster, but instead got hit with a springboard dropkick from Kagetsu. Kagetsu and Matsumoto hit a double team cutter on Momo, and then Matsumoto hit a backdrop suplex on Kyouna to win the match.

It was a good match, it could have been better though, I’d still recommend watching it though. Mildly Recommended

Alpha Female vs Viper (w/ Act Yasukawa, Kris Wolf, and Kaitlin Diemond)

The match started with Alpha Female getting the advantage until Viper was able to hit a back drop and then hip attack in the corner, Alpha was able to move out of the way of a second attack, after she hit a few lariats and then caused Viper to fall over the top rope. Outside of the ring, Alpha hit Viper with a chair, but Act Yasukawa took the chair and hit Alpha with it to the head. Shortly after, Act, Wolf, and Diemond rolled Alpha back into the ring. After they got up they exchanged forearms, Alpha tried to slam Viper but Viper fell on her and then did a running elbow drop for 2. Viper went for a sleeper but Alpha applied a sleeper hold, Viper was able to escape though, but missed a big splash in the corner. Alpha hit a snapmare and then hit multiple punches to the chest and got a 2 count, and then locked in a crossface which Viper reversed into a side slam, after some clotheslines, Viper went for a Banzai Drop, but was pulled down, Alpha then jumped off the top rope, and after landing hit a forearm, and then hit a bodyslam for a 2 count! Act distracted Alpha, Act tried to spit Sake into her face, but Alpha pushed the ref into her, and then threw the ref into Viper who was going for a standing crossbody, Viper then got up and hit the standing crossbody on Alpha, but the ref was out so he couldn’t count the 3, Viper then woke the ref up, who proceeded to DQ Viper because of the crossbody which took him out.

Good match between the top gaijins in Stardom. The Oedo Tai interferences were nice, and the chair shot by Act looked brutal. The finish was nice since neither of them really “lost” because of the DQ. Recommended

Goddesses of Stardom Championship: Thunder Rock (Io Shirai and Mayu Iwatani) vs Kairi Hojo and Meiko Satomura

The match began with Satomura and Iwatani after Iwatani pushed both Shirai and Hojo away before the match started. During a lock-up Satomura caught Iwatani’s kick and hit her with a kick to the leg, and following up with multiple kicks to the chest, Iwatani caught one, but was hit with a big forearm that knocked her into the ropes, Satomura was going for something off the ropes, but Iwatani hit a kick to the body, but Satomura quickly gained the advantage again with multiple kicks, Iwatani then tagged Io in. After some chain wrestling, Satomura tagged Hojo in. Io and Hojo began trading forearms, and Hojo gained the advantages with some chops, Hojo ran off the ropes but was hit with a double dropkick from Thunder Rock, who proceeded to double team Hojo. Shirai hit a big spinebuster into Boston Crab, and transitioned it into a Camel Clutch, after letting go Io hit handstand double knees to the back, and then a Moonsault to the back before applying a Camel Clutch again, and then tagging Iwatani back in.

Iwatani hit a big trio of jumping double foot stomps on to Hojo, and then a kick to the back for a 2 count. Shirai was tagged back in and hit a double knee strike to Hojo, who was in the corner. Io quickly tagged Iwatani back in, Hojo caused Iwatani to accidentally run into Io and got a 2 off of a schoolboy, Hojo went to tag Satomura in, but Satomura was too busy attacking Shirai, after gaining the advantage, Iwatani tagged Io in. Io hit multiple knees, and went for a double-arm sit-out pancake, but Hojo escaped and hit a sliding forearm! Hojo finally was able to tag in Satomura who took out both members of Thunder Rock with big forearms, but Thunder Rock were soon able to gain the advantage with a double brainbuster, but Hojo and Satomura were quickly able to take Thunder Rock out, both teams soon went outside of the ring, Io and Iwatani were then taken up the stairs by Hojo. Hojo and Satomura then took Io and Iwatani out with aerial attacks from 2 balconies! Hojo then threw Iwatani into the ring post, and into the ring. Hojo and Satomura then hit forearms off the top rope to Io and Iwatani, Satomura then hit a backdrop on Shirai for a 2 count! Satomura then hit an uppercut, then hit a spinning buzzsaw kick to Io, and then some more kicks to the back and chest, and then picked up Io, ran off the ropes, but got hit with a huracanrana from Io, and then a buzzsaw kick, and then a big dropkick to the head!

Io then tagged in Iwatani who hit a big dropkick off the top rope, but Satomura caught her with some big knees, but Iwatani was able to hit a dropkick and then a killer dropkick to a seated Satomura, took Hojo off the apron, and then hit a Northern Lights Suplex for a 2, went for a double stomp off the second rope but missed, but was able to hit a spinning kick to the body, sent Satomura off the ropes, but was hit with a big spinning heel kick to the side of the head, Satomura then hit a backdrop, tagged Hojo in, who then hit multiple float-over neckbreakers, but only got a 2 count, Hojo then went for something in the corner, missed, and then got caught with a big head kick from Iwatani! Iwatani ran off the ropes, but was caught with a spear from Hojo for just a 2! Hojo then hit some big forearms, and then tried to do a roll-up but failed and ended up just doing a normal pin which Shirai broke up. Shirai was able to hit a springboard dropkick to both Satomura and Hojo, and then hit simultaneous crossbodies with Iwatani to the floor!

Back in the ring, Iwatani hit a diving double foot stomp, but only got a 2 count! Iwatani then hit a frog splash which was broken up by Satomura. Iwatani then hit a superkick to a kneeling Hojo, but Hojo got a ropebreak, Io then hit a 619, then a dropkick, then a running double knee strike in the corner for a 2 count! Shirai then hit the double-arm sit-out pancake, but only got a 2 count! Satomura got in the ring and tried to hit a head kick to Io, but Io ducked and Satomura hit Hojo instead! Satomura then tried to kick the back of Shirai’s head, but Shirai ducked, and Satomura hit Hojo again! Shirai then rolled Hojo up, but Satomura broke it up, Shirai then hit a Deadlift German Suplex to Hojo, but Hojo kicked out!

Io went for a Moonsault, but was knocked down by Satomura, who hit multiple kicks to the back, Hojo then hit a diving double stomp to Io! Satomura then hit a cartwheel knee to the back of Shirai’s head, which was followed with a sliding forearm, but the pin was broken up by Iwatani! Io hit a palm strike to Satomura, but was hit with a Pele Kick quickly after, Satomura then hit the Death Valley Driver, and then Hojo hit an elbow drop off the top rope, but Shirai kicked out! Satomura slammed Iwatani onto Shirai, Hojo went for another elbow drop, but Shirai got the knees up, and then got hit by multiple spinning backfists, Iwatani then hit a Crucifix Bomb onto Satomura, Thunder Rock then hit an Assisted Tombstone on Satomura! Shirai hit an uppercut to Hojo which was followed by a Dragon Suplex from Iwatani, and then Shirai hit a Moonsault to retain the Goddesses of Stardom Championship!

This was a fantastic match, there wasn’t really anything that was bad, except the botched roll-up from Hojo. There were some great near falls during the match, I actually thought Hojo was going to win after the DVD into elbow drop. This is definitely worth watching as it was great for the entire 25 minutes. Highly Recommended

 Overall Thoughts

This was a very good show, the first 3 matches were decent to good, Viper/Alpha Female was a good match between 2 monster gaijins trying to prove that they were stronger than the other. The main event between Thunder Rock and Hojo/Satomura was fantastic, and you should definitely watch it.

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2 months ago

She Shows Us Some Brilliant Tips in addition to Tricks For Table Decorating which You Won’t Believe!

This particular gal has some great holiday tips in addition to tricks which are so easy, yet extremely beautiful. the item’s amazing to me the incredible things which people think of in addition to I’ve gotta say which these are some clever DIY’s!

I think her upside down wine glasses filled with ornaments in addition to topped off with candles on the flat end of the stems (as pictured in This particular post) are remarkably brilliant! the item never would likely have occurred to me to do This particular simple project.

We all love for our homes to sparkle in addition to shine for the Christmas holidays in addition to with all of the fabulous DIY’s available to us, there’s no reason to go out in addition to break the bank to have extraordinary decorations for the holidays. This particular lady has certainly proved which with the cool DIY’s she shows us in her tutorial.

I especially love the way she decorates her table with the gold trimmings. the item’s absolutely stunning. The not bad news is actually which the item was cheap in addition to easy…imagine which!

Years ago, I was one of those people who went out in addition to spent way too much money on decorating, yet I have come around to a smarter way to spend my money.

Heck, This particular year I put up a smaller tree, along using a larger one, in addition to went to the dollar store in addition to bought poinsettias in addition to Christmas balls to decorate the smaller one…you’d never guess the item though!

Watch all the cool things This particular gal with Tips & Tricks does in her step by step tutorial…I guarantee you’ll get some amazing ideas!

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Category Archives: Vermont

Derby Line, Vermont- A True Border Town

I returned to the United States from my Quebec romp to the great state of Vermont after leaving Canada and answering questions from a border guard who was genuinely curious as to what on Earth I do to have so many different passport stamps (a first, actually).  I needed to stop for gas because it’s significantly cheaper on the American side, and this innocuous reason led me to Derby Line, Vermont, a small community of ~700 souls that I’d read about before but was tickled pink to actually see in person.

Because you see, Derby Line, VT is actually contiguous with another town called Stanstead, QC, which is a rather fancy way of saying the border between the USA and Canada runs smack dab through the center of town.  People who live in the community often have their houses in the USA but enter Canada when they back their car out of the driveway, town meetings are sometimes held in a foreign country, and even the sewage makes a cross-border journey for treatment.  I’ve always thought it must be neat to live there, partly as a symbol of how borders are just lines and we’re all people but mainly because I think it would be cool to travel between two countries whenever I wanted a snack from the kitchen.

Of course such a beautiful system that had worked for hundreds of years was sure to be tampered with by idiots who don’t know a good thing when they see one- namely the United States government- and after 9/11 US Customs and Border Protection decided to tell a town of less than a thousand souls that their undocumented border crossings were a threat to homeland security.  There was talk and outrage because the Powers That Be were interested in shutting down some of the roads to traffic, and this was of particular concern to the community because the library/opera house was built directly on top of the border.  By a dual nationality couple intent on fostering cross-border ties.

Anyway, after such a quirky little story I had to take a look around, right? Continue reading


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Dear friend,

Welcome! For any that don’t live in the Kamloops area we hope our website can be an avenue of spiritual blessing to you. For those that live in our area or are passing through Kamloops we would like to extend an invitation to join us for one of our services.  Our church is friendly, enthusiastic, and passionate about both preaching and living true Christianity. It important to us that everyone, regardless of ethnic, social, or cultural background, will feel welcome and loved in our services. We encourage you to visit the following pages to learn more about us.

What’s In a Name?

What We Believe

Our Ministries

Our Pastor

If you are unsure of your eternal destiny please visit Where Will it End?

Please feel free to drop us an email through our contact page or call us at 250.554.8001.

Your friend,

Gregory Vaal, Pastor

Berean Baptist Church


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Strathisla 12 yr. 43%
colour: burnt gold.
nose: malty, soothing rich red fruits/sherry, oaky, vanilla/honey sweetness, some peat, touch of heather, attractive.
palate/mouth feel: medium thickness, sweet, touch of spice rising.
finish: malty, sherry/ripe fruits, honey vanilla sweetness, oak, spicy, some peat, bold flavours, a touch dry, med-long finish.
notes: nose is attractive, it’s quite a bold whisky, some decent flavours, well put together, almost an earthy presence to this malt, it’s oaky but not too overpowering, a decent whisky for sure. For the price-point, the boldness & well put together flavour profile, it gets a thumbs up.

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Camp Frack 2 – No to Fracking – Yes to One Million Climate Jobs – 10th/11th/12th May

Confirmed on Friday, Camp Frack 2 will take place on the weekend of the 10th/11th & 12th May at a ten acre site adjacent to the Leisure Lakes Complex at Mere Brow near Tarleton, Lancashire (between Preston & Southport). PLEASE PUT THESE DATES IN YOUR DIARY NOW.

A weekend of activity in opposition to fracking and other forms of extreme energy, as well as in support of the fight for One Million Climate Jobs. Event to include live music, presentations, film showings, discussions on campaign strategy, poetry, a protest action, and a beer tent. Camping optional but enough space for many hundreds of tents.

Organised by a broad coalition of anti-fracking and environmental groups in the North West including members of Ribble Estuary Against Fracking, Residents’ Action Against Fylde Fracking, Frack Free Fylde, Merseyside Against Fracking, Friends of the Earth and Greater Manchester Association of Trades Union Councils.

Supported by the Campaign Against Climate Change TU Group who are behind the One Million Climate Jobs Report and hopefully a raft of other pro-environmental, anti-climate change and anti-austerity groups by the time it takes place. Further info to follow, including the details of bands and other performers, national speakers and celebrity guests, also concerning the precise location of the site and how to get there.

Facebook Event Page:

Interim Artwork for Camp Frack 2

Interim Artwork for Camp Frack 2

LL NW Location Sat

Blown up satellite view of the site

Leisure Lakes Site Sat

1 = Field 1 (Possible Main Event Field)
2 = Field 2 (Possible Camping Field)
3 = Field 3 (Car Parking)
4 = Overflow Car Park (if required)

The light green lines are access points to each of the fields and overflow car park.

This entry was posted in Campaigns & Events, Climate Change, Programme & Policies, Trade Unions, Viewpoint, Youth and tagged , , , . Bookmark the permalink.

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Mission statement

The Ubuntu-be team wants to grow the local ecosystem of individuals, companies, non-profits and governmental and intergovernmental institutions working with Ubuntu Linux in and very close to Belgium. To achieve this, we follow a two-pronged approach:

  1. In areas where location is key to success (example: install parties), ubuntu-be team members do the work.
  2. In areas where language is key to success (examples: documentation, online support), we refer people to their respective language project (ubuntu-nl, ubuntu-fr, ubuntu-de, ubuntu-tr, ubuntu-ku, ...).

Ubuntu-be members publish and coordinate their efforts with the different local, regional, language community and national levels involved in mind. Special attention goes to nl_be - fr_be coordination.

For the mission statement of Ubuntu itself you can take a look at: http://www.ubuntu.com/project/about-ubuntu

You can also search for the ubuntube Flickr tag.

To join us:

  1. Subscribe to the Ubuntu-be mailing list

  2. Send a message to the list telling who you are and why you are interested in becoming a member.
  3. Create an account in http://launchpad.net if you don't already have one

  4. If you want to do serious volunteer work, apply for membership at https://launchpad.net/people/ubuntu-be .

Currently, Ubuntu-be is an informal organization of Ubuntu enthusiasts. As such, our realizations are mostly the action of willing individuals acting on their own. There is a ongoing reflexion on how to to organize ourself more effectively at BelgianTeam/TeamOrganization. Feel free to join the discussion.

The Belgian Team is an approved Ubuntu LoCo. Read more about what this means here

We plan to have frequent IRC meetings, see BelgianTeam/IrcMeetings for more information.

We had other meetings, some online and some in real life, see BelgianTeam/PastMeetings.

Belgium specific documentation

Looking for documentation on Belgian topics, see

Wanting to share your knowledge of Belgian specific topics, see BelgianTeam/BeDocs for information on how and where to do it.

Belgian press

Education and courses

Localized installer USB

Download the ISO at BelgianTeam/LocalizedUSB !

Activities, Fair booths & Events

Support points

Ubuntu-be.org volunteers show their enthousiasm to potential converts by distributing CD's, giving demonstrations and helping to install Ubuntu for the first time. Those volunteers registered themselves as support points, you can find them at: http://ubuntu-be.org/en/supporters

For a current TODO list, please take a look at the Ubuntu-be Bugsection on the Launchpad. For a list with ideas concerning the Website and the Wiki you can view / post ideas and brainspins at the Website Overview page.

CategoryLoCoTeams CategoryBelgianTeam

BelgianTeam (last edited 2012-10-27 04:06:09 by clamam)


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How Stephen Colbert Blew It with Uber CEO Travis Kalanick

(Seems others are starting to figure out the service Colbert is performing)

from Global Research

Stephen, I realize it’s only entertainment and that your job is to make people laugh. But when you bring on a very un-funny fellow like Travis Kalanick, it seems you and your production team should think a little more cleverly about how you put lipstick on that pig.

This is not at all a defense of Big Taxi, which in many cities has provided crappy service for years. Those who believe that ride-sharing companies like Lyft, Sidecar and even Uber have provided a badly needed alternative will get no argument from me.

But that doesn’t mean that Kalanick wasn’t dancing circles around you, Stephen. It’s not just that you edited out of the final TV broadcast the shouting dissenters in your audience who tried to dispute the Uber CEO’s typical claims. But your fact checkers and production team should have prepared you better for not letting Kalanick turn you into his tool, like Judith Miller and the press pack at a State Department briefing.

[read more here]

Globalization, Clinton, Haiti and Sanity – Let’s All Hop on the Moderate Bus

by Scott Creighton

The true nature of globalization is pretty easy to see these days. Hell, they hardly even attempt to hide it anymore… it takes just a little work to flesh it all out as I intend to do right now.

One little case in particular has exposed just bit of the nature of the beast and all of its multifaceted orchestrations – Haiti.

Now 8 months after the earthquake that killed an estimate 300,000 people in Haiti, people are still suffering. The promised aid has not found its way to the ground level projects that will help the Haitian people, the people we wanted to help when the money was promised.

So who is in charge of that fund of nearly 10 billion dollars of aid money? Bill Clinton, U.N. Special Envoy to Haiti and co-chair of Interim Haiti Reconstruction Commission (IHRC) and renowned globalist stooge of the “New Dem” party fame (“New Dems” meaning far right leaning neoliberals of the democrats who sold us out to the bankers and corporation decades ago). How did he come to be put in charge of all that money and thus, the future of Haiti? His globalist wife Hillary gave him the job.

(funny how Rod Blagojevich is impeached and put on trial for simply suggesting to an aid that he should get something out of his opportunity to appoint Obama’s replacement in the senate, yet when Hillary actually puts her husband in charge of a 9 billion dollar reconstruction fund in a country he helped destroy with his neoliberal plans in the past, not a single negative word is said about it in the press, left or right)

Now, this is how globalization works…

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Centrist Central: How Stewart and Colbert are Selling the Neocon Agenda to the Left

by Scott Creighton

I just have to ask, is there anything, anything, that billionare Sumner Redstone’s progressive propaganda tag-team of Jon Stewart & Stephen Colbert won’t do to help turn the supposed left 180 degrees from positions they held during the previous administration?

I have written several times about Jon Stewart and Stephen Colbert turning into blatant propagandists since the Chosen One took office.

For example: there’s the time Jon Stewart played the MEMRI TV video demonizing Palestinians, Stephen Colbert’s recent revolting sucking-up to globalist Joe Biden, there was Stewart’s story about the South Park episode psyop involving Revolution Muslim which turns out to be run by a “converted” jewish ex-settler from the West Bank, Stephen’s sycophantic groveling and rebranding the Afghan occupation just after Obama took office, and then of course Stewart’s ambushing of Rod Blagojevich which I thought was a pretty odd position for a “progressive” to take after he practically gave back rubs and “happy endings” to each and every neocon that has come on his set to pimp their new books or try to rebrand themselves as anything but the war criminals they are. That list includes but is not limited to Bill Kristol, Ari Fleischer, John Bolton, Douglas Feith, Thomas Friedman, Tom Ridge, and John Yoo.  Each and every one of the previously named neocons and or war criminals, Jon Stewart treated with more respect than he did Rod Blagojevich who’s only crime was to threaten Bank of America if they didn’t live up to the conditions of the banker bailout bill.

Recently these two progressive shills have each taken on a new directive which certainly lives up to their pathetic performances in the past.

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Is WiseTime for me?

Ideally, WiseTime is for everyone, as we all struggle at times to get uncluttered time to reflect, break out of negative loops in our thinking, and gain fresh perspective. Doing nothing may be comfortable, but may mean just going around in circles.  The clarity gained from the guided thinking of the WiseTime process bringsIMG_0983_1544_edited-1 release, and lifts the spirits.

WiseTime is definitely for you if:

  • you shoulder the responsibility: you’re the strong one who always copes and to whom everyone turns; but in order to remain strong, you need to care for yourself;
  • you’d like to implement your creative plans, projects, and resolutions but you simply can’t find the motivation and time is slipping by;
  • you want to keep yourself healthy, mentally, emotionally and physically in the best way possible;
  • you have decisions to make and wish to weigh up all the options and choose wisely;
  • you’re perplexed or hurt by the behaviour of someone close to you, and would like to know how best to respond;
  • your life is busy, richly peopled and to many, enviable, but you may be feeling somewhat empty or unfulfilled.

There are many more reasons to engage in WiseTime.  Each person will have their own unique situations to which it will apply.  Wisdom is our common inheritance and everyone benefits from its application.

Gallarus view

Gallarus view

‘It may be that when we no longer know what to do

we have come to our real work,

and that when we no longer know which way to go

we have come to our real journey.

The mind that is not baffled is not employed.

The impeded stream is the one that sings.’

 Wendell Berry (1934 – )


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Miesha Tate vs Rin Nakai Planned For UFC Fight Night 52 In Japan

Posted: June 19, 2014 in Uncategorized
Tags: ,

Former Strikeforce Women’s Bantamweight Champion Miesha “Cupcake” Tate steps back into the cage on September 21st at UFC Fight Night 52: “Hunt vs Nelson” in Saitama, Japan. Tate is expected to face undefeated Bantamweight Queen of Pancrase Rin Nakai, who makes her UFC debut.

The Tate-Nakai matchup was first reported during Wednesday’s edition of UFC Tonight. Tate recently put an end to a two-fight losing skid by rallying to defeat Liz “Girl-Rilla” Carmouche at UFC on FOX 11. Nakai is coming off of back-to-back wins over Tara LaRosa and Sarah “The Monster” D’Alelio.

To read the full article, (click here).

  1. Brendan says:

    I’m really looking forward to this fight. Hopefully it will be good!

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My first from-the-beginning curry (with chickpeas and cauliflower)

Actually this is the first Im happy with. Sooooo tasty that I had to take three portions:P

To start from the beginning I have to say that I got off from work a bit earlier today, did some girly stuff in the city and since parking time was not over yet I stepped into the biggest Eco food shop in Tartu. I was in trouble right away. This was like heaven – so much tasty stuff. Of course I ended up (20 min later) with a reciept big enough to pay for a car repair (direct quote from my very understanding bf). So I wanted to show him where I can actually use all those cans and bottles (I got even a sprouter – I will show it in next post!). And since ingredients directed me towards curry I have once tried to make (but failed miserably – possibly because I didnt have coconut oil and/or good tomatos:P) I tried to do it once again. And it was great! I only needed:

  • 2 Tbsp coconut oil
  • 2 medium onions
  • 3 big cloves of garlic
  • 1 inch ginger
  • 1 Tbsp of garam masala
  • 2 tsp of ground coriander
  • 2 tsp of ground cumin
  • 1 tsp of turmeric
  • 2 cans of chickpeas
  • 2 cans or one huge bottle of diced tomatoes
  • 1 rather small cauliflower
  • 1 cup water (or coconut milk if you have not forgot to buy it)
  • salt and pepper
  • brown rice for serving

Here is what I did:

First of all I heated coconut oil, added onion, garlic and ginger and sauteed for 5 minutes…until soft not brown. Like this:

In the mean time I mixed the spices and chopped the cauliflower:Image

Then added spices to the pot and cooked (stirred constantly) for 1 minute.

Then I added rinsed chickpeas, tomatos, water and cauliflower

After 15 minutes seasoned it with salt and pepper and ready it was.

Did I already said it was great? We even have leftovers for today!

Later on went to the cinema – have you already seen this? Lady next to me left in the middle of the movie…why of why:)  I liked it.


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fashion / guide / how

Capsule wardrobe 101 + 10 steps to a less scary closet

Happy new year, guys! Hopefully your return to the real life work week was a more graceful transition than mine. If you’re already lapsing on that resolution to become an unearthly creature of clean eating and flawless fitness, well, I’ve got something a little more simple to kick off a nice and neat 2016. Few things feel more freeing than the afterglow of a thorough closet purge.

Yes, afterglow. Because, like many of us, when I began cleaning out my closet, I felt some pieces of clothing almost physically weighing down my grip with fond memories or sentimental value or wasted money. The process can be painstaking, become manic, bring up some old feelings or body insecurities- notice I used the word “simple” above and not “easy.” In a culture so focused on individuality, appearance, and consumerism, I know that an outfit can make or break my self-esteem for the day. Maybe someday, I’ll transcend into an ethereal being swathed only in Jedi-like robes who covers every mirror and wears no shoes.

Until then, I still have a tendency toward vanity and emotional shopping. These two qualities can become a horribly toxic cycle that leaves me financially, emotionally, and spiritually empty. That might sound dramatic but there was a point last fall after a particularly erratic shopping binge that I realized, with the open package in my lap, that I didn’t want any of these things and that none of it was actually making me happy. Y’all, that was basically the same moment of clarity I had right before quitting pills and heroin. Yes, my clothing habit is far less destructive than many of my past emotional crutches but it’s still trying to smother unwanted feelings with outside influences. Spoiler alert: it stops working pretty quickly, if not immediately.

Another reason to cut down your wardrobe and consider at least adopting a few approaches of a capsule wardrobe is the necessary eradication of fast fashion. Not only is it destroying our environment but it’s a business that exploits human labor in developing countries. I know, I don’t have the budget or time to track down the ethical and environmental impact of every fiber in every piece of my clothing. But a really easy solution is that we all stop buying shit we don’t really want or need at our current rate. A capsule wardrobe, or at least a far more minimalistic approach to fashion than how we’ve been socially conditioned, is a great way to ease yourself in.

What is a capsule wardrobe?

Capsule wardrobe is a term coined by Susie Faux, the owner of a London boutique called “Wardrobe” in the 1970s. According to Faux, a capsule wardrobe is a collection of a few essential items of clothing that don’t go out of fashion, such as skirts, trousers, and coats, which can then be augmented with seasonal pieces.

Well, thanks there, Wikipedia! My definition of a capsule wardrobe is a limited collection of season-specific clothing only containing items that are quality, flattering, and in line with my personal style. Imagine looking at your wardrobe and only seeing your favorite pieces. Imagine never feeling that dread of looking at piles upon piles of clothing and thinking, “Ugh, I have nothing to wear.” Imagine enjoying every single outfit you choose to wear. These are the aims of a capsule wardrobe.

How many pieces are supposed to be in a capsule wardrobe?

The usual number thrown around is 37 items. I have no idea where that exact figure originated and as it isn’t a multiple of 5, it honestly bothers me. But don’t mind my weird numerical hangups- the truth is that you can use any number you like. You could even not use a number! You’re the boss of your life. However, hovering around 37 items helped me initially pare down and for now, my goal is to remain under 40 pieces for the winter season.

What’s included in a capsule wardrobe?

Again, a capsule wardrobe can be as broad or specific as you please. You can apply the principles to just work clothes or for a vacation. Typically, it’s a general wardrobe meant to last for one season (three months.) I excluded special occasion wear (i.e. cocktail dresses and my banana suit from Halloween two years ago), sleepwear, activewear, jewelry (I don’t wear much anyway), and undergarments (underwear, bras, socks, tights.) Everything else was fair game. Again, it’s up to you how strict or lax you want to go.

Under 40 pieces… are you sure that’s all? Wouldn’t everyone notice that I’m wearing the same things over and over again?

I promise you that people are paying far less attention to your clothing choices than you think. If anything, you’ll likely get more positive attention because your clothes will consistently fit you and make you feel good. A good rule to make sure you can get tons of combinations from a limited number is to only include a piece if it can be paired with three other items in your collection. Using this as a mental rule while shopping is incredibly helpful to curb trend urges as well.

I haven’t cleaned out my closet since 7th grade. Where do I even begin?

Glad you asked!

  1. Clean out your closet.
  2. Assemble a collection.
  3. Wear only those pieces for a season.
  4. At the end of the season, reflect and adjust accordingly.
  5. Repeat next season.

While this post is only going to cover the first point, this is a basic idea of how to simplify your life in a simple way: let go. And while it applies to the capsule wardrobe process as a whole, it’s most applicable in our first step: the dreaded yet ultimately satisfying clothing purge.

  1. Take a day (this will take longer than you expect) and a clear space. Now empty out your entire closet. Everything. Ev-ery-thing. You heard me. This sounds like a pain in the butt because it is. However, it’s going to let you see not only every piece of clothing equally and at the same time and (if you’re anything like me) it’ll also be a good reminder of just how bad your clothing habit has become. Ideally, you’d be able to pile everything on your bed.
  2. Go through your clothing, item by item. Again, a pain in the butt. Again, a necessary evil.
  3. Sort your clothing into five piles: love, basics/necessary, maybe, sell, and donate. You’ll know what qualifies as basics or necessary; as much as you’d like to toss out your work uniform, don’t do it on my account.
  4. LET GO of anything you don’t like. I promise I’m not being condescending with that one. It shocked me how many items of clothing that I had that I didn’t really like. Things that I hate- those were easy to toss. But for some reason (not wanting to admit shopping defeat, most likely) I held onto so many clothes that I felt ambivalently toward. Things that looked alright, things that were okay. No. Granted, you’re probably not going to be madly in love with your beige slip- that’s why the basics/necessary pile exists. A good rule: if you were out shopping and wouldn’t buy this item again, let it go.
  5. LET GO of anything you don’t wear. Again, this seems obvious. But if you haven’t worn it in a year, you’re not going to wear it now. If it’s something you always find yourself throwing over your shoulder during the mid-morning dash to get ready, let it go.
  6. LET GO of anything that doesn’t fit. This one was hard for me. When my weight fluctuates, it’s basically all in my thighs and ass so I felt justified hoarding jeans from my skeletal eating disorder days of yore. Nope. Not only is that sick thinking in terms of recovery but realistically, I’m not going to be a size triple negative five again if I can’t fit those old pants over my thighs right now. And they’re just jeans anyway. Out! Stop torturing yourself with the body you had or wish you had. If you’re in the middle of a significant weight loss or gain process, I’d advise setting aside those clothing (if it’s realistic for an item to fit again) and then put them away in storage for now. But seriously, don’t cheat yourself or bully your body- let it go.
  7. LET GO of anything that is damaged. I know you’ve had the best intentions with fixing that zipper but if it’s been idle for six months, you probably don’t like it enough to fix it, much less wear it. Either fix it that day or toss it. If something has a bad enough rip or stain that you hesitate to wear it- even if you love it- write down what you like about it for future reference and then let it go.
  8. LET GO of anything that doesn’t fit your current style or circumstances. DO NOT THROW OUT THINGS JUST BECAUSE THEY ARE OUT OF SEASON. You don’t want to be naked come next season. However, while there was a time that I loved pattern leggings, I had to admit that they were just taking up space in my drawers. I never reached for them because they didn’t match who I am and what I’m doing today. The same had to be said for the obscene amount of crop tops and mermaid skirts that defined my retail years in college. Yes, it looked cute but if it’s no longer suitable to your fashion preferences and needs, let it go.
  9. LET GO of anything that only has sentimental value. Now I don’t want to be cruel. If you possess some clothing heirloom that you’d be ostracized for tossing, then set it aside and put it in storage. But that hideous skirt you got from a well-meaning relative two Christmases ago? Or that shirt your ex-boyfriend left in your laundry forever ago? Who knows, you may rock it all the time and look twelve times better than he did. But if it’s something that’s just occupying physical and emotional space for the sake of holding onto the past, let it go.
  10. After bagging up your giveaway pile or otherwise making sure it’s decisively out of sight (no donor’s remorse allowed) go through the love and maybe piles again with the above rules. Hopefully by now, you’re feeling the minimalist’s high of shedding unwanted possessions and this go-around is easier and faster. My maybe pile became an extension of my sell pile. If I felt weird about selling or giving away a piece, I’d try it on and honestly assess myself in the mirror. If I still felt weird, I set it aside to wear that week. If I didn’t enjoy wearing it or completely avoided wearing it that week, then it was time to let it go.

BONUS: It really helps to take your donate and sell piles to the appropriate consignment, charity, or other receptacles that are not in your residence as soon as you can. I say this as a massive pile of donate and sell clothes rest in my back room, as they have been for months. And if something sticks around in your line of sight for long enough… even the ugliest of ugly sweaters (much like a toxic ex) will start looking tempting again. For goodness sake, let it go.

And now that you have a beautifully clean slate with all these clothes you love, you’re ready to begin the actually super fun part of assembling your capsule wardrobe. After writing that next part, I’ll be sure to link it here. Until then, have you had any experience with a capsule wardrobe? What’s that one piece of clothing that almost physically pains you to let go of? Have any questions? Let me know in the comments below!

Be kind. Live authentically. Practice gratitude. Hustle daily. Work hard. Stay humble.

This is a personal blog. As the creator, I may mention, discuss, and review products but I have not been paid or sponsored for any of my opinions. My opinions reflect only my personal feelings and experiences, unless otherwise specified. I do not claim copyright on any of the shown products. Images shown are original content edited with type and designs from the app Retype. Any media, writing, or other website content published is created and owned by the author, unless otherwise specified.

8 thoughts on “Capsule wardrobe 101 + 10 steps to a less scary closet

  1. Pingback: Capsule wardrobe 102: Assembling your wardrobe + shopping smarter | Work Hard Stay Humble

  2. Pingback: Feeling at home in recovery + two summer OOTDs | Work Hard Stay Humble

  3. Pingback: Weathering the storm: Being realistically positive + rainy day office OOTD | Work Hard Stay Humble

  4. Pingback: Christmas 2016 lookbook (Day to night outfits) | Work Hard Stay Humble

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Contest Super Simulator

The Contest Super Simulator is a simulation package designed by Wayne, W5XD and distributed by WriteLog Contesting Software, LLC. It extends WriteLog such that the two together become a virtual contest in progress. You jump in and call CQ. Or tune around and find stations to answer. It works in CW, SSB and RTTY. Setup WriteLog for one radio, and you’re running stations right away. Add a second radio to WriteLog’s configuration and you have a real time Single Operator 2 Radio (SO2R) simulation. Its usable for novices—practice your first contest QSOs before you get your feet wet—or set it up on a simple laptop to demonstrate, in real time, contesting at your local ham club. It also has:

  • Packet spots
  • Panadapter/SDR view of the simulated spectrum (virtual audio cable required–not included.)
  • RTTY support of sound card modems like MMTTY or 2Tone (virtual audio cable required.)
  • ADIF export of the logs of the simulated stations. (For a post-contest Log Check. Not automated.)

This is also a serious training tool for serious contesting operators. Have a look at what Tom, W2SC was able to do in the 2016 ARRL DX contest from 8P5A. Here is what Tom has to say about the simulator:

Wayne did some very good work here on both the dual CQ front and the simulator front. Having used the Dual CQ now in two contests, it clearly made a big difference in my score. I believe all Single Ops will need this ability to compete at a top level. Wayne has automated a single keyboard approach that is very effective.

One challenge with this is how to practice. Out of contest, on-air practice does not simulate a contest, even from Barbados. The only option for dual CQ is a simulator. What Wayne has done is not perfectly realistic, but is very close. Setting S&P callers to 1 or 2, is very close to what is sounds like during high rate hours from 8P.

Tom, W2SC

The simulator has only a few configuration options, of which the most significant is the selection of a Windows sound Playback device for it to play its (simulated) receiver audio. You’ll hear the contest startup in those headphones as soon as you call CQ.

The simulator installs a Windows help file that describes in detail how to use it. You start a simulation simply by running it from its desktop icon.

Jump into the simulated contest running WriteLog. The simulator has created virtual WinKey and SO2R OTRSP (Open Two Radio Switch Protocol) devices and WriteLog talks to the simulator instead of real hardware. (Important hint for WriteLog users already set up for your real rigs: use WriteLog’s startup screen, Settings, Export to save a snapshot of your WriteLog settings before changing Setup/Ports.)

Contest Super Simulator can be set to simulate any of these four contest exchanges:

  • Simple contest with RST only
  • WPX contest with serial numbers
  • IARU with RST and ITU zone (with a few HQ stations thrown in)
  • ARRL November Sweepstakes

This simulator can be used for training with any WriteLog configuration and performance tuning you use in a real event. Tom used the Dual CQ WriteLogRunMode automation in his 8P5A operation that set the ARRL DX CW Record. This simulator can be used to train yourself how to use that plugin.

This window allows you to tweak the simulation while it is running. Set the bandwidth on its virtual receiver, adjust the sidetone volume, and set your preferred CW beat note (Contest Super Simulator adjusts the virtual receiver’s “BFO” to match.)

The Contest Super Simulator is freely redistributable under the MIT license.

Download this file:

Unzip it, and run the .msi file inside. It will give you a new icon on your Windows desktop. WriteLog’s Setup/Ports dialog has to be set for WinKey and OTRSP “pipes” (see the Contest Super Simulator help file.)

The Contest Super Simulator Voices is freely redistributable  but only for use with the Contest Super Simulator. No other users of the Contest Super Simulator Voices is permitted.

1.12.01 November, 2017 Each radio can have its own sidetone pitch.
1.11.02 August, 2017 Add more diagnostics, and allow sidetone volume of 100%
1.10.02 June, 2017 Better simulate SO2R with rigs on different modes.
1.09.02 October, 2016 First release

Requires Windows 7  and .NET 4.0 to install.

CPU requirements

All recent WriteLog versions 11 and 12 are supported for you to call CQ in CW, including SO2R configurations.

WriteLog 12.09 (including the latest demo version!) adds support for SSB.

WriteLog 12.07 and later support running Search & Pounce in a virtual 48KHz-wide band per radio.

WriteLog 12.07 supports simulated RTTY contests. You’ll need either a physical or virtual audio cable (not included) to route the simulator’s Playback audio to your RTTY demodulator’s Record Audio device.

WriteLog 12.07 places CQing simulated stations on its Band Maps and Packet Spots window. Add a virtual audio cable to route the simulator’s IQ output to WriteLog’s Band Map SDR to superimpose the simulated 48KHz band on WriteLog’s Band Maps.

SSB Support

The Contest Super Simulator supports SSB contest simulation. It requires a little different setup than the other modes. There are details in the Contest Super Simulator Help/Topics menu, look for SSB.

  • You must install SSB voices for the simulator’s use separately. The WriteLog team provides a download below.
  • The simulator has no voice recognition. Instead, it depends on you pressing f-key’s to make transmissions.
  • You must set your logging program up to notify the simulator of text representations of the f-key messages it sends.

Installation of SSB voices
The Contest Super Simulator in SSB mode requires prerecorded phonetics. The WriteLog team provides the following download with a couple of voices. Instructions on how to add your own prerecorded phonetics are including the Contest Super Simulator Help file.

Download this file:

Unzip it, and run the .msi file inside. The Contest Super Simulator Voices install per Windows user, in contrast to the Contest Super Simulator, which requires Windows administrator privilege and installs per machine. The reasons for the separate Voices installer are:

  • The license is different. You may only use the Voices with Contest Super Simulator.
  • The download is far larger. You don’t need to download them if you’re not going to simulate SSB contests.
  • The voices install per-user to give you more options for placing the large voice files on disk.
  • The voices install per-user to eliminate privilege requirements for adding your own voice recordings for use by the Contest Super Simulator in SSB.