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THE LOVE TEST

WHAT EACH KISS MEANS:
    - Kiss on the Forehead: We’re cute together.

    - Kiss on the Cheek: We’re friends.

    - Kiss on the Hand: I adore you.

    - Kiss on the Neck: I want you, now.

    - Kiss on the Shoulder: Your perfect.

    - Kiss on the Lips: I LOVE YOU…
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WHAT EACH GESTURE MEANS:
    - Holding Hands: We definitely like each other.

    - Holding you tight pressed against each other: I want you.

    - Looking into each other’s Eyes: I like you, for who you are.

    - Playing with Hair: Let’s fool around.

    - Arms around the Waist: I like you too much to let go.

    - Laughing while Kissing: I am completely comfortable with you.
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    If you were thinking about someone while reading this, you’re definitely in Love. :-) :-) :-)
 
Why Ice Floats on Water

        Generally, substances are most dense when they are in their solid state. That ice floats on water conclusively proves that water is an exception. We are also aware that lakes freeze from top to bottom. In order for an object to float, it must be less dense that other substances in a mixture. From this, we know that ice is less dense than water, or else lakes would freeze over when layers of ice sink and displace the surrounding water. The reasons for ice floating on water are the unique properties of water and the resultant lower density of ice per unit of volume. 

        The property that makes water unique is hydrogen bonding. Two hydrogen atoms and one oxygen atom are joined by covalent bonds in one molecule of water. Weaker hydrogen bonds are responsible for bonding among water molecules. The higher ratio of hydrogen to covalent bonds results in the unique expansion at low temperatures. When water reaches below a threshold of four degrees Celsius, the adjustment of the positively charged hydrogen bonds keeps the negatively charged oxygen atoms apart. The resulting "crystal lattice" structure is known as ice. 

        Ice is estimated to be about 9% less dense than water. Therefore, we have an idea how much more space ice occupies compared to water as well. If one litre of ice is converted to a liquid state, it would produce less than one litre of water. In water, molecules are squeezed together. Since ice is a solid, there is a more defined molecular structure. If one observes molecules of ice, a diamond structure directly results from the adjustment in the hydrogen bonding between adjacent molecules. 

        It is important to note that the assumption is that we're using similar volumes of ice and water in making this statement. Suppose a block of ice has a higher overall density (not in terms of mass per unit volume) than a significantly smaller volume of water. In such an instance, the ice may not float based on relative densities. If one looks at larger volumes of ice and water, such as icebergs in the ocean, those huge masses of ice still float because of the much greater pressure exerted by the massive volume of water. Ice cubes in your cup of water are just a microcosm of this. 

        Should someone ask you why ice floats on water, answers like "because it does" or "its common sense" would not suffice. After all, there is a reason for everything - even if we may not know it. To put it very simply, the same quantity of ice would occupy more space than the same quantity of water. All other things being equal, once the solid is less dense than the liquid in a mixture, it will float.
 
FORMULA FOR SUCCESS
           
        Once I was addressing an audience of about a thousand people. Before I began my talk I offered them a bar of chocolate and invited all those who wanted it to come on stage. But I was astonished to see only about 500 hands go up. Out of them only 3 people started moving towards me. The first person had already reached the steps of the stage. Seeing this, the second person gave up but the third person continued to run. This proved that though less than 50% were inspired only about 1% got motivated and less than that optimistic. 
        Isn't it surprising? As children we are born with the power to be decisive. We are gifted with inspiration and motivation. As adults these traits should be more developed and intense but on the contrary, they all reduce! Sadly, today most people are part of a rat race and overtime they become bigger and bigger rats in their pursuit of bigger homes, cars, wealth and popularity. God created all of us to be happy and successful. In fact he has planted all these traits required for happy and successful life in all of us. Take the example of a seed. Do you know that the entire tree is planned in it! Probably, the comparisons, competitions and our conditioning while growing up are responsible for taking us towards hatred and negativity in life. 

        We all know that when man didn’t use his tail, he lost it. Similarly a road that is not walked upon grows grass. Therefore we must use the package of traits that we are gifted with or else we may lose them. We need to identify the seed in us and start watering it. 

        People today spend a lot of their time in achieving all that is outside if them. Luxurious homes, expensive cars, branded clothes etc to flaunt to the world that is outside of them, yet, they do not have time to nourish and nurture their true values. People are running after valuables which even when in plenty cannot bring happiness. Our values are our true valuables. If we don’t use our values we may begin to lose them. Because USELESS – IF USED LESS!
 
The Process Of Decision Making

        At one time or another, we have all had that niggling feeling that something needs to be done, but are then unsure how to do it. You know you have to act, but how? To answer this, we need to consider the process of decision making humans’ use, which tend to fall in to two distinct categories. On the one hand, there is problem based decision making, and on the other we have pre-emptive decision making. The former is a reactive process, while the latter is largely proactive. 

        Reactive decision making happens in that call for snap judgements. Typically, a reactive decision requires the individual to use their instinct to assert themselves on a situation, and the process of decision making must be quick. Although reactive decision making is not an exact science it is, however, possible to develop a state of mind that is calm, rational, self assured, in possession of the key characteristics that lead to better judgement calls. Remember, very few well made decisions are made by someone who is angry, distracted or flustered. 

        Proactive or pre-emptive decision making involves making plans and predictions to avert a potential disaster or to increase the likelihood of a potential success. The process of decision making tends to be longer and more thought out. Individuals who excel at this form of decision making possess a keen eye for detail, a logical mind, excellent reasoning ability and the drive and dedication to see the plan through to the end. 

        Which type of decision maker are you? Do you prefer to plan for all eventualities or to think on your feet? If you have answered a definite yes to either one of these questions, I have some news for you: relying solely on just one form of decision making is a recipe for disaster. If you rely too much on quick decisions, you fail to plan, can be rash and act in the heat of the moment when you are not thinking as clearly as you could be. Likewise, a reliance on planning the process of decision making can lead to panic setting in when events conspire against you or something unexpected happens. We need; therefore, to find a happy medium between excellent planning ability and being comfortable with adapting to events and random situations as they occur. 

        Through developing high self confidence, you can plan well and take longer terms decisions in your stride, considering the outcomes and assessing the best approach. You can also rely on your own instinct and judgement to make good decisions quickly and confidently, even in the heat of the moment. The process of decision making requires a cool head and good self confidence will help you to remain calm, whatever the situation, which will ultimately lead to better decisions.
 
How To Apologize Effectively: 5 Simple Tips To Get Your Apology Accepted


It's important for everyone to learn how to apologize effectively. After all, what good is an apology if it doesn't work, right? You might think that a simple "I'm sorry" will take care of everything but that's not exactly true. There are some situations in which you need to apologize properly.
Read on to learn how to apologize effectively.

Tip # 1: Apologize sincerely and wholeheartedly.

Apologizing through gritted teeth or mumbling a half-hearted sorry will get you nowhere. In fact, it might get you into even bigger trouble than before. If you really want to apologize, you must do it with humility and sincerity. Accept the fact that you were in the wrong.

Tip # 2: Don't apologize over and over again.

Contrary to what you might think, apologizing over and over again isn't going to help you get back in the person's good graces, especially if we're talking about someone who's your boss.

Apologies are not supposed to go on forever. How else do you expect your boss to move on if you keep reminding him or her about what you did?

Tip # 3: Don't spend too much time on explanations.

If you want to learn how to apologize effectively, you can't spend more than half of your time talking about why you did it and how you did it.

A bit of an explanation might help on some occasions, but don't ramble on and on about it because it wouldn't seem like you're apologizing for anything anymore. A lot of people tend to make this mistake and the apology loses its sincerity.

Tip # 4: Don't wait too long to apologize.

One proven tip on how to apologize effectively is to do it as soon as you realize your mistake. Some people put off giving an apology because they think it will save them from the full blast of the offended person's wrath.

However, that is just being disrespectful and cowardly. If you can't approach a person physically at once, send him or her a message first. But make sure you apologize in person as well.

Tip # 5: Don't expect anything.

You can't expect that person to forgive you right off the bat, especially if you committed a really grave offense. If you're going to apologize, you have to be prepared for the worst. The conversation isn't going to be the most comfortable one either, so prepare yourself for anything. 

        Learning how to apologize effectively is very important. It shows people the kind of person you are. Everyone has his or her own tactics, but sincerity is always part of the equation.
 
Academy Award (Oscar)

            The Academy of Motion Picture Arts and Sciences was established in May 1927 as a non-profit corporation to promote the art of movie making. In the first year, the Academy had 36 members, with Douglas Fairbanks Sr as president. The first Academy Awards, now better known as the Oscars, were presented at a private dinner in the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel, with less than 250 persons attending. Today, the Academy has over 6 000 honorary members – the Oscar Awards are viewed by more than a billion people on television.

            The first television broadcast of the Oscars took place in 1953 – on black and white TV, telecasted throughout the US and Canada. Telecasting in color begun in 1966, and since 1969, the Oscars have been telecast throughout the world. By the mid-1990s it was telecast in over 100 countries.

The first Oscars

            At the first Academy Awards, held in May 1929, Best Director awards went to Lewis Milestone for Two Arabian Knights and Frank Borzage for 7th Heaven. The first award for Actor in a Leading Role went to
Emil Jannings(real name Theodor Friedrich Emil Janenz) for his roles in The Last Command and The Way of All Flesh. The first Best Actress award was won Janet Gaynorfor her roles in 7th Heaven, Street Angel and Sunrise. The first Best Picture award went to WINGS. All those films were screened in 1927. 

            Those were the days of the silent movies, thus WINGS was the only silent to have won a Best Picture Oscar. It also featured Gary Cooper in a minor role. Swiss-born Jannings grew up in Germany and had a heavy German accent which, with the advent of sound in
movies, basically put an end to his Hollywood movie career.

The most popular night in the world

                The Academy Award ceremony basically was a non-public affair in 1927 and 1928. But it had created such public interest that the Oscar Presentation Night was introduced in 1929. Until 1954 the Oscars were presented mostly on a Thursday. From 1955 to 1958, they were presented on a Wednesday. From 1959 until 1998 the Oscars were, with a few exceptions, presented on a Monday night. Only since 1999 did the Awards ceremony take place on a Sunday (in March). In total up to 2005, the famous statuettes have been handed out on 32 Monday nights, 21 Thursday nights, 8 Wednesdays, 6 Tuesdays, 2 Fridays, once on a Saturday (1948), and four times on a Sunday.

 Academy Awards were held twice

                In 1930, the Academy Awards were held twice: on 3 April and on 5 November. No ceremony was held in 1933. Since 1940 people have been kept on the edge of their seats with the familiar phrase “The envelope please.”

The Envelope Please

                The record for most acting nominations without a single win is shared by Peter O’Toole and Richard Burton with seven. The most nominated actors for Best Actor and Best Supporting Roles are Jack Nicholson (11), Laurence Olivier (10), and Spencer Tracy (9). No male performer has yet won three Best Actor awards.

            Only one actress has won the Best Actress award four times: Katharine Hepburn is the only actress to have won the Best Actress award four times, for Morning Glory (1932/3), Guess Who’s Coming to Dinner? (1967), The Lion in Winter (1968), and On Golden Pond (1981). In 1968 Katherine Hepburn was tied with and Barbra Streisand for the Best Actress award.

            Anthony Quinn’s performance as painter Paul Gaugin in Lust for Life (1956) is the shortest ever to win a Best Supporting Actor Academy Award. He was on screen for only 8 minutes. Judi Dench made the an equally short performance, winning Supporting Actress for her portrayal of Elizabeth I in “Shakespeare in Love” (1999). More
Oscar fast facts

            In 1997 James Cameron’s Titanic received 11 Oscars, sharing the record of the most Oscars awards for a single film with William Wyler’s Ben Hur (1959). The closest runner-up is West Side Story with 10 Oscars in 1961.

Family matters

            The Hustons are the only family to produce three generations of Oscar winners: Walter Huston was named Best Supporting Actor in 1948 for his role in The Treasure of the Sierra Madre; John Huston was awarded Best Director/Adapted Screenplay for the same movie, and Anjelica Huston received an Oscar for Best Supporting Actress in Prizzi’s Honor, 1985.

            Only two married couples won Oscars for acting roles: Laurence Olivier (Hamlet, 1948) and Vivian Leigh (A Streetcar Named Desire, 1951); and Joanne Woodward (The Three Faces of Eve, 1957) and Paul Newman (The Color of Money, 1986). The only sisters to have won Oscars are Joan Fontaine (Suspicion, 1941) and Olivia de Havilland (To Each His Own, 1946, and The Heiress, 1949).

No thank you!

In 1970 George C. Scott refused the Oscar for his award-winning performance in Patton. In 1972 Marlon Brando refused the Oscars for his award-winning role in The Godfather. They weren’t the first, though. In 1935 a writer named Dudley Nichols refused to accept the Oscar for his movie The Informer because the Writers Guild was on strike against the movie studios at the time.

Double the honor

Eight actors have won an Oscar twice:

Fredric March for Dr. Jekyll and Mr. Hyde (1931/2) and The Best Years of Our Lives (1946);

Spencer Tracy for Captain Courageous (1937) and Boys Town (1938);

Gary Cooper for Sergeant York (1941) and High Noon (1952);

Marlon Brando for On The Waterfront (1954) and The Godfather (1972);

Jack Nicholson for One Flew Over The Cuckoo’s Nest (1975) and As Good As It Gets (1997);

Dustin Hoffman for Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) and Rain Man (1988);

Tom Hanks for Philadelphia (1993) and Forrest Gump (1994);

Daniel Day-Lewis for My Left Foot (1990) and There Will Be Blood (2008).

Many actresses have won the Best Actress Oscar twice:

Luise Rainer for The Great Ziegfeld (1936) and The Good Earth (1937);

Bette Davis for Dangerous (1935) and Jezebel (1938);

Vivien Leigh for Gone With The Wind (1939) and A Streetcar Named Desire (1951);

Olivia de Havilland for To Each His Own (1946) and The Heiress (1949);

Elizabeth Taylor for Butterfield 8 (1960) and Who’s Afraid of Virginia Woolf? (1966);

Glenda Jackson for Women in Love (1970) and A Touch of Class (1973);

Jane Fonda for Klute (1971) and Coming Home (1978);

Sally Field for Norma Rae (1979) and Places in the Heart (1984);

Meryl Streep for Kramer vs. Kramer (1979) and Sophie’s Choice (1982);

Jodie Foster for The Accused (1988) and The Silence of the Lambs (1991).
 
Employee Motivation – The 8 Basics

Building a team of motivated people in your business is vital to get the very best results, but so many managers focus on the ‘ra-ra-ra’, rather than the important things – the things that make people feel comfortable in their working environment. Here are eight that you might want to have a think about:

1. The Weather

Is it too hot, or too cold. Your people need an environment which is, like Goldilocks said, ‘Just right’. So is the office too stuffy in summer? Or too icy in winter? Is it draughty? Do people get wet when accepting deliveries, because the outside roof leaks? Literally make sure that external factors are as they wish.

2. The Breaks

Sometimes working in a day-to-day job can get boring and exhausting. So people need to know when their breaks are and that they wil be able to take them – it’s not that complicated. Yet often, they just aren’t able to have this basic courtesy in place. Planning and caring for your people’s needs is vital. It’s what you would want for yourself, isn’t it?

3. Holidays

And vacations/holidays are important too – some would say it’s the most important thing on the working year calendar. So enable this to happen, when they need to know, so that they can plan their invaluable time away from the business and refresh.

4. Being Heard

Your people need you to listen to them and hear them – really hear what they are saying and respond with action and/or acknowledgement. Be out there creating good, open relationships with your people and take in what they say – what’s important to them – and deliver solutions to make conditions great.

5. Achievable Goals

By being really, really clear about what you expect from your employees, you will set the scene for committed staff. Through knowing exactly what their performance should look like to be judged excellent, by you, gets buy-in, big-time. So be clear, give them the resources to achieve success and they will be well onside.

6. Being Thanked

As they do a good job for you each day – tell them. It’s easy – just say ‘Thank You’! Appreciation for achieving success, especially when it’s from the boss is so important. So recognising excellent performance, even for small tasks, cost nothing and takes but a moment – worth building into your day job activities – every day!

7. Challenge

People like to do new things, to explore, to seek out and utilise their potential, Sometimes this means they will have to be ‘stretched’ in what they do. With a helping hand, to support, coach and grow the skills of your people, you are setting in place a keen, ambitious and ready-for-the-next-experience star in the making. So find new ways to develop them.

8. Security

In today’s business climate, it isn’t always easy to build the best future consistently – things change too much, too quickly. But you can go some way to ensure that it is a safe place to be. With this level of security, your people will loosen up and feel capable of being with you, rather than against. It is a measure of your own leadership as to how well this works.
 
Inspiration Sayings – Ability

Men take only their needs into consideration, never their abilities. - Napoleon Bonaparte

People are always ready to admit a man’s ability after he gets there. - Bob Edwards

Ability is the art of getting credit for all the home runs somebody else hits. - Casey Stengel

Natural abilities are like natural plants; they need pruning by study. - Francis Bacon

Ability will never catch up with the demand for it. - Malcolm S. Forbes

Every person is responsible for all the good within the scope of his abilities, and for no more, and none can tell whose sphere is the largest. - Gail Hamilton

The Creator has not given you a longing to do that which you have no ability to do.
- Orison Swett Marden

Martyrdom is the only way a man can become famous without ability. - George Bernard Shaw

They are able because they think they are able. -
Virgil

The world cares very little about what a man or woman knows; it is what a man or woman is able to do that counts. - Booker T. Washington
 
Motivation Quotes

People often say that motivation doesn’t last. Well, neither does bathing – that’s why we recommend it daily. - Zig Ziglar

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Motivation is what gets you started. Habit is what keeps you going. -  Jim Ryun

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In my experience, there is only one motivation, and that is desire. No reasons or principle contain it or stand against it. - Jane Smiley

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Motivation is a fire from within. If someone else tries to light that fire under you, chances are it will burn very briefly. - Stephen R. Covey

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Motivation comes from within. - Author Unknown

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Strong lives are motivated by dynamic purposes. - Kenneth Hildebrand

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People who are unable to motivate themselves must be content with mediocrity, no matter how impressive their other talents. - Andrew Carnegie

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Be miserable. Or motivate yourself. Whatever has to be done, it’s always your choice. - Wayne Dyer

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Desire is the starting point of all achievement, not a hope, not a wish, but a keen pulsating desire which transcends everything. - Napoleon Hill

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People become really quite remarkable when they start thinking that they can do things. When they believe in themselves they have the first secret of success. - Norman Vincent Peale

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You have a very powerful mind that can make anything happen as long as you keep yourself centered.
- Dr. Wayne W. Dyer

 
SMART Goal Setting!!!

Goal set should be S.M.A.R.T 
 
        Specific 

        Measurable 

        Attainable

        Realistic 

        Timely


Specific - A specific goal has a much greater chance of being accomplished than a general goal. To set a specific goal you must answer the six "W" questions: *Who:      Who is involved? 
    * What:     What do I want to accomplish? 
    * Where:    Identify a location. 
    * When:     Establish a time frame. 
    * Which:    Identify requirements and constraints. 
    * Why:      Specific reasons, purpose or benefits of accomplishing the goal.

EXAMPLE:  A general goal would be, "Get in shape." But a specific goal would say, "Join a health club and workout 3 days a week." 


Measurable - Establish concrete criteria for measuring progress toward the attainment of each goal you set. When you measure your progress, you stay on track, reach your target dates, and experience the exhilaration of achievement that spurs you on to continued effort required to reach your goal. 
            To determine if your goal is measurable, ask questions such as...... How much? How many? How will I know when it is accomplished?

Attainable - When you identify goals that are most important to you, you begin to figure out ways you can make them come true. You develop the attitudes, abilities, skills, and financial capacity to reach them. You begin seeing previously overlooked opportunities to bring yourself closer to the achievement of your goals. 

                       You can attain most any goal you set when you plan your steps wisely and establish a time frame that allows you to carry out those steps. Goals that may have seemed far away and out of reach eventually move closer and become attainable, not because your goals shrink, but because you grow and expand to match them. When you list your goals you build your self-image. You see yourself as worthy of these goals, and develop the traits and personality that allow you to possess them.

Realistic - To be realistic, a goal must represent an objective toward which you are both willing and able to work. A goal can be both high and realistic; you are the only one who can decide just how high your goal should be. But be sure that every goal represents substantial progress. A high goal is frequently easier to reach than a low one because a low goal exerts low motivational force. Some of the hardest jobs you ever accomplished actually seem easy simply because they were a labor of love. 
                   Your goal is probably realistic if you truly believe that it can be accomplished. Additional ways to know if your goal is realistic is to determine if you have accomplished anything similar in the past or ask yourself what conditions would have to exist to accomplish this goal.

Timely - A goal should be grounded within a time frame. With no time frame tied to it there's no sense of urgency. If you want to lose 10 lbs, when do you want to lose it by? "Someday" won't work. But if you anchor it within a timeframe, "by May 1st", then you've set your unconscious mind into motion to begin working on the goal.

T can also stand for Tangible - A goal is tangible when you can experience it with one of the senses, that is, taste, touch, smell, sight or hearing. When your goal is tangible you have a better chance of making it specific and measurable and thus attainable.

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 Everyone will benefit from goals and objectives if they are SMART
 SMART, is the instrument to apply in setting goals and attributes.



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