Our Creativity

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By Akindman,

For one month each year the world celebrates International Creativity Month - a month to remind individuals and organizations around the globe to capitalize on the power of creativity.

Unleashing creativity is vital for the personal and business success in this age of accelerating change.

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January, the first month of the year, provides an opportunity to take a fresh approach to problem-solving and renew confidence in our creative capabilities.

International Creativity Month was founded by Randall Munson and is celebrated around the world annually in the month of January.

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Take advantage of International Creativity Month to refocus your attention to creatively improve your business and personal activities. (http://www.creativitymonth.com/) 

I have had it!

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By Akindman,

Today in “I’m not going to take it anymore day” and we have all been there at least once and some many more times.

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There have been books, movies, and songs relating to this theme over the years, Johnny Paychecks “Take this Job and Shove It” comes to mine.

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Yep! Some days you just got to make a decision - is this 

really worth all the hassle?

Getting it Together

By Akindman,

Mobile Brains
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As I continue to modify and establish a new routine as a retired person, breaking old habits has harder to do than expected.  For example – I have been using the Covey (Franklin/Covey) or similar method for keeping my calendar, contacts, and important information for over 30 years. My notebook was often referred to as ‘my mobile brains’ and without it, well – things got difficult.

Digital Mobile Brains
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In 2011 I moved away from the daily calendar to a weekly one – while making that transition was more complicated than expected – overall it was beginning to work.  Then in April, I got an iPhone – so what better time to migrate to a smartphone!  Makes sense, right? Well….perhaps.  So for 2012, I have not purchased any paper calendars and forcing myself to use my smartphone – to be one with the digital environment.

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January has also been the month in which I set about setting goals on getting things around the home front organized and get rid of the old, and things that are no longer needed.  Clean up the files, file things that have yet to be filed, especially the tax related stuff, and “clutter control” everywhere.

While doing some research for this article, I found this interesting checklist http://www.getorganizednow.com/cl-month.html that you might find helpful.  Another handy site to visit is http://getorganized.franklinplanner.com/page/organizing_month_0112. 

We will check back with you later in the month to compare notes and see how you folks are doing and to report our status as well.  Good luck!

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Happy National Cuddle up Day!

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By Akindman,

Cuddle meaning(s)

• (n) a close and affectionate (and often prolonged) embrace
• (v) move or arrange oneself in a comfortable and cozy position
• (v) hold (a person or thing) close, as for affection, comfort, or warmth

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We love national, strange, weird, little-known and ridiculous holidays, and today just happens to be National Cuddle Up Day.

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National Cuddle Up Day is celebrated across the nation every January 6. What do you do on National Cuddle Up Day? Why, you cuddle. With anyone, and anything.

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So get cuddling, and if you don’t have a human being to cuddle up with, no worries! You can cuddle up with a pet or even a Snuggie. It all counts!

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Fun Links:

http://globworld.com/blog/2012/01/05/national-cuddle-up-day-celebrate-hugs/?utm_source=rss&utm_medium=rss&utm_campaign=national-cuddle-up-day-celebrate-hugs

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Enjoy the Beauty

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By Akindman,

The study of birds has been a fashionable pastime ever since the Victorian Era, and the term “bird watching” first appeared as the title of a book in 1901. According to a 2009 U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service survey, today, one in every five Americans is a birdwatcher. This is defined as anyone who has traveled for the primary purpose of observing birds or has closely observed and identified birds around the home.

Our bird feeding station

 In our home – my wife and I enjoy watching the birds as do our three cats. When we were house hunting a few years ago, one important criterion was ‘nature friendly’ neighborhood - our home backs into protected woodland and there are many trees, shrubs and plants surrounding us.  Outside my home office, our landscaping team directions were to make it bird and bee friendly. It is also squirrel, chipmunk, fox, deer, raccoon and opossum friendly.  Bird feeding station and bird bath are also located there. This also provides excellent entertainment for our three cats – as they sit by the window, patio doors and watch nature – also known as ‘Kitty TV’.

Stream and Pond
 for all our critters

National Bird Day http://www.nationalbirdday.com/

http://yubanet.com/enviro/10th-Anniversary-of-National-Bird-Day-Is-Jan-5-2012.php#.TwRdndRSS8A

Bath Safety

By Akindman,

It's National Bath Safety Month! Splish Splash: Take a Safe Bath

It may be cold, the kids may be home, and all you want to do is relax. How about taking a bubble bath? Jan. 8 is National Bubble Bath Day, part of National Bath Safety Month. The goal: to reduce the nearly 43,000 bathtub injuries that occur every year in the United States.

The Consumer Product Safety Commission recommends that people take the following tips to make your bathroom safe:

• Never, for any reason, leave a child unattended around any amount of water. Even a small amount can pose a safety threat.
• Baby bath seats don't take the place of supervision. Do not leave a child in a bath tub seat unattended.
• Use a toilet seat lock in the bathroom

If you have an elderly or disabled person living with you, the AARP recommends you take these precautions:

• Install grab bars for the toilet, shower, and tub
• Install nonskid tile or use non-skid bath mats
• Set the water heater at a low setting to prevent scalds

Ever sneeze while taking a shower? Most of us have at one time or another – and having a grab bar nearby sure is helpful.

Pop Music Chart Day

Sample Chart
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 By Akindman,

On January 4, 1936, Billboard magazine published its first music hit parade. The first Music Popularity Chart was calculated in July 1940. A variety of song charts followed, which were eventually consolidated into the Hot 100 by mid-1958. The Hot 100 currently combines single sales, radio airplay and digital downloads.

All of Billboard's charts use this basic formula. What separates the charts is which stations and stores are used – each musical genre having a core audience or retail group. Each genre's department at Billboard is headed up by a chart manager, who makes these determinations.

Here are some of the Top Pop Music Charts:

1950’s

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1. Johnny B. Goode - Chuck Berry
2. Jailhouse Rock - Elvis Presley
3. Rock Around The Clock - Bill Haley & His Comets
4. Tutti-Frutti - Little Richard
5. Whole Lot of Shakin' Going On - Jerry Lee Lewis
6. What'd I Say - Ray Charles
7. Summertime Blues - Eddie Cochran
8. Hound Dog - Elvis Presley
9. Long Tall Sally - Little Richard
10. That'll Be The Day - Buddy Holly & the Crickets

1960’s

1. Respect - Aretha Franklin
2. Louie Louie - Kingsmen
3. Heard It Through The Grapevine - Marvin Gaye
4. (I Can't Get No) Satisfaction - Rolling Stones
5. Like A Rolling Stone - Bob Dylan
6. Hey Jude - Beatles
7. Good Vibrations - Beach Boys
8. You've Lost That Lovin' Feelin' - Righteous Brothers
9. My Girl - Temptations
10. Light My Fire - Doors

1970

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1. Stairway to Heaven - Led Zeppelin
2. Hotel California - The Eagles
3. Imagine - John Lennon
4. What's Going On - Marvin Gaye
5. Born to Run - Bruce Springsteen
6. Superstition - Stevie Wonder
7. Layla - Derek and the Dominos
8. Bohemian Rhapsody - Queen
9. Bridge Over Troubled Water - Simon and Garfunkel
10. Let's Stay Together - Al Green

1980’s

1. Billie Jean - Michael Jackson
2. Every Breath You Take - Police
3. When Doves Cry - Prince
4. The Message - Grandmaster Flash & The Furious 5
5. Sexual Healing - Marvin Gaye
6. Like a Virgin - Madonna
7. Walk This Way - Run-D.M.C.
8. Sweet Child O' Mine - Guns N' Roses
9. Don't You Want Me? - Human League
10. Born in the U.S.A. - Bruce Springsteen

1990’s

1. Hold On - Wilson Phillips
2. It Must Have Been Love - Roxette
3. Nothing Compares 2 U - Sinead O'Connor
4. Poison - Bell Biv Devoe
5. Vogue - Madonna
6. Vision of Love - Mariah Carey
7. Another Day In Paradise - Phil Collins
8. Hold On - En Vogue
9. Cradle of Love - Billy Idol
10. Blaze of Glory - Jon Bon Jovi

2000’s

1. Crazy in Love - Beyoncé featuring Jay-Z
2. Hey Ya! - OutKast
3. Poker Face - Lady Gaga
4. Lose Yourself - Eminem
5. Since U Been Gone - Kelly Clarkson
6. Gold Digger - Kanye West featuring Jamie Foxx
7. Sexy Back- Justin Timberlake featuring Timbaland
8. Empire State of Mind - Jay-Z featuring Alicia Keys
9. We Belong Together - Mariah Carey
10. In Da Club - 50 Cent

While doing the research for this article, I found several good site that I sure many of your will enjoy.

What are some of your all-time favorite songs?

Do you remember?