Tag: Amy Zents

Skip the flowers, let’s talk!

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Find inspiration in each other!

You can spend a lot of money to take a flower-arranging class, or maybe drop half a 100 bucks on painting and Pinot, but whichever class or workshop you sign up for, you’ll find benefits come from co-mingling and communication.
Sometimes your class or workshop is lubricated with alcohol, and there are munchies offered too. Nevertheless, it’s usually a joyful time. People are in a jovial mood. It’s time to relax.
I love these things, these classes with a central theme, that inspire creativity and conversation.
Whatever you like, be it flower-arranging, stitch and b****, learning to mix cocktails, quilting bees or cooking classes, you’re never too old to have some fun, and maybe even learn something.
Of course, you’ll find life sometimes gets in the way of fun times: the price of gas going up and down, the crazy in the truck who stares you down who looks like Rasputin, the time you misplaced your wallet and found it stuck in between two pots in the kitchen, or heaven forbid, when you’re trying to get out of
the door and the car keys aren’t where you left them!
With such variety in life in the way of hobbies, I predict in the future more of us will invest a little time and cash in getting to know our neighbor through taking community-based classes or workshops.

Musically yours, Amy Zents

And it makes me wonder

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Sometimes you wonder who’s who on the Internet. You cast your words out like a giant net, you share your stories, your feelings, your thoughts to anyone who cares to read your posts. Then slowly, and sadly you find out that there are those out there who are imposters.

Sometimes men pretend to be women, some women pretend to be celebrities, some teenagers pretend to be professionals, And so it goes, nobody knows . It doesn’t matter who they say they are, they may be someone altogether different.

Once in awhile you get a troll, some creep that pops up out of nowhere. Perhaps you let them be your friend on Facebook, and then you find out the crazy side of their personality.

Can we screen people better? Should we have to know who they really are?
In the future I believe there will probably be a screening method that will force people to be honest online.

I’m sure the phonies would not like that. For now, we only hope to attract people who are sincere. There is a plus to social media. It opens doors to connect old friends, gather new friends, and make us richer in many ways.

Musically yours, Amy Zents

Tortilla Chip Wisdom

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You can consume your favorite Internet content in a variety of ways just be sure what you hear or see rings true

The choices by which you have to consume content online are multitudinous. That’s a ten dollar word for “many.” You can watch it, you can read it, you can hear it, you can see it, you can even interact with it in 3-D!

The question is, which way do you like to consume Internet content? I find them all interesting.

My only gripe with reading, or watching, or listening to advice spewn by so-called experts, is that once in awhile their wisdom is questionable.

Experience has taught us that when someone says, for example, “You can’t make a living as a poet,” or “You can’t make a hit movie on $7 grand,” or you better not do this or that,  the fact is, someone else has done or is doing what the experts say is impossible!

In short, consume your favorite content in any flavor or style you like, just remember to take some things like you take your tortillas, with a grain of salt!

Problems and passions

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wp-1457538422474.jpgYou have your problems, I have mine. You have your passions, I have mine. The key to finding out what makes us feel free is deciding what direction we should go. Do we want to be led, or must we be pushed? Are we being led by pain or by passion? Whatever we decide or do not decide to do today about our future, we know there is a measure of the outcome we can control.
Mainly, the possibilities found in establishing good habits is a great way to get the ball rolling. We can be happy by focusing on what matters. Health, home, relationships, relaxing and traveling are part of what enhances our lives. Central to a great life is our career. Work is the place to start and work rewards are many.
Problems and passions co-mingle at times, but the power of habit can help to keep us on the right track to where we want to go.

Musically yours, Amy Zents

You need yourself to lead yourself

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How do we present ourselves? I saw a very cute saying, “Your vibe attracts your tribe.” The things that we value, and the things we remember, are things that are important to us and our way of life. They are often the things we are attracted to, or are drawn to, and respect.
Notwithstanding, there are those who track everything we are interested in. They’re trying to market to us. And again, others try to influence us with their opinions. However, not every idea suits every person. We can filter ideas.
How do we sift through all the muck and mire to get some benefit from the Internet? We need ourselves to lead ourselves. Plan your work, and work your plan. Don’t get sidetracked if you can. Find the best and forget the rest.
These may all sound like cliches. Still it’s good advice if we don’t want to wind up lost in a vast wasteland of clicks and distractions that suck up our time and rob us of our focus.
Decide what’s most important. Seeing it in this light, you can use your focused and purposeful vibe to attract your focused and purposeful tribe.
Have at it and lead yourself to success!

Musically yours, Amy Zents

The Beer Revolution

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I went to a beer tasting class this weekend. I learned a lot about beer making and it’s primary ingredients water, barley, hops and yeast. A good beer is made up of a few simple components, and a bunch of scientific processes. The cult of craft beers has taken beer-making into another realm.
I found out that in our town, there will soon be a new tap room that only serves sour beer. Sour beer is a cross between champagne, wine and beer. In pushing the boundaries of beer, the beer-makers use fresh fruits such as, lemons, apricots, gooseberries, raspberries and other fruits to make a variety of this puckery, bubbly concoction.
We think of the future of beer-making and we ask ourselves how can they improve on beer? Just pass one over here. Whether or not you like sour beer, lager or good old-fashioned ale, the beer revolution is on. In the science of beer-making the brewmaster is a scientist and an artist. Both roles are valuable to him. When it comes to yeast culture in the beer, the brewmaster can be happy to exclaim: “It’s Alive!”

Musically yours, Amy Zents

A drone in every home

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Drones have been in the news a lot lately. And if not totally silent, they are pretty quiet, unlike human drones who natter on endlessly. Another use of robotic power? Definitely! Another definition of a drone is: unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV) or when armed known as an unmanned combat aerial vehicle (UCAV)

Mostly, a form of amusement, novelty, and functionality. But seriously, it can be considered a weapon as well, and there are many out there who would like to stop them. Outside of probable nefarious uses, drones are often used in gaming, and in agriculture. Drones can deliver goods and go where humans fear to tread. There will probably be more fancy drones created in the future that will do things on a level we currently are dreaming up. And soon, there will be a drone in every home.
My! Oh my! The places drones can go.

Musically yours, Amy Zents

Future communities

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Your tribe is out there

So are you afraid of the future?
Some prognosticators imagine that in about 75 years all drudge work will be automated. Already, a lot of jobs have been lost to computers, automation and oblivion. So if you hate your job, wherever you are on the totem pole, there’s a big chance your job will be taken over or eradicated, eventually. It will most likely be taken over by a robot. Robots have a lot of assets we humans do not. We are building smarter robots, and we are relying on them more and more.
However, the Internet has created a bridge that is conducive to human connection, communication and creativity. When you go online you are able to address a much bigger audience then at the local town hall. Are you on the edge of society? Is there a niche you are drawn to? Whether you love cribbage, history or physics, know there is a tribe just for you. It is possible that your online community will help you embrace the future and earn your keep. Seek and you shall find. Your community is out there.

Musically yours, Amy Zents

Happy hour every hour

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We all love happy hour. Traditionally known as “beer-thirty,” and immortalized in that country song, “It’s five o’clock somewhere.”
To make happy hour every hour of the day and night, it doesn’t take large volumes of alcohol, and delicious, crispy deep-fried munchies.
With judicious planning, every hour of your day and night can be happy hour. It all boils down to your self-direction and follow-through.
Try this little experiment. Get up in the morning, and make a note to yourself as to what you would like to do for the next 12 hours. In other words, lead yourself first. Keep your heart happy by focusing on each task you have to do or just want to do. (Keep your list near.) Throughout the day, imagine how good you will feel when you have reached your target or your intention. Take a little time out here and there to enjoy good food and drink, and revel in your innate power. You can do it! Go for it and make every hour, your happy hour..

Musically yours, Amy Zents

The future of feedback

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If the glass is half empty or half full you should be able to say it without signing your name to it

Sometimes it hurts you to be criticized and sometimes it helps. But more often it is the critic who gets punished. People don’t like you when you speak the truth. In the future, I think people will be able to express their opinion in a way that is helpful without compromising their personal security. I found in smaller cities and towns you cannot write an editorial to be published in a newspaper without revealing your name. If your identity has to be put on the line, how can you express the truth? Granted some people have less than noble motives for criticizing the system or others, but nevertheless, I don’t think a person who puts forth an idea or a valid argument should be punished for it or have to reveal their name.

Musically yours, Amy Zents