A Great Yoga Practice for People Who Dance and Engage in Self Defense

I have a personal trainer certificate and keep my eye out for different stretches and activities that support other sports such as self-defense, dance, horse riding, etc... This is a good stretch routine for those who need great flexibility in their legs and hamstrings. If your not in practice some of this might be harder but it is still gets you ready for whatever leg movements you will be doing.

A Couple of Conceptual Quick Paintings In Preparation for Larger Work

Lately I have been fortunate in finding places to display work. Two different restaurants are willing to host my paintings to their patrons. I have two works (not these two) completed but need at least three of them. What I seek to do is create larger paintings from concepts that work on smaller canvas. The use of conceptual quick paintings saves me time and money because you can just try out the idea before moving onto a larger painting where you may struggle with an idea and then the whole painting suffers.

For example, out of the two here I choose the black and white one and redo it on larger canvas and take time to put in the detail. This one just took about 10 minutes because I'm going fast and don't really care much what the end result is as long as it is spatially functional. I'm not sure if I will put colored leaves in or not. The other one is simple scrap because I discarded it. Was trying to make almost a neon tree.

Small Town Marketing is Different Than Large International Companies

While there are principles that will be the same in both small and large town marketing I'm surprised by how the channels are remarkably different in modern times.  Small businesses need visitors within a small range while national/international businesses need as wide a market as they can get within their specific demographic. This creates two fundamentally different approaches.

Small Business: Needs local advertising in newspapers, flyers, local sponsorship, local tv channels, business cards, billboards, and word of mouth. There is some need to ensure popular mapping apps like Google Maps shows your location as people will find you from there.

Large International/National Businesses: Rely on national/international newspapers, online marketing methods, national TV channels, and overall wide exposure outlets.

Fundamentally one focuses all the channels specific to their local area while the other seeks to create wide reach. While some local advertising, such is the case of Red Bull sponsorship of local events, makes sense, for many businesses this strategy is unlikely to work. This is why those businesses often create a general brand for the bigger market without specifically pointing to a particular store.

Drum Practice for Independent Hands and Feet-Practice 1

Most of my youth I played drums, left it, and came back to it in the past year. One of the things I need to do is improve my hand-foot independence necessary for playing more complex pieces. It is something that if you don't use it and practice regularly you start to lose some abilities. I didn't lose so much I couldn't play, as I tried out and became a drummer for a band (at least back up drummer when In my home town. That was primarily me telling the band I'm not around enough for you to count on me.). But the fine tuning I need isn't there.

Going through practices like this one helps me to relearn drum independence. That opens me up to all different types of beats and combinations such as rolls. Writing it out helps me remember and engrain it. I'm playing around with Sound Cloud.

The music sounds like that below. Please remember this is not a professional edit. I just played it a few times until I got one that matched the above. The first set is Practice 1, pause, The second set is Practice 2, pause, and then the Final Set is Practice 2 with a drum roll. Fairly simple stuff but very helpful as you build on it. Just keep playing without pause.

Three Benefits of Walking in the Woods-Pictures

1. Slowing heart rate.
2. Improved cardio health from walking.
3. Greater appreciation of the world.

4 good reasons why it is important for non-profits to still think about branding?

Sometimes when running a non-profit we don't think of it as a business. Yet this isn't true and difference between a successful and unsuccessful one is its branding. They have income through donations and they have expenses. The only major difference is they are not allowed to keep their profit beyond rainy day funds. The brand will determine in many ways how successful your non-profit will be in drawing people.

1.) Resonate with People: The brand image of the non-profit should resonate with people and attract them.

2.) Motivate to Act: The brand should motivate people to act on the behalf of the mission of the organization.

3.) Pictures and Images: Pictures will help people connect deeper with the organization. It improves motivation.

4.) A Few Key Words/a Slogan: Have a few key words or a slogan that describes your non-profit so people can understand and retain quickly.

Highlights Packers vs. 49ers 2018

Great game and close until the end. Sometimes I like watching the highlights because they are cleaner and quicker to understand what happened. These games help to create local pride even though the players are no longer necessarily from the area. They do provide a focal point for people when they think of their hometown areas.

Horses that Follow You-What does it mean and why?

While walking around the arena putting about away some equipment I noticed my horse Sass started following me around. When I tied her up she would pull against her reins until she was free and then follow me again. Curious I started to do a little research on why horses follow you around. It comes down to acceptance-One good and one no so great.

The horse accepts you because it views you as part of its pack. It believes you are no longer a threat or a foreigner to its pack and doesn't have a reason to run away from you. The acceptance is a great thing but the type of acceptance is another.

Lets say that she follows you and doesn't attempt to dominate you. In other words she isn't pushing you around with her nose, nipping, and getting into your space. She just wants to be near you. This is a sign she has accepted you and has bonded with you. You are higher on the horse hierarchy than her.

If she is pushing you around and getting in your space you will need to correct her quickly. While she may have accepted you she assumes your just another horse she can dominate. This can be dangerous if she can do whatever she wants that will lead to all types of dominating and "sassy" behaviors.

My horse got the name "Sass" because of her attitude! She never accepted the previous owners as dominant and seemed to display a sense of stubbornness despite winning a couple of awards. After she made her very first jump with me she bonded. I could see subtle changes in her a few months beforehand such as changing of ears direction, a more relaxed body posture, and not moving away from me when getting her out of the field.

Supporting Eco Tourism and Health Through DCN Trails Clean Up-Get Involved!

Tonight I attended DCN Trails which stands for Delta County Non-Motorized Trails Organization. Its a group of people who get together to protect and improve local trails. Doing so not only increases access to these trails for people who want to get out in nature but also encourages ecotourism of the area that lends itself to economic development.

While government can set policy and do a lot it is up to local businesses, groups, and people to invest in their own eco-tourism future. Businesses and citizens can get out and make a difference through financial or personal effort.

There are two events you may want to join. Both are between 9 am and 12 cleaning up and clearing trails. Bring shovels, limb cutters and rakes.

Saturday October 20th Days River Trail Head
Saturday October 27th Rapid River Trial Head


https://www.facebook.com/DCNTrails/?tn-str=k*F

Marketing as a Promotion of the Perception of a World View

Marketing has been called a lot of things and there are so many ways of describing it. Yet the field is often associated with a perception of a world view. Within many campaigns is a deep seated need to influence a world view that attracts like minded adherents to purchase the brand. Each campaign provides a methodology to life.

Lets consider an image of a bottle of rum on the beach. You will also find happy young people enjoying themselves. They are promoting a world view that life should be fun and carefree. We should be youthful and enjoy the world.

Another strong example may be a team of people whitewater rafting down a treacherous river. The slogan may say something like, "Conquer the World" or "Explore Your World" indicating that people should seek to challenge and understand the world around them. It just so happens by buying a particular outdoor brand promotes that view.

How we relate to the world is a reflection of our values and how we see ourselves. We may not be aware of the constructed images we have but they say something about how "things should be". When we find certain brands attractive we are promoting our values and lifestyle through a world view of our inner world.