catnipoflife

Observe life at its best, Listen to life’s songs, Embrace life’s bounties, Breathe the breath of life, Savor life to its fullest!

The Chair

The visual inspiration (photography) for this writing comes by way of Vate @Consonancias y Disonancias o el Eco del Murciélago de Abril Estados de Alma y Espíritu frente a la época actual de nuestra Humanidad

With the help of our friend, Google, translation at its best is Consonance & Dissonance States of Soul and Spirit against the current era of our Humanity. Unfortunately, there were some parts that did not translate sensibly and my Spanish is low, very low, on the totem pole. That, by no means, takes anything away from Vate’s site. I encourage you to visit and read more HERE!

I first saw the photograph last evening and immediately wrote…

Aged with Time

TheChair

The chair
so empty and bare
What good are you
just sitting there?

Aged with time
paint chipped and peeling
Who would want you
discolored, unappealing?

Your back’s not straight
Resembling a sick tree
What’s with those legs?
Much too short I see

There’s a hint of beauty
beneath your scarred skin
Why were you abandoned
in the shape you’re in?

Eying you closer
I ponder and ponder
A little love and care?
I wonder, I wonder

I’ll take you home
make you mine
Where will I find
time, time, time?

Time to repair
Time to mend
Time together
When, when, when?

catniplogosm1©2014 catnipoflife
Sharla Lee Shults

What inspiration did you gather when you first saw the photograph?

How many times do you stop to ponder “Where will I find the time?” If you could recapture those moments and add them all together, you might be surprised at how much time you’d have on your hands!

Time-in-Hand

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Awakenings: The Decade That Changed a Nation

See on Scoop.itAwakenings: America & Beyond

We are in the midst of the three-day weekend honoring civil rights leader Martin Luther King, Jr. This was a man with a committed life during a period of enduring highs and unforgettable lows in American history. This was the 1960s—a time of social revolution where choices led to “tune in and drop out” or lead a normal life with focus on work, family and home. This was the era where women wanted to stand up and be counted—counted for more than just wife and homemaker—in other words, they were seeking equality with men. Good education. Good job. Good pay.

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

@Awakenings scroll down to some groovy music! Which ones do you remember…songs of protest or easy listening? Let me know your favs!

See on www.awakenings2012.blogspot.com

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Find Serenity

Serenity Serenity.jpg photo

“I had found a kind of serenity, a new maturity… I didn’t feel better or stronger than anyone else but it seemed no longer important whether everyone loved me or not–more important now was for me to love them. Feeling that way turns your whole life around; living becomes the act of giving.”  ~Beverly Sills

*******************************

Find Serenity

Serenity_Sunset

Serenity has not one color
One place nor one time
It’s sunrise and sunset
Blue waters of storm or calm…

Serenity_Blue_Water

Cloudy and cloudless
Tina ripples upon a lake
Silence within when tossed about
Breaking waves amid a wake…

Serenity_Lake

Distant as the farthest mountain
Atop the highest peak
Closest as the sweetest kiss
Nearby a rocky creek…

Serenity_Rocks

Velvet touch of the crimson rose
Touchless like the thorny vine
Happily ending love story
Tingling goosebumps up the spine…

Serenity_Rose

Find serenity
Within your heart, mind and soul
Easily seen on the outside
It’s the inner beauty to behold

catniplogosm1©2014 catnipoflife
Sharla Lee Shults

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The ‘CAPTCHA’

The nasty ‘CAPTCHA’. . .

How many times have you been annoyed by the ‘CAPTCHA’ only to be trapped in its clutches over and over again as you attempt to simply leave someone a comment? First, you may receive “the CAPTCHA code does not match.” Second attempt might reveal “the CAPTCHA solution is incorrect.” Then, yet another attempt could come back with “the CAPTCHA wasn’t entered correctly” followed by yet another that simply states “the CAPTCHA is wrong.”

Computer_KillAre you screaming yet? Pulling out your hair? Pounding on the keyboard? Spitting out a few expletives? When all else fails, you lay your head on the keyboard expecting to look back up at the monitor and see the message ‘gotcha‘ – do not pass go – do not collect $200!

On most occasions a CAPTCHA is no more than a fuzzy, jumbled-up mess of letters and numbers with no apparent meaning whatsoever other than to test if I am indeed a robot. But, one this morning really got me: 10a handhrs! Was it trying to tell me something robotically speaking. Was there a message needing to be decoded? Had I already been at the mercy of the computer for 10 hours? Nah! It was only 8 A.M.

Why the term ‘CAPTCHA’ anyway? Does sound a lot like ‘gotcha’ so maybe there is a connection. Let’s analyze it and see what wee ‘meaning’ might be lurking in its prank-fulness.

Did you know it is actually an acronym? It stands for…

Completely Automated Public Turing test to tell Computers and Humans Apart

Has our world become so technologically oriented that we must prove beyond any shadow of doubt that each of us is not a robot? Is life becoming so controlled that decisions must be confirmed via distorted images before moving on? Are we completely at the mercy of spambots? Heaven forbid!

Captcha

This CAPTCHA of “smwm” obscures its message from computer interpretation by twisting the letters and adding a background color gradient.

Check out the CAPTCHA Madness Infographic…

How much of the Internet hates CAPTCHA?  How many are out there on the Internet anyway?

 Why do they exist?

The-CAPTCHA-Madness-Infographic1

CAPTCHA Madness Infographic: CAPTCHAs, the twisted and distorted text challenges, aka the scourge of the internet, are everywhere. And the madness is growing!

Ever heard of Assira? It has been around for awhile (since 2007) but can’t say I have encountered it like the CAPTCHA. Sounds much more interesting that the nasty ‘CAPTCHA’ anyway!

ASIRRA

(Animal Species Image Recognition for Restricting Access)
                               

Asirra is a human interactive proof that asks users to identify photos of cats and dogs. It’s powered by over three million photos from our unique partnership with Petfinder.com. Protect your web site with Asirra � free!

 Please select all the cat photos:

What in the world is coming next?

8 Comments »

Awakenings: Polar Bear, Polar Bear & Winnie the Pooh

See on Scoop.itAwakenings: America & Beyond

Did you know today is Winnie the Pooh Day

Along with Teddy Bear Day, Teddy Bear Picnic Day and Have a Party with Your Bear Day, Winnie the Pooh Day has to be one of the cuddliest days of the year. Of course, we can include Valentine’s Day in the cuddling category also. But, for today, we will concentrate on one of the most famous bears of all time, Winnie the Pooh.

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

What does Winnie the Pooh have to do with a polar bear? Perhaps it is not Winnie at all but the date January 18? Check it out @ Awakenings…

See on awakenings2012.blogspot.com

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NATURE’S SYMPHONY

A very special poem from Len Carver depicting the true essence of the catnipoflife! Thank you, Len, for your inspiring message.

Song_of_Storms

lenwilliamscarver's avatarmyownheart.me

Do you hear the music of the world around you?

Hear the crashing CYMBALS of the thunder
music of a raindrop as the clouds begin to weep?

A snowflake as it descends to earth?
Ivory keys fading to-night shades slush
Building to the crescendo of many PIANO keys

Smell the roses as they bud
to the unfurling as they bloom
Emitting scent of exotic perfume
A soulful sound of many VIOLINS

Hear the sound of butterfly wings?
The music of little fluttery things
music of HARP’s gentle strings

Hear the whisper of the trees
as the wind blows soft breath
Through the rustling leaves
Echoing softly …CELLO

Listen close if only to hear  music for
Lovers as they begin to swirl and twirl
in a dance of their beating hearts
like  passion of SPANISH GUITARS

Hear orchestration of earths symphony
Walk quietly with open mind and ears
Let sounds of…

View original post 9 more words

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Awakenings: A Salute to Our Troops

See on Scoop.itAwakenings: America & Beyond

All too often our country’s military misses out on life’s most precious moments. A soldier (in the sense here meaning any member of our military forces) may be thousands of miles away when news arrives of the birth of a son or daughter. Perhaps, the news is the opposite end of the spectrum, the death of a parent, brother, sister, or even a child. Distance separates families leaving times for communication often few and far between, time passes slowly …months … years … without seeing loved ones. Whether a first hello or final goodbye, the moments can never be regained. And, their stories touch the Heart of America.

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

There are five branches to our military each with their own terms of identifications and regulations. The poetry Soldiers of America is being used in its broadest sense to honor all troops.

See on awakenings2012.blogspot.com

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Awakenings: Democratic Donkey, the Pentagon & Football

See on Scoop.itAwakenings: America & Beyond

Awakenings: Democratic Donkey, the Pentagon & Football

This Day in History: January 15, 1870, 1943, and 1967

There is always numerous events happening on the same day but different years. Today, Awakenings is going to highlight three such events relative to this day, January 15th.

Featured poetry @awakenings: The Pigskin

Sharla Shults‘s insight:
1) First appearance of the Democratic donkey: 
January 15, 1870
2) Construction completed on the Pentagon:
January 15, 1943
3) Packers face Chiefs in first Super Bowl:
January 15, 1967

See on awakenings2012.blogspot.com

2 Comments »

Awakenings: And the music goes on…Contemporary & Classical

See on Scoop.itAwakenings: America & Beyond

One cannot leave the music scene without reference to adult contemporary music and contemporary classical music. Adult contemporary music prior to 1979 was sometimes referred to a Easy Listening or Middle of the Road Music. Classical music as most people are familiar is everything from Bach to Copland.

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

For the adult contemporary music, there is one that not only must be mentioned but should be included for your listening pleasure.  Enya awaits @awakenings…

See on awakenings2012.blogspot.com

2 Comments »

Awakenings: Norma Jean Marries Baseball Legend

See on Scoop.itAwakenings: America & Beyond

For some of you, the name Norma Jeane may not ring a bell but once I mention Marilyn Monroe its tone will surely be loud and clear.

Marilyn was born Norma Jeane Mortenson June 1, 1926 in Los Angeles, California. She endured a difficult childhood that was anything but glamorous, instead filled with insecurity and instability. She spent her adolescence in and out of foster care and an orphanage. In spite of her immense vulnerability and extreme odds being cast against her, Norma Jean went on to become one of the world’s biggest and most enduring sex symbols, Marilyn Monroe.

Sharla Shults‘s insight:

“Being a sex symbol is a heavy load to carry, especially when one is tired, hurt and bewildered.” –– Marilyn Monroe

See on awakenings2012.blogspot.com

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