Majority believe US will be on downward spiral through 2050

A majority of people in the United States believe the country will be on a downward spiral for decades, according to a new poll.

More than half, 54 percent, expect American life to go downhill until 2050, according to a recent poll by Associated Press-NORC Center for Public Affairs Research.

That same percentage say life in America is worse today than four decades ago. Pollsters had asked people to rate the change in American life from 1972 until 2012.

The poll indicates that more of those who are pessimistic are middle-aged and older, those who earn mid-level incomes and those who identify as Protestants.

Even young people, racial and ethnic minorities, and nonreligious people, however, do not envision a better future.

Twenty-three percent think life will improve though, the poll indicates; 21 percent predict life will remain the same.

Only three in 10 who think life is better now largely credit computers and technology as the change that contributed to those improvements. Racial and ethnic minorities, the poll suggests, are more likely to point to domestic issues like civil rights. 

Although an increasing percentage of people predict the U.S. is heading down a negative path, nine out of 10 individuals rated themselves as being pretty or very happy. 

From Destructive to Constructive Conversations in 6 Steps

Let's assume that you already know that trying to express your feelings and thoughts while you are physically and psychologically aroused (angry, exasperated, deeply disappointed) is unlikely to help you communicate productively (unless you count number of insults or volume level as part of your productivity quotient).

Let's also assume that like me, you have adopted a number of "calming down" techniques (time out from the other person, breathing, going for a walk, standing on your head, eating chocolate, ok - I digress) before trying to talk with the person about what happened (or simply re-engaging with them at all).

Perhaps you have then discovered, like I have, that these calming down strategies work fairly well while the two of you are apart, but don't do much good when you actually try to communicate about the issue (whether in person or over email).

This is because most calming down techniques do not fundamentally change the thoughts and judgments you are holding about the person or their behavior.

Thus, when you communicate with the person, those negative thoughts and judgments ("She's careless and incompetent" "That was so inconsiderate and disrespectful!") get woven into your tone and word choices. And - sensing these barbed messages within your communication, the person will have a much harder time focusing on what you are saying - or hearing you the way you'd like to be heard.

So, what is one to do? Marshall Rosenberg, the father of Non Violent Communication (NVC), urges us to engage in "empathy before education."

The most effective and efficient way I know of doing this on my own is to fill out an Empathy Worksheet.

There are different variations of these in the NVC community; this one is a slight modification of one used by Newt Bailey, effective communication coach and conflict resolution trainer, facilitator and mediator - as well as one of the stars of the Conflict Hotline, a show on conflict resolution hosted by BayNVC's non violence guru Miki Kashtan.

What I love about my Empathy Worksheet:

• Quick (10 - 20 min depending on how deep you want to go)
• Easy (my 8 yr. old does it on his own)
• Empowering (moves me past self-pity, anger, judgments and criticisms to what really matters to me)
• Effective (allows me to communicate in a way that greatly increases my chances of being heard and to hear the other person)

So, what's involved?

1: Stop, Drop and Write!

STOP what you are doing and take 10 minutes to fill out the Worksheet!

BEFORE YOU PRESS SEND. Don't send that angry email you just composed! Go do the Worksheet and then edit the email before sending it out.

BEFORE YOU ESCALATE. If you are in an escalating argument, STOP. Tell the other person this is not going anywhere productive and that you'd like to take some time out and continue in 30 minutes. Go do the Worksheet and then reboot the conversation using what you discovered.

BEFORE YOU CONFRONT. If you are upset and rehearsing all the things you are going to say when you see that person, find 10 minutes to do the Worksheet first.

BEFORE YOU LOSE ANY MORE SLEEP. If you are ruminating about something, do the Worksheet for some relief and some movement forward.

Preparing the Worksheet: You can create the Worksheet on any piece of paper. Divide the paper in thirds by letterfolding it. Label the top third "Judgments", the middle third "Feelings" and the bottom third "Needs".

2: Choose one specific incident.

Choose a specific incident and describe it as objectively as you can at the very BOTTOM of the page (the top will get thrown out later).

Even if you are angry or disappointed by a series of incidents, it will help if you choose one (either the most recent or the one that is MOST symbolic of the whole thing).

Let's say the issue is your partner repeatedly not following through with agreements you have made. The most recent incident might be that they did not mail a package they said they would mail for you.

EXAMPLE OF OBJECTIVE DESCRIPTION OF THIS INCIDENT:

Got home and saw the package on the table.

A less objective description would be: "The package was still on the table..." or "You forgot to mail the package" or "Once again, something I care about was not..."  etc.

3: Write down your Judgments.

This is the part where you get to vent!

In the TOP THIRD of your Worksheet, write down all the nasty, brutal, attacking, judgmental, self-pitying, analytical, diagnostic, despairing, evaluative judgments and thoughts you are having about the person or incident. Don't hold back (they will NOT get to see this part of the sheet).

EXAMPLE:

So inconsiderate!        Oh my god can't take it anymore!        Self centered, uncaring, no feelings.        Really in trouble this time.       Why why why???        Can't trust anymore.        Unbearable! etc.

4: Write down your Feelings.

In the MIDDLE THIRD of your Worksheet, write down all the feelings you have about the person or incident. If your feeling vocabulary is a bit under-nourished, use a list such as this one: http://cnvc.org/Training/feelings-inventory.

EXAMPLE:

Angry.     Furious.      Frustrated.      Surprised.     Actually - NOT surprised!       Exasperated.        Fuming.          Despair.        Hopeless.         Super sad.        etc.

Full Article

What is my grudge with the status quo *Gosh damn I knew this day would come

 First, attempt to grasp the hierarchy of people > There's the feed, the herd, the herders, the kings and the gods. Tangent = Toss the Bible, Jesus only said one thing that really matters, "You come to crucify me for blasphemy? I came here to tell you that ye are "gods" and I Am The Son Of God" Talk to your preacher, teacher, shamen whatever about that one.

 The status quo tends to reside between the feed and the herd, they need leaders/herders because they can't lead themselves. They call 911 because their child has a serious cut but they have no common sense or a first aid kit. (People always say "common sense" when we're living in common ignorance")
The status quo/the herd is predictable. If I were to see a crowd of people running south, I'm running east or west.
The status quo/feed tend to go along with their friends on any point made. *I can't risk my friendships by having a voice of opposition.
 I've even witnessed the status quo/herd have a family dinner menu so everyone knows what they're eating every night.... What type of shit?

 Beyond being boring as sitting in a doctor's waiting room, intelligence says we need you. Who else is going to do cheap labor, get super high APR credit cards, have 4 kids when they can't feed themselves, who else is going to vote Democrat or Republican with no definition of either, who else is going to eat tons of fats, sugar and garbage to keep pimply faced kids employed, who else would vote for Trump triggering a redistribution of wealth and lastly, "Who else in the world would go to a church, place money in a bowl to support the church feeding the poor INSTEAD of taking a fucking sandwich to the poor?

Care to check your own mental state quickly, efficiently and for free

 Every space that you control is an extension of your mind, care to see where you're at? No one but you will know the answers to these simple illustrated questions except you so be honest.

 Is this more like you?

 Or is this more like you?

Is this ordinary?

Or is this ordinary?

Does this seem familiar?

Or is this more familiar?

This ring a bell?

Or does this ring a bell?

Is this typical?

Or is it more like this?

 And there you have your answer with no embarrassment or person to person intrusive questions.

If your outside is cluttered, lacking order and symmetry, then your inside is cluttered, lacking order and symmetry.

"Ty" asked me when I was coming back

 I told her I was headed down Mexico way and that I'd like to spend my birthday in Rio. No matter if it's Thailand, Cambodia or Vietnam, these women spoil the hell out of you but "not like you may think".
 As long as you can provide them with a job they work their asses off. I've been told the men treat them horribly, I say goodbye before I do all that.
 When they can feed their families, they wake up cooking and cleaning but here's what gets me > They wear shoes even on the back of a motto. Straight out of the bed they shower, do their makeup and are waiting to see what you want to do next.
 I explained that you're not a friggin slave, take some bucks and go shopping. "Ty" got offended, try that shit in the US.

 She even smokes her cigarettes classy.

I'm selling the race truck and the yacht

..and I have created .gifs for potential buyers to view on my website. It would really be nice to sell the two as a combo package. I'm leaving one way or the other so...

The Toy Box

My veterinarian looked at me like I was an alien LOL

 I arrived at my vet as usual and tossed a few words around with the staff. When called I went on in the examination room, everything as usual.
 When the actual vet arrived she asked me what was going on and I began LMAO
"Nietzsche" was fine a few days ago until I purchased him some new chew toys, yadda yadda, blahza blahza. Then I went on to say that it seems that with his pink paws and underbelly skin tone, he's probably only a few genes off from being an albino. This would explain quite a few things such as an immune deficiency. Seeing that he just turned 14 months, perhaps, oooo what was it, "A-T / G-C", his genetic clock has begun to turn on genes while turning off others.
 Then again, he had this problem before yadda yadda, blahza blaha. LOL

 She looked at me and asked, "Why did you bother bringing him here? *My social graces aren't what the use to be and I bluntly stated, "Because I can't write the prescriptions". Then her humor dawned on me LOL

 Read a book or two every month and this might happen to you.

The OSI Model – What It Is; Why It Matters; Why It Doesn’t Matter. *Future Tachy's Really Need This

The OSI Model was created based on recommendations from the International Organization for Standardization (ISO) in 1980, which started expanding on the DoD model in the late 1970s. The current standard was published in 1996. The official title for the model is the ISO OSI (Open Systems Interconnection) Reference Model since it describes or relates to connecting systems that are open for communication with other systems. In the model, the functions of the communication system are standardized by categorizing them into abstract layers. The functions which are similar are grouped into the same layer and provide services to the layers above their existing layer.

What Does the OSI Model Do?

The OSI model depicts how data communications should take place. It splits the functions or processes into seven groups that are described as layers. When protocols or other standards are developed by other organizations such as the American National Standards Institute (ANSI), Institute of Electrical and Electronic Engineers (IEEE), and the International Telecommunications Union (ITU) formerly known as the CCITT (Comite Consultatif Internationale de Telegraphique et Telephone), they are placed into a layer of the model to help with communication protocol integration and conceptual understanding. The majority of major network and computer vendors, large commercial entities, and governments support the use of the OSI model. Each of the layers of the OSI model is intended to function with those above and below it respectfully within the model definition.

The OSI model defines standards for:

• The way in which devices communicate between each other.
• The means used to inform devices when to send data and when not to transmit data.
• The methods which ensure that devices have a correct data flow rate
• The means used to ensure that data is passed to, and received by the intended recipient.
• The manner in which physical transmission media is arranged and connected.

What Are the Seven Layers of the OSI Model?

The OSI model is made up of seven layers which are presented as a stack. Each of the layers of the OSI model has a numerical level or layer, and a plain text descriptor. Data which is passed over the network moves through each layer.

The seven layers of the OSI model are:

• Application Layer – layer 7
• Presentation Layer – layer 6
• Session Layer – layer 5
• Transport Layer – layer 4
• Network Layer – layer 3
• Data-Link Layer – layer 2
• Physical Layer – layer 1

A common mnemonic used to remember the OSI model layers starting with the seventh layer (Application) is: “All People Seem to Need Data Processing.” The lower two layers of the model are normally implemented through software and hardware solutions, while the upper five layers are typically implemented through the use of software only.

Each layer of the OSI model has its own unique functions. The process of sending data is typically started at the Application layer, is sent through the stack to the Physical layer, and then over the network to the recipient. Data is received at the Physical layer, and the data packet is then passed up the stack to the Application layer.

Different protocols operate at the different layers of the OSI model. Each layer of the OSI model has its own protocols. TCP and IP are collectively called the protocol stack or the network/transport protocols. This is due to the protocols operating at the Network and Transport layers to make it possible for computers to communicate. A protocol stack, r stack, is a group of protocols which are arranged in layers to enable communication. In the protocol stack, each layer provides services to the layer above it; and each layer also receives services from the layer beneath it. For two computers to partake in communications, each computer has to be running the same protocol stack. They can however have different operating systems.

The published “advantages” of the OSI Model are: enhanced learning/teaching, reduced intricacy, modular engineering, interoperable technology, accelerated advancement, and standard interface definitions. Unfortunately; however, the OSI Model has not been found to map well to real world networking implementations or issues as the technical world has evolved. It is the most recognized model; however, and is still often used to describe networking protocols, gear, problems, and solutions.

This Article is a Must

Why You’ll Never Be Happy Keeping Up With the Joneses

Many of us have gotten the message, however there are still a large number of people and families chasing after the “privileged” life of the Joneses.  Having been a troll of the Joneses for many years, my family and I have finally learned the truth about the perceived happiness of the Joneses’ lifestyle, and friends, it’s all based on a web of lies.  We’d like to share with you today what we’ve learned about the lifestyle of the Joneses, and why we believe you’ll never be happy keeping up with the Joneses’

KEEPING UP WITH THE JONESES – WHY IT ALWAYS DISAPPOINTS

Keeping up with the Joneses is a Life Based on Selfishness

You see, the thing about selfishness is although it promises satisfaction, what it really leads to is emptiness.  Nearly every study shown on selfishness proves that humans are much happier when they are lovingly and selflessly serving others.  The Joneses live their lives always searching to satisfy “me, me and more me”, however, it leaves them only feeling more and more empty, looking for the next spend that will, they hope, bring them their next “high”.  But the high always goes away, and the void always returns.

Looking for a permanent fill to that void?  Find a charity that you can serve that grabs your heart and see how wonderful (and fulfilling) serving others really is.  Stop chasing the empty promise that “stuff” will give you what you need.

Keeping up with the Joneses is a Life Based on a Desire to Seek Approval from Others

Often times when we’re looking to match the Joneses lifestyle, it’s because we desire the approval of others.  The irony in this, though, is that most people will never give us that approval for more than a brief time period.  Why?  Because they, too, are often looking to be accepted by the biggest and the best, and there will always be someone cooler/richer/”better” than you, at which point the approval you thought you had from those you thought you admired will be long gone, leaving you again searching for other ways to gain acceptance and approval from your peers or those whom you want to be associated with.  Don’t let yourself fall prey to the lie that if you have enough stuff, that others will accept you or approve of you.  Instead, learn to love yourself and accept yourself just as you are, even as you work on your “faults”, and others will do the same.  And if they don’t, who cares?

No “thing” you can buy will ever make you feel truly happy, and no person or group of people will ever make you feel truly accepted.  Any time you’re looking outside of yourself for approval or happiness, you’re setting yourself up for disappointment.  True peace and contentment comes only from within your spirit and from following your heart, not from the outside, short-term gratification of other people or things.

Keeping up with the Joneses is a Life Full of Deception

Things do not have the ability to satisfy, at least not long-term, and popularity is fleeting.   But like a drug, the Joneses lifestyle works to convince you that if you simply have all of the money/possessions/freedoms/approval you want, you’ll be happy.  That happiness, however is always short-lived.   This is why you see people with nothing being happy and people with more than they know what to do with being miserable.   Pride and low self-esteem, which are at the root of our need to keep up with the Joneses, are one in the same.  They’re both based on an over-attention to self, an inward focus, based on a need to feel loved and accepted.  And the Joneses have cornered the market on convincing folks that the lifestyles of the rich and famous will usher in that love, acceptance and happiness.  The truth, however, is that once you stop looking to outward people and stuff to fill that inward void, and start dissecting the reasons why you haven’t accepted yourself as you are, you’ll then learn to reject the lies that tell you you’re not “good enough”, and start focusing on what truly brings purpose and meaning to your life.

I haven't heard from the philosophical types in quite some time

The philosophical types that can grasp, Socrates, Aristotle, Emerson, Kant and the like already rule the world, we just don't want it.

 "I know that I know one thing and that is that I know nothing", Socrates & his Socratic paradox.

 I know nothing and understand even less as I am held hostage by the extremely fallible sensory perception system.

KEEP READING, this alone is tantamount in separating yourself from the status quo.

What It Really Means to Dress for Success *Floridians Are Excused

 Floridians dress like farmers no matter where they go or what they're doing.

My friend Joyce is an entrepreneur. One of the secrets of her success is the way she dresses. Even when traveling for a vacation, Joyce is in a business suit and heels. Her motto: “Wear great clothes. You never know whom you’ll meet!”

She may be onto something.

You can't not communicate. Everything you do makes some kind of statement. The fact that Joyce wears a business suit and not jeans and a tee shirt when she travels sends a message.

The old saying, “You can't judge a book by its cover” may be true, but book jacket and product packaging designers around the world have created an industry betting that people do judge and purchase products based on how they look. And career counselors still advise their clients to dress for the job they want - not the job they currently have. Counselors know that people are evaluated by their appearance (this is a key body language element in first impressions), and they want their clients to gain a nonverbal advantage by already “looking the part.”

Office-appropriate attire has certainly changed over the years. Formal business suits aren't a requirement in many workplaces, but the options available often lead to some questionable choices. As one management consultant told me: "In today's world of business casual, it sometimes does seem like 'anything goes.' To be fair, most of my clients' employees display common sense when making their fashion statements... but I've also seen some less-than-subtle expressions of taste (or lack thereof), even in critical engagements."

Clothes make a strong visual statement about how you see yourself. Comfort may aid productivity but, in this era of “Me, Inc.” and “the Brand Called You,” are flip-flops, sweats, jeans, and flashy or revealing clothing part of how you want to be judged? You might think you are expressing your individuality, but you could also be sending the message that you're not a serious professional.

Appropriate dress is also a way of expressing respect for the situation and the people in it. So, your look may change depending on the business circumstances. Teresa is a public relations professional – and a master at dressing for the role. She loves to wear hot pink, turquoise and fire-engine red silk dresses with stiletto heels and lots of bling to work in her New YorkCity office. But the moment she has to meet with a conservative client, or one who is going through difficult times, Teresa transforms herself into a prim professional whose outfit matches the way she wants to be perceived. (In her words, “The success I dress for is that of my client.”) One member of her staff recalls meeting Teresa at the headquarters of a nonprofit religious organization where they were to conduct focus groups. The staff member barely recognized her stylish boss. By dressing more like the client, Teresa fit right in. She looked like one of the nuns!

Clothing has an effect on both the wearer and the observer. It has been proven that people are more likely to give money (charitable donations, tips) or information to someone if that person is well dressed. And if you ever watch actors in a play go through their first dress rehearsal, you’ll see firsthand the amazing transformation that becomes possible only when people dress for the part.

Experiment with your appearance. Notice how people react to you when you wear certain colors or styles. Then, based on those reactions and your career goals, you can make an informed decision about how you want to “package” yourself.

I am an international keynote speaker who helps leaders enhance their influence and impact skills. I'm the author of “The Silent Language of Leaders" and the creator of "Body Language for Leaders," LinkedIn 

The Key to Getting All You Want? Discipline

*Before I publish this post about disciple allow me to break it down for you > Discipline is to be practiced in all facets of life. A successful person can't drink too much, eat too much, sex too much, smoke too much, roller skate too much, etc.
 Intelligent individuals remain centered through any and all events.

For every disciplined effort, there are multiple rewards. That’s one of life’s great arrangements. If you sow well, you will reap well. Life is full of laws that both govern and explain behaviors, but the law of sowing and reaping may well be the major law we need to understand: For every disciplined effort, there are multiple rewards.

Related: Rohn: 4 Tips for Setting Powerful Goals

What a concept! If you render unique service, your reward will be multiplied. If you’re fair and honest and patient with others, your reward will be multiplied. If you give more than you expect to receive, your reward is more than you expect. But remember: The key word here—as you might well imagine—is discipline.

Everything of value requires care, attention and discipline. Our thoughts require discipline. We must consistently determine our inner boundaries and our codes of conduct, or our thoughts will be confused. And if our thoughts are confused, we will become hopelessly lost in the maze of life. Confused thoughts produce confused results.

Remember the law: For every disciplined effort, there are multiple rewards. Learn the discipline of writing a card or a letter to a friend. Learn the discipline of paying your bills on time, or arriving to appointments on time, or using your time more effectively. Learn the discipline of paying attention, or paying your taxes, or paying yourself. Learn the discipline of having regular meetings with your associates, or your spouse, or your child, or your parent. Learn the discipline of learning all you can learn, of teaching all you can teach, of reading all you can read.

               Related: Rohn: Read All the Books to Rise Above the Ordinary

For each discipline, multiple rewards; for each book, new knowledge; for each success, new ambition; for each challenge, new understanding; for each failure, new determination. Life is like that. Even the bad experiences of life provide their own special contribution. But a word of caution here for those who neglect the need for care and attention to life’s disciplines: everything has its price. Everything affects everything else. Neglect discipline, and there will be a price to pay. All things of value can be taken for granted with the passing of time.

That’s what we call the Law of Familiarity. Without the discipline of paying constant, daily attention, we take things for granted. Be serious. Life is not a practice session.

Think about your life at this moment. What areas need attention right now? Perhaps you’ve had a disagreement with someone you love or someone who loves you, and your anger won’t allow you to speak to that person. Wouldn’t this be an ideal time to examine your need for a new discipline? Perhaps you’re on the brink of giving up, or starting over, or starting out. And the only missing ingredient to your incredible success story in the future is a new and self-imposed discipline that will make you try harder and work more intensely than you ever thought you could.

The most valuable form of discipline is the one that you impose upon yourself. Don’t wait for things to deteriorate so drastically that someone else must impose discipline in your life. Wouldn’t that be tragic? How could you possibly explain the fact that someone else thought more of you than you thought of yourself? That they forced you to get up early and get out into the marketplace when you would have been content to let success go to someone else who cared more about themselves.

Your life, my life, the life of each one of us is going to serve as either a warning or an example. A warning of the consequences of neglect, self-pity, lack of direction and ambition… or an example of talent put to use, of discipline self-imposed, and of objectives clearly perceived and intensely pursued.

Related: 4 Secrets of Insanely Successful People