Best Buy????
December 28, 2005
Go and read Lindesy's Life and then tell me if you would feel safe sending your computer out to get fixed.
posted by Total Core Fitness Bootcamp @ 12/28/2005 02:37:00 PM, ,
Christmas Not Done For Me Yet
This picture says it all. This is how close I am to getting my final Christmas Gift. Christmas was fun this year to see some people enjoy the gifts and was frustrating for those who diddn't really react the way you would have thought they would have.
I on one hand was given the Christmas Gift of the Giants clinching the playoffs, even if they did lose on Christmas Eve. However, that win would have given me the perfect gift, which I now have to wait and see if I will recieve it on New Years Eve.
My friend will be bringing me to the Giants first playoff game (50 yrd line, 20 rows up) if the Giants clinch their division this weekend (because that means they get at least 1 home game).
New Years Eve... UUGGGHHHH PLEASE LET THE REAL GIANTS SHOW UP!!!!!
posted by Total Core Fitness Bootcamp @ 12/28/2005 08:27:00 AM, ,
I wish I was this smart when I was younger
December 22, 2005
posted by Total Core Fitness Bootcamp @ 12/22/2005 02:07:00 PM, ,
My Christmas Story
'Twas The Night Before Christmas and sitting by the window on the phone I was talking to a friend about Last Christmas. I remember, that's when Grandma Got Run Over By A Reindeer and I Saw Mommy Kissing Santa Claus, Daddy wasn't happy, so he walked into judge judy's court with a Parade of The Wooden Soldiers.
I look outside and it's Dominick, The Italian Christmas Donkey who is looking at me with a Mexican on his back who shouts Donde Esta Santa Claus and after a short pause yells Feliz Navidad. Then Frosty the Snowman is seen running screaming "Snow You're All I Want For Christmas" as he slowly melts all that can heard now is Let It Snow, Let It Snow, Let It Snow.
Then a Little Drummer Boy is heard in the neighborhood and the cops are called. But explains Santa Claus Is Coming To Town. Then a red light is seen. It is Rudolph, The Red Nosed Reindeer. Who is drinking from the puddle created by the melted frosty. Then the redneck in the neighborhood with his shotgun in hand says "I sees me some good jerky" and running to my door and I yell "Run Rudolph Run!"
I hear a noise and ask Do You Hear What I Hear its Jingle Bells and The Man With All The Toys is standing there and hang up the phone. Noticing no bag in hand I asked "I'm getting Nuttin' for Christmas, am I?" he replies "HELL NO, you saved that whining red nosed rat!" I respond "Gee Whiz, It's Christmas The Most Wonderful Time of The Year It's Christmas Everywhere in Harlem Do They Know It's Christmas?" With that, he sits down, pulls out a flask and asks me, "If It Doesn't Snow on Christmas and I get one Silent Night without having to hear The Twelve Days of Christmas and The Chipmunk Song over and over again. I have 30 lawsuits from the ACLU for saying Merry Christmas All and not Happy Holidays." With that he wiggled his nose and went away. Going outside I notice I'm really in a Marshmallow World.
Waking up from this nightmare, I run to the window and see a Winter Wonderland. It's a White Christmas! Back on my bed there is a note and it reads, "Remember Santa Claus Is Watching You and you could blind if you keep doing what you doing when watching The Bells of St. Mary. Happy Christmas Santa".
posted by Total Core Fitness Bootcamp @ 12/22/2005 07:33:00 AM, ,
My #1 Christmas Wish
December 21, 2005
You grow up looking for people to look upto. Finding different heros from comic books and sports stars, when in front of you, your hero could be standing. For me, it was and will always be my father. He was a beacon of strength, knowledge and humor. A lot of who I am today is because of something he taught me. Every Christmas is hard for me now and not always in a bad way. December 20, 1996 my father, Dennis, died in my arms from a brain aneurysm. He was dead for minutes, but got his heart back, but we had already lost him. December 23 at 1 am was his official harvesting of his organs to be donated to 7 different people. So when 7 different families celebrated life at Christmas, my family and I planned the funeral and remembered him.
Imagine if you could, being 16, your hero dies in your arms, yu actually feel the heart beat so fast that it haunts you. Then it just stops. Imagine watching the chest compressions and know that they got the heart back, and you have hope. Imagine that you have a first aid squad down your street and it takes 45 min for an ambulance to come to your house because the police chief actually drove to the local hospital to grab an ambulance to come to your house. Now imagine not knowing how to explain to your little brother that daddy isn't coming back and this is not like the movies.
I do not let his death from this world become an excuse for any problems I have created for myself. I can only credit him for teaching me so much in life as he continued to do in death. I was saving this post for the 23rd, but yesterday I was told by multiple people about how they see a lot in me that isn't always shown in most guys. One said they did not actually see me as being "masculine" after learning that I enjoy theater and love to volunteer. However, I love theater because I like to entertain people and I love to volunteer because my father often did for me as being a coach and then gave up his organs in his death for people to have a chance to live along with the quarts of blood he donated to people throughout his life. I am in touch with my emotions and I actually listen and respond to people. My father always taught me to treat people the way I wanted to be treated but to also give everyone a chance. To be who I am and to never follow the crowd. I watched how he treated my mother and how he treated people he did not know. I have created myself to be a lot like my hero.
My hero now on this earth is my mother. She is strong, intelligent, driven, caring and most of all loving. She took 2 teenage boys and helped them through HS in the hardest part of their lives and then in college. She lost her best friend, her lover and husband. I could not have asked for a better person to look up to and still look to for advice. She once told me when I was a little boy, "follow the beat of your own drummer" and then wrote that to me when I graduated HS. Its that advice I have always kept in the back of my head.
If I was to be given one wish, it will always be the same one I have wanted forever. A chance for my mom and dad to have one final dance. That's all I ask. As much as I would have liked him to be there the day I got my liscense, graduating HS and seeing the first male in my family to graduate college, and to see my get married and my kids, I know he is watching and a lot of him is now a part of me, I would just like to see them dance one last time. To see two angels dancing and showing me just a piece of heaven.
Tears still fall everytime I remember him, but to remember someone and to talk about them is the biggest memorial anyone can do. To all of you who haven't told your parents how you feel, do it now, the holiday is here and you can use that as a crutch to help you out. Just make sure you tell them and everyone around you how you feel, because tomorrow may not come.
posted by Total Core Fitness Bootcamp @ 12/21/2005 08:47:00 AM, ,
H.S. Convo: Timeline
December 20, 2005
It was June of 1998 and about midnight me and 2 guys I have been friends with since 4th and 7th grade stopped in a local park in our town. Just hanging out and talking. We don't remember what prompted the talk, but we all got into the dreams of the real world. We were done and finished with our High School lives. One of the topics that came up was our personal time lines. Where did we want to be when we grew up?
I was talking with one of the guys 2 nights ago while having a drink in hand, it hit me, our time lines weren't that far off or out of reach. I can remember some of my major goals.
- Finish School in 4 years
- Get a good and stable job by 22
- Married by 27
- Kids by 29
I stopped there, because as I learned early in life, you can die young and I wanted to have a short term plan. I didn't grad in 4 years, it was 5.5 years after 4 different majors (I don't regret it). I have been with the same job for 5 years and moving up the pay scale. As much as I do not always like it, it is all relative to the fact that it is stable and I have job security. As for the rest following that, we will see. I'm 25 now and still have plenty of time to let life happen.
I actually forgot about that timeline until this past week. Life is funny on how many people will effect your life and then leave just as fast. Sometimes their effects on you last, sometimes they just fade into the shadows. I will not forget that summer or that conversation, because it was like a scene from a movie and it was so raw in just pure innocence. Not knowing what was awaiting us in the future weeks. But I cannot wait to see what life will be like when we are all married and have kids, because we joked about that as well. That is just one convo I will keep between the 3 of us.
posted by Total Core Fitness Bootcamp @ 12/20/2005 08:46:00 AM, ,
My Letter to Santa
December 19, 2005
Dear Santa,
Listen boss, this your guy Ryan here. Need to ask for a few things for this Christmas and since I haven't asked for anything in oooooo 10 + years, I think it's time you owe me. You know I am by far one of the nicest people on this planet and I will kill anyone who says differently. I would also like clarification on the definition of "naughty".
First I would like for you to get rid of the pyscho-bitch who works in my office. Yes, I know we have a small office, but this is the one person who is standing in my way of enjoying my job. She basically just tries to go behind my back to make complaints that always come back to me. She is a complete moron in every sense, but I will give her credit for being good in sales. This is because she treats every guy like she wants to sleep with them. Of course that changes when they see her and her rat face. So if you could just run her over with your rieghndeer, it would be appreciated, just watch out for grandma.
Next I would like to be out of debt, just like everyone really. This however is my turn to get rich quick. I have seen some informercials that woke me up a few times. So if you could get me on as one of those actors saying that they made all the money, I would be greatly appreciative. That or help push my application to be on Survivor and Big Brother.
Finally, I would like the U.S.A. to make a few changes:
1. English as official language, because I feel like I need a green card to go a few blocks from my house.
2. Close the flood gates for 1 year. No one in and no one out. Just go on a seek and destroy of every illegal alien and shoot them on spot.
3. Allow kids to play tag and dodge ball. I am tired of kids being weak and whining little bitches.
4. Celebrities who try and give political views on either side of the aisle and think people actually should listen to them, should be put into a room and forced to listen to Michael Jackson and watch Polly Shore movies over and over and over again.
5. Any atheist who tries to fight "in god we trust", "under god" and other thing referring to god to piss off the majority, should be sent into a war zone and see how fast they are begging for help from above.
If all that seems a little too much, I will settle for some cash, new car, Giants winning superbowl and my pop warner team I coach winning some games, because the kids really do deserve it.
Your Pal
Ryan
posted by Total Core Fitness Bootcamp @ 12/19/2005 08:26:00 AM, ,
It's Time
December 16, 2005
Get my Christmas Bonus today, that means it is officially time for me to go Christmas Shopping. Now I only have to figure what to get people, since everyone's answer this year is "I don't know".
What was on my #1 thing on my list? You got it, "peace on earth." hahaha I wanted to know what it felt like to give a beauty pageant answer.
posted by Total Core Fitness Bootcamp @ 12/16/2005 02:20:00 PM, ,
Blogging... Personal, Info or Entertainment?
I have been blogging for about 3 yrs now. I have had multiple sites on blogspot, one on Xanga, others I privately hosted and even had a group blog. From the beginning, "blogging" was looked to have been just writing in an online journal. Sharing some things about your life and people were happy. Now it seems like you have to almost find ways to entertain people to get them to come back.
People who write blogs are lying if they say it is purely for writing and just that. That they do not care if people are not reading or commenting on their site that they work hard on. Now you have people joining sites like BlogExplosion, Blog Clicks and everything else under the sun to create connections with other people who blog. However, when is it no longer writing for yourself and rather wondering, "hmmmm I wonder what people would like to read and comment on."
Now do not get me wrong, I am not saying this is the majority of the people, but this is a common trend I am noticing through the blogs I read. You can see where people are trying hard to come up with topics and even apologize for not writing on some days. O well, I still think there are a few good blogs out there amongst some of the crap. (this will not be a hot topic for many readers, o well)
posted by Total Core Fitness Bootcamp @ 12/16/2005 09:23:00 AM, ,
Got Gym Pet Peeves?
December 15, 2005
Being at the gym about 5 - 6 days a week, I think I have about seen it all. Along the way I also have developed multiple gym pet peeves. What makes me even more upset is if it is done by people I am friends with or worse, someone I may be training. Here is a simple list of things that make me want to pull out my hair or drive me so insane, it makes me want to make babies cry (I wouldn't do this, but maybe I would).
- Day old sweat on treadmill
- Guys who have to check themselves out in the mirror every 2 min to see if they grew a muscle
- Really bad B.O. (go take a shower please or use deodorant)
- People who stare at you (good or bad, its annoying)
- Cell Phone Use while doing cardio or at all for that matter, take it outside
- Social Hour, if your talking more then your working out, leave!
- Not cleaning up the weights, put them back where you got them or at least in the right place.
- Fat people on cardio machines who aren't putting any effort and after 30 minutes, have not even shed a drop of sweat.
- Worse, People in terrible shape making comments and insulting people who are working out and getting in shape.
Anyone have more to add?
posted by Total Core Fitness Bootcamp @ 12/15/2005 09:29:00 AM, ,
#1 Jersey Poll
I was in the gym and saw this poll on TV which said that only 23% of people are acceptable of Happy Holidays being said to them in stores and the rest of the public want to hear "Merry Christmas". So I decided to ask people of NJ what they are saying around the Christmas Time. Here are my findings:
posted by Total Core Fitness Bootcamp @ 12/15/2005 08:29:00 AM, ,
Season of Giving.... Nightmares?
December 14, 2005
Ahhh yes, this is the time of year of celebrating Christmas. The day we celebrate the birth of Christ, to spend time with family and for Santa to cut off heads? Seems as if more and more people these days want to try and make a scene on the commercialism of Christmas by either killing Santa or making him cut off someone's head.
This is what little children see on their way home from school. Many have been crying when they see the image of Santa holding a knife and a severed head in his hand. With barbie dolls in the tree decapitated. This from a family who says they are making a point on the commercialism of Christmas. This family they later mention is also a non-practicing Jewish Family, who claim their daughter came up with the idea.
Last week a man in FL hung Santa in a tree, with his hands bound together and blindfolded to make the same statement. After police, media and community attention and asking him (who was not living in the home mind you) to take it down, he did one night around 1/2 a.m.
Now I understand what people are trying to do do and protest, but seriously, scaring the crap out of little kids is not the way to do it. Part of the magic of Christmas is to still have that belief in the man in the red suite. Even if you are ages from 5-100.
posted by Total Core Fitness Bootcamp @ 12/14/2005 11:42:00 AM, ,
Foamy is My Mind In Animation
posted by Total Core Fitness Bootcamp @ 12/14/2005 10:46:00 AM, ,
Finding a Reason
December 13, 2005
What makes a man break and come to his knees begging for mercy, knowledge and guidance? What can drive a once semi-religious family to not be and yet lead them back as individuals?
If you talk to anyone, they will tell you, I am not religious at all. I have not been to a church service since Easter 1997. My brother and I used to be ushers for the church to not going at all. That was the last time I went to a service since the death of my father. They read his name that day and I never went back.
In recent weeks, for some reason the feeling of going to church 9 years after my father died. If I follow through it will be a very emotional experience for me. Many have tried to get me to go their services, but I refuse, because this is something so personal that I feel if I go just to go with someone else, I will not be going willingly and being open. Plus, on a poetic level, I want to go back to my church, the place where my father's funeral marked his death and ending of my semi-religious times to now become a new birth of sorts for new time (don't worry, I am not a crazy religious fanatic and that is my church in the picture).
Below is a poem I once wrote which gives you a good idea as to how I have been feeling.
Letter
This is a letter to you lord
This accord
Needed time to heal
But lets set the record straight
He was supposed to live
Teach and help us grow
That was the deal
Haven’t come to your home
In many years time
Not because of hate
Because I needed time to heal
Still have a hard time
Seeing through the tears of mine
You never made it easy on me
Never expected you to
I mean why would you?
It’s a part of life
To feel pain, compassion and glory
Not for me
Pain is my friend
Love has forgotten me
Left me with shattered dreams
Precious memories
Never thought I would write this letter
Who knows if you will get this
Or even better
Leave me the way you did in the past
You know
When you took my father
And left me and my family with nothing to grasp
But some torn clothes from that dreary day
Yeah, that’s love
I already know what you have to say
That you love me
Always by my side
That it was his time
That you held me when the times were rough
Well maybe you did
But I was only a child
With a brother and mother who were with me crying
To say we have stopped
I would be lying
I need to know you understand
That I never stopped coming because I was mad
Just confused to how life works
Why it was his time then
What my role was
How I am supposed to live?
Pain took me over
Tears still role down my cheek
I hope you understand I feel pain
I am only a man
This, me, am your creation
I only ask one favor
When I have a child
And teaching him to be a man
Give me a warning of limited time left
So I can take his hand
Tell him that I love him
To be who he wants to be
Leave him with a smile
That I will watch him
With wings spread open
That’s all I ask
I never knew I could finish this letter
Tell him that I love him
That tears still flow each day for him
Years have passed and not forgotten
Time in your house
Will be there when it opens.
- Ryan Toth
posted by Total Core Fitness Bootcamp @ 12/13/2005 08:34:00 AM, ,
Cost of Car
December 12, 2005
Drumroll Please......................... about $1,350
posted by Total Core Fitness Bootcamp @ 12/12/2005 09:22:00 AM, ,
O Where O Where Is My Money?
It seriously feels that lately, no matter how much I budget, how much I do not spend, I do not have any money! Main culprit is my car. In a months time, it is back in the shop and now will cost me a lil over $1,000. Just like the last time it was in the shop. This time it is the entire muffler system. Go figure.
I seriously am becoming stressed to the point of just giving up. Seems like no matter what I do to correct the situation, it only gets worse. I am beginning to think that my crazy idea of a second job may not be so crazy. I mean I am finally getting my raise I have been fighting for, for a year now. However, I have made huge sacrifices to try and get back in the black and out of the red.
- Shut down any site that is costing me
- Only go out 1 night a week
- Put Semi-Pro team on hold
- No personal spending on "luxury" items
- Keep trying to lower Student Loan Costs
Those are just a few from my list I created for myself. Basically, I have to stop living for a while. However, still, life happens and things you don't expect, kill you. Like this car. This has all happened right in Christmas time. I have yet you buy a single gift yet. Not because im lazy, but because I have to work paycheck to paycheck now.
I think what seriously stresses me the most is the fact, that yeah I may live at home, I do pay every bill that is in my name, which is everything but the house, however I wonder how if I cannot survive now, how will I when alone? It is really annoying. To think, I would be up $2000 in my account and then my X-mas bonus will put me over 3-4K in my account. However now, I can barely pay my bills and my bonus will be going to pay for this fucking car again. I swear I am fucking cursed.
posted by Total Core Fitness Bootcamp @ 12/12/2005 08:36:00 AM, ,
LOST... Yeah I'm a bit of a fan
December 08, 2005
For others who are fans, I wanted to just post 2 things here from the re-peat last night of "everyone hates hugo" and from the last new episode "what did kate do?".
Here is is where Hurley is in the hatch drinking from the carton. Does the boy on the "Missing" look familiar? It appears to be Walt. (i blew up the picture, cleaned out the darkness and tried to fix the focus)
This second one is when Kate was going into see her father who is in the military. We now works in a recruiting office. As Kate walks in, you can see Syiad in the background on the TV.
We still need to learn more about Eko, which should be coming soon in episodes. Theory is he is Nigerian, and we will find out that he somehow is connected to the Nigerian drug trafficing plane that Boone died at.
Will be interesting to see what happens with the Losties find the other 4 stations on the island. I make a bet that one station is underwater.
posted by Total Core Fitness Bootcamp @ 12/08/2005 01:06:00 PM, ,
Following an Unfinished Goal
December 07, 2005
When I was done with Circle K International, I was going to follow through with starting a Kiwanis International club in my hometown. Well it wads to bring the one that was once here, back. After doing my research and gettnig the charter people together, I lost interest. Main reason? Lack of support and the high cost of dues.
I have missed, however the feeling of having a club, a group of people with common goals of doing doing community service. I have had a lot of goals of starting my own service organization with our own goals, objects and views. One that also had no dues or low cost dues ($20 or less).
Today, after getting some opinions on how a certain name may come off to the public, I am proud to announce I will be attempting to start my service org. I did a search to see if there was anything with this name and to my suprise there wasn't. To the side you can see the logo and the name. Everyday Santas.
I'm pretty excited to get this up and running. I just hope I get the support for it.
posted by Total Core Fitness Bootcamp @ 12/07/2005 01:17:00 PM, ,
Want to be his neighbor?
The guy called the wizard of winter completely went above and beyond with this Christmas Light Display.
Click here to see the video of it Wizard of Winter Light Display
It really is amazing and very cool.
posted by Total Core Fitness Bootcamp @ 12/07/2005 10:43:00 AM, ,
Laughing Through IMs
December 06, 2005
You know those times when you are sad or out of it, say something dumb and then give that little chuckle to play it off? Look at your IM convos and or look at away messages, people are doing it there too!
They will be like, "awwww I have nowhere to go, its mainly because im a loser have no friends LOL" <<> has been the staple of online conversations. I honestly do not think there has been a convo without the use of LOL online. It is of course a lie most of the time. You know you are not LOLing. No, you are just trying to pass the time, trying to get someone to the point, or maybe you were looking at porn online and someone was interrupting you and that was the only letters u could reach. LOL! (see, good use when something makes you laugh).
The next level of laughing through an IM is LMAO! This is "Laughing My Ass Off" are you really laughing your ass off? Can you laugh an ass off? Imagine that as an exercise, the LMAO moves. It would be more popular then the Buns of Steal movement. However for those of you who wish to use this saying, only use it when it something beyond hilarious or if you said something you think is funny and want to make sure you at least get an LOL response.
However what I enjoy most of online communication is the fact that people are so open on it. The biggest part is their sense of humor. I say test people. Send them pictures of thins and see how they react.
posted by Total Core Fitness Bootcamp @ 12/06/2005 09:17:00 AM, ,
Team, Meet The New Coach Toth
December 05, 2005
This past year I was given the opportunity to take my first steps to one of my goals. To be a football coach. Back when I played ball, I was more often then not thinking about strategy then my position. Always trying to figure out the opposition and recommending coverages, plays and personnel change for the games. My old defensive Coordinator in HS once told me I was like a coach at times.
I remember talking with my friend Darryl aka "D". We talked about trying to help out Pop Warner and coach there. Go back to the days where we learned the sport and had the most fun. He ended up being short on the time, however I was fortunate enough to get in. I was actually going to be an assistant coach, with someone I had once been a teammate with back in 1992. After 2 weeks of pre-season training and Multiple practices missed, he left the team because of personal matters. Right away I was able to add a little bit of touch to practices as the Board of Trustees discussed on what to do with the team. In a day I found out I was promoted to head coach. This was also a recommendation from the parents who came to practices and saw how I interacted with the players.
I never had a chance to instill the right training, preparations and knowledge to the kids as I would have liked to in pre-season, because we played a lot of catch up in learning the offense. An offense that kids on the team were desperate to play on. I believe that you have to be smart, tough and able to bounce back from a let down to be on Offense. I also wanted to make sure we beat the monkey off our back from the team of the past. I found out on day 2 of Pre-season the team never scored 1 point all season. This past season I am proud to say we scored close to 70 points.
From the second our season ended, I have been working on new plays, new offense (which will be another year of being the most advanced offense in our league) and defense (which I am taking over this year). I also am going to bring a part of me that was very effective in a college org I was part of. Being strict with my personal rules for the team. I do not tolerate people being late, being disrespectful to the coaches and I do not accept it from their parents either. The time for change is now.
I have been able to always turn around any club or org I belonged to by leadership and by interacting with the very people who need to be a part of the change. I am bringing to the team a motto for the year. It is one I use for myself and used for Kean University Circle K International. It is, "Why Not?"
It brings to question everyone who tells us we cannot do something. Make them have to answer to you, not you answering to them. Why not be a winning team? Why not be the best? Why not us? As time gets closer, be ready for more info on my team.
posted by Total Core Fitness Bootcamp @ 12/05/2005 11:10:00 AM, ,
1st Place Alone
It was an ugly game on the offensive side, but deffensively, amazing with a lot of help from Special Teams... Except Feely, I still hate him.
posted by Total Core Fitness Bootcamp @ 12/05/2005 08:27:00 AM, ,
Life is like a Rubix Cube
December 02, 2005
I was driving to work today and I came to realize that my life has been like that of a Rubix Cube. A little weird I guess, but here is where I am going with this.
Go through life twisting and turning our cube called life trying to find the right match, perfect pattern and answer. Every color on the cube represents a quality (good or bad) about us. As we turn trying to make the perfect cube, we have sides where the colors conflict and we push forward to try and bring all the same colors together. To reach that goal and be in harmony.
In recent months I have been finding myself trying to figure myself out even more then before. I get confused by my own mindest at times. Knowing that there are qualities in my character that do not mix with other parts of me. Who knows... But I hope I finish this cube called life, bc I hated that damn cube when people would hand it to me. LOL
posted by Total Core Fitness Bootcamp @ 12/02/2005 08:17:00 AM, ,
Coming Back, Old School
Here I am, back at blogger. I am actually more determined to stay here now, because I have found I write better here and this will be a not as publicized blog site as my sites have been in the past.
posted by Total Core Fitness Bootcamp @ 12/02/2005 08:15:00 AM, ,
The Author
About This Blog
This blog is the thoughts and ramblings of what goes on in my head. Sometimes it could be modivational and other times it could be complete insanity. Thats the beauty of it all.
Additional Information
I will eventually add more information in here. If you want to get to know me more, follow some of the links. I reccomend reading all the blogs I have linked here.