Thursday, March 29, 2012

Thursday, March 22, 2012

“Unclassified Laws of Etiquette.” from Hill’s Manual of Social and Business Forms. Published in 1880.


  1. Never exagerate.
  2. Never point at another.
  3. Never betray a confidence.
  4. Never leave home with unkind words.
  5. Never neglect to call upon your friends.
  6. Never laugh at the misfortunes of others.
  7. Never give a promise that you do not fulfill.
  8. Never send a present, hoping for one in return.
  9. Never speak much of your own performances.
  10. Never fail to be punctual at the time appointed.
  11. Never make yourself the hero of your own story.
  12. Never pick the teeth or clean the nails in company.
  13. Never fail to give a polite answer to a civil question.
  14. Never question a child about family matters.
  15. Never present a gift saying that it is of no use to yourself.
  16. Never read letters which you may find addressed to others.
  17. Never fail, if a gentleman, of being civil and polite to ladies.
  18. Never call attention  to the features or form of anyone present.
  19. Never refer to a gift you have made, or favor you have rendered.
  20. Never associate with bad company. Have good company, or none.
  21. Never look over the shoulder of another who is reading or writing.
  22. Never appear to notice a scar, deformity, or defect of anyone present.
  23. Never arrest the attention of an acquaintance by touch. Speak to him.
  24. Never punish your child for a fault to which you are addicted yourself.
  25. Never answer questions in general company that have been put to others.
  26. Never, when traveling abroad, be over boastful in praise of your own country.
  27. Never call a new acquaintance by their first name unless requested.
  28. Never lend an article you have borrowed, unless you have permission to do so.
  29. Never attempt to draw the attention of the company constantly upon yourself.
  30. Never exhibit anger, impatience or excitement, when an accident happens.
  31. Never pass between two persons who are talking together, without an apology.
  32. Never enter a room noisily; never fail to close the door after you, and never slam it.
  33. Never forget that, if you are faithful in a few things, you may be ruler over many.
  34. Never exhibit too great familiarity with the new acquaintance, you may give offense.
  35. Never will a gentleman allude to conquests which he may have made with ladies.
  36. Never be guilty of the contemptible meanness of opening a private letter addressed to another.
  37. Never fail to offer the easiest and best seat in the room to an invalid, an elderly person, or a lady.
  38. Never neglect to perform the commission which the friend entrusted to you. You must not forget.
  39. Never send your guest, who is accustomed to a warm room, off into  a cold, damp, spare bed, to sleep.
  40. Never enter a room filled with people, without a slight bow to the general company when first entering.
  41. Never fail to answer an invitation, either personally or by letter, within a week after the invitation is received.
  42. Never accept of favors and hospitality without rendering an exchange of civilities when opportunity offers.
  43. Never cross the leg and put one foot in the street-car, or places where it will trouble others when passing by.
  44. Never fail to tell the truth. If truthful, you get your reward. You will get your punishment if you deceive.
  45. Never borrow money and neglect to pay. If you do, you will soon be known as a person of no business integrity.
  46. Never write to another asking for information, or a favor of any kind, without enclosing a postage stamp for the reply.
  47. Never fail to say kind and encouraging words to those whom you meet in distress. Your kindness may lift them out of their despair.
  48. Never refuse to receive an apology. You may not receive friendship, but courtesy will require, when a apology is offered, that you accept it.
  49. Never examine the cards in the card-basket. While they may be exposed in the drawing room, you are not expected to turn them over unless invited to do so.
  50. Never, when walking arm in arm with a lady, be continually changing and going to the other side, because of change of corners. It shows too much attention to form.
  51. Never insult another with harsh words when applied to for a favor. Kind words do not cost much, and yet they may carry untold happiness to the one to whom they are spoken.
  52. Never fail to speak kindly. If a merchant, and you address your clerk; if an overseer, and you address your workman; if in any position where you exercise authority, you show yourself to be a gentleman by your pleasant mode of address.
  53. Never attempt to convey the impression that you are a genius, by imitating the faults of distinguished men. Because certain great men were poor penmen, wore long hair, or had other peculiarities, it does not follow that you will be great by imitating their eccentricities.
  54. Never give all your pleasant words and smile to strangers. The kindest words and the sweetest smiles should be reserved for home. Home should be our heaven.

Gal Binyamin performing Rita's "Mehaka" on The Voice Israel

Wednesday, March 21, 2012

This changes everything - Human Bird Wings

Memory Serves

As far back as memory serves, I have never felt as whole or complete in life as I currently do. Knew deep down that I needed a change from the everyday grind but am surprised at how right I was. At work I contribute much and am part of a positive team. Yes, I am living on a tight budget but I am managing to get by with everything that I need. My home is occupied with works that I create. Also, I am working on a web based  side project that I am very excited about. These projects give me very much joy.  As crazy as it sounds, I actually want to be around a particular person....always. The smells of spring are sweet and pungent here in Israel. I no longer smoke so you can take my word for it. Potent and wonderful, they are.  Always looked at people who said "things will be alright" or "things will fall into place" with a skeptics eye, thinking they're simply repeating some bullshit they've heard. Maybe so, but their information was accurate.

Neighbors Pooch

Thursday, March 15, 2012

Monday, March 12, 2012

Melodies Please Me

Going thru one of my no nonsense 0 fuck giving phases. Ya know the type, where one would just get finished telling you something "funny" but they'd get met with just a cold stare. I'm not rude, I don't think but, I must admit, sort of like a child gets tired with the same toy, I am beginning to with society. Norms and molds and such occupy everything. Tryna be that one space in the ice cube tray that sticks it out longest before succumbing to its environment like the rest. But, melodies please me.  

Saturday, March 10, 2012

Friday, March 09, 2012

Thursday, March 08, 2012

Rip Blazes

Often you can find me making my way up or down some random picturesque mountaintop that I'd once passed on a road trip and took note of. But now I'm back, with my dog, and a biblical hike is before us. Rip blazes a trail ahead with the recklessness of youth while I follow at  a faded humans pace, catching up in spurts.  Each step I take knowing my dog is enjoying his new life here, with its smells, on this terrain, very much pleases me. Here he is below sporting the new "Sunken in Somalia" dog fashion.. Notice that flat tummy?
Finding joy in the smallest of things. Kickin it really, under the guise of work and its inherit seriousness. 


Wednesday, March 07, 2012

Thursday, March 01, 2012