BBC Earth's The Story of Life App

The Story of Life App is a free download made available by BBC Earth which features the largest digital collection of Sir David Attenborough's work.

Even if you are not a flora and fauna lover, you might wanna have a go and be enthralled by the sights, sound and drama of nature which would have gone unnoticed but for the likes of Sir David.

“This is natural history for the digital age, allowing people to explore the story of life on earth and share their favourite natural history moments with the world” - Sir David Attenborough

Do remember to use Wi-Fi for the download and viewing of the App though so as to minimise data usage. This freebie contains clips (of pristine quality as can be expected of BBC) such as the following and you are likely to be amazed and won over:

* Flying 10,000 feet high (on a hot air balloon)

* In search of Picathartes

* The rare Indri lemur

* Lovesong of a humpback whale

* A giant prehistoric-looking bird

* A luminous green forest

* A monkey beetle brawl

* A rhino makes friends

* Fantastic beak of skimmers

Once again, be reminded to use Wi-Fi for the download and viewing of the App so as to minimise data usage.

As mentioned in BBC's web page regarding The Story of Life App, "Produced by BBC Earth with international award-winning ideas and innovation company AKQA, the app will be free to download globally. All clips featured in the app will also be made available on http://www.bbc.co.uk/earth/storyoflife "

Steve Markle: Amazing Pool Trick Shots

Skills can be developed. Talent can be discovered. Passion can be cultivated. But, do you have the dedication to reach for a higher level of mastery?

Click here to watch Steve Markle and be inspired to reach for a higher level of creativity and expertise in your endeavours.

Friends Are More Important Than Money

This bag grabbed my attention on 23 February 2017 and the owner graciously allowed me to take a snapshot.

Money could possibly 'buy' you friends when you have money to throw at them. But, when you are not able to splurge on them, then it would quickly show whether they are still your friends.

This brings me to the idiom: A friend in need is a friend indeed.

There are hills of views on this idiom available on the internet. 

My take on "A friend in need is a friend indeed" is that when one of your friend is in need and you still regard him as a friend rather than avoid him like some other fair-weather friends, then that friend who is in need is your true friend because you value him as a friend still notwithstanding that he is facing difficulties or problems.

Think about it. It would really show who are your true friends by the way you treat them when these friends are in need. if you ask me, this is a litmus test of who are your dearest friends, especially when it is reciprocal.  

Be Fearless

The best antidote for fear is to confront it. Do not let it bully or intimidate you. You have it within you the courage to overcome your fear.

Make preparation to confront your fear because the alternative of running away from your fear or nursing your fear will only encumber and weigh you down. Choose not to be a wounded soldier even before you have stepped into the battlefield of your fear.

"All you need is the plan, the road map, and the courage to press on to your destination." -- Earl Nightingale

"The first virtue in a soldier is endurance of fatigue; courage is only the second virtue." -- Napoleon Bonaparte

"True courage is being afraid, and going ahead and doing your job anyhow, that's what courage is." -- Norman Schwarzkopf

Once you have resolved it in you to confront, say, the school bully or the workplace rascal, you will be up to the challenge as you are poised to step into your fear. As you step forward, your courage builds up automatically and you will find that oftentimes much of your fears are False Evidence Appearing Real (FEAR).

Even when you have faltered or blunder it, do not be afraid. The late Bruce Lee would have you know that, "Mistakes are always forgivable, if one has the courage to admit them."

Be strong and courageous. You are well able to overcome your obstacles or problems in life when you face them head on. Seek wise counsel and help from others, as well, if need be.

"Our deepest fear is not that we are inadequate.
Our deepest fear is that we are powerful beyond measure.It is our light, not our darkness that frightens us.
We ask ourselves, who am I to be brilliant, gorgeous, talented and fabulous?Actually, who are we not to be?
You are a child of God.
Your playing small doesn't serve the world. There's nothing enlightened about shrinking so that other people won't feel insecure around you.
We're born to make manifest the glory of God that is within us.
It's not just in some of us, it's in everyone.
And as we let our own light shine, we unconsciously give other people permission to do the same.
And as we are liberated from our own fears, our presence automatically liberates others.

(Source: A Return To Love by Marianne Williamson; as quoted by Nelson Mandela in his inaugural speech, 1994)

The paralysis of fear is unforgiving. Choose courage and banish fear; take the baseball bat of courage and hit the ball of fear out of your turf. Way to go!

"You will never do anything in this world without courage. It is the greatest quality of the mind next to honor." -- Aristotle