The Village of Ballston Spa by dwcoon

 A brief summary of Ballston Spa, the hometown of DWCOON. 

by DWCOON September 3rd, 2014  

Ballston Spa is a village in Saratoga County, New York, United States. The population was 5,556 at the time of the 2000 US Census.  The Village of Ballston Spa was named in the honor of Rev. Eliphalet Ball, a Congregationalist clergyman and an early settler. The village lies on the border of the Town of Ballston and the Town of Milton, just southwest of Saratoga Springs.

Village Mayor John Romano (1995–present) says that “the VoBS strives to be a model of a revitalization of the modern day village.”  And with more than 25 years of experience as mayor of this bustling little village, John Romano knows what needs to get done and how to do it.  “The VoBS is focusing on creating a community of family driven independent business. We have a vibrant shopping district with that hometown downtown feel” said the mayor.

Many of these local businesses stretch back decades, like O'brien's Pharmacy which has been proudly serving the village for more than 40 years. “The businesses are different today from what they were 40 years ago, not just your average grocery stores and gas stations” said the mayor. (see  BSBPA website for full list)  The VoBS features dozens of unique antique shops, restaurants, jewelry makers, artisans and more. All this stimulating new growth, is drawing more and more people to visit this “Village of Friends”.  This must be what the village’s unofficial motto means by “Discover the Charm of Ballston Spa”.    

The VoBS is a great place to live, work and raise a family.  Located in the heart of the Capital District, the VoBS is just 6 miles from Saratoga Springs, 15 miles from Schenectady, 20 miles from Glens Falls and 30 miles from Albany.  This makes Ballston Spa a great location just a short drive to one of the biggest, fastest growing companies in New York States. GlobalFoundries in Malta, the $2 billion hi-tech chip plant has said it will create another 1,300 jobs by the end of this year.  

Globalfoundries’ state of the art plant, just 15 minutes into Malta, is set to hire more than 5,000 new employees by 2018. This is drawing even more people into the area.  Real-estate prices on the rise due to growing demand for new jobs in the area.  This creates even more jobs as the thriving business sectors scrambles to serve the needs of the growing population.  And the village residents couldn’t be happier.

Other area attractions like the National Bottle Museum located in the middle of the village make Ballston Spa a unique place to be..  Also just minutes away is the Saratoga Performing Arts Center (SPAC), the Saratoga Horse Race Track, National Museum of Dance and more.  There is always something fun going on.  Check out the calendar to see all upcoming events.  

VoBS also features one of the best School District around.  Perfect for raising a family. Clean, safe and growing, the VoBS truly is a model of revitalizing the modern day village.  

- v1.02  VoBS   9/3/14  1429  dw     

Google Plus Circles - A Beginner's Guide to G+

What the heck is a Google+ Circle? Good question.  You've found your answer right here....

A Beginner's Guide to G+ 

by DWCOON 9/3/14 2024

So what is Google+?

Google Plus (G+) is a social network many times more innovative than Facebook. G+ is a social media platform comparable to Facebook, however G+ is in many ways, a more evolved and innovative product than Facebook.

     So innovative in fact that concepts like "Circles" are not very intuitive at first. Many are put off by the confusion of a new concept like this that they fall back to what they're used to on Facebook: "Friends".

But once you take a few moments to understand what Circles are, you'll find that organizing people by Circles is far superior to just adding people as "Friends". Human relationships are much more complicated than categorizing everyone you know as a "Friend" "Close Friend" or "Acquaintance" as with Facebook.

Your Google Plus account is based upon your Google Profile (learn more) aka your Gmail account. Your Google+ Profile contains your basic information that other people with Google Accounts can see when you email them. According to Google, the purpose of the profile is to help shape what you see when you search your own name online.

You control what information of yours is visible to the world. Most importantly, you can add a profile picture that everyone sees when you email them from your Gmail. Also you can build your personal bio, share any information you want like your address, phone number and email address, plus links to your personal or professional Websites and other social media.

Google lets you decide which audiences can see each section of information. Don't want the whole world to know where you live? You can choose to share that information with select groups of people (i.e 1 or more Circles) or share with just one specific person or keep it private altogether. If you're sensitive about your private information, you can build a Google profile using only your name -- Google doesn't require you to include additional information.

Learn about details about Circles and how they work from this helpful guide by HowStuffWorks.

Creating Circles

Circles are an easy way to organize your life. Circles are not only the people you know like in real life. You can add, people, places, things, ideas, concepts, business, celebrities, genres and so much more.

They make it easy for you to share with just the right people, whether you're sending an inside joke to friends or sharing that unbelievable photo with everyone. You have 3 circles to start out with, and you can create new circles for even more flexibility.

I currently have more than 40 Circles with more being added as needed. A few examples that I use often: USMC (for all of the Marines that I know), My Influences (people I know plus famous people who are/have influence me), Jesus (Christians plus other related material), Zombies (people whom I want with me in the event of a zombie incident), Trust News, Music, Fun and many more.  You get the idea, best to jump in and start creating your own Circles to find out for yourself.

So basically, the more important someone is to you, the more circles you add them to and vice versa. Some of my best friends are in ten or more circles, while other people who are less important in my life are in just one or two circles.

People Can't See To What Circle/s You Add Them

When you add someone to a Circle, they do get a notification, but it only tells them that you added them on Google Plus and to how many circles they added you too. They can not see what the names of the Circle/s you added them to are called.  So maybe they added you to a Circle named "Favorite People" or "Dumbest People I Know."  You'll never know other than how many Circles they've added you too.  

You Can Add People To Multiple Circles

This might not be obvious for everyone, but yes, you can have one single person in several of your Circles. And knowing that they neither see where you add them, nor that you add them to more than one Circle, should put you at ease with trying different combinations. It goes without saying that people can also not see who else is in one of your Circles with them. 

I am always pleased when people add me to more than one circle.  It shows me that they value me as more than just one thing.  Also it shows me that they have their own personalized system of organizations the people in their live more than just generic categories like friends and family. 

Organize Circles Based On How You Want to Interact

You should by all means experiment with Circles and see which ones work best for you. Instead of just creating Circles based on how you know people (friends, family, colleagues etc.) try creating Circles based on what you want to share with them or how you want to interact with them. Are they a science buff?  Add them you a Science Circle, so that when you come across cool science stuff you find online, you can share with just the people who are interested in that kind of stuff.  

Remember that Circles are not only shown on Google Plus, but also as labels in Gmail. You can even search mail in Gmail by circle, e.g. circle:friends. Moreover, if you regularly use Hangouts with a specific set of people, you can use Circles as Invite lists.

Manage What You See In Your "Home Stream" (same as your Facebook Feed)

Say you just want to see what is going on with everyone in your "Smart People" Circle.  G+ allows you to do just that.  In your Home stream you can see what your Circles are sharing with you. However, you decide that is shown in the All tab and you can choose a different setting for each of your Circles.

From the menu on top of your Home stream, select one of your Circles. As you view the stream from a specific Circle, you will see a slide control in the top right. When the slider is in the left-most position, none of the posts from people in that Circle will be shown on your Home stream. In the right-most position, all posts will be shown and you will be subscribed to notifications.

This is super innovative. I've never seen anything like it before.  I totally didn't understand it at first, but once I got it, I never saw Facebook's primitive system the say way again.  Best way to understand this is to try it out for yourself.

Learn 20 Keyboard Shortcuts Mouse free in 5 minute or less.

Keyboard Shortcut Practice Tutorial
by
OTS

Learn 20 Keyboard Shortcuts in 5 Minute or Less

     This Practice Tutorial will teach you how to use keyboard shortcuts (KS) on any browser. By utilizing these shortcuts you will save a lot of time down the road. Learning to use KS instead of a mouse has a pretty steep learning curve of about 15 minutes for most people.   

     After just few times though this KS Tutorial and a little practice, you'll wonder why how you browsed without them. KS can enhance your browsing experience by making it much faster than constantly moving your hand to point and click.  This tutorial can help you wean yourself off the mouse for about 90 percent of your computer time. 

Your hands only leave the keyboard a few times during this exercise. So keep you hands off the mouse until step 6!  

Before we start, we recommend that if you haven't already done it, customize your homepage + add 1 or more tabs to open everytime you open a new browser. To do this to the Settings, find the ON STARTUP option: Open a specific page or set of pages. Click on SET PAGES.

I like this feature. I change my homepage regularly, but I usually have my email, Facebook and Google also set to open.  

Here we go.

          Steps 1 - 10 KS Tutorial

Step 1 - Open your favorite browser.   I recommend Google Chrome or Firefox over Internet Explorer 

• 1.1  Open a New Browser  -   (by clicking on the icon shortcut)
• 1.2  Now place your hands on the keyboard for the rest of the tutorial.
  Mouse will not be needed until Step 7.

Step 2 - Start Navigating

• 2.1 Press Ctrl + N to open a new window.
• 2.2 Next hold Ctrl and hit T twice to open two new tabs.  Notice that by default that what you type next should automatically be in the address bar (except sites like Google.com).
  And start typing, after just the first letter of the website you want to go to, and if you've been to the URL before, it will pop right up. Push the up and down arrow keys to make a selection select, then hit Enter.
• 2.3 Or type in something to search using your default search engine. (Choose any search engine you'd like to be your primary means of searching the internet. Set your default search engine that is used when searching from the omnibox in Settings). 

Something Important to Note:  If your cursor doesn't automaticly land in the address bar (omnibox), or your homepage is something other than what you set it as, chances are that you've been hacked. Malware, Spyware, Ransomware and other malicious sites, app and worms often hi-jack your browser settings, overwriting your homepage, switching your default search engine to something bogus you've ever heard of, in an attempt for you to search on that engine instead of Google. This can compromised all sites you visit, making you vulnerable when entering personal information into scam websites that look identical to the one you're used to. One breach is all it can take to inflict serious damage. So be sure to review your Settings and Security options.  OTS will have a tutorial about that soon. 

Step 3 - Switching Tabs Mouse Free

• 3.1  Hold Ctrl and hit Page Up and Page Down to cycle open tabs.  You should now have 3 tabs New Tabs open.  Cycle back and forth a few times to get the feel for it.
• 3.2  Alternatively you can hold Ctrl and press 1 - 9 to jump that tab. (1 = first tab, 2 = second tab etc...)  This can come in quite handy after you learn step 6.  

Step 4 - Navigation a webpage Mouse Free 

• 4.1  Setup - Ctrl + N
• a) Type any website
• b) Hit Enter
• c) End - Go to Bottom of Page
  
• 4.2  Down, Up, Back and Forward
• a) End - Jump to Bottom of Page
• b) Home - Jump to Top of Page
• c) Alt+Left Arrow or Backspace  - Back to previous page
• d) Alt+Right Arrow -  Forward
  
• 4.3  Refresh and Close Tab + Reopen last Tab Closed
• a) Ctrl + R - Reload Page  
• b) Close Tab
• c) Ctrl + Shift + R - Force Reload (not from cache)

Step 5 - Opening & Managing Multiple TabsSetup - Open a New Window + 5 or more Tabs

• 5.1   Setup Ctrl + N 
• 5.2   Ctrl + T 
• then type "fac..." until Facebook pops up, down arrow to one & hit Enter
• 5.3   Ctrl + T 
• then type "you..." until YouTube pops up, down arrow to one & hit Enter
• 5.4   Ctrl + T 
• then type "goo..." until Google pops up, down arrow to one & hit Enter
• 5.5   Continue doing this until you have 5 or more tabs open in one window at once

Step 6 - Find on Page

• 6.1   Ctrl + F             
• Type a word
• Enter
  
• 6.2   Tap Ctrl + G to cycle Alternatively  
• Or hit F3 to cycle
  
• 6.3   Esc
  

Step 7 - Zooming

• 7.1 Tab to a website with a lot of text. 
• 7.2  Change Text Size
• Ctrl +  +
• Ctrl +  -
• Ctrl + 0
• Hold Ctrl Scroll your mouse wheel up and down

Step 8 - 

You are what you think about most of the time...

If you are not always thinking about ways to improving your life, specifically thinking about how to do that all the while actually taking action to make it happen....  

If you're not always thinking about that then I hate to tell you friend, but you literally have a lower level of consciousness then the people who are going to be the most successful in our world....

And you're likely living your life in the lowest tier of consciousness....  Oblivious that life could be so much better..... 

Please allow me to explain...   Simply put, you thoughts,

the stuff that you think about most of your waking hours, literally beckons your intangible ideas into your reality....

This concept is commonly referred to as the Law of Attraction.

 Law of Attraction is always at work, creating your thoughts into existence, whether you're conscientious about it or not. Law of Attraction simply says that you attract into your life whatever you think about. Your dominant thoughts will find a way to manifest. But the Law of Attraction gives rise to some tough questions that don’t seem to have good answers. I would say, however, that these problems aren't caused by the Law of Attraction itself but rather by the Law of Attraction as applied to objective reality.

DWCOON says that there are three tiers of levels of consciousness. 
   

The 3 Tiers of Consciousness:  Lowest, Middle & Top Level

by dwcoon August 30, 2014

1)  The lowest tiers of consciousness are where most people live their entire lives:  5 Levels

Apathy– Feeling hopeless ...  Grief– perpetual state of sadness ...   

Fear– Seeing the world as dangerous and unsafe. Paranoia. People remain trapped in this level for a long time, such as in an abusive relationship ...   Desire–  addiction, money, power, drinking and doing drugs   ....   

Anger– the level of frustration, often from not having your desires met at the lower level. This level can keep you stuck in hatred.  In an abusive relationship, you’ll often see an anger person coupled with a fear person. 

2)  The middle tier of consciousness is about 25 percent of the world:  4 Levels 

   

Pride– The first level where you start to feel good, but it’s a false feeling. It’s dependent on external circumstances (money, prestige, etc), so it’s vulnerable. ... 

Courage– The first level of true strength.  This is where you start to see life as challenging and exciting instead of overwhelming. You begin to have an inkling of interest in personal growth, although at this level you'll probably call it something else like skill-building, career advancement, education, etc. You start to see your future as an improvement upon your past, rather than a continuation of the same. 

Neutrality– This level is epitomized by the phrase, 

“live and let live.” It’s flexible, relaxed, and unattached. Whatever happens, you roll with the punches.  You don’t have anything to prove. You feel safe and get along well with other people. A lot of self-employed people are at this level. A very comfortable place.  The level of complacency and laziness.  You’re taking care of your needs, but you don’t push yourself too hard  ...  

Willingness– Now that you’re basically safe and comfortable, you start using your energy more effectively.   Just getting by isn’t good enough anymore. You begin caring about doing a good job — perhaps even your best.  You think about time management and productivity and getting organized, things that weren't so important to you at the level of neutrality.  This is the level that you really dive into the development of willpower and self-discipline.  

These people are the “writers, teachers and activists” of society; they get things done well and don’t complain much.  If you’re in school, then you’re a really good student; you take your studies seriously and put in the time to do a good job. This is the point where your consciousness becomes more organized and disciplined.

This Willingness Level is

DWCOON's Level of Consciousness

as of August 2014.

3)  The TOP tier of consciousness consists of only about 2-3 percent of humanity.  

Few humans ever each theses top levels. Mozart, Einstein, Darwin, Steve Pavlina,, Marx, MLK and Da Vinci just to name a few....  

At the very top, less than a handful will ever achieve the ultimate level of true enlightenment. Jesus Christ, Buddha, ....

DWCOON doesn't feel qualified to teach about the TOP Tier levels at this time....   someday....    

CCW Collaborative Concept Websiting v1.05

CCW 

Collaborative Concept Websiting

Collaborative Concept Websiting is an awesome innovative idea by dwcoon.  

Created 8/28/14, more development needed.  

CCW Briefing:

CCW creates a PFL of intellectual growth and possibilities...

Positive Feedback loop defined as a feedback loop that accelerates a process into more and more complexity. Usually once in motion, a PFL can have no obvious means of being stopped or slowed down until it meets its ultimate fate. Think of an avalanche that started as a small snowball rolling down a steep hill. The avalanche grows and grows until it hits ground zero.   

In the case of CCW, success if inevitable if collaborators never give up until they meet your ultimate goals, however long that may take. The only way to fail is to give up.  

I, dwcoon, for one will never give up!!!  

....until I'm victorious or dead.... 

What inspired this idea?

HSH, Mother and Son Site, Google Drive and my first CCW with my therapist....

Concept outline for the www

CCW + smart people + modest continuous investment of effort = A PFL of awesomeness...

What is a PFL?

PFL is a Positive Feedback Loop.  CCW spawns PFLs that can create exponential growth of a concept when utilized by intelligent like minded people whom are determined to meet their goals and objectives.  

What's the big deal? 

PFL tend to spark creativity, which spawns new ideas and new realms of study.  New realms require new knowledge to understand, learning occurs. Your Level of Consciousness increases, your mind expands, your concept of truth evolves and you gain wisdom.

Exploring new ideas and continuous learning leads to the building of an ever growing database of knowledge that will benefit all future work.  All this leads back to the original concept now seen in a new light, thus inspiring new ideas and ever more concepts to explore.  This PFL of learning can continue everyday of your life until you die.  

CPI - 

References:  To learn more...

wikipedia.org/wiki/Positive_feedback

sites.google.com/site/tremendouschallenge/levels-of-conscienousness

sites.google.com/site/tremendouschallenge/life-loves-you 

www.healyourlife.com 

www.crossroadsgf.com  

I want to be a Doctor of Philosophy, aka a PhD

Doctor of Philosophy

From Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

Doctor of Philosophy, abbreviated as PhD, Ph.D., D.Phil., or DPhil in English-speaking countries and originally as Dr.Philos. (for the Latin philosophiae doctor or doctor philosophiae), is in many countries a postgraduate academic degree awarded by universities. 

The academic level known as a Doctorate of philosophy varies considerably according to the country, institution, and time period, from entry-level research degrees to higher doctorates. A person who attains a doctorate of philosophy is automatically awarded the academic title of doctor.

I'm on my way....  

www.reddit.com best website on the internet today

If you're new to Reddit, welcome and your welcome. 

If Google is where you go to find stuff on the internet, 

Reddit is where to go to find the best of what people are finding....

www.reddit.com

start Redditing today, you won't regret it

Reddit is quite possibly the best source of information from the community of people interested and knowledgeable about that subject.  

Behold the power and beauty of Reddit, as of the end of August 2014 there are according to redditmetrics: 

442,858 subreddits

And there are hundreds of new subreddits being added every week. See http://redditmetrics.com/ for more detailed infomation.  

This new form of free global public communications is revolutionizing how concepts grow ever for deep and complex.  

This technology combined with humanity's knowledge open and free to everyone will change democracy, science, public opinion and policy, politics, the justice system, medicine and healthcare.  

Because of new innovative brilliant website like Reddit, communities of thousands, and on the top subreddits hundreds of thousands of people participate in discussion and conversation on every possible conceivable subject imaginable.  All subreddits are moderated by the community, every link and comment made is voted up or down by people interested in that subject. This system, this method of instant community feedback and moderation is so shockingly good at sorting the best from the worse that the result is incredible.  

Need advice? Got a question? Interesting in a special subject? Connect and talk with them anonymously or not. Learn from them, teach them, share your thoughts and opinions.  What happens is you get is real.  Some ugly, some stupid, some sweet and some brilliant.  This works because the majority of people in this world are good.  

This excellent video by CPG Grey explains what Reddit is in 5 minutes