There are countless reasons why effective, high-quality communication can be difficult. We are all individuals, with different ways of seeing the world, different biases and goals and vulnerabilities. Too often we judge what we see and hear based on our own experiences and predispositions. We must remember, however, that effective communication begins with mutual respect, a give-and-take exercise that ideally […]

The fiery accident that occurred on a warm Florida night on July 4, 2012 left an unconscious man trapped in his burning car. Seemingly out of nowhere, a figure emerged from the darkness through a layer of flames to open the door and lead the driver to safety moments before the car exploded. Like a scene from a movie, the […]

After more than nineteen years in the concrete stone mold business, some of our customers and DIY stone, paver and tile owners who use our molds still have problems with air bubbles or insect holes in concrete products. cast that they manufacture. Almost 100 percent of the time, it’s because they don’t follow the free, simple instructions provided with every […]

The origin of the modern heating stove is intertwined with the history of domestic heating and cooking. From the Iron Age onwards, humans sought to cook food and heat their homes with a source of fire contained within their dwelling. Over ten thousand years or more, designs slowly matured to the point in the 18th century where it became apparent […]

First, make sure you have the proper documentation. The City of Dallas requires that an independent background check be conducted before you are allowed to work. It is not a commercial license and is run by a company called Bio-Verify. If you are a US citizen, please make sure you have 2 forms of identification (driver’s license, state issued ID, […]

If you’re like many people with Asperger’s syndrome, you classify small talk as a nonsensical (neurotypical) NT ritual in which people waste time talking about stupid topics that no one really cares about. However, small talk is actually a fundamental skill in the workplace. It’s the first step in building those important relationships with your colleagues. Most neurotypicals (who make […]

I am very excited to introduce Allen A. Causevic. It is one of the main competitors based in the Chicago area. Many of you know him, some of you don’t, but you will hear more and more about him as time goes on. Allen is exceptionally eloquent and thoughtful in his responses. We talk about “fighters”, gi vs. nogi, Austrian […]

That’s Disney’s first animated film about an African-American princess, and this delightful fairy tale couldn’t come at a better time, with the two little African-American princesses residing within the White House. The newest of Disney royalty is called Tiana, and she is a young woman with pools for eyes, a figure out of a style magazine and a great dream. […]

All of our faces have different characteristics; Some may have round, or perhaps almond-shaped, glued or protruding eyes, the nose shapes may appear hooked, Roman, or snubbed, and the chin may appear pointed, square, or set back. Cheeks may look different on other people as well, as some people have flat cheeks, high cheekbones, or apple cheeks. Genetics can decide […]

The black rose and the black tulip have always been a gardener’s dream. We haven’t reached that dream yet, but we are getting closer. The flowers we call black are actually very, very dark red or purple flowers, so dark they appear black to us. If you are like me and you want black flowers in your garden, here are […]