Atomic Toastmasters Shutdown

Have you ever heard someone give one of the most horrible speeches or presentations?  Are you tired of hearing those crutch words like, hmm, umm, you know, so, and so many more?  Toastmasters is an organization where members come together and give speeches in a learning environment making them better speakers by giving the speaker feedback. 

I have been a member of the company Toastmasters club since I started working here back in 2012.  I have learned a lot over the years and still haven't been able to complete my goals as a Competent Leader or Competent Communicator but I am hoping to complete those hopefully by the time my club closes its doors for good.  Over the years we have been seeing a decrease in attendance to not only visitors but club members.  Our attendance used to consist of about 15 members per meeting and today we couldn’t host a meeting because we only had 6 members present.  Our President informed us that she has considered letting the club close and for us to seek membership with another club in the area. 

I ask you today, if you have not attended a Toastmasters Meeting then I encourage you to go to one soon.  It doesn’t have to be the one that I go to but go to http://www.toastmasters.org and look for a meeting that is in your area and that meets on a day that best fits your schedule. 

I promise you wont be disappointed, especially if you have to work with customers or give presentations to an audience. 

Thanks for reading.

Semper Fidelis,

Manuel Perez

Adventures

I recently have been traveling quite a bit for work, so my post activity has been down.  I have been sticking to Instagram and posting to a couple of sites all at once versus having to write a lot of content and posting it here and then trying to post it everywhere else.  The traveling has been a blast as you get to connect with so many people in such a short amount of time.  It can be a little tedious though, especially when going from Las Vegas to Anaheim in just a couple of days.

Just recently I got to experience Walt Disney’s California Adventure for the first time.  It was an incredible experience.  The rides are I would call, geared towards older crowd or thrill seekers!  One of the best experiences was the last part of the day which included an awesome show called, World of Colors!  This amazing show is something spectacular as it uses water and projectors and lights to make what is simply stunning.  Comparing the show that is shown in Las Vegas’ Bellagio Hotel, the show at Disney blows Bellagio’s out of the water.  I have overheard that Bellagio is even considering removing their show permanently.  I think they should reconsider and possibly send some of their research guys over to see the show that Disney has to offer. 

See the video below from a YouTube Search of The World of Color to see what I mean.

https://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=world+of+color

Thanks for reading. 

I look forward to your comments.

Semper Fidelis,

Manuel Perez

Be sure to checkout Phlearn – Photoshop & Photography Tutorials. 

Close Encounters

My recent trip to Colorado and New Mexico had me kind of in a whirl.  Getting so close to something that actually felt creepy! 

When I was working in the School District in Dos Palos I had a student worker that was working for us.  We would have him do some work in the morning and then I would have him surf on YouTube after he was done with his work.  I told him that he would have to give me a report of what he learned on YouTube at the end of the day.  I wasn’t ready for what I was about to learn but I kept an open view.  He had researched an area similar to Area 51 but was actually in Colorado and in New Mexico.  It was an underground base that housed lots of hidden laboratory research.  One report even came from a police officer who was in New Mexico who had been called to do an investigation regarding some cows that had been mutilated.  The officer didn’t know how bad it was until he arrived on the scene.  He found what appeared to be a human fetus that was a stillborn inside of the cow. 

Another report stated that an individual that was actually working in what is called Dulce Base had actually came forward to give his side of the story telling the horrific details of his job inside the base.  The base is supposedly hidden underneath Archuleta Mesa just on the New Mexico and Colorado border.  The base is also 7 levels deep underground, with each level freakier than the other above.  The deeper you got the closer you got to what seemed like a nightmare. 

I listened and viewed a lot of the material that this student put before me and was interested.  I left it at that until this last week I arrived in the town of Dulce, NM and had no idea.  A person I was talking to told me about the events that happen in the area and then he mentioned the base underground in the Mesa right there.  I then had a flashback to the report the student had given me and was recalling everything.  The guy even took me to get a closer look of the Mesa where I was able to take a photo.  (See bottom Right)

That night I had a close encounter with some form or image on the mirror inside of a restroom of what appeared to be an alien.  The local security guard was telling me about the stuff that happened in the area and then he asked if I wanted to see something.  I went to see first hand and put this video together of the incident.  A restroom mirror that was just cleaned before we took the video and an image of an alien head on the mirror.  I had the goose bumps and then they mentioned stories of babies crying inside of empty rooms with no one inside them.  I couldn’t sleep the whole night and kept hearing noises outside my window terrified that if I were to peek outside that I might see something. 

Now that I am home I am able to tell my story of my encounter with Dulce, NM.  I might have to go again but I plan on trying to go in and stay elsewhere for the night. 

Thanks for reading.

Semper Fidelis,

Manuel Perez

The Black & White Photo Contest

The timeless and graphic qualities of black-and-white always make a statement. Digital Photo Pro's new Black & White World Photo Contest celebrates the monochrome image. The First Place Prize Package includes $500 cash and publication of the winning photo in Digital Photo Pro magazine - along with other great prizes! Entry deadline is May 22, 2014. First Place Prize Package: Publication of the winning photo in Digital Photo Pro $500 in cash A Manfrotto MK190XPRO3 190 kit - alu 3-section horiz. column tripod + ball head Tamrac's Apache 6 Camera/Tablet Bag A 32GB Professional 600x SDHC UHS-1 memory card from Lexar A Compact HoodLoupe from Hoodman USA A Ready For Anything lighting kit from LumiQuest Online publication of the winning photo in the Winners' Gallery Second Place Prize Package: Tamrac's Mirage 4 Photo/Tablet Backpack A Strobist® lighting kit from LumiQuest A 16GB microSDHC UHS-1 memory card from Lexar Online publication of the winning photo in the Winners' Gallery People's Choice Award: Online publication of the winning photo in the Winners' Gallery

Travel Software

Recently I was watching TV and a commercial came on showing the Expedia app. In the commercial it showed off how easy it is to keep on track while traveling. I am one who travels all the time and I love to find an app that makes traveling a lot easier. 

I have been using the Kayak app since and have been a huge fan of it. The Kayak website lets you plan your trip ahead of time by customizing the trip. The Expedia app lets you customize your trip as long as you booked the items through their site. This means that if you book your hotel through another site and want to keep track of the itinerary on your app then you can't. 

I usually will go into the Kayak website and customize my entire trip before traveling so that my entire trip is synched up on my phone when traveling. The Kayak app also has a Flight Tracker that helps when trying to find what gate you need to run to next. 

The Expedia app doesn't work unless you have a trip already booked through Expedia. 

Overall, I am always willing to try new apps that make my life easier and if anyone has recommendations on a great traveling app then let me know. 

Thanks for reading!

Semper Fidelis,

Manuel Perez

The Final Inspection

The Marine stood and faced God
Which must always come to pass
He hoped his shoes were shining
Just as brightly as his brass.
"Step forward Marine,
How shall I deal with you?
Have you always turned the other cheek?
To My Church have you been true?"
The Marine squared his shoulders and said,
"No, Lord, I guess I ain't
Because those of us who carry guns
Can't always be a saint.
I've had to work most Sundays
And at times my talk was tough,
And sometimes I've been violent,
Because the world is awfully rough.
But, I never took a penny
That wasn't mine to keep...
Though I worked a lot of overtime
When the bills got just too steep.
And I never passed a cry for help,
Though at times I shook with fear,
And sometimes, God forgive me,
I've wept unmanly tears.
I know I don't deserve a place
Among the people here,
They never wanted me around
Except to calm their fears.
If you've a place for me here,
Lord, It needn't be so grand,
I never expected or had too much,
But if you don't, I'll understand."
There was a silence all around the throne
Where the saints had often trod
As the Marine waited quietly,
For the judgment of his God.
"Step forward Marine,
You've borne your burdens well,
Walk peacefully on Heaven's streets,
You've done your time in Hell."

Semper Fidelis!

Author Unknown

Botanical Garden

Here is a photo from one of my recent trips to San Diego, CA.  I stopped off at Balboa Park and found this amazing view from the Botanical Garden. 

Thanks for looking.

Semper Fidelis,

Manuel Perez