My name is Craig and I am the President of jetForward Aviation, an aviation acquisition firm in San Jose, CA. I live in south San Jose with my wife of 22 years and our three children. I have known Greg Reyes since joining the Brocade Communications sales organization just over seven years ago. I am writing today in the hopes that my personal remarks might somehow be considered during Greg’s sentencing.
In the time that I have known Greg, I have always been impressed by his dedication and character, both as a professional and as a person. During my time at Brocade, it was Greg who provided the executive guidance and support so important to a growing young company. He was very close to our team in particular, providing Personal counsel based on a deep level of experience in the world of hi-tech sales. Though continually requested to speak at industry events and seminars, he was an extremely approachable man to all of us - never too busy for a one-on-one conversation or to offer professional coaching when asked. I remember numerous conversations with Greg – from recent sales activities to the status of personal friends of mine serving with our troops in the Gulf War. I recall how everyone in the company reacted to his leadership and compassion immediately following 9/11 – essentially putting a halt to all business until we had accounted for every employee and their family.
While his professional demeanor always impressed me, it has been his role as a family man that has stuck with me over time. Whether hosting his children during “bring your kid to work day” or support for his wife’s personal achievements, it was Clear he provided a very steady hand as father and husband. In witnessing how Greg carried himself I learned that executive leadership and family dedication are not mutually exclusive - in fact success in both comes from an extreme level of focus and discipline.
Not surprisingly, I have witnessed the past few months with a sense of astonishment and disbelief. I cannot begin to imagine the effect this has had on Greg’s family. The thought of this husband and father being sent to federal prison is beyond my comprehension. For an individual with so much to offer, who could provide so much in a society that is wanting in so many places, the idea of locking him up in a jail cell seems to only compound this tragic episode.
I continue to hope (and pray) that the Court will find a positive in all of this, Somehow allowing Greg to continue to provide his family the love and support they need while satisfying the requirements of the judicial process.
Gregory Reyes
Thursday, March 25, 2010
Saturday, March 20, 2010
A Solution-Focused Approach to Hearing Loss
It doesn't take a lot of effort to notice that we live in a problem-focused world. Any amount of television viewing is certain to bear witness to commercials that identify some human flaw that needs fixing, whether with a new detergent, a new car, or a new TV. It's hard to think of any commercial that has ever trumpeted, "You're doing great...keep it up, you don't need our product -- just thought we'd let you know." It's no wonder ""What's wrong?" is a vastly more common interpersonal statement than "What's going right?" While it might sell a lot of soap, when it comes to emotional issues, a problem-focused approach can keep us stuck. This can be illustrated with the oft-cited pink elephant: As you read this sentence, whatever you do, do NOT think of a pink elephant... Pretty darn difficult to avoid thinking of pink pachyderms, isn't it? The same is true for mental health issues. A depressed person who feels hopeless is better off identifying activities that make him feel a bit more hopeful rather than coming up with ways to feel less hopeless. It seems a simple lesson but hard to put into practice.
When it comes to hearing loss, it is not easy to apply a solution-focused approach. The trauma of the loss itself, the daily effort it takes to hear, and the frustration of dealing with friends and family who may not understand how to be helpful are real problems. That fact is not up for debate. However, one way forward is to learn to notice what is working and what is going right rather than what is NOT working.
Consider "Arthur" and "Donna". Donna's hearing loss has impacted how the couple functions at social gatherings. Arthur typically makes an effort to speak for Donna. He usually answers questions that others direct towards her and believes he is helping to keep her connected at the party. Unfortunately, this has just the opposite effect. Donna feels stigmatized and isolated -- as if she can't speak for herself. When they get home Donna alternately lashes out at Arthur complaining that he "treats her like a child" or is stone-cold silent; giving Arthur an unspoken message that he has done something wrong. In both cases, Arthur is confused because he thought he was being helpful and silently begins to resent Donna's "lack of appreciation" for him. Early on in counseling the couple engages in problem-focused conversations of trying to get the other person to stop their undesired behavior. But at this point emotions are so charged that neither Donna nor Arthur can stand to listen to the other's complaints. By now readers of the above pink elephant experiment are keenly aware that there comes a time when trying to NOT focus on something becomes impossible. For this reason, Donna and Arthur are encouraged to avoid talking about problems and to take a solution-focused approach.
Therapist: Donna, can you think of a recent time when you enjoyed going to a party with Arthur.
Donna: A whole party? No I can't.
Therapist: What about a moment at a party where Arthur was helpful.
Donna: Well, last week, when Sally asked me how the kids were doing, Arthur provided space for me to answer and it kind of sparked a conversation between Sally and me. It feels like I don't talk to a lot of people these days, so it felt really good.
Therapist: So you liked it when Arthur encouraged you to join in the conversation?
Donna: Yes. I felt like he really cared about me.
Therapist: Arthur, what's it like to hear Donna say that?
Arthur: You know, I'm kind of shocked. I really had no idea that's what she wanted me to do. I'm glad she told me.
The following solution-focused tips can be gleaned from the above brief vignette of a real case (with names and details changed to protect confidentiality).
· Take time to notice what your spouse/partner, friend or family member does well. While nobody is 100% perfect, nobody is 100% flawed. Something MUST be going right. Like Donna above, sometimes it takes looking for small moments that go well. For example: Let your children or grandchildren know that you really appreciate it when they face towards you and speak clearly. You'll be amazed at how quickly they respond to this positive reinforcement with more helpful behaviors.
· Let the other person know (a) What they did, (b) How it was helpful, and (c) That you'd love it if he/she did it again! Try to resist the urge to tag on any description of what they did NOT do well.
· The same approach can and should be taken by hearing family members. Encourage them to read this article and let them know that you'd like to learn from them what you do that is helpful. For example: "Mom, it's really helpful when you turn your hearing aid on when I'm with you. It makes me feel like you really want to listen to me."
· Remember, many of us are experts at noticing what is not working. Take time to practice noticing what IS working.
Monday, March 15, 2010
The Ups and Downs of Downloadable DS Games
What is a DS?
The DS, or Nintendo DS, is an advanced technology apparatus that plays video games on a duel screen monitor. It is a handheld game system that allows gaming enthusiasts to bring high quality games with them when they are on the road or otherwise unable to play a counsel system. However, with the DS, has become a standalone system that has most gamers itching to try it. It was developed and produced by the Nintendo organization and was released in 2004 in multiple countries including Canada, Japan, the United States and the United Kingdom. The clamshell design is similar to the Game Boy Advance, which was the predecessor to the Nintendo DS, but the Nintendo DS has duel screens with the lower one being designed as a touch screen.
Download DS Games
Though there are some problems with downloadable DS games, they hardly outweigh the possible positives when it comes to these games. Downloadable DS games are games that can be downloaded off the wireless internet that is available for the Nintendo DS. These games are similar to WiiWare games in that they are not usually full length games, but they are still fantastically composed and capable of providing hours of gaming fun. There are even some free downloadable DS games available, but these are rarer than the purchased ones.
A few cons to downloadable DS games include the fact that the download speed is relatively poor. When downloading a game for the DS, it can take many minutes, even hours in some extreme cases. This can be more than a little frustrating for those that want to just play the game.
Another problem is that there is a possibility for an adware infiltration which can potentially do damage to the DS. However, this is only caused by poor usage of the wireless internet system.
These few cons are not enough to make the whole of the system poor. The Nintendo DS has many games online that may be downloaded on the SD card of the system. This can allow numerous downloadable games to be purchased or downloaded on a single system. The downloadable games for the DS are also very fun and very addicting. They can provide just as much if not more fun that any retail game for the DS or a consol alike. Once the games are downloaded there are usually no problems with operation.
Learn about the best DS Download sites. Find out where to download unlimited DS games without being afraid of viruses or adware. Go to DS Downloads
The DS, or Nintendo DS, is an advanced technology apparatus that plays video games on a duel screen monitor. It is a handheld game system that allows gaming enthusiasts to bring high quality games with them when they are on the road or otherwise unable to play a counsel system. However, with the DS, has become a standalone system that has most gamers itching to try it. It was developed and produced by the Nintendo organization and was released in 2004 in multiple countries including Canada, Japan, the United States and the United Kingdom. The clamshell design is similar to the Game Boy Advance, which was the predecessor to the Nintendo DS, but the Nintendo DS has duel screens with the lower one being designed as a touch screen.
Download DS Games
Though there are some problems with downloadable DS games, they hardly outweigh the possible positives when it comes to these games. Downloadable DS games are games that can be downloaded off the wireless internet that is available for the Nintendo DS. These games are similar to WiiWare games in that they are not usually full length games, but they are still fantastically composed and capable of providing hours of gaming fun. There are even some free downloadable DS games available, but these are rarer than the purchased ones.
A few cons to downloadable DS games include the fact that the download speed is relatively poor. When downloading a game for the DS, it can take many minutes, even hours in some extreme cases. This can be more than a little frustrating for those that want to just play the game.
Another problem is that there is a possibility for an adware infiltration which can potentially do damage to the DS. However, this is only caused by poor usage of the wireless internet system.
These few cons are not enough to make the whole of the system poor. The Nintendo DS has many games online that may be downloaded on the SD card of the system. This can allow numerous downloadable games to be purchased or downloaded on a single system. The downloadable games for the DS are also very fun and very addicting. They can provide just as much if not more fun that any retail game for the DS or a consol alike. Once the games are downloaded there are usually no problems with operation.
Learn about the best DS Download sites. Find out where to download unlimited DS games without being afraid of viruses or adware. Go to DS Downloads
Wednesday, March 10, 2010
Types Of Psychic Readings
When you contact a psychic, you might be overwhelmed by the different types of readings that they offer. Getting a general idea about the basics of each reading will help make your session with a psychic much more enjoyable.
A tarot card reading is one of the most popular types of psychic readings. During a tarot card reading, the psychic will ask you to focus your energy into the cards. The cards that come out and the position that they fall in will both affect your reading. The modern tarot cards that most psychics use is typically composed of twenty-two major arcane cards and fifty-six minor arcane cards.
If you request an astrology reading, the psychic will use your date of birth to let you know the direction that your life is headed in. This type of reading gains its predictions from the placement of the planets and the stars. There are several different types of astrology that an astrologer can use. These types include Chinese astrology, Western astrology and Indian astrology.
Numerology is another type of psychic reading that utilizes birth dates. A psychic will use the numbers related to your date of birth to come up with a number that can be associated to your type of personality. For example, a person with the number seven is controlled by Neptune and has an idealistic type of character.
A palm reading is another popular type of psychic reading. The psychic will be able to look at a client’s palms and tell a lot about their personality. They will use the shape of the hands, the lines on the hands and the person’s fingers to give an accurate reading. The lines on the hand particularly show many aspects of the person’s personality and their future destiny. The life line tells the length of your life, the head line provides insight into your type of personality and the heart line can give clues about your love life. The other lines include the fate line, health line, fame line, money line, marriage line, sex line, spirit line, travel line and luck line. A palm reader can read the special markings on these lines as well as garner meaning from the length and depth of the lines.
Rune readings are an additional service that a psychic may offer. Runes have been around for thousands of years and have been shown to attain mystical characteristics. A rune reading consists of twenty-four runes laid out in a spread. There are different types of spreads including the traditional spread of three that represents the past, present and future. The materials that the runes are made out of affects the reading as well. Ceramic, stone, wood and gold runes are each used to answer different life questions.
An aura reading can also be conducted when you visit a psychic. This type of reading involves the interpretation of the aura that surrounds a person. An aura is a color outline that emanates from the body and varies from person to person. Auras can be different sizes, shapes and colors. A psychic that can read auras can see or sense a person’s aura and give their interpretation of it.
If you are looking for specific advice or insight, you may wish to visit a psychic that only specializes in one or two areas. Some of the readings must be conducted face to face, but most can be distant readings that are done over the telephone or the Internet. Whichever type of psychic reading you choose, you will be amazed at the insightful things that a psychic can tell you about your life.
Astrological Readings | Psychic Readings Online
A tarot card reading is one of the most popular types of psychic readings. During a tarot card reading, the psychic will ask you to focus your energy into the cards. The cards that come out and the position that they fall in will both affect your reading. The modern tarot cards that most psychics use is typically composed of twenty-two major arcane cards and fifty-six minor arcane cards.
If you request an astrology reading, the psychic will use your date of birth to let you know the direction that your life is headed in. This type of reading gains its predictions from the placement of the planets and the stars. There are several different types of astrology that an astrologer can use. These types include Chinese astrology, Western astrology and Indian astrology.
Numerology is another type of psychic reading that utilizes birth dates. A psychic will use the numbers related to your date of birth to come up with a number that can be associated to your type of personality. For example, a person with the number seven is controlled by Neptune and has an idealistic type of character.
A palm reading is another popular type of psychic reading. The psychic will be able to look at a client’s palms and tell a lot about their personality. They will use the shape of the hands, the lines on the hands and the person’s fingers to give an accurate reading. The lines on the hand particularly show many aspects of the person’s personality and their future destiny. The life line tells the length of your life, the head line provides insight into your type of personality and the heart line can give clues about your love life. The other lines include the fate line, health line, fame line, money line, marriage line, sex line, spirit line, travel line and luck line. A palm reader can read the special markings on these lines as well as garner meaning from the length and depth of the lines.
Rune readings are an additional service that a psychic may offer. Runes have been around for thousands of years and have been shown to attain mystical characteristics. A rune reading consists of twenty-four runes laid out in a spread. There are different types of spreads including the traditional spread of three that represents the past, present and future. The materials that the runes are made out of affects the reading as well. Ceramic, stone, wood and gold runes are each used to answer different life questions.
An aura reading can also be conducted when you visit a psychic. This type of reading involves the interpretation of the aura that surrounds a person. An aura is a color outline that emanates from the body and varies from person to person. Auras can be different sizes, shapes and colors. A psychic that can read auras can see or sense a person’s aura and give their interpretation of it.
If you are looking for specific advice or insight, you may wish to visit a psychic that only specializes in one or two areas. Some of the readings must be conducted face to face, but most can be distant readings that are done over the telephone or the Internet. Whichever type of psychic reading you choose, you will be amazed at the insightful things that a psychic can tell you about your life.
Astrological Readings | Psychic Readings Online
Monday, March 8, 2010
The Basics Of Building Your Own Greenhouse
Building a greenhouse is easier than you may think. You can choose different designs and sizes that you would like to build. A greenhouse will give you comfort whenever you visit your plants, vegetables, flowers, or orchids. It also provides the needed sunlight and humidity for these plants. You may relax and enjoy it every time you visit this place where you have exerted all your effort of building such a wondrous place.
You may save more money if you decide to build a small greenhouse. There are supplies and materials that you can use which should be just enough according to your own prepared budget. If there is enough space that can accommodate a larger greenhouse, do it because you may want to develop more plants and vegetables.
If you really desire to build a greenhouse where you can develop and propagate more plants, you should consider the different factors that would be necessary on the type of greenhouses you would like to build. Here are some tips and factors you should consider in building your own greenhouse.
1. You may consider using salvaged materials if you intend to make a larger greenhouse. You may use these materials in designing and planning for a low cost budget greenhouse. This will also help you minimize the expense of the other supplies and materials needed.
2. You should also determine the climate of the place where you live. An insulated greenhouse should be appropriate for cold climate areas. This will help you provide the needed warmth and heat for your plants. For warm places, a greenhouse that has a shade control would be advisable.
3. You also needs to make sure that your greenhouse will be designed with proper air circulation spaces, ventilation, pest control soil, heaters for winter season, and humidity control devices. You should create an environment that is appropriate for the types of plants that will grow in your greenhouse.
4. The location of the greenhouse should be built where there is enough sunlight. If you choose a solar greenhouse for vegetables and exotic fruit bearing plants it is best if the greenhouse is situated on the east-west part of where you live because facing it this way it is more exposed to sunlight.
5. It is also important to consider the covering of the greenhouse. The most advisable shades are the glass made coverings and fiberglass which might not fit in your budget. But just know that they provide more durability and they do not deteriorate quickly compared to plastic coverings. A greenhouse covered with glass or fiberglass allows more humidity and warmth.
6. You have the option to choose what kind of foundation you would like to use. The foundations can be concrete for a more secured greenhouse. Others prefer the less expensive lightweight foundation where they use improvised materials such as railroad ties, which they can easily attach to the ground. It all depends on how much you are willing to spend on the structure of the greenhouse.
7. You may also consider building a greenhouse that will maximize its full potential. You may want to add benches or materials that will be used for your comfort every time you want to relax in the greenhouse. You may also want to add many accessories to the place like automatic watering systems, heating systems, ventilation system and other automatic equipment that are effective in maintaining the plants.
8. You should use the “good bugs” for you pest control chemical. They prevent and control the spread of the bad bugs in a greenhouse. If you ever find insects in a plant, you should isolate the plant and if possible place the plant outside the greenhouse so that the insects do not house in the other plants.
9. You should allot a space where you can store fertilizers, potting soil and other tools that are essential in the greenhouse. You should place a tool rack nearer to the potting place so that it would be easier for you to transfer the soil from the pot of the plants. You should also place buckets and tool holders to accommodate the other equipment when they are not in use.
You can develop and grow all sorts of plants with a versatile greenhouse. You may also want to reproduce the grown plants to fill the greenhouse with a variety of plants. Putting up a greenhouse will be more enjoyable if it done with the help of the family and friends. So get them involved too.
Have fun.
Christian Baligad
http://www.theboneszone.com
how to build a greenhouse | build your own greenhouse
You may save more money if you decide to build a small greenhouse. There are supplies and materials that you can use which should be just enough according to your own prepared budget. If there is enough space that can accommodate a larger greenhouse, do it because you may want to develop more plants and vegetables.
If you really desire to build a greenhouse where you can develop and propagate more plants, you should consider the different factors that would be necessary on the type of greenhouses you would like to build. Here are some tips and factors you should consider in building your own greenhouse.
1. You may consider using salvaged materials if you intend to make a larger greenhouse. You may use these materials in designing and planning for a low cost budget greenhouse. This will also help you minimize the expense of the other supplies and materials needed.
2. You should also determine the climate of the place where you live. An insulated greenhouse should be appropriate for cold climate areas. This will help you provide the needed warmth and heat for your plants. For warm places, a greenhouse that has a shade control would be advisable.
3. You also needs to make sure that your greenhouse will be designed with proper air circulation spaces, ventilation, pest control soil, heaters for winter season, and humidity control devices. You should create an environment that is appropriate for the types of plants that will grow in your greenhouse.
4. The location of the greenhouse should be built where there is enough sunlight. If you choose a solar greenhouse for vegetables and exotic fruit bearing plants it is best if the greenhouse is situated on the east-west part of where you live because facing it this way it is more exposed to sunlight.
5. It is also important to consider the covering of the greenhouse. The most advisable shades are the glass made coverings and fiberglass which might not fit in your budget. But just know that they provide more durability and they do not deteriorate quickly compared to plastic coverings. A greenhouse covered with glass or fiberglass allows more humidity and warmth.
6. You have the option to choose what kind of foundation you would like to use. The foundations can be concrete for a more secured greenhouse. Others prefer the less expensive lightweight foundation where they use improvised materials such as railroad ties, which they can easily attach to the ground. It all depends on how much you are willing to spend on the structure of the greenhouse.
7. You may also consider building a greenhouse that will maximize its full potential. You may want to add benches or materials that will be used for your comfort every time you want to relax in the greenhouse. You may also want to add many accessories to the place like automatic watering systems, heating systems, ventilation system and other automatic equipment that are effective in maintaining the plants.
8. You should use the “good bugs” for you pest control chemical. They prevent and control the spread of the bad bugs in a greenhouse. If you ever find insects in a plant, you should isolate the plant and if possible place the plant outside the greenhouse so that the insects do not house in the other plants.
9. You should allot a space where you can store fertilizers, potting soil and other tools that are essential in the greenhouse. You should place a tool rack nearer to the potting place so that it would be easier for you to transfer the soil from the pot of the plants. You should also place buckets and tool holders to accommodate the other equipment when they are not in use.
You can develop and grow all sorts of plants with a versatile greenhouse. You may also want to reproduce the grown plants to fill the greenhouse with a variety of plants. Putting up a greenhouse will be more enjoyable if it done with the help of the family and friends. So get them involved too.
Have fun.
Christian Baligad
http://www.theboneszone.com
how to build a greenhouse | build your own greenhouse
Sunday, March 7, 2010
Wearing a Hearing Aid is Nothing to be Embarrassed About
Hearing impairment is one of the most common ailments in the United States. Near about 30 million American citizens are affected with hearing impairment. 2% children are affected with hearing impairment below the age of 18 and this percentage increases with age. To over come hearing impairment digital hearing aids and basic hearing aids are used worldwide for they have proved to be a miracle.
What is a hearing aid?
A hearing aid is a battery-operated, electronic device, which amplifies and changes sound to allow improved communication. Hearing aids receive sound through a microphone, which then convert the sound waves to electrical signals. The amplifier increases the intensity of signals and then sends the sound to ear with the help of a speaker.
What are the different kinds of hearing aids?
Several types of hearing aids are available in the market. Each type provides its own advantages depending upon its size, design and level of amplification. Before purchasing any hearing aid, you should confirm that it would work for you. Most manufacturing companies provide a two-month trial period during which you can return your hearing aid.
Four types of hearing aids are given below for people with hearing impairment:
o (ITE) In-the-Ear hearing aids: This type of a hearing aid fits completely in the outer ear and is useful for mild to severe hearing impairment. The case of the hearing aid is made of hard plastic. In-The-Ear hearing aids can hold telecoil (added technical mechanisms that help hearing aid to improve sound intensity during telephone calls.) ITE hearing aids can give poor feedback if they are damaged by ear drainage or earwax. ITE hearing aids are generally not used by children, as the casings are needed to be replaced as ears grow.
o (BTE) Behind-the-Ear hearing aids are worn behind the ear and are connected to a plastic earmold that fits inside the outer ear. The components of the hearing aid are held in a case behind the ear. Sound travels through the earmold into the ear. These types of hearing aids are used by people of all age group. Poor earmold fitting can cause a whistle sound production or formation of earwax or fluid.
o Canal hearing aids are available in two sizes. Canal hearing aids fit into the ear canal. A (CIC) or Completely-in-Canal hearing aid is mostly hidden in the ear canal and is used in the cases of mild to severe hearing impairment. CIC hearing aids are very small in size and that's why it is not possible to attach additional devices like telecoil. These hearing aids can also be damaged by ear drainage or earwax and are not recommended for children.
o Body hearing aids are also available in the market. They are big in size and mostly used when other hearing aids are not useful.
On some special occasions discount hearing aids are also available in market. You can buy discount hearing aids ranging from digital hearing aids to the basic behind the ear hearing aids. Some online sellers provide a larger selection of discount hearing aids at a more affordable price. Many companies like Songbird Hearing USA offer hearing aids for sale.
Make a detailed study before you place an order for a discount hearing aid.
Saturday, March 6, 2010
Living behind the ear - Hearing Aids
Living aids are a small device that spend their time in most cases inside and behind the ear of an individual who has a hearing impairment. The small device is used to amplify noises to increase the probability of an individual who is hard of hearing in distinguishing a sound. Technology over the past decade has greatly increased both the effectiveness of hearing aids as well as greatly reduced the obtrusiveness of a hearing aid. It used to be that an individual would have to wear an "ear trumpet" or "ear horn", which was a larger and very noticeable way of aiding hearing. Now many times you won't even notice that a hearing aid is being used until you look closely as they are very compact in size, and will often times blend right in with the ear of an individual. With the increased technology in batteries and power conservation, their is no longer a need for cables and pocket battery packets, instead the battery is concealed in the device itself! It's like James Bond, but this device is actually useful.
There is several different types of hearing aids, which will vary in many ways among size, cost and power. Before making a choice on any different model or function, I would first recommend talking to your medical professional. Always put functionality ahead of all of your other choices. A hearing aid that looks great, but doesn't help your hearing, isn't going to be much of an aid at all. Same with one that you are constantly changing the battery out of,etc. Functionality and practicality goes along way in the purchase of a hearing aid.]
Hearing Aid Styles
There is several different types of hearing aids, which will vary in many ways among size, cost and power. Before making a choice on any different model or function, I would first recommend talking to your medical professional. Always put functionality ahead of all of your other choices. A hearing aid that looks great, but doesn't help your hearing, isn't going to be much of an aid at all. Same with one that you are constantly changing the battery out of,etc. Functionality and practicality goes along way in the purchase of a hearing aid.]
Hearing Aid Styles
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