Remember White

Remember White (born 03 April 1975) is an Irish musician and composer. His music is recognized by minimalist compositions with a twist of Irish Folk.

[Remember White @rememberwhite]

BEAUTIFUL WEDDING MUSIC FROM IRELAND played on church organ for the bridal processional https://t.co/VBZp4tivhy #weddingmusic #weddingday #bride #bridalmusic #beautifulmusic #churchmusic #organmusic #organ #wedding #wed #weddingvows

[David Icke @davidicke]

Ever thought Russell that all the fear, suffering and deprivation across the world while the few feed off their labour and anguish might not be the work of your 'loving god', but instead the creation of the very 'false light' and 'darkness' that you rail against? 'Thank you for pain and suffering, Lord'?? Really? This world is an INVERSION for a reason. See above.

[Massimo @Rainmaker1973]

Incredible beatboxing skills by Taras Stanin covering "The Real Slim Shady"

[Nature is Amazing ☘️ @AMAZlNGNATURE]

Ok she's still angry. 😂😂

[Tobi Emonts-Holley @tobi_emonts]

I’ve been struggling to write about this.

Several times a week I get asked: “How do you guys do it?”

• 6 kids (1-13yrs)
• Happy marriage
• Both work out daily
• PhD & now CEO of a medium-sized company

The short answer is, there’s no secret. But people want more. So here's my attempt to give a fuller picture in the hope that it helps other parents.

But first up, the reason I’ve struggled to write about this is that any attempt to ‘reveal’ how we do it, will be incomplete and how things work for us, will not work for you in the same way.

I’m not trying to be prescriptive, as I don’t know your situation. But if any of my/our experience can be of help, this piece has served a purpose.

So life with 6 kids (and no paid help) is most of the time some sort of chaos.

Take today, I just cleaned the kitchen and living room after lunch, the kids are settling in to do some watercolour painting and within 13 minutes you’d walk in the room and assume a tornado ripped through the house.

The cleaning is endless.

(I don’t have a tattoo, but my wife and I both agree that some variation of Sisyphus pushing up the boulder would be the most appropriate one to get)

The other constant is arguing. Someone took something. Someone pushed past someone. Someone looked at someone else in a strange way….

And if we’re being honest, it can be incredibly frustrating.

Whether that is coming home from work, exhausted from hours of meetings to be faced with sorting out a multitude of arguments. Or having spent all day running after the baby and toddler, trying to keep on top of the housework and feeling like you accomplished nothing.

Often my wife and I will sit in bed at night, feeling like we’re failing.

But as frustrating and draining as life can be at times, we also know that this is what we chose and we flourish in it. Because despite the never-ending daily battles to keep this family functioning well, we have created a home filled with love, trust and warmth.

My wife’s dream was always to have a big family and to be a mum first and foremost and I’m happy we were able to fulfill that dream.

My wife exemplifies to me the best type of parent a child could wish for. Deeply caring, selfless and appreciating every day with our little ones. And I feel privileged to learn from her every day.

Nevertheless, having kids and especially a large family does obviously take its toll on us personally and as a couple.

We have very limited time to just focus on ourselves.

Whether that be reading a book in peace or going out as a couple. So how have we retained our sanity and find ways to grow individually and as a couple?

The ‘secret’ is balancing the draining times with those that refill our cups.

We’ve both become experts at knowing what we need on a daily basis to be functioning humans and to stay calm amidst the chaos.

Because as soon as the kids are up (around 6.30am) until they are all in bed (around 8.30pm), we are in “serving mode”.

• making breakfast, lunch and often dinner before 8am
• school runs
• cleaning the house
• going to work
• taking the kids to their activities
•spending meaningful time with them in the afternoon/evening

What do we do to balance out serving all day?

For me it’s getting up at 5am, enjoying some calm time and hitting a workout or going for a run. Especially time in the Scottish countryside has a healing effect on me and provides some vital mental clarity. For my wife, it’s very similar as she works out before the kids are up too and she enjoys going for walks with the baby.

Although the early mornings are precious and much-needed ‘me times’, they are by no means guaranteed.

Often some of the kids will get up early and then one of us steps in and is with them to allow the other to work out. We take turns with this, as we know how important that time is for us. (But truth be told it is obviously frustrating when that little moment of time you value so much is not available to you)

As a couple, we safeguard our evenings for each other.

Sure this is often not as much as we would like to have, but we found it is more important to make time for that space every day, even if it is only 20 minutes. Because we rely on each other so much that we need to be in tune with each other.

We both experienced our parents separating when we were younger, and the root cause for this was a breakdown in communication. So we make time for each other, to talk, to check in and have a laugh together.

Our relationship is the foundation for a functioning family.

My wife and I have been together for 17 years now.

We started off as volunteers in a care home for adults with learning disabilities here in Scotland. Being colleagues first taught us quickly how to work together, discover our respective strengths and support each other when we needed help.

And the truth about being a parent is: it’s work.

Whoever stays at home and looks after the kids, is working.

And 99% of the time it’s way harder than going to the office. Just because there’s no paycheck attached to it, doesn’t mean you’re not spending all day serving somebody else, exhausting yourself physically, mentally and emotionally. And knowing that often informs how we plan our diaries.

Last week I had several days filled with long hours working. So on the weekend, I took all the kids up to the Scottish Highlands to allow my wife a day to recover.

But let’s be clear what recovery really meant: she spent most of that time sorting the kids’ rooms out instead of resting because she is the most giving person I have ever met.

Also part of how we’re balancing the three areas of our lives: family, work and personal pursuits is through loads of small little ‘hacks’:

• I often take on the ’dad taxi’ duties and then work from a plastic tray hooked to the steering wheel of the car

• We both workout from home, which makes habit maintenance easier and saves time & money

• My wife is an expert at involving the kids in day-to-day tasks (ranging from helping us with meal preps, to doing the dishes with Disney hits pumping in the background to our older ones copying her and caring for the little ones without being asked to do so)

• We have made a commitment to put experiences over ‘stuff’ which saves money/stress, and all that time together helps us pull stronger as a unit

• We see it as our duty to be fit parents and stay fit with our kids (walks, gym workouts with the older ones and playing basketball together)

But ultimately, the biggest ‘hack’ of them all is: embracing hard work and long hours.

This is not always easy of course. We lose our tempers, get frustrated at the lack of ‘me time’ and struggle at times to balance the demands of a parent with our other obligations. But we’re also a team that is incredibly in tune with each other, which helps us know when the other one needs a bit more support.

We share the work at home as much as possible, but my wife is certainly carrying the lion’s share of it.

Caring for so many kids, the inevitable mess that gets made, sorting out just their social lives on a daily basis, planning for special occasions throughout the year, teaching the kids life skills and providing for this family all require hard work.

As any parent knows, having kids is simply a 24/7 365 gig. It’s even hard to be ill, as you are needed all the time.

So the best we can do is schedule our lives in a way that lets us have the energy we need (good food, exercise and personal time to recharge), schedule our time so we support each other as best we can and have the discipline to focus on what matters most to us: our kids and their wellbeing.

If you’re still here, I hope this was somehow useful to you. And I would love to hear from you. As a parent, what have you found helps you the most to be the mum or dad you want to be?

(And if you enjoyed this piece, please share it with your audience too, thank you!)

[Remember White @rememberwhite]

@tobi_emonts This is a brilliant post ... Thanks 😃☀️

[Ken @tao4all12]

@jordanbpeterson I've read 8 different translations and im reading one of them again. Life altering experience.

[Tobi Emonts-Holley @tobi_emonts]

I got married in 2011 to my first girlfriend. This is the advice I'd give myself if I could go back:

[Remember White @rememberwhite]

@michaelshermer @Tsoukalos @joerogan @Graham__Hancock Original message could have been kinder I feel ...

[Remember White @rememberwhite]

@tobi_emonts Hey Toby ... Just wondering how I could write to you? I enjoy your posts and newsletter and have been inspired to be a better husband and father in general ...

[Gabe Pluguez @Gabepluguez]

Biblical secrets to stop your bad habits.

Let's start with Romans 6:6.

"For we know that our old self was crucified with him so that the body ruled by sin might be done away with, that we should no longer be slaves to sin."

The key words here are "old self".

When Paul uses the words "Old self", he's talking about your identity - who you believe you are.

Identity is the primary determinant of your Default Actions. The habits you revert to mindlessly, or when you're tired/ bored/ stressed, etc.

For example, habits like overeating, skipping workouts, or over-drinking.

The very behaviors you know hurt you, but you do them anyway - these are your Default Actions. Paul speaks about these in Romans 7:19.

"For I do not do the good I want to do, but the evil I do not want to do—this I keep on doing."

Now, if you want to change these Default Actions, it starts with leaving your old identity in the past, as Paul says in Romans 6:6

"For we know that our old self was crucified with him..."

And from there you must build a new identity. A new sense of self-perception. You must build NEW beliefs about who you are.

If Paul says that "...our old self was crucified with HIM..." we can deduce that our new self, our new identity, will be RESURRECTED through him.

So to stop Default Actions like overeating, skipping workouts, mindless scrolling on your phone, or spending time on those websites in the dark hours of the night - you need to change your identities.

You can no longer accept the BELIEF that "I'm just a fat, lazy slob.". You must BUILD the belief that you are a disciplined and consistent man whose body displays self-control, a fruit of the Holy Spirit.

That's why Romans 12:2 says:

"Do not conform to the pattern of this world, but be transformed by the renewing of your mind..."

And why Proverbs 23:7 says:

"For as he thinketh in his heart, so is he..."

The change begins in the mind. It begins by shifting our identities and beliefs.

But how do we do that practically?

Here's what the word says in Habakkuk 2:2-3:

"And the LORD answered me, and said, Write the vision, and make it plain upon tables, that he may run that readeth it. For the vision is yet for an appointed time, but at the end it shall speak, and not lie: though it tarry, wait for it; because it will surely come, it will not tarry."

When God revealed a vision (a belief in a future reality) to Habakkuk, he told Habakkuk to write it down.

Because whoever was to read it would be able to run with it. And although we need to be patient for the vision God gives us to come to pass, the vision will never be delayed.

God is the promise keeper. None of his promises are unfulfilled. But, Your end of the bargain is believing this to be true.

That's why a generation of Jews died alone in the wilderness instead of receiving the promised land. They didn't have the faith to receive the promise of God. They didn't believe it to be true.

But on the contrary, that's why Abraham and Sarah were able to conceive. Even at the age of 99. Well beyond when their bodies would have been able to conceive, an age where they would be justified in thinking "We're too far gone.", even then, they still believed, and they received their baby boy, Isaac.

So, if you're currently a slave to your bad habits, and if you think you're too far gone, remember, you will be transformed by the renewing of your mind.

Hang your old self up on the cross with Jesus, and your new self will be resurrected through him. God's promise, the vision he gave you for who you're called to be, will come to pass.

[Creepy.org @creepydotorg]

George Stinney Jr was falsely convicted and murdered by the U.S at only 14. He was accused of killing two white girls, Betty of 11-years-old and Mary of 7, the bodies were found near the house where the boy resided with his parents.

Before the execution, George spent 81 days in prison without being able to see his parents, he was held in solitary 80 miles from the city, he was held alone without anybody to talk to. He was heard alone without the presence of his parents or a lawyer.

At that time, all the jurors were white. The trial lasted only 2 hours and the sentence was handed down 10 minutes later. The boy's parents were not allowed in the court room, and was subsequently expelled from that city after the trial.

During his trial, until the day of his execution, he always carried a Bible in his hands, claiming for innocence. He was too short for the electric chair so they used the Bible he was carrying as a booster seat. He was electrocuted with 5,380 volts in the head.

70 years later, his innocence was finally proven by a judge in South Carolina. The beam with which the two girls were killed, weighed more than 19.07 kilograms. Therefore, it was impossible for Stinney to be able to lift it, let alone be able to hit hard enough to kill them.

‘The Green Mile’ by Stephen King was inspired by the same case.

[George Galloway @georgegalloway]

Will this Princess live or die? It seems unlikely she will live happily ever after. Gaze upon her and shudder you genocidal maniacs. #Gaza

[Tobi Emonts-Holley @tobi_emonts]

You aren't overworked.

You lack vision and a plan to execute.

So don't stress about how many unread emails you have.

Instead, visualise who you want to become and what goals to pursue.

Then, break those goals into micro-actions and go execute with unwavering daily discipline.

[Gabe Pluguez @Gabepluguez]

If you prefer youtube - here it is: https://t.co/n8p8faoYJ6

[Dan Goldfield @itsdangoldfield]

want to go deeper on how mindfulness boosts productivity? read this: https://t.co/EF5kpEtxC3

[The Church of England @churchofengland]

A service for the Second of Sunday of Advent, in British Sign Language.

Our service is led in BSL by Deaf Christians, Helen Cottingham, Tony Hawkins, Fatimo O Olubakin, Mary-Jayne Russell de Clifford, Veronica Stewart-Holmes, and Janice Silo.

Watch now: https://t.co/CFkepik3di.

[Massimo @Rainmaker1973]

Do you know your meme?

Memes have become an ubiquitous form of communication in the digital age. These visual or textual artifacts have transcended the boundaries of social media and have become a part of our everyday conversations. But what exactly is the language of memes, and how do they communicate their messages?

Memes can be understood as a form of visual communication that combines both text and images to convey a message or an idea. According to the article The Rise of Meme Culture: Examining the Language of Memes as a Global Phenomenon by N. Ingram-Waters, memes are an "idea shortcut," triggering an understanding of something in multiple ways. This notion is supported by the work of linguist and scholar T. van Dijk, who proposes a "multimodal grammar" (in other words, images and captions) to express and convey ideas and opinions.

However, the term "meme" itself has its origins where probably you wouldn't expect it: in evolutionary biology, coined by Richard Dawkins in his famous 1976 book, The Selfish Gene. Dawkins defined a meme as "a unit of cultural transmission or imitation," with examples ranging from the concept of God to nursery rhymes and jokes, catchphrases, and fashion trends. The etymology of the term comes from Ancient Greek mīmēma (μίμημα; pronounced [míːmɛːma]), meaning 'imitated thing', itself from mimeisthai (μιμεῖσθαι, 'to imitate'), from mimos (μῖμος, 'mime').

They are an immediate way of communication: unlike traditional written or spoken language, memes rely on a fusion of text and imagery to convey messages swiftly. This visual-verbal synergy allows memes to transcend cultural and linguistic differences, making them a universal means of communication. It's a common experience to recognize a meme and discover it constitutes an authentic bridge between generations or different education levels.

Anthropologically, the success of memes can be attributed to their role as cultural artifacts reflecting the collective consciousness of online communities. Memes act as cultural symbols that resonate with shared experiences, societal trends, and contemporary issues. They function as a form of social currency, allowing individuals to participate in a shared narrative and express their identity within a digital subculture. This communal aspect of meme creation and consumption contributes to their widespread adoption and endurance over time.

Memes serve as a mirror reflecting the zeitgeist, capturing the spirit of an era with unparalleled precision. The rapid evolution of memes mirrors the accelerated pace of cultural change in the digital age. Anthropologically, memes can be viewed as adaptive cultural expressions that respond to and shape the collective psyche of online communities.

Memes use vernacular English, phrases from specific English dialects, puns and punning riddles, jargon, slang, shortenings and neologisms as well as patterned way of incorrect spelling and multiple, intentional or unintentional grammar and syntax mistakes.

Like the Tamarians from a famous Star Trek: The Next Generation's episode, meme use metaphors, and sometimes they are the metaphor. The metaphorical elements convey ideas indirectly, relying on shared cultural references for impact. These metaphors serve as a bridge between the familiar and the new, facilitating the rapid transmission of concepts. The succinct nature of memes demands a level of cultural literacy, encouraging users to decode layers of meaning embedded within the metaphorical content.

The language of memes represents a unique and dynamic mode of communication, characterized by immediacy, metaphorical richness, and anthropological significance. As digital culture continues to evolve, memes are likely to persist as a powerful means of expression, continually shaping and reflecting the intricate tapestry of our interconnected global society.

[Afshin Rattansi @afshinrattansi]

🇺🇲US Presidential candidate Dr. @CornelWest tells Washington to "get off the crack pipe" about the #GazaGenocide.

[See him on Going Underground at
https://t.co/PPEtaphfba]

[EntrepBuilder @EntrepBuilder_]

1.

[Tyler Todt @tyromper]

Four years ago my family cancelled:

•Hulu
•Netflix
•HBO GO
•Cable TV
•Deleted all “news” apps

We unplugged from what SOCIETY told us was important & focused ONLY on what we knew was important.

•Faith
•Fitness
•Family
•Finances
•Friendships

Here’s the results: