Featured Artist - 2019 Australia - Dave Koz & Friends at Sea

Jazmin Ghent

By Athelda R. Ensley,

Collages, LLC

For cruisers experienced with Dave Koz & Friends at Sea, the addition of Jazmin Ghent to the 2019 line-up on Holland America’s Ms. Noordam was a superb idea. This national and now international jazz recording artist brought her own unique vibe to both voyages. She also enhanced the musical experience by complimenting the excellence that is commonly associated with this annual cruise.

Born in Heidelberg, Germany, Jazmin now lives and works in Central Florida. She is no stranger when it comes to applying her talents in the most creative of ways. Working as an elementary music teacher provides her with her share of ingenuity and resilience. This can be seen and heard through the artistry she demonstrates, playing her saxophone.

Tailoring Your Own Sound

Welcoming to admiring passengers onboard, Ghent showcased many of the qualities that make her stand out and right at home with every caliber musician. She has found the way to tailor a sound that connects to her name. Those who listened to Jazmin’s first album Boss, released in 2015 quickly became fans. It was easy to determine that this was a skilled and talented sax player no matter her age.

Harmonizing with Other Musicians

Dave Koz Cruises are an example of a well-oiled and memorable machine. They are designed to provide passengers with continual music at dynamic onboard venues. Each performance showcases the skills of diverse musicians, many of which are award-winning recipients. Ghent with her celebrated The Story of Jaz album joined this prestigious club of artists on the 2019 cruise.

Being Recognized

Artists, including the likes of Gerald Albright, Peter White, Marcus Anderson, and Richard Elliott were all on this adventure Down Under. Already recognized in 2017 as the Smooth Jazz Network’s Best New Artist, Ghent received the 2019 NAACP’s Image Award for Outstanding Jazz Album, The Story of Jaz. She received this honor while performing on the cruise in Australia this year.

Her career and talent will continue to bring attention Jazmin’s way. One thing’s for sure, cruisers are hoping to see her next year on the Dave Koz & Friends at Sea’s 2020 Amsterdam & the British Isles Cruise.

Chronicling Europe & The Baltics 2018 – The Music Plays On

If I had to find a phrase to describe these unique cruises it would be continual music. It doesn’t matter whether you are asleep in your cabin or on deck for a stroll. There is jazz being played everywhere on the ship from sunrise to sunset. What more could fans from countries around the globe ask for when they truly love the music?

Departing from Helsinki brings a bit of sadness to us, travelers because we know the end is coming. There’s one more full-day at sea and then back to Copenhagen. For the majority of us, we will be heading to the airport and home. So I normally take this time to finish up my notes, make some important observations, and enjoy the last two days apart from the Speed of Life.

Each cruise we’ve gotten the chance to meet people we would not have encountered in the states. That in itself is amazing to think about. We’ve adopted travel parents, brothers, sisters, and friends on these journeys. Maybe this is why so many of the jazz fans and cruisers keep coming each year. It’s difficult to say goodbye but we know the music will play on until we see each other again.

#Rick Braun #Marcus Anderson

Setting Good Examples for Kids – Inspire the Future

There’s no rule stating that you have to be a perfect example as a parent. In fact, it’s virtually impossible to do so. Your goal, however, should be setting an example that inspires your kids’ future choices.

This could involve sharing your mistakes and successes. Children of different ages have the capacity to understand a great deal. It’s up to us to find easy applications and lessons that relate to daily life.

Young kids can learn from your suggestion to not run without looking. This is a simple lesson that makes sense right where they are. Older kids are sponges for good examples, too.

Sharing why it’s important to stand up for your beliefs may be a broad stance. Inserting lessons specific to you can be truly helpful.

Adopting a Healthy Diet

Kids watch what you do! If you tell them to eat healthy, you’d better be a good example for this, as well. it doesn’t matter whether you are choosing veggies sticks over chips or a salad over a burger.

Parents who adopt healthy diets are setting an example to their kids. Discussions about reasonable choices are good methods for starting the conversation.

Budgeting for Purchases

Relaying the importance of living on a budget to your children could be challenging. A 5-year old understands the correlation between good behavior and getting a sought after toy.

This same child can also learn how to reserve something now for a later date. Tweens and teens are ready for budgeting on a large or small scale. Start with tracking where their allowance goes each month.

Being a Good Friend

Many of our grandparents encouraged us to be a good friend, if we were looking for a good friend. This isn’t a dated message. Showing this through real life examples, parents can explain the efforts they take as a friend.

Sharing these experiences and motivations, at your child’s learning level can help. This like all important things will take time, but can impact the future. Sites, such as Cleverly Changing offer parents an opportunity to not only learn from previous mistakes.

It is possible to visit this site and gain budgeting, parenting, product selections and healthy living tips. These areas are terrific considerations for adopting good examples.

Remember that these are not simply individual lifestyle choices, but ways to model and inspire how our kids may live in the future.

Conversation Builds Relationships

It’s true that some people are just better communicators than others. Some enjoy sparking conversation with virtually anyone. Others may struggle talking with the people that they love the most.


Conversations are a real way to build relationships with friends and family. This doesn’t necessarily mean that you have to make a speech, far from it.The goal is to express what you feel, as well as, listen to the other person.


Couples, especially have to practice this when trying to strengthen connections. It doesn’t matter whether your desire is to build a good marriage foundation or a solid friendship.


Scheduling a time to talk about big and little issues is one option that can be fruitful for those dealing with the Speed of Life.

Stand for What You Believe

Taking a stand for what's right can be challenging.


There are many ways to approach this particular issue. Everyone operates at the Speed of Life these days! Each day though we see or hear about injustices happening around us. What should we do?


It's important to invite conversation. Some of the world's biggest movements started with a simple conversation. It is super important for parents, especially to encourage talks where social issues and problems exist.


Our children will discover that their voices can stand against the ills of the world. There are times and opportunities to stand more tangibly in some instances. Being a good communicator is an essential step in standing for what you believe in. This is also one of the best ways to stand against something.


Here are some ideas that make taking a stand feasible:


* Use your verbal skills


* Write your views down


* Social media outlets


* Spark conversation


followed by Web Content Matters

Work Outside of the Box

In recent years there have been millions of job seekers deposited into the unemployment arena. Many of these people are those who have worked in the same industry for decades. Things were very different when they last had to look for work. Technology, for example, did not present so many options.

The internet itself is not simply a way to look for employment. It has become, in many instances, an employer for those ready for unique work opportunities. There are many different types of job options that are available online. It does take a bit of research to find out what’s out there. You will also need to apply flexibility to what you consider work to be. Let’s take a look at some of the earning options the internet presents.

Article Writing


Freelance writing is definitely one of the hidden opportunities that are available. There are many sites that connect writers with clients. Elance and oDesk are two examples in this category. Some clients are affiliated with magazines, websites and blogs. They are looking for someone to provide web content for their niche industry. Articles are used to steer traffic to sites or to sell products.

Blog Writing

There are a variety of different blogs on the internet. Some of these are related to companies, organizations and institutions. Blog owners don’t often have the time to produce current content. Blog writers come in and answer this particular need. Blogs are generally shorter than articles and tend to require posts of 350 to 400 words each.

Resume Writing

There are general freelance sites that provide resume writing services. You will also discover through searches specific sites only for resumes. These sites pay writers per resume and cover letter provides. This type of work is done based upon your own schedule and availability. The average fee for a resume is $20-$25 for the writer.

Customer Service

Small businesses often look for help as it relates to customer service. They are unable to pay a full-time salary but will outsource services. These jobs may require answering calls (routed to home phones), taking orders, making appointments and other clerical tasks. Some of the projects in this category are issued per contract. Contracts can last weekly, monthly or even longer.

 

 

 

Read to Communicate

We all remember being assigned a questionable book in school. There were times when we were surprised to find out that the book was exceptional. I can think back to certain titles that served to introduce a whole new world to me. Today, reading is a debated topic to many people. Because we’ve taken so many shortcuts in communications, reading has fallen by the wayside in some minds.

The things that we read are instrumental to how we communicate. It doesn’t matter whether you’re a song writer or a delivery person. Verbal and written communication intrudes into most peoples’ lives. Our ability to solve problems, think critically, or relate to others has to do with our experiences. Physical experiences travel and materials that we’ve read enhance how effectively we communicate to others.

Speech Patterns


The way that we use speech can be related to what we’ve read. Those who love the news and read it daily are capable to discuss it. This doesn’t mean that their opinions are unique or correct. It simply means that these individuals utilize what goes into their consciousness. The patterns of speech used by anyone can show their interests and understanding.

Empathize

Reading diverse materials about different topics can broaden your ability to empathize with others. You don’t literally have to travel across the globe to learn about people living in remote places. The more that you learn through reading, the easier it is to understand who these people are and how they live.

Connect

There are millions of pieces of material on the internet at any given time. Reading things that interest you can serve to connect you to other people. Examining topics, issues and history is an effective way to relate to the world. Connecting shows a desire to expand both knowledge and understanding.

Tackle Poverty in Your Area

There are many different movements sweeping across the country right now. These are grass roots opportunities for the average person to get involved in their community. Some movements, like the Smiley & West, Poverty Tour have been greatly publicized. Following this stirring charge to address the suffering of the poorest among us, came Occupy Wall Street.

 Sentiments sparked by these movements have gone from state-to-state. There are millions of other citizens that want to get involved and to take a stand. Some of these individuals live in remote locations. Others simply don’t know where to get started. You don’t have to reside in a mega-city in order to tackle issues like poverty. Surprisingly, there are things that people can do right where they are.

Help your neighborsOne of the things that have become old-fashioned in our culture is to simply help the people around us. We would probably be surprised to find out what the needs are of our neighbors. Believe it or not, this is a place to start with tackling poverty. There are people who are cruising the line of poverty all around us. You could help your neighbors by providing a meal once a week. This is an inexpensive way, in most cases, to show love and to supply a need.

Start a pantrySome churches keep a pantry on hand for those in need. Addressing the issues of hunger is a big challenge. A good place to start is to begin your own pantry. It doesn’t take a lot of funds to stock up on sale items, most non-perishable. These are things that can be shared with your circle or friends or those needier. A garage, storage closet, and other small storage facilities can make a great pantry.

Support giving organizations

If the Speed of Life prevents you from doing more, why not support organizations that are already up and running? This may be your local soup kitchen, homeless shelter, or national organization. These outlets need the financial support of everyone willing to give. They also welcome volunteers, which is another opportunity for you to tackle poverty where you live.

HTC Status - AT&T Cell Phone Choice

Smart phones are practically everywhere you look these days. This is because people are using their cell phones for more and more tasks. These devices are instrumental when it comes to business and your personal life. Each year, there are advanced products introduced to the public. AT&T is one of the top names when it comes to cell phones.

One of the new products that they are selling is the sleek and smart HTC Status. This phone gives uses the brilliance of the BlackBerry appearance. At the same time, it offers state-of-the-art technology. The features and capabilities of this device allow you to enjoy the finest in internet capabilities. You can also use the most popular apps with the HTC Status. Let’s take a look at some of the special details this phone offers.

Easy to use keyboard
Just like the average BlackBerry, HTC Status has a keyboard design. Users are able to quickly type texts and emails from their keyboard feature.

Touch screen capability
The touch screen detail is one of the greatest of this feature. You will be able to access settings, music, and much more with a simple touch.

Facebook button
You can enjoy any social network from the comfort of your HTC Status smart phone. This device is designed with its own Facebook button, which allows quick and easy access to your page.

Android technology
The best in Android technology is found in this particular AT&T offering. Some of the most popular smart phone offerings today include this technology.

Wi-Fi connection
The Wi-Fi capability of this phone allows you to find hotspots in your area. You can utilize your Wi-Fi connection to search Google and various other internet sites.
　

Remembering MLK - Why It’s Relevant?

Last month millions of people traveled to Washington, DC to attend the MLK Memorial opening. There were attendees there from not only this country, but destinations around the world. Why was it so important that people be at the opening in person? One of the reasons was that race is still a relevant issue in our country.

Another is that many of the attendees were not even born during the Civil Rights Movement. Attending this event gave people the opportunity to commemorate the life of an extraordinary man. It also served to showcase a country’s commitment to try harder and to work together. Race continues to be a difficult conversation for people to have. When we think of the life of MLK, it becomes a bit easier.

More in common than not
The issues of race today are much more complex today than in the 50's and 60's. Our country has more citizens that hail from various portions of the world. In this group, there are a variety of races and nationalities. The melting pot affect forces us to look at the things that we have in common. There are more of these than there are differences.

Appreciate the differences
The differences associated with race and nation is what makes life exciting. MLK was such a forward thinker that he realized how important these differences were. He didn’t consider these to be negative, but rather an inspiration to unite and to appreciate on another.

I wasn’t here to experience the movement that made this country more diverse. Like millions of others around the world, however, I admire those who labored. They help us to talk about difficult issues and to work to find solutions that benefit everybody.

Will jobs return?

The president’s job speech on September 8^th was focused on the jobs problem. There are millions of unemployed individuals in the marketplace right now. These are people from various backgrounds, experience level, and specialties. The state of the economy over the past few years has severely affected employment.

Some fields have slowed their hiring practices, while others seem to have fizzled out. This has led many to search for work in a variety of areas. In some instances, they have had to look for employment in fields that they’ve never worked in before. The primary question that job seekers are asking is whether jobs will return.

I’m old enough to remember when jobs in virtually every category were available. Today, there are so many things hampering the return of jobs. This doesn’t mean that people looking for work need to give up. It simply means that they may need to reorganize their searches. If jobs return it will be a slow process. Let’s take a look at some ways to function until then.

Consider part-time workIn many portions of the country jobs are few and far between. If part-time work is all that is available in your area, take advantage of it. There are many benefits related to taking these positions. You will first of all build your experience level and your resume.

Build your skillsYour skills may hinder you from getting available openings. Employers want to hire people who have certain skill sets. Depending on the position that you apply for, you will need experience in that area. Training is one way to build your skills, whether it is in the computer field or the clerical field.

Work experience is a plusYour past work experience may be the key factor in securing work. Marketing your experience and skills is very important. In fact, it has a direct relation to the application process and the interview process. Learn tips for composing a convincing resume and to communicate verbally. Both of these will help you to impress interviewers.

Choosing A Presidential Candidate

American citizens across the country are beginning to think about the 2012 Presidential Campaign. There are many Republican candidates to consider right now, while a Democratic competitor remains to be seen. This is definitely a day and time, where considering your candidates wisely is important. This is true whether you are happy with the current administration or not.

There is a select segment of the country that is willing to think outside-of-the-box. Disappointment with government and business is likely to inspire people to think differently. Voting strictly along political party lines is the habit of a lot of citizens. This doesn’t always lead to the change that we all want to see as Americans. It may mean that it is time to consider new ideas and even a third party. Political parties are not the only things that matter as elections loom.

Issues matter
If a candidate has political experience, there are issues they’ve stood on. These are issues that matter to them or to their constituency. Before giving your full support to a presidential candidate, find out what issues they’ve supported before.

Connections matter
Who is the candidate connected to? Friends, supporter, and mentors all play a role here. These are the individuals who will influence your candidate. By association, you may discover more about your presidential candidate.

Plans matter
No good candidate is going to campaign without a plan. This doesn’t mean that you’ll agree with all of their plans. You should know what their goals are for the country, and where they want to lead us.
　
　

Companies Take A Stand

Starbucks CEO, Howard Shultz decided to do something monumental this week. His company and 100 others have decided to withhold their campaign contributions until our nation’s budget is balanced. This is a heroic way to showcase what’s important. Many say that these companies and businesses are simply hitting politicians where it matters, in the wallet. Even if they are unsuccessful in impressing the point to these lawmakers, they have made a statement to their customers.

The stand that this group has made could lead the average person to take a similar stance. It is important to remember that the little people play a role where contributions are concerned. What if they all decided to keep their funds? This would be paramount to not only the presidential election, but Congress as well. The message that Starbucks has relayed is that good business isn’t the only important thing.

When companies stand together?
Some of the top companies in dining and retail have joined in this stand. Many of these are international brands within themselves. They have a persona to protect and to promote. It’s difficult to do so when the rest of the world is questioning our financial judgment as a country. You can look at this move as purely patriotic, or simply pro-active.

The bottom line
Every company has the goal of earning more profits. There are surely going to be financial benefits for the companies on this list of 100. They will attract the attention of new patrons in some cases. Regular citizens may even support more of these companies because of the message they’re sending to the world.

The Help!

Are the academy or entertainment media responsible for declaring work to be exceptional? No, I don’t think so. I believe that if the work is historic is its scope and touches the unsuspecting, it is truly exceptional. The acting work of Viola Davis in the movie The Help was not only exceptional, but mesmerizing.

Who knows how long an actor must wait for that role? The role, that will do more than catapult their immense talent. A role, which will relay a message to the world. Davis’ portrayal of a maid during the height of the Civil Rights Movement showcased her skills to be sure. It also served to unearth the ugly scab that has existed for decades between Blacks and Whites in this country.

Certain things and subjects have become taboo, almost untouchable. They get swept under the rug, but never really forgotten. This is because the silence is deafening and the hurt too deep. Movies like The Help do a lot to spark discussion. This movie doesn’t simply focus on our all too unsettling past. It offers us hope, that people like Davis’ character and people like Emma Stone’s character are real!

Their historic passion to make things right and tell the story mirrored what was going on in the world. It spread to millions around the world. This is a must see movie, even if it hurts! High honorable mention goes to Octavia Spencer. And a great honorable mention goes to young Emma Stone. Cheers to Viola Davis!

Let’s allow love, right, and positive behavior rule and dominate. . . .

When Unemployment Claims Decrease

Recent numbers show that unemployment claims for first time filers decreased this week. What does this mean? Does it mean that more people are starting to find jobs? It will be some time before we find out for sure. The fact that there are millions of unemployed people in the marketplace right now shows that there are many stories to be told.

Some people have been in this state for years now. They are desperately trying to find gainful employment to support themselves and their families. Job seekers are finding that expanding their searches are the best way to secure the jobs that are available. This may require people to apply for positions that they have no experience in.

Many hope that the decrease in claims will result in better jobs numbers this quarter. Future studies will definitely show that job seekers are transforming with the market. They are learning not only the art of compromise, but the need to be flexible. Job fairs, listing websites, and various other means are used to find job openings.

The only problem here is the massive numbers of fellow applicants.

New Plans: Finding Work!

There's no secret that the state of the economy has brought waves of change into the marketplace. With millions of unemployed people looking for work, competition is high for the jobs that are actually available. Job seekers are presented with a number of decisions when it comes to finding the right job. Many have found that they need to expand their job search.

In fact, coming up with an entirely new plan is sometimes necessary. Adapting to the process of seeking work, means looking in a variety of areas. You may have to take positions that are totally outside of your comfort zone. The perfect job may not be available right now. Doing a bit of research is a great way to stay current with the job scene.

You may find that taking part-time positions is critical. These jobs can be helpful when it comes to simply paying your bills. They also allow you to gain the necessary experience that employers are looking for today. Freelance work is one of the fastest growing offerings today. The benefits here range the gambit depending on your area of expertise.

The best way to find work is going to be having an flexible plan. This will mean taking advantage of opportunities wherever they are found.

Debt Ceiling or Through the Roof

It's difficult to live in this country right now and not be concerned about the whole debt ceiling discussion. We're seeing more of our political leaders in recent weeks, than in a long time. There are two basic opinions to be had here, either increase the debt ceiling or to not do so. Paying our bills as a nation is the ultimate goal.

The repercussions involved with these opinions have pros and cons that will last years after current leaders are gone. One of the most embarrassing components of this supposed discussion is the fact that compromise seems impossible. Parents teach their children on a daily basis the importance of sharing and patience. This is especially important when they have friends and siblings.

Our politicians can agree that we have bills and that they need to be paid. This seems to be the end of the agreement. Time is running out when it comes to posturing, speeches, and soap boxes. The world, along with our children, is watching!