Of Love
by Francis Bacon

The stage is more beholding to love, that the life of man. For as to the stage, love is ever matter of comedies, and now and then of tragedies; but in life it doth much mischief; sometimes like a siren, sometimes like a fury. You may observe, that amongst all the great and worthy persons (whereof the memory remaineth, either ancient or recent) there is not one, that hath been transported to the mad degree of love: which shows that great spirits, and great business, do keep out this weak passion. You must except, nevertheless, Marcus Antonius, the half partner of the empire of Rome, and Appius Claudius, the decemvir and lawgiver; whereof the former was indeed a voluptuous man, and inordinate; but the latter was an austere and wise man: and therefore it seems (though rarely) that love can find entrance, not only into an open heart, but also into a heart well fortified, if watch be not well kept. It is a poor saying of Epicurus, Satis magnum alter alteri theatrum sumus; as if man, made for the contemplation of heaven, and all noble objects, should do nothing but kneel before a little idol and make himself a subject, though not of the mouth (as beasts are), yet of the eye; which was given him for higher purposes. It is a strange thing, to note the excess of this passion, and how it braves the nature, and value of things, by this; that the speaking in a perpetual hyperbole, is comely in nothing but in love. Neither is it merely in the phrase; for whereas it hath been well said, that the arch-flatterer, with whom all the petty flatterers have intelligence, is a man’s self; certainly the lover is more. For there was never proud man thought so absurdly well of himself, as the lover doth of the person loved; and therefore it was well said, That it is impossible to love, and to be wise. Neither doth this weakness appear to others only, and not to the party loved; but to the loved most of all, except the love be reciproque. For it is a true rule, that love is ever rewarded, either with the reciproque, or with an inward and secret contempt. By how much the more, men ought to beware of this passion, which loseth not only other things, but itself! As for the other losses, the poet’s relation doth well figure them: that he that preferred Helena, quitted the gifts of Juno and Pallas. For whosoever esteemeth too much of amorous affection, quitteth both riches and wisdom. This passion hath his floods, in very times of weakness; which are great prosperity, and great adversity; though this latter hath been less observed: both which times kindle love, and make it more fervent, and therefore show it to be the child of folly. They do best, who if they cannot but admit love, yet make it keep quarters; and sever it wholly from their serious affairs, and actions, of life; for if it check once with business, it troubleth men’s fortunes, and maketh men, that they can no ways be true to their own ends. I know not how, but martial men are given to love: I think, it is but as they are given to wine; for perils commonly ask to be paid in pleasures. There is in man’s nature, a secret inclination and motion, towards love of others, which if it be not spent upon some one or a few, doth naturally spread itself towards many, and maketh men become humane and charitable; as it is seen sometime in friars. Nuptial love maketh mankind; friendly love perfecteth it; but wanton love corrupteth, and embaseth it.
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He has a great job at a computer store and is a very good kid. He is very DEPRESSED by school and I have had him in counseling for over a year. The counselor got him to take less classes in school to ease it a bit but this school year is evenworse.The school system just does not seem to care one bit. He wants to take his ged but they will not let him until he is 18. My husband says he will make him quit his job, but it is my son’s bright point in life. Help!!!
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A little bit earlier this year my parents divorced. I am 14 and my little brother is 10. This will be our first Christmas without both parents, and I want to make sure that both parent’s stockings are filled. I’m sure that members of each side of the family will have a few things to give too, but I’m guessing it will be mostly up to me and my brother to do the Santa stuff. Neither of us have much money, so I was thinking that we would buy each parent one large gift, a few smaller, cheaper ones, and a lot of homemade stuff. I have a lot of old craft supplies laying around the house that I can use. But I want whatever we make to be something my mom and dad will use a lot and look almost like we bought it. Not to trick either parent or anything, I just want them to be good quality. I know that of course, my parents will like anything we make for them, but I need some specific ideas of several gifts, and instructions would be great! Thankyou so much in advance and Merry Christmas!
PS-answer asap, Christmas is in less than 2 weeks!!
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If that someone special in your life is a photography buff, you know they’re always looking for another camera, a new lens, or a camera case to secure all of their gear.  You’ve probably thought about getting them some kind of camera equipment as a gift for their birthday or at the holidays. Unless you’re also into photography, knowing what to pick can be difficult.

Every photographer has very specific preferences for their lenses, cameras, and even flashes and tripods.  It comes down to a matter of the right feel, what kind of performance they can get for the money and which brands they prefer.  It can make choosing the right equipment a guessing game that’s hard to win.  But shopping for camera cases is much easier.  As long as you know what kind of camera they use and how many lenses they generally carry with them, a knowledgeable sales representative can help you choose from a wide array of camera cases to find the perfect gift.

There’s No Such Thing as Too Many Camera Cases

There are several reasons your friend would love to get the gift of a camera case.  The simple truth is that photography gets to be an expensive hobby, and most photographers have a limited budget.  Given the choice between a few new lenses and investing in camera cases, most photographers will splurge on the lenses.  This doesn’t mean they don’t actively lust after top-of-the-line camera cases!  It just means they have to prioritize, and they choose the essential gear first, then spend whatever is left on camera cases that may get the job done, but aren’t their first choice or simply aren’t comfortable.

Some people will invest in one great camera case. They splurge on a terrific bag that has everything they want, only to find that it isn’t practical for every situation.  Camera cases come in a variety of styles for a reason.  An urban photographer who is moving from location to location throughout the day may want one of the many shoulder strap camera cases available only to find out that when he’s moving around in the countryside, his camera case is cumbersome and awkward.  Someone who usually travels light with a shoulder camera bag may become frustrated when he needs to keep additional lenses with him that won’t fit in a shoulder style case.

Find out what kind of camera cases your friend already owns and listen to him talk about his outings.  Does he mention a need for more room than he has with his current camera bags?  Do you hear him complaining that his bag is too much of a hassle to cart around when he’s traveling?  Find out what he is – and isn’t – getting from his current camera case and determine what he most needs.  

Perhaps he would like to be more mobile while taking pictures. One of the many shoulder style camera cases would be a gift he’d love.  Maybe he wants to start hiking or traveling more with his camera. If so, backpack camera cases can let him carry everything he could possibly need comfortably.  The key is to choose a camera case that gives the recipient increased flexibility.

If you still aren’t sure which camera case is the perfect gift, find out what he already owns, then talk to a customer service representative who can introduce you to the various styles of camera cases available so that you can narrow your search down to the perfect gift.

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• 10.5″W x 10.5″D x 14″H – Unique Asian Design Sewing Storage Box- Kiln Dried Bamboo Pole
• Exotic Burnt Bamboo Finish – Lovely Hand Painted Black Lacquer Birds & Flowers Decoration
• Heirlook Quality Craftsmanship – Beautiful Decorative Accent – Wonderful Home Décor Gift
• Browse Our Huge Selection of Japanese, Chinese, Asian Décor, Room Dividers, Art, Lamps, & Gifts
• Shipped Professionally Packed, Fully Insured, From California – Allow 2 Weeks For Delivery

Product Description
Attractive oriental design round lidded box, with burnt bamboo frame design, and slightly cantilevered top. Unique burnt bamboo curved legs, with hand painted traditional East Asian bird cage motif, great accessory for storing sewing, knitting, or smoking tools. Professionally packed and fully insured, this product is shipped directly from the importer in Los Angles, California. Please allow two weeks for delivery. Browse our Amazon.com storefront of thousands of un… More >> Simple Beautiful Fine Quality Wedding Anniversary Gift Idea – 14″ Burnt Bamboo Hand Painted Black Lacquered Sewing Box

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I want to get my ex bf a birthday gift. We are still really great friends, so its not weird. And its even less weird because its looking like we’re gonna get back together.

What should I get him. I want to get him something that says friend despite the fact we might be getting back together,

But I will not get him a girt card or clothes. And I got him cologne for valentines day so thats out too.
oh I forgot to say he’ll be 18
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Finding the perfect gift for Dad on Father’s Day can be a bit trickier than buying for mom on Mother’s Day.  It is easier for mom, for many reasons.  There are traditional items for moms, such as jewelry, flowers, perfume, etc.  For Dad, we tend to focus in on his hobbies; a drill saw, golf clubs, lawn mower, etc.  In other words, we usually think of purchasing a more functional item.

We seem to forget, that our fathers might appreciate a timeless and less functional gift for themselves.  After all, men are less likely to purchase a luxury item for themselves, and what better way for us to show our dads how much we appreciate them than with a thoughtful and a bit more extravagant Father’s Day gift!.

There are many fabulous items to choose from when looking to buy your father’s day gift from an online store.  One place you might not have thought of but where you can find that perfect gift for dad is an online jewelry site.  You can find great buys, as well as timeless and luxurious items, that dad might not either have the time, or inclination to buy for himself.  If your dad wears jewelry, you can find a vast array of men rings, men’s necklaces, and men’s bracelets, at these sites.   If your dad is not a jewelry wearer, how about a designer watch, or a pair of stately cufflinks, both available online. You can find some terrific buys on brand name watches such as Bulova watches, Citizen watches, Invicta watches, Pulsar, Rado and more.  A truly unique gift might be a 14k or 18k gold pair of art deco reproduction cufflinks, in solid gold or with gemstones. After all, every man needs at least one pair of fancy cufflinks in his accessory wardrobe.   If your gift choice is more than you wanted to spend, maybe a few family members can chip in, or you could take advantage of the online jewelry store coupons, discounts, and lay-away plans, which many now offer.

So this Father’s Day, think out of the box, and surprise your Father with something he most probably wouldn’t buy for himself, but will be really happy you did!      

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What else can I get for him? Also flow in some good aniversary ideas. We have a toddler and will like to enjoy our day with him. Its on weekend so please tell some less expensive ways to make a great day.
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I need to borrow a large amount of money from a friend. Its greater than 12K but less than 100K. My generous friend has agreed this will be an interest-free loan and I plan on paying it back in less than a year. However I’ve read that the IRS will still imposed an applicable federal interest rate on my friend for lending me the money. Is there anyway he can avoid reporting the IRS imposed interest? Maybe report it as a gift?
We thought about not reporting anything to the IRS but we’re afraid the IRS may catch wind of the large bank transaction and give us a big headache later. OR maybe they won’t….
Does anyone have any prior experience? I would greatly appreciate it.
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Compliment of the Season Dear FriendSunday, January 18, 2009 7:45 AM
From: “Ms. Nurat mamaud” Add sender to Contacts To: undisclosed-recipients

Assalam Alaikum ( Good Day ).

Please forgive this unusual manner of contacting you.

I am Mrs.Nurat Mamuad a National of United Arab Emirates ( UAE) I lived most of
my life in United Kingdom, due to the fact that my husband was assign to Head
the Arab Contractor in United Kingdom. Unfortunately for me, I lost my Dearly
Husband 12years ago without a Child of mine in a plane crash on his way to Egypt
to submit a design of a Road Rehabilitation Project. Ever since i lost my
husband, I have not particularly lived my life so well, as I never really cared
for anyone but always focus and enjoy my husband wealth. Though my late husband
is very rich, I was never generous, I was always hostile to people and only
focused on luxry as that was the only thing I derive pleasure from.

But now I regret all this as I now know that there is more to life than just
wanting to have or make all the money in the world. I realized that when i die,
all the money and property i inherited from my late Husband i won’t be taken
any with me. Someone else or the Government will now take advantage of it. I
believe when Allah gives me a second chance to come to this world I would live
my life a different way from how I have lived it. Now that my creator has called
me to join Him in ”Amanat”, I have willed and promise to give
out the funds which i realized from the sales of my late husband property for
the upkeep of the less privilege once through you.

Now I have been Diagnosed with O esophageal cancer which has defied all forms
of medical treatment, and right now I have only about a few months to live,
according to medical experts here. I have to sell all my properties left by my
husband because the doctors say i have less than 2months to live.
I have decided to give out the sum of 4.2 Million Great Britian Pounds to the less
privilege once through you. I have deposited this funds in Two Consignments with
a Finance and Security House here in the Uk.The fund are securely seal and no
one knows about the content except you and I. With this hard reality that has
befallen upon my family,I have decided to donate this funds to God fearing
person who will use this gift which comes from my husband effort through Allah
to fund the upkeep of widows, widowers, orphans, destitute, the down-trodden,
physically challenged children, barren-women and persons who prove to be
genuinely handicapped financially.

If you will be willing and honest to do this for me,i shall give you the
contact of the Financial Security Company,so as to claim my funds before my
death. Expecting your urgent response, may the almighty Allah guide and Bless
you as you carry out my wish.
Your Sister
Mrs.Nurat Mamuad
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