tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-87741555527935182372024-02-08T07:23:07.146+01:00Helene VengeStuff about stuffHelene Vengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05945894972963550351noreply@blogger.comBlogger106125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774155552793518237.post-73003947855273563672017-06-01T21:10:00.001+02:002017-06-01T21:10:13.188+02:00Focus PocusI'm a great magician! Or maybe not... đł<br />
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<br />Helene Vengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05945894972963550351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774155552793518237.post-53924241855023449942016-07-22T12:35:00.003+02:002019-03-04T14:31:28.569+01:00Ode To Coffee<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">It's been seven hours and fifteen days</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Since I took my coffee away</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I sleep well every night, snooze at midday</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Since I took my coffee away</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Since itâs been gone I can drink whatever I want</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Earl grey, jasmin, green, and mint tea fuse</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I can drink all sorts in a fancy restaurant</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">But nothing</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I said nothing can take away my coffee blues</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">'Cause nothing compares</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Nothing compares to you.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Itâs been so boring without you here</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Like a grinder without a bean</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Nothing can stop this crave from calling</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Tell me coffee, is it the caffeine?</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I could wrap my hands around every cup of tea</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">But theyâd only remind me of you</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I went to the grocer and guess what I found there</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Guess what I found there</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">There were lots of morning products, chai tea, barley cup, and juice</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">But I refuse</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">'Cause nothing compares</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Nothing compares to you.</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal; min-height: 18px;">
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-kerning: none;"></span><br /></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">All the beans in my grinder, coffee,</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">In my kitchen</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Been waiting for a fortnight now</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">I know that drinking too much of you is sometimes hard</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">But Iâm willing to give it another try</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">'Cause nothing compares</span></span></div>
<div style="font-size: 15px; line-height: normal;">
<span style="font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Nothing compares to you.</span></span></div>
<div style="line-height: normal;">
<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></span></div>
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<span style="-webkit-font-kerning: none;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">Welcome back, coffee! (and thanks to Prince and Sinead O</span></span></span><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;">'Connor)</span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><br /></span></span></div>
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<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="font-size: 15px;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWqT0YnN9Nj1LIdUaVMI5DkDnIWKbh4A5jJn9T9B-byb_ujBMmxAt0VZHMx8_YjqHddQoW_jVAj6a-ZNehGzHem-JgYrqsMtbWqVX9M6h-gsoB1G1pPuvSApcfa4soD8wYp6SppyCO9E/s1600/FullSizeRender-1.jpg" imageanchor="1"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhKWqT0YnN9Nj1LIdUaVMI5DkDnIWKbh4A5jJn9T9B-byb_ujBMmxAt0VZHMx8_YjqHddQoW_jVAj6a-ZNehGzHem-JgYrqsMtbWqVX9M6h-gsoB1G1pPuvSApcfa4soD8wYp6SppyCO9E/s320/FullSizeRender-1.jpg" width="251" /></a></span></span></div>
Helene Vengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05945894972963550351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774155552793518237.post-48366396034428924072016-05-10T12:18:00.001+02:002016-05-10T12:22:18.867+02:00Childfree, not childless, thanks!<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823;">I'm in two minds about articles like this one below. On one hand I think it's great to highlight accomplished women (or people in general). </span></span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">On the other I find it seriously peculiar that these women's accomplishments and their childlessness are highlighted in the same sentence. As if their accomplishments are in spite of not having children. As if having children and accomplishing stuff is somehow related.</span><br />
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span>
<span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Another thing is the word 'childless'. I don't have children a</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">nd I've never had the urge to. It simply does not interest me. So I don't see myself as being childless, I am childfree.</span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #141823; display: inline;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #141823; display: inline;">And no, this is not a criticism of folks with kids. I'm completely indifferent - you do what is good for you, just like I do, thanks. I just don't see having children as a given or needs must in any way. Or having anything to do with accomplishments or contribution to the world. Onwards! </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #141823; display: inline;"><br /></span></span>
<a href="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/non-moms-who-make-me-feel-better-about-mothers-day/">http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/non-moms-who-make-me-feel-better-about-mothers-day/</a><br />
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<span style="background-color: white; color: #444444; font-family: "roboto" , sans-serif; font-size: 24px; font-style: inherit;">12 Amazing Non-Moms Who Make Me Feel Better About Being Childless on Motherâs Day.</span><br />
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<span class="posted-on" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.4rem; font-style: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a href="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/non-moms-who-make-me-feel-better-about-mothers-day/" rel="bookmark" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;"><time class="entry-date published" datetime="2015-05-10T01:00:44+00:00">May 10, 2015</time></a></span><span class="byline" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; display: inline; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.4rem; font-style: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><span class="author vcard" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 1.4rem; font-style: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px 20px 0px 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><a class="url fn n" href="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/author/admin/" style="border: 0px; color: #999999; font-family: inherit; font-size: 14px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">laura</a></span></span></div>
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<img alt="famous childless women" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-42302" src="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/famous-childless-women.jpg" height="800" sizes="(max-width: 800px) 100vw, 800px" srcset="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/famous-childless-women-290x290.jpg 290x, http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/famous-childless-women-500x500.jpg 500x, http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/famous-childless-women.jpg 800x" style="height: auto; margin: 10px 0px; max-width: 100%;" width="800" /></div>
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Thereâs nothing worse than being single on New Yearâs Eve. Unless, of course, you are childless on Motherâs Day. For those of us who do not have children of our own on this holiday, the media saturated imagery of little ones bringing mommy breakfast in bed (usually with handsome daddyâs help) or adorable freckled faces without front teeth presenting crudely drawn crayon renderings of happy families can be torture.<span id="more-26357" style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"></span></div>
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Grown women who have never borne children, whether by choice or by chance, are often made to feel worthless. We didnât fulfill the biological miracle of procreation and we leave no breathing legacy. Motherâs Day commercials, cards and articles often make us feel that since weâve not given birth, weâve not made any positive contribution to society.</div>
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Thankfully here are 12 brilliant women to remind us otherwise.</div>
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Famous Childless Women</h2>
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<big style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 20px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Jane Austen (b.1775)</strong></big><br />
<img alt="Jane_Austen_coloured_version" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26395" src="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Jane_Austen_coloured_version.jpg" height="928" style="height: auto; margin: 10px 0px; max-width: 100%;" width="750" /><br />
The author is one of the most widely read writers in all of English literature. Early reviews of her work passed it off as cautious and superficial, and when published, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/mn/search/ref=as_li_ss_tl?_encoding=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=390957&field-keywords=jane%20austen&linkCode=ur2&sprefix=jane%20austen%2Cstripbooks%2C208&tag=iishish-20&url=search-alias%3Dstripbooks&linkId=6M5APMVVZO6K6EV3" style="border: 0px; color: #e85e19; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">her books</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="https://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=iishish-20&l=ur2&o=1" style="border: none !important; height: auto; margin: 0px !important; max-width: 100%;" width="1" /> were not bestsellers. It wasnât really until the 20th century that scholars and academics revisited her works and pronounced her one of the great writers of English fiction. Her most famous novels (Sense and Sensibility, Pride and Prejudice, Manfield Park, Emma and Persuasion) all centered around the dependency of women on marriage to secure social standing and economic security. Ironically, she declined her only known marriage proposal in 1802 and died in 1817 never having given birth.<br />
<a href="http://amzn.to/1HaWFpB" style="border: 0px; color: #e85e19; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Jane Austen books, plays and poems on Amazon</a></div>
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<big style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 20px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Susan B. Anthony (b. 1820)</strong></big><br />
<img alt="Susan_B._Anthony" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26393" src="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Susan_B._Anthony.jpg" height="723" sizes="(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" srcset="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Susan_B._Anthony-500x481.jpg 500x, http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Susan_B._Anthony.jpg 800x" style="height: auto; margin: 10px 0px; max-width: 100%;" width="752" /><br />
The American social reformer and feminist who played a pivotal role in the womenâs suffrage movement was committed to social equality. She collected anti-slavery petitions at the age of 17, was a founder of New York State Womanâs Rights Committee, started up petitions for women to have the right to own property and lead the National American Woman Suffrage Association. An accomplished writer and lecturer as well, she never had children.<br />
<a href="http://susanbanthonyhouse.org/index.php" style="border: 0px; color: #e85e19; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">The National Susan B. Anthony Museum</a></div>
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<big style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 20px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Mary Cassatt (b.1844)</strong></big><br />
<img alt="mary cassatt" class="alignnone wp-image-26392" src="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/mary-cassatt.jpg" height="1034" style="height: auto; margin: 10px 0px; max-width: 100%;" width="752" /><br />
One of Americaâs foremost female painters. Despite being best known for pastels and oil paintings of her favorite subject, children, Mary never had any of her own. Mary had decided early in life that marriage would be incompatible with her career. A feminist from an early age (although she objected to being stereotyped as a âwoman artistâ) she supported womenâs suffrage, and in 1915 showed eighteen works in an exhibition supporting the movement. Her works based on theme of the mother and child are by far her most popular.<br />
<a href="http://www.wikiart.org/en/mary-cassatt" style="border: 0px; color: #e85e19; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Mary Cassatt on WikiArt</a></div>
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<big style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 20px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Georgia OâKeeffe (b. 1887)</strong></big><br />
<img alt="Georgia O'Keeffe by hubby alfred steiglitz (hands 1918 )" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26391" src="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Georgia-OKeeffe-by-hubby-alfred-steiglitz-hands-1918-.jpg" height="954" style="height: auto; margin: 10px 0px; max-width: 100%;" width="764" /><br />
One of the most significant artists of the twentieth century produced more than a thousand artworks in her lifetime, but no children. OâKeeffe married internationally known photographer Alfred Steiglitz (who took this photo of her) in 1924 and stayed married to him until his death in 1949. Despite suffering from macular degeneration, OâKeeffe continued to work up until two years before her death at the age of 98.<br />
<a href="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/non-moms-who-make-me-feel-better-about-mothers-day/www.okeeffemuseum.org" style="border: 0px; color: #e85e19; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Georgia OâKeeffe Museum</a></div>
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<big style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 20px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Amelia Earhart (b. 1897)</strong></big><br />
<img alt="Amelia Earhart" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26390" src="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Amelia-Earhart.jpg" height="996" sizes="(max-width: 759px) 100vw, 759px" srcset="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Amelia-Earhart-761x1000.jpg 761x, http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Amelia-Earhart.jpg 800x" style="height: auto; margin: 10px 0px; max-width: 100%;" width="759" /><br />
The first woman to fly solo across the Atlantic was also an associate editor at Cosmopolitan magazine who changed womenâs fashion with her purposeful look. Earhart won many honors, including the Gold Medal from the National Geographic Society as presented by President Hoover, the Distinguished Flying Cross from the U.S. Congress, and the Cross of the Knight of the Legion of Honor from the French government. Amelia married George Putnam when she was 32. Although he had two sons from a previous marriage, Amelia never bore any of her own.<br />
<a href="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/non-moms-who-make-me-feel-better-about-mothers-day/www.ameliaearhart.com" style="border: 0px; color: #e85e19; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Official website of Amelia Earhart</a></div>
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<big style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 20px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Edith Head (b. 1897)</strong></big><br />
<img alt="edith-head-vogue-" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26389" src="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/edith-head-vogue-28oct13-rex_b.jpg" height="1010" sizes="(max-width: 759px) 100vw, 759px" srcset="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/edith-head-vogue-28oct13-rex_b-751x1000.jpg 751x, http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/edith-head-vogue-28oct13-rex_b.jpg 800x" style="height: auto; margin: 10px 0px; max-width: 100%;" width="759" /><br />
You may not know Edith Head by name, but you know her contribution to our culture if youâve seen almost any classic movie. At the age of 26, without any formal training, the California-born Head managed to get a job as a costume sketch artist at Paramount Pictures and by the 1930s, had established herself as one of Hollywoodâs leading costume designers. She designed for almost every well-known actress at the time and was a favorite of Alfred Hitchcockâs. She worked at Paramount for 43 years and at the age of 70, joined Universal Pictures, where she remained working until her death at age 83 in 1981. No marriages, no children. To this day, she holds the record for having received the most Academy Awards for Best Costume Design â eight.<br />
<a href="http://www.imdb.com/name/nm0372128/" style="border: 0px; color: #e85e19; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Edith Head on IMDB</a></div>
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<big style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 20px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Frida Kahlo (b. 1907)</strong></big><br />
<img alt="Frida Kahlo, 1930s-40s" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26388" src="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Frida-Kahlo-1930s-40s-22.jpg" height="1095" sizes="(max-width: 755px) 100vw, 755px" srcset="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Frida-Kahlo-1930s-40s-22-689x1000.jpg 689x, http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Frida-Kahlo-1930s-40s-22.jpg 800x" style="height: auto; margin: 10px 0px; max-width: 100%;" width="755" /><br />
Her work has been celebrated in Mexico as emblematic of national and indigenous tradition and by feminists for its uncompromising depiction of the female experience and form. The brilliant painter, who was in a volatile marriage to artist Diego Rivera, was tortured by her infertility which was attributed to a streetcar accident in her youth. Turning her inner pain into her art, she said, âI paint myself because I am so often alone and because I am the subject I know best.â<br />
<a href="http://www.fridakahlo.org/" style="border: 0px; color: #e85e19; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Frida Kahlo</a></div>
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<big style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 20px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Rosa Parks (b. 1913)</strong></big><br />
<img alt="Rosa parks 1955 " class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26387" src="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Rosaparks-1955-ebony-magazine.jpg" height="1070" sizes="(max-width: 751px) 100vw, 751px" srcset="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Rosaparks-1955-ebony-magazine-351x500.jpg 351x, http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Rosaparks-1955-ebony-magazine-702x1000.jpg 702x, http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Rosaparks-1955-ebony-magazine.jpg 800x" style="height: auto; margin: 10px 0px; max-width: 100%;" width="751" /><br />
The African-American Civil Rights activist best known for refusing to give up her seat on a Montgomery bus in 1955, may have been the âMother of the Freedom Movementâ but she was never a mother by the biological definition. This was the case, despite being married to Raymond Parks, who urged her to complete high school at a time when less than 7% of African Americans had a high school diploma, since 1932. Parks received national recognition, including the NAACPâs 1979 Spingarn Medal, the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the Congressional Gold Medal, and a posthumous statue in the United States Capitolâs National Statuary Hall. Upon her death in 2005, she was the first woman and second non-U.S. government official to lie in honor at the Capitol Rotunda.<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rosa_Parks" style="border: 0px; color: #e85e19; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Rosa Parks on wikipedia</a></div>
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<big style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 20px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Harper Lee (b. 1926)</strong></big><br />
<img alt="harper lee ap" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26386" src="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/harper-lee-verticle-ap.jpg" height="945" sizes="(max-width: 751px) 100vw, 751px" srcset="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/harper-lee-verticle-ap-397x500.jpg 397x, http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/harper-lee-verticle-ap-795x1000.jpg 795x, http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/harper-lee-verticle-ap.jpg 800x" style="height: auto; margin: 10px 0px; max-width: 100%;" width="751" /><br />
The American novelist was widely known for her 1960 Pulitzer Prize-winning <a href="http://www.audible.co.uk/pd/B00L5ONAP2?source_code=M2M30DFT1BkSH121515013C" style="border: 0px; color: #e85e19; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;">To Kill a Mockingbird</a><img alt="" border="0" src="http://ir-na.amazon-adsystem.com/e/ir?t=iishish-20&l=as2&o=1&a=0446310786" height="1" style="border: none !important; height: auto; margin: 0px !important; max-width: 100%;" width="1" />. She has also been awarded the Presidential Medal of Freedom, the highest civilian award in the United States which recognizes individuals who have made âan especially meritorious contribution to the security or national interests of the United States, world peace, cultural or other significant public or private endeavorsâ and the National Medal of Arts, the highest award given by the United States government for âoutstanding contributions to the excellence, growth, support and availability of the artsâ. Lee never married nor did she ever have any children. Her previously unpublished sequel â <a href="http://www.theatlantic.com/entertainment/archive/2015/02/the-tragedy-of-harper-lee/385132/" style="border: 0px; color: #e85e19; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Go Set a Watchman</a>, which features the character Scout Finch as an adult, was released in 2015 and has become a bestseller. <strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Update:</strong> Harper passed away in 2016.</div>
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<big style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 20px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Diane Sawyer (b. 1945)</strong></big><br />
<img alt="diane sawyer" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26385" src="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/diane-sawyer1.jpg" height="986" sizes="(max-width: 752px) 100vw, 752px" srcset="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/diane-sawyer1-381x500.jpg 381x, http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/diane-sawyer1-763x1000.jpg 763x, http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/diane-sawyer1.jpg 800x" style="height: auto; margin: 10px 0px; max-width: 100%;" width="752" /><br />
The highly respected American television journalist has been inducted into the Television Hall of Fame, received an Emmy, a Peabody, the Robert F. Kennedy Journalism Award and an honorary Doctorate of Letters from Brown University. Early in her career she was a member of U.S. President Richard Nixonâs White House staff and later helped prepare Nixon for his famous set of television interviews with journalist David Frost in 1977. She was a CBS Morning News co-Anchor, the first female correspondent on 60 Minutes, and continued on to be a co-anchor on Primetime Live, 20/20, Good Morning America, and ABC World News. She was married to film director, producer and actor <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mike_Nichols" style="border: 0px; color: #e85e19; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Mike Nichols</a> from 1988 until his death in 2014. They never had any children.<br />
<a href="https://twitter.com/dianesawyer" style="border: 0px; color: #e85e19; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Follow Diane Sawyer on Twitter</a></div>
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<big style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 20px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Zaha Hadid (b. 1950)</strong></big><br />
<img alt="zaha hadid " class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26384" src="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ZahaHadid_RGB.jpg" height="902" sizes="(max-width: 751px) 100vw, 751px" srcset="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ZahaHadid_RGB-416x500.jpg 416x, http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/ZahaHadid_RGB.jpg 800x" style="height: auto; margin: 10px 0px; max-width: 100%;" width="751" /><br />
Hadid was the first woman to ever earn the most coveted award in Architecture,<a href="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/non-moms-who-make-me-feel-better-about-mothers-day/www.pritzkerprize.com" style="border: 0px; color: #e85e19; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank"> The Pritzker Prize</a>. The Iraqi-born British architect and designer <a href="http://www.interviewrussia.ru/en/zaha-hadid-im-feminist-because-i-see-all-women-smart-gifted-and-tough" style="border: 0px; color: #e85e19; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">told Interview Magazine</a> that <em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">âI neither argue, nor regret being a careerist. Of course it does limit your ability to have a normal life, to have a partner or children. But honestly, if I wanted to have kids, I would have had them. Though, coming from Muslim background one would still be looked upon for having children without a husband. Maybe I will regret it one day, but I havenât yet.â </em><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Update:</strong> Sadly, Zaha Hadid passed away from a heart attack in 2016.<br />
<a href="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/non-moms-who-make-me-feel-better-about-mothers-day/www.zaha-hadid.com" style="border: 0px; color: #e85e19; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">Zaha Hadid Architects</a></div>
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<big style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 20px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Oprah Winfrey (b. 1954)</strong></big><br />
<img alt="Oprah_2015-Oscars_Vanity-Fair" class="alignnone size-full wp-image-26394" src="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Oprah_2015-Oscars_Vanity-Fair.jpg" height="742" sizes="(max-width: 750px) 100vw, 750px" srcset="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Oprah_2015-Oscars_Vanity-Fair-500x494.jpg 500x, http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Oprah_2015-Oscars_Vanity-Fair.jpg 750x" style="height: auto; margin: 10px 0px; max-width: 100%;" width="750" /><br />
The American Media Mogul, philanthropist, Emmy award-winning talk show host, actress and producer hardly needs any introduction. Known as the Worldâs Most Powerful Woman, the most influential and one of the wealthiest â she endured childhood poverty, abuse and abandonment. But Oprah went on to become an honors student, Most Popular Girl, and on her high school speech team, placed second in the nation in dramatic interpretation. Winning an oratory contest then secured her a full scholarship to Tennessee State University. At 17 she was Miss Black Tennessee and worked at a local black radio station her last year in high school and first two years of college. She was both the youngest news anchor and the first black female news anchor at Nashvilleâs WLAC-TV. In 1983, she relocated to Chicago to host WLS-TVâs low-rated half-hour morning talk show, AM Chicago. She then quickly rose to host of the most popular talk show on TV. At age 32 she became a millionaire. The rest is history- that is still being made. Although Oprah does not have any children, at the age of 14 she became pregnant but her son was born prematurely and he died shortly after birth.</div>
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And now, some quotes by other fabulous women who never had children:</div>
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<img alt="Gloria Steinem" class="alignnone wp-image-41938" src="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Screen-Shot-2016-04-27-at-11.59.09-AM-500x423.png" height="319" sizes="(max-width: 377px) 100vw, 377px" srcset="http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Screen-Shot-2016-04-27-at-11.59.09-AM-500x423.png 500x, http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Screen-Shot-2016-04-27-at-11.59.09-AM-800x678.png 800x, http://www.ifitshipitshere.com/wp-content/uploads/2015/05/Screen-Shot-2016-04-27-at-11.59.09-AM.png 1202x" style="height: auto; margin: 10px 0px; max-width: 100%;" width="377" /><br />
<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">âIâm completely happy not having children. I mean, everybody does not have to live in the same way. And as somebody said, âEverybody with a womb doesnât have to have a child any more than everybody with vocal cords has to be an opera singer.â</em> â<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Gloria Steinem</strong>, Chelsea Lately, October 2011</div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" src="http://images6.fanpop.com/image/photos/32800000/Helen-Mirren-helen-mirren-32853626-2000-2020.jpg" height="358" id="irc_mi" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="356" /></em><br />
<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">âIt was not my destiny, I kept thinking it would be, waiting for it to happen, but it never did, and I didnât care what people thought ⊠It was only boring old men [who would ask me]. And whenever they went, âWhat? No children? Well, youâd better get on with it, old girl,â Iâd say âNo! F*** off!ââ</em> â<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Dame Helen Mirren</strong>, British Vogue, February 2013</div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.dailyfinance.com/media/2013/02/celebrity-advice-betty-white-1040cs021513.jpg" height="256" id="irc_mi" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="394" /></em><br />
<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">âNo, Iâve never regretted it. Iâm so compulsive about stuff. I know that if I had ever gotten pregnant, of course, that wouldâve been my whole focus. But I didnât choose to have children because Iâm focused on my career and I donât think as compulsive as I am that I could manage both.â</em> â<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Betty White</strong>, CBS Sunday Morning, May 2011</div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" src="http://printandpattern.files.wordpress.com/2012/09/katharine-hepburn-9.jpg" height="514" id="irc_mi" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="402" /></em><br />
<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">âI would have been a terrible mother because Iâm basically a very selfish human being. Not that that has stopped most people going off and having children.â</em> â<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Katharine Hepburn,</strong> Kate Remembered by A. Scott Berg, published in July 2003</div>
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<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;"><img alt="" src="http://www3.pictures.zimbio.com/gi/Carrie+Diaries+Premiere+Opening+Night+2012+fLT5WJtenA_l.jpg" height="453" id="irc_mi" style="height: auto; max-width: 100%;" width="409" /></em><br />
<em style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">âThere are women who do it. On the other hand, there are a lot of women writers who never get married and donât have kids. I am married, but I didnât marry until I was 43. I knew when I was young that if I had to make a choice between being married and being a writer, I would have chosen to be a writer. I think itâs a career where you have to put the career first. I donât have kids but â and luckily everyone isnât like this â I think if you have that passion, in a way, your career is your child.â</em> â<strong style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">Candace Bushnell</strong> on Facebook, March 2010</div>
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<small style="border: 0px; font-family: inherit; font-size: 12px; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; vertical-align: baseline;">above quotes <a href="http://nymag.com/thecut/2014/08/25-famous-women-on-childlessness.html" style="border: 0px; color: #e85e19; font-family: inherit; font-style: inherit; font-variant-caps: inherit; line-height: inherit; margin: 0px; outline: 0px; padding: 0px; text-decoration: none; vertical-align: baseline;" target="_blank">courtesy of NY Mag</a></small></div>
</div>
Helene Vengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05945894972963550351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774155552793518237.post-64835622522783248402016-05-01T09:43:00.001+02:002016-05-01T12:30:37.958+02:00Beyoncé's catharsis is our catharsis <span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823;">I've watched and listened to 'Lemonade'... And I gotta say I'm pretty blown away. Beyoncé has always been great company music-wise, from the perfectly produced and slightly sugary beginnings with Destiny's Child to her soulful, explorative, edgier solo work. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="background-color: white; color: #141823; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">But Lemonade goes beyond. It is not beautiful or indulgent, there is nothing forgiving or conforming here. It is expressive, charged and barrier-breaking - personally, artistically, genre-wise... It is multi-layered, na</span><span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #141823; display: inline; font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">ked and extremely rich all at the same time. Likewise, the film accompanying the music - or is it the other way around, it doesn't matter - is haunting as hell.</span></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #141823; display: inline;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #141823; display: inline;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">Jay Z must be crawling on his hands and knees into the nearest hiding place in utter shame, however, </span></span><span style="color: #141823; font-family: times, 'times new roman', serif;">Beyonce's chronicle not only seizes him there on the deepest personal level, it reaches out for a much higher, universal story - a purging of passion and pain that hurts and liberates. Her catharsis is our catharsis.</span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #141823; display: inline;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="color: #141823; display: inline;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;">There are days and days of discovery here - the discovery that she's put into the music and the discovery that we as listeners can make. Ouch!</span></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><br /></span></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black; text-align: center;">I am not broken, I'm not crying, I'm not crying</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; text-align: center;" /><span style="color: black; text-align: center;">You ain't trying hard enough</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; text-align: center;" /><span style="color: black; text-align: center;">You ain't loving hard enough</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; text-align: center;" /><span style="color: black; text-align: center;">You don't love me deep enough</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; text-align: center;" /><span style="color: black; text-align: center;">We not reaching feats enough</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; text-align: center;" /><span style="color: black; text-align: center;">Blindly in love, I fucks with you</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; text-align: center;" /><span style="color: black; text-align: center;">'Til I realize, I'm just too much for you</span><br style="box-sizing: border-box; color: black; text-align: center;" /><span style="color: black; text-align: center;">I'm just too much for you.</span></span></span><br />
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span></span>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black; text-align: center;">(From Don't Hurt Yourself)</span></span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaW2TjHfwGJOR0xeymueqnzB6_UJxe6DwcOkGR-6oj6oli8D1iJVTLnm16eYtm3W_HaDT_uoIAkS_AEnOBoMOO_ahMIjc920zVal_1mMIOVRU7RBRERn9Ac8-xShc8KTYsSOKBhNNDyU/s1600/giphy.gif" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="176" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEimaW2TjHfwGJOR0xeymueqnzB6_UJxe6DwcOkGR-6oj6oli8D1iJVTLnm16eYtm3W_HaDT_uoIAkS_AEnOBoMOO_ahMIjc920zVal_1mMIOVRU7RBRERn9Ac8-xShc8KTYsSOKBhNNDyU/s320/giphy.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="text_exposed_show" style="background-color: white; color: #141823; display: inline;"><span style="font-family: "times" , "times new roman" , serif;"><span style="color: black; text-align: center;"><br /></span></span></span>Helene Vengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05945894972963550351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774155552793518237.post-78708542238715115612016-04-24T16:19:00.000+02:002016-05-01T12:25:29.448+02:00Then take my heartThen take my heart into your hands<br />
But take it gently, take it with care<br />
The red red heart, it's yours if you dare.<br />
<br />
It beats so calmly, it beats so low<br />
Loved, hurt and lost it still endures<br />
Now it is quiet, now it is yours.<br />
<br />
It can be wounded, and it can sink<br />
And it can slip, and forget what it knew<br />
But it never forgets it belongs to you.<br />
<br />
It was so strong, so proud, my heart<br />
It slept and dreamt with joy and coo<br />
Now it can be broken, but only by you.<br />
<br />
(Tove Ditlevsen "SĂ„ tag mit hjerte" translated)Helene Vengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05945894972963550351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774155552793518237.post-62422364748868074172014-06-22T15:39:00.002+02:002014-06-26T22:05:03.789+02:00Words matter<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Some say making love is about what you do</span></div>
<div>
<span style="font-family: Times, Times New Roman, serif;">Me, I like all of them honey words too.</span></div>
Helene Vengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05945894972963550351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774155552793518237.post-5495936556435893792014-01-24T11:58:00.001+01:002014-01-24T11:58:32.118+01:00For anyone who has ever been in a conference call<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/DYu_bGbZiiQ" width="480"></iframe>Helene Vengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05945894972963550351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774155552793518237.post-41329400116560832882014-01-22T14:01:00.000+01:002014-01-22T14:01:33.447+01:00American Psycho according to denim hipsters (kind of)<a href="http://youtu.be/IpHU6TkqWjs"><iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/IpHU6TkqWjs" width="560"></iframe></a><br />
<br />
Anyone who has seen American Psycho and/or witnessed a denim conversation between hipsters will appreciate this :-)<br />
<br />
More info here: <a href="http://elitedaily.com/humor/hipsters-ruin-everything-this-denim-ad-parodies-the-best-scene-from-american-psycho-video/">http://elitedaily.com/humor/hipsters-ruin-everything-this-denim-ad-parodies-the-best-scene-from-american-psycho-video/</a>Helene Vengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05945894972963550351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774155552793518237.post-36284189303146246032013-08-25T14:03:00.001+02:002013-08-25T14:03:34.022+02:00My new fave movie instructor<span style="font-family: inherit;">Paul Feig rules - Bridesmaids is one of my all time favorite movies and the trailer and reviews for The Heat are very promising.</span>Helene Vengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05945894972963550351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774155552793518237.post-63716134946331937512013-08-25T13:38:00.002+02:002013-08-25T15:21:27.249+02:00Being productive<span style="background-color: white; color: #333333; font-size: 13px; line-height: 17px; text-align: left;"><span style="font-family: inherit;">Did the tax returns, baked two loaves of sourdough bread, cleaned the bird shit off the kitchen window, hoovered the floor, and did the laundry while checking out the latest PSB album. Good, productive morning.</span></span>Helene Vengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05945894972963550351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774155552793518237.post-79704941665963484262013-08-23T09:24:00.001+02:002013-08-23T09:26:42.031+02:00PiloxingThis is a great form of training - I hope that someone will offer it in my Copenhagen neighboorhood some time soon:<br />
http://www.dr.dk/Nyheder/Levnu/Motion/Artikler/2013/0704103257.htm<br />
<br />
(The link is from a Danish news site but the video is is English.)<br />
<br />
<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="315" src="//www.youtube.com/embed/LyWeDCkc0LE" width="560"></iframe>Helene Vengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05945894972963550351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774155552793518237.post-23852594238779431362013-08-23T09:21:00.000+02:002013-08-23T09:21:41.200+02:00New Batman<span style="background-color: white; color: #37404e; font-family: inherit; font-size: 13px; line-height: 18px; text-align: left;">Not sure anyone can top Christian Bale. Or Christopher Nolan: <a href="http://www.wired.com/underwire/2013/08/ben-affleck-batman/">http://www.wired.com/underwire/2013/08/ben-affleck-batman/</a></span>Helene Vengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05945894972963550351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774155552793518237.post-54317301285804845362013-02-28T20:20:00.001+01:002013-02-28T20:20:12.676+01:00New possibilities for retail marketing!<iframe allowfullscreen="" frameborder="0" height="270" src="http://www.youtube.com/embed/0XAhcBpYqDg" width="480"></iframe>Helene Vengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05945894972963550351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774155552793518237.post-21147990314705553952012-09-28T11:47:00.004+02:002012-09-29T08:52:25.411+02:00Give And Give More - And Then Ye Shall ReceiveToday I sent out a message to all of my LinkedIn connections who are in some way or another occupied with marketing on a professional level. The message was about a new free service that is being offered by The Danish Marketing association to their members: a mentor service designed to help members - marketing folks at large - tackle whatever work-related problems they are grappling with.<br />
<br />
A great idea which is why I've signed on as a mentor (pro-bono). I support any initiative that can help companies build strong marketing capabilities which in turn can help improve their marketing practice and increase marketing's contribution to the business.<br />
<br />
So, I receive a lot of positive feedback but I also receive mails from people who clearly think that I'm trying to sell them this service. At first I get a bit ticked off by this knee-jerk reaction. I'm not trying to sell you anything, all I'm saying is 'Look, it's a great idea and I want to share it with you; if you like it and can benefit from it, then great. If not, then no worries'.<br />
<br />
But then it got me thinking about this, to me, cynical reaction: 'When someone is sharing something, it must be because they want to sell it'. I get worried in particular when this reaction comes from marketing people.<br />
It suggests that this one-dimensional mindset is still the status quo in marketing and that companies still don't understand that consumer engagement is something to be <i>earned </i>- and to earn it we need to give<i>.</i><br />
<br />
Now, I'm not a philanthropist or plain naĂŻve, we need to manage our resources and budgets, I'm not talking about doling out our products, give away our IPR, or hand out money.<br />
But I've learned that the time is over where we as corporate marketers could expect consumer interest and engagement in our brands and product simply by touting them. Today, we need to do so much more and that includes giving, sharing, inspiring, providing stuff with no strings attached.<br />
That the old fashioned sell mentality - the consumer as an object to be sold to - is prevalent among marketers is frankly concerning.<br />
<br />
Lego, my former employer who I love dearly, spend a lot of resources on giving, sharing, facilitating, enabling stuff for and to their audiences. That doesn't mean they don't look at the bottom line, indeed they do.<br />
But they know that by giving and giving a lot, they can meet and sometimes exceed customer expectations and that's their goal. Lego has a profit margin (ROS) of 30% and have gone from strength to strength in the past 5 years.<br />
<br />
So what I'm trying to say: Marketers, put away the cynicism and the sell mentality. If you can't perhaps you need to find another line of work.<br />
<br />
As the Beatles put it in 1969: "And in the end, the love you take is equal to the love you make." Enough said.<br />
<br />
<br />Helene Vengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05945894972963550351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774155552793518237.post-60247691188069032972012-09-23T00:48:00.000+02:002012-09-23T00:50:16.476+02:00What I like about sportsThere are many things I like about practicing sports and the people I meet there. One of the things is that we are focused on the training - and not very much on our jobs. We have little knowledge about what the others do for a living and little do we care. Somehow that's very liberating.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Helene Vengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05945894972963550351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774155552793518237.post-24972896238288558992012-08-21T12:10:00.004+02:002012-08-21T22:22:45.982+02:00Ask not what my job is but what I amWhen we meet new people, we tend to ask "So, what do you do?". Sometimes we do it because we are curious but mostly we do it simply to make conversation. Or when we meet our friends and acquaintances, we often start by asking "So, how's work?" Personally, I'm getting fed up with this line.<br />
<br />
It immediately frames the conversation to an often narrow perspective that is purely work-related. I get why we do it and I do it myself all the time - but we are other things than work. I should hope!<br />
<br />
I'd much rather that people ask me what my interests are, whether I have an opinion on subject x, if I've read any good books lately, what I had for dinner last night, or what generally engages me for the time being. I'm pretty sure we would have much more vivid and interesting conversations.<br />
<br />
One of my old friends always asks "So, how is your soul doing?" For many years I felt it was so corny to ask something like that but I've come to appreciate it. It's an open question that encourages us to reflect, think a bit, feel in the stomach, and yet allows any answer what so ever, be it small talk or big talk.<br />
<br />
I'm going to try to ask less about people's jobs and more about what their interests are and what fills their lives. Sometimes there's an overlap between job and interests which is fantastic. Sometimes there isn't and that's fantastic, too. I think we can get into more fruitful conversations if The Job isn't always the starting point.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Helene Vengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05945894972963550351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774155552793518237.post-65195619345099821442012-08-21T11:47:00.001+02:002012-08-21T22:24:07.890+02:00What counts (often) can't be countedOne of my friends told me yesterday that the company he works for had named him CEO. He was very happy and proud and I am equally happy and proud for him. I know how career matters to him.<br />
<br />
But it got me thinking about what matters to me when it comes to friends and relationships.<br />
<br />
The thing is, I don't really care whether he is CEO or not, whether my brother-in-law is VP or not, whether my other friend makes this or that amount of money a year, how many square meters their house is, how many kids they have, how big their car is, how many books they've read, or how many iron men they've completed.<br />
<br />
None of this makes our relationship more or less important, nor does it make them look more or less important in my eyes.<br />
<br />
What matters to me is whether they are happy and whether it makes me happy that we are part of each other's lives. When it comes to my family and friends I'm a sensitive person. These relationships are what brings me most joy in life and also most grief.<br />
<br />
To me, what counts in a relationship is how we treat each other and whether I feel that I am as important to the person as the person is to me:<br />
<ul>
<li>That they would stand up for me if I got in trouble</li>
<li>That they would be by my side if I got sick</li>
<li>That they express interest in my life</li>
<li>That they respond to me when I contact them</li>
<li>That I feel appreciated by them as I hope they feel appreciated by me</li>
<li>That they tell me if I've hurt them or otherwise made them feel let down, and that I feel I can do the same</li>
<li>That they take responsibility for the relationship</li>
<li>That they would lend a hand if I ask</li>
<li>That we have fun and wonderful experiences together </li>
<li>That I am a priority in their life as they are in mine.</li>
</ul>
Feeling I can count on them is everything. In short: Size of heart, not wallet, rank or achievements.<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />
<br />Helene Vengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05945894972963550351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774155552793518237.post-4236504249946084692012-08-08T16:05:00.004+02:002012-08-08T16:06:18.948+02:00The (dog's) secret to happinessâMy life has no purpose, no direction, no aim, no meaning, and yet Iâm happy. I canât figure it out. What am I doing right?â (Snoopy)<br />
<br />
<br />Helene Vengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05945894972963550351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774155552793518237.post-41449464623054109772012-07-18T09:52:00.001+02:002012-07-25T20:12:42.182+02:00Why Christian Bale must be cast as Steve JobsThere's no point in not admitting that I am 1) a Steve Jobs fan, 2) a Christian Bale fan. I am. So for this reason alone, the idea of Christian Bale playing Steve Jobs in Sony's forthcoming Steve Jobs biopic is extremely appealing to me.<br />
But there are other reasons why I hope Aaron Sorkin will cast Bale in the role of this iconic figure. Here's a list:<br />
<ol>
<li>Christian Bale is a terrific actor, he's like a blank canvas that can be transformed into pretty much anything.</li>
<li>He has a great deal of the same facial features as Steve Jobs: The high cheek bones, long nose, deep-set eyes, a slight lisp, mischievous smile, and those fang-like eye teeth.</li>
<li>He can transform himself bodily as well as mentally (remember The Machinist, The Fighter).</li>
<li>Last but not least: He has a slightly maniacal vein, something a bit crazy and dark lurking under that cool, at times boyish exterior. Oh and he's sure got a temper and has no problem telling people off.</li>
</ol>
<div>
Forget Ashton Kutcher, Noah Wylie etc., they're way to cute and nice. Bale is the man for the job(s).</div>Helene Vengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05945894972963550351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774155552793518237.post-35625702557694814082012-07-04T08:34:00.000+02:002012-07-05T10:29:16.954+02:00Transmedia communication - one of many techniques"Calling [the impact of a banner ad] an 'impression' is a terrible lie, because it isn't making an impression on anybody."<br />
<br />
A very fitting quote these days. It comes from Wharton's excellent publication Knowledge@Wharton, more precisely from an article here called "<a href="http://knowledge.wharton.upenn.edu/article.cfm?articleid=3039">Transmedia Storytelling, Fan Culture and the Future of Marketing</a>".<br />
<br />
Now, I generally dislike when something is called 'the future of marketing' incl transmedia. Partly because whatever is referred to is rarely the future but in fact already happening. Partly because nothing is <i>the</i> future of anything let alone marketing.<br />
Because there isn't <i>one</i> truth about marketing and there isn't <i>one</i> right way of marketing something, but in fact there's a lot of different ways. The task is to find out which approach or combination of approaches will work at any given time and situation.<br />
<br />
Having said that, the article gives excellent examples of how transmedia can be used intelligently to drive engagement and it is sufficiently humble towards who should be employing the technique and what it can achieve. Worth a read, if nothing else then because of the brilliant quote above!<br />
<br />Helene Vengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05945894972963550351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774155552793518237.post-24829739641376842192012-06-23T19:22:00.002+02:002012-06-23T19:23:11.081+02:00World viewsSome people view life as a right. Others as a privilege.Helene Vengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05945894972963550351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774155552793518237.post-11976222515270360372012-05-17T15:20:00.000+02:002012-05-18T11:52:50.004+02:00Getting real about yoga"So you are, like, really relaxed and floating above the ground after your yoga classes?"<br />
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I get this question a lot when I tell people that I practice yoga. Depending on the person I either nod and smile cordially or begin to explain what yoga is and why I like it.<br />
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The thing is, I do not practice yoga to relax and float above the ground. And I don't really know any kind of yoga that will do that to you. Meditation and mindfulness will or is designed to, anyway (well, not the floating part). Yoga is designed to reinforce your muscles, sense of balance, flexibility, and posture. Yoga is all about strength.<br />
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Of course, there are more and less demanding types of yoga. Some are very physically taxing like Astanga and Iyengar, others focus more on synchronizing breathing and movements like Dynamic, Flow and in part Vinyasa.<br />
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They all have their specific benefits. I personally like to practice different kinds of yoga, mostly Iyengar and Vinyasa and sometimes Dynamic, because I get to use my muscles and body in different ways. But common for all of them is that I've gained flexibility and strength over the years. I can do more sit-ups and push-ups than most women my age (or younger for that matter) and have achieved greater flexibility.<br />
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So forget the old-fashioned, stuck-in-the-hippie-age, faulty perception of yoga. Or better yet, try it out yourself.<br />
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Newcomers will benefit from starting with gentle Dynamic yoga that will help warm up muscles and joints over time and ease you into the yoga practice. Then, take a step further with Vinyasa to challenge your strength, flexibility and balance. After a while, move forward with Iyengar to build up your stamina.<br />
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Just don't expect to wander around in a heavenly buzz or float above the ground.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1RTf3EQDwvCFIJkpMEB0IuQICQPF-fjWDqoErI7RfTTI070PiQo891fspxdyECiJY9XD4Z0Qvb1Mob2HYcFyBhbAbrU86EyMZuSzieARrWlQ6VbJCXWCEYrO6HuEVOVl4cKcRsaOObY/s1600/20100402_8524.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="266" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgI1RTf3EQDwvCFIJkpMEB0IuQICQPF-fjWDqoErI7RfTTI070PiQo891fspxdyECiJY9XD4Z0Qvb1Mob2HYcFyBhbAbrU86EyMZuSzieARrWlQ6VbJCXWCEYrO6HuEVOVl4cKcRsaOObY/s400/20100402_8524.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;"><a href="http://jensastrup.dk/">Jens Astrup</a> took this photo. And photoshopped it too.</td></tr>
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<br />Helene Vengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05945894972963550351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774155552793518237.post-1312751400166933382012-05-10T20:04:00.004+02:002012-05-18T11:53:07.286+02:00Remember the basicsDon't worry so much about being a brand or being 'authentic'. Be true to yourself and good to your customers. That's what matters.Helene Vengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05945894972963550351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774155552793518237.post-84170799650709247202012-05-10T14:26:00.004+02:002012-05-17T07:49:51.430+02:00The experience enigmaBrand experience is the experience of the brand that companies want to give. Customer experience is the experience of the brand that customers get.<br />
Unfortunately, these two are often not the same.Helene Vengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05945894972963550351noreply@blogger.comtag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8774155552793518237.post-56354677610764956142012-01-25T12:12:00.003+01:002012-01-25T12:15:20.405+01:00Widespread paradox<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Times, 'Times New Roman', serif; line-height: 14px;">Companies with the most data about their customers find it most difficult to use it.</span>Helene Vengehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/05945894972963550351noreply@blogger.com