Smile Makers Catalog: Fill & Download for Free

I personally think that the 10:10 position (sometimes 10:12 or 10:08) was adopted for pictures of clocks and watches because it is symmetric and looks better. Today the symmetric positions are both aesthetic and customary. Other symmetric hand positions are also used, but not as frequently. Examples include 8:20, 8:18, and 2:50. Reviewing some Seth Thomas clock catalog illustrations, I see a gradually increasing symmetry of the hands as the catalogs progress from 1878 to 1940."We always put hands to 10.10 here and in other collections I'm responsible for. The answer is probably quite simply that it looks better, aesthetically and practically, as the clock has a 'smile' on its face (not just a marketing gimmick, it really does look better than a 'down turned mouth' at 8.20) and, as others have said, because it keeps the hands clear of signatures and other subsidiary dials. I note that not every firm uses that position in their marketing though. Synchronome, for example, appear to depict their dials at 3.00." - Jonathan Betts"The opinions I've read tend toward 'framing' the maker's name on the clock face. Viz: when the logo is placed above the center, the hands are at 10:10 but when the logo is below the center, the hands are shown at 8:20 framing the maker's name. Wristwatch advertising follows this trend." - Les Lesovsky"Thomas A. Frank wrote: '...most manufacturers trademarks are just above the center pipe, and having the hands at 10:10 causes your eye to naturally follow to the trough, thus bringing your view right to the trademark....' and often the Model name is centered under the center pipe, ruling out any hand more or less straight down (between 5 and 7). Date windows most often are at 9 or 3, and subsidiary seconds usually at 6. For aesthetic reasons you want the two hands neither nearly covering each other nor nearly in a straight line. By default the 10h10 looks pretty good." - Fortunat Mueller-Maerki"Smile" TheoryIt has been suggested that the 10:10 position is used because it resembles a smile."I too have heard the 'smile' theory, which makes some sense from the emotional marketing perspective. Equally likely is the fact that most manufacturer's trademarks are just above the center pipe, and having the hands at 10:10 causes your eye to naturally follow to the trough, thus bringing your view right to the trademark." - Tom FrankTime of Abraham Lincoln's DeathU.S. President Abraham Lincoln died at 7:22 a.m. on April 15, 1865, although he was shot at 10:15 p.m. on April 14, 1865. Although this has been suggested, I doubt that the position of the hands commemorates the time of Lincoln's assassination or death.ReferencesNew York Times account of Lincoln's death, April 16, 1865. Page on python.net

There are so many variables to consider for a straight shot answer. I think I can help with some advice from personal experience. Here are some things to keep in mind.YOUR PRESENTATION: We shouldn’t judge people based on their appearance, but lets face it, you’re asking about giving women compliments based on their looks I’m sure. If you look nice (well dressed/stylish), despite what your face looks like, your compliment will be will most likely be well received.LOCATION: It may seem like a good idea to try and give a compliment the moment you see a girl that is worthy of one, but where she is matters. If she is on her phone somewhere and she looks focused, your compliment may just get in the way. Your best bet is to reserve your compliments for her if she’s stationary or sitting. Then you can get her attention long enough to get eye contact, smile and say what you want to say.ATTRACTIVENESS: There are some women who never get catcalled or looked at because they’re not dressed provocatively or are a little overweight. A compliment from a well meaning guy would absolutely make her day. If she however looks like she belongs on a Victoria Secrets catalog, she may have reached her catcall limit for the day and your compliment could fall flat. In these cases, don’t expect much. Her attitude would be the difference maker which brings me to...ATTITUDE: Try to gauge her mood. Is she a smiler? Chances are she'll smile back. If she looks annoyed, angry or harried, don't bother. I had two friends were got hit on several times a day. One of them would smile every time and even stopped to talk as long as he was polite and respectful. My other, bustier friend though, she was like a cat. If a guy looked at her three seconds too long, she would hiss and get really hostile. Some women are nice in general and some have serious hangups. Be mindful of her mood by simply looking at her face that she’ll be receptive.SAY WHAT???: Try not to compliment her body. WHAAAAA? Yes. If she’s wearing short shorts, its because she knows she has killer legs. She doesn’t need you or anyone to tell her. You’d actually probably get a better response if you compliment her actual shorts or even shoes. Are her boobs on display? Compliment the dress. ;-)That’s all I got for now.

The Dopamine Matrix: Where Truth Is Stranger Than Fictionby Charles Lyell on December 17, 2011Its 2025 and world leaders can no longer ignore the impending collapse of the human race. The situation is so dire the planet’s greatest minds are summoned to an international conference. After much rancor, the attendees fail to agree on a root cause for the converging crises or reach a consensus on solutions.In a cramped apartment, surrounded by monitors, a 30-something geekette edits the fiftieth conference video she’d been hired to catalog. In the middle of a comely neurobiologist’s presentation, Pauline has an epiphany. The woman’s insights start her thinking a handful of experts had solved key pieces of the puzzle. The problem was the few who knew seldom checked out workshops outside their fields.At 2:46AM an excited Pauline picks up her cell phone and calls a friend. When Sam answers, Pauline blurts, “I just figured out why none of the experts could see the answer staring them in the face. It’s because none of them want to know!”Groggy, Sam mumbles something about calling in the morning and hangs up.Act 2: New Year’s EvePauline, alone, is watching TV while cataloging videos. In one hand is a joint. In the other an empty champagne glass. A monitor shows a TV newsman asking a celebrity about his resolutions.On a whim, Pauline Emails Sam. In the subject box she types: “Resolution.” In the message she adds, “Expose the dopamine matrix!!!!!”Ten minutes pass before Sam texts back, “Happy New Year!”With icecaps melting, cities flooding, wars raging, food and water shortages growing, riots spreading, protesters dying, and the doomsday clock ticking, Pauline edits scores of seminars, panels, and presentations down to ten DVDs.Cut to a restaurant where Pauline is talking a mile-a-minute until Sam holds up two hands and asks, “How about starting with an elevator pitch?”After a thoughtful pause Pauline starts, “We’re living in a dopamine matrix where all choices, decisions, and beliefs are reduced to whether they trigger dopamine rewards or punishments. The attendees did not want to figure out what’s going on because they did not want to know they’re dopamine addicts.”Sam smiles, “OK, you have my attention. Take it from the top!”“Researchers have known for a while that there is only one addiction and it’s to dopamine. Heroin, nicotine, alcohol, gambling are only dopamine triggers. What nobody at the conference seemed to understand, or want to know, was that it’s possible to get addicted to the dopamine induced survival needs we share with chimpanzees.”“Such as?”“I’m talking about safety needs that manifest as fear and power addictions, peer approval needs that turn into insatiable cravings for acceptance or attention, and esteem needs that keep status addicts flaunting silly symbols that actually let everyone know how pathetic and insecure they are.”Sam guesses, “Aren’t those Maslow’s deficiency needs?”Pauline nods. “I’m not sure if Maslow knew humans have the same deficit needs as chimpanzees or that what he called needs are really addictions. Without brain scanning equipment, he couldn’t have known the d-needs he identified were all dopamine-induced.“A really cute neuroscientist called dopamine the miracle drug because it acts as either a carrot or a stick. Dopamine delivers rewards that encourage repeating behaviors, or punishments that discourage behaviors with expectations of dopamine penalties.“The dopamine matrix is a web of flimsy deceptions that have little to do with facts and everything to do with scoring pleasurable and avoiding unpleasant dopamine hits. For example, status addicts seldom question esteem elevating lies…”Sam finishes, “Because the deceptions trigger pleasurable dopamine rewards.”“Exactly! And threatening information, no matter how factual or obvious, is unconsciously avoided because anything that reduces esteem triggers dopamine punishments. Expectations of dopamine-induced pains, aka disapproval, dismissal, rejection, train researchers to avoid searching for what they don’t want to find.”Sam is skeptical. “You’re making it sound like dopamine trains us the way animals are with beatings and treats.”Pauline nods, “That’s what it comes down to. Animal trainers use carrots and sticks because carrots trigger pleasurable dopamine and sticks trigger painful dopamine.”Sam asks, “So you’re saying it’s not really about carrots or sticks, it’s about the dopamine?”Pauline taps her head with an index finger. “It’s all up here. Our species is in precarious shape because addicts excel at denying and avoiding dopamine repellent information. So the worse things get, the more dishonest humans get when it comes to admitting how bad everything is getting.”Sam sighs, “Until it’s too late.”Pauline winces, “I wish. It’s way past too late and nobody wants to know.”“Inside the dopamine matrix unpleasant facts have never been, and will never be, a match for dopamine appealing deceptions. That’s why it’s a piece of cake to convince people they have free will and almost impossible to explain how dopamine undermines free will.”Her head spinning, Sam mumbles, “This is starting to sound like science fiction, complete with dopamine zombies convincing one another they’re healthy and normal.”“Yeah but it’s science fact.” Pauline adds, “With the dopamine zombies convincing one another that anyone who insults them or threatens their dopamine flow in any way deserves to be eliminated.“Which brings me to the evolutionary glitch responsible for the dopamine matrix destroying our species.”Sam leans in, “Tell me about it.”While searching her iPad, Pauline explains, “I learned about the glitch from an addiction expert’s slide presentation. The poor psychologist was the Rodney Dangerfield of the conference — he got no respect.“Just a sec. Here it is...”Pauline slides the iPad across the table, Sam picks it up and reads.THE ADDICTION GLITCHThe Good News: Addiction is a curable disease.The Bad News: The cure requires taking a huge first step, which is honesty.Without honesty, there can be no cure.Addicts eschew honesty because they do not want to know they’re addicts because they don’t want to give up addictions.Addicts aren’t concerned with consequences.Addicts are able to avoid honesty because addiction is a crippling, dehumanizing brain disease that suppresses access to the new brain’s reasoning areas.The more powerful the addiction, the less reasoning capacity, the greater the self-deception and denial.Self-deception and denial are the hallmark signs for all addictions.Self-deception and denial make it possible to ignore the obvious and deny the undeniable.Until addicts hit rock bottom, and sometimes not even then, they are compelled to feed insatiable dopamine induced cravings.Sam mutters, “So all our problems come down to a planet filled with addicts who don’t want to know they’re addicts? And since reason is incompatible with self-deception and denial, the addicts’ reasoning ability has to be disabled.”Pauline agrees, “To the point where even brilliant addicts can’t understand they’re using reasoning to fool themselves into believing their behavior and rationalizations make sense.”Sam smiles, “So they don’t have to admit to and give up addictions.”Pauline whispers, “And that, in a nutshell is why we’re all nuts!”After checking Sam’s reactions, Pauline continues, “The plot sickens. Addictions keep the most desperate power, approval, and esteem addicts scrambling for power and prestige. So the biggest addicts are driven to control the institutions determining what are and aren’t addictions. Which is why the most common and dangerous addictions are considered normal, acceptable, and even admirable behaviors.”Sam shakes her head in disbelief. “What you’re saying doesn’t sound remotely possible!”Pauline explains, “It doesn’t seem possible until you realize the dopamine matrix didn’t start in our lifetime. From what I picked up from a primatologist’s presentation, the dopamine matrix traces back to a brain disease we inherited from primitive ancestors. Ancestors who had more in common with chimpanzees than humans.“Since I discovered the disease, essentially because nobody else wants to know about it, I’m calling it DIM, for dopamine induced madness. I’ll let the experts figure out if DIM predisposes sufferers to addictions or if addictions cause DIM.“Unlike diseases that kill hosts, DIM turned humans into self-deceptive, cheating, murderous DIMwits who destroy their health, their environments, and their species’ chances of survival.“Because of DIM our species’ evolution took a wrong turn. As our ancestors grew more intelligent, self-deceptions expanded and awareness withered.“Like I said, it’s as if they learned to use their intelligence to fool themselves. Which is exactly what addicts do.“The crazy part is that DIM is a curable disease, which brings us back to the addiction glitch. Addicts aren’t able to fool non addicts. But they are very good at fooling one another.“Along the way, the cheaters and killers started eliminating anyone capable of exposing DIM’s key symptoms — self-deception, cheating, and killing. Without knowing what they were doing, the most dangerous addicts initiated a tradition of culling the DNA of non-addicts.”Sam wonders, “How would the addicts know who to kill?”Pauline smirks, “That’s the easy part. The non-addicts were the ones who noticed, questioned, or objected to the addicts’ obvious lying, cheating, and killing.”Sam beams, “Can you imagine a world where self-deception, cheating, and killing are considered symptoms of a brain disease?”Pauline nods, “That’s how things might have been if the most depraved addicts didn’t stack the deck in their favor. Our ancestors were suffering from a disease that turned the biggest addicts into paranoid, self-deceptive killers, devoid of the humanity and reasoning capacity that burdened healthy contenders with reason, awareness, honesty, and an aversion to killing.”Sam gasps, “OMG! A brain disorder that gives sufferers a license to kill anyone who threatens to expose their diseased behavior. Whatever you do, don’t make your crazy ideas sound like a conspiracy theory.”Pauline shakes her head, “No, that’s the beauty, or maybe I should say the tragedy, of DIM. The killers didn’t know, have to know, or want to know they were protecting either their addictions or a brain disease responsible for their inhumane behavior. If anything, ignorance provided yet another advantage.”“How so?”“Thanks to DIM, it was easy for killers, who often hated one another, to join forces by convincing one another their rationalizations for crushing threats to their lies made sense.“Countless generations of killing bred a dearth of healthy Homo sapiens and glut of DIMwits born into sick societies and indoctrinated by sick parents, teachers, and others born into, and indoctrinated by, sick societies.”“Jesus, Mary, and Joseph!” Sam shouts.After a glance to see if anyone noticed, she lowers her voice. “I can see why nobody wants to know about being descended from sick ancestors.”“You got that right!” Pauline whispers, “The primatologist at the conference used a great Desmond Morris quote. Morris summed up what I’m talking about in a single sentence, ‘We naked apes are like the nouveau riche who are ashamed of their ancestors because they remind them of who they really are.’”With ominous music rising in the background, Pauline taps her iPad and a file with three video clips appears. The first is a montage of historical disasters that can be traced to DIM. The second explains how centuries of systematically killing healthy human beings, who could have exposed the disease, crippled our species’ evolution. The third demonstrates how DIM was in the process of destroying humans’ chances of survival.When the videos end a wide-eyed Sam asks, “So, what do we do next?”Act 3: The PlanAfter compiling a single compelling DVD, the would-be dynamic duo contact conference attendees, journalists, bloggers, opinion makers, and the media. Overwhelmed and underfunded they give themselves six months to find one influential muckety-muck willing to listen to them. Within weeks they’re wondering if they’re wasting their time. By six months they’re sure they are.The rest of the year passes without controversy, motorcycle chases, gun fights, or even a nasty response. Not a single scientist tries to take credit for Pauline’s conclusions and there aren’t any corporate goons or drug lords threatening to silence her.A frustrated Sam convinces Pauline to accept that anyone who claims to understands DIM should understand why it’s illogical to expect DIMwits to consider any dopamine-repellent information, especially from two nobodies with three science courses between them.The final scene opens with the camera focused on Pauline’s back. Suddenly, there’s a loud pop that sounds like a gunshot as her body jerks.When Pauline turns, she’s pouring champagne into two glasses.Once again, it’s New Year’s Eve. As Pauline hands a glass to Sam, she watches a TV commentator editorialize on the very real possibility that civilization is on the brink of total collapse.With video footage of the past year’s depressing events rolling, the reporter reads from a teleprompter,“In 1963 Bertrand Russell predicted, ‘The human race may well become extinct before the end of the current century.’“A decade later Desmond Morris wrote, ‘We are, to put it mildly, in a mess, and there is a strong chance that we shall have exterminated ourselves by the end of the century.’“And more than 30 years ago R. Buckminster Fuller estimated that we had less than 20 years to come to our senses.“They were only three of many great thinkers who were wrong about the exact date but right about the urgency. We are living on borrowed time, and instead of working together to make things better, we’re making things worse every single day.“It’s sad to think that a species with so much potential proved clueless and hopeless when it came to identifying and solving our problems.”“And as we enter the new year, we can only...After muting the audio, Sam flips though the channels until she spots a favorite celebrity counting down to midnight.With the numbers flashing on the screen, Sam raises her glass and proposes a toast, “Here’s to the perils of Pauline!”“No,” Pauline says, clinking her glass into Sam’s, “Here’s to the end!”As the count reaches one, they kiss, and the screen fades to black.Two words appear...“THE END”With the credits rolling, Kris Kristofferson sings a passage from Beat the Devil.If you waste your time a-talkin'to the people who don't listen,To the things that you are sayin',who do you think's gonna hear?And if you should die explainin'how the things that they complain about,Are things they could be changin',who do you think's gonna care?There were other lonely singers in a world turned deaf and blind,Who were crucified for what they tried to show.And their voices have been scattered by the swirling winds of time.'Cos the truth remains that no-one wants to know.