Hammocks 2 Catapults

03/14/2026

"Your bookshelf is a graveyard of your good intentions."

-- Stan Taylor

02/06/2026

I would like to see members of congress take our National Debt more seriously. Without exception, each of them kicks the debt can down the road with cynical disregard for our unsuspecting grandchildren who trust us to do the right thing.

01/24/2026

“The best time to work on your marriage is before you have one.”

— Meg Jay

11/25/2025

Every minute somewhere in Europe, a house is demolished — along with the memories and sense of community it holds, says architect Olaf Grawert. Exposing the human and environmental cost of demolition for profit, he highlights a bold alternative that could address the growing housing crisis. Learn ...

11/03/2025

09/04/2022

🙌🏼

09/04/2022

06/09/2020

https://www.atlasobscura.com/places/the-grand-kugel-richmond-virginia?utm_medium=atlas-page&utm_source=facebook.com&fbclid=IwAR26nmfygMHDamkA90H2F3RYza8ea3uYij_mO6CJWQvNCe0lyqQkTpH7ch8

This 29-ton granite ball spins around at the slightest touch thanks to a scientific phenomenon.

11/14/2019

Tranceformation

Self-made millionaires, billionaires, solopreneurs, and other highly successful people live differently from the rest of us. Oftentimes, they focus on earning not saving, they think of money as a tool and not a goal, they think on wealth as being time rather than money, they have goals that are big rather than numerous, and work is their hobby.

Several of the world’s richest people set aside some time every day to quiet the unfocused noise and confusion that live in their head via meditation or some related technique for achieving reduced arousal. The idea is that by quieting this noise, the person has greater access to the wisdom, the creativity, and the knowledge that exists within them all along.
Under the right conditions, these resources are more likely to bubble to the surface and become available to conscious awareness.

To say it a little differently, once this information, wisdom, and insight become available to consciousness, it can be vectored to problem-solving, or the development of new products and services, or to the expansion of an existing business with the associated new jobs and opportunities for investment. Students often report that they can spend less time in study and learn more material.

For some people, setting aside some quiet time that is relatively free of noise is enough, and meditation, mindfulness, or yoga work well with no need to drill down and achieve some deeper level of calm and “aha experiences.” Trancelike experiences can improve creativity. Its side effects have been shown to reduce the reactivity of the reptilian brain and promote increase resilience, stimulate the neocortex, and improve emotional intelligence.

For some people, self-hypnosis can be helpful in achieving a deeper state of focused awareness, and it is surprising that it is not recommended more often by therapists trained to use hypnosis in their practices.

If you believe that self-hypnosis might be helpful to you, call Dr. Billups at 804-435-6777 to discuss your needs and interests.

01/25/2018

"The police do not exist to protect the individual. They exist to cordon off the crime scene and attempt to apprehend the criminal. We individuals are guaranteed by the Constitution the right to self-defense. This right is not the Government’s to “award” us. They have never been granted it." -- David Mamet