Wednesday 29 February 2012

Rose Hip Oil Get Healthy and Beautiful Skin


Trilogy of rose hip oil can also help scars, acne, surgery and minor burns heal and relieve symptoms of eczema and dermatitis. Use affected on a daily basis face or other areas. Facial treatment works trilogy rose hip oil applied before going to sleep overnight as a deep hydrating.

Rose hip oil comes from the hip” or “Fruit of the rose, produced by cold pressing. It is rich in vitamin A to vitamin C essential fatty acids, you help the skin cells regenerate. Organic rose hips a very light oil is absorbed without leaving any residues so quickly into the skin.

Oil rose hip contains natural retinoid, a derivative of retinol (vitamin A). Rosehip seed oil, used in commercially manufactured in Chile. It is derived from the seeds of a rosebush, which grows wild in the southern Andes. It is the only vegetable oil the retinol (vitamin A acid) contains natural,. He oil has a naturally occurring preservative in the form of anti-oxidant tocopherols (vitamin E), to help to preserve shelf life.
All skin types the advantages of this gentle, healing oil feel. Trilogy of rose hip oil contains 80% essential fatty acids, to protect the repair and regeneration of damaged skin tissue and the strong antioxidants beta-carotene and limonene, the skin against the harmful effects of free radicals on the skin. Trilogy of rose hip oil has a very thin consistency, so that it the perfect facial oil – absorbing fast, immediate hydration of the skin allows course breathe. Fills the bored or tired skin, repair damaged skin helps to reduce the visible signs of aging like wrinkles and pigmentation.

Rose hips are the seed pod left after the petals fall off. You have the rose hip tea, recommended probably belongs, because it so rich in vitamin c. The oil from rose-hips, often called, Mosqueta Rosa, is very nutritious and consists of 80% essential fatty acids. It was a mainstay of the Incas, for example for its nutritional properties.

It can be used directly on the skin as part of a moisturizer or product skin care or as an essential oil in his own. On the skin care product, follow the instructions on the packaging, but in most cases, that is the rub cream to the affected area. The essential oil is a fine and watery oil that is easily absorbed into the skin.
The reported benefits of Rosehip Oil are at least ten times. The oil is packed with naturally occurring Omega 9, 3 and 6, pro vitamin A and vitamin E, which accounts for its ability to fight against wrinkles, free radicals and acne, and let your skin renewed revived version of his former self. I can not vouch for the reduction of the ability, acne, although I still not sure non-staining won, while with the oil. But what I have is the beautiful glowing skin.

Incoming search terms: care beautiful skin hip, rose hip oil vitamin a contains, trilogy rose hip oil shelf life

Say good-bye to both smelly and cold feet!

Beautiful feet are important at every age, but taking care of our feet normally takes a back seat when compared to other beauty treatments. Foot care can be simple and easy, and relaxing. We will tell you which foot care routines matter most at what time of your life... and let you in on some simple that will help you keep your feet healthy, soft and looking great!In your twenties You probably won’t give your feet much thought, but still, there are some thing.
Do you love traveling or visiting friends in different cities? Then make sure to take the new Elastoplast Pocket Pack. It is a life-saver for for feet on the go just fill it with your favorite blister plasters to save trip. 
You are likely to have a very active lifestyle,
are probably busy in your job and maybe even with a family:
You most likely lead a life on the go – and are probably more concerned with your next career step than your feet. Still, you should care for them regularly now, as neglecting them might cause problems later on. Because beauty routines for you should be fuss-free, go for products that are effective and offer simple solutions.
If you are in your forties... 
Your feet will need more attention, as sadly, feet tend to get drier with age.
Don’t give calluses a chance to build up, by taking care of your feet regularly 
 Have professional pedicures done regularly
Foot Massange
Preferably in the mornings AND evenings, after your shower and before you go to bed. Depending on how dry your feet are, use either which is a great product with intense moisturizing properties, which will deal with extremely callused skin and even cracked heels. You might want to alternate between both: Velvet Feet in the mornings, Repair and Care at night.

Keep callouses at bay regularly

If you are in your fifties?
Foot Care

You might suffer from corns, as well as especially dry and calloused skin. Giving them the extra care that they need now will keep you walking comfortably. This is the age where your feet might show you that they haven’t forgiven all your little sins...

Keep calluses at bay regularly
Remove them by using a file or a pumice stone.If this dead skin is not removed it will become hard and thick and can become cracked and painful, making walking difficult.

Moisturize.

Daily, preferably two times a day. The intense effective moisturizing properties of Elastoplast Velvet Feet, which contains urea, will keep them soft and beautiful.

Dry or neglected feet might suffer from cracked heels

Use Care which will deal with this problem in a no-fuss way. Used regularly, its intensive formula will repair even extremely dry, cracked skin and restore smooth and healthy skin.

Corns might appear more often now.

If one shows up by applying Elastoplast Corn Plasters. The integrated felt ring will offer instant pain relief and the active ingredient salicylic acid will help you to get rid of it.Prevent them by wearing shoes that aren’t too tight. And take immediate action

Andi Muise

Amanda Muise Born on January 12, 1987 in North Bay, Ontario, Muise was discovered at the age of 14 in a local mall by Michèle Miller, owner of the International Model Management agency, 
Fashion Models History
Top Models, the glamour, the hotness, the ethereal beauty, the style and the expressions, everything seems so perfect about these fashion models, who for some people might be a mere hanger to display Fashion Designers’ creative creations at fashion shows,  but these breathtaking beauties are so much more than this!
Fashion models are the works of art that portrays emotions through still expressions, fashion models might not be actors but they are the spark that gives life to a dull lifeless piece of cloth, accessories, shoes or anything which they are posing for. A few of these fashion models: change into top models, and ultimately into top stars.

Before we get into top models, Actors speaks with their mouth but fashion models speak with their eyes, their expressions and their body, fashion models are the sculptures that nature makes in order to portray art, imagination, creativity and beauty. In addition to that, famous fashion models are considered the pride of their country and fashion industry.

Flaunt your Nails with Fabulous Nail Art

Nails
Make your nails completely funky from today by trying various nail art. 
All you require is a bit of drawing along with some wild, inspiring and creative imagination.
Nails Care


Accessories

Jackets & Coats
 Jeans
 Jewellery
 Knitwear
 Lingerie & Nightwear
 Shirts & Blouses
 Skirts
 Swimwear

Living Room Decor Ideas

Full Decor alone Room
Living room is one of the most essential parts of a house. A living room is where a family spends most of its time. Living room should be spectacular and at the same time very comfortable as well.
Alone Girl Decor Room
 Your house can exude a very trendy yet well-kept vibe through these latest wall décor ideas that are going a perfect hit for 2011-2012.
Ultimate Grandeur of Thomasville Chairs
Thomasville Chairs
Among the various inspiring furniture pieces, Thomasville chairs have an ultimate grandeur. They endow a relaxing experience to user making them fond of Thomasville furniture.
Interior Design Softwares
Interior Design
With interior design software you can do it at home and can furnish your home like professionals.

Hold on tight! Nicole Kidman and her brood are hand in hand as they leave Australia for LA

Heading home: The family were taking a flight to Los Angeles after they had been in Sydney for Keith's coach spot on The Voice 
        

Family portrait: Nicole Kidman and husband Keith Urban looked picture perfect as they strolled through Sydney airport with daughters Faith and Sunday Rose
Nicole Kidman and her brood looked every inch the happy family when they were spotted at the airport in Australia today.
The foursome held hands as they made their way to board a flight from Sydney heading back to Los Angeles.
Judging by their cheerful expressions, the family had spent a great break in the city where Nicole’s parents live, and they looked well-rested as they walked through the airport.

Meanwhile Keith, also 44, opted for a more casual ensemble to travel in which consisted of a plaid black and white short sleeved shirt, stonewashed jeans and grey suede boots.
Their three-year-old daughter Sunday Rose held on to her parents’ hands, and was wearing an adorable pink with white tights and a matching bow in her hair, as well as black buckle up shoes.
Nicole had another reason to be happy today after she was recently complimented on her kissing technique by Matthew Goode, her co-star in upcoming thriller Stoker.

The actor, 33, said: ‘It’s a bit nerve-wracking. We were just doing a recce one day and we went to this house and Nicole‘s such a pro, she started going into the scene and I was like, “Oh my God”.
Happy family: The couple held the hands of three-year-old Sunday Rose

Tuesday 28 February 2012

Learn to do your own pool repairing

Once you have detected the place of leak, it can be fixed quite easily. All you have to do is buy a patching kit at your local pool store, which comprises of a piece of colored vinyl liner and plastic cement that works both underwater and above it. Next, cut a patch that is big enough to cover the hole and sandpaper its back before lining it with cement and placing it over the hole. Release any air bubbles and let the patching cement set.
Though everyone dream of having a swimming pool in their backyard, it is not easy to maintain. Moreover, repairing the same can be quite expensive if you hire a professional. If you want to save some of your hard-earned money here, you can learn to do your own pool repairing. If you have a vinyl-lined pool, a leaking swimming pool bottom is one of the most common problems that you are likely to face. This usually happens when the vinyl pool liner dries up, becomes brittle and becomes susceptible to cracks.

Add grandeur & class your home

Oak staircases come in various different designs starting from the simple ones to the more ornate and glitzy ones. Large oak staircases look the best in grand and big houses. A modern, smaller house would be better suited with a small and slender oak staircase. These staircases are made by hand by highly skilled carpenters and joiners. They have years of experience and can deliver the exact oak staircase that one needs. A proper oak staircase can last for years at a time. So, it should be seen as a long term investment for the beautification of the house.
One of the things that people generally forget while redecorating their homes are the grand old oak staircase. The front entrance of the house has the maximum impact on others. And as one enters the house, the first thing that comes to notice is the staircase. A well chosen oak staircase can lend a grand old glamorous look to the house.

How to keep windows sealed?

We can adopt various measures to seal windows. To seal cracks developed on windows, use caulk. If you don’t seal cracks, heat during winters and cold air condition during summers will leak out. Besides, it may invite bugs and make it their breeding ground. You can weather-strip your windows by the help of a professional if you don’t know how to do it.
You can choose a number of sealing options depending upon the climate you live in. You may choose a vinyl storm window that has two sealed layers if glass and is good for any climate. Plastic can also be used as a sealer but it involves a lot of hazards. Weather stripping caulking is good for windows as it can be easily peeled off later. It never messes up with your paint and perfectly seals up the middle or bottom of windows. Before opting for any options, you can consult a professional for a better idea.

Traditional Moroccan decor for your Bed with Room

A traditional Moroccan touch to your room is an exceptional choice. Moroccan décor radiates a warm feeling once you enter your bedroom.
To start with this kind of décor you first need to think about the walls and ceiling. Go for spicy colors like cinnamon red and saffron gold. Also give the same effect to your ceiling than leaving it bare. Give a thought to moldings for your door and window frames. Your furniture should have an authentic wooden effect, to achieve this you can stain the available furniture in you bedroom. You can certainly go shopping for new furniture to have something new for yourself.
Add various accessories to your bedroom to give an extra ordinary Moroccan effect. This includes thing like rugs, curtains, lamps, hang fabrics, cushions and also several pieces depicting different cultures showing that you’ve been around the globe even if you have not.

Tips to do up your kid’s room according to a wonderful land

Decorating a kid’s room is not as easy as it sounds. You need to start form getting the right colors on the walls to having the right furniture and décor in the room. While deciding about the colors of the walls choose both bold and subtle colors.
Choose furniture which is appropriate for your kid depending on his age. Do not buy furniture which takes a lot of space. Keep the kid’s room as spacious as possible. Next you need to get proper bedding for your child. Choose animal prints or zebra prints or any other print suitable for a wonderland themed room.
You can even decorate a kid’s room based on a theme. It can be a wonderland theme, where you put posters of various Disney characters. You can use decoration stickers and bold graphics. Use wall colors suitable for a wonderland theme. You can also keep picture books and photo stands to complement with the wonderland theme.

Learn how to give your front porch a new see with a saying

If your house does have a front porch then it becomes kind of mandatory to get a swing installed out there. Evenings are best spent enjoying the swing with your family with peace, away from the music system and television. The best way to install the swing on your front porch is to hang it from the ceiling. To do this you will require a kit. Most of the swings come with an installation kit, and if not then you need to borrow one or buy the same.
To make your swinging experience a more enjoyable one, buy the special springs for it which act like shock absorbers and make it very comfortable to be seated on the swing. Make sure you choose the right spot to hang your swing so that there is enough space for it to swing without facing any hurdles. Your porch will look a lot more presentable with a swing.

How to build your Dream garden

Patios are garden furniture or outdoor furniture. They are generally placed in the front yard area or the garden area or the poolside. Often the furniture is made from plastic, wicker, teak or wrought iron. Materials such as Plexiglas and fiberglass are also not unheard of. Usually the furniture comprise of a few chairs, a table and a canopy or a shed. These are used for sticking by the poolside. Often, with addition to an open air barbecue, the patio can also be used for organizing an outdoor party.
Building a patio is part of a dream. After all, chilling out along the poolside or partying in your garden are both concepts of fun and frolic. For a perfect patio though, you must at all costs concentrate on a handy canopy. Nylon or rayon can be used for the canopy. You must also look at the area of your garden or poolside. If you are not cramped for space, you can add a fountain and stone cobbles at small distances.

Best selection of wash room tiles

The selection of tiles makes a big difference in the overall look and feel of a bathroom. While a correct choice can make a bathroom look nice and inviting, a bad choice can result in the space looking too big or too small and very cluttered and untidy. To begin with, not all types of tiles are suitable for use in bathroom as it has a high moisture atmosphere. It is best to choose porcelain, ceramics and natural stone tiles for bathroom.
Though the color and patterns of the bathroom tiles is dictated by the personal choice of an individual, ideally light colored tile should be used for small bathrooms as they open up the space. Next, you can choose between glossy and flat textured bathroom tiles available in the market. Lastly, when it comes to the size of the tile, small sized tiles are best for shower area as they aid in proper drainage.

How to turn your wash room into a luxury haven

Everyone loves getting a luxurious spa treatment. However, not everybody can afford to pay for getting one done by professionals. If you swear by the therapeutic and healing properties of water, you can enjoy a spa experience in your own bathroom just by installing certain fixtures. With some simple tricks you can turn your bathroom into an inviting oasis where you can relax and rejuvenate. The first step to achieve this is by painting your bathroom in a soothing color palette, preferably sea blue, pastel green or even soft lilac.
Next get some aromatherapy candles in the same color as your bathroom and arrange them tantalizingly around your bathtub. You can also add some essential oils into your bathwater as you take a warm bubble bath to distress yourself. Do not forget to invest in some plush area rugs that are extremely soft to the touch and non slippery for your bathroom.

How to Select kitchen cabinets

Selecting a kitchen cabinet that will go perfectly with your remodeled kitchen is a daunting task given the vast choices available in the market. There are various things that one needs to consider before finalizing a cabinet for purchase. These include door style, type of wood, finish and the storage space. Since kitchen cabinets account for nearly 70 percent of the kitchen remodeling cost, make a wise selection to ensure the best return on your investment.
Always choose a cabinet that fits perfectly in your kitchen layout. If cost is a major concern for you, you can opt for stock cabinets that are produced in an assembly line and come in various sizes to meet different needs. Go for the wood and finish that will complement the look of your kitchen. You can select between maple, cherry and oak when looking for hardwood cabinets. Make sure that the finish is even and the construction can support heavy cookware.

Self care boarding vs full care-why & why not?

Someone in another thread was wondering why some barns do not offer self board. That's an interesting question. Let's talk about it.

I'm a BO who does not offer self board. Here are my reasons.
Most people do not realize the amount of time involved-every day
Anything not done I would have to do. I plan my day according to what needs to be done. I don't want a dirty stall or water bucket waiting for someone to come & clean it. I also don't want any last minute phone calls asking me to feed or clean because roads are bad, hangovers, sick or have something better to do ie: more fun
Feeding would have to be done individually & that may mean bringing your own horse in to feed, then turn back out or require individual turn out. How many times will someone hang around while their horse munches on hay before they are tired of doing that? 

The horses here are in small groups when outside & eat breakfast & lunch outside when not on pasture.

Horse Care


I am at a self care place right now as a boarder, and were I running a facility, there is ZERO chance I would allow self care given what I see. Not that anyone is abusing their horses where I am at or anything, but I still would not be willing to allow such a low standard of care at a place with my name attached.
really tired & even then a couple of hours revive me.

I once had a cop stop at my place at 2 AM because he saw all the barn lights on & thought something was wrong. I was working a horse.
However,
If I were a BO, I wouldn't allow self care except for under very specific circumstances with strict guidelines for care.

I might allow self care to a very responsible, mature person who lived close but other than that, no way. I certainly wouldn't offer if to people who were trying to use self care as a way to cheap out on their horse, or if I did, I'd have ridiculously high punishment fines for failure to follow the care guidelines. However, since I'm a huge softy, it's probably in my best interest to not ever offer self care.

I have my horse about 10mins away from me at a barn with 7 other horses/ponies. The couple I board with feeds and turns him out during the day. At some point during the day or early evening, I clean all 8 stalls (they provide shavings) and if a water bucket is dirty and something else needs or should be done, I'll take care of it. So a couple weeks ago when their gelding dug a hole to china in his run, I found it, so I filled it in. When my horse escaped and ended up with a minor gash, they cleaned and treated it, then chained his gate.

What About Life Care


Being too complacent would yield suboptimal results because you’re drifting and not getting close to your true potential. But push too hard, and you may never enjoy what you have and may burn yourself out. So it would seem the optimal solution lies somewhere in the middle between the extremes. We are working together to provide you with support, education, information, and assistance needed to support your efforts to keep your older family members living at home in a secure and loving environment for as long as possible.
We value what you do and we understand the difficulties you face.
We offer you a helping hand to complete the Circle of Care. So just as a stock investor needs to know when to buy and sell, you must listen to the signals from your own life (both internal and external) to learn when it’s time to expand or contract. Every day is different. Sometimes buying/expansion is right, and other times selling/contraction is right. You don’t balance the two.
You cycle between them. Let’s try a perspective shift. one that eliminates the problem entirely.
Stars are a fascinating component of our universe.
They may seem like permanent objects in the sky, but technology has allowed us to photograph the heavens, and now we know more about stars than ever before. They are born, they live, and then they die. How does this happen?
There is an amazing variety of life cycles within the animal world. Surprisingly, only about 3% of all animal species give birth to live young as part of their life cycle. Most animals lay eggs.

Saturday 25 February 2012

Payday Loans


What Are Online Payday Loans?

Payday loans have skyrocketed in terms of popularity in the last couple of years due to the economic recession. They are extremely short term loans which are designed to help the customer pay bills that need immediate attention such as mortgage repayments or rent. The term 'payday loan' is used because it is believed that the money will be paid back by the recipient when they get their next wage packet.

How Can Apply Online Payday?

Online payday loans are remarkably easy to apply for which only adds to their appeal. In fact, all you need to provide is proof of income which can come in the form of a wage slip and photo ID to verify your identity. Payday loan lenders can easily do a check on your credentials and issue the loan within minutes.

How Fast Will My Loan Be Funded?

Cash payday loans are usually relatively small amounts of around $200-$500 but are frowned upon by financial experts who claim the interest rates associated with these loans are excessive. This may be true but such individuals are not looking at the bigger picture. Payday loans are for emergencies only. People in need of this form of cash advance cannot afford the usual waiting period associated with banks as their very livelihood could be at risk. And besides, if a consumer believes the amount they must pay back is too high, they can simply refuse to accept the loan. Payday loan companies are legally obliged to fully explain the repayment procedure and terms so there are no nasty surprises.
Consumers in dire straits who can receive a payday loan in one hour will not quibble about a high APR. The actual amount of interest they repay is pretty low because most loans are repaid within a week. Although it is not a solution that should be overused, it is reassuring to know that short term financial problems can be alleviated quickly.

Get Cash With Online Payday Loan

Let's get right to the point. There is no other way to get cash in your hand that is quicker and easier than online payday loans. So if you have a financial emergency you seriously need to think about online payday loans. They can be the quick-fix credit solution you need. And, really, there is little downside to online payday loans, since online payday loans are really just a process of you borrowing your own money from yourself.

About Online Payday Interest Rate

You will not believe this, but normally online payday loans do not have interest rates. This is because they are designed to be paid back quickly, within a couple of days or a week or two at the most. Because of this, these online payday loans usually come to you interest free, but rather just with a single, easily-understood fee. Exact details will be determined by the payday lender you are matched with after you have been approved. Remember, you are under no-obligation to accept a loan if you do not agree to the terms.

How Can I Qualify Online Pay Loan?

Many people, perhaps even you, wonder about being able to qualify for credit and of course they bring this same wariness to online payday loans. After all, you've been turned down before. We all have. Well, online payday loans are different for three huge reasons:
- First of all, these online payday loans are tailor made for persons with poor or no credit history.
- Second of all, they are easy to apply for. After all, they are called online payday loans for a reason.
- Lastly, you do not need to wait long to find out if you have qualified for the online payday loan which you applied.

Apply Online Payday Loan Today

As stated above, online payday loans are made for people who have poor credit histories. So if you don't have much credit, but you need some cash to help you with an emergency, you should consider online payday loans.
Also, gone is embarrassment of needing to go to a bank and grovel for a loan. Getting online payday loans is totally different. Since it is your money from your payday already and online, you never even have to leave home to apply for online payday loans. You merely need an internet connection.

Interest Rates on Online Payday Loans Too High in Wisconsin?


A Consumer of a series of short-term credit options such as online payday loans has filed a counterclaim in a Wisconsin court after the company she had got the online payday loans from had sued her after she failed to pay the loans back.

The woman claims that the rates she was charged on her cash in advance loans were immorally high. However, the judge presiding over the case was not comfortable saying rates were too high or not, so the judge kicked the case up to the Wisconsin Supreme Court.
I have a pair of opinions on this matter regarding the rates of online payday loans and other types of short-term credit opinions, such as payday loans with no credit check
First of all, I agree with the judge of the case that he or she should not be deciding whether or not rates on online payday loans are high or not. Judges should only decide on matters of the law and if there is no legal cap on interest rates on online payday loans, then the judges should not be involved.
On the other hand, I wish that the initial judge had not sent this case up to the state Supreme Court. Those judges too have no business deciding on things that are not about the law, and as I said above, as long as there is no cap on interest rates of online payday loans, the law does not need to be involved.
Another possible problem that could come from judges declaring which rates are too high on online payday loans is that different judges would have different opinions. Their differing rulings would result in many different acceptable rates across the state, confusing both the consumers and the lenders of online payday loans.
Though I do not support lawmakers setting caps on interest rates of online payday loans and other types of short-term credit options, I would prefer that happening over judges making this decision on rates of online payday loans.

Thursday 23 February 2012

Guitar

So, this picture has made it to the front page of Digg and Reddit so I thought I would add a little bit of extra information. The store is called The Guitar Store and it is on Commercial Road opposite Southampton Central railway station, Southampton, Bangladesh .

Guitar Store

Guitar Music

So, This picture has made it to the front page of Dug and Reedit so I thought I would add a little bit of extra information. The store is called The Guitar Store and it is on Commercial Road opposite Southampton Central railway station, Southampton, England.

Guitar Guy

Guitar Guy

My friend’s teenage daughter commissioned this – It was supposed to be a likeness of some guitar playing guy her friend has a crush on. I was so afraid of working on it I took forever to get started. In the end I think he came out so-so, but it was fun and I have lots of ideas for improving the design, so I’m excited to try again. May be a little lady this time.

Sunday 19 February 2012

Full Care at P2UC

So many things that were taken for granted at home are done differently in a foreign country. But what some people call a problem, others call an opportunity. Here is the chance to develop coping skills - exactly the kind of knowledge that multinational companies want. And with us you'll have the best possible assistance: P2UC takes good care of you.

The advantages of being a well-educated, internationally experienced manager at a global company are clear, but so are the risks along the way. You will be faced with the challenges of going abroad when you are young, taking care of innumerable details, and managing your own time and money. Where can you find an environment that supports you in these little details, so that you have the freedom to go and pursue your personal development?
What will the first days be like? How will you find an apartment? How will you be integrated into a foreign country? How will you find new friends?

You can relax and be certain about one thing: P2UC takes good care of you.
You will be
  • supported during your visa application
  • picked up at the airport
  • given accommodation and lunch
  • living in a country with a strong social safety net
  • helped with legal issues as well as social security
  • guaranteed small classes
  • supported on campus and helped with everyday questions by people specifically in charge of our international students
  • socially integrated in an inspiring international community of young talent

Sounds good to you? Well, it is!
We would like to be your pathway to a great international career.



"Going to a foreign country is quite a risk. You leave home and the environment you are familiar with and everything is totally new and unfamiliar. Within the P2UC programme everything was taken care of, problems had been solved before they came up."
Dhanasekaran Sethu Paul
P2UC student           

Friday 17 February 2012

Reality and History Valentine's Day.


One legend contends that Valentine was a priest who served during the third century in Rome. When Emperor Claudius II decided that single men made better soldiers than those with wives and families, he outlawed marriage for young men -- his crop of potential soldiers. Valentine, realizing the injustice of the decree, defied Claudius and continued to perform marriages for young lovers in secret. When Valentine's actions were discovered, Claudius ordered that he be put to death. Marshall Islands. Other stories suggest that Valentine may have been killed for attempting to help Christians escape harsh Roman prisons where they were often beaten and tortured.
According to one legend, Valentine actually sent the first 'valentine' greeting himself. While in prison, it is believed that Valentine fell in love with a young girl -- who may have been his jailor's daughter -- who visited him during his confinement. Before his death, it is alleged that he wrote her a letter, which he signed 'From your Valentine,' an expression that is still in use today. Although the truth behind the Valentine legends is murky, the stories certainly emphasize his appeal as a sympathetic, heroic, and, most importantly, romantic figure. It's no surprise that by the Middle Ages, Valentine was one of the most popular saints in England and France. While some believe that Valentine's Day is celebrated in the middle of February to commemorate the anniversary of Valentine's death or burial -- which probably occurred around 270 A.D -- others claim that the Christian church may have decided to celebrate Valentine's feast day in the middle of February in an effort to 'Christianize' celebrations of the pagan Lupercalia festival. In ancient Rome, February was the official beginning of spring and was considered a time for purification. Houses were ritually cleansed by sweeping them out and then sprinkling salt and a type of wheat called spelt throughout their interiors. Lupercalia, which began at the ides of February, February 15, was a fertility festival dedicated to Faunas, the Roman god of agriculture, as well as to the Roman founders Romulus and Rebus.
To begin the festival, members of the Luperci, an order of Roman priests, would gather at the sacred cave where the infants Romulus and Remus, the founders of Rome, were believed to have been cared for by a she-wolf or lupa. The priests would then sacrifice a goat, for fertility, and a dog, for purification. The boys then sliced the goat's hide into strips, dipped them in the sacrificial blood and took to the streets, gently slapping both women and fields of crops with the goathide strips. Far from being fearful, Roman women welcomed being touched with the hides because it was believed the strips would make them more fertile in the coming year. Later in the day, according to legend, all the young women in the city would place their names in a big urn. The city's bachelors would then each choose a name out of the urn and become paired for the year with his chosen woman. These matches often ended in marriage. Pope Gelasius declared February 14 St. Valentine's Day around 498 A.D. The Roman 'lottery' system for romantic pairing was deemed un-Christian and outlawed. Later, during the middle Ages, it was commonly believed in France and England that February 14 was the beginning of birds' mating season, which added to the idea that the middle of February -- Valentine's Day should be a day for romance. The oldest known valentine still in existence today was a poem written by Charles, Duke of Orleans to his wife while he was imprisoned in the Tower of London following his capture at the Battle of Agincourt. The greeting, which was written in 1415, is part of the manuscript collection of the British Library in London, England. Several years later, it is believed that King Henry V hired a writer named John Lydgate to compose a valentine note to Catherine of Valois.

Veena Malik And Her Father Ali Malik

House decoration valentine day 2012

House decor valentine day 2012

Unique Residential House Design

Unique Residential House Design

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Valentine’s Day Collection 2012 Top Model For Victoria’s Secret

Valentine’s Day Collection 2012 Top Model

Thursday 16 February 2012

Aftercare…or just care after the fact?

February 15, 2012
When we take children into care we do so to make their lives better, we do because we have a duty to “promote the welfare of children…who are not receiving adequate care and protection” and we do so because they “require care or protection which they are unlikely to receive unless the court makes an order”. The hardest part of the job is that we aim to make lives better but so often fail to do so. Sure we can stop things getting worse, but when we set ourselves such lofty aims is that good enough? This is something that comes back to me when reflecting on my work, and can be seen in so many aspects of our work. Aftercare provides a good place to see this dynamic in action – by the time the young person is in aftercare they are an adult, and we can reflect on the long years in care and the effect they have had, for good or for bad.
The legal basis for after care is grounded in Section 45 of the Child Care Act which states “Where a child leaves the care of a health board, the board may assist him for so long as the board is satisfied as to his need for assistance and he has not attained the age of 21 years.” This is in turn supported by a National Policy on After Care and Leaving Care detailing the processes and procedures.  There has been some criticism of this set up, in that by stating that the health board “may”, and not “shall” the law does in fact provide little guarantee of support and services once a child turns 18. The political fig leaf on this issue has been provided by Subsection (4) which states that “In providing assistance under this section, a health board shall comply with any general directions given by the Minister” and has been used by Former Minister for Children Barry Andrews to direct the HSE to formulate and implement a comprehensive aftercare policy to provide services to all children leaving care. Despite this, it remains, as described by Geoffrey Shannon, a “hollow promise”, with supports subject to funding and resource availability, which all too often are not in fact available. There are still plenty of cases without an allocated Aftercare Social Worker.
On the ground aftercare is generally provided by an Aftercare Social Worker, who handles most, if not all, of the aftercare cases on the team. This creates a huge caseload of young adults needing support and help, a caseload that like any overly large caseload begs the question how good can these supports be when they are spread so thin. This is not to denigrate the hard work and commitment of after care workers, it is more a comment on the over burdening of frontline staff that the HSE goes in for. In fact the work of the Aftercare Social Worker can be even harder given that the young adults who are the clients can drift in and out of services and can be some of the hardest to engage. Getting a child to engage with the reality that their life is about to be turned upside down as supports disappear can be frustratingly difficult, particularly when it is a child who will be getting very little from the service. Despite what Helen Buckley patronizingly says, it’s not just a matter of “just trying harder”, for some kids turning 18 means freedom from Social Worker, from residential units and the freedom to go out and destroy themselves. In reality most support, both practical and financial, is only available to people in education or training.  If you are in education there is a lot of support, assistance with fees, assistance with rent, and assistance with the cost of living. If you’re not, you are left to rely on social welfare.
The research both here and overseas shows time and time again the poor outcomes for children in aftercare and for children with care history. A lot of time and energy is being spent to improve aftercare services. Courts and Guardians Ad Litem are paying more and more attention to aftercare provision to obtaining commitments to support and funding. More and more policy documents and reports stress the importance of aftercare, and rightly so. Consider the fact that so many of us don’t leave home till closer to 25 instead of getting thrown out at 18. Even when we do finally leave there is a social safety net there for us which is not there for young people leaving care unless the HSE improve services!
However, there is a certain air futility to all of this. The young people we are dealing with in aftercare come from deeply damaging and destructive backgrounds, and are often just that, deeply damaged. They have also been through care, which brings with it its own trauma and harm. Given all this hurt it’s not surprising that so many don’t prosper at all. Compare them to the other children in the communities most of these kids come from, that is lower socioeconomic areas (a polite way of saying lower class really, but we cant talk about class can we) where educational attainment is low and social exclusion and unemployment are high. The majority of kids in these areas will struggle in life and education, few of them will end up as doctors, barristers, politicians, bond traders or chairman of some financial consulting agency. When measured that way, kids in care don’t do relatively bad, but is that really good enough? Given the pompous rhetoric of Social Work making life better it’s not good enough. Given the amounts of money spent on Social Work it’s not good enough. Given the fact equality should a central value of any society it’s not good enough. That young people in care do as well as some of their peers in marginalized communities shows there is something much deeper wrong, both with our society and with our care system and it is something that starts long before the young person gets anywhere close to 18.
Here’s the rub, Social Work is treating symptoms, and doing so badly. We need to start treating the root causes, the root causes of the social exclusion and poverty that drives of many of our referrals and their negative outcomes. That is a challenge that is perhaps beyond the scope of the individual Social Worker, drowned as they are under deadlines, caseloads, court reports and case notes. However there are avenues for collective action in social work, our union, the Irish Association of Social Care Workers and their Children and Families special interest group. Of course, outside of social work there are even more ways to engage with the political system and to work for social change, but who has the energy for that after a long day in the trenches?
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William Henry Davies

What is this life if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

No time to stand beneath the boughs

And stare as long as sheep or cows.

No time to see, when woods we pass,

Where squirrels hide their nuts in grass.

No time to see, in broad daylight,

Streams full of stars, like skies at night.

No time to turn at Beauty's glance,

And watch her feet, how they can dance.

No time to wait till her mouth can

Enrich that smile her eyes began.

A poor life this if, full of care,

We have no time to stand and stare.

Life 2.0?... What's in a name

A_gardener There seems to be a lot of controversy over the meaning of the term Web 2.0  with endless debate about its definition and scope.  It's supposed to be (I think) the next, more interactive and user-driven, generation of the Internet.  Some  however, think the term is pure bunk - an abstraction too far with no real meaning or value.
But to me the term conjures up a different idea.  I think sometimes, in order to make real progress in life, we need to step out beyond the horizon of our present understanding and stake our claim in the unknown, not knowing exactly what this entails or how we'll get there.  Sometimes, when our existing systems feel worn and tired, we can feel impelled to move forward to a place that is not yet clear - and I think giving a name to that place can be a good thing.  It gives us something, however nebulous, to give our attention to, and then this very act of giving it attention becomes the catalyst that creates the substance and brings it into our reality.
So how do we get to 'there' from here if we don't know where 'there' is?
Well, reason won't get us there because our understanding is always limited by our existing belief system.... and so it can never take us beyond itself.  As Albert Einstein   would probably have told us, you sometimes have to take a leap of faith in the direction of your dreams, leave the scientific method in the labs and go out on limb, go ride a sunbeam and leave the reasoning to 'reasonable' people.... trusting there'll be time enough later to draw the map and write up the notes. 
So what then does  it take?
Perhaps it just needs a little courage, trusting that what we need to know will be known when we need it, a little willingness to rely upon our intuition rather than our understanding - to 'receive' instead of plan.  As  Blaise Pascal  said:
"The heart has reason that reason cannot know."   
And so it is with this weblog, Life 2.0.  It is both a leap of faith and a staked claim.  I know that there is so much more to our lives than we are presently aware of;  and I know that we have the ability to transform our work, our relationships and our organisations beyond all recognition once we learn to recognise and accept the power of our inner Being, once we embrace this process of unfoldment of our true nature that is happening in our life right now.
The old ways are dissolving and the new way has not yet shown itself.  If this is true then must engage with one another differently as explorers and discoverers."..... Margaret Wheatley

Entrepreneurial advice.. and what no book or guru can teach you.

Marc Andreessen, the guy who invented the browser and the founder of  Ning,  is blogging.  Some of his posts are brilliant and (to me at least) bring something quite new to the table.  Here's why:
Unlike many people who proffer management and start-up advice Marc Andreessen has pretty much steered clear of all that and spent his time actually building stuff.  He knows all about runaway success but more importantly he knows a about failure and what it's like to struggle like hell against seemingly insurmountable odds... and it's this later stuff that makes you wise.
Don't get me wrong, there's nothing wrong with the advice from the likes of  Tom Peters,  Peter Drucker  and  Jim Collins  et al, or any of the other 'gurus'.  But it's just that until you've actually built something from scratch, risked everything you've got to finance your dream or know what it's like to face imminent disaster and still not back down from what needs to be done... then there will always be something missing.
There's a clarity, a wisdom and a quiet authenticity that is discovered and honed in the fight for survival against all the odds, that can never be had through academic learning.  Marc Andreesson has been there[1] and it shows in his writing.  Here's a couple of snippets from Marc's brilliant post  ' Why there's no such thing as Web 2.0' :

The joy of wallowing in a perfect mess

I'm back from holiday in the  Scottish Isles  and have been attempting to clear my office of all the paperwork and part projects that have accumulated over recent years in readiness for a push with 'Link Grease' - the web application we're building to help bloggers support and grow their web site's community. 
But it really struck me yesterday, in the middle of my 'get sorted' campaign, how the more we try to organise our lives the less serendipity we experience, and (despite all the good advice and 'lifehacks' we come across on the web) the more we let go of our need to control the things that are happening in our life, the better those things have a way of working out.
Perhaps you use a system like GTD to clear your mental decks and manage the fire hose of information in your life, or maybe, like me, you like to take yourself off to some remote place to get your mojo back.  Whatever our thing, it almost certainly arises from a belief that to experience 'flow', joy and real creativity we need to organise our life in a way that gives us more of the conditions that are conducive to these states.
And yet this belief has never really worked for me.. and not for others I've talked to either.  Life has a habit of throwing us a curve ball just when we think we've got it sussed;  or the flow we experience is nothing like the transcendent feeling we vaguely remember from our youth;  or by some act of Grace we do experience the bliss of real Flow.. but it's when we least expect it - often when we have almost given up on getting it back again.
In fact it's almost as if the quality of 'flow' we experience is inversely proportional to the amount of control we impose in an effort to experience it in the first place.  For most of us, 'flow' and the bliss of being fully present in the moment seems to come in fits and starts showing us mere flashes of our true potential.  Yet we never quite seem to make the connection between our need to control our life and our lack of flow and serendipity, do we?  So what gives?
This passage from Eckhart Tolle's book,  A New Earth: Awakening to your Life's Purpose  perhaps hints at the answer.  It describes the predicament many of us feel as we try to gets more organised, more productive and more satisfaction in our lives.

What's Here

Perspective

I believe that our true nature is far more powerful, creative and loving than we could ever imagine, and the recognition of this is readily available to each and every one of us.  The realisation of our true nature transforms everything - our relationships, our work and our organisations; and is, I believe, the answer to all our problems.
There is nothing as practical as this Self-realisation.  It nourishes us, heals us, inspires us and gives us certain confidence and unlimited energy to accomplish anything our heart desires.  And it does this with an incredible joy and light-heartedness.
It is from this perspective that I try to look at our world and our life in this weblog.
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So this is what's here....

  • Topics are mostly around Creativity, Transformation (personal, team & organisational), Flow and Innovation, Leadership, Psychology, Learning, Collaboration, Business and Management; - although I have no 'plan' as such and therefore things could change.
  • Secondly, I'd like to look at those areas of our lives where we seem to struggle the most, and see if we can look at them from a fresh perspective....to see beyond what we think is going on to the simplicity that often lie beyond perception.[footnote]  Anything that is complex or prone to failure can be grist for our mill - project management, organisational change, healing, societal harmony and governance..... I guess the list might seem endless.  Hopefully we'll get to slay a few sacred cows along the way....... unless the status-quo police happen to get us first ;-)
  • The real voyage of discovery consists not in seeking new lands but, but in seeing with new eyes.   Marcel Proust
  • Finally, I'll sometimes profile leaders and organisations (suggestions welcome) that seem to 'get' this new way of being, - those rough diamonds that appear to shine bright in our troubled world and point the way for the rest of us.

Finding your way around

A_believePerhaps the best way to explore the articles is to browse the 'Categories' on the left hand side bar. If you are new here then 'Selected Posts'  is probably the best place to start, - there's a pop-up description if you hold your cursor over the post titles.  Alternatively, you might like to pick and choose from the long list of past articles in the 'Past Articles' list at the bottom of the left sidebar.
The sections on the right hand sidebar entitled 'Latest Links' is the stuff that I've recently come across and find interesting - other peoples blog posts, related articles or sites.  I'll update this weekly(ish) so you might like to keep checking these links.  Think of it as a dynamic 'blogroll'.

Me

A_me_2 If you want a little background on me, Nick Smith, then there is this  and, from a more philosophical perspective, there  is this  and  also this  but you can always just ask (e-mail or Skype on the right hand sidebar).
If there's anything you think I could do to help you or make this place more user-friendly then please do let me know.
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Footnote
Many of the major problems we face today are classed as intractable or 'wicked', - those issues that have defied effective solutions.  For some reason I've never been able to bring myself to buy into the belief that some things are just too complex to be solvable.  Call me naive, but to me this perception is a cop out.... a surrender to the this-is-how-it-always-has-been-so-this-is-how-it-must-be mentality of those that have learnt helplessness.
I have found that whenever anyone glimpses truth in anything it is always beautifully simple.  And so whenever we come across any aspect of our lives that seems difficult, we do have the choice to resist the temptation to find a better solution; and instead use this as a signal that we don't yet see the underlying issues... the root causes, the simple truths that invariably underlay divided wills and complex problems.
To me, to  'know that we don't yet know'  is incredibly empowering; and it is with this orientation.... resting in this wonderfully nourishing place of 'un-knowing'..... that I try to approach writing this blog.

Working together ..

I think this quote is a great reminder for anyone setting themselves up as a consultant, teacher, as a business service or in fact anyone who wants to 'help others'.  It reminds me that true benefit springs from a meeting of minds - and that only occurs when we see each other as partners with a shared outcome, when we put aside our worn societal roles (boss/subordinate, guru/seeker, healer/patient) and recognise that we are all in this together. 
In spite of our good intentions, in business and in life, it seems that when we are tempted to take a step ahead or a step behind one another we both lose.  Great works are co-created when we are willing to get naked and dirty together - when we are willing to commit to meaningful outcomes whilst recognising that neither of us has all the answers; but together we've got a great chance of working things out. 
This is not always easy for our egos to accept.

Irresistible Marketing


Closertogod_2 

True, true, true, true!
I think any product, service, business or individual that tries* to tip its hat to the divine spark becomes utterly compelling. We're not talking 'green' or 'eco-friendly' or 'non-aggressive' business here - soulless pacifism stirs nothing!  What I mean is there's a part of all of us that yearns to find a way to express itself, to escape the 'human condition' and shake off the shackles of limitation - and when we recognise an ally in this space that ally becomes a soul mate and a friend.
And of course this is its own reward.  Fame, fortune and all the other success trimmings? - mere side effects.
* 'tries' is the operative word here because intention alone seems to be enough - with commitment the 'means' and 'practicalities' tend to find a way of just working out.
Somethingtobelievein_1 Loveforotherpeople 

The sketches are courtesy of Hugh at Gapingvoid - they say it all, but to sum up with another Hughism - 'meaning scales'.

How to Save the World


nietzschefinal As we approach Christmas I get a sense that the dial on the world marked 'fear' has somehow got turned up a notch or two this last year or so.  This post is my small way of adding a little counterbalance, a message of hope, to all that dour noise out there.

Harry Potter is one boy in a long line of mythical heroes who have reminded the human race that we are so much more than we think we are, so much more powerful than we seem to know.  Jesus said that we would someday do even greater works than He;  should we not take Him at His word?  And should not 'someday' be today?".... Marianne Williamson
Many people reach the point of internalizing some lessons that are extremely beneficial -- a healthy dissociation from the ego, so that you stop taking traffic jams personally or lose the zeal to fight with your spouse;  a few minutes of meditation per day;  a habit of reaching out to be fully present in the here and now several times a day.  Some deep breaths when you remember, a bit of mindfulness when walking or doing chores.
All of these things are wonderful at anchoring you here and diminishing the incessant thinking, churning, neurosis that is such a part of our daily life.  However, reading the same books, listening to the same teachers also points to an experience that started it all -- a flash of understanding, a moment when it all made sense or felt okay to make no sense.  For some it was transcendent and full of joy, for others quiet and deep.  Some kept the joy forever, others had to find their way back to it.  Some reach it in prison or in desperation, others driving a car or sitting on a hill.
But what if you're one of those people that has never had a moment like that?"
 

A Holy Communion

Eucharist-Still-Life-Painting Have you every considered why we experience life so differently?
Some 'thing' exists for us when we draw a line around it in our mind.  By carving out a boundary everything on the inside becomes 'that' and everything on the outside 'not that'.
But these distinctions are not made at random.  There can be no distinction without motive, and there can be no motive unless contents are seen to differ in value.  For example, when we look at something as a problem we draw a distinction around something of a lesser value to us.  Similarly, when we set a goal we cleave a space in mind that we believe has greater value.
Sensation:  You notice a colourful blob.   Perception:  You recognise a car.   Cognition:  It is your car.   Judgement:  It is your car and some bastard is driving away with it.
Our intentions determine our experiences because our intentions determine what distinctions we make.  So... what we think  we see is reality, but what we really  see is what we want to see.  Perception is projection, not fact.
And so, living in these our 'private worlds', communication has come to be a mediation between the different meanings that we've attached to things.  
But there is another way of communicating that I touched on in the last post.  It is possible to speak from an on open, choiceless space, and allow truth to inform our words.  And when we do, the words we speak draw us away from the complex world of perceptions into the realm of Reality itself.
Communication takes place in the world of form -- between physically 'detached entities', differentiated as we first described.  And so, in some way or another, all forms of communication can be sensed and explained on the physical level.  For example, a sound or wireless wave can be detected by a receptor and then decoded into a form that is recognisably. 
But the thing is, without at least some level of communion between those that are communicating, there can be no real communication at all... because what reaches the other end doesn't get understood.  You can see this in a gang of youths -- one syllable can express what it would take a whole book for an outsider to comprehend.  The same in a tight knit workgroup too. 
Communication is secondary to communion.  In fact, there appears to be a fundamental law at work here:  The greater the communion between us, the less the need for physical communication and the more that gets communicated.