tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-82273913007850497422024-02-02T13:19:59.149+00:00An Artist's MusingsThis is where I muse over a lot of things: Life, Website creation, Networking, Spirituality, Health, Current affairs and a lot more.
Many of these form the basis of my inspiration as an artist.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03485029812807860770noreply@blogger.comBlogger18125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227391300785049742.post-76423630646028816792013-05-07T15:30:00.000+01:002013-05-13T07:48:38.034+01:00Sexual Assault in the Army: The Pain
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<br />
This was the most difficult episode to watch by far. As a woman there are things that are just too unbearable to sit and watch even if it is all acting.<br />
<br />
With the series 'Lauren' a story is being told...the story of so many women in the army. A story that nobody ever feels comfortable telling. A story that is spoken of in innuendos and the women are always blamed. No woman deserves to be treated like a dog; like a being with no soul.<br />
<br />
I cannot praise Troian Bellisario (Lauren) enough for the way she portrayed her character. You could feel her pain.<br />
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<br />
<br />
Troian is simply magnificent in this episode. She portrayed the strength that every woman has hidden inside. The source of which is often unrecognized. The strength to fight even when the physical abilities are lacking. The strength to persevere.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03485029812807860770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227391300785049742.post-68676030066093509772013-05-07T01:39:00.001+01:002013-05-13T07:49:03.727+01:00Sexual Assault in the Army<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<object class="BLOGGER-youtube-video" classid="clsid:D27CDB6E-AE6D-11cf-96B8-444553540000" codebase="http://download.macromedia.com/pub/shockwave/cabs/flash/swflash.cab#version=6,0,40,0" data-thumbnail-src="https://ytimg.googleusercontent.com/vi/pzbT2_5ZZK0/0.jpg" height="320" width="560"><param name="movie" value="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/pzbT2_5ZZK0&source=uds" /><param name="bgcolor" value="#FFFFFF" /><param name="allowFullScreen" value="true" /><embed width="560" height="320" src="https://youtube.googleapis.com/v/pzbT2_5ZZK0&source=uds" type="application/x-shockwave-flash" allowfullscreen="true"></embed></object></div>
<br />
The long awaited Season 2 of Lauren has finally hit the internet. And of course as expected it is utterly gripping.<br />
<br />
Jennifer Beals (Stone) and Troian Bellisario (Lauren) do very well in bringing their characters to life.<br />
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<br />
"Boys will be boys and girls will be girls and no uniform is ever going to change that"<br />
Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03485029812807860770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227391300785049742.post-31353959528684113832013-04-25T17:00:00.000+01:002013-05-13T07:49:27.793+01:00Deportation of the Elderly in GermanyNews headlines about the poor treatment of elderly residents in nursing homes are common place and news about the ageing population and rising costs of care are a daily occurrence. With undercover operations revealing hideous incidences of cruelty, starvation and violence towards elderly people in residential and nursing homes, how to care for an ageing loved one is becoming a difficult dilemma. <br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQu_YRk7t1qFGKN7-QHHKkyPQw-F1mvtEN77sTCpvT-UnBbJpzk89IArGI7sypu8vRs1t8m-MnshTMi4k6l5SLqKA0dH1T9fdzLg3Kh8oKyIWc_PMwseXTbSRLuzyXxa4JlD_-jJq81H6/s1600/Sarah+Klockars-Clauser.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="An artitst's musings" border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEiVQu_YRk7t1qFGKN7-QHHKkyPQw-F1mvtEN77sTCpvT-UnBbJpzk89IArGI7sypu8vRs1t8m-MnshTMi4k6l5SLqKA0dH1T9fdzLg3Kh8oKyIWc_PMwseXTbSRLuzyXxa4JlD_-jJq81H6/s320/Sarah+Klockars-Clauser.jpg" height="244" title="Origami" width="320" /></a></div>
In the past, caring for the elderly was not a problem. It was accepted that care within the family unit would take place. Women generally, were at home taking care of the family and therefore were available to take care of sick and ailing relatives when the time came. Since the Second World War there has been a shift towards children and parents maintaining independent households and with the working week getting harder, longer and more stressful, caring for an elderly relative at home is just not an option. In 2010 only 10% of people aged 65 and over lived with their families and 12% of people in England aged 16 and over were caring for a sick, disabled or elderly relative.<br />
<br />
In some countries the culture to look after the elderly has remained the same. It is seen as an honour, duty and a priority rather than a burden and therefore there is no issue or difficult decision to be made. In the UK, giving up a career that you’ve fought hard to achieve or for those that had children later in life, trying to look after a young family and ailing parents would be too much. Stress levels could increase as resentment towards this duty of care that you felt obliged to do but one you never bargained for becomes a burden. The relationship breakdown could cause increased stress and illness for both the carer and the individual being cared for.<br />
<br />
Perhaps Germany has got it right. With an ageing population and rising care costs, Germany’s elderly are moving to care homes in Eastern Europe. One of the reasons it works is that the concept of ageing is very different in the East, society is family centric and the elderly tend to stay in the very heart of the family. In Eastern Europe, working with the elderly is a highly respected profession and vocation. Providing the individual is in agreement, it makes sense. A far cry from the newspaper headlines talking about the ‘deportation’ of the elderly from Germany. Perhaps in a society, like the UK, where the expense is high and the level of care questionable, the opportunity to get high quality, reasonably priced care elsewhere is the solution. Certainly to be cared for by a person that is in a respected profession and who really loves their vocation can only bode well for the individual being cared for as well as their families.
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<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Article Source: <a href="http://www.articledashboard.com/profile/LilacJames/486527" target="_blank"><span style="font-size: x-small;"> </span>LilacJames</a></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">image © <a href="http://sarabbit.openphoto.net/">
Sarah Klockars-Clauser</a>
for <a href="http://22396.openphoto.net/">openphoto.net</a>
CC:PublicDomain</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03485029812807860770noreply@blogger.com0England, UK52.3555177 -1.174319700000069142.5088317 -21.828616700000069 62.2022037 19.479977299999931tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227391300785049742.post-39041526939004948652013-04-24T17:00:00.000+01:002013-05-13T07:50:04.036+01:00Set goals and plan for the future<b>This project is all about you. You are the President and CEO of YOU,
Inc. A worthy goal demands some intense thought and a ton of hard work;
but, if you are willing to commit whole-heartedly to the effort, you
can achieve anything that you set your mind to. Know that and believe
it. </b><br />
<br />
Why is it that most
people do not set goals; and, that generally, even people who do set
goals set very small ones? I, personally, think that this is a
phenomenon that is accidentally taught to us quite early in our lives by
our parents, teachers, friends, and family. <br />
<br />
In some form or
other, you have probably overheard or had someone say to you, “Don’t
expect so much of yourself, that way you won’t be disappointed.” Or,
"Don't set your standards too high because you might fail." Or, maybe,
"Don't go so fast or the boss will expect the same thing from the rest
of us." By being told these things, in essence, you are being told to
rig the game for yourself. You set the bar so low that rising to the
occasion is no work at all. You make up easy goals for yourself or,
even worse, set no goals at all. And, maybe you've concluded that
that’s the formula for happiness because you never come close to risking
the possibility of failure. If that's your strategy, all you'll ever
achieve is miserable mediocrity.<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qdouC9lEgk4c4738EnaDxpZbJXA4u5Z-EJkk0Rx_efxIg-Qh7jhRl7CmnJxJLD2kr5uhKXlOt14urfl_X59EAEJVXRpQ3KFaKN3_HUoq0iGvCn8oAAxCE4WJ_sU5i7EARGu-b3qu4NLu/s1600/Darren+Hester.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img alt="An Artist's musings" border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj-qdouC9lEgk4c4738EnaDxpZbJXA4u5Z-EJkk0Rx_efxIg-Qh7jhRl7CmnJxJLD2kr5uhKXlOt14urfl_X59EAEJVXRpQ3KFaKN3_HUoq0iGvCn8oAAxCE4WJ_sU5i7EARGu-b3qu4NLu/s320/Darren+Hester.jpg" title="Rusty Chain" width="320" /></a><br />
I say: “Phooey to that!”<br />
<br />
Challenge
yourself! Ask yourself what you really want. Why can’t you be an
astronaut, a professional athlete, or a business owner? Why can’t you
be a manager, a district manager, a regional manager, or a vice
president of the restaurant company you now work for? How about a
doctor, a lawyer, a cowboy, a rock star, a ballerina, a millionaire, or
whatever else you want to be?<br />
<br />
You know what, you can! It is possible.<br />
A
worthy goal demands some intense thought and a ton of hard work; but,
if you are willing to commit whole-heartedly to the effort, you can
achieve anything that you set your mind to. Know that and believe it.
If you want to launch to never-before-reached heights and make your
dreams a reality, you must set goals and plan for the future!<br />
<br />
It's
a shame that there aren't a lot of people who actually set goals for
themselves. There are plenty who make the claim that they do. They'll
say that they set goals for themselves, for their team, or their
business; however, if you ask to see the list of goals, you usually find
that they don’t actually have one, or they don’t have it on them at the
moment - which is just another way altogether of saying, “I don’t have
one.”<br />
<i><b><br /></b></i>
<i><b>Do you know the difference between a goal and a dream?</b></i><br />
<br />
A
goal is written down, but a dream isn't. The dream is how
possibilities germinate, the dream is the idea; but, the goal is the
idea transformed into action. The goal sets your feet on the journey
and on the path to your destiny. <br />
<br />
Let me just give you the
quick-and-dirty version of setting goals, because it's not hard nor is
it time-consuming. Begin with what I call the Brain Dump. Dig down deep
inside yourself and ask, “What is it that I want out of every aspect of
my life?” You have to write this all out. For this exercise, don’t
waste time worrying about whether or not what you want seems
far-fetched, or how on earth you will achieve it; just write it all
down. Get it on a page, several pages. Don't leave any aspect of your
life unexplored. Take your cue from Oprah as you write. She said, "When
I look into the future, it's so bright it burns my eyes." That's what
you're going for. <br />
<br />
So, with that in mind, what do you want from
your career? How far do you want to go? What about your social life?
What do you want to make happen for yourself, personally? Do you want
to learn how to play an instrument, take up a new sport, or do ballroom
dance? <br />
<br />
Write down where you want to see yourself financially;
when you want to retire; and, what you will you do after that. What
places do you want to see? . . . The tropics? The Himalayas? Maybe
you'd like to step foot onto every continent. <br />
<br />
What kind of
adventures do you want to have? . . . White water rafting? Zip lines in
the Caribbean islands? Sky-diving? How much free time do you want?
What about your health and fitness? Etc, etc, etc. Just write it all
down - anything and everything that comes to you! <br />
<br />
Spend some
serious quality time with this project - three to five hours over
several days, if necessary. Get truly imaginative and be aggressive.
This is your life! How do you see it?<br />
<br />
When you feel like you're
finished, go back and review your entire list. For each thing you want,
plot your plan of action. Begin to enter the dates by which you see
yourself accomplishing these things. Provide the necessary details that
layout the steps you need to take in order to accomplish all you have
listed. <br />
<br />
To be useful and effective, goals must be what I call SMART:<br />
<br />
<ul>
<li><b>S</b>pecific – details matter.</li>
<li><b>M</b>easurable – keep score. Mile markers show how far you've come.</li>
<li><b>A</b>ttainable – must be things you can actually get.</li>
<li><b>R</b>ealistic – you can’t do a two-year masters program in six months.</li>
<li><b>T</b>ime-specific – a due date of when you expect to deliver.</li>
</ul>
<br />
It
may very well be the case that you decide to toss some of the items
from your list because you have now decided for one reason or another
that a specific achievement just really isn’t as important as you
initially thought it was; and, there's nothing wrong with that. <br />
<br />
Strategize
for daily, weekly, monthly, quarterly, yearly, and long-term goals.
Then, start busting your hump to accomplish them. Some might come easy;
they may not be as difficult as you thought they'd be. And, some will
be a lot harder. Some you will achieve. Some you won't. Don't linger on
that, just learn from the experience and move on. Some goals you may
decide you truly do not want; they don't serve your interests after all;
and, that’s ok, too. <b>Don’t let anyone else make those decisions for
you. Your life is in your own hands. You are self-determining.</b><br />
<br />
This
project is all about you. You are the President and CEO of YOU, Inc.
Make your own list of goals and your own plan of action that lays out
what you need to do to get the prize. As said by the very successful
motivational speaker, Les Brown: “If you set goals and go after them
with all the determination you can muster, your gifts will take you
places that will amaze you.” Find your targets and direct all your
efforts toward those destinations.<br />
<br />
You will be amazed at the rush
you get from taking the reins of your own life. This focus on the
future with a plan in the present puts you on the path to realize
greatness. You may notice envy from those around you who don't
understand your new-found passion and your tireless drive, but don’t let
them slow you down.<br />
<br />
Understand that you will not hit every goal
by any means; in fact, if you do reach every goal, that's a glaring red
flag. It may be a sign that you have set your goals way too low. Think
bigger; do another Brain Dump because you need to commit to demanding
more of yourself.<br />
<br />
Be SMART, set goals and plan for the future; that is, if you want to have the brightest one possible!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Courtesy <a class="small-link" href="http://www.articlesfactory.com/author/Howard+Cannon.html">Howard Cannon</a></span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">image © <a href="http://ppdigital.openphoto.net/">
Darren Hester</a>
for <a href="http://6268.openphoto.net/">openphoto.net</a>
CC:Attribution-NonCommercial</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03485029812807860770noreply@blogger.com0England, UK52.3555177 -1.174319700000069142.489277200000004 -21.828616700000069 62.2217582 19.479977299999931tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227391300785049742.post-56912214358913195072013-04-23T17:00:00.000+01:002013-05-13T07:50:23.557+01:00Time Management Tips<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Time management tips can prepare you to undergo changes - sometimes,
profound ones. Given how tumultuous times can be, the better you
understand the process of creating positive change in your life, the
more effective your time planning will be.<br />
<br />
Consider this 6-stage model of change, initially developed by
Professor James Prochaska in 1997 to support people in overhauling their
lives. Here is how you can apply this model to effectively manage your
time choices:<br />
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QhxViBxB_tqEzPoIlLIXKPwvJTgGlTfeoaSPY5nRD82bLhhlLCTg__rv34eJ7h4PiKb1m2j_uo8wULM9f3nHfZQ6hNBPmaGl41f0Q0jJMrB3CdC_Xr4uit3gXXY7BelQbHgB70zinNAZ/s1600/SKC.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img alt="Time Management Tips" border="0" height="244" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEj1QhxViBxB_tqEzPoIlLIXKPwvJTgGlTfeoaSPY5nRD82bLhhlLCTg__rv34eJ7h4PiKb1m2j_uo8wULM9f3nHfZQ6hNBPmaGl41f0Q0jJMrB3CdC_Xr4uit3gXXY7BelQbHgB70zinNAZ/s320/SKC.jpg" title="Dead tree" width="320" /></a><br />
1) <b>Precontemplation Stage</b><br />
Many profound journeys to restructure time begin with simple
dissatisfaction. You know that "somehow," something isn't quite right.
But you may have no idea how your own time choices interfere with your
effectiveness.<br />
<br />
Perhaps you blame others. Perhaps you feel there is something wrong
with yourself that can't be changed. But what's important is that you
realize you want to make a change! So the exploration begins.<br />
<br />
2) <b>Contemplation Stage</b><br />
Once you realize that changes in how you use your time can be made,
you still may be beset by self-doubts. Old patterns have trade-offs,
after all. For every change you want to introduce, some other time
choice must be let go. It helps in this stage to realize that you are
the one in control. Take all the time you need to weigh the pros and
cons. As you clearly identify what must be given up, you may find
yourself more than ready to make the change. Affirm you can take things
one step at a time.<br />
<br />
3) <b>Preparation Stage</b><br />
Next, you can take an active role in deciding what time choices you
want to incorporate into your life. This is an excellent time to review
your values, and how they translate into goals. Often, it's extremely
helpful to prepare a set of short-term goals that you know are a
comfortable stretch, but not a strain.<br />
<br />
4) <b>Action Stage</b><br />
Once you decide on a new time plan, you take active steps to
establish and maintain new time boundaries. Offer yourself lots of
support, anticipate that problems will present themselves, and factor in
plenty of time to problem-solve. When scheduling new activities, it is
often wise to use the "Times 2 Rule". Assume any activity will take
twice as long as you think it will!<br />
<br />
5) <b>Maintenance Stage</b><br />
In your eagerness to begin new activities, you may underestimate the
effort it takes to schedule them in on a regular basis. Like New Year's
resolutions, the best intentions require a wealth of support to become
fully integrated into your life. Plan on assessing your progress at
regular intervals, and providing yourself with lots of validation. If
you find it helpful to use the buddy system, trade support with friends
as you work to put new time patterns to use.<br />
<br />
6) <b>Termination Stage</b><br />
In this time management
model, the termination stage doesn't mean discontinuing your new
activity. Continue to devote as much time as you need to maintain your
new schedule. Update your time choices whenever necessary. If you
successfully incorporate your new time habit into your life, it will
become automatic. In that case, congratulations! You can build on your
success, redirecting your energy to initiate a new time management project.)<br />
<br />
Now, ask yourself: How can you start restructuring your time choices today to reach new levels of effectiveness?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Offered by <a href="http://optimize.thetimefinder.com/templatesg/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Paula Eder</a>, PhD, <i>The Time Finder Expert</i>.</span>
<span style="font-size: x-small;">image © <a href="http://sarabbit.openphoto.net/">
Sarah Klockars-Clauser</a>
for <a href="http://22396.openphoto.net/">openphoto.net</a>
CC:PublicDomain
</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03485029812807860770noreply@blogger.com0England, UK52.3555177 -1.174319700000069142.489277200000004 -21.828616700000069 62.2217582 19.479977299999931tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227391300785049742.post-71116718164162866012013-04-21T23:29:00.000+01:002013-05-13T07:50:58.077+01:00Consequences of Sexual Assault: the conflict escalates<script type="text/javascript">
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<br />
<i>"Lauren"</i> Season 2 premieres Friday, May 3rd with 12 new episodes! Catch four episodes every Friday through May 17th.
In this new season, Lauren attempts to get on with her life in the military, but is harassed and impeded. Stone tries to do the right thing, but is caught between military code and what she may believe is proper. As their conflict escalates, the question becomes: Will the ugly truth see the light of day?<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Courtesy <a href="http://www.youtube.com/channel/UCTCOTlvo6aY2qk8LtOdIFqA?sub_confirmation=1" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">WIGS </a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03485029812807860770noreply@blogger.com0England, UK52.3555177 -1.174319700000069142.5088317 -21.828616700000069 62.2022037 19.479977299999931tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227391300785049742.post-35411611573982123342013-04-20T23:26:00.002+01:002013-05-13T07:51:36.780+01:00Consequences of Sexual Assault<i>Lauren</i>, compellingly written by Jay Rodan, under the competent directorial vision of Lesli Linka Glatter (<i>Gilmore Girls, The West Wing</i>), features <i>Pretty Little Liars</i>' <b>Troian Bellisario</b> as Sgt. Lauren Weil who reports to her commanding officer, Maj. Jo Stone, played by <b>Jennifer Beals</b> (<i>Flashdance, The L Word</i>) about being raped by three fellow soldiers.
Stone's reaction is far from what the Sergeant expects. She warns Lauren
about the consequences she would have to bear if she pursued the
accusations regarding the "incident." The assailants' punishment would
be minimal compared to the repercussions this would have on Lauren's
career, a mother of a five-year old daughter and a five generations of
soldier. Stone deliberately avoids using the word "rape" as she
considers it "an emotive word."<br />
<br />
According to Associated Press,
Beals, who'd been researching for more than a year what it's like to be a
woman in the military, said that even if her character's words "may at
first seem hurtful and harsh, (...) later viewers realize it's more
complex for the commanding officer, (...)."<br />
<br />
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<br />
In the second episode of the series, Lauren is approached by Maj.
Stone's legal counsel in a sarcastic way the Sergeant doesn't
appreciate. If she wants her superior to proceed with an investigation
though, she's told she'd better cooperate.
Maj. Stone learns meanwhile from her superior that the investigation is
not going to happen, because one of the suspects in the case happens to
be the grandson of a four star general. How she's going to handle
Lauren's report is revealed in the last episode.<br />
<br />
<br />
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<br />
Beals' character is strong yet human and sensitive. That shows not just
at the end of the first episode, but also when Stone tells Lauren with
tears welling up in her eyes: "What I feel doesn't matter, what I care
about doesn't matter." She had to fight her way up to be where she is
now.<br />
<br />
<br />
<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<iframe allowfullscreen='allowfullscreen' webkitallowfullscreen='webkitallowfullscreen' mozallowfullscreen='mozallowfullscreen' width='560' height='340' src='https://www.youtube.com/embed/AWvxB8K8ClM?feature=player_embedded' frameborder='0'></iframe></div>
<br />
Speaking of whether she has a preference for playing strong
characters with every new project, Beals answered in a Twitter Q & A chat after the series' finale: "I find
the roles interesting. I think it might be a combination of the
characters finding me and me wanting to delve into a more complex
realm."
<br />
Bellisario is by no means beneath the talent of her much more
experienced co-star. Only a brilliant actor has the ability to show
their range and grab the viewers' attention within such a short amount
of time the way she did, with the material she's been given.<br />
<br />
Statistics show that in 2011, nearly 3,200 sexual assaults in the
military have been reported, with many more going unreported each year.
Beals is extremely invested in the military sexual trauma topic and hopes that <i>Lauren</i>
"implements some kind of change and does bring back some integrity to
the military and people's perception of the military, because there are
so many fine soldiers out there and not everybody has to be categorized
as a sexual predator," as she recently stated in a video interview on Huffington Post Live.
<br />
<div style="background-color: white; border: medium none; color: black; overflow: hidden; text-align: left; text-decoration: none;">
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Courtesy <a href="http://digitaljournal.com/article/331032" rel="nofollow" style="color: #003399;" target="_blank">Digital Journal</a></span></div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03485029812807860770noreply@blogger.com0England, UK52.3555177 -1.174319700000069142.5088317 -21.828616700000069 62.2022037 19.479977299999931tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227391300785049742.post-83883888595548279832013-04-20T19:57:00.000+01:002013-05-13T07:51:58.207+01:006 Simple Self Improvement Tips<script type="text/javascript">
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<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<br />
The following self improvement tips will aid you in your efforts to
begin your personal development endeavours. You will find yourself
achieving new levels of fulfillment by incorporating them into your
daily life. If personal development and growth interests you, there is a
good chance you are constantly looking for reliable techniques that
will stimulate your progression. Any tactics that can kickstart your
personal growth and show you fast results would be fondly looked upon.
<br />
<br />
After years of study in the self improvement arena, I have found the
following strategies to be invaluable. Any chance I can give back to
others that have that same thirst to better themselves, I consider it a
privilege knowing that I was once in the exact same place.
<br />
<br />
<b>Expect to Achieve</b>
<br />
<br />
While many think that the majority of people who are successful in the
world are smarter than they are, that simply is not the case. The real
secret here is to expect to win before it has ever happened. I can't
stress enough how important this is. Your mindset has a hugely powerful
effect on whether or not you will attain your dreams and goals.
<br />
<br />
Note that I didn't say you need knowledge to win, because the fact of
the matter is having a bold and determined expectancy goes a lot further
than actually having the knowledge. The knowledge will come with
conviction and persistence.
<br />
<br />
<b>Keep a Daily Journal
</b><br />
<br />
You will be hardpressed to find an ultra successful person who doesn't
adopt a personal daily journal. We can't keep track of everything that
passes through our minds and this is when a journal comes in extremely
handy. Whenever something strikes you as something you would like to do,
accomplish or feel passionate about, get in the habit of writing it
down. It will give you a sense of self-awareness and will skyrocket your
confidence in yourself.
<br />
<br />
<b>Meditation
</b><br />
<br />
Known to be a fabulous stress reliever not to mention the other health
benefits like aiding in digestion and even slowing your heart rate, this
is one of the most overlooked of the techniques even though it could
very well be one of the most important. It drastically helps in avoiding
worries and anxiety because it clears your mind of all the negative
thoughts useless thoughts that we all feel from time to time. Your sleep
will be more restful and it will help you make the most of the other
techniques shared here.
<br />
<br />
<b>Write Action Plans & Specific Goals</b>
<br />
<br />
The simple act of putting pen to paper has a dramatic effect on
clarifying your goals and aids with the expectancy I talked about
earlier. This habit of writing down goals is mandatory if you want to
actually achieve those goals. Dreaming is one thing, doing is quite
another. All of these written goals should lead you to your ultimate
long term goal and perfect life.
<br />
<br />
<b>Daily Affirmations
</b><br />
<br />
Getting in the habit of reading aloud positive affirmations each and
every day will lierally change your character, your personality and
ultimately change the actions you take every day of your life. I have
found that reading these out loud when I get up in the morning and
before I go to bed at night to work very well. You can't help but change
your inner self by doing this religiously every day.
<br />
<br />
<b>Be Well Rounded
</b><br />
<br />
All areas of your life are affected by all other areas of your life. By
that I mean, if you have bad relationships for example, your finances
and even your health will suffer also. Problems in your relationships,
your health or finances will zap the necessary energy to make the most
out of all of these areas of your life. Personal development and success
will become much more difficult as a result.
<br />
<br />
In order to accomplish great things, living a balanced life is so
important, a life of great emotional fortitude, financial security and
physical stamina. Be well rounded in all of these areas and you will
inevitably reap the rewards.
<br />
<br />
To great success in your life!<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Courtesy of <a href="http://www.articlecity.com/articles/self_improvement_and_motivation/article_9342.shtml" rel="nofollow" target="_blank"><span class="author">Daniel Better</span></a></span><br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">Image © <a href="http://petanjek.openphoto.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Jasenka Petanjek</a>
for <a href="http://22159.openphoto.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">openphoto.net</a> CC:Attribution-ShareAlike</span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03485029812807860770noreply@blogger.com0England, UK52.3555177 -1.174319700000069142.5088317 -21.828616700000069 62.2022037 19.479977299999931tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227391300785049742.post-29738360681991710062013-04-18T19:32:00.000+01:002013-05-13T07:52:14.856+01:00Steroids, And Their Effects on Human Body<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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Undoubtedly, anabolic steroids are very effective in stimulation of
physical performance and muscle size. With high biological value, they
are used for numerous medicinal purposes as well. Read this article to
get a well summarized detail of anabolic steroids, and their medical and
non-medical uses.
<br />
<br />
Steroids are biological compounds which are usually derived from a sex
hormone - testosterone. They are commonly consumed by the bodybuilders
and sportsmen to gain in muscles and body strength. These compounds have
the effects of two natural producing hormones � testosterone and
dihydrotestosterone, which have several physiological effects on human
body. These substances were first isolated in 1930s by a German Chemist.
With passage of time, a number of experiments were made to produce more
powerful substances. Today, there are more than 100 forms of steroids
used for several purposes. They are commonly available in oral form, but
one can purchase them in the form of injection and cream as well. These
compounds have several medical and non-medical uses. Let us discuss
some of their great advantages to human beings.
<br />
<br />
<b>Medicinal Functions of Steroids</b>
<br />
<br />
Steroids are recommended, by expert physicians, in treatment of numerous
medical conditions, hence their medicinal uses have increased
extensively. These compounds are an effective medication to treat the
diseases like cancer, AIDS and lung ailments. Patients of hormonal
dysfunctions, asthma, and some heart diseases can also be benefited by
these drugs. Steroids have anti-inflammatory and wound healing
properties, and help to balance the level of body's immune system,
manage the inflammation and swelling symptoms. Additionally, they assist
to regulate the metabolism and control blood electrolyte levels.
<br />
<b><br /></b>
<b>Non-Medicinal Functions of Steroids</b>
<br />
<br />
Steroids, commonly a form of testosterone, are partially responsible for
developmental changes, especially among the teens. They have anabolic
and androgenic effects. Androgenic effects are related to the changes in
primary and secondary sexual characteristics such as enlargement of
tests, change in voice, and growth of body hairs. On other hand,
anabolic effects of these drugs include enhanced neural conduction,
accelerated growth of bones and muscles, and increment in red blood
cells.
<br />
<br />
Stimulating the receptor molecules in cells, steroids activate the
specific genes to generate and use the protein in such a way that
augments the quantity of red blood cells, and develop the muscle mass.
Taking simply, steroids promote the cell growth and division, that
results in rapid growth of muscle tissues and bone sizes. If used in an
appropriate amount, these drugs can provide dramatic gain of 20 to 30
pounds in weight, just in a short span 3 to 4 weeks. Steroids have some
anti-catabolic effects as well, which include the prevention of muscle
catabolism that may accompany with intense exercise training.
<br />
<br />
In fact, steroids have become a popular health diet for bodybuilders and
sportsmen. Although they are illegal to purchase and use, a growing
number of people still take them for different purposes. These drugs
have drawbacks too, with some reported side-effects attached with their
excessive use for a long span of time. It is therefore recommended to
use these substances under the supervision of an expert physician. There
are numerous forms of steroids available in the market. Some of the
most demanded are Anadrol, Oxandrin, Dianabol and Winstrol etc. While
purchasing them, ensure the quality of product, and reliability of
supplier. Online mode of shopping would be the best one to shop these
drugs. Whether you buy Dianabol or anadrol, taking advise from an expert
doctor is recommendable.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-size: x-small;">This article is by <span class="author">Gracy Thai.</span></span><br />
<span class="author" style="font-size: x-small;">Courtesy of </span><span class="author" style="font-size: x-small;"><a href="http://articlecity.com/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">ArticleCity.com</a> </span><br />
<span class="author" style="font-size: x-small;">image © <a href="http://sarabbit.openphoto.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">Sarah Klockars-Clauser</a> for <a href="http://22384.openphoto.net/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">openphoto.net</a> CC:Attribution-ShareAlike<br /> </span> Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03485029812807860770noreply@blogger.com0United Kingdom51.45400691005981 -1.9335937546.474651410059813 -12.26074225 56.433362410059807 8.39355475tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227391300785049742.post-35946961722403255882009-09-24T19:09:00.004+01:002013-05-13T07:54:38.306+01:00Breaththrough in AIDS VaccineFor the first time, an experimental vaccine has prevented infection with the AIDS virus, a watershed event in the deadly epidemic and a surprising result. Recent failures led many scientists to think such a vaccine might never be possible.<br />
<br />
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt2">
The World Health Organization and the U.N. agency UNAIDS said the results "instilled new hope" in the field of HIV vaccine research, although researchers say it likely is many years before a vaccine might be available.<br />
<br />
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt3">
The vaccine — a combination of two previously unsuccessful vaccines — cut the risk of becoming infected with HIV by more than 31 percent in the world's largest AIDS vaccine trial of more than 16,000 volunteers in Thailand, researchers announced Thursday in Bangkok.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt4">
Even though the benefit is modest, "it's the first evidence that we could have a safe and effective preventive vaccine," Col. Jerome Kim told The Associated Press. He helped lead the study for the U.S. Army, which sponsored it with the National Institute of Allergy and Infectious Diseases.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt5">
The institute's director, Dr. Anthony Fauci, warned that this is "not the end of the road," but he said he was surprised and very pleased by the outcome.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt6">
"It gives me cautious optimism about the possibility of improving this result" and developing a more effective AIDS vaccine, Fauci said. "This is something that we can do."<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt7">
The Thailand Ministry of Public Health conducted the study. The U.S. Army has long worked with that government and others to develop and test vaccines and medicines to protect troops and the general public.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt8">
</div>
<blockquote>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt8">
<span style="color: #990000;">The study used strains of HIV common in Thailand. Whether such a vaccine would work against other strains in the U.S., Africa or elsewhere in the world is unknown, scientists stressed.</span><br />
<span style="color: #990000;"><br /></span></div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt9">
<span style="color: #990000;">Even a marginally helpful vaccine could have a big impact. Every day, 7,500 people worldwide are newly infected with HIV; 2 million died of AIDS in 2007, UNAIDS estimates.</span></div>
</blockquote>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt9">
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt10">
"Today marks a historic milestone," said Mitchell Warren, executive director of the AIDS Vaccine Advocacy Coalition, an international group that has worked toward developing a vaccine. Warren was not involved in the study.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt11">
"It will take time and resources to fully analyze and understand the data, but there is little doubt that this finding will energize and redirect the AIDS vaccine field," he said in a statement.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt12">
<blockquote>
<span style="color: #990000;">The study tested the two-vaccine combination in a "prime-boost" approach, in which the first one primes the immune system to attack HIV and the second one strengthens the response.</span></blockquote>
<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt13">
They are ALVAC, from Sanofi Pasteur, the vaccine division of French drugmaker Sanofi-Aventis; and AIDSVAX, originally developed by VaxGen Inc. and now held by Global Solutions for Infectious Diseases, a nonprofit founded by some former VaxGen employees.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt14">
ALVAC uses canarypox, a bird virus altered so it can't cause human disease, to ferry synthetic versions of three HIV genes into the body. AIDSVAX contains a genetically engineered version of a protein on HIV's surface. The vaccines are not made from whole virus — dead or alive — and cannot cause HIV.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt15">
Neither vaccine in the study prevented HIV infection when tested individually in earlier trials, and dozens of scientists had called the new one futile when it began in 2003.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt16">
"I really didn't have high hopes at all that we would see a positive result," Fauci confessed.</div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt17">
The results proved the skeptics wrong.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt18">
"The combination is stronger than each of the individual members," said the Army's Kim, a physician who manages the Army's HIV vaccine program.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt19">
The study tested the combo in HIV-negative Thai men and women aged 18 to 30 at average risk of becoming infected. Half received four "priming" doses of ALVAC and two "boost" doses of AIDSVAX over six months. The others received dummy shots. No one knew who got what until the study ended.</div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt20">
Thanad Yomha, a 33-year-old electrician from southeastern Thailand, said he didn't expect anything in return for volunteering for the project.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt21">
"I did this for others," Thanad said. "It's for the next generation."</div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt22">
Participants volunteered for the study and were told about the potential risks associated with receiving the experimental vaccine before agreeing to participate.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt23">
All were given condoms, counseling and treatment for any sexually transmitted infections, and were tested every six months for HIV. Any who became infected were given free treatment with antiviral medicines. All participants continued to receive an HIV test every six months for three years after vaccinations ended.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt24">
The results: New infections occurred in 51 of the 8,197 given vaccine and in 74 of the 8,198 who received dummy shots. That worked out to a 31 percent lower risk of infection for the vaccine group. Two of the infected participants who received the placebo died.<br />
<br />
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt25">
The vaccine had no effect on levels of HIV in the blood for those who did become infected. That had been another goal of the study — seeing whether the vaccine could limit damage to the immune system and help keep infected people from developing full-blown AIDS.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt26">
That result is "one of the most important and intriguing findings of this trial," Fauci said. It suggests that the signs scientists have been using to gauge whether a vaccine was actually giving protection may not be valid.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt27">
"It is conceivable that we haven't even identified yet" what really shows immunity, which is both "important and humbling" after decades of vaccine research, Fauci said.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt28">
Details of the $105 million study will be given at a vaccine conference in Paris in October.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt29">
This is the third big vaccine trial since 1983, when HIV was identified as the cause of AIDS. In 2007, Merck & Co. stopped a study of its experimental vaccine after seeing it did not prevent HIV infection. Later analysis suggested the vaccine might even raise the risk of infection in certain men. The vaccine itself did not cause infection.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt30">
In 2003, AIDSVAX flunked two large trials — the first late-stage tests of any AIDS vaccine at the time.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt31">
It is unclear whether vaccine makers will seek to license the two-vaccine combo in Thailand. Before the trial began, the U.S. Food and Drug Administration said other studies would be needed before the vaccine could be considered for U.S. licensing.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt32">
"This is a world first which proves that vaccine development is possible," Supachai said. "But this is not to the level where we can license or manufacture the vaccine yet."<br />
</div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt33">
Mass-producing the vaccine, plus how to proceed with future studies, will be discussed among the governments, study sponsors and companies involved in the trial, Kim said. Scientists want to know how long protection will last, whether booster shots will be needed, and whether the vaccine helps prevent infection in gay men and injection drug users, since it was tested mostly in heterosexuals in the Thai trial.<br />
<br /></div>
<div class="articleTxt smallText" id="articleTxt34">
The study was done in Thailand because U.S. Army scientists did pivotal research in that country when the AIDS epidemic emerged there, isolating virus strains and providing genetic information on them to vaccine makers. The Thai government also strongly supported the idea of doing the study.<br /></div>
<br />
Source:<br />
<a href="http://news.aol.com/health/article/new-aids-vaccine/684837" rel="nofollow">Associated Press</a></div>
<br />Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03485029812807860770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227391300785049742.post-58325510961792319412009-08-28T17:49:00.003+01:002013-05-13T07:55:04.614+01:00When will all this End??<div style="float: right; margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 10px;">
<a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/walkn/3859852351/" title="An Artist's Musings"><img alt="An Artist's Musings" src="http://farm3.static.flickr.com/2441/3859852351_d65f71267b_m.jpg" style="border: 0px solid;" /></a><br />
<span style="font-size: 78%; margin-top: 0px;">Image by <a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/walkn/">walknboston</a></span></div>
A convicted rapist who fathered two children by a girl he kidnapped when she was 11 has claimed his life is 'the most powerful heart-warming story'.<br />
<br />
Phillip Garrido, who abducted Jaycee Lee Dugard in 1991 and kept her hidden in his backyard as a sex slave, admitted his behaviour was at first 'disgusting'.<br />
<br />
But in a bizarre, rambling phone interview from inside a Californian prison, he claims his life completely changed when she had the first of their two children.<br />
<br />
The 58-year-old boasted 'wait until you hear the story of what took place at this house' and insisted the world would be amazed by his rehabilitation.<br />
<br />
The discovery of Miss Dugard after almost two decades has stunned America as further details emerged today of her incredible ordeal.<br />
<br />
Snatched on her way to school 18 years ago, she had two daughters by Garrido - one when she was just 14 and the second four years later.<br />
<br />
Police said the three had been living in sheds and tents hidden at the back of the his home in Antioch, near San Francisco, 170 miles from where she was abducted.<br />
Phillip Garrrido<br />
<br />
Phillip Garrido is charged with kidnap, rape, conspiracy and committing lewd acts with a minor<br />
<br />
Miss Dugard, now 29, was renamed Allissa by her captors. Her children were born on the property and had never been to school or seen a doctor.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">He claimed to be "Born Again"</span><br />
<br />
His claim that he turned his life around is thought to be a reference to his born-again Christianity.<br />
<br />
People who knew him said he had become increasingly fanatical about his religious beliefs in recent years, sometimes breaking out into song and claiming that God spoke to him through a box.<br />
<br />
He ran a church called God's Desire from the house and is said to have conducted religious revival ceremonies in a tent in the grounds of his home, which had bars on the windows.<br />
<br />
A web blog apparently written by Garrido includes bizarre religious ramblings.<br />
<br />
One post says: ‘The Creator has given me the ability to speak in the tongue of angels in order to provide a wake up call that will in time include the salvation of the entire world.’<br />
<br />
He claimed he had hired a private investigator to verify his ability to speak to people using only his mind.<br />
<br />
An 'affidavit' said he could 'control sound with my mind and have developed a device for others to witness this phenomena'<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Where she lived while in captivity</span><br />
<br />
Miss Dugard, now 29, spent part of her time as Garrido's hostage locked in a tiny 10ft by 10ft shed hidden in a secret compound at the back of his home.<br />
<br />
The shabby outhouse was soundproofed so neighbours would not hear her and could only be opened from the outside.<br />
<br />
She later shared the room, another shed and two small tents, with her two daughters. Power was provided by leads from the house's electricity supply and there was a 'rudimentary' shower and toilet<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">How Jaycee Dugard was freed:</span><br />
<br />
Miss Dugard was eventually freed after Garrido aroused the suspicions of guards as he tried to give out religious leaflets to students on the Berkeley campus of the University of California.<br />
<br />
A campus policeman checked his record and discovered he was a listed sex offender and on parole after serving a jail sentence for a vicious rape and kidnapping in Nevada in 1971.<br />
<br />
State police were called and ordered Garrido to check in at his parole office. He arrived there with his wife, 'Allissa' and the two children.<br />
<br />
The parole officer was immediately wary because he had never seen the younger woman and the two girls on visits to Garrido's home.<br />
<br />
He called police who began questioning Allissa and discovered she was really Miss Dugard.<br />
<br />
This case is similar to that of <span style="font-weight: bold;">ELISABETH FRITZL</span> who was 18 when her father Josef Fritzl drugged her with ether imprisoned her in the cellar warren he had built beneath the family home in Amstetten, two hours from Vienna. For 24 years she was raped and assaulted and had seven children through incest.<br />
<br />
Three of the children had been imprisoned along with their mother underground for their whole lives before their release last year. Fritzl was jailed for life in March this year after being convicted of murder, rape, enslavement and incest.<br />
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Read more<br />
<a href="http://www.dailymail.co.uk/news/worldnews/article-1209488/Phillip-Garrido-man-held-Jaycee-Lee-Dugard-18-years-fathered-children-makes-sick-boasts.html?ITO=1490#ixzz0PUiObTKF">Mail Online</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03485029812807860770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227391300785049742.post-64820847316375045612009-08-27T08:06:00.014+01:002013-05-13T07:55:39.604+01:00How flexible are you?<div style="text-align: center;">
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Contortion (sometimes contortionism) is an unusual form of physical display which involves the dramatic bending and flexing of the human body. Contortion is often part of acrobatics and circus acts.<br />
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In general, contortionists have unusual natural flexibility, which is then enhanced through gymnastic training. Many contortionists have a genetic disorder called Ehlers-Danlos Syndrome.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">What is Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (EDS)?</span><br />
<br />
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome (Also called: Cutis elastica, EDS) is a heterogeneous group of heritable connective tissue disorders, characterized by articular (joint) hypermobility, skin extensibility and tissue fragility.<br />
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Individuals with EDS have a defect in their connective tissue, the tissue that provides support to many body parts such as the skin, muscles and ligaments.<br />
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The fragile skin and unstable joints found in EDS are the result of faulty collagen. Collagen is a protein, which acts as a "glue" in the body, adding strength and elasticity to connective tissue.<br />
<br />
Ehlers-Danlos syndrome is uncommon. <span id="tpsummary">About 1 in 5,000 people has EDS.</span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">What are the types of EDS:</span><br />
<br />
There are six major types of EDS. <span id="tpsummary"> They can range from mild to life-threatening. </span>The different types of EDS are classified according to their manifestations of signs and symptoms. They are:<br />
<ol>
<li><strong>Hypermobility type (formerly type III)</strong>: This is the most common form. It may affect as many as one in 10,000 to 15,000 people</li>
<li><strong>Classical type (formerly types I and II): </strong>This type probably affects about one in 20,000 to 40,000 people</li>
<li><strong>Vascular type (formerly type IV): </strong>This is one of the most serious forms of EDS. It affects an estimated one in 250,000 people.</li>
<li><strong>Kyphoscoliosis type</strong>: This uncommon form has few cases reported worldwide.</li>
<li><strong>Arthrochalasis type:</strong> This is rare. Only about 30 cases have been reported worldwide</li>
<li><strong>Dermatosparaxis type</strong>: This form is also rare, with only about a dozen cases reported worldwide.</li>
</ol>
Each type of EDS is a distinct disorder that "runs true" in a family. This means that an individual with Vascular Type EDS will not have a child with Classical Type EDS.<span id="tpsummary"> </span><br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">What are the symptoms of EDS?</span>Some of the more prominent symptoms of Ehlers-Danlos syndrome include flexible joints that extend beyond the normal range of movement, and skin that's especially stretchy or fragile. Clinical manifestations of EDS may include:<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Joints:</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Joint hypermobility </li>
<li>Loose/unstable joints which are prone to frequent dislocations and/or subluxations</li>
<li>Joint pain</li>
<li>Hyperextensible joints (they move beyond the joint's normal range) </li>
<li>Early onset of osteoarthritis.</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Skin:</span><br />
<ul>
<li>Soft velvetâ-like skin</li>
<li>Variable skin hyper-extensibility</li>
<li>Fragile skin that tears or bruises easily (bruising may be severe)</li>
<li>Severe scarring</li>
<li>Slow and poor wound healing</li>
<li>Development of molluscoid pseudo tumors (fleshy lesions associated with scars over pressure areas).</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Miscellaneous/Less Common: </span><br />
<ul>
<li>Chronic, early onset, debilitating musculoskeletal pain (usually associated with the Hypermobility Type)</li>
<li>Arterial/intestinal/uterine fragility or rupture (usually associated with the Vascular Type); Scoliosis at birth and scleral fragility (associated with the Kyphoscoliosis Type)</li>
<li>Poor muscle tone (associated with the Arthrochalasia Type)</li>
<li>Mitral valve prolapse</li>
<li>Gum disease.</li>
<li>Hernias</li>
</ul>
<span style="font-weight: bold;">Treatment:</span><br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
<span id="tpsummary"></span><br />
<blockquote style="color: red; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-weight: bold;">
<span id="tpsummary">There is no cure!!!</span></blockquote>
</div>
There is no way to reverse the genetic alterations that cause Ehlers-Danlos syndrome. Treatment focuses primarily on managing individual signs and symptoms and preventing further complications. Much of this consists of self-care strategies to protect joints and prevent excessive bruising and injuries.<br />
The required health care team may include specialists from a variety of different fields, including medical genetics, surgery, pediatrics, orthopedics, cardiology and ophthalmology, to name a few.<br />
<div style="text-align: center;">
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<span style="color: red; font-family: trebuchet ms; font-weight: bold;">A point to note</span>:<br />
<br />
Not all contortionists have EDS. Many may have normal yet very flexible joints, or "double joints." This isn't the same as Ehlers-Danlos syndrome.</div>
</div>
<div style="font-weight: bold;">
So how flexible are you?</div>
<br />
Read more:<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Contortion">Wikipedia</a><br />
<a href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ehlersdanlossyndrome.html">MedLine Plus</a><br />
<a href="http://www.mayoclinic.com/print/ehlers-danlos-syndrome/DS00706/DSECTION=all&METHOD=print">Mayo Foundation for Medical Education and Research</a><br />
<a href="http://www.ednf.org/">Ehlers-Danlos National Foundation</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03485029812807860770noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227391300785049742.post-53720650825038208212009-08-12T18:59:00.003+01:002013-05-13T07:56:03.859+01:00Boko Haram in NigeriaVery recently my country, Nigeria was rocked by violence which shook Nigeria and the world as a whole. For yet another time, Nigeria made front page news all over the world for the wrong reason.<br />
The group behind the latest violence in northern Nigeria is known by several different names, including al-Sunnah wal Jamma, or Followers of Muhammad's Teachings in Arabic, and Boko Haram, which means "<span style="font-weight: bold;">Western education is forbidden</span>" in the local Hausa dialect.<br />
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The group was founded in 2002 in <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Maiduguri" linkindex="23" title="Maiduguri">Maiduguri</a> by <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Mohammed_Yusuf" linkindex="24" title="Mohammed Yusuf">Ustaz Mohammed Yusuf</a>. In 2004 it moved to <a class="new" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/w/index.php?title=Kanamma&action=edit&redlink=1" linkindex="25" title="Kanamma (page does not exist)">Kanamma</a>, <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Yobe_State" linkindex="26" title="Yobe State">Yobe State</a>, where it set up a base called "Afghanistan", used to attack nearby police outposts, killing police officers.<span style="text-decoration: underline;"><br /></span><br />
<span style="text-decoration: underline;"></span>Yusuf was hostile to democracy and the secular education system, vowing that "this war that is yet to start would continue for long" if the political and educational system was not changed.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-5"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boko_Haram#cite_note-5" linkindex="28"></a></sup><br />
In Bauchi the group was reported as refusing to mix with local people. The group includes members who come from neighbouring <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Chad" linkindex="29" title="Chad">Chad</a> and speak only <a class="mw-redirect" href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arabic" linkindex="30" title="Arabic">Arabic</a>.<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-7"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boko_Haram#cite_note-7" linkindex="32"></a></sup><br />
Boko Haram opposes not only Western education, but Western culture and modern science as well.In a 2009 BBC interview, Yusuf stated that the belief that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Spherical_Earth" linkindex="34" title="Spherical Earth">the world is a sphere</a> is contrary to Islam and should be rejected, along with <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Darwinism" linkindex="35" title="Darwinism">Darwinism</a> and the theory that <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Rain" linkindex="36" title="Rain">rain</a> comes from water evaporated by the sun.<br />
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What I find so ironic is the fact that the Western culture they oppose makes up a great part of their lives.........the guns and ammunition they use (and used) were all Western. As a Nigerian, it is very saddening that the Northern part of my country has been and continues to be the site of a lot of violence which are mostly religious in nature.<br />
In July 2009 the Nigerian police started investigating the group, following reports that the group was arming itself. Several leaders were arrested in Bauchi, sparking deadly clashes with Nigerian security forces and the estimated deaths of at least 700 people.<br />
I pray this kind of violence would come to an end and become history.<br />
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<br />
Source:<br />
<a href="http://english.aljazeera.net/news/africa/2009/07/200972913529620235.html">Aljazeera.net</a><br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Boko_Haram">Wikipedia</a>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03485029812807860770noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227391300785049742.post-90032746374512386292009-07-31T18:56:00.007+01:002013-05-13T07:56:17.606+01:00Throat cancer on the rise<div style="float: right; margin-left: 10px; margin-bottom: 10px;"><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/takomabibelot/2463423610/" title="An Artist's Musings"><img src="http://farm4.static.flickr.com/3171/2463423610_dfe8d76dfd_m.jpg" alt="" style="border: 0px solid rgb(0, 0, 0);" /></a><br /><span style="margin-top: 0px;font-size:0;" ><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/takomabibelot/2463423610/"><br /></a><a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/takomabibelot/"></a></span></div><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">"Changing sexual practices over the last 20 years, especially as they relate to oral sex, are increasing the rate of head and neck cancers and may be increasing the rates of other cancers as well."</span><br /><blockquote>Otis Brawley, MD <span style="font-style: italic;">Chief Medical Officer American Cancer Society </span></blockquote><br /><br />Changing sexual practices have led to a dramatic rise in <a linkindex="24" href="http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=53392">throat</a> <a linkindex="25" href="http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=13931">cancer</a> in the United States over the past two decades, and experts say they fear an <a linkindex="26" href="http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=3273">epidemic</a> of the disease.<br /><br />Increasing rates of HPV <a linkindex="29" href="http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=12923">infection</a>, spread through oral sex, is largely driving the rapid rise in oropharyngeal cancers, which include tumors of the throat, <a linkindex="30" href="http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=5815">tonsils</a>, and base of the <a linkindex="31" href="http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=9075">tongue</a>, said Scott Lippman, MD, who chairs the <a linkindex="32" href="http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=5758">thoracic</a> department at the University of Texas M.D. Anderson Cancer Center.<br /><br />The experts agreed that it is critical for the public to understand that oral sex doesn't equal safe sex.<br /><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Source: <a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=104215">MedicineNet.com</a></span><br /><span style="font-size:78%;">Photo:<a href="http://www.flickr.com/people/takomabibelot/"> takomabibelot</a></span>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03485029812807860770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227391300785049742.post-80267162795996462582009-07-26T21:21:00.004+01:002013-05-05T03:01:47.312+01:00Nessum Dorma<div style="text-align: center;">
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<br />
<div style="text-align: left;">
I have always loved this piece of music.................long before I heard Pavorotti's rendition.<i><b>Nessun dorma</b></i> (English: <i><b>No one shall sleep</b></i>)<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-0"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nessun_dorma#cite_note-0" linkindex="3"></a></sup>is an <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Aria" linkindex="4" title="Aria">aria</a> from the final act of <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Giacomo_Puccini" linkindex="5" title="Giacomo Puccini">Giacomo Puccini</a>'s <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Opera" linkindex="6" title="Opera">opera</a> <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Turandot" linkindex="7" title="Turandot">Turandot</a></i>,<sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-1"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nessun_dorma#cite_note-1" linkindex="8"></a></sup> and is one of the best-known <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Tenor" linkindex="9" title="Tenor">tenor</a> arias in all opera.<br />
<br />
<span style="font-weight: bold;">History:</span><br />
<br />
It is sung by Calaf, <i>il principe ignoto</i> (the unknown prince), who falls in love at first sight with the beautiful but cold Princess Turandot. However, any man who wishes to wed Turandot must first answer her three riddles. If he fails, he will be beheaded.<br /><script type="text/javascript"><!--
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<span style="font-weight: bold;">The Story:</span><br />
In the act before this aria, Calaf has correctly answered the three riddles put to all of Princess Turandot's prospective suitors. Nevertheless, she recoils at the thought of marriage to him. Calaf offers her another chance by challenging her to guess his name by dawn. (As he kneels before her, the <i>Nessun dorma</i> theme makes a first appearance, to his words, "<i>Il mio nome non sai!</i>") If she does so, she can execute him; but if she does not, she must marry him. The cruel and emotionally cold princess then decrees that none of her subjects are to sleep that night until his name is discovered. If they fail, all will be killed.<br />
As the final act opens, it is now night. Calaf is alone in the moonlit palace gardens. In the distance, he hears Turandot's heralds proclaiming her command. His aria begins with an echo of their cry and a reflection on Princess Turandot:<br />
<dl><dd><i style="font-weight: bold;">"Nessun dorma! Nessun dorma! Tu pure, o Principessa, nella tua fredda stanza, guardi le stelle che tremano d'amore, e di speranza!"</i></dd><dd>(English translation: "None shall sleep! None shall sleep! Even you, O Princess, in your cold bedroom, watch the stars that tremble with love and with hope!")<br />
<dl><dd><br /></dd></dl>
</dd></dl>
<dl><dd><i style="font-weight: bold;">"Ma il mio mistero è chiuso in me; il nome mio nessun saprà! No, No! Sulla tua bocca lo dirò quando la luce splenderà!"</i></dd><dd>("But my secret is hidden within me; none will know my name! No, no! On your mouth I will say it when the light shines!")<br />
<dl><dd><br /></dd></dl>
</dd></dl>
<dl><dd><i style="font-weight: bold;">"Ed il mio bacio scioglierà il silenzio che ti fa mia!"</i></dd><dd>("And my kiss will dissolve the silence that makes you mine!")<br />
<dl><dd><br /></dd></dl>
</dd></dl>
Just before the climactic end of the aria, a chorus of women is heard singing in the distance:<br />
<dl><dd><i style="font-weight: bold;">"Il nome suo nessun saprà... E noi dovrem, ahimè, morir, morir!"</i></dd><dd>("No one will know his name... and we will have to, alas, die, die!")<br />
<dl><dd><br /></dd></dl>
</dd></dl>
Calaf, now certain of victory, sings:<br />
<i style="font-weight: bold;">"Dilegua, o notte! Tramontate, stelle! Tramontate, stelle! All'alba vincerò! Vincerò! Vincerò!"</i><br />
("Vanish, o night! Set, stars! Set, stars! At daybreak I shall win! I shall win! I shall win!") <br />
<dl><dd>
<dl><dd><br /></dd></dl>
</dd></dl>
Paul Potts also shocked the world with his performance of this magical piece in the 2007 final of Britain's got talent.<br />
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<a href="http://feeds.feedburner.com/~r/art-devine-slasher/ILdQ/~6/2" target="_blank"><img alt="ART-DEVINE-SLASHER" class="aligncenter" src="http://feeds.feedburner.com/art-devine-slasher/ILdQ.2.gif" style="border: 0pt none;" /></a></div>
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Source:<br />
<a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Nessun_dorma">Wikipedia</a></div>
</div>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03485029812807860770noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227391300785049742.post-58704930434008569522009-07-22T00:21:00.005+01:002013-05-13T07:56:30.090+01:00Swine Flu<a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.cdc.gov/images/campaigns/SwineFlu/coverit3_300x250.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 250px;" src="http://www.cdc.gov/images/campaigns/SwineFlu/coverit3_300x250.jpg" alt="Cover your nose with a tissue when you sneeze. Visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1 for more information." border="0" /></a><br />There's been a lot of hype and news making the rounds lately about H1N1 virus aka "Swine Flu". It was first discovered in Mexico in early June and since then it has spread rapidly around the world and so far over 700 people have died from this flu. It is no more a western problem because it has gotten to Africa. The department of Health in South Africa has meanwhile confirmed that there are over 100 cases of swine flu in South Africa since its outbreak on 12 June. It was recently declared a level 6 pandemic by the World Health Organisation.<br /><br />Have you ever bothered to know what it is all about? Do you know what to look out for in terms of signs and symptoms? Knowledge is power and it goes a long way to know what it is one is up against.<br /><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">What is Swine Flu:</span><br /><br /><span id="tpsummary">Swine flu is an infection caused by a virus. It's named for a virus that pigs can get. People do not normally get swine flu, but human infections can and do happen. The virus is contagious and can spread from human to human.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Symptoms</span>:<br /><br />These are similar to the symptoms of regular human <a linkindex="62" href="http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/flu.html">flu</a> and include<br /><br /></span><ul><li><span id="tpsummary">Fever</span></li><li><span id="tpsummary">Cough</span></li><li><span id="tpsummary">Sore throat</span></li><li><span id="tpsummary">Body aches</span></li><li><span id="tpsummary">Headache</span></li><li><span id="tpsummary">Chills and fatigue. </span></li><li><span id="tpsummary">Diarrhea<br /></span></li><li><span id="tpsummary">Vomiting</span></li></ul><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Prevention:</span><br /><a onblur="try {parent.deselectBloggerImageGracefully();} catch(e) {}" href="http://www.cdc.gov/images/campaigns/SwineFlu/washem_300x250.jpg"><img style="margin: 0px auto 10px; display: block; text-align: center; cursor: pointer; width: 300px; height: 250px;" src="http://www.cdc.gov/images/campaigns/SwineFlu/washem_300x250.jpg" alt="Wash your hands with soap and clean running water. Visit www.cdc.gov/h1n1 for more information." border="0" /></a><span id="tpsummary"><br /></span><span id="tpsummary"><ul><li>Covering your nose and mouth with a tissue when you cough or sneeze. Throw the tissue in the trash after you use it.</li><li>Washing your hands often with soap and water, especially after you cough or sneeze. You can also use alcohol-based hand cleaners.</li><li>Avoiding touching your eyes, nose or mouth. Germs spread this way.</li><li>Trying to avoid close contact with sick people.</li><li>Staying home from work or school if you are sick.</li></ul></span><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">Helpful Resources:</span><br /><br /><ul><li><a href="http://www.cdc.gov/h1n1flu/qa.htm">Centers for disease control and Prevention</a></li><li><a href="http://www.direct.gov.uk/en/Swineflu/DG_177831">Direct Gov</a></li><li><a href="http://www.who.int/csr/disease/swineflu/en/index.html">World Health Organisation</a></li><li><a href="http://twitter.com/whonews">Follow WHO on twitter</a></li><li><a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/script/main/art.asp?articlekey=99712">Taking care of a sick person at home </a></li><li><a href="http://www.medicinenet.com/swine_flu/article.htm">MedicineNet.com</a></li></ul>Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03485029812807860770noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227391300785049742.post-30186283523154013372009-07-21T19:36:00.000+01:002013-05-13T07:56:44.322+01:00Teen SuicideDunno where to start really. Got a lot of things I'd like to talk about at the same time but I guess I'll have to take things slow and steady. There's always a tendency to get too overly excited...........and indeed I am excited.<br /><br />One thing I'll like to address is the topic of one of Oprah Winfrey's shows: <span style="font-weight: bold;">Teen Suicide</span>.<br /><br />I was taken in by the mothers of 2 11 year old boys who had committed suicide at home. One had just buried her son 3 days previously while the other buried her son 2 weeks before coming on the show. Both of them stated that their boys complained of bullying at school and they believe this was what drove their boys to suicide. Both boys committed suicide by hanging.<br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;">According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), Suicide is the third-leading cause of death for 15- to 24-year-olds, surpassed only by accidents and homicide.<br /></span><br />According to <a href="http://http//kidshealth.org/parent/emotions/behavior/suicide.html#">KidsHealth:</a><br /><br /><span style="font-weight: bold;"> </span><blockquote>Suicide rates differ between boys and girls. Girls think about and attempt suicide about twice as often as boys, and tend to attempt suicide by overdosing on drugs or cutting themselves. Yet boys die by suicide about four times as often girls, perhaps because they tend to use more lethal methods, such as firearms, hanging, or jumping from heights.</blockquote><br /><br />I found the show quite alarming and more alarming was the fact that the trend was or is on the increase. Down here in Africa, suicide's not common. It's generally believed that suicide's a western problem.<br /><br />I marvel at the irony that lies hidden in that truth: Suicide's commoner in a place where there's hardly any hunger or suffering. A place where under 5 mortality rate is below 5%. A place where the basic amenities that make life worth living are within reach. But suicide is rare in a place where 3 out of every 5 children die from Malaria, malnutrition or from a complete lack of access to medical treatment before they reach the age of 5. It is rare in a place where constant electricity/power supply is a privilege (I still can't help jumping up anytime I turn on the light switch and the bulb comes on!!!!).<br /><br />This all means that when one is deprived of what makes life easier and fun, he/she's forced to look inward and lay less emphasis on what the rest of the world considers "<span style="font-style: italic;">the source of happiness</span>".<br /><br />Nevertheless, the sooner this suicide trend is addressed by families, the government and school authorities; the better for us all.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03485029812807860770noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-8227391300785049742.post-79926314982191260252009-07-21T12:22:00.003+01:002009-07-21T12:31:10.297+01:00HelloThis is saying a big hello to you and a big thank you for taking the time to visit and my blog: An Artist's Musings. There are a lot of things that pique my interest thus I'll be using this platform to address those things.<br /><br />I talk strictly about art and art related matters at my main blog: <a style="font-weight: bold;" href="http://www.art-devine-slasher.com/blog">Paintings by Nkolika Anyabolu (M.D)</a>. I hope you'll take out time to visit there.Anonymoushttp://www.blogger.com/profile/03485029812807860770noreply@blogger.com1