Gas Lanterns

By Owen Jones

There are several varieties of gas lantern. They are primarily used to produce light when you do not have a battery lamp or access to an electrical socket. In fact, they are most often used for emergency situations, when the power goes out at home, when you are camping or sitting in the garden later in the evening. They offer much more light than most torches and they are handy because you can stand them on a table, carry them, or hang them up.

There are quite a few models of gas lantern. However, they differ not only in design, but also in the type of fuel they burn. Some people like the old fashioned style kerosene or paraffin lamps. They like the design, the historical facet and possibly even the smell.

Their benefits are that the fuel is low-priced and easy to find. However, their disadvantages are that they smell and are very dangerous if tipped over. The storage of surplus paraffin or kerosene is also a serious hazard, should a fire break out.

If you want one of these old style kerosene lanterns, they are widely available at camping, army surplus and hardware shops. If you are going to use them for emergency lighting, it is best to have four or five on hand, clean and ready to fill.

The wicks should be trimmed and the glass clean. Keep them in plastic bags to prevent dust building up on them. Keep one already filled with kerosene so that you can fill the others by its light. It is safer and less wasteful this way.

However, the modern equivalent of the kerosene lantern is the propane gas lantern. Propane gas lanterns burn with a very clean flame, which is also quite hot, so it does warm up its immediate surroundings, maybe to a distance of a foot or two. Therefore, it can keep faces warm on a cool evening in the garden.

Propane gas lanterns are fueled by gas canisters. They come in various sizes from quite small to large, but the gas does burn for a long while. The small canisters are best for emergency use and the larger ones for use on camping trips or in the garden. They are fairly cheap, are clean to burn, provide some heat, are light weight and are very safe.

On the safety side of things, it is obviously very important that you follow the manufacturer's directions when using any kind of gas lantern, because they are all a potential fire hazard, especially when camping in a wood.

Make yourself acquainted with the operation of the lantern you make your mind up to use before you need to use it. The gas lantern may get hot so be careful with it and get used to lighting it in the daylight so that you know what you are doing, when you need the gas lantern for real. One last tip, if you are taking a propane gas lantern on a camping holiday, take enough canisters with you. The merchant should be able to tell you how many hours they will last for the use you are going to put them to. - 31877

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Can Self Hypnosis Help Me Reach My Goals And Break Bad Habits?

By Todd Schuyler

Is self hypnosis a effective tool? Do you have goals you want reach? Are you interested in improving yourself? Can I really stop those bad habits? To the answers to these and many other self hynosis questions read further.

Self hypnosis is usually thought of as a person listening to an audio tape, mp3, or other mass-produced media, intended to induce a willingness to absorb suggestions centered around a specific topic such as weight loss, stop smoking, etc. Unfortunately, this kind of hypnosis is generally prepared by someone who has never met the person being hypnotized.

For example, if you burn easily sunbathing, that last thing you want to hear about is a long walk on a sunny beach. In this case, the "self" in self hypnosis simply means that you listen to it all by yourself. How do you incorporate self improvement to this kind of self hypnosis? To be able to go about self improvement, there are certain aspects in you that should be addressed. Using self hypnosis, the negative aspects that are serving as hindrances to improvement must be removed.

A true self hypnosis would necessarily be designed and created by the very person who will ultimately use and benefit from it. Unlike the mass-produced hypnosis, this hypnosis is made for the exact purpose the person wishes, including the precise words and phrases that mean the most to that particular person.

The true self hypnosis is thus crafted by the person to suit his or her own particular needs. The benefits derived could only be accomplished with such a personal, one-of-a-kind self hypnosis. In this case, the "self" in self hypnosis really does mean that you are being hypnotized by yourself!

Below is a brief view of the self hypnotic process. Though lots of variations of this method have been used, these are the basic steps you have to go through in order to hypnotize yourself to accomplish your self improvement goals.

1. Write down your goals from the most important goal to the least important. If all possible, your goals should be measurable.

2. For every particular goal, you should implement fitting suggestions which means you have to convert your goals into specific instructions to your subconscious mind on how to achieve each goal you set.

3. Relax yourself. Use the first few minutes of your self hypnotic session to get as relaxed as possible. Try to forget all your problems.

4. Start your hypnotic initiation phase by saying and repeating out loud the hypnotic words you have chosen, thinking of these words or listening to a hypnotic tape or CD customized for your hypnotic and goal fulfillment needs.

Before you begin your self hypnotic exercises you should make a time schedule for it. Do your hypnosis sessions every day for five minutes. Repeat your suggestions as often as possible during the day. Measure your progress. Are you closer to reaching your goals now than you were before you started?

If you answer negative to these questions, you have to rethink and reorganize your train of thoughts. This is the only way you can find out if this method is really helping you in achieving your self improvement goals. If you desire more help. There are many good sites out there. I suggestamazing hypnosis resources. Self improvement is now a goal that's obtainable. - 31877

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Guidelines for Choosing a Program of Self Help for Panic Attacks

By Dr. Greg Hamlin

There is quite a lot of variety among programs of self help for panic attacks. Each has a different emphasis such as self help for panic attacks experienced by public speakers or self help for panic attacks while driving. Additionally, the format and media vary from a simple self help book to a full-scale online digital course.

Yet a good program will present information in more than one format. There is something to read, there are audios and videos, there are interactive assignments. A complete program of self help for panic attacks presents good content using more than one medium.

A program of self help for panic attacks should contain four major components. First, there should be a module of good solid information about anxiety and panic. Second, the program should contain a practical approach to building specific skills that have been proven to overcome symptoms of anxiety attacks. Third, there should be tools that support the skills. A hammer is the tool that supports the skill of pounding a nail without bending it. Fourth, the best programs have good instructions for pacing yourself and tailoring the program to fit your needs, schedule, and level of motivation.

Let's dig a little deeper into each one of these essentials. There is a body of knowledge that students need to know if they are going to learn how to outsmart panic attacks and conquer them. If you are trying to peel yourself off of a barbed wire fence, it helps to have some knowledge in order to minimize the damage. A good program of self help for panic attacks will strike a balance between giving enough information and giving information about anxiety that is streamlined.

While good information is important, one must have the skills to know what to do with that information. In learning how to tackle panic attacks it is essential to acquire simple skills such as how to monitor and quantify your anxiety level, how to relax specific areas of the body, how to recognize the phases of a panic attacks so that you can have good timing for using each skill. A program of self help for panic attacks must have a realistic, practical method to help people to acquire a new skill set.

The tools component of a program of self help for panic attacks goes hand in hand with the skill building component. It's important introduce tools at the right time and in the right context so that the learner builds confidence one step at a time.

Tailoring the pace of progress to the unique situation of the learner is one of the most important components because the symptoms, severity, and resources vary so much from person to person. A good program of self help for panic attacks should offer tips for how to adjust the pace of the program to fit your needs. But why is this so important?

Think about it. If the next step is just too frightening to consider, then it becomes more likely that you will give up and quit the program. On the other hand, if the next step is too easy then you won't make enough progress to make it worth your time. Programs of self help for panic attacks work best if there is a straightforward way to adjust the pace as you go.

If you search online for programs of self help for panic attacks you can use these four essentials to make a preliminary judgment about a program just by reading descriptions of the program or sales literature before you purchase it. - 31877

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Office Chairs

By Owen Jones

It is because people come in various shapes and sizes, that chair manufacturers decided to make chairs for discriminating users adaptable. If they had not done that, then there would have to be dozens of chairs with different dimensions to fit all sorts of people. Therefore, office chair manufacturers have very shrewdly passed the cost of a simple chair onto the business population.

However, given the fact that it is not easy to buy a decent chair if you are not of standard proportions, you will have to buy an adjustable chair. This situation appertains to the environment of an office, where workers frequently sit for eight hours barely moving a muscle in their torso.

This scenario often causes lower back and neck problems. The basic fact is that you have to be able to sit on your chair comfortably with your thighs level and your feet flat on the floor. In an office environment, this often means buying adjustable chairs, because of the through-put of staff and the variety in the size of the human body.

This is not so much of a predicament if you only do a few hours surfing the Internet when you get in, but it is an entirely different kettle of fish if you sit at a desk for protracted periods of time. In general, the longer you plan to remain at your desk, the better quality chair you will need.

Therefore, if you are a full-timer, a professional, you need the best. If you are working for yourself, you need the best and if you are working for someone else, you can not afford to put up with inferior seating, which could lead to injury and, eventually, dismissal later on.

If you are often on your feet or in and out of the office, you can afford to be more indulgent with the specifications essential for someone who is chained to the desk practically eight hours a day except for breaks. Secretaries fall into this group. They repeatedly have to go to filing cabinets and welcome people into the office.

The power users are the executives who are office bound and individuals like telesales people. They literally stay in their seats all their working day except for breaks and so they need the best safety gear available. Make no mistake about it, an ergonomic chair is every bit as important for an office worker as a safety belt is for a chauffeur or taxi driver.

If you buy yourself a cheap non-ergonomic chair or allow your boss to lumber you with one, you only have yourself to blame, if you acquire a bad back or a stiff neck. However, office industrial related injuries do not stop there. There is repetitive strain injury too, which can be extremely painful and last for years, causing you to have to give up your office job.

All of these facts are well documented by the health care profession and the unions, so if you want to make sure that you will be employed in that office job for the foreseeable future, pick up a few pamphlets and read up on the subject. - 31877

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Build Up Your Mood Using These Suggestions

By Nicole Rinaldi

From time to time, many of us aren't as happy as they want to be. Here are a few tips to get you through those times.

You and only you can remove the negative thoughts that are affecting your mood and making you miserable. Concentrate on optimistic and positive thoughts and you will soon feel your mood lift.

It's a well known fact that a smile is extremely therapeutic and really raises your spirits. It also reduces your stress levels and can even give your immune system a boost. Making someone else happier will have a knock on effect and you will feel better too.

A long walk in the great outdoors is good for you in so many ways. Your brain function will get a boost, calories will be burnt off and if you suffer from PMS it's really good for relieving the symptoms.

Have a good hard look at your diet; can you honestly say that you eat enough fresh vegetables and fruit? Not many of us can, so it's time to correct that. When you think that they also offer protection against certain types of cancer, chronic diseases and strokes, why don't we eat more?

Put some time aside for yourself to have a good read. This will really give you something to concentrate on and you will also learn new and interesting things.

Don't neglect your friends; pick up your phone and five them a call. They are the ones who will stick by you thick and thin, so don't push them out. True friends will listen to your woes and help your through it.

Valuable lessons can be learnt from those that you wouldn't normally think about spending time with. A young child under the age of 6 will enrapture you with the sheer simplicity of their nature, while a person over 70 will share their stories and wisdom.

You should try and play some new games, be they board games or one of the thousands that are online. These can help on so many levels, from socially interacting to developing new skills.

Finally, enjoy life! This is it, isn't a dress rehearsal, this is your life so make the most of it. Appreciate what you have instead of wallowing in self pity about what you haven't got. Grab each day and do something worthwhile. - 31877

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Black Hills Rings? What Are They?

By Owen Jones

Most people have aspirations for the future. Some people plan out their lives in elaborate detail from an early age, while others just pray that their dreams will come true. I think that that depends on the attitude to life you have as much as your personality. I definitely remember that when I was a boy, some of the girls I knew were planning what they would do when they got married to so and so movie star.

They did not know anything about marriage or what being married was like, they were just role playing, but some of those dreams might have stuck.

None of the boys in my class thought about their future much at all. I did not either really although I knew that I wanted to go to university and travel after that. I studied French and German for three years and passed my finals.

After finishing university, I began working for an international firm and did some traveling. I have always liked jewellery although I do not wear a lot at the same time. I suppose I collect jewellery, but I like to wear it as well.

It was a custom of mine to buy a piece of jewellery wherever I went, if I saw something I liked and if I could afford it. Anyway, I met a young woman while I was in America and I told her about my craze for collecting jewellery and rings in particular. I showed her a couple of rings that I had taken with me. One was a ring with a Celtic Knot design and another was an Irish Claddagh ring.

Anyway, we got on well and so she offered to take me to a jewellers that she knew. We went to a small back street jeweller, who had a range of rings I had never heard of before. They were called Black Hills Gold Rings and they looked very distinctive. They have quite a range, including a lot of the common designs, but they also have a few patterns that I had never seen before. I was hooked and wanted one.

My friend really fell for a women's wedding set. She had seen it in the window for months, but did not have anyone to give it to her. The engagement ring had two leaves and a grape cluster with a small diamond nestled in the middle of it, while the wedding band had two additional leaves and a grape cluster. This meant that when worn together, the two rings would fit together to surround the diamond completely. It was really very nice.

I had to grant that it was very beautiful, but felt it necessary to point out that I had not known her long enough to propose. She was a good sort and did not feel offended. I bought a striking white gold ring with the Black Hills gold roses inlaid on the top two thirds of the band, leaving the underside of the ring plain. It was a gorgeous addition to my collection. As for my guide, well, she did not get a ring, but I took her for an expensive meal and she seemed happy enough with that. - 31877

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More Secrets Of Mindpower!

By Kevin B Shine

We only use an estimated amount of ten percent of our mindpower. One can only imagine the incredible things we would experience if we could access that ninety percent that we don't currently use!

It is believed that people with extra ordinary abilities like extra sensory or psychic powers are because people learn how to access the different parts of their mind. Many believe they are born with that increased mindpower or just have managed to develop that part of the mind later in life.

Even though it has never been totally comprehended, the advances we've made in quantum physics is starting to reveal the true link of what we experience in life, and what we think.

Studies are starting to confirm that the ancient religions that had been saying for thousands of years that reality is a product of your mind and that you can change the way you think has a lot of truth to it. Mindpower is really the only reality!

The law of attraction is best described in the movie, 'The Secret'. The theory behind the law of attractions that through their mind and the way they see things, they can change just about anything. Through their mindpower or the way that they think they can either attract abundance, or just about anything else they want in their life.

If you haven't seen the movie, it is about how the law of attraction affects everyone, and that all our actions have cause and effects. No matter what you think, you can get. Learning to actually communicate with your subconscious mind is important or else your mind will think everything is exactly the way you want it to be. The scientific term for this is homeostasis.

What reacts with the universe is called universal consciousness. It's a way to manifest your desires by using the subconscious mind which is responsible for all the esp powers, for example, telepathy, remove viewing, and precognition.

Developing your mindpower it is key to communicate with your subconscious mind. There are a number of ways to do this.

Affirmations are when you are repeating a positive phrase to yourself several times a day eventually your subconscious mind will understand and believe it too.

A daily affirmation to break a bad habit would be to constantly tell yourself over and over throughout the day that you no longer need whatever it was that was a bad habit, or I no longer choose to do whatever that habit was. If you want to bring up your self esteem you would tell yourself how good you are, how smart you are, how beautiful you are, and any other positive thoughts.

Repeating your affirmations on a daily basis, you will see them start to work. You speak to your subconscious mind, telling your mind that you want something different and eventually you will start to behave differently..

This works with everything in life. If you can put it in your mind in a positive way, and really store it in your subconscious mind you will change your life. You can make it all reality. Realize that everything you'd like to see change, will change and it really will.

Visualizing what you want also has a positive effect to your life. The more you can visualize what you want, the more likely it will happen. Can you imagine getting everything in your dreams? Visualize it consistently and eventually you will have it.

Think of yourself as living with psychic powers, and communicating telepathically. This mindpower is powerful, and whatever you want to happen will. If you want to be able to see into the future or view remotely, just use the powerful mind.

Though hypnosis you can communicate with your subconscious mind and help to develop your mindpower. You can visit a professional hypnotist, or a hypnotherapist that will help you to get into a totally relaxed state and help you to get into your subconscious mind. Communicating subconsciously will help you to develop your mindpower. A trained hypnotist or hypnotherapist can help you put things into your subconscious mind which you will remember when you wake up.

There have been excellent results in self hypnosis. People will play a recording in which they are relaxed, and the recording begins to add the different suggestions into your subconscious mind. The great part of self hypnosis is being able to listen to it over and over, and also the price of self hypnosis is cheaper than using a hypnotist or a hypnotherapist.

A new audio technology for brainwave entrainment called brainwave synchronization. Brainwave synchronization changes your brainwaves instantly to a different frequency. The result of this, can be many different things. A certain frequency can improve your memory, while another frequency may release endorphins that could heal or alleviate pain.

Other frequencies allow you to get into a state of meditation very quickly. This is necessary for you to be to successfully communicate with your subconscious mind.

Some frequencies may stimulate the chakra energy centers of your body. There is a chakra in the center of your forehead which is referred to the third eye which controls a person's psychic powers.

There is no need to develop these powers, they are inside you and just need to find a way out. People say mindpower is in you, but repressed and locked deep within your mind.

Developing mindpower actually comes down to unlocking all the powers and true potential that every human being already has. - 31877

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What Makes An Office Chair Good?

By Owen Jones

Before you go out and buy a chair for your office because you like the appearance of it, you should realize that not all chairs are the same. An office chair should be seen as a piece of health and safety equipment, although that does not mean that it does cannot be attractive too. I will explain what you should look for in an office chair over the next few paragraphs.

The most important aspect of any chair that you will have to use for a protracted interval of time is the height of the seat itself off the floor. You most comfortable long-term seated position is with your thighs parallel to the floor and your feet flat on the floor. If you cannot find a chair to fit your size or if the chair will be used by several people, then you will have to get an adjustable one.

The chair should be adaptable while you are sitting on it in order to ensure that you get it right. The old fashioned technique was to wind the seat up or down on a screw by spinning it round and round. The modern method is to pump it up hydraulically.

There has to be a back to the seat, a stool is no good for long term seating. The back rest should incorporate a lumber support. This lumber support ought to be adjustable too. It must go up and down, but some can be inflated as well. The back rest should also extend to the head, if it does not suit, then there should be an adjustable head rest. Often there is a tilt mechanism, which permits the sitter to assume different postures for short lengths of time.

This is a feature of chairs known as recliners. If you go for a recliner, make sure that the base is stable, so that you do not go over. A five-pronged star shaped base is the most common design, but there are others too. The base is usually on five casters to preclude the need to stretch and lean, if you have to get to a near-by filing cabinet.

The seat or the seat pan is important. These are adjustable on some more expensive chairs, but it is better to test these features 'for fit' on those that are not. The leading edge of the seat should be rounded so as not to hinder your circulation. For the same reason, there should be a suitable gap between the leading edge and the back of your knees.

The seat should be at a comfortable angle, one that suits you. Most chairs have seat pans that are parallel to the floor, which suits most people, but a reclining chair remedies this problem automatically, as they recline forwards and backwards. The fabric of the seat should be one that breathes and is comfortable. This is one of the reasons why leather is favoured. It should also be padded and easily cleanable.

While not absolutely necessary, arm rests can be convenient for reading or taking a few minutes rest. Good arm rests will be height (and some even width) adjustable. With your arms by your sides, the arm rests should come up to your elbows.

These pointers are given in order to reduce the possibility of strain and injury to those who spend many hours at a time working at a desk. - 31877

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Another Look At Chakra Meditation Therapy

By Nisal Karuiyaratna

According to the ancient Vedic thought, there are seven circles (Chakras) of energy referred to as energy wheels in the human body. These are present along the meridian of the body.

There are seven of these wheels (although a few more mystical practitioners say there are 14),

These begin at the lowest base of the body (thought of as either the base of the spine or the genitals) and extending in their order to a person's crown (tippy top of the head).

In between there are: the orange chakra of the womb or belly; the golden chakra of the solar plexus; the green chakra of the heart; the blue chakra of the throat; and the indigo chakra known as the third eye, on the center of the forehead. The base chakra is red, and the crown chakra is violet right above the head but as its circumference extends outward, away from the head, it turns whiter.

As well as each chakra being associated with a particular color, they are numbered from one to seven with the base chakra being number one and the crown chakra being number seven.

The first of these chakras is responsible for our vitality, sexual and physical health.

Chakra two rules a person's creative powers.

Chakra three is responsible for our will power and desires.

Chakra four at the heart commands our emotional energy that opens us up to giving and receiving love.

Chakra five manages the equation between our emotions and thoughts. It decides our communication powers and gives us personal magnetism.

Chakra six influences a person's intuition, psychic powers and insights, also referred to as the sixth sense.

The final chakra, number seven located at the crown of the head is what is responsible for our astral voyages.

It is observed that people, who have divine interventions, are actually focusing the energy of the seventh chakra. This chakra focuses on cosmic awareness. It is this cosmic awareness, which is annexed and passed onto the second chakra during artistic practices. It is accessed on shamanic journeys too.

The chakras spin in their natural state. If they are healthy then they will spin and will then provide you with the optimum energies you need. If however they become unbalanced they can not spin and you will therefore experience illness or sickness in one or more of the areas outlined.

No chakra should be more developed than the others, either. If this happens then addictions, neuroses, obsessive-compulsive disorders, or unintentional cruelty will result.

The chakras can become dirty and clogged through neglect or wrong living. If you eat a poor diet or have a negative or shallow attitude toward sexual relations, you will sully the first, red, basal chakra, and as a result you will suffer from ill health, or broken romantic relationships.

If you constantly think about dark things like working black magic against people, you'll clog up the seventh, purple-white, crown chakra and cut off your access to the cosmic or the divine, leaving you feeling bitter, fearful, and empty.

One of the most important aspects of a healthy, rapidly spinning chakra wheel is its flexibility; that is, it can open to receive energy from something good but close to repel energy from something bad. A mind is just like a hand: if it cannot both open and close then it's broken. And a chakra is just like a mind-if it is healthy then it can both open and close as need be.

Everyone can control his or her chakras. All it requires is a daily exercise to focus in a balanced way on the energies commanded by these seven chakras. At a determined time each day, you will need to meditate by focusing one by one on the energy of the chakras and how it is apparent in your life. You can even visualize the energy of a particular chakra while carrying out this exercise.

Look at each chakra area by meditating and seeing how its aspects are manifesting in your life. You do this by visualizing your body's energy in that particular chakra. If you become aware that your chakra energy is lacking in any particular category, then you can use meditation to make that particular chakra healthy and balanced.

It is also observed that when some persons meditate on a gemstone of the same color as the chakras, their concentration is very high. They are able to focus better and can obtain an insight into the path for cleansing their chakras and make them healthier.

Many people find that the simplest way is to listen to the frequencies of each chakra in turn which results in your own chakras resonating with these frequencies, which then results in them becoming completely balanced. - 31877

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Helping Others On A "Real" Level

By Ralph Johnson

It's not enough to believe. We have to learn to put our principles to the test and act in an appropriate way. These days, in the present economy, it appears as though it's easy to slip into self-absorbed thinking. When things get troublesome we tend to concentrate on ourselves and our families. This is natural, but it is critical that we still try to make a difference in the lives of others. You don't have to spend a lot of time or money to contribute. In truth, only a few seconds can make a change. Perhaps we should all create a plan to do something to switch the world every day, or at least once every week. There are some great books available that can provide suggestions, and you can come up with your own concepts about how to help others with only a few greenbacks or 1 or 2 minutes. The key is to focus on what you CAN do, not on what you CAN'T do. Can you drop by to check on an aged neighbor? Can you take a few minutes to clear a neighbor's sidewalk of snow? How about taking a few napkins from home so you can pick up a couple of pieces of garbage to ditch on your way to work or school ( the napkins are so you do not get your hands dirty ) ? Can you manage a second and some extra calories of energy to grin at somebody, hold the door for someone, or give someone a compliment? How about a tip and a'Thank you' for a service person? We would possibly not be in a position to donate millions, but in these times it is more critical than ever to put the emphasis back on giving. It isn't difficult to think of others when you are feeling like you have it all. The real test of personality is how we concentrate on helping folks when times are difficult.

It isn't enough to believe. We have to learn to put our principles to the test and act appropriately. These days, in the present economy, it seems as if it's not difficult to slip into selfish thinking. When things get tricky we tend to concentrate on ourselves and our families. This is natural, but it is critical that we still attempt to make a difference in the lives of others. You don't have to spend a lot of time or money to make a contribution. In truth, just a few seconds can make a change. Perhaps we should all create a plan to do something to change the world each day, or at a minimum once each week. There are some great books available that will provide suggestions, and you can come up with your own concepts about how to help others with just a few greenbacks or 1 or 2 minutes. The secret's to concentrate on what you CAN do, not on what you CAN'T do. Are you able to drop by to check on an elderly neighbor? Can you take one or two minutes to clear a neighbor's path of snow? How about taking one or two tissues from home so you can pick up two pieces of rubbish to ditch on your way to work or school ( the tissues are so you don't get involved ) ? Can you manage a second and some extra calories of energy to smile at somebody, hold the door for somebody, or give somebody a compliment? How about a tip and a'Thank you' for a service person? We might not be in a position to give millions, but in these times it is more critical than ever to put the emphasis back on giving. It isn't difficult to think about others when you're feeling like you have it all. The true test of character is how we target helping others when times are hard.

Good Samaritan laws - thousands of people around the globe live by the code of the Bible, which teaches us how to think, act, and believe in a way that is in line with God's plan. However , we could have certain questions that are of a modern nature that aren't covered in traditional holy scribblings. Now some authors are doing their best to provide insights that may help Christians to navigate the untrustworthy waters of modern society, combining our ideals with practical modern application for doing good in a modern , technological world.

Change the World - if you doubt your own ability to switch the world, just glance at the many Biblical and modern examples of folks that came from nothing to be world figures and world changers. Some of them may not have shared our specific beliefs, but it they can do it we can do it. Mummy Theresa, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, Gandhi, and varied members of the clergy, the arts, even business ( like Bill Strickland ) should provoke us that we will be able to change and improve the world in our own ways , regardless of how huge or how little we believe that we are. It's not for us to decide how our efforts and good objectives will be put to use.

Change the World - if you doubt your own capability to switch the world, just look at the many Biblical and modern examples of folks that came from zilch to be world figures and world changers. A few of them may not have shared our specific beliefs, nevertheless it they can do it we will do it. Mum Theresa, Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr, Gandhi, and various members of the clergy, the arts, even business ( like Bill Strickland ) should inspire us that we are able to change and improve the world in our own ways irrespective of how big or how little we believe that we are. It is not for us to decide how our efforts and good ambitions will be put to use. - 31877

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Further Uses for the Indoor Bug Zapper

By Owen Jones

I don't know whether you have ever used a handheld, indoor bug zapper, but I think that they are wonderful. I?m talking about the handheld sort that looks like a child's plastic, toy tennis racquet. They come in two basic sorts. I rather the rechargeable bug zapper, for the reason that batteries end up up costing more than the indoor bug zapper itself, although you could always buy rechargeable batteries, but then they are costly too.

My wife and I like to pass time in the garden. We meet friends there, dine there and generally loaf about outdoors, as do most folks about here, when they are not working. What's more, it's far cooler outdoors than inside. A comfy chair, some snacks, a cool drink and a book or a companion and life does not get much better. In fact, it?s heavenly.

That is until about six or seven o'clock when the first squadron of mosquitoes have judged that the sun's rays have lost enough strength that they will not evaporate and they come out looking for blood. Some evenings are worse than others, of course. Normally, the mosquitoes are pretty bearable, especially seeing as I have discovered the indoor bug zapper. (I don't know why it is called an 'indoor bug zapper', it is equally as effective outdoors as in).

It's not that I want to kill things, but I find it difficult to have sympathy for mosquitoes. Nevertheless, I do get a certain amount of enjoyment from seeing and hearing mosquitoes and other bugs literally blow up with a flash and a spark as they come into contact with the electric and ground wires of the indoor bug zapper. These electric bug zappers are capable of packing quite a charge, especially if the batteries are new or the pack is wholly charged.

The other day, I discovered a novel use for my handheld, indoor bug zapper. I'll tell you how it came about. I was in the garden, as usual, and my bug zapper was close at hand as the first squadron of mosquitoes was due. I had my book in one hand and the bug zapper on my knees, when my wife asked me to go to the shop for her. No problem, so, I set off on the five minute walk.

I was half-way there when I realized that I had the indoor bug zapper in my hand, but it was not worth taking it home and beginning the journey again. Anyway, on my return trip, I had my small bag of groceries in one hand and the indoor bug zapper in the other, when a local tyrant of a dog came running out of a garden right for me. This has occurred often and, although he has never bitten me yet, it is quite intimidating. He stood there glaring at me with teeth bared and his 'pack' of sundry neighborhood pals came out to surround me and join in.

I don't actually know what the best tactic is in this position. I have tried holding my position, but the threat just goes on and I have tried to keep walking, but he gets chillingly close sometimes. This time, I suddenly lashed out with the indoor bug zapper and just hit him on the nose. Well, I'm not sure if it hurt him, it did not appear to too much, but it gave him a very nasty shock in more ways than one, I can tell you! He jumped about four feet into the air as if he were on a pogo stick and then fled for all he was worth with all his pals behind him. It was very satisfying after six months of persecution from this dog.

Anyway, I don't take my indoor bug zapper everywhere with me, but I will in future, if any more local dogs bother me. I know it works a treat. I have seen that one since, but he keeps far away from me and doesn't utter a sound. I think I would take my indoor bug zapper with me, if I were wandering in an unknown part of town or the park nevertheless. - 31877

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Don't Worry Here Is: Self Help For Panic Attacks

By Sheila Tuttle

Getting familiar with self help for panic attacks is a necessary step for one to take when trying to cope with this issue. The reasoning for this matter is countless, with stress being a known cause. Being aware of ways to help you regain control and happiness in your life is a must by learning the many different self techniques.

One of the first things one should do when trying to understand this condition is to do research online and become familiar with the disorder. Find out the history behind anxiety attacks and the things that can trigger an episode. Identifying the issue can help avoid certain activities and in many cases even foods such as caffeine.

Find family members and friends who can help you with your problem. You may find that talking about the things that are bothering you regarding your life can help slow down your panic attacks. Holding onto stress and issues that bother you can be overbearing at times and result in a panic attack.

Monitoring your breathing by breathing into a brown paper bag is an excellent way to cope with a panic attack. When breathing into a brown paper bag the person experiencing the attack will find a sense of comfort and control because lack of air is a major concern during the time of this episode. Feeling as if there is a great amount of air available can put great ease on the situation because the fear of suffocating can be alleviated.

Instruct yourself that everything is going to be okay. When you are going experiencing a panic attack, it is very important to remain calm. Speaking to yourself in a way that shows authority and control can help you believe that everything is going to be fine. Telling yourself that regardless of what you may feel and that you are going to pull through this attack can work as a sense of comfort. Accept what you are saying as something that is true and a known fact.

Inhaling something that is sweet and placating can help a person remain calm. A delightful scent can bring about happy feelings and feelings of security. Many find that when doing or engaging in something that makes them feel good takes their mind off what is occurring during an attack. The smell of baby powder can bring about joyful feelings or scent of a relaxing candle can also be of great assistance. Try smelling something that makes you happy.

Counting backwards from 100 is a sure way to help you during a panic attack. When the mind is redirected on trying to recall something the person isn't concerned or fully aware of the present state. This is a wonderful technique that will keep you busy.

Search online for others who are currently going through the same thing. There are several support groups available that can help you get through your anxiety attacks. It is easy to find comfort when you can relate to others.

Self help for panic attacks provides many support groups, tactics and information that can be of great assistance to you. Deal with the issue and learn how to cope with it. Eliminating certain things from your life may be all you really need in order to gain control and live the life you deserve. - 31877

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Turn Your Life Crisis into Lasting Happiness !

By Peter Shaw

Life crises come in all shapes and sizes, and usually when we least expect them.

Retirement is one, but think of the hundreds of others : divorce, bereavement, getting downsized, resigning from your work for whatever reason, breaking up a business partnership.......the list is endless. Most people suffer at least one, and perhaps several or even many of these life-changing events. Mine have included two divorces, two bereavements, a major business crash, and a serious attempted suicide. The effects can be devastating.

But there is another, a seldom considered aspect to these traumatic occurrences. They present you with a wonderful opportunity for self assessment. A chance to pause, to take an in depth look at yourself, and perhaps to make adjustments in your life which will dramatically improve your happiness and self satisfaction. After all, we all seek happiness and self fulfillment, don't we ? What is happiness, anyway ? There are probably as many definitions of happiness as there are people on the planet. A random internet search produces the following :

-Happiness comes down to the difference between commitment and attachment -Happiness is social relationships -Happiness is individualistic, varying from one person to another -Happiness is a recipe that includes a number of ingredients -Happiness and unhappiness are two sides of the same coin -Happiness is the highest good -Happiness is about having each tiny wish come true -Happiness is delivered through focussing on the key areas of your life -Happiness is connected with diet and exercise -Happiness is not something that happens to you. It is inside you now -Happiness is the most important and the ultimate objective in life -Happiness is a set of skills you must learn

Clearly, a stringent self examination must be beneficial.

Dr Tal David Ben-Shahar is a professor who has pioneered a pyschology class called Happiness 101. Very popular in the United States, this has developed into very popular television programmes and dvd's, and a bestselling book. He defines happiness as the intersection between pleasure and meaning. Experiences can be either pleasurable or meaningful or both. Happiness is where the two overlap. Dr Ben-Shahar wants his goal oriented Harvard students to learn that happiness is the ultimate currency, not money or success. They should focus on the journey, rather than on the material results of what they are going to get. In other words, one can enjoy every step of the process, and appreciate all of the little things along the way.



If you think about it, this makes perfect sense. But how many of us actually practice it ? Google Happiness 101 with Tal Ben-Shahar.

There is a new branch of science known as Positive Psychology, which has been developed by Dr Martin Seligman, of the University of Pennsylvania, where he is Director of the Centre of Positive Psychology. Dr Seligman is successfully wooing the study of pyschology away from its traditional narrow minded focus on pathology, victimology, and mental illness to positive emotion, virtue and strength, and positive institutions.

Genes or luck do not in themselves create happiness. We can cultivate happiness, however, by identifying and developing many of the strengths and traits we already possess. Dr Seligman terms these "signature strengths", and declares these can be nutured and developed into natural buffers against the misfortunes and negative emotions we all suffer, resulting in marked improvements in our relationships, careers, and health. This is why a life crisis is such a good moment to examine ourselves in order to identify our "signature strengths".

Dr Seligman has devised a "Signature Strengths Survey" to assist with this process.

Much more can be learned at his website at Authentic Happiness (http://www.authentichappiness.sas.upenn.edu/Default.aspx).



Finally, if you really want to take your life in hand and achieve real and lasting happiness, try googling these:

BBC News: The Happiness Formula, American Psychological Association (APA), European Network for Positive Psychology, National Institute of Mental Health (NIMH), Positive Organizational Scholarship at the University of Michigan School of Business, Positive Psychology Center: Research Information, Quality of Life Research Center, VIA Institute on Character, Positive Psychology Anthem. - 31877

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How you Should Treat Yourself to be Healthy

By Willium Gerter

Would you want to know the long forgotten secret to health, and a beautiful life? In truth, it is not a secret, but it has been forgotten in today's hectic lifestyle, and it can be summarized in just one statement : treat your body using the respect it merits.

Your body is the most wonderfully perfect creation on the Earth-more complicated than the strongest electronics, more beautiful than a diamond. Your health is your only best asset, and you owe it to yourself to take care of it.

Luckily , this is not a complicated task. The formula is easy : eat sensible portions of quality food, battle for an active way of living, and enjoy every second as the wondert that it is.

Correct Nourishment does not have to contain a poser, though there's a multi-million dollar industry just for making it appear to be that.

If we decide to eat sensible food-the kind our elders would have recognized as food-and we digest it in acceptable portions, our nutritive wants will be understood. If questioning, a multivitamin can round things out. Eating constantly throughout the day will promote good selections in the both the quality and quantity of food you eat.

Move your body in a way you think enjoyable-biking, walking, , playing with your cat-and do it for a minimum of a half hour on a regular basis. While you are at it, find ways of making yourself work in your daily life.

Carry your things instead of employing a cart ; wash your automobile instead of going to the drive-through carwash. All positive way of living change should be sustainable, so building exercise into your daily routine will make it simpler to stick with in the long term.

Living Healthy does not need to be complex or pricey. Treat yourself with dignity, use common-sense in your decisions, and live joyfully, and your whole life and mind will reply. - 31877

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For No Reason Depend On Anyone to Make You Satisfied

By Scott Buendia

Never rely on any one to make you completely happy. They will disappoint you at some time, I am not necessarily preaching about consistently failing you however they will neglect you sooner or later, and it might be by far the most essential moment you will ever have. You can actually call me a pragmatic optimist. Desire the very best from folks, but anticipate the worst. Mankind is egotistical, greedy, and frequently will not likely care what happens to you assuming that they can be ok. That's exactly precisely the way situations are, only a few folks are the exception, the remainder of these folks really don't care. They're solely enthusiastic about what happens to themselves and if you'll inconvenience them with your existence at any moment. They're only interested in you when you can support them in escaping an unfortunate circumstance.

You'll find exceptions to the rule, close friends, some family, but typically the world is dirty and grotesque and when you recognize it, whenever you cope with it on the proper degree, you may make a direct impact. After you accept society as it is, and never try to make it green and sunny, you'll be ready to generate headway into carrying out what you need to complete.

In no way be dependent on another human being to make you completely happy, because these people might only in the conclusion, make themselves satisfied. By no means depend on anyone to do anything too really unselfish. You have to look out for you; you will need to watch out for what's out there.

"The city is afraid of me; I've seen its true face." - Rorschach

Take a look directly into the entire world in its authentic face. Gaze at it for what it really is and not what you would like it to be. The real truth is in front of us all the time, but we do not like looking at it. We're a fallen species. We act fallen, we think fallen matters. We sue, we cry foul, and we believe that the globe is out to get us.

A true good guy never gives up in the night. He or she has knowledge in all this and continues moving in any case, and continues finding the potential but has accurate thoughts about the darkness. The dark in his or her own heart and soul, and the night that is all around. A good guy doesn't have an impractical perspective of the universe, he or she perceives the world and plays the adventure as the whole world requires it to be played out, and makes use of it to their advantage to improve others. That is a true hero. - 31877

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The Workshop Or Home Office Heater

By Owen Jones

If you have converted your garage into a workshop or home office, you are sure to need heating of one form or another. This is because most garages are not built to the same standards of insulation as the main domestic building. However, that need not present a difficulty. You may even have the contrary problem during the summer, as garages often do not have windows, or at least large ones, either.

Ventilation could be another matter that you will have to cope with, but we will come to that later. If you have a plentiful supply of dead wood, you could set up a pot-bellied stove, but you will have to vent the flue outside. This is very easily done, since most garage walls are only one brick or block thick. However, if they do not burn correctly, there can be a smell, which you may find unpleasant.

Or you could use a paraffin/kerosene heater. They are cheap to buy and are readily portable. These heaters do not necessarily have to have a flue. They are easy to turn on as many of them employ an electric starter. Some also have a thermostat to regulate the temperature. They can be a hazard if there are children around as they can be tipped over. However, for most people, the glitch would be the smell given off.

You could use an electric hot air heater. They are quite cheap to buy, are easily portable and do not require a flue, but they can create a very dry atmosphere and are costly to run.

One of the most common choices these days is a gas heater. There are many different types of gas heater, but most run on butane or propane. Most of the models are fairly inexpensive. The main benefit of a gas heater is that they give consistent heat, are fairly cheap to run and are portable. Or at least many of them are.

You could have one built in, but it is hardly worth it, unless you are using gas that needs to be vented. Propane gas heaters also come with or without thermostatic controls. A propane heater could also double as a patio or deck heater on chilly evenings.

These gas heaters come in two forms: vented and unvented. The unvented models are the portable ones. They use the air from the room and the vented models have a flue that vents straight out of the garage. The slight disadvantage of the unvented model is that you have to keep the room airy at all times.

Therefore, if you choose a portable, unvented propane heater, you must leave a window partly open in order to allow the exchange of air and these heaters can be used as patio or deck heaters during the spring and autumn/fall. However, the vented gas heaters are fixed and have a flue attached, so they cannot be taken outside. Furthermore, if you decide on a vented model, you would be better off getting a professional in to install it for you by the book. - 31877

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Chakra Meditation And The Power Of Chakra Sound

By Nisal Karuiyaratna

In Sanskrit, chakra means a spinning wheel or vortex. There is another meaning to chakra, which indicates the seven chakras of the human body that relate to the seven gland systems of the body. These chakras are centers of spinning energy with the first one on the base of the spine and the seventh one at the crown.

It is known that the chakra is a center of spinning energy, and that everything that moves causes vibrations. With this vibration, you find sound and this is why different parts of the body vibrate with different chakra sounds at different frequencies.

There are not only seven independent chakra sounds for the seven chakras but also seven colors associated with the different chakras. These colors also vibrate at different frequencies where both the chakra sound and color helps in the restoration of balance in the chakras. This in turn helps in the restoring of health.

It is easy to turn to sound healing, with the help of chakra sounds. You only need your voice to feel better, calmer and clearer in a matter of minutes. These chakra sounds should be said softly and gently for not longer than five minutes.

1. You start with an UH sound, which is the deepest sound you can make. You have to do this with your eyes closed and attention focused on the base chakra, found at the spine base. You have to be aware of the sound resonance in the body; not from your throat, but from where the chakra is. You can complement visualization of this chakra sound with red color. This chakra sound has to be made for a minute or two but not more than five minutes.

2. The second chakra sound comes from the second chakra found about three inches below the naval. The chant for this chakra sound is OOO which can be complimented with the color orange. Eyes have to be closed for one to two minutes when chanting to realize the balancing of this chakra with other chakras.

3. OH is the chakra sound from the third chakra, the navel chakra. This chakra is located in the naval area and its complimenting color is the color yellow. This chakra sound starts softly and gently but is of a higher tone than the previous sound.

4. The chakra sound for the heart chakra, found in the middle of the chest is AH. This sound is usually emitted when in love and the heart chakra is associated with love. Green is the color you can use for complimenting this chakra sound where you have to start with a soft and gentle sound, with a slightly higher pitch than the last chakra sound.

5. The chakra sound for the throat chakra is EYE which is complemented by the color blue and is to be chanted at a higher pitch than previous sounds.

6. AYE is the chakra sound for the third chakra found a bit higher than the two eyes, and in the forehead. The chakra sound is associated with indigo and has to be started with a soft and gentle tone, but should be of a higher pitch than previous sounds.

7. EEE is the highest sound you can create for the crown chakra found at the top of the head. Purple can be used for complimenting this chakra sound which starts with the highest EEE sound you can make. This chakra sound too starts soft and gentle.

The eyes have to be closed when chanting all chakra sounds with attention concentrated on the different chakras. This focus on the chakra starts projecting the chakra sound from the chakra. And the resonance from the sound chakras helps in the balance and alignment of the each chakra with other chakras.

After the exercise, you are sure to feel light headed. It is better to relax or meditate after this to process your experience and realize the actual benefits you gain through chakra sounds. - 31877

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What Exactly Is Mental Telepathy?

By Rachel Jordan

The term 'mental telepathy' is misleadingly broad. It essentially means the direct communication of thoughts between people without using the basic five senses. There is a huge difference, however, between having a creepy feeling that someone is watching you and being able to pick the plans for a nuclear reactor out of an unsuspecting scientist's mind. Mental telepathy covers a huge range of abilities from very basic to fairly complex. This article will attempt to explain the different levels of mental telepathy.

KINESICS COMMUNICATION:

Whenever two people communicate without speaking, using body language or facial expressions instead, it is considered non-verbal communication or kinesics. Some people are able to communicate simple messages while others are able to communicate entire conversations using kinesics. You may have experienced this when giving looks to a cohort in a secret plan of action. Achieved easiest and most accurately between people who know each other well, kinesics involves knowing what the other person is thinking by non-verbal gestures or kinesics.

This may not count as mental telepathy, as the two people are using their senses to communicate, just not verbally and this is correct. However, mental telepathy plays a role, because their minds are more attuned to each other because of extended exposure to the way the others mind may think and some predictability comes into play, so there is a sort of mental connection. Two people that know each other well enough to understand more subtle body language, or have created nonverbal signals to communicate, might be argued that it is not be classified as mental telepathy.

EMPATHY:

Through empathy it is possible to directly experience the emotions of others or connect on an emotional level. Putting yourself in another's shoes' and understanding how they feel is not something everybody is able to do. Training and practice can increase empathy. Imitating the emotions of others, even to the point of spontaneously laughing or crying is something actors and sociopaths can do everyday.

Sympathetic pain or truly feeling the pain of the other person is often experienced by many. This can be particularly prevalent in mothers who even develop a fever when their children are sick. There are times when close friends or relatives actually feel the pain whether it's emotional or physical or even mental of the other person. Then there is something known as long distance empathy which all of us have known and experienced at one time or the other. This happens when some one real close to us has problem or gets hurt or even is in danger and is somewhere else and we feel their pain and emotion.

Psychologists write off such empathetic phenomena as a simple trick of an overactive imagination. At the very least, they do have a point that other senses are being used. Would we be able to feel the sympathetic pain of a broken arm, for example, if we could not actually see the injury? This does not explain, however, the phenomena of long-distance empathy.

CONCRETE CONCEPTS:

There is another kind of telepathy which involves sending and receiving concrete symbols and objects between two people. Here advanced mental telepathy is involved and it is a phenomena outside the five senses. This kind of mental telepathy involves a lot of training, concentration and practice. There is a receiver and a sender involved in this.

The simpler the concept, the easier it is to communicate through thought alone. For example, a color or shape may be easier to convey than an animal.

Zener cards often used in mental telepathy test are an example of this principle. Simple, concrete black-and-white symbols (a circle, square, star, plus sign, and three wavy lines), gives even a random guess a 20% chance of being right. On the other hand, a shared, known, limited set of concrete symbols may increase the coordination of the thoughts between sender and receiver. A success rate of 50% or higher (which have happened) can not be explained away by simple statistics, but may indicate a level of mental telepathy, instead.

ABSTRACT CONCEPTS:

Mental telepathy at this level involves abstract concepts like ideas or actions, which are more complex to communicate than colors and shapes. Telepaths rarely achieve this level, and lower success rates are indicated in experiments.

Telepathy shouldn't be ruled out when it comes to animals that seem to communicate ideas to each other through non-verbal actions. Because animal brains lack prefrontal lobes, telepathy would probably not go beyond simplistic ideas such as hunger or danger signals, but many have seen two dogs look at each other and go running for an almost pre-decided location.

There is a theory that humans were once capable of telepathy, but lost it as the species evolved and developed language. If this is true, then with the right stimulation humans should be able to 'relearn' this dormant ability.

However, there are some who feel that man may be able to develop ESP and telepathy and such psychic abilities in the near future. As man's psychic powers grow it may be possible for the entire race to become telepathic in the future. - 31877

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A Party Band Will Turn Your Party Into An Amazing Event!

By Katherine Clark

It like so many others, you're in a position where you need to choose a party band but you have no idea as to how you should go about it, then you'll be glad to know that this article can be a great stepping stone. Obviously, if you're responsible for coordinating a special event, whether it's a wedding reception, or whether it's a corporate function, you need to ensure that the band you hire is capable of providing entertainment which the majority of people will find appealing.

The most important thing of all with regards to a large social gathering is to ensure that everyone who is invited has a fantastic time. As long as you choose a good band for the event, you can be sure your guests will thoroughly enjoy themselves. That is why this article aims to provide you with some help and advice in terms of choosing a suitable party band.

First and foremost, if you want to make sure that your guests will appreciate the band you choose, you should seriously consider speaking to a number of guests prior to hiring a band. This will give you a better idea as to what sort of music most of the guests enjoy. Unfortunately, it seems to be that many event coordinators tend to put their own preferences first rather than those of the guests.

Speaking to your guests beforehand will not only help you to determine what sort of music the vast majority prefer, but it will also go a long way in terms of building up excitement prior to the event taking place. In most cases you'll discover that most of the guests tend to prefer one sort of music over the rest. Of course, if after you've interviewed the guests and you've come to realize that many of them enjoy a variety of music, then you need to ensure that your chosen band is capable of playing different types of music.

Another important point to take into consideration is whether or not you intend the band to be the highlight of the event, or if you simply want them to provide background music. If for example you're organizing a company function then you'll probably want a band to provide soft background music so that those in attendance will still be able to socialize easily with each other.

On the other hand, if you're organizing a wedding reception or a birthday bash then you'll probably want the band to be the primary source of entertainment. In other words, once you know exactly what purpose the band should serve, you'll be able to make an informed decision regarding the type of band you should hire for the event. Of course, you should also bear in mind that irrespective of what type of band you choose, they will all take periodic breaks, so you should determine whether or not they will be able to play recorded music during such intervals.

Next, you should consider the level of expertise of the band that you are planning to hire. There are many different ways that you can do this. First, you can ask that the party band submit a resume outlining their experience. Next, you may inquire about references. Many bands may even have a CD or DVD video that highlights their musical specialties.

As you can no doubt imagine, it's crucial to determine a band's a level of expertise before you get them to perform. Ideally, you need to determine that they are indeed professional, and you should also determine how long they've been playing together for. Also, considering most such bands have their own website, you should be able to view their biography online.

Admittedly, there are several things you need to take into consideration when choosing a party band, but of course this is something which needs to be done in order to ensure that the band of your choice will be capable of entertaining your guests. For this reason, you should also always insist on the band signing a contract outlining details such as time, duration, location, dress codes, and code of conduct. Providing you follow the tips and advice mentioned in this article you'll be able to have total peace of mind in knowing that the band of your choice understands what's expected of them. - 31877

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Should You Landscape Your Garden?

By Owen Jones

If you have more than a small town garden, then landscaping your garden will probably be one of your considerations. If you have just acquired the property, or you think that it is time for a garden make-over, there are methods of going about it. The easiest way of going about planning a garden, is to first take a good look at the landscape of your garden. This can be difficult if the garden is established and in full bloom.

Therefore, it can be better to wait until autumn or winter, so that you can see the true lie of the land. You could make a plan of the garden on graph paper and take a load of photos too. Identify the photos on the back of them and relate them to the grid on your graph paper. There may be bumps and hollows, potholes, rocky areas and even a marsh or a pond to cope with.

These are probably natural features and if you want to alter them, you will have to tackle the fundamental cause. The feature is only the symptom. Like freckles or spots! If you look at the state of affairs in this way, it makes planning simpler.

For example, a rocky patch probably means that the Earth is throwing stones up gradually and if you want to clean it up, you will be picking up stones for the rest of your life. Similarly, if your wet area is the result of natural drainage from higher ground, you will have to drain it and put in permanent drainage, because it is not going to stop raining for you.

So, you can either work with nature or you will be working against it for the rest of your life. Either that or paying someone else to do it for you. Another point is that the wildlife that uses your area does so because of how it is. If you change the landscape, your current range of wildlife might move on or just die. A lot depends on how much land we are talking about, but in general, I would say that the larger the plot, the more you should leave it alone.

On the other hand, you can put in features more easily than remove them. For example, if you have an area with poor soil, you could enrich it with fertilizer or put a pond there. Shade and existing fences or sheds should also be marked on your graph paper, although being man-made, these are simpler to do away with or alter.

Next you should make up your mind what type of garden you want, within the constraints of the existing landscape, how much work you are willing to put into it and how much money you want to spend on it. Improving the natural elements of the land is the simplest way of landscaping your garden.

If you have a swampy area, why not put a low wall around it and turn it into a pond? If you have a rocky patch, why not gather up the stones and create a rockery? If you have a couple of trees, try growing wisteria, honeysuckle or vines through them.

If you are in the shade, buy flowers that prefer the shade and vice-versa. It is a effort to go against nature and unless you have a good cause to do it, it is not really worthwhile. Then build a patio or deck and sit outside and enjoy all the landscaping that you have saved yourself in your garden. - 31877

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Look Into The Past Life To Understand The Present

By Glenda Burns

Does it feel like you have mental blocks that are preventing you from advancing in life? This psychic chaos may be the result of unresolved issues in your past lives that are now affecting your current life. Past life regression is a therapeutic technique that uses hypnosis to help you recover memories from your previous lives. Some people consider a look at the past life harmless fun, a chance to see who they were before their current life. Most people, however, seek answers to challenges that continue to confront them.

Regression therapy was first mentioned in ancient India in the Upanishads. Sometime later, scholar Pantanjali studied and wrote about it extensively. His theory was that as the soul traveled from life to life, it accumulated karma. An exploration of previous lives could reveal wisdom that would prove to be helpful in the current life.

Access to buried memories can be gained a few ways. One way is to visit a hypnotherapist who will put you under hypnosis. While hypnotized, the therapist will ask you a series of questions that reveal who you were in the past. It is a painless procedure. However, many patients reported that the memories were so real it felt like they were living them over again.

The second way to delve into your past is through the use of recorded guided meditations. The audio recordings are designed to guide the patient into a meditative state where they can access their own deep well of memories from previous lives. However, if you are not used to meditating it could take a few tries before you begin experiencing results.

Each option has its own set of benefits and consequences and which one you choose depends on your level of comfort and experience with regression therapy. If you are squeamish about trying to do it yourself or you have never regressed to a previous life before then getting a hypnotherapist to help you may be your best bet. If you have experience with regression therapy or you already meditate on a daily basis then using the audio programs may be just right for you.

Regression therapy can help you clear out psychic clutter that has been holding you back from the success you have been craving. You'll see yourself differently and may experience an increase in self confidence. Deep emotional problems, hangups or phobias will seem to ease up and may eventually just fade away. You may also experience an improvement in your general health and well-being.

Like most alternative therapies, past life regression has its share of critics. The skeptics declare it an invalid science because the information patients give cannot be confirmed or inaccurate information is given. Although regression therapy is not perfect, it has helped many people move past mental blocks that were in their way of achieving emotional and spiritual growth.

Taking a journey into the past life can be very rewarding. It is worth trying at least one time. Who knows it could be the very thing you needed to move forward in your current life. - 31877

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Picnic Or Barbecue?

By Owen Jones

Are you thinking of throwing a party in the near future, but are not sure whether to have a picnic in the park or a barbecue party at home? People do enjoy both kinds of party, although some may have a first choice. One of the big differences between a picnic and a barbecue is often the food.

After all, you are usually permitted to have a barbecue and cook food in your own backyard, but there may be bylaws on cooking food on an open fire in a park or picnic site for fire safety purposes, so most people take pre-cooked meats and sandwiches.

There are advantages and disadvantages to both kinds of party, but we will start by looking at the food aspect, as most parties centre around food. An advantage of having a picnic is that you will be able to muck in with your fellow picnickers more, because you will have already cooked the chicken wings and legs and completed the sandwiches the night before.

You will have bags of sausage rolls and small cakes and all you will have to do is lay them out for people to help themselves. If you run out of sandwiches, people can make their own with the sliced bread that you will have brought just in case.

The disadvantages of a picnic are that you also have to tie your time up the day before making all the food and you will need transport to get there with your hampers, bottles, flasks, plates, beakers, tissues, flannels towels and whatever else you normally take with you. People may not even like your selection of sandwiches and if you let them make their own with what you provide, there could be a terrible mess. Your sandwiches could also curl up overnight of go off in the heat of the day or in the back of the car. This is a particular danger with pork, chicken and eggs.

You may have to erect a tent or rig up a shelter for those who can not stand strong sunlight. You may also have trouble with ants and wasps and the toilet facilities are often dreadful. Also if it starts to rain, you have little choice but to pack up and leave for home or a pub

Barbecue food on the other hand is cooked there and then and cannot go off. The only danger is under cooking, but it is not too hard to get it right. There is not much chance of preparing vast quantities more than you need either as the chef will see when his food is not being taken away.

This is one of the disadvantages of barbecuing though, someone needs to stand there all day and cook, although this can be done in turns and there is usually a string of men eager to show off their expertise as a barbecue chef.

With a barbecue you have the advantage of shelter if it rains and the toilets are better than in the park and if it gets cool later on in the evening, you could use a patio heater to extend the party. - 31877

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The Perfect Barbecue

By Owen Jones

The three most essential elements of any barbecue party are the guests, the weather and the food. I can not make recommendations about your friends and family, you are on your own there, but I hope you will find my suggestions for the other two fronts practical.

An unplanned party in the garden is great and often the best parties are the ones that just happen off the cuff, but if you want something a little more formal or more notable then you have to organize. The first step is to pick a date far enough in the future for most people to be unlikely to have a prior engagement, but not so far that they might forget about your barbecue party.

Depending on where you live of course, try to pick a date when it is not likely to be cool or wet. This is hard in places like the UK, but may be easier where you live. If the party goes on into the night it may get chilly anyway and you could hire a few gas patio heaters in advance just in case. You could also have a sunshade or sheltered seating area in case of blazing sunshine or a light shower.

These days many people are vegetarian and you will have to plan in advance for them and other dieters, if they make up a sizable number of your guests. You could send out RSVP invitations and ask your guests to make known any special dietary requirements. I am not really suggesting that you have to cater to everybody, but if you have a lot of Jews or Arabs coming you will need to provide an alternative to pork chops and of course there are other minorities too.

In fact, you may have to do some investigation into the religions of the people coming to your barbecue party, because often cooking utensils may not have touched pork of meat or shellfish. Most people of the guests with these dietary needs will have been in this situation before and will appreciate if you go some way to providing an alternative.

For this reason, you will have to get your RSVP cards back at least a week before your barbecue party and do a bit of investigation on the telephone or the Internet. Then start preparing the barbecue side dishes. These should include baked or and boiled jacket potatoes and potato salad, baked beans, egg quarters and coleslaw along with pickles, relish, onions, chutneys tomato and curry sauces (hot and not so hot), as most people will eat them. These can be got ready a few days in advance and kept in Tupperware boxes in the fridge. Bread in the form of buns is also important so that people can make sandwiches.

It is important for a slick operation, to have your party area fully prepared before your guests arrive. it is a good idea to set the music system up in the garden shed or the garage to protect it it from any sudden shower. Provide plenty of tissues for wiping greasy fingers and plenty of bins for the debris. Finger bowls with lemon water would be useful for this objective too. - 31877

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Panic Alarms For Home And Business Security Systems

By Owen Jones

In all probability, every home and every business would benefit from the protection of a panic alarm. Breaks-in are common enough, but with people living longer the chances of stroke or heart attack have risen too. If you were living alone it would be awful to be lying on the ground incapacitated for hours. Panic alarms are the solution. They can be sited in a handy location or worn around your neck.

These are not the kind of personal alarms that emit a high pitched whistle or siren sound. Those alarms are meant to discourage criminals on the street or to draw attention to the user. No, I mean a device that triggers your home security system. it does not create a noise of its own, but communicates with the main security control box by some sort of radio signal.

Some of these panic alarms do not trigger the main security siren, but instead send a message to a monitoring security company. These so-called silent panic alarms are most often used in banks, firearms shops and places that handle lots of ready money. However, any business could use a silent panic alarm. Household alarm systems usually activate the external siren in order to signal your neighbours that you are experiencing problems.

Panic buttons are especially helpful to the elderly or and infirm. Sometimes, people fall and cannot get up. You could also have a heart attack or stroke and not be able to make it to the phone. A panic button on a card around your neck would solve this problem. Some of these panic buttons are monitored too and others even have a microphone and speaker so that you can speak to an operator and explain your situation.

Some of these panic buttons have a keypad so that you can send codes to the operator. Other systems have been built into watches and brooches in order to make them easier to wear. If you wear your panic alarm, it is much less easy to forget to take it with you when you go upstairs or into the garden.

If you can afford security, you really ought to have a system, as good as you can afford, installed into your home and business. A panic alarm is a useful extra item for home and office use too, but it is especially reassuring to the elderly. Many older people are frightened of falling when they are in the house alone and fear of burglars or worse is a constant worry. A panic alarm linked to the main home siren is also a reassurance to women living alone.

If you do get a home security system with a panic button, make sure that you keep a spare battery near at hand and check that the battery in the device has not become depleted. You should also advise the neighbours you get on best with that you have a home security set-up and that they should come to your aid or phone the police, if they hear your home security siren and see the flashing light. - 31877

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Stopping Common Indoor Bugs

By Owen Jones

Some of the commonest bugs we see indoors anywhere in the world are flies, spiders, fleas and beetles. No-one likes to have insects indoors, so most people will go to just about any extremes to eradicate these common indoor bugs. The less common indoor bugs may be woodlice, earwigs, scorpions and millipedes or centipedes, although they are no less wanted.

It does not matter where you are in the world, it can be very difficult to keep these common indoor bugs outside, unless you go to the extremes of keeping all your windows and doors shut all of the time, which is obviously impossible. I now live in Thailand and I know for sure that this is not possible.

So, just what can you do about it? Well, let's deal with all the flying bugs first, as of all the common indoor bugs, I find them the most obnoxious indoor bug. They are very annoying, buzzing around your head and mosquitoes and other flies can produce irritating sores and besides that, all flies spread disease. I cannot bear to see them walking on food, knowing that they have probably just come off some dung heap somewhere and now they are spitting on my food to taste it with their dirty feet!

My first line of defence is fine-mesh door and widow screens. They are not expensive and can be added retrospectively to any window. My window meshes slide, so they can cover only one half of a window at a any one time, but I do not find that a problem. You can still create cross-winds, by opening two or more windows at opposite sides of a room. I just love to see the flies on the mesh trying to get in by day and the mosquitoes doing the same by night. At night, it is wise to turn on as little light indoors as possible so as not to draw these common indoor bugs.

My second line of defence is natural predators - lizards, like Geckos (Jin Jok, in Thai). Some people don't like them in the house much either and I can't say that I'm all that keen on them indoors myself, but they are hard to keep outside and they do consume hundreds, if not thousands, of indoor bugs every day. I particularly like to see them lying in wait on the outside of the mesh, ready to jump on any bug trying to struggle its way through the wires.

My third line of defence is an indoor bug zapper. You know, the electric, handheld bug zapper that looks like a toy tennis racquet. They are brilliant at catching and destroying any flying indoor bug. The inset literally explodes and vaporizes on contact with the fully-charged wires of the indoor bug zapper. If you haven't tried using one, you really should. They are most satisfying. These three defences keep our house quite much free of flies.

The crawling common indoor insects are less of a problem really. Door screens on self-closers will keep 99% of them out and the Geckos will help too. Spiders can get in very easily, but then, I don't mind them too much as long as they keep away from me, as they consume other insects too. They are on our side to be honest. However, for those who can not bear to trap them and throw them outside, the handheld indoor bug zapper works a treat on spiders too.

Sometimes, Fleas can be a problem, if you have cats or dogs, but then if you wash or dust the animal once a month, you should be able to keep these common indoor bugs under control fairly easily. However, there are two final measures that we use. Every week, before we go out for the day, we spray every room with fly killer and every six-months we spray any rugs or carpets with a bug killer containing permethrin, which will survive washing and vacuuming for that long without losing its ability to kill common indoor bugs on contact. If you stick with these methods, you will be able to keep your home or office quite free of the most common indoor bugs and any less common indoor bug as well. - 31877

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