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Archive for December, 2007

The Art of Listening Music

Tuesday, December 25th, 2007

“Music is a discipline, and a mistress of order and good manners, she makes the people milder and gentler, more moral and more reasonable”- Martin Luther (1483 - 1546)

When a human being born, the first thing he or she experiences is the surrounding sound. From then to the end of life we live in a world which is full of sound. But there is a basic difference between hearing and listening. What we here is not exactly what we listen. While hearing can be called as a process of entertaining different source of sound, the listening is none other than an art. It’s an art of acquiring happiness through different sounds. It needs lots of attention, a beautiful mind to see the beauty of sound through ones mind, a great adoptability to feel and understand that beauty.

Music is a mental food. It caters our taste bud of our mind. If delicious food is to tongue then good music is to our beautiful mind. To get the joy of eating someone needs to have a tasty approach for tasty food. Likewise to be a good listener one needs to develop a very sensitive penchant for music. Since listening is always different from hearing, someone must be able to hone own self to be a good listener. Since to acquire and adopt a sensibility for any kind of art we need to train and learn, we must develop and give a shape to our mind so much so that we can appreciate and capture the mood of music. To go deep in to the mood and essence of music one must open up their mind to the aesthetics of music and then devote the whole mind set and psychology to it. Music is a very exquisite form of performing art. So to be a part of it, the listeners also must be very sensitive. To grow that sensitivity, to understand the philosophy of music and to enjoy the beauty of music, at the out set one must go through the conditioning of inner feelings towards it. One must be literate enough to be a good listener. It is the literacy of adopting and acquiring pulse and sense for good music. Music itself has its own grading and class. So it’s another angle, what kind of music would we prefer to make our mind delighted.

There are different genres of music. And every genre has its own characteristics. Genre to genre different music has different tastes. So it is equally important which class is to attend. Listening Beethoven or Mozart’s symphony can not be compared to listening Rock music or Blues. Listening Jazz is different from listening any folk music. Indian classical music is different from western music. So it’s all about a listener’s choice and his passion which way to turn around and become sensible for the art of listening music. Whatever it might be, the focal point of adopting and mastering the art of listening music is to develop and create a highly sensitive mind. Oliver Wendell Holmes said, “Take a music bath once or twice a week for a few seasons, and you will find that it is to the soul what the water bath is to the body”. So to feel every freshness in mind one needs to bath a fresh for the art of listening music, what is sometime referred to as the elixir of human life.

Old Rockers Never Die

Wednesday, December 19th, 2007

“How can you consider flower power outdated? The essence of my lyrics is the desire for peace and harmony. That’s all anyone has ever wanted. How could it become outdated?”-  Robert Plant, lead singer, Led Zeppelin

On 10th of December legendary rock band Led Zeppelin performed their old magic in O2 Arena in London. Like a vintage wine they enthralled and mesmerized 20 thousand people with same vigor they had some 20 years ago when they had their last stage show in 1980.Led Zeppelin is one of that rare kind of rock band who still reckon with their incomparable voice and music. Defying age and time they decided to come back where they were belong to, the stage where under the illusion of light they made every rock & roll mad twist and twirl with the amazing voice of Robert Plant and eternal guitar riffs of Jimmy Page and John Paul Jones. With almost, the same power and energetic tempos of all the old songs, Led Zeppelin made another history which they have been a part of itself. The legacy of the golden age of rock & roll still goes on and gracing the whole rock & roll aficionado all over the world. They performed Stairway to Heaven, Whole Lotta Love, Since I’ve been Loving You, Kashmir, Good Times Bad Times, Misty Mountain Hop and many more from their legendary bouquet of songs with their iconic thunderous energy and urge to set fire on the stage and the fans.

Like Led Zeppelin, across the globe those old veteran rock & roll legends and bands that started translating their musical passion into musical phenomenon still gigging defying old age, odd and bad times. One of the legendary rock band of all time Scorpions now out for a world tour with their Humanity Hour began their journey long way back to 1965 when the then teenage German boy Rudolf Schenker tried to catch his dreams of playing guitar and singing. It became Scorpions 1969 when his younger brother Michael Schenker and a singer who later became a legendary vocalist of all time by the name Klaus Meine. From their first album Lonesome Crow in 1972 to their latest Humanity Hour I, it’s really a long journey but for the decades they have been making their fans spellbound with their music. During their album Animal Magnetism Klaus Meine suffered a throat problem and he had to undergo surgery in his voice box. There was doubt whether Meine would able to sing again. But with all effort and god’s grace Meine recovered and bounded back to the stage not only for the moment but till today he is crooning the whole rock & roll fan hood with his phenomenal voice. Despite many ins and outs of members Scorpions is still regarded as one of the finest rock band the world ever have. Though at present they are on world tour with comparatively two new members bassist Pawel Macioda and drummer James Kottak the old trio of Rudolf, Meine and Matthias Jabs have become legends of the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.

Outside America and Britain one who became history with all their prodigious talent is the Irish band U2.Formed in 1976 in Dublin this band over the years has established themselves as one of the most loved and successful band of all time. From their first studio album Boy in 1980 to the last How to Dismantle an Atomic Bomb in 2004 U2’s journey is one to be remembered with love. With 22 Grammy Awards they have surpassed any other bands in the history of rock & roll. Apart from their musical superlative they have become famous and earned much accolades for their concern over the eradication of poverty, disease and social injustice.

Another rock band which made us mad by their amazing stuff is none other than the Eagles, the American band who started their journey on the long road out of Eden in 1971! On 1 st of April Linda Ronstadt recruited Glen Frey, Don Hanley, Bernie Leadon and Randy Meisner for her touring band and they toured with Linda for two months. Later encouraged by Linda they decided to start their own and signed with Asylum Records, a new label started by a person who himself later became part of rock & roll history as David Geffen. Their first single Take It Easy reached 12 th position in the US billboard followed by Witchy Woman at 9th. With so many famous songs like legendary Hotel California, Life in the Fast Lane, Tequila Sunrise,I Can’t Tell You Why, James Dean, Heartache Tonight, Best of my Life, One of these Night, New Kid in Town the Eagles became one of the most outstanding rock band of all time. Like other famous bands Eagles also could not escape breaking of band. In 1980 all they had were over. One of the founders Glenn Frey later wrote to Don Henley that he started the band, he got tired of that and he decided to quit. But music did not let them to go into oblivion. After almost a decade they reunited again in 1994 and performed live at Warner Burbank Studio. They presented their fans one more fabulous album titled The Eagles: Hell Freezes Over. And in 1998 this legendary band was inducted into the Rock & Roll Hall of Fame.They still did not stop and this year they have released their first studio album since 1979 titled Long Road Out of Eden. Its title song How Long has already reached top one position in U.S. Billboard Bubbling Under Hot 100 chart.

Apart from these bands those who graced the history of rock & roll with their charismatic talent and mastery some of the individuals also still gigging in the scenario of world of music. Eric Clapton, Elton John, Carlos Santana, Paul McCartney, Phil Collins, former Pink Floydian Roger Water and David Gilmour to name a few. In the words of Scorpions they are still rocking like a hurricane. Still we take the stairway to heaven and get the solace with these legends’ amazing music and their eternal musical demeanor. Like the old wine with time they become more and more tastier and pleasant ever before.

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T’ai Chi and Weight Loss

Wednesday, December 12th, 2007

Most people don’t connect “burning calories” with T’ai Chi because T’ai Chi is so slow and effortless — most of those who practice T’ai Chi don’t even break a sweat — but T’ai Chi can be a great adjunct to a healthy diet program for a number of reasons.

* Despite it’s slow and gentle pace, T’ai Chi burns about 280 calories per hour, nearly as many as downhill skiing (350 calories per hour). Moreover, T’ai Chi is very safe, low-impact, takes no equipment, and can be performed in the conference room at work during break time or even in the bathroom when you sneak off for an unofficial stress break.

* T’ai Chi helps cleanse the body of stress. If you’ve ever had a tough day and decided to drown your sorrow in a pizza or hot fudge sundae, you know that stress is a major cause of “nervous snacking.” T’ai Chi and Qigong’s deep stress-reduction qualities can help “process” stress so that you don’t have to cover it up with empty calorie snack food.

* Some of us also use food to alleviate depression. Research shows that T’ai Chi can reduce depression and anxiety. If you perform T’ai Chi when you get home from work, you can dump your stress load. Then a nice apple or mango might sound much better than a bag of chips. When you aren’t stressed, you can enjoy subtle, healthful flavors.

* T’ai Chi may help you acquire the figure or weight you want. T’ai Chi takes the emphasis off external appearances. When you do T’ai Chi the goal is to enjoy the feeling of motion and breath from the “inside.” T’ai Chi is done to specifically lose weight; it’s done because it feels good. Effortlessly you can enjoy the process of exercise and subtly begin to teach yourself that you are a worthy and vibrant being from the inside out, rather than judging and criticizing how you look in the mirror.

* Most people find that when they practice T’ai Chi regularly their metabolism becomes more effective. Studies show that T’ai Chi promotes homeostasis in all levels of our physical health. It improves breathing capacity, circulation and micro-circulation; provides cardiovascular benefit; and improves immune system responses. It isn’t surprising that our digestive and metabolic processes would function more healthfully as well by practicing T’ai Chi.

There are many good healthy diet programs, and T’ai Chi does not compete with them; it works with them. Studies show that change is stressful even “good change.” As you begin a new life with a healthful diet program, T’ai Chi may be the perfect addition to help you ease through the life changes a new diet requires.

T’ai Chi also gives you a powerful stress management, calorie-burning activity to get you through the rough spots of any diet. T’ai Chi can be done at any time and anywhere without special clothing. Rather than denying yourself foods you want, T’ai Chi can replace the old food cravings with something new, fresh, wholesome and soothing.

ABOUT THE AUTHOR:
Bill Douglas is the Tai Chi Expert at DrWeil.com, Founder of World T’ai Chi & Qigong Day (held in 60 nations each year), and has authored and co-authored several books including a #1 best selling Tai Chi book The Complete Idiot’s Guide to T’ai Chi & Qigong. Bill’s been a Tai Chi source for The Wall Street Journal, New York Times, etc. Bill is the author of the ebook, How to be a Successful Tai Chi Teacher (Namasta University Publishing). You can learn more about Tai Chi & Qigong, search a worldwide teachers directory, and also contact Bill Douglas at http://www.worldtaichiday.org

Empowering Feminine Energy

Wednesday, December 12th, 2007

So often in our world we tend to think of strength as a quality that arises from a place of firm determination and a will to succeed no matter the cost. Even though we might want to think of a strong woman as being defined in this way, what really makes a woman confident is her capacity for listening to her true self and being able to call upon her feminine wisdom to any situation that may arise. A woman does not need to step into an assertive role or act like a man in order to be effective at what she does—she simply needs to get in touch with her insight and sense of compassion to truly demonstrate the depth of her strength.

Listening to the feminine side of ourselves may not seem easy at first for this type of energy is something that is often overlooked in many aspects of our everyday lives. If we can connect with this part of who we are, however, we will find that there is an unlimited wellspring of strength available to us. Our capacity to tap into our intuition and listen to our inner guides, to take into account the needs of those around us, and to view a situation with compassion and love are ways that we can show the world the true power that is part of our feminine nature. When we learn to integrate this source of strength into our daily tasks and decision-making, we will find that we can be more flexible and open to the things that happen around us and more receptive to new ideas. Not only will we see the world in a different light, but we will truly start to realize the potential for this form of energy to both empower ourselves and those around us.

As we cultivate our feminine energy we can redefine the meaning of strength. By embracing our feminine power as something that is strong in its own right, we are able to use it with true assurance and determination and draw upon what truly belongs to us.

The Open Secret (Read It At Your Own Risk !)

Wednesday, December 12th, 2007

It seems my mother knew everything… As a kid i used to come running home from school to show my report card. I fared extremely well in the exams. ” I am aware of all this…” my mother would coolly reply. When i grew up and got my first job i was thrilled and dashed home with boxes of sweets. ” I already knew about all this….” my mother laughingly replied….I did not quite understand then what she meant when she said that she is aware of all this and already knew about it… I thought she meant she was so confident of my abilities and knew that i would fare well in the exams and get great jobs… I was wrong, that was not what she meant……

The director of a movie shoots the film,records it,edits it  and then releases it for public viewing. The movie has already been shot by the director,  and all the events have already occurred before the whole world sees it on the big screen…. What you see in the movie later is nothing but a replay, a recording of the events …..

Have you ever had an intuition that a close friend of yours is going to call you or  something very interesting and exciting is going to come your way, or the fact that a bad event is going to occur in the next few days…..? If you did have any such intuition and it came true, it goes to prove that the external event has already been shot and clicked somewhere else and what happened later is nothing but a replay, a recording of the event….

Here is the opening secret my dear friend .It is said by some of the great spiritual leaders that everything that happens in this world has already occurred in an another world… Every event that you encounter in your real life has already happened in a different world… The external world is a  movie theatre where you as a spectator watch your own movie being replayed. This movie has already been shot by you,directed and edited by your own being and your past actions at some other place, at some other destination…

Take any event in your life and try to work backwards till you get to the source of the event. You will find that the event first occurred in your mind. On further probing you will understand that the reason you thought about it was because something deep inside of you allowed your mind to think about it. Most of the people stop their investigations here.. They define “something deep inside of you” as your genuine intention which propelled your mind to think about it and forced you to take action.. We are lazy enough not to dig further deep in. This is the reason all these mysterious and humorous words like Soul,Intention,Spirituality,Holistic,Sixth Sense and all these have been coined… I call it humorous because the child laughs at these words and adults have no clue what this is all about…

We want someone else to shoot and edit our own movie and direct it for us.Shameful isn’t it? We only want to watch it happen in this world and we think it is all real and happening for the first time… If only we could have gone a bit further and tried to identify the source of our intention, the place from where all these things springs, we could have directed far better movies and watched many of them turn out to be great hits in the real world….

The best part of all this knowledge is that once you manage to get into this real studio of life where the film is first shot you can excercise complete control over the movie. You can turn good events into great, remove the sting of  every bad event and turn the whole movie around… It is possible definetely possible….

I am sure You can deliver a big time hit this year.Dig deep in right now and explore the wonderful facets of your personality today . My mother knew everything but I had discovered a secret route to get into the real studio and direct my first hit movie and so can you.

Helping Those With Negative Thoughts Find Inner Peace

Wednesday, December 12th, 2007

Ok, you went to a job interview and were rejected for the position. Thus, you walk out the door assuming that you are not smart enough to fill any position. You start to think that people think you are stupid. The fact is we all experience rejections in life, thus how you perceive makes a different as to how you will accept the rejection. When your mind is full of doubts and negative thoughts, it is difficult to find inner peace.

Most people with pessimism attitudes go through life battling their thoughts and emotions daily and some even find it difficult to sleep during night hours because the mind is not quiet. Thus, the problem with these thinkers is that they lack the ability to set goals and achieve them often therefore inner peace seems out of reach.

Consider your goals carefully. What you are doing to achieve your goals and how much effort are you putting into reaching your goals. Are your goals achievable; or are you setting goals that are out of your reach. On the other hand, do you have goals?

Putting your priorities in order will help you find peace, since if you are not organized then it brings forth chaos, which clutters the mind.

If you are having difficulty, finding quietness of mind you may want to set small goals for self and when you achieve the goals pat your self on the back for doing a good job. When you fail, rather than ponder on the failure, think about what you could have done to reach the goal.

Encouragement is an award to the mind. When a person feels good about them, self they often find peace in the mind. Peace is essential to finding happiness. When a person feels sad all the time, it weighs down the mind to the point it slips out of reality and into a self-pity state. Self-pity is what provokes negative thinking, thus if you think you are the only one dealing with rejections, or hurt from life, consider the many others in the world with far more problems than you.

Persons with negative thinking patterns miss inner peace, since they allow every little problem weigh down the mind. The person often beats self up when nothing goes his/her way. Thus, if you think of rejections on a negative level, you are heading down the road to misery rather than down the highway to inner peace.

No is a good thing sometimes. If you are turned down for a position, it may be in your best interest. What if you landed the job and found you could not handle the position? On the other hand, maybe you like to engage in activities that lead to harm. Possibly someone that loves you is telling you no because they care what happens to you.

Life is full of rejections and we all get our fair share. Therefore, turning rejections in to positive outlooks can help you find quietness of the mind, which is inner peace.

Now, have you reviewed your goals? Are the goals bigger than you are? Alternatively, are the goals inexistent? Considering your goals now and setting small goals for your self is the first step to finding inner peace. People need to feel good about self. When a person feels bad about self all the time, the mind is rumbling throughout the days and nights dishing out the negative thoughts, since you forced the mind to believe in such a way.

Once you write down your goals, next you will need to train your conscious mind to think positive. If a person is constantly doing something negative in life, thus negative results will occur. When the conscious mind is acting out emotionally, it can cause a person to feel depressed, which also prevents inner peace, since negative thinking comes out.

Thus, training the conscious to think positive includes taking out the problematic issues in the behaviors or habits that cause depression, or guilt. Once you clean up your mind, you will feel a measure of inner peace. Still, this is merely a start, thus continuing to make your mind behave positively will help you to reach your journey to total inner peace.

About the Author:Do you believe that you can attain anything your heart desires? I’m telling you, you can! The author uses and teaches will power and mind control for more than 10 years. Visit his website and learn how to unleash your full potential of your mind - just visit http://www.will-power-mind-control.com

Musings of Muse

Tuesday, December 11th, 2007

Through out the time muse has been a phenomenon in the world of creativity. In different times different creative people have been enthralled by their muses. So the very first question comes to someone’s mind is who is a muse? The wikipedia says, “In Greek mythology, the Muses are a sisterhood of goddesses or spirits, their number set at nine by Classical times, who embody the arts and inspire the creation process with their graces through remembered and improvised song and stage, writing, traditional music, and dance”. The Muses are the Greek goddesses who preside over the arts and sciences and inspire those who excel at these pursuits. Daughters of Zeus, king of the gods, and Mnemosyne (”memory”), they were born at Pieria at the foot of Mount Olympus. Their nurse, Eupheme, raised them along with her son, Crotus the hunter, who was transported into the sky as Sagittarius upon his death.

For a common reader a muse can be defined as a woman who provides a creative person immense inspiration and energy to create and shape his dreams, ideas and thoughts through their creative passions. When some masters of their own craft finds and falls in love and beauty of a woman, it leads his urge to translate his passions into a creative piece say a painting, a novel or a poetry or anything else which catches the eyes of others. Time after time and behind every creation they gyrate their minds of those worshipers of their beauty. The spellbound minds of those worshipers always find a way to create and dedicate their creative urge to them. They depict their muse in canvas, in the words, through rhymes and rhythms. Singer Amanda Lear inspired famous surrealist painter Salvador Dali. Dora Maar was the muse of none other than Pablo Picasso.Camille Claudel reverberated August Rodin for his curls and curves in his great sculptures. George Sand drove Chopin to create every canorous note in piano.Henry Miller crocheted his beautiful dreams Anais Nin is his mind.Famous Indian painter Maqbul Fida Hussein found his colours and forms in actress Madhuri Dixit. And the list goes on.

Through out the ages, muses- the elegant beautiful human creature have been mesmerizing different creative people of different genre to remain in their pinnacle of creativity with cool presence in their mind. They provide obsessions, they create waves of imagination, they inspire them with love beauty and elixir of creative lives.

Hair Speaks Volume

Monday, December 10th, 2007

Hey all you people out there. Winters are here, so what’s your fashion statement this season and for the coming year? Let me be your guide to the coolest hairstyles for the upcoming season and beyond that are here to stay but hey, only ladies read on.Hair is extremely pertinent in making a style statement today as it can literally make one look like a star rather than a just another in the crowd. What with places like Nalini and Yasmin, B:blunt, Juice that not only provide the service but are also institutes of hairstyling, personal grooming and lots more. The city is witnessing the uprising of a billion dollar industry obviously it’s us who pay for the billions anything between Rs.500-900 and above for a haircut depending upon the style and the stylist. Hey, but you’re worth it! Holding such an important place in our grooming, it is vitally important to know what’s in and what’s out. Listed below are four of the hottest and sexiest styles that experts are predicting will rule through 2007 and beyond.

The business cut:
This look is popular with women who want it simple and all-business, yet elegant. Its popularity is due to the fact that it takes little effort to stay in place and is really easy to manage, be the length long or short. Secure your hair into a neat ponytail or a bun for that smart-n-slick look. With women making it big in the corporate world, this hairstyle gives a sexy edge to the serious CEOs. In short it’s smart, sexy, chic and practical. Now can you get a better combo than that? You can see it on Hillary Clinton, and the first lady, Mrs. Bush and  if that’s heavy weight for you, checkout Demi Moore, Cameron Diaz and others sporting the practical and sexy look.
 
The Shaggy Look:
By far the most popular look this season, it’s definitely here to stay. This is for shoulder length to medium length hair that is styled to look messy, punky and sexy at the same time with lots ‘n’ lots of uneven layers and steps. It often combines cut-styles like layers, razor, and spikes to produce a fabulous outcome that gives you this just-out-of-bed look that is oh so hot this season. However the secret to this is to not wash the hair too often as it will dry it out and make it lose its natural shape. With this hairstyle your hair should be well nourished and conditioned for the layers to fall well and get the desired look every time you wash your hair. Expert advice is to use lots of conditioners, leave-in serums for best results. Depending on your adventure quotient, use gels and mousse to get it messier and funkier. But if that’s not your cup of tea then just wash &, condition well, apply some serum when semi dry and forget about it. No combing, no brushing. Better still do this at night and when you wakeup, voila! The perfect out-of-bed look that’s absolute no fuss and yet an absolute head turner. For added funk go for crazy streaking in shades like chilli red, flame red, pink, carrot orange, violet, purple…the palette is all yours to choose from. And bet on it, it’ll turn more heads than miss goody two shoes.
 
Long, sexy waves: Go Shakira!
This is for the less daring ladies, who prefer to keep it subtle, sweet and sexy. For one thing, after ruling the roost for so long finally perms have bade farewell to us n made way for long, loose waves that is just the in-thing for those lucky damsels with long tresses. To get this look, just wash your hair with a herbal shampoo and let the water drip off and soak lightly and let it dry naturally without combing. When it dries it would give you this scrunched look, then spray some mousse and scrunch it up with your hands and there you are all set to rock the party. As a personal touch try using dainty hair pins for that funky, ornate look. So go ahead try it out add in your touch and transform into a new you.
 
The Side Part:
Classic and trendy, the diagonal bang is high fashion style and oh so in!!! It will take a sexy, rock or punk variation giving your hairstyle a really glamorous touch. This style will remain popular, with the likes of Kirsten Dunst, Meg Ryan and others sporting it with much poise. Now here’s my final piece of advice, keep your personality and lifestyle in mind while choosing the look, be free with your hairstylist, let him or her know exactly what you are looking for, avoid harsh chemicals as much as possible and last but not the least - carry it with confidence, and you would definitely make heads turn. So what are you dudettes waiting for? Create your own style and carry it with confidence and poise!

Deadly Obsession

Monday, December 10th, 2007

What is the first thing that you tend to pronounce when you get up in the morning and look into the mirror? “Hmm…I do look good!”, or “Oh my God, I am soooo fat?”……”Don’t you know you put on more weight if you eat rice, potatoes, dal, meat at night???” or better still “Dinner??? Umm… you see I can’t sleep with a heavy stomach so…”! Now wait I am not trying to sound smart or cynical. If u tend to choose the last answers two options (even if u r reluctant to admit it) then hold it, u might be suffering from acute eating disorder.

With the advent of the west in our living rooms, thanks to the respected fashion channels and international fashion magazines! And what with the fashion fraternity representing victims of starvation, the norm of looking good with today’s generation is “slim is in”. And hey it is not only a girl-syndrome. A Lot of guys today are going on hazardous protein diets and all of those to get that perfect torso.

If you ask me, being conscious about health, diet and grooming at a young age (not all that young either; lets say from 17+) is a sign of sanity, so that we can avoid dying of food deprivation later in life (read old age), thanks to all the restrictions posed due to weak heart, weak digestion and god knows what else. Eating healthy while still at it helps in the long run but getting on a quest for achieving that perfect body, has started to take shape of a neurotic-obsession to the extent of being life threatening.

Terms like Anorexia, Bulimia, Binge-eating and compulsive-eating have started to be the order of the day, what with everybody pinning for that hour glass waistline or Schwarzenegger type muscles. Having an Eating Disorder is much more than just being on a diet. An Eating Disorder is an illness that permeates all aspects of each sufferer’s life, is caused by a variety of emotional factors and influences, and has profound effects on the people suffering. So let us understand in layman’s language what they are and how they affect you.

Anorexia nervosa:
It is the case where youngsters are more than convinced that they are grossly over weight and therefore adopt the shortest route to loosing weight-Stop eating! It shows how dumb one can get when they do not understand the basic fact that if it was ok for human beings to be alive and healthy without eating, then the world would have been so much a better place! But since it is not, let me tell you the reason why you are gaining weight- it is because you are one lazy bum who excels in cribbing and whining and takes short cuts in life that lead you no where. As a result a profound calorie deficit in combination with poor nutrition sets the stage for chemical imbalances, especially potassium that can cause fatal heart rhythms as well as protein deficiencies that can also be dangerous to the heart. Get it!!!

Bulimia:
Men and women who live with Bulimia seek out binge and purge episodes — they will eat a large quantity of food in a relatively short period of time and then use behaviors such as taking laxatives or self-induced vomiting. Bulimics are at risk for tooth decay due to the acidity of stomach contents, as they pass repeatedly through the mouth as well as rips in the esophagus that may result in potentially life threatening bleeding. They are also at risk for some of the same chemical disturbances described with AN.

Compulsive Overeating:
People suffering with Compulsive Overeating tend to get addicted to food in order to face emotional tension, stress etc. It is like using food and eating as a way to hide from emotions, to fill a void inside, and to cope with daily stresses and problems in life. The concept of comfort food arises from here, where we tend to seek comfort or diversion in eating to distract the mind from the emotional crisis or tension. And during these times they eat food like chocolates, sweets, chips, soft drinks, dry fruits etc. type guilt food and later tend to regret it and get into depression. A person suffering as a Compulsive Overeater is at health risk for a heart attack, high blood-pressure and cholesterol, kidney disease and/or failure, arthritis and bone deterioration, and stroke.

Binge Eating Disorder:
Binge Eating Disorder is a combination of symptoms similar to Compulsive Overeaters and Bulimia. A binge eater goes on consumption of an unusually large quantity of food in a short period of time (less than 2 hours), uncontrollably eating until they are uncomfortably full, but unlike Bulimia, they do not purge following a Binge episode. Watch out!
Look for the following symptoms to understand your eating order (or disorder)

  • I am so fat is the standard statement repeated over n over in a day especially at the vicinity of food.
  • You religiously boycott all favourites (hamburger, pizza, French fries, the list is endless.) But hey, only for a day or two. Suddenly you feel that you have controlled yourself for so long (say 2 days), so you can afford to binge. And there you go….
  • You have ten thousand and one reasons why you don’t want to eat: “I’m late for school/college! I’ll grab breakfast there.” “I am too busy to sit at the table for dinner. Save mine for later.”
  • Spend more and more time exercising, than normal.
  • “I don’t feel like eating anything ya….honestly or I am too full already!
  • Wanting to be a vegetarian (This is the ultimate). Hang on you haven’t turned animal lover overnight, have you? No, it’s just that last night you happened (!) to read how “caloritious” non-veg food is.

So if this article kind of gives you an idea that by following this bizarre diet of yours all you would end up doing is fall flat on your face in front of umpteen spectators or would damage some part of your anatomy, or better turn into a “lunatic”!! So move it, cut this crap of starving yourself… Eat healthy and be active. Consult a dietician and fitness instructor for specific instructions, especially to suit your body type and hey, there you go….trust me you would have felt and looked never better!!

DRY-MIXED VEG SALAD…. IN MINS!!!!- Here’s a salad recipe that is both, nutritious and perfect for the weight-conscious types.

INGREDIENTS:

  • Carrot juliennes ¾ cup
  • Baby con slice lengthwise 6-8
  • Sweet corn-1/2 cup
  • Broccoli florets a cup
  • Steam cook on the stove or microwave until crisp and tender.
    1 each of green, red and yellow bell peppers diced into cubes
  • 1 can kidney beans, rinsed and drained
  • 1/2 cup chopped celery
  • Dressing- Mix the following to get your dressing.
  • 1/2 cup lemon juice and olive oil mixture(1:1)
  • Fresh oregano and basil- ½ teaspoon each

DIRECTIONS:
Place the drained veges in a large bowl in a large bowl. Add kidney beans, celery, onion and peppers Pour over the dressing and toss. Refrigerate.

U can actually choose your own favourites but make sure to atleast 5 colourful options.
If u like, spread a bed of fresh lettuce in the bowl before putting the vegetables.

Step out of the box: Alternative careers

Monday, December 10th, 2007

Just graduated out of school/ college? Don’t know what to do? Does the 9-5, behind the desk pattern not appeal to you? Are you adventurous enough to take risks? Well, then read on, here are a few high-paying career options that are thriving and does not essentially require any formal qualification….just a vocational training, and earn a fat pay check by doing what you enjoy most. So which one of these is your colour from the palette??

Bartending

Weird it may sound and your parents might do a double take on this idea but bartending is one of the most popular and booming career in the West that hands you a real fat pay check….so if alcohol, adventure and partying excites you then go ahead, what’s better than going home with a fat pay after a month of partying? So let’s skim through the essentialities of taking up bartending as a career option. Bartending does not necessarily mean serving drinks only. Today bartending is a profession of creativity. Do you know that a bartender is required to know as many as 1000 drink recipes at any given time? And besides he should be able to fulfill his customers’ whims and create drinks according to their preference, but at the same time give it your own touch for that edge. After a certain year of service you become a walking encyclopedia of alcohol.

What do you do?

  • Obviously, serve standard drinks as well as create your own or to suit customer preference.
  • Check identification of customers to make sure they meet age requirements for purchase of alcohol. 
  • Create drink recipes.
  • Be creative in mixing ingredients to prepare drinks and prepare garnishes.
  • Determine when a customer has had too much alcohol and try to stop them from drinking more.
  • Order and maintain liquor and bar supplies. 
  • Manage bar operations and supervise staff.
  • Plan displays and bar menus to make the bar counter attractive.
  • Prepare appetizers, such as nuts, pickles, or cheese.
  • Serve food to customers seated at the bar.

Requirements:

  • A high school diploma or GED
  • To be at least 21 years old
  • On-the-job training
  • Excellent interpersonal and communication skills
  • Little or no previous work experience.

Hairstyling

Tell your father you wanna chop hair for a living and all you get is an angry look and a remark, “kya nai banna hai?” But today it’s a hot profession for those who tend to like the quirky, are willing to have fun while at work and be passionate about it. Today you don’t only chop hair in standard cuts….but style your clients’ hair as his/her preference by being creative and suggesting treatments to suit them. At some point or the other we do come across situations where we are just bored with what we see in the mirror and crave a complete change. That’s where a hairstylist steps in. He understands your requirements and suggests styles to suit your face and give some advice on how to maintain it and all of that. Today people have particular hairstylists, like they have family doctors, and they are more than glad to leave it on them to decide their new look. Greet your regular customers on first name basis; if they are regulars at the salon then learn as much as you can about them. Understand your clients’ needs well; be open to suggestions and ideas. Use models or photographs or computer graphics to help clients decide their look. You are required to check the condition of the customer’s hair and scalp. If you find a problem, advise your clients on how to improve the health of their scalp/hair; incase of contagious conditions, infections, etc. immediately advise them to see a doctor. As a stylist you need to know how to use various types of combs, brushes, scissors and razors, as well as clips, curling irons, hairspray, and flat irons etc.

What do you do?

  • Question customers about services, length, and style of haircut desired.
    Shampoo, rinse, and dry hair or hair pieces.
  • Advise customers to seek medical treatment for chronic or contagious scalp conditions. 
  • Cut, trim, and shape hair or hair pieces, using scissors and razors.
    Bleach, dye, or tint hair.
  • Apply setting or wave solution to hair and wind hair on rollers.
    Comb, brush, and spray hair or wigs to set style. 
  • Analyze customers’ hair and other physical features and recommend makeup.
    Order supplies, schedule work and appointments, and keep business records.
  • Create new makeup styles or haircutting techniques.
  • Update and maintain customer information records, such as hair colour or permanent wave solution.
  • May train or supervise other hairstylists, cosmetologists, or assistants.

Want To Become a Tattoo Artist?

Here’s How:

  • The first thing you need is raw talent. Someone who can’t draw or color inside the lines isn’t going to be a good candidate for being a tattoo artist. 
  • Then you need to hone your raw talent to develop talent into skill. Skill can come from fine art classes, working with a fellow artist, learning technique from books, or all of the above. On top of that, you need to practice, practice, and practice. 
  • Once you’re a competent artist on paper, you’ll need to build a portfolio. A portfolio is a case or binder containing examples of your art, to show your different skills.
    Then you need to find an apprenticeship - but not just any apprenticeship - you need to find the right one for you. One with a teacher you feel you can truly learn from - not someone just offering apprenticeships to make money. In addition to needing money for your apprenticeship, you will also need to be able to sustain yourself during training. Unless you are independently wealthy, you’ll need to hold down a regular job at the same time you are serving your apprenticeship. You will not be earning money in the shop during your training. 
  • Once you are an apprentice, you will learn many skills from your teacher, most of them having nothing to do with actual drawing. You will learn how to safely clean your equipment, how to operate a tattoo machine, how to adjust your power supply, how to protect yourself and your clients from disease, and last but not least - how to correctly apply a tattoo. This can take many months to learn completely. 
  • During your time as an apprentice, you will continue to practice and hone your drawing skills. You are not limited to only gaining knowledge from your teacher - you may also have the opportunity to spend time learning from other artists as well. Getting tattooed is a good way to watch and learn the techniques of other master tattoo artists. 
  • There’s no formal graduation from an apprenticeship. Generally, the teacher decides when the student is ready to venture off on their own. Sometimes a contract is signed at the beginning of the apprenticeship, but the terms may vary. But as long as you are not under a contract to continue for a certain length of time or prevented from working for a competing shop, you can decide to stretch your wings when you feel you have learned all you can from your teacher.

What You Need:

  • Talent and Skill
  • A Portfolio
  • Money & a Regular Job
  • Drive & Determination

Synopsis

Finding a good apprenticeship is not an easy task. You may have to visit several studios before you find someone willing to take you in. You may not find anyone in your area, and relocation might even be a consideration. But the fact remains that if this is what you really want, it is more than worth it to do it right! Learning how to tattoo on yourself is not only unwise, it is also dangerous. You must be properly trained in sterilization techniques and how to avoid harming the customers.