Pura Tanah Lot is also a very attractions on the island of Bali tessohor. Starting from a trip to Tanah Lot, you are going to feel happy sometimes uncomfortable. Starting from a trip to Tanah Lot, you are going to feel happy sometimes uncomfortable. My advice try to drive a motorcycle ride to get there. My advice try to drive a motorcycle ride to get there. You will be greeted by nature a very beautiful countryside, rice terraces that stretch, with a green tinge so refreshing your eyes, your eyes left and right in a very broad way you were treated especially the beautiful panorama, you will not be bored for about 45 minutes travel from Kuta. You will be greeted by nature a very beautiful countryside, rice terraces that stretch, with a green tinge so refreshing your eyes, your eyes left and right in a very broad way you were treated especially the beautiful scenery, you will not be bored for about 45 minutes travel from Kuta.
The air is also different from the air which tends to Kuta Beach hot, while you're driving in the area near the rice paddies you will be exposed by gentle wind is fresh and cool slightly. The water is also different from the water which tends to Kuta Beach hot, while you're driving in the area near the rice paddies you will be exposed by gentle wind is fresh and cool slightly. But it is different from the cold air in the mountains. But it is different from the cold water in the mountains. Only in this paddy field area is more oxygen rich because many plants along the way, the traffic was not too crowded except at the holiday season. Only in this Paddy field area is more oxygen rich because many plants along the way, the traffic was not too crowded except at the holiday season.
But do you know the Legend of Tanah Lot Temple itself? But do you know the Legend of Tanah Lot Temple itself? This is the story for you, it is said at the time of a royal tersebutlah majapahit Bhagawan named Dang Hyang Dang hyang Dwijendra or Nirarta. This is the story for you, it is said at the time of a royal tersebutlah Bhagawan majapahit named Dang Hyang Dang hyang Dwijendra or Nirarta. He dekenal in the spread of Hindu religion ajaraan with the name "Dharma Yatra ', he is known in chilli is called" Mr. Sumeru "or teacher of semeru a name of a mountain in East Java. He dekenal in the spread of the Hindu religion ajaraan with the name "Dharma Yatra ', he is known in chilli is called" Mr.. Sumeru "or teacher of semeru a name of a mountain in East Java.
At the time he came to Bali to perform its mission, which ruled in Bali at the time was King Dalem Waturenggong who welcomed him with great respect. At the time he came to Bali to perform its mission, which ruled in Bali at the time was King Dalem Waturenggong who welcomed him with great respect. He spread the religion to-remote corners of the island, is mentioned when he ran a "Dharma Yatra" in the hair Sivi, he saw the holy light from the southeast and follow up on the source who turned out to be a source of water. He spread the religion to-remote corners of the island, is mentioned when he ran a "Dharma Yatra" in the hair Sivi, he saw the holy light from the southeast and follow up on the source who turned out to be a source of water .
Not far from where the spring he found a very beautiful place called "parrot dyke" (meaning rock dike, Beo means the name of a bird) so it is a rock shaped like a bird. Not far from where the spring he found a very beautiful place called "parrot Dyke" (meaning rock dike, Beo means the name of a bird) so it is a rock shaped like a bird. This placed him in meditation and worship of the god pengguasa sea. This placed him in meditation and worship of the god pengguasa sea. Batukarang location is included in Beraban Village area, and he began spreading his teachings to the people of Beraban Village, which is headed by didesa a holy leader called "Bendesa Beraban Sakti". Batukarang location is included in Beraban Village area, and he began spreading his Teachings to the people of Beraban Village, which is headed by didesa a holy leader called "Bendesa Beraban Sakti". Earlier villagers Beraban momotheisme hold to the teaching. Earlier momotheisme Beraban villagers hold to the teaching.
In a short time many people follow the teachings Beraban Nirarta Dang Hyang then make Bendesa Beraban very angry and asked his followers are still loyal to drive this holy Bhagawan. In a short time many people follow the Teachings Beraban Dang Hyang Nirarta Bendesa Beraban then make very angry and asked his followers are still loyal to drive this holy Bhagawan. With the power possessed sepiritual, Dang Hyang Nirarta protect themselves from attacks by moving Beraban Bendesa large rock where he meditated to the middle of the ocean and creates a lot of snakes with a shawl around the rock as a protector and guard the place. With the power possessed sepiritual, Dang Hyang Nirarta protect themselves from attacks by moving Beraban Bendesa large rock where he meditated to the middle of the ocean and creates a lot of snakes with a Shawl around the rock as a protector and guard the place.
Then he gave the name "Central Lot" means land in the middle of the Sea. Then he gave the name "Central Lot" means land in the middle of the Sea. Finally Bendesa Beraban admitted testimony and spiritual power of Danghyang Nirarta, and a faithful follower and take it to spread the teachings of the local population. Finally Bendesa Beraban admitted testimony and spiritual power of Danghyang Nirarta, and a faithful follower and take it to spread the Teachings of the local population. As a token of thanks before continuing his journey to a sacred keris known as the "Jaramenara / Ki New Elephant" to Bendesa Beraban. As a token of thanks before continuing his journey to a sacred keris known as the "Jaramenara / Ki New Elephant" to Bendesa Beraban. We have the keris is stored in Castle Kediri a very sacred and holidays diupacarai brass. We have the keris is stored in Castle Kediri a very sacred and holidays diupacarai brass. Ceremony at Pura Tanah Lot once every 210 days of the "Wage Langkir Buda" in accordance with the Balinese calendar dates. Ceremony at Pura Tanah Lot, once every 210 days of the "Wage Langkir Buda" in accordance with the Balinese calendar dates. www.wisatamurahbali.com
AMAZING KECAK DANCE
Fascinating Kecak
Kecak is a typical Balinese performing arts that was created in 1930 and played mainly by men. This dance performed by many (tens or more) male dancers who sit in a circle and lined with a certain rhythm called "top" and raised both arms, depicting the Ramayana as Rama's line of apes help fight Ravana.
However, Kecak Trance Dance ritual comes from, the tradition of dance that the dancers will be in unconscious condition, to communicate with God or the spirits of the ancestors and then convey expectations to the circle masyarakat.penari is wearing plaid cloth as a board chess around their waists. Besides the dancers, there were other dancers who portray the characters as Rhama Ramayana, Shinta, Ravana, Hanuman, and the Kecak dance Sugriwa.Lagu taken from Trance dance ritual.
Also, do not use musical instruments. Kincringan used only imposed on the feet of dancers who portray the characters Ramayana.Sekitar 1930s Wayan modulus worked with German painter Walter Spies to create dances based on traditional Kecak Trance and parts of the Ramayana story. Wayan modulus at popularizing this dance around the world in the entourage of his Balinese dancers. www.wisatamurahbali.com
Kecak is a typical Balinese performing arts that was created in 1930 and played mainly by men. This dance performed by many (tens or more) male dancers who sit in a circle and lined with a certain rhythm called "top" and raised both arms, depicting the Ramayana as Rama's line of apes help fight Ravana.
However, Kecak Trance Dance ritual comes from, the tradition of dance that the dancers will be in unconscious condition, to communicate with God or the spirits of the ancestors and then convey expectations to the circle masyarakat.penari is wearing plaid cloth as a board chess around their waists. Besides the dancers, there were other dancers who portray the characters as Rhama Ramayana, Shinta, Ravana, Hanuman, and the Kecak dance Sugriwa.Lagu taken from Trance dance ritual.
Also, do not use musical instruments. Kincringan used only imposed on the feet of dancers who portray the characters Ramayana.Sekitar 1930s Wayan modulus worked with German painter Walter Spies to create dances based on traditional Kecak Trance and parts of the Ramayana story. Wayan modulus at popularizing this dance around the world in the entourage of his Balinese dancers. www.wisatamurahbali.com
Travel to Bali, Kintamani
In the mountains around Kintamani, there is Mount Batur with a deep crater lake and hot springs are turbulent. The cool mountain air with views in all directions, as beautiful with the existence of several important temples, which have made Kintamani become one of the places that do not forgotten the Bali tourist agenda.
Mount Batur is actually only one small eruptions gnung, but its location was in the midst of a large crater diameter of 14 Km. In addition, Mount Batur Lake Batur adjacent to the crescent-shaped high wall surrounded the outskirts of the crater. The size of the crater steepness will make you imagine the massive eruption of Mount Batur which happened ten thousand years ago.
The mountain is still active today as Balinese people who still remember the eruption that occurred in the 1917 eruption which has taken thousands of lives and destroyed hundreds of temples. Another eruption often occurs after the incident, forcing local people to be evacuated, along with several temples including one of the main temple of Bali, Ulun Danu. Ulun Danu temple which was originally located in a large crater, and then moved to the top of the hill. Now, Ulun Danu temple offers a view of Mount Batur is charming. www.wisatakebali.com
Mount Batur is actually only one small eruptions gnung, but its location was in the midst of a large crater diameter of 14 Km. In addition, Mount Batur Lake Batur adjacent to the crescent-shaped high wall surrounded the outskirts of the crater. The size of the crater steepness will make you imagine the massive eruption of Mount Batur which happened ten thousand years ago.
The mountain is still active today as Balinese people who still remember the eruption that occurred in the 1917 eruption which has taken thousands of lives and destroyed hundreds of temples. Another eruption often occurs after the incident, forcing local people to be evacuated, along with several temples including one of the main temple of Bali, Ulun Danu. Ulun Danu temple which was originally located in a large crater, and then moved to the top of the hill. Now, Ulun Danu temple offers a view of Mount Batur is charming. www.wisatakebali.com
Federer primeste sfaturi despre cum sa fie tata de la Tiger Woods
de Andra Popa HotNews.ro
Miercuri, 19 august 2009, 17:19 Sport | Tenis
Federer a pierdut la Tsonga la Montreal dupa ce elvetianul a condus cu 5-1 in decisiv. O fi fost obosit?, se intreaba italienii de la Gazzetta dello Sport, care il suspecteaza pe Federer ca nu mai doarme suficient de cand i s-au nascut cele doua fetite, Mylai si Charlene. "Noaptea ma odihnesc destul de bine, insa viata a devenit mult mai frumoasa cu micutele", a replicat elvetianul.
Federer e incantat de noua postura pe care o are, mai ales ca un prieten apropiat si faimos i-a dat cateva sfaturi de cum sa se descurce in rolul de tata. "Tiger mi-a spus ca nu e imposibil sa fiu si un tata bun si un jucator de top, numai ca trebuie sa rezist in primele luni", a mai spus Federer.
Miercuri, 19 august 2009, 17:19 Sport | Tenis
Federer a pierdut la Tsonga la Montreal dupa ce elvetianul a condus cu 5-1 in decisiv. O fi fost obosit?, se intreaba italienii de la Gazzetta dello Sport, care il suspecteaza pe Federer ca nu mai doarme suficient de cand i s-au nascut cele doua fetite, Mylai si Charlene. "Noaptea ma odihnesc destul de bine, insa viata a devenit mult mai frumoasa cu micutele", a replicat elvetianul.
Federer e incantat de noua postura pe care o are, mai ales ca un prieten apropiat si faimos i-a dat cateva sfaturi de cum sa se descurce in rolul de tata. "Tiger mi-a spus ca nu e imposibil sa fiu si un tata bun si un jucator de top, numai ca trebuie sa rezist in primele luni", a mai spus Federer.
UBS study: Salary level in Romania comparable with Colombia and Thailand
de V.O. HotNews.ro
Miercuri, 19 august 2009, 20:53 English | Business
Romania and Bulgaria are the countries with the lowest salaries in Europe, comparable to salaries in Colombia and Thailand, according to a study by Swiss bank UBS. The study shows Bucharest comes 67 among 73 world cities in terms of price levels.
The same study shows the most expensive cities are Oslo, Copenhagen, Zurich and Geneva, while the highest salaries are to be found in Switzerland, Denmark and the US.
Bucharest prices are higher than those met in cities such as Ciudad de Mexico, Cairo, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, New Delhi and Mumbai, according to the study.
Miercuri, 19 august 2009, 20:53 English | Business
Romania and Bulgaria are the countries with the lowest salaries in Europe, comparable to salaries in Colombia and Thailand, according to a study by Swiss bank UBS. The study shows Bucharest comes 67 among 73 world cities in terms of price levels.
The same study shows the most expensive cities are Oslo, Copenhagen, Zurich and Geneva, while the highest salaries are to be found in Switzerland, Denmark and the US.
Bucharest prices are higher than those met in cities such as Ciudad de Mexico, Cairo, Kuala Lumpur, Manila, New Delhi and Mumbai, according to the study.
Communications Ministry relaunches 10 million euro tender for e-Romania portal, demanding sub-portal for Orthodoxy as "national religion"
de V.O. HotNews.ro
Miercuri, 19 august 2009, 15:06 English | Top News
The Communications Ministry relaunched tender amounting to 10 million euro from the state budget to create an e-Romania Internet portal which would allow the payment of taxes and other public services online, according to an announcement made on Wednesday. But the Ministry now demands that the e-Romania portal include an informative sub-portal about the national religion of Romania, despite that the Constitution and the Cults Law say Romania does not have a state religion.
The contract called eRomania1 involves the conclusion of a framework agreement with a single economic body for a period of 45 months and amounts to an estimated 42 million RON, VAT-excluded. According to the tender documentation, the system would be formed of 14 sub-systems conceived as portals dedicated to issues such as Justice, Agriculture, Environment, Transport, SMEs, Public Servants, Tourism, Culture, Statistics, Education, Citizenship, Associations and Health.
But the documentation says that the e-Cultura module dedicated to Culture include among others an informative portal on the national religion of Romania, named "Orthodoxism Online". This comes despite Romania does not have a state religion. Orthodoxy Online would allow online cash donations to churches and would promote the Orthodox religion.
Miercuri, 19 august 2009, 15:06 English | Top News
The Communications Ministry relaunched tender amounting to 10 million euro from the state budget to create an e-Romania Internet portal which would allow the payment of taxes and other public services online, according to an announcement made on Wednesday. But the Ministry now demands that the e-Romania portal include an informative sub-portal about the national religion of Romania, despite that the Constitution and the Cults Law say Romania does not have a state religion.
The contract called eRomania1 involves the conclusion of a framework agreement with a single economic body for a period of 45 months and amounts to an estimated 42 million RON, VAT-excluded. According to the tender documentation, the system would be formed of 14 sub-systems conceived as portals dedicated to issues such as Justice, Agriculture, Environment, Transport, SMEs, Public Servants, Tourism, Culture, Statistics, Education, Citizenship, Associations and Health.
But the documentation says that the e-Cultura module dedicated to Culture include among others an informative portal on the national religion of Romania, named "Orthodoxism Online". This comes despite Romania does not have a state religion. Orthodoxy Online would allow online cash donations to churches and would promote the Orthodox religion.
Presa din Bulgaria: Hotelurile bulgaresti de la Marea Neagra, scoase la vanzare de "proprietarii disperati"
de R.P. HotNews.ro
Miercuri, 19 august 2009, 12:50 Economie | Imobiliar
Bulgarii nu mai reusesc sa atraga turisti in statiunile de pe litoral. Valul de entuziasm de acum cativa ani s-a dus pe Marea Neagra, iar statiunile din sud sunt acum aproape in totalitate "for sale", scrie presa de la Sofia. Mai exact, 204 hoteluri sunt in prezent scoase la vanzare, potrivit agentiilor imobiliare din Burgas, informeaza agentia Novinite.
85 dintre acestea sunt de vanzare pentru mai mult de 1 milion de euro, la fel ca multe alte hoteluri administrate, insa, oficial, ca mici case familiale de oaspeti. Pretul cerut de majoritatea hotelurilor este de peste 300 de euro pe metru patrat; un tarif care, potrivit agentilor locali, este mult deasupra pretului la care proprietarii vor putea efectiv sa-si vanda afacerile. Agentii explica, insa, ca tarifele sunt atat de mari pentru ca multi dintre proprietari incearca sa-si acopere astfel datoriile uriase.
Cel mai scump hotel care a fost vandut este o mica vila din orasul istoric Nesebar, achizitionat la pretul de 3.333 de euro pe metru patrat, potrivit Novinite.
Paradoxal, Institutul National de Statistica de la Sofia anunta ca, in al doilea trimestru din 2009, numarul hotelurilor din Bulgaria a crescut cu 115 (14,5%) fata de aceeasi perioada a anului trecut. Asta in ciuda efectelor negative pe care criza economica le are asupra industriei turistice: numarul persoanelor care au stat in hoteluri in al doilea trimestru din 2009 a scazut cu 12,7% fata de anul precedent.
REFERINŢE Numarul hotelurilor din Bulgaria a crescut cu 14,5% in 2009, in timp ce numarul turistilor e in scadere
Miercuri, 19 august 2009, 12:50 Economie | Imobiliar
Bulgarii nu mai reusesc sa atraga turisti in statiunile de pe litoral. Valul de entuziasm de acum cativa ani s-a dus pe Marea Neagra, iar statiunile din sud sunt acum aproape in totalitate "for sale", scrie presa de la Sofia. Mai exact, 204 hoteluri sunt in prezent scoase la vanzare, potrivit agentiilor imobiliare din Burgas, informeaza agentia Novinite.
85 dintre acestea sunt de vanzare pentru mai mult de 1 milion de euro, la fel ca multe alte hoteluri administrate, insa, oficial, ca mici case familiale de oaspeti. Pretul cerut de majoritatea hotelurilor este de peste 300 de euro pe metru patrat; un tarif care, potrivit agentilor locali, este mult deasupra pretului la care proprietarii vor putea efectiv sa-si vanda afacerile. Agentii explica, insa, ca tarifele sunt atat de mari pentru ca multi dintre proprietari incearca sa-si acopere astfel datoriile uriase.
Cel mai scump hotel care a fost vandut este o mica vila din orasul istoric Nesebar, achizitionat la pretul de 3.333 de euro pe metru patrat, potrivit Novinite.
Paradoxal, Institutul National de Statistica de la Sofia anunta ca, in al doilea trimestru din 2009, numarul hotelurilor din Bulgaria a crescut cu 115 (14,5%) fata de aceeasi perioada a anului trecut. Asta in ciuda efectelor negative pe care criza economica le are asupra industriei turistice: numarul persoanelor care au stat in hoteluri in al doilea trimestru din 2009 a scazut cu 12,7% fata de anul precedent.
REFERINŢE Numarul hotelurilor din Bulgaria a crescut cu 14,5% in 2009, in timp ce numarul turistilor e in scadere
High Court of Justice decides magistrates must be paid bonus payments
de V.O. HotNews.ro
Miercuri, 19 august 2009, 20:51 English | Top News
Romania's High Court of Justice decided on Wednesday that the Romanian government has to pay bonus payments to magistrates, thus rejecting appeals of the Finance Ministry against previous such decisions. The Ministry had lost the cases in this regard with three other magistracy bodies.
A governmental decision to withdraw a 50% bonus pay for stressful working conditions has sparked outrage among magistrates across the country.
The decision, which as authorities explained was motivated by lack of funds, was followed by protests and a series of court cases between the Finance Ministry and various judicial organizations. The dispute led to a Bucharest Appeals Court decision last Monday to fine Finance ministry Gheorghe Pogea with 20% of the gross minimum salary for each day of delay in paying the 50% bonuses.
Miercuri, 19 august 2009, 20:51 English | Top News
Romania's High Court of Justice decided on Wednesday that the Romanian government has to pay bonus payments to magistrates, thus rejecting appeals of the Finance Ministry against previous such decisions. The Ministry had lost the cases in this regard with three other magistracy bodies.
A governmental decision to withdraw a 50% bonus pay for stressful working conditions has sparked outrage among magistrates across the country.
The decision, which as authorities explained was motivated by lack of funds, was followed by protests and a series of court cases between the Finance Ministry and various judicial organizations. The dispute led to a Bucharest Appeals Court decision last Monday to fine Finance ministry Gheorghe Pogea with 20% of the gross minimum salary for each day of delay in paying the 50% bonuses.
Summer Garden Party
(BBC)-This year’s GQT Summer Garden Party will be held on September 5th at RHS Harlow Carr Gardens near Harrogate in North Yorkshire.
The event starts at 10am and ends at 5pm.
There will be 2 Question and Answer recording sessions that day:
Session 1: 10.:30am
Session 2: 2:00pm
You will be able to attend one of these recordings.
The panelists answering your questions are Pippa Greenwood, Bunny Guinness, Chris Beardshaw, Bob Flowerdew, John Cushnie, and Anne Swithinbank.
Please submit your question on arrival..
In addition to the Q&A sessions, we will be hosting a series of talks, workshops and interactive events.
Plant Swap Shop
Come and exchange a plant or plant cutting for another! Perhaps you've a favourite plant you would like to share with another gardener. Maybe you're searching for a specific plant to add to your collection?
Bring a potted plant or cutting to our Plant Swap Shop.
Cuttings: Please take your cutting as close to the 5th September as possible. Wrap the base of the cutting in damp toilet paper or cotton wool and seal in a plastic bag. Label with plant name.
Plants: Bring your plant in a pot small enough to carry with you. Clearly label the pot with the plant name.
GQT Plant Clinic
Is your plant suffering from a disease? Do you need treatment advice from the GQT panel? Bring your plant sample along for examination!
Please take your cutting as close to the 5th September as possible.
We ask that you bring all plant samples in a SEALED plastic bag, to ensure admittance to the RHS Garden Harlow Carr.
Ticket Information
A Summer Garden Party ticket includes admission to all areas in the RHS Garden Harlow Carr for the whole weekend (5th & 6th September).
Tickets are priced at £10.00 or £15.00 to include a Bettys Picnic Lunch. (RHS Member rates and Carer rates apply please ask when booking).
Please be aware that there are limited catering facilities on site. You may want to bring food and drink with you.
When you purchase your ticket, you will be asked to select the 11am OR 2.30pm recording & have the option to book a picnic lunch.
To purchase your ticket please call the RHS ticket line on:
T: 0845 612 1253
Calls are charged at local rate and lines are open Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:30 excluding bank Holidays.
Venue Details
Venue Details:
The Summer Garden Party will take place at: RHS Garden Harlow Carr Crag Lane Harrogate North Yorkshire HG3 1QB
Car Parking:
All ticket holders are asked to park in/will be directed to the additional car parking which is located approx 0.5 miles from Harlow Carr at Cardale Business Park. A shuttle service will be provided to take you to and from the venue and drop you at a separate Gardeners' Question Time entrance located away from the main garden entrance. The shuttle service is not suitable for wheelchairs.
Disabled Visitors Information:
For those with their own wheelchairs very limited disabled parking is available at the main garden entrance. Attendants cannot be provided, but one companion is admitted free of charge per wheelchair user, visually impaired visitor or other person whose disability necessitates a carer. Dogs are not permitted in the garden but registered assistance dogs are welcomed in all areas. If you are attending as a carer and wish to attend the Gardeners' Question Time marquee you must book a ticket. Please ask for a carer ticket when booking. The gardens are accessible but please note that this is a sloping site and in some areas it is quite steep and some path surfaces may be difficult, e.g. pebbles. Please ring the Garden for further information on 01423 565418.
Arrival
Once the shuttle service has dropped you off, you will be asked to submit your question and be given a programme and map of the garden.
Recording Information
Please make sure you arrive at your allotted recording in good time as once it has started, late admittance is not permitted so please be prompt. Pease note lunch can not be eaten whilst in the recording.
1st Recording: Marquee doors open at 10.30am. Please arrive no later than 11:00am
2nd Recording: Marquee doors open at 2pm. Please arrive no later than 2:30pm
Toilets:
Adapted unisex WCs at main entrance and at Bettys Café & Shop; single sex adapted toilets in the gardens. Accessible with assistance. Additional toilet block will be located by the Study Centre Greenhouse.
The event starts at 10am and ends at 5pm.
There will be 2 Question and Answer recording sessions that day:
Session 1: 10.:30am
Session 2: 2:00pm
You will be able to attend one of these recordings.
The panelists answering your questions are Pippa Greenwood, Bunny Guinness, Chris Beardshaw, Bob Flowerdew, John Cushnie, and Anne Swithinbank.
Please submit your question on arrival..
In addition to the Q&A sessions, we will be hosting a series of talks, workshops and interactive events.
Plant Swap Shop
Come and exchange a plant or plant cutting for another! Perhaps you've a favourite plant you would like to share with another gardener. Maybe you're searching for a specific plant to add to your collection?
Bring a potted plant or cutting to our Plant Swap Shop.
Cuttings: Please take your cutting as close to the 5th September as possible. Wrap the base of the cutting in damp toilet paper or cotton wool and seal in a plastic bag. Label with plant name.
Plants: Bring your plant in a pot small enough to carry with you. Clearly label the pot with the plant name.
GQT Plant Clinic
Is your plant suffering from a disease? Do you need treatment advice from the GQT panel? Bring your plant sample along for examination!
Please take your cutting as close to the 5th September as possible.
We ask that you bring all plant samples in a SEALED plastic bag, to ensure admittance to the RHS Garden Harlow Carr.
Ticket Information
A Summer Garden Party ticket includes admission to all areas in the RHS Garden Harlow Carr for the whole weekend (5th & 6th September).
Tickets are priced at £10.00 or £15.00 to include a Bettys Picnic Lunch. (RHS Member rates and Carer rates apply please ask when booking).
Please be aware that there are limited catering facilities on site. You may want to bring food and drink with you.
When you purchase your ticket, you will be asked to select the 11am OR 2.30pm recording & have the option to book a picnic lunch.
To purchase your ticket please call the RHS ticket line on:
T: 0845 612 1253
Calls are charged at local rate and lines are open Monday to Friday, 09:00 to 17:30 excluding bank Holidays.
Venue Details
Venue Details:
The Summer Garden Party will take place at: RHS Garden Harlow Carr Crag Lane Harrogate North Yorkshire HG3 1QB
Car Parking:
All ticket holders are asked to park in/will be directed to the additional car parking which is located approx 0.5 miles from Harlow Carr at Cardale Business Park. A shuttle service will be provided to take you to and from the venue and drop you at a separate Gardeners' Question Time entrance located away from the main garden entrance. The shuttle service is not suitable for wheelchairs.
Disabled Visitors Information:
For those with their own wheelchairs very limited disabled parking is available at the main garden entrance. Attendants cannot be provided, but one companion is admitted free of charge per wheelchair user, visually impaired visitor or other person whose disability necessitates a carer. Dogs are not permitted in the garden but registered assistance dogs are welcomed in all areas. If you are attending as a carer and wish to attend the Gardeners' Question Time marquee you must book a ticket. Please ask for a carer ticket when booking. The gardens are accessible but please note that this is a sloping site and in some areas it is quite steep and some path surfaces may be difficult, e.g. pebbles. Please ring the Garden for further information on 01423 565418.
Arrival
Once the shuttle service has dropped you off, you will be asked to submit your question and be given a programme and map of the garden.
Recording Information
Please make sure you arrive at your allotted recording in good time as once it has started, late admittance is not permitted so please be prompt. Pease note lunch can not be eaten whilst in the recording.
1st Recording: Marquee doors open at 10.30am. Please arrive no later than 11:00am
2nd Recording: Marquee doors open at 2pm. Please arrive no later than 2:30pm
Toilets:
Adapted unisex WCs at main entrance and at Bettys Café & Shop; single sex adapted toilets in the gardens. Accessible with assistance. Additional toilet block will be located by the Study Centre Greenhouse.
Cut Your Spending by $ 500 A Month
Monthly savings up to: $183*
Shop once a week. The more trips you make to the store, the likelier you are to buy on impulse because you see more tempting items. About two-thirds of purchases are unplanned; cut that in half to save $143 a month (if you spend $100 a week on groceries).
Give up the bottle. Stop drinking bottled water and instead buy a filter for your faucet (about $34, plus $25 for replacements). If your family consumes 12 gallons a month, you'll save about $15.
Eat what's ripe. Out-of-season produce costs 20% to 50% more than it does when it's in season. For a list of what's in season when, go to fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org. Estimated savings: $7 a month.
Differentiate between clean and dirty. Organic produce costs $1 to $2 more than the conventional kind. Cut your pesticide intake by going organic on the dirtiest produce (apples, lettuce) and conventional on the cleanest (kiwi, tomatoes). For a list of clean and dirty fruits and veggies, go to foodnews.org. Savings: $18 a month.
By Carolyn Bigda, David Futrelle, Amanda Gengler, Ismat Sarah Mangla, and George Mannes
Shop once a week. The more trips you make to the store, the likelier you are to buy on impulse because you see more tempting items. About two-thirds of purchases are unplanned; cut that in half to save $143 a month (if you spend $100 a week on groceries).
Give up the bottle. Stop drinking bottled water and instead buy a filter for your faucet (about $34, plus $25 for replacements). If your family consumes 12 gallons a month, you'll save about $15.
Eat what's ripe. Out-of-season produce costs 20% to 50% more than it does when it's in season. For a list of what's in season when, go to fruitsandveggiesmorematters.org. Estimated savings: $7 a month.
Differentiate between clean and dirty. Organic produce costs $1 to $2 more than the conventional kind. Cut your pesticide intake by going organic on the dirtiest produce (apples, lettuce) and conventional on the cleanest (kiwi, tomatoes). For a list of clean and dirty fruits and veggies, go to foodnews.org. Savings: $18 a month.
By Carolyn Bigda, David Futrelle, Amanda Gengler, Ismat Sarah Mangla, and George Mannes
What if you do NEED a man?
By Leonora Epstein
(The Frisky) -- "Some women are just happier in a relationship."
As my shrink said this, my jaw dropped to the floor. Did she really just say that? The woman who had feminist literature on her bookshelf and never failed to induce a pep rally of self-empowerment at the end of each session?
We were, of course, discussing (OK fine, I was complaining about) my lack of a boyfriend, and inability to get over some of the ones I did have.
For me, I surmised from my psychotherapy high horse, the issue was about loneliness and, therefore, about some childhood father complex. I thought I sounded smart; it seemed like something my psychiatrist would say herself.
But her response was both jarring and a relief: Some women are just happier in a relationship.
Huh? Isn't the modern woman supposed to be totally amazing on her own? But at the same time, the tension in my heart unclenched as I considered the phrase that potentially answered all of my romantic issues. The Frisky: Why I had breast-reduction surgery
Was I one of those women? And do they really exist? Looking back, I began to think it might be true. When in committed relationships, I was happier. When single, I was depressed. Perhaps this was chance, but I realized that I took better care of my life with a boyfriend by my side. I kept things cleaner to show respect for his presence in my living space. I bathed more often and took care of my acne-prone skin.
I dug up a paper I wrote during my senior year of college when I was living with the man I planned (at the time) to marry. Based on Daniel Miller's "A Theory of Shopping," I had explored the author's hypothesis that purchasing could be motivated by love, and proved it by shamelessly charting a week's worth of my purchases.
At the time, the list was comedic (I had a friendship with my very giving professor). But now looking at my list, I see a zeal and motivation I don't always find in my life now. In buying skim milk, bran cereal, flax bread, I was taking pride in eating healthy. With the new dishes and wine glasses, I added sophistication to our home. I recalled feeling satisfied and grown up when we began enjoying food on matching plates and not drinking Pinot Grigio out of mugs. The Frisky: Mourning the death of my single-girl friendships
When I recently asked my friends about this idea of "being better with a man" or "needing a man," a good handful of them confirmed this belief. (Definitely not all, mind you.)
One said, "I'm more organized, in control, and positive when I'm receiving male attention ... a relationship is enough to keep me motivated and excited." Another friend, Olivia, told me, "In a relationship, I have someone else to answer to. There is another person who is close enough to me to know when I'm being lazy or not living up to my potential, so that pushes me to actually be more active."
For Olivia and me, efforts of self-sufficiency outside of relationships can sometimes fall short, or more often, turn into faking that whole "I'm an awesome single woman" thing.
And I'm sorry, I do know that I'm awesome, but getting there is exhausting. I'm not saying this is everyone, but that perhaps there are women -- and men! -- who need sex with trust, or who rely on spouses for friendship rather than large social networks. And perhaps "needing a man" is an indication of the more basic human instinct -- not for reproduction, but for companionship.
The idea still doesn't sit right with me as someone who has put so much energy into making me happy. But, then again, there's a lot to say for someone who chooses to be happy. Even if it means the choice includes a man.
(The Frisky) -- "Some women are just happier in a relationship."
As my shrink said this, my jaw dropped to the floor. Did she really just say that? The woman who had feminist literature on her bookshelf and never failed to induce a pep rally of self-empowerment at the end of each session?
We were, of course, discussing (OK fine, I was complaining about) my lack of a boyfriend, and inability to get over some of the ones I did have.
For me, I surmised from my psychotherapy high horse, the issue was about loneliness and, therefore, about some childhood father complex. I thought I sounded smart; it seemed like something my psychiatrist would say herself.
But her response was both jarring and a relief: Some women are just happier in a relationship.
Huh? Isn't the modern woman supposed to be totally amazing on her own? But at the same time, the tension in my heart unclenched as I considered the phrase that potentially answered all of my romantic issues. The Frisky: Why I had breast-reduction surgery
Was I one of those women? And do they really exist? Looking back, I began to think it might be true. When in committed relationships, I was happier. When single, I was depressed. Perhaps this was chance, but I realized that I took better care of my life with a boyfriend by my side. I kept things cleaner to show respect for his presence in my living space. I bathed more often and took care of my acne-prone skin.
I dug up a paper I wrote during my senior year of college when I was living with the man I planned (at the time) to marry. Based on Daniel Miller's "A Theory of Shopping," I had explored the author's hypothesis that purchasing could be motivated by love, and proved it by shamelessly charting a week's worth of my purchases.
At the time, the list was comedic (I had a friendship with my very giving professor). But now looking at my list, I see a zeal and motivation I don't always find in my life now. In buying skim milk, bran cereal, flax bread, I was taking pride in eating healthy. With the new dishes and wine glasses, I added sophistication to our home. I recalled feeling satisfied and grown up when we began enjoying food on matching plates and not drinking Pinot Grigio out of mugs. The Frisky: Mourning the death of my single-girl friendships
When I recently asked my friends about this idea of "being better with a man" or "needing a man," a good handful of them confirmed this belief. (Definitely not all, mind you.)
One said, "I'm more organized, in control, and positive when I'm receiving male attention ... a relationship is enough to keep me motivated and excited." Another friend, Olivia, told me, "In a relationship, I have someone else to answer to. There is another person who is close enough to me to know when I'm being lazy or not living up to my potential, so that pushes me to actually be more active."
For Olivia and me, efforts of self-sufficiency outside of relationships can sometimes fall short, or more often, turn into faking that whole "I'm an awesome single woman" thing.
And I'm sorry, I do know that I'm awesome, but getting there is exhausting. I'm not saying this is everyone, but that perhaps there are women -- and men! -- who need sex with trust, or who rely on spouses for friendship rather than large social networks. And perhaps "needing a man" is an indication of the more basic human instinct -- not for reproduction, but for companionship.
The idea still doesn't sit right with me as someone who has put so much energy into making me happy. But, then again, there's a lot to say for someone who chooses to be happy. Even if it means the choice includes a man.
10 ways to be a better thinker
(CNN - by.Jonah Lehrer). I call it the "leather couch problem," but it happens to me every time I have to purchase something expensive. I'll be standing in the furniture store, contemplating my sofa options -- do I want the chestnut cotton or the black suede sectional? -- when I'm suddenly seized with anxiety.
What if I choose the wrong one? Beads of nervous sweat gather on my forehead; Ikea is not a fun place to have a mild panic attack.
Although I take my consumer choices seriously, I have always had a knack for making the wrong ones. I was the guy with the outmoded TV and the ill-fitting jeans; I ordered badly at restaurants.
This recurring problem is what first led me to investigate the talents and the limitations of the human brain. Could I teach myself to make better choices? And what about the other things the brain is responsible for -- creativity, willpower, deduction? Could I make my brain do more than it was already doing?
Turns out, I could. Here are some principles of better thinking that you can apply to get more from your mind, every day.
1. Tap your emotions.
Our conscious thoughts are only a fraction of what's going on in our brains. At any given moment, the unconscious is taking in vast amounts of information that we're not even aware of and processing it all very quickly. Based on its conclusions, the brain generates emotions.
So don't disregard that subtle feeling telling you to avoid the salmon special. Your personal supercomputer is trying to tell you something.
2. Don't think under pressure.
It was one of the worst moments of my life: I was 12, playing peewee basketball, and my team was trailing by a point. If I sank two free throws, we would win. I missed. Twice.
Instead of relying on the part of my unconscious that's like a trained autopilot (it had learned how to shoot baskets through years of backyard practice), I analyzed the details of my shots, using brain areas that had no idea how to get a ball through a hoop.
Once we've taken the time to develop any skill (and it always takes time), we should trust our instincts.
3. Consider alternative points of view.
Professional poker players often use a simple trick when they suspect another player of bluffing: They think about how the player would act if he or she weren't bluffing. The brain naturally filters the world to confirm what it already believes. But this habit is limiting and dangerous; you could be fixating on the wrong answers.
4. Challenge your preferences.
Like presumptive beliefs (see no. 3), your supposed likes and dislikes can limit your mind. I used to be a bit of an expensive-wine snob. But then I did a blind taste test of wines from different price ranges and discovered what scientists have since confirmed: There is no correlation between the price of a bottle and how much you'll enjoy it.
By figuring out what you truly like -- be it cheap wine or fancy shoes -- you can enjoy life, not to mention spend more wisely.
5. Take long showers.
Studies show that moments of insight often arrive when you're not aware that you're thinking of the problem, such as during a warm shower or a long stroll. This is because insights are typically generated by a rush of high-frequency gamma-band neural activity in the brain's right hemisphere, and a mind is better able to tune in to that hemisphere when it is stress-free.
6. Be skeptical of your memories.
In recent years, scientists have demonstrated that human memories are surprisingly dishonest. The act of recalling an event (say, your eighth birthday party) changes the structure of that memory in the brain. Details are tweaked; the narrative is altered.
The more you think about it, the less accurate your recollection becomes, and the less reliable it is as a basis for making any kind of conclusion. (So maybe you shouldn't hire a clown for your kid's party after all.)
7. Don't expect to diet and finish the crossword.
It turns out that the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for willpower and cognitive thought, is a rather feeble bit of flesh and easily depleted.
In a telling study, people who were asked to remember a seven-digit number and then offered a snack were much more likely to choose chocolate cake over fruit salad than were those who were asked to remember a one-digit number. The first group's self-control "muscles" were exhausted!
It's important to realize that you can do everything -- just not all at once.
8. Study your mistakes.
One common trait of successful people is their willingness to focus on their fumbles. Even when they do well, they insist on looking at what they could have done better.
Such perfectionism might not be a recipe for happiness, but it's a vital component of learning, since brain cells figure out how to get things right by analyzing what they got wrong.
9. Go ahead and daydream.
Forget efficiency. Scientists have discovered that daydreaming is an important tool for creativity: It causes a rush of activity in a circuit known as the default network, which connects different parts of the brain and allows the mind to make new associations. The daydreaming brain is actually in overdrive.
10. Think about thinking.
Metacognition, as this is known, is a crucial skill. Many scientists argue that the best predictor of good judgment isn't intelligence or experience; it's the willingness to engage in introspection.
The brain is like a Swiss Army Knife, full of different tools. When picking out a couch, we can trust our emotions, but we should rely on the rational brain when scrutinizing the fine print of a mortgage. Unless you think about which mental tool is best suited for the task at hand, you could end up flustered, even sweating, in the sofa aisle at Ikea.
What if I choose the wrong one? Beads of nervous sweat gather on my forehead; Ikea is not a fun place to have a mild panic attack.
Although I take my consumer choices seriously, I have always had a knack for making the wrong ones. I was the guy with the outmoded TV and the ill-fitting jeans; I ordered badly at restaurants.
This recurring problem is what first led me to investigate the talents and the limitations of the human brain. Could I teach myself to make better choices? And what about the other things the brain is responsible for -- creativity, willpower, deduction? Could I make my brain do more than it was already doing?
Turns out, I could. Here are some principles of better thinking that you can apply to get more from your mind, every day.
1. Tap your emotions.
Our conscious thoughts are only a fraction of what's going on in our brains. At any given moment, the unconscious is taking in vast amounts of information that we're not even aware of and processing it all very quickly. Based on its conclusions, the brain generates emotions.
So don't disregard that subtle feeling telling you to avoid the salmon special. Your personal supercomputer is trying to tell you something.
2. Don't think under pressure.
It was one of the worst moments of my life: I was 12, playing peewee basketball, and my team was trailing by a point. If I sank two free throws, we would win. I missed. Twice.
Instead of relying on the part of my unconscious that's like a trained autopilot (it had learned how to shoot baskets through years of backyard practice), I analyzed the details of my shots, using brain areas that had no idea how to get a ball through a hoop.
Once we've taken the time to develop any skill (and it always takes time), we should trust our instincts.
3. Consider alternative points of view.
Professional poker players often use a simple trick when they suspect another player of bluffing: They think about how the player would act if he or she weren't bluffing. The brain naturally filters the world to confirm what it already believes. But this habit is limiting and dangerous; you could be fixating on the wrong answers.
4. Challenge your preferences.
Like presumptive beliefs (see no. 3), your supposed likes and dislikes can limit your mind. I used to be a bit of an expensive-wine snob. But then I did a blind taste test of wines from different price ranges and discovered what scientists have since confirmed: There is no correlation between the price of a bottle and how much you'll enjoy it.
By figuring out what you truly like -- be it cheap wine or fancy shoes -- you can enjoy life, not to mention spend more wisely.
5. Take long showers.
Studies show that moments of insight often arrive when you're not aware that you're thinking of the problem, such as during a warm shower or a long stroll. This is because insights are typically generated by a rush of high-frequency gamma-band neural activity in the brain's right hemisphere, and a mind is better able to tune in to that hemisphere when it is stress-free.
6. Be skeptical of your memories.
In recent years, scientists have demonstrated that human memories are surprisingly dishonest. The act of recalling an event (say, your eighth birthday party) changes the structure of that memory in the brain. Details are tweaked; the narrative is altered.
The more you think about it, the less accurate your recollection becomes, and the less reliable it is as a basis for making any kind of conclusion. (So maybe you shouldn't hire a clown for your kid's party after all.)
7. Don't expect to diet and finish the crossword.
It turns out that the prefrontal cortex, the area of the brain responsible for willpower and cognitive thought, is a rather feeble bit of flesh and easily depleted.
In a telling study, people who were asked to remember a seven-digit number and then offered a snack were much more likely to choose chocolate cake over fruit salad than were those who were asked to remember a one-digit number. The first group's self-control "muscles" were exhausted!
It's important to realize that you can do everything -- just not all at once.
8. Study your mistakes.
One common trait of successful people is their willingness to focus on their fumbles. Even when they do well, they insist on looking at what they could have done better.
Such perfectionism might not be a recipe for happiness, but it's a vital component of learning, since brain cells figure out how to get things right by analyzing what they got wrong.
9. Go ahead and daydream.
Forget efficiency. Scientists have discovered that daydreaming is an important tool for creativity: It causes a rush of activity in a circuit known as the default network, which connects different parts of the brain and allows the mind to make new associations. The daydreaming brain is actually in overdrive.
10. Think about thinking.
Metacognition, as this is known, is a crucial skill. Many scientists argue that the best predictor of good judgment isn't intelligence or experience; it's the willingness to engage in introspection.
The brain is like a Swiss Army Knife, full of different tools. When picking out a couch, we can trust our emotions, but we should rely on the rational brain when scrutinizing the fine print of a mortgage. Unless you think about which mental tool is best suited for the task at hand, you could end up flustered, even sweating, in the sofa aisle at Ikea.
Disney performer dies after suffering head injury
(CNN) -- A Disney stunt performer died Monday night after suffering an injury during a rehearsal, company and local officials said.
Walt Disney World spokeswoman Zoraya Suarez said the performer was injured while performing a tumbling roll for the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at Disney's Hollywood Studios, part of the Orlando, Florida, theme park.
It was the third fatal incident at the park in less than two months. Earlier this month, a performer was injured in a pirate show and later died. In July, two monorail trains collided, killing a driver.
"'We feel a sense of loss for these valued cast members," Suarez said. She said a review would be conducted on each incident. Performers receive extensive training, she said.
The Orange County Sheriff's Department identified the performer in the latest incident as Anislav Varbanov, 30, and said he had been pronounced dead at a hospital.
Security personnel at Hollywood Studios called 911 Monday evening to say a cast member had suffered a head injury during the rehearsal, the sheriff's department said. No other details were given.
The sheriff's department said the incident is under investigation.
Walt Disney World spokeswoman Zoraya Suarez said the performer was injured while performing a tumbling roll for the Indiana Jones Epic Stunt Spectacular at Disney's Hollywood Studios, part of the Orlando, Florida, theme park.
It was the third fatal incident at the park in less than two months. Earlier this month, a performer was injured in a pirate show and later died. In July, two monorail trains collided, killing a driver.
"'We feel a sense of loss for these valued cast members," Suarez said. She said a review would be conducted on each incident. Performers receive extensive training, she said.
The Orange County Sheriff's Department identified the performer in the latest incident as Anislav Varbanov, 30, and said he had been pronounced dead at a hospital.
Security personnel at Hollywood Studios called 911 Monday evening to say a cast member had suffered a head injury during the rehearsal, the sheriff's department said. No other details were given.
The sheriff's department said the incident is under investigation.
Dance shows find their groove with viewers
(CNN) -- When Christjohn Batters looks around the dance studio where he works in Atlanta, Georgia, he notices something different these days.
"I've been at this studio for eight years, and I would definitely say that there has been a steady increase and an influx of people wanting to learn how to dance," said Batters, an instructor and assistant manager at the Ballroom Dance Clubs of Atlanta.
"People see dance on TV, and they see people learning to dance ... and they think, 'OK, this is something I could learn to do.' "
Shows like ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance," MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew" and Oxygen's "Dance Your Ass Off" are drawing millions of viewers and helping expose audiences to the art of dance.
Be it hip-hop, salsa, tango or ballet, viewers are learning that dancing is no longer just for the enjoyment of the Lawrence Welk set.
Batters said a lot more younger couples -- and men -- are venturing to his studio to kick up their heels.
He also said he's tickled that professional ballroom dancers such as "Stars' " Julianne Hough, Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff are staring out from magazine covers usually dominated by celebrities.
"Professional ballroom dancers, we were always like an underground club for a long time," Batters said. "Now, all of a sudden, ballroom dancers are household names."
"DWTS" has proven to be the most popular of TV's dance shows. Its two weekly episodes finished third and fourth in the year-end ratings, after "American Idol's" two weekly episodes. The show links celebrities with professional ballroom dancers who put them through their paces in a weekly competition.
On "SYTYCD," a summer hit, amateur and professional dancers perform in pairs and compete for the title.
"America's Best Dance Crew," which premiered its new season on Sunday, pits dance crews from across the world against each other, performing in various styles.
The newest entrant to the competitive dance field on television, "Dance Your Ass Off," has been viewed as a combination of "DWTS" and "The Biggest Loser" in that contestants compete to lose weight and win points for their moves.
Tonya Plank covers dance on her blog, Swan Lake Samba Girl, and said many readers venture there in their search for more information on "So You Think You Can Dance" contestants and others.
Plank, a former ballroom dancer who has taken instruction from "So You Think You Can Dance" season three finalist Pasha Kovalev, said visitors to her site flock to posts and videos about the ballet companies and ballroom competitions, even if they don't live in the area.
More people are also coming out to watch dance, she said.
"The dance competitions are so much more popular these days," Plank said. "There are so many more people there, and the ballrooms are so crowded now."
Robert Abrams, publisher and editor of ExploreDance.com, said that gauging interest in dancing can be tricky, but he agreed that the shows are helping feed the public's fascination, as is the poor economy.
Dancing makes people feel good, even in bad times, said Abrams, who has trained in competitive ballroom dance and West Coast swing dancing and served on a board of directors for the Dance Critics Association
"While I certainly think that there has been a greater amount of interest that has been generated by these different dance-related TV shows, you also have to take some of the other types of circumstances that we are experiencing in to account," he said.
Abrams also points out that now is not the first time the public has become enthralled with dance and that such a resurgence often happens in waves throughout the years.
"Look at the reaction to the Gap commercials featuring dance in the late 1990s, and eventual fall-off, for some historical perspective," Graham said.
Wendy Goldberg, a freelance photographer and reviewer of modern dance and ballet performances in the New York area, said she has noted a growing interest in dance, particularly among women in their 20s.
Manhattan has a thriving dance culture, with each genre having a devoted following, Goldberg said. Dancing helps people connect, she believes.
"You have to communicate with your partner," Goldberg said. "When you are at a party, you don't know what your partner might do, so you have to be in the moment and really focused on that partner."
Instructor Batters said he has seen an increase in people wanting to pursue competitive dance since the shows have gained popularity.
Even with all of their distinct differences in styles and setup, Batters said, he thinks all of the shows share a common message: "You don't have to be born a dancer to learn how to dance."
"I've been at this studio for eight years, and I would definitely say that there has been a steady increase and an influx of people wanting to learn how to dance," said Batters, an instructor and assistant manager at the Ballroom Dance Clubs of Atlanta.
"People see dance on TV, and they see people learning to dance ... and they think, 'OK, this is something I could learn to do.' "
Shows like ABC's "Dancing with the Stars," Fox's "So You Think You Can Dance," MTV's "America's Best Dance Crew" and Oxygen's "Dance Your Ass Off" are drawing millions of viewers and helping expose audiences to the art of dance.
Be it hip-hop, salsa, tango or ballet, viewers are learning that dancing is no longer just for the enjoyment of the Lawrence Welk set.
Batters said a lot more younger couples -- and men -- are venturing to his studio to kick up their heels.
He also said he's tickled that professional ballroom dancers such as "Stars' " Julianne Hough, Maksim Chmerkovskiy and Karina Smirnoff are staring out from magazine covers usually dominated by celebrities.
"Professional ballroom dancers, we were always like an underground club for a long time," Batters said. "Now, all of a sudden, ballroom dancers are household names."
"DWTS" has proven to be the most popular of TV's dance shows. Its two weekly episodes finished third and fourth in the year-end ratings, after "American Idol's" two weekly episodes. The show links celebrities with professional ballroom dancers who put them through their paces in a weekly competition.
On "SYTYCD," a summer hit, amateur and professional dancers perform in pairs and compete for the title.
"America's Best Dance Crew," which premiered its new season on Sunday, pits dance crews from across the world against each other, performing in various styles.
The newest entrant to the competitive dance field on television, "Dance Your Ass Off," has been viewed as a combination of "DWTS" and "The Biggest Loser" in that contestants compete to lose weight and win points for their moves.
Tonya Plank covers dance on her blog, Swan Lake Samba Girl, and said many readers venture there in their search for more information on "So You Think You Can Dance" contestants and others.
Plank, a former ballroom dancer who has taken instruction from "So You Think You Can Dance" season three finalist Pasha Kovalev, said visitors to her site flock to posts and videos about the ballet companies and ballroom competitions, even if they don't live in the area.
More people are also coming out to watch dance, she said.
"The dance competitions are so much more popular these days," Plank said. "There are so many more people there, and the ballrooms are so crowded now."
Robert Abrams, publisher and editor of ExploreDance.com, said that gauging interest in dancing can be tricky, but he agreed that the shows are helping feed the public's fascination, as is the poor economy.
Dancing makes people feel good, even in bad times, said Abrams, who has trained in competitive ballroom dance and West Coast swing dancing and served on a board of directors for the Dance Critics Association
"While I certainly think that there has been a greater amount of interest that has been generated by these different dance-related TV shows, you also have to take some of the other types of circumstances that we are experiencing in to account," he said.
Abrams also points out that now is not the first time the public has become enthralled with dance and that such a resurgence often happens in waves throughout the years.
"Look at the reaction to the Gap commercials featuring dance in the late 1990s, and eventual fall-off, for some historical perspective," Graham said.
Wendy Goldberg, a freelance photographer and reviewer of modern dance and ballet performances in the New York area, said she has noted a growing interest in dance, particularly among women in their 20s.
Manhattan has a thriving dance culture, with each genre having a devoted following, Goldberg said. Dancing helps people connect, she believes.
"You have to communicate with your partner," Goldberg said. "When you are at a party, you don't know what your partner might do, so you have to be in the moment and really focused on that partner."
Instructor Batters said he has seen an increase in people wanting to pursue competitive dance since the shows have gained popularity.
Even with all of their distinct differences in styles and setup, Batters said, he thinks all of the shows share a common message: "You don't have to be born a dancer to learn how to dance."
Pacific Northwest heat wave catches many by surprise
(CNN) -- Temperatures reached 94 degrees by noon in Seattle, Washington, on Wednesday and were expected to keep climbling as a record heat wave gripped the Pacific Northwest.
"One-hundred is the all-time record for Seattle for any day, for any month, for any year," according to Cliff Mass, professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Washington.
But cranking up the air conditioning isn't an option for many in Seattle.
"We're really not prepared for it," Mass said. "Most homes don't have air conditioning and a lot of stores don't. This is not like the East Coast or the Southwest. Temperatures generally in the summer are only in the 70s. Eighties are considered pretty warm."
Mass' weather blog -- cliffmass.blogspot.com -- warns that heat kills more people around the world every year than storms do.
With current temperatures, evenings don't provide much relief, either. Because of unusually high humidity, temperatures haven't been dropping to the typical mid- to high-50s.
Seattle had a high of 97 degrees on Tuesday, tying its all-time high recorded in 1998. Tuesday's low matched the record of 69 degrees.
The temperature in Olympia, Washington, was 101 degrees Tuesday, exceeding the previous high of 100 in 1998, according to the National Weather Service.
The heat wave has lasted several days, which is also unusual. What Mass calls the onshore push -- a surge of air from over the Pacific Ocean -- typically cools the area after a few days. Those winds are expected Friday.
Oregon also is feeling the heat and posting record highs.
It was 106 degrees in Portland on Tuesday, eclipsing the previous high of 101, which was set in 1998. It was 108 in Medford, 3 degrees above the 105-degree record set in 2003; and Salem was 107, exceeding the 2003 record of 99.
Libba Letton, a spokeswoman for Whole Foods Market, said the chain's Portland stores were passing out free water.
"One-hundred is the all-time record for Seattle for any day, for any month, for any year," according to Cliff Mass, professor of atmospheric sciences at the University of Washington.
But cranking up the air conditioning isn't an option for many in Seattle.
"We're really not prepared for it," Mass said. "Most homes don't have air conditioning and a lot of stores don't. This is not like the East Coast or the Southwest. Temperatures generally in the summer are only in the 70s. Eighties are considered pretty warm."
Mass' weather blog -- cliffmass.blogspot.com -- warns that heat kills more people around the world every year than storms do.
With current temperatures, evenings don't provide much relief, either. Because of unusually high humidity, temperatures haven't been dropping to the typical mid- to high-50s.
Seattle had a high of 97 degrees on Tuesday, tying its all-time high recorded in 1998. Tuesday's low matched the record of 69 degrees.
The temperature in Olympia, Washington, was 101 degrees Tuesday, exceeding the previous high of 100 in 1998, according to the National Weather Service.
The heat wave has lasted several days, which is also unusual. What Mass calls the onshore push -- a surge of air from over the Pacific Ocean -- typically cools the area after a few days. Those winds are expected Friday.
Oregon also is feeling the heat and posting record highs.
It was 106 degrees in Portland on Tuesday, eclipsing the previous high of 101, which was set in 1998. It was 108 in Medford, 3 degrees above the 105-degree record set in 2003; and Salem was 107, exceeding the 2003 record of 99.
Libba Letton, a spokeswoman for Whole Foods Market, said the chain's Portland stores were passing out free water.
Federal panel issues H1N1 vaccine guidelines
ATLANTA, Georgia (CNN) -- A federal advisory committee issued sweeping guidelines Wednesday for a vaccination campaign against the pandemic swine flu strain, identifying more than half the U.S. population as targets for the first round of vaccinations.
The advisory panel's guidelines don't trigger the start of vaccinations but are usually accepted by the government.
The priority groups include pregnant women; health care and emergency services personnel; children, adolescents and young adults up to age 24; household and caregiver contacts of children younger than six months; and healthy adults with certain medical conditions.
The guidelines were approved in a near-unanimous vote by the 15-member Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. One person dissented on whether to include people ages 19 to 24 among those targeted.
The vote does not trigger a decision to vaccinate against the disease, also called H1N1, but the federal government typically follows the committee's recommendations.
The recommendations could prove especially important if the pandemic strain, which emerged this spring, spreads widely before sufficient quantities of vaccine can be produced to protect everyone. The recommendations are intended to ensure that members of the most vulnerable groups get priority.
Earlier Wednesday, federal officials said they are on track to initiate a mass vaccination campaign by October, although many details remain to be worked out. Clinical trials to assess vaccine safety and efficacy are just getting under way at a handful of centers across the country.
Dr. William Schaffner, a flu researcher at Vanderbilt University, which is running one of the clinical trials, played down safety concerns that have been raised because safety data are limited.
"There is no alternative" to approving the new vaccine based on the limited data, he said. Fortunately, he added, "the novel H1N1 vaccine is created exactly the same way our seasonal vaccine is created, year in and year out."
Dr. Wellington Sun of the Food and Drug Administration said data from those trials would probably be available in September.
However, Dr. Robin Robinson, director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority at the Department of Health and Human Services, said that that even if federal regulators determine that the vaccine is safe and effective, it would take an additional four to six weeks before it could be packaged and available to the public.
About half of Americans -- 159 million -- fall into one of the five main target groups, including 102 million people aged 6 to 18.
Robinson had predicted earlier that 120 million vaccine doses would most likely be available within a month after the campaign starts.
Dr. Anthony Fiore of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who led the group's deliberations, said it made sense to target such a large group because it appears that vaccine supplies will be sufficient.
Part of that estimate is based on experience with seasonal flu vaccine; Fiore said that, typically, only 20 percent to 50 percent of people in targeted groups seek out seasonal flu vaccine.
Even if two doses of the swine flu vaccine are required to confer protection -- something that will be determined in clinical trials -- suppliers would probably be able to ramp up production quickly enough to meet demand, Fiore said.
But the advisory committee approved a backup plan in case supplies are more limited. In such a case, the priority groups would be pregnant women, health care and emergency services workers with direct patient contact, household contacts of children younger than 6 months, children age 6 months to 4 years and children younger than 19 with chronic medical conditions -- a total of 42 million people.
The panel also recommended that, once sufficient supplies exist to meet the needs of all targeted groups, the vaccine should be offered to healthy adults ages 25 to 64. Once those needs are met, vaccinations would be recommended for people older than 65.
The targeted groups differ starkly from the recommendations for seasonal flu vaccine campaigns, which include people 65 and older in the highest-risk group.
The difference is based largely on data showing vastly higher infection rates among younger people; the rate of laboratory-confirmed cases in Americans 65 and older is just 0.06 per 100,000, compared with 2.6 per 100,000 for the group with the highest infection rates, children 5 to 11.
Studies have found that many older Americans carry at least some antibody protection against the new virus, probably because it is similar to flu viruses that circulated widely in the 1920s through the early 1950s.
Some of the most alarming complications have been seen in pregnant women. A paper published Wednesday in the journal Lancet reported that pregnant women infected with H1N1 are more likely to be hospitalized and even die. Of the 45 H1N1 deaths reported to the CDC between April 15 and June 16, six (13 percent) were among pregnant women.
Obesity has not been determined to be a risk factor, Fiore said.
The H1N1 flu vaccination campaign would run concurrent with the usual seasonal flu campaign, which the committee recommended get under way as soon as possible.
Vanderbilt's Schaffner said patients should get the seasonal vaccine before distribution centers are swamped with demand for the pandemic vaccine.
But he also warned that the new vaccine might be of limited use. "The virus and the vaccine are in a race; the virus may win," he said.
If the pandemic strain starts spreading fast between now and October, he said, hospitals and medical personnel will be pushed to the limit.
"It's like thinking about a hurricane. You batten down the hatches. You do everything you can. But when the hurricane arrives, damage will occur. This one is going to be a doozy."
The advisory panel's guidelines don't trigger the start of vaccinations but are usually accepted by the government.
The priority groups include pregnant women; health care and emergency services personnel; children, adolescents and young adults up to age 24; household and caregiver contacts of children younger than six months; and healthy adults with certain medical conditions.
The guidelines were approved in a near-unanimous vote by the 15-member Advisory Committee on Immunization Practices. One person dissented on whether to include people ages 19 to 24 among those targeted.
The vote does not trigger a decision to vaccinate against the disease, also called H1N1, but the federal government typically follows the committee's recommendations.
The recommendations could prove especially important if the pandemic strain, which emerged this spring, spreads widely before sufficient quantities of vaccine can be produced to protect everyone. The recommendations are intended to ensure that members of the most vulnerable groups get priority.
Earlier Wednesday, federal officials said they are on track to initiate a mass vaccination campaign by October, although many details remain to be worked out. Clinical trials to assess vaccine safety and efficacy are just getting under way at a handful of centers across the country.
Dr. William Schaffner, a flu researcher at Vanderbilt University, which is running one of the clinical trials, played down safety concerns that have been raised because safety data are limited.
"There is no alternative" to approving the new vaccine based on the limited data, he said. Fortunately, he added, "the novel H1N1 vaccine is created exactly the same way our seasonal vaccine is created, year in and year out."
Dr. Wellington Sun of the Food and Drug Administration said data from those trials would probably be available in September.
However, Dr. Robin Robinson, director of the Biomedical Advanced Research and Development Authority at the Department of Health and Human Services, said that that even if federal regulators determine that the vaccine is safe and effective, it would take an additional four to six weeks before it could be packaged and available to the public.
About half of Americans -- 159 million -- fall into one of the five main target groups, including 102 million people aged 6 to 18.
Robinson had predicted earlier that 120 million vaccine doses would most likely be available within a month after the campaign starts.
Dr. Anthony Fiore of the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, who led the group's deliberations, said it made sense to target such a large group because it appears that vaccine supplies will be sufficient.
Part of that estimate is based on experience with seasonal flu vaccine; Fiore said that, typically, only 20 percent to 50 percent of people in targeted groups seek out seasonal flu vaccine.
Even if two doses of the swine flu vaccine are required to confer protection -- something that will be determined in clinical trials -- suppliers would probably be able to ramp up production quickly enough to meet demand, Fiore said.
But the advisory committee approved a backup plan in case supplies are more limited. In such a case, the priority groups would be pregnant women, health care and emergency services workers with direct patient contact, household contacts of children younger than 6 months, children age 6 months to 4 years and children younger than 19 with chronic medical conditions -- a total of 42 million people.
The panel also recommended that, once sufficient supplies exist to meet the needs of all targeted groups, the vaccine should be offered to healthy adults ages 25 to 64. Once those needs are met, vaccinations would be recommended for people older than 65.
The targeted groups differ starkly from the recommendations for seasonal flu vaccine campaigns, which include people 65 and older in the highest-risk group.
The difference is based largely on data showing vastly higher infection rates among younger people; the rate of laboratory-confirmed cases in Americans 65 and older is just 0.06 per 100,000, compared with 2.6 per 100,000 for the group with the highest infection rates, children 5 to 11.
Studies have found that many older Americans carry at least some antibody protection against the new virus, probably because it is similar to flu viruses that circulated widely in the 1920s through the early 1950s.
Some of the most alarming complications have been seen in pregnant women. A paper published Wednesday in the journal Lancet reported that pregnant women infected with H1N1 are more likely to be hospitalized and even die. Of the 45 H1N1 deaths reported to the CDC between April 15 and June 16, six (13 percent) were among pregnant women.
Obesity has not been determined to be a risk factor, Fiore said.
The H1N1 flu vaccination campaign would run concurrent with the usual seasonal flu campaign, which the committee recommended get under way as soon as possible.
Vanderbilt's Schaffner said patients should get the seasonal vaccine before distribution centers are swamped with demand for the pandemic vaccine.
But he also warned that the new vaccine might be of limited use. "The virus and the vaccine are in a race; the virus may win," he said.
If the pandemic strain starts spreading fast between now and October, he said, hospitals and medical personnel will be pushed to the limit.
"It's like thinking about a hurricane. You batten down the hatches. You do everything you can. But when the hurricane arrives, damage will occur. This one is going to be a doozy."
The top ten golf movies
(CNN) -- The drama of the action in-and-around the golf course has enraptured fans of the game through the generations and around the world. But the same drama that pulls in the crowds has also provided rich material for filmmakers too.
Stars of the screen including Dean Martin, Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy have all starred in club-themed movies, as have more contemporary celebrities like Adam Sandler, Bill Murray, Chevy Chase and Will Smith.
Though the stories committed to celluloid vary in their approach - from The Stooges comedic farce entitled "Three Little Beers," to the Ben Hogan biopic "Follow the Sun," - the central attraction of golf remains at all the film's core.
Stars of the screen including Dean Martin, Katharine Hepburn and Spencer Tracy have all starred in club-themed movies, as have more contemporary celebrities like Adam Sandler, Bill Murray, Chevy Chase and Will Smith.
Though the stories committed to celluloid vary in their approach - from The Stooges comedic farce entitled "Three Little Beers," to the Ben Hogan biopic "Follow the Sun," - the central attraction of golf remains at all the film's core.
Regina Spektor tackles dolphins, dance on new album
NEW YORK (CNN) -- Regina Spektor has pretty pale blue eyes, but you won't see them if she's performing.
Singer-songwriter Regina Spektor has just released her third album.
"I play most of my songs with my eyes closed," says the Moscow, Russia-born singer-songwriter.
"I don't know why, but a lot of the time I don't realize that I'm doing it. It's weird."
Perhaps, but here's a musician who's known for being a little quirky.
On the track "Folding Chairs" off her new album, "Far" (Sire Records) Spektor imitates the sound a dolphin makes. And in the music video for her peppy song "Dance Anthem of The '80s" she gets her face so close to the camera that at times you think she's going to gobble it up.
But in person, the classically trained pianist is shy and soft spoken. And she recalls her third album's debut last month at No. 3 on the Billboard album chart -- a career high -- with genuine surprise. Watch an interview with Regina Spektor »
"I was in England when I found out," she says. "It was just very, very trippy."
Spektor invited CNN to crash the set at AOL's New York headquarters last week where she was filming a live performance for the music show, "The Interface."
She talked about the floppiness of the '80s and what it's like to be a songwriter who never writes anything down. The following is an edited version of the interview.
CNN: Your song "Eet" is about forgetting the lyrics to your favorite song. Do you ever forget the lyrics of your own songs when you're performing?
Regina Spektor: Yeah. I forget a lot. I try not to. I practice, but it all depends on how much coffee I've had before. Sometimes when I get the balance wrong, then all of a sudden all my songs become a mystery to me. It's like the teleprompter inside my head just goes off and I can't remember anything.
CNN: So what are you thinking about when you're performing with your eyes closed?
Spektor: I'm not really thinking that much of anything. I'm sort of in this state that's between thought and feeling. I think it's more of a feel state than a think state.
CNN: Your song "Dance Anthem of the '80s" is very cute. Did the music of that decade make a big impression on you?
Spektor: Yeah, I think because I spent all the '80s in the Soviet Union, my '80s were the '90s...even the beginning of 2000 actually. But I just love the fun of it. I think that it's not so dark and "me." It's very extroverted and it just doesn't take itself seriously. Fun, weird sounds and fun hair, and floppy everything.
Even though artistically it was really a fun decade, I think economically it was a very dangerous decade. It was a time of big, fast spenders and people who just didn't really think about the consequences of their greed.
CNN: What was the appeal of working with four different producers for your new album?
Spektor: Well, I sort of figured that since I get to make albums pretty rarely -- so far it's been one every three years - that I should take as much opportunity as I can and learn from people. I loved working with David Kahn on the last record, "Begin to Hope." And then this time I worked with him and then three more producers and just tried to learn as much as I could from each one.
CNN: Was there any concern that the album might not sound cohesive?
Spektor: No. I don't know why everybody wants things to be cohesive in the first place. I really love different things, and I think that things feel great when they're thrown in contrast. That's how you let one thing fulfill the other. I like things that are just all over the place.
CNN: Is it true that when you're creating a song you don't write anything down?
Spektor: Yeah, but I wouldn't say that's a good thing. I think it's pretty stupid. I just sort of play it over and over again until it's cemented in my head. I'm not good about writing stuff down. I don't know. I think it's some sort of laziness. It's how I forget a lot of stuff.
CNN: But it seems to work. The good ones stick.
Spektor: Yeah and some of the bad ones stick, and some of the good ones get forgotten.
CNN: So when do you know you have something that's worth recording?
Spektor: I feel that feeling all the time that I need to record before I forget it. I've actually gotten better because I used to just have to hold the songs in my head until the next time I would record them. But now I have a laptop and I've learned how to do GarageBand. It remembers for me.
CNN: How involved are you with coming up with the concepts for your music videos?
Spektor: Well (with) some of them I'm very involved. And (with) some of them I wasn't involved at all.
CNN: You just showed up?
Spektor: No I've never been that not involved. I guess my not involved at all is still very involved. I think it's really cool that musicians get to make music videos because it's our chance to learn about cameras and cinematography and this whole other world that goes on. My first ever video which was for a song called "Us" I made with my friend Adria Petty. We're always coming up with things together. We kind of incubate and make a lot of art together, share ideas.
But it's really fun the other way, too, like when I made a video with Mark Webb for "Fidelity." That was really cool because he had listened to the song and the video concept was his idea. And I just got to come in and be directed more, be part of his take on a song, and that was really fun, too.
Singer-songwriter Regina Spektor has just released her third album.
"I play most of my songs with my eyes closed," says the Moscow, Russia-born singer-songwriter.
"I don't know why, but a lot of the time I don't realize that I'm doing it. It's weird."
Perhaps, but here's a musician who's known for being a little quirky.
On the track "Folding Chairs" off her new album, "Far" (Sire Records) Spektor imitates the sound a dolphin makes. And in the music video for her peppy song "Dance Anthem of The '80s" she gets her face so close to the camera that at times you think she's going to gobble it up.
But in person, the classically trained pianist is shy and soft spoken. And she recalls her third album's debut last month at No. 3 on the Billboard album chart -- a career high -- with genuine surprise. Watch an interview with Regina Spektor »
"I was in England when I found out," she says. "It was just very, very trippy."
Spektor invited CNN to crash the set at AOL's New York headquarters last week where she was filming a live performance for the music show, "The Interface."
She talked about the floppiness of the '80s and what it's like to be a songwriter who never writes anything down. The following is an edited version of the interview.
CNN: Your song "Eet" is about forgetting the lyrics to your favorite song. Do you ever forget the lyrics of your own songs when you're performing?
Regina Spektor: Yeah. I forget a lot. I try not to. I practice, but it all depends on how much coffee I've had before. Sometimes when I get the balance wrong, then all of a sudden all my songs become a mystery to me. It's like the teleprompter inside my head just goes off and I can't remember anything.
CNN: So what are you thinking about when you're performing with your eyes closed?
Spektor: I'm not really thinking that much of anything. I'm sort of in this state that's between thought and feeling. I think it's more of a feel state than a think state.
CNN: Your song "Dance Anthem of the '80s" is very cute. Did the music of that decade make a big impression on you?
Spektor: Yeah, I think because I spent all the '80s in the Soviet Union, my '80s were the '90s...even the beginning of 2000 actually. But I just love the fun of it. I think that it's not so dark and "me." It's very extroverted and it just doesn't take itself seriously. Fun, weird sounds and fun hair, and floppy everything.
Even though artistically it was really a fun decade, I think economically it was a very dangerous decade. It was a time of big, fast spenders and people who just didn't really think about the consequences of their greed.
CNN: What was the appeal of working with four different producers for your new album?
Spektor: Well, I sort of figured that since I get to make albums pretty rarely -- so far it's been one every three years - that I should take as much opportunity as I can and learn from people. I loved working with David Kahn on the last record, "Begin to Hope." And then this time I worked with him and then three more producers and just tried to learn as much as I could from each one.
CNN: Was there any concern that the album might not sound cohesive?
Spektor: No. I don't know why everybody wants things to be cohesive in the first place. I really love different things, and I think that things feel great when they're thrown in contrast. That's how you let one thing fulfill the other. I like things that are just all over the place.
CNN: Is it true that when you're creating a song you don't write anything down?
Spektor: Yeah, but I wouldn't say that's a good thing. I think it's pretty stupid. I just sort of play it over and over again until it's cemented in my head. I'm not good about writing stuff down. I don't know. I think it's some sort of laziness. It's how I forget a lot of stuff.
CNN: But it seems to work. The good ones stick.
Spektor: Yeah and some of the bad ones stick, and some of the good ones get forgotten.
CNN: So when do you know you have something that's worth recording?
Spektor: I feel that feeling all the time that I need to record before I forget it. I've actually gotten better because I used to just have to hold the songs in my head until the next time I would record them. But now I have a laptop and I've learned how to do GarageBand. It remembers for me.
CNN: How involved are you with coming up with the concepts for your music videos?
Spektor: Well (with) some of them I'm very involved. And (with) some of them I wasn't involved at all.
CNN: You just showed up?
Spektor: No I've never been that not involved. I guess my not involved at all is still very involved. I think it's really cool that musicians get to make music videos because it's our chance to learn about cameras and cinematography and this whole other world that goes on. My first ever video which was for a song called "Us" I made with my friend Adria Petty. We're always coming up with things together. We kind of incubate and make a lot of art together, share ideas.
But it's really fun the other way, too, like when I made a video with Mark Webb for "Fidelity." That was really cool because he had listened to the song and the video concept was his idea. And I just got to come in and be directed more, be part of his take on a song, and that was really fun, too.
Jude Law to become a dad again
(Entertainment Weekly) -- Actor Jude Law is expecting his fourth child, his spokesperson said.
Actor Jude Law's publicist confirmed he is expecting his fourth child.
In a statement released to Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, the single actor confirmed that he will once again become a father.
"Jude Law can confirm that, following a relationship last year, he has been advised that he is to be the father of a child due in the fall of this year," the statement said.
"Mr. Law is no longer in a relationship with the individual concerned but he intends to be a fully supportive part of the child's life. This is an entirely private matter and no other statements will be made."
The statement was released exclusively to Entertainment Weekly, whose site broke the story on Wednesday.
Law, 36, has three children with ex-wife Sadie Frost.
The handsome British actor known for appearing in movies such as "Cold Mountain" and "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and headlines a few years ago after an alleged fling with his children's caregiver and a broken engagement with actress Sienna Miller.
He is scheduled to appear in "Hamlet" on Broadway in October and will star opposite Robert Downey Jr. in the movie "Sherlock Holmes" slated to open Christmas Day.
Actor Jude Law's publicist confirmed he is expecting his fourth child.
In a statement released to Entertainment Weekly and EW.com, the single actor confirmed that he will once again become a father.
"Jude Law can confirm that, following a relationship last year, he has been advised that he is to be the father of a child due in the fall of this year," the statement said.
"Mr. Law is no longer in a relationship with the individual concerned but he intends to be a fully supportive part of the child's life. This is an entirely private matter and no other statements will be made."
The statement was released exclusively to Entertainment Weekly, whose site broke the story on Wednesday.
Law, 36, has three children with ex-wife Sadie Frost.
The handsome British actor known for appearing in movies such as "Cold Mountain" and "The Talented Mr. Ripley" and headlines a few years ago after an alleged fling with his children's caregiver and a broken engagement with actress Sienna Miller.
He is scheduled to appear in "Hamlet" on Broadway in October and will star opposite Robert Downey Jr. in the movie "Sherlock Holmes" slated to open Christmas Day.
Schumacher to make sensational F1 comeback
(CNN) -- Seven times world champion Michael Schumacher will make a dramatic return to Formula One as a replacement for injured Ferrari driver Felipe Massa.
Michael Schumacher will make a dramatic return to Formula One as a replacement for Felipe Massa.
1 of 2 more photos » The 40-year-old German, who retired from the sport in 2006, won five of his seven titles while competing for Ferrari, and has retained his links with the Italian manufacturer as a team advisor.
Schumacher told CNN: "The most important thing first: thank God, all news concerning Felipe is positive. I wish him all the best again.
"I met Stefano Domenicali and Luca di Montezemolo from Ferrari on Wednesday afternoon and together we decided that I will prepare myself to take Felipe's place.
"Though it is true that my Formula One chapter has closed, it is also true that for loyalty reasons to the team I cannot ignore their current unfortunate situation. As the competitor I am I also very much look forward to facing this challenge."
Schumacher's spokesperson Sabine Kehm confirmed to CNN: "He is coming back pending medical exams and will be in the Ferrrari cockpit for the next race in Valencia on August 23 if those tests go well."
Ferrari later confirmed Schumacher's return in a statement: "Ferrari intends to entrust Michael Schumacher with Felipe Massa's car for as long as the Brazilian driver is not able to race.
"Michael Schumacher has shown his willingness and in the next few days he will undergo a specific program of preparation at the end of which it will be possible to confirm his participation in the championship starting with the European Grand Prix."
Rumors began to surface about Schumacher's likely return on Tuesday, with Kehm telling CNN at the time: "There is no offer from Ferrari, but if they decided they need him, Michael would certainly weigh his options."
Meanwhile, Massa has been moved out of intensive care at the AEK military hospital in Budapest, with his personal doctor convinced he will race again.
Massa's rapid improvement since undergoing surgery on Saturday to repair a fractured skull following his crash during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, has prompted doctors to move the Brazilian to his own private room.
It means Massa is now off the critical list, although the 28-year-old will continue to be closely monitored by medical staff. Initial fears that the Brazilian may never drive again, due to concerns surrounding the sight in his left eye, also appear to have eased.
Ferrari spokesman Luca Colajanni told Press Association Sport: "The most important situation is that Felipe is out of intensive care and now in his own private room.
Michael Schumacher will make a dramatic return to Formula One as a replacement for Felipe Massa.
1 of 2 more photos » The 40-year-old German, who retired from the sport in 2006, won five of his seven titles while competing for Ferrari, and has retained his links with the Italian manufacturer as a team advisor.
Schumacher told CNN: "The most important thing first: thank God, all news concerning Felipe is positive. I wish him all the best again.
"I met Stefano Domenicali and Luca di Montezemolo from Ferrari on Wednesday afternoon and together we decided that I will prepare myself to take Felipe's place.
"Though it is true that my Formula One chapter has closed, it is also true that for loyalty reasons to the team I cannot ignore their current unfortunate situation. As the competitor I am I also very much look forward to facing this challenge."
Schumacher's spokesperson Sabine Kehm confirmed to CNN: "He is coming back pending medical exams and will be in the Ferrrari cockpit for the next race in Valencia on August 23 if those tests go well."
Ferrari later confirmed Schumacher's return in a statement: "Ferrari intends to entrust Michael Schumacher with Felipe Massa's car for as long as the Brazilian driver is not able to race.
"Michael Schumacher has shown his willingness and in the next few days he will undergo a specific program of preparation at the end of which it will be possible to confirm his participation in the championship starting with the European Grand Prix."
Rumors began to surface about Schumacher's likely return on Tuesday, with Kehm telling CNN at the time: "There is no offer from Ferrari, but if they decided they need him, Michael would certainly weigh his options."
Meanwhile, Massa has been moved out of intensive care at the AEK military hospital in Budapest, with his personal doctor convinced he will race again.
Massa's rapid improvement since undergoing surgery on Saturday to repair a fractured skull following his crash during qualifying for the Hungarian Grand Prix, has prompted doctors to move the Brazilian to his own private room.
It means Massa is now off the critical list, although the 28-year-old will continue to be closely monitored by medical staff. Initial fears that the Brazilian may never drive again, due to concerns surrounding the sight in his left eye, also appear to have eased.
Ferrari spokesman Luca Colajanni told Press Association Sport: "The most important situation is that Felipe is out of intensive care and now in his own private room.
Arizona girl's attack sheds light on rape in Liberia
(CNN) -- The allegation is shocking: an 8-year-old girl lured to a storage shed with the promise of chewing gum, pinned down and sexually assaulted by four boys, none of them older than 14.
President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has made cracking down on sex crimes a top priority in Liberia.
1 of 3 The response from the girl's family sent a second and equally stunning shockwave through their Phoenix, Arizona, community: "The parents felt that they had been shamed or embarrassed by their child," reported Phoenix police Sgt. Andy Hill.
As a result, the girl was taken into custody by Arizona's child welfare agency.
The prosecutor who charged the four boys called the crime "heartrending" and "deeply disturbing." But to those familiar with Liberia, the west African nation where the families of all of the children are from, the crime and response are both part of a sadly familiar story.
"It's something that happens every day in every community in Liberia," said Tania Bernath, a researcher for the human rights group Amnesty International.
The country was racked by a brutal civil war for most of 14 years. During that time, rape was used by fighters on all sides as a tool of war and a way to spread terror and demoralize enemies.
A United Nations report in 2004, the year after much of the fighting stopped, estimated that 60 to 70 percent of all women in the nation had been the victims of sexual violence.
A 2006 government report said that of 1,600 women surveyed, 92 percent reported some kind of sexual violence, including rape.
"They would have cases where they would rape the wife in front of the husband -- things like that, really breaking down communities," said Bernath, who spent several years in Liberia working for a relief organization.
President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf has made cracking down on sex crimes a top priority in Liberia.
1 of 3 The response from the girl's family sent a second and equally stunning shockwave through their Phoenix, Arizona, community: "The parents felt that they had been shamed or embarrassed by their child," reported Phoenix police Sgt. Andy Hill.
As a result, the girl was taken into custody by Arizona's child welfare agency.
The prosecutor who charged the four boys called the crime "heartrending" and "deeply disturbing." But to those familiar with Liberia, the west African nation where the families of all of the children are from, the crime and response are both part of a sadly familiar story.
"It's something that happens every day in every community in Liberia," said Tania Bernath, a researcher for the human rights group Amnesty International.
The country was racked by a brutal civil war for most of 14 years. During that time, rape was used by fighters on all sides as a tool of war and a way to spread terror and demoralize enemies.
A United Nations report in 2004, the year after much of the fighting stopped, estimated that 60 to 70 percent of all women in the nation had been the victims of sexual violence.
A 2006 government report said that of 1,600 women surveyed, 92 percent reported some kind of sexual violence, including rape.
"They would have cases where they would rape the wife in front of the husband -- things like that, really breaking down communities," said Bernath, who spent several years in Liberia working for a relief organization.
Baby cut from slain mom's womb found alive
(CNN) -- A baby believed to be ripped from the womb of its mother has been found, Massachusetts police said Wednesday. In addition, authorities have arrested a suspect in connection with the crime.
Darlene Haynes was found slain and wrapped in bedding in her apartment closet, according to authorities.
Police had searched for the baby since Monday, when her mother, Darlene Haynes, was found dead in the closet of her Worcester apartment.
Officers received tips from women who became suspicious of Julie A. Corey, a friend of Haynes who turned up with a newborn girl at the time that Haynes went missing.
Haynes told friends she delivered a baby sometime between July 23 and July 24 at an undisclosed Massachusetts hospital, according to authorities.
Police learned that Corey had moved to New Hampshire with a boyfriend. Police later found Corey and the baby Wednesday afternoon in Plymouth, New Hampshire.
The baby was in fairly good health and was taken to a hospital, Worcester police said.
Corey, 35, was arrested and charged with being a fugitive from justice.
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Woman killed, fetus cut from body
Police discovered Haynes' body Monday, after neighbors complained about a stench.
Haynes, 23, was found in the closet of a bedroom, wrapped in bedding. Police think she had been dead for several days. She was last seen on July 23, and Corey was one of the last people to see her, authorities said. Watch neighbors describe victim »
A friend of Haynes told CNN affiliate WHDH that she received a text message from Haynes at 11:20 p.m. Thursday that said she was having wine coolers with a friend at her apartment.
Darlene Haynes was found slain and wrapped in bedding in her apartment closet, according to authorities.
Police had searched for the baby since Monday, when her mother, Darlene Haynes, was found dead in the closet of her Worcester apartment.
Officers received tips from women who became suspicious of Julie A. Corey, a friend of Haynes who turned up with a newborn girl at the time that Haynes went missing.
Haynes told friends she delivered a baby sometime between July 23 and July 24 at an undisclosed Massachusetts hospital, according to authorities.
Police learned that Corey had moved to New Hampshire with a boyfriend. Police later found Corey and the baby Wednesday afternoon in Plymouth, New Hampshire.
The baby was in fairly good health and was taken to a hospital, Worcester police said.
Corey, 35, was arrested and charged with being a fugitive from justice.
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Police discovered Haynes' body Monday, after neighbors complained about a stench.
Haynes, 23, was found in the closet of a bedroom, wrapped in bedding. Police think she had been dead for several days. She was last seen on July 23, and Corey was one of the last people to see her, authorities said. Watch neighbors describe victim »
A friend of Haynes told CNN affiliate WHDH that she received a text message from Haynes at 11:20 p.m. Thursday that said she was having wine coolers with a friend at her apartment.
Couple boogies into spotlight with viral wedding video
(CNN) -- Sometimes, the effects of fame can ripple like a stone dropped in a pond.
A YouTube video shows a Minnesota wedding party dancing down the aisle.
Take the case of Minnesota residents Kevin Heinz and Jill Peterson. The couple had a fun idea for their wedding party to do a nontraditional procession to a catchy tune, "Forever" by Chris Brown.
The joyous video of the group busting their loosely choreographed moves down the aisle went viral after the newlyweds posted it on YouTube. Soon they were being deluged by the media and flown to New York to appear on national television.
Since then, millions have watched the funky wedding march and helped transform Heinz and Peterson into instant celebrities.
Amy Carlson Gustafson, a pop culture reporter for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, reported on the story that she said has not only stirred up the hometown folks, but also showed a different side of Minnesota.
"I think people are loving it," she said. "It's really fun and it's especially fun in Minnesota where a lot of people think we are a bunch of uptight Scandinavians who sit around and say 'You betcha.' This video helps to debunk that a little bit."
That sense of fun and whimsy has enchanted many and led to Heinz and Peterson being sought for interviews by everyone from their local publications to the major networks. Watch guests at the wedding discuss the experience »
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Chris Brown asks for forgiveness for assault
But they have apparently also learned quickly about the downside of fame.
The New York Post reported the pair was caught in the crossfire of the battle of the morning shows.
According to the newspaper, ABC flew Heinz and Peterson to the Big Apple after booking them to appear on "Good Morning America."
Things soured, the paper's Page Six column reported, after ABC learned the couple had also taped a segment for the rival "Today" show, which aired before the couple's appearance on "Good Morning America."
Adding fuel to the fire was a planned live re-creation of the dance by the wedding party scheduled for Saturday morning on "Today."
When it appeared that Heinz and Peterson weren't adhering to the age-old "dance with who brung ya" rule, their ABC-sponsored hotel and flight home were canceled, the paper said.
"We've been kicked out of our room," Heinz told the Post after the incident. "New York is cutthroat. That's what we've learned."
"Today" reportedly stepped in and secured a new room and flight for Heinz and Peterson.
Reporter Gustafson said she spoke with mother-of-the-bride Marge Peterson, who said her daughter and new son-in-law were done talking to the media.
"They are not used to this type of publicity," Gustafson said.
Shane Mercado can relate.
The 27-year-old from New York posted a video last year of himself mimicking step-for-step Beyonce's dance moves from her "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" music video.
Mercado said he did it at the suggestion of a friend and before he knew it, he was a YouTube sensation.
"Once I did it I thought 'What did I just do?' " he recalled. "The response was overwhelming."
Soon, Mercado was a minor celebrity being asked for autographs and dancing his routine on the "Bonnie Hunt Show."
"Extra" even arranged for him to surprise Beyonce on the red carpet during the premier of her film "Cadillac Records"
Not only did the superstar singer know who he was, Mercado said, but so did other celebs.
"The actress Gabrielle Union knew who I was," Mercado said. "That just blew me away.'
Mercado said he doesn't consider himself famous and finds the notoriety humbling.
The loss of anonymity is challenging, he said. Suddenly, the number of people "in your business" dramatically increases. He said he can imagine how Heinz and Peterson are feeling: overwhelmed.
"That was their [wedding] and it was probably very private to them," Mercado said. "It can be a bit much to handle and if they were not ready to handle it, then it's not a good thing."
Being sucked into a vortex of whirlwind publicity can be a heady experience, said Atlanta, Georgia-based photographer Ross Oscar Knight.
Two years ago, Knight photographed an elaborately staged engagement planned by Robert Gray Jr. to surprise his girlfriend, Keisha Williams.
Gray rented 10 rooms at the Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead, and filled them with rose petals, candles, and music.
As Gray led Williams to each room, friends and family were waiting with well wishes and prayers, all leading up to his proposal.
A slide show of Knight's pictures of the moving event scored millions of hits and crashed several sites linking to it, the photographer said.
"I immediately started getting calls from all over the world," Knight said. "We got an extra phone line because so many calls were coming in."
Not only were people touched, but many also wanted to have their engagements documented, Knight said, so there are sure to be dancing-down-the-aisle videos to come.
Knight said Gray and Williams, whose fairy-tale engagement attracted the attention of national publications like Essence Magazine, have married but decided to do so quietly after shutting down a Web site they had started to keep fans updated.
"They did a private ceremony because they didn't want any of that released to the media," Knight said. "I think they got to see stardom and what can happen when there is so much of a focus put on you."
Someone else who has also been thrust into the spotlight, albeit again, is singer Chris Brown, whose song the Heinz-Peterson wedding party danced to.
Despite increased demand on iTunes for the single "Forever" and speculation by media outlets like Gawker.com that the wedding video could help rehabilitate Brown's image, US Weekly staff editor Lindsay Powers said she doesn't believe all will be forgiven.
Brown, who has publicly apologized for assaulting his girlfriend, the singer Rihanna, has a long way to go before the tide of public opinion can be swayed, Powers said.
"I think that Chris Brown has had considerable career damage over these past couple of months," she said. "I think that people are going to say that's a catchy song, they'll go to iTunes and download it to their iPods, but I don't think that because people like the song they are going to like Chris Brown."
A YouTube video shows a Minnesota wedding party dancing down the aisle.
Take the case of Minnesota residents Kevin Heinz and Jill Peterson. The couple had a fun idea for their wedding party to do a nontraditional procession to a catchy tune, "Forever" by Chris Brown.
The joyous video of the group busting their loosely choreographed moves down the aisle went viral after the newlyweds posted it on YouTube. Soon they were being deluged by the media and flown to New York to appear on national television.
Since then, millions have watched the funky wedding march and helped transform Heinz and Peterson into instant celebrities.
Amy Carlson Gustafson, a pop culture reporter for the St. Paul Pioneer Press, reported on the story that she said has not only stirred up the hometown folks, but also showed a different side of Minnesota.
"I think people are loving it," she said. "It's really fun and it's especially fun in Minnesota where a lot of people think we are a bunch of uptight Scandinavians who sit around and say 'You betcha.' This video helps to debunk that a little bit."
That sense of fun and whimsy has enchanted many and led to Heinz and Peterson being sought for interviews by everyone from their local publications to the major networks. Watch guests at the wedding discuss the experience »
Don't Miss
YouTube student rap stars take on poetry
Chris Brown asks for forgiveness for assault
But they have apparently also learned quickly about the downside of fame.
The New York Post reported the pair was caught in the crossfire of the battle of the morning shows.
According to the newspaper, ABC flew Heinz and Peterson to the Big Apple after booking them to appear on "Good Morning America."
Things soured, the paper's Page Six column reported, after ABC learned the couple had also taped a segment for the rival "Today" show, which aired before the couple's appearance on "Good Morning America."
Adding fuel to the fire was a planned live re-creation of the dance by the wedding party scheduled for Saturday morning on "Today."
When it appeared that Heinz and Peterson weren't adhering to the age-old "dance with who brung ya" rule, their ABC-sponsored hotel and flight home were canceled, the paper said.
"We've been kicked out of our room," Heinz told the Post after the incident. "New York is cutthroat. That's what we've learned."
"Today" reportedly stepped in and secured a new room and flight for Heinz and Peterson.
Reporter Gustafson said she spoke with mother-of-the-bride Marge Peterson, who said her daughter and new son-in-law were done talking to the media.
"They are not used to this type of publicity," Gustafson said.
Shane Mercado can relate.
The 27-year-old from New York posted a video last year of himself mimicking step-for-step Beyonce's dance moves from her "Single Ladies (Put A Ring On It)" music video.
Mercado said he did it at the suggestion of a friend and before he knew it, he was a YouTube sensation.
"Once I did it I thought 'What did I just do?' " he recalled. "The response was overwhelming."
Soon, Mercado was a minor celebrity being asked for autographs and dancing his routine on the "Bonnie Hunt Show."
"Extra" even arranged for him to surprise Beyonce on the red carpet during the premier of her film "Cadillac Records"
Not only did the superstar singer know who he was, Mercado said, but so did other celebs.
"The actress Gabrielle Union knew who I was," Mercado said. "That just blew me away.'
Mercado said he doesn't consider himself famous and finds the notoriety humbling.
The loss of anonymity is challenging, he said. Suddenly, the number of people "in your business" dramatically increases. He said he can imagine how Heinz and Peterson are feeling: overwhelmed.
"That was their [wedding] and it was probably very private to them," Mercado said. "It can be a bit much to handle and if they were not ready to handle it, then it's not a good thing."
Being sucked into a vortex of whirlwind publicity can be a heady experience, said Atlanta, Georgia-based photographer Ross Oscar Knight.
Two years ago, Knight photographed an elaborately staged engagement planned by Robert Gray Jr. to surprise his girlfriend, Keisha Williams.
Gray rented 10 rooms at the Ritz-Carlton, Buckhead, and filled them with rose petals, candles, and music.
As Gray led Williams to each room, friends and family were waiting with well wishes and prayers, all leading up to his proposal.
A slide show of Knight's pictures of the moving event scored millions of hits and crashed several sites linking to it, the photographer said.
"I immediately started getting calls from all over the world," Knight said. "We got an extra phone line because so many calls were coming in."
Not only were people touched, but many also wanted to have their engagements documented, Knight said, so there are sure to be dancing-down-the-aisle videos to come.
Knight said Gray and Williams, whose fairy-tale engagement attracted the attention of national publications like Essence Magazine, have married but decided to do so quietly after shutting down a Web site they had started to keep fans updated.
"They did a private ceremony because they didn't want any of that released to the media," Knight said. "I think they got to see stardom and what can happen when there is so much of a focus put on you."
Someone else who has also been thrust into the spotlight, albeit again, is singer Chris Brown, whose song the Heinz-Peterson wedding party danced to.
Despite increased demand on iTunes for the single "Forever" and speculation by media outlets like Gawker.com that the wedding video could help rehabilitate Brown's image, US Weekly staff editor Lindsay Powers said she doesn't believe all will be forgiven.
Brown, who has publicly apologized for assaulting his girlfriend, the singer Rihanna, has a long way to go before the tide of public opinion can be swayed, Powers said.
"I think that Chris Brown has had considerable career damage over these past couple of months," she said. "I think that people are going to say that's a catchy song, they'll go to iTunes and download it to their iPods, but I don't think that because people like the song they are going to like Chris Brown."
Could Gangs Be Invading Kentucky?
A Chicago prosecutor says he sees evidence of gang activity in photos of graffiti taken in Lexington.
Full Story: WKYT-TV Lexington
Full Story: WKYT-TV Lexington
Country quartet Little Big Town forges ahead despite...
Little Big Town's career has had more stops and starts than a bus ride uptown. Since forming in 1998, they've had multiple label changes and loads of personal drama, and yet the original lineup - Philip Sweet, Kimberly Schlapman, Jimi Westbrook and Karen Fairchild - remains intact.
Six Ways to Get Love
Certainly you have known someone who can brighten any room-- just by leaving!
I'm afraid that we've ALL known someone like that (and I am afraid, at times, we've also BEEN that person.)
Years ago I was listening to Dennis Waitley--the "Psychology of Winning" guy--and he made this statement: "I want to be the kind of person who makes others say, 'I like myself best when I'm with you.'"
I liked that idea. I decided to become that kind of person, for my own happiness and for those around me. On some levels, I think I have even made some progress there. I want to share with you today some of the keys I have found helpful in becoming that "I Like Me Best" kind of person:
1. "If you can't say anything nice..."
"...don't say anything at all." If you want to really help people, give up trying to correct them. Instead, compliment them on their strengths. Will they still make mistakes that, to you, are obvious and need correcting? Sure, but I have found that there is ALWAYS someone willing to tell others where they are failing, it is rare to find someone who will tell others where they are succeeding.
2. Be Optimistic
Everyone likes to be around the "realistic optimist". The "RO" is a person who can acknowledge that everything isn't always great, but that somehow we will all make it through. Knowing that trials and setbacks are both inevitable as well as temporary makes you an asset to the people around you.
3. Be Funny (--even Silly!)
When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried? That was TOO LONG AGO. Learn some jokes and tell them. Watch a comedy on TV. Go into Burger King and put on the cardboard crown. You would be amazed how everyone around you will respond--and how much better you will feel.
4. Give it away
Go ahead and be frugal when it comes to your bills, your clothes or whatever else you want to save money on--just be generous with PEOPLE stuff. Give a 25% tip to the waitress who served you that great meal. Give $5 to a kid you see at church. Give away hugs like you get paid for each one. Take someone out to lunch--TODAY.
5. Live in the Moment
This is a tough self-actualization step for many people: STOP WORRYING ABOUT TOMORROW. Instead, live in today. Live in right now. Live as if tomorrow will worry about itself. After all, what can we do tomorrow until tomorrow gets here? All we can do is whatever is before us today.
6. Love Deeply
This is the most important tip for happiness.
Sure, you love your spouse, you love your kids. But what about the people you work with? What about your neighbors? If you love deeply I will guarantee you a couple things: You will be disappointed and hurt, but you will ALSO find happiness from some people who will deeply love you back. Trust me, it's worth it.
Someday I hope that you and I get to meet and know one another. I have a feeling that I might be telling you, "I like me best when I'm with you."
I'm afraid that we've ALL known someone like that (and I am afraid, at times, we've also BEEN that person.)
Years ago I was listening to Dennis Waitley--the "Psychology of Winning" guy--and he made this statement: "I want to be the kind of person who makes others say, 'I like myself best when I'm with you.'"
I liked that idea. I decided to become that kind of person, for my own happiness and for those around me. On some levels, I think I have even made some progress there. I want to share with you today some of the keys I have found helpful in becoming that "I Like Me Best" kind of person:
1. "If you can't say anything nice..."
"...don't say anything at all." If you want to really help people, give up trying to correct them. Instead, compliment them on their strengths. Will they still make mistakes that, to you, are obvious and need correcting? Sure, but I have found that there is ALWAYS someone willing to tell others where they are failing, it is rare to find someone who will tell others where they are succeeding.
2. Be Optimistic
Everyone likes to be around the "realistic optimist". The "RO" is a person who can acknowledge that everything isn't always great, but that somehow we will all make it through. Knowing that trials and setbacks are both inevitable as well as temporary makes you an asset to the people around you.
3. Be Funny (--even Silly!)
When was the last time you laughed so hard you cried? That was TOO LONG AGO. Learn some jokes and tell them. Watch a comedy on TV. Go into Burger King and put on the cardboard crown. You would be amazed how everyone around you will respond--and how much better you will feel.
4. Give it away
Go ahead and be frugal when it comes to your bills, your clothes or whatever else you want to save money on--just be generous with PEOPLE stuff. Give a 25% tip to the waitress who served you that great meal. Give $5 to a kid you see at church. Give away hugs like you get paid for each one. Take someone out to lunch--TODAY.
5. Live in the Moment
This is a tough self-actualization step for many people: STOP WORRYING ABOUT TOMORROW. Instead, live in today. Live in right now. Live as if tomorrow will worry about itself. After all, what can we do tomorrow until tomorrow gets here? All we can do is whatever is before us today.
6. Love Deeply
This is the most important tip for happiness.
Sure, you love your spouse, you love your kids. But what about the people you work with? What about your neighbors? If you love deeply I will guarantee you a couple things: You will be disappointed and hurt, but you will ALSO find happiness from some people who will deeply love you back. Trust me, it's worth it.
Someday I hope that you and I get to meet and know one another. I have a feeling that I might be telling you, "I like me best when I'm with you."
Major Lipstick Brands Contaminated with Lead
by: David Gutierrez, staff writer
(NaturalNews) More than half of all major brand-name lipsticks may contain lead, according to tests conducted by an independent laboratory on behalf of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.
Thirty-three brand-name red lipsticks were purchased in Boston, San Francisco, Minneapolis and Hartford, Conn. and tested for lead. Of these, 61 percent contained lead in detectable amounts, from 0.03 up to 0.65 parts per million (ppm). One-third of the lipsticks tested contained lead in concentrations higher than 0.1 ppm, which is the cutoff point set by the FDA for lead in candy.
According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, lead in lipstick is just as directly ingested into the body as lead in candy. Lead is a potent neurotoxin that has been shown to cause mental damage including learning disabilities, increased aggression and language problems. It is particularly dangerous to a developing organism and can cross the placenta, placing children and pregnant women at particularly high risk.
The brands with the highest lead concentrations were L'Oreal's Colour Riche "True Red" and "Classic Wine," with 0.65 and 0.58 ppm, respectively. Next came Cover Girl's Incredifull Lipcolor "Maximum Red" (0.56 ppm), and Dior Addict's "Positive Red" (0.21 ppm).
"The good news is that the tests show it is possible to make lipstick without lead," the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics said. "Thirty-nine percent of lipsticks tested had no detectable levels of lead, and cost doesn't seem to be a factor. Some less expensive brands such as Revlon ($7.49) had no detectable levels of lead, while the more expensive Dior Addict brand ($24.50) had higher levels."
According to Stacy Malkan, author of "Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry," lead in cosmetics is particularly dangerous because daily use can cause the toxin to build up in the body.
"Repeated, daily exposures to low levels of lead add up - and they add up on top of lead from paint and drinking water, which is especially a problem in low-income communities," she said. "There's no excuse for lead in lipstick or toys. Companies should act immediately to reformulate lead-containing products."
(NaturalNews) More than half of all major brand-name lipsticks may contain lead, according to tests conducted by an independent laboratory on behalf of the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics.
Thirty-three brand-name red lipsticks were purchased in Boston, San Francisco, Minneapolis and Hartford, Conn. and tested for lead. Of these, 61 percent contained lead in detectable amounts, from 0.03 up to 0.65 parts per million (ppm). One-third of the lipsticks tested contained lead in concentrations higher than 0.1 ppm, which is the cutoff point set by the FDA for lead in candy.
According to the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics, lead in lipstick is just as directly ingested into the body as lead in candy. Lead is a potent neurotoxin that has been shown to cause mental damage including learning disabilities, increased aggression and language problems. It is particularly dangerous to a developing organism and can cross the placenta, placing children and pregnant women at particularly high risk.
The brands with the highest lead concentrations were L'Oreal's Colour Riche "True Red" and "Classic Wine," with 0.65 and 0.58 ppm, respectively. Next came Cover Girl's Incredifull Lipcolor "Maximum Red" (0.56 ppm), and Dior Addict's "Positive Red" (0.21 ppm).
"The good news is that the tests show it is possible to make lipstick without lead," the Campaign for Safe Cosmetics said. "Thirty-nine percent of lipsticks tested had no detectable levels of lead, and cost doesn't seem to be a factor. Some less expensive brands such as Revlon ($7.49) had no detectable levels of lead, while the more expensive Dior Addict brand ($24.50) had higher levels."
According to Stacy Malkan, author of "Not Just a Pretty Face: The Ugly Side of the Beauty Industry," lead in cosmetics is particularly dangerous because daily use can cause the toxin to build up in the body.
"Repeated, daily exposures to low levels of lead add up - and they add up on top of lead from paint and drinking water, which is especially a problem in low-income communities," she said. "There's no excuse for lead in lipstick or toys. Companies should act immediately to reformulate lead-containing products."
Should You Be Worried About What's in Your Cosmetics?
by: Flora Stay, D.D.S., citizen journalist
(NaturalNews) Stores stock thousands of brands of cosmetics to help us look like the latest Hollywood actress. We bought the ads and the products lock, stock and barrel to the tune of $200 billion in retail sales in the year 2000. According to TNS Media Intelligence, just the ad sales in 2006 for the cosmetics industry was higher than any other industry with a staggering 2.2 billion dollars.
These cosmetics in pretty containers that we dish out lots of money for, are advertised using psychological factors in ads to motivate us to buy them, no matter what the price. The higher end cosmetics offered in stores base their price on hand-holding, and the brand they have built with their packaging and advertising campaigns.
These companies claim they spend millions on research and use more expensive ingredients. However, truth be known, it's how the advertisement looks and whether it successfully calls us to action, that sells us rather than the ingredients.
It is shocking to learn the FDA does not assess the safety of cosmetics and the industry has been left to police themselves. The basic ingredients used are mostly the same whether it's purchased at a high end counter in a fancy package, or for a tenth of the cost at a low end store.
As consumers, what you need to know is that there are ingredients in high end or inexpensive cosmetics that could cause health concerns. For example, the following is a small list of ingredients that could cause allergies and possibly lead to chronic illness, yet found in many cosmetics. Others are known toxins:
Pthalates - Known toxin. Found in many nail polish, including expensive brands
Alcohol - Dries the skin
Salicylic acid - Revered for many uses, can cause allergies
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate - This is an industrial detergent and can cause allergies
As wise consumers, we must become educated before buying cosmetics and skin care products with our hard earned money.
As you can see, consumers must be aware and become educated before going for the pretty package. There is a good websites that sheds light on this subject: Environmental Working Group (http://www.ewg.org) . EWG's website (www.cosmeticdatabase.org) even rates cosmetic brands for safety. Go there to check yours.
Dr. Flora Stay is the author of Secret Gateway to Health, Clinical Professor at University of Southern California School of Dentistry and founder of Cleure (fusion of Clean & Pure), (www.cleure.com) is the trusted company for chemically safe personal care and cosmetic products. You can receive a FREE e-book "Product Labels, A Cautionary Tale" to help you learn how to become wise shoppers and avoid products with toxic ingredients. Just go to (http://www.cleure.com) right now and download this e-book.
(NaturalNews) Stores stock thousands of brands of cosmetics to help us look like the latest Hollywood actress. We bought the ads and the products lock, stock and barrel to the tune of $200 billion in retail sales in the year 2000. According to TNS Media Intelligence, just the ad sales in 2006 for the cosmetics industry was higher than any other industry with a staggering 2.2 billion dollars.
These cosmetics in pretty containers that we dish out lots of money for, are advertised using psychological factors in ads to motivate us to buy them, no matter what the price. The higher end cosmetics offered in stores base their price on hand-holding, and the brand they have built with their packaging and advertising campaigns.
These companies claim they spend millions on research and use more expensive ingredients. However, truth be known, it's how the advertisement looks and whether it successfully calls us to action, that sells us rather than the ingredients.
It is shocking to learn the FDA does not assess the safety of cosmetics and the industry has been left to police themselves. The basic ingredients used are mostly the same whether it's purchased at a high end counter in a fancy package, or for a tenth of the cost at a low end store.
As consumers, what you need to know is that there are ingredients in high end or inexpensive cosmetics that could cause health concerns. For example, the following is a small list of ingredients that could cause allergies and possibly lead to chronic illness, yet found in many cosmetics. Others are known toxins:
Pthalates - Known toxin. Found in many nail polish, including expensive brands
Alcohol - Dries the skin
Salicylic acid - Revered for many uses, can cause allergies
Sodium Lauryl Sulfate - This is an industrial detergent and can cause allergies
As wise consumers, we must become educated before buying cosmetics and skin care products with our hard earned money.
As you can see, consumers must be aware and become educated before going for the pretty package. There is a good websites that sheds light on this subject: Environmental Working Group (http://www.ewg.org) . EWG's website (www.cosmeticdatabase.org) even rates cosmetic brands for safety. Go there to check yours.
Dr. Flora Stay is the author of Secret Gateway to Health, Clinical Professor at University of Southern California School of Dentistry and founder of Cleure (fusion of Clean & Pure), (www.cleure.com) is the trusted company for chemically safe personal care and cosmetic products. You can receive a FREE e-book "Product Labels, A Cautionary Tale" to help you learn how to become wise shoppers and avoid products with toxic ingredients. Just go to (http://www.cleure.com) right now and download this e-book.
Choosing Products That Promote Beauty and Well Being
by: Barbara Minton, Natural Health Editor
(NaturalNews) Millions of Americans are adversely affected each year by a silent from of chemical warfare that's taking place every day within the comforts of our own homes. While we worry about the chemical weaponry of terrorists and lead-contaminated imported toys, we are literally poisoning our immune systems with thousands of toxic chemicals that are known carcinogens, hormone disrupters, and cancer-causing agents.
It starts with your morning routine. If you are a man, you will probably use shampoo, soap, toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, hair gel or styling products, shaving cream, and aftershave or cologne. A typical day for a woman starts much the same, with the added possibilities of shower gel, body and face cream, lotion, moisturizer, make-up, hair spray, perfume, and nail polish. By the time you have made it to the door, you have swallowed, inhaled and absorbed through your skin hundreds of toxic chemicals, some of which have been proven to be deadly to laboratory animals and many of which are known to be carcinogens.
If you are suffering from dry flaky skin, persistent skin irritations, rashes, sinus problems, allergies, asthma, respiratory ailments and other health problems that never seem to get cured, it may be time for you to examine the negative effects your personal care products are having on your health. It's great to exercise and watch what you eat, but you must also watch what you put on your body and even what you use to clean your house if you want to achieve optimal health.
Any substance you put on your skin, or inhale will enter your bloodstream just as surely as if you had swallowed it. Once these chemicals enter your bloodstream, they are perceived by your immune system as foreign and not recognizable, and they are perceived by your liver as toxins. When your immune system and liver are dealing with toxic chemical overload they aren't available to do the jobs they were intended to do. That's why people who insist on putting toxic chemicals into their bodies suffer from frequent bacterial and viral infections, other mysterious maladies, and even cancer.
Have you ever taken a close look at the ingredients in your personal care products? Whatever you are seeing probably includes water. Is there anything else on that label that you recognize as a naturally occurring substance you might actually want to put inside your body? If it doesn't occur in nature, it shouldn't be inside of you, because you are a natural being.
Kiss My Face Corporation makes a wonderful soap bar that lathers up and cleans just fine. The only ingredients on its label are olive oil, water and salt. There are no toxic chemicals or fragrance. That's what a label should look like. How does the label on your soap look?
No matter what the advertisements try to make you think, fragrance does not come from flowers or anything else natural. More than 4,000 chemicals are used in fragrances, many of which are waste products from the petroleum industry. Several of them are known to cause cancer, birth defects, infertility, and brain and central nervous system damage including Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's.
Since so many products are now scented, the number of people who are made ill by fragrances is steadily increasing. Babies and children are especially vulnerable along with those recovering from illness or disease. Chemical fragrances are everywhere: laundry detergent, fabric softeners, dish washing liquids, suntan products, sunscreen, incense, lotions, moisturizers, lip balms, almost every personal care product, and more. It's even found in many products labeled as unscented because it is contained within a compound when that compound is added to the product.
Exposure to scented products can cause the persistent symptoms that mystify people, such as chronic aches and pains, headaches, allergies, swollen glands and lymph tenderness, heart palpitations, memory, fatigue, asthma, nausea, and neural-motor functioning including dizziness, and fainting. Exposure in children and even adults can cause learning and behavioral problems, attention deficit and hyperactivity in addition to any of the other symptoms. Continued exposure to chemical fragrances along with other toxic chemicals can cause development of Multiple Chemical Sensitivities Disease. When you have this disease, the slightest whiff of a toxic chemical makes you so ill you cannot function. Your ability to interact with the rest of the world is seriously compromised.
It's tempting to say to your self that these products must be alright or the 'government' wouldn't let them be sold, but this isn't true. The personal care products industry is not supervised. The FDA does not require manufacturers to register their products or to file safety data on the ingredients they use in them. They are free to put in as many toxic chemicals as they want. The only thing that stops them is reaction from the public. A few years ago, magazines came with scented strips advertising the latest perfumes. So many people were sickened and complained that the strips were discontinued. If enough people refuse to buy toxic products, manufacturers would stop making them.
Products you use while taking a shower are particularly dangerous since you are using them at a time when your pores are opened by hot water, allowing quick and easy access to your bloodstream. A look at the ingredients in your shampoo may be shocking. There are more than 100 toxic chemicals traditionally used in shampoo, and most brands contain 20 to 30 of them in addition to chemical fragrance and dyes.
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a dominant ingredient in almost all shampoos. In addition to its toxic effects on your immune and detoxification systems, SLS has been shown to corrode the hair follicles and impede hair growth. It has been blamed for premature hair loss. The Material Safety Data Sheet provided by the U.S. government says exposure to SLS can lead to burning, coughing, wheezing, laryngitis, shortness of breath, headache, nausea and vomiting. The American College of Toxicology says that SLS stays in the body for up to five days and maintains residual levels in the heart, liver, lungs and brain.
While there are many natural alternative substances available that will clean and beautify you far better than these toxic concoctions, the large corporations that produce personal care products won't use them because it would cost too much money and interfere with their profits. They even try to disguise their cheap chemicals with tiny amounts of natural ingredients that are prominently featured on the front of the bottle. This is done to deceive you into buying what you think is an item that promotes health. But turn the bottle over and you will see a mind boggling list of toxic ingredients.
If you have decided that you don't want to pay your hard earned money to a corporation that strives to deceive you and tell you lies, you will find that discovering how to replace your toxic products with products that promote good health is a very difficult task. No matter what it says on the label, there are virtually No products in any of the discount stores, traditional supermarkets, or drugstores that are not filled with health compromising chemicals.
Some supermarkets featuring organic or health sections carry Burt's Bees products. These are certainly far preferable to those produced by the large corporations, but Burt's Bees has recently been bought out by Clorox Corporation, so its quality may soon be compromised. For now, some of Burt's Bees products are safe, and some contain toxic ingredients such as fragrance, endocrine system disrupting glucose oxidase, and borax (the active ingredient in most ant poisons).
You will have a better chance of finding products that promote health at a health food market. But even there, you can't just walk in and buy what appeals to you on sight. Many products marketed as 'natural' contain high levels of toxic ingredients. Whole Foods Market publishes a list of ingredients not allowed in the foods they sell, but many of these ingredients are contained in their personal care items. Apparently it is alright with them if the toxins enter you body through your skin instead of your mouth.
When you try to replace your personal care products with ones that promote health, you will find that almost every item you pick lists ingredients that sounds like chemicals. The only way to be sure of what you are buying is to research these ingredients. Here is a website where you can easily research many of these ingredients using their search box: (http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/) .
Many people have found that the easiest and most cost effective way to shop for health promoting products is online using one of the large supplement companies such as Lucky Vitamin or Vitacost. Each of these carries an amazing array of the personal care and cosmetic products typically found in health food stores.
There is one line of products that stands out above the rest. Aubrey Organics consistently provides items that are of very high quality and free of toxins. Many of their lotions and shampoos are highly scented with natural oils. Of course, these products are fairly expensive, but if you order them online there is a substantial savings.
Kiss My Face makes that luscious olive oil soap without scent or in several scents created from chemicals. Many of their other products contain an array of toxic ingredients.
Jason's is good for toothpaste, making several flavors without fluoride or significant toxic chemicals. But again, much of their line contains objectionable ingredients.
Cosmetics made entirely from minerals are gaining in popularity as witnessed by the astounding growth in Bare Essential shops. Mineral cosmetics provide the affects of traditional cosmetics and don't contain toxic chemicals. There are several other companies that sell cosmetics made from minerals. Their products are available at health food stores and online.
It's not easy to make the change from disease promoting personal care products to those promoting health. It seems to require some trial and error, a lot of time to do research, patience, and a commitment to paying higher prices for the products you use. But once the change is made and these products become as familiar to you as the ones you used to buy, it will be easy from that point on. You will realize that you have made a significant investment in your future health and freedom from disease, and you will feel proud of yourself. You will know that it's all a matter of priorities.
After you have found products in every category that you really like and seen how good you feel using them, you probably won't even consider returning to the old brands. You will feel good about spending your money on products made by a company who knows its future rests in producing products that keep you healthy, rather that a corporation that sees you only as someone to be exploited. And you may realize that looking your best can be achieved only with the vibrant glow of good health shining from your insides out.
(NaturalNews) Millions of Americans are adversely affected each year by a silent from of chemical warfare that's taking place every day within the comforts of our own homes. While we worry about the chemical weaponry of terrorists and lead-contaminated imported toys, we are literally poisoning our immune systems with thousands of toxic chemicals that are known carcinogens, hormone disrupters, and cancer-causing agents.
It starts with your morning routine. If you are a man, you will probably use shampoo, soap, toothpaste, mouthwash, deodorant, hair gel or styling products, shaving cream, and aftershave or cologne. A typical day for a woman starts much the same, with the added possibilities of shower gel, body and face cream, lotion, moisturizer, make-up, hair spray, perfume, and nail polish. By the time you have made it to the door, you have swallowed, inhaled and absorbed through your skin hundreds of toxic chemicals, some of which have been proven to be deadly to laboratory animals and many of which are known to be carcinogens.
If you are suffering from dry flaky skin, persistent skin irritations, rashes, sinus problems, allergies, asthma, respiratory ailments and other health problems that never seem to get cured, it may be time for you to examine the negative effects your personal care products are having on your health. It's great to exercise and watch what you eat, but you must also watch what you put on your body and even what you use to clean your house if you want to achieve optimal health.
Any substance you put on your skin, or inhale will enter your bloodstream just as surely as if you had swallowed it. Once these chemicals enter your bloodstream, they are perceived by your immune system as foreign and not recognizable, and they are perceived by your liver as toxins. When your immune system and liver are dealing with toxic chemical overload they aren't available to do the jobs they were intended to do. That's why people who insist on putting toxic chemicals into their bodies suffer from frequent bacterial and viral infections, other mysterious maladies, and even cancer.
Have you ever taken a close look at the ingredients in your personal care products? Whatever you are seeing probably includes water. Is there anything else on that label that you recognize as a naturally occurring substance you might actually want to put inside your body? If it doesn't occur in nature, it shouldn't be inside of you, because you are a natural being.
Kiss My Face Corporation makes a wonderful soap bar that lathers up and cleans just fine. The only ingredients on its label are olive oil, water and salt. There are no toxic chemicals or fragrance. That's what a label should look like. How does the label on your soap look?
No matter what the advertisements try to make you think, fragrance does not come from flowers or anything else natural. More than 4,000 chemicals are used in fragrances, many of which are waste products from the petroleum industry. Several of them are known to cause cancer, birth defects, infertility, and brain and central nervous system damage including Multiple Sclerosis, Parkinson's Disease and Alzheimer's.
Since so many products are now scented, the number of people who are made ill by fragrances is steadily increasing. Babies and children are especially vulnerable along with those recovering from illness or disease. Chemical fragrances are everywhere: laundry detergent, fabric softeners, dish washing liquids, suntan products, sunscreen, incense, lotions, moisturizers, lip balms, almost every personal care product, and more. It's even found in many products labeled as unscented because it is contained within a compound when that compound is added to the product.
Exposure to scented products can cause the persistent symptoms that mystify people, such as chronic aches and pains, headaches, allergies, swollen glands and lymph tenderness, heart palpitations, memory, fatigue, asthma, nausea, and neural-motor functioning including dizziness, and fainting. Exposure in children and even adults can cause learning and behavioral problems, attention deficit and hyperactivity in addition to any of the other symptoms. Continued exposure to chemical fragrances along with other toxic chemicals can cause development of Multiple Chemical Sensitivities Disease. When you have this disease, the slightest whiff of a toxic chemical makes you so ill you cannot function. Your ability to interact with the rest of the world is seriously compromised.
It's tempting to say to your self that these products must be alright or the 'government' wouldn't let them be sold, but this isn't true. The personal care products industry is not supervised. The FDA does not require manufacturers to register their products or to file safety data on the ingredients they use in them. They are free to put in as many toxic chemicals as they want. The only thing that stops them is reaction from the public. A few years ago, magazines came with scented strips advertising the latest perfumes. So many people were sickened and complained that the strips were discontinued. If enough people refuse to buy toxic products, manufacturers would stop making them.
Products you use while taking a shower are particularly dangerous since you are using them at a time when your pores are opened by hot water, allowing quick and easy access to your bloodstream. A look at the ingredients in your shampoo may be shocking. There are more than 100 toxic chemicals traditionally used in shampoo, and most brands contain 20 to 30 of them in addition to chemical fragrance and dyes.
Sodium lauryl sulfate (SLS) is a dominant ingredient in almost all shampoos. In addition to its toxic effects on your immune and detoxification systems, SLS has been shown to corrode the hair follicles and impede hair growth. It has been blamed for premature hair loss. The Material Safety Data Sheet provided by the U.S. government says exposure to SLS can lead to burning, coughing, wheezing, laryngitis, shortness of breath, headache, nausea and vomiting. The American College of Toxicology says that SLS stays in the body for up to five days and maintains residual levels in the heart, liver, lungs and brain.
While there are many natural alternative substances available that will clean and beautify you far better than these toxic concoctions, the large corporations that produce personal care products won't use them because it would cost too much money and interfere with their profits. They even try to disguise their cheap chemicals with tiny amounts of natural ingredients that are prominently featured on the front of the bottle. This is done to deceive you into buying what you think is an item that promotes health. But turn the bottle over and you will see a mind boggling list of toxic ingredients.
If you have decided that you don't want to pay your hard earned money to a corporation that strives to deceive you and tell you lies, you will find that discovering how to replace your toxic products with products that promote good health is a very difficult task. No matter what it says on the label, there are virtually No products in any of the discount stores, traditional supermarkets, or drugstores that are not filled with health compromising chemicals.
Some supermarkets featuring organic or health sections carry Burt's Bees products. These are certainly far preferable to those produced by the large corporations, but Burt's Bees has recently been bought out by Clorox Corporation, so its quality may soon be compromised. For now, some of Burt's Bees products are safe, and some contain toxic ingredients such as fragrance, endocrine system disrupting glucose oxidase, and borax (the active ingredient in most ant poisons).
You will have a better chance of finding products that promote health at a health food market. But even there, you can't just walk in and buy what appeals to you on sight. Many products marketed as 'natural' contain high levels of toxic ingredients. Whole Foods Market publishes a list of ingredients not allowed in the foods they sell, but many of these ingredients are contained in their personal care items. Apparently it is alright with them if the toxins enter you body through your skin instead of your mouth.
When you try to replace your personal care products with ones that promote health, you will find that almost every item you pick lists ingredients that sounds like chemicals. The only way to be sure of what you are buying is to research these ingredients. Here is a website where you can easily research many of these ingredients using their search box: (http://www.cosmeticsdatabase.com/) .
Many people have found that the easiest and most cost effective way to shop for health promoting products is online using one of the large supplement companies such as Lucky Vitamin or Vitacost. Each of these carries an amazing array of the personal care and cosmetic products typically found in health food stores.
There is one line of products that stands out above the rest. Aubrey Organics consistently provides items that are of very high quality and free of toxins. Many of their lotions and shampoos are highly scented with natural oils. Of course, these products are fairly expensive, but if you order them online there is a substantial savings.
Kiss My Face makes that luscious olive oil soap without scent or in several scents created from chemicals. Many of their other products contain an array of toxic ingredients.
Jason's is good for toothpaste, making several flavors without fluoride or significant toxic chemicals. But again, much of their line contains objectionable ingredients.
Cosmetics made entirely from minerals are gaining in popularity as witnessed by the astounding growth in Bare Essential shops. Mineral cosmetics provide the affects of traditional cosmetics and don't contain toxic chemicals. There are several other companies that sell cosmetics made from minerals. Their products are available at health food stores and online.
It's not easy to make the change from disease promoting personal care products to those promoting health. It seems to require some trial and error, a lot of time to do research, patience, and a commitment to paying higher prices for the products you use. But once the change is made and these products become as familiar to you as the ones you used to buy, it will be easy from that point on. You will realize that you have made a significant investment in your future health and freedom from disease, and you will feel proud of yourself. You will know that it's all a matter of priorities.
After you have found products in every category that you really like and seen how good you feel using them, you probably won't even consider returning to the old brands. You will feel good about spending your money on products made by a company who knows its future rests in producing products that keep you healthy, rather that a corporation that sees you only as someone to be exploited. And you may realize that looking your best can be achieved only with the vibrant glow of good health shining from your insides out.
Add Chemical-Free Color to Cheeks With Miessence Blush Powder
by: Aria Milan, Skin Care & Body Care Editor
(NaturalNews) The act of blushing is associated with the glow of being in love and has always been considered an alluring quality. Throughout the ages, women have applied color to their cheeks to capture the beauty of the blushing effect. The perfect shade of blush is a prize find. The right color for cheeks can mean the difference between a healthy, youthful glow and a sick pallor. Finding "just the right color" can be a challenge in and of itself, but narrowing the search to include finding the right blush in an all natural cosmetic can be a frustrating endeavor. Most cosmetics on the market are awash with harmful chemical additives. One could deduce that these chemical additives play a key role in the texture and "feel" of the cosmetic. If chemical allergies aren't a factor, conventional blushes feel great and the color lasts for hours. With many natural and organic cosmetics, one doesn't have to worry about absorbing toxins, but these products usually don't look and feel as natural on the face, and they tend to cake. Miessence is a line of organic body care and cosmetic products that offers a pure mineral blush which gives cheeks a beautiful, natural color.
The mineral blush powders come in two types of finishes -- Satin and Silk. The Silk colors have a matte finish and is great for daytime use. The Satin colors have a shimmering effect and is perfect for evenings out. There are three colors in all and each color has a Satin and Silk version available. The difference in shades between the Satin and Silk colors are significant so in actuality, there are 6 colors to choose from -- Ginger Blossom Satin, Ginger Blossom Silk, Apricot Dew Satin, Apricot Dew Silk, Desert Rose Satin, and Desert Rose Silk. These colors offer enough of a choice for people of different skin colors, from very fair to dark, to pick a shade that will match their skin tone. According to the Miessence catalogue: the Silk colors look very light in the the containers but darken when applied and the Satin colors look like how they appear in the jars.
I tried the Ginger Blossom Satin blush powder and I was surprised to find that it went on very smoothly and naturally. It livened up my face but didn't over-power my cheeks with color. This blush was natural enough for me to use during the day and had a lovely shimmer to it. The first time I tried it, I applied too much but felt confident that the color would fade after a little while like so many other blush products do. After a few hours, I looked in the mirror and had a double-edged surprise -- on the one hand, the color hadn't faded so it looked over-applied but the plus side is that the color stayed put on my cheeks really nicely. I can fairly say this is the best mineral blush powder I've used and the shimmering color adds a vibrant glow to my face.
I've tried many natural cosmetics in the past and I've been disappointed with almost every product. The challenge I've found with natural cosmetics is that the texture just doesn't feel right and the color choices aren't enough to find the right shade to match my skin tone. I imagine this is true for a lot of people. The easy way would be to just continue using conventional make-up products, except for one uncomfortable truth: conventional cosmetics contain dangerous chemical ingredients that are carcinogenic and endocrine disruptive. What a lot of people are left with is the choice to look really good by using toxic products or sacrifice the optimum look for much healthier alternatives.
This does not hold true any more when it comes to Miessence blush powder.
The ingredients of the blush powder are:
* Mica
* Sericite Mica
* Organic Rose (Rosa Damascena) Essential Oil
* may contain Iron Oxides
These are very simple ingredients which makes me feel that my search for a good blush powder is over. When shopping around for cosmetics, it's best to avoid products that contain Coal Tar Dyes, PEG, Talc, Dimethicone, and Parabens, just to name a few. Taking the time to switch to natural cosmetics from toxic products is well worth the time and effort not just for your health but also for your beauty in the long term. Many of these harmful chemicals also cause skin irritation and free-radical damage that can lead to premature aging.
For a natural look with this blush powder, apply it with a blush brush and when more color is desired, apply with a sponge. The only drawbacks I found was that it comes in a loose powder and for those who are used to hard powders, this takes a little while to get used to and is a little messy. Also, the containers are a little small, about .21 ounces or 6 grams. Overall, I recommend this product as it is a wonderful blush and is softly scented with rose oil. The price of this blush is "higher end" at $22.95 but is worth it. To order this product, go to (http://www.miorganicfamily.com/). Be sure to select the destination of where you want your order shipped as this is an international company and the currency will reflect the destination country. In upcoming articles, I will be reviewing the Miessence foundation and lip creme.
Look beautiful naturally!
Update: Since I last wrote this review, I've been informed that Miessence has reformulated their blushes and have blended both the Silk and Satin effects in three colors -- Desert Rose, Apricot Dew, and Ginger Blossom. I have tried the new blushes and they work even better! These blushes have the combined effect of shimmer and matte so it's appropriate for both day and evening wear. When the light reflects off the cheeks, the shimmer effect is very noticeable but during natural lighting (when the sun shines during the day) the blush is toned down as the matte effect is more prominent. Desert Rose has a warm brown/pink color to it, Ginger Blossom is a nice all-around pink shade and Apricot Dew is a radiant pink with an uplifting apricot hue to it. These new blushes are highly recommended and are very versatile.
(NaturalNews) The act of blushing is associated with the glow of being in love and has always been considered an alluring quality. Throughout the ages, women have applied color to their cheeks to capture the beauty of the blushing effect. The perfect shade of blush is a prize find. The right color for cheeks can mean the difference between a healthy, youthful glow and a sick pallor. Finding "just the right color" can be a challenge in and of itself, but narrowing the search to include finding the right blush in an all natural cosmetic can be a frustrating endeavor. Most cosmetics on the market are awash with harmful chemical additives. One could deduce that these chemical additives play a key role in the texture and "feel" of the cosmetic. If chemical allergies aren't a factor, conventional blushes feel great and the color lasts for hours. With many natural and organic cosmetics, one doesn't have to worry about absorbing toxins, but these products usually don't look and feel as natural on the face, and they tend to cake. Miessence is a line of organic body care and cosmetic products that offers a pure mineral blush which gives cheeks a beautiful, natural color.
The mineral blush powders come in two types of finishes -- Satin and Silk. The Silk colors have a matte finish and is great for daytime use. The Satin colors have a shimmering effect and is perfect for evenings out. There are three colors in all and each color has a Satin and Silk version available. The difference in shades between the Satin and Silk colors are significant so in actuality, there are 6 colors to choose from -- Ginger Blossom Satin, Ginger Blossom Silk, Apricot Dew Satin, Apricot Dew Silk, Desert Rose Satin, and Desert Rose Silk. These colors offer enough of a choice for people of different skin colors, from very fair to dark, to pick a shade that will match their skin tone. According to the Miessence catalogue: the Silk colors look very light in the the containers but darken when applied and the Satin colors look like how they appear in the jars.
I tried the Ginger Blossom Satin blush powder and I was surprised to find that it went on very smoothly and naturally. It livened up my face but didn't over-power my cheeks with color. This blush was natural enough for me to use during the day and had a lovely shimmer to it. The first time I tried it, I applied too much but felt confident that the color would fade after a little while like so many other blush products do. After a few hours, I looked in the mirror and had a double-edged surprise -- on the one hand, the color hadn't faded so it looked over-applied but the plus side is that the color stayed put on my cheeks really nicely. I can fairly say this is the best mineral blush powder I've used and the shimmering color adds a vibrant glow to my face.
I've tried many natural cosmetics in the past and I've been disappointed with almost every product. The challenge I've found with natural cosmetics is that the texture just doesn't feel right and the color choices aren't enough to find the right shade to match my skin tone. I imagine this is true for a lot of people. The easy way would be to just continue using conventional make-up products, except for one uncomfortable truth: conventional cosmetics contain dangerous chemical ingredients that are carcinogenic and endocrine disruptive. What a lot of people are left with is the choice to look really good by using toxic products or sacrifice the optimum look for much healthier alternatives.
This does not hold true any more when it comes to Miessence blush powder.
The ingredients of the blush powder are:
* Mica
* Sericite Mica
* Organic Rose (Rosa Damascena) Essential Oil
* may contain Iron Oxides
These are very simple ingredients which makes me feel that my search for a good blush powder is over. When shopping around for cosmetics, it's best to avoid products that contain Coal Tar Dyes, PEG, Talc, Dimethicone, and Parabens, just to name a few. Taking the time to switch to natural cosmetics from toxic products is well worth the time and effort not just for your health but also for your beauty in the long term. Many of these harmful chemicals also cause skin irritation and free-radical damage that can lead to premature aging.
For a natural look with this blush powder, apply it with a blush brush and when more color is desired, apply with a sponge. The only drawbacks I found was that it comes in a loose powder and for those who are used to hard powders, this takes a little while to get used to and is a little messy. Also, the containers are a little small, about .21 ounces or 6 grams. Overall, I recommend this product as it is a wonderful blush and is softly scented with rose oil. The price of this blush is "higher end" at $22.95 but is worth it. To order this product, go to (http://www.miorganicfamily.com/). Be sure to select the destination of where you want your order shipped as this is an international company and the currency will reflect the destination country. In upcoming articles, I will be reviewing the Miessence foundation and lip creme.
Look beautiful naturally!
Update: Since I last wrote this review, I've been informed that Miessence has reformulated their blushes and have blended both the Silk and Satin effects in three colors -- Desert Rose, Apricot Dew, and Ginger Blossom. I have tried the new blushes and they work even better! These blushes have the combined effect of shimmer and matte so it's appropriate for both day and evening wear. When the light reflects off the cheeks, the shimmer effect is very noticeable but during natural lighting (when the sun shines during the day) the blush is toned down as the matte effect is more prominent. Desert Rose has a warm brown/pink color to it, Ginger Blossom is a nice all-around pink shade and Apricot Dew is a radiant pink with an uplifting apricot hue to it. These new blushes are highly recommended and are very versatile.
Teens and Toxic Skin Care: A Parent's Responsibility
by: Al G Smith, citizen journalist
(NaturalNews) No one has ever said that being a parent is an easy job. In the 21st century there are many reasons why successful parenting could be said to be more difficult than ever. Thanks to the impact of modern marketing methods, exploited so successfully by the cosmetics and personal care industry, teenagers are increasingly encouraged to utilize synthetic chemical laden products to solve their perceived `socially embarrassing`, but perfectly natural, adolescent problems. Helping to educate your children in suitably subtle, but effective ways, has never been more urgent as yet more evidence emerges about the toxic load youngsters are already carrying as a result of using higher than average levels of skin, hair and body care and cosmetics products.
Disturbing news has recently emerged from the ongoing research published by the respected Environmental Working Group (EWG) in September 2008, that parents need to take note of. If you have teenagers, in particular, you will know that they are at a difficult and vulnerable time of life, when their own bodies are in a state of turmoil and constant development. Amongst the numerous challenges of impending adulthood is the development of natural body-smells, and minor skin eruptions, caused by glandular and hormonal disturbances, which can make any teenager feel self-conscious. These issues can lead to many teens being liable to apply deodorants liberally and frequently, and also to use a variety of commercial creams and lotions. Teenagers are also tempted to experiment with all sorts of cosmetics without paying much attention to the ingredients used to manufacture them.
The EWG`s research has confirmed that teenagers do indeed use more `substances` on their skins than the average person. This means that during this vulnerable physical and emotional time they can be exposed to a whole host of potentially harmful chemical components regularly used in the manufacture of body, skin and hair product in the majority of typical, off-the-shelf brands.
If you are the main provider of skin, hair and body care products for your children to use then it is your direct responsibility as a parent to ensure that you are using the safest products available – even if these safer alternatives do cost a little more. Surely no parent would want to justify continuing to provide something that might be slowly poisoning their children`s skin and bodies.
If ignorance is truly bliss than perhaps this is the excuse for those parents who are less proactive about getting adequately informed. Perhaps they simply do not know or realize what an array of toxic chemicals are commonly found in the products that their child or teenager may be using every day. For others, perhaps they are happy to accept the claims made by certain `official` sources - often with politically and/or commercially invested interests to protect - that currently there is insufficient evidence of any harm that these products or ingredients might cause.
Most responsible parents will go out of their way to make sure that they are adequately informed so that they can properly care for their offspring. When this is not the case not, it begs the question: "how soon does such an attitude become tantamount to neglect?" Only an individual parent`s conscience can provide the answer, perhaps.
But if this helps you to make more informed purchasing decisions, or to make more strenuous efforts to inform and educate your own teens about their personal shopping practices, you should be aware that EWG research has shown that teens tend to use an average of 17 body/skin/cosmetic products a day compared with adult use of an average of 12 products. The study indicated that, across the United States, teenage girls are already typically contaminated with a wide variety of known toxic chemicals routinely used in many personal care and cosmetic formulations. Some of the toxic ingredients identified at elevated levels in blood and urine samples included:
Phthalates – Often used in the manufacture of plastic products, they can be absorbed both into susceptible products and also the body via various means. Known to be toxic (though played down by `official Government sources`) phthalates are potentially cancer causing and disruptive to natural hormones and may affect normal gender development and fertility.
Triclosan – Widely used in liquid hand soaps, toothpaste, anti-bacterial creams and other so-called `body care` products. It is a chlorophenol that is registered as a `pesticide` by the US Environmental Protection Agency. It progressively increases in its toxic potential through accumulation as it is very hard to get rid of once absorbed by the body. It is known to cause cause irritations, trigger allergic reactions and is also potentially carcinogenic in humans.
Parabens – A `family` of carcinogenic chemicals (e.g. methylparaben; propylparaben and others), These chemicals are also known to have disruptive effects on hormones and they were found in all of the sample of 20 teenage girls studied by the EWG.
Fragrances – Synthetic fragrances such as `musk` are frequently used in the popular, cheaper brands of perfumes, toiletries and cosmetics (typically favored by pocket-money-spending teens), These synthetic perfumes can trigger allergies and sensitivities, and have also been shown to cause cancers in mice.
These are just a `handful` of common constituents found in many personal care products - ranging from soaps, deodorants, hand lotions, body creams, toothpastes, anti-microbial blemish creams, and so on, right through to cosmetics of all kinds.
As yet there are still relatively few skin, hair and body care products on the market that can truly claim to be safer alternatives for adults to use, let alone vulnerable teens and younger children. This is because the majority of off-the-shelf products rely heavily on synthetic chemical for preservation, coloring, fragrance and as `bulking` agents, amongst other things. Some truly natural product ranges are, however, emerging but they have to be hunted-down. With effort you can find new, ethically-inspired brands that utilize the wisdom of ages and entirely natural formulations to ensure their preservation and safety for use for all age-groups. For example, you might browse the information about the certified organic products supplied via http://www.saferalternative.com, and examine the product range originally formulated through the diligence of one concerned Mother who knew she wanted to be absolutely certain that the products her three children used were as safe as could be humanly produced.
But do not make the bland assumption that every other product on the high-street, or online, that calls itself 'natural' or 'organic' actually lives-up to the apparent claims or implications made by marketing campaigns, brand names and images. Only by reading the small print, specifically the ingredients label, on your body, hair and skin care products, can you become properly informed about what is really used in their manufacture.
Even so, the ingredients listings on many labels, regularly prove to be barely legible, and will often contain items that are either hard to decipher, and even more difficult to pronounce. Another trick that manufacturers frequently use in listing ingredients is to `imply` natural derivations by mentioning natural-sounding words and phrases. It is up to every parent to do their due diligence and familiarize themselves with the names and potential health risks associated with common components in hair, skin, body care and cosmetics. For this purpose (if, as a regular Natural News reader, you do not have it already) a free ebook is downloadable from: http://www.gonando.com/healthier-li... that lists and identifies the major toxic, synthetic chemical ingredients of particular concern that could appear on your personal care labels.
It is never easy to educate or inform teenagers – who naturally `know it all` already. But if you can persuade your teen to read a resource that allows them to learn for themselves about the health risks posed by some of the ingredients in their favorite skin care and cosmetics products, you might just help them to avoid unnecessary, further exposure to toxic substances that could potentially cause their health to suffer in years to come.
(NaturalNews) No one has ever said that being a parent is an easy job. In the 21st century there are many reasons why successful parenting could be said to be more difficult than ever. Thanks to the impact of modern marketing methods, exploited so successfully by the cosmetics and personal care industry, teenagers are increasingly encouraged to utilize synthetic chemical laden products to solve their perceived `socially embarrassing`, but perfectly natural, adolescent problems. Helping to educate your children in suitably subtle, but effective ways, has never been more urgent as yet more evidence emerges about the toxic load youngsters are already carrying as a result of using higher than average levels of skin, hair and body care and cosmetics products.
Disturbing news has recently emerged from the ongoing research published by the respected Environmental Working Group (EWG) in September 2008, that parents need to take note of. If you have teenagers, in particular, you will know that they are at a difficult and vulnerable time of life, when their own bodies are in a state of turmoil and constant development. Amongst the numerous challenges of impending adulthood is the development of natural body-smells, and minor skin eruptions, caused by glandular and hormonal disturbances, which can make any teenager feel self-conscious. These issues can lead to many teens being liable to apply deodorants liberally and frequently, and also to use a variety of commercial creams and lotions. Teenagers are also tempted to experiment with all sorts of cosmetics without paying much attention to the ingredients used to manufacture them.
The EWG`s research has confirmed that teenagers do indeed use more `substances` on their skins than the average person. This means that during this vulnerable physical and emotional time they can be exposed to a whole host of potentially harmful chemical components regularly used in the manufacture of body, skin and hair product in the majority of typical, off-the-shelf brands.
If you are the main provider of skin, hair and body care products for your children to use then it is your direct responsibility as a parent to ensure that you are using the safest products available – even if these safer alternatives do cost a little more. Surely no parent would want to justify continuing to provide something that might be slowly poisoning their children`s skin and bodies.
If ignorance is truly bliss than perhaps this is the excuse for those parents who are less proactive about getting adequately informed. Perhaps they simply do not know or realize what an array of toxic chemicals are commonly found in the products that their child or teenager may be using every day. For others, perhaps they are happy to accept the claims made by certain `official` sources - often with politically and/or commercially invested interests to protect - that currently there is insufficient evidence of any harm that these products or ingredients might cause.
Most responsible parents will go out of their way to make sure that they are adequately informed so that they can properly care for their offspring. When this is not the case not, it begs the question: "how soon does such an attitude become tantamount to neglect?" Only an individual parent`s conscience can provide the answer, perhaps.
But if this helps you to make more informed purchasing decisions, or to make more strenuous efforts to inform and educate your own teens about their personal shopping practices, you should be aware that EWG research has shown that teens tend to use an average of 17 body/skin/cosmetic products a day compared with adult use of an average of 12 products. The study indicated that, across the United States, teenage girls are already typically contaminated with a wide variety of known toxic chemicals routinely used in many personal care and cosmetic formulations. Some of the toxic ingredients identified at elevated levels in blood and urine samples included:
Phthalates – Often used in the manufacture of plastic products, they can be absorbed both into susceptible products and also the body via various means. Known to be toxic (though played down by `official Government sources`) phthalates are potentially cancer causing and disruptive to natural hormones and may affect normal gender development and fertility.
Triclosan – Widely used in liquid hand soaps, toothpaste, anti-bacterial creams and other so-called `body care` products. It is a chlorophenol that is registered as a `pesticide` by the US Environmental Protection Agency. It progressively increases in its toxic potential through accumulation as it is very hard to get rid of once absorbed by the body. It is known to cause cause irritations, trigger allergic reactions and is also potentially carcinogenic in humans.
Parabens – A `family` of carcinogenic chemicals (e.g. methylparaben; propylparaben and others), These chemicals are also known to have disruptive effects on hormones and they were found in all of the sample of 20 teenage girls studied by the EWG.
Fragrances – Synthetic fragrances such as `musk` are frequently used in the popular, cheaper brands of perfumes, toiletries and cosmetics (typically favored by pocket-money-spending teens), These synthetic perfumes can trigger allergies and sensitivities, and have also been shown to cause cancers in mice.
These are just a `handful` of common constituents found in many personal care products - ranging from soaps, deodorants, hand lotions, body creams, toothpastes, anti-microbial blemish creams, and so on, right through to cosmetics of all kinds.
As yet there are still relatively few skin, hair and body care products on the market that can truly claim to be safer alternatives for adults to use, let alone vulnerable teens and younger children. This is because the majority of off-the-shelf products rely heavily on synthetic chemical for preservation, coloring, fragrance and as `bulking` agents, amongst other things. Some truly natural product ranges are, however, emerging but they have to be hunted-down. With effort you can find new, ethically-inspired brands that utilize the wisdom of ages and entirely natural formulations to ensure their preservation and safety for use for all age-groups. For example, you might browse the information about the certified organic products supplied via http://www.saferalternative.com, and examine the product range originally formulated through the diligence of one concerned Mother who knew she wanted to be absolutely certain that the products her three children used were as safe as could be humanly produced.
But do not make the bland assumption that every other product on the high-street, or online, that calls itself 'natural' or 'organic' actually lives-up to the apparent claims or implications made by marketing campaigns, brand names and images. Only by reading the small print, specifically the ingredients label, on your body, hair and skin care products, can you become properly informed about what is really used in their manufacture.
Even so, the ingredients listings on many labels, regularly prove to be barely legible, and will often contain items that are either hard to decipher, and even more difficult to pronounce. Another trick that manufacturers frequently use in listing ingredients is to `imply` natural derivations by mentioning natural-sounding words and phrases. It is up to every parent to do their due diligence and familiarize themselves with the names and potential health risks associated with common components in hair, skin, body care and cosmetics. For this purpose (if, as a regular Natural News reader, you do not have it already) a free ebook is downloadable from: http://www.gonando.com/healthier-li... that lists and identifies the major toxic, synthetic chemical ingredients of particular concern that could appear on your personal care labels.
It is never easy to educate or inform teenagers – who naturally `know it all` already. But if you can persuade your teen to read a resource that allows them to learn for themselves about the health risks posed by some of the ingredients in their favorite skin care and cosmetics products, you might just help them to avoid unnecessary, further exposure to toxic substances that could potentially cause their health to suffer in years to come.
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