About a week ago, streams of red lanterns were strung around everyhere, arguably the most famous of the decorations that are festooned. Tasselled shaped cloth ornaments are hung up, usually in people’s houses or on the front of doors. The lanterns are strung everywhere, inside and out.

A few blocks from where I’m living, street sellers manning moving stalls have them all cluttered with strings of red and red: cloths of chilies, lanterns, the tasselled, and all sorts of dragon designs as well as keeping the precious decorations covered over with thick plastic tarpaulins. I repeat – it has and is raining – and this year’s animal or mascot sign is the dragon which, tying in the with the Spring Festival celebrations, means good luck and authority. The rest of the festival means happiness, contentment, getting together with friends, associates and family which is why Chinese go to town during this time and hand make their ‘Jaozi’ – dumplings, dough wrapped in meat fillings which are boiled.

Chinese, usually, find it hard to resist setting off bangers and pther fireworks. The Spring Festival celebrations are no exception. If you are looking for a quiet time because it’s the holidays, forget it. I was just hitting the sack the other night, thinking all was going to be quiet on the western front, when all of a sudden, firecrackers were set off – a five-minute din which sounded as though everything was crashing or raining down all around.

The wet weather has an unpleasant raw feeling – wet and an extra dose of cold clashing – so it wasn’t ideal for staying out too long.

The nearest supermarket was driving me nuts. I hate crowded places at the best of times, but shopping trolleys and bodies in the way was just the last straw, particularly as Chinese are absolutely unconscious of showing any consideration if they knock against or brush your body with themselves, their baskets, their trolleys. I kept my elbow out bent on purpose.

So, there you have them…some of the Chinese New Year Festival happening in a nutshell. They’re a bit like Christmas and New Year in the west, although not quite, either.

As if you didn’t have enough to worry about with pollution in the atmosphere, now you’d better be careful because that lung-full of air you enjoy breathing – not to mention that you need to survive – may be giving you a cocaine or marijuana high.

Researchers have found that some areas of the Earth – especially where use of cocaine, marijuana and other such drugs is high – may have elements of those same drugs floating in the air. The Italian scientists suggest that the “atmospheric concentrations of psychotropic compounds in Italy were plotted … [and] links were found between the atmospheric cocaine and the amount of drugs seized, the number of drug related crimes and the demand for clinical treatment recorded …”

Dude! … Breathe Deep

The researchers also suggest that the amount of drugs floating in the air correlated with increases in tumors and mental disease in the population in the areas studied.

So, what to do about this problem? Shall we build a border fence around countries or regions that have large numbers of drug users?  How about giant fans to whisk offending odors out to sea or giant vacuums to suck it all in?  The scientists don’t have a method to recommend as yet, but they continue to study the problem.

In this study they tested 20 areas in eight Italian regions during the winter months and an additional 39 locations in 14 regions during the summer months.  They collected air samples, extracted various contaminants in the samples and analyzed what they found.  When they found the cocaine and cannabis elements in the air they matched those with statistics on the rate of crime and mental disorders reported in the area.

They offer the example of second-hand smoke concerns as being similar to what they found in ‘second-hand’ drug elements in the air.  Smoke the former and your health could suffer.  Use the latter and you could … what … get arrested for drug use?  The scientists don’t go that far, but who knows?

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1.    Air Pollution   :- Polluted air contains CO2, CO, NO2 suspended Particulate Matter, Oxides of lead and SO2. A dangerous rise in the levels of these gases or chemicals leads to nausea, suffocation, vomiting and even death. The deadly viruses and bacteria of Hepatitis B, Dengue, TB, Lung and chest infections, polio, hay fever etc. are also the result of this pollution and have their origins in the chemical and biological sources.

2.   Water Pollution:- water is polluted in the unban strata by factories sewage from houses and general garbage in the urban areas. Water is contaminated even if it is goes below the fuirface of the earth. When it is extracted in the cities by means of pumps, it still remains contaminated. This contaminated water is supplied by the municipal corporations for households and factories. It is normally not purified, though, now-a-days, the urban trend is towards the purchase of modern ultra-violet filters.

3.    Food pollution:- Due to polluted air and water in urban centres, the food products, which are produced or cooked in the  presence of water or air, are polluted. Most of the food items sold by roadside shops are unfit for human consumption. People are tempted to eat them because of the taste. Hence they fall sick after consuming such items. Food pollution is associated with water pollution. It is capable of bringing the victim to the state of complete disability or partial complications. Sometimes polluted food could cause death also if medical help were not given in time.

1.    Niose Pollution:- The noise of vehicles, machinery, factories, generators is unbearable. This results in loss of hearing, headache, mental tensions, partial mental imbalances and migraine. We should devise concrete methods for fighting the pollution.

 Some of the logical steps should include:-

• Get the vehicles checked regularly. If needed get the engines tuned every after two months.
• Avoid usage of petrol, which contains lead. Lead Oxide is a great killer of the modern times. The absence of Lead leads to engine knock but it would have to be tolerated by the motorists.
• Avoiding using two wheelers and three wheelers as they are basically two stroke engines. Two stroke engines consume Mobil oil in the engine chamber. This leads to extra pollution. Four stroke engines do not create high pollution levels.
• The usage of Chloro Flouro Carbons must be banned as they deplete the Ozone layer in the upper atmosphere.

One of the most important parts of dream interpretation is the overall mood or atmosphere of a dream. While the details of dream are the individual clues to the messages from the subconscious, being aware of the overall mood or atmosphere of the dream is vital in assessing how it all fits together.

The mood or atmosphere of a dream is a connected to the emotional state of the dreamer in real life. For example, a dream set under a bright sunny sky evokes a positive feeling, and may foretell of ‘sunnier’ days ahead. However, a dark, cloudy sky portrays an atmosphere of impending doom, and suggests that the dreamer may be feeling heavy of heart.

The colours or shades of light and dark in the atmosphere of a dream can be representative of the overall experience that it currently occurring, or about to be experienced. As a general rule; bright, light colours denote a positive mood before drifting off to sleep, and dark, melancholic tones indicate negativity and a mind weighed down with worries.

Dream Moods – Meanings

Threatening

Dream situations which involve fear are often reflections of a dangerous or overwhelming situation that is brewing. Anxieties that are being experienced in real life are making their way into the dream. If a threatening feeling is remembered upon waking, it is a sign that there is something in real life that is causing the anxiety or fear. The details in the dream should be taken into account for clarification.

Hazy

Blurred or hidden details in a dream often represent confused feelings. Confused emotions in real life often make their way into dreams which hide the truth from view, such as travelling through a dense fog in search of answers. Although the answer may not become evident in the dream, the atmosphere can also contain an element of positive expectation. The dreamer may be aware that the subconscious knows that an answer exists and can be found.

Clear

Dreams that have a floating feeling often suggest a light, stress-free and peaceful type of mood. These types of dreams usually generate an aura of achievement and comfort. Often they occur after some breakthrough or accomplishment after a long period of activity in real life. A dream such as this can often follow after a very busy and hectic period of activity, during which a dream of turmoil, such as a storm, had surfaced. The subconscious is indicating that the storm has passed.

Joyous

Celebratory dreams are filled with an atmosphere of joy and pleasure. They are usually filled with a heightened awareness and vivid sharpness, indicating a time of personal growth. As the overall mood of the dream conveys happiness, it could be compared to a ‘pat on the back’. The dream is acknowledging that the subconscious recognises a time of celebration has arrived or will soon appear in real life.

© Copyright J M Lennox. All Rights Reserved.

Dreams help us to understand more about ourselves. The key to interpreting dreams is to understand the factors which influence dreams and examine the details. Everything in a dream has meaning.

The information relayed in dreams is a combination of several factors and influences. The most common factors and influences are family, home, friends and work. Other contributing factors and influences include; personal desires, hopes, fears and aspirations. These are known as dream ‘sources’.

The next major influence on dreams is society. The factors included in society consist of traditions, customs, ethics, values and principles, by which society operates. These are often condensed into the phrase – cultural identity. Cultural identity contributes greatly to the influence of dreams.

Finally, in the list of factors and influences, there are dream images and theme’s common to everyone. These include natural urges and instincts; the various stages of life, such as childhood, puberty, old age; and the simple needs and wants that are basic to everyone, such as love, security and sex. Factors such as these are all natural influences.

The details in dreams are often unique and varied. However, understanding the factors and influences involved in dreams enables a better understanding and easier interpretation:-

Theme / Time

What was the general plot of the dream? Was it about a house, being chased, flying, a journey, teeth falling out, falling, or snakes? The time we have the dream can also indicate how relevant the dream is to the everyday world. Dreaming close to waking, indicates events holding a stronger connection to waking life.

Action / Involvement

What happened? Where did it happen? Is it a place you are familiar with? This can give clues about personal insecurity, or issues about childhood or present circumstances. Were you a participant in the dream? Or were you viewing it from a distance? This relates to how intimately you are involved in the dream, in the real world.

Atmosphere / Environment

Was it light and spacious, or dark and claustrophobic? Was it a frightening dream, or an enlightening dream? Where did the dream take place? Was it on land, or at sea? Water represents emotions, and land represents money and self worth. Air relates to the intellect, while being underground relates to searching for lost treasure.

Characters / Objects

Did you recognise anyone in the dream, or were they strangers? They may have been family members, friends or work colleagues. The qualities of the characters are often clues to the qualities you would like to develop. Objects also represent a quality. For example, an object that symbolises a parental figure, indicates the qualities of authority, nurturing and guidance.

Animals

Did an animal remind you of anyone you know? Often animals stand as representatives for a situation or person. Your boss may be coded as a bear, reflecting that you feel threatened. In this way, our subconscious can explore our true feelings about a person or event without being influenced by our conscious and logical mind.

Colour / Mood

What were the colours of certain objects in your dream? If your dream was of apples; were they green (unripe), or red, (ripe)? The brightness or dullness of the colour also indicates the general mood of your dream.

The imagery in your dreams can be either interpreted literally, where information has a direct parallel to everyday life, or symbolically, where information is coded in an unusual way. For example, dreaming of free-flying, often represents freedom and release from the daily grind, rather than literally being able to fly.

© Copyright J M Lennox. All Rights Reserved.                                   

We are talking about other things besides sex and penetrative sex is sex we mean vaginal, oral and anal sex.

Use your skills of seduction to leave a voice message or a text message sexy for your partner, the details that have prepared them for it after work or whatever program you’d like to make your.

Image via Wikipedia

Also, allow time to induce the proper mood – so the room status, and partner. I light candles and indulge in a massage. Give yourself time to explore and to be petted – focuses on foreplay.

The Journal of Sexual Medicine rightly reports that “the optimal time for sexual intercourse is 3 to 13 minutes! But we are talking about foreplay …

But what if we think like this, don’t our parents love us? I mean, whatever we do, it’s very hard to find true love, and in these days just a handful of relationships last forever. But I don’t think any parent would stop loving or caring his/her child. No matter how old we grow, that heavenly love and affection doesn’t cease to exist from our life. Even when they are not there beside us, we can feel their presence. So if we say “I love you Mom/Dad”, will it affect the traditional accent of this day? Even if it does, won’t we feel delighted and rejuvenated while we expressing our love towards our parents?

Now, let’s consider some sad facts. What about those who lost their parents on this day? The Valentine’s Day looks like a “curse in disguise” to them. They suffer the intense pain from the heart and soul while enduring the loving atmosphere in the environment for 24 hours.

What about the people who lost their lovers at this very day? Does this day bring any special effect on their life for 24 hours? Maybe they were about to get married, or maybe they were already living a happy married life. What about their children? When they grow up, they are going to know their parents became the permanent residents of God’s house this day. What would be their impression of this day then?

Last but certainly not least, what about the martyrs that have sacrificed their lives smiling, for the country, while dreaming of a better future for the upcoming generation. Why not think in this way, if the country was not a safe place to live in, which person would even care to remember or celebrate this day. Indian legend Bhagat Singh is one such example. He, along with his followers was hanged to death this very day.

It is for those people, I dedicate this day. Maybe it has been a boring topic to write about, but it has been written from the heart. So I am hoping for some comments. My prayer to God is that everyone finds their true love today, and no one gets cheated or betrayed in the future. Then everyday would become a Valentine’s Day. So I don’t have to write and you guys don’t have to read such a long and boring topic.

Biomimicry refers to the discipline that studies nature’s designs, patterns, and processes, and then imitates them to solve human problems. An example of this is the new sharkskin-inspired material scientists have developed to stop bacterial breakouts.

Sharks have been known to have a skin that makes it impossible for parasites and bacteria to stick to it. The secret behind this is the pattern on the sharks’ skin. Recently, Sharklet Technologies, a biotech company in Florida, has been able to print this particular pattern unto an adhesive film.

A plastic sheet has been developed that could be ideal to use in places such as hospitals, schools, and other places with ill people and small children. A small test was carried out in a hospital over a period of three weeks. Results showed that the sheet prevented E. coli and Staphylococcus A from establishing colonies large enough to hurt humans.

Although a three-week test in one hospital is not enough proof of the sheet’s success, this new technology shows great promise. This only goes to show how much we can learn from nature and how valuable it is. This should open our eyes to the importance of protecting our planet.

If this is possible with a shark’s skin, then we should look for an organism that helps the environment and try to study it and biomimick it. The ideal would be trying to imitate a plant’s photosynthesis to absorb CO2 from the atmosphere. Imagine that! It would solve almost all our global warming problems. One idea, if made real, will solve our planet. Imagine two, or three, there are limitless possibilities to protect our planet.

Critically evaluate the possible effects of the phenomenon known as global warming and suggest possible responses to them. (40 marks)

Global warming is caused by both human and physical factors and is where the earth’s temperature increases. Scientists are now coming to the conclusion that human factors are the main cause of this by releasing too many greenhouse gases into the atmosphere. The effects of global warming will hit both LEDC’s and MEDC’s. In Britain, global warming will make floods become more often and lead to worse damages of areas. Governments have tried to respond to this for example in Japan they are growing loads of sea weed off the coast to try and take in some of the carbon dioxide that they are making.

The effects of global warming are a predicted rise in global temperatures from between 1 degree to 6.5 degrees above the 1990 level by the end of the 21st century. It is likely that there will be fewer cold days and nights over most land areas each year on average and more frequent hot days and nights. It is most likely that our overuse of greenhouse gases is going to make this happen and it is virtually certain that these trends will continue in the 21st century. We have also more likely than not contributed to an increase in droughts and heavy precipitation events and it is predicted that this is pretty likely to carry on throughout the 21st century. Global warming is also starting to cause severe water shortages in Africa, the Middle East and Asia. This is from reduced rainfall in hot areas to use as drinking water and to water agriculture. It is leading to food shortages in India and Africa as they experience significant reductions in their cereal yields. It could also lead to increased malaria and some waterborne diseases as people begin to drink unsafe water due to a lack of clean water. Although scientists are unsure how related extreme weather events are to global warming they think there will be a cause and effect relationship between them meaning an increase in natural disasters in the future. In 2003 a study by the World Meteorological Organisation blamed global warming for the record number of extreme weather events such as tornadoes. The increase in extreme storm events being related to global warming appears to be clearer in storms with winds above 50m/s though. Global warming has also been helping to intensify monsoons in Asia. More than half the world’s population are believed to depend on the annual Asian monsoon to bring much-needed water for agriculture and basic human needs. If global warming intensifies this monsoon it will bring more water but will then endanger the lives of more people. The seasonal downpours are already perilous and cause landslides and flash floods and will be worse as well as damaging more people’s source of food.

But the exact amount will depend on the levels of future greenhouse gas emissions. Sea levels globally have also started to rise and will continue to. They could rise up to 60cm by the end of the century. This is from the melting of land ice in Ares such as Greenland. The increase in temperature has led to the shrinking of the ice caps. This not only means that more water is being released into the oceans but without the cooling effect of the ice the oceans are getting warmer. The Arctic has lost 1.7 million km squared of ice since 1980, which is about a quarter. The rising sea levels will also end up swamping some low-lying areas such as the Maldives, Holland and Bangladesh and put other people at a higher risk of flooding. Also in Siberia land has been frozen for over 40,000 years and is now starting to thaw, releasing a lot of methane into the atmosphere which is adding to the atmospheric mix and will generate further warming in the future. Global warming will also cause an increased intensity and occurrence of tropical storms and they are likely to spread to a slightly larger area.

In the UK higher temperatures could reduce water levels in soil leading to greater soil moisture deficits in the summer, mean even milder winters and reduce snow cover in winter with insufficient snow for skiing in Scotland (not this year…). The rising sea level and increase in gales and storm surges could result in more flooding especially around estuaries and have a major impact on housing, industry and farming.

Countries have to respond to global warming and there is a gradual realisation that they cannot act individually. Britain is signed up to The Kyoto Agreement where emission limits were set for each country and each had to ensure they reached the reductions in greenhouse gases. In 2003 the UK government pledged to reduce emissions by 20% on 1990 levels by 2010. The UK did not meet this target and the greenhouse gas emissions are on an upward trend. But the Kyoto treaty ends in 2012 and so international talks took place to get a future treaty. Carbon credits are another form of reducing greenhouse emissions. Credits can be exchanged between businesses or bought in international markets. It is where an organisation that has saved some of their quota of carbon can sell it to another company who needs more and it means that both companies benefit. Some companies can also use this to lower their own carbon footprint by buying it elsewhere, this is known as “carbon offsetting”. This helps to lower the amount of greenhouse gases let into the atmosphere and is supposed to be helping to reduce global warming. In the UK there is a similar system called the EU emission trading system where participating companies are allocated allowances but can emit in excess of this by buying more allowances from the market. The UK is also trying to make 10% of our energy come from renewable sources (solar, wind, tidal and geothermal) because it is generally inexpensive, clean, and sustainable. But generally people don’t like it, as they dislike the turbines in the sea or in fields. Local people are also helping to reduce greenhouse gases by accessing funding to reduce the amount of energy used in their homes by improving insulation. There are also recycling schemes which have been improved to recycle more products and more people are starting to walk or use public transport instead of driving.

Have you ever considered a career in Massage?

Maybe you have wondered how people who are in this line of work got to be there or in fact managed to make a sustainable, at times profitable business?

Massage Therapy is a safe, at many times lucrative and almost recession-proof business. Even with the recessions, there is still thousands of people out there who continue to pay for massage therapy. The beauty of this profession is that you can possibly work from home or mobile, keeping overheads to a minimum.

First and foremost you must have the passion. I know a couple of massage therapists and they love the job they are doing. It is an essential to becoming successful and it helps to be a “people” person. In other words, you enjoy communicating with people from all walks of life. An example would be nurses and taxi drivers. Anyone dealing with the public one on one usually do their best to communicate in a positive and pleasant fashion. So first ask yourself if you are a person who likes to communicate.

Next and just as important is you must be certified. No one is going to pay for someone without that certificate. It could also get you into a lot of legal trouble to!

So straight the way go and get certified through an approved massage school. There are courses available almost everywhere at local colleges and night schools and the courses are relatively cheap and fit in with your busy lifestyle, especially if you work full time or look after children at home. People that are unemployed can also claim help with the costs, so be sure to ask this question if you are receiving benefits.

Once you have that all important certificate go and register your massage therapist name at the courthouse and perhaps company house and then decide on where you intend to run your business from. Consider working out of your home, especially if you have a fair sized room to accommodate clients and perhaps away from your normal living areas. If so, make sure it is decorated in simple colours but with a natural and warm feel to it.

If the house is not an option and you are able to afford an office space or let out a small shop consider that, but obviously be aware of costs for heating, rent, building insurance and public liability insurances. Have someone clued up on business to help or pop along to your local business adviser or citizen’s advice to get help.

Remember you are hoping to target many clients, so if possible be as close to a high populated area as you can.

Okay now to getting the all important clients.

Advertising and marketing is key to success. There are endless possibilities here, from word of mouth through friends and relations to direct mail, leaflets, newspaper advertising, telephone directory advertising, web pages, articles promoting your services online and blogging.

To begin with offer “discounted massages” and slowly build up a regular client base in which are happy with your services. But make sure you state that any discount is for a limited time only. If you are good enough then people won’t mind coming back to you and paying the full price after the offer is over.

Make sure you are friendly and pleasant!

This is so important. Not only do people pay for a good service, they pay partly due to the person who they are employing. If you are not friendly and enjoy talking, people won’t warm to you. Be enthusiastic and welcoming and make sure you have answers to any questions regarding your service. If need be, take out extra courses on biology etc or read up information on the internet. It is always good to be pleasant yet knowledgeable.

The ambiance of the area in which you work also serves a very important purpose. Make sure not only is the room welcoming, basic yet warm, also important is the lighting. Lighting creates a relaxed mood. Think back to when you last dated your girlfriend, boyfriend, husband or wife at home for dinner or at a restaurant. Notice the warm but ambient atmosphere. Much of this is down to the set out and the lighting.

You wouldn’t want to dine in a bright, noisy and cluttered setting would you?

Many people tend to go for the soft lighting effect, perhaps with low lights or indeed candles. Scented candles also help or a good, fresh air freshener help contribute towards a more fresh and relaxed atmosphere.

Make sure there is adequate natural light also from a window or skylight, and make sure a blind of some sort is attached above the window.

Some people may prefer a more clinical setting, so it is important to get feedback from your first say 20 or so clients to what they would prefer. Discuss this with them on a casual basis and look at the average of who prefers what and if so, head towards what the customer would like.

If you are fortunate enough to have two or more rooms, then of course you can decorate each one differently depending on the customer. For a clinical approach, white walls and a soft beige work wonders, with complimenting furnishings.

Music is another prerequisite to a successful massage therapist. Creating an atmospheric mood from what sounds you play help keep your clients happy and relaxed. Adjust your volumes accordingly to the customer’s taste and keep a variety of relaxing tunes to suit moods in your CD collection. Water sounds work well as does whale song and birds.

Don’t be afraid of using scented oils. It all helps and usually if you know what an individual client likes before they arrive, you can adjust the setting accordingly. So get feedback from your customers.

After a while you will slowly but surely see your customer base rise. Not just through good advertising, but by happy clients telling their friends and so on.

Don’t forget you have a talent. That talent is healing hands and with the correct approach, enthusiasm and atmosphere, you can go on to make a good income from your new found expertise and gain some great friends in the process.

It’s a perfect win-win situation to be in.