Feng Shui - Monsters Under Your Bed

Good feng shui often requires making wise decisions based on your specific circumstances, rather than blinding following an ideal rule. The feng shui rule for storing things under your bed is "don't do it." But for those who live in small homes every inch of possible storage space is precious. If you are faced with cluttering up some other area of your home with stuff that otherwise might be put under the bed, how do you decide what to do?

My preference as a feng shui professional is to keep the more visible, frequently used areas of the home uncluttered. If that means storing some things under the bed, so be it, as long as it is done thoughtfully and appropriately.

There are two reasons why your bed is so important in feng shui. The first is the principle of proximity, which states that the closer something is to you the stronger its effect will be. The second is the principle of duration, which means that the longer you are exposed to a particular influence the stronger its effect will be.

If we were getting our eight full hours of sleep every night, we'd be spending a third of our lives in bed. Even with long days and not enough sleep, the average person probably spends 25% or more of his or her time in bed. Keeping the factors of proximity and duration in mind, this means that anything that is close to you while you sleep will have a strong effect on you, either physically or symbolically.

Since you are probably well protected from below by a nice thick mattress, whatever you've got stashed beneath your bed isn't likely to be directly harmful. However, in feng shui the symbolic energy of an object or image is just as important as whatever literal impact it may have. If you are using your under bed area for storage, take a moment to think about the implications of whatever is down there, especially if you haven't been sleeping well lately. If you don't remember what you've stashed under your bed, it's time to take another look.

Here are some things that you ought to find another place for:

• Shoes under the bed can keep you "running around" all night even when you are sound asleep. No matter how many hours of sleep you get, you may never feel well rested.
• Exercise gear, workout clothes, and sports equipment are also less than relaxing. Unless you want to feel like you're "going nowhere fast" in life, don't store your treadmill, rowing machine, aerobic step under the bed. Tennis rackets (or other gear for competitive sports) can bring a competitive, adversarial energy to your romantic relationships. It's best not to have any kind of exercise or sports equipment in the bedroom at all if you can find another place for it.
• Books and work or school papers can have an intellectually stimulating effect; if you have trouble turning your mind-chatter off so you can fall asleep at night, make sure you are not sleeping on top of a lot of information. Plus, chances are good that if you're keeping that stuff under the bed it probably isn't at all current, so all that old information is also energetically holding you in the past.
• Guns and knives. I really hope you don't feel the need to have these in your house at all. All that potential violence is not conducive to a good night's sleep, no matter how "safe" it may make you feel. A feng shui friend once told me she'd consulted for a guy who collected knives, and who kept that collection under his bed. No wonder he complained of a long string of failed relationships! Regardless of any other qualities he may or may not have had, that's a lot of cutting chi underlying what should be a place for romantic connection.

These examples should give you an idea of the sort of potentially disruptive effect the stuff under your bed can have. If you must use the under-bed space for storage, reserve it for soft, cuddly items like extra bedding or your winter sweaters.

You may even find a good use for that space by placing something with positive symbolic meaning there, so you can take conscious advantage of the proximity and duration effect. For example, laying a mirror face up under the bed is a recommended feng shui sure for insomnia; symbolically the mirror reflects the bed "downward" thus drawing into a deep, restful sleep. For a child who is frightened of imaginary monsters under the bed, placing a super-tough-guy action figure under there could provide some important protection and security.

A feng shui client recently asked if it was okay to keep her empty suitcases under the bed. If you enjoy traveling and want to do more of it, then having the luggage under the bed may help to encourage that. Inside the suitcases you can put guidebooks, photos, travel accessories, and other items related to the places where you'd like to go. For example, if you would love to take a trip to Paris put a guidebook to the city, a French-English phrase book, and a photo of the Eiffel Tower in an empty suitcase under your bed. Add some French currency or traveler's checks for the future trip. The suitcase and its contents is now a feng shui activation to help make your travel dreams come true.

On the other hand, if you've been traveling a lot lately and would like to stay home for a change, then I definitely recommend finding some other place to keep your luggage. If you absolutely, positively have no alternative to keeping suitcases under the bed -- and you really want a break from travel -- put a rock in each one and cover them with a blanket, to help them settle in for a long rest and to keep you grounded at home.

(c) copyright 2004 Stephanie Rogerts

Choosing A Baby Name

Ever heard about the association of a person’s name with his personality? That’s how our names really work. A name molds a person’s identity like a cookie-cutter. So, better get that best baby name for your son or daughter. Read on for some tips on how to provide that best baby name for your little angel.

1. Stop it already with the dictates of your family’s tradition. Choosing the right baby name does not have to always rely on what your elderly relatives deem to be the best baby name. It is your baby’s name, not theirs. So, better act like it. Once your baby is born he will be stuck with that baby name for life. That means it’s not wise to just settle for any baby name that will suit your grandma’s or auntie’s taste.

2. Take a look of a picture of his future. You don’t want your baby to be always called with a moniker that will forever ridicule him or will allow his playmates to make a big laughingstock out of him, right? Research about the meaning of the baby name you are eyeing to give to your baby. Don’t consider Beelzebub as a prospective baby name just because you heard it from a TV show and you find it cute. Don’t use Rodelfa just because a certain Mexican TV show’s hunky lead actor is called Rodolfo. Just plainly saying yes to your gut feel, thinking of the people that pops into your head upon hearing somebody spout a certain name, trying to follow a fad by naming your baby a certain celebrity’s (sometimes notorious) or NOT THINKING AT ALL in giving your precious one his or her baby name are huge no-nose!

3. Consider reading the initials of the baby name you are planning to give your baby. Make sure they don’t stand for anything funny, disturbing or something utterly stupid. Christine Sue Irving? What will happen on the next episode? Alvin Stephen Stuart? He will surely remember not to get near any hole. Fran Ursula Catherine Klein? Uh-oh! See? Can you imagine the sickening situation you may put your child into when he or she grows up?

4. Go check your family tree once and for all. Some can’t still get away from some traditions regarding baby name decisions, especially when they have a special bond with a certain family member that they want that person’s name to be a part of their baby’s name. If your planning to still follow the tradition of putting a part of your elder relatives’ names on your baby’s name, you have to know whether anybody else in your family use that name too. You don’t want to confuse people when they’re calling a name that’s owned by two. Ask around.

5. Don’t go for the overkill. Being too creative on thinking of a baby name can backfire, I’m telling you. Examples are too unique spellings. It will be hard for the kid to keep on spelling his or her name to people who only know the common spelling of such name.

6. Decide with your partner in coming up with the best baby name for your sweet baby. It wouldn’t be nice to be always blamed when people ask who chose that awful baby name, right? Okay, kidding aside. Sharing on this kind of decision-making is a good way of furthering your bond as a couple, not to mention the possibility of coming up with a better baby name. Remember that the “two heads are better than one” thought also applies to dealing with the troubles of finding the most suitable baby name for your baby.

Sound, appeasing relatives and friends and avoiding embarrassing initials and discovery of disgusting meanings are some of the major concerns that should be considered in your quest for the perfect baby name. You might find them a bit taxing. But in the long run, you’ll see that doing your homework will make your baby thank you when the right time comes. Happy baby naming!

All About Condoms

Condoms, a contraceptive sheath is the most used and trusted thing. It not only provides the safety from Sexually Transmitted Diseases, but also saves from the hassles of unwanted pregnancy. Its success rate is 75% to 99%, if used properly. A male uses the condom usually, but now there are female condoms on sale now. These are equally safe and are used by the females. It holds the semen in the sheath, so it does not reach the vagina and meet egg. It is the only contraceptive, which does not need any prescription or medical guidance. It is very safe and easily available. In addition, known as Prophylactics, these are the most sought after devices.

Material - Mostly condoms are made of natural rubber latex. Its non-porous texture does not transmit the STD virus to the other partner. Actually, condoms are the safest mode of prevention of these deadly diseases. Sometimes this material causes allergy to some persons. Some people dislike the taste of latex, during oral sex, for that there is lambskin material too but its porous texture is not successful in preventing sexually transmitted diseases.

Different types of condoms - Markets are flooded with the wide range of condoms. There are many types of condoms, in lubricant and non-lubricant variety. Lubricant condoms are to give the natural feel in act. Non-lubricant ones are for the oral sex, and for the people who are not comfortable in using the lubricated condoms. Different sizes, textures like studded or spiracle, provide a wide choice to the users. To add some variety there are even nightglow condoms. For extra romantic user there are the flavored ones. For the different moods and kicks, there are colored variety condoms too.

Where you can buy a condom - Condoms are easily available at any drug store. You do not need a prescription to buy it. Anyone can buy condoms easily, and without any hassle. The greatest revolution is now with the on-line condoms, where people can choose the brand according to their life style, preference and size, and buy discreetly. It is especially beneficial for those people who are hesitant or shy to buy the condoms from the shops.

The governments, doctors, NGOs, social workers for the prevention from the Sexually Transmitted diseases, unwanted pregnancy, recommend condoms. Because of its success rate, even the governments are installing machines for everyone, worldwide.

Contraception

Contraception's are methods that are used to stop the pregnancy. It is an age-old practice, where women used to take some precautions like some herbal potions, or simply the withdrawal method or total Abstinence to the act itself. It was just to check the childbirth. Mostly these methods proved unsuccessful, but at times worked fine. Now in the changing times, markets are flooded with the choices from a small pill to female condoms. These are not full proof methods but are used worldwide.

CONDOMS - Condom is the most used contraceptive worldwide. It is used by the men on his penis, just before the intercourse. It keeps the sperm inside and thus, prevents the chances of pregnancy. Condoms are available in many brands, styles, sizes and even flavors! Made of latex, these condoms are in lubricant and non-lubricant material. Wide range of choice is there. Condoms are effective to prevent the pregnancy 84% to 98%. It is the only method that stops the STDs and HIV.

PILLS - These are hormonal pills for the women and are to be taken before the intercourse, orally and daily. They are effective but carry the risk of side effects. These can cause nausea, heavy or low bleeding during menstruations, weight problem, high or low BP. Pill is 95% to 99.9% effective. One pill is there which can be taken orally after the intercourse. These pills can reduce the chances of pelvic inflammatory disease and ovarian cancer, and iron deficiency.

Copper T - Also known as Intrauterine Device (IUD), is a T shaped thing which is to be inserted into the uterus. It is 99% effective, and it can be kept in the uterus for up to twelve years. This device should be inserted by a doctor or nurse.

Diaphragm or Cervical Cap - These are cup shaped devices used by women to bar the sperm into womb. Made of latex, these are to be fitted by the doctor or nurse. These cap or shields must be kept for 24 hours inside, after an intercourse, to prevent the pregnancy.

Female condoms - This barrier method is used by women. It is made of polyurethane material and is lubricated. This also gives the protection against sexually transmitted diseases. Female condoms are effective 79% to 95%.

Choice is wide, but the best contraceptive is what feels comfortable. One should always consult the doctor before choosing one. Contraception is hassle free and saves from life long trouble. One can indulge in the activity, without any tension.

Winter Skin Savers

Do you have the winter skin blues? Is the itching and flaking driving you crazy? Don't worry; you can take steps to protect and soothe your body's largest organ. With proper care, healthy, glowing skin is achievable during winter. Whatever your age, follow these helpful guidelines throughout the season.

No matter how dark your skin, you still need to protect it from the sun's harmful UVA and UVB rays. Choose a sunscreen with SPF of 15 or more. Sunscreens containing Titanium Dioxide tend to leave darker skin tones looking 'ashy'. A sunscreen gel is preferable and it absorbs invisibly into your skin.

I know it's tempting, but taking long, hot showers drain essential moisture from your skin, leaving it dry and lacking in water content. Limit your showers to about 5-10 minutes. (Tip: Use a leave-in conditioner, so you don't have to spend as much time washing your hair, but still be able to keep it conditioned.)

Wash your hands and face using lukewarm, not hot, water.

This winter, opt for a non-foaming cleanser which cleanses but does not strip away your skin's natural moisture barrier. You don't want that squeaky clean feeling you get with cleansing gels, which can leave your skin feeling dry and taut.

Invest in a great hand cream: it will help to keep your hands soft and smooth. If possible, avoid washing your hands frequently. Apply hand cream to your hands immediately after washing them to seal in moisture.

Your lips have no natural defense against the elements. Wearing a lip balm with SPF is essential even during winter months. Your lips tend to dry out faster during this time of the year, so make sure to re-apply as necessary. Licking your lips can cause them to dry out faster, too. As the saliva on your lips evaporates, so does your lips' natural moisture.

In general, and especially during winter months, avoid skin care products containing Alcohol. Not only is Alcohol an irritant, but it is drying, too.

Instead of ex foliating with AHAs, (Alpha Hydroxy Acids) wear a good water-based moisturizer to hydrate your skin and keep it from flaking. AHAs can be a great way to de-flake the skin's top layer, but they usually tend to dry out your skin. If you plan to use them anyway, don't overuse them.

History of Crystal

The history of crystal dates back thousands of years to the Mesopotamian times. Lead oxide was used to enhance the brilliance of glass as used today, but applied in differently. This was an alternate to the popular rock crystal which was more expensive, harder to cut and less refractive.

In the year 1676, George Ravenscroft revolutionized the methods of adding the lead oxide, which brought lead crystal a major step closer to it's mass production of today.

In 1892, Daniel Swarovski invented a machine to cut jewelry stones perfectly. In 1895, he moved his company, known as Swarovski, from Bohemia to the Wattens, Austria where he used the Rhine River as a source of energy to run the company's machinery. From here the name 'Rhinestone' was born. Today the word 'Rhinestone' is used for leaded crystal coming from any country though.

Swarovski is the highest quality crystal stone manufacturer in the world today. Stones are made in many other countries other than Austria as well, most notably Czechoslovakia, Germany, China, Israel and others.

Why Your Mattress May Be Killing You

The average mattress consists of petroleum-based foam covered in petroleum-based polyester fabric. During its 10-year average lifetime, a foam mattress loses up to half its weight, and the lost weight goes on your bedroom floor in the form of toxic dust and in the air in the form of formaldehyde gas which is a by-product of the foam breakdown. Those dust bunnies under your bed could be a real threat to your health, unless you use an organic mattress which does not break down into these toxic by-products.

The foam mattress story gets even more scary. The average petroleum-based foam queen-sized mattress is soaked in about a pound of fire retardant chemicals called PDBEs, which have already been banned in Europe, but not in North America. PDBEs are chemicals which are similar to the banned PCBs, and they build up in the body like DDT and PCBs. The PDBEs are used because they are the simplest and cheapest way to conform to United States mattress fire resistance codes. They are also promoted by the chemical industry, which recently sponsored tightening of the mattress fire resistance codes, which will cause even greater quantities of PDBEs to be used in the manufacture of mattresses beginning in 2006. While these new codes will save an estimated 27 lives a year from fires, these new regulations play Russian roulette with the future health of the 285 million Americans that sleep on these petroleum-based foam mattresses. Those calling for a ban on PDBEs say the greater danger is not the lives lost in fires, but the potentially millions of cases of cancer caused by exposure to these chemicals over the coming decades.

The solution to this problem is to remove petroleum-based bedding from your home, and this has spawned the burgeoning organic bedroom movement. The cornerstone of this trend is the organic mattress, which is the same kind of mattresses our ancestors used before the rise of the petrochemical industry after World War II. It is also interesting to note that current cancer rates are more than 5 times higher than before World War II, when everybody was sleeping on organic mattresses by definition, because there was no petrochemical industry during those times.

Examples of an organic mattress include:

1. Organic cotton and wool batting innerspring mattresses with an organic cotton fabric cover. Wool is naturally fire retardant and meets all US fire codes.
2. A Natural latex mattress, whose foam is made from the latex sap of the rubber tree and which require no fire retardants because natural rubber does not burn well.
3. Luxury organic mattresses which use combination of all three materials, organic cotton, wool, and latex, to produce maximum comfort mattresses that rival any non-organic mattresses.
4. All organic cotton mattresses. Although cotton does not burn well, it requires a doctor’s prescription because cotton does not meet US fire resistance codes.

Organic mattresses also have comfort advantages over traditional petroleum-based foam mattresses. They wick away moisture from the body much more thoroughly than clammy polyester and man-made foam, stopping night sweating and cutting down on problems like athlete’s foot and jock itch. Wool also regulates body temperature very well, which is important for a restful sleep. Natural latex foam and wool are resistant to dust mites, which cause allergies in many people, and organic cotton and latex foam are both hypoallergenic materials. Organic mattresses are also considered a must for people with chemical sensitivities.

Major North American manufacturers of organic mattresses include Vivetique/Crown City Mattress, located in South El Monte, California, Royal Pedic, headquartered in Beverly Hills, California, and Obasan, located in Ottawa, Canada. Retailers of organic mattresses include a variety of local mattress stores who carry products from these manufacturers, and nationwide web retailers, like Dax Stores, which often have the best prices for these mattresses.

Source http://www.guidemegreen.com

Canada: Haven for the Cowardly?

From today's Globe & Mail:

Tom Hayden, a U.S. activist of the 1960s, is asking Canada to provide a haven for deserters from the U.S. army.

Mr. Hayden, once a defendant in the notorious trial of the Chicago Seven and later a California state legislator, went to Parliament Hill on Thursday to ask the federal government to give special consideration to Americans who flee military service in Iraq on grounds of conscience.

He said soldiers and reservists of today are in the same boat as Vietnam-era draftees and deserters who came to Canada to avoid service in southeast Asia.

He said the soldiers are coerced to volunteer for the army by lavish offers of cash and educational benefits.

This guy's main claim to fame was being a draft-dodger married to Jane Fonda.

The article goes on to point out that we've already turned down Jeremy Hinzman.

Ladies & Gentlemen, Please Welcome Pope Benedict XVI

Today is a joyous day. Cardinal Ratzinger of Germany has just been named the new pope, and has chosen the name Pope Benedict XVI. Ratzinger is hard-line conservative, and will continue on in John Paul II's steps.

Cardinal Joseph Ratzinger of Germany, a longtime guardian of doctrinal orthodoxy, was elected the new pope Tuesday evening in the first conclave of the new millennium. He chose the name Pope Benedict XVI.

Ratzinger, the first German pope in centuries, served John Paul II since 1981 as head of the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith. In that position, he has disciplined church dissidents and upheld church policy against attempts by liberals for reforms. He turned 78 on Saturday.

White smoke poured from a chimney at the Vatican and bells tolled on Tuesday evening, announcing to the world that a new pope was elected in the first papal conclave of the new millennium.

Crowds in St. Peter's Square chanted: "Viva il Papa!" or "Long live the pope!"

He is the 265th pope.

The new pope will have to decide whether to keep up the kind of foreign travel that was a hallmark of John Paul's papacy, with his 104 pilgrimages abroad.

The new man may be locked into one foreign trip — the mid-August Catholic youth day gathering in Cologne, Germany. John Paul had agreed to visit and organizers have already spent millions of dollars in preparations.

I don't think that will be a problem for the new German pope. Welcome.

Update: It get better. Cardinal Ratzinger has a fan site! Can't get in due to heavy traffic, though.

The Pacifist Left - 8 Years in the Slammer

I don't even need to comment on this piece. I will let my readers bask in the irony of the pacifist left.

A Caltech graduate student convicted of helping to firebomb scores of sport utility vehicles was sentenced to more than eight years in federal prison and ordered to pay $3.5 million in restitution.

A federal judge Monday rejected William Jensen Cottrell's plea for leniency.

"There's no way I'd ever be involved in anything like this again," Cottrell said. "I won't ever even jaywalk again."

However, U.S. District Judge R. Gary Klausner said Cottrell had engaged in domestic terrorism and "we're very, very lucky" that no one was killed in the arson attacks.

Cottrell, 24, was convicted in November of conspiracy to commit arson and seven counts of arson for an August 2003 vandalism spree that damaged and destroyed about 125 SUVs at dealerships and homes in the San Gabriel Valley east of Los Angeles.

Cottrell was acquitted of using a destructive device Molotov cocktails in a crime of violence. That was the most serious charge he faced and it carried a sentence of at least 30 years in prison.

At his trial, the prosecution had accused Cottrell of "arrogance" and a "towering superiority" toward people who did not share his environmental views. Cottrell had testified that SUV dealers were evil.

The judge said he felt sorry for Cottrell, a doctoral candidate in the physics department at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena, but he had only himself to blame.

Oh, they hate that don't they? When they have to blame themselves, and not somebody else?

Nobody Believes Volpe

Poor, poor Joe Volpe. Today he unveiled a new plan to cut down on the near-impossibility of sponsoring parents and grandparents into Canada. He's got so much going against him.

First of all, it makes no economic sense. In an age when our healthcare system is near collapse, with long lines and a shortage of doctors, it hardly seems reasonable to import more weak and infirm people - especially those who are no longer functioning in the workplace. They would be using the system without ever having paid taxes into it. You can make all the humanitarian arguments you want, but the fact is, we're not able to support them.

Second of all - nobody believes Volpe. We all know that the Liberal government is bringing out every vote-grabbing ploy they've ever used, in order to postpone or win a snap election. And who better to pander to than Canada's ever-growing immigrant population? After all, the Conservatives would never make such promises to the ethnic community, would they? Well, no, not without planning to keep them, anyway.

Some were skeptical of Ottawa's intentions, given the precarious state of Prime Minister Paul Martin's Liberal minority government.

They said Volpe was simply trying to shore up support among ethnic voters, an important part of the Liberal constituency.

"What about the last nine, 10 years? There have been too many people suffering (because) families were never reunited," said Sam Hundal, a local real estate agent.

"Now they really come out because an election is looming and they've got problems. They are actually deceiving the public."

New Democrat Leader Jack Layton was equally skeptical. "Most Liberal announcements never happen," he said.

And thirdly, the immigrants are beginning to turn against the Liberals, anyway, thanks to their zealous quest to destroy marriage as we know it.

However, Ottawa has yet to address far more serious issues in the country's immigration policy, such as ensuring skilled immigrants can find appropriate work once they get here, Reitz added.

"The trend over time is toward an increasing problem of unemployment and higher poverty rates for newly arriving immigrants," he said.

During the announcement, a handful of Sikhs protested against same-sex marriage. Volpe dismissed them as a Conservative plant.

And you, Mr. Volpe, I dismiss as a Liberal fruitcake.

Cross-posted to The Shotgun.

Why Should We Care?

The Globe & Mail today cites a human rights report condemning countries like Canada and the United States for deporting terror suspects back to countries where there is a high probability of torture.

The report specifically cites Canada and its security-certificate procedure, in which suspects can be tried using secret evidence and deported to countries where torture is believed to be common, as long as that country vows not to abuse that particular person.

"Governments in states where torture is a serious human rights problem almost always deny such abusive practices," Ms. Hall says in the report, titled Still at Risk.

"It defies common sense to presume that a government that routinely flouts its obligations under international law can be trusted to respect those obligations in an isolated case."

Human Rights Watch is one of several organizations worried that the global ban on torture is being eroded by legal maneuvering and public complacency.

Personally, I'm not losing any sleep at night over the idea that someone who is a threat to my country and my safety might be tortured once he is deported back to whatever hole he came out of. While here in Canada we have humane (to the point of soft) prisons and punishments, we are under no obligation to host foreign criminals who are trying to hurt us. Many of these people come to Canada and America with the sole purpose of promoting or engaging in terrorist activity. Sometimes they come with a visa. Sometimes it is under the guise of refugee. Canada has a very open-door policy, but (despite recent opinion) we're not completely stupid. If you spit in the eye of your host, he's going to throw you out on your ass. If that means you end up back in a country where you will be tortured or killed (most likely for getting caught, and thereby failing in your terrorist mission), well that's your problem. You should have thought of that before.

"If these suspects are criminals, they should be prosecuted, and if they're not, they should be released," said Kenneth Roth, executive director of the organization. "But shipping them off to countries where they'll be tortured is not an acceptable solution."

To me, that is a more than acceptable solution. I agree that if they are not criminals, they should be set free. So if we have enough evidence to say that they are linked to terrorist organizations, but perhaps not enough to prosecute, we set them free. In their own countries. Why should the Canadian taxpayer foot the bill for the trial, anyway? North America should not have to be the purse of the entire uncivilized world. Send them back if they are a threat.