tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-12602346735224593152024-02-21T04:36:42.290+00:00So life begins at 40 does it?Waffle, musings and other stuff.Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00664242984148886143noreply@blogger.comBlogger45125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260234673522459315.post-73796580967598583652012-05-22T11:38:00.000+01:002012-07-02T09:12:01.395+01:00Environ Skin Peel - For Men!<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<i style="font-weight: normal;"><span style="font-size: x-small;">This article is updated over 6 weeks in chronological order as the face peel treatment is carried out</span></i></h4>
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As a guy I'd never considered a skin peel or for that matter any kind of male beauty treatment up until recently. Being a man I'm cursed with having to shave and so I get to see my face close up each day. At 43 as you can imagine after years of sun damage, parties, cuban cigars and general wear and tear my complexion when viewed close up has all the qualities of a breeze block.<br />
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Whilst talking to a <a href="http://www.google-wizard.co.uk/" target="_blank">web design</a> client and friend recently who owns a <a href="http://www.omnitherapyrooms.co.uk/" target="_blank">beauty salon in St Helens</a>, Merseyside the topic of rough skin came up. Lisa, the owner from Omni Therapy Rooms is already an Environ stockist and authorised treatment centre. In addition to the facial treatments already offered her salon has now added <a href="http://www.omnitherapyrooms.co.uk/environ-facials-sthelens/" target="_blank">Environ Skin Peels</a>. Skin Peels are popular but predominantly with Females.<br />
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Lisa is keen to attract more Male clients to her salon not just from <a href="http://sthelens-merseyside.blogspot.co.uk/" target="_blank">St Helens</a> but from around the North West and so asked if I'd like a course of Environ Skin Peels free of charge in exchange for her being able to photograph it at each stage and also for me to blog about it. The promise of ugly duckling into a swan or in my case Mickey Rourke into Daniel Craig was enough for me to agree! I knew I'd get some abuse from my "Blokey" mates but after a lifetime of being comfortable wearing pink shirts I knew I had broad enough shoulders to carry it.<br />
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Lisa asked me a few questions and we completed a form. She explained the procedures and asked if I had any questions, Bear in mind that I'm a bloke and so all that I can recall from that conversation is a few words such as fibroblasts, collagen and dermis, and was I allergic to Asprin? The rest was white noise i'm afraid.<br />
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The area around my eyes and upper cheeks are particularly rough, I've been plagued on and off with the odd blackhead in this region and so having tackled them in the past in true bloke fashion (dremmel, tweezers, squeezing, various power tools) the skin in that area is like a woodpeckers front door and in desperate need of restoration.<br />
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Lisa gave me some special Environ Face Wash and some Environ Moisturiser to use for the next three weeks prior to my first session. This stuff is loaded with Vitamin A apparently. Later that day I received 6 appointment confirmations on my iCal, one each week for six weeks. As a bloke, I was impressed with the technology of receiving the appointments electronically and being able to confirm my attendance when my reminder goes off on the iPhone.<br />
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For the next three weeks I used the face wash and moisturiser religiously and to be honest I could see an improvement already in that my skin seemed to have a really healthy glow. If i'm honest I was quite surprised at this. Up until now I've been skeptical about beauty treatments and the claims made about them. Shampoo adverts even make me smile as words that are invented by marketing agencies are banded about on screen whilst Cheryl Cole struts her stuff and tells us she's worth it, which I suppose if I'm honest she is! I digress... Seriously though, I really was impressed with the healthy clean look that my skin had already. I was quite looking forward to the treatments now.<br />
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Environ Skin Peel Treatment One</h2>
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My first appointment was last week and prior to the treatment Lisa took a photo. I was told that this was a results driven treatment, I had lots of questions this time around and Lisa answered them all fully. The Environ Skin Peel uses a variety of acidic gels and creams instead of the more traditional acid solutions normally associated with skin peels.<br />
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmb8rtEjrZgLEiJZGgNcmKfsmzMoSKDBiaut6MnI-Cb36CbS9oAcJhZxYEn83FNCBpRPiDTFUwD5dh7pBX4GyU4LT-lVtyz6gdCnjxGIweAwBtXTAjMHFsvCYKM9Xk3HfWwaVFUNvwv1s/s1600/treatment1.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto; text-align: center;"><img border="0" height="640" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjmb8rtEjrZgLEiJZGgNcmKfsmzMoSKDBiaut6MnI-Cb36CbS9oAcJhZxYEn83FNCBpRPiDTFUwD5dh7pBX4GyU4LT-lVtyz6gdCnjxGIweAwBtXTAjMHFsvCYKM9Xk3HfWwaVFUNvwv1s/s640/treatment1.jpg" width="480" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">After 3 weeks on the Environ Vitamin A face Wash and Moisturiser but before the first skin peel treatment.</td></tr>
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These products are designed to remove the horny layer of the skin (it's ok to smile at that phrase) whilst preserving the waterproof layer of the skin. The Environ Skin Peel repairs skin cells whilst encouraging cell exfoliation. The products used during the treatment preserves as much of the epidermis as possible whilst at the same managing to get a safe yet highly effective dosage of hydronium ions into the dermis.<br />
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The Environ Skin Peel treatment is effective on the following skin conditions<br />
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<li>Acne</li>
<li>Acne Rosacea</li>
<li>Problem Skins</li>
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So lay on the treatment bed and wearing a device to keep the products from getting on my hair the treatment began. I'm not certain just how many stages there were in total, I'll pay better attention next time but from memory I'd say that there were eight separate products applied over the course of around 45 minutes. All the sensations were pleasant and relaxing, some were tingly, some cool but all enjoyable.<br />
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Lisa told me all about Environ, It's founder, the products and the ethics behind the products, To be honest it was quite fascinating, rather than me go into detail you can read more about <a href="http://www.omnitherapyrooms.co.uk/" target="_blank">Environ Skin Care</a> on the Omni Therapy website <a href="http://www.omnitherapyrooms.co.uk/" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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The treatment ended with a fantastic thick and cool face mask being applied, I had the option of it going around my eyes or straight over them. I opted for going over them and the sensation is fantastic! I can see now why beauty treatments appeal to females. After the treatment my face felt really small, I know that sounds odd and I'm not normally stuck for words but it felt smaller, tighter, like when you put on a pair of freshly ironed jeans. </div>
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We decided not to take a photo after the treatment and to stick to doing it prior to each treatment weekly. Lisa gave me some Environ cream for sun protection and gave me some instructions which I forgot as soon as I got into my car. </div>
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It's Tuesday as I am writing this, I'm due back for treatment two tomorrow, I've still been using the vitamin A face wash and moisturiser and my face is looking better, certainly around the trouble area. I'll keep you posted after my next treatment.<br />
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Environ Skin Peel Treatment Two</h2>
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Today I had my second treatment at Omni Therapy Rooms in St Helens. Before the treatment Lisa took another photo. You can see that the skin actually looks rougher around the problem area so the last treatment along with the daily home wash and moisturiser is doing something. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYQD8ZzKSBX_AiZrP0-FoyLNQS9a-Fm77C-Xk9cjc6ocTPMDclvt5ORO6CaWpBbTAzTAyH35O4U4UHVXDHDKjAvEP1xvg7vnFJJXIJpmSYNJG8d7q9n15LomrpVgx0J7630gPKwszqFM/s1600/environ-skin-peel2.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Environ Skin Peel Week 2" border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgyYQD8ZzKSBX_AiZrP0-FoyLNQS9a-Fm77C-Xk9cjc6ocTPMDclvt5ORO6CaWpBbTAzTAyH35O4U4UHVXDHDKjAvEP1xvg7vnFJJXIJpmSYNJG8d7q9n15LomrpVgx0J7630gPKwszqFM/s400/environ-skin-peel2.jpg" title="Environ Skin Peel Week 2" width="303" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken immediately before the 2nd skin peel treatment</td></tr>
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I paid a little more attention this time around and it turns out that there are actually nine steps to each treatment. These are</div>
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<li>Pre cleanse and extraction</li>
<li>Exfoliate</li>
<li>Cleanse</li>
<li>Tone</li>
<li>Active Peeling Treatment</li>
<li>Mask</li>
<li>Eye Gel</li>
<li>Moisturiser</li>
<li>SPF (sun protection)</li>
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I've noticed already that the general condition and tone of my skin looks a lot better however as I already mentioned the problem areas look more pronounced. My treatment today started with Lisa paying particular attention to impurities that the products from the last treatment have brought to the surface. Whilst she did this we chatted more about the end result and also the cause of the blackhead problem in the first place. I asked Lisa that if the treatment was successful what was the likelihood of the blackheads reappearing in the future? Lisa explained that the treatments should remove the bacteria but also smooth the surface of the skin therefore making it difficult for bacteria to reestablish itself again. </div>
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In the words of Environ, </div>
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<i>"The Skin Peel treatment is specifically designed to address problem, acne & acne rosacea skins, this gentle peeling treatment helps to clear the complexion and calm inflammation. Mild forms of lactic acid are used to destroy bacteria, boost hydration and remove the build up of dead skin cells on the surface of the skin, helping to decongest the skin and smooth its texture."</i></div>
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I think I mentioned in the previous update that I was a little skeptical about the effectiveness of beauty treatments, well to be honest I still have been to a degree up until today. Although there has been slight improvements each week, I'm a bloke and therefore impatient, I want enough RAM in my Macbook so I can have a billion windows open and never see the timer wheel, I want enough BHP in my car so I can put my foot down and go from 60 - 120mph in a nano second and I want my local Chinese to deliver dinner the moment I put the phone down! After todays session however I had a pleasant surprise!</div>
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Once Lisa had removed the elastic device from my head that stops any products going onto my once golden locks I immediately went over to the mirror to fix my hair (yeah, yeah!) anyway, whilst doing this I happened to look at my face and it was REMARKABLY different! The rough areas of skin were just not visible! Instead there was a noticeably smooth finish around my eyes and upper cheek areas. I have to admit I was impressed, so impressed in fact that I subconsciously started to pout like Daniel Craig! </div>
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I suggested to Lisa that maybe we should photograph it again to show the immediate and impressive change but we both agreed that we would be better sticking to taking a photo before each treatment in the interests of continuity. So, assuming that I dont fall face first onto a hedgehog during the next 7 days you should see a big difference on next weeks photo. </div>
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For more information on the Environ range contact Omni Therapy Rooms on 01744 633445, to hire me as a Daniel Craig lookalike contact me on 01744 ..... :)<br />
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Environ Skin Peel Treatment Three</h2>
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It's getting to be a regular treat, lying on a treatment bed each Wednesday afternoon having various creams and gels applied to my face that cool, tingle and relax my skin. As always we took a photograph before the treatment started. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTE84BagZ32wDGE8o9JORvW2Lx7zvB17C5a0PN-NgNfiLXUSqCPzSYf7FGR_GlAnBrp0wZskDug4wn5u8yPj6MDJyXl7jGeZPU3F32Z-LkLFznRHgyeKXGNQApqcLra_pHqeYoh5KpiY/s1600/environ_skin_peel_3.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhgTE84BagZ32wDGE8o9JORvW2Lx7zvB17C5a0PN-NgNfiLXUSqCPzSYf7FGR_GlAnBrp0wZskDug4wn5u8yPj6MDJyXl7jGeZPU3F32Z-LkLFznRHgyeKXGNQApqcLra_pHqeYoh5KpiY/s400/environ_skin_peel_3.jpg" width="346" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken immediately before the third skin peel treatment</td></tr>
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This is a harsh test as although the photo is only taken with Lisas phone, it's a latest model, high end Samsung with a HD camera, and the shot was taken in the treatment room with variable daylight depending on the weather and really is a laid bare snapshot. The difference in my complexion is subtle and yet very apparent. The area of problem skin is now looking much more smooth and clean. The difference is more noticeable in an everyday situation and looking at me full frontal so to speak!<br />
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Lisa had come up with a better solution to the device that covers my hair for this session. As I wear some product in my mop to keep it from taking on a life of it's own, the device that she normally uses messes with my hair when it's removed so this week I wore a hair net!<br />
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(I've just proof read this and realised just how feminine that last sentence is, none the less I'll leave it in.)<br />
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We chatted a lot through this treatment about pretty much everything except the treatment and so the time passed really quickly.<br />
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As always the treatment ends with the most incredible thick and cooling algae based face mask that I opted again to have over my entire face including my eye lids. This apparently helps to remove any unwanted cells and also drives the products deeper into my skin locking them in as the pores close up. All very technical blokey stuff then!<br />
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I'm now half way through the treatments. Initially I was a little skeptical as I did mention. To see the results so far is quite amazing really. I hope that the photographs are able to demonstrate the change up to date. After my final treatment I'll put the first and the final photos together for a better comparison.<br />
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There may be a break for a week or so in the update as I'm on holiday shortly. I'm on strict instructions from Lisa not to apply zero factor Hawaiian Tropic oil to my face, apparently it's not big and it's not clever! </div>
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Environ Skin Peel Treatment four and five</h2>
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Ok, top marks to those who have spotted that I'm reporting on the past two treatments in one update. There are two reasons for this, the first being that my fourth appointment was the day after I landed back in the UK and so I simply wasn't paying attention. Instead I relaxed and enjoyed the sensation of a facial treatment. The second reason was erm, I was busy! yeah, that's it, I was really busy :)</div>
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So, you're looking for an update maybe? Well the changes are subtle week to week as the treatment isn't agressive however after my final treatment next week I intend to post a before and after shot. You may see a difference as I've gained a bit of a tan (despite me switching my usual zero factor Hawaiian Tropic for a more sensible factor 20 Environ Sun Protection) and i've also shaved my lovely locks off for charity after an impromptu bet in the pub quickly turned into £1100 for breast cancer research! This has now rendered me bald (very nearly) and has made Lisas hair net redundant.</div>
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At weekend I was out with some friends and my Sister and Brother in Law. My Sister hasn't seen me for several weeks but was aware that I was having these treatments. The first thing she noticed when we met was the vast improvement in the overall look of my skin. That's quite encouraging really. </div>
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It's worth mentioning also that the week before I went on holiday Lisa and Omnitherapy Rooms held an Environ Skin Analysis day at her <a href="http://www.omnitherapyrooms.co.uk/" target="_blank">Salon in St Helens</a>. This involved having my photograph taken by an odd looking device that was linked up to a laptop which in turn was operated by a girl with such perfect skin, makeup, hair, nails, eyes, voice that I didn't pay the slightest bit of attention again! No seriously it was quite an eye opener, the photo machine I mean, not the operator! The photo was analysed in many different way and shown impurities, ageing etc. Lisa intends to report on this on her website later in the year so please bookmark <a href="http://www.omnitherapyrooms.co.uk%20/" target="_blank">www.omnitherapyrooms.co.uk </a>.</div>
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So, back to the past two treatments. What we found is that the deep impurities had risen to the surface. These were extracted before the various stages of the skin peel were applied. </div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Jl7FiNN26lw6Zb9fYJgMJvhJcM2WZpi19uv0ZQKmwU7kLN08ynjjByjxvgBOmcGYq8o0iKJTmdyTtyNPbB9WgsDSy4rQw27lv-C6B4tkiDVWehMth38Um54hPwp0XanqI_8L0axq8zQ/s1600/skinpeelwk4.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="400" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi_Jl7FiNN26lw6Zb9fYJgMJvhJcM2WZpi19uv0ZQKmwU7kLN08ynjjByjxvgBOmcGYq8o0iKJTmdyTtyNPbB9WgsDSy4rQw27lv-C6B4tkiDVWehMth38Um54hPwp0XanqI_8L0axq8zQ/s400/skinpeelwk4.jpg" width="375" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken before the 4th Skin Peel</td></tr>
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Looking at the these photos, the above taken last week before treatment started and the one below taken this week before the treatment that there is a difference just in one week. I can't wait to compare the week one to week six photos.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4EWS4ETgRg_MEC1mgAYyh6jUThgjrTUuNl0SEttONbZBwxFjYHG1nPrTP3EEXAUaGs3GU-_nRSr0Ho6pLDvhcE-KcJ2voax8tJrySMx_Lvrspo-L50vVwyWQONrCownvr0ZnYGsQmrg/s1600/skinpeelsthelens5.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="font-size: medium; margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img border="0" height="395" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgh4EWS4ETgRg_MEC1mgAYyh6jUThgjrTUuNl0SEttONbZBwxFjYHG1nPrTP3EEXAUaGs3GU-_nRSr0Ho6pLDvhcE-KcJ2voax8tJrySMx_Lvrspo-L50vVwyWQONrCownvr0ZnYGsQmrg/s400/skinpeelsthelens5.jpg" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Taken before the 5th skin peel<br />
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I've just decided to enlarge all the photos that I've posted thus far, I suppose for vanity reasons I had them quite small originally but in the interests of journalism you can now see my hideous complexion. These certainly aren't the sort of photos you'd post on Match.com. So next week sees the last treatment. </div>
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I'm sad about it coming to an end really as the whole process has been pleasurable not just because of how successful the treatments have been but because each session really is a treat. I've got used to each stage, the cleanse, the tingly bit (see above for the technical name of each stage) and my favourite stage the thick cool face mask! </div>
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Check back next week to see the final results and for a conclusion.<br />
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<h3>
Environ Skin Treatment Week 6</h3>
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It was a sad day really, What I thought would be a chore has actually turned out to be a weekly treat. Not only is it rather relaxing to lie there having stuff put on your face but i've also enjoyed the conversation as Lisa is a switched on business owner and so the conversation over the weeks has explored many avenues as we've chewed the fat over business issues and opportunities. </div>
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What is rather nice is that Lisa is as pleased as I am about the results that the treatments have received. Take a look at the photo below, On the left is week 1 on the right is week 6. Click the photo to enlarge.</div>
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<tr><td style="text-align: center;"><a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEexNFf5w6okFS000IvGLXPF7xdznilpN8cHCC8DyFeuaUq8jVZQvCZuzpx-KXftN1yIs9pTJnD3qCHxeHaqDOw2BsZhPkiasA3gxs7D8YMi4v_9VVeL3osRi2Jw1rf8hbfy2jYj3BMw/s1600/skinpeelresults.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: auto; margin-right: auto;"><img alt="Skin Peel Results" border="0" height="252" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhbEexNFf5w6okFS000IvGLXPF7xdznilpN8cHCC8DyFeuaUq8jVZQvCZuzpx-KXftN1yIs9pTJnD3qCHxeHaqDOw2BsZhPkiasA3gxs7D8YMi4v_9VVeL3osRi2Jw1rf8hbfy2jYj3BMw/s400/skinpeelresults.jpg" title="" width="400" /></a></td></tr>
<tr><td class="tr-caption" style="text-align: center;">Before and After</td></tr>
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I'm sure you'll agree that the difference is remarkable really. The problem area particularly under the eyes has been eliminated. To be fair the photos don't do it justice either. If you click on them to enlarge you'll see the imperfections on the first photo quite clearly. If you were to see me in person then the results are really impressive. It's in the interest of journalism that we've focused on the same area in each photograph over the past 6 weeks.<br />
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So the question I suppose you'll be asking is, Would I have paid for this treatment? I've got to be honest and say that at first no I wouldn't. Yes my skin did have problems but like most guys over 40 I suppose I had just accepted it along with a few grey hairs and the odd back pain. I suppose I was unaware that there was an option. Now that the treatment is complete however then I would most definitely say that yes, I would pay for it. The difference is quite remarkable. What you can't see in this picture is that the skin has also tightened ever so slightly but enough to make a noticeable difference.<br />
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I've also continued with the Environ face wash and daily moisturiser.<br />
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Will I need repeat treatments? Apparently not. The problem had arisen through years of sun exposure, skin dehydration and inefficient cleansing. As long as I follow the rules, cleanse properly, use a suitable sunscreen and refrain from rubbing diesel onto my face then my skin should stay in good condition.<br />
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Whilst the challenge was to transform me from Mickey Rourke to Daniel Craig in six weeks, I'll have to be honest and admit that to date I haven't received any offers from Hollywood, No amount of facials, Aston Martins and Omega watches will make me look like our Mr Craig but, on a positive note I do look and feel much better. In fact that is an understatement. My skin was particularly poor. This treatment I suspect will be of interest to a greater number of females rather than males. On that basis it's perhaps a given that a female will have better skin than I did at the beginning and so the treatment will perhaps have an even greater effect.<br />
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If you live in the North West, Male or Female and you'd like to find out more about <a href="http://www.omnitherapyrooms.co.uk/category/face/" target="_blank">Environ skin peels</a> or the Environ range of products then visit the Omnitherapy website at <a href="http://www.omnitherapyrooms.co.uk/">www.omnitherapyrooms.co.uk</a> or speak to lisa directly on 01744 633445.<br />
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<br /></div>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00664242984148886143noreply@blogger.com2Merseyside, UK53.3976041 -2.943664353.0946366 -3.5753783 53.7005716 -2.3119503tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260234673522459315.post-18822553430060230232012-05-17T15:46:00.002+01:002012-05-17T16:33:35.870+01:0050 Shades of Grey - Why all the fuss?<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1179f4Tpn13TxcAG0uoLZeNodIIjsdB3k9NFkj3OtKhzD7vr4y6Bqj9NW2Hc9zuLCbjyJV7T2666PxQio5r6iBLezo_u7a6USw_EPNecbPW6QbCMz9azsUwgOOXyUoccAfUbgba-69eE/s1600/fifty_shades_grey.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="320" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg1179f4Tpn13TxcAG0uoLZeNodIIjsdB3k9NFkj3OtKhzD7vr4y6Bqj9NW2Hc9zuLCbjyJV7T2666PxQio5r6iBLezo_u7a6USw_EPNecbPW6QbCMz9azsUwgOOXyUoccAfUbgba-69eE/s320/fifty_shades_grey.jpg" width="239" /></a></div>
I couldn't help but notice the buzz that is currently manifesting itself all over the UK and indeed the rest of the civilised world.<br />
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Otherwise quiet and respectable Mummies are exhibiting strange behaviour, their status updates on Facebook hint of ripped jeans, light bondage and other erotic references. After a little digging I discovered that the catalyst for this wave of excitement amongst these ladies is a book entitled <b>50 Shades of Grey</b> by a British Author <a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/E._L._James" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">E.L. James</a>.<br />
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I haven't as yet read this book but I intend to despite its obvious market being female. The Authors own website describes the book as:<br />
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<i>"Erotic, amusing, and deeply moving, the Fifty Shades Trilogy is a tale that will obsess you, possess you, and stay with you forever".</i><br />
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The book, the first in a trilogy, started out as fan fiction based on the Twilight stories. Originally released as an ebook, word of mouth and social networking lead the book to become viral. A publisher then paid what is reported to be a seven figure sum for the trilogy. The rest as they say is history albeit recent and this previously unknown British Author is now responsible for kickstarting the libido of females across the globe.<br />
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<h3>
Discreet Erotica in the form of an ebook</h3>
Erotic fiction isn't new so why has Fifty Shades of Grey been such a success? The advent of ebook readers, most notably the Kindle has meant that our choice of book has become more private. You can read any novel on your kindle, ipad, phone, tablet in any environment without anybody knowing what you are reading.<br />
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In the past, housewives up and down the country have thumbed through the erotic fiction in the supermarket only to put the book back on the shelf so as to save the embarrassment of going through the tills with a book featuring a whip and handcuffs on the front cover. The ebook readers remove the need for such embarrassment as the book is securely delivered electronically to your chosen device.<br />
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Be it by accident or absolute brilliance, E.L. James has taken full advantage of this shift in technology and delivered erotic fiction that has brought out the horny little minx in every female who has read it.<br />
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You can be sure that there will be a flurry of similar novels released from now on as both amateur writers and publishers sit up and take notice. So, the secret it seems is to harvest as much information about the fantasies of our wives and girlfriends and mix these into a novel amidst a cast of powerful, sexy and dark characters.<br />
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I'm working on the outline as we speak! :)<br />
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SteveStevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00664242984148886143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260234673522459315.post-88095671917681476032012-05-17T13:50:00.001+01:002012-05-22T12:09:29.383+01:00I'm back<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYIcke-7SVks1Ah55iTzSn2Mn3v-xKsZd6WY8an1f07WZGIMdcqCfg8HnxZHKGzOG4aWl8AaI8D4EBfu6wMqb2YWF7Qa3q3mW7CYanjMgvkFycZQf_NtBo5RMZlAXX4Qfa1icTrWIg4I/s1600/Photo+on+15-05-2012+at+10.08+%232.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEjdYIcke-7SVks1Ah55iTzSn2Mn3v-xKsZd6WY8an1f07WZGIMdcqCfg8HnxZHKGzOG4aWl8AaI8D4EBfu6wMqb2YWF7Qa3q3mW7CYanjMgvkFycZQf_NtBo5RMZlAXX4Qfa1icTrWIg4I/s1600/Photo+on+15-05-2012+at+10.08+%232.jpg" /></a></div>
Right, So, an apology or at least an explanation as to my absence.<br />
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I've been busy, doing what, I have no idea. My life and my time has been consumed by various things none of which I'll blog about but rest assured that I now have time and the inclination to blog personally again. Whilst I've not been blogging personally I have been blogging for business and also doing various <a href="http://www.google-wizard.co.uk/" target="_blank">web design and SEO</a> freelance work. You can read more about the SEO and Web Design work that I do by clicking <a href="http://www.google-wizard.co.uk/" rel="nofollow" target="_blank">here</a>.<br />
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Ok so, what's new? Well I have more grey in my beard than the last time I was a regular blogger and my hair's a little longer (it's in the really scruffy stage at the moment as you can see on the pic, I'm attempting to grow it before it decides to fall out). Other than that, there isn't a lot to report really.<br />
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So, how have you all been? I've noticed reading through my blogroll that a lot of you have moved on, stopped blogging altogether in some cases, others have evolved as life has taken you down new paths of opportunity, trial and tribulation. Please pop by and say hello, and please accept my sincere apologies for my rude departure from the blogosphere, you'll see a lot more of me from now on and I promise to subject you all to pointless ramblings :)<br />
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SteveStevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00664242984148886143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260234673522459315.post-39772531834824315092011-12-31T19:45:00.000+00:002011-12-31T19:45:58.677+00:00New Years Eve Or The Death Of This Year?New Years Eve 2011 and i'm sat here pizza in oven and unable to talk following a rough dose of flu that as a parting gift rendered my speechless, literally!<br />
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I've wanted so much for this year to draw to a close, it's symbolic I think that the 1st of January really is a clean slate with yet another batch of skeletons, bad experiences and decisions locked safely away in the cupboard.<br />
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I got to thinking just what I've learned from this year, what is it I can take forward to make things better. In all honesty I really don't know. It hasn't been a good year for so many different reasons, personal and financial. I would have hoped however that I would be able to see quite clearly the reasons why the wheels had fallen off so many things but quite simply I can't. <br />
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Don't get me wrong, I can analyse past events and see what part my actions and reactions played in how events have unfolded but the most important motive for our decisions is emotion and sadly I feel unable to understand my own emotions. Things make us feel good and other things make us feel bad. It's that simple in essence but when we are immersed in situations that involves the feelings of others then very often things become unclear. We are able to base decisions on how we feel at any given moment. That would be rash however and as adults we try not to be rash, after all that's expected of us isn't it?<br />
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The conclusion I have come to is this. Regardless of age, experience and wisdom we are all children when it comes to affairs of the heart. Sure I can learn from financial or investment errors. I can ensure that those mistakes aren't repeated and put them in a box knowing that they were my fault, my responsibility. Personal situations however I really can't analyse in the same way, why is that? I think its because there are forces at play that simply cannot be quantified. Lust, love, trust, guilt, pleasure, emotions that we've all felt but rarely understood or even been able to control. <br />
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So in summary, I can offer you this. Don't berate yourself for your errors, for things you've made a right mess off. All we can do I suppose is to review for time to time what it is that's important to us, oh and talk about things! That is one important thing that I have learnt this year. I had been used to being unable to talk with past partners, simply and bluntly put I have had violent and unreasonable female partners in the past who would rather throw something at me or damage something valuable of mine rather than discuss any problems that I tried to raise. As a result if things are wrong in a relationship I tend to go quiet. Its been a self preservation tool. What I have learned this year is that not all females are this way and are receptive (well not receptive per se but certainly not violent) to any problems that I want to discuss.<br />
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Well my pizza is ready and so there's nothing more to say other than I wish you well for the coming year.<br />
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Steve<br />
<br />Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00664242984148886143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260234673522459315.post-77544717021718195922011-07-10T08:16:00.006+01:002012-03-21T09:37:19.641+00:00321 you're back in the roomIts getting on for 18 months since I updated this blog, and if you were to press me for a reason for this barren period I would struggle to give one.<br />
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So what has changed? I'm 43 now, even more cynical and after another failed relationship I'm back where I started once again albeit with a heavier heart than last time.<br />
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So I'm guessing I'm not alone in this, a brief scan through my blogroll indicates that this emotional storm visits many of us on a regular basis. Why the fuck do we continue to build our defences so weak after the storm passes. We live on relationship fault lines as humans, we know that our happiness will one day without much warning disappear into a crevice in the ground and yet we continue to live in the faux security that a relationship seems to offer.<br />
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Great sex turns to fond affection and if you're lucky that remains, what usually occurs however is familiarity, then complacency and finally the final stale crumbs of the relationship smell of contempt. This is if the relationship lasts that long! Why is this? Why can two people not get it on long term? Is it our expectations? Two people need to constantly know that they have their partners approval, attention, affection. When these start to slip, which they inevitably will it seems, then negative feelings prevail, jealousy, rejection, confusion. The more you seem to be matched to that person the greater the risk of failure simply because of the high demands we place on each other. We each have different experiences to draw on from previous relationships, that in turn means we each expect something different from a new relationship, we each have different insecurities, expectations and ideas on how a partner should act or conduct themselves. We have different ideas about what represents commitment. If our partner behaves differently to what we expect then we hurt, we question their actions and it destroys what we have.<br />
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So why then do we bother? Why risk giving it all to somebody knowing that there will be hurt down the line? I can't answer that, Maybe it's the endorphin rush that once experienced we will chase forever. Do we want life companions or do we just want to chase and be chased? I don't know. I suppose the answer is in the Hank Moody quote "Better to experience a morning of awkwardness than a night alone" or is it?<br />
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One night stands seem sleazy these days, it's not where I want to be. That said I don't want to spend my days alone, so what is the answer? Do we just need friends? Friends of the opposite sex maybe?<br />
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As religion plays a lesser part these days in the Western world, so too does marriage and all it stands for. Are we still trying to hum the tune that was forced upon us in childhood, Marriage, mortgage, kids? Is this a natural state I wonder, can man and woman live together happily for a lifetime? Should we just be friends, fuck buddies, holiday companions, should we lower our expectations maybe then we could all get along? We don't have these unrealistic expectations of our same sex friends so why are we each so demanding of our lovers?<br />
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The game goes on, day after day, even as I write this its safe to assume that thousands of people the world over are sitting or lying somewhere nursing that break up pain, Reliving the moments of intimacy, the look into each others eyes during lovemaking, the small moments of happiness and well being that were felt over the duration of the relationship and yet when the tears dry and the hurt subsides they will catch a glance from a stranger and get back on the merry go round once more.<br />
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It's fucked up, I can't say more than that, I can't even begin to analyse it and offer a summary other than it's fucked up.<br />
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<br />Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00664242984148886143noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260234673522459315.post-63496648654081253632010-02-19T16:00:00.004+00:002010-02-19T16:18:37.890+00:00Hoodie gangs - Someone is to blame<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I called in at my local Waterfields shop this lunchtime and in front of me were two hooded teenagers. Clothed in the usual drab colours their "street soldja" image includes dark hooded top or coat or both, scruffy black tracksuit bottoms and dark coloured trainers or boots usually untied.</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7rOa6_C-NFyTXZ_oxEMhlue0EILZ7QBwEu_Fbvx9BcN0AyN5UAC8hS2nS5JxyuTYmDZ_d7GX7QeOOeIN3H7tMacL1smqysf2C0nyyajZl3fYyst9xE3uzx1gG9u6RXIxQLiYZgUyIavk/s1600-h/Hoodies.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="margin-left: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="272" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg7rOa6_C-NFyTXZ_oxEMhlue0EILZ7QBwEu_Fbvx9BcN0AyN5UAC8hS2nS5JxyuTYmDZ_d7GX7QeOOeIN3H7tMacL1smqysf2C0nyyajZl3fYyst9xE3uzx1gG9u6RXIxQLiYZgUyIavk/s400/Hoodies.jpg" width="400" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was close enough to hear one of the creatures try to communicate "ow much are those like?" to which the lady serving replied, " They are £1.20 or 2 for £2.00" the creature then responded without making eye contact, "bangin' gis two den" . His street soldja comrades meanwhile were loitering outside communicating with each other at around 90db about the ample chest of a girl who had just passed by. After the creature had "bort his dinna" he joined the other pondlife and proceeded to generally be noisy, anti social and menacing to the "normal" people who were shopping. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">On the drive home I got to wondering how we can rid society from this gang culture that is now affecting every city, town and village in the UK. Look at the picture above, look familiar? Youths in drab clothing making stupid handgun gestures and generally being offensive and threatening to normal citizens.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I started first of all to think of the influences that these kids have. TV, music, movies and so on. I then discounted that as we all have influences. How many of you have watched the "Saw" movies? How many of you then have gone on to torture people beyond belief? exactly? So how about lack of opportunity? Ok I guess that is a problem. So why not bring back national service?</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm serious, If a kid leaves school he should have 6 months to either secure further education, or employment. Failure to do either would result in National service. They would then be trained, shown some discipline and taught some respect for themselves and others! In return they would receive a training allowance. After 2 years they would have the choice to continue in the armed forces on full pay. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ok so that would deal with those of school leavers age but what about those who are still at school? Well this is where it gets simple. Who buys their clothes? who on Gods earth would allow their son to dress like the creatures in the above picture? Come on own up! I certainly wouldn't, My kids have worn some odd stuff over the years, In fact my son on nights out regularly wears Versace velvet jackets with multi coloured bowler hats! He lives in London and works in the city, He buys the clothes, he chooses to dress that way at weekend! When I was buying for him though there would simply be no way he would dress like a hoodie. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi82gqanI98TsO1uTcmb6mYfeq5xZ70yu1w1dpiCuCFwRc8Rw_W6ZminPbcfLoH7FfK2vcBsVkPMP7zMh0Mkh6w_USMEZRvDIv0_yTnvBfKZZk2k5N3CqvHpHTJpN5A_HGVagIbRw07KMU/s1600-h/hoodies+(1).jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEi82gqanI98TsO1uTcmb6mYfeq5xZ70yu1w1dpiCuCFwRc8Rw_W6ZminPbcfLoH7FfK2vcBsVkPMP7zMh0Mkh6w_USMEZRvDIv0_yTnvBfKZZk2k5N3CqvHpHTJpN5A_HGVagIbRw07KMU/s200/hoodies+(1).jpg" width="166" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I like hooded tops per se. As "sloggy" wear they are great, I own a few of them. I'll wear them on a Saturday maybe with combats and trainers. I own different colours, They are versatile. It's only when combined with all the other accessories such as black tracksuit bottoms with elasticated ankles, and black trainers etc, oh you know the script look at the photos above!</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, If you are one of those parents who allows their child to dress in such a way then do yourself, your child and the rest of society a favour, bin his clothes right now, even if he has to wear a dressing gown until the next pay day just get rid of them. In addition, if you see your son doing that stupid handgun gesture thing or talking like that Dizzy rascal bloke then </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">1) Slap the little shit across the face, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2) Ground him for a month, </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">3) Remind him that he is not 50 Cent or Snoop Dog</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">4) Congratulate yourself for putting your foot down and accepting some parental responsibility.</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Seriously and all joking apart, If your kid looks remotely like the ones in the top picture then aren't you ashamed? If not then maybe you need to take a long hard look at yourself! This look just screams ASBO! which brings me onto another point. The parent of a child who receives an ASBO ( anti social behaviour order) should themselves be cautioned and warned that if it happens again then they shall have charges brought against them too. If an Employer can be held responsible for the actions of employees then I'm damn sure that parents should be held responsible for the actions of their child.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you know someone who's child looks like this then PLEASE email this post to them. They need to be shamed.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Rant over! :)</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">PS If your child does look like this and this post has in anyway offended you, then GOOD! get a grip!</span>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00664242984148886143noreply@blogger.com9tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260234673522459315.post-29466130609552744812010-02-17T20:43:00.007+00:002010-02-17T22:06:30.991+00:00Brit awards - knobheads and fat f*cks<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">CAUTION.... THIS POST CONTAINS LANGUAGE OF AN ADULT NATURE</span></span><br />
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<a href="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/02/17/article-1251725-0852AB28000005DC-754_224x423.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><img border="0" height="200" src="http://i.dailymail.co.uk/i/pix/2010/02/17/article-1251725-0852AB28000005DC-754_224x423.jpg" width="105" /></span></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Last night the Brit awards were televised. As usual it was an entertaining evening for all concerned and this year the controversy came from the ego of Liam Gallagher.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">For those of you who have been cryogenically frozen for 20 years, Liam and his brother Noel were part of the incredibly successful Manchester band Oasis. Last night Oasis and in particular one of their albums "what's the story morning glory" were nominated for an award Best Brits album of the last 30 years. Liam made a surprise appearance to collect the award. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Walking on stage with that daft swagger similar to that of Harry Enfield and Kathy burke aka Kevin and Perry you could just tell he was on a mission. The broadcasters chose to mute part of what was said but it is understood that between expletives Liam thanked his former band members but omitted to mention his Brother Noel. He then tossed his microphone into the crowd and left the stage. It is unclear if he also threw his award.</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Oasis split up last year after Noel left saying "I could not work with Liam for a day longer".</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">The awards were being hosted by funny man Peter Kay who slightly lost for words at this bizzare action tried to lighten the mood by saying "what a knobhead" which seem to get one of the biggest laughs of the evening. </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-J6YSqHTs2c&feature=related">Cick here to watch</a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span">But Liam's bad behaviour didn't end there.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span">During ITV2's post Brits coverage, Liam left his wife Nicole red faced after he asked her to come and take Class A drugs with him. The outburst was captured live on ITV2 as he was interviewed by her and her former All Saints bandmate Melanie Blatt. </span><a href="http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=xy9t2EDCNlo&feature=player_embedded"><span class="Apple-style-span">Click here to watch</span></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span">It has also emerged that the star was involved in a backstage bust-up moments after walking off stage, when he shoved a young woman employed by Brit organisers to pose as a human statue outside guests' dressing rooms. After she stumbled back, the drunken star then launched himself at her a second time leaving her splayed on the floor in agony. The unprovoked attack was witnessed by dozens of onlookers who looked on in horror before rushing to help the stricken girl. Gallagher had to be restrained by two members of his own security team who wrestled him out of the backstage area and returned him to his seat in the auditorium.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span">Liam has always brought trouble to the Brit Awards. In 2000, Robbie Williams challenged him to a fight after enduring months of insults from him. </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span">In 1996, Liam accepted an award on stage from Michael Hutchence. But he humiliated the INXS singer by demanding: 'Why is a has-been presenting to the gonnabes?' </span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Today, Liam has hit back at Peter Kay by posting the following on Twitter </span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">"</span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><i><span class="Apple-style-span">Listen up fat f**k as a real northerner I was brought up 2 say s**t 2 people's faces not behind their back. Live forever LG"</span></i></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">I'm a Northerner, I'm aged somewhere between Liam and his brother Noel, As a Northerner I've actually discovered fire therefore I've given up acting like a caveman. I've learned to grow up and stop walking as if I've soiled myself, I've learned that bullying is simply not acceptable nor is dressing like John Lennon in the vain hope that you are a reincarnation of him. I would hazard a guess that calling someone a Knob head on prime time TV is on a par if not better than calling them to their face. </span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">An attempt to look cool by swearing a lot and throwing microphones on TV may have worked in the 1990s but your almost 40 Liam, The kids don't think your hip now, in fact they've all grown up and have got mortgages and kids themselves. Your an ageing rocker man, act like it. Learn a little decorum. If John Lydon can be a gentleman then you can be too!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span">Anyway, on a lighter note, Lady GaGa wore a stunning outfit! And welcome back Robbie!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span"><br /></span></span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: x-small;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: 10px;">Photo courtesy of The Daily Mail</span></span>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00664242984148886143noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260234673522459315.post-18827468691999209162010-02-15T18:20:00.005+00:002010-02-15T22:06:24.139+00:00Aprés valentines day thought<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJf7HPF-AAvYMBS7QQjCjSV9cjHHeKsjQtl6zMk_toM3MQQQVD-aY5RKFtHQioN-B8lBWEhqN02qnHHtaw3vFzeWTaNyRdTDwr3AH0r1E9Q_s80crYxZfYGxNqr9XES5coVQctHYV9E8/s1600-h/bleeding+heart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgZJf7HPF-AAvYMBS7QQjCjSV9cjHHeKsjQtl6zMk_toM3MQQQVD-aY5RKFtHQioN-B8lBWEhqN02qnHHtaw3vFzeWTaNyRdTDwr3AH0r1E9Q_s80crYxZfYGxNqr9XES5coVQctHYV9E8/s200/bleeding+heart.jpg" width="185" /></a></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whilst reading a post on a fellow bloggers site the other day I noticed this quote in her left column. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I asked permission for me to use it as it really struck a chord. <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So it is with Amy's </span><a href="http://shewritesherenow.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">(http://shewritesherenow.blogspot.com/)</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> kind permission that I have shared this quote with you today. </span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Trebuchet MS', Trebuchet, Verdana, sans-serif; font-size: 16px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">To love at all is to be vulnerable. Love anything, and your heart will certainly be wrung and possibly broken. If you want to make sure of keeping it intact, you must give your heart to no one, not even to an animal. Wrap it carefully round with hobbies and little luxuries; avoid all entanglements; lock it up safe in the casket or coffin of your selfishness. But in that casket- safe, dark, motionless, airless--it will change. It will not be broken; it will become unbreakable, impenetrable, irredeemable. </span><br />C.S. Lewis </span>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00664242984148886143noreply@blogger.com3tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260234673522459315.post-43076973332837563262010-02-13T22:03:00.002+00:002012-02-21T12:39:00.685+00:00Google it<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I was preparing and valeting a car today, A late model Mini Cooper, for some reason the rear tailgate which has an electronic release wasn't working. Having checked the fuses which were ok I set about looking for a manual release mechanism but with no luck. I thought to myself, "I'll go indoors, make a coffee and Google it" Needless to say, I found a solution simply by typing the words "mini cooper tailgate not working" into the <a href="http://www.google.co.uk/">Google</a> search bar</span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-33E2Xr4ER0qnLasip2vyAybofmrE5dZXL2KC0eR0XYl4w7fRgNdzPYkocIbOetbwEvzduM0koSq3ZKd_1AZetLQYjWdAkm7KT9UbM_KnDb53R9DWyx58YRFFce1EF7MmGEw-xlV1S5c/s1600-h/google.gif" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="197" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg-33E2Xr4ER0qnLasip2vyAybofmrE5dZXL2KC0eR0XYl4w7fRgNdzPYkocIbOetbwEvzduM0koSq3ZKd_1AZetLQYjWdAkm7KT9UbM_KnDb53R9DWyx58YRFFce1EF7MmGEw-xlV1S5c/s320/google.gif" width="320" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It wasn't too long ago (late 1990s) when I remember using a search engine called "toxic lemon" Then there was Ask Jeeves, Yahoo, Hotbot Asta Vista, Lycos and more.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">In 1996 two students had created Google, <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">According to Wikipedia "</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The name "Google" originated from a misspelling of googol </span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">which refers to the number represented by a 1 followed by one-hundred zeros (although Enid Blyton used the word decades earlier in "Google Bun"<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">- Chapter IX, The Magic Faraway Tree</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">)</span><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> </span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: 19px;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">B<span class="Apple-style-span" style="line-height: normal;">y 1998 the Google homepage still had "beta" on it but was considered by many to be better than the competition. </span></span></span></span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">From 1999 the company moved to Silicon Valley and then the growth was simply astounding. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px;"> Having found its way increasingly into everyday language, the verb, "Google," was added to the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Merriam-Webster" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #002bb8; text-decoration: none;" title="Merriam-Webster"></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Merriam-Websters-Collegiate-Dictionary-Laminated-Cover/dp/B0026IBXXM?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Merriam-Webster's Collegiate </a> Dictionary</i> and the <i><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Oxford_English_Dictionary" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #002bb8; text-decoration: none;" title="Oxford English Dictionary"></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Concise-Oxford-English-Dictionary-Revised/dp/0199548412?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"></a><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Concise-Oxford-English-Dictionary-Revised/dp/0199548412?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Oxford English Dictionary</a></i> in 2006, meaning, "to use the Google search engine to obtain information on the Internet."</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">And that is what it is, It is a verb, one that is used everyday in this house. Not a day goes by when someone doesn't say, "Google it". The impact on everyday life has been immense. With just a few short keystrokes we can research history, find a plumber, discover who the actress was in a movie we watched last week. It really is astounding. When was the last time you used the Yellow pages? When was the last time you looked in an encyclopedia? The internet and in particular Google has and is still changing the face of the world. Google has one aim and that is to provide relevant content. As a result the algorithms that power Google are top secret. An entire industry based around finding out how to get websites to appear on page on of Google search results has been born overnight. Search Engine Optimisation Specialists or <a href="http://www.google-wizard.co.uk/" target="_blank">SEO</a> specialists have sprung up all around the UK. These people are usually <a href="http://www.google-wizard.co.uk/" target="_blank">Web Designers</a> who have experimented relentlessly and found what works and what doesn't</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">My new iPhone 3GS has a google app on it that is simply brilliant. You simply lift the phone to your ear, (the phone senses the movement), you hear a beep, you then speak whatever it is you want to "Google", look at the screen and the results are there! Brilliant!</span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: sans-serif; line-height: 19px;">Google has marketed itself brilliantly. It entered the market quite late but is one of the very few companies who has managed to get their brand recognised as a verb. Can you think of any other companies other than <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Planet-Google-Companys-Audacious-Everything/dp/1416546960?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Google</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1416546960" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> and Hoover who have achieved this?</span></span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00664242984148886143noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260234673522459315.post-90572619522383319852010-02-10T06:23:00.005+00:002010-02-13T12:52:28.890+00:00Michael Jackson Autopsy, Dr charged with involuntary manslaughterI was going to report on the Autopsy of Michael Jackson today however love him or hate him, after reading through the 50+ page publicly available Coroners report I felt that the last shred of dignity that the man had has now been taken from him. I understand that his Doctor has now been charged with involuntary manslaughter.<br />
I realise that such an in depth autopsy was necessary as foul play was suspected however the level of detail disclosed in the report is, I feel, intrusive. 'll leave it to the tabloids to reveal the secrets that the autopsy uncovered about Jacko. I couldn't bring myself to publish it, he was after all a human being not just a media spectacle.<br />
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Personally, I wasn't a huge fan, I admired his work but also was puzzled by the way in which he managed to implicate himself in some bizarre and worrying situations.<br />
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Instead of publishing the coroners report which I feel is distasteful I have found a link to full online auction catalogues of items from Neverland that were planned to be auctioned BEFORE his death. Some of the items are fantastic whilst others are vulgar. What is incredible however, truly incredible, is the amount of money this guy spent! Go and take a look:<br />
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<a href="http://www.juliensauctions.com/auctions/2009/michael-jackson/catalog-list.html">http://www.juliensauctions.com/auctions/2009/michael-jackson/catalog-list.html</a><br />
<br />Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00664242984148886143noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260234673522459315.post-39297931582558628802010-02-08T01:04:00.002+00:002010-02-08T01:09:49.239+00:00What I'm currently reading (and proof that I'm in touch with my feminine side)<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Ok, so the cover looks a little "Girly" I agree and I'll concede that I wouldn't have bought this off a shelf in a book shop for that very reason.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm glad to say however that I stumbled upon </span><a href="http://singlemotherontheverge.blogspot.com/"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Maria's blog</span></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> by chance and it was there that I discovered that Penguin had published her book. After following the link on her blog I read an excerpt (that word always looks and sounds wrong I think) and instantly purchased a copy on the strength of it.</span></div>
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It arrived Saturday and I read 16 chapters in one sitting, I also FAILED to attend a shooting competition on Sunday because I overslept after sitting up until way past the witching hour reading. I urge you to go check it out! The book (so far) is all things, humourous, sad, moving, emotionally charged and most of all incredibly well written. If you are female or male you will find it a great read. Incidentally guys, for reading in public you will find that a dust cover from a Jeremy Clarkson hardback will cover the "girly" outer up just fine and will also provide a perfect alibi for any outbursts of laughter that you may not be able to control.</span></div>
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<iframe frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm-uk.amazon.co.uk/e/cm?lt1=_blank&bc1=FFFFFF&IS2=1&npa=1&bg1=FFFFFF&fc1=000000&lc1=0000FF&t=g064-21&o=2&p=8&l=as1&m=amazon&f=ifr&asins=0141037776" style="height: 240px; width: 120px;"></iframe></div>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00664242984148886143noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260234673522459315.post-9585867871143690772010-02-05T21:42:00.001+00:002010-02-08T01:10:29.741+00:00PIG AIDS aka swine flu<div class="separator" style="clear: both; text-align: center;">
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So, as quickly as it came it would seem that there is no longer a swine flu pandemic in the UK.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The 24 hour helpline is now closed and the hysteria is over. Apparently around 400 people in the UK died from Swine flu. This figure is unconfirmed but is wildly lower than the estimated 65,000 deaths</span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Just because the UK has declared the pandemic over the international community will need the nod from the World Health Organisation in Geneva. An announcement is expected in the next few weeks.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'll round up this brief post by asking you to consider this:</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2007 - Chinese year of the Chicken - Bird Flu Pandemic devastated most parts of Asia .<br /><br />2008 - Chinese year of the Horse - Equine Influenza decimated Australian racing.<br /><br />2009 - Chinese year of the Pig - Swine Flu Pandemic caused hysteria around the globe.</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">2010 - Year of the Cock...........?</span>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00664242984148886143noreply@blogger.com2tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260234673522459315.post-49568601821238196332010-02-04T00:31:00.002+00:002013-10-23T23:31:11.991+01:00The Stephen Fry method of weight loss<a href="http://g2ady.flfenglish.hop.clickbank.net/" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img src="http://www.fatlossfactor.com/affiliate/BannerAds/1.png" /></a><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've had to resign myself to the fact that I'm lazy. Inherently so, in fact, I'm considered an expert at delegation. I think it stems from years of having staff around both in work and in the home. Although I only had a domestic at home I would often enlist a factory member or fitter if I needed some handy work doing. This was largely due to the fact that I worked long hours and so didn't have the time to do DIY. I also had a couple of rather keen PAs who would see to the day to day stuff like taxing my car, phoning my dentist, ordering lunch etc. Sadly, PA duties often spilled over into my personal life and things got messy once or twice! I digress!</span><br />
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</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Now that I've sold the business I have to do more myself and I'm cool with this as I now have the time. I still have a domestic though :) </span><br />
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</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">There is one thing however that I simply cannot delegate and that is exercise. I've tried joining a gym but it was full of mouth breathing Neanderthals who appeared to train beyond their limits and spent more time making primitive noises than they did training. Then there was a more upmarket gym that must have been run by Match.com and was full of ageing tanned females in Mercedes convertibles and greying businessmen reading the Independent in the bar! In the end I bought a rowing machine, strider and step machine and instantly converted one half of my conservatory into my own home gym. That was last Summer.........</span><br />
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</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Last week I sold my gym equipment on ebay! In acknowledgement of my failure I stated in the listing that it had only been used 6 times and in true Ricky Gervais style I included the word "LAZY"</span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You see, I get bored easliy, I dislike training, it is such a bore. In summer I am very active but in Winter I lack the motivation to do anything and that includes sitting on noisy apparatus in my conservatory in order to stay in trim. As a result I have put a fair few pounds on since last summer. I read recently about Stephen Fry and his well reported weight loss. I rather like Stephen, He is an absolute gent, genuinely funny and incredibly well educated. He has suffered with Bi Polar over the years and despite other personal problems he still remains a thoroughly likeable person. </span><br />
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Stephen lost 6 stone recently and other than some sensible changes to his diet like cutting out bread, potatoes and sugar his main change was that he started to walk everywhere. He listened to talking books on his iPod to pass the time whilst walking, he would walk to meetings, appointments and back again. To look at the pictures of him it is astounding! </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLOpI4p6LknOGbrpEifwUGMJRZM4It3Zxu-8PaDAdaFnxwqee8l8XOLFf-ZIfjvGb82uYVkdieZrpimF4cSrbTfMXXRTctTWQeIW_-Xo_PnlfKr3L__x-pqmxghY2De-o7wXnYV_oR5M/s1600-h/airbase" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEilLOpI4p6LknOGbrpEifwUGMJRZM4It3Zxu-8PaDAdaFnxwqee8l8XOLFf-ZIfjvGb82uYVkdieZrpimF4cSrbTfMXXRTctTWQeIW_-Xo_PnlfKr3L__x-pqmxghY2De-o7wXnYV_oR5M/s200/airbase" width="150" /></a></div>
<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: 'Times New Roman';"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: black;">Now although I dislike training, I actually love walking! In addition, my little soldier (Cairn Terrier named Enzo after the late Enzo Ferrari) also happens to love walking and so this week we have started our fitness campaign! I am comitted to walking at least 5 miles each day, regardless of the weather, regardless of other commitments. I have just bought some more army surplus clothing, It is ideal for the crap weather that we have at the moment. There are so many good walking areas around where I live. Plenty of open spaces to let Enzo off his lead too. Yesterday I went over to a disused US airbase in Burtonwood Cheshire. The Range Rover has a dog guard in the rear so I put some doggy towels down as the weather was dire and drove over there. We must have been out for hours. Enzo had a great time running in and out of the bushes and I was quite happy mooching up and down the old runway service roads, a bit of Urban exploration if you like! The day before we had a walk around an area that was once a coal mine but is now a nature reserve. This is literally minutes from my home. The weather was much brighter but bitterly cold still.</span></span></span></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So I'm hoping to get back to my normal weight soon and in the process bond a bit more with Enzo (who incidentally is charged with perimeter security at home, he takes his job seriously and has just been promoted to Corporal :) )</span><br />
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</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">So Stephen, If you happen to follow the link from Twitter and read this post I should like to thank you for your inspiration!</span><br />
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</span> <span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Steve (and Corporal Enzo)</span>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00664242984148886143noreply@blogger.com4tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260234673522459315.post-9350498702822894192010-02-03T00:39:00.000+00:002010-02-03T00:39:29.262+00:00Japanese Scientists Create Elastic Water | Disinformation - StumbleUpon<a href="http://www.stumbleupon.com/su/2fBq8d/www.disinfo.com/2010/01/japanese-scientists-create-elastic-water/">Japanese Scientists Create Elastic Water | Disinformation - StumbleUpon</a>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00664242984148886143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260234673522459315.post-57439626415945187462010-02-01T22:37:00.004+00:002010-02-02T02:08:39.081+00:00Shameless plug<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Hey all, why not visit my other blog, it's in it's infancy just yet but it will be growing daily. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://motor-traders.blogspot.com/"><b><span class="Apple-style-span" style="color: blue;">http://motor-traders.blogspot.com/</span></b></a></span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">It is aimed at people who are looking to make money buying and selling cars. I'll be giving away tips and tricks and will also be giving details of a book on the subject that I hope to publish in the coming months. </span><br />
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<span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00664242984148886143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260234673522459315.post-88604632301781501942010-01-28T21:23:00.001+00:002010-01-28T21:24:26.910+00:00Legislator or Dictator?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Whenever a topic is raised that involves censorship or the legalisation of something that is currently illegal opinions and reasons always clash. I will point out that I will not air my views in this post. I am merely observing an argument.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Lets look today at two topics. Prostitution and Cannabis. I think the key to considering both arguments are not to let individuals decide what is morally right or wrong but instead to consider the merits of legalisation for society. We need to look at the problems currently faced by society and look at if these would be solved, reduced or increased if they were legalised. Sex between consenting adults should be legal surely? Regardless of if payment or reward is part of the act. Morally I see the objection. What of people who can't for one reason or another go on a date? Should they be denied the joys of the flesh? A basic human instinct? </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-family: Arial;">Sexual relations are handled differently in countries around the world. Most countries encourage varied forms of monogamy, others polygyny. Even in the case of monogamy, there are numerous countries that impose no restrictions on prostitution, unlike a majority of the communities within the United States and the UK.</span></span><br />
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In order to discover if legalization is proper, one has to first familiarize oneself with the U.S. prohibition of alcohol in the 1920s and the legalization of abortion in the 1970s. The implementation of prohibition was a result of an abolitionist philosophy and caused great harm to the country through lost taxes, increased crime rates and higher suicide rates. Similarly, when the U.S. abandoned its abolitionist stand on abortion, the country benefited from fewer deaths from botched back alley abortions. This proved prohibitionist thinking to be baseless and actually detrimental to communities.<br />
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There are many benefits to legalized prostitution. The benefits include (1) allowing law enforcement agencies to respond to more important crimes, (2) freeing justice systems from nuisance cases, (3) helping women who are trapped by prostitution, and (4) preventing teens from being ensnared into prostitution.<br />
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When data from countries that ban prostitution is compared with data from countries that do not, many startling discoveries can be observed. Countries without anti-prostitution laws have less murders, less rapes, and prosecute/imprison less people. HIV/AIDS is less of a problem; suicide rates are lower as are divorce rates, too.<br />
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Critics of the legalization of prostitution offer no alternative to a troublesome problem. These people would rather adopt the status quo model, which virtually abandons lower strata, low socio-economic prostitutes. Instead of managing the problem, these critics view the continued downward spiral of this subgroup as acceptable.<br />
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The critics of legalized prostitution rest comfortably within relatively new moral codes. The religions that now reject prostitution once used to manage it. However, even though religionists publicly denounce prostitution, too many hypocritically entertain like services and commit adultery. The Catholic Church has covered up institutional paedophilia at the expense of demeaning religious values and the lives of those who aspire to follow them*.<br />
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Enlightened people within civilized societies pride themselves on the contributions made to others who are less fortunate. Low strata prostitutes clearly rest within the domain of the less fortunate, but the countries who cling to anti-prostitution laws choose to abandon these people and thereby negatively affect the crime, health, and general safety of those nations. One must reconsider whether or not those countries are truly civilized.<br />
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The same argument can then be applied to Cannabis. Is there any reason not to legalise it? The people who use Cannabis will use it regardless of it's legal status. Currently the Cannabis trade around the world turns over billions of dollars in revenue. This could be taxed, regulated and would in one swoop reduce gun crime, gang fights, and access to cannabis by minors. There is absolutely no reason why a substance such as cannabis which has no worse effect than alcohol or tobacco on a persons health remains illegal.<br />
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Is it time to rethink why such things are illegal?<br />
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*references - <span style="font-family: Times;">Liberator, M. (2004) <i>Legalized Prostitution: Regulating the Oldest Profession</i>.</span><br />
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<br />Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00664242984148886143noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260234673522459315.post-77278428529085363162010-01-26T01:05:00.000+00:002010-01-26T01:05:26.558+00:00Back scratching!<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Really scraping the barrel for post ideas today you may think!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Well ok maybe but I thought earlier in the shower about being single and scrubbing your back. What do you guys use? What is the favoured method? I have a sort of<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Natural-SISAL-SCRUBBER-shower-exfoliate/dp/B0006447HM?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"> loofah strap</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0006447HM" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> which is ace and is so abrasive it you could sand the paint of an armoured car with it. I love it, I almost draw blood with it :) </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I personally don't think that there is enough inventions out there for back scrubbing, </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">How about a large loofah mat that you could attach to the wall in the shower and rub against like a bear would? or how about a large round headed brush that could be battery operated and have a revolving head? Or how about rent a scrubber? you could pay someone to come round once a week to give your back a good scrub with a pumice perhaps? Maybe a good franchise idea here?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><br /></span><br />Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00664242984148886143noreply@blogger.com10tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260234673522459315.post-40203036947449706262010-01-21T17:35:00.000+00:002010-01-21T17:35:00.507+00:00We had joy we had fun...........<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Today has been one of those perfect days. The sun was shining and there was a premature feel of Springtime in the air. </span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">My thoughts turned to Summertime and days spent doing whatever it is we do in Summer be it having BBQs, walking the dog, going out on the Motorbike or just lazing around the garden. Then I thought, that is it! That is the holy grail. The meaning of life! Surely? We enjoy the colours of Autumn (read Fall if stateside) endure Winter, enjoy the coming of Spring but we live for the Summer. So enjoying Summer is the meaning of life then? Time spent alone or with family, In our homeland or overseas, all time spent is more enjoyable when basking in the rays of our sun.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">With this in mind could we live with perpetual sunshine? Do we need Winter just so we appreciate the Summer? Just as we need bitterness to appreciate sweetness? Would living in perpetual sunshine result in a happy and more content sense of being?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">I may have mentioned that I have been wishing to move overseas. I haven't decided on a destination as yet. Southern France and Spain appeal although the language barrier could be an obstacle. That said there are more expats in Spain than anywhere else in the world. The USA appeals massively too although immigration is to stringent even for Brits. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">Why do I want to move, one reason really, I hate, no actually I'll rephrase that I HATE WINTER in the UK. I can't ride my bike, I can't wash or polish my bike/cars. I can't sit in the garden reading, I can't cook outdoors, I can't watch the sunset with a glass (or bottle) of wine. I'm so happy in Summer, I wear nothing but shorts and vest tops. I love the colour that my skin turns. I love the late nights, the songs of birds, the smell of BBQs and the taste of cold beers. I can enjoy the planet on which we live when there is sunshine. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span class="Apple-style-span" style="font-size: small;">What is your favourite season and why?</span></span><br />Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00664242984148886143noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260234673522459315.post-60008699422201637372010-01-18T22:12:00.000+00:002010-01-18T22:12:57.324+00:00Pillows, soft hard, fat, slim. What do you prefer?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I recently stayed over at some friends house in the spare room. I had an horrendous nights sleep due to the pillows being hard and thin. If I didn't know any better I'd say that they were like paving stones in a cotton slip (obviously they weren't) I have <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Down-Encompass-Chamber-Standard-Pillows/dp/B0027DU26U?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">duck down pillow</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0027DU26U" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />s at home, 3 including the dress pillow. They are plump but oh so soft and deep. I love them, I truly do. There is nothing finer than to put your head on those pillows at night and leave the mad world behind for a few hours. I have a really thick and fluffy duvet to match too. </span><div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm getting more and more intolerant of crap pillows. I find very few hotels have decent pillows either which makes for a most disturbing nights sleep. In addition they also have sheets and blankets instead of a quilt. How on earth can you sleep under sheets? Especially if they are all tucked in, Arrrrrgh!</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"> I can't believe how fussy I have become given that a few years ago I would sleep in the car whilst following the British Rally Championship around the forest stages of England. I would have a sleeping bag and a rubbish pillow. I t must be my age, I've hit 40 now and I'm a big comfort lover.</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What pillows /quilt/sheet combo do you prefer?</span></div>
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Down-Encompass-Chamber-Standard-Pillows/dp/B0027DU26U?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Down Encompass Dual Chamber Standard Pillows (Set of 2)</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0027DU26U" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br /></span></div>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00664242984148886143noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260234673522459315.post-80324936456920494732010-01-15T20:56:00.005+00:002010-01-15T21:22:43.956+00:00Power to the people<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I'm a bit of an oddity when it comes to politics, I'm a big believer I suppose in the <span style="line-height: 19px;">Laissez-faire or free market economic ideals. I don't like unions, I don't like censorship, I don't like the level that government intervene. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">That said, I'm not easily placed in a left or right wing camp either. I have things that I believe work and things that don't. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;">What has impressed me recently however is the sheer power of social networks, This was apparent during the run up to Christmas when <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Killing-In-The-Name-Explicit/dp/B00137G6TI?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Rage against the machine</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B00137G6TI" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> took the Christmas number one slot of the UK music chart all thanks to one couples silly idea of starting a <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Facebook-Dummies-Computer-Tech/dp/0470527617?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Facebook</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0470527617" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> campaign for a bit of a laugh! Jon and Tracy Morter from Essex started a group on face book entitled "<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">Fed up with Simon Cowell's latest karaoke act being Christmas No. 1?" and with the viral power of Facebook the membership of the group grew within days.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">The couple had suggested a song from the rock band "Rage against the machine" as an alternative. Incredibly, they succeeded and Simon Cowell's X factor winner had to settle for second place.</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 19px;"><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">Jon Morter came up with the crazy idea after hearing that bookmakers no longer take bets on what will be the Christmas number 1. The X factor winner traditionally bags the top spot and Jon thought that was just wrong. So, it would seem did hundreds of thousands of people across the UK!</span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">So, have we turned a corner now? Surely activist groups must have pricked their ears up at this small coup? The next couple of years will be really interesting. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif;"><span style="line-height: 17px;">In the past, the meek and inoffensive people of Britain have demonstrated in our traditional "oops sorry, excuse me, thank you" sort of way against things like fuel tax increases. Truck drivers drive slowly in convoy for a few hours to express their displeasure, or drive to Downing St to present a petition. I've often admired how the French deal with it..... </span></span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7rWkNSQa0XHDaeTlJ_WgvwLarIbcneJiB8jUXnD2IXu2GCxwTHBe4RPmU0WIe9skpyDHk2aLYHSNNkOpazEx-zBHrG1RbnSvth5W5UjyJL2lF6rAHfta-0AY0-fJkfedR4GXDwxbLOs/s1600-h/Citizen_smith.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; display: inline !important; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;"><img border="0" height="150" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEil7rWkNSQa0XHDaeTlJ_WgvwLarIbcneJiB8jUXnD2IXu2GCxwTHBe4RPmU0WIe9skpyDHk2aLYHSNNkOpazEx-zBHrG1RbnSvth5W5UjyJL2lF6rAHfta-0AY0-fJkfedR4GXDwxbLOs/s200/Citizen_smith.jpg" width="200" /></a><span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">They park their trucks in the road, let their sheep wonder about, block all the ports and generally just bring the country to a standstill until they are heard. That is pure people power and I can't help but like it.<span style="font-family: 'Times New Roman'; line-height: normal;"></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">It is one thing to elect a government democratically but what do you do when that government start to act against the will of the majority? Maybe, following the success of Jon and Tracy Morter's Facebook campaign we will start to see very strong, organised protests and even protest votes organised through Facebook. Interesting times ahead!</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">In the words of Robert Lyndsay aka <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Citizen-Smith-Region-Robert-Lindsay/dp/B000067A8W?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Citizen Smith</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000067A8W" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> "Power to the people"</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;">What <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Facebook-Missing-Emily-Vander-Veer/dp/0596517696?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Facebook</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0596517696" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> campaign would you like to see?</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: arial, sans-serif; line-height: 17px;"><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=g064-21&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=0470527617&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=g064-21&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B00137G6TI&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><iframe align="left" frameborder="0" marginheight="0" marginwidth="0" scrolling="no" src="http://rcm.amazon.com/e/cm?t=g064-21&o=1&p=8&l=bpl&asins=B000067A8W&fc1=000000&IS2=1&lt1=_blank&m=amazon&lc1=0000FF&bc1=000000&bg1=FFFFFF&f=ifr" style="align: left; height: 245px; padding-right: 10px; padding-top: 5px; width: 131px;"></iframe><br /></span><br />
</div>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00664242984148886143noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260234673522459315.post-5884812738868409172010-01-14T01:16:00.002+00:002010-01-14T09:31:27.984+00:00Make a killing writing iPhone Apps<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apple have really played a blinder over the past few years. The <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Apple-touch-Generation-NEWEST-MODEL/dp/B002M3SOBU?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">iPhone</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B002M3SOBU" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> is one of the best products to hit the mobile market in a long time. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The winning combination of sleek looks, quality construction and the simple yet brilliant design of using fingertips to navigate around the device has appealed to millions worldwide. Another reason for the success of iPhone is the huge number of applications available from the itunes App store. For those of you who don't know, an application is a little piece of software that can do anything from make noises like a Jedi light Sabre to connect you to Twitter, tell you the weather in your area or turn your iPhone into a spirit level. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Apple have created an opportunity whereby ANYONE can become a software developer literally overnight. For just $99 per year ANYONE can become a development member. All you need then is a Mac computer, some time, and a little knowledge.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">The app store has thousands of apps, some are free (they gain revenue by also displaying advertisements) some are just 99p (or cents) whilst others such as TomTom software are around £50 ($80) Apple take a percentage of app sale revenue but the developer gets the lions share.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Even the most stupid apps make money. There was one available called iSteam which gave the effect of steam on the screen when you breathed into the microphone. In truth you'd probably only use it once or twice to demonstrate the genius of your new phone to your mates before deleting it. the developer grossed a cool $100,000 from this app. </span><br />
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<a href="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HEnnc5x0RDwToziiCEkrRqPU5gI5olI_1jVeyYQNIhmwiACTBU-sqfz1X4YWbRLjoNff1KEZScGOvkMUNt_OrVS7uqbM1yEHzY394uGSj8gjhwyZqi9ltlRhBixAHM4y0I_0xLChxPY/s1600-h/ifart.jpg" imageanchor="1" style="clear: right; float: right; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-left: 1em;"><img border="0" height="200" src="https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEg5HEnnc5x0RDwToziiCEkrRqPU5gI5olI_1jVeyYQNIhmwiACTBU-sqfz1X4YWbRLjoNff1KEZScGOvkMUNt_OrVS7uqbM1yEHzY394uGSj8gjhwyZqi9ltlRhBixAHM4y0I_0xLChxPY/s200/ifart.jpg" width="134" /></a><br /></div>
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Another App called iFart which, you guessed it, played fart noises was earning the developer $10,000 PER DAY!</span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">You can see then the potential that becoming a developer offers. In addition to creating your own apps, developers who know there way around can command exceptional fees for creating apps on behalf of corporations who want to get in on the iPhone party.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I've done a little bit of digging as it does seem something that with a little effort could bring exceptional rewards</span><br />
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<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Yourself-iPhone-Application-Development/dp/0672330849?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" style="clear: left; float: left; margin-bottom: 1em; margin-right: 1em;" target="_blank"><img alt="Sams Teach Yourself iPhone Application Development in 24 Hours" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0672330849&tag=g064-21" /></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">iPhone apps are written in the programming language "Objective-C" and Cocoa touch. These languages although not easy can be learned within a matter of weeks if you are dedicated enough to learn. There are some great resources out there <img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0672330849" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />(and some crap ones) a good place to start would be to read this book, <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Teach-Yourself-iPhone-Application-Development/dp/0672330849?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">"Teach yourself iPhone Application Development in 24 hours"</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0672330849" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> this book assumes you have no previous knowledge of programming but does rely on you being able to use (and own) a mac. Another good book is from the renowned "dummies" series <a href="http://www.amazon.com/iPhone-Application-Development-Dummies-Computer/dp/0470568437?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">iPhone Application Development For Dummies</a></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">Both these books will have you writing iPhone apps by the time you have finished them. You then simply need to take what you have learned and come up with an app that people will want. </span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">If you do hit the big time, remember me when you are ordering your first Bentley! :)</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">What sort of app would you like to see on the iPhone?</span><br />Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00664242984148886143noreply@blogger.com1tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260234673522459315.post-38626262115449026162010-01-13T01:37:00.001+00:002010-01-13T02:13:22.325+00:00Trust in a bottle!<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">Ivan Pavlov was a Russian Psychologist who discovered or pioneered a theory of "conditioned reflex" In addition to other methods Pavlov recorded that a dog would salivate before being given food. He then conducted tests which involved using a stimulus such as ringing a bell just before he fed the dog. After repeating this procedure the dog then associated the sound of the bell with food. Pavlov then observed that the dog would salivate when the bell rang even if no food was present. This was a "conditioned reflex"</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Persuasion-Skills-Black-Book-Practical/dp/190543054X?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">NLP</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=190543054X" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> (Neuro Lingusitic Programming) is a modern program of psychotherapy not generally accepted by the Psychology profession but embraced by Hypnotherapists, stage magicians and business training companies. I have studied NLP in depth over the years and adopted some of its methods with reasonable success whilst developing sales training programs for my staff. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">An important part of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/NLP-New-Technology-Achievement-Comprehensive/dp/0688146198?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">NLP</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0688146198" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> is anchoring. This essentially follows the Pavlov theory in so far as an Anchor is a a memory or feeling triggered by the senses. For Instance, When I first visited Egypt I used Hawaiian Tropic tanning oil, whenever I smell the stuff now it takes me right back to that holiday in Egypt, the feeling, the ambience. It has become an Anchor for me. Whenever I hear "Bat out of hell" by Meatloaf it takes me back to being a kid at the Ice Rink, at the end of the night the speed skaters were allowed on, the lights were dimmed and Meatloaf was played, another Anchor.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">A huge industry has now sprung up around these Anchors, Marketing gurus understand the concept well and use them to the full potential when selling to us.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">It is amazing just how powerful our senses are in influencing how we feel and what we do. Supermarkets buy aromas to simulate the smell of freshly baked bread. They pump it into the air around the bread aisles to stimulate sales of fresh bread products.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">I've spotted a couple of products lately when browsing through affiliate sites. One is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pherone-W-1-Pheromone-Copulins-Pheromones/dp/B0002UFC56?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Pheromone Spray</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0002UFC56" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> and the other is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vero-Labs-Liquid-Trust/dp/B000J1HR6U?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Trust Spray</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000J1HR6U" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" />. Both are targeted at men who are wanting to <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pherone-Formula-V-5-Pheromone-Pheromones/dp/B0002TLDRI?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">attract females</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0002TLDRI" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> although I did spot one that claimed to be specifically for Gays. How or if these sprays work I have no idea but they do rely on Anchoring facts to sell them.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">The<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pherone-W-1-Pheromone-Copulins-Pheromones/dp/B0002UFC56?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank"> Pheromone spray</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0002UFC56" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> seems straight forward, It would appear that we are each programmed to be attracted the the natural niff of our sexual opposites much as animals are. If pheromones can be reproduced in a laboratory then it is perhaps safe to assume that they would attract the opposite sex, or a pack of randy dogs, or they may just make you smell as if you haven't showered all week! who knows?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">I do not know what aroma is involved in these so called "Trust" sprays that would appeal generically. For instance, You may well have trusted your Uncle Bill as a child and he may well of had the smell of tobacco on him. This would subconsciously make you trust people who had a tobacco smell on them. But this doesn't mean the same smell would work for your friend. Their Uncle may have been very mean and cold and also had a smell of tobacco so for them the anchor would be reversed. The smell of tobacco on a person would make them avoid that person.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">I'm using tobacco as an example, Kind Uncle Bill may have carried the smell of petrol or treacle toffee or Chanel, you get my point. that Anchor would be personal to you so how can a generic trust smell be produced?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">NLP is a really interesting subject if you are involved with dealing with the public or selling or negotiating. Check it out.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;">What Anchors do you recognise in your life? A certain smell, a certain song, </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial; font-size: small;"><span style="font-size: 13px;"><a href="http://www.amazon.com/Vero-Labs-Liquid-Trust/dp/B000J1HR6U?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Liquid Trust" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B000J1HR6U&tag=g064-21" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000J1HR6U" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Pherone-Formula-V-5-Pheromone-Pheromones/dp/B0002TLDRI?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Pherone Formula V-5 Pheromone Cologne for Men to Attract Women, with 5mg of Human Pheromones" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=B0002TLDRI&tag=g064-21" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0002TLDRI" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Sourcebook-Magic-Comprehensive-Change-Patterns/dp/1904424252?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="Sourcebook of Magic: A Comprehensive Guide to NLP Change Patterns" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=1904424252&tag=g064-21" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1904424252" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /> <a href="http://www.amazon.com/NLP-New-Technology-Achievement-Comprehensive/dp/0688146198?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969" imageanchor="1" target="_blank"><img alt="NLP: The New Technology of Achievement" src="http://ws.amazon.com/widgets/q?MarketPlace=US&ServiceVersion=20070822&ID=AsinImage&WS=1&Format=_SL160_&ASIN=0688146198&tag=g064-21" /></a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=bil&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0688146198" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important; padding: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br /></span></span><br />
</div>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00664242984148886143noreply@blogger.com5tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260234673522459315.post-27448395010869392402010-01-11T11:49:00.003+00:002010-01-14T02:16:38.315+00:00Monday controversial subject - GOD - fact or fiction?<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I deliberated for a while before writing this post, In fact as I write it is only Monday and so I was going to schedule this post to go live as the Friday "controversial" post. I am aware that there are subjects or subscribers of different religions who read this blog and I do not wish to offend, alienate or otherwise any particular religion or reader. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;">I do hope however for some interesting and thought provoking replies.</span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">DISCLAIMER: THIS POST IS NOT INTENDED TO OFFEND ANY RELIGION, PERSON OR BELIEF - IT IS BEEN WRITTEN PURELY TO PROVOKE THOUGHT</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ok, so God, What is God? According to Wikipedia, <span style="font-size: small;">"</span><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">God</span></span></b><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> is a </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deity" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #002bb8; text-decoration: none;" title="Deity"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">deity</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> in </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Theism" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #002bb8; text-decoration: underline;" title="Theism"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">theistic</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> and </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Deism" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #002bb8; text-decoration: none;" title="Deism"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">deistic</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Religion" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #002bb8; text-decoration: none;" title="Religion"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">religions</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> and other </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Belief" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #002bb8; text-decoration: none;" title="Belief"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">belief systems</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">, representing either the </span></span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">sole</span></span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> deity in</span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Monotheism" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #002bb8; text-decoration: none;" title="Monotheism"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">monotheism</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">, or a </span></span><i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">principal</span></span></i><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"> deity in </span></span><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Polytheism" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #002bb8; text-decoration: none;" title="Polytheism"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">polytheism</span></span></a><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">.</span></span><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Swinburne_0-0" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em;"><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God#cite_note-Swinburne-0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #002bb8; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">[</span></span></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God#cite_note-Swinburne-0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #002bb8; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">1</span></span></a><a href="http://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/God#cite_note-Swinburne-0" style="background-attachment: initial; background-clip: initial; background-color: initial; background-image: none; background-origin: initial; background-position: initial initial; background-repeat: initial initial; color: #002bb8; text-decoration: none; white-space: nowrap;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">]</span></span></a><span style="line-height: normal;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">"</span></span></span><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"> </span></sup></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Swinburne_0-0" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Swinburne_0-0" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">At this point it starts to get confusing so rather than discuss topics such as Monothesim and polytheism we'll just stick to the basics and discuss how God or the belief /disbelief in God or a God affects us personally and the world we live in.</span></sup></span></span></span><br />
<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Swinburne_0-0" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal;"><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><span style="font-family: sans-serif; font-size: 13px; line-height: 19px;"><sup class="reference" id="cite_ref-Swinburne_0-0" style="font-style: normal; font-weight: normal; line-height: 1em;"><span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small; line-height: normal;">I will at this juncture disclose that although I do not like labels, I suppose my belief/disbelief would put me somewhere between the atheist and agnostic camp therefore I have no bias towards any religion.</span></sup></span></span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So to explain my standing a little, at age ten I lost my Mother to cancer, Ovarian Cancer that had spread to her lungs before she even knew that she was ill. She was just 34. So, at the age of ten I simultaneously lost my belief in Father Christmas and God. There was no other reason for Mum to die other than she had Cancer, that was it. It wasn't her time, she hadn't committed a crime. The simple fact was, she had cancer and it had taken her life. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">And that event formed my belief. I couldn't accept that a creator of such outstanding talent could build in a flaw into mankind such a cancer without correcting his mistake. If Ford make a car with a steering defect then they issue a recall notice and all the defects are repaired. Why wasn't this the case with God? I could only work on facts from that point onwards. And the facts as I saw them age 10 were :</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">1) Father Christmas couldn't possibly have visited every kid in the world in one evening. Where was his factory / warehousing situated? Father Christmas it seemed was an imaginary character used to keep kids "in check".</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">2) God simply cannot exist (If Father Christmas couldn't be everywhere in one night then nor could God) Where is heaven? We have been to the moon, surely we should have found it? God was an imaginary "concept" used to keep society "in check"</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">3) Cancer kills</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So since the age of 10 I have lived without any influence from the church or religion of any kind. I'm aware that there are <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Documents-Christian-Church-Henry-Bettenson/dp/0192880713?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Christians</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0192880713" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> and <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Mormons-Helen-Whitney/dp/B000P5FH4Y?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Mormons</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B000P5FH4Y" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> and followers of other religions who read this blog and who have blogs that I follow. I wont pretend to understand the differences between religion. Nor will I attempt to understand what religion offers people. I guess it offers strength and focus certainly in times of trouble. I suppose that I understand that although I had to find the strength within, I suppose there is little difference.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I know in general that most religions believe in an <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Afterlife-Encounters-Ordinary-Extraordinary-Experiences/dp/1571744363?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">afterlife</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1571744363" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. It is this one point that prevents me from saying I am an atheist. I certainly believe in spirits. I was having this conversation with a friend the other evening. When a person dies and you see the body then that is all you are a looking at, a body that the person used whilst on this earth. But where has the life gone? The spirit that gave this person a unique personality, a sense of humour, a set of beliefs, an education. So I believe an energy, a spirit, call it what you will, does exist and that is what gives us life. A body will decompose after death but what becomes of this life force? Does it go to earth as electricity would? Does it go to heaven? if so where is this heaven?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">As a race we have developed so much over the past 2000 years that we are able to prove and disprove pretty much any theory. 2010 years ago Somebody died named Jesus. I actually do believe this bit. Well I believe he actually lived. I'm not sure how we would know either way if he was born in a manger to a married Virgin. (I may have gotten this bit wrong so please correct me) I do believe however that there is a strong possibility that Jesus was not dissimilar to David Blane for instance in so far as theatricals were concerned. I believe he had good intentions however and that his legend was created by fanatical followers. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Anyone who follows Motorsport will have heard of the late <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Fangio-Behind-Legend-Gerald-Donaldson/dp/0753518279?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Fangio</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0753518279" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />. You will hear stories of his driving abilities that portray him as a racing god. Yes he was good, yes he won some races but he got infinitely better once he had died. And the more years that pass the more legendary he has become. If truth be known he wasn't that good at all, not by modern standards. <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Michael-Schumacher-Genius-Luc-Domenjoz/dp/2847071245?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Schumacher</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=2847071245" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> has surpassed all Fangios achievements against much stiffer competition. But legend, and myth has created a racing god by whom all others who follow are judged.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">King Arthur is another classic example. A Mythical tale of <a href="http://www.amazon.com/King-Arthur-Directors-Cut-Widescreen/dp/B0002YLCG0?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">King Arthur</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0002YLCG0" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> and the knights of the round table were made even more potent by stories of a sword named Excalibur. A 12th Century fanciful book tells how King Arthur led the defence of Britain in the 6th Century against invading Saxons. It is widely believed that although King Arthur didn't actually exist per se, the character was based an an actual Romano-British leader. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">I would dearly love proof that King Arthur existed all those years ago. Truly I would. The recent movie "<a href="http://www.amazon.com/King-Arthur-Directors-Cut-Widescreen/dp/B0002YLCG0?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">King Arthur</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=B0002YLCG0" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" />" starring Kiera Knightly and Clive Owen is a fantastic story of bravado and gallant actions. The chances are however that he didn't exist. At least not as King. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Regardless of if he did or he didn't it wouldn't change my life today. I'd still have bills to pay, I'd still worry over my Fathers health. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So back to religion. As far as I am aware the main cause for war and terrorist acts around the world today is differences in religious beliefs. This is where it gets really difficult for me to understand. In the UK there are many churches/places of worship. These are still relatively popular although numbers have waned over the years. The people who frequent these establishments strike me as being caring, sensible and upright citizens. Why then are there followers of religion around the world who are willing to pilot an aircraft filled with other humans into a building? Why are there faithful subjects who are willing to strap explosives to themselves in the name of religion?</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">If someone could provide me with something concrete then it would change my perspective. I've looked at different religions at various times in my life with curiosity. The one that appeals to me most is <a href="http://www.amazon.com/Buddhism-Beginners-Thubten-Chodron/dp/1559391537?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Buddhism</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=1559391537" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /> as it seems to rely more on inner beliefs and strengths rather than external beliefs. It is more a philosophy than a religion.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">So what place does religion have in a modern society? Which religion is right? They obviously all can't be right. What does the church mean to you? Is it a security blanket? A social centre? Why can't subjects of each religion just coexist in peace? Do you have blind or absolute faith or do you have no doubts at all to the existence of your God?</span></span><br />
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</span></span><br />Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00664242984148886143noreply@blogger.com8tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260234673522459315.post-3821615923887250452010-01-10T03:39:00.001+00:002010-01-11T01:28:24.373+00:00Roots<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Ok, I must confess, before we go any further,I am mind numbingly drunk as I write this so 1) forgive any typos and 2) forgive anything I say.</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">It hit me tonight whilst I was out and growing older by the hour. The minute we put down roots then that's it, game over. We are then tied to an area for life like it or not. Ive had several thoughts this evening, none of which I'm willing to share on this blog in public but that reinforce the fact that I am tied and bound to my life. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">Don't get me wrong, I wouldn't turn the clock back on lots of things but to those of you reading this blog who are young enough or luck enough to have not yet put your roots down then please take my advice and proceed with caution. </span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">DO NOT settle down until you are 100% sure that it is the right thing to do.:</span></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;">OK, rant over, i'm pissed, need to sleep, it's terribly important! :)</span></span><br />
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</span></span>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00664242984148886143noreply@blogger.com7tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-1260234673522459315.post-40782835954181045842010-01-08T19:14:00.006+00:002010-01-08T22:59:45.509+00:00Friday controversial thread - The right to die<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif; font-size: small;"><b>Below is a story published on 31st Dec 2009 by http://compassionandchoices.org It seems that the courts of the world are recognising peoples right to choose to die. </b></span><br />
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<span style="font-family: Arial, Helvetica, sans-serif;"><span style="font-size: small;"><b>What is your view?</b></span></span><br />
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<div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">HELENA, MT – Montana physicians, terminally-ill patients and Compassion & Choices, the nation’s largest and oldest nonprofit organization working to improve care and expand choice at the end of life, today hailed the Montana Supreme Court’s ruling that terminally ill Montanans have the right to choose aid in dying under state law. There is no further appeal from this decision, as the Montana Supreme Court is the highest court available to decide State issues.<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Compassion & Choices Legal Director Kathryn Tucker, co-counsel to the plaintiffs/respondents, said, “This case was about the right of mentally competent, terminally ill patients to request a prescription for medication from their doctors which they can ingest to bring about a peaceful death. The Montana Supreme Court has determined that this is a choice the public policy of Montana supports. Montanans trapped in an unbearable dying process deserve, and will now have, this end-of-life choice. This is the first state high court to find protection of this choice, and makes clear that in Montana, patients are able to make this choice and physicians can provide this care without risking sanction.”<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Roberta King, of Missoula, the daughter of plaintiff Bob Baxter, said, “My father died without the peace and dignity he so dearly wanted for himself and others. He feared when he filed this lawsuit that he would not live long enough to benefit from it. I’m sure he would be deeply gratified that other terminally ill Montanans will have the choice and comfort that aid in dying affords them.”<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Dr. Stephen Speckart, a Missoula cancer specialist and a plaintiff in the lawsuit, said, “This decision affirms that a terminal patient’s fundamental right to self-determination will guide end-of-life health decisions. I regularly treat patients dying from cancer, and many of these deaths are slow and painful. Terminal patients will no longer be forced to choose between unrelenting pain and an alert mental state as they approach the end of their lives from terminal diseases. The comfort this brings to their last days can have an immeasurable benefit.”<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Missoula attorney Mark Connell, who argued the case to the Supreme Court on behalf of the plaintiff physicians and patients, described the decision as “a victory for individual rights over government control.” Connell added: “The Montana Supreme Court has now recognized that, where intensely personal and private choices regarding end-of-life care are involved, Montana law entrusts those decisions to the individuals whose lives are at stake, not the government. I know Bob Baxter would be very pleased that the court has now reaffirmed that these choices should be left to the terminally ill people in our state.”<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Steve Johnson, 71, of Helena, is terminally ill with brain cancer, hailed the decision and asked the Montana medical profession to provide patients like himself with aid in dying. “I approach the end of my life with a clear mind, and I would like to work with my doctor to minimize the pain and maximize the peacefulness in my dying. I would like my physician to be able to respect and honor my choice to die with dignity. Adults like myself should have the option, if terminally ill, to request physician aid in dying.<br />
It’s only compassionate to minimize unnecessary suffering at the end of life, and to let me make the choice about how much suffering to endure, based on my own values and beliefs,” said Johnson.<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Montana State Sen. Christine Kaufmann, Rep. Dick Barrett and twenty-nine other state legislators; the American Medical Women’s Association, the American Medical Students Association, and a coalition of Montana clinicians; the American College of Legal Medicine; the American Civil Liberties Union of Montana; the Montana Human Rights Network; the Northwest Women’s Law Center; terminal patients’ surviving family members; Montana religious leaders; and Montana’s leading constitutional law experts had urged the Court to find in favor of the terminal patient’s right to receive aid in dying from their physicians.<br />
</div><div style="margin-bottom: 10px; margin-left: 0px; margin-right: 0px; margin-top: 0px; padding-bottom: 0px; padding-left: 0px; padding-right: 0px; padding-top: 0px;">Compassion & Choices encourages terminally ill patients to call 800 247-7421 if they would like information about aid in dying, or suggestions on how to open a dialogue with their physician and loved ones.<br />
<a href="http://www.amazon.com/Final-Gifts-Understanding-Awareness-Communications/dp/0553378767?ie=UTF8&tag=g064-21&link_code=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969" target="_blank">Final Gifts: Understanding the Special Awareness, Needs, and Communications of the Dying</a><img alt="" border="0" height="1" src="http://www.assoc-amazon.com/e/ir?t=g064-21&l=btl&camp=213689&creative=392969&o=1&a=0553378767" style="border: none !important; margin: 0px !important;" width="1" /><br />
</div>Stevehttp://www.blogger.com/profile/00664242984148886143noreply@blogger.com6