Friday, April 29, 2011

World War 2 - The Holocaust Explained

By Mark Walters


The Holocaust, which took place during World War 2, was one of the worst genocides the world has ever seen. It's impossible to justify its happening, but we can identify some reasons it happened. This article looks at a few of them. First though, what was the Holocaust? It was a prolonged event that involved the murder of millions of Jewish people in concentration camps on the order of Adolf Hitler and the Nazi party. He was a racist who wanted everyone to be from the 'Aryan race'.

One of the biggest reasons the Holocaust happened was because of Hitler's imperial ambition - he wanted to make Germany bigger and was intent on killing anyone he didn't want to be part of the new, bigger Germany. People from lots of groups were killed, but it was the Jewish people who took the brunt of it. Hitler invaded countries all across Europe in his quest and he tried to control the Jewish population by enacting anti-Semitic laws and later murdering them at concentration camps like Auschwitz.

The legacy of the First World War also played a part in starting the Holocaust, because their defeat in that war made Germany feel very humiliated. The country was largely demilitarized and they lost most of their colonies. Also, the Treaty of Versailles required that Germany and its allies took full responsibility for what had happened. So, by the time the Nazi Party and Hitler came to power, they wanted to make a German comeback and so took rash action.

The difficulties the Allies had in fighting the Nazis were another contributing factor to the extent of the Holocaust, because the Germans had an effective war machine that made it hard to breakthrough, even when countries like the United Kingdom and United States started fighting back. The fact that so many European countries were occupied by the Nazis made it hard for the Resistance to make any headway against them and they faced many barriers when fighting to try and make a breakthrough.

Lastly, Adolf Hitler's personal beliefs also contributed to the Holocaust, an event we are still living with the effects of today and probably always will. Hitler thought, for instance, that the Jewish people had a secret conspiracy to take over the world. He thought this because they had been reluctant to fight in World War One and his misguided (and somewhat mad) beliefs led to some of the very worst atrocities in human history, casting light on some of humanity's darkest places.




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Tuesday, April 26, 2011

Why Peace Symbol Is So Sacred For Chinese People

By Lucy Xiu


The most unique thing about Chinese script is that they are actually ideas expressed through the symbols or characters rather than letters forming words with phonetics. The writing script which is known as Hans uses a huge number of 47,035 characters which are actually symbols and are put together in Chinese dictionary called Kangxi. In reality most of these character symbols have become obsolete.

Amongst the several popular symbols is the Chinese peace symbol. Peace is something that everyone is in search for. The meaning of peace as symbolized by the Chinese character does not necessarily mean the absence of war. Rather peace is a feeling of contentment in the heart which is one of the most valuable things in life.

The Chinese peace symbol is therefore presenting one of the most valuable things to man. Different people have different perceptions about the ways of acquiring peace. Some will go bungee jumping for it whereas others will turn to God in remorse. The Chinese however have their own concept and ways of acquiring peace.

According to ancient tradition the Chinese people have made intensive use of their symbols as a means of attracting good things as desired. The experience of peace being one of the dearest things to human nature the use of the peace symbol is found widely in Chinese culture.

You may speculate how the Chinese people strive to use this symbol of peace. The history of China shows clearly how the Chinese people as a nation used the peace symbol. They have used the symbol of peace by surrounding themselves with it to achieve peace in their own hearts rather than anything else.

When you take a look at Chinese society you will find that the character of peace symbol is not the only one which is so popular to get positive things in the lives of the people. There are other symbols, the character of which you will find in shops, cars, offices, homes like the characters of blessing symbols and symbols of good fortune.

Today the Chinese peace symbol is amongst the most popular characters used not only in China but also all over the world. The west is mainly infatuated with Chinese symbols and peace being a universally appealing idea is right on top of the list.

The idea of peace is regarded as cool by the young people in the west in modern times. The formation of the symbols has a special attraction to the westerners as they seem to have style and philosophical significance. The shops in the west are selling the fashion garments and accessories with Chinese peace symbol in bulk to the people.

The Chinese peace symbol which the west has adopted has a totally different implication to what the traditional Chinese concept is which they have been following for past so many centuries.




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Online Literary Magazine

By Katherine Martina


A lexicon would define a literary magazine as any periodical devoted to literature. These might be essays, short stories, poems, interviews reviews, biographies or even letters. Literary magazines are also called journals.



The very first British North American periodical in English was The Nova Scotia magazine which was published on a monthly basis throughout the period 1789 - 92, which consists of reprinted articles and extracts on politics and literature. The Quebec Magazine ( 1792 - 4 ) was also one of the very first time monthly publications, which was the very first bilingual magazine as well which carried interesting articles on science, politics and well being among other topics that are of interest to the general public.



The North American Review will be the oldest American magazine, whose publication was suspended throughout World War II. Nevertheless, Yale journal will be the oldest magazine in continuous publication. These days, literary magazines have grow to be an important feature of life all over the world. A few of the earlier online literary magazines that had been published inside the 20the century contain Times Literary Supplement, Virginia Quarterly Review, Southern Review and New Letters amongst other people. A few of the coveted awards presented for magazine articles consist of the Pushcart Prize along with the O. Henry Awards. Using the advent of publications, the writers could opt for any publications of their selection to make certain maximum circulation and publicity, which gave a further impetus to the growth of literary magazines.



Around a decade back, online magazines produced their first appearance. These paperless literary works have been the newest trendsetter in the fast evolving magazines field. Though initially a lot of writers were apprehensive about the possible and acceptance of on the net magazines, these have turn out to be big hits among the readers. A few of the finest recognized online literary magazines contain Eclectica Magazine, Failbetter, Monkeybicycle, Spike Magazine and Word Riot amongst quite a few others.



The latest trend in literary magazines show a sharp rise within the family magazines, entertainment news and illustrated periodicals compared to the intellectual publications that catered to the interests of only selected readers. Today, diverse literary publications are readily obtainable in the market to cater to the niche marketplace. From politics to entertainment, fashion and technologies there's something unique for everybody in magazines.



Keep a pen and notepad handy at all times. Just when you least expect it, some thing will take place or a person could say something that can set off a creative light bulb within your head for possible writing projects. Record those observations with out instantly editing it. Later, go back and begin turning these observations into an write-up, poem, novel, book, essay or newsletter. The more you write the far better your writing gets. Once you least anticipate it, one of your compositions just may well land you that "big" break you've been waiting for.




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Monday, April 25, 2011

All About Cantonese New Year Parade

By John Chan


You may like to know that the one main event of Chinese New Year is the parade. It has both modern as well as traditional connotation.

The parade is one of the major events held during the Chinese New Year celebrations. It is lauded for its colorful pageantry and is considered to be the perfect display of ancient Chinese customs and traditions. As it is the New Year season is a time to hit home with ancient traditions and the parade becomes sort of a slide show of what Chinese traditions are all about.

The history of the Chinese culture expands over five thousands years. These years are filled with various mysterious and intriguing phases that give the Chinese culture its color. The fact that the extensive history of the country has such strong traditions makes the locals take real pride in their cultural heritage.

The Chinese New Year parade is an event which is famous for all that it represents of the ancient Chinese traditions. But present China has introduced certain novelties to make it more acceptable to the foreign visitors who come to the country to witness the pageant. The visitors are made comfortable with modern facilities too. Thus now you will get to see the ancient Chinese customs during New Year parade with a new modern look.

The New Year parade that takes place in China today is based on the typical American marching format along with which there is the ancient traditional Lantern Festival. The essence of the parade is the dragon dance which is solely a Chinese tradition. Over the years though different western inspired ideas have been incorporated into the traditional parade such as marching bands etc which are not actually part of the Chinese culture.

Chinese New Year parades and processions are a product of expressing bonding and brotherhood among different people in the early civilization. The two factors which contributed to this was firstly a closer association between the communities in the Chinese civilization itself and secondly a development of friendly relations with the neighboring civilization.

Today's Chinese New Year parade is not localized to a neighborhood. Rather it has become a global affair that people from different parts of the world come over to witness whereas others watch the live television coverage at their homes.

The parade is a combination of electrifying performances as well as a display of the artistry present in the Chinese culture. Gorgeous and elaborately designed floats can be seen drifting along with the parade with fancy costumes along with the dragons and lions.

While celebrating New Year parade Chinese people bring forward a profusion of color and sound. The loud sound made by the fireworks is a source of deep enjoyment to the Chinese people during the celebrations and they pay little attention to the norms of noise pollution.

The dragon dance is the final celebration of Chinese New Year parade. This puppet is approximately hundred feet in height and is made of silk, paper and bamboo. The entire dragon puppet is then held up by the young men and women and made to dance to the beats of gongs and drums.




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What Japanese People Believe About Zodiac Symbols

By Takamitsu Hairi


Zodiac symbols hold a remarkable place in the history of Japan. Actually the zodiac symbols are even considered important today. The zodiac symbols that we see today actually came into origin through the Chinese concept of calculating time shifts on twelve units.

Method of dividing time and direction into different units and naming them with different animal names was imported to the Japanese culture. There are twelve units of this kind and it is believed that these blocks and the animals linked with each of them have a consequential role in deciding one's personality and character.

Those who are born in the zone portrayed by a rat symbol are believed to have a good-looking-charming and cool personality. They will be ambitious, steadfast and hard working also.

The Ox is another prominent zodiac symbol. Tolerance is one of the important virtues of the people born in the year of the ox. They are also considered to be sharp and articulate speakers. They are also known to own what it takes to succeed in life while inspiring others along the way as well.

Do you belong to the tiger zone? Then you are absolutely matching with tiger not only in your valour and wilfulness but also in your immediate reaction. You are able to solace your dearer ones with a loving heart and you often think deeply on matters. But it seems that you are a little egocentric also.

Rabbit represents good fortune and great aspirations. People having this zodiac symbol are honest and are admired by others. Also they are eloquent and possess exceptional abilities.

The Dragon signifies good health and strength along with wilfulness and short temperedness. Also they are considered to be brave, honest, sensitive and trustworthy. People born in the year of the dragon are believed to be the most peculiar out of all the zodiac signs.

Powerful wisdom, deep thinking and taciturnity are the characteristics that make the people born in the year of snake so particular. They tend to be money-wise and unfaltering.

Those own horse as their zodiac symbol are usually successful in their financial life in the opinion of Japanese belief. Quick-wittedness and expertise play a good role in their success. Most of them are conversational, short-tempered and and appear to be nervous also.




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Saturday, April 23, 2011

Searching For Atlanta Apartments

By Mondo Humboldt


Some people like to just pick up and move. For those people moving is exciting and adventurous. Others find that making the decision to move is very crucial, and a lot of options need to be weighed thoroughly first. No matter which type of person you are, moving to Atlanta, Georgia is a great decision, and you will easily find some great Atlanta area apartments to choose from.

So why are apartments in Atlanta so fantastic? One reason is that places like the Georgia Aquarium, the World of Coca Cola, The CNN Center, the Martin Luther King Jr. historic site, and the Jimmy Carter Museum are in close range. Another reason could be the beautiful views of the city, jogging trails, and the scrumptious restaurants you'll find scattered around Atlanta. Many people have to commute into the city to work so if you find employment in downtown in it will make for a short commute time, another bonus. Also, there are a lot of shopping centers, perhaps some may even be within walking distance depending on where you choose to live.

One of the first steps to take while searching for a new apartment in Atlanta is to make a list. Write down all of the features and amenities you would want for your apartment and your apartment complex. How important is covered parking, or a pool, or storage space? Do you want to be able to access a clubhouse, computer lab, or a gym? If you have a family, is there a a school nearby, or a park, or the church of your choice? How far will the commute be from your place of employment? If you have a pet, what is the pet policy at the places you are considering? Also decide what you want to spend for rent, the application fee and other upfront fees such like a pet fee or a security deposit.

As soon as you narrow down the prices and features you want, get online and check out the locations that have apartments in your price range. Try to get as much information about the neighborhoods in those areas as possible to help you make your decision. Then take a trip to those areas during in the daytime and night time to make sure you feel comfortable and safe. Then look around at the business and stores and make sure they can accommodate your needs. For example, single people should check for some clubs and bars close by. Then when you have narrowed it down, make sure you are happy with the terms of the lease agreement at the place you choose.

Apartments in Atlanta will differ in amenities offered, size, and level of comfort level depending on what you are willing to spend. Save some time researching Atlanta apartment rentals by checking out Perennial properties. Perennial Apartments complexes are popular places to live in Atlanta. Perennial has a few new complexes that are leasing fast. All of Perennials properties offer a variety of amenities, floor plans, and price plans to fit a variety of needs. Also, you will be able to find a perennial location that is in a great spot and offer some great community and apartment features! Where ever you chose to live just remember location and style of your apartment influences your life in many ways so make sure your new home gives you luxurious feeling.




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How To Learn Chinese Fast

By Willie Green


No doubt, if you want to learn Chinese it does take time and effort. Yet you can also have a good time while you're learning this exciting and beautiful language. With all of the study tools available you can make the process more interesting. We will talk about proven methods for speeding up the learning process for developing your Chinese dialect.

Learning about the Chinese culture is an important factor in learning the language. Learning the language is easier once you understand the culture whether you are learning for business or pleasure. There are many rich aspects to Chinese culture, including history, art, cooking to name a few. You also have to do more formal study of the language as well, but finding an interest to pursue can help to motivate you as you learn Chinese.

Finding a tutor who natively speaks Chinese can be a big help for those who can't afford to fly to China. Learning the Chinese language is most effective with a tutor. This person can help you make much faster progress, correcting the many mistakes you will naturally make as you start your study. Your tutor can make suggestions as to materials and assignments to work on between sessions. If you are near a university you can ask around there for a good tutor.

One way to make fast progress when learning Chinese, or any new language, is to find a total immersion program. If you can't locate one in your area you can find them online. This can be a great way to accelerate your study of Chinese. Immersion can be intimidating. When you experience a new language like Chinese through total immersion, your mind is soon forced to speak and think in a new language.

Learning Chinese will not happen overnight but it will happen. This method can be fascinating as well as enriching when using these guidelines.




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Friday, April 22, 2011

How to Cleanse Crystals

By Isabelle Morton


The gemstone energy medicine movement resurfaced decades ago with interest in crystals for healing and crystal clusters for uplifting the vibrations of rooms. If healing stones are properly cared for, their capabilities are extensive. When applied therapeutically, crystals help release unwanted energies from the patient's body and aura. In time, these unwanted energies collect on the crystals' surface as well as in the energy field that surrounds them. Much like the clutter on a desk can get in the way of your ability to work, the unwanted energies on a crystal get in the way of its healing powers, and the stones must be cleansed.

If crystal clusters are being used to keep rooms in your house or office uplifted and clear, it is necessary to cleanse the clusters each time you dust the area, or every couple of weeks. Cleanse individual healing crystals after each therapy session in which you use them. This is important because neglecting to cleanse can be risky. Unwanted energies that a crystal picks up from one patient may be passed on to the next. Second, to prevent the following patient from being exposed to these energies, you as the practitioner, might pick them up yourself. Third, if the crystals are not cleansed between patients, they will continue to absorb unwanted energies, eventually clouding the crystal and restricting its abilities as a healing tool.

The good news is that it is easy to cleanse crystals. First, use water to cleanse their surfaces and remove the dust and dirt that has accumulated there. If your tap water is untreated and free of chlorine, use your faucet. Apply some liquid detergent on an old toothbrush, and scrub the crystal surfaces. Rinse under the running water.

Occasionally, switch the water temperature between hot and cold. The soap will work to remove collected dirt and dust from the crystals. During therapeutic use, crystals collect unwanted energies. The motion of the running water will help remedy this problem. If crystal clusters are used to uplift the vibrations of rooms, they will also gather unwanted energies, and the running water will help with this also. Use a pitcher of purified water instead of tap water if your faucet runs on treated or chlorinated water. The process is the same as mentioned before. Use your soapy toothbrush, but rather than tap water, pour water from the pitcher over your crystals.

During a therapy session, or during time spent in a room that needed uplifting, your crystals and crystal clusters may have gathered unwanted energies. The GEMFormulas Energy Clearing Cleansing Spray will eliminate these energies, and spraying your crystals with this spray is recommended over other methods.

While using soap and running water over your crystals is effective for removing unwanted energies, this method is not effective in clearing electromagnetic radiation (EMR) that the crystals may have picked up from a patient's body and aura during a therapy session. Crystals can also absorb EMR in environments with high electromagnetic fields. GEMFormulas EMR Protection Clearing Spray was designed to handle this situation. Spray your crystals with this formula to rid them of electromagnetic radiation.

Next, spray your crystals with the Diamond Healing Rejuvenating Spray. This will clear accumulated energy from the crystals' blueprints to bring forward information about their true purpose. You as the practitioner can intuitively decide the distance from the crystals to hold the spray, and also at what angle. The spray will become increasingly effective as your customization becomes more creative.

Your crystals' maximum healing potential will be realized with regular soap and water cleansing, followed by an energetic cleansing with the GEMFormulas sprays.




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Thursday, April 21, 2011

Health care insurance in Indonesia

By Anne Ahira


Traveling can be something which is tangled up through hazards of various kinds.

That fact is particularly true for anyone who is moving from the constructed country towards a developing land.

Therefore, if you are intending to travel to or even move to Indonesia, you will need to think about the particular status of the medical care insurance.

Getting health care insurance in the developing nation is actually of utmost importance because, for the particular person from the produced state, there might be dangers that could be considered to be a everyday factor to the local people.

For instance, one thing that always stumps nearly all vacationers from established nations is actually the condition of visitors through the developing nations.

Also, there may be situations in which the standards with hygiene will probably be offer subject.

Thinking about this situation, the subsequent will be a list of insurance plan connected factors that you need to think about ahead of touring Indonesia.

Firstly, this is extremely likely that the present insurance plan would not connect with overseas, particularly when it is a growing state.

Consequently, you'll have to talk to your insurance provider about the simplest way to deal with the situation.

You simply must make this happen for the family members as well if they are with you on your trip.

Nonetheless, in case you are vacationing within a professional role then your company or corporation must be offering you proper insurance plan for the duration of your journey, even if it is for an additional year.

Seeing as in the earlier consideration, this point also applies for a family members when they are going with you actually.

Addititionally there is the thought of groups procedure health-related clinics which includes in particular been made meant for expats traveling to Indonesia.

These regional practices allow for suitable medical attention along with timely healthcare evacuation products.

This can be particularly handy for you personally if you are only touring Indonesia during their visit.

However, if you are planning to relocate here, then you'll require some thing much more thorough.

If no mentioned considerations connect with you actually, then you need to be able to hunker down and start looking for a beneficial global health insurance coverage that has Indonesia under its acumen.

Indonesia is really a developing country, however that will not mean that there will be a scarcity of insurance coverage selections.

You will find that there are several insurance firms thatprovide policies which can be valid inside Indonesia.

It will furthermore be observed that if you are searching to save lots of funds then you can certainly even buy a policy in your community.

The particular good difference within the importance of the Indonesian rupee in the foreign exchange of the land would produce a huge difference for your extended financial situation, if you opt for the insurance policy nearby.

Medical Insurance is actually very important sometimes at your residence nation thus, by default, in a other state.

Following one of the following above mentioned actions can ensure that your vacation in Indonesia is effectively covered in both your own monetary as well as health factors.




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Wednesday, April 20, 2011

Becoming An Ecuador Volunteer Abroad

By Anthony Beckingham


If you want to make the most out of the years that you are spending on your studies, then why not go out of your way to squeeze in the little extra credit of life experiences while you are in the process? Should you happen to be interested about learning a foreign language such as Spanish in the process of pursuing your education, then you may consider Volunteering in Ecuador, as immersing yourself in a place where such language is spoken by everybody else will provide you both the cultural experience and the practice that is important in learning any foreign language.

Also, living in a country where the Spanish language is spoken all the time allows you to get the practice you need to be proficient in no time. Also, all the students who chose such paths find that all their efforts of being a volunteer has paid off knowing that they have helped many people who are very grateful.

And today, many students find that by learning the Spanish language, they will soon find themselves with a lot of opportunities after they have graduated from college. And because there are a lot of schools which allow students to Learn Spanish in Quito these days, this is also a reason why there are many students that prefer to volunteer in Ecuador.

And the of course, there is the fact that Ecuador has perhaps one of the most affordable travel and living expenses in Europe, perfect for the somewhat limited budget of the volunteers who would be staying in the country.

Also, you will not run out of things to do in Ecuador. And signing up for Volunteering abroad programs is certainly one way to allow students to experience life in some of the most exotic parts of the world whilst learning a language that will benefit them as future professionals, especially if they plan to pursue a career back home in the United States.

And signing up for such volunteer placement programs is quite easy, too. First, you would need to check out with your university or college's student affairs or career placement office regarding any volunteer abroad programs that you can sign up with. Specify what country you would like to be a volunteer in and also ask if the volunteer programs will provide you with at least, room and board while you are in Ecuador or anywhere you wanted to become a volunteer in. Make sure that this is something that you would really want to do as such a move is a huge commitment.




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Tuesday, April 19, 2011

New Year Activities Of The East

By John Chan


You may find it difficult to calculate Chinese New Year but if you observe the traditional activities related to New Year carefully you will get to know when it is celebrated.

The Chinese New Year is a period when the locals bring back to life the ancient traditions that have been practiced for centuries in China. Although there is no fixed date for the Chinese New Year the activities sure do make it obvious that the New Year is here. The festive spirits are on high during this time of the year and the whole of China is engaged in a hub of activity.

It is quite amazing that Chinese have no set date for their New Year. In spite of such a tradition you can not overlook it as many ancient customs are revived at this time of the year. In fact the nation becomes active with traditional activities which are there for centuries and there is a festive spirit in the air. All the activities done during this time of the year makes New Year an important festival in China and any outsider can make out that Chinese New Year has arrived.

The Chinese New Year is a symbol of hope and prosperity and it reflects in every part of the society as they let the past year go by. With the traditional custom they usher in the New Year with great interest and leave the past year behind.

They give their homes a renovation that often includes a paint job and pending repair work. The family members get themselves a hair cut and gear themselves up to take on the blessings of the New Year to come.

After the house has been thoroughly cleaned the Chinese have a custom of painting their doors and windows with red paint for the New Year. The red color symbolizes good luck and is also taken as an omen to ward off evil.

The tradition of the house cleaning in New Year is rounded off by painting the doors and windows in red color. This is done because Chinese believe that red color is a sign of good luck and it holds off the evil.

During the Chinese New Year you will come across a lot of doorways with spring couplets hanging on them. These paper made curls and squares are engraved upon with certain meanings. Keeping with the auspicious spirit the couplets have blessings engraved for the coming year or showering of good fortune or a good spring time etc.

There are some symbols which have a direct link with the New Year festivities. For instance hanging paper lanterns is a must. Also as a part of the ancient custom you must display the animal of that year in different areas of the house. Doing flower arrangements are familiar this time as it is believed that flowers like narcissus and quince branches bring in good health and abundance.




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Buying An Mp3 Player? Here Are Things You Need To Consider

By Bill Heath


The way people use and listen to music are changed because of portable mp3 players. This field was kept fresh and exciting and also bit confusing for any first time purchaser because of new technological innovations both in software and hardware.

Available in the market today are many portable mp3 players and choosing the right mp3 player for you might seem difficult. So you need to gather some information about the mp3 players available and their price range and then compare their features and decide which one shall suit you the best. This is because if you are a music lover you would always wish to have an in built FM tuner or if you love to play games then you would ask for something else. There are different accessories and lots of add-ons available.

Music store download system, capacity in gigabytes, built in FM tuner, music storage in hours, music formats supported, video formats supported, image formats supported, accessories included, built in microphone, other third party accessories available, navigation, dimensions, weight and price are the other major criteria for mp3 player comparison.

Systems that are open and closed The primary factor that differentiates between players is that whether they form a part of a closed download music store system or an open one. Closed systems have all elements such as online music store, PC music store, portable software and portable player that are fully integrated to work together. An example of closed system company is the Apple ipod that operates iTunes.

Open system provides you a selection of music stores and portable players from different companies and because they share the same music file format you can easily mix and match players and services. When it comes to open system, the largest is Microsoft's windows media audio.

Describing the online music store to software to portable player relationship and the copy protective their respective formats use is important in the terms closed and open system. Other kinds of Internet websites like pod casters and band websites are where you can download and play mp3 files. If you preferred format of mp3, then you can also import music from your personal CD's to your computer and transfer the songs to your portable player.




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Monday, April 18, 2011

Cursory Information About Paris Modern Art Museums

By Pierre Fontaine


A lot of Paris travelers believe that there is only one existing modern art museum in the city.

In fact, there are number of places in Paris you can visit to see modern art, however, generally speaking there are two museums in Paris that are both known as the Modern Art Museum.

The Palace of Modern Art is but a portion of a large palace in 11 Avenue du President Wilson named after Woodrow Wilson, President of the United States during WW I. It is the first of the two modern art museums located in Paris.

If you chose to take the metro system to reach to the Palace of Modern Art, best stations to get off are Alma Marceau and Iena which are few walks away to your destination.

The Palace of Modern Art through its wide array of collection displays the various schools of art in France during the 1900s such as Expressionism, Dada, Cubism and Fauvism.

Some of the most modern artists whose works are on display at this modern art museum in Paris include Picasso, Braqe, Soutine, Modigliani and Dufy.

This museum in Paris is open daily, excluding Monday, from 10am until 5.30pm. On weekends opening hours are increased an hour into the evening. This museum often holds temporary exhibitions of modern art, for which there is a separate entrance fee.

The second spot to see modern artworks in Paris is located at the renowned Pompidou Center. It showcases 3000 pieces of modern artworks not only from France but various parts of the world. But then it usually leases its pieces to other art museums in the city and other parts of the country, so it is desirable to check with the custodian if you intend to see a particular art piece.

This museum like the other one also showcases works of contemporary French artist through holding temporary exhibits, all of which are conducted in the southern wing of the museum. Exact location of this museum is at Rue Saint-Merri.




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Saturday, April 16, 2011

New Year Greeting Form The Orient

By John Chan


Find out about the traditional and modern ways of greeting each other on the event of the Chinese New Year.

Guo Nian Hao signifies Happy New Year in Chinese language. You will receive a lot of this if you are visiting China during the beginning of the year. But if you are visiting China in February you would still get the same greeting and you may be surprised. The reason is that by ancient Chinese custom New Year falls in February beginning as different from what we consider as New Year.

This is because the Chinese follow the lunar calendar which works according to the cycles of the moon. So the 1st of January is not their New Year's Day rather it has to do with the cycle of the moon. The occasion of Chinese New Year is a festive and momentous occasion when all sorts of ancient traditions are brought back to life so as to keep them ticking.

Since the beginning of the lunar year is an important occasion you will observe everybody to be greeting each other irrespective of whether they know the person or not. Go to any market place and you will have the entire staff wishing you Guo Nian Hao. In fact this is the voice of the nation during the festive season.

According to Chinese culture the New Year is celebrated for five days in the beginning of the year. As such the greeting like Guo Nian Hao is used only for this time period after which it is traditionally not proper to wish anyone. Also there are other Chinese words which means New Year too which are used for wishing at this time.

The Chinese New Year is a time for celebration when they pray to god and fills their minds with hope for health and wealth for the approaching year for their fellow human beings and themselves. They go about wishing everybody success and congratulating them in their language using words like Gonxi Facai; Hokkien Keong hee huat chye.

As New Year represent everything good the Chinese people also pray for a good amount of crop harvest in the coming year and they use certain terms to wish abundant crops to everyone in future.

During Chinese New Year they use another form of wishing the best for the coming year with red envelop but it is not verbal greeting. This envelop contains money which is given to the children in hope of keeping the evil things away.

Changing times have given rise to new traditions with regards to Chinese New Year greetings. Every one has their own ways of greeting each other. The use of greeting cards has flourished during recent years although this practice has never been part of the ancient tradition.

The influence of Internet has slowly changed the concept of New Year in China and now people send e-card for wishing New Year to one another. As for the government, it wishes the entire population by holding firework display.




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Good Tips For People Who Want To Learn Chinese

By Gene Fink


Not a single person will say that it is easy to learn Chinese, especially when you are trying to do so as an adult. Yet it may be a lot easier than you'd think. It isn't different from other things: you need to take your new goal a day at a time so that you can build your knowledge. If you remind yourself to stay patient and not lose your focus and to use the hints we've laid out in this article, you should have a perfectly okay time of learning Chinese.

Movies are a great way for new students of Chinese to get exposure to the language. There are lots of high quality and great Chinese movies out there; you aren't limited to the kung fu movies that so many people enjoy. Just make sure that the movie you choose uses the dialect that you want to learn: for example, if you are learning Mandarin, skip the older kung fu movies because most of them are in Cantonese. No matter what type of movies you usually choose, they are a great way to get used to hearing Chinese while still being entertained. You can watch a favorite many times and rely less on the subtitles every time you watch it. This is an entertaining way to learn Chinese.

One of the most effective ways to learn Chinese is to visit a country where Chinese is spoken. This isn't something everyone can do, but it is still a good goal to keep in mind while you are studying the language. If you are able to take one of these trips, however, try to find a good language school or a tour group that focuses on using the local language; most people in China speak some level of English and you'll get stuck helping them better their skills instead of being able to better your own! Lots of people from the West enjoy taking trips to Hong Kong but most people in Hong Kong are fluent in English because it was ruled for so long by the British and, anyway, in Hong Kong, they speak Cantonese Chinese which won't be much use to you if you are trying to learn Mandarin. Mainland China is the best place to go if you want to learn Mandarin.

Many people who are new to learning Chinese quickly discover that the idea of making mistakes causes them anxiety. This is a major barrier in learning new languages. Practice is the best way to ingrain a new language which means that you are going to have to make some mistakes before you get good. Don't worry so much about mistakes when you are taking a class or practicing with someone for whom Chinese is their first language...just do your best! In most instances, Chinese speakers will be impressed with your willingness to learn and will do their best to help you and provide encouragement. If you are thinking of waiting until you have achieved fluency in Chinese to start speaking it, you're going to be waiting for the rest of your life because you can't become fluent without making mistakes.

To sum up: you have to think about learning Chinese the same way that you think about learning other hard to master subjects. Instead of focusing on fluency (which can take many years) focus on learning little bits each day. Embrace every single opportunity that you have to practice whether it is with a class, by reading a book or by working with a native speaker. Learning Chinese can be at least a little bit easier if you use the tips talked about in this article.




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Friday, April 15, 2011

Powers Associated With Oriental Animal Symbolism

By Jonathon Chen


The utility of animal symbols has been part of many cultures throughout the history of the world. The place that animal symbols hold in the Chinese culture is perhaps considered to be unparalleled than what we find to be true regarding other cultures.

Generations after generations these Chinese animal symbols of profound meanings were passed on. Moreover Chinese people are already famous for their outstanding powers of observation and philosophical ideas. This god-gifted talent was utilized to observe animal behavior and characters and also knowledge about their traits. This resulted in drawing out characteristics that had links with the human nature and personality.

The vast collections of Chinese animal symbols are taken at different value. For some they serve as a reminder whereas others take them as omens and charms. One of the most interesting aspects of Chinese animal symbols is their visual representation which is considered to be very artistic.

Factually these Chinese animal symbols have a diverse variety of mediums and hence this diversity is seen in their mode of representation. What is remarkable is that we might find the particular animal diverse in its physical representation but the meaning and characteristic linked with the animal remains constant.

Paintings, clothes, paintings on homes, statues and embroidery etc. are but a few mediums on which you might find Chinese animal symbols. Today, these animal symbols have been successful in attracting a broad spectrum of people, even those who are not from a Chinese origin.

The western world has been greatly influenced and enchanted by the Chinese animal symbols. It is surprising to find people actually to go through the trouble of searching for their birth year in the Chinese lunar calendars to find their symbol.

After adequate research, they put this information into a variety of uses. Some people get themselves tattooed with the Chinese animal symbol that is used to indicate the year in which they were born. T-shirts, caps, jewelry and posters etc. are other mediums through which these symbols have become a part of the western culture.

Chinese have their own set of traditional notions with respect to these animal symbols. They are believed to radiate strong positive vibes that help positively to change an individual's life in their presence. This is sort of spirituality requires in-depth understanding of meaning and characteristics behind the animal symbol and then introducing them in one's life.

For the western world however it is the mere fact of discovering the animal that represents them according to the Chinese calendar and then making use of it in different forms of art.




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Techniques To Help You Learn Chinese

By Benjamin Rowe


No one would claim it's easy to learn Chinese, especially if you are starting from scratch as an adult. Yet it may not be as difficult as you think. Like most knowledge building, this particular skill needs to be built by taking it one step at a time. If you are patient and stay the course (and use the suggestions in this article) you shouldn't have any difficulty learning Chinese.

As a beginning Chinese student, one fast way to expose yourself to the language is to watch movies. There are many quality Chinese films to choose from, as well as the silly but fun kung fu movies many people love. Just make sure that the movie you choose uses the dialect that you want to learn: for example, if you are learning Mandarin, skip the older kung fu movies because most of them are in Cantonese. No matter what kind of movies you like, they can get you used to hearing Chinese while they entertain you. You can watch your favorite movies over and over, and try to rely less on the subtitles with every viewing. This can be a fun way to learn Chinese.

One of the best ways to learn Chinese is to travel to China or another country where Chinese is spoken. This is not always possible, of course, but it's something you can have as a goal while you're studying the language. If you are able to take the trip, try to find a language school or to find a touring group that will focus on the language itself--otherwise you will probably discover that most of the people you meet will want to practice their English with you and you won't have the chance to practice your skills. Many Westerners like Hong Kong, but this is a place where most people speak English because of the long period of British rule, and the Chinese spoken there is Cantonese. If you have chosen to study Mandarin, the best place to visit is mainland China.

Many people, as they start to learn Chinese or any foreign language, find that they have certain anxieties about making mistakes. This is a major barrier in learning new languages. Practice is the best way to ingrain a new language which means that you are going to have to make some mistakes before you get good. If you are in a class, or have any chance to talk to Chinese people in their language, try your best and don't worry about being perfect. For the most part, native Chinese speakers will appreciate that you are trying to learn their language and will do what they can to help you learn and feel more comfortable. If you try to wait until you are fluent in Chinese to practice saying the words out loud you are going to have to wait forever; making mistakes is part of the learning process.

In summary, you have to approach learning Chinese like you would any challenging subject. Instead of focusing on fluency (which can take many years) focus on learning little bits each day. Take all of the opportunities you can to learn and to practice, no matter which source your opportunity comes from (book, class, tutor, chance encounter). These tips on learning Chinese can be helpful as you work to learn this challenging but beautiful language.




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Thursday, April 14, 2011

Flowers For Eastern New Year Decorations

By John Chan


Find out how the Chinese people decorate their homes and streets with specially crafted Chinese New Year decorations.

The Chinese New Year is one of the most special days on the lunar calendar. You can see Chinese people decorating their homes with so many different of Chinese New Year handicrafts specially created for this unique event. From indoors to outdoors on the city streets, China seems to be glittering in color throughout the season.

From pretty flowers to platters of food there is a wide variety of Chinese New Year decoration items that are reserved for the occasion. There are certain decoration items that have become symbols for this time of the year. The array of decoration items is wide and colorful.

Natural blossoms are a very important part of the Chinese New Year decorations. Moreover, as a matter of fact, their love for the nature is pretty evident. At this time of the year, local households are decorated with different flowers and plants that represent growth and prosperity for the coming year.

For decorating purposes, the most commonly used plants and flowers are the plum blossoms at such times. This is because, they just start to blossom during this season and they are arranged beautifully together with bamboo and pine springs. This represents a special closeness between families and friends around this time.

The two symbolic values the plum blossoms are supposed to represent are reliability and tenacity. The compatibility factor is represented by the bamboo due to its flexible nature and the evergreen nature of pine is a traditional mark of eternity. Other flowers used also are azalea, water lily, narcissus, and peony.

Even particular kinds of fruits play an eminent role in the New Year decoration symbols and every household in China needs to have it. Oranges and tangerines are the first priority in the list and generally brought as presents by visiting friends. To maintain happiness and long relationship tangerines are usually intended to symbolize such emotions.

The best portionof the Chinese New Year is perhaps the candy tray; at least this is correct as far as the kids are concerned. The candy tray is a specially designed decoration item for this time of the year. This sweet treat is also known as the tray of togetherness and consists of an interesting variety of some of the most delicious candies.

This candy tray also has another ritual following it up where an adult takes a candy and replaces it by keeping a red envelope in the tray that contains of some kind of good luck symbol for the peopleoffering it. Generally the candy tray consists of candied melon of different variety like lychee nut, peanuts, coconut, and cumquat etc. all of which have special meanings.

A huge proportion of the New Year decorations are centered around the particular animal which represents the year. This has been the tradition for many years and is still practiced on New Years Day today.




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Customs Followed During Mandarin New Year Traditions

By John Chan


There are number of traditions which revived during Chinese New Year which we will discuss below.

The Chinese people hold on to their age old traditions with their molar teeth. As a community the people of China take a lot of pride in their culture and tradition and have made all possible efforts to uphold their sanctity by keeping them alive at regular intervals.

The Chinese New Year is a time when you manage to see Chinese traditions in full bloom. A hub of traditional activity explodes onto the scene during the first few weeks of the Chinese New Year. The Chinese have a complete set of beliefs and traditional practices with regards to the welcoming of a new year. One can pretty much see how profoundly the age old traditions are entrenched in the Chinese culture by looking at all the traditional practices that are brought into light during New Year celebrations.

There is a deeper reason behind the revival and elaborate celebration of these customary rituals. Knowing the press and how they love to project the celebration world wide, the Chinese understand that it really intrigues the western world. Once the west start taking an interest into these mysterious traditions they come flocking to the country to witness them. Thus China's tourism industry gets a boost from these activities.

The traditional celebrations officially begin a night or two before the actual New Year arrives and go up to the 15th day of the first month of the New Year. This is a great time to have fun and do business in China as people are happy and cheerful and willing to spend their money as well!

Every home receives a systematic cleaning for welcoming the New Year. The ill fortunes of last year are thrown away and the house is decorated and purified for welcoming the good fortune of the coming year.

The practice of coloring the doors and windows in brilliant red has a deeper meaning which has to do with the Chinese New Year. They firmly believe that the red color will save them from coming to harm and keep all sort of evil spirit away.

Then there are the traditional decorations that are put up in the houses such as the paper cuts as well as the couplets that stand for different positive things like wealth and happiness etc. The New Year home decoration items vary from paintings to scrolls and wallpaper designs.

New Year's Eve is a special night according to Chinese tradition and is observed in the traditional method in full passion. All family members come together for supper where they eat jiaozi which is a popular New Year dish consisting of dumplings in boiled water.

The family get together lasts the entire night as they come together to play different games and in recent times they even watch television programs that are dedicated to New Year celebrations. A special effort is made to keep the lights on throughout the night as this practice is believed to give their parents a long and healthy life!

The real day begins with good wishes, presents, lantern parades, Kung fu acts, concerts and other various forms of celebrations that last a whole two weeks and end with the dragon dance with the fireworks on the night of the first full moon putting an end to the display of ancient traditions in modern times.




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Tuesday, April 12, 2011

Buying Vegan Clogs Allows You To Quietly Contribute To A Louder Cause

By Amelia Parker


I have recently switched all of my footwear to vegan, including my many pairs of vegan clogs. I still eat meat so I am not a true vegan. It is simply my small way of saying I won't purchase shoes that are tested on animals, and every little bit counts in my opinion. You can also do the same, without anyone even knowing (if you want to keep it to yourself).

If you don't want to commit to being a vegan you certainly do not have to. You can still contribute by purchasing footwear that isn't tested on animals though; that is a great place to start making a difference. There are companies that make vegan friendly footwear and they are not hard to find. You will notice that vegan shoes, vegan clogs, and vegan boots are affordable and they provide great comfort too.

Doing a simple internet search for vegan clogs will turn up exactly what you are looking for. You will see that prices are comparable, if not favorable, and the looks are diverse and stylish. You'll see brands like Tom's and Dansko, in addition to many other worthy brands. These companies also donate a portion of their profits to other worthy causes, so you do too (indirectly) when you buy from them.

Clogs are essential if you work on your feet all day in a hospital type environment. The support they give is amazing and the will slide off and on with no effort what so ever. There are lines of vegan clogs that most brands make that will be stylish, comfy and certainly affordable. It is a misconception to think that vegan clogs are more expensive than regular clogs. Trust me, I own too many pairs.

Purchasing vegan footwear is a subtle way to contribute to an important cause. You won't stand out from a crowd that won't understand and you won't be ridiculed by the ignorant. Your dollars still go to worthy organizations and your feet still end up looking and feeling great. Best of all, you ensure that one less animal is treated adversely.




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Monday, April 11, 2011

Mandarin New Year Animals And Traditions

By John Chan


Want to know what animal you are? Find out the legendary origins of the Chinese New Year animals.

The Chinese New Year is an important event in the Chinese lunar calendar. Celebrations have been carried out in the most traditional way since ages now and the festive spirit is still very much alive at present. The rare feature of the Chinese New Year is that according to the twelve year cycle, the coming of the year is related to an animal symbol significantly.

The Chinese New Year animal follows a twelve year cycle and hence repeats. According to their present status, the next year should be the year of the Ox. The ancient philosophers of China have done a research on the behavior of the animals and have drawn a similarity between their personality traits and human nature.

You may consider the fact that the Chinese feel the person born on a particular animal year will have parallel characteristics of the animal. If you are born in the year of ox then you will have good talent for organizing while loyalty and dependability will be your big assets. Ox is also known to be strong and patient.

It is believed that the twelve year concept of the animals representing each year is deduced from the Buddhist dharma. According to the legend Buddha himself summoned the animals prior to his coming to the Earth. Moreover, a competition was held amongst these animals where the animal that came first would be assigned to the first year.

The race began with heavy contesting between the animals. The cunning rat after making a deal with the cat decided to cheat. All the while it seemed like the Ox would win the race as it maneuvered through the crowd. But the ox was unaware of the fact that the cunning rat was sitting on his back all through the race and when he came close to the ending line, the rat jumped off his back and became the winner.

Hence, we will see that the first year of the twelve year lunar cycle is the year of the rat as he cleverly managed to come first in the race and then it is followed by the year of ox as the hardworking animal secured second place. The ox is then followed by the rest of the animals in order of the positions they claimed with pig having the last position.

If you are thinking why just twelve animals came to Buddha and why specifically these animals then keep wondering because you will get no answers to these questions! The fact of the matter is that this is an age-old tradition which has been kept alive up till today and is deeply embedded in the Chinese culture. As a token of appreciation for their coming Buddha apparently assigned a year to each of the animals and that's the way the legend has it.




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Sunday, April 10, 2011

Animal Symbolism And Oriental New Year Crafts

By John Chan


Come let us know how the Chinese display their creativity through art work and handicrafts to welcome the New Year.

The Chinese have been making use of the lunar calendar for ages. There are many important days in the Chinese calendar but maybe there is no event more popular and important for the Chinese as is the Chinese New Year.

As per the knowledge we have of the Chinese lunar calendar, the Chinese New Year event is not held on the first of January. Their New Year is absolutely dependent upon the revolution of the moon and hence we see that it falls on a completely different date on the Gregorian solar calendar.

The Chinese New Year is a unique festive time for the Chinese people. The festive mood of the people then are very high and during the entire season, lots of celebrations and activities are seen on the streets of China. While having these celebrations, the Chinese have developed many traditions like making New Year crafts to welcome the New Year.

Amongst the fireworks and feasting are also seen a range of Chinese New Year crafts which are added to show the creativity and innovation present in the master craftsmen of China. They add color and diversity to the on-going festival.

The New Year has a variety of special events such as the fireworks display, the giving of gifts and the lantern festival. Each of these days has its own choices of Chinese crafts that represent the nature of the event. These crafts sell like hot cakes during the New Year season.

All New Years in China is represented by an animal sign, naturally the Chinese New Year crafts too represent the animal in all their crafts. This practice has some useful purposes in Chinese society.

First of all it is a means of keeping this ancient tradition alive. Secondly you have all sorts of artists and craftsmen getting a chance to unleash their creativity along with which they have a great market to make their projects commercially worthwhile during the season.

One of the major purposes that Chinese New Year crafts provide is that they make great gift items for those who are part of the culture. Not only do the crafts inspired by the animal of the year make a great new year's gift rather people often use these gifts to give to people who were born in the year of the same animal.

It is not true that the New Year crafts only cater to the animal symbols. In fact there is a broad spectrum of crafts that are specially made around this time and there is an interesting and magnificent set of fireworks that also belong to the New Year crafts collection.

Lantern crafts of different types are another special New Year variety. The Chinese are into the practice of fortune telling and various such crafts telling you about the luck that is to come your way in the coming year can all be seen being sold in the market. There are a bundle of craft items especially catering to the kids as well during this time of the year.




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Facts About Children Traditions In Oriental New Year

By John Chan


Wonder what its like for the children during the Chinese New Year celebrations? Find out how the kids get the best of the season.

Although the Chinese New Year is a time when men, women and children of all ages go all out in terms of enjoying themselves by engaging in all sorts of traditional activities it is the youngest lot that manages to reap the utmost benefits.

This is feasible because as they are too young, they are free from the chores of arranging and coordinating activities for the events which is taken care of by the elders. They do few things like helping the adults in their arrangements but more or less they are free to enjoy at the time of Chinese New Year and elders let them have fun.

For the Chinese kids the New Year events promise a lot of fun and games but also it becomes an educative process for them as well. This is because the New Year is a time when all sorts of historic traditions are brought back to life hence the kids get to discover about the history and origin of their very own culture.

The New Year in China has a lot of benefit as far as the kids are concerned. It allows them to have lot of fun with all the festivities but it also imparts significant education in history which children learn through the whole process of celebration. This way they do not dread the lessons and also remember it till they are alive.

The rich cultural heritage of China comes across in a series of activities that are held during this time of the year. The true essence of China is presented to the kids in a manner that they can absorb. New Year's eve is a time when bed time curfews are removed and the children are allowed to stay up late and engage in all sorts of games.

The elders in China take pains to teach their kids Chinese history and traditions by setting up traditional games so that kids learn from them while enjoy playing them. One of the important games that kids get to play is dominoes which they learn that it originated in China and Chinese are playing it for at least thousand years.

Another game which parents encourage the children to play is an 8th century game of cards. Here the parents create drawings on the cards and kids are made to write a story from the visual. Jianzi game is also played with lot of enthusiasm which is one of the ancient games of China resembling the game of hacky sack played by the kids in modern times.

The normal practice of Hong Bao which is the red envelope received by children from their elders. The red envelope contains cash which is meant to bring them good luck. Of course the kids love this ancient Chinese tradition which finances their holiday treats.

The kids also get to enjoy the general parades like the lantern festival as well as the dragon dance that takes place a few days into the New Year. On the whole the festive season is a time of immense fun and learning for children.




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Saturday, April 9, 2011

Larry King's Marriage Troubles Continue

By Dr. Vance Hardisty


Not long ago I made reference to the abysmal record Larry King has in regard to marriage and wives. His 8th hookup to Shawn Southwick is in the dissolving stage, and although it was reported that they were trying to save the marriage, I suggested that you not hold your breath. Since then, Southwick, according to police reports, purposely took an overdose of drugs.

King is touted as being sexy, appealing and attractive to women, and many theories as to why are suggested by "experts." It certainly wouldn't appear to be his looks. For example, some say it's because he listens and since women have a need to be listened to, they are drawn to him. Or...he is non- threatening whereas many men are too overbearing with women. Or the ladies can't resist what will become theirs: riches, power, and prominence. Other theories persist; and frankly, although they seem to be correct to a point, they miss the mark overall...the bottom line.

When a man goes through wives as if he were categorizing garbage, we need to hearken back to the core reasons why the women want out after awhile, despite the wealth, glory and position they acquire by association. Those core reasons are in my books and other material. Throughout I clarify the whys, wherefores and what men should do to keep their wives from being crushed.

I can say for a moment here that women have emotional needs that men are ordained by God to meet. There are historical as well as obvious contemporary reasons for my saying that. If the men fall short in that regard, the women, no matter how beautiful they are and how successful or not successful the men are, wilt and can slip into despair.

Shawn Southwick seemingly is a classic case. Beautiful, vivacious, and the mother of two of King's children, she reportedly became addicted to prescription drugs in 2008. Why? After all, according to the standards of the world, she had everything. Aside from the core reasons I mentioned above, let's look at one glaring possibility. If reports are true that King has been in a sexual relationship with Southwick's sister (which he supposedly denies), that would explain a lot, would it not? A woman can be destroyed by her husband having an affair with anyone - let alone the horrors of that person being her sister.

Add to that a man who appears not to care - we're told that he took days to come to Southwick's side when she took the overdose - and we get a profile of a man whose idea of romance is to woo, win, shut out and drop.

Since I've guided hundreds, I also see a pattern here - a left brained man who seeks out right brained women - but who is not willing to make necessary changes to supply the ladies' innermost needs. For example, although he listens on his show to his interviewees, does King listen and talk with his wife? That's unlikely. Left brained people aren't spontaneous communicators. Another example: the man appears retiring and almost vulnerable on TV, a factor that may bring out the mother instinct in women. That's his persona that works well as a talk show host; but at home, it's reported that he is different, very strong and definitely in control. That's okay. My husband is like that, too, but he lessens it with tenderness, kindness and lots of attention. Essential.

Ah, well, the world is full of Larry King's, (whether they are famous or not) and their unhappy wives. I don't want you to be so silly. Your marriage is worth saving and can be saved by your making a few adjustments. If you say, "My marriage is doing just fine," please trust me when I say that it can be better. That's what we're all about - getting to the core reasons behind unhappiness in relationships and proceeding on that knowledge.

Margaret Hardisty International Best Selling Author Love Relationship Headquarters www.loverelationshipheadquarters.com




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3 Verified Strategies For Learning Chinese

By Sue Hamrick


Nowadays, multitudes of individuals are choosing to learn Chinese. This is for a plethora of motivations, including being enthralled with Chinese culture to having business interests in China. Whatever your rationale, you can study this spellbinding, yet intricate language a little more rapidly by following specific guidelines, which we'll be investigating in this article. You will have to study relentlessly to become competent in Chinese however you'll be joyful that you put in all the time once you are able to speak and understand it!

In addition to any other instruments you might be using to comprehend Chinese, don't disregard one of the simplest things, a Chinese dictionary. You should possess at least one convenient dictionary that you can tote around with you when you are out and about. This will be very helpful for reference, so if you're scrutinizing a book or listening to an audio program and you are blocked, you can refer to your dictionary. It could take you some time to become familiarized with a Chinese dictionary, as you will be researching both the characters and the Pinyin (Romanized characters). The most excellent thing about a dictionary is that it's a simple gizmo to take with you wherever you go, which will push you toward studying Chinese during any free moments you have throughout the day.

When you get to know Chinese or another language, you should build up on your speaking and writing talents. When it comes to Chinese, this is really challenging for Westerners, as it is necessary to be taught a completely new alphabet. To aid you in being taught Chinese characters, it is vital for you to learn them as early as you can to help you practice reading. You can make use of material that is as effortless as possible, which can embrace study books, children's books and comic books. Newspapers can as well be fabulous options for exercising your reading aptitude. Don't count on comprehending everything, notably early in the study, although as you learn Chinese, it's critical for you to get accustomed at reading.

One plus we have nowadays if we yearn to learn Chinese is the array of technological tools that are on the market. Amid other things, it's now painless to come across a computer program that translates from one language to another. For sure you don't want to use those types of programs in place of becoming trained in a language, though you can use them as devices for assisting you. When you're surfing the net you can seek a lot of different websites that are in Chinese. To be advantageous to you practicing reading characters, you can attempt to translate a web page and then use a translating program to look at your results. Remember, though, that these programs might not be entirely precise, though they can permit you to have a decent idea of what is written. When learning Chinese, you might learn that translation programs are beneficial.

There is an array of approaches to learning Chinese and your most excellent strategy is to mingle as many as you are able to. With this system you'll start to comprehend both written and verbal skills. Also, it keeps your studies exciting when you use a plethora of different study implements, like audio programs, films, classes and voyages. We have shared some tactics for learning Chinese as swiftly as possible, although no matter what tactics you us it's crucial to be willing to devote several hours to this grueling language!




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Friday, April 8, 2011

3 Confirmed Techniques For Learning Chinese

By Sue Hamrick


Many people today are making the decision to learn Chinese. This is for an array of reasons, including an interest with Chinese culture to having business concerns in China. Whatever your reasons are, you can learn this beguiling and tricky language a bit quicker by abiding to certain criteria, which we'll be reviewing in this article. You will have to study intently to comprehend Chinese, although you'll be relieved that you put in the time once you're able to speak and be familiar with it!

Along with any other devices you're using to study Chinese, don't disregard the most effortless of all, a Chinese dictionary. You should possess at least one convenient dictionary that you can tote around with you when you are out and about. This will be very useful for reference, so if you're studying a book or listing to an audio program and you get stuck, you can refer to your dictionary. It may take you some time to get used to a Chinese dictionary, as you will be studying both the characters and the Pinyin (Romanized characters). The good thing about a dictionary is that it's a simple tool that you can bring wherever you go, which will encourage you to study Chinese during any free time you have during the day.

When you learn Chinese or another language, you need to expand your speaking and writing skills. When it comes to Chinese, this is really problematical for Westerners, due to the need to learn a totally new alphabet. In order to practice reading, the earlier you study Chinese characters, the better off you'll be. You can utilize material that is as easy as feasible, which can include study books, children's books and comic books. Newspapers can as well be fabulous options for exercising your reading aptitude. Don't count on comprehending everything, notably early in the study, although as you learn Chinese, it's critical for you to get accustomed at reading.

One advantage we have today if we want to learn Chinese is the wide variety of technological devices that are available. Along with other things, it's straightforward to discover computer programs which translate from one language into a different one. Naturally, you don't want to use those sorts of programs as a replacement to comprehending a language however you can use them as implements to be of advantage to you. When you're online, you can come across an array of websites, which are in Chinese. To aid you in exercising reading characters, you can attempt to translate a web page and then using a translating program to analyze your outcomes. Bear in mind, though, that these programs might not be completely accurate, but they can provide you with a great idea of what is written. When learning Chinese, you might learn that translation programs are beneficial.

There are a variety of methods for learning Chinese and your best method is to combine all that you are able to. With this method you'll start to learn become proficient with both your written and verbal skills. Additionally, it maintains the fascination of your studying when you use a variety of study mechanisms, like audio programs, movies, courses and trips. We have reviewed some strategies for learning Chinese as rapidly as capable, however not matter which strategies you put to use, it's vital for you to be willing to devote a lot of hours to this complex language!




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Eastern Symbolism Meanings

By James Chung


There are approximately eighty thousand Chinese symbols or even more. These symbols include every characters, alphabets and signs that have been in use in China for over thousands of years. Only now the use of these symbols has become limited.

The use of the symbols in the Chinese language is becoming less and less as the language has evolved over the years. But in the art form these symbols have immense value. They are very appealing to the eye and the whole world recognizes the beauty of these symbols.

When we take a look at China itself we see the presence of Chinese symbols in all walks of life. The cityscape is loaded with Chinese symbols represented through different mediums of art and architecture. Now you will be able to find Chinese symbols on everyday products such as kitchen ware etc. Many people still make use of traditional Chinese symbols for superstitious reasons in Chinese culture.

Whatever may be the meaning the physical structure of the traditional symbols from China has exceptional artistic appeal. But when you go to the depth of these symbols you will find that they represent great philosophies which go back in time and are still in use.

The Chinese symbol meanings cover a broad range of meanings ranging from the most positive to the extremely negative. The traditional belief is that by incorporating positive Chinese symbols in your life you can expect good thing to come your way. They truly believed that these symbols had the power to attract good fortune.

The truth of the subject will depend entirely on what you believe and the faith you have on the Chinese symbols. Even today the symbols are respected throughout China for their beauty as well as the power to influence the life of the people by incorporating them.

The traditional symbol of five bats linked together into one sign represents good fortune and is extremely popular. These five bats are meant to show love, longevity, health, wealth and virtue. To make the symbol more powerful it may be represented in red color.

You will find another symbol in many places in modern Chinese society which is the sunset symbol. Sun as Chinese see it is the origin of the Yang energy and has remarkable power.

There are number of ancient legends about the sun which leads the Chinese people to believe in its positive powers. For one it is the source of all energy and purification. Secondly it produces balance. Because of these deep philosophical aspects sun is given great respect in China.




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Thursday, April 7, 2011

Mandarin New Year Songs And Celebration

By John Chan


Let us find out how the Chinese people select traditional songs that are to be sung during the New Years festivity.

The Chinese people depend on the moon's revolution as they follow the lunar calendar. When the moon indicates that the year is about to come to an end and a new year is approaching, the Chinese people get started with the celebrations. This is a time when you will find Chinese people singing their New Year songs without a break.

The Chinese New Year is taken very positively by the entire country. It is a time when people are set to bury the past and look into the future with positivity and the hope for prosperity. The festive spirit is high and it seems as though everyone is in their best moods wishing the best for their brothers.

There is no doubt that to the Chinese people who follow the lunar calendar, the event of the Chinese New Year is the most prominent time for celebrations and are very attached to this custom. For this occasion, they have special traditional songs composed which are sung enthusiastically during this time. This however, has been an age old tradition and continues to be one.

These Chinese songs that are written to welcome the coming New Year is all about love and happiness that the people experience or wishes to express with the approaching New Year. These songs justify the love and blind faith that Chinese people have towards their traditions and the pride they have for their country.

Although the country has been involved in many battles throughout its history the people of China are generally considered to be peace loving and nature loving people. The different Chinese new year songs aim tohold the nationalistic spirit of the Chinese people on the one side whereas on the other you have songs that are trying to describe the Chinese perception of life and the way that they live it.

Chinese people take trmendous pleasure in listening to the New Years songs as they speak about their history and culture. During the festival time, songs seem to be heard on the streets as well as heard coming from inside of the houses. Families get together and together they sing songs in unison celebrating this festive season.

While celebrating the New Year people of China attempt to make it special with fancy costumes when they are singing and dancing. This would be rather strange if observed from a non-Chinese perspective but it is the part and parcel of Chinese traditions.

Like the Chinese cultural heritage that is passed on from generations to generations, these New Year traditional songs are pretty much same for ages now in their compositions. However, many new songs have been created by the present day musicians but they require a special stage or show to perform it. This has also become a ritual of the Chinese New Year celebrations.




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Asian New Year Dragon And Its Effects On The West

By John Chan


We will hereby see the characteristics of the Chinese symbol that make them honorable and their association with the important event of Chinese New Year.

The images of the Chinese dragon and the occasion of Chinese New Year have been two eventful components of the Chinese Tradition. For thousands of years now they have still withheld the same importance for themselves and unique presence even till date. Moreover, interestingly they are deeply intertwined with each other.

The image of the dragon is instantly identified with the Chinese culture. It is from this very culture that the west has discovered the image of the dragon through martial arts flicks and other Chinese art work. For the Chinese the figure of the dragon is a highly revered mythical beast that is admired for its uniqueness, beauty and auspicious powers.

With due respect to the Chinese heritage, firstly we must recognize the fact that the Chinese New Year does not match with the Western celebrations of the New Year. The cause behind this is that the western world follows the Gregorian solar calendar and the Chinese have always followed the lunar calendar. Thereby, the cycle of the moon decides the date on which Chinese New Year event is celebrated and this is completely on a different day from the Western New Year.

New Year is a unusual time in China. It is a time when the festive spirit is soaring and there are all kinds of celebrations going on. As has been the old tradition of the country they have animal signs associated with the change of time. There are twelve animals that are repeated after every twelve years. So the year of the dragon returns with all its might and power after every twelve years.

The dragon sign is considered to be a symbolism of great power. Moreover, the image of a dragon is always considered as a symbol of mystical power and anger. The anger of a dragon is always mysteriously justified and hence it signifies the correction of any mistake. So in this case, the angry dragon image is not evil but it plays a role of inspiration.

The Chinese say that the streets overpower you. If you are out on the streets and you see an evil you, it is up to you whether you have the might to stop it. If you can't, then effort has to be made to stop it with your tongue. If that too fails, at least in your heart you should know that the act is evil and there is a low-lying faith in you.

What the image of a dragon does is to eradicate the wrong doers. It does not represent wrong deeds but works in counter-action. The best option is to avoid doing evil and engaging in doing right things. Hence the Chinese New Year symbol of the dragon is nothing but a revolution to bring about peace in a festive and spiritual way.




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