Article,s Blog: Februari 2008

Minggu, 03 Februari 2008

Celtic Jewelry - Ancient Symbolism in Popular Fashion

The mysterious and the mystical have always had the power to hold human beings in thrall throughout the millennia. Celtic jewelry is no exception to this, since they are an extension and a reminder of the traditions and rituals of the Celts, an ancient European people. Today, men and women of all ages wear Celtic jewelry not only for their beauty, but also for their symbolism and metaphysical connotations.

Also popularly -- though inaccurately -- known as Claddagh jewelry, Celtic designs are appreciated for their intricacy and beauty. Numerous patterns of Celtic origin, such as the spiral and the cross, are used by jewelers in their creations. The Celtic spiral symbolizes eternity and is used abundantly in many Celtic jewelry items today. Just as popular is the Celtic cross, which pre-dates the Christian cross by about two centuries. The Celtic cross is thought to bring greater knowledge, understanding and the fortitude to deal with trials and adversities, as compared to the Christian cross, which is believed to protect the wearer from harm.

Claddagh rings and bracelets are two more examples of popular Celtic jewelry items that are replete with symbolism. Rings that have the Celtic knot design symbolize eternal and undying love; this is why they are exchanged by the bride and groom in present day wedding ceremonies – to signify their fidelity and never-ending commitment to each other. Such rings and bracelets are also given to friends as an indication of loyalty.

Necklaces and pendants are likewise integral parts of a Celtic jewelry collection. Depending on the wearer’s preferences, the pendant may depict the image of Celtic figures such as the ever-popular knot, spiral, Celtic cross, serpent or dragon. Such symbols have deep spiritual and religious meaning, and it is one of the main reasons why Celtic jewelry items are popular dress accessories today.

A person does not have to be Irish or Scottish or to have any other Celtic connection in order to appreciate Celtic jewelry. Whether given as gifts or maintained as personal keepsakes, these unique pieces can be enjoyed just for their beauty alone. But a little awareness of their meaning, as well as their place in history and tradition add to their air of enigma and allure.

Sam Serio is an Internet Marketer, musician and a writer on the subject of jewelry and gemstones. For more information on jewelry and gemstones, we cordially invite you to visit http://www.morninglightjewelry.com to pick up your FREE copy of “How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off.” This concise, informative special report reveals almost everything you ever wanted to know about jewelry and gemstones, but were afraid to ask. Get your FREE report at http://www.morninglightjewelry.com

Ceasar Vallejo - Black Roses [In English and Spanish]

Cesar Vallejo:
Black Roses

Bow down your head ol’ poet—
To face God’s grace ahead
There are no more trenches

To dig today…
In the forest of your head,

So—:
Bow down, bow down,

Ol’ barbaric poet!
Death rides the horse ahead
I hear the crackling of a whip
See the crazed eyes of death.

He summons you to his den—
The devil and his wind,

So—:
Bow down, bow down
Your blood stained brows
He will take you to the edge.

Closer, closer, I see you now
Eh! a moving satanic cloud—
I see a festival of black-roses,
I hear clamor in the crowd.

Bow down, bow down, Ol’ poet
…I hear your applause!

#666 [5/15/2005]

Versión en Español
Translated by Nancy Penaloza
Edited by Rosa Penaloza

César Vallejo:
Rosas Negras

Inclina tu cabeza viejo poeta—
Para encarar la gracia de Dios adelante
No hay más trincheras
Para cavar hoy …
En el bosque de tu cabeza,

Entonces—:

Inclínate, inclínate
¡Viejo poeta barbárico!
La muerte monta el caballo adelante
Oigo el crujido de un azote
Veo los ojos enloquecidos de la muerte.

El te emplaza a su guarida—
El demonio y su viento,

Entonces—:

Inclina, inclina
Tu frente manchada de sangre
El te tomará al borde.

Más cerca, más cerca, te veo ahora
¡Ah! Como una nube móvil satánica—
Veo un festival de rosas negras,
Oigo el clamor de la muchedumbre.

Inclínate, inclínate viejo poeta
¡Oigo tus aplausos!

#666 (15 de mayo del 2005)

Dennis Siluk's poetry is known worldwide, and has been in many newspapers; his first book, "The Other Door," now a rare book to find, of which only 750-copies were made, is a treasure for many seeking one if they can find one. His new book coming out in October will be Peruvian Poems [in Spanish and English] look for it...see his site at http://dennissiluk.tripod [this poem wil be in the book]

Casino's Popping Up Leads To Negative Impact on Economy

Casinos and other forms of gambling are popping up in almost every state. Every other day you hear of a new Indian Tribe that is looking for recognition. Once they receive their recognition, investors look to back these people up and in turn a new Casino is born. People all over the United States are using their paychecks for a chance to win big. In turn all of the local businesses are suffering to the point where they are now starting to file bankruptcy. Eventually, someone in political power will finally admit that the amount of money taken in from taxes on gambling is significantly less than the hardship created with the economy. Most states take in millions of dollars from their casinos, scratch tickets and lotto, but they don’t want to deal with the negative impact on the local businesses. Everyone knows there is a problem, but no one wants to face it.

People have no problem in spending hundreds and thousands of dollars at the Casino's but will quickly get upset when gas rises ten cents per gallon or their child needs more school supplies. One mother told me she was very upset that the school system did not completely cover a field trip and that it would cost her $15.00 for each of her two children. She called the school and complained. This same person had no problem the night before losing $1,300.00 at the local casino. There's no logic to this situation. In another situation, a person would steal sweet and low, butter and rolls from her local diner. She had money in her wallet but that was reserved for gambling. In both of these situations family members knew they had a gambling problem only after they noticed their quality of life was changing.

Everyone now knows someone who has a gambling problem. They don’t understand how this has happed to a loved one, but they know something has to change. The same situation occurs when you find out your brother is an alcoholic. You can’t close down every bar and you can’t bring back prohibition. You have to face it head on and look for alternatives to help your brother.

People now are beginning to speak out as the epidemic continues. A lot of people don’t even realize they have this addiction until their resources run out. Gamblers tell their friends I won $2000.00 at the Casino on Saturday, but they neglect to tell them they lost $5000.00 and the week before. Bad information is being spread in turn the recipients of this information head to the casino in an attempt to win big. If everyone won Casino’s would be out of business.

I have seen thousands of gambler’s lives destroyed because they do not know how to quit. Through education we can succeed at finding alternatives to help these people.
You may find the following websites helpful:

I Stopped Gambling So Can You
http://www.istoppedgambling.com/

Stop Gambling Information

http://www.stopgamblinginformation.com/

Stop Gambling Books

http://www.stop-gambling-books.com/

Stop Gambling Family Resources

http://stopgamblingfamilyresources.org/

You can Stop Gambling Too

http://www.youcanstopgamblingtoo.com/

Teenage Gambling Addiction

http://www.teenage-gambling-addiction.org/

Stop Gambling Links
http://www.stopgamblinglinks.com

Stop Gambling Family Resources

http://stopgamblingfamilyresources.org/

Compulsive Gambling Addiction

http://www.compulsive-gambling-addiction.org/

Howard Keith has an extensive background related to Gambling Addiction. He has interviewed compulsive gamblers, friends of gamblers and relatives of gamblers to get a better understanding.

Casino Morongo

Casino Morongo or Morongo Casino which is the official name is in addition to being a great gambling casino, also a Resort and Spa. It is not located in Las Vegas, but I would say that it is the perfect alternative to Vegas Casino hotels.

No matter how easy and convenient it is to play casino on the internet, even the best online casino can't be associated with the atmosphere you feel in a real casino. This casino gambling resort has four-star-caliber hotel accommodations, a luxurious health spa, great dining and a splendid nightlife. It has the capacity for holding large meetings. The casino has a great reputation and is one of the West Coast’s largest gaming floors with high-stakes action as well as nice and friendly dealers. This casino has also a reputation for terrific payouts.

You'll find this casino hotel about 20 minutes west of Palm Springs. The Casino Resort is located in the middle of the desert and looks like a blooming oasis. It contains more than 300 deluxe rooms which includes 32 suites accessed by a private elevator. As if this wasn't enough, it also has some very special and secure oasis casitas for casino and gambling lovers that prefer the real romantic casino-way of life. The staff consists of 2,400 multinational persons, which are really friendly and would be more than happy to welcome you to Morongo. They're known for saying: " We’re dedicated to making each moment of your stay as enjoyable as possible." And that really shows, I can assure you.

Terje Brooks Ellingsen is a writer and internet publisher. He runs the website http://www.1000-online-casino.com
Terje gives advice and helps people with gambling issues and casino games like casino poker and
casino baccarat.

Can't Afford Illness in America

I had become too sick to live in America.

Even with private insurance, even with Medicare, we couldn’t keep up with our medical bills. So we found a country where we could, and we left.

Picture this: A childless, middle-aged couple both gainfully employed, both college educated, living a frugal but happy life, and the husband gets sick with an incurable chronic illness. The sick husband has to quit work because the illness is very serious. But, not to worry, after four long years and a legal battle, he gets on Social Security Disability and therefore qualifies for Medicare. There is also the added security of the wife’s health insurance to cover the expensive prescriptions and everything else Medicare doesn‘t. Everything will be fine because they are insured, and they will continue to live a happy yet frugal life in spite of the chronic illness. Or will they?

In the fall of 2002, my wife and I found ourselves in the position of not being able to afford my illness. I was afflicted with an incurable illness called Fibromyalgia Syndrome, a pain, and fatigue disorder that eventually leaves most of those afflicted unable to work. The decrease in my income plus the 10 prescriptions I took (not counting the drugs my wife had to take) to try to help control my illness’s symptoms were breaking us financially. Though we were insured, we could no longer afford to fund my illness. The co-pays, deductibles, and non-covered expenses were eating away at our financial security, bite after bite.

We found a sort of bitter consolation in the fact that we were not alone in our plight. It turns out that more than 50% of bankruptcies filed in 2001 were medically related and were middle-class homeowners who not only had an income but also health insurance. The prevailing myth that most bankruptcies are related to credit card debt is not true. Less than 1% of filed bankruptcies are due to credit card debt.

Researchers found that in those surveyed, 1.9 to 2.2 million U.S. residents filed a “medical bankruptcy.” The average person filing for bankruptcy during the 2001 period spent $13,460 on co-payments, deductibles, and uncovered services even though they had private insurance.

"Our study is frightening. Unless you're Bill Gates, you're just one serious illness away from bankruptcy. Most of the medically bankrupt were average Americans who happened to get sick. Health insurance offered little protection,” said Dr. David Himmelstein, an associate professor of medicine at Harvard Medical School who led the study.

Another one of the study’s authors, Elizabeth Warren, said, “It doesn't take a medical catastrophe to create a financial catastrophe. A larger share of American workers are going to have insurance that's like a paper umbrella. It looks good, and it might even protect you in a sprinkle, but it melts away in a downpour.”

In the fall of 2002, we began to feel the sprinkle on our paper umbrella turn into an unstoppable downpour. We had to do something before the full brunt of the downpour tore the paper umbrella to shreds and our lives along with it. We began to look to other alternatives to purchase our prescription drugs and found them. Little did we suspect how our search for more affordable prescriptions would not only find us financial relief but also end up changing our lives.

We heard rumors that prescriptions drugs were cheaper in Canada and Mexico. Our research showed this was indeed true. But this, to be honest, was a scary proposition. I also read that the U.S. government was trying to shut down many of the web sites through which you could order these drugs. That’s all I needed--get arrested for smuggling drugs through the U.S. Mail Service! Many Americans who live in border towns simply cross the border to get a prescription filled at substantially lower prices with no hassles. Moving to a border town was not what we wanted to do. But what did catch my eye was that in Mexico not only were the prices of prescription drugs--the same ones I took in the U.S.--cheaper but so was just about everything else!

Digging deeper we discovered there was a large population of American expatriates already living in Mexico, around 500,000, taking advantage of affordable and reliable medical care plus a significantly lower cost of living. This was a stunning revelation to us. Moving to Mexico hadn’t been a remote possibility; now it appeared to be salvation.

Our reality began on August 1, 2003, when we stepped off the plane in Leon, Guanajuato, to begin our new lives in a small, colonial town (the capital city of the state) called Guanajuato.

We stepped into a new reality where everything; prescription drugs, housing, utilities, food, transportation, entertainment, is 25-75% less than it is in America. My Social Security Disability income more than adequately covers our expenses here in Guanajuato, Mexico. An example is that I can buy all my needed prescriptions for less than the co-pay I forked over for one drug in the United States! I get a month of Prozac for less than $16.00 usd. Same drugs, only affordable! Can you believe that?

Moving to Mexico--an alternative for everyone? I doubt it. But it is working for us on so many levels that we have no plans anytime soon to return to the land of our birth.

The solution? I don’t know. What I do know is that we, and many other Americans, cannot sit idly by waiting for our elected officials to work it out. We had to taken action--drastic as it was. That paper umbrella won’t last long!

Doug Bower is a freelance writer and book author. His most recent writing credits include The Atlanta Journal-Constitution, The Houston Chronicle, and The Philadelphia Inquirer, and Transitions Abroad. He lives with his wife in Guanajuato, Mexico.

His new book Mexican Living: Blogging it from a Third World Country can be seen at http://www.lulu.com/content/126241

Canon Digital Camera - from Humble Beginnings to World Class Company

Started in a single-room by three Japanese men in the year 1933 under the name of Precision Optical Instruments Laboratory, Canon has come a long way today. It all began with the phantom prototype camera called the ‘Kwanon’. At that time, Germany was considered to be the leader in camera production. German cameras were extremely expensive. So, Goro Yoshida, along with two others tried to produce a 35mm rangefinder camera at a cheaper price and came up with “Kwanon’.

However, at that time, one of the problems faced by the company was that it did not have a lens of its own. So, it decided to tie up with Nippon Kogaku Kogyo (who was to become the founder of Nikon) and acquire lenses from them. With the use of these lenses, Canon came up with its first commercial camera called the “Hansa Canon” in 1936 which became a hit. However, the company still had to go through hardships due to the War.

After the war, the company officially adopted the name “Canon” as its name. Up till then, the lens was under a different name, the camera had a different name and the company had a different name. So, in order to unify all these three, Canon came into existence on September 15, 1947. Slowly the company started to expand, and many historical cameras were created such as the Serenar 50mm f/1.8 lens in 1951, Canonet in 1961, AF35M (Autoboy) in 1979 and the EOS 650 in 1987.

The first Canon digital camera was the PowerShot 600 in 1996. Then, after making several advances in digital technology, Canon launched the EOS D2000 digital SLR camera in 1998 for professionals. In addition, the XL1 digital video camera was introduced. Due to its superior functionality and reliability, the XL1 became the official digital video camcorder of the NASA.

In order to provide the market with a cost effective camera along with superior functionality and performance, Canon introduced the EOS D60 in 2002 and the EOS 10D in 2003. These two cameras made Canon the market leader in digital technology. Then, the EOS Kiss Digital was introduced in 2003, which became a big success.

Today, Canon has introduced several digital camcorders. Starting with the FV30 and the FV200KIT in 2002, Canon went onto launch the FV M1 and the IXY DV M2 in 2003 in the mid range segment. As the company progresses, Canon continue to strive to provide its consumers with better and better technology at the lowest price possible. They have been known as a choice of the pros for many years in the world of photography but now with a broad line of products Canon is firmly positioned in the consumer market as well.

Kevin Rockwell worked as a network TV cameraman for 20 years shooting news and sports. Now a devoted fan of digital photography and video he works to gather information, tips and news for digital camera users. Oh and he loves to shoot pictures of his kids playing sports using his digital cameras.
http://www.great-digital-cameras.com/gdcj.html

Can We Not Talk About Sex - A Review of 'Kinsey'

In the film "Kinsey," when someone suggests a movie of Dr. Alfred Kinsey's book, he replies, tongue in-cheek in-joke, "I can't think of anything more boring." He's almost right. Kinsey was an academic, a pedant, and perhaps that's why "Kinsey" is so monotone and almost sterile in its approach to such an explosive subject.

Explosive? In the Paris Hilton/Desperate Housewives/"red state/blue state" era? Isn't our DAILY discourse already oversatiated with sex?

Yes and no.

There are still "don't go there" areas--the Michael Jackson case proves that. The debate over gay marriage. Our furor over Monica Lewinsky. On the other hand, we have gotten more permissive: "Closer," an exploration of infidelity, edges out "Kinsey" in the Academy Awards, with the exception of a Best Supporting Actress nod for Laura Linney. The academic tone may have had something to do with it.

When I finally watched "Kinsey," it was preceded by a promo for "Inside Deep Throat," referring not to Pat Buchanan (who denied in a live appearance of the McLaughlin Group I attended in Palm Springs, California, that he is the "Deep Throat" of the Watergate scandal) but to the adult movie starring Linda Lovelace, which Nixon campaigned against--only to have "Deep Throat" (the source) become his undoing.

Alfred Kinsey would find this prelude to his biopic appropriate. Let's hope he'd like Liam Neeson, who manages to rise with passion above the sterile, shrink (as in psychotherapist)-wrapped Hollywood approach to a subject that still, frankly, makes us uncomfortable. Witness the furor over Janet Jackson's "wardrobe malfunction." The amoral industry that spends billions trying to titillate us can't quite get past the conventions it thinks it flouts. Which perhaps is just as well. As the superb Laura Linney, playing Clara "Mac" Macmillan explains to her husband Al after he informs her of a homosexual affair with one of his researchers (Peter Sarsgaard), "Did you ever think that those strictures are there to keep people from getting hurt?" (Mac gets her own back when the same swinging assistant asks for a little fun with her.)

Perhaps the point of the movie is that sometimes we go too far both in the applying of those strictures and in the loosening of them. Kinsey's father, played as skillfully as usual by John Lithgow, belittles his wife, daughter and son, but proves to have been a victim of parental torture himself with regard to sex. Interestingly, the father-son friction spans four generations of the Kinsey family when Kinsey starts to pick on his own son. "Have you learned nothing? Nothing?" Mac exclaims.

Then there is the homosexual man who Kinsey interviews. While childhood is pretty darn short these days the idea of the young man's father and brother branding him for prepubsecent same-sex exploration seems excessive. Kinsey's cross-country interviews reveal parents beating and shunning their own children for sexual behavior.

That said, "Kinsey" doesn't seem to advocate total permissiveness. Even Dr. "Don't be judgmental" Kinsey and one of his assistants strive to maintain objectivity when interviewing Kenneth Braun, a subject they've courted for a decade because of his meticulous cataloguing of his sexual history. Braun, was, apparently, a major source of data for Kinsey.

Although the scene is only eight minutes long, it's easily one of the most powerful in the entire movie, thanks to the casting of gifted character actor William Sadler as Braun. Sadler, who has a history of playing villains ("Die Hard 2"), convicts ("The Shawshank Redemption"), and shady characters ("Rush"), and even frank sex talkers ("When did you last have an orgasm?" he asks his daughter in the short-lived series "Wonderfalls"), ably and unflinchingly choreographs his way through Braun's litany of perversions (sex with children, animals, and seventeen members of his family) with bare, raw honesty. In an extremely bold move even for today's audiences, the script has Braun prove he can get an erection within ten seconds and achieve onanistic self-satisfaction. While Kinsey's assistant decides Braun is a little too repugnant, Kinsey maintains his "professional distance" until Braun challenges Kinsey's own orthodoxy by insisting that Kinsey's doctrine is "if it feels good, do it." Since Kinsey is never clear on his own doctrine, it's no wonder he reacts badly to Braun. Braun derides him as "square."

But for all this, Kinsey's story, which begins with one of Kinsey's assistants (Chris O'Donnell, shedding his clean-boy image) interviewing him and providing a framing narrative for the movie, is one of love--love for his subject, love for Mac, and just possibly, learning to love himself. "When it comes to love, we're all in the dark," he explains. He's taught this lesson by the magnificent Lynn Redgrave, for whom his book has made a difference. "Thank you, Dr. Kinsey," she says. "You saved my life."

Perhaps "Kinsey" might seem a bit of "same old same old" in our jaded culture. But the movie reminds us of our common humanity, and if we have to talk about sex and wasps to realize that, it's worth the price of admission.

Movie reviewer/screenwriter Kristin Johnson composes personalized poems, speeches, toasts, vows, and family memories. Visit http://www.poemsforyou.com to order your personalized memories. She is also co-author of the Midwest Book Review "enthusiastically recommended" pick Christmas Cookies Are For Giving: Stories, Recipes and Tips for Making Heartwarming Gifts (ISBN: 0-9723473-9-9). A downloadablemedia kit is available at our Web site, http://www.christmascookiesareforgiving.com, or e-mail the publisher (info@tyrpublishing.com) to receive a printed media kit and sample copy of the book. More articles available at http://www.bakingchristmascookies.com

Buying Your Child A Digital Camera - What You Need To Know

Purchasing any gift item for your child is a mind-numbing task. You can never be sure whether they will like what you buy for them or not. So, when you want to buy a digital camera for your little kids, then there are lots of things, which you must know, which will help you (hopefully!) to get the right camera for your child.

One of the most important things for children is that the digital camera should be one of the latest available in the market. If it has been heavily advertised and people are talking about it, then it is even better. This gives children a sense of pride and also allows them to ‘show-off’ their possession to their friends.

Another factor, which is critical for children, is that the camera must look good. This is very, very important to them. It does not matter whether it has a big screen or small screen, whether it is 2 mega pixel or 1.5 mega pixel – the camera should have a smart shape, come in flashy colors or it can also look cute or funky. But, the camera should not look ‘boring’ or very ‘serious’ in nature. However good the functions might be, if the camera does not look good, it is most likely that your choice will get rejected.

The size is also important. Most children will definitely prefer a digital camera that is small and compact in size. The weight and size should be such that they are able to easily put the camera in their pocket or hang it by a string. Large and bulky models, even if they have better features are not advisable for children.

It is also necessary to remember that even though you might gift your child a digital camera to click photographs for school projects, they will be using it to take pictures of their friends. So, look for some ‘fun’ features in the digital camera. These can include colorful background images or sound effects, photographic effects that they can use to enhance the images taken by them.

One more thing is ease of use. It is important that the camera has a simple system through which children can easily take pictures quickly. However, you really do not need to worry about this aspect a lot because today’s children have been born in the digital era. They are able to pick up things much faster than you or me, so as long as the camera is good in all other aspects, even if its ‘click ability’ is a little confusing, it does not really matter. They are fast learners these days!

Last but not the least, is the price. While buying a digital camera for your child, it is understandable that you really do not want to spend a lot of money. There are lots of choices available in the market today. The price range starts from as low as $30 and can go up to $300. So, it really depends on how much you would like to spend on the camera. Start simple and upgrade if they grow out of the digital camera that you buy for them. Hey share them with the whole family!

Buying the Best Digital Camera for Your Needs

Choosing a digital camera can be a daunting task with the wide number of choices available in today’s market place. There are lots and lots of things that you need to keep in mind while going to choose a camera for yourself. The best digital camera for your friend might not be the best option for you.

So, the first question that you need to answer is that for what purpose you are planning to buy a digital camera. Is it to take photos of your family while on vacation or are you planning to become a photographer? This will help you to narrow down your choices to a limited few. So lets take a look at the options that we have :

A camera for emailing photos, taking family photos etc. : Most people use a digital camera for taking personal photos and then emailing them to family and friends. For this purpose, a simple and relatively cheap camera costing $100 to $200 and having a 2 mega pixel range is sufficient.

A camera for photographing images for online auctions : With more and more business taking place through the Internet, you might also need a camera to take photos of your antique furniture which you would like to sell. So, you need a camera which can take pictures at an extremely close range, say within 12 inches of the object. Thus, a camera consisting of 3-4 mega pixel is suitable for such purposes. The prices of these cameras are falling nowadays since they fall into mid-segment, i.e. they are neither hi-fi nor low end. So if you go and do a little bit of research, it is most likely that you will hit a good bargain.

A camera for images of top quality for web pages, desktop publishing etc : Now, if you need a camera for taking pictures for desktop publishing or web site development, then you need one with a 4-5 mega pixel range. These cameras normally have lots of additional features which you can use to enhance your images. Even though they are quite costly, they provide the best options with respect to resolution, features, and creativity. They also allow you create prints up to 8x10 inches in size with very good quality.

Besides the above points, you also need to consider other issues such as the ergonomics of the camera. How does it feel when you hold it in your hand ? Are you comfortable with its size and weight ? Is it practical to carry it throughout the day ? Is its shape user friendly or does it look like a gizmo out of Star Wars ?

If you emphasize on a light-weight and small camera, then you must also keep in mind the fact that you will compromising on the battery life. Most small cameras do not have powerful batteries since larger the battery, more the power. Also, small cameras have very small flash lights – so the amount of flash generated by these pea-sized flashes will be considerably less than a bigger camera.

Hence, it is very important that you know exactly what you need your camera for in order to ensure that you are truly buying the best digital camera for yourself. Find the best comprimis between form and function that fits the bill in your digital camera lifestyle.

Don't forget to take lots of pictures when you do get into digital. That is one of the great things about these cameras. No penalty for bad photos. Hit the erase button and move on to new images, that is my motto.

Buying Poker Chips

Whether you enjoy the glitz and glamour of visiting a casino, or simply enjoy playing cards at home, an important part of the game are the poker chips you will use. Despite being an integral part of enjoying a bet, poker chips are usually the focus of very little attention, but they have a history all of their own, before they ever reach the betting table.

While most at-home card players will be familiar with the colorful plastic chips that are typically part of the gaming sets you might pick up in your local store, the chips that are used in casinos are far more elaborate. And understandably so, as these chips usually have a face value that can be worth a considerable sum; thus security is a key issue in the production of many chips. Casinos will usually have a house design with which they will decorate their chips to render them more distinguishable - in fact, many businesses have taken this idea to a whole new level simply by using poker chips as advertising tools. Brightly colored chips combined with a particular logo are used by many businesses as innovative discount or business cards. Poker chips are even used as invitations to special occasions, such as weddings or birthday celebrations.

But back in the casino, the chips have a practical purpose. As well as including the casino's particular logo and color scheme, poker chips usually include an indented design achieved through the use of molds, thus making the copying of chips more difficult. For this reason, casino type poker chips, called 'clay' chips are usually made of a composition of materials that is suitable for molding, rather than plastic or some other substance; this also makes the chips more suitable for the heavy handling they are subjected to in the casino environment. But though this material is tough and durable, the average life span of a casino poker chips is only three to six months. Those little chips live fast and die young!

Jeff Lakie is the founder of Poker Chip Information a website providing information on Playing Poker

Breathing-in, Minnesota [a poem - now in Spanish and English]

In early fall, in Minnesota, the rain falls, falls,
In buckets, buckets and more buckets—: drops
Likened to music from its many streams—land
Of ten-thousand lakes; moistened gravel, gravel
Everywhere…

Grandpa sits on the porch—daydreaming of, of
Something, perhaps winter around the corner—;
As the flies disappear, with the mosquitoes…
Leaves will soon vanish, shadows will come early

Maybe he’s thinking about summer: miles and miles
And miles and miles of cornfields; his childhood now
Long gone, he hums a hymn, a song; looking at the
Metal-piped fence, he made, with three poles, on the
Embankment, leading up the steps to the porch;
It’s worn-out like him.

The winds in Minnesota smell fresh, fresh from all
The foliage, there’s a lot of it. The eighty-three
Year old man looks about, on his screened in
Porch —fetches his pipe, lights it up, sucks in a
Drag, pushes out some smoke: it drifts and drifts
In the corners of the house

“Ah!” he says—proud of his life events—I say to
Myself (I’m but ten): “No doubt He’s already lived this?”

There are many stories he wants to tell, but first he
Wants to smell the fresh air, the burning of autumn
Leaves—He, never intended to have lived this long of
A life, I believe, the old bear, came from Russia in 1916;
He accepted life—adjusted to it

He hears the sparrows, their feathers flapping, faintly
Soiled feathers, flapping, covering every inch of their
Bodies— He notices frost on the nearby tree. It seems to
Him, the sun is bouncing off of the ground, he gets bits
And pieces of it on his face, it warms it, somehow,
Thaws it out…

He’s breathing in, frail like,—like reading Faulkner, slowly
Does it, a ting uneasy. He never left Minnesota once, once
He arrived back home from WWI (1918), “…no need to,” he
Says—he’s happy…
The fields are clean, animals in the barns; in the city,
People getting haircuts—everything shutting down.
Winter is now—it came last night, a Minnesota winter
Is like no other. He just woke up, his bones chilled. The
Wind blows, now it whistles, no foliage to stop its echoes.

“There are only a few left like me,” he murmurs. The
Flavor of winter he likes; warm biscuits, hot coffee, a
Smoke from a pipe or cigar. Black branches that were
Green a few months ago—: it’s 10-below zero.

He sees the beauty of Minnesota in a glance here and
There—It makes his brain swim with life; it is nature at its
Finest!...

For Kathy [#800 8/14/05]

In Spanish
Translated by: Nancy Penaloza

Respirando en, Minnesota
[un poema]

Al comienzo del Otoño, en Minnesota, la lluvia cae, cae, En cubos, cubos
Y más cubos-: gotas Comparadas con la música de sus muchos arroyuelos de
Diez mil lagos; grava humedecida, grava por todas partes…

El abuelo se sienta sobre el pórtico, soñando despierto, de Algo, quizás el invierno rondando la esquina-; mientras las moscas desaparecen, con los mosquitos…Las hojas pronto desaparecerán, las sombras vendrán temprano

Tal vez él esta pensando en el verano: millas y millas y millas y millas de maizales;
Su niñez ahora, hace mucho tiempo ida, él tararea un himno, una canción; mirando

La valla metálica-entubada, que él hizo, con tres postes, sobre el Terraplén,
Conduciendo los pasos hacia el pórtico; Esto esta desgastado como él.

Los vientos en Minnesota huelen fresco, fresco por todo el follaje, hay
Mucho de ello. El anciano de ochenta y tres años mira alrededor, sobre su protección
En el Pórtico – trayendo su pipa, encendiéndolo, aspiran una Rastra, eliminando el humo: esto va a la deriva y llega las esquinas de la casa

¡" Ah!” Él dice - orgulloso de los acontecimientos de su vida- me digo a mi mismo (pero yo sólo de diez): Sin duda “¿Él ya vivió esto?”

Hay muchas historias que él quiere contar, pero primero, él quiere oler el aire fresco, la combustión de Hojas de otoño - Él, nunca tuvo la intención de haber vivido esto a lo largo de una vida, Yo creo, el viejo oso, vino de Rusia en 1916; Él aceptó la vida- adaptado a ello.

Él oye los gorriones, su batir de plumas, plumas apenas Manchadas, batir, cubriendo cada pulgada de sus Cuerpos - Él nota la helada sobre el árbol cercano. Le parece, el sol esta saltando en el campo, él consigue añicos y pedazos de ello sobre su cara, esto calienta, de algún modo, Lo deshiela hacia fuera…

Él esta respirando, frágil como, - como leyendo Faulkner, despacio hace esto, un tintineo difícil. Él nunca dejó Minnesota alguna vez, una vez que Él llegó a casa de WWI (1918), “…ninguna necesidad", él dice - que el es feliz…. los campos son limpios, los animales en los graneros; en la ciudad, la gente que consigue cortes de pelo – todo cerrando abajo. El invierno esta ahora – llegó anoche, un invierno del Minnesota no Se parece a ningún otro. Justo cuando el se despertó, sus huesos enfriados. El Viento sopla, ahora esto silba, ningún follaje para parar sus ecos.

“Hay sólo unos pocos dejados como yo " murmura él. El Sabor del invierno le gusta; bizcochos calientes, café caliente, fumar de una pipa o cigarro. Las ramas negras que eran Verdes hace unos meses-: esto es 10 bajo cero.

Él ve la belleza de Minnesota en un vistazo aquí y Allí - Esto hace a su cerebro nadar con la vida; ¡esto es la naturaleza en su fineza!...

Para Kathy [*800 8/14/05]

You can see Dennis Siluk's many books at http://www.bn.com or http://www.amazon.com

Breathing Space in Music

While most students want to know when to play certain notes and chords, it's equally important to know when not to play. For example, I had a student who knew how to improvise and play in the New Age style. What he didn't know how to do was to allow for breathing space. I tried to teach him that you don't have to play note upon note but allow for some pauses.

Eventually he got it. He learned how not to rush and that the pauses between notes are as important as the notes themselves - especially in the New Age style of piano playing. Listen to pioneer New Age piano player Steven Halpern to get an excellent idea of this. Steven literally defined "breathing space" for music. His music floats in the air. It is pure improvisation and, if you listen to him play, you'll find that' it's one of the easiest styles to play in.

He let's the spaces in between the notes work for him. There's definitely no rushing here. It's very trance inducing and calming. To play in this way, you need to be very much IN THE PRESENT and listen for what's to come. There's no planning or forethought here except maybe to choose a Key or Mode to play in. Then you just improvise.

The spaces between the music are as important as the music itself. In fact, without the spaces, you wouldn't have this style. The spaces define the style of music. A lot of New Age pianists emulated Halpern and you can't do better to learn how to master the art of silence than by listening to him. Also, check out the author's online piano lesson "Oriental Sunrise" to get another good example of "breathing space."

Edward Weiss is a pianist/composer and webmaster of Quiescence Music's online piano lessons. He has been helping students learn how to play piano in the New Age style for over 14 years and works with students in private, in groups, and now over the internet. Stop by now at http://www.quiescencemusic.com/piano_lessons.html for a FREE piano lesson!

Bono - From Music To Fashion To Helping The Poor

U2s lead singer Bono isn’t content with being part of a top band. Fashion and Music – well I’m sure they can mix! Bono was born Paul David Hewson in 1960 in Dublin Ireland. His stage name is Bono.

Bono is the lead singer of US, he is also a songwriter. He married Ali Stewart in August 1982 and they have 5 children. Bono is also actively involved in as an activist and screenwriter.

Paul was a curious child who seemed to see the world from a different perspective from the rest of the world. When Paul was 15 he suffered the loss of his mother who he was very close to. In high school Paul found himself drawn to music and playing the guitar, spending a great deal of time involved with the school theater.

The name Bono was the brain child of his close friend Guggi who took it from a Hearing Aide store located in Dublin. Bono Vox also means good voice in latin.

In 1976 a flyer was posted at his high school by Larry Mullen who was looking to form a band. Paul was jumped at the opportunity. The band became U2 which is now known around the globe.

Ali Hewson [nee Alison Stewart] grew up in the suburbs of north Dublin. She met Bono at high school. He tried to chat her up but she ignored him. Over the years he continued to pursue her.

Their relationship moved very slowly because Alison wasn’t interested in becoming one of the Bono girls. After his mother died, Ali being the practical person she is, helped Bono with the essentials like food and clothing. Ali was 22 when they wed.

Ali Hewson appears to be open and down to earth in all respects. She appears honest and never puts on that she knows more about a topic than she does.

She smiles often and appears to be a happy human being. She earned her degree in social science, politics, and sociology at the age of 33. She also became involved with Greenpeace.
It was having children that put Ali Hewson on the path of thinking more about the environment.

She became concerned about what they would grow up to have, what would be left of the environment. Ali got involved with Greenpeace campaigning against the Sellafield nuclear power plant.

Over time, U2 also became actively involved in the protest against the Sellafield nuclear power plant. She had not direct responsibility for U2 becoming involved but because Bono and Ali share the same concerns, it was a natural outcome.

Ali feels as a wealthy person she has a responsibility to do what she can to raise awareness on such issues.

So isn’t it natural that Bono and Ali have now evolved to another level of involvement with social politics. Bono and his wife Ali Hewson now have their fingers in the Fashion industry. But wait – this isn’t just any old fashion venture. This one has a new twist.

Their goal is to involve developing countries in the producing of their clothing line, improving the quality of life for these people and their economic welfare.

A new line of clothing has hit the market – Edun – anyone catch that Edun is Nude spelt backwards? The Eden line consists of a casual collection of jeans, T-shirts, chiffon dresses, and blazers. The line is available at Saks Fifth Avenue.

Bono and his wife are attempting to become actively involved in social activism and the betterment of people in developing countries. Their goal is for the Edun collection to be soooo hot that it will be able to provide employment for people in developing nations around the world, developing stable long term relationships with these countries.

Great thought goes into selecting which country will produce which clothing. Selection is based on the resources and talent of the developing countries. They attempt to make “good” matches which are beneficial to Edun and the developing country.

They believe that the developing countries and their people will benefit financially and emotionally. But the big picture also means that these developing countries can become part of the global economy.

Bono and his wife might be on the right track with this concept with Edun, as the consumers are becoming much more interested in knowing where and by whom the clothes they purchase are made. The consumer has become social conscious. So this concept could be a win win for everyone!

Sher from Estate Jewelry International has been serving customers for over 20 years, providing fashion, jewelry, and wedding help. Please visit us at http://www.estatejewelryinternational.com/

Body Jewelry and Today's Stars

Body jewelry and body piercing practices have been observed by various groups of people all over the world throughout the centuries. For some tribes it is a rite of passage, for others it is an indicator of social status. For many, body jewelry is used to enhance personal beauty and as devices to rise above the rest of the pack. Today’s celebrities have been at the forefront in making body jewelry much more mainstream and acceptable – even desirable.

“What’s a little pain if it’ll make me look hip” seems to be the prevalent thought among the young and the old who are turning out in increasing numbers to participate in the body jewelry trend. Not so long ago, only punk rockers and those with ‘bad boy’ images, such as former NBA star Dennis Rodman, were seen sporting body piercings in mainstream media. Today, body jewelry is endorsed by pop celebrities with mass followings, including Britney Spears, Christina Aguilera, Fiona Apple and Lenny Kravitz. Britney Spears has an extensive collection of navel rings, and Christina Aguilera is said to wear the most interesting body jewelry in areas that are covered by her clothing.

Some celebrities with an otherwise ‘serious’ image are nevertheless fans of body art. Actress Camryn Manheim of the television drama ‘The Firm’ sports multiple earrings on the cartilage of one ear. Gillian Anderson, who played the cynical and skeptical FBI agent Dana Scully in the television series ‘The X Files,’ has a pierced belly button. Performers with tongue piercings include former Spice Girl Melanie Brown (Scary Spice) and dancer Jimmy Gulzar, while supermodels Christy Turlington and James King are proud of their piercings. Some sports celebrities also wear body jewelry, including WWE wrestlers A-Train and Billy Gunn, as well as football player Ricky Williams.

Body jewelry has also been used throughout the ages to enhance sensation, and by extension, sexuality and sexual performance. Genital and nipple piercing in both men and women, while not as widespread as nose, ear, tongue, navel and eyebrow piercing, still has its own following. Singer Janet Jackson has stated on the Oprah Winfrey talk show that she likes the sensation that her pierced nipples give her. Other celebrities with pierced nipples include rock musicians Axl Rose and Tommy Lee, Icelandic singer Bjork and rapper Lil Kim. Pop princess Britney Spears likewise has a pierced nipple.

Celebrities, whether they like it or not, are oftentimes looked up to as role models and the influence they wield over their fans is considerable. Fans emulate their idols’ preferences: from clothing, mannerism, even to the wearing of body jewelry. More and more, they are playing a leading role not only in the direction of today’s fashion trends but also in the shaping of modern pop culture.

Blind Designs [a Poem] and a Note by Rosa on 'The Other Door'

Blind Designs

Born today, gone tomorrow

Like a butterfly with no stomach

Born n the morning, dead by night

Oh—let me whisper

Oh—let me cry

What man has not learned?

What man will not learn!

In his pomposity, his rhetoric

With his abstract concepts

With his intellect

With his creativeness

He has become enslaved

By—them…

By them all, he will fall.

Ah! Yes—abstract concepts

Bombast and rhetoric

His intellect

His cleverness

This he leaves behind

To his decedents!...

(he has not learned he

has detached himself

dangerously from reality).

#814 8/24/05

A note by Rosa Peñaloza-Siluk, “The very first book Dennis wrote, “The Other Door: Poetic Exhortations”, appears now on Ebay and Abe, and Alibis books, and elsewhere as a keepsake. It was 25-years ago he wrote the critical praised book, in classical poetry. Since then it has become a sought-after title for the author, with few circulating copies left. There was only 750-copies made, and 400 of them signed, a short classic in his genre. It is vintage Siluk, poetry—about people who love and get hurt, and travel, just about the whole gamut of life. He has been thinking of republishing the book with a new introduction by his wife [me], because besides his books on drugs and alcohol, “A Path to Sobriety…,”has proven that it will outlast him and myself, with all respect intended for my husband. Rosa

Poet Dennis Siluk, lives in Minnesota and Peru, and has just finished a new book,on Peruvian poems, and is working on "The Curse of the Abyass Worm," which he hopes to get out by March, 2006. You can see his travels and books at his website: http://dennissiluk.tripod.com

Blackjack Card Counting Made Easy

By using computer trials, it has been proved mathematically that certain cards are favourable to the player and others are favourable to the dealer.

Depending upon what cards have been played, you can determine what cards are left, and this influences how the player should play his hand.

For example, if more cards are left that favour the player, the player now has an advantage and can raise the bet size to capitalize on his advantage.

Card counting in blackjack helps the player make choices that give him an edge.

Card counting should be studied by anyone wanting to make long-term profits as it gives the player an edge over the casino.

Two Card Counting Myths

Let's first dispel two common myths on card counting.

1. Card counters do not memorize every card that they have seen dealt out of a deck or shoe.

2. Card counting also does not allow a player to foresee with certainty what card will be dealt out the deck next. It is simply a probability theory that will put the
odds in your favour over the long term. Short-term results can of course vary.

Card Counting Logic

So how does a blackjack player actually card count? Many different techniques have been researched and are practiced to keep track of the cards played from a
deck. Here we are going to use a very simple but effective one.

Before you start to count, you need to know blackjack basic strategy. ALL card counting systems are based on it, and it provides the best way to play following
on from the hands that have already been dealt. It's easy to learn, and is soon committed to memory.

For those who don't want to rely on memory, pre printed charts are available.

Basic strategy lets you play at just under even odds with the casino, but card counting takes the advantage one step further and allows you to have the edge in
your favour

The method below is easy to learn, and with some practice, you will be ready to play with the odds in your favour.

You can if you wish then move on to other more complicated strategies that may increase your edge further, but this is a perfect introduction.

The Lazy Way to Count Cards

Lazy card counting is as easy as it sounds. It doesn't take a lot of concentration or calculations, and makes very few demands on your memory.

In blackjack, a deck rich in face cards is an advantage to the player.

All you need to do with this method is observe the cards coming out of the deck. For example, if you are playing a multiple deck, and after a few hands, you
observe that very few face cards or aces were played, then you have a situation where the next hand will probably be good for you the player, and you should
increase your bet accordingly.

The Key: Look for Extremes

The key to success with this method to is to always look for extremes. The absence or predominance of exposed high cards is easily noticeable by any player.

You will often play several hands where the mix of face cards and low value cards are relatively even.

As soon as you see an absence of exposed high value cards, you should increase your bet. This is because the odds of a face card being dealt are now also
increased which favours you the player, and you should bet accordingly.

It's simple but effective in putting the odds in your favour and is perfect introduction to card counting.

To learn more blackjack
strategies and maximise your winnings visit our site: http://www.Blackjack-Card-Counting-Strategies.com

Blackjack Card Counting - Don't Believe These Three Myths

Card counting can put the odds in the favor of the blackjack player, but it has limitations and is not the "holy grail" that many blackjack players believe.

It is a belief that has seen several blackjack card counting myths emerge that cause many players to lose. Here are some of the more frequent ones.

Myth 1: A Complicated Strategy Will Be More Successful

A card counting system can be complicated or it can be simple, it depends on the system.

The fact the system is complicated does NOT guarantee it will be more successful than a simple one. In fact, you can learn a simple card counting strategy that has
better results than many of the more complicated ones in just 5 minutes!

Reality: There is no correlation between complexity of card counting systems and profitability. It is the logic that the system is based upon which is important.

Myth 2: Card Counting Can Predict the Sequence of Cards

Card counting in blackjack does not allow players to "predict" the sequence of cards that come out of the deck.

In reality, it is impossible to "detect" the sequence of the remaining cards. The number of different sequences is huge and impossible to predict.

Card counting therefore, does NOT allow a player to foresee with certainty what card will be dealt out of the deck next.

Reality: Card counting is not a predictive theory. It is simply a probability theory that will put the odds in your favor over the long term. Short-term results can of
course vary dramatically.

Myth 3: You Don't Need Much Money to Win

Once a player has learned how to count cards in blackjack and successfully learned how to apply these skills, they very often feel invincible.

When playing at the table they feel that they won't need much money due to the skills that they have learned.

The fact is, even though a player may have a positive edge in a game that does NOT mean the player is guaranteed to make profits all the time.

Losing streaks occur for all successful players and you need an adequate bankroll to ride them.

Reality: The 0.5% - 1.5% expectation that you can achieve in blackjack, (percentage of each bet you expect on average to win), is not enough to get you a
winning edge consistently. In the short term, you need to prepare for losing runs.

The Reality of Card Counting & Some Tips to Win

If you have understood the above, you will see that card counting is NOT a predictive theory - it is a probability theory.

Once you understand this, you will realize that it can give you an edge in the longer term, but in the shorter term, you can, and will have losing streaks.

By knowing this, you will be able to prepare yourself for the inevitable losing periods with an adequate bankroll.

You also need to pick a system that you feel confident in using.

As we have said, you don't need a complicated strategy - you can learn a simple one in JUST 5 MINUTES!

To learn more blackjack
strategies and maximise your winnings visit our site: http://www.Blackjack-Card-Counting-Strategies.com

Blackjack - A Beginners Simple 3 Step System

Blackjack attracts players who want to make big consistent long-term profits and is attracting new players as online gaming becomes more popular.

Many players who have not played before think blackjack is complicated and requires too much effort, but this is not true.

Here are three steps to help you make big online profits even if you have never played before.

1. Why Any Blackjack Player Can Win

The object of the game is to accumulate cards with a points total close to 21, without going over 21 to beat the dealer.

Face cards (Jacks, Queens and Kings) are worth 10 points. Aces are worth 1 or 11. Other cards are represented by their relevant number.

With blackjack you compete only with the dealer, who has no choices to make - he just follows the house rules. You as the player DO have choices, and this is
what makes blackjack a game you can win over the long term.

The choices that you make will determine your success.

2. Cutting the House Edge with Basic Strategy

Blackjack basic strategy is a mathematically proven method that statistically tells you how to play your cards in relation to the hands that are already out of the
deck.

By following basic strategy over time you can cut the edge, the casino has over you from 5.75% to just 0.5%.

Blackjack basic strategy is easy to learn and once you are confident playing it you can put the odds in your favor by card counting.

3. Putting the Odds in Your Favor with Card Counting

All blackjack card counting methods, and there are many, are based upon basic strategy and they help you put the odds in your favor. This is done by counting the
cards already dealt and estimating the probability of cards left in the deck and the most likely cards to be dealt next.

Players who use correct blackjack strategy with a card counting system can beat the casinos edge and the reason for this is simple. Low cards favor the dealer in
and high cards favor the player.

Low cards favor the dealer because they help him make winning totals on his hands when he is stiff (has a 12, 13, 14, 15, or 16 total on his first two cards).

In casino blackjack, you can stand on your stiffs if you want to, but the dealer cannot, he has NO CHOICE to make, but you do, and herein lays your advantage.
Rules of the game require that he hit his stiffs no matter how rich the deck is in high cards that will bust him.

Blackjack for Players Who Want Serious Profits

The myth about blackjack is that it requires a lot of time and effort to make money, but it does not.

Basic strategy is easy to master and you can get charts that tell you the best option on every play, all you have to do is look!

Card counting allows you to get an edge, and while card-counting systems can be complicated, many are simple. A simple card counting system can be learned in
around 5 minutes and if you practice a while you could be raking in regular profits!

The Choice is yours for Big Online Profits

It is the choices that YOU make, that will ultimately make you big online profits from blackjack, and learning the correct choices is a lot simpler than many players
believe.

To learn more blackjack
strategies and maximise your winnings visit our site: http://www.Blackjack-Card-Counting-Strategies.com

Birthstone Origins - Stranger than Fiction

In the Old Testament, the book of Exodus tells the story of the Breastplate of Aaron, used in religious ceremonies. (Aaron…just in case you were absent from Sunday school that day…was the Biblical figure who performed, at Moses' direction, the miracles that confounded Pharaoh and his magicians.)

Aaron's breastplate was adorned with four rows of gemstones, three gemstones in each row, in the following pattern: Sardius, topaz, carbuncle; emerald, sapphire, diamond; ligure, agate, amethyst; beryl, onyx, jasper. These twelve gemstones represented the twelve tribes of Israel. The twelve positions were later co-opted by astologers who linked them to the twelve months of the calendar year and the twelve signs of the zodiac.

The Traditional Birthstone List contains these older birthstones and represents birthstone traditions heralding back to the 15th century. The Modern Birthstone List was created by the National Association of Jewelers in 1912 in Kansas City, Missouri. Gemstone purists complained that the NAJ list was devised solely for commercial purposes (they probably didn't believe in Santa Claus either!). As a result, astrologers who prescribed gems often substituted alternate or secondary stones. The Mystical Birthstone list below originated in from Tibet over a thousand years ago. The Ayurvedic Birthstone list is derived from age-old Ayurvedic Indian Medicine, a practice of native people for more than a century.

Month Modern Traditional Mystical Ayurverdic

January Garnet Garnet Emerald Garnet

February Amethyst Amethyst Amethyst Bloodstone

March Aquamarine Bloodstone Jade Bloodstone

April Diamond Diamond Opal Quartz

May Emerald Emerald Sapphire Agate

June Pearl Alexandrite Moonstone Pearl

July Ruby Ruby Ruby Ruby

August Peridot Sardonyx Diamond Sapphire

Sept. Sapphire Sapphire Agate Lapis Lazuli

October Opal Tourmaline Tourmaline Jasper

November Yellow Topaz Citrine Citrine Pearl

December Turquoise Lapis Lazuli Onyx Ruby

Astrologically speaking, your place on the Zodiac is more meaningful than your birth month for tapping into your "power," which has led to the creation of the following list of "Star Stones" related to the star under which you were born, rather than the day.

Capricorn (Dec. 22-Jan. 19) - Ruby, Agate, Garnet

Aquarius (Jan. 20-Feb. 18) - Garnet, Moss Agate, Opal, Amethyst,

Pisces (Feb. 19-Mar. 20) - Rock Crystal, Sapphire, Amethyst, Bloodstone

Aries (Mar. 21-Apr. 19) - Bloodstone, Diamond

Taurus (Apr. 20-May 20) - Sapphire, Turquoise, Amber, Blood Coral, Emerald

Gemini (May 21-Jun. 20) - Agate, Chrysoprase, Pearl

Cancer (Jun. 21-Jul. 22) - Emerald, Moonstone, Pearl, Ruby

Leo (Jul. 23-Aug. 22) - Tourmaline, Sardonyx, Onyx

Virgo (Aug. 23-Sep. 22) - Jasper, Carnelian, Jade, Sapphire

Libra (Sep. 23-Oct. 22) - Opal, Lapis Lazuli, Peridot

Scorpio (Oct. 23-Nov. 21) - Aquamarine, Topaz

Sagittarius (Nov. 22-Dec. 21) - Sapphire, Amethyst, Turquoise, Topaz

So whether you choose an emerald from the Breastplate of Aaron, a moonstone from Tibet's mystical birthstone list, an opal for its ayurvedic birthstone properties, or your very own "star sign" representative…may the force (of the birthstone) be with you!

Learn How To Buy Jewelry And Gemstones Without Being Ripped Off. This informative Special Report reveals little-known facts and insider trade secrets that many jewelers would prefer you didn’t know. To get your FREE copy please go to http://www.morninglightjewelry.com.

Birthstone Jewelry Beliefs and Celebrity Birthdays

Wearing birthstone jewelry is very popular today. Not only is it fashionable; somehow, it also makes the item feel more personal and part of the wearer’s personality. Almost all gems are believed to be imbued with some special sort of power and this is one of the reasons why it is considered lucky to wear birthstone jewelry. Let’s look at some of the mystical properties and beliefs about these special gems and some famous people who would wear them.

January’s birthstone, the garnet, is believed to have blood purification properties and to protect against poisoning. Actress Faye Dunaway and supermodel Kate Moss are two celebrities who were born in January.

The amethyst, the gem of the month for February, is a symbol of serenity and peace. In addition, it’s reputed to protect the wearer from intoxication. Princess Stephanie of Monaco, singer Roberta Flack and actress Drew Barrymore have amethysts in their birthstone jewelry.

March’s birthstone is the clear blue aquamarine. Perhaps because of its color, it is sacred among sailors, who believe that it will protect them from the perils of the sea. NBA player Shaquille O’Neal, heartthrob Freddie Prinze Jr. and singing legend Liza Minnelli are among the celebrities who are under the protection of the aquamarine.

The eternally stylish and elegant diamond is April’s birthstone. Believed to symbolize true love, it is the most popular gem used in wedding rings. Among the notables having diamond birthstone jewelry are England’s Queen Elizabeth II, actress Jessica Alba and tennis player Andre Agassi.

May’s birthstone is the enigmatic emerald. Some people believe that emeralds are magic and had the ability to make the wearer psychic. Famous people having the emerald as their birthstone include British Prime Minister Tony Blair, socialite Bianca Jagger and singer Janet Jackson.

The simple and classic pearl is the birthstone for June. It is viewed by various cultures as a symbol of power, love, purity and chastity. Pearl birthstone jewelry celebrities count sex symbols Marilyn Monroe and Angelina Jolie among their numbers.

The red ruby is July’s birthstone. It is believed to help in matters of love and to enhance sexual prowess. Hollywood actor Tom Cruise and the late Diana, Princess of Wales, are among the celebrities born in July.

Birthstone jewelry for August includes the lime green peridot, is traditionally believed to give good sleep and protect the wearer from nightmares. Oscar winner Halle Berry and Grammy winner Whitney Houston are two of the women who count the peridot as their birthstone.

Sapphire is the birthstone for September. It is believed the give the power of precognition and is also linked to joy and peace. Two glamorous figures who can be poster babies for sapphire birthstone jewelry are actresses Brigitte Bardot and Gwyneth Paltrow.

The delicate opal is October’s birthstone. Some cultures believe the opal brings bad luck, while others associate it with innocence and purity. Tony-winning actress Julie Andrews and U.S. Senator Hillary Rodham Clinton were born in October.

The topaz is central in November’s birthstone jewelry. Medicine men and women in some cultures used ground topaz in their concoctions to heal asthma, and the birthstone was also reputed to have a calming effect on the quick-tempered. The late Princess Grace Kelly of Monaco and Hollywood actress Demi Moore are two examples of famous November babies.

Finally, we have turquoise as December’s birthstone. The Indians of North America revered this gem because of its power to warn the wearer of danger and because of the luck it brought. Pop princess Britney Spears and film director Steven Spielberg celebrate their birthdays in December.

Wearing birthstone jewelry is a popular tradition that continues to this day. Necklaces, rings, bracelets, earrings, brooches and many other dress accessories adorned with these gems are not only fashionable but also more meaningful for the wearer or for the recipients of such gifts. Also, having birthstone jewelry is a reminder that you have at least one thing in common with celebrities!

Bewitching Jewelry -- Amulets, Talismans and Charms

Throughout the ages, men and women have used gemstones and crystals in personal ornaments and body decorations as bewitching jewelry. Wearing them as charms, talismans or amulets, they were believed to possess the power to ward off evil spirits (or attract benevolent ones), keep one safe from harm, or to find love. To this day, many people of all ages and from all walks of life believe in the magical power of certain gems and make bewitching jewelry part of their everyday attire.

Take pearls, for instance. In the olden days, if a maiden wanted a man to fall in love with her, she would put pearls ground into a fine powder into a glass of wine and somehow get him to drink it. A pretty costly way to catch a man, that method. Nowadays, wearing pearls is believed to enhance one’s inner character and bring about peace and serenity. Gold is another example of bewitching jewelry. Since time immemorial, it has captured the fascination of all people, and is one of the cornerstones of the science of alchemy. Gold is used to enhance the power of other gemstones, hence its popular use as a setting. It is also believed to attract wealth and influence, because the wearer is perceived to be strong and powerful.

Bewitching jewelry is not confined to fashionable purposes. The Indian warriors of old used to have swords that were adorned with garnets, secure in the belief that this would bring them luck in battle. Today, garnet jewelry presented as a gift signifies the giver’s feelings of eternal love and commitment. It can also be worn as a charm to increase sensuality and sexuality. Similarly, diamonds are said to aid in the release of sexual tension and to help the wearer enjoy a fantastic sex life. I wonder what that says about girls who treat diamonds as their best friend?

Sapphires are benevolent examples of bewitching jewelry. Aside from preserving friendships and promoting loyalty, they are also believed to protect the wearer from capture. Turquoise is likewise popular as a talisman because of its alleged property of changing colors when the wearer is in peril. Plus, it is used in amulets in many cultures because it is believed to be a bringer of luck.

There are many, many other beliefs regarding the use of gemstones as bewitching jewelry. They may be worn as talismans, charms, amulets or simply as fashion accessories. But for many people today, as in the ancient times, jewels are chosen not only for their beauty, but for the perceived benefits that they will bring to the wearer as well.

Becoming A Digital Artist On A Budget

So, you want to become a digital artist but paying several hundred dollars for Photoshop seems too much. Don't worry, there are dozens of very inexpensive tools you can use available on the Internet.

Icon Constructor

Icon Constructor converts BMP, JPEG, GIF, PNG, PSD, TGA and TIFF formats into Windows icons. You can find many images on the Internet and convert them to icons for use on your Windows desktop, in applications and much more. The program supports Windows XP icons in 32-bit color depth with an alpha channel; now you can create semi-transparent XP icons easily. With just a few clicks, any image you find on the Internet or create in a paint program can be turned into an icon. Plus, proprietary FriendlyLINK technology allows creating icons using pictures of your friends and family.

Free Download: http://www.deprice.com/iconconstructor.htm

Pics Print

Pics Print has a built-in photo editor that lets you crop, resize, rotate, and color-correct images. Users who enjoy adding artistic effects to their photos can blur, emboss, and sharpen the images, add borders, and produce an unlimited variety of creative touches. There is even a red-eye remover that takes out the red circles that the camera's flash often adds to portraits.

You can create instant greeting cards with Pics Print's card wizard. Simply select an image, add text, and print. Using the built-in templates, or templates which you create yourself, you can create family album pages, sales sheets, and any kind of printed pages in just a few minutes. In addition to that, Pics Print lets you create huge posters that are up to 20 sheets tall and 20 sheets wide.

Free Download: http://www.deprice.com/picsprint.htm

Acoustica CD/DVD Label Maker

Why let the record studio artists have all the fun? Create your own CD/DVD labels and jewel cases with the ultimate in ease and flexibility. If you have CDs or DVDs with no cover and are sick of guessing what songs are on what CD, get the label maker that automatically puts your track list on your CD/DVD label.

Acoustica CD/DVD Label Maker comes with a chock full of custom art for holidays and special occasions like Christmas, Valentines, birthdays, vacations, weddings and more. You don't need to be a real artist or designer to user the software.

The software automatically imports your track information from Acoustica MP3 CD Burner, iTunes, WinAmp, Easy CD Creator or any other popular play list or previously burnt CD. Print the cover on standard paper or stock sticker labels and jewel case templates for more professinal-looking results.

Free Download: http://www.deprice.com/acousticacddvdlabelmaker.htm

John Deprice maintains a vast collection of software for amateur digital artists and designers. All software is available for free download at http://www.deprice.com/design.htm

Basic Palmistry Part II

Palmistry, also known as Chiromancy, is the art of telling a person's fortune by looking at the lines and bumps on a person's hand. However, since the 1920s, the art of Chiromancy has come a long way. Chirognomy is a related science in which hand shape; finger shape, fingers, nails and the texture and consistency of the flesh are examined in order to get a glimpse into the inner workings of the personality. Dermatoglyphics is the study of ridge patterns and formations found on the fingertips and palm itself to detect and diagnose inherited diseases. However here we are dealing with what I would call the “Romany Reader Basics” of the Art.

In an earlier New Age Notebook called Basic Palmistry I identified the major lines and mounts of the human hand. In this article we are going to examine other kinds of markings and characteristics that are common indicators of personality, temperament and fate.

Bubbles and Loops - Bubbles and loops that occur on life lines, heart lines and fate lines indicate significant episodes in your life or a life that is broken by many odd experiences. Strong clean lines without bubbles are always preferable if you are looking for a serene and quiet life.

Broken Lines - These usually indicate that a life will be disrupted in an upsetting manner. A broken lifeline can mean an early or tragic life. A break in the head line can mean a period of insanity or mental illness.

Crosses and cross-hatching: These marks on any mound or area of the hand often represent stressful influences, events or people. Usually the influence is a significant or important relationship. The deeper the line the more traumatic or life-defining the experience is said to be. The nature of the event is determined on which mound you find the cross or cross-hatching.

For instance, if you have a lot of cross-hatching on your Mound of Lower Mars you may encounter a lot of war or violence in your life. Crosses and cross-hatching on your Mound of Apollo can indicate troubles with career, confidence and success. On the outer edge of the hand, just below the little finger and the Mound of Mercury such marks are said to indicate how many children are in your future. If horizontal lines or cross-hatching occurs on your thumbs or fingertips it is a sure sign that you are under too much stress.

Attachment lines: These are lines that occur above the heart line and wrap from the side of the hand and extend out beneath the little finger. This is supposed to indicate the number of significant relationships or attachments you will have in your life.

Healer Stigmata: a long horizontal line that is crossed by three shorter lines indicates this. It is a symbol of natural healing abilities and usually occurs on the mound of Mercury just below the little finger.

Squares: If you find a square on your hand it means that you are a teacher or natural born leader and meant to enlighten others. The area of interest where you will excel is indicated where it is placed on a mound. For instance, a square that is found on the mound of Mercury indicates a career in teaching or education. A square found on the Mound of Venus below the thumb can indicate a nurse, doctor or healer.

Feathery light lines: These can be found all over the hand and are usually an indication of failing health. If the lines travel up from the wrist to the little finger it can indicate a chronic disease or disability.

X's: X's found anywhere in the palm usually indicate travel. If it is found on either of the Mounds of Upper or Lower Mars or on the plain of Mars it means traveling as a result of war or a military career. An X on the mound of Venus (below the thumb) means relocating for love and on the mound of Jupiter an X can mean relocating for reasons to do with career advancement.

Triangles: Triangles anywhere on the palm indicate a decent upbringing and emotional or intellectual strength. This once again depends which mound the triangle is found on. For example: a triangle found on the Mound of Venus indicates emotional strength and understanding when it comes to love. A triangle found on the mound of Saturn beneath the third finger indicates incredible physical and emotional endurance during times of trouble.

The Ring of Solomon: This is a line that circles the base of the Jupiter finger (index finger) and is found in the hands of those who are said to be psychic. It is also believed to represent royal blood or ancestry.

Stars: A star-shaped hatching of lines can mean that you will enjoy especially good fortune wherever that star is located. For instance if you have a star on your Mound of Venus, it can indicate fame. A star on your Mound of Mercury can mean success at relationships. Wherever you find a star on your hand, you are most likely to find good fortune unless it is located on the mound of Saturn beneath your third finger. In that case, it means a life of arrogance and pride without the prizes.

Samantha Steven's articles have been published in many high-standing newspapers and she has published several books. If you wish to buy Samantha's books about metaphysics click here
http://www.insomniacpress.com/author.php?id=110
You can meet Samantha Stevens at http://www.psychicrealm.com where she works as a professional psychic. You can also read more of her articles at http://www.newagenotebook.com

Basic Palmistry Part I

Palmistry is an ancient art and one that has many systems of interpretation. It is also an intuitive art that is easily learned just by learning a few basics about the symbolism that is represented by the lines that run across the palm, the mounts (or fleshy parts) of the palm and the structure of fingers.

In some systems, the right hand represents who you are today and the left hand, everything that you were born with when you came into this world. For "palmistry on the run" though it is best to read the hand that the person writes with, as that would be considered to be dominant hand.

In palmistry, the hand as a whole is divided into three different sections. The Fingers represent the mind and the higher self. The middle of the palm represents day-to-day life and the conscious mind. The lower half of the hand represents primal instincts, health and basic drives of the subconscious. Palmistry is all about proportion, symmetry and distortions of what would be considered to be a perfectly formed hand.

You can tell a lot about a person by looking at their thumb and fingers. The thumb has three phalanges. Its tip represents will power. A club shaped thumb indicates criminal tendency. Pointed or long tips indicate creativity and intelligence. The middle phalange represents logic. The longer the phalange, the more efficient and strategic the person. The fleshy part at the base of the thumb is called the Mount of Venus, which represents empathy, emotion, grace and compassion. The fatter and fleshier this part of the hand is, the more sensitive and compassionate the individual.

The index finger correlates to the planet Jupiter and indicates good fortune and career. The middle finger is related to Saturn and limitations and restrictions in life. The ring finger is called the Apollo. It relates to self-expression and intelligence. The pinky finger belongs to the planet Mercury, which is about your ability to communicate with others and sustain relationships. The longer and straighter the finger, the more good fortune a person can expect to have in these areas. All these fingers have their own mounts, which are located on the palm right below each one. The more developed or pronounced these fleshy mounds are beneath the finger, the more developed that trait is in a person.

The Mount of Jupiter below the index fingers represents ambition, leadership, religion, honor and love of nature.

The Mount of Saturn below the middle finger represents sanity, sobriety, wisdom, introversion and karmic events such as good or bad luck.

The Mount of Apollo below the ring represents confidence, creativity, impulsiveness and extroversion.

The Mount of Mercury below your little finger has to do with ability to sell yourself, communication, quickness, connection as well as writing and mathematical abilities. Sometimes the Mount of Mercury will be feathered with short vertical lines that are called Lines of Affection. These sometimes indicate the number of deep emotional connections or significant relationships in a person's life.

Right below the Mount of Mercury (below the little finger there are two more mounts. About half way down is the Mount of Upper Mars, which reflects your temperament: if this mound is fleshy then the person tends to be more courageous or war-like. Below that, near the base of the hand is the Mount of Luna (also known as the Mount of the Moon). This mound reflects such qualities as generosity, warmth and imagination. If it is over pronounced it can indicate a tendency to madness.

Below the Mount of Jupiter (follow the index finger downwards) lies the Lower Mars, which deals with aggression, hostility and capacity for evil. The center of the palm is called the Plane of Mars. If the plane has a dip in it you are calm, cool and collected. If it is raised or flat you are more likely to display a bad temper.

The Heart Line cuts laterally across the upper palm between the mounts of Jupiter and Mercury. Loops, bubbles, cuts and breaks in this line indicate relationships and episodes occurring in a person's love life.

The Head Line is normally positioned and can cut across the palm or curve downward. It is an indicator of intelligence and mental health. An optimum Head line runs straight, is deep and has a long extension almost to the other side of the palm. This more the headline curves downward towards the list, the less control the individual may have over his or her emotions.

The Life Line usually circles the thumb and begins under the mount of Jupiter and extends to the wrist. It encircles the Mount of Lower Mars and Venus and in most cases ends at the base of the hand. This line indicates major life events as well as the health of the subject. The longer this line is, the longer the individual will live.

The fourth main lie on the palm is called the Line of Fate (also known as the Line of Faith. This line runs vertically from the middle of the base of the palm and up towards the middle finger. It is an indicator of material and financial strength. The deeper, stronger and less broken the line, the more likely the person is likely to be successful. It also indicates a serious, business like nature.

The line of Apollo is a vertical line that is found on the upper part of the Mount of the Moon. It has been called the line of the Sun, and the line of Brilliancy, and to it has been ascribed the gift of great artistic talents, wealth and fame. Not every hand possesses this line.

The line of Mercury has been variously called the line of Health or the line of Liver. It is found either on Mount of Mercury or the Plain of Mars. If there is no line you are probably blessed with excellent health. Strong markings in this area indicate troubles with health.

There are many Minor Lines that don't appear in every hand but one of the best known is the Girdle of Venus that starts between the Mounts of Jupiter and Saturn and ends around the little finger. This line looks like a loop circling three of your four fingers and its presence is supposed to indicate beauty and luck in romance. The hand is filled with all kinds of markings, lines, feathers, stars, and crosses --each with particular meanings.

As a rule of thumb (no pun intended) any time you find a marking on a mound, it usually indicates that something special is going on in that department of your life. Next month’s New Age Notebook will go into more detail about the meanings of these symbols in the hand.

Bad Days and Bad Timing

Have you ever noticed how family members always misbehave at the most inappropriate moments? Well, let me tell you, it's not just the little ones that spout off with remarks that make you want to don a cloak of invisibility.

My son was just having one of those days. You know those days - when everything goes wrong and you just wish you would've stayed in bed. We all have those days. Some of us have them more often than others.

He knew what kind of day it was going to be once he spilled his morning coffee. As the hot brew dribbled down his shirt, he bent to stop its travels by reaching for the dish towel on the counter. As luck would have it, his elbow nudged the pot knocking it to the floor, creating even more of a mess. Barely awake, he was already frustrated.

Unfortunately, bad days are more abundant than good in our household. It would be a miracle of great proportions if all of our family members could actually be in a good mood at the same time. That would go down in the history books for sure. Well, back to the bad day.

As time progressed, things didn't get any better. Little petty annoyances continued. He made a sandwich, tripped over the cat, lost the sandwich. The cat found it. I decided to start dinner a little early. I had a taste for spaghetti. Just after adding the sauce, my son decided to stir the spaghetti, which was a bad idea. Sauce splashed all over his shirt.

After tearing off the shirt, throwing it in the laundry and putting another one on, he decided to stir the spaghetti once again. If you're wondering why, I have no clue. But lo and behold, once again sauce splashed on the clean shirt. Needless to say, by this time, he was rather hot under the collar. I don't know why he just didn't stay away from the spaghetti.

The frustration level really peaked when he went to the bathroom and his cell phone fell into the toilet. Yes, it was definetly one of those days. After thoroughly towel drying, then another ten minutes with the hair dryer, there was still no dial tone. The phone remained damp and lifeless.

Back out to the kitchen he went to make another cup of coffee to drink rather than spill. My poor son sat there with his head in his hands staring at the phone. I felt like I should say something positive - something I knew he wouldn't want to hear anyway, so I did the sensible thing and said nothing instead. I tried to mind my own business in a nonchalant way so I busied myself with straightening the house.

After a few minutes, my son finished his cup of coffee, placed the cup in the sink and went to take a shower. The phone rang - the house phone, that is. Another minor irritation. I knocked on the bathroom door. The water abruptly went silent. "Huh?" came the reply. "I'm sorry to disturb you but that was your work on the phone. They need you to come in early," I said as gingerly as possible. "Great," was all I heard before the water turned back on.

Being rushed to work earlier than had been expected only served as more fuel for an already raging temperament. With one shoe on and one off, the stress continued to mount. The phone rang at the same time that someone began knocking on the door. As I headed toward the phone, I heard my usually polite son yell, "Who the f--- is it?!" Then I heard the words, "Is your mother home?" I rounded the corner only to come face to face with my landlord of all people.

Immediately my face went into polite apologetic mode. Mindlessly, the words poured forth. "I'm terribly sorry. It's just been one of those days." He looked at me with what I thought was the hint of a grin seeping from one corner of his mouth. "I just brought some stuff for the drain in the bathroom sink," he said. "Oh, thank you," I replied, embarrassed smile still firmly planted on my face. Glancing over his shoulder at my son, I gave him a look quite different from the polite face meant for my landlord. My son responded with a shrug of his shoulders.

I am quite capable of embarrassing myself. I don't know why my family members have to insist on doing it for me. But I guess that's what family is for. Even when I'm not the one having one of those days, I end up feeling like I would have been better off just staying in bed.

Darlene Zagata is a freelance writer and columnist for the print publication Moon Shadows Magazine. She is also the author of "Aftertaste: A Collection of Poems" and "The Choosing." Her work has been published extensively both online and in print. For more information visit her website at http://darlenezagata.tripod.com or contact Darlene at darzagata@yahoo.com

Babel vs. the PC

Imagine a time when mankind was young. Migration led many to the land of Shinar. It was during that time, that man came together and decided to build not only a city but a tower that would reach the heavens. Seeing the structure, the Lord was not very pleased. In fact, He knew what trouble this could lead to, so He confused mankind with different languages and scattered them across the face of the earth. Thus, is the story of Babel. (Babylon, the remains of an ancient city, is now located in Iraq.)

Eerily, times of a rich, historical past parallel today's society. The familiarity to modern civilization is uncanny. In the biblical tale of the tower of Babel, men came together with one language and one common goal: the desire to control the land and all that lay beneath the tower. Making the impossible - possible to Human nature.

The construction of the tower of Babel tells a story of man and its amorous lust for greed and power. To build such a massive structure that led directly to the heavens, what a marvel it must have been. Though the tale is simple, its meaning is vast. Herein lies the virtue of society itself. With the industrialized world at its peak and infinite computerized technological advances, we have reached the brink of Babel. In this day and age, mankind has the means to communicate to the far outreaches of all the earth. With mere strokes upon a keyboard, we can speak with persons of different languages, cultures, race, religion and region. There are no boundaries to the human initiative.

What began as an oversized "brain" made of wires, metal and countless conductor boards, has evolved into the modern PC. We have at last designed the perfect mechanism to do our bidding. It thinks for us, supplies and stores information, and now with more and more technology, we can even speak to other peoples by means of a computer translator. The small screen that sits atop our office counters, our workbenches and our personal desks at home has become the brainchild of society's modernization, and has revolutionized the way we do and encounter most things.

Although it is just a machine, it has served a wonderful purpose. Through the use of computer equipment, time is no longer a challenge. Messages, tests and reports can come back to us in a matter of seconds. Physicians, technologists, mechanics, archeologists, biologists, and so many other career paths have endless uses for this manmade tool. It has rewarded us richly with its knowledge, as we have enriched it with ours.

But, the question still remains: At what point does the tower of Babel (figuratively speaking) collapse? When has humankind reached its boundaries and at what interval will all be lost because of modern technology? The world is our oyster - but what we must never forget is that the pearl of an oyster is created by disease. Just a thought to ponder.

C. Bailey-Lloyd

aka. LadyCamelot

Public Relations' Director &
Staff Writer for Holistic Junction - Your Source for information on Healing Arts Schools

Article,s Blog

Minggu, 03 Februari 2008

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Becoming A Digital Artist On A Budget

Basic Palmistry Part II

Basic Palmistry Part I

Bad Days and Bad Timing

Babel vs. the PC

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