Discussion explaining to people that they should stock up on craft supplies, sewing and quilting supplies so that they will have materials on hand to make their own clothes, blankets, household useful items. During the coming depression you are not going to be able to go out and buy many items. But if you have crafting supplies already on hand, then you can make your own items. Some items I would have on hand: Fabric (material) thread needles sewing machine batting scissors measuring tape or yard stick buttons elastic zippers snaps cutting mat rotary cutter bias tape ribbon yarn knitting needles glue glue sticks glue gun wood tools nails screws bolts paint stain pillow stuffing paint brushes crochet thread patterns for men, women and children in your family’s sizes iron or press If you folks have any other tips or items, please share them in the comments section
I recall reading an article in the UK press about the revenge taken by a “woman scorned”. Her response to her husband’s affair was very dramatic to say the least; she cut the legs and arms off all of his suits and then set about distributing the contents of his celebrated wine cellar around the village in which they lived – one or two bottles on each and every doorstep, together with their morning milk delivery! Quite inventive. And then I’m sure we all read about the case of a certain man whose furious wife decided that cutting legs off suits simply wasn’t enough and took a knife to his manhood instead. I subsequently read that he turned this to his advantage by becoming a porn star; Apparently so many people wanted to see his “wotsit”, he not only had it sewn back on again, he had a couple of inches added aswell!
This doesn’t appear to be an uncommon occurrence; just Google “cut off his willy” and there are numerous references to this form of revenge. In fact I did hear that some ladies have taken this one step further, and attached their partners’ manhood to helium balloons so as to ensure that they would not be able to have them sewn back on again. Ouch!
What is the message being conveyed? Is the aim simply to make sure that they won’t be able to do THAT again? Or “you hurt me and so I’ll hurt you”, in the spirit of “an eye for an eye and a tooth for a tooth”? Or is it to expose their actions to the world at large, to embarrass them just as you feel you have been embarrassed? Is it simply a way of lashing out? All of the above are intertwined, I’m sure.
Not everyone responds in such a dramatic manner. Have you watched the film “the women”? It’s an intriguing film, with Meg Ryan (in the most recent version) playing the housewife who thinks everything is running along quite smoothly….until she discovers her husband’s dalliance with the perfume girl in their local upscale store. This film depicts every type of woman, all ages, shapes, sizes and mentalities – and each has their own take on how the husband should be dealt with. The mother’s is the voice of reason (and experience) recommending a stiff upper lip combined with a period of playing hard to get, and letting him know what he is missing. Sensible woman – this approach was working rather well, until friends added their opinions into the mix!
But, how do you control your emotions, and turn a blind eye, when your heart is breaking? And how do you know if your partner is just having a minor dalliance or if they have really fallen in love? It’s very difficult, if not impossible, to be logical when your emotions are involved. Logic and emotions are like “oil and water” and rarely do they mix well in these circumstances. In fact whenever you are confronted with a situation perceived as a threat (and this type of circumstance definitely falls into that category) your higher brain functions are effectively cut off, ensuring that you cannot think logically. One has to step back and calm down before your logical brain can re-engage. Your emotions definitely need to be managed in such circumstances. And hypnosis can be invaluable here.
Whether it’s best to lash out or to turn a blind eye is a matter of personal opinion. Either way, there’s a lot you can do to help yourself to think logically and deal with an undesirable situation in the most effective manner possible. And if it does end in a permanent rift, it’s massively important to be your own best friend and to make it as easy as possible for you to move on. There is an art to moving on after a broken relationship, but you can learn it, and apply it. Hypnosis is extremely useful in all this as in itself it is a state of relaxation, and allows you to take a step back and think logically; you can rebuild your confidence and see things from a different angle with a few well placed suggestions…and prepare yourself to attract a better partner into your life.
Learn how to sew the body of a tote bag with expert tips and advice in this free how-to video on making your own tote bag. Expert: Terri Turco Bio: Terri Turco is a clothing designer, interior decorator, consummate baker, and lifestyle diva. Filmmaker: Louis Nathan
Behavioral Symptoms To Watch Out For In Your child
Autism is a complex issue and needs to be handled with the utmost care and understanding. If you find that your child has symptoms of autism, this will pose a challenge to you, and you may find that your child is not behaving like other children, in which case you will need to go to your family doctor so that he can assess the child and if he feels the need, he will refer you to specialists in the field who will be able to diagnose and treat your child.
Signs Of Autism That You Need To Be Aware Of
One of the earliest signs of autism is the fact that the child does not interact socially and is incapable of expressing emotions normally – the child also does not have a feeling of closeness with family and friends as normal children do. Children with autism shy away from bonding or touching other children.
Another sign that you need to be aware of is a communication problem especially with their same age group. Sometimes they are unable to speak and only sounds emanate from them and they gesture to others. There are certain cases where the child talks but mostly they repeat words that they hear and are unable to talk on their own – also if they do speak, it is in a monotonous manner and well below their own age group.
You will need to assess the effect of sensory stimulation on your child. Sometimes children get nervous and agitated at sounds, and at other times they may have a fixation on a certain sound or light for a length of time. It is necessary to consult a pediatrician if your child displays any of these signs.
There are certain rituals that a child with autism may do on a regular basis. If this is not done, the child may be greatly agitated – for instance a child may only eat a particular type of food and desire to wear only certain type of clothes, and if this is not adhered to, will get into a temper and behave in an extremely agitated manner.
It is important to note that if your child displays any of these symptoms, you should consult your doctor who will make an analysis, and advise you as to how you need to handle the situation. If he finds it necessary, he will refer you to a specialist in the field who will be able to make a more detailed analysis, and put your child on to treatment immediately, so that you will be able to give your child the correct treatment which will enable him to live a better life.
Learn how to start sewing and making the body of a tote bag with expert tips in this free how-to video on making your own tote bag. Expert: Terri Turco Bio: Terri Turco is a clothing designer, interior decorator, consummate baker, and lifestyle diva. Filmmaker: Louis Nathan
The recession isn’t going to get any better before it gets worse. I hope you are the type of person that can read the economy if even just a little bit.
People I know are losing their jobs and I just think to myself, wow, this is really happening. People are facing worse econimic times then they ever have before.
This is the reason why I write this for you today. Truth is, I feel a little guilty. I’ve been working from home for a long time and I make very good money. People like me don’t really feel the pinch of the recession because we are so diversified. So basically, if one or two of my ventures slow down or stop completely, its ok. I have 40 other business ventures to back me up not to metion I’m constantly searching for new opportunities.
Recession or no recession, there are always opportunities. So you need to ask yourself this question: Do I have what it takes to become a Millionaire?
If you answered yes, then read on.
Working at home is wonderful because it allows you to be with your family more often than not. Most people are completely perplexed by how we work at home…I mean, where do we get our ideas to make money…and how do we make money from our ideas?
For starters, you can ask your friends what they are into or what the new trends are. You can look at the newspaper and magazines. The internet is always my first choice.
Find a few ideas that you think you would enjoy working on. Just keep in mind that your idea should also be worthy of other people’s interests as well.
You can purchase a few ebooks online and get your creative juices flowing. There are all too many ebooks that give step by step instructions on how to make money online.
Here are some other ideas to get you pointed in the right direction:
You can do online marketing for local business. Data entry jobs is tough but if you like that sort of thing…go for it. You can create your own ebook. No kidding.
Lets talk about that for a second. If you have knowledge about a certain subject, you should put it in writing and sell it online…it’s almost that easy.
You can become a ghost writer and get paid to do freelance work. Website design is still popluar as well.
If you like kids, why not explore what kinds of things you can do to make money that involves kids toys or clothes or something else like that.
You should always go with your passion if it is profitable. Drop it like its a hot potato if youcan’t make any money from it.
You can find a million websites that tell you how to make money online. I know, I’ve persoanlly bought a boat load of software and most of it didn’t work. I hope you don’t waste your money like I did.
Although I’ve been brief and very general, there is a method here. The method is simply finding out if this is really what you want to do.
If you are interested in working at home then I’m sure you’ll find my other articles and learn much more.
Make your own flared skirt! Learn how to sew a flared miniskirt and cut out a pattern in this free video covering clothing and fashion design. Expert: Candi Cane-Canncel Contact: www.candiland.com Bio: Candi Cane-Canncel has been featured on Craft Television shows on The DIY Network, HGTV, as well as tlc’s “Faking It”. Filmmaker: Louis Nathan
Most of you know that the Amazon River is by far the largest in the world, with more fresh water discharge than the next six largest rivers combined, but to appreciate that volume of water, you should join us going upstream in Dawn on the Amazon.
Tucked up tight to shore in the slack current at three quarter throttle, we watch life on the river unfold as it has for centuries, with the native inhabitants living a subsistence lifestyle in harmony with their environment.
We see most people still live like their ancestors, in thatch roof houses built on stilts to stay above the flood, with no doors or windows, and frequently with no walls, with strips of soft bark for floors. A machete, a bucket, and a few pots and pans are their only manufactured implements.
Men and women work together tending a patch of yucca, a small grove of banana trees, with a few lemon, lime, orange, papaya, mango, cashew, or cocoa, and other exotically delicious jungle fruit that most of you have probably never heard of let alone tasted, such as zapote, mamey, ubilla, guaba, shimbillo, macambo, copoazu, caimito and camu camu.
The typical mode of transportation is still the dugout canoe, and nearly always a fisherman is in sight working his net, or an individual or family are canoeing. Women wash clothes in the river, carry water in buckets to their houses, cook over open fires, and nurse babies. Children run up and down the bank waving and yelling at us.
My two favorite guides, Edson and Beto, hurry back to report to our guests that our most important geographical landmark, the confluence of the Maranon and Ucayali Rivers is just around the bend. With cameras in hand, everyone moves to the bow of the boat to record our passing through the beginning of the majestic Amazon River. Our course is the Ucayali fork, to the left going upstream. The north bank of the Ucayali River is the southern boundary of Pacaya Samiria National Reserve (PSNR).
It is difficult to comprehend that the reserve is larger than some countries without cruising to the far, remote entrance, the Pacaya River. After miles of jungle go by, interspersed with rice planted in the flood plains and peanuts planted in the sandy soil uphill from the rice, and we pass many boats and villages, eventually over five million acres begins to take on meaning.
When Dawn on the Amazon turns up the Pacaya River we enter one of the great wetland environments on earth. Within ten minutes it is like being in another world. We see giant Paiche near the opening to a lake. Paiche are the largest freshwater fish with scales. They are unusual for their size and because they have lungs. It is common to find them two meters long and weighing 125 kilos when they surface to breath.
Edson and Beto rush to 84 year old ‘Abuelita’ Eileen, pointing to make sure she sees the cloud of parakeets, I guess there are a hundred, followed moments later by eight to ten large parrots. Before we left Iquitos Eileen told us she hoped to see parrots in the wild. She saw a lifetime worth of parrots along the Pacaya River.
When we came through this stretch of river a month ago we saw fifty sloth, this time only one; curious the ebb and flow of wildlife. We know birds and monkeys easily move to a new tree full of ripe fruit, but it is hard to imagine sloth moving so slowly through the jungle to a new food source.
Hawks are hunting. Horned Screamers honk their loud, liquid call, mixed flocks of Snowy and Great Egrets, cormorants, ducks, and herons, fly or fish close to the boat as we glide upstream. But our unique adventure in PSNR is not about seeing the seven species of monkeys, or the hundred species of birds, nor several dozen pink dolphins, or the iguanas, caimans, capybara, or sloth. We expect to observe them when we enter the reserve. Our adventure is with the most interesting and dangerous primate of all, Homo sapiens.
The ranger in charge of the second check point, Jose, immediately informs us there is an emergency. Six paiche poachers have been spotted hidden away at a lake twenty minutes upstream. With only four rangers in the area, he asks for our assistance. A few years ago the reputations of everyone in the village of Bretana were tarnished when paiche poachers from that village murdered three rangers who tried to confiscate their nets and canoes. Because of that crime, the village is considered dangerous and our boats never stop at Bretana.
Jose wants me to go with them, but with six guests on board I believe my first responsibility is to them. I ask Beto if he would go with the rangers and take our VHF hand-held radio to maintain contact with Dawn on the Amazon. He reluctantly agrees, but is not pleased with these unexpected events. He knows the story of the murdered rangers as well as I do.
Jose has a plan. The poachers have set up camp next to a small stream connecting the largest lake in PSNR to the Yarina River. That stream is too small for Dawn on the Amazon III so we tow the ranger’s boats behind us, and when we come to the stream the rangers and Beto paddle up the stream to the camp. The poachers hear our boat go past and believe they are safe.
We go on to block the only possible escape route, and if necessary to ram their boats and prevent their escape however we can. Beto takes the hand-held radio to maintain communication and one of our cameras to record the evidence.
Beto tells the story: “It was difficult to get through the stream because it was choked with aquatic vegetation. We had to push pole through the water grass, and get out pushing the canoes and Jon boat. It took over an hour to get to the camp. I noticed buzzards pecking at a pile of fish heads and carcasses.
“I saw the infractories, packing their gear to escape. Jose jumped out of the boat to confront them. I heard the conversation get louder and louder. The leader said they were only trying to have a system to survive. Jose argued that it is easy to survive without poaching. The other infractories whispered suspiciously while getting their machetes.
“The rest of the rangers saw the threat and sprang out of the boats as one of the poachers attacked Jose with a machete, aiming a killing blow to the back of his neck. Someone shouted a warning and Jose spun around just in time to grab the attempted murderer’s wrist.
“As they fought for the machete, the poacher screamed, ‘Here we will kill each other.’ Jose wrestled the machete away and threw it in the water. The other rangers formed a circle around Jose and the attempted murderer on the ground fighting.
“The other poachers were closing in threatening with their machetes when I shouted into the radio, ‘Officina, officina, base, base, we have trouble. Send in the other rangers, send help, send help, over.’
“Everyone heard the reply, ‘Help is on the way. Rangers on the way. Keep us informed, over.’ That was all it took to take the fight out of the poachers. They laid down their machetes. That is when I radioed back, ‘It is over. We are OK. Negotiations have begun, no reinforcements necessary, over.’
“I could not understand these negotiations. The infractories always spoke as if they had done no wrong, that we were wrong to bother them. The man who spotted the infractories and informed Jose of their location works for the rangers but lives in the village.
The leader of the infractories shook his finger at him as he threatened, ‘You are the person who let them know we are here! Our trouble is your fault! Make sure I do not see you tomorrow…’
“They were allowed to keep their nets, canoes, spears, and half of the paiche. They had eight large turtles and four medium size turtles in a bag. Jose ordered them to release the turtles. They refused. They argued that since they were allowed to keep half the paiche, they should be allowed to keep half of turtles. After much arguing, all of the turtles were released.
“They were absolutely positive that they should be allowed to stay and fish like honest fishermen. They argued with Jose for an hour, but Jose was insistent that they leave. They refused to go.
“Jose explained that every ranger in the reserve has been notified by radio of their activities and they would be followed and monitored the entire fifty kilometers to the entrance. Still they argued so forcefully to stay that Jose became suspicious and a search was conducted around the perimeter of the camp.
“One of the rangers discovered a freshly killed, fifty kilo paiche covered with leaves. They had the nerve to argue that half of that fish should also be theirs, but even Jose’s patience was running out, and he ordered them to leave immediately.
“As they started paddling downstream, the leader turned and threatened, ‘This is not the end of it. It will not stay like this.’ Jose replied with a threat of his own, ‘I can not believe you would be stupid enough to cause more trouble now that every ranger knows your name, where you and your family live, and what you have done.’”
It is quite possible that Beto’s quick thinking with our VHF radio saved the lives of all the rangers, as well as his own. The rangers rewarded him with a big slab of the fresh paiche. He was kind enough to share with all on board Dawn on the Amazon III. We all agreed that the paiche made some of the best ceviche we have ever eaten, and no one ever ate better fish than the fresh fillets of paiche fried in palm oil.
I have been thinking about men willing to kill or be killed for a fish, and thinking about a system of punishment that lets an attempted murderer go free. I remember near Mayo, Florida, around thirty-five years ago, three game wardens were murdered on an old logging road in the swamp. Many of the mothers of deer hunters in town feared that the murderers might be their sons.
I have personally known poachers in Indiana. The poachers I know are never motivated by survival. Most often it is wildness, a belief that the law does not apply to them, and in some instances, laziness. What is the easiest, fastest way to put meat on the table? Should our paiche poachers be allowed to keep half of their catch? Should they keep their spears, nets, and canoes? These are hard questions to ponder as we continue our journey.
We are escorted upstream by a pod of pink river dolphin. They are protected by legend and custom. The people of the river believe pink dolphins have supernatural powers and it is the worst kind of luck to harm one. They swim at will without fear of poachers.
At the third ranger station we learn that no one has visited since we signed the log book two months ago. This wilderness between the second and third ranger stations seems to be Dawn on the Amazon’s private reserve. It is wonderful to have the opportunity to enjoy this nature experience and is more marvelous still if you know how to value it.
Now if we can just catch the poacher who cut down the Big Leaf Mahogany…
Climate control storage has become extremely popular over the years. Since the 1970s individuals have used self storage companies to store valuable items when room got scarce at home. Storage units are also useful during moves when there might be a short period of time between the closing of a home and the move in date for another home. The only downside to storage units, especially storage units that will be used for a long period of time is that items often deteriorate when exposed to the weather.
Many people who rent storage units do not realize that the temperature in their storage units will be dependent upon the outside weather condition. On summer days when the temperature reaches 90 degrees the average storage facility will end up being 80 degrees at best. During humid weather a storage unit can become stifling and cause extreme damage to items in storage. Many people who have stored valuable clothing, wines, and other items in traditional storage have gotten a rude awakening when they went to retrieve their items from storage. Before throwing your items into a storage unit take the time to find out which of your belongings will benefit from climate controlled storage.
First of all, when you are trying to determine which of your belongings will benefit from climate controlled storage stop and think about the weather condition of the area you live in. There are some people, not many, who might not need to invest in climate controlled storage. First of all, do you live in an area like Louisiana that is known for high levels of humidity? If so, you definitely need to consider climate controlled storage units. High levels of humidity will warp high quality furniture leading to cracking and serious damage. Documents that are stored in humid areas can degrade rapidly losing color and overtime mildew and mold will begin to grow on clothing and furniture that is in storage. Worst, insects breed rapidly in warm, damp areas and your storage facility could quickly become a nest of insects of every kind.
Temperature also plays an important factor in deciding whether or not to invest in climate control storage for your items. If you live in areas that are extremely cold then watch out for condensation that could lead to mildew and mold in damp belongings. Extreme heat is just as bad since this can lead to the permanent damage and destruction of computer disks, DVDs, CDs, and more. Many people who store their collections in extreme heat are shocked and disappointed when they discover that their entire collection has been completely destroyed after a few days in a storage unit subjected to 100 degree heat.
Climate controlled storage units are prefect for a variety of items be they valuable or made of high quality materials. There are some items that belong in climate control that most people would not realize need special care. Mattresses are one item that should be carefully stored in climate controlled storage units. Mattresses can rapidly mold and mildew when left exposed to the elements and with many fine mattresses costing more than $200.00 waste is not recommended.
Good clothing should never be stored in anything less than climate controlled storage units. Fine linens such as silk and velvet are especially vulnerable to deterioration caused by the weather. Heat can lead to discoloration while humidity and cold can cause moisture which will lead to molding and mildewing. Even if mold and mildew do not occur insects will often choose to nest in these fine materials making them dangerous to wear safely.
Musical instruments should never be stored in traditional storage units. Without climate control pianos and violin strings will begin to discolor and will often warp or break. The wood used to create these instruments will also start to warp, crack, and break. Thousands of dollars have been lost or wasted when valuable instruments have been ruined because of extreme weather.
Books and paperwork are also items that should always be stored in climate control storage units. Many people believe that books and documents will store anywhere but this is completely untrue. Without climate control documents will start to discolor making it difficult to read their text and puzzle out their meaning. This can be extremely frustrating when owners of book collections go to look for a favorite volume only to discover it has been ruined.
It is important that individuals looking into storage remember that climate control units are not just needed for fine china, antiques, and leather. Climate control storage is necessary to preserve important paperwork, good clothes, furniture, and really anything you own that is of any value.
Simply Self Storage
diycouture – helping 21st century people to make their own clothes
Make your own baby bibs! Learn how to cut the fabric pieces for a baby bib in this free sewing video. Expert: Gretchen Soares Contact: www.butterfly-boutique.org Bio: Gretchen Soares is the co-owner of Bufferfly Boutique, which specializes in soft goods such as quilts, clothing and wearable art. Filmmaker: Patrick Eaves
It seems as if everybody else is doing it – shopping online, that is. There’s the co-worker who bought all their Christmas gifts online without ever setting foot in the crowded local mall. Or the friend who won a bundle of like-new, brand-name baby clothes on eBay. Or your son’s college roommate, who paid hundreds of dollars less than your son did for his college textbooks, simply because he ordered them online rather than from the University bookstore.
If you’ve been meaning to learn to shop online – whether at an online retailer like Amazon.com or an auction site such as eBay – it’s time to quit procrastinating, conquer your fear and dive into the waters of cyberspace. You’re not only missing out on good deals, convenience, and worldwide product selection, you’re actually losing money.
1) Good deals: With the growing popularity of price-comparison websites, it’s easier than ever to find a low price on a product you want. I just typed “iPod Nano 8GB MP3 player” into one of these specialized Search Engines, and got 33 results with prices ranging from $229.99 to $292.75 – that’s a $62.76 price difference. The search engine also listed available rebates and factored in shipping costs.
2) Convenience: Not much explanation needed here – you can shop from home at 3 in the morning while wearing your pajamas. You can shop from work during your lunch break. You can shop from the hotel room when you’re stuck overnight in the middle of nowhere. And you don’t have to fight crowds, prowl the parking lot in search of a place to park, or drag screaming kids around.
3) Product Selection: When you shop online, you’re not limited to the stores within driving distance or even the stores you’re familiar with. You can shop just as easily from a home-based artisan as from an exclusive upscale department store like Saks Fifth Avenue.
Odds are, though, that you already know about deals, and convenience, and selection – so why haven’t you started shopping?
Here are two additional reasons that may encourage you to start.
4) Shopping Online is Safer than Shopping Offline: A survey from Paypal UK published in November 2006 found that you’re much more likely to be a victim of physical theft in your home town than to suffer fraud in the digital world.
More than a third of respondents (35%) had been victims of property theft, but only 15% of UK adults surveyed had been victims of online fraud. Similarly, around 71% of Brits know someone who has had their wallet or purse stolen but only 29% know a victim of online fraud.
And despite rumors to the contrary, paying with a credit card at a reputable website is virtually risk-free if you follow commonsense safety precautions. Online merchants know the importance of secure payment systems, and US shoppers are protected by the Fair Credit Billing Act. (You can dispute charges under this law, and even if your credit card is used fraudulently, you generally would be held liable only for the first $50 in charges.) Other payment processors such as Paypal offer their own fraud protection.
It’s at least as safe to buy online as it is to hand your credit card to the waiter at the restaurant, who whisks it out of your sight for several minutes!
5) NOT Shopping Online Can Cost You Money: Besides the savings to be gained by comparing prices, savvy online shoppers have discovered ways to actually get paid to shop. There’s an entire industry devoted to educating online shoppers how to get cash back for purchases, how to earn money or points for shopping and how to get offers for free and sometimes very valuable products online.
Most of these cash-earning, money-making shopping strategies are cumulative – small rebates or points earned add up over time to hefty bonus checks or free gift cards. (I have a $50 gift card in my purse from Pier One Imports that I got absolutely free, and I’ll send for another $100 gift card as soon as I decide whether to get it from Target or Home Depot.)
There’s no better time than today to educate yourself about shopping online – when you’re not in a hurry, can start small, and don’t need to buy ten gazillion presents by next Sunday.