So This Is Christmas

Merry Christmas is such an infectious feeling I like to feel that way all year around.

So if you are visiting just before Christmas, just after Christmas or even here on Christmas day I am sure you will find something of interest for you and in the spirit of Christmas.

It may be said that Christmas is no longer a celebration but this must be spoken by people that have never had trouble closing their eyes on Christmas Eve in an expectation of what maybe left for them on the carpet under the tree.

I continue to look forward to the surprise on my Grandchild's faces to this day at Christmas events.

Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas - Merry Christmas

Thursday, July 2, 2009

The Automobile Industry And Environmentalists Must Use Their Sustaining Spirit In The Future

By Mandy Ziegler

Sustaining is a spiritual calling for many of us. Creating partnerships between human beings, the environment, our society and our planet is the essential purpose of the sustaining spirit. It is his lifes work. A spiritual archetype can be thought of as an ideal type. It is an expression of our spiritual voice. It gives you direction and meaning to your life.

Recently President Obama announced new tough federal regulations to cut automobile greenhouse gas emissions from cars and light trucks in order to reduce Americas dependence on foreign oil and raise fuel-efficiency standards to 35.5 miles per gallon by 2016. Amazingly, auto industry officials, environmentalists, union workers and politicians seem to welcome the new change but for different reasons.

Environmentalists applaud the tightening of emissions and fuel economy standards after decades of government delay and industry opposition. On the other side, the ruling provides auto makers with a single national efficiency standard and a reasonable timeline they need to meet production schedules. But can these diverse, adversarial groups work together to reach their goals within these new complex set of rules after years of conflict? Can a profitable, new form of transportation be produced and keep our atmosphere cleaner at the same time?

What kind of relationship would be most effective to face these concerns when the stakes are so high, the conflicts are serious and the outcome is uncertain? The traditional relationship where one group or person has the power over the other is not an option. The alternative is a partnering relationship where responses to changes are creative and practical. The partnering quality of the sustaining spirit is not about team building. It reaches beneath every economic, political, and social process to call people to learn what it means to be a partner. If the auto industry and environmental sector can learn to listen to the calling of their sustaining spirit, President Obamas initiative will have hope.

The sustaining spirit establishes partnering by way of three avenues intersecting. The first, intentioning, is creating purpose driven actions. In order for partnering to occur, both sides must have the same intentions. Too often human behavior is unintentional. Cultures often act from the memories of the past rather than towards the possibilities of the future. The auto industry fell apart economically because the framework of their social biography disintegrated, leaving them directionless. The lifelong job created by the innovation of the future disappeared. The auto industry embraced a social biography that no longer worked. A partnering relationship, including intentioning, between the auto industry and the environmentalists must start if we are going to move towards a sustainable and prosperous future.

Parity is the second characteristic of partnering expressed by the sustaining spirit. Parity is where partners recognize that each offers to the other something of value. This is crucial to the partnering relationship. The environmental group and the automobile group must recognize that each has valuable attributes necessary to reach an agreeable solution. This does not mean sameness. The sustaining spirit calls for equivalency but difference.

The third characteristic is learning. Partnering happens in a mutual and reciprocal learning environment. Reciprocal learning between nature, the human mind, modern technology, and all living things is necessary for partnering to succeed. Both groups must commit to learning from each other. Reciprocity is demanded by the sustaining spirit. Will each group be able to create new ideas and go about their daily lives giving strength to each other while receiving it back? The sustaining spirit says, Yes!

Changes in the automobile industry and in the environmental industry depend upon a thorough analysis of conventional and cultural beliefs. It will be essential to give up certain habits to reach goals. This task cannot be forced. Difficult inner work is necessary. The sustaining archetype is all about partnering. All of us can learn to partner with each other and with our earth, environmental and automobile enthusiasts alike, so that each of us and all of us are sustained. Without that, we are lost.

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Tips for Buying Wholesale Jewelry

By Ethan O. Tanner

Practically all fashion jewelry is imported, so you should seek a jewelry supplier that gets jewelry on an international basis. A worldwide jewelry allocator will generally have a more reasonable price and a more extensive inventory. The more places the jewelry supplier gets its inventory from, the more promising it is that you will be able to receive the mixture of pieces you anticipate for a good deal. Furthermore, you'll be warranted a resolute flow of contemporary pieces, and your ability to get a hold of the wholesale jewelry that you expect won't be impeded by worldly issues that negatively affect those wholesalers with simply one supply chain.

A good jewelry supplier will offer you the most up to date fashion trends. Unless you're steeped in the world of fashion, you won't be exposed to the nuances of seasonal jewelry trends. A good wholesale jewelry store will do your homework for you, and offer pieces that reflect the latest offerings in jewelry design. You don't want to be stuck with chunky necklaces when fine filigree is in fashion, but you want to make sure you have enough hoop earrings when they hit the fashion runways.

Some standard jewelry types will always sell, and it is important to stock the frequent selling classics. Though it's of value to have a variety of voguish pieces, a good wholesale costume jewelry supplier will in addition carry the classics, such as sterling silver, cubic zirconia, Swarovski crystal, and semi-precious stone jewelry. Unless you dedicate yourself to being fashion forward, more conventional pieces are staples that will sell year-round.

A variety of different types of jewelry will broaden your market, and add more potential buyers. Accessories consist of more than earrings, bracelets, and necklaces, so your wholesale jewelry supplier should carry a wide variety of pieces. Anklets and toe rings are must-haves, but so are body jewelry, cell phone jewelry, hair accessories, key chain charms, and bejeweled belts.

Fundamental considerations for every supplier should include minimums, shipping, and customer satisfaction. When you're browsing wholesale jewelry, find a costume jewelry supplier that has a fair minimum purchase. You may not be able to - or wish to - commit to investing a substantial amount of money in fashion jewelry. An internet wholesale jewelry store, for instance, may only have a fifty-dollar minimum order, which represents an ideal place to start.

Additionally, it's essential that the supplier you decide on has the product on hand, rather than forcing you to wait until they receive their jewelry import. Search for a company that ships on the same business day or by the next business day at the latest. Ultimately, one of the best ways to gauge a wholesale jewelry supplier is by their dedication to customer satisfaction. The supplier should be able to provide you with testimonies, and testify to the importance of customer satisfaction to their job.

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Saving Money With Discount Bali Bras

By Anna Partmente

If you are a seasoned bargain hunter, discount Bali Bras are definitely worth shopping for. Finding great sales is one thing but when you can get a quality product like Bali Bras at a discount, you have struck gold. Most of the Bali Bras are already available at a reasonable price ranging from just under $30 to around $34 depending on the style. But you can find some great savings at the following online locations.

One Hanes Place has a full line of Bali Bras at a great savings. Hanes actually owns the Bali name so you will always find current styles here. You can save about $10 on each bra and special savings promotions will cut your costs even more. Right now the site is offering a buy two get the third one free sale.

Bali Bras will make you feel like a woman again!

On the Just My Size site, which specializes in Plus Sizes and Full Figured women, you can find the Passion for Comfort Under wire which is part of their latest collection. Full busted women can take advantage of the selection of Minimizers at a discount as well.

A nice selection of over 65 different Bali Bras was available at the Bare Necessities site with 20 percent off every day; some had an even bigger discount.

And Amazon. Com is not just for books. Bali Bras are at a discount here and all you need to do is buy two bras to qualify for free shipping. All orders are sent out standard for free with a minimum purchase of $25.

Lingerie Mart is a wholesaler who sells Bali Bras for resale but you can purchase one for just under $20 for personal use. And Bras NYC. Com cuts about $5-$6 from their line of Balis.

And the Denim Express has a smaller selection but they may have one that you have been looking for. They had regular selections and a few discontinued Bali Bras. Ol Champion Outlet discounts Bali products every day and even greater savings can be had on sale.

At American Intimates you can purchase Bali Bras at a 25 to 40 percent savings. They had a nice selection of bras as well as other Bali undergarments. Her Room. Com features "lingerie that we buy for ourselves, " and is offering Bali Bras at 25 percent off and free shipping for a limited time.

Looking for discount Bali bras online will bring up many results.

And if you already know which Bali Bra you would like to order, go directly to Biz Rate. Com and you will find a complete comparison with the place and price of everyone who carries the style bra that you are looking for. Just keep checking online as sales change and not all styles and sizes are available.

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Free Sex And The City Online

By Ryan Tyler

Most of the folks had enjoyed watching the TV series Sex and the City, but its about time you enjoyed it in form of a movie. Yes, it is available over the internet for free, and youll be amazed to see the count of downloads that the movie is getting, on a daily basis.

All those who were kept hooked to the television watching this show are willing to watch the movie as well. But, many cant spend real money out in buying DVDs; forget about even watching it in the multiplexes. The better alternative is to watch sex and the city online or claim a download of it. And, whats more interesting is that you need not compromise on the picture clarity.

Female counterparts would find reasons to watch it, while the male viewers would always find a reason to escape the movie. This is quite evident from the male-female viewing ratio of 1:21. So there is another option where you can watch the movie online. There is a perfect storyline for a movie that runs for two and half hours and its not a story less romantic flick.

The movie has been adopted from the Candec Bushnells novel, though there have a number of changes made to the storyline to fine tune it in a presentable manner that suits the needs of the larger screen.

For those who have already had a glimpse at the relationship movies, this would sound a little disappointing. The ways the characters react are totally unreal and they are very much exaggerated. In many cases, the characters did not jell into the situations nevertheless the overall outcome of the movie is indeed worth watching once for sure. A better script could have made a better acting performance, though it still succeeded in bagging the awards as expected. However, in the minds of many critics, there lays a doubt whether the awards it won were truly to its credit.

Carrie Bradshaw, Samantha Jones, Charlotte York and Miranda Hobbes join hands and make a merry show. Similar to the TV shows, you can expect some romantic moves from the duo as well, accompanied by some good sense of humor, to leave you in fits of laughter.

If your choice of movies includes confused women, who are unaware of whats happening around, then this is your movie. Otherwise, this movie is more of show than substance. Frankly speaking, Sex and the City is a clear target to todays teenage folks.

Above all, you can watch Sex and the City movie online totally free of cost just to refresh yourself and come out of that stressed-up mood and the burden of office workload.

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Titanium Is The Consumers First Choice

By Edward Jacobsen

Need the combination of strength and lightweight properties? Titanium is the answer. That is why the metal is favored in automotive applications. Especially in racing such as motorcycle or boating. Its generally used in high end applications since it can be cost prohibitive.

Another example of the effectiveness of titanium was the first massive use in the SR-71 blackbird aircraft. Since that time the military and commercial aircraft have an abundance of this metal throughout their aircraft.

Titanium is increasingly used in sporting goods equipment such as golf clubs, tennis rackets and bike frames. My favorite driver is made from titanium and it performs the best of any drivers I have used.

The fact that it is hypoallergenic lends itself to everything from frames for your glasses to fine jewelry and unique wedding bands. Glasses in particular are lighter, and more durable. Great qualities to have in any metal.

Even animals are wearing titanium these days. Farriers embrace titanium as the preferred metal for making their horseshoes. Because they are lightweight and incredibly strong horses prefer them too! The versatility of titanium is truly amazing.

Because consumers are demanding the highest performance from the products that they coose titanium is popping up in many products. You can see the benefits of this wonder metal and I am sure that you own some in one way or another. You should look around your house and see how much titanium has become a integral part of your household. You can be sure that you have a quality product if it is made of titanium.

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Titanium Watch

By Charles Tripp

Titanium has been used to build aircraft, battleships and it's even in the International Space Station but did you know that it can also be used to make great looking watches? It makes perfect sense to use the world's hardest known element to build precision timepieces. Titanium is strong, lightweight, hypoallergenic and it doesn't tarnish. And that's why fine watchmakers everywhere are getting excited about Titanium watches.

A man named Rev. William Gregor discovered titanium in the late 1700s. It was named after the Titans of Ancient Greek mythology. Titanium was very expensive to extract and wasn't widely used until almost the mid 1900s. That's when a more efficient technique called the Kroll Process was invented to separate it from its various ores. Since then Titanium has been used in many different applications.

Titanium has a high strength to weight ratio and it also has great resistance to corrosion and these characteristics have made it very popular among jewelry designers. It's also become very popular with watch aficionados

Titanium is a radiant silver metal that looks like a lot like white gold, silver or platinum. But a Titanium watch band will feel a lot lighter on your wrist. And with oversized watches becoming so popular lately, you'll appreciate the weight difference.

Since it's so durable, Titanium has become more in demand for designer jewelry. Its inertness also makes it a great option for people with allergies or those who are going to wear it in places like the ocean or a swimming pool. Since titanium is a non-ferromagnetic metal, they say that patients with titanium implants can be safely examined in an MRI machine. Although I really don't recommend wearing a Titanium watch to an MRI.

Mens Titanium watches are an unconventional alternative to the same old silver, gold, or even platinum watches and they also cost less money. If you are looking for an outstanding watch that you can wear when you're getting all dressed up, going diving under the sea or even to work on a home improvement project, Titanium is what you are looking for.

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Solar Power Houses and Their Benefits

By Justin Edward

You have probably seen those homes that are built with these big windows that are tinted. Have you questioned why these homeowners would want such large windows? The reason behind them having these windows is simple, their house is using the power of the sun to produce their needed electricity and to provide heat.

All houses could be built with solar power with several small adjustments. You also have the capability of constructing a home powered by solar, which can help you have big savings for the future on your power bills, for heating and electricity. In some instances you won't have a monthly bill.

There are just a few suggestions when building your solar power home. It depends on where you live as to which side of the house you should put the most windows on. For the most part is more common to assume that the sun rises more toward the south side of your home.

This is the side where you want to have the most windows in your home. That way you are allowing the sun to shine through and warm your home naturally. You also need to make sure that there are no trees that are directly close to the house that may prevent the sun from shining directly into the home.

Don't use dark colors in your home to decorate with. Instead use bright and light colors that will attract the heat more evenly and benefits you more.

With an additional solar power source placed outside, in which you have a specially designed box for collecting the power of the sun to be changed into the type of energy, that powers your house along with warming the water you use. Building a home to include the products that provide you with solar power only cost a fraction more of building one without this type of power. Solar power is a great investment though over time you get this money back in savings.

Overtime when you totally rely on the sun to heat your home and all the other functions it can perform you will not have a monthly bill because you don't pay for the sun every month like you do with other power sources. Use ceiling fans to reduce the amount of time you may need to run your air conditioner.

Ceiling fans evenly distribute the cool air and also the heat and eliminates cold and hot places throughout your house. Install doors made of metal that are insulated, so that the cold stays out and the warm gets in and stays put. Make sure your doors are closed tight at the time of day that the sun comes in, this insures that the heat remains in the house for a longer period of time.

Owning a solar power home means that you are encouraging preserving our natural resources for the future. It also means that you will not worry with the increase in cost of electricity and gas because you are using the best source out there without hurting the environment.

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The Eternal Barbecue Question: Gas or Charcoal?

By Jordan Penner

Which is better when it comes to a barbecue grill - gas or charcoal? People have been arguing this point for many years. There are pluses and minuses to each, but many people have a strong loyalty to whichever type they prefer. But if you're new to barbeque cooking and you don't know where to start, here's a look at the advantages and disadvantages of each.

Gas

* Quick. It only takes 10 minutes or so before you can start cooking.

* You can easily control the heat. It gives you the flexibility of pacing the cooking. Sometimes you need to cook something over low heat for an extended period, and other times it needs to be at a higher temperature for less time. Gas can help you easily manage these requirements.

* Versatile. The side burner can be used for cooking veggies, and the rotisserie is useful for slow roasting of large cuts of meats.

* Flavor. Some people don't like the flavor of food prepared on a gas grill. And it certainly doesn't offer up the distinctive wood smoke taste of food cooked over charcoal.

* Easy to clean. You don't have to sweep away ashes. Drip trays will take care of most of the mess, and turning the heat up for 10 minutes or so will burn off the rest so it can be easily scraped off.

* Cost effective. One gas cylinder is enough for 8 hours even at maximum setting.

* The initial cost may be high; however there is a wide range of prices to suit any budget.

* It may prove to be more cost effective in the long run especially if taken good care of, but this depends on the changing prices of gas.

Charcoal

* The flavor and aroma of wood smoking can't be matched.

* The purchase price is pretty reasonable initially, but over the long term it might be less so.

* They require a lot more time, not just to cook but also to prepare. Lighting the briquettes and letting them burn down sufficiently can take up to 40 minutes. This can be a problem if you have a sudden urge for barbeque.

* Timing is important. There's no way to regulate the heat, so it's important that you watch your food carefully while it's cooking.

* If you barbeque a lot, the expense of charcoal briquettes can really add up.

* Cleaning out ashes is a tedious job. You have to let the grate cool down completely before you can clean it, and it's a tough job.

Hopefully you'll find these BBQ tips useful in your choice of charcoal or gas. Pick the one that fits both your lifestyle and your budget. Those who lead busy lives might prefer a gas barbeque because they require less time in order to fully cook a meal. But if you have lots of time, charcoal grills win hands down for flavor.

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