tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-41693154577360417892009-12-03T04:19:03.716-08:00Daily articles with London theme.goldenladhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621219858896969230noreply@blogger.comBlogger451125tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169315457736041789.post-226089415278132002008-11-14T12:43:00.013-08:002008-11-14T12:43:34.004-08:00<p>From our deconstruction of hundreds of Hollywood blockbusters at www.managing-creativity.com/</p><p>The Hero's Journey is the template upon which the vast majority of successful stories and Hollywood blockbusters are based upon. In fact, ALL of the Hollywood movies we have deconstructed are based on this template.</p><p><b>Understanding this template is a priority for story or screenwriters.</b></p><p><b>The Hero's Journey:</b></p><p>a) Attempts to tap into unconscious expectations the audience has regarding what a story is and how it should be told.</p><p>b) Gives the writer more structural elements than simply three or four acts, plot points, mid point and so on.</p><p>c) Interpreted metaphorically, laterally and symbolically, allows an infinite number of varied stories to be created.</p><p>and more...</p><p><b>Sample Movie Deconstructed: Shrek (2001)</b></p><p>FADE IN: context / foreshadow of the Journey: open book; once upon a time there was a lovely princess.</p><p>Meeting the Hero in his Ordinary World: Shrek in the swamp.</p><p>Hero's capabilities, status, reputation: "this is the part where you run away."</p><p>Meeting the Loyal Ally and his character: the Donkey.</p><p>Loyal Ally's Inner Challenge: "I don't have any friends."</p><p>Foreshadow of the Journey / Hero's True Nature: Shrek saves Donkey ; the soldiers run.</p><p>Hero and Loyal Ally relationship: Shrek wants Donkey to go away.</p><p>Hero's Inner Challenge: "I'm an Ogre, doesn't that bother you?"</p><p>Developing Hero's Inner Challenge: having dinner alone.</p><p>Call to Adventure: Fairy Tale creatures forced to seek protection from Shrek in the swamp.</p><p>Journey to the First Threshold: Shrek and Donkey go to see Lord Farquaad.</p><p>Meeting the Antagonist, important characteristics, nature: meeting Lord Farquaad; short; evil; torturing the gingerbread man.</p><p>The Antagonist's Challenge: to become a real king.</p><p>Meeting the Romantic Challenge: the mirror tells us that Princess Fiona is locked up in a castle.</p><p>Antagonist's Ordinary World / viewing the First Threshold form a distance / reminder of Antagonist's characteristics: the castle; "do you think he's compensating for something?"</p><p>Threshold Guardian: the guard runs away and the turnstiles.</p><p>Observing the World of the First Threshold: "it's quiet.."</p><p>Rules given by an Authority Figure: the puppets in the information desk repeat the rules.</p><p>Inner Cave: Shrek battles the Knights.</p><p>Forced into the Physical Separation: Shrek gets his swamp back if he brings back the princess.</p><p>Physical Separation: crossing the sunflower field.</p><p>Developing Hero and Loyal Ally relationship / Foreshadow of the Transformation: onions have layers.</p><p>Entering the World of the Trials: crossing various landscapes.</p><p>Viewing the World of the Trials from afar: Shrek and Donkey look over the top of the mountain.</p><p>Foreboding: Donkey is afraid.</p><p>Warning: the skeleton.</p><p>Dangerous crossing: the rickety old bridge; lava lake.</p><p>Resistance to the Crossing: Donkey doesn't want to go further.</p><p>Pushed into the Road of Trials: Shrek forces Donkey across.</p><p>Geography: Donkey finds the stairs and Shrek finds out where the Princess is.</p><p>Trial 1: battling the dragon; Donkey flirts with the dragon.</p><p>Trial 2: Meeting the Romantic Challenge: Shrek grabs Fiona; their relationship developed.</p><p>Trial 3: Escaping the dragon.</p><p>Meeting the Oracle: Fiona wants a kiss to fulfil the fairytale prophecy.</p><p>Resisting Seizing the Sword: Shrek won't take off his helmet.</p><p>Forced toward the Sword: Fiona tells Shrek to take his helmet off.</p><p>Resisting the Journey to the Sword: Shrek carries off an indignant Fiona.</p><p>Foreshadow of the Atonement: referencing Farquaad.</p><p>Foreshadow of the Romantic Challenge's Inner Challenge: Fiona afraid that the sun will go down.</p><p>Seizing the Sword: Shrek reveals why he wants to be alone by the fire: "everybody things I'm just a big ugly ogre."</p><p>Reward: Fiona makes breakfast.</p><p>Near Death Experience: Robin Hood battle; Shrek has an arrow in his butt.</p><p>Foreshadow of the Atonement: "if you wanted to be alone, all you had to do was ask.."</p><p>Reward: Attachment: candy floss and balloons.</p><p>Resisting the Return: "Donkey must be sick"</p><p>Atonement with the Father: Fiona and Shrek fall for each other; Shrek cooks weed rat by the fire.</p><p>Foreshadow of the Apotheosis: "she's a Princess and I'm an ogre."</p><p>Apotheosis: Donkey finds Fiona; she's an ogre by night.</p><p>Ultimate Boon: Shrek brings Fiona a sunflower.</p><p>Refusal: Shrek mishears Fiona; Donkey promises not to tell; "I tell him, I tell him not"</p><p>Time Pressure: Fiona wants to get married today.</p><p>Magic Flight: Shrek calls Farquaad and goes home; pursued by rejected Donkey.</p><p>Rescue from Without: Donkey comes back and tells Shrek that Fiona wasn't talking about him.</p><p>Crossing the Return Threshold: flying back on the dragon.</p><p>Time Pressure: "can e quickly get to the 'I do's."</p><p>Resistance: Donkey convinces Shrek to wait until sundown.</p><p>Pushed Forward: Shrek impatient.</p><p>Master of the Two Worlds:</p><p>Antagonist reveals himself: Farquaad only want to marry you to be king.</p><p>Romantic Challenge reveals herself: Fiona turns into an ogre.</p><p>Hero and Antagonist battle: the dragon eats Farquaad.</p><p>Freedom to Live: Shrek conquers his Inner and Romantic Challenge: "I love you;" love's true from; Donkey and the Dragon together.</p><p>Celebration and Ceremony: the marriage.</p><p><b>Learn more</b></p><p>The <b>Complete 188 stage Heros Journey</b> and other story structure templates can be found at <a target="_new" href="http://www.managing-creativity.com/">http://www.managing-creativity.com/</a></p><p>You can also receive a regular, free newsletter by entering your email address at this site.</p><p>Kal Bishop, MBA</p><p>**********************************</p><p>You are free to reproduce this article as long as no changes are made and the author's name and site URL are retained.</p><p>Kal Bishop is a management consultant based in London, UK. His specialities include Knowledge Management and Creativity and Innovation Management. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led Improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller. He can be reached at <a target="_new" href="http://managing-creativity.com/">http://managing-creativity.com/</a></p><a href=http://idontlikerugs.blogspot.com/>Helping With Hair Loss</a><br><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4169315457736041789-22608941527813200?l=londondailey.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>goldenladhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621219858896969230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169315457736041789.post-54372473398236652542008-11-14T12:43:00.011-08:002008-11-14T12:43:29.230-08:00<p>Leaving home can be a traumatic and exciting experience, especially if we are leaving to live in a foreign country. Research into the experiences of voluntary migrants has unexpectedly revealed that some of these people are actually using migration to express a deeply felt existential need. These 'existential migrants' discover more about themselves and feel more alive when confronting unfamiliar cultures. But by repeatedly exposing themselves to a vast range of different people and foreign places they can consequently end up living with a feeling of not being at home anywhere.</p><p>Alan is an executive in a large banking firm in the City of London. Six years ago as a recent business graduate, he left his native Maryland to 'seek his fortune'. After a year in New York and two years in the Netherlands, he arrived in London where he's worked for the past three years. When I first met Alan he presented as an intelligent, curious and ambitious young man with a passion for travel. He was proudly self-sufficient and independent but this was mixed with a slight air of melancholy. Alan came to therapy in order to deal with an increasing feeling of restlessness at work, mixed with a recurring anxiety about his plans to buy a property in London. For the past couple of weeks he has been feeling homesick for family and friends in America but also increasingly preoccupied with the idea of moving to Lisbon, where he spent an exciting three-week holiday last summer.</p><p>It may be tempting to simply view Alan as typifying a breed of young international executive moving around the globe according to the demands of 21st century capitalism. However, even a cursory examination of Alan's experience and his motivations for leaving home begin to offer another story. An exploration of Alan's life reveals that while growing up he had always assumed he would leave Annapolis, in fact he never really felt 'at-home' in his home. This is curious. Why would he not feel 'at-home' in the only home he'd ever known?</p><p>Looking back, Alan gradually realizes that he made many choices, including education and career choices, based upon the likelihood that each choice would hasten his departure and increase his ability to live in other parts of the world. This was such a natural longing for Alan that he was shocked when he discovered that many of his friends had no plans to leave Annapolis but instead were happy to plan their lives around friends and family and the familiar streets where they had grown up. In contrast, Alan always remembers being attracted to anything foreign. He experienced the familiar home environment as overly conventional, too homogeneous, boring and even suffocating. Though he had good relationships with this family and a good social network, he always felt different from those around him and longed for the adventures he would have once he left his homeland. He remembers thinking 'life begins when I leave home'. Alan's current experiences reveal his long-standing dilemma regarding the attraction and repulsion of belonging and settling in one place. He lives with ambiguous feelings regarding home, a deep longing to belong coupled with the panic of having to conform to a quotidian life that he finds unconvincing and abhorrent.</p><p>Alan's story illustrates a process of voluntary migration that has not been recognized until now. Unlike economic migration, simple wanderlust, or forced migration, 'existential migration' is conceived as a chosen attempt to express or address fundamental aspects of existence by leaving one's homeland and becoming a foreigner. These individuals move cross-culturally, sometimes repeatedly, in search of self-understanding and adventure. Such people are actually seeking to resolve deeper 'existential' questions such as 'who am I', 'how can I fulfill my potential?', 'where do I belong?', 'how can I feel at home?' Most of these individuals leave their home cultures because they never felt 'at home' in the first place. For some, the choice to leave can eventually result in not being at home anywhere in the world, leaving these individuals to live within a sort of 'homelessness' that includes a complex mix of inconsolable loss as well as perpetual adventure and self-discovery. These individuals raise interesting questions about our definitions of home and belonging. Is 'home' where we are most ourselves or is home the very thing that exiles us from ourselves?</p><p>The research that revealed this process consisted of in-depth interviews with voluntary migrants from around the world now living in London. The study generated impressively consistent themes including the importance of independence, the need to live fully, the need for freedom within belonging, the value of experiences of difference and foreignness as a stimulus to personal awareness. Among these migrants there is a marked preference for the strange and foreign and a consistent contempt for the conventional and easy life of the settled community.</p><p>The concept of existential migration fits well with themes in existential philosophy, especially concepts that point to the foreignness and mystery at the heart of human existence. The concept also challenges aspects of psychological research into acculturation and relocation stress. Even if an individual has relocated to a new culture solely for business purposes, he or she may find that their taken-for-granted assumptions about daily life are suddenly challenged, exposing a kind of groundlessness to living. Upon return to the home country, that revelation is not always convincingly 'papered-over', resulting in a restlessness that needs to be acknowledged and explored.</p><p>As a process, existential migration may occur with anyone, though certain people seem more predisposed towards it as a primary orientation to life. But even for 'existential migrants' the day may come when their process becomes one of settling rather than migrating.</p><p>Talking about issues of home and belonging in therapy tends to be very emotional and poignant, but voluntary migrants value and even enjoy these dialogs. Paradoxically, voluntary migrants usually find that openly discussing their experiences of leaving home, often for the first time ever, results in a shift regarding their feelings of restlessness. The approach in these sessions does not assume that anything is 'wrong' or pathological in these experiences; perpetual migration is not seen as less worthy than being settled. These sessions are simply an opportunity to have a facilitated dialog that delves deeply into the motivations for leaving and the feelings that have transpired along the way.</p><p>The concept of existential migration also offers a re-consideration of the psychological effects of globalization. As more and more of us are expected to have mobile lives, a kind of global 'homelessness' may be on the horizon; perhaps we are heading towards a time when no one really feels at home anywhere anymore, signaling the end of belonging. It is exactly these deeper issues that the study of existential migration has revealed as issues for us all.</p><p>Greg Madison, PhD, is a therapist in private practice in London who specializes in existential psychotherapy. Greg can be contacted through his profile here: <a target="_new" href="http://www.goodtherapy.org/m15_view_item.html?m15:item=info@gregmadison.net">http://www.goodtherapy.org/m15_view_item.html?m15:item=info%40gregmadison.net</a> and here also: <a target="_new" href="http://www.goodtherapy.org/Miami-therapy.htm">http://www.goodtherapy.org/Miami-therapy.htm</a></p><a href=http://idontlikerugs.blogspot.com/>Helping With Hair Loss</a><br><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4169315457736041789-5437247339823665254?l=londondailey.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>goldenladhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621219858896969230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169315457736041789.post-33050730131240973442008-11-14T12:43:00.009-08:002008-11-14T12:43:24.777-08:00<p>A commercial estate agent can help those looking for new office space through their industry-based knowledge of the property market and the trends they are expected to follow.</p><p>For businesses looking to move to or within London, there are a few factors that can help define what makes a good commercial estate agent in London:<br> Industry knowledge is paramount, especially for companies moving to the capital for the first time<br> A good commercial estate agent will have knowledge of which areas offer the best value for money and which amenities will best serve their client's firm, as well as advanced notice of up and coming buildings new to the market<br> You can also appoint a relocation manager, who will get to know the company they are working on behalf of and evaluate what their needs will be. Using a manager in this way also allows the business to run as usual</p><p>A good commercial estate agent in London will probably be independent; they will have no allegiances to any landlords and can therefore negotiate a price on behalf of the buyer or tenant rather than those of the landlord or seller. They should also have one eye set firmly on the future; London is an ever-changing and evolving city. There may be developments planned in an area and a good commercial property estate agent will be able to ascertain whether they will be of benefit to their client, or not.</p><p>In four years time, London will play host to the Olympics and this will have a massive effect on the marketplace in certain sectors. Industry knowledge will, again, play an important part in helping decide just where a company should move to.</p><p>Once a suitable site has been found, a commercial estate agent can ensure that the move takes place efficiently, with as little disruption to the client's business as possible.</p><p>There is little doubt that the capital of England has many advantages to offer businesses of any size: London is served by five major airports, the Eurotunnel and many key road networks, as well as being provided for by its own rail, bus and underground systems. The capital has a population of around eight million and offers a diverse mix of people, cultures and business. Using a commercial estate agent to facilitate your move into or within London can help you benefit from these without disturbing the running and profitability of your firm.</p><p>Shivani Gurtu-Louth - Operations Manager of Devono Property Limited. Devono are the only <a target="_new" href="http://www.devono.com">commercial estate agents</a> in London to exclusively represent tenants looking for office space and commercial property in London to rent. Our aim is to secure the best commercial property at the best price.<br> For interviews, quotes, images or comments contact:<br> Shivani Gurtu-Louth<br> Devono Operations Manager<br> Tel(DDI): +44 (0)20 7096 9911<br> E-mail: <a href="mailto:sg@devono.com">sg@devono.com</a><br></p><a href=http://idontlikerugs.blogspot.com/>Helping With Hair Loss</a><br><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4169315457736041789-3305073013124097344?l=londondailey.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>goldenladhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621219858896969230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169315457736041789.post-57695381306003396022008-11-14T12:43:00.007-08:002008-11-14T12:43:20.284-08:00<p>Tours of the famous Lord's Cricket Ground</p><p>A tour around what is called the 'home of cricket', Lords Cricket Ground, gives amazing insight into the game's almost legendary headquarters. This is also where the Marylebone Cricket Club, the MCC, and the England Cricket Board are based.</p><p>Each tour, following an expert guide, takes ninety minutes and begins in the MCC Museum. You then process through the famous Pavilion to the well-known Long Room, which boasts panoramic views of the famous pitch and many portraits of the game's most-distinguished players. The Honours Boards in the dressing rooms reveals the most historic batting and bowling that has taken place here over the years.</p><p>The tour also covers the Tennis Court, the Cricket School and many of this famous ground's outstanding features: including the Grandstand, the new Mound Stand and the famous and controversial, yet futuristic, Media Centre (which is one of the "The Fifty Best Buildings in Britain"). You also have the chance to enjoy shopping for exclusive souvenirs at the shop, where the tour finishes.</p><p>You can book your visit on the day or well in advance, and specialist individual tours are also possible: for example, educational tours can always be tailored to meet the needs of school curricula, or architectural tours can be designed to concentrate on the buildings.</p><p>The MCC Museum, which is the starting point of the tour, is the world's oldest museum devoted to sport! Here you will find a marvellous range of exhibits, not least the world-famous Ashes urn. There are sports kits used by the most famous players of the club, including Victor Trumper, Don Bradman, Jack Hobbs, and even Shane Warne.</p><p>Many of the exhibits are as old as the 19th Century: you can enjoy the sight of old photographs and other cricketing memorabilia in the museum, where you will also find the Brian Johnston Memorial Theatre, a venue which plays some of the greatest moments in the history of the sport.</p><p>Special exhibitions are also on offer form time to time. The tours proceed daily at 10.00, 12.00 and 14.00 (although they do not go on match days and around the time of major fixtures). Only the early tour goes into the Pavilion. Marylebone Cricket Club, based at the famous Lord's Cricket Ground, can be found in St John's Wood, NW8 8QN Phone: 020 7616 8595</p><p>The Arsenal FC Museum and Tour</p><p>Arsenal FC was formed in 1886, and turned professional in 1891. After 93 years, Highbury has now been replaced by the new Emirates stadium.</p><p>You can visit this amazing venue and get a wonderful and informative view of the stadium that even the most ardent supporters rarely see.</p><p>A tour will let you visit the players' tunnel and the most amazing part of the club: the first team dressing room! The tour also takes in the plush Directors' Box, the site of many amusing incidents, the Press Conference Room, and the famous Arsenal Museum. You'll even be able to go onto the hallowed pitch and see the facilities close up.</p><p>For a once-in-a-lifetime experience, you can book a Legends Tour. You'll be taken around the ground by a retired Arsenal player, who can tell you all about his experiences and views of the current team, relate stories of his days on the team, and offer a profound insight into how professional football is played at this high level. To make this extra-special, you'll also get a signed photograph of the player and a Legends Tour gift.</p><p>Tours can, as you might expect, be booked in advance: group bookings are also available. Alternatively, you can buy a gift voucher for the tour, which allows a choice of when the tour takes place.</p><p>The Arsenal Museum includes many excellent things to see, including Charlie George's Cup Final shirt and medals from 1971, shirts and caps once owned by David O'Leary, and other well known characters such as Messrs Lee Dixon and Brian Marwood.</p><p>As you may know, this famous club was unbeaten in the 2003-2004 season and the trophy presented to them by the Football Association is on view. Last but not least you can see sections of the tour based on the history of this famous London sporting club.</p><p>Open from Monday-Friday 10.00-18.00, Saturday 11.00-18.00, Sunday 10.00-17.00. The opening hours are more limited on match days. Arsenal Football Club, Highbury House, 75 Drayton Park, N5 1BU Phone: 020 7704 4504</p><p>The London Visitor Guide contains London hotels and other accommodation, restaurants, and many unusual places to go. Find us at <a target="_new" href="http://www.London-visitor-guide.com">The London Visitor Guide</a></p><a href=http://idontlikerugs.blogspot.com/>Helping With Hair Loss</a><br><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4169315457736041789-5769538130600339602?l=londondailey.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>goldenladhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621219858896969230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169315457736041789.post-63446138674166932602008-11-14T12:43:00.005-08:002008-11-14T12:43:15.909-08:00<p>When autumn arrives in my part of the country, it's often accompanied by fog and rain. The vibrantly colored red, purple, orange and yellow leaves on maples, gingkoes, liquidambars, smoke bushes, and all trees and shrubs that have a colorful "faint" into dormancy, are even more glorious with a gloss of moisture. The chilly Northwest damp also accentuates aromas; the ground smells pungent, leaves lose their juicy, "green" summer scents and begin to smell like antique paper or old books. As wood smoke begins to swirl from chimneys, providing its own gray mist to the heavy air, I feel as if the entire city is burning incense to mourn the lost summer and to pay homage to the coming winter.</p><p>Fall is a time of excitement <em>and</em> stillness; cool winds and refreshing rains energize me, while the sight of dead leaves slowly dropping to the ground, and the silence in the garden (most birds have headed south) put me into a contemplative state of mind. The perfumes I wear in autumn reflect these shifting moods of the season.</p><p>There are few fragrance houses whose <em>entire</em> offerings I would happily wear - Eau d'Italie is one such fragrance house. Bois d'Ombrie smells of wood, cognac, leather, incense, myrrh, tobacco and beeswax; wearing it is like stepping into a wood-paneled room of the Renaissance era, a room that's absorbed centuries of delicious aromas.</p><p>I often burn Papier d'Armnie to freshen rooms in my home. Now, I can walk about freshening spaces I move through. Annick Mnardo has created <em>liquid</em> Papier d'Armnie with her Bois d'Armnie perfume. Bois d'Armnie is part of the Art et la Matire line of scents by Guerlain and though it contains pink pepper, rose, iris, coriander, patchouli and musk, what I smell are the signature powdery fragrance notes of Papier d'Armnie - benzoin, incense, amber and vanilla.</p><p>For me, a 'sturdy' (and simple) sandalwood perfume is a necessity for fall and winter and Santalum by Profumum fits the bill. It has a rich, slightly sweet, and long-lasting sandalwood fragrance, with added, but not distracting, notes of myrrh and cinnamon.</p><p><em>A Dream</em>: While touring some vetiver fields on a damp day, I am spotted by a spy from the <em>Society for the Promotion of Ozone and Marine Notes in Male Perfumery/Mainstream Division</em>. Seeing his chance to silence me forever, he waits till I wander into a deep, stony ditch and then topples 100 bales of dried vetiver roots onto me. I realize, to survive and write more negative reviews of mediocre men's perfumes, I must use my hands and teeth to pull apart and gnaw thru the bales of tough vetiver roots that envelop me. As I emerge through the last bale of vetiver, I smell of cool moist earth and stones, "exertion" and...vibrant vetiver. In other words, I smell like Vetiver by Etro. Though Etro's Vetiver also contains artemisia, clary sage, cypress, cedar and tobacco - <em>vetiver root</em> is the star of the cologne. If I were forced to downsize my perfume collection and could only keep one vetiver fragrance, I'd keep Etro Vetiver. Roll your eyes, gasp, thrust a hand to your mouth in shock, even laugh at me, but I'd choose Etro's Vetiver over Herms' Vetiver Tonka, Frederic Malle's Vetiver Extraordinaire, Matre Parfumeur et Gantier's Route du Vetiver and Guerlain's Vetiver.</p><p>I don't possess a classic "comfort scent" in my perfume arsenal. My comfort scent would not involve food (vanilla, rice pudding, apples, cinnamon); if I could create a comfort scent, it would smell of freshly shampooed English Bulldog or Pug. Since that is not about to happen, I will note one scent I find comforting and that I encounter this time of year: the scent of my wool sweaters. As I unpack my sweaters (the ones I forgot to dry clean before storing), I smell the ghostly remains of last fall's (and winter's) perfumes: sandalwood, cedarwood, patchouly and vetiver. Parfum d'Habit by Matre Parfumeur et Gantier smells like my 'scented' wool sweaters - and I love it.</p><p>I won't wear a simple wool sweater with my next fall fragrance selection: a tuxedo or finely tailored suit would be more apt. When I spray on Jacques Guerlain's 1904 creation Mouchoir de Monsieur, with its bergamot and verbena, its rose and jasmine, its vanilla, fern and iris, my posture improves, my pronunciation and enunciation improve, I feel smooth, shiny, impeccable; I feel I could issue edicts and be obeyed. I'll be giving gallery talks at the Seattle Art Museum this winter for a show called "Roman Art from the Louvre" - guess what scent I'll be wearing as I talk, and walk, my way through the sculptures of gods and goddesses, the Caesars?</p><p>Since I like cows and feel bad about buying products made from their skins, I take really good care of my leather goods, especially my leather bags. I buy a bag and use it till it falls apart, so I rarely get to smell "new" leather. When my leather bag or backpack needs a leather "fix," I moisten a cotton ball with some Serge Lutens Cuir de Mauresque, stuff the cotton ball into a tiny glass pill bottle (uncapped), toss it into my bag and the scent of perfumed leather wafts from my old bag every time I open it. I wear Cuir de Mauresque on my body too; how can I resist its heady mix of myrrh, burnt styrax, incense, aloeswood, cedar, civet, cloves, cumin, cinnamon, orange blossom, nutmeg, mandarin peel, and jasmine? Such perfume luxury, and luxuriousness, seems most appropriate in autumn as heavy ('important') jewelry, velvet, cashmere and, alas, furs start appearing everywhere.</p><p>To commemorate my first visit to Paris, I wore a scent I had not tried before - Penhaligon's Hammam Bouquet (created in 1872). Many years later, I still love Paris and Hammam Bouquet's sophisticated scent, made with rose, iris, jasmine, cedar, lavender, amber and sandalwood. My only gripe: the perfume extract version of Hammam Bouquet was discontinued. Note: if you ever call Hammam Bouquet a "grandfatherly" scent in my presence, first, I will slap your face (not really, but I'll WANT to), and then I'll position you on my Perfume IQ list under: "Semi-ignorant; tastes/descriptive vocabulary: limited; refers to complex, classic scents as 'old lady' or 'old man' fragrances."</p><p>On London's Jermyn Street, not far from one of Penhaligon's London shops, you can buy Frankincense & Myrrh by Czech & Speake - a marvelous, under-appreciated, under-worn, and virtually unknown (in the U.S.) unisex fragrance. Yes, there's frankincense and myrrh in the perfume, but also the enchanting aromas of chamomile and fine sandalwood. Frankincense & Myrrh smells like "church," especially if the church was built in the 13th century and has been permeated with the scent of burning incense for hundreds of years.</p><p>As fall arrives, I can't forget my summer garden and the scented flowers it provided, so I buy real flowers in winter <em>and</em> "wear" flowers in my perfumes. Kismet by Yosh reminds me of a protected, walled garden in a high desert - the type of desert that's warm and nurturing in day, and chilly at night. Kismet's cool narcissus, chamomile, boronia and osmanthus act as foils for its 'hotter' cedar, frankincense and turmeric aromas - this mix of coolness and warmth mimics the changeable days, and moods, of fall.</p><p>This article can be freely published as long as the hyper links remain effect. For more information and a great website that has a large selection of designer <a TARGET="_new" href="http://www.yournewfragrance.com">perfume</a> and cologne products, visit YourNewFragrance.Com. They have all the new <a TARGET="_new" href="http://www.yournewfragrance.com">discount perfumes</a> as well as older and hard to find scents.</p><a href=http://idontlikerugs.blogspot.com/>Helping With Hair Loss</a><br><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4169315457736041789-6344613867416693260?l=londondailey.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>goldenladhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621219858896969230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169315457736041789.post-72601545618618535342008-11-14T12:43:00.003-08:002008-11-14T12:43:09.722-08:00<p>The adage that reads, "Go west, young man, go west" should be modified to advise going to the far west of Arizona to Lake Havasu City. This area is deservedly known as Arizona's beach resort city. The majestic Colorado River, at this point in its 1400+ mile journey, has been dammed to form Lake Havasu with an expansive 25,000 acres. The fast-growing Lake Havasu City includes a mainland portion plus a manmade island, formed by dredging a stagnant stream and converting it into an integral part of the lake/river.</p><p>We first visited Lake Havasu City about 1999, and, by way of confession, were not overly impressed. Maybe we weren't looking hard enough. But, in 2008, through guided tours and other means, we saw first hand what a thriving small metropolis it is.</p><p>Lake Havasu City was founded in 1962, as the work of industrialist and visionary Robert McCulloch (1911-77). The lake itself goes back to the late 1930s when Parker Dam served to control the Colorado River in those parts.</p><p>A unique talking point about the city is that it features a bridge brought over to the U.S., lock stock and stone, from London in 1968-71. When London authorities decided to auction off their sinking London Bridge, McCulloch got the idea of bidding on it and resurrecting the original stones over Lake Havasu. This project cost him about $7 million, with most of the total made up of stone transportation.</p><p>Naturally, it seemed unique to walk across the reconstructed London Bridge in Arizona. On the city side, under the bridge, is a waterfront area known as the English village, featuring the London Bridge Hotel. We enjoyed walking and window shopping.</p><p>As you would expect, the city's main revenue source is tourism. However, with 8 boat manufacturers having a presence nearby, the area is noted for its supply of boats and boat races as well as annual regattas to showcase their latest products. It justly owns the title, Personal Watercraft Capital of the World, and has hosted the annual International Jet Sports Boat Association (IJSBA) World Finals since 1982. From our hotel room balcony, we enjoyed witnessing many of the varied watercraft.</p><p>Fishing, paddle boating, canoeing, kayaking, parasailing, windsurfing, scuba diving and sailing are also available. What is nice is being able to rent all the equipment you need by the hour, half day, or full day. This area is becoming a destination of choice in the Southwest for water sports.</p><p>Land lovers need not be bored. There is plenty to do within a considerable amount of public shoreline, all within city limits. This area includes London Bridge Beach, Rotary Park Beach and Windsor Beach. In addition to miles of public shoreline and beaches, Lake Havasu State Park also features camping and 138 boat-in campsites. We managed to get exercise just walking through the parks.</p><p>Golfers are not left out, as Lake Havasu City features five distinctly different golf courses. They cater to golfers of all different levels of expertise. In addition, they have more courses in the planning stages. Since we are not golfers, we can't provide first hand experience.</p><p>One aspect of the region that impressed us is the commitment of its people and the city to keep activities going all year long for a vibrantly desirable area. Volunteer organizations construct the local parks and keep them up to date with enhancements.</p><p>While visiting in February, we arrived for the Winter Festival. We saw around 250 booths and 35-50K attendees for a crafts, foods, and related sights demo, along a closed off Main Street. It had been years since we attended a craft fare. Walking up and down Main, we found that local vendors added tremendous color and history to our excursion.</p><p>In tandem with this, about a week later, Winterblast, an annual convention of pyrotechnics manufacturers, was scheduled. Annually, it provides a showing of latest advances in their field. It culminates in a huge, free fireworks display. Winterblast is something all look forward to watching, the Saturday after President's Day. This event was described by several with such enthusiasm, we will try to take part next year.</p><p>After the festival, we checked into Arizona's only all-beachfront resort, The Nautical Inn http://www.nauticalinn.com. Its 139 beachfront and lake-view accommodations provide a relaxing atmosphere.</p><p>That evening, we drove a mile to the Island Mall & Brewery and enjoyed an excellent dinner at Shugrue's Restaurant & Bar http://www.shugrues.com. We enjoyed man-sized portions of halibut and pork chops, creamed baby spinach, and stuffed baked potato, topped off by bananas foster for two. Our young waiter, son of the chef, talked us into the latter two selections. In checking to see if we were pleased with these innovative new dishes, he didn't realize that, for us, they brought back memories of the 60s and 70s.</p><p>We were fortunate the next morning to have Jared Lyman of the Convention & Visitors Bureau (CVB) http://www.golakehavasu.com give us a tour of the city and surrounding areas. The numerous parks in the city are easily accessed and well manicured. Jared took us out of town to visit one that members of the Chamber are expanding and enhancing. Listening to him describe how long it took his team to install stone gate posts and forge some of the trails made us appreciate walking them.</p><p>We were surprised to learn that, according to Dr. Michael Rourke, life sciences faculty member of Mohave Community College, "There are over 300 species of [water] bird that either make Lake Havasu their home or use it as a stop in their migratory route." Most arrive late in September and leave in the spring. Some good sites to view include Mesquite Bay, south Dike Road, Bill Williams Refuge, Parker Dam, and the Aha Khav Preserve. We were amazed by the number of species we observed.</p><p>After a morning of walking, during lunch at Javelina's Mexican Restaurant http://www.javelinacantina.com/, we found their fajitas to be an exceptional choice.</p><p>We were on our own after lunch and decided on a memorable boat tour around the lake in the Dixie Belle. Sailing from the English Village Dock next to the London Bridge, the narrated tour was exceptional. We viewed all the many lighthouses around the lake.</p><p>The closest one can get to experiencing what it was like to be on a steamboat on the Colorado River is with a replicated one (powered with twin engine out-board motors instead of being powered by cottonwood as they were between 1852 to 1909). At that point, the Colorado River could be sailed non-stop with a dredge, barge, or paddlewheel.</p><p>The Dixie Belle, a 68-ton vessel, is 51+ feet long and carries 122 passengers. One of the current captains, Gregg Smith, says the Dixie Belle replicates an old South sternwheeler. Captain Smith has been piloting this vessel since 2005. When taking this tour, it is easy to step back in time.</p><p>As dinner came around, we were still content from lunch. So, we opted for dessert at Cold Stone. Returning to our room, we enjoyed watching the lights across the lake.</p><p>The next morning, we wanted to try breakfast at the Makai Cafe. Located below Shugrue's, Makai was one of our favorite spots. There were many more locals than tourists, and it was easy to understand why. We tried the widely acclaimed Eggs Benedict and French Toast. Our breakfast was favorable, hot, with great customer service and good coffee. We found it quite calming, while looking out on the lake with a great view of the London Bridge.</p><p>After breakfast, we drove into town for a tour of the Lake Havasu City Historical Museum. Though quite small, it is well worth the time to spend an hour or so visiting.</p><p>We opted for a smoothie lunch downtown. Then we returned to The Nautical Inn to meet Robert P. Keller for an afternoon tour, concentrating on lighthouses. In addition to the London Bridge, Lake Havasu now has 14 lighthouses, modeled on a smaller scale to working lighthouses on both the Great Lakes and East coast. They serve as navigational markers for those out on the lake as well as attracting tourists. Bob is a Lake Havasu City historian and character re-enactor, who brings tours to life. He did a combination tour for us, but we were especially interested in how the idea of the lighthouses came about. What started as his one-man endeavor is now a club, and its members try to add several lighthouses a year. His RV garage is the club's workshop for this ongoing club project.</p><p>That night, we were done touring and chose to spend time with visiting friends from Chicago. We picked them up and went to Angelina's. This small intimate Italian restaurant is reasonably priced with well prepared dishes. It was a delightful finish to a wonderful 3 night get-a-way.</p><p>Lake Havasu City promotes many annual events, including the Havasu Classic in April when classic cars roll into town. October features the Relics and Rods Run to the Sun, with more than 1000 cars from 1972 and older. October is also host to London Bridge Days, which is a two week celebration. November brings the Chillin N' Swilling Brewfest. In December, the waterfront is decked with more than one million Christmas lights. Along with the Festival of Lights, a Holiday Boat Parade is part of the festivities.</p><p>There is more to Lake Havasu City than we can cover in one article. What pleased us the most is our strong desire to return. We encourage you to check the latest calendar of events. E-mail them if you want specifics for a particular month. Lake Havasu has something for everyone.</p><p>For further information, call Lake Havasu Tourism Bureau 1-800-2 HAVASU. We'll be returning late August to check out some of the other activities it has to offer.</p><p>You may use any portion of this article as long as credit is given to the authors, Maralyn Hill and Norman Hill.</p><p>Maralyn and Norm Hill write together and individually. Norm's new book, "Winner and Final Chairman<" was recently released. Maralyn's new book, co-authored with Brenda Hill, "$uccess, Your Path to a Successful Book," will be out August 08. You can get the Hill's books at <a target="_new" href="http://booksbyhills.com">http://booksbyhills.com</a> Maralyn writes many articles individually, with Norm and with Brenda. Norm is published in many insurance industry magazines and writes travel articles with Maralyn. They also have blogs which you can see on their website. They always welcome questions and the next adventure.</p><a href=http://idontlikerugs.blogspot.com/>Helping With Hair Loss</a><br><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4169315457736041789-7260154561861853534?l=londondailey.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>goldenladhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621219858896969230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169315457736041789.post-87500745778715535902008-11-14T12:43:00.001-08:002008-11-14T12:43:04.923-08:00<p>Professional wrestling has always largely been seen as a quintessentially American form of entertainment, with the over the top characters and storylines prevalent in the "sport" resulting in it being regarded as nothing more than a low brow soap opera by many. However, few people realise that it was the money made in foreign countries, specifically the UK, that kept World Wrestling Entertainment - now the largest wrestling company in the world - afloat during some trying times.</p><p>Pro wrestling was big business throughout the United States as far back as the early '70s. However, after the mainstream success of the "Wrestlemania" franchise created by Vince McMahon, owner of the World Wrestling Entertainment (WWE), in the '80s, interest in what became known as "Sports Entertainment" began to wane, mostly due to allegations of steroid distribution and abuse levelled at the WWE by the US federal government. During the proceeding court case, the WWE was forced to look further afield to make their money, with the first port of call being the UK.</p><p>Since the advent of satellite television in the mid '80s, more and more members of the British public were exposed to World Wrestling Entertainment programming. Offering glitz, glamour and showmanship that home-grown UK wrestling promotions couldn't contend with, the WWE quickly became a phenomenon. Realising that there was a fortune just waiting to be made in Britain, Vince McMahon announced the first ever WWE show to take place in the UK, which occurred at the London Arena in 1989. Tickets for the event sold out rapidly on the first day of sale, which was to be the case for WWE events in the UK for years to come.</p><p>With the first show being an overwhelming success, the WWE began to visit the UK on a bi-annual basis, capitalising on the immense popularity of the British Bulldog and Bret Hart, two wrestlers within the company that had strong ties to the UK. This popularity reached its peak in the summer of 1992, when WWE announced that one of its premier pay-per-view events, "Summerslam", was to be held at Wembley Stadium in London, the first and only time a 'premier' WWE pay-per-view spectacular has been held outside of the US. Critics scoffed at the idea of a wrestling show being able to fill the expansive Wembley Stadium; however, with the British Bulldog and Bret Hart at the top of the card, every ticket was sold in ten hours, resulting in a capacity crowd of 80,355 attending the event, making it the second biggest WWE live attendance ever, after the 93,133 that witnessed "Wrestlemania 3".</p><p>After the unprecedented success of "Summerslam", the WWE began hosting pay per views regularly in the UK, albeit broadcast only for the British audience and not internationally. While that practice was stopped in 2003, the company still tours the UK twice a year, with London also being the chosen city for several live broadcasts of the WWE's flagship TV show, "Raw". Smaller wrestling organisations, namely TNA, have also followed in WWE's footsteps by venturing out to the UK, with the organisation recently completing their first tour of the country.</p><p>With London's Wembley and O2 arena's set to host several WWE and TNA events in the coming months, <a target="_new" href="http://www.hilton.co.uk/landingpages/hilton_uk_en/hotels/London/index.html">hotels in London</a> are sure to be packed with rabid wrestling fans, intent on capturing this unique form of entertainment live.</p><p>Paul McIndoe writes for a digital marketing agency. This article has been commissioned by a client of said agency. This article is not designed to promote, but should be considered professional content.</p><a href=http://idontlikerugs.blogspot.com/>Helping With Hair Loss</a><br><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4169315457736041789-8750074577871553590?l=londondailey.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>goldenladhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621219858896969230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169315457736041789.post-60424742589667272092008-11-14T12:42:00.022-08:002008-11-14T12:43:00.185-08:00<p><b>Accession of Elizabeth - 1558-1603. </b></p><p>At the time of her sister Mary's death, Elizabeth was living quietly at Hatfield House, near London, spending most of her time studying Greek and Latin. On hearing the news of her accession to the throne, she said "It is the Lord's doings; it is marvelous in our eyes." Days later, she travelled to London along the same road over which she had traveled in previous times when she was being carried as a prisoner on her way to the Tower of London.</p><p><b>The Question of the Queen's Marriage.</b></p><p>It wasn't long before Parliament broached the subject of marriage because the welfare of the country largely depended on whom the Queen should marry. She replied by saying that she had resolved to live and die a maiden queen. Her ministers never received a straight answer even when they continued to press her on the subject, for Elizabeth was clever and used words that could be interpreted in many ways.</p><p><b>The Flirting Queen.</b></p><p>Although, she never married, Elizabeth I was an incorrigible flirt and the court constantly buzzed with scandals about her love life. When Robert Dudley, the Earl of Leicester, was first her favourite, Elizabeth was still a young woman. She called him "Robin" and arranged for him to have apartments next to her own - there were even rumours at court that the queen intended to marry "her Robin". But, when Dudley's wife died in mysterious circumstances, Elizabeth was led by her head and not by her heart. In later life, the Earl of Essex became her favourite and although she was over thirty years his senior, for a long time this headstrong young man could do no wrong in her eyes - it is his name that is forever inter-linked with hers.</p><p><b>Vanity and Adulation </b></p><p>Elizabeth was so vain that she issued a proclamation forbidding any one to sell her picture, lest it should fail to do her justice. Even when she was past sixty, she still demanded flattery and a willing court provided her with it. Her cousin, Mary Queen of Scots wrote to her, saying, "Your aversion to marriage proceeds from your not wishing to lose the liberty of compelling people to make love to you." The great writers and the great men of that time competed with each other in their compliments to Elizabeth's wisdom, beauty and wit. Spenser composed his poem, the "Faerie Queen," for her, Shakespeare is reported to have written the "Merry Wives of Windsor" to amuse her and he addresses her as the "fair vestal in the West." in his "Midsummer Night's Dream". Her common subjects loved to sing the praises of their "good Queen Bess."</p><p><b>Mary, Queen of Scots beheaded. 1587.</b></p><p>Elizabeth signed her cousin's execution warrant and then seemingly blanked this act from her mind. When the news of Mary's execution was brought to Elizabeth, she became afraid of how the act might be viewed in Europe so With her usual duplicity she angrily blamed the minister who had advised it and threw Davidson, her secretary, into the Tower of London. Elizabeth even had the nerve to write to Mary's son, James VI of Scotland, telling him his mother had been beheaded by mistake!</p><p><b>Elizabeth's Death (1603).</b></p><p>As Elizabeth's brilliant reign was coming to an end many things had changed. Most of her counselors and old friends were dead, her subjects no longer welcomed her with the same warmth as they had in the past but most of all the death of her favourite, Essex, who had been beheaded for leading a rebellion against her, led to her becoming very sad and heavy-hearted. From that time she grew weaker and stayed in her palace. In her final days she sat muttering to herself "Mortua, sed non sepulta!" (Dead, but not buried). The queen died at Richmond and her body was conveyed down the River Thames to Westminster. Her recumbent effigy is placed on the tomb she shares with her half sister, Mary I (Bloody Mary) in Westminster Abbey's Henry VII's Chapel. Nearby, is the effigy and tomb of her cousin and rival, Mary Queen of Scots.</p><p>This article is by Josephine Moss - web-mistress of Spend Time in London: A free guide to your <a target="_new" href="http://www.spendtimeinLondon.com"> Spending Time in London</a></p><p>Spend less and see more of the finest sights and attractions and the <A target="_new" HREF="http://www.spendtimeinLondon.com/history-tower-of-London.html">Tower of London</a></p><a href=http://idontlikerugs.blogspot.com/>Helping With Hair Loss</a><br><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4169315457736041789-6042474258966727209?l=londondailey.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>goldenladhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621219858896969230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169315457736041789.post-84262566713404449822008-11-14T12:42:00.021-08:002008-11-14T12:42:54.677-08:00<p>Rental properties London are worth giving a thought as because the number tourists visiting London is growing every year. These rental properties are mostly taken for short-term purposes and these short-term rental properties and accommodations are no doubt cheaper than the expensive hotels. The high population density of London city demands more and more rental properties within the city than in the suburbs.</p><p>As of now, London has more number of tenants than the number of properties; this implies there is a need for more rental properties. According to the Institution of Chartered Surveyors, there is a decrease in the returns from the rental properties and the return on rentals are different for different types of properties such as London flats, apartments and houses in the city. And the returns also depend on the location of the property as well as the area and people still contemplating on owning a property in London city for rental purposes.</p><p>The owners as well as tenants are going to be benefited with buying or renting London properties as one can choose from several of the architectural designs. Furthermore, the leisure facilities, advanced infrastructure and logistics within the city and five international airports make London a great choice to own a property.</p><p>However, if you are contemplating on investing in London flats for renting out, you need to know a few things. Search on the Internet and look on the message boards, for they will give you an idea on what property is available within your budget. And, you can also use the service of London estate agents who are specialized in renting out flats and houses.</p><p>In fact, to seek the advice of London estate agents would be the best, as they would provide great assistance in finding a home in and around the London city. Furthermore, London estate agents are the licensed set of people who can negotiate and carry on the real estate sales on your behalf.</p><p>Although, there is some recession, the increasing migratory population and tourism make investment in London properties still a wise investment option. London is at the top rank in real estate league of the European cities and it is just because of the economic growth prospects the city promises. London estate agents have a mammoth list of both the commercial as well as the residential London properties and all you can do is go to one of them and find one for you.</p><p>Additionally, there will be special listings in local newspapers that can help you to find a flat for rent in London. Before buying make sure you know if the flat is furnished or not, the rental period, the neighborhood amenities including department stores and schools, markets, etc. Never exceed the budget you have in mind, for it might land you into troubles. Getting a flat in London is not a big thing; however, you need to do your due diligence.</p><p>Prior to investing in <a target="_new" href="http://www.simple2rent.co.uk">rental properties London</a> it is advised to check with a couple of licensed <a target="_new" href="http://www.simple2rent.co.uk">London estate agents</a> and get all doubts regarding London properties clarified.</p><a href=http://idontlikerugs.blogspot.com/>Helping With Hair Loss</a><br><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4169315457736041789-8426256671340444982?l=londondailey.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>goldenladhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621219858896969230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169315457736041789.post-17467290428963452992008-11-14T12:42:00.019-08:002008-11-14T12:42:49.865-08:00<p>Conveyancing in London and the United Kingdom has started to feel the housing market crunch but The First Time Buyers' Initiative (FTBI) was introduced to make more affordable homes available to first-time buyers. It is available throughout England from 23 regional HomeBuy agents. So what does this mean for first time home buyers?</p><p><B>Who can buy FTBI homes?</B></p><p>50% of the new homes available through the initiative will be for key workers (nurses, teachers, police officers).</p><p>The other 50% will be available to first time buyers who fit the following criteria:</p><p>The buyers must be first time buyers. They cannot be homeowners already nor can they be named on a mortgage.</p><p>The buyers must be unable to afford to buy a home (within reasonable travelling distance of their workplace) which is suitable for their needs.</p><p>The buyers must be able to show that they have sufficient funds to pay a deposit (up to 5% of the purchase price), legal fees, stamp duty land tax and the additional costs associated with moving house.</p><p>The buyers must be on a long-term employment contract. If they are self-employed, accounts for the past three years will need to be produced and subsequently approved.</p><p>The buyers must have a good credit history.</p><p>The buyers must take out a first mortgage with one of the qualifying lenders.</p><p><B>What contribution will be given and how is it repaid?</B></p><p>The government will provide up to 50% of the purchase price. Therefore, the mortgage and the cash funds available to the buyer must be at least 50% of the purchase price. Not all buyers will qualify for 50% assistance, the HomeBuy agent will determine the level of contribution available to each buyer.</p><p>The government's contribution will need to be repaid on the sale of the property. The repayment will be at the same percentage of the sale price as the contribution, so if the sale price is higher than the purchase price, the repayment to the government is higher (in terms of a monetary figure) than the input.</p><p>After three years the buyer will need to pay a fee to the government on sale of the property: 1% of the contribution after three years, 2% after four years and 3% thereafter.</p><p><B>What is the procedure?</B></p><p>The prospective buyers need to register their interest with the HomeBuy agent and they need to complete a HomeBuy application.</p><p>If eligible, the buyers will receive an "Approval of Eligibility Letter" from the HomeBuy agent and they will be provided with FTBI schemes in the buyer's area.</p><p>The buyers then chose a home and instruct their solicitors and their IFAs to progress a full mortgage application.</p><p>Once the HomeBuy agent gives final authority to proceed, the buyer can agree to exchange contracts.</p><p>The buyers' solicitors then need to ensure that all conditions for buying a FTBI home are met (i.e. mortgage offer is in order, property price is agreed and funds are available) and proceed with the purchase of the property as usual.</p><p>On completion, the buyers' lender will provide the drawdown and the government will provide the balance funds. There will be a second charge put on the property for the benefit of the government.</p><p>If the buyers want to sell the property later, this can be done on the open market.</p><p>A list of FTBI HomeBuy agents is available from the English Partnerships website englishpartnerships.co.uk.</p><p><B>This article is free to republish provided the authors resource box below remains intact.</B></p><p>Robert Johnson is part of Healys who specialise as <A TARGET="_NEW" HREF="http://www.healys.eu/services-for-you/conveyancing-solicitor-London.html">London Coveyancing Solicitor</A> and also aids the <A TARGET="_NEW" HREF="http://www.healys.eu/services-for-you/conveyancing-solicitor-brighton.html">Brighton Conveyancing Solicitor</A> office.</p><a href=http://idontlikerugs.blogspot.com/>Helping With Hair Loss</a><br><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4169315457736041789-1746729042896345299?l=londondailey.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>goldenladhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621219858896969230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169315457736041789.post-43392103289582420392008-11-14T12:42:00.017-08:002008-11-14T12:42:42.403-08:00<p>Before you make a trip to any particular city, it is advisable to make a planning about the entire trip right from lodging to various activities like sightseeing, visiting to the tourist destinations and other activities in which you want to indulge yourself. Similarly, your holiday trip to London city can be a memorable one if you do the things systematically.</p><p>Take suggestions from those who had already visited London because it can help you to get some practical idea about the locations and hotel accommodations. However, internet can also guide you regarding travel tickets, selecting a hotel to stay, tourist destinations and many more.</p><p>If you are not ready to spend much in hotel accommodations then select Cheap London Hotels which can curtail your expenses. After all, selecting right Budget Hotels In London is not that much easy. And for that you need to work some research work on internet. On the other hand, you can also contact a travel agency for getting detail information about the hotel booking and related matters.</p><p>Even though some of the hotels which fall under the category of Discount Hotels In London, yet such hotels services are excellent and the rooms are clean and well furnished with modern equipment and amenities. Some of the luxury hotels are available in discounted rate in off seasons. Travelers can take the opportunity to book the grand magnificent motels in an affordable rate.</p><p>London city is rich in culture and heritage. Several festivals and events take place whole through out the year. People around the world love to visit this place because of its serene beauty and natural ambiance. Moreover, the tourist places like the Houses of Parliament, the Tower of London, Westminster Abbey, Buckingham Palace, etc are among wonderful tourist destinations of the world.</p><p>London city draws endless tourist whole through out the year. The genuineness of the city lies in itself. So, to gain practical experience about the city, you need to stay at least some days in London. Thus, if you want to limit your expenditure then choose one of the cheap London hotels.</p><p>WebLondonHotels offers online booking for <a target="_new" href="http://www.webLondonhotels.com/">Cheap London Hotels</a> The most comprehensive hotel reservation system for all types of accommodation at Discount Hotels In London and <a target="_new" href="http://www.webLondonhotels.com/London-budget-hotels.html">Budget Hotels In London</a></p><a href=http://idontlikerugs.blogspot.com/>Helping With Hair Loss</a><br><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4169315457736041789-4339210328958242039?l=londondailey.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>goldenladhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621219858896969230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169315457736041789.post-60672731128404808752008-11-14T12:42:00.015-08:002008-11-14T12:42:37.688-08:00<p>Have we hit upon the right idea of Fashion? The process which has been going on ever since the world began seems to have a defect in it. When you have got a woman thoroughly civilized and well fashioned you cannot do anything more with her. And it is worth reflection what we should do, what could we spend our energies on.</p><p>We do not like to admit that fashion process has its cycles, that fashion and women, like trees and fruit, grow, ripen, and then decay. The world has always had a conceit that the globe could be made entirely fashionable, and all over the home of a society constantly growing better. In order to accomplish this we have striven to eliminate bad taste in women and in nature:<br><br>Is there anything more unsatisfactory than a perfect color, perfect fabric, perfect texture, design and print brought into the most absolute harmony of taste and culture? What more can a woman do with it? What satisfaction has a woman in it if she really gets to the end of her power to improve it? There have been such nearly ideal situations, and how strong nature, always working against woman and in the interest of untamed wildness, likes to riot in them and reduce them to picturesque destruction! And what sweet sadness, pathos, romantic suggestion, the human mind finds in such a ruin! And a fashion that has attained its end in all possible culture, entire refinement in style, in tastes, in the art of elegant intellectual and luxurious living--is there nothing pathetic in that?<br><br>London is probably the most civilized centre the world has ever seen; there are gathered more of the elements of that which we reckon the best.</p><p>Where in history, unless someone puts in a claim for the French Lady, shall we find a woman so nearly approaching the standard we have set up of civilization as the English Lady, refined by inheritance and tradition, educated almost beyond the disturbance of enthusiasm, and cultivated beyond the chance of surprise? We are speaking of the highest type in manner, information, training, <a target="_new" href="http://www.mishcollection.com">fashion, style</a> in the acquisition of what the world has to give. Could these women have conquered the world? Is it possible that our highest civilization has lost something of the rough and admirable element that we admire in the heroes of Homer and of Elizabeth? What is this London, the most civilized city ever known? Why, a considerable part of its population is more unfashionable, more hopelessly unstylish, than any wild race we know, because they are the refuse and slag of the civilization, if we dare say that. We can do something with a degraded race of bad fashion, if it has any stamina in it. What can be done with those who are described as East-Londoners?<br><br>Every great city has enough of the same element. Is this an accident, or is it a necessity of the refinement that we insist on calling fashion? We are always sending out designers, models to savage or perverted nations, we are always sending out emigrants to occupy and reduce to order neglected territory. This is our main business. How would it be if this business were really accomplished, and there were no more peoples to teach our way of life to, and no more territory to bring under productive cultivation? Without the necessity of putting forth this energy, a survival of the original force in man, how long would our fashion last? In a word, if the world were actually all civilized, would not it be too weak even to ripen? We have a gay confidence that we can do something for Africa. Can we reform London and Paris and New York, which our own hands have made?<br><br>If we cannot, where is the difficulty? Is this a hopeless world? Must it always go on by spurts and relapses, alternate fashion and bad fashion, and the bad fashion being necessary to keep us employed and growing? Or is there some mistake about our ideal of fashion? Does our process too much eliminate the rough vigor, courage, stamina of the race? After a time do we just live, or try to live?<br><br>These questions are too deep for these pages. Let us make the world pleasant, and throw a cover over the refuse. We are doing very well, on the whole, considering what we are and the materials we have to work on. And we must not leave the world so perfectly civilized that the inhabitants, two or three centuries ahead, will have nothing to do.</p><p>Misha Ghosh</p><p><a target="_new" href="http://www.mishcollection.com">http://www.mishcollection.com</a></p><a href=http://idontlikerugs.blogspot.com/>Helping With Hair Loss</a><br><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4169315457736041789-6067273112840480875?l=londondailey.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>goldenladhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621219858896969230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169315457736041789.post-60486370699991916332008-11-14T12:42:00.013-08:002008-11-14T12:42:32.106-08:00<p>There are 2 key suppliers of Hop on Hop Off London Sightseeing Bus Tours and these are:</p><p> The Original London Sightseeing Tour</p><p> The Big Bus Company</p><p>There is another company that runs London Sightseeing Tours where you have a Blue Badge Guided Tour and this is Evan Evans Sightseeing Tours.</p><p><b>The Original London Sightseeing Tour</b></p><p>This Original London Sightseeing Tour company provides a simple and great way to travel and see London - you cant see much when you are on the tube can you?! The company was founded in 1951 at the time of The Festival of Britain and is now the largest single sightseeing operator in the world. It offers you choice and flexibility over what you want to see and when. The Hop-on Hop-off service allows you to board any of our tour routes at over 90 different stops with a commentary in English or a wide choice of other languages. There is also a kids clubwhich provides an educational but fun alternative for 5-12 year olds. The services are frequent and reliable with tours running daily, every 15-20 minutes.</p><p><b>The Big Bus Company</b></p><p>The Big Bus Company offers you a similar service as the above, The Big Bus Company offer two main routes and a Green Link across London, taking in the best sights in the capital. Your ticket is valid for 24 hours so you have the time to see as much as you wish. The tour offers you a similar experience to the Original London Bus Tour with the ability to jump on and off buses and to gain an education of London by your informed driver.</p><p>Find our more about <a TARGET="_new" href="http://www.sightseeingtoursLondon.com">London Bus Tours</a></p><a href=http://idontlikerugs.blogspot.com/>Helping With Hair Loss</a><br><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4169315457736041789-6048637069999191633?l=londondailey.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>goldenladhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621219858896969230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169315457736041789.post-31152084840899120522008-11-14T12:42:00.011-08:002008-11-14T12:42:27.706-08:00<p>From the Shakespeare to the shopping, the royalty to the restaurants, London blends old world magic with cutting edge modernism like no other city in the world. Steeped in history and boasting a melting pot of cultures, you can visit the scene of a beheading, indulge in a curry to die for and shop your way through a world renowned fashion scene, all on one quiet London back street! With so much to see and do its no wonder that London continues to be one of the most visited cities in the world. But with so much to see and do, how do visitors to this buzzing metropolis ensure they see the best that London has to offer?<br></p><p>The best way to get the most from London is with the London Sightseeing Pass. A veritable passport for London, the London Pass is a ticket which gets you into not one, not two but more than 55 of Londons top sights and tourist attractions. It saves you loads of money, plus at many attractions it allows you to skip long and frustrating queues so it saves you time as well. You can buy the pass on its own or, if you plan to cover a lot of ground, you can opt for public transport to be included. The London Pass comes with its own guidebook which details all the attractions you can visit, plus gives you loads of extra discounts and freebies at restaurants, shops and entertainment centres all around London.<br></p><p>Depending on how much time you have in London, you can choose a 1, 2, 3 or 6 day London Pass, and then make your way at your leisure around the cities best sights. Some of the most popular tourist attractions covered by the London Pass include the Tower of London, St Pauls Cathedral, Kensington Palace, Windsor Castle and London Zoo, to name but a few.</p><a href=http://idontlikerugs.blogspot.com/>Helping With Hair Loss</a><br><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4169315457736041789-3115208484089912052?l=londondailey.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>goldenladhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621219858896969230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169315457736041789.post-86794253763974747692008-11-14T12:42:00.009-08:002008-11-14T12:42:23.136-08:00<p>There can be few people who have done as much for contemporary art in the UK as Charles Saatchi. Single headedly responsible for discovering a veritable host of young, aspiring British artists such as Sarah Lucas, Tracy Emin and Damien Hirst. Often criticized for his seemingly heavy handed approach to art collecting, and just as frequently acclaimed as a hero of the contemporary art scene in the UK. Regardless of his motives, and despite his critics, there can be no doubt that in many ways, Charles Saatchi put contemporary art on the map in the UK.</p><p>But the map is about to change, in the form of the new Saatchi Gallery, which will be opening its doors on October 9th. The Saatchi collection will be taking up residence in the Duke of York HQ, on Kings Road, close to Sloane Square in Chelsea. This astounding building with its 70,000 square feet of elegantly modern dcor is sure to be a firm success. The Saatchi Gallery will also be available for hire for special events. The Gallery would be perfect for people who are organizing high profile events such as award ceremonies, conferences and symposiums. It will also make a charming backdrop for more social events like birthday parties, Christmas parties and team building sessions.</p><p>The Saatchi Gallery can house up to 1,500 people, although organizers of smaller functions such as board meetings, training workshops and sales meetings are able to book s single room, or a selection of rooms to fit their intended head count. Every room is tastefully decorated, and contains a selection of exhibits from the famous Saatchi collection. Exhibits are changed several times each year, meaning a repeat booking will likely see visitors experiencing something new each time.</p><p>The Duke of York HQ is an impressive building, which has been completely renovated for use as a Gallery, and contains other features such as a book shop, educational facilities and a caf. This fresh new art attraction is sure to become one of the must see features of a visit to London by art aficionados.</p><p>The combination of Art Gallery and private function venue is an interesting combination, and is likely to be a huge success. As a venue for important and prestigious events like products launches and trade shows it will be one of the most exclusive venues available in this part of London. Certainly it is the newest and most stimulating venue to be made available in recent years, and is bound to meet with great success once open and ready for business. Who could imagine a more luxurious place to hold the annual meeting of your corporation, than in an international class Gallery, surrounded by one of the most notorious art collections in the world, which has been gathered together by the infamous figure of Charles Saatchi? An incredible combination and one which is bound to do well from the outset.</p><p>Saatchi Gallery presents the best <a target="_new" href="http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk">Art</a></p><p>Find more information about <a target="_new" href="http://www.saatchi-gallery.co.uk">Art Gallery</a> here.</p><a href=http://idontlikerugs.blogspot.com/>Helping With Hair Loss</a><br><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4169315457736041789-8679425376397474769?l=londondailey.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>goldenladhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621219858896969230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169315457736041789.post-57186002248360752372008-11-14T12:42:00.007-08:002008-11-14T12:42:18.214-08:00<p>With the fast changing norms the world over, we tend to see the advent of an entirely new cultural set-up: Gay and Lesbian Bars. These new establishments largely work as a drinking stage and serve absolutely or chiefly to a gay and/or lesbian clientele. Gay bars often vary in sizes and can be like a multi-story super-club or some tiny rooms. The gay bars with comparatively smaller set-ups don't offer too much in terms of luxury but very well provide an avenue where the gays can meet and share drinks. On the other way, the multi-story gay and lesbian bar greets its clientele with quite a few distinct areas and more than one dance floor.</p><p>Gay bars kick off their course of action with the serving of alcohol, which is a customary sight for gay and lesbian bars across the world. Actually this serving leads to the foremost goal and that is of offering a place for conversation and relaxation to their gay clientele. Finding gay bars in any metropolitan city like London, New York, Paris etc won't be a tough task for those interested, as you will come across eye-catching fliers everywhere in the city. Such advertisement boards can easily be observed right in the middle of street, shops and venues, having larger gay presence than the other clubs and events.</p><p>With provocative and stimulating images, these fliers end up generating enough interest among those exploring gay bars. Inside the bar, music rules the roost with either live or blended superbly by a DJ or DJs. The music fluctuates in style and lures one and all to gyrate to its striking and sensual tunes, mixing jazz and blues to disco, pop, drum and bass. Besides these, punk, house, trance, and techno produce an ambiance that defies any logic to being restless. This apart,gay and lesbian bar comprises enough space to come up with dance venue, draping highly structured and sophisticated lighting design all around, to support the raised dancing platforms.</p><p>Gay bars hire dancers to stir up diverse emotions crossing the minds of those caught in between to live fully or let it be for the day. Back rooms form the most vital aspect of such bars everywhere with dimly lit rooms or corridors to allow the place where blurred activities (often sexual) take place. Unlike the usual restraining aspect of common bars, the gay bars often greet those not meeting the criteria in terms of sexes as well. You could get to see the occasional women-only nights in some of the gay bars.</p><p>Gay bars everywhere are quickly catching up with other available means of entertainment for gay community and even outpacing other modes with their glitz and glamor. Dreary and boring faces are almost not welcome here, as they greet jovial and delightful gays to scatter the joy of being a gay. So spruce yourself up thoroughly to be a part of a gay and lesbian bar where joy knows no limit.</p><p>Rajat Singh is associated with <a target="_new" href="http://www.gaypedia.com">http://www.gaypedia.com</a> - online gay portal features gay travel deals, lesbian holidays, gay hotels detail, gay pride in London, gay pride parade, Gay hotels, <a target="_new" href="http://www.gaypedia.com/en/destinations">Gay travel destinations</a>, apartments in Amsterdam, London parade pride, gay dance club, bars in Netherlands.</p><a href=http://idontlikerugs.blogspot.com/>Helping With Hair Loss</a><br><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4169315457736041789-5718600224836075237?l=londondailey.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>goldenladhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621219858896969230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169315457736041789.post-50478252278137275452008-11-14T12:42:00.005-08:002008-11-14T12:42:13.663-08:00<p>Closed circuit television (CCTV) continues its reign of surveillance. If you sympathize with the people who disagree with the use of video surveillance in public places, then replace reign of surveillance with invasion of privacy.</p><p>However you look at it, CCTV has had its share of successes in solving crimes. If it cannot deter criminals, then at least it can assist in the identification of criminals; this is still a very good argument for the use of video surveillance in public places, if you ask me.</p><p><b>The James Patrick Bulger Case</b></p><p>The 12th day of February 2003 was the day an innocent two-year child was murdered by two not-so-innocent ten-year olds. This murder case caused an outpouring of public outrage and unspeakable grief, the start of which was captured by CCTV.</p><p>Video surveillance cameras at the New Strand Shopping Center in Merseyside, England recorded the victim, Bulger, being led away by the perpetrators, Robert Thompson and Jon Venables. His mutilated body was discovered two days later. It can be said that the video footages paved the way for the resolution of this heinous crime. But oh, for the day when cameras can detect criminal intent!</p><p><b>The Columbine High School Massacre</b></p><p>Closer to home, the Columbine High School Massacre on the 20th of April 1999 was partially caught by security cameras attached to CCTV. If a school custodian did not replace the security tapes, the world would probably never have seen the brutality with which two teenage boys could vent their rage at their peers and teachers and at society at large.</p><p>Though the motives of the killers will never be fully known, as both committed suicide by shooting themselves in the mouth and head, the deadliest high school massacre in history is one that hopefully our children should never be made to endure again, even to watch on CCTV to testify.</p><p><b>The 2005 London Bombing</b></p><p>Of more recent vintage, not to mention more horrifying scale, is the 7 July 2005 London bombing. You might have read about this terrorist attack carried out by British Islamist extremists/suicide bombers that eventually crippled the London public transport system, fortunately on a temporary basis.</p><p>Again, thanks to CCTV and security cameras, the bombers were later identified. Though some sectors call for the removal of surveillance cameras in public places for civil rights purposes, this is one case where these high tech spying devices were most welcome.</p><p><b>What to Do</b></p><p>Often, investigators will come forward with images of perpetrators caught on security cameras. Calls for help to identify the whereabouts of these suspects are also placed, which should be a matter of concern for everybody.</p><p>When you identify a suspect, you should not hesitate about calling authorities with information. You have to remember that your diligence and promptness can help authorities save lives, including yours. Besides, you and the rest of the community have a hand in keeping our society peaceful, a duty towards country, if you will.</p><p>These being said, maybe the next time you do see accessories to CCTV like security and surveillance cameras, you might see the other side of the coin.</p><p><a target="_new" href="http://www.video-surveillance-guide.com/surveillance-cameras.htm">Security cameras</a> like the CCTV camera have their uses. For more information on how <a target="_new" href="http://www.video-surveillance-guide.com">CCTV</a> can help you and society, visit Video-Surveillance-Guide.com today!</p><a href=http://idontlikerugs.blogspot.com/>Helping With Hair Loss</a><br><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4169315457736041789-5047825227813727545?l=londondailey.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>goldenladhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621219858896969230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169315457736041789.post-69937518214895382192008-11-14T12:42:00.003-08:002008-11-14T12:42:08.875-08:00<p>The much anticipated Pharmacy Show 2008 at NEC Birmingham will take place on the 12th and 13th of October, bringing together pharmacists and buyers from all over the Globe. While registration is completely free, this trade event is only for industry buyers, pharmacists and their staff, thus providing an excellent platform for buyers to compare products and services from over 80 different pharmaceutical companies.</p><p>While many exhibitors will be seen offering show-only deals, others exhibitors will add an element of fun offering competitions and lucky draws. Apart from benefiting from the Expo as a ground for expanding business networks and discussing business opportunities for growth, visitors can also purchase the Pharmacy Buyers Guide as a reference or directory of suppliers' contact details and products.</p><p>The exhibition is located centrally at the famous NEC Birmingham which has the added advantages of easy access and nearby accommodation. With its own car park, visitors can easily reach the Expo via the UK motorway network through the M6, M1, M40 and M42. Travel by train will also be no trouble thanks to the NEC Arena being connected to the Birmingham International station by a covered bridge link. Most trains also have many regional towns and cities as their direct destination; London for instance is only 90 minutes away from the venue by rail.</p><p>While the venue can be easily accessed from the London Heathrow, London Gatwick and other regional airports, International visitors can also get easy access due to the close proximity of the NEC to the Birmingham International Airport. This airport has over 20 international airlines and scheduled flights from 34 destinations in the UK, Europe and North America.</p><p>Accommodation has been taken care of by Virtuoso which is the appointed booking partner for the Pharmacy Show and offers negotiated and exclusive prices for visitors to the show. For those travelling with children the venue has a fully equipped child care facility operated by trained professionals, allowing visitors to enjoy the exhibition and reap its benefits without worrying about their children's safety.</p><p>Featuring a special stall called the Natural Pavilion; the Pharmacy Show will display the latest natural products available allowing the suppliers the opportunity to showcase their products to both health store owners as well as prospective buyers who visit the show.</p><p>Creating a platform for multiple bulk buyers, the show will also provide suppliers with a chance to have direct interaction with these buyers, some of whom are capable of making purchases even for over 1,500 pharmacies each. Helping UK based companies compete in the international market, the UKTI stand will help build an extensive international network, and also guide UK companies on business development.</p><p>Catherine writes about <a target="_new" href="http://www.clipdisplay.com">Exhibition Services & Stands</a> and <a target="_new" href="http://exhibitionsuk.blogspot.com/">Exhibitions & Conference News</a>.</p><a href=http://idontlikerugs.blogspot.com/>Helping With Hair Loss</a><br><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4169315457736041789-6993751821489538219?l=londondailey.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>goldenladhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621219858896969230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169315457736041789.post-1089643787287933422008-11-14T12:42:00.001-08:002008-11-14T12:42:03.328-08:00<p>Solar Photovoltaic, or Solar PV, is the method used to convert sunlight into electricity. Sunlight shines on a solar panel, some sort of witchcraft happens, and electricity comes out the other end. Photovoltaic is a made up word for Physics, really: photo means light, and voltaic refers to the energy we get from it. Anyway, let me explain what the witchcraft really is!</p><p><strong>Behind the Scenes</strong></p><p>There is a phenomenon in Physics known as the <em>photoelectric effect</em>, which forms the basis for solar photovoltaic technology. The photoelectric effect states that when a photon (a tiny, massless particle that makes up light) strikes a metal surface, if it has enough energy, it is able to release one electron from being confined to an atom in the metal. I won't go into the detail of how this works here, but just remember that it's a one to one ratio we are dealing with here: when one photon with sufficient energy strikes a metal surface, one electron is liberated. If we skip forward a bit and relate the number of freed electrons to electricity, we can see that the amount of electricity produced by this system would be directly proportional to the intensity of the light (i.e. number of photons) striking the metal surface. (The brighter the sunlight, the more power we get)</p><p><strong>It's All About Sandwiches</strong></p><p>So, how do we get from "freed electrons" to electricity? Solar PV makes use of semiconductors, which have properties of both metals and non metals in terms of the way the electrons behave in the semiconductor. I'll do my best to explain. Think of a sandwich. That's right, a sandwich; everyone loves sandwiches. You have two slices of bread, and a gap in the middle between them where there is no bread! Now imagine looking at this from the side: you have a band of bread at the bottom, then a gap, then another band above the gap. Do bear with me here, it will become clear soon!</p><p>This sandwich is your semiconductor. Imagine that the bottom band of "bread" is filled with electrons, and the top one is relatively empty. Light comes in, excites some electrons in the bottom band, and if the photons have enough energy, the electrons jump up across the gap to the band on top. If we apply a voltage to this semiconductor now we can get the electrons in the top band ("conduction band") to move either one way or the other. We can also do this by using different materials for the semiconductor. If we have a continuous supply of light (during the day, say), then a current will flow as the supply of electrons making the jump is sustained. This is also why if you have more light, you get more electrons flowing, so a greater current (more power!)</p><p>So that's pretty much it, the basics of how solar photovoltaic technology works. It's all sandwiches!</p><p>Michael Ashcroft is a Physics student at Imperial College London, with a passion for Environmental and Energy issues. In fact, he hopes to make this his career. He's also a keen musician and photographer, and writes articles on Environmental topics for his website. For more articles, please visit <a target="_new" href="http://www.howtopowertheworld.com">http://www.howtopowertheworld.com</a></p><a href=http://idontlikerugs.blogspot.com/>Helping With Hair Loss</a><br><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4169315457736041789-108964378728793342?l=londondailey.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>goldenladhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621219858896969230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169315457736041789.post-45989160036422628632008-11-14T12:41:00.023-08:002008-11-14T12:41:58.889-08:00<p>A lot of my friends and relatives know I am trying to go green. This is really not my first stab at it. I started recycling many years ago, and other than taking organic vitamins and trying my best to eat natural foods, that was about as far as I went.</p><p>Then, at age fifty-three, which I am now, I had an epiphany. I had been a part of the worst generation for this planet. The guilt started setting in like snowflakes on a windy North Dakota winter night. I am a baby boomer. I was a part of the peace, love, Woodstock generation. Other than learn to talk back to our government (which actually turned out to be a good thing), we didn't do a lot for the planet. We smoked (and sometimes not just cigarettes). We drank too much. We drove V8's and used premium gas. And we thought we were "saving the planet"??? It simply shows how deluded one can get, if one gets involved in "a movement". And though, I must say some very decent music came out of that generation that is often copied, never duplicated, most of us that came out of it, merely survived it.</p><p>My point is, we didn't do a lot to make the planet cleaner, more efficient, more sustainable, or anything else. So what in the world did we do to help? Well, I guess the best we (the males) did was not dirty up the barber's floors with hair. Not much else that crosses my mind.</p><p>I am astounded that I am still alive after my early college years of eating sardines, peanut butter, and Big Macs. And we were "children of the earth"? I don't think so. Keep in mind we were doing the best we could given the tools (or lack thereof) handed to us. I am sure our parents, professors, and other elders were more confused than us as to what was happening to our planet. We had no instant access to information. No Google, cell phones, Internet. Not even a Blue tooth. How, oh how, did we ever get by?</p><p>So I did my damage and made my amends. The question is, what now, can I, as one human, do to make the world a better place? I can first of all make me better. I believe Gandhi was correct when he says "Become the change you want to see". So I exercise and watch my diet. I try to wear earth-friendly clothing and use organic cleaners in my home. I eat organic. I don't do this all the time, but it is a process. And it is a journey. And it is part of my growth. And it is to prove to myself that it is never too late to do a little something, no matter how little, to modify my own behavior to do better. I can't change anyone else. I can barely change me. We do change though if we are truly motivated to change.</p><p>If you are not already practicing earth-friendly or eco-friendly behavior, I suggest you try. Join a few forums and blogs and get to know some of the people who are doing things. You would be surprised at their joy and happiness and sense of fulfillment many of them have. And it is contagious.</p><p>This old dog may be learning new tricks after all, and if I can, so can you.</p><p>Cartoonist/writer/entrepreneur Rick London launched Londons Times Cartoons, the Internet's most visited cartoon site in 1997. He is now learning to walk the walk with his new organic cotton t-shirt shop, Rick Londons Organics <a target="_new" href="http://www.rickLondonorganics.info">http://www.rickLondonorganics.info</a></p><a href=http://idontlikerugs.blogspot.com/>Helping With Hair Loss</a><br><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4169315457736041789-4598916003642262863?l=londondailey.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>goldenladhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621219858896969230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169315457736041789.post-18941332344886332022008-11-14T12:41:00.021-08:002008-11-14T12:41:54.382-08:00<p>With reference to his family he had 5 younger sisters and his father worked as a textile salesman and his mother designed Church fabrics and carpets.</p><p>Louis Wain studied and trained at The West London School of Art ( 1877- 1880 ) and remained as an assistant teacher until he left in 1882.</p><p>After his Father's death in 1880 he had to support his mother and five younger sisters and soon after, his sick wife Emily Richardson ( His youngest sister's governess ) whom he had married in 1881. Shortly after he married her she contracted Breast cancer. He brought Emily a Kitten which they called Peter and to entertain her he started drawing Peter in humorous situations and poses. To help to support his family he became a freelance itor (initially influenced by Caldecott and May) and in 1882 he joined the staff of The illustrated Sllustraporting and Dramatic News. He began to make his name with Dog drawings at various Dog Shows including the early British National Dog show at Crystal Palace in 1882 ( which later became known as Crufts ). During this time his wife encouraged him to send some of the humorous cat pictures of Peter to various Magazines and Newspapers which started to make his reputation here in Britain and in America and where his humorous cat pictures were seen in Comics, newspapers and magazines.</p><p>In 1884 he was commissioned to produce his funny cat pictures in the Christmas edition of the illustrated London news. These pictures were so successful that his life would never be the same again. Alas, this was tinged with sadness as his wife died shortly afterwards, but knowing that Louis Wain had become a great success.</p><p>In the period from 1880's up to the start of the first world war he ruled supreme in cat and animal humor especially the 'Louis Wain Cat' which was recognized worldwide. The Louis Wain cats appeared in Art Prints, Comics, Newspapers, Books, Magazines, Post Cards and Annuals. The Wain cats are to be found in every human activity - from playing golf and other sports, digging up roads, Playing music, Ascot fashions, Driving cats plus lots more.</p><p>In 1886 he joined the staff of The Illustrated London News. He was the first illustrator to work consistently within the convention of depicting clothed and standing animals.<br>His anthropomorphic vision of the world soon brought him fame and as a result he was elected President of the British National Cat Club in 1891.</p><p>In 1904 Louis Wain wrote a book entitled 'In Animal land with Louis Wain' which was a great success. During 1907 he invested all his savings into various Ceramic's with pictures based on his funny cats and sent most of them to America. Alas, while crossing the Atlantic the ship capsized and all Louis Wain ceramics went to the bottom of the sea. Due to this misfortune Louis Wain went bankrupt and decided to a temporary move to the United States. He produced strip cartoons for the New York American ( 1907-1910 ) and many other American comics, newspapers and magazines.</p><p>In 1910 he returned to England and over the next few years he continued to produce books and supply pictures to various comics, newspapers and magazines.</p><p>He continued drawing fanciful cats for various newspapers and comics near the end of the first world war. During this time in 1917 he was thinking of experimenting in animation and the film was to be called 'Pussyfoot'. Alas, he decided not to pursue this project and so the world lost the chance of a genius of comic cat art moving into animation. This year was a turning point in the history of Louis Wain's cats. His sister Caroline died and he fell off an Omnibus and hit his head.</p><p>After he recovered from these set backs his cats became more frenzied, surreal, jagged and pointy. During 1917 he was also diagnosed as a schizophrenic which alas, stayed with him for the rest of his life. During the onset of his disease at 57, Wain continued to Paint, Draw and Sketch cats.</p><p>In 1924 due to the economic climate and the slow recovery of GB after WW1 Louis Wain Art became less popular and he fell into poverty when his mental health deteriorated and finally his family had him certified Insane and he was committed to a pauper ward at Springfield Hospital ( Previously Surrey County Asylum ) at Tooting, London. During 1925 he was discovered by a visitor to the hospital painting his funny cat pictures. The visitor exclaimed that the artist pictures reminded him of Louis Wain's famous cats. Imagine his surprise when the Artist turned to the visitor and exclaimed he was indeed Louis Wain. After the visitor told the world of Louis Wain's hospitalization, his admirers started a campaign which included prime minister Ramsey Macdonald, HG Wells and King George who helped set up a foundation which was set up to enable Wain to spend the last few years of his life in comfort in private asylums including Bethlehem Hospital in a private room where his treatment continued. Some time in the late 1920's he was sent to Saint James Fields, Southwark where he continued to paint and draw his cats. In 1930 he was transferred to Napsbury Hospital near Saint Albans where he continued to paint and sketch until the end of his days. Exhibitions of his work were held in London in 1931 and 1937. On 4th. July Louis Wain died at Napsbury hospital. He is buried at Saint Mary's Catholic Cemetery, Harrow Road, London NW10 ( next to Kensal Green Cemetery, London ) in the same burial plot as his 5 sisters and parents.</p><p>One of the famous quotes during his lifetime was by HG Wells who said 'He invented a cat style, a cat society and a whole cat world'.</p><p>I am a collector and seller of Louis Wain 1860-1939 Funny Cats and Dogs on Art prints</p><p><a target="_new" href="http://www.geocities.com/fabprints2/LW.html">http://www.geocities.com/fabprints2/LW.html</a></p><a href=http://idontlikerugs.blogspot.com/>Helping With Hair Loss</a><br><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4169315457736041789-1894133234488633202?l=londondailey.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>goldenladhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621219858896969230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169315457736041789.post-68311178133372217982008-11-14T12:41:00.019-08:002008-11-14T12:41:49.324-08:00<p>The common belief is that lack of structure and randomness enhances creative output, whereas in truth, creativity is enhanced when it is organised, systematic and based on highly structured processes. This article will use Episode III of the Star Wars trilogy Revenge of the Sith to demonstrate that point.</p><p>First, some basic concepts.</p><p>a) We can measure creativity by observing the number of ideas produced, their novelty and diversity and the frequency of production. This allows us to gauge which of the two methods indicated above, produces more output. Using it, we can say for example, whether a structured approach with incremental deadlines and goals yields more of a screenplay than a do your best approach. Graham Green, the famous English writer, insisted that his success was due to writing, without fail, 500 words a day. Similar examples of incremental goal setting, the experience of people who regularly have to generate ideas (e.g. creatives in advertising) and experimentation reveal that incremental deadlines do indeed help us complete that screenplay much faster.</p><p>b) Creative output versus applied creative output. Creative output is enhanced to some degree by unstructured and random thinking. This is the essence of lateral thinking, where ideas are generated for i) the sake of generating them, ii) without direction, iii) without evaluation, iv) using random stimuli to open up pathways and so forth. However, applied creativity results from i) the use of frameworks that relate to the problem and ii) critical thinking reducing the idea pool to feasible ideas. In effect there are three stages, first creative thinking which is a combination of lateral and logical idea generation and second, critical thinking.</p><p>c) Structures and formal processes trigger a problem finding and resolving attitude and induce the goal state. This establishes boundaries, consistency, focuses creative energy and is a major source of motivation. It is commonly noted that people seem to be creative when constrained to some degree.</p><p>d) Prolific output. Structures such as incremental goals force output and lead to prolific production, which increases the likelihood of quality. It can be declared with great certainty that quality positively correlates with quantity. The single best creative product appears at that point in the career when the creator is being most prolific.</p><p>e) Incubation. Incremental goals can be short and longer term. Short-term goals increase output. Longer terms goals allow problems to incubate at various cognitive levels and lead to richer insights.</p><p>With the above in mind then, how did George Lucas go about writing the screenplay for Revenge of the Sith? He didnt just sit there and hope for the muse to strike. He had a deadline, a budget was involved and distributors and marketers had expectations. So he used structure.</p><p>As screenwriters know, the modern screenplay has evolved from three and four act structure. The modern dividers are known as plot points 1 and 2 and the midpoint, which break up the screenplay into four thirty page parts. By page 30 George knew that he had to set up the characters and Anakin had to set off on a journey, triggered by a set of events. A cataclysmic event had to take place around page 60, which sparks the meat of the Ordeal and significant change and by page 90, the scene is set for the final confrontation between the Jedi and the Dark Side. In effect, each section is reduced to a set of problem finding and solving exercises.</p><p>Going even further, classical story structure (on which the original Star Wars is based) breaks a film into 19 parts and many of todays successful movies are framed around it. The parts are: Ordinary World, the Call, Refusal, Supernatural Aid, First Threshold, Belly of the Whale, Trials, Meeting the Goddess, Woman as Temptress, Atonement, Apotheosis, Boon, Refusal of Return, Magic Flight, Rescue from Within, Crossing the Threshold, Return, Master of Two Worlds, Freedom to Live (Campbell, 1968). Thus, even four acts are too random. Screenwriters need a structure of 19 distinct stages of problem identification and idea generation to maximise their creativity in terms of speed and output.</p><p>The above 19 stage structure can legitimately be expanded to around 40 stages and there are theories that allow for as many as 240 micro stages.</p><p>In conclusion, creativity can be measured by the frequency, speed, novelty, diversity, amount and applicability of output. Significant research and practical experience indicate that organised, systematic and highly structured processes increase creativity, so if you want to help George write Star Wars Episode VII, dont take a random and structure free approach (commonly known as waiting for inspiration) use the appropriate structures and get on with it.</p><p>************************************</p><p>These and other topics are covered in depth in the MBA dissertation on Managing Creativity & Innovation, which can be purchased at <a target="_new" href="http://www.managing-creativity.com">http://www.managing-creativity.com</a></p><p>************************************</p><p>You are free to reproduce this article as long as the author's name, web address and link to MBA dissertation is retained.</p><p>Kal Bishop MBA <br> Kal is a management consultant based in London, UK. He has consulted in the visual media and software industries and for clients such as Toshiba and Transport for London. He has led improv, creativity and innovation workshops, exhibited artwork in San Francisco, Los Angeles and London and written a number of screenplays. He is a passionate traveller.</p><a href=http://idontlikerugs.blogspot.com/>Helping With Hair Loss</a><br><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4169315457736041789-6831117813337221798?l=londondailey.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>goldenladhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621219858896969230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169315457736041789.post-23733947904475436272008-11-14T12:41:00.017-08:002008-11-14T12:41:44.986-08:00<p>Each year, between the last week of June and the first of July - it depends on the country -thousands of people, go to the gay parade to support the cause. Many countries gathered more than 500,000 attendees last year, and the number of people increases in each new edition.</p><p>Cities like London, Berlin, L.A., Madrid or Barcelona, are specially compromised with this special Pride Day. Over the next month, all these cities will celebrate with music, poetry, theater, parties, discuss issues, sports and social events, exhibits and live entertainment the LGTB Pride.</p><p><b>Different cities, different Prides</b></p><p>Allow Pride London to whisk you away for a fairytale adventure. Yes, Fairytales, Myths and Legends is the theme of Pride London 2008. So bring your Prince Charming, your Belle, or even your beast, and join us for one of the most visually spectacular Pride's ever. The stages will be packed with an even bigger line up of celebrities, entertainments and politics, and with in excess of 500 000 people expected, this promises to be a truly star-studded, glittering affair. May all your dreams come true!</p><p>Most well-known is Berlin's 'Gay Pride Week' which takes place in the end of June every summer. All kind of events will take place. There will be Pride-Festival-Events with gay-lesbian background, but also supporting events for all visitors of the Berlin Pride.</p><p><b>L.A. Pride 2008's</b> message is about taking pride in 'who you are, your family, your community, and the world around you'.</p><p>From 28th June to 6th July, you can join the 'Pride Week' in Madrid. Many events will be supported by all the LGTB organizations of the city. From 10th June to 20th July, the 'Festival Visible' (COGAM International LGTB Culture Festival) runs in Madrid and other surroundings cities.</p><p><b>'Eurogames 2008 Barcelona'</b> is the biggest and most important sport and cultural LGTB European act. It will begin the 24th July and will finish the 27th and expects to collect more than 5,000 athletes coming from everywhere. Maybe you need to find accommodation for these days, because it is all very busy.</p><p>Look after <a href="http://www.apartmentsramblas.com/" target="_blank">Apartments in Barcelona</a> and share a proud experience. There will be more than 25 sport competitions, distributed by Barcelona and its metropolitan area, parties and cultural activities. Thus, Barcelona will become the most 'proud' city of the Mediterranean and Europe.</p><p>Come celebrate, connect, be a voice for the LGBT community and support awareness!</p><a href=http://idontlikerugs.blogspot.com/>Helping With Hair Loss</a><br><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4169315457736041789-2373394790447543627?l=londondailey.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>goldenladhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621219858896969230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169315457736041789.post-57785968324333379222008-11-14T12:41:00.015-08:002008-11-14T12:41:40.729-08:00<p>Friday morning and the office is buzzing - but for all the wrong reasons! Your staff cannot wait to leave work and begin their weekend. There is no motivation to do their job; that is why your sales targets for the last quarter were not met. So just how can you spice up the office? Clued-in managers will recognise de-motivation early and head it off at the pass by using a corporate event to revitalise flagging enthusiasm.</p><p>But surely, I hear you say, I really need a team building event to boost morale? WRONG. Mention team building and half the office will already plan their sick notes for the day. On the other hand, mention a company 'Jolly' and they will be getting their bags packed. These days team building needs to be subtle and sophisticated to be effective. It needs to be enjoyable and challenging but without excluding people. A carefully chosen corporate event will deliver team building by stealth.</p><p>A popular activity now is the treasure hunt. But some are better than others. A good treasure hunt will deliver skills that are essential to business teamwork. Look for a company who will force the winning team to think, there should be elements of planning, communication, problem solving, the opportunity for everyone to contribute and also a degree of internal organisation. Not every treasure hunt will provide these so choose carefully.</p><p>The event needs to be memorable in order to have a long term effect on your work force. Having a hunt on site or in the familiar surroundings of your home town or city is not ideal - it will not have the same effect as an away day, or even better, an away few days! Perhaps combine a company product conference with your treasure hunt and take your staff to a decent hotel for a couple of days. They will feel looked after for starters.</p><p>Take an example of a company based in London, instead of having all of the staff from your regional branches come to head office, meet up in Edinburgh or maybe Oxford or Cambridge, cities with some appeal for everyone.</p><p>But even better - take your team abroad; how about a corporate event in Paris? Have a treasure hunt amongst such iconic landmarks as the Eiffel Tower, Louvre and Notre Dame followed by a meal in a Parisian restaurant - that would be talked about for months, if not longer. Or maybe take them to Venice, where they can search for clues and scavenger items amongst the canals, squares and spectacular buildings built by the wealthy merchants of the middle ages. Top it off with a meal and your team will feel highly valued. That all-important motivation will return and targets will be met again!</p><p>But to make your corporate event work, you need to put in some effort too. Make sure that the teams are well mixed, with people from different departments, different layers of management and different backgrounds. By doing that, you will begin to gel your whole organisation and it will function more smoothly.</p><p>So if you want to motivate your workforce and improve company performance, order your <a href="http://www.huntfortreasure.co.uk" target="_blank">Venice treasure hunt</a> or <a href="http://www.spy-games.com/teambuildLondon.htm" target="_blank">London corporate entertainment</a> right now.</p><a href=http://idontlikerugs.blogspot.com/>Helping With Hair Loss</a><br><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4169315457736041789-5778596832433337922?l=londondailey.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>goldenladhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621219858896969230noreply@blogger.com0tag:blogger.com,1999:blog-4169315457736041789.post-42862602837812220902008-11-14T12:41:00.013-08:002008-11-14T12:41:35.981-08:00<p>'Plus partner': the common words that grace many a social invitation are enough to strike dread into even the most outgoing of people. If you're fed up with the single life then online dating may be just what's needed to inject a little zest into your lovelife and put the spring back into your step.</p><p>Instead of placing your lovelife in the hands of fate why not take action and make things happen yourself, by exploring the options online dating has to offer. The lack of time in busy lives makes it difficult to meet new people and if your current circle of friends is made-up of happy couples, then the likelihood of meeting that someone special for dating and fun days out in the city seems even harder to achieve.</p><p>Using the internet to meet your perfect partner is rapidly becoming a popular choice for city slickers living in Britain's capital and you may be pleasantly surprised by the options available. When you join an online dating site you create a profile which involves adding information that will help match you with like-minded love seekers, so if it's just a bit of fun you're after or something more serious, you can be sure to find people seeking the same thing. This no-nonsense approach to dating means you spend less time with unsuitable matches and more time enjoying the company of someone just like you.</p><p>You also have complete control over how much information you choose to share and for any shrinking violets out there, some online dating websites offer an anonymous option so you can search for potential candidates and get used to the process before revealing your identity.</p><p>With millions of singles in the UK looking towards dating online, the sites themselves are diversifying and you can now find dating websites specifically aimed at those living in the country, fitness fanatics or university graduates. Once you have met your perfect date all that's left to decide is where to go for your romantic rendezvous.</p><p>Dating in London offers so many possibilities you'll be spoilt for choice. As the social hub of the United Kingdom, London ensures there's always an option to suit everyone. Culture lovers could take a trip to the theatre or one of the many art galleries on offer whilst the social butterflies could take to the town and dance the night away in some of the trendiest and liveliest bars and clubs to be found.</p><p><a target="_new" href="http://www.mysinglefriend.com/area/dating-London.html">Dating in London</a> needn't be difficult, and with the help of online sites dedicated to the cause you might even find you're looking forward to your next 'plus partner' event as it's the perfect opportunity to show off your new catch!</p><p>Isla Campbell writes on a number of topics on behalf of a digital marketing agency and a variety of clients. As such, this article is to be considered a professional piece with business interests in mind.</p><a href=http://idontlikerugs.blogspot.com/>Helping With Hair Loss</a><br><div class="blogger-post-footer"><img width='1' height='1' src='https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/tracker/4169315457736041789-4286260283781222090?l=londondailey.blogspot.com' alt='' /></div>goldenladhttp://www.blogger.com/profile/07621219858896969230noreply@blogger.com0