The New Nation - Internet Edition

Women in Media

Farizaa Sabreen

The world- wide trend towards consumerism has created an atmosphere in which advertisements habitually portray women primarily as consumers and target girls and women of all ages inappropriately.

The aim of advertisements is to influence someone to buy a thing. A number of surveys indicate that women are treated as commodities in advertising.

Women are estimated to attract men's attention. Women are shown in advertisements totally responsible for household tasks. Our society wants to see women in the acts of cooking, cleaning and child rearing. Beauty and youth are given significance in the representation of women.

Maximum of advertising use women to promote products. Advertisements that target male-identified products, like shaving creams or cigarettes carry pictures of women faces. Female bodies also shown in men's clothing. The people of the ad world know this is appealing if there is an attractive female stay in the ad. Thus a woman's body is used for sexual representation in advertising.

The magazines which have pictures of half-nude women, sell the most number of copies.

Sex and violence are also seen on television, film and even in cartoons and computer games. These raise rape and harassment in not only Bangladesh but the whole world. Women are projected very openly in media.

Several newspaper and television reporters compete to take pictures of the female victims, which is against the media ethic. Advertising representing women as sex objects is general. Various satellite channels demonstrate a lot of sex and nudity.

Our media is a male-dominated world as well as it sees from male's eye. Gender stereotyping is the common in advertisements. We still consider a man as an achiever and decision-maker while we prefer to see women in traditional roles as homemakers and mothers. The women's pages of newspapers focus on fashion, beauty and loads of recipes.

Women are also vastly noticeable in soap operas, where their role is stereotyped. Gender-based stereotyping and lack of diversity and equity exists in commercial advertisements. According to a recent study, about one third of television advertisements discriminated against women.

During the decade, the world advances in information technology and ore women try to come forward to break their stereotyped image. More women are involved in non-traditional careers.

Media can be used as a means of change to develop women's lives and social development. Bangladeshi women must continue to work hard for greater opportunities.

The rise of liberal globalization, western cultural and internet are the culprits of this situation. Some men blamed women for permitting themselves to be exploited as a product.

These advertisements have many negative effects on society. They trigger racial discrimination, xenophobia and related intolerance. The young boys and girls easily attracted to the glitzy world of advertisement and ignore social and religious values.

As the commercials shows only fair and slim models, the young girls start starving themselves relentlessly. They make girls think that the only thing they should do is to smarten up by using from turmeric to chocolate, applying cosmetics and spending money for manicure and pedicure in beauty salons.

Most male supervisors seem to doubt the woman's ability to handle jobs that require challenge and hard labor. As a result, they nominate men to report critical issues and hold senior administrative positions.

Mehjabeen, senior reporter of a national daily is working for seven years. She recalls her early days in journalism, when the chief reporter gave her only women and children issues to cover. But she argued with him sensibly and gradually made him realize that women can also cover other issues, like politics, business or sports.

She stressed the importance of women's participation in the decision-making process in the media and the need to develop training programmes that will enhance women's professional skills.

She suggests changing editorial policy to increase gender sensitivity and it is needed to help women themselves to develop their professional visions and attain their rights.

The lack of opportunities for professional growth is one of the major depressants that Bangladeshi women face in media. There is so little access for women in decision making and that women are working at lower levels. Unfortunately our media lacks a strong existence of women as chiefs of broadcast and print media bureau. Shaju Hossein of Ittefaq Group, Mahbuba Chowdhury of Manab Jamin, Kaneez Almas of Canvas, Tasmima Hossein of Ananya, Nasrin Chowdhury of Dia Asiana are few women chief of our print media.

It is a good sign that some people raise their voices against demeaning women's moral in such advertisement. Nowadays women are involved in the communications sector. But we still need women at the decision-making level and governing bodies that influence media policy. We need to increase gender sensitivity in the media to eradicate the gender-based stereotyping.

The Government should make strategies to increase women's participation in decision-making at all levels of the media. Women should be empowered by improving their knowledge and access to information technology. Governments need to take action by supporting women's education, training and employment to promote women's equal access to all areas of the media.

Recently a number of gender workshops are organized by different NGO's and women organizations. NGO's and women-right organization have to promote extensive campaigns, making use of public and private educational programmes and increase awareness of the human rights of women.

Women need to understand what they can do when there is discrimination. We have to try our best to put an end to the negative effects of advertising on women. The media literacy, collaboration with existing media watch groups, media-related advocacies within and with governments and non-government organizations could improve the ongoing scenario of media.

Caves in Meghalaya have clues to climate change

Amar Jyoti Borah

Meghalaya carries a bewitching world in its belly. The natural caves found in Jaintia Hills are a storehouse of geological treasures. Rivers and streams flow through some of their dark, damp chambers, lending an other-worldly beauty to the caves.

The rocky roof hangs so low at times that the explorer has to crawl on all fours.

And to explore there is a lot: various life forms and geomorphological features carrying records of climate change in a different era.

These treasures may just be lost before they are fully appreciated because rampant coal mining is systematically destroying these caves. Jaintia Hills is also a major coal producing area, with an estimated 40 million tonnes of coal reserve. The Indian state government, which had promised to formulate a comprehensive policy to regulate private coal mining and limestone quarries over one-and-a-half years ago, is yet to deliver.

Prompted by a public-interest petition, filed in the Indian Supreme Court by a group involved in mapping caves, the government set up an expert committee in August, 2006, to look into unregulated mining activity in the state. Nothing much has happened since.

"There are many members in the committee, and many are from other states like Delhi and Jharkhand. It takes time to receive all the recommendations from all the members and frame the final policy. The draft mining policy is ready and will be out soon," says Arindom Som, the state mining secretary.

While the government still has no idea how it is going to control it, indiscriminate mining has begun to threaten the famed Krem Liat Prah-Um Lm-Labit cave system in Jaintia Hills, the longest in India at 30.9 km. Jaintia Hills is part of the Meghalaya plateau made of rocks belonging to the Archean (2.5-4 billion years ago) and Tertiary periods (63 million to 2 million years ago). Meghalaya has the largest concentration of caves in the subcontinent. About a thousand caves were discovered in the past decade and most of these are yet to be explored and mapped.

Over the years, 118 cave passages, stretching across 148 km, have been mapped on the Nongklieh-Shnongrim ridge, 60 km from Jowai town in Jaintia Hills. The ridge has India's longest Krem Liat Prah and third longest Krem Umthloo cave passages.

Cave sediments and stalagmites-conical limestone pillars rising from the floor-represent an undisturbed chronological repository of records of climate change which can stretch back to one million years. "Caves hold the key to understanding world climate changes. Taken in their totality the caves of Meghalaya should be considered national archaeological heritage sites that call for concerted protection at both the national and state levels," says Brian Daly Kharpran, secretary, Meghalaya Adventure Association, which had filed the petition seeking a ban on mining to save the caves. "Only Meghalaya has high quality caves in the country, therefore, there is an urgent need for the government to have a new approach to coal extraction," adds Terence M Whitaker, a biologist and an authority on caves.

Besides being geologically important, these caves are rich in biodiversity, teeming with fish, salamanders, spiders, woodlice and millipedes, which have adapted to the cave environment-they have no eyes, are white and have long antennae. These are yet to be studied properly. The caves are also home to three bat species: the Long Winged Bat, Dobson's Long Tongued Fruit Bat and the Kashmir Cave Bat.

"The number of bats has reduced significantly, which is alarming because they control pests. Their current population is between 3,000 and 5,000," says Adora Thabah, an expert on bats.

"There are fish which have been living in these caves since ages and have lost their pigmentation. Coal mining activities are a severe threat to these life forms," warns Thabah. "Unscientific mining of coal is a hazard to the existence of these caves and their fragile ecosystems. Already all the rivers in Jaintia Hills are polluted and highly acidic due to mining," adds Kharpran.

In Jaintia Hills, primitive surface mining method, also called rat-hole mining, isused. The land is cleared by removing the vegetation and then pits, 5 to 100 sq m in size, are dug to reach the coal seam. The excavated matter is dumped in the surrounding area. A large amount of soil runs off and gets swept inside the caves and coats the stalagmite and calcite formations with mud. In many areas sandy clear underground streams are getting replaced by torrents of mud.

Coal seams, 30 cm to 212 cm thick, occur embedded in sedimentary rocks, sandstones and shale of the Eocene age (54-38 million years ago). During mining large amounts of shale are brought to the surface as mine spoil and as by-product of coal cleaning. Iron pyrites in shale decompose when exposed to air and water, and produce sulphuric acid and ferrous hydroxide. These flow into the surface and underground water, making it unsuitable for aquatic life. The Centre for Environmental Science, North East Hills University, has found water bodies surrounding mines to be highly contaminated.

Then there is another threat: increased flooding of caves. Mining may be partly responsible for this as water gets accumulated in the excavated pits and seeps into the caves. Higher water levels inside the caves erode sediments. Coincidentally, caves are adjacent to huge reserves of coal and limestone.

The Meghalaya Pollution Control Board says it is studying the effects of coal mines on the environment and the caves. "Once the mining policy comes into effect, every coal miner will be required to treat the mine water," says D Hooroo, member secretary of the board. But that is a long wait.

(CSE/Down To Earth Feature Service)

Litchi recipes

Litchi Ice Cream

Ingredients

1½ cups canned seedless litchis, drained & diced

2 cups heavy cream

1 cup milk

¾ cup sugar

2 egg yolks, beaten

¼ cup fresh lemon juice

Method

1. Combine the cream, milk and sugar in a saucepan or double boiler; heat until warm and the sugar is completely dissolved. Add 1 cup of the cream mixture to the yolks while whisking lightly. Gradually pour the egg mixture back into the cream mixture while continuing to whisk lightly.

2. Cook over medium heat, stirring constantly, until the back of your spoon is thinly coated, about 8 minutes. Do not allow boiling or the ice cream custard mixture will curdle.

3. Add the litchi and lemon juice and let it cool in the refrigerator overnight.

4. Freeze in an electric or manual ice cream maker according to the manufacturer's instructions. If you don't have an ice cream maker you can put the ice cream custard in a bowl and put it in your freezer until frozen.

Summertime Litchi Iced Tea

Ingredients

4 quarts water

10 litchi tea bags

1/2 cup ginger juice

1/4 cup fresh lemon juice

1/4 cup fresh lime juice

1/2 cup sugar

Lemon and lime slices, for garnish

Method

Bring the water to a boil in a large pot, and remove from the heat. Add the tea bags, ginger, lemon, and limejuices and sugar. Allow the tea to steep for 10 minutes, remove the tea bags and cool the tea. Stir to be sure that the sugar is dissolved, and place in a large pitcher. Refrigerate until thoroughly chilled.

Just before serving, add the vodka to the tea and serve in tall glasses filled with ice. Garnish with lemon and or lime slices.

Litchi Soufflé

Ingredients

General:

1 small onion

For Custard:

2 cups milk

5 tbsp powdered sugar

For Gelatin:

2½ tbsp. Gelatin

1 tbsp. Sugar

For Cream:

8 oz whipping cream

6 tbsp custard powder

¾ tbsp vanilla essence

1-cup syrup from litchi can

2-tsp. Lime juice

4 tbsp. powdered sugar

Method

1. Mix milk and sugar in a vessel and heat. Dissolve custard powder in little cold milk and add to the hot milk. Stir till thick. Remove from heat and cool. Mix vanilla essence.

2. Mix together gelatin and sugar. Add Litchi syrup. Double boil the mixture till gelatin is dissolved. Mix limejuice and beat on ice with an eggbeater till fluffy like cream.

3. Mix whipped cream and powdered sugar. Beat on ice cubes till cream is stiff but flowing. Reserve some cream for decoration.

4. Reserve a few whole Litchis for decoration. Cut the remaining Litchis into tiny bits.

5. Place a big vessel on plenty of ice cubes. Mix in cooled custard, beaten gelatin, cream and Litchi bits. Stir often, scrapping the sides till the soufflé is mixed properly.

6. Pour the prepared soufflé into a bowl. Set in the refrigerator till set. Decorate with Litchi pieces and cream before serving.

22 ways to tackle life’s biggest energy zappers

Every day, 2.2 million Americans complain of being tired. Most of us chalk it up to having too much to do and not enough time to do it in, especially during extra-busy periods. But often the true culprits are our everyday habits: what we eat, how we sleep, and how we cope emotionally. Read on for some simple, recharging changes that can help you tackle all of the energy stealers in your life.

Energize Your Diet

Why is it that filling up on pasta or Chinese food for lunch leaves us snacky and sleepy an hour later? Or that falling short on fluids makes us forgetful and foggy? Fact is, eating habits play a powerful role in how well we function on every level. Below, six top fatigue-fighting nutrition strategies to chew on.

Have breakfastt even if you don't feel hungry. You'll be a lot perkier: Studies show that people who eat breakfast feel better both mentally and physically than those who skip their morning meal. British researchers at Cardiff University even found that spooning up a bowl of breakfast cereal every morning is associated with lower levels of the stress hormone cortisol.

Eat every three to four hours. Having three smallish meals and two snacks throughout the day can keep your blood sugar and energy levels stable all day long, says Roberta Anding, R.D., a spokesperson for the American Dietetic Association (ADA). Note the word "smallish." Supersized meals demand more of your energy to digest, which can leave you feeling lethargic. At each mini-meal, get a mix of carbohydrates (which the body uses for energy), protein (which helps sustain energy if needed), and healthy fats like those found in fish, nuts, and olives -- these fats and protein contribute to meal satisfaction, so you don't go hunting for sweets an hour later and wind up with a short-lived sugar high and subsequent crash. A few meal ideas: a low-fat yogurt parfait with berries and a couple of tablespoons of whole-grain granola; salmon over mixed greens with whole-grain crackers; and beef tenderloin with a baked sweet potato and asparagus.

Fill up on more fiber. Fiber has a time-releasing effect on carbs, so they enter your bloodstream at a slow and steady pace, giving your energy staying power. When choosing your mini-meals (see above), include fiber-filled options that add up to the daily recommended 25 to 30 grams of fiber (the average person gets only between 10 and 15 grams). Some suggestions: a bowl of raisin bran (5 grams of fiber per cup); black beans and cheese wrapped in a multigrain tortilla (beans have 7.5 grams per 1/2 cup; one tortilla has 5 grams); air-popped popcorn (3.6 grams per 3 cups); an apple with the skin (3.3 grams); and whole-wheat spaghetti (6.3 grams per cup).

Fuel your brain with omega-3s. Found in fatty fish (such as tuna and salmon), walnuts, and canola oil, these essential fatty acids play a role in keeping brain cells healthy and helping you feel mentally alert. Another potential bonus: Omega-3s encourage the body to store carbs as glycogen - the storage form of glucose (blood sugar) and the body's main source of stored fuel - rather than as fat.

Stay hydrated. Water makes up the majority of your blood and other body fluids, and even mild dehydration can cause blood to thicken, forcing the heart to pump harder to carry blood to your cells and organs and resulting in fatigue. Also, ample fluids keep energy-fueling nutrients flowing throughout the body. To gauge your hydration, Clark recommends monitoring how often you urinate. You should be going every two to four hours, and your urine should be clear or pale yellow in color. Tip: Besides drinking more, you can also consume foods that naturally contain water, such as yogurt, broccoli, carrots, and juicy fruits, like watermelons, oranges, and grapefruits.

Watch caffeine intake after noon. Typically, consuming a moderate amount of caffeine - 200 to 300 mg, the amount found in two to three cups of coffee - can make you more energetic and alert in the hours following. But when caffeine is consumed in large quantities - or anytime in the afternoon or evening - the quality of your sleep that night can take a nosedive, leaving you with heavy eyelids the next day. One caution for those who are highly sensitive to caffeine: Although switching to a decaf latte in the afternoon sounds like the answer, researchers at the University of Florida found that out of 22 decaffeinated coffee beverages tested, all but one contained some caffeine.

Energize Your Spirit: We're all familiar with physical exhaustion, but mental strain - sadness, boredom, worry, anger, and general stress (the biggie) - can take an even heavier toll on vitality, completely wearing you out. Life happens, and these difficult emotions will, too. But if you react wisely, your brain and body will rebound - along with your vim and vigor.

Splash some water on your face or take a shower when you're feeling burned-out. Some 55 percent of study participants reported using these types of "water therapy" to successfully increase their energy, according to findings in the Journal of Personality and Social Psychology. Apparently, a little H 2 O refresher can instantly help take the edge off when you're feeling overwhelmed.

Suit up in a "power" outfit to beat the blahs. Fight the tendency to throw on sweats when you're feeling sluggish. Although it may seem counterintuitive to slip into the skirt you save for special occasions, it helps to look in the mirror and see an energizing image - not a deflating one that confirms and reinforces your internal state. Dressing for success will give you a big mental boost every time you catch sight of your reflection (or receive a compliment) throughout the day.

Vent your feelings. Keeping fear, anxiety, and stress pent up inside may seem like a grown-up way to deal with these emotions. But discussing negative feelings with another person can ease them far better than keeping them bottled up; by airing them, you reduce their ability to sap your stamina.

Turn on some tunes. Listening to music is one of the most effective ways to change a bad mood, decrease tension, and increase energy. Consider this: Runners in one study who listened to music while on the treadmill ran faster than those who jogged in silence - no matter how loud the volume or how fast the tempo, according to new findings in the journal Ergonomics. Other research suggests that music effectively distracts you from feeling fatigue. Try burning a CD of your favorite songs and playing it anytime you need a pick-me-up. (If you exercise, so much the better - but the music will move you either way.)

Let go of grudges. Nursing a grudge prompts your mind and body to react as if they're under chronic stress, increasing your heart rate and blood pressure and potentially resulting in an impaired immune system and exhaustion over time, according to a study in the journal Psychological Science. On the other hand, practicing empathy and forgiveness after you've been wronged makes you feel as if you're back in control, which keeps the body's stress responses in check. The next time you find yourself harboring ill feelings, repeat a stress-relieving mantra to yourself, such as, "Forgiveness makes me a happier and stronger person."

Take belly breaths. When we're under stress, we're prone to take "chest breaths" - short, shallow ones. Chest breathing brings less air into the lungs and reduces the supply of energizing oxygen to the body and brain, leaving you physically and mentally drained. The goal is deep, diaphragmatic breathing - like that of a sleeping infant: When you breathe in, your belly should round and fill like a balloon; on an exhale, your belly should slowly deflate. Of course, remembering to practice deep breathing isn't the first thing on your mind when you're under the gun, so as a visual reminder, try posting a tranquil picture (such as a pool of water or your kids smiling) with the word "breathe" next to your computer, or anywhere you tend to feel on edge.

De-clutter a corner. Go through that teetering pile of papers or overflowing closet and clear it out. Clutter can make you feel out of control and overwhelmed, especially when you're already feeling stressed or down. Plus, simply accomplishing a goal, no matter how seemingly minor, can be energizing.

Do some good. Acts of altruism can lend a little pep to your step. In fact, one study in the Journal of Health and Social Behavior found that volunteer work can boost your energy in six ways: It enhances happiness, life satisfaction, self-esteem, sense of control over life, physical health, and mood.

Get a Restorative Rest

When you have a lot to do (umtalways), usually the first thing to get squeezed off your agenda is sleep. But miss out on shut-eye and your energy, positivity, productivity, and memory are sure to suffer. And nearly a quarter of American adults aren't getting enough rest, which has led to an epidemic of daytime sleepiness, according to a poll by the National Sleep Foundation. The key to bucking this trend is to brush up on sleep hygiene. Try these steps for starters.

Cut back on TV and computer time after 8 p.m. If you're already a night owl (you go to bed late and sleep in on weekends), the bright light emitted from television and computer screens can make falling asleep at a decent hour even harder. The reason: Light suppresses the production of melatonin, a hormone secreted at sunset that tells the brain that it's nighttime, explains John Herman, Ph.D., director of the training program in sleep medicine at the University of Texas Southwestern Medical School at Dallas. And when melatonin levels are low, your brain is fooled into thinking that it's still daytime - and remains raring to go. Whenever possible, wait until the next morning to tune in and/or log on. If you must use light-emitting technology at night, try to turn it off an hour or two before hitting the sack.

Hide your alarm clock. Watching the clock to see how long it's taking you to drift off or how much time you have left before your alarm goes off can result in a poor night's sleep. This hypervigilance keeps the brain awake and alert and prevents you from slipping into deep, restorative sleep. The easy fix: Set your alarm clock, then either face the numbers away from you or put it on the floor, in a drawer, or across the room.

Give your pet his own separate sleeping space. At night, pets snore, jiggle their tags, move around a lot, and even hog the covers and bed space. It's no wonder that 53 percent of pet owners who sleep with their pets in the bedroom have some type of disrupted sleep every night, according to a study from the Mayo Clinic Sleep Disorders Center in Rochester, MN. Consider relocating your furry friend's sleeping quarters to another area, even if it's just his own bed in your bedroom.

Lower the thermostat. For a good night's sleep, make sure your room is comfortably cool - enough so that you need a light blanket. This ensures that your environment is in sync with your body's internal temperature, which naturally drops during the night, according to the National Sleep Foundation. Studies suggest the ideal sleeping temperature is between 54 and 75 degrees; anything cooler or warmer may cause you to wake up.

Skip the nightcap. Alcohol depresses the nervous system - the system of cells, tissues, nerves, and organs that controls the body's responses to internal and external stimuli. So while sipping a glass of wine before bed may help you nod off, the sedative effects wear off as your body metabolizes the alcohol, which may cause you to wake up in the middle of the night and have trouble falling back to sleep. Alcohol has also been shown to interfere with the body's natural 24-hour biorhythms, causing blood pressure to rise and heart rate to race at night when it's normally calm and relaxed. You don't have to give up that evening cocktail entirely to achieve sound sleep - just try to avoid alcohol within two to three hours of bedtime.

Get your exercise. While scientists don't yet understand why, aerobic exercise has been proved to help you fall asleep faster at bedtime, spend more hours in deep sleep, and wake up less often throughout the night. At the same time, vigorous exercise can act like a stimulant (which is a great daytime energizer), so schedule your workouts in the morning or afternoon, when you need a boost the most.

Follow the 15-minute rule. If you can't fall asleep, or if you wake up and can't get back to sleep within about 15 minutes, get out of bed and do something relaxing that will help clear your head, such as reading, meditating, or knitting (but not watching TV or surfing the Web). Then, once you feel sleepy again, go back to bed. If you stay put and fret about being awake, you'll only make yourself more anxious - and less likely to catch the z's you need.

Write down your worries. During the day, jot downs any stressors that are weighing on you. Then, do some mental problem solving before your head hits the pillow - or, if you're falling short on solutions, tuck your list away and resolve to brainstorm ideas during your morning shower or commute to work. Just knowing you've established a plan for tackling your to-do's will make you feel like you've made some progress, allowing you to relax, drift off - and wake up the next morning ready to take on the day.

Your Summer Makeover: 8 tips for looking good

Want to "wow" your friends this summer? Try a summer makeover with eight ways to look good and feel great … from head to toe!

1. Start with soft, shiny hair.

Give natural ways to use food to help you look your best. To liven up dull, dry hair, they suggest coating your hair with mayonnaise or olive oil (other oils such as canola also work fine). Wrap your head with plastic wrap followed by a warm towel, and relax for 10 minutes or longer. Wash the oil out with an herbal shampoo for a great feel and fresh smell.

2. Protect your eyes from UV rays.

Just as you slather suntan lotion on your skin, your eyes deserve protection, too. Excessive exposure to the sun's ultraviolet (UV) rays can damage the cornea of the eye. The American Academy of Ophthalmology recommends wearing sunglasses that block 99% to 100% of UV-A rays and UV-B rays. (UV-B rays do the most damage to eyes.) Even if you wear contacts with UV protection, remember to still wear your sunglasses for maximum protection of your entire eyes.

3. Whiten your teeth.

There's nothing like white teeth to bring attention to your summer glow. Whitening teeth is a safe and rewarding procedure. You can use either the whitening strips or trays for a two-week period at night. Or you can opt for the in-office whitening at your dentist's that takes a little over an hour.

Although the in-office method is more costly, both methods work well. Whitening toothpaste is good for maintenance, but the toothpaste will not give you dramatic changes. Also, the over-the-counter whitening systems do not work as well as the formula you can get from your dentist.

Make sure to get your teeth checked and cleaned every six months to keep them looking beautiful and healthy.

4. Be confidant and stand tall.

When you stand tall, make sure that your chin is parallel to the ground. Pretend you're balancing a book on your head and look forward, not down. Draw your shoulders together as if they are attempting to touch. Pull your stomach in toward your spine, and lift up your chest, keeping your neck long.

Here's an easy posture test: Stand sideways in front of a mirror and imagine a line from your ear to the floor. This line should go through the tip of your shoulder, the middle of your hip, the back of your kneecap, and the front of your anklebone. Do this several times a day to become more aware of how you stand.

5. Tighten your abs the right way.

We give two simple exercises to get six-pack abs.

One is the partial curl-up. While lying with your back on the floor and your legs flat on the floor -- not bent up as you typically see -- lift your head and chest up toward the ceiling. Now lead with your forehead and fingertips, moving them straight up at the same time. Keep your chin tucked. Lift your chest as far up off the floor as you can (not curling forward, but up toward the ceiling) and then lower back down. Keep your abdominal muscles contracted (or 'on') the whole time, allowing them to rest only after a set of 10 to 15 times has been completed.

To tighten the lower abdominal so your belly does not bulge, getting down on your hands and knees with your spine straight, not arched up or sagging down. Lift the lower abdomen up toward the spine and squeeze. Do not arch the back upwards. Simply lift the lower abdomen up, squeeze, and let it relax back down. Do 10 to 15 of these exercises each time, and you'll feel the muscles working very low in the abdominal area.

6. Super-saturate your feet and heels.

The feet and heels are especially prone to thickened skin (called hyperkeratinization), calluses, skin cracking, itchiness and irritation. Foot creams that contain alpha hydroxyl acids (AHAs). One example is glycolic acid. AHAs smooth skin, exfoliate dead cells and stimulate the growth of new, softer and healthier skin. Foot creams usually contain peppermint oil, menthol, menthyl lactate, or a combination of these, since these ingredients are cooling and refreshing.

7. Protect your skin from the sun's UV rays.

Applying 1 ounce (about 2 tablespoons) of sunscreen generously every morning to all exposed skin -- "head to toe" -- about 15 to 30 minutes before you go outside. Reapply every 2 hours and after swimming, sweating, showering, bathing (including Jacuzzis or hot tubs), or wiping your skin. Select the sun protection factor (SPF) that gives your skin the most protection. The following SPF factors, depending on your type of skin:

SPF of 15 or more for black or brown skin and skin that always tans.

SPF of 30 or more for skin that sometimes burns.

SPF of 45 or more for light colored skin that always burns.

8. Try a yoga pose to "chill" on hot summer days.

The Child's Pose to clients who want to de-stress. Here's how to do this pose:

Kneel on the floor on your hands and knees and make sure that your hands are under the shoulders and your knees under the hips, with toes touching.

Now stretch your neck forward and lengthen your spine through the tailbone. Gently rock the weight of your body back toward your feet, letting your hips stretch farther back as you continue to lengthen and stretch your spine.

Stretch your arms forward and walk your fingertips as far forward as they will go on the floor or rug, lengthening your arms fully. Extend your hips back until they come toward your heels. If you're very flexible, you may be able to rest your hips on your heels and your forehead on the floor. To put your forehead on the rug or pillow to calm your mind and let your forehead and eyes completely relax.

Give your home a makeover in 8 easy steps

This is the season of abundance. Flowers are not a luxury but a simple necessity. Pick up an arrangement each time you shop for food. Use colorful, reusable plastic plates instead of plain white paper plates to add bold accents to your table while being environmentally conscious by not creating extra waste.

An easy way to add some flair, function and a design accent to any summer brunch, tea or party is to freeze fruit into your ice cubes. Just drop blackberries into the compartments in your ice tray and watch everyone smile around the table a few hours later. It's a simple way to ensure that juices and cocktails won't get watery sitting in the sun.

You don't have to be an expert to spruce up your place. But let's face it, giving your home a makeover doesn't come cheap. So we'll show you tips and tricks that'll set you in motion.

You'll be surprised how small changes can add flavor to your lifestyle. Little changes can transform your mood

All it takes is creative thinking - about the colors, placement, and the mood you want to set. We hope these 8 simple steps will inspire you to take the plunge. You'll be delighted with the results when you're done.

Let's get started.

1. Simplicity is Bliss

Less means more in terms of style and overall look. Clutter-free spaces make your house appear larger in size. So the first step of any makeover should be to tidy up.

Just like tiny ants, we must store our goods during the winter. But when summer arrives, your home gets cluttered with heavy blankets and clothing. Put them away in storage.

2. Add Flavor To Walls

Painting is economical and easy to do, so why not experiment? The trick is to get out of your comfort zone. While picking a color, pick one that is a shade bolder than what you felt is "safe".

Color, shelves, and art.

One elegant style is to paint three sides of a room white and the fourth a royal red color. Put up black shelves on the red wall for your artwork. Contrast is what you're looking for here. Give your walls some class

3. Get an Area Rug

Area rugs do two jobs - they make your room cozier and add a touch of sophistication. We suggest you only buy the best rug you can afford. Save up until you can.

Area rugs make from wool and silk are best in terms of quality. Jute, grass and sisal rugs cost less, but are tough to clean. If you spill something on them, that rug is lost.

Your rug should fit with the placement of your furniture. In your living room for example, the area rug should cover the "conversation area" - that includes the coffee table and sofa set. Add elegance and comfort with area rugs

4. Cover Your Furniture

Slipcovers give any room a fresh new makeover. Not only do they conceal old upholstery, but changing the entire color palette of the room becomes a snap. Plus they're inexpensive.

Dark colored furniture creates a warm, cozy feeling in the winter but might be a bit too much for summer. Simply toss a white slipcover to create a cool atmosphere for those humid days.

The trick with slipcovers is to use them to match furniture pieces - both in color and style. Change the hues in your room to transform the mood. Turn an old couch into a beautiful new sofa. The possibilities are endless. Get a whole new look with slipcovers.

5. Lighting is everything

Lighting is the most important aspect of a home makeover - and the most ignored. If you've given your home a complete makeover and it still doesn't feel right, the problem is probably lighting.

The right mix of lights can bring a room to life. There are three basic steps to achieve the perfect lightingt

Functional lights - recessed and track lights fall in this category.

Task lights - table and floor lamps are best.

Accent lights - spotlight your artwork and sculptures in the room. Halogen bulbs give the best effect, but incandescent bulbs will save more energy.

Hot tip: Pay attention to your kitchen since it's the gathering spot in most homes. Recessed lights are most functional here. Spotlights under and above cabinets give an elegant effect and sets a soft mood. Lighting sets the right mood in any room

6. Get Indoor Plants

Not only do plants add grace to your look, but research shows they also improve your health. Plants work hard to clean your air of toxins and reduce stress.

Plants are great in the office too. Studies have shown people to be a lot more productive when plants are added to their surroundings.

Experts recommend you have at least 8 plants in your home. Add elegance to your home and reduce your stress

7. Window Treatments & Blinds

Window treatments can radically change the mood of your room. That's why you have to think creatively when settling on a style. The treatment should match the overall look of the room.

Either accent your color palette or be consistent with it.

A formal floor length window treatment emits sophistication. The style is often layered with a sheer underneath, and refined with a top treatment.

Hang your drapes higher and wider than the window. You'll create the impression of a larger window. Your room will also appear more majestic. Drapes make your room feel larger and royal

8. Change Your Hardware

An inexpensive way to give a room a makeover. New cabinet and door knobs make a radical difference in the look of your home. Even changing curtain rods can add personality to a room.

If you rent your place, you can take your new hardware when you move (just be sure to screw back the old ones)

Hot tip: Add pizzazz to your entrance - a shimmering new doorknob and a new knocker does wonders. Finish off with a fresh coat of paint. Change cabinet handles for a quick makeover

Take The Plunge

We hope you've enjoyed the ride. Now get out of your comfort zone and give your home a makeover.

Taking Family discord as an Adult Person

At what time you be younger perform you keep in mind contain difference by your relations, that is your parents before your siblings? As you bigger into era, here be a fine ability to lots of of folks advice plus disagreement left, excluding in maturity, you be able to observe them recur. Rider plus as the case come, act you identify pardon? Toward act? Alas, lots of women be uncertain because toward anywhere they place or how to grip this vital subject.

While it comes to maturity evils through people member, lots of women by aim suffer of ills toward they brag in means of their husbands by their dreamy cohorts. Whilst these are complication with issue to want near live deal by, it is key near grasp to near be a variation amid your equal with the kin to you grows happy among. To be why it is key that you handle people situation with issue in a different way.

Lone of the loads of evils to women comprise near pact amid, re their kin here old age, is to of sibling rivalry. This is above all frequent if you leave on or after a folks by three or more children

Another situation that many women are placed in is between disagreements or, in worst-case scenarios, divorce sandwiched between their parents. When parents separation, we often imagine of young children have to transaction with the ramification of divorce. With that in mind, the problems can be just as bad, if not worse, when everyone is an adult. In disorganized divorces, it is not unusual for one parent to be expecting their adult children to hold up them and them alone. While you have complete control over your decisions, it is important, similar to with your sibling rivalry, that you hang about as neutral as likely. The last thing that you want to do is cause a rift between you and your parents, especially when you may not have all the time in the world to repair that rift.

Because a prompt, you hold the aptitude to grip some relations issue so as to come your method, any technique so as to you view fit. By means of to in wits, it be vital to you apply your top result. Not like as you be a kid or else a teen, you cannot be clever toward obtain a rapid fix. By no guarantee on top of how a great deal case you, your parents, or your siblings hold left, why obtain to ability?

What now? What to do after being fired

You get to work Monday morning, breakfast and newspaper in hand, when you get called into The Boss' office. You're given "the talk." It's the one that goes something like, "you know, things just haven't been working out lately t" and before you know it breakfast is taking a ride back home with you.

It's happened to many people, but if it happens to you it can seem like the end of the world. So besides panic, what can you do once you have been fired? Take a day to mope. It would be great if we could all just bounce back instantly from any setback but the truth is we can't. We spend most of our waking hours on the job, and when something we spent so much time and energy on changes so dramatically, it can take the wind out of us.

It's important to give yourself time to do some grieving of sorts. Take some time (a day or two is ideal -- but, sorry, a month is pushing it) to feel sorry for yourself or let out a good cry. Lie on the couch and watch a movie in your pajamas or call your best friend and vent. Do something to decompress, but once you've done it, move on. The lights have to get flicked on at some point, even at a pity party.

What happened? There is something to be learned from every misstep in life and getting fired is no different. Be honest with yourself, examine the situation and determine a way to avoid repeating the same mistake. Ask any manager and the most common reasons for terminating someone's position include poor performance and attendance. If this was the reason you were terminated, perhaps it was due to not being passionate about the job you held? Try looking into a career path that you feel strongly about so you will want to show up on time everyday and complete all your work. This time, if you're unhappy, don't wait until you're burned-out. Evaluate your options. Depending on your economic situation, getting fired can either feel like a slight squeeze on your purse or a vise grip. This is the rainy day your parents were always talking about. How can you survive financially while you're not employed full time? Some jobs will still give you severance pay despite terminating your position.

This is also the time you might need to tap into your savings account. If there are bills you can reduce or eliminate altogether, you should go ahead and do so (movie rentals, magazine subscriptions, premium channels -- bid them adieu for now).

You might have to use your credit cards but do so wisely because remember, you'll have to pay for them once you are on your feet. Is your field the type where you can get temporary work or freelance assignments? Do you have a second job from where you can request additional hours? Can your partner pick up some of the slack temporarily? Every situation is different and not all of these questions will apply, but once you start thinking practically, you will see there is other avenues open to you. Get yourself organized. Reviewing your cover letter, updating your resume, collecting references and polishing up the post-interview thank you notes -- even making sure that interview suit looks good on you -- are ways for you to mentally prepare yourself for moving forward. Besides cleaning up your tools for scoring a better job, this is also the time to do those little things you never had time for when you were working. Whether it's washing those piles of laundry or cleaning out the closet, get yourself into the mindset that you are starting clean and fresh.

Jump out there again. You've done this before: the job hunt. According to the Bureau of Labor Statistics, the most common methods jobseekers use to find employment include: sending out resumes, reaching out to family and friends and seeking out employment agencies. Tap into every resource, such as the Sunday classifieds in major newspapers, online job boards, industry Web sites and publications in your field. Set a chunk of time aside each day to plow through job listings, make phone calls and send out emails. Treat your job search like a job.

How do you explain? You finally have an interview. You just know they're going to ask you the question: "Why did you leave your last job?" It's a standard one after all.

First of all, don't lie. The best thing you can do is keep it brief and end your answer on a positive note. They don't need every horrid detail and you do not want to talk negatively about your boss or former company. If you and your boss were at each other's throats, then say something along the lines of it being a bad fit, emphasizing what you have learned and how you've improved for the next job.

If you're position is terminated, do realize it is only a temporary setback. Use it as a learning experience and as a time to reassess your career plans and life goals. You are capable of coming back and being an exemplary employee who is just as satisfied with her work as her new employer.