The New Nation - Internet Edition

Secrets to staying young

Rumana Chowdhury

"To keep the heart unwrinkled, to be hopeful, kindly, cheerful, reverent that is to triumph over old age. "- Amos Bronson Alcott

Laugh and find humor everyday. An aging person with a young, positive attitude will never feel old.

There is a big difference between growing old and growing up. Anybody can grow older even if he is doing nothing. The best idea is to grow up and find the opportunity to change for the better.

Youth is the condition of being young. The appearance of freshness, vigor, spirit, of one who is young.

We are all trying to find the "magic bullet" that delays the natural aging process. Yet if you're trying to look your best without going under the knife, a secret ingredient might be right under your nose.

Healthy aging is also defined as living a longer, healthier life. And many studies have documented the link between a healthy diet and prevention of age-related or chronic diseases.

Aging is something that humans would love to conquer. Everyone seems to be obsessed in staying young. Of course, nobody wants to be the senile old man who depends for other person for everything.

Nobody would want their bones to become denser, their skin loose and wrinkled, their knees buckling every time they stand up, their sights becoming blurred or worse becoming blind. Nobody would want to have those persistent backaches or have a losing combat with Alzheimer's disease. Aging does not mean that you have to be frail, weak, bitter and depressed.

Relaxing and maintaining a positive outlook in life is effective in combating aging. Stress will help you age. Unhealthy habits and laziness will help you age. Be adaptive and learn to accept change.

Here are some tips for staying young.

1. Meditate

Meditation reduces stress levels, keeps the mind positive and free from worries and anxieties. "Age is in the mind" and through a regular practice of meditation one can attain a positive, illumined and youthful mind.

2. Exercise regularly

Moderate exercise practised on a regular basis promotes longevity, builds and maintains strength and flexibility and most importantly makes you feel alive.

3. Eat a well balanced vegetarian diet

Studies show that a well balanced vegetarian diet with plenty of fresh vegetables, fruits, nuts and grains provides optimum nutrition for a fit and active body.

4. Eliminate

Do away with harmful influences in your life. Smoking, drugs, alcohol and junk food are all detrimental substances which can be safely eliminated from your life to ensure a happier, healthier and more youthful existence.

5. Be creative

Whether through music, painting, dancing, writingt Getting in touch with your own unique creativity positions you in that sacred and childlike spontaneity of the now moment.

6. Give joy to others

You never lose what you give. In fact by offering your own joy, happiness and oneness to others you nurture your own treasure-chest of good qualities. Be like a child and give joy to others!

7. Don't smoke

Each puff hastens the degenerative processes of aging. Plus, smoking lowers your aerobic capacity, making it harder for you to do the things you enjoy and making you feel old before your time.

8. Sweet dreams

Get enough sleep. While you rest, your body uses the nutrients you've consumed that day to repair the damage done by the day's activities. Not getting enough sleep keeps your immune system from doing its job and keeps your body in a state of disrepair.

9. Intimacy with near and dear ones

Stay close to your friends and family. A circle of support helps you deal with problems better, feel healthier and live longer.

10. Laugh

Children laugh an average of 300 times a day, while adults laugh just 30 times per day. Laughter is an expression of inner happiness and is a tonic for the soul. When you are laughing you are not brooding or despairing which are exclusively adult pastimes. Spend time with people, and do things that make you laugh.

Lucille Ball once stated: "The secret to staying youthful is to live honestly, eat slowly and lie about your age."

The signs of aging include wrinkles, but also memory loss, decreased brain function, and an increasing risk for chronic diseases such as heart disease, osteoporosis, and cancer.

Adopting a healthy lifestyle that includes regular physical activity, adequate rest, avoiding tobacco, and a diet full of healthy foods and beverages can be the best defense against aging.

Dietary choices are critical to delay the onset of aging and age-related diseases, and the sooner you start, the greater the benefit.

Antioxidants and Inflammation

Some foods and beverages contain powerful substances called phytonutrients that some believe are capable of unlocking the key to longevity. Phytonutrients, which are members of the antioxidant family, gobble up "free radicals" -- oxygen molecules that play a role in the onset of illnesses such as heart disease, cancer, osteoporosis, and Alzheimer's disease.

As we age, we become more susceptible to the long-term effects of oxidative stress (a condition where the body basically has too many free radicals) and inflammation on the cellular level. The theory is that antioxidants and other age-defying compounds help cells ward off damage from free radicals and minimize the impact of aging.

Beyond antioxidants, some other compounds in foods can affect aging. They can be classified according to their impact on inflammation at the cellular level, experts say.

"All foods fit into three categories: pro-inflammatory, neutral, or anti-inflammatory," says dermatologist and best-selling author, Nicholas Perricone, MD.

"Age-related changes may be reversed by consuming foods and beverages that are rich in a variety of compounds, including antioxidants, and are anti-inflammatory, such as cold-water fish and richly colored fruits and vegetables," he says.

If "we eat large amounts of saturated or trans fatty acids, sugars, and starches, insulin levels surge and trigger an anti-inflammatory response and accelerate the aging process," says Perricone.

While the benefits to eating healthy are many, Perricone notes that diet is certainly not the only factor that affects the aging process.

"Stress, hormones, ultraviolet light, and a weakened immune system also contribute to aging," he says.

Food for Healthy Aging

For maximum benefits, experts say, you should load up on a variety of healthy foods.

Follow the guidelines of the American Heart Association and eat twice weekly, especially the fatty kind that is rich in fish(omega-3 fatty acids). This is a powerful anti-inflammatory food that offers a multitude of health benefits.

Fruits and vegetables are powerhouses of antioxidants. Aim for a variety of colorful produce. Enjoy at least 5 servings per day for the maximum benefits.

Whole grains provide soluble fiber to help lower blood cholesterol levels, and also have phytonutrient content equal to any fruit or vegetable. Strive for at least 3 daily servings.

Legumes are unsung heroes, packed with nutrients similar to fruits and vegetables and with very few calories. Add them to your diet 3 to 4 times a week.

Yogurt has all the benefits of dairy foods, plus probiotics that help add healthy bacteria to the intestines. Moores recommends eating a yogurt with active cultures as one of your 3 dairy servings each day.

Nuts are a great source of B vitamins that are good for your heart and your brain. The healthy fats in nuts benefit the elastin and collagen in skin, helping to maintaining skin's structure and keep it resilient. Small portions are advised, as nuts are high in calories.

Water is essential for hydration of the skin, muscles, circulation, and all organs in the body. Enjoy 3-4 glasses of pure water in addition to other liquids and watery foods.

Drinking 6-10 small cups of green tea daily is also good and your blood level will never be high enough to retard or reverse skin changes. Antiaging benefits when green tea polyphenols were applied directly to skin, and "protected the skin by absorbing ultraviolet light and eliminating free radicals."

Blueberries are chockfull of antioxidants because of their dark color. All foods with dark colors in them have some of these really protecting antioxidant chemicals in them.

Other good anti-aging foods include sweet potatoes, broccoli and tomatoes.

Sajeeb’s musical soiree at Bengal Shilpalaya

Sheikh Arif Bulbon

“I got my primary education on music from my father and from that time I got inspiration from Nazrul songs. I am trying my level best to raise the image of the songs of our rebel poet Kazi Nazrul Islam. In my album, I have tried to represent those songs in different tracks. I have tried my best to give a different touch to the listeners,” said promising Nazrul artiste Tanveer Alam Sajeeb at a musical soiree at the Bengal Shilpalaya in the city.

Bengal Music Co Ltd is playing an important role for promoting Bengali songs from the beginning. As part of its continuation, the music company organised a week-long musical sessions at the Bengal Shilpalaya recently.As part of the musical session, Bengal Music launched a new solo album of promising Nazrul artiste Tanveer Alam Sajeeb. At the launching ceremony, Sajeeb presented a number of Nazrul songs at the Bengal Shilpalaya.

“In our country, many music lovers blamed that Nazrul Sangeet is currently going on very slow pace as because upcoming generation has a little bit interest to take proper training and education from Nazrul songs. Most of them believe that it is so tough to learn rather than other songs. Besides, Nazrul exponents are continuously debating for the survival of the authenticity of Nazrul tunes, as generations of music fans are unstable. Listeners of the young generation often cannot relate the musical arrangement and style of presentation of Nazrul songs. Fortunately certain musicians are trying to regain its lost audience. Tanveer Alam Sajeeb is one of them,” said a Nazrul exponent.

In the musical soiree, Sajeeb presented songs from his latest album 'Mon Uchaton.’ He presented 'Uchaton mon,’ 'Elo banantey,’ 'Gangey jowar elo phirey tumi eley koi,’ and other numbers. A huge number of audiences gathered at the event.

There are 10 songs in the Sajeeb’s recently released album. Lyrics and tunes of all songs were composed by Kazi Nazrul Islam. Tanveer Alam Sajeeb gave music and instrumental direction for the album. Buno assisted him playing base guitar in the album.

Songs of the album are - 1) Uchaton mon, 2) Tepantorer mathe, 3) Rumjhum, 4) Eki ashim piyasha, 5) Gangye jowar elo, 6) Elo bonante, 7) Elo bonante, 8) Arunkanti, 9) Ami chirotore and 10) Bodhu tomar amar.

Sajeeb completed his Bachelor degree in Sound Engineering from Toronto Film School and completed a diploma in Nazrul Sangeet from BAFA. His debut album was 'Bari kothaye bolo.’ The Bengal Music also released it.

The darkroom: For black and white photo processing & printing

Many black and white photographers rely upon commercial film labs to do their processing for them, while others feel they get the results they want by handling the job themselves. Discounting the time required, it is less expensive to develop and print your own film. In order to do this, you need a darkroom. (If you take pictures using a digital camera, then you will need to "process' them in the digital darkroom - on your computer. Click here for tips and hints on editing digital images.)

Darkroom essentials

Darkness - The ideal darkroom is pitch black, but total darkness is sometimes difficult to achieve in the home, especially if you have commandeered a room that also serves other purposes, such as a bathroom or kitchen. Here's a good rule of thumb for the minimum amount of darkness required - if you don't see any light in the room over a period of five minutes, it's dark enough for normal usage.

It's surprising, but the room that appears to be totally blackened for the first five minutes may reveal a number of dim light leaks after you've been in it for twenty or thirty minutes. Note where light seems to be coming in, usually around the door, windows, around ceiling tiles and even through electrical outlets. Block all light leaks. Sometimes this means simply placing a towel along the base of the door. Use cardboard, cut to size, to seal a window, taping it in place for peace of mind.

If, for some reason, you just can't block a dim light leak (one that you first observe only after you have been in the darkened room for five minutes) and are concerned that it might fog fast film, you can create a simple light barrier by opening the film cartridge inside a cardboard or wooden box that faces away from the trace of light. Added insurance is achieved if the interior of the box is spray-painted with matte black paint and has a heavy, black velvet curtain over its opening.

Two separate work areas - one dry, one wet - One practical darkroom design has a table or countertop along one wall for the enlarger, trimming board and paper supplies (the dry side), and another countertop or table along the opposite wall for print processing trays and, preferably, a sink (the wet side). This separation is effective in preventing damage to the enlarger, timer, film and paper supplies from splashed or spilled liquids.

When space is at a premium, you do what you can, and keep wet and dry materials separated as much as possible. If your darkroom has only one working surface, build a small partition between the wet and dry areas to keep the liquids on their proper side.

The work surface on the dry side must at least be large enough to hold the enlarger and a paper trimmer. The area of the wet side's work surface is dependent upon the largest size of enlargement you plan to make. Why? Because you will need space for four processing trays, each of which can fully contain your biggest enlargements. If you are not going to make any prints larger than 8" X 10", you need far less work area than if you are going to produce, say, 20" X 24" enlargements.

Layout for a 6-foot by 8-foot darkroom.

A light-tight fresh air inlet on the dry side and an extractor fan located above the wet side ensure a continuous supply of fresh air. Water - And lots of it - both hot and cold, ideally with a mixing control that maintains a constant, selected water flow temperature. Such controls can be quite expensive. Most amateur darkroom enthusiasts rely instead upon a simple thermometer and their own attentiveness to temperature variations. (In a pinch, when you don't have a darkroom sink, you can haul water in and out in pails - an activity you'll probably soon tire of.)

Ventilation - A darkroom should have a continuous supply of fresh air. One problem that can occur by zealously sealing off light leakage cracks and crannies is that you also seal off entrances for fresh air. The answer is a light-tight air entry, which can be achieved in a number of ways. One way to do it is to cut a hole in the outside of a wall at one height, preferably about a foot above the floor, and another hole on the inside of the same wall at another height, ideally above shoulder height. Like a chimney, air can get in; light cannot. The air enters the lower wall opening, travels up through the wall space and goes into the room through the upper wall opening.

The darkroom should be equipped with an extractor fan that pulls air from the room, causing fresh air to be drawn through the light-tight air entry. It is important to locate the extractor fan above the wet side and to locate the fresh air intake on the dry side. This way, fumes from the liquid chemicals are not drawn across the work area, but are instead extracted away from you. The extractor fan can be an ordinary bathroom fan, a multi-speed fan, a special darkroom fan or even an air conditioner. The fan should be exhausted to the outside, which may require a duct. The bonus in having a duct for the exhaust is that it usually must be bent and turned to direct the exhaust outside, thereby creating an effective seal against light. If using an air conditioner, its installation should be made so that light cannot leak in around its edges.

A few words of caution about air flow and dust. If your darkroom's intake vent brings in air from a dusty room - where there is a furnace, for example, or from outside in a city environment - you would be wise to place an air filter in the vent to trap particles that can settle on your film or printing paper. Don't sweep the floor or dust your darkroom before you begin to work in it, because you'll find that airborne particles can stay suspended for just long enough to settle on and ruin your work. Room height - You never know how high you may need to raise your enlarger head when cropping or making a super-sized enlargement, so be sure that there is sufficient headroom for your enlarger to be extended to its full height. Sometimes, this can be achieved by removing the ceiling tile directly above the enlarger, if you have a suspended tile ceiling. Can't raise the enlarger? Lower its base. When you just don't have the ceiling height, you can often build a drop-base - a paper support that can be set at different heights beneath the enlarger.

Four kinds of lighting - (1) white light, (2) safelights, (3) enlarger light and (4) no light at all.

No light - Film must be handled in total darkness. Keep in mind that it is so sensitive to light that exposures of 1/8000 sec can be used to take pictures, so film that encounters the slightest amount of light in a darkroom can be irretrievably destroyed.

Panchromatic black and white film is also sensitive to all colors of the spectrum, so it cannot even be exposed to a safe light without damage.

Don't locate your safe light switch close to the room's main white light switch to avoid accidentally turning on the wrong light. White light - You will be amazed how frequently you will need ordinary, bright room lighting in a darkroom. You use it for negative selection, mixing chemicals, cleaning up, inspecting finished prints, and so on. Just be sure to turn it off when handling unexposed film and paper.

Safe light - Photographic paper, unlike film, is designed to be handled under certain colored, dim lights, known as safe lights , without adversely affecting the paper. Nonetheless, printing paper should be kept in the dark as much as possible, and should not be brought nearer to safe lights than is absolutely necessary. Make sure you are familiar with the manufacturers recommendations for safe distances, and never use a bulb that is brighter than recommended.

Enlarger light - When you turn on its light to focus the enlarger or to expose printing paper and make a print, that is preferably the only light that is on in the darkroom at the time. However, many darkroom technicians are comfortable with also having a safe light on at the same time. The advantage of having only the enlarger light on is that you are able to clearly see the resulting projection on the enlarging base or paper, without the influence of the safe light. Room temperature - You don't want to work in a room that is too cold or too hot, and your photographs don't like such conditions, either. If the temperature of the air in the darkroom is between 65 and 80 degrees F., you and your images will both be all right. Any colder or hotter, and you will not enjoy your darkroom experience.

Poetry:Lonely Throb

It's a sunken loneliness that just drove me in to a deep dark.

Among the crowd how the solitary came to me?

But the reflection nobody could guess or one can help me to evade it.

In spite of frequent numbers of communication with others I can't dodge my thirst.

Even I don't know the reason for such murk.

When the city was clam and dark, while just a few numbers of people were on the street

I didn't feel such aloneness, rather that was joyous to me -

As I was brave to walk on a reverse pavement.

What was my inspiration that made me so proud to be on my feet?

I don't know that even.

In front of the glossy glass, many times I asked myself what made me so poor?

Why I couldn't get back just the same door where I stood happy a quite before?

The level of self-confidence I just asses frequently and I found no change there.

All are on the right track just like as before.

Then, where is the fragile sea shore that tries to thrust me in a sullen floor?

In a wide huddle, among a huge number of known and unknown faces

I wonder to see their nimble race, in a hurry they try to reach their places.

But I have no hurry to get my place, rather the closer I just come that just extend my distress.

I am not alone anywhere, even sometimes I am surrounded by some of my admirers.

Then how the solitary comes to me that devour me like dread forgery?

The day and night both are same to me also I can't differentiate my laugh and cry.

In both states I just live in a hollow grave and I can't remove myself with any try.

What was important to me that could provide a good support to my inner soul?

May be faith and trust or love and esteem, where my mind could touch a strong brim.

But where and when and how I lost them?

On the pavement among several sky skippers, beside several vehicles,

The chaos of city dwellers can't break my panic solitary.

It seems to me in my bonny face I have been carrying a hermit hickory.

But no one can see the same that's just my inner flame.

In spite of any sudden jollity I can't move that combustion.

In the theme park I am with my dearest children.

Just enjoying their endless pleasure and happiness but can't keep aside my agonize stress.

Or in a shopping mall I am just moving like a window shopper.

I could choose something for myself or others.

Once the escalator moving me to the top floor but nothing can give up such deplore.

Kazi Anjum

15.10.08

Gardening: Gardening by the signs of the zodiac

In ancient times astrology played a key role in gardening. To this day it remains a powerful influence among its many followers, who insist that the moon’s phases and position in the sky can make a real and measurable difference in the way plants grow. People who plant according to the moon’s phases and the signs of the Zodiac use an almanac or a calendar that shows the exact time and date of the moon’s phases and its passage from one sign to the next. Phases of the moon refers to the moon’s shape, which is always changing from our point of view. The dark of the moon, the new moon, is the beginning phase. It’s followed by the first quarter, then the full moon. These are known as the increasing or waxing phases. The decreasing or waning phases begin with the full moon, followed by the last quarter, then back again to the new moon.

The first farmers were probably the founders of astrology. Their crops responded to the signs in the heavens and this became an easy method of ensuring good harvests.

Certain seasons brought changing conditions, which would either help or hinder the crops. Each season presented different patterns in the constellations and these patterns would evolve into astrology, as we know it today.

Fine-tune your Garden

Gardening by the signs of the Zodiac is a method of fine-tuning your gardening efforts. Planting, growing and maintaining your garden by the constellations or signs of the Zodiac and the Phases of the Moon enhances the effects of nature on your crops.

Combined effects of the Moon and the Signs of the Zodiac in your Garden

The full effects of gardening by the phases of the moon are heightened when the moon is in the right Zodiac Sign. Certain signs of the zodiac have unique benefits on particular plants.

Leafy plants do best in the water signs. The water signs are Cancer, Pisces, and Scorpio, and are the correct signs for planting above ground, leafy annuals. The Earth signs, Taurus, Virgo and Capricorn, are also very fertile and good for planting all other above ground crops.

Root bearing crops do best in the earth signs. As the waxing moon passes through one of the earth signs plant root crops such as carrots and potatoes. This is also a good time for transplanting, as this period promotes subsurface root development.

Note: Plants which produce their fruits above ground should be planted during the waxing moon. Plants that yield their produce below ground (root crops) should be planted in the waning moon.

Fertile and Barren Zodiac Signs

The Fertile Signs

Planting and re-planting is best done during a waxing moon, in an earth or water sign. These signs are signs of fertility. The fertile zodiac signs are Cancer, Scorpio, Pisces, Libra, Taurus and Capricorn

The Barren Signs

Garden maintenance, soil improvements and pruning are best done when the moon is waning and in an air or fire sign. These zodiac signs are the barren signs of the zodiac. They are Aries, Gemini, Leo, Virgo, Sagittarius and Aquarius.

As the moon makes its monthly journey in the sky, it passes through one of the 12 constellations that make up the signs of the Zodiac and that vary in their fruitfulness. Here’s a rundown:

Cancer tops the list of fruitful signs: plant, transplant, graft and bud.

Scorpio is almost as good: plant vine crops such as pole beans or cucumbers.

Pisces favors plants requiring strong root development, which is practically every plant.

Taurus is semi fruitful: good for root and leaf crops.

Capricorn is less fruitful: good for root crops and tubers.

Libra is good for lettuce, cabbage and corn.

The barren signs don’t favor planting, but they are good for other routine gardening tasks. Leo and Virgo are the most barren signs. Don’t plant; instead, focus on such tasks as weeding.

Travel: Eid pleasure at Cox’s Bazar

Mohammad Shahidul Islam

Cox's Bazar, a tiny emerald land of sparkling, shimmering white sand stretching on for miles together has always cast a hypnotic charm on the travellers at any time of the year. And this beautiful paradise on earth is located on the southern coast of Bangladesh.

The tourist season in Cox's Bazar begins in late September and carries on through early March. The weather in these months is usually dry and pleasantly cool. Cox's Bazar receives the full blast of the Bangladeshi monsoon with sudden downpours and tropical thunderstorms around May and by end of June. This scribe, along with his family, went on a 2-day pleasure trip to Cox's Bazar in the following day of this Eid-ul-Fitr and had a whale of a timeout there enjoying the fair weather brought about by occasional rainfall. We found out that during the tour, Cox's Bazar probably looks most beautiful, with green vegetation sprouting all around.

The beach is the main attraction of the town. Larger hotels provide exclusive beachside area with accessories for the hotel guests. Visitors in other hotels visit the Laboni beach that is the area of the beach closest to the town. Other than the beach there are several places of interest near the town which can easily be visited from town centre.

Our visit to Aggmeda Khyang was mesmerizing. It is a large Buddhist monastery, and a place revered by around 400,000 Buddhist people of Cox's Bazar and the Chittagong Hill Tracts. The main sanctuary is posted on a series of round timber columns. It has a prayer chamber and an assembly hall along with a repository of small bronze Buddha images and a number of old manuscripts.

About 10 km from Cox's Bazar, Ramu is a village with sizeable Buddhist population. The village is famous for its handicrafts and home-made cigars. There are monasteries, khyangs and pagodas containing images of Buddha in gold, bronze and other metals inlaid with precious stones. Unfortunately, we could not manage our time to stay long at this religious station.

During our sojourn at Cox's Bazar, the rains did not play spoilsport, rather it kept the mercury down. On the first day, we undertook conducted tours to some of the beautiful beaches with their swaying tamarisk, whispering zephyrs, the surf, and the sun for which the tiny beach town is well-known.

If anyone wants to be away from the hustle-bustle found on main harbour of Cox's Bazar, then Himchari, located about 18 km south of Cox's Bazar along the sea beach is a nice place for the picnic. We found here a film shooting group. This picnic spot is famous for its waterfalls. The road to Himchari runs by the open sea on one side and hills on the other which makes the journey to Himchari very attractive. Its attraction is the Christmas tree.

The main town attached to Laboni Beach is one of the most popular beaches in Cox's Bazar. The Burmese market spread across the beach and held every holiday is a major hit among tourists. You will find just about anything in Cox's Bazar- from head to toe or get yourself a haircut or feast on some delicious Cox's Bazarian seafood or take photographs with nature that changes according to day and night time or get a beautiful funky tattoo done on yourself.

The people of Cox's Bazar are very friendly and extremely happy-go-lucky. Cox's Bazarians are fond of the good things in life and are certainly not caught up in the rat race. Siesta is an important part of life in Cox's Bazar. Though the people of Cox's Bazar belong to different faiths and from different cultural backgrounds, they have come together to create the easygoing Cox's Bazarian culture with its emphasis on good living.

Boutique: Fashion house Mammy

Weekend Plus Report

Fashion house Mammy has brought an assortment of attires for the fashionable younger and teenagers. They can choose their dress from a huge collection of designs created by Ripon, proprietor of the fashion house.

These collections have acquired the festive look through artistic design with numerous shades.

The entire range of Mammy covers T-shirts, shoes, boots, denims, wallet, wristlet, ear-rings etc.

Mammy adorns a fusion of Bangladeshi's traditional style and contemporary style. In recent year it simulates enormously amongst the enthusiastic fusion buff beyond the border.

Predominantly in bright colours and designs, these fashions wears have able to draw attention of the modern young and teen-agars who have a vehement fascination to suit with the modern culture.

Showrooms of Mammy are in Maskat Plaza and North Tower in Uttara and Bashundhara City in Panthapath.

Career: Tips for Career Planning

Your 9 most important career planning tips

1. Never Stop Learning

Life-long learning is your keyword.

The world is constantly changing, and everybody is looking for new ways of doing business.

If you have decided that your current skills are good enough, you have also decided that your current job is good enough.

But if you want a career in the future, you should add regular updates to your skills and knowledge.

2. Ask, Listen And Learn

A good listener can learn a lot.

Listen to your co-workers, your boss, and your superiors. You can learn a lot from their experience.

Ask about issues that interest you, and listen to what they say. Let them tell you about how things work, and what you could have done better.

Most people will love to be your free tutor.

3. Fulfill Your Current Job

Your current job might be best place to start your career.

It is often very little that separates successful people from the average. But nothing comes free.

If you do your job well and fulfill your responsibilities, this is often the best way to start a new career.

Talk to your supervisor about things you can do. Suggest improvements. Offer your help when help is needed. In return ask for help to build a better career. It is often possible - right inside your own organization - especially if you have proved to be a valued employee.

4. Build Your Network

Your next career step might arise from your contact network.

Did you know that more than 50% of all jobs are obtained from contact networks?

If you have a good contact network, it is also a good place to discover future careers, to explore new trends, and to learn about new opportunities.

Spend some time building new contacts, and don't forget to maintain the ones you already have.

One of the best ways to get serious information from your network is to regularly ask your contacts how they are, what they do, and what is new about their careers.

5. Identify Your Current Job

Your current job should be identified, not assumed.

Make sure you don't work with tasks you assume are important. This is waste of time and talent.

When you start in a new job, talk to your superior about your priorities. If you're not sure about what is most important, then ask him. And ask him again. Often you will be surprised about the differences between what you assume, and what is really important.

6. Identify Your Next Job

Your dream job must be identified.

Before you start planning your future career, be sure you have identified your dream job.

In your dream job, you will be doing all the things you enjoy, and none of the things you don't enjoy. What kind of job would that be?

Do you like or dislike having responsibility for other employees. Do you like to work with technology or with people? Do you want to run your own business? Do you want to be an artist, a designer or a skilled engineer? A manager?

Before building your future career your goal must be identified.

7. Prepare Yourself

Your dream might show up tomorrow. Be prepared.

Don't wait a second. Update your CV now, and continue to update it regularly.

Tomorrow your dream job may show up right before your nose. Prepare for it with a professional CV and be ready to describe yourself as a valuable object to anyone that will try to recruit you.

If you don't know how to write a CV, or how to describe yourself, start learning it now.

8. Pick The Right Tools

Pick the tools you can handle.

You can build your future career using a lot of different tools. Studying at W3Schools is easy. Taking a full master degree is more complicated.

You can add a lot to your career by studying books and tutorials. Doing short time courses with certification tests might add valuable weight to your CV. And don't forget: Your current job is often the most valuable source of building new skills.

Don't pick a tool that is too heavy for you to handle!

9. Realize Your Dreams

Put your dreams into action.

Don't let a busy job kill your dreams. If you have higher goals, put them into action now.

If you have plans about taking more education, getting a better job, starting your own company or something else, you should not use your daily job as a "waiting station". Your daily job will get more and more busy, you will be caught up in the rat race, and you will burn up your energy.

If you have this energy, you should use it now, to realize your dreams.

Pet care: Brining home a pet bird

Birds come in an amazing variety of shapes, colors and personalities. Finding the right bird is essential to having a happy relationship with your pet bird. Some birds need a vast amount of attention and work, especially larger parrots, but even small parrots need a lot of love and attention in order to be happy.

Many people are drawn to parrots such as amazons, african greys, cockatoos and macaws as they are gorgeous birds that are very trainable. Greys and amazons are coveted for their talking abilities. However, these very trainable birds are also the most challenging and most demanding as pets. If you are interested in a parrot, it is extremely important to examine your motivation for getting a pet bird, along with your ability to commit to hard work needed to successfully live with one of these demanding birds over the long haul (most are very long-lived).

That said, birds certainly have the potential to be wonderful companions. As with any pet, find out as much as you can about birds you might be considering before making the huge commitment to bird ownership. Beginners who do not have a lot of time to spend with a pet bird should consider species such as canaries or finches. Those with a bit more time an an interest in parrots could consider budgies or cockatiels, which are smaller members of the parrot family but which are friendly, relatively quiet and easy to tame (look for a young bird). Other members of the parrot family which might be considered by beginners include lovebirds, pionus parrots, poicephalus parrots, parrotlets, quaker parrots and grey cheeked parakeets. And while doves and pigeons are often overlooked as pets, they can make quite good companions as they are quite and sociable.

Most people are so excited about their new pet birds that they forget all about the supplies and organization work that is required before they bring him or her home. Here at Bird Tricks, we have put together information that will help you organize yourself and your new pet bird before you walk them through your front door. Here are a few tips we provide to our customers.

Your new pet bird will need some supplies before you go and bring him or her home. First you will need the obvious, which is a cage. Make sure when you buy the cage that you ask your vet or breeder the dimensions you will need and then match them as close as possible with your new cage. Next on the pet bird supply list is the accessories to the cage, the toys and the perch. Make sure you have ample room again to arrange all of these goodies where your new pet birds will find them.

Going forward with the live pet bird supply list is a time to set aside all of your food, treats, and supplements. The first few days you have your pet bird home with you the feeding will be trial and error. Be sure to ask your breeder for the feeding list and schedule and then follow it when you first arrive home. After a few days, you will notice your new pet bird has a unique routine and timing. You can then adjust the feedings to his behavior.

You should also keep the pet bird supply list handy so you can refer to it often and add to it as needed. And of course don't forget the toys! That is a must for any bird.

Don't be alarmed if your pet birds do not eat a lot the first few days. The trip home will have been a bit overwhelming for your new pet. Also, give him or her plenty of room and time to sleep so they can recoup after the ordeal of moving.

Putting together a separate closet or drawer for all the supplies will help you to always know where they are and to help you keep organized. You will be able to locate anything you might need in a moment's notice.

The first few days your new bird will be listening to and watching everything. Make his adjustment calm and easy by having all your supplies handy, yet out of the way. When your new bird realizes you are prepared for his every need, he will relax and enjoy the new home.

Easy ways to help the environment

Sometimes it seems like only extreme measures will be enough to help the environment. Fortunately, there are other simple things you can do to make your lifestyle more environmentally friendly.

Recycle

It's a relatively simple thing to do, but still useful, provided you have recycling facilities nearby. The easiest materials to recycle are paper (that hasn't touched food products), #1 and #2 plastics, and aluminum cans. It's also possible to recycle old electronics and office equipment.

Buy products made from recycled materials.

Not surprisingly, the easiest such products to find are made from paper, but you might want a knapsack made from old inner tubes or a purse made from license plates. Ecomall lists dozens of stores that sell products made from recyclable materials.

tor don't buy at all.

Unfortunately, any new product is going to cost energy and use up resources when it's made or shipped. One option could be to look at vintage-clothing stores and thrift stores for items whose technology hasn't changed much recently, such as clothing or lamps.Buy energy-efficient appliances

In the United States, the easiest way to do this is to get the information through the Energy Star program. An appliance with an Energy Star label will tell you how much energy it uses, on average, and whether it needs more or less energy than similar machines. The Energy Star website will also tell you, based on your ZIP code, whether you might be able to get a rebate on that new, energy-efficient dishwasher or clothes dryer.

Plant a tree

Trees provide shade, convert carbon dioxide into oxygen, and provide habitats for local animals. You may not be able to plant a tree on your complex, but you might be able to volunteer with a local tree-planting group.

Don't waste energy

Turn the lights off when you leave the room and don't make the air-conditioner or heater run all day if you're not home. And if you have a leaky faucet or a broken thermostat and your complex maintenance is slow to respond, tell the managers it's not just annoying -- they're destroying the planet!

Go Green for Preschool: Using Recyclables to Teach Your Child

Professional educators agree using manipulatives to teach mathematics and reading to your Preschool child is advantageous. But buying them can be expensive and unnecessary!

Under your supervision, your child's booster seat at the kitchen table can be transformed temporarily into a "school desk", on which fun, homemade manipulatives can be sorted and formed into letters and numbers.

Recyclable items are everywhere in your home, look around at what you routinely recycle or throw out. Toilet paper rolls can be collected and turned into puppets. If you are not the artistic type, don't fret-a quick marker-drawn face on one end of a toilet paper roll and instantly you have a Superhero! Kids love to pretend, so with just some encouragement from you, and that "artistic handicap" of yours will help them exercise their imaginations. Have your little ones insert their fingers in the center-and your puppet comes alive for the cost of the ink! Gather your recyclables and do a little brainstorming! Collect lids from milk and juice bottles, disinfected them, and tossed them aside in a plastic container on your counter. Within a few weeks, you have an interesting collection that are great for learning patterns, an important pre-reading and pre-math skill. Look for plain-colored plastic lids vs. the ones with writing on them. Collect ones that match in size and color, and also collect a variety of sizes for sorting. Add a few plastic bowls and you can play endless sorting games! "Going Green" never is such fun!

Ideas will abound when you check-out your recycling bins. Margarine tubs with lids can be slit at the top, and "Presto" you have a cash register for playing money games. Egg cartons can be transformed into boxes for you child's collections. Newspaper taped together can be morphed into large sheets of drawing paper. Kids love to color to "themselves" after having their whole bodies outlined with fat markers on a large sheet of paper. Old magazines can be treasure troves for photographs to decorate your creations. We glued magazine, cut-out photos to paper plates, tied them together on one side with yarn and made instant "books". This is a fun way to allow your child to practice her "writing" skills.

Include your child in this discovery process. You can ask him, "How can we use these plastic lids for school?" You will be amazed at the suggestions you will get!

Once you start on the adventure of making your own preschool supplies you will never look at a box the same way again! Shoeboxes can be transformed into panoramas with glued-in miniature toys and crayon-colored backgrounds.

Appliance boxes decorated by your preschool artist and with windows cut-out (by an adult); can become a cozy "Reading Room". Just add a light source through the "ceiling" and throw some pillows inside. Cereal boxes can yield a harvest of colorful, cut-out letters. Cover them with clear contact paper and they last forever! Busy, little fingers love to sort them. Empty shoe boxes decorated with construction paper, convert into light-weight building blocks. Your child's architectural designs with be limitless and environmental-friendly!

Look around your home for inexpensive items that you normally stock. Dried beans and spray-painted pasta make excellent finger-friendly counters. Find numerous uses for bulk-bought plastic straws and coffee stirrers. You bound them together to show One-Tens-and-Hundreds. You form letters with them on the floor and use them as puppet arms.

Multi-shaped pasta and Fruit Loops can be used to make patterned necklaces. Tape one end of a length of yarn to a table top and let little fingers do the threading. Remove and tie in a bow and let the Artist wear her masterpiece. Paper plates can be transformed magically into masks. Coffee filters are great for mini-drawing paper, puppet hair, and mini-Art frames. Your house is full of preschool curriculum!

Keep you eyes open and let your imagination run wild! Cookie sheets can double as a surface for magnetic letters or a base for messy projects. Bowls, pans, and lids can be musical instruments, just add a plastic serving spoon and a child's energy! It might be noisy, but it is unbeatable (excuse the pun) as an introduction to rhythm for little ones. Drums made from round oatmeal boxes decorated with construction paper are easy to make. Paper towel rolls, with wax paper and a rubber band on one end, can be turned instantly into a kazoo! You and your child can make music with things that you already have in your house.

Contrary to what you think "expensive and factory-made", does not equal "educationally-successful", or for that matter, "memorable". Encourage your children and yourself to move toward the fun and simplicity of homemade toys and games. You will never regret it! It's Green and it's cheap-good for the environment and your bank account!