Tuesday, September 29, 2009

treatment of lice


Peppermin and Tea Tree Shampoo Bar by maxwroe1



mayonnaise treat head lice

Fungal infections are common on both fingernails and toenails. Toenails are more likely to be affected by fungus, as these living organisms thrive in dark damp environments available in the foot than on hand. <br> When inflicted with toenail fungus, the nails may have in turn yellowish or brown. They can become thick and brittle and break over time or shed on your own. That kind of nails is unsightly, disfiguring, embarrassing and painful most of the time. Nail fungus can happen to anyone. It is a contagious disease that spreads through contact too ... <br> abnormal pH level of the skin, trauma to the nail, feet and lower unhygienic body immunity permits the disease. <br> Avoid nail fungus - <br> - The fungus grows in warm, moist areas, such as spas, swimming pools, showers or locker rooms. If you step on a puddle hot or wet floor, you can catch the infection. After using a public place is ideal to wash and dry your feet well. <br> - Wear cotton socks to absorb moisture from the feet that happens from sweating. <br> - If the socks are wet, dry them off their feet before using a new pair of socks dry. <br> - Wear shoes that have a comfortable fit and allows plenty of air and moisture to pass. <br> - Avoid sharing towels, washcloths, shoes or other personal items of those people who have already contracted the disease. <br> - Wash and dry your feet every time. Use a towel vigorously to remove dead skin and improve circulation. <br> - Keep nails short, and not use nail polish. <br> - Trim nails regularly. Trim them in a straight line and then smooth the edges with a nail file. <br> remedy toenail fungus - <br> - tea tree oil is a powerful natural antiseptic and fungicide that will help fight the fungus. Apply tea tree oil undiluted olive oil to the affected toenail. Alternatively, you can put a few drops of tea tree oil on nails and rub thoroughly every day. <br> - Soak your feet in Listerine mouthwash. The powerful antiseptic leaves your toenails looking healthy. <br> - Soak your toenails for 15 to 20 minutes in a tub filled with hot water and natural apple cider vinegar apple mixed in equal proportion. When finished, dry your nails carefully. Use a hair dryer on warm to absorb all the moisture in and around the toes. <br> - Places the same amount of tea tree oil and lavender oil on a cotton ball or swab. Dab under the top edge of the fingernail and surrounding area 2 or 3 times a day. Tea tree oil is natural antibiotic and lavender will help fight infection and prevent skin irritation. <br> - Mix 2 drops of Oregano essential oil with a teaspoon of olive oil. Apply this mixture on the affected area daily for no more than three weeks. Characteristics of oregano essential oil has antiseptic, antibacterial, antiparasitic, antiviral, analgesic and antifungal. <br> - Until the new nail growth is complete, apply apple cider vinegar 2 or 3 times a day. <br> - Lather AHA creams on your feet before bedtime. This will remove the rough skin peeling of the feet which is more prone to fungal growth. <br> The reader of this article should exercise all precautions while following the instructions on the recipes in this article. Avoid using if you are allergic to something. The responsibility lies with the reader, not the site, and the writer. <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> <br> Alternative Names: <br> fungal infection - groin; Infection - fungal - groin, groin itch, ringworm - groin, tinea cruris, ringworm of the groin. Definition <br> <br> Jock itch is an infection of the groin area caused by fungus. This is a fungal infection affecting the moist skin in inner thighs, genitals, anal area, or buttocks, which occurs in both men and women. Affected skin is covered with the rash of red or brown, which may be in a ring. The rash may itch or burn, the affected skin may peel or crack. <br> .... Causes <br> <br> The body normally hosts a variety of bacteria and fungi. Some of these are useful to the body. Others can multiply rapidly and cause infections. Jock itch occurs when a particular type of fungus grows and multiplies in the groin area. <br> Jock itch occurs mainly in adult men and adolescent boys. It can sometimes accompany athlete's foot and ringworm. The fungus that causes jock itch thrives in warm, moist areas. Jock itch can be caused by friction from clothes and prolonged wetness in the groin area (such as from sweating). <br> Jock itch may be contagious. It can be spread from person to person by direct skin-to-skin contact or contact with dirty clothes. Jock itch usually stays around the creases in the upper thigh and does not involve the scrotum or penis. It is often less severe than other tinea infections, but can last a long time. Ringworm can also spread to the anus, causing anal itching and discomfort. <br> Other causes of jock itch include: - Lichen simplex chronicus <br> * Eczema <br> <br> * * * Pubic lice <br> <br> Chemical irritation can click and see also: pruritus vaginal <br>. How is it spread <br> Jock Itch? <br> Jock itch can be transmitted to sharing towels or sports clothing, or sexual contact. <br> Normly Who is infected? <br> Adult males often have wet groin are often infected. Jock itch can also occur in women. He rarely appears before 15 years of age. <br> Risk factors for getting jock itch are: - <br> * Wet groin (male athletes, itching dhobi is known in western sandpipers) <br> * Underwear adjusted <br> * Obesity; the Infection occurs in the folds of moist skin <br> * Immune: AIDS, diabetes <br> Completications possible: - <br> Complications are rare from jock itch usually a skin condition limited. Rarely, the rash may spread beyond the groin down the thighs and genitals. Secondary skin infections from scratching or rubbing can deepen rare, causing cellulitis or abscess formation. <br> Another potential complication includes temporary skin discoloration called post-inflammatory hypopigmentation (lighter than normal skin color) or hyperpigmentation (darker then the normal skin color). This altered skin color may occur after the rash has improved after a temporary flare. Permanent scarring is rare. <br>. Symptoms: <br> Jock itch usually begins with mild intermittent itching in the groin. The itch worse and can become unbearable in some cases. The rash is usually on both sides of the groin and affects the folds. <br> The rash can become dry, rough and full of potholes, bumps with pus develop, or begin to fester. Sometimes, skin side up, and clears the rash spreads below the thighs. The itching and rash may spread to the genitals as the lips, vagina, scrotum, penis and anus. <br> Women also may develop vaginal white and yeast infections. Men can develop infections of the head of the penis, especially if they are circumcised. <br> Severe cases can be very uncomfortable and develop secondary complications such as skin wounds, sores, ulcers, and rarely cellulitis. <br>. Diagnosis: Medical <br> jock itch usually diagnosed based on appearance of the skin. The tests are not necessary. If tests are needed to confirm the diagnosis, either a culture or biopsy of skin lesion (eg, a scraping of the skin) may show the fungus that causes jock itch. <br> groin rash can be caused by other types of fungi (Candida albicans), viruses (genital herpes), bacteria (Staphylococcus aureus), allergies (itchy pants syndrome, cholinergic urticaria), inverse psoriasis, the Darier disease, Hailey-Hailey disease (pemphigus), intertrigo, seborrheic dermatitis, etc. Treatment <br> - <br> There are many treatment options and skin care recipes for the treatment of jock itch. As the two leading causes of jock itch include excess moisture and fungal infections, treatment depends on the exact cause of jock itch. The treatment of jock itch associated with skin irritation and excessive humidity should address the general measures to keep the groin dry and clean. The treatment of fungal jock itch should include antifungal creams used continuously for two to four weeks. <br> is important to note that no therapy is uniformly effective in all people. Doctor may need to help evaluate the cause of jock itch. <br> Home Remedy - <br> Home remedy for jock itch include mild <br> * washing the skin in the groin two to three times a day with a mild soap-free cleanser, such as non-cleaner Dove or Cetaphil soap and water; <br> * keeping the groin area dry; <br> * Avoid excessive skin irritation in the groin with the use of underwear 100% cotton, <br > * avoid fabric softeners, bleach or strong detergents and <br> * Implementation of a mixture of over hydrocortisone cream and clotrimazole (Lotrimin, Mycelex) cream once or twice daily to the affected area. Jock itch <br> Holistic Treatments - Holistic <br> (not medicated) options for home remedy for jock itch include: <br> * Soak the affected area daily with a cloth soaked in diluted white vinegar (1 part vinegar to 4 parts water) and dry skin and <br> * Soaking in a bath daily or every two days with very diluted Clorox bleach (1 quarter cup of Clorox bleach in a bathtub full of water) and dry skin. <br> fungal jock itch is usually treated as follows: - Fungi <br> yeast mild jock itch can be treated by: <br> * Wash twice a day in the groin with an antifungal shampoo such as the ketoconazole shampoo (Nizoral) or selenium sulfide <br> UM (shampoo Selsun Blue). <br> Moderated by fungus or jock itch yeast is often a combination of: <br> * wash the groin, twice a day with an antifungal shampoo such as selenium sulfide and <br> * Use of a topical antifungal cream miconazole (Monistat, Micatin), clotrimazole or terbinafine (Lamisil). <br> serious fungal jock itch or yeast is typically a combination of: <br> * Wash twice a day in the groin with an antifungal shampoo such as selenium sulfide, <br> * The use of topical antifungal cream miconazole, clotrimazole or terbinafine and <br> * Take an antifungal pill like fluconazole (Diflucan), itraconazole (Sporanox) or terbinafine. Jock itch bacterial <br> are normally treated as follows: - <br> Mild bacterial jock itch can be treated with: * Wash skin <br> Lever 2000, as antibacterial soap or chlorhexidine (Hibiclens) soap twice day. Moderate <br> jock itch can be treated with bacterial <br> * Wash skin as chlorhexidine antibacterial soap twice a day and <br> * Twice daily application of a topical antibiotic like clindamycin lotion or metronidazole (Flagyl ) lotion. Serious bacterial <br> jock itch can be treated with: - <br> * Wash skin as chlorhexidine antibacterial soap twice a day, <br> * Twice daily application of a topical antibiotic such as cream or lotion metronidazole, clindamycin, and <br> * A five to 14 days with an oral antibiotic such as cephalexin (Keflex), dicloxacillin, doxycycline, minocycline (Dynacin, Minocin), tetracycline (Sumycin), ciprofloxacin (Cipro, Cipro XR, Proquin XR) or levofloxacin (Levaquin) for the toughest situations. <br> inflammatory treatment of itching - <br> inflammatory Itching Jock itch can be treated with a short course of one of the following: <br> * Use a short period of five and seven-day course mild to medium-potency, topical steroid cream as prescribed Triamcinolone 0.025% once or twice a day for inflamed or itchy areas. <br> * Use a short period of five and seven days during a soft cream with a prescription topical steroid such as hydrocortisone (Cortaid) one to three times a day for itching. <br> * Use a topical immunomodulators such as pimecrolimus (Elidel) cream or tacrolimus (Protopic) ointment twice daily. Although these creams are approved for atopic dermatitis and eczema, their use would be considered "off label" (not using the label of the FDA) for jock itch. <br> Causes of residual skin discoloration - <br> residual skin discoloration in the groin, can persist for weeks or months after the most serious jock itch clear. This dark coloration is called hyperpigmentation and can be treated with one or a combination of <br> * Hydroquinone 4% cream, <br> * kojic acid cream, <br> * 15% azelaic acid cream, <br> * Over -the-counter fade cream with hydroquinone, 2% (porcelain), or <br> * Specially designed especially for prescription skin bleaching creams resistant using higher concentrations of hydroquinone 6%, 8% and 10% can also be made by prescription for pharmaceutical compounds. Best medicine <br> Jock Itch: - <br> In general, the greatest athlete of drugs is itching topical antifungal cream miconazole, clotrimazole or terbinafine. If jock itch does not improve within two to three weeks of treatment, then a physician should be consulted. <br> You can click to see herbal treatment of jock itch ... (1) ... ... (2) ... .. (3): <br> homeopathic treatment. ... ... .... (1) <br> Forecast: - <br> jock itch prognosis is very good. In general, scabies tends to be an easy treatment and skin condition is curable. Commonly, it's a mild, benign, usually not contagious, and self-limited skin condition. More generally, atypical cases of jock itch can be embarrassing, chronic disfiguring and psychologically distressing for the patient. <br> Prevention: <br> Jock itch prevention efforts include a good skin hygiene and general maintenance of the groin clean and dry. The following preventive measures will help <br> * Wash the groin and buttocks with soap and water after exercising and sweating. <br> * Wash sports clothing, underwear and swimwear after use. <br> * Reduce moisture in the groin using white cotton underwear. <br> * Change underwear frequently and especially after sweating. <br> * Wash clothes and clothing in hot water and soap. * Use <br> fitting cotton underwear and clothing. <br> * Avoid underwear polyester, nylon or synthetic fibers. <br> * Use an antifungal powder like Lamisil or Zeasorb to keep the groin dry. <br> * Avoid perfumed creams or lotions or irritants in the groin. <br> * Avoid walking barefoot, especially in gyms, schools and public swimming pools. <br> * Treat athlete's foot, if any. <br> * Cover your feet with socks before putting on his underwear and pants. <br> Disclaimer: This information is not intended as a substitute for professional health advice or assistance. It is always best to consult a doctor about serious health problems. This information is in no way intended to diagnose or prescribe remedies.This is purely for educational purposes. <br> <br> Resources: http://www.nlm.nih.gov/medlineplus/ency/article/000876.htm <br> <br> http://www.healthhype.com/jock-itch-pictures -causes-and-Treatment.html <br> http://www.medicinenet.com/jock_itch/page3.htm <br> Related articles by Zemanta <br> <br> Axilla fungus - Sweat, irritation and allergy Perfume (healthhype . com) <br> Ringworm Fungal Infections - Fungal skin (healthhype.com) <br> The four health problems rude boy (cnn.com) <br> Beateczema - How To Stop Eczema (slideshare.net ) <br> Beateczema - Herbal remedies for Eczema (slideshare.net) <br> mount an attack of multiple layers in fungal infections (scienceblog.com) <br> Itchy bottom (healthhype.com) <br > <br>


Get Rid Of Lice Fast!

Wednesday, September 23, 2009

where to buy pine bark


Florida to Alaska on Bicycle (#10)   April 20, 1997: Welcome to Alabama by worldwidewandering



pine bark extract bulk


The sun had only been up an hour, so the shadows were still long and cold as the tiny car bounced along the snaking, dirt road. Speaking Romanian is hard in the early morning, so I tried to stick to specific questions–ones which Doru could answer at length while I sat quietly and listened. As we reached Cheile Jiețului, however, my child-like wonder withered my will to sustain conversation. Cheile Jiețului is a gateway (one of many) into the fairytale kingdom that is Romania’s wild places– so I shut up and stared out the window at the tortuously slow symphony of fall color on all sides of me–each note represented a different moment of passing, and every note was a symbol of the suddenly suspended transience of time.


Doru and I were going mushroom hunting, which seemed an apt way to spend a Sunday afternoon in the land of fairy tales. We crossed into the next county, Vâlcea, over a long mountain pass and came to a crossroad where scores of other mushroom hunters had set up temporary camps made of wood, plastic, and nylon. Doru told me that these mushroom hunters were after a different type of mushroom than we were–a kind that is exported to other countries throughout Europe. North of the crossroad, the road heads toward Sibiu, one of the more well known cities in Romania. Ahead it goes to Râmnicu Vâlcea, and behind us back to Petroșani and the Jiu Valley I call home. The last time I was here was over a year ago, and since then a large portion of this road has been widened, grated, and paved. Doru told me this is part of an attempt to establish the area as a center for eco-tourism, and to make it more accessible. It reminded me of all the other ways that Romania has been progressing around me since I arrived 16 months ago.


We parked alongside a river with a crossing–a long, fallen pine tree. Doru poured two small glasses of strong, dark wine and we toasted. “For courage,” Doru laughed before we cleared our glasses in a few, long gulps. Doru pulled on a pair of rubber galoshes, and told me that he was going to wade the river. I had on hiking boots, so my route would be to  ’slowly’ cross by using the tree. I climbed onto it and carefully began to step my way across. Now, as a person who is chronically clumsy, I figured the odds were at least 50% that I’d slip and fall into the water. True to my nature, 2/3 across the river I stepped onto a patch of rotting bark which disintegrated under my foot and threw my balance downward. I suddenly found myself suspended in the air, heading for a bad fall and a cold bath.


However, being chronically clumsy has its benefits: that is to say, I’ve ‘adapted’ to my handicap–I’m really good at falling down.  Instinctively, I kicked my right leg over my body and rolled my trajectory so that I was facing downwards. I planted my right foot ankle deep into the water, which sucked, but I was able to catch myself on the log with both hands and raise my left leg over the river.


“Joem!” Doru yelled, as he quickly sloshed his way upriver. “Are you alright?! Did you hit yourself?!” Doru gave me his shoulder and helped me across to the far bank.


I assured Doru that I had indeed caught myself, and that I was fine. “You scared me…” Doru said. “I have to be responsible for you,” and I knew he was right–my 7 Romanian mothers would scold Doru to death if I broke an arm or leg while I was in the woods with him.


Doru seemed relieved, and passed me two large, woven, plastic sacks from the supermarket. “Last fall I filled two bags,” Doru. “We’ll see how we do.”


He scampered over to a cinnamon colored mushroom craning itself out of the supple earth. “These are what we’re after,” Doru told me, as he plucked off the mushroom’s ‘tail’ and passed the ‘head’ to me to examine. I took mental notes: brownish and sort of spotty– check. Doru took the low ground, and I went higher. The hill was on a steep, north-facing grade, and the trees were dense. It had also rained lightly the evening before, so all roots were slick and the dirt was spongy. Each step I either sunk four inches into wet moss and pine needles or slid down a half meter over wet branches. Doru and I would leave our bags in a spot and sort of zig zag around, grabbing mushrooms, popping off their stems, and putting the caps carefully into our sacks.


Under a pine tree, in a place that felt noticeably more magical than the rest, I found two large mushrooms that weren’t like what Doru had shown me. These two were a deep brown, and their heads came to distinct peaks. These were the sort of mushrooms you’d expect to find in a magic forest,  safeguarded by over-protective gnomes. I carefully plucked the caps from the stems and bagged them. I heard Doru call my name–so I scampered across the hill so that he could keep me in his sight and wouldn’t need to worry about me.


I instantly became aware that I had a problem–I felt like I was grabbing about four different types of mushroom. Some seemed more reddish than what Doru had shown me. Others had distinct, almost black ‘nipples,’ at their crests. Others seemed right, but were grey and rosy colored underneath. I took my half-full bag to Doru and asked him to inspect what I had collected.


Doru dumped the bag onto the earth and began picking through them. “No. No. These aren’t good,’ he murmured and I watched as he tossed away 2/3 of what I had found. “Look,” Doru said, handing me another ‘good’ mushroom to study. The mushrooms I really wanted weren’t brown and spotty– they were latte colored with the occasional light fleck of cream on top. And, underneath, they were a luminescent white that seemed so pure and soft that it almost sang lullabies.


I also showed Doru the two gnome mushrooms. “Oh these–these are good,” Doru said as he carefully took the two caps from me. “These are what the other mushroom hunters come after– you should have left the tails on them, but you didn’t know. We’ll try and sell them later for beer,” Doru said and smiled at me before putting them in a separate plastic bag.


Doru and I moved on, and I now felt more comfortable recognizing the kind of head we were after.  They start deep inside the ground, and grow upwards strong and solid. Hence, they’re usually hidden under swathes of moss and dirt, or on the dim sides of uprooted trees. The young ones have domes, perfectly designed for pushing past the soil into the open air. Older ones flatten out, and become wide, concave cups that catch rain. Because of the precipitation, the older ones are susceptible to mold and rot, growing fuzzy white beards and losing that glowing white sheen– trading it for a faded color like grave water. They are easy to uproot, tail and head together, and the two are separated with a quick, strong pinch at the neck.


As my bag filled, I felt a strange sense of guilt. I almost felt as if Doru and I were pillaging the forest–tramping through to take what we wanted and leaving headless mushroom stalks in our wake. I wanted to take only half of what I found–to leave the rest for other collecters that might wander by tomorrow or the day after. I stopped for a moment to think, my heavy breathing a constantly slowing soundtrack for the forest. But I was  soon able to reconcile those guilty thoughts and continue on (see italicized portion below).


When Doru and I wandered out of the forest about three hours later, he had two heavy bags, both 2/3 full. I was excited with my own contribution: a 2/3 full sack, and a second that was a little over 1/4 full. Doru waded across the river with all four bags, while I slowly inched across the bridge again. This time, as odds would predict, I made it across without falling down.


Doru laid out a spread of canned meat, bread, sliced vegetables, salty sheep cheese, and a beer for me. We ate hungrily, occasionally breaking apart our bites by talking about wildlife conservation, or how warm the recent winters have been in Romania. Doru and I ate hearty, and after the whole beer and another short glass of wine I had a small buzz. So Doru and I packed the mushrooms into the car, and began the trip home.


Back at the crossroads, we stopped briefly so that Doru could sell the two gnome mushrooms I found along with two others that he had come upon. There was a group of hard-looking men hanging out around an electronic scale and a pickup truck piled with wooden crates–these were the mushroom gangsters. The crates were for gnome mushrooms that the men would buy from other mushroom hunters working at the crossroads camp. The mushroom Don was a squat man, and he held a wad of bills totaling a few thousand RON. A young crony in the pickup truck weighed our four mushrooms– they were 600 grams altogether. Although they usually sell for 25 RON per kilogram, the don gave us a 10 RON note. Doru didn’t argue–so we got  in the car and left.


In the car, Doru told me that the man was ‘making fun of us,’ but that he didn’t want to argue. I told him it was fine–we had enough money for two beers, and that was alright with me. On the ride home, we blasted out of the fairytale gate and time suddenly latched onto us, hyperactive and anxious to make up for the three hours we lost away from it. There was sun, and countless packs of people grilling along this part of the Jiu river. I suddenly realized how sleepy I had become, and so I told  Doru we’d have to save our beer money for another time.


“That’s fine Joem,” he smiled at me, and dropped me off at home. “I’ll clean the mushrooms and give you some,” and I told him that would be beautiful, but that I didn’t want many. I said that I would rather go to his house so that we could eat them together, and spend our beer money. Doru told me “this goes without saying.”


This part is preachy, but it feels important to say. Read if you like:

The guilt. In the purest sense of food-getting, gathering is probably the least harmful undertaking humans could possibly embark upon. The mushrooms Doru and I collected were grown naturally, without any sense of aritificals or synthetics. It’s not for profit as everything we collected was for food– for Doru and his family. Hence no worker or distributor or consumer was exploited. The mushrooms were in their prime, and they only live a short while, anyway. If Doru and I hadn’t picked them, they’d simply mold and whither like countless I’d already seen that morning. Finally, some mushrooms have a biological predisposition to being harvested, eaten, and enjoyed. Throughout the million year course of their history, the mushrooms have slowly evolved to taste good and be nutritious. They use decomposing biomatter to regenerate soil, and in turn they can nourish animals. This is symbiosis, and we are an undetachable part of the system, no matter how much we try and resist.


I think that the guilt came because I’ve been reading a lot of Daniel Quinn and Michael Pollan this past year. I’m constantly worried about the impact of overpopulation on the earth, and how the ends seems to justify the means in regards to our food production. I have become so thoroughly disillusioned with how we eat that procuring any sort of sustenance for myself seems selfish and destructive. And while picking wild mushrooms is a billion times more environmentally friendly than buying pesticide treated criminis imported from 1,500 miles away, I still couldn’t shake the recurring thought: “but–what if everybody did this?” I think that’s my underlying issue: that we have become far too many in a world with a limited amount to give.


The only solution I have in this setting is: ‘don’t feel guilty about eating wild foods.’



Trees have found a place of honor in almost every sacred tradition. Ancient yogis lived deep in the forest, and Patanjali is known as the “jungle physician.” The Buddha found enlightenment under a fig tree. Maypoles and Christmas trees are remnants of a European culture that celebrated trees in every season, an echoing reminder of the ancient Druids who worshipped in sacred groves. The Greeks built temples supported by columns shaped like tall cedars with their fluted bark. And after cutting down the Druid groves, Christians toiled to raise imitation forests in stone, called cathedrals.


In the 1980s, in Oregon, a group of activists formed to save the last “cathedral forests” of the region. People who came to the heart of these ancient forests gazed up at the canopy and saw stained glass windows in the quality of light filtering down, vaulted ceilings in the lofty branches, and mighty pillars in the tall trunks. They felt what many before them had felt, that trees are the living link between heaven and earth, and they were filled with happiness.


The sacredness of trees had come full circle and people now realized that what remained standing of the ancient forests must be preserved.

 

Forest in Critical Danger

Those Oregon forest activists, of whom I was one, mounted a successful, long-term campaign to save the last pristine forests of the Pacific Northwest. Unfortunately, most of the protections won were not permanent gains, and with the political changes in the year 2000, the new administration began to unravel the net of protection. And although we had seen some progress  in the United States, unlogged old-growth forests around the world continued to disappear at an alarming rate.


Forests harbor much of the world’s biodiversity. They soak up water and seed rain clouds; they inhale carbon dioxide, storing carbon in their flesh; they exhale oxygen for us to breathe. They are essential to life, but sadly, despite the growing consciousness about the importance of forests, we continue to lose around 13 million hectares per year (an area the size of Greece).

 

Forests are lost to logging for timber and consumer products, to land clearing for agriculture, and increasingly, to palm oil and other biofuel plantations.


As concern about global warming grows, the role of forests in combating it is becoming better understood. Here is what we know:


• About one-fifth of greenhouse gas emissions worldwide come from land clearing and deforestation—more than from the entire transportation sector.


• Immediately when forests are logged, disturbed soils release carbon dioxide and methane. Then more gases are released over time as leaves and twigs decay.


• Different types of forests store carbon in different ways. Tropical forests cover the most acreage and store more of their carbon in the mass of their living vegetation than in soils.  


• The northern forests surrounding the pole, known as boreal forests, comprise the largest single reservoir of carbon on the planet. Most of this carbon is buried in deep layers of permafrost, frozen peat accumulated over thousands of years.


• Temperate forests of the mid-latitudes contain about a third as much carbon as found in tropical forests and less than one sixth of the amount stored in boreal forests and their soils.

 

• As the climate warms and dries out, some forests are starting to release more carbon than they absorb in their annual growth cycles. At the same time, there is an increase in the number and severity of forest fires. Although the exact climate impact of forest fires is disputed, the loss of carbon storing adds significantly to global warming.


The timber industry has promoted the idea that young, growing forests do a better job of taking carbon out of the atmosphere than an intact old-growth forest, but scientists are finding that is not true. After an old-growth forest is logged, the site continues to release carbon dioxide into the atmosphere for many years as the remaining organic material decomposes. It may take many decades, even centuries, for new trees to reach their full size and carbon-storing potential. Even in forests that have been only selectively logged rather than clear-cut, it can take decades before a newly planted forest attains the same carbon-absorbing ability as the forest it replaced.

 

As Brendan Mackey, a professor of environmental science at the Australian National University, has assessed it: “One hectare of mature, tall, wet forest can store the equivalent of 5500 tonnes of carbon dioxide, about the same as the annual carbon dioxide emissions from 1300 cars.” Mackey says,“Forests that are commercially logged store about 30 to 40 percent less carbon than unlogged forests.” The World Resources Institute reports under 20 percent of the world’s original, unlogged forests remain.   


The Amazon Ark

Scientists also can tell us that tropical forests are especially important to maintaining climate stability, and that the most important forest on the planet is the Amazon. The Amazon basin is about the size of the continental United States. It is home to one-fifth of the world’s plant and animal species and more than 200 indigenous cultures. According to the Woods Hole Research Center, trees in the Amazon store the carbon equivalent of more than a decade’s worth of global fossil fuel emissions in their bodies.  


The Amazon is also a powerful rainmaker. Forests soak up moisture and then release it through the process of transpiration. Trees in the Amazon seed the clouds that water the fields and pastures of South America and the Caribbean. Researchers are finding that clouds and air currents originating in the Amazon can drive weather patterns as far away as the North Atlantic. The Amazon is one of the earth’s primary climate engines.  


And yet each year in the Amazon basin, an area of forest bigger than Massachusetts is lost.  


Global warming is proceeding so rapidly that scientists now think that we are on a trajectory to hit one or more of what they call “tipping points.” The earth’s climate is a finely balanced dynamic system. A climate tipping point is where the balance is lost and the system shifts into a new mode.


The Australian scientist Tim Flannery, who has written an important book on global warming called The Weather Makers, fears that the first major tipping point we are likely to encounter will lead to the demise of the entire Amazon forest. This is because the El NiÒo weather patterns that bring drought to the Amazon are increasing in frequency and duration.


Forest ecologist Dan Nepstad at the Woods Hole Research Center, in Massachusetts, has studied drought in the Amazon and concluded that after only two years of drought, trees start dying. Further drying promotes forest fires. Beyond a certain point, the forest won’t recover from the fires, and then the amazing Amazon would be displaced by fire-prone scrub vegetation, accelerating global warming across the planet.


We really have no choice now. We are drowning our planet in carbon emissions, and we must save the trees, because trees are the ark that holds our climate together. Preserving trees, along with big changes in our high-consumption lifestyles, can save us from the disaster of global warming.


A Few Modern-Day Noahs

The biblical story of Noah provides an interesting parallel. Science now tells us that, in fact, there were great floods around the world at the end of the last ice age, some ten thousand years ago. So it is not surprising that stories of an ark have come down to us. Noah built his ark out of wood to save living creatures from the flood. As we face the rising waters once again, we must recognize that today’s Noahs are called upon not to cut down trees to build an ark, but to preserve the environment’s ark by saving forests.


Last year, the respected British economist Nicholas Stern issued a report on global warming that finally proved to much of the world that the cost of ignoring climate change would be far higher than the cost of taking action today. One of Stern’s recommendations was to quickly put an end to the destruction of forests. He said that paying countries to keep trees standing was likely to be one of the cheapest and easiest ways to slow down global warming.


The World Bank is now launching the first program to reward developing countries for forest preservation. Called the Forest Carbon Partnership Facility, it will be part of the bank’s Global Forest Alliance Fund. The United Nations will consider ways to bring avoided deforestation into carbon trading schemes at its next climate change conference, set to be in Bali, Indonesia, this December.


Kevin Conrad, the United Nations Representative from Papua New Guinea and a committed advocate for the new programs, sums up the challenge simply: “The world markets want our wood, they want our coffee, they want all these agricultural products, but for us to provide this almost always results in deforestation…” He adds: “The only money coming to these communities is when they destroy the forests. The challenge is to get a new philosophy.”


There are different ways to approach the challenge of paying to keep forests whole, but when you examine the details of implementing any program, it almost makes Noah’s job look easy. Rounding up all those animals and marching them two by two into the ark seems simple compared with the task of lining up all of the different actors needed to save forests: heads of government, financial institutions, bureaucratic hierarchies, timber corporations, manufacturers who use wood and paper, agri-business giants, small farmers, loggers in need of jobs, and consumers.


According to World Bank figures, over 90 percent of the 1.2 billion people who live in extreme poverty depend on forests for some part of their livelihood. At the same time, the global forest products trade is worth over $270 billion.  Land tenure in many forests is confused among national, private, and tribal ownership, and timber theft is everywhere.


The reality of many developing countries is that corruption and lawlessness reign. Elites often turn a blind eye to timber theft because they are getting kickbacks. For instance, the logging watchdog group Global Witness has released a report on Cambodia’s government describing it as a “kleptocracy.” The report presented evidence that “corruption and nepotism by high-ranking officials in the Cambodian government has facilitated extensive illegal logging in Cambodia…” Cambodia lost 30 percent of its forest cover over a five-year period. During this same period, the World Bank and other aid agencies were overseeing Cambodia’s development, yet they failed to tackle the ongoing corruption.

 

If corruption can be overcome, the avoided deforestation payments could be used to help governments combat rampant illegal logging. An estimated 73 percent of all logging in Indonesia and 80 percent of logging in the Brazilian Amazon is illegal. Unless it is stopped, illegal logging could wipe out 98 percent of the remaining forests on Sumatra and Borneo by 2022. On Borneo, the indigenous Penan tribe continues to blockade logging roads into a critically important rain forest, their ancestral forest. Perhaps the day is coming soon where the Penan and people like them will receive compensation for acting as guardians of the forest, while preserving their traditional, non-destructive use of the forest.


The Very Forests Sustain Us

The Penan and other forest people already know that the forest sustains them. Living in the cities, towns, and suburbs, our connection to trees is less obvious. But our role in building the forest ark is just as important, and there is a lot we can do as consumers and as citizens.


As citizens, we can learn about the forests in our area and join the groups that are working to protect them. It can also be very effective to lend our support to forest protection groups working on the ground in developing countries. In addition, we must continue to pressure the United States government to join the international community in the Kyoto climate change agreement.


As consumers, our role is more difficult because when we buy products from faraway places, it is very hard to know how they were produced. Recently, forest activists have become concerned that the organization that certifies sustain-ably produced forest products, the Forest Stewardship Council (FSC), has not been able to guarantee that its standards are being met.


Chris Lang, an environmental researcher who runs a website called fscwatch.org, says that, while the FSC is better than all the other certification schemes, it has certain structural weaknesses nonetheless. By his account, “There is a conflict of interest within the FSC system. The companies that carry out the assessment to decide whether a certificate can be awarded or not are paid for by the forestry company that wants the certificate. If the assessors apply the FSC principles very strictly and get a reputation for rejecting operations for certification, they are less likely to be employed in the future.” The inability of FSC to guarantee its standards has led the Norwegian government to conclude that it cannot rely on any certification system to help implement its new ethical procurement policy. Instead, the Norwegian authorities have decided to ban all use of tropical timber in public buildings.


Chris Lang says that another problem with green certification is that because it appears to provide timber and paper products that are “sustainable,” it diverts attention from the issue of over-consumption. “Out with the old, in with the new” is a very American, yet very wasteful creed, for instance.


Our biggest challenge as consumers is to learn how to satisfy our need and not our greed. To determine where that line is, we must first educate ourselves about the earth and its limits, and then go within to understand ourselves and our true needs.


From the Heart of a Tree Hugger

In my years as a frontline forest activist, I was fortunate to live in the forest I was trying to save. Whenever the conflicts and pressures got to be too much for me, I could walk outside and put my arms around a giant sugar pine six feet in diameter and 150 feet tall. These massive beings are solid, yet they still sway in the strong winds that blow over the ridge during storms. Their strength is amazing, and hugging them always filled me with strength, too.


Try hugging a tree sometime. It doesn’t have to be a big tree. Take a walk in the woods and press your heart against a tree and see how it makes you feel.


Hugging trees might seem silly, but it’s not. For all they do for us, you can’t deny the feeling that the trees are hugging us back.+



Kelpie Wilson, a contributing editor of Yoga+, is a solar engineer and author of a novel,
Primal Tears.


 



Wood-User’s Guide


To make the best environmental choice you can when buying or using wood, start at level one, the best option, and only descend to the next level if the better way fails. This guide for consumers has been adapted from material by Friends of the Earth at www.foe.co.uk


Level 1  Repair, restore, or adapt something you already have. You may need professional help but it could still be cheaper than something new and it’s far better for the world’s forests.


Level 2  Buy secondhand, recycled, reclaimed, or waste timber. A better environmental choice than buying new.


Level 3  Buy locally produced timber products that are Forest Stewardship Council (FSC) certified. If you can’t recycle, buying locally produced timber products means less fossil fuel is used in transportation. Although not perfect, its certification is the best currently available. All FSC-certified wood carries the FSC logo.


Level  4  Buy FSC-certified products from farther afield.


Forest Protection


There are many worthwhile forest protection groups that deserve your support. Here are a few that are especially concerned with indigenous people as protectors of tropical forests.


• World Rainforest Movement

www.wrm.org.uy


• Wangari Matthaai and the Green Belt Movement 

www.greenbeltmovement.org


• Borneo Project (support for the Penan people)

www.borneoproject.org


• Rainforest Action Network

www.ran.org




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Wednesday, September 9, 2009

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Trusty Tent After The Night Storm (and yes - the three of us squished in because of the rain!) by brookenovak



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During the winter months, finding a beach vacation spot can be a little difficult. It doesn’t have to be, which is where this article will really come in handy. Below, you’ll find some resorts that offer a unique twist to your winter beach vacation.


1. Molokai Ranch and Lodge


On a white sand shore on the tiny Hawaiian island of Molokai, guests will stay in comfortable yet unique tents. Each double unit canvas bungalow sits on wooden platforms, offers queen size beds in one unit, twin beds in the other, solar powered lights, and a private bathroom with hot water showers.


The Molokai Ranch and Lodge offer over 54,000 acres, including seaside cliffs with very lush valleys. The outdoor activities here include sea kayaking, cultural hikes, mountain biking, and horseback rides. For the kids, the lodge offers nature walks, horse stables, tidal pools and Hawaiian arts and crafts.


2. Grand Wailea Resort and Spa of Hawaii


Long ago, a big swimming pool was enough to make guests happy. Now days, resorts compete in water activities such as lagoons, waterfalls, water slides, and even lazy rivers.


The Grand Wailea Resort offers several attractions, such as the 4,580 square foot Hibiscus pool, and the 25,700 square foot Canyon Activity pool which is great for families.


3. Atlantis Resort of the Bahamas


In the amazing water fun department is the unique Atlantis Resort and Spa on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. Along with the beach, the Atlantis has eleven swimming pools, Mayan Temple water slides, and lazy river rides. The Atlantis also boasts an amazing marine habitat, with exhibit lagoons that house more than 50,000 sea animals.


4. Club Med Punta Cana


Over the last several years, the Dominion Republic has been working very hard to establish itself as a destination for families, with many all inclusive being built. This location has all the perks of a tropical resort plus stand out features that include kids programs, and other attractions that make Club Med Punta Cana one of the most unique beach vacation spots in the entire world.


5. Virgin Islands


The US Virgin Islands National Park is a very unique vacation spot with white sandy beaches, and lodging in comfortable tent cottages.


As with the Molokai Ranch, guest cottages are built on platforms and designed to be both attractive and comfortable. Each one has a sleeping area, bed linen, towels, kitchen utensils, stove, ice cooler, and even a private deck.


Water sports for the area include kayaking, wind surfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving. There is also an outdoor restaurant and a food store for those who want to cook from the privacy of their own room.


Pamela Kazmierczak is an expert in the wedding industry. If you enjoyed this article you should check out her site to learn more about the Honeymoon and perfect destinations such as Cap Juluca. While there you can also join her free ezine and shop at her wedding store. Check it out Now!






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During the winter months, finding a beach vacation spot can be a little difficult. It doesn’t have to be, which is where this article will really come in handy. Below, you’ll find some resorts that offer a unique twist to your winter beach vacation.


1. Molokai Ranch and Lodge


On a white sand shore on the tiny Hawaiian island of Molokai, guests will stay in comfortable yet unique tents. Each double unit canvas bungalow sits on wooden platforms, offers queen size beds in one unit, twin beds in the other, solar powered lights, and a private bathroom with hot water showers.


The Molokai Ranch and Lodge offer over 54,000 acres, including seaside cliffs with very lush valleys. The outdoor activities here include sea kayaking, cultural hikes, mountain biking, and horseback rides. For the kids, the lodge offers nature walks, horse stables, tidal pools and Hawaiian arts and crafts.


2. Grand Wailea Resort and Spa of Hawaii


Long ago, a big swimming pool was enough to make guests happy. Now days, resorts compete in water activities such as lagoons, waterfalls, water slides, and even lazy rivers.


The Grand Wailea Resort offers several attractions, such as the 4,580 square foot Hibiscus pool, and the 25,700 square foot Canyon Activity pool which is great for families.


3. Atlantis Resort of the Bahamas


In the amazing water fun department is the unique Atlantis Resort and Spa on Paradise Island in the Bahamas. Along with the beach, the Atlantis has eleven swimming pools, Mayan Temple water slides, and lazy river rides. The Atlantis also boasts an amazing marine habitat, with exhibit lagoons that house more than 50,000 sea animals.


4. Club Med Punta Cana


Over the last several years, the Dominion Republic has been working very hard to establish itself as a destination for families, with many all inclusive being built. This location has all the perks of a tropical resort plus stand out features that include kids programs, and other attractions that make Club Med Punta Cana one of the most unique beach vacation spots in the entire world.


5. Virgin Islands


The US Virgin Islands National Park is a very unique vacation spot with white sandy beaches, and lodging in comfortable tent cottages.


As with the Molokai Ranch, guest cottages are built on platforms and designed to be both attractive and comfortable. Each one has a sleeping area, bed linen, towels, kitchen utensils, stove, ice cooler, and even a private deck.


Water sports for the area include kayaking, wind surfing, snorkeling, and scuba diving. There is also an outdoor restaurant and a food store for those who want to cook from the privacy of their own room.


Pamela Kazmierczak is an expert in the wedding field. If you loved this article you should check out her website to learn more about the Honeymoon and great destinations such as Cap Juluca. While there you can also join her free ezine and shop at her wedding store. Check it out Today!





Tags: beach, blogs, honeymoon vacation, society, travel, wedding, Weddings, women







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DSC_0281 by Gardening in a Minute



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The festival business can be a tricky one: Though the U.S. has been catching up to Europe in recent years with a growing number of large-scale outdoor music events, there are few hits (see: Coachella, Lollapalooza, etc.) and many misses (R.I.P. Langerado, Vegoose, et al). So, it’s no wonder Made Events are patting themselves on the backs after seeing their inaugural Electric Zoo Festival earn rave reviews from attendees last weekend.


 


Held in New York City’s Randall’s Island Park September 5 and 6, the electro-centric event promised roughly 11 straight hours of music across four stages each day. While smaller than Miami’s yearly Ultra Music Festival, the organizers really thought this one through, promoting the hell out of it on social media sites while securing a line-up diverse enough to please almost any dance music fan, regardless of preferred sub-genre.


 


The hard work paid off: Electric Zoo was a smooth, well-oiled machine that kept drama and calamity low and the enjoyment level high. Two days of pleasant sunny late-summer weather didn’t hurt (and since the festival fell on Labor Day weekend, most who attended could sleep in Monday). Three tents kept dancers out of the sun, while the mainstage area was large enough for the masses who gathered to see the big-ticket names. And, most surprising of all, the audience was packed with genuinely enthusiastic fans of dance music – while this seems a no-brainer, it’s kinda shocking to see how many people show up at festivals just because someone dragged them along (these are the people you often find passed out amid plastic beer cups under some trees by late afternoon). At Electric Zoo, excitement about dance music created a strong bond among festivalgoers: PLUR, indeed. Good to see all ages there, literally – lots of under 21s, as well as the older crowd who’ve been following electronic music for a decade or two.


 


Kudos to organizers on the following:


·       Line-up: Over the course of two days, the diverse roster included the likes of Audion, Busy P
& DJ Mehdi, Armin van Buuren, Deadmau5, Luciano, Benny Benassi, Danny Tenaglia, Richie Hawtin, David Guetta, Lindstrom & Prins Thomas, James Murphy & Pat Mahoney (LCD Soundsystem), Steve Angello, and way more.


·       Layout: Set in the pleasant park grounds, the stages were set far enough apart to avoid sound bleeds, yet close enough together to enable to you to go from any Point A to any Point B in about 5 minutes.


·       Security: Compared to similar events, security were extremely low-key, personable, and even helpful – a nice surprise.


·       Food: While not exactly cheap, lines were manageable and options varied enough to please pretty much any palate (ethnic cuisine, wide selection of vegan meals, the obligatory pizza, gourmet sandwiches, etc.).


·       Amenities: Porta-potties were plentiful, shade could be found throughout the grounds, dining tables were liberally scattered, and even free (tap) water could be had.


 


And next year (since it looks likely there will be a Electric Zoo v.2), would be great to see the following:


·       More live sets: While the line-up was pretty awesome, I would have loved to see more live sets. Yes, it’s logistically more complicated when doing back-to-back sets, but there definitely could have been more than a handful over the weekend. (Incidentally, Yuksek’s one-man live set on Saturday, which included vocals, was truly amazing.)


·       Streamline transportation options: Though I didn’t have any problems with the water taxi and heard the buses were easy, I could see how getting to the venue could be tricky for those who traveled from afar. If no easier options are available, would be great if more detail was provided on the website next time.


·       Cheaper alcoholic beverages: $9 is a bit steep for a beer … plus only VIP ticketholders had access to liquor (others could purchase beer, wine, and champagne.) I did wonder if this was a subtle attempt at keeping the drunkenness from getting out of hand (and, if so, would be a much preferable method than, say, an event like All Points West where you are limited to 5 drinks per day).


·       Extended hours: Though DJs started up around noon, most festivalgoers didn’t arrive until later in the afternoon. Ending at 11 seemed a bit on the early side, even though EZ sponsored afterparties at Pacha. Not sure if there was a park-imposed curfew though …


 


Sadly, I had to miss Day 2, but was quite impressed with Day 1. Some additional observations:


·       Though I only caught snippets of their sets, I heard from various sources that both Deadmau5 and Armin van Buuren (back-to-back on the mainstage) either killed it, or sucked …


·       The main stage was oddly empty most of the day, then suddenly packed when Deadmau5 hit the stage.


·       Respect Grove had some very underlooked but awesome DJ sets, including ones by Dave P & JDH, Holy Ghost!, Tiga, and Steve Aoki. Busy P & DJ Mehdi combined their spots, switching off here and there and playing their usual brand of eclectic party bangers, all while looking like they’re having the Best. Time. Ever. (Best soundbyte: Busy P trying to inject more energy into the crowd with “I’m sure you all like trance music … I travel all around the world and they tell me New York City is Trance City …” [chorus of boos erupts] “Then show me what you got, New York City!”]


·       And, finally, uh … there appeared to be some kind of environmental nastiness going on, because after a few hours of feeling kinda congested, I happened to blow my nose … and saw some black shit come out … Eventually there was no more, but a few hours later … same thing. Yeah, slightly scary … did not feel so well either. Actually heard this happened to others, so at least I can rest assured it’s not some weird thing only I am afflicted with … Still, if it’s a pesticide or some other environmental thing the park is using, would be great if they could try something different next time, as breathing in that stuff can’t be good … (Also see Coachella ’07 for similar attendee tales …)




 
Artists in gallery include
:
Holy Ghost, DJ Mehdi, Chris Lake, Busy P, Luciano, Steve Aoki, Yuksek, Tiga


 


 



Spring 2010 New York Fashion Week Preview



    The Week's Biggest Party: Fashion's Night Out
    On the eve of September 10th New York City will party to the clanging of cash registers. Consider it Anna Wintour's personal stimulus package. The Vogue edritix has organized for 700 top retailers from Staten Island to Madison Avenue to keep their doors open late so customers - aided by the help of designers, celebs, and the like - indulge in some creative consumption.

    Coordinated in conjunction with Mayor Michael Bloomberg (who will be hanging out at Macy's in Queens along with the cast of Hair and Michael Kors), the evening is meant to revive shopping in a dire economy.

    This will also serve as a kick off to the week. Celebrities-turned-designers such as Sean Combs and the ubiquitous Olsen twins will be out en force encouraging people to spend those benjamins. But one doesn't need to be famous to join in. Everyone is invited to this fashion week party.
    Head to FashionsNightOut.com for more info.


    Andrew H. Walker, Getty Images for Vogue Magazine


    The Hotspot: The Standard Hotel
    Designers, editors, models, retailers, and glamorous out-of-towners will be dining, drinking, and most importantly carousing at André Balazs's latest outpost. Though the parties will be plentiful, we've been sworn to secrecy on the actual events (read: only the invited need apply). If you're golden ticket doesn't come along don't fret. Book your rezzies for a table at The Standard Grill and watch the mayhem unfold.
    Don't just take our word for it: "The Standard Hotel is definitely the new epicenter for nightlife chic," says designer Chris Benz, who lives a few blocks away and is known as somewhat of a regular.
    Dancing queens should plan to strut their way on over to the nearby Jane Hotel for a late night boogie session.


    Courtesy of The Standard


    A Tale of Two Tents: Milk Studios vs. Bryant Park
    This is the last season that Bryant Park will be used as a show space (for Fall 2010 fashionistas will have to flock to Lincoln Center) so it was interesting twist when early in the summer Mazdack Rassi, owner of Milk Studios, and M.A.C.'s John Demsey announced their partnership.
    The uber-cool building already attracts top photographers and gallerists so why not?
    The deal also allows 30 lucky designers to show in its industrial space...for free. Fully sponsored by M.A.C., the powerhouse pairing is saving many a business from having to forsake their collections altogether.
    Even before the week takes off, fashion's hoi polloi are responding well to the change. "Thank God for Milk," says stylist extraordinaire Mary Alice Stephenson about the collaboration.


    Courtesy of Milk | Getty Images


    The New Ubiquitor: Alexa Chung
    Every fashion week there's always one gal who goes above and beyond the call of sartorial duty by attending all the tops shows and nearly every party. Historically-speaking, she is young, confident, dressed-to-the-nines the nines. Like Leighton Meester and Camilla Belle before her, Alexa Chung is now registering on the fashion radar. Though the Brit import and MTV host disdains the "It Girl" moniker, she has already made a splash at screenings and Saks Fifth Avenue store parties. Expect to see more of her English pluck in the coming weeks.


    Astrid Stawiarz, Getty Images


    Beauty: Channeling Kate the Great
    "There will be more color and more of a polished ultra-feminine finish," says celebrity make up artist and Global Artistic Director of Revlon Gucci Westman about spring's upcoming beauty trends. "There will probably be lots of drop crotch trousers, which makes me think of Kate Hepburn with her feminine tomboy look. The slight 40s feeling will carry over over into the make up... bold red matte lips, shiny lids, [reminiscent of] Jacques Herni Lartigue photographs."
    Lancôme's Kerry Diamond agrees. "Expect to see super-saturated color on lips and nails," she says. "Whether it's matchy-matchy or one shade on lips and another on nails."
    The hit TV show "Mad Men" will also influence some designers according to Diamond. "It's the idea that lipstick and nail polish make you feel pulled together, optimistic and on-trend for less."
    What's not to love about that?


    AFP / Getty Images


    Major Influences for Spring 2010 Include...Woodstock?
    "A mix mastery of prints will fill the runways," says Ken Downing, the Senior Vice President and Fashion Director of Neiman Marcus. "'Taking Woodstock' is in the air and sure to be an influence in many collections."
    Also don't throw out your jean jacket just yet: "Denim will be used as a fabrication and there will be a return to sportswear for a look of relaxed chic."





    Focus Features


    The One to Watch: Joseph Altuzarra
    The ink is being spilled over this 25-year old up-and-comer. Raised in raised in France, Altuzarra scored an internship at Marc Jacobs as wee youngster, then went on to become a design assistant at Proenza Schouler and Givenchy.
    Along with a stable of Vogue editors, he is also besties with Vanessa Traina (the daughter of Danielle Steele). How's that for street cred?
    Not surprisingly this wunderkind cites silhouette kings Helmut Lang, Tom Ford, and Jil Sander among his favorite designers.
    All eyes will be upon Altuzarra when he shows his second collection on September 12th.


    Mark Von Holden, WireImage.com


    It Wouldn't Be Fashion Week Without Gaga
    Marc Jacobs has thrown some legendary fetes in his time (who can forget when the designer dressed up like a, er, a camel toe for his annual Christmas extravaganza?) but look for Lady Gaga to steal the limelight on September 14th. The pint-size performer will be showing her "poker face" in person at Jacobs' official after-party/V Magazine-sponsored bash.


    Courtesy V Magazine


    Model to Watch Out For: Iris Strubegger

    "She is the "#1 coolest girl," says casting director Andrew Weir (collaborator of photographer Steven Klein). The fair skinned Austrian beauty and her major cheekbones graced the cover of French Vogue in March, and she recently became the face of Givenchy and Valentino.

    Iris, as she is simply known, bears an uncanny resemblance to super-model Kristen McMenamy. It's more than a coincidence, considering fashion's tastes for all things 90's of late. Apparently, models are no exception.


    Larry Busacca, Getty Images


    What Editors Want: Anya Hindmarch's Three Pocket Bag
    With its trio of pouches and easily foldable flap, Anya Hindmarch's Three Pocket Bag is certainly at the top of most editors' wish list this season. (How better to carry all of those invites dahling?)
    We did say most...Meggan Crum, Accessories Director at InStyle, has her eye on Alexander Wang's Betty Flap Bag. "It's lady like, but still heavy," she says.

    Anya Hindmarch "Three Pocket Bag," $995, available at Anya Hindmarch NYC, (212) 343-8147


    Courtesy Anya Hindmarch






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Wednesday, September 2, 2009

Camping Gear Reviews, Great new Site!



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Must go clean my bike before tonite 's Group Cycling. Kittery Trading Post at 5:30 pm.


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In other news, my dad and I went canoeing on Monday. First, I must say that Dad did not force me to go – no one can force me to do anything (that is, until 13 days from now). Canoeing can be fun, and the two hour trip we were planning would still get me home in plenty of time to keep on my GMAT study schedule. After all kids, “if you hit the books, you won’t end up crooks.”


That being said, this canoe trip was like something out of a Calvin & Hobbes camping trip.


After encountering a few problems in getting out the door in the morning (causing us to be about three hours behind schedule), we parked my car in the middle of Indianapolis and took Dad’s up to the river entrance. There was a nice set of rapids that pushed us on our way. It turned out this was the last push we would get. Well, that’s not entirely correct. For two-thirds of our trip, there was a strong headwind pushing the water against us. It got so bad that I thought I’d have a better chance of finding a three-nut peanut than a still spot in the river. Unfortunately we didn’t have any peanuts to test this theory.


As if this wasn’t bad enough, what were supposed to be overcast, rainy skies turned into skies straight from the Simpson’s opening credits. That would have been a blessing in a Calvin and Hobbes vacation, but for my dad and me, who decided not to bring sunscreen, this turned into a disaster. The sun beat down on us like Lebron James on the Knicks. And since our two cars were parked 16 miles apart from each other, we had no choice but to keep on paddling.


Another problem we encountered was that every oasis of rapids flowing “downstream” (I use that term loosely) turned into a pit stop where we had to walk our canoe over the rocks in the shallow water. But those weren’t our biggest obstacles. About halfway into our journey, we came across big red signs signaling that there was a dam ahead. After realizing that beavers probably didn’t put the signs up, we heard the sound of falling water straight ahead. To our left: rocks. To our right: trees. We found no place to get out of the river with the canoe. After pondering our next move while wedged between the rocks on the left, we spotted a ramp on the far side of the river. The problem was you had to paddle right up to the edge of the dam to get there. Fortunately we’re two manly guys who no regard for human life (kinda like another guy I mentioned earlier), so we paddled onward.


I’ll be honest, the ramp turned out to be pretty easy to get onto, despite its proximity to the dam’s edge. The problem turned out to be the ramp itself. It was the dirtiest, smelliest, buggiest, spideriest thing I’ve seen since Spencer and Heidi were trapped in a cabin on I’m a Celebrity Get Me Out of Here! And when it comes to bugs and dirt, I’m no longer all that manly.


Anyway, to wrap this up, we slogged our way over the dam, pushed against the currents, survived the UV rays (at least so far) and, over six hours later, finished our two-hour canoe ride through Indianapolis. My dad is convinced that all these unexpected obstacles would prepare me for the trip. I’m convinced that if this happened to Zhou, I would never hear the end of it.


18 days until take-off!


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Puzzles for Postcards (last one before the trip!)


Rhyme Time! (we’ve added one new one and re-worded the others, solve three of four)


A cooking appliance for Christopher Mintz-Plasse

What the person who cleans your teeth would use for a TKO

A tropical shelter for a tropical yellow fruit

Catchy commercial ditties for a salty snack


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Scrabble Log


Games: 55

Zhou WPLB: 28; 367; 315; SENIlES

Kevin WPLB: 27; 368; 397; sETTINGS



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