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Island row hits Japanese condoms
Advertisements promoting Japanese condoms have been removed from Korean underground trains amid a rekindled territorial dispute.
The action was taken following complaints from passengers, a Seoul Metro spokesman told AFP news agency.
"If the territorial dispute with Japan over Dokdo had not flared up again, such complaints would not have been lodged with us," said Kim Jeong-hwan.
Dokdo is the Korean name for islets known as Takeshima in Japan.
Both Korea and Japan say they have a historical claim to the islands, and the issue has been a persistent irritant in relations.
This week Korea recalled its ambassador to Tokyo after new teachers' guidelines produced in Japan reaffirmed the claim to ownership.
Now it has emerged that about 200 ads for Japanese condoms - bearing the strapline "No. 1 in Japan" - have been taken down from Korean trains. Advertisements promoting Japanese condoms have been removed from Korean underground trains amid a rekindled territorial dispute. ... more -
Nursing Home Abuse
"Bruce Wasserstein: Gouging Grandma", follows Robin Berson, the daughter of an Atria resident, and Dino Vallenes, a maintenance worker at an Atria facility, as they travel to Bermuda to speak out at Lazard's annual shareholder meeting.
They are speaking out about the abuses in Atria facilities. "Bruce Wasserstein: Gouging Grandma", follows Robin Berson, the daughter of an Atria resident, and Dino Vallenes, a maintenance worker... more -
60 Popular Pieces of False Knowledge
Mark Twain once said, “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.”
Here are 60 pieces of false knowledge many people misquote as absolute facts.
1. Shaving causes hair to grow back thicker. – Shaving does not cause hair to grow back thicker. This false knowledge carried by many people is due to the fact that hair wears down and appears thinner over time. Thus, new hair looks thinker than old hair and feels coarser due to unworn edges. Mark Twain once said, “It ain’t what you don’t know that gets you into trouble. It’s what you know for sure that just ain’t so.” ... more -
The top 20 best places to live in America
ACBJ (American City Business Journals) used 20 statistical indicators to rate living conditions in all 3,141 counties and independent cities across the nation.
Topping the list is Los Alamos County, located about 30 miles northwest of Santa Fe, N.M. Rounding out the top five are Olmsted County, Minn., which includes the city of Rochester; the Colorado counties of Pitkin and Douglas; and Loudoun County, Va., a suburb of Washington, D.C. ACBJ (American City Business Journals) used 20 statistical indicators to rate living conditions in all 3,141 counties and independent ... more -
Jokes, love, bicycles
style over speed.
quality vs. quantity.
California love.
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92-year-old enjoys riding bike, lot of laughter. What a super cool cat!
MADERA RANCHOS, Calif. — Fred Mathes rides his bike to the post office (which in this neighborhood is inside the local video store), to the local diner, and out through the open fields.
He’s 92. His bicycle — a black, still-shiny, three-speed Schwinn — is 56.
For his 80th birthday he rode to Oxnard, Calif. — some 380 miles. For his 90th birthday he went for a 40-mile bike ride to Friant Dam and back. He hasn’t made plans yet for his next birthday bicycle ride in October, but Friant is in the running because he likes to have lunch at the Dam Diner.
Mathes said he believes in keeping things.
Jokes. Love. Bicycles.
“I don’t like to throw anything away that’s valuable. We’re very careful with gasoline, electricity, water,” he said. “We try to make things last. We’re real conservatives unless you’re talking politics.”
He does not favor Lycra or cycling shoes. His riding clothes are whatever he happens to be wearing, usually a pair of trousers (he rolls up one pant leg), a long-sleeved western shirt and a stylish cotton hat from Italy.
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style over speed. quality vs. quantity. California love. - ... more -
2008 summer of love: gay marriage in California
The California Supreme Court has ruled that gay couples should have the right to marry. The Republican-dominated high court voted 4-3 in favor of applying and expanding constitutional race and gender protections to sexual orientation and the institution of marriage.
In his ruling, Chief Justice Ronald George wrote that, "...retaining the designation of marriage exclusively for opposite-sex couples and providing only a separate and distinct designation for same-sex couples may well have the effect of perpetuating a more general premise - now emphatically rejected by this state - that gay individuals and same-sex couples are in some respects "second-class citizens" who may, under the law, be treated differently from, and less favorably than, heterosexual individuals or opposite-sex couples.... Accordingly, we conclude that to the extent the current California statutory provisions limit marriage to opposite-sex couples, these statutes are unconstitutional."
With couples already lining up at San Francisco City Hall for appointments to get marriage licenses, the judgment could be a boon to California's economy should it go unchallenged. Unlike other states, California has no residency requirements for obtaining marriage licenses, meaning that same sex couples could flock to the Golden State for ceremonies (though same-sex marriages performed in California may not be recognized in other states).
As comedienne and GLBT activist Margaret Cho pointed out, "just the ice sculptures alone" could be worth a small fortune to the local economy. Living in West Hollywood, the Daily Mantra can think of a new reason to hold on to our tax refund/stimulus payment when it arrives. With the slew of gay marriages that are likely to happen over the summer we anticipate that we'll have to allocate a rather large budget for wedding outfits and gifts in 2008! Yay! We love a good wedding!
http://www.dailymantra.com
The California Supreme Court has ruled that gay couples should have the right to marry. The Republican-dominated high court voted 4-3... more -
In The Ghetto
At the center of my town is a smaller, older part of town originally known as Fry Town. This is located just down the road from my nice neighboorhood, and this place is an entity all it's own. This is where the druggies live and frequent. They have trashed the area and police/the community has not yet done anything to clean up the mess they have made. Dozens of discarded old couches lay in piles along with other big and small debris. Dilapidated and condemned trailers have been torn apart and strewn about, other trailers have been burned down, and never cleaned up afterwards.
I mean jesus! It's so sad. It has become a ghost town almost now, but a few people are still living within the trailers and houses that haven't been borded up by the cops and marked with a red "PRIVATE PROPERTY" sign.
It just doesnt look right for a town in America. It's been like this for a long, long time. I wonder what any of us can do. At the center of my town is a smaller, older part of town originally known as Fry Town. This is located just down the road from my nic... more -
A £1 pill could save 100,000 lives a year
A NEW wonder "poly-pill" could prevent 80 per cent of heart attacks and strokes in the over-55s.
It's claimed the miracle five-in-one pill could halt over 100,000 premature deaths each year, and one in three people could live an extra 20 years without a heart attack or stroke.
UK researchers say the pill would have a greater impact on the prevention of disease in the Western world than any other medical intervention.
They want it to be available for just £1 a day but I'm sure the drug companies have got a thing or two to say about that. A NEW wonder "poly-pill" could prevent 80 per cent of heart attacks and strokes in the over-55s. ... more -
May Day's Beltane: A Springtime Halloween
Blooming flowers and spring-time showers; this season really could not feel less like Halloween. And yet, according to Pagan tradition, Beltane (that's May Day to most of us) and Halloween have more similarities than you may realize. Blooming flowers and spring-time showers; this season really could not feel less like Halloween. And yet, according to Pagan tradition... more
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Bad habits by sign
Whether it's the 'me first' attitude of an Aries or the workaholic nature of a Capricorn, we all have annoying little habits that can drive our partner or friends crazy. If we know what we are getting in to in advance it's a lot easier to play nice and not allow someone's usual behavior to drive us away. So before you throw in the towel on your relationship or jump into a new one, read more about your partner's sign sun to know first hand what annoying little habits come with the package.
Hit the link above for a by sign analysis, and find out if your relationship is destined to be enduring, annoying habits and all! Whether it's the 'me first' attitude of an Aries or the workaholic nature of a Capricorn, we all have annoying little habits that can ... more -
Dancing Around The Meaning of The May Day Maypole
So... May Day. Something about Maypoles and flower baskets, right? Like Groundhogs' Day (aka Imbolc) before it, May Day has yet to make much of an impact among contemporary American holidays. And yet this day, also known as Beltane, has tremendous significance among Pagans, second only to Samhain/Halloween. So maybe those poles are worth a closer look...
As with all Pagan sabbats, Beltane parallels the wheel of the year, celebrating the bloom of spring flowers and blessing their growth into a bountiful harvest. Celebrated at the mid-point between the Vernal Equinox (Ostara) and the Summer Solstice (Litha), Beltane also marked the last of the spring fertility festivals (after Imbolc and Ostara), as the cattle were driven to pasture.
But let's get to the good stuff: fertility festivals? Just as crops burst from the earth and flowers expand into bloom, Pagans believe that at Beltane the, um, pleasures of the self are similarly awakened. That's right, from springtime courtships to that enormous ribboned phallus, Beltane is basically about sex. And frankly, it isn't even discreet.
Young couples were encouraged to test their fertility with Beltane trysts, and any babies born from Beltane were believed to be blessed by the Goddess herself. Trial unions, called hand-fastings (as the lovers' clasped hands were bound by ribbon), were also popular at Beltane, committing the couple to each other for one year and a day in preparation for a marital commitment. (Actual marriage, however, was discouraged in May, in deference to the union between Goddess and God.)
And that sexual union? Brings us right back to the Maypole, essentially an enormous phallus, thrust deep into the earth, around which young men and women dance, weaving colored ribbons in encouragement of the earth's (and their own) fertility. For many Pagans, dancing the Maypole is an enchanted experience, uniting the energy of the earth, and the energy of the sun to yield a bountiful harvest. So, whether you subscribe to the more... suggestive interpretations or not, clearly a day of celebration is upon us. We at Daily Mantra hope you enjoy.
http://www.dailymantra.com
So... May Day. Something about Maypoles and flower baskets, right? Like Groundhogs' Day (aka Imbolc) before it, May Day has yet to mak... more -
The Earth: It’s A Great Place To Live
Just a reminder on Earth Day, that as students of the Law of Attraction, we should focus on the positive rather than the negative in order to bring about the planetary change we desire. So don’t get caught up in the doom and gloom of global warming, or get depressed about the oceans of trash. Instead, focus on the beauty of this planet we call home, and how you can nurture it, both in big and small ways, everyday, to preserve it for generations to come. And celebrate the fact that there are millions of like-minded individuals all around the globe with similar goals on this very special day.
Happy Earth Day! Just a reminder on Earth Day, that as students of the Law of Attraction, we should focus on the positive rather than the negative in o... more -
From 0 To Debt Hell In Six Seconds
I've never subscribed to the philosophy of debt, which seems to be one of the leading sources of misery in the Western world. I've always valued the peace of mind that zero debt gives me far above the stuff that going into debt allows me to buy.
I'm not naive, I know for some it's hard to escape debt since a minimum wage hardly covers even the necessaries of life (which is obscene, and a whole other story). But most of us do have a choice: A new car and new debt vs. keeping your old car, and your peace of mind. A new flat screen TV and new debt vs. keeping your old tube TV, and your peace of mind. It's a question of values, and what you value more.
Americans are tempted and brainwashed into debt from a very early age, with credit and debit cards marketed to kids, and obligatory student loans ensuring that we embark on our adult lives chained and enslaved by our society of debt.
We all know to stay away from loan sharks, but few question the wisdom of "respectable" institutionalized debt, such as car loans, which are likely to be our biggest monthly expense after rent or mortgage payments.
We're conditioned to believe we can have the car we "deserve" now, rather than merely the one we can afford. Worse still, we are told if we don't drive the "right" car it'll harm our personal and job prospects, the “right” car for our social group inevitably being one that’s more expensive than we can really afford.
This form of corporate-driven peer pressure is truly insidious. Few realize that by subscribing to this philosophy, and something as seemingly innocuous as a modest monthly car payment, they may well be trading in their future financial security.
Do the math. If you saved up and bought a more modest used car cash down, and put the $400 a month the average American spends on their car payments in a high yield mutual fund that earns 12% annually, after 30 years you'd have a nest egg of well over $1 million.
So what does that BMW say about you now? Is the luxury car company really selling you "sheer driving pleasure" or "sheer debt forever?" I've never subscribed to the philosophy of debt, which seems to be one of the leading sources of misery in the Western world. I've alw... more -
Sex by sign
Have you ever been instantly attracted to someone and then wondered what you could do to have a little fun and pleasure your new fantasy partner? It might take some of the guesswork out of things if you knew their sun sign.
With an Aries you can start at the head and literally work your way down to the toes with a Pisces. Touching a Cancer on the stomach or breasts will have them purring in your hands. Turning a feisty Sagittarius on is all about the inner thighs while you work your way to pleasure-ville.
So if you are looking for a satisfying erotic experience, know your partner's sun sign and begin your magic with the help of our quick-reference guide... Click on the link above for info on erogenous zones by sign. Have you ever been instantly attracted to someone and then wondered what you could do to have a little fun and pleasure your new fanta... more -
Dr. Tea: Just Say No To Milk And Two Sugars
Check out this video post from our favorite camellia sinensis-pusher Dr. Tea, on the pros and cons of common tea additives such as milk and sugar. Personally we think that if you have to add something to make it taste better, you're not drinking the right tea. But for those who can’t drink a cup of the the brown stuff without a little milk and sugar, this is well worth a view.
Dr. Tea reveals that adding dairy to your tea may interfere with its antioxidant properties, and suggests using soy or almond milk instead. And those that need a spoonful of sugar to make their tea go down should steer clear of the addictive white powder, and its various artificial substitutes. A healthier option is agave syrup. The honey-like substance, which is derived naturally from the succulent agave plant, sweetens without the deadly sugar high (and subsequent low). Check out this video post from our favorite camellia sinensis-pusher Dr. Tea, on the pros and cons of common tea additives such as mil... more -
Sugar is the heroin of the masses: Advice on how to kick it
Dr. Neal Barnard MD is to vegetarianism what Al Gore is to environmentalism. His lectures on the benefits of a plant based diet are smart, entertaining, down to earth, and offer hope rather than peddling despondency.
The son of a cattle rancher, Barnard trained is psychiatry, but has spent much of his life focusing on the impact of diet on human health. He had a job at McDonald's while at high school, but, while working as an assistant at a morgue during a year out before medical school, experienced first hand exactly what a modern Western diet does to the insides of those laid out on the morticians slab. He now serves as PETA's medical adviser, and is a committed, and evangelical, vegetarian. But don't let that put you off. Whether you're a carnivore or a herbivore, we can all benefit (and indeed have) from the good doctor's wit and wisdom.
As the president of the Physicians Committee for Responsible Medicine (an organization which Bernard founded in 1985), he took the government to task for their fudged dietary guidelines.
"Of the 11 members on the committee, six of them had ties to the dairy industry, meat industry or egg industry," says Bernard. After he prevailed in court, the government issued radically revised guidelines in January 2005 (though as we mentioned in our previous story, these guidelines still massively underestimate the servings of fruit and veg needed for a healthy diet).
Barnard believes that much of the illness we experience today is a result of what we eat, and that much of what we eat is addictive, and pushed on us by food corporations whose major concern is the size of their own bottom lines, rather than the size of our bottoms.
In his book, Breaking The Food Seduction, Barnard writes about the opiate effects of foods, and gives advice on how to kick our bad food habits. He reveals that sugar works like heroin, and dairy like morphine, so it's not surprising that the food industry has us right where they want us, craving our next chocolate fix.
For those in need of a dietary intervention, he suggests that you familiarize yourself with the four new food groups (grains, legumes, vegetables and fruit) and give them a three-week trial period (which will give your body, and your taste buds, enough time to adapt). For those ready to cut the beef and go cold turkey, go to the link above for seven basic tips.
Dr. Neal Barnard MD is to vegetarianism what Al Gore is to environmentalism. His lectures on the benefits of a plant based diet are s... more -
Vitamins are no substitute for fruit and veg, and may increase mortality
A study done by the prestigious Cochrane Collaboration, a non-profit healthcare advisory body, has found that vitamins may not deliver all that they promise and may actually decrease life expectancy rather than increase it. Their review of data from 67 trials found "no evidence to support antioxidant supplements for primary or secondary prevention." Alarmingly they also found that the intake of Vitamin A, beta-carotene, and vitamin E supplements "may increase mortality."
In light of these recent findings, The Daily Mantra decided to go back to school to find out how we could increase our nutrient intake without resorting to pills from a bottle. Bottom line, there's no faking a healthy diet.
Our nutritionist recommended that we eat between 9 and 11 cups of fruit and vegetables a day. This is much higher than the 2 1/2 cups of veg and 2 cups of fruit that the USDA recommends for someone requiring a 2,000 calorie a day diet. Indeed the fruit and veg goals set by the government organization were deliberately dumbed down from those recommended by their scientists due to fears that the public might be deterred if the bar was set at a level that some might perceive as being unattainably high.
When setting out to prepare a balanced meal, as a basic guide our nutritionist suggested we fill at least half our plate with veg. Portions of protein (tofu/fish/meat) and carbohydrates (rice/potatoes etc..) should take up no more than a quarter of the plate each.
We were shown how to make our fruit and veg more appealing by using simple techniques such as roasting and stir frying, which can seriously rev up the flavor factor. A little garlic and chili can seriously spice things up. Adding balsamic vinegar, sesame oil, honey, maple syrup, a handful almonds or pine nuts also makes the good stuff more exciting. A teaspoon of maple syrup may contain around 70 calories, but they're calories well spent if it means you're more likely to actually eat your veg.
We were also given tips on how to introduce fruit and veg into our diet by stealth. Chopped spinach can be added to almost any pasta sauce to give it an instant nutritional bump. Adding pineapple fruit and juice to rice at the end of cooking will give the grain a similar vitamin, and flavor, boost.
Research has shown that vegetarians, and those who eat moderate amounts of white meat and fish, on average, live longer (with some studies showing an increase in life expectancy of up to a staggering ten years). And as the Cochrane Collaboration research indicated, it's becoming increasingly apparent that antioxidants need to be consumed in their natural form, since we're only beginning to understand the complex role that individual compounds such as lycopene have in the bigger picture.
Make sure the fruit and veg you eat is as fresh as possible. Buy it from your local farmer, or farmers' market if you can. Also be sure to wash it well, to get rid of residual pesticides on the surface that can build up in your body over time. If you need some inspiration, try paying a visit to the Mayo Clinic website which has loads of yummy, and healthy, recipes, and lots of other info on healthy food choices. A study done by the prestigious Cochrane Collaboration, a non-profit healthcare advisory body, has found that vitamins may not deliver... more -
'Squirrelman' to leave his tree for an RV
A man who has spent the past two years living in a treehouse has a new, terrestrial home just in the nick of time, thanks to neighbors.
David "Squirrelman" Csaky, a self-taught carpenter, learned Tuesday that neighbors had found an aging recreational vehicle for him to occupy.
"I'm overwhelmed," Csaky said. "I started crying when they told me."
For two years, Csaky, 52, has lived about 30 feet above the ground on city land, on a 300-square-foot platform that he built, accessible by a ladder counterweighted with sandbags on pulleys.
Csaky outfitted the treehouse with a tent, wood stove, three chairs, shelves and a counter with an unplumbed sink. His pets include Lucky, a rat; Rainbow, a ferret; and Tilt, a squirrel.
He was lately threatened with eviction because the treehouse is a health and safety concern.
Brandon Ferrante, 28, and Maria Bolander, 27, who befriended him after watching the treehouse take shape, found an aging 22-foot RV online after they learned of Csaky's situation.
"It broke our hearts," Ferrante said. "He's taken care of the neighborhood. We couldn't sleep at night. We decided to make it happen."
They and their landlords, Janet Yoder and husband Robby Rudine, agreed to buy the rig for $500 after the owner offered a special "Squirrelman" discount.
"David's a unique character but a good neighbor," Yoder said. A man who has spent the past two years living in a treehouse has a new, terrestrial home just in the nick of time, thanks to neighbors... more -
Astrological Compatibility: Love Or Lust? A Fun Fling Or For Life?
by Linda
What's the secret to a long and happy marriage? We can look to the sky for a clue. As an astrologer one of the biggest questions I get is "when will I find the right person and how do I know if he/she is right for me?" Most people just look at their sun sign and wonder if they can be compatible with another person. Unfortunately, or hopefully luckily, there's more to finding a successful, lasting relationship than just knowing a person's sun sign.
When I do relationship readings for couples I compare several planets in a person's chart and how they interact. I am big on a person's sun and moon sign comparison and what houses they fall into in the others person's chart. The moon represents our emotions and how we feel about things plus it's a very karmic point. If your moon sign falls in your partners' 12th house and/or is near their ascendant that typically tells me that this isn't the first lifetime you've have shared together. It doesn't necessarily mean you will live happily ever after, but it does show that there is purpose and meaning and even some unfinished business that must be addressed in this lifetime.
Beyond the moon sign I compare a person's lunar node and how that may interact with the other person's sun or moon sign, since, again, the node is another indication of past life experiences together. Knowing your time of birth is very important when it comes to knowing if a relationship has staying power, because where your planets line up in your partners natal houses further shows how the energy of that planet will be expressed.
Of course we want to compare our Venus' (the planet of love) and Mars (the planet that rules our sexuality and drive). If these planets are compatible in air signs it may show that you have a great ability to communicate well with each other. In fire signs, it may indicate your relationship is very sexually driven with a lot of excitement. In water signs, you feel very intuitive with this person.
As far as longevity for the relationship, it's always important to compare the person's Saturn and Venus because these two planets together represent our karma and our love. If we look at charts of Paul Newman and Joanne Woodward, who are one of Hollywood's longest lasting marriages we will see that his Venus is conjunct her Saturn in Capricorn in her 12th house and his Saturn makes a trine to her Venus in water signs.
No one knows for certain how long a relationship will endure, but having the right planet alignment is essential for any potential compatibility and longevity. Click HERE for a quick (and FREE) compatibility check, and find out if your relationship is destined to be love or lust, a fun fling or for life.
http://www.dailymantra.com
by Linda ... more -
Should you move in together?
This is a pretty big milestone in a relationship.
This article give some things to think about before you make the jump:
1) If you’re like me and really treasure your privacy, enjoy it while you are still living apart from your love muffin, because once you move in together it will be gone, or at least greatly diminished...
2) Make sure you plan out your financial situation precisely BEFORE you move in. There are always certain unforeseen situations and money is usually the thing that causes the most friction in co-habitative relationships...
3) Try a trial run. Hopefully if you are considering taking the big step of moving in with your honey bunny, you have spent a considerable amount of time with that person and have a good idea of their idiosyncrasies (and they will have some about yours). Before you move in, try living with the person for two weeks...
Do you live with your boyfriend/girlfriend? What did you do to prepare for this big step? Did the move in situation work? This is a pretty big milestone in a relationship. This article give some things to think about before you make the jump: ... more
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