Hacker is a term that was been associated as something criminal - although the movies have made them into anti-heroes
In most cases, they are a breed of anti-heroes who uses his laptop and illegally gains access to a large network and sometimes tampers with information in this large computer system.
However, thanks to EC-Council (eccouncil.org), the scenario is fast changing.
eccouncil.org have come up with a course or an Ethical Hacking course where they certify individuals in various e-business and security skills on completion of that course.
Now, what is a Certified Ethical Hacker ?
The eccouncil.org defines a Certified Ethical Hacker as an individual who is usually employed with the organization and who can be trusted to undertake an attempt to penetrate networks and or computer systems using the same methods as a Hacker.
Hacking is a felony in the United States and most other countries. When hacking is done legally, it is done as per a contract / agreement between an Ethical Hacker and an organization. The most important aspect is that an Ethical Hacker has the total authorization to probe the target so as to identify flaws in the existing network or security systems.
It's high time I took one - My reputation as the neighborhood-whiz is fast depleting and to make matters worse, my friends are also applying to this course
These are all the areas they cover for their course on Ethical Hacking, which they call the "iClass".
You can select your area of interest and join them for their next available iClass to discover all the benefits of an EC Council certification without the added expense of travel.
The registration is simple and the iclass schedule is trouble-free and the areas of interest include, but are not limited to;
Security Fundamentals
Ethical Hacking
Penetration Testing
Computer Forensics
Disaster Recovery
Secure Coding
A lot of IT Security Professionals have had joined the EC Council and mentioned is the feedback from a few of them - "Its been a great experience to attend this outstanding and informative web course, and the teaching methodology was exceptional." EC Council puts it’s money where it’s mouth is and aren’t afraid to show what they are all about and best of all its on their money !
Now why is Ethical Hacking in so much demand despite the recession now? I can safely say with my limited know-how that there is always a need for security everywhere and that that a hacker job is listed as one among the six highly paying jobs (so why not get a certificate for it ??)
Infact, IT security professionals are the highest-paid and by joining eccouncil.org, they could well be on the way to get paid to be a top "legal" hacker!
To top it all you can be certain that your career in IT Security will not be affected by the current economic meltdown.
Friday, June 5, 2009
Wednesday, May 27, 2009
Salon Marketing As A Career
Being a marketing man, I have been approached by people sometimes with bizarre queries – in other words, anything related to marketing is directly passed on to my email with a query – can you tell or write me a few words on this subject
One of those subjects was salon marketing. Recently one of my friends, who owns a beauty salon, asked me about the best marketing practices that she can apply for marketing her salon
Although, I have been in marketing for sometime, every time such a question comes up, I am forced to re-strategize from scratch. The question becomes even more difficult when it comes to small businesses.
So here was a new opportunity for me that I could not only advise but get involved as well. It was exciting as well as rewarding financially.
Initially, I thought, how different can it be from mainstream marketing – the fundamentals ought to be the same. Just a difference in approach and organizing. I was right, for the technicalities however, I needed the services of a lady friend, who splurges a huge amount in salons and beauty spas.
She was the ideal specimen
She was in fact more than a help – it is funny the level of know-how the average visitor to the salon or a spa has. With their third visit, they are familiar with most of the techniques and processes involved
And as a final word, I would like to share with you some interesting aspects worth noting with regard to salon and day spa marketing. Obviously there are a lot of important aspects to tell, when it comes to salon marketing, and it is important that these aspects or guidelines be followed. On the other hand, it is important that you develop your own unique style, that is easily recognizable by others
Secondly, always pay attention to your customers and make them feel special. You can do this by linking a complimentary business. In other words, if you have a complementary business such as hair and nail salon, or a fitness center or even a restaurant, link those with your spa or salon and it will help you in increasing number of clients.
So, go on and get started with your new salon marketing business opportunity
One of those subjects was salon marketing. Recently one of my friends, who owns a beauty salon, asked me about the best marketing practices that she can apply for marketing her salon
Although, I have been in marketing for sometime, every time such a question comes up, I am forced to re-strategize from scratch. The question becomes even more difficult when it comes to small businesses.
So here was a new opportunity for me that I could not only advise but get involved as well. It was exciting as well as rewarding financially.
Initially, I thought, how different can it be from mainstream marketing – the fundamentals ought to be the same. Just a difference in approach and organizing. I was right, for the technicalities however, I needed the services of a lady friend, who splurges a huge amount in salons and beauty spas.
She was the ideal specimen
She was in fact more than a help – it is funny the level of know-how the average visitor to the salon or a spa has. With their third visit, they are familiar with most of the techniques and processes involved
And as a final word, I would like to share with you some interesting aspects worth noting with regard to salon and day spa marketing. Obviously there are a lot of important aspects to tell, when it comes to salon marketing, and it is important that these aspects or guidelines be followed. On the other hand, it is important that you develop your own unique style, that is easily recognizable by others
Secondly, always pay attention to your customers and make them feel special. You can do this by linking a complimentary business. In other words, if you have a complementary business such as hair and nail salon, or a fitness center or even a restaurant, link those with your spa or salon and it will help you in increasing number of clients.
So, go on and get started with your new salon marketing business opportunity
Wednesday, May 20, 2009
Salon Marketing And Industry Statistics
The “spa” or “salon marketing” as a concept is a relatively new form of business that was introduced sometime back. The spa market is expected to have good growth potential and business opportunity prospects for US cosmetics and beauty goods companies.
Beauty salons are personal service businesses that provide cosmetic or other treatments for men and women. A beauty salon, which is often different from a hair salon, focuses generally on face and body treatments, primarily for women, although men’s salons and the men's beauty salon market is slowly increasing.
It is to be noted that almost 50% of beauty salon workers are self-employed, in other words, booth renters, in local terminology. That is to say, most outlets are small stores and a significant percentage of workers work out of their homes or rent space from salons. However, employee turnover in the industry can be as high as 40%. Additionally, the cosmetics market is a highly competitive market in the US, although US manufacturers of cosmetics should keep an eye on the foreign markets so as to cope up with international demand.
More details, demographics and a sample business plan can be obtained from visiting the below link –
http://www.researchwikis.com/Beauty_Salons_Marketing_Research#Background
Market Structure
The information and sources for the salon and spa marketing data have been taken from the US Census, US Department of Commerce, Company and industry websites and the research-wiki site.
According to the Occupational Outlook Quarterly, published by the U.S. Department of Labor, it shows cosmetology as a steadily growing occupation in the U.S. through 2005. However, the Department of Labor also shows Nail Technicians as one of the 11 fastest growing occupations in the U.S. and cosmetologists as number 37 in the top 100 occupations.
Beauty salons average
* 5 stations, with 3 full-time and
* part-time workers.
The industry has seen steady growth since 2000:
* Salons average about 150 weekly visits
* Since 2000, the number of salon workers rose 26%
* Since 2000, the total number of salons is up about 6%
* Almost over 580,000 positions were filled in the year 2002
* Out of this, the experienced workers comprised 75% of the new employment hires and those with less than one year’s experience comprised of the balance 25% of new hires.
Industry statistics:
* 20% of salons are hair salons
* 60% of salons are full-service
* 5% of salons are nail salons (13% of industry workers are manicurists)
* 5% of salons are barber shops
* Average income is close to the U.S. family income average - about US $40,000
Worker segmentation
* 60% of workers are full time
* 30% of workers are part time (< 40 hour workweek)
* 10% are occasional workers (cleaning, etc.)
On an average month, Google reports that approximately
* 200,000 people search online for "beauty salon" in the UK and about 675,000 in the USA
* 200,000 people search for "hair salon" in the UK, 1,225,000 in the USA
* 2,750,000 people search for "spa" in the UK, and about 7,500,000 in the USA
More details, demographics and a sample business plan can be obtained from visiting the below link –
http://www.bplans.com/hair_and_beauty_salon_business_plan/financial_plan_fc.cfm
So, if you don’t have a good marketing plan, you could lose a lot of salon marketing and spa marketing business and you would not even realize it
Beauty salons are personal service businesses that provide cosmetic or other treatments for men and women. A beauty salon, which is often different from a hair salon, focuses generally on face and body treatments, primarily for women, although men’s salons and the men's beauty salon market is slowly increasing.
It is to be noted that almost 50% of beauty salon workers are self-employed, in other words, booth renters, in local terminology. That is to say, most outlets are small stores and a significant percentage of workers work out of their homes or rent space from salons. However, employee turnover in the industry can be as high as 40%. Additionally, the cosmetics market is a highly competitive market in the US, although US manufacturers of cosmetics should keep an eye on the foreign markets so as to cope up with international demand.
More details, demographics and a sample business plan can be obtained from visiting the below link –
http://www.researchwikis.com/Beauty_Salons_Marketing_Research#Background
Market Structure
The information and sources for the salon and spa marketing data have been taken from the US Census, US Department of Commerce, Company and industry websites and the research-wiki site.
According to the Occupational Outlook Quarterly, published by the U.S. Department of Labor, it shows cosmetology as a steadily growing occupation in the U.S. through 2005. However, the Department of Labor also shows Nail Technicians as one of the 11 fastest growing occupations in the U.S. and cosmetologists as number 37 in the top 100 occupations.
Beauty salons average
* 5 stations, with 3 full-time and
* part-time workers.
The industry has seen steady growth since 2000:
* Salons average about 150 weekly visits
* Since 2000, the number of salon workers rose 26%
* Since 2000, the total number of salons is up about 6%
* Almost over 580,000 positions were filled in the year 2002
* Out of this, the experienced workers comprised 75% of the new employment hires and those with less than one year’s experience comprised of the balance 25% of new hires.
Industry statistics:
* 20% of salons are hair salons
* 60% of salons are full-service
* 5% of salons are nail salons (13% of industry workers are manicurists)
* 5% of salons are barber shops
* Average income is close to the U.S. family income average - about US $40,000
Worker segmentation
* 60% of workers are full time
* 30% of workers are part time (< 40 hour workweek)
* 10% are occasional workers (cleaning, etc.)
On an average month, Google reports that approximately
* 200,000 people search online for "beauty salon" in the UK and about 675,000 in the USA
* 200,000 people search for "hair salon" in the UK, 1,225,000 in the USA
* 2,750,000 people search for "spa" in the UK, and about 7,500,000 in the USA
More details, demographics and a sample business plan can be obtained from visiting the below link –
http://www.bplans.com/hair_and_beauty_salon_business_plan/financial_plan_fc.cfm
So, if you don’t have a good marketing plan, you could lose a lot of salon marketing and spa marketing business and you would not even realize it
Wednesday, May 13, 2009
Safety Tips for Women Traveling Alone
When traveling alone, women are more likely to become victims of violence than are men, so it is important to know how to stay safe. This doesn't mean that women need a male escort in order to travel alone; it simply means that you must be smart about where you go and what you do. Here are a few safety tips for women traveling alone.
Schedule Stops for Gas
When you are traveling alone by car, it is best to plan your route before you ever leave home. It can be dangerous to find yourself in the middle of an all-but-abandoned town and need to stop for gas. Although you can be assaulted or otherwise victimized at any time of day, in any area of the world, you'll be much better off stopping for gas at a lighted convenient store where many people are around. Carry an extra container of gas in your trunk just in case you have an emergency.
Keep the Doors Locked
Also, when traveling alone by car, you should keep your doors locked regardless of our location. The incidence of car jackings continues to rise, and if you stop at a light or a stop sign, an unlocked door is as good as an invitation. Although this isn't foolproof, it will greatly reduce your chances of becoming a victim of carjacking.
Don't Tell Strangers Where You're Staying
Regardless of how nice the guy sitting next to you on the plane might seem, you should never disclose the place in which you will be staying, whether it be a hotel room or a relative's home. If you are asked, politely decline to answer, or tell the other person that you haven't finalized your arrangements yet.
Be Vigilant on Your Way to Your Hotel Room
When staying in a hotel, be on the lookout for anyone who seems to be following you to your room. If this might be the case, walk right past your room and find the nearest exit. You can have a member of hotel management escort you to your room if you are worried. Once you've opened the door, it is easy for a would-be predator to force his way in behind you, leaving you at his mercy. Be careful, as well, when leaving your room for ice or the vending machines. Just be aware of your surroundings.
Plan Your Itinerary
Before you go on vacation or on a business trip, have every step of your itinerary planned. Know where you'll be staying, how you'll rent a car and when you'll need to arrive at meetings. Arrange in advance for a rental car and make sure that you have back-up options should anything go wrong. One of the most dangerous aspects of traveling alone is the possibility for sudden changes or to become stranded.
Pack Light
Another opportunity for a would-be predator occurs when you have too much baggage. Only pack what you can easily carry on your own, and never overload yourself. In all situations, you'll need to be able to move quickly and agilely to avoid potential threats.
Article Coutesy : http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/85936/safety_tips_for_women_traveling_alone.html
Schedule Stops for Gas
When you are traveling alone by car, it is best to plan your route before you ever leave home. It can be dangerous to find yourself in the middle of an all-but-abandoned town and need to stop for gas. Although you can be assaulted or otherwise victimized at any time of day, in any area of the world, you'll be much better off stopping for gas at a lighted convenient store where many people are around. Carry an extra container of gas in your trunk just in case you have an emergency.
Keep the Doors Locked
Also, when traveling alone by car, you should keep your doors locked regardless of our location. The incidence of car jackings continues to rise, and if you stop at a light or a stop sign, an unlocked door is as good as an invitation. Although this isn't foolproof, it will greatly reduce your chances of becoming a victim of carjacking.
Don't Tell Strangers Where You're Staying
Regardless of how nice the guy sitting next to you on the plane might seem, you should never disclose the place in which you will be staying, whether it be a hotel room or a relative's home. If you are asked, politely decline to answer, or tell the other person that you haven't finalized your arrangements yet.
Be Vigilant on Your Way to Your Hotel Room
When staying in a hotel, be on the lookout for anyone who seems to be following you to your room. If this might be the case, walk right past your room and find the nearest exit. You can have a member of hotel management escort you to your room if you are worried. Once you've opened the door, it is easy for a would-be predator to force his way in behind you, leaving you at his mercy. Be careful, as well, when leaving your room for ice or the vending machines. Just be aware of your surroundings.
Plan Your Itinerary
Before you go on vacation or on a business trip, have every step of your itinerary planned. Know where you'll be staying, how you'll rent a car and when you'll need to arrive at meetings. Arrange in advance for a rental car and make sure that you have back-up options should anything go wrong. One of the most dangerous aspects of traveling alone is the possibility for sudden changes or to become stranded.
Pack Light
Another opportunity for a would-be predator occurs when you have too much baggage. Only pack what you can easily carry on your own, and never overload yourself. In all situations, you'll need to be able to move quickly and agilely to avoid potential threats.
Article Coutesy : http://www.associatedcontent.com/article/85936/safety_tips_for_women_traveling_alone.html
Tuesday, May 12, 2009
What is your opinion on Salon Marketing?
What is your inner opinion about yourself and how do you feel you would fit into the scheme of things with salon marketing?
Let’s examine a few points…
* How and what do you feel about your being involved in the beauty and salon profession?
* Why did you have to choose beauty in the first place?
* Is there any particular reason for choosing salon marketing or you felt it was a profit making venture?
* What is it that makes your spa and salon unique from the rest?
* Where do you see yourself this time next year?
* How do clients see and perceive you?
* What is your outstanding quality that makes you recognized by others?
Now for some technical queries...
* What are the biggest misconceptions about hair care, hair color, skin care and spa treatments?
* What is your personal opinion of the beauty and salon market?
* What are the customer reactions towards nail care etc (just pick your area of expertise)
* What are the ‘5 Top Misconceptions’ with regard to beauty and spa marketing?
* Are you aware of the trends that drive the beauty and salon markets?
* Do you have any interesting facts about the beauty industry in the US?
* Do you have access to any of the statistics pertaining to the fastest growing and most popular trends in the beauty industry?
Remember, you need to become more of a ‘total authority’ on this subject and the industry as a whole in which you do business
Your world is expanding, and you are now involved in educating the media about this profession... not just about your salon or spa.
It is very impressive and credible when you are able to put your own business ‘intelligently in context’ with the rest of the world.
For example, you should be in a position to discuss and highlight the following;
* How has the economy affected your salon or spa?
* How has it affected others in the area?
* How has it affected others in the region and in the country?
* Have you revised anything about your salon to accommodate clients in this tough economy (services, hours, prices)?
* What can clients anticipate as some ‘new services of the future’? (The media loves future predictions).
* Name some role-models in your profession that you respect the most as someone who is successful?
Now have a few of those answers in your back pocket and you are set in your focus towards salon marketing
Let’s examine a few points…
* How and what do you feel about your being involved in the beauty and salon profession?
* Why did you have to choose beauty in the first place?
* Is there any particular reason for choosing salon marketing or you felt it was a profit making venture?
* What is it that makes your spa and salon unique from the rest?
* Where do you see yourself this time next year?
* How do clients see and perceive you?
* What is your outstanding quality that makes you recognized by others?
Now for some technical queries...
* What are the biggest misconceptions about hair care, hair color, skin care and spa treatments?
* What is your personal opinion of the beauty and salon market?
* What are the customer reactions towards nail care etc (just pick your area of expertise)
* What are the ‘5 Top Misconceptions’ with regard to beauty and spa marketing?
* Are you aware of the trends that drive the beauty and salon markets?
* Do you have any interesting facts about the beauty industry in the US?
* Do you have access to any of the statistics pertaining to the fastest growing and most popular trends in the beauty industry?
Remember, you need to become more of a ‘total authority’ on this subject and the industry as a whole in which you do business
Your world is expanding, and you are now involved in educating the media about this profession... not just about your salon or spa.
It is very impressive and credible when you are able to put your own business ‘intelligently in context’ with the rest of the world.
For example, you should be in a position to discuss and highlight the following;
* How has the economy affected your salon or spa?
* How has it affected others in the area?
* How has it affected others in the region and in the country?
* Have you revised anything about your salon to accommodate clients in this tough economy (services, hours, prices)?
* What can clients anticipate as some ‘new services of the future’? (The media loves future predictions).
* Name some role-models in your profession that you respect the most as someone who is successful?
Now have a few of those answers in your back pocket and you are set in your focus towards salon marketing
Wednesday, May 6, 2009
Creating The Present
When I think about all the great teachers, material and otherwise, that I have met in my life up to now (and recognizing one’s schools is a great asset), one stands apart.
She surpasses all others in her way. She is the kind of teacher who does not do the work for me. She does not give me all the answers immediately. She waits for them to resonate within, after the living process of comprehension has taken its time, unfolded and bloomed. She reveals only what I am ready to integrate.
She has boundless imagination. Her creativity never ceases to amaze me.
She is the artist we all wish to emulate. She is always changing, so free, and yet so consistent. She is deeply moral. She is considerate and compassionate. She comforts me yet she knows how to reflect undeniably my weaknesses back to me. She is extremely generous and I can tell you that she will take on as many students as would choose her as a teacher. She teaches without judgment, in an all-inclusive vision of oneness. No one is too young, too impetuous, too slow or too old.
She has never been unfair, untrue, ungiving to me or to any of her pupils. She deeply respects her own teachers and shares their wisdom with me. Oh! And her classes can be held anywhere, anytime, and she is always willing, always there, ready to lead me to better understanding. She knows enough to teach me for many lifetimes, yet is very humble. Her intention is truly respectful of my deepest mission and my rhythm.
I can work with her, play with her, pray with her, be silent and rejoice in her. She knows me very well and I am starting to know her a little. Sometimes as grace embraces us, we complete each other’s thoughts. She gives me the opportunity to explore life: thinking and marveling, doing and being, giving and receiving.
She has access to dimensions of my mystery that fascinate me and allow me to live what Goethe expressed so well when he wrote: “The greatest happiness for the person who thinks is to have explored the conceivable and to revere in peace the unknowable.”
Would you like the name of that marvelous teacher? Her phone number, maybe? No need. She is close at hand. Our own Earth Mother, Gaia, Mother Nature, is a teacher ever so wise, unveiling the answers in front of our eyes.
Become conscious now that you are one with this planet. You talk about it. You say, "I have my two feet firmly planted on the ground and yet you don’t seem to understand".
You have disguised her. You have rejected her. You have hidden her under tons of cement, asphalt and plastic. You have forgotten her in favor of gadgets, things often useless that can never bring happiness, peace or love.
And she loves us so much. So, children please make an effort to help her.
Simply become your Self.
Realize that what makes you special is the respect and tender loving care which you bring to all life. Nothing else really counts
Together we must create the present that prepares the future.
She surpasses all others in her way. She is the kind of teacher who does not do the work for me. She does not give me all the answers immediately. She waits for them to resonate within, after the living process of comprehension has taken its time, unfolded and bloomed. She reveals only what I am ready to integrate.
She has boundless imagination. Her creativity never ceases to amaze me.
She is the artist we all wish to emulate. She is always changing, so free, and yet so consistent. She is deeply moral. She is considerate and compassionate. She comforts me yet she knows how to reflect undeniably my weaknesses back to me. She is extremely generous and I can tell you that she will take on as many students as would choose her as a teacher. She teaches without judgment, in an all-inclusive vision of oneness. No one is too young, too impetuous, too slow or too old.
She has never been unfair, untrue, ungiving to me or to any of her pupils. She deeply respects her own teachers and shares their wisdom with me. Oh! And her classes can be held anywhere, anytime, and she is always willing, always there, ready to lead me to better understanding. She knows enough to teach me for many lifetimes, yet is very humble. Her intention is truly respectful of my deepest mission and my rhythm.
I can work with her, play with her, pray with her, be silent and rejoice in her. She knows me very well and I am starting to know her a little. Sometimes as grace embraces us, we complete each other’s thoughts. She gives me the opportunity to explore life: thinking and marveling, doing and being, giving and receiving.
She has access to dimensions of my mystery that fascinate me and allow me to live what Goethe expressed so well when he wrote: “The greatest happiness for the person who thinks is to have explored the conceivable and to revere in peace the unknowable.”
Would you like the name of that marvelous teacher? Her phone number, maybe? No need. She is close at hand. Our own Earth Mother, Gaia, Mother Nature, is a teacher ever so wise, unveiling the answers in front of our eyes.
Become conscious now that you are one with this planet. You talk about it. You say, "I have my two feet firmly planted on the ground and yet you don’t seem to understand".
You have disguised her. You have rejected her. You have hidden her under tons of cement, asphalt and plastic. You have forgotten her in favor of gadgets, things often useless that can never bring happiness, peace or love.
And she loves us so much. So, children please make an effort to help her.
Simply become your Self.
Realize that what makes you special is the respect and tender loving care which you bring to all life. Nothing else really counts
Together we must create the present that prepares the future.
Wednesday, April 29, 2009
Does Everything Have A Reason
Most of us believe in God, but there are a growing number that are fast becoming atheists.
Thank God for that!!
Let’s not confuse being agnostic and being an atheist.
People who are agnostic don’t believe in religion as a mean to reach God, they prefer a more direct path. Most people believe in the big guy above [with due apologies], but in a different way. The problem is in the concept of belief and worship…. Idol Worship, temple, church, monasteries…this is where the argument is
People who believe in a higher power, in a controlling force, in destiny usually tribute every one of their actions to God…. That is sometimes fear and excuse….Mainly because, most of the wrong actions that lead to pain are ONLY because of their own wrong doing and there is NO punishment from above… The wrong doing can also be done as a good deed only to realize later…that was bad…
The flaw is that when you completely give up everything to God that basically means that you have no control over your own actions, over your own sense of morality. This way any action would be justified as an act of the ‘Big Chief’. Pretty much meaning that anyone can get away with murder by believing that the decision was made by the man above. This is not to condemn those good people… but it is just a personal viewpoint….. Just that service is above everything else.
Obviously, all roads lead to the asylum after that.
In the middle of all this, there is a lot of confusion and most of the time it is here where people are completely lost, and thus people like those guys who teach you the Art of Living, and those evangelical priests who make very forceful speeches, make money. They also need a living!!!
They provide you answers to go from the gray to the black and white again.
Belief is something that can’t be taught…. A new born doesn't trust in his own body, until he is cognizant or as you say until his brain is completely in control of it…. that’s all there’s to it.
The logic is pure, and the rationality of thought also, but what atheists fail to explain, is that voice inside. What is that single force that unites us all in so many different ways makes every human similar?
There is something within us which blossoms only when we are cognizant and we have a fuller understanding of ourself. In other words, by believing God is within you, inside you, is the most powerful force on earth, only you might not call it a God.
That kind of belief is true power, a power to achieve any goal.
He ain’t gonna be upset, that’s for sure. Phew.. It gives him an opportunity to take a break!!
Thank God for that!!
Let’s not confuse being agnostic and being an atheist.
People who are agnostic don’t believe in religion as a mean to reach God, they prefer a more direct path. Most people believe in the big guy above [with due apologies], but in a different way. The problem is in the concept of belief and worship…. Idol Worship, temple, church, monasteries…this is where the argument is
People who believe in a higher power, in a controlling force, in destiny usually tribute every one of their actions to God…. That is sometimes fear and excuse….Mainly because, most of the wrong actions that lead to pain are ONLY because of their own wrong doing and there is NO punishment from above… The wrong doing can also be done as a good deed only to realize later…that was bad…
The flaw is that when you completely give up everything to God that basically means that you have no control over your own actions, over your own sense of morality. This way any action would be justified as an act of the ‘Big Chief’. Pretty much meaning that anyone can get away with murder by believing that the decision was made by the man above. This is not to condemn those good people… but it is just a personal viewpoint….. Just that service is above everything else.
Obviously, all roads lead to the asylum after that.
In the middle of all this, there is a lot of confusion and most of the time it is here where people are completely lost, and thus people like those guys who teach you the Art of Living, and those evangelical priests who make very forceful speeches, make money. They also need a living!!!
They provide you answers to go from the gray to the black and white again.
Belief is something that can’t be taught…. A new born doesn't trust in his own body, until he is cognizant or as you say until his brain is completely in control of it…. that’s all there’s to it.
The logic is pure, and the rationality of thought also, but what atheists fail to explain, is that voice inside. What is that single force that unites us all in so many different ways makes every human similar?
There is something within us which blossoms only when we are cognizant and we have a fuller understanding of ourself. In other words, by believing God is within you, inside you, is the most powerful force on earth, only you might not call it a God.
That kind of belief is true power, a power to achieve any goal.
He ain’t gonna be upset, that’s for sure. Phew.. It gives him an opportunity to take a break!!
Wednesday, April 22, 2009
Metaphysics and Jnana Yoga
METAPHYSICS AND JNANA YOGA
Coming from the Greek, Metaphysics can be translated as "that which comes after physics, matter, or nature."
Thus Metaphysics is looking for the permanent Reality, the unchanged Beingness, and the stationary Existence as the Base for everything that shows constant change.
The "theorizing" mind gives this being the name God.
The "practical" seeker experiences this being as pure Awareness. The theoretical side of Metaphysics seems to belong now to the academics. And, to be quite fair, they have done an outstanding job and there are now many metaphysical systems and positions.
However, theorizing about pleasure or pain does not give us the actual experience.
That is where Yoga comes in: Yoga is the tool with which we can go all the way if this is our true desire.
With regard to finding balance, our Western approach to healing is still in its nursery stage as we still have a lot more to learn. Often without a chance of healing, pharmaceuticals are the remedies of choice.
Quite a few of these chemicals are known to mask only the symptoms of one disease while producing additional problems with more symptoms that have to be treated by more of these chemicals. This has lead to bizarre pictures of treatment where older people were sometimes digesting up to 50 different prescriptions a day for all kinds of health problems. As a result, some of these people had to be hospitalized while others have died as a result of unwanted side-effects. The constantly growing costs are no more than an observable sign of an imbalance in our health system.
To properly treat a disease it is important to know what is missing or what is out of balance.
Ayurveda, for example, tries to reestablish a balance of the three basic types of the human constitution which are called Kapha, Pitta, and Vata.
Traditional Chinese Medicine seeks to restore the flow of Qi by balancing the Yin and Yang.
Yogis know this supreme energy, called Qi, as Kundalini and Yin and Yang as Ida and Pingala.
Everything in the Universe exists because of the two opposite forces and the universal balancing act. Thus the mixture of positive and negative forces shape everything from the atom to our character and health.
If we desire a warm temperature we have to balance hot and cold. In order to feel healthy we might have to either add or subtract a vitamin, mineral or amino-acid.
Most important is the precise knowledge of what is missing or unbalanced.
In regards to the right vitamin or mineral level, we are now seeing more and more test kits made available which will make it a lot easier in the future to gain this precise knowledge.
In short, all it needs is the genuine interest and a certain amount of courage, even so the fear we encounter on the way is nothing but being afraid to look at our Self. Going back to the origins of the word metaphysics, it is said that it was first used to name untitled manuscripts of Aristotle. It is curious, that most philosophical text books cover an area starting with the Greeks Plato, Aristotle, etc., but leave out earlier philosophies from India.
However, there is enough evidence that the philosophy of the Greek and Iranians was heavily influenced from these earlier philosophies of India. At any rate, at least some of the Greek philosophers had a very clear understanding of Reality-as-such. They agreed with earlier Indian philosophies as well as with Scientists of our time that the world as we perceive it is of an illusionary nature. As Parmenides and Zeno pointed out, only what is Permanent and Unchanging is real. The rest is an illusion either experienced or created by our mind. Paramenides: "Being is, Non-Being is not."
We now know that all matter is energy.
But we also know the we are aware of matter. All we have to do is to find out what Awareness is in its clear state of Being and, believe it or not, all our questions are answered and all our fears are dissolved. To get to this state of Being is the ultimate goal of all genuine spiritual exercise including Yoga. So, intellectual understanding of Beingness, as a result from studying Metaphysics, can lead to intellectual enlightening, while the practice of Yoga can lead to direct knowledge.
A more modern interpretation of Metaphysics includes psychic phenomena in all its variations including parapsychology the scientific investigation of these phenomena.
Beingness, as the nature of God, is expressed when we hear American Natives refer to God as the "Great Spirit". "Jahwe" (JHVH \ Jehovah), the Jewish name for God, translates as "I am who I am".
Beingness, then, is the nature of God, in fact, Beingness is God.
Since God is self-reliant and the world is a manifestation of God's energy, we could call God.
Self-energetic Beingness. From the accounts of the many Saints, Sages, and Self-realized persons, who have encountered this condition of Being, we may add that this condition is a blissful state of Being.
In other words, Jnana Yoga is practical philosophy / metaphysics; it is both theory and practice.
Coming from the Greek, Metaphysics can be translated as "that which comes after physics, matter, or nature."
Thus Metaphysics is looking for the permanent Reality, the unchanged Beingness, and the stationary Existence as the Base for everything that shows constant change.
The "theorizing" mind gives this being the name God.
The "practical" seeker experiences this being as pure Awareness. The theoretical side of Metaphysics seems to belong now to the academics. And, to be quite fair, they have done an outstanding job and there are now many metaphysical systems and positions.
However, theorizing about pleasure or pain does not give us the actual experience.
That is where Yoga comes in: Yoga is the tool with which we can go all the way if this is our true desire.
With regard to finding balance, our Western approach to healing is still in its nursery stage as we still have a lot more to learn. Often without a chance of healing, pharmaceuticals are the remedies of choice.
Quite a few of these chemicals are known to mask only the symptoms of one disease while producing additional problems with more symptoms that have to be treated by more of these chemicals. This has lead to bizarre pictures of treatment where older people were sometimes digesting up to 50 different prescriptions a day for all kinds of health problems. As a result, some of these people had to be hospitalized while others have died as a result of unwanted side-effects. The constantly growing costs are no more than an observable sign of an imbalance in our health system.
To properly treat a disease it is important to know what is missing or what is out of balance.
Ayurveda, for example, tries to reestablish a balance of the three basic types of the human constitution which are called Kapha, Pitta, and Vata.
Traditional Chinese Medicine seeks to restore the flow of Qi by balancing the Yin and Yang.
Yogis know this supreme energy, called Qi, as Kundalini and Yin and Yang as Ida and Pingala.
Everything in the Universe exists because of the two opposite forces and the universal balancing act. Thus the mixture of positive and negative forces shape everything from the atom to our character and health.
If we desire a warm temperature we have to balance hot and cold. In order to feel healthy we might have to either add or subtract a vitamin, mineral or amino-acid.
Most important is the precise knowledge of what is missing or unbalanced.
In regards to the right vitamin or mineral level, we are now seeing more and more test kits made available which will make it a lot easier in the future to gain this precise knowledge.
In short, all it needs is the genuine interest and a certain amount of courage, even so the fear we encounter on the way is nothing but being afraid to look at our Self. Going back to the origins of the word metaphysics, it is said that it was first used to name untitled manuscripts of Aristotle. It is curious, that most philosophical text books cover an area starting with the Greeks Plato, Aristotle, etc., but leave out earlier philosophies from India.
However, there is enough evidence that the philosophy of the Greek and Iranians was heavily influenced from these earlier philosophies of India. At any rate, at least some of the Greek philosophers had a very clear understanding of Reality-as-such. They agreed with earlier Indian philosophies as well as with Scientists of our time that the world as we perceive it is of an illusionary nature. As Parmenides and Zeno pointed out, only what is Permanent and Unchanging is real. The rest is an illusion either experienced or created by our mind. Paramenides: "Being is, Non-Being is not."
We now know that all matter is energy.
But we also know the we are aware of matter. All we have to do is to find out what Awareness is in its clear state of Being and, believe it or not, all our questions are answered and all our fears are dissolved. To get to this state of Being is the ultimate goal of all genuine spiritual exercise including Yoga. So, intellectual understanding of Beingness, as a result from studying Metaphysics, can lead to intellectual enlightening, while the practice of Yoga can lead to direct knowledge.
A more modern interpretation of Metaphysics includes psychic phenomena in all its variations including parapsychology the scientific investigation of these phenomena.
Beingness, as the nature of God, is expressed when we hear American Natives refer to God as the "Great Spirit". "Jahwe" (JHVH \ Jehovah), the Jewish name for God, translates as "I am who I am".
Beingness, then, is the nature of God, in fact, Beingness is God.
Since God is self-reliant and the world is a manifestation of God's energy, we could call God.
Self-energetic Beingness. From the accounts of the many Saints, Sages, and Self-realized persons, who have encountered this condition of Being, we may add that this condition is a blissful state of Being.
In other words, Jnana Yoga is practical philosophy / metaphysics; it is both theory and practice.
Wednesday, April 15, 2009
Xanadu Atlantis
A year ago the UAE was fondly regarded by Western governments and bankers as a potential saviour of capitalism.
Last month, as the major economies shed jobs and marked down growth forecasts, a South African billionaire hosted the “party of the decade” to open a vast, pink hotel on the palm-shaped island constructed from poured sand and concrete a short helicopter ride from Dubai's new international airport.
But elsewhere on the island, villa owners were being told that their properties had lost 40 per cent of their value in two months. Construction of another colossal artificial island was quietly being shelved, and speculation grew that Dubai as a whole, for nearly a decade the world's most exuberant symbol of the fruits of globalisation, might have to sell off assets to service its debts.
Recently, the Government of the United Arab Emirates was forced to confront that speculation. The chairman of a committee set up to lead the UAE's response to the global downturn said that Dubai's debts were dwarfed by its assets and that “the Government will step in to assist if needed”. Only that implicit guarantee held fears of a default at bay. The stock market was unimpressed. Having lost nearly two thirds of its value this year it promptly lost another 5 per cent
Whatever said and done is that I like Dubai, but what I like are the people that who make Dubai – how much ever they crap, they make it even better, particularly the English (no harm please, all in good fun)
Listed below is a poem penned by an English friend (who unfortunately didn’t do justice to Samuel Taylor Coolidge’s Xanadu by Kubla Khan )
In Jumeirah did Big Sheikh Mo
A massive great hotel decree
Where streams of sacred sewage ran
Through beaches uninhabitable by man
Down to a polluted sea
So twice five dozen top celebs
Did mingle with the local plebs
And there were fireworks bright with flashing stars
Apparently they could be seen from Mars
The only ones that didn't party or rave
Were some newly captured Pacific dolphin slaves
A sheikh with a kandoora
In a vision once he saw
It was an Abyssinian maid
Overworked and poorly paid
And with fireworks loud and grand
He did build that Dubailand
That massive mall! Those slopes of ice!
And we all thought them very nice
But all should cry, Beware! Beware!
This sandy land is not so fair
And now financial storm clouds grow
It might be time to pack and go
For we on honey-dew hath fed
It's time for some real life instead
Lets face it - superlatives alone cannot shield the Middle East's financial hub from crisis
courtesy : http://justpolitics-cat.blogspot.com/2008/12/xanadu-atlantis.html
Last month, as the major economies shed jobs and marked down growth forecasts, a South African billionaire hosted the “party of the decade” to open a vast, pink hotel on the palm-shaped island constructed from poured sand and concrete a short helicopter ride from Dubai's new international airport.
But elsewhere on the island, villa owners were being told that their properties had lost 40 per cent of their value in two months. Construction of another colossal artificial island was quietly being shelved, and speculation grew that Dubai as a whole, for nearly a decade the world's most exuberant symbol of the fruits of globalisation, might have to sell off assets to service its debts.
Recently, the Government of the United Arab Emirates was forced to confront that speculation. The chairman of a committee set up to lead the UAE's response to the global downturn said that Dubai's debts were dwarfed by its assets and that “the Government will step in to assist if needed”. Only that implicit guarantee held fears of a default at bay. The stock market was unimpressed. Having lost nearly two thirds of its value this year it promptly lost another 5 per cent
Whatever said and done is that I like Dubai, but what I like are the people that who make Dubai – how much ever they crap, they make it even better, particularly the English (no harm please, all in good fun)
Listed below is a poem penned by an English friend (who unfortunately didn’t do justice to Samuel Taylor Coolidge’s Xanadu by Kubla Khan )
In Jumeirah did Big Sheikh Mo
A massive great hotel decree
Where streams of sacred sewage ran
Through beaches uninhabitable by man
Down to a polluted sea
So twice five dozen top celebs
Did mingle with the local plebs
And there were fireworks bright with flashing stars
Apparently they could be seen from Mars
The only ones that didn't party or rave
Were some newly captured Pacific dolphin slaves
A sheikh with a kandoora
In a vision once he saw
It was an Abyssinian maid
Overworked and poorly paid
And with fireworks loud and grand
He did build that Dubailand
That massive mall! Those slopes of ice!
And we all thought them very nice
But all should cry, Beware! Beware!
This sandy land is not so fair
And now financial storm clouds grow
It might be time to pack and go
For we on honey-dew hath fed
It's time for some real life instead
Lets face it - superlatives alone cannot shield the Middle East's financial hub from crisis
courtesy : http://justpolitics-cat.blogspot.com/2008/12/xanadu-atlantis.html
Tuesday, April 7, 2009
The Arab And The Genie
An Arab had just spent many days crossing the desert without water.
His camel had died of thirst and he was crawling through the sands, certain that the end was close when all of a sudden he sees a shiny object sticking out of the sand several yards ahead of him.
He crawls to the object, pulls it out of the sand, and discovers what looks to be an ash tray from an old car. He opens it and out pops a genie...
But this apparently is no ordinary genie. He is wearing a polka dot bow tie and a sport coat with a dog-eared little book in the breast pocket with a blue cover and has a pencil tucked behind one ear.
"Well, kid," says the genie. "You know how it works. You have three wishes."
"I'm not falling for this." says the man. "I'm not going to trust a used car salesman!"
"What have you got to lose?”
"You've got no transportation, and it looks like you're a goner anyway!”
The man thinks about this for a minute, and decides that the genie is right.
"OK, I wish I were in a lush oasis with plentiful food and drink." ***POOF*** The man finds himself in the most beautiful oasis he has ever seen. And he is surrounded with jugs of wine and platters of delicacies.
"OK, kid, what's your second wish."
"My second wish is that I was rich beyond my wildest dreams." ***POOF*** The Arab finds himself surrounded by treasure chests filled with rare gold coins and precious gems."
"OK, kid, you have just one more wish. Better make it a good one!"
After thinking for a few minutes, the Arab says: "I wish that no matter where I go, a beautiful woman will want and need me." ***POOF*** He's turned into a tampon.
The moral of the story?
If a used car salesman offers you anything at no cost, there's always going to be a string attached somewhere!
His camel had died of thirst and he was crawling through the sands, certain that the end was close when all of a sudden he sees a shiny object sticking out of the sand several yards ahead of him.
He crawls to the object, pulls it out of the sand, and discovers what looks to be an ash tray from an old car. He opens it and out pops a genie...
But this apparently is no ordinary genie. He is wearing a polka dot bow tie and a sport coat with a dog-eared little book in the breast pocket with a blue cover and has a pencil tucked behind one ear.
"Well, kid," says the genie. "You know how it works. You have three wishes."
"I'm not falling for this." says the man. "I'm not going to trust a used car salesman!"
"What have you got to lose?”
"You've got no transportation, and it looks like you're a goner anyway!”
The man thinks about this for a minute, and decides that the genie is right.
"OK, I wish I were in a lush oasis with plentiful food and drink." ***POOF*** The man finds himself in the most beautiful oasis he has ever seen. And he is surrounded with jugs of wine and platters of delicacies.
"OK, kid, what's your second wish."
"My second wish is that I was rich beyond my wildest dreams." ***POOF*** The Arab finds himself surrounded by treasure chests filled with rare gold coins and precious gems."
"OK, kid, you have just one more wish. Better make it a good one!"
After thinking for a few minutes, the Arab says: "I wish that no matter where I go, a beautiful woman will want and need me." ***POOF*** He's turned into a tampon.
The moral of the story?
If a used car salesman offers you anything at no cost, there's always going to be a string attached somewhere!
Saturday, March 28, 2009
Readers - Please Note
Have met up with an accident and have asked a friemd (hopefully) to keep this blog flowing...
Will see you in 2 months.....
Am really gonna enjoy the attention !!
Will see you in 2 months.....
Am really gonna enjoy the attention !!
Friday, March 27, 2009
Tips While Traveling Alone
Traveling in group is fun but have you tried travelling alone ?
Traveling alone can be equally adventurous and exciting if you know well that how to plan your journey and make proper arrangements keeping the safety in mind. If you haven't tried it then it will be a new experience for you. Some people have the experience of short trips and never realized how it feels when you travel alone on long journey.
Traveling alone need not be lonely. It could be fun in more ways than one. Don’t be reluctant to travel just because your on your own. Just remember these things:
Following tips may prove fruitful for traveling alone:
With solo traveling, you will definitely learn more about your self and what you can do. It can also be fun..
Try it - traveling alone can be one of your best experiences.
Traveling alone can be equally adventurous and exciting if you know well that how to plan your journey and make proper arrangements keeping the safety in mind. If you haven't tried it then it will be a new experience for you. Some people have the experience of short trips and never realized how it feels when you travel alone on long journey.
Traveling alone need not be lonely. It could be fun in more ways than one. Don’t be reluctant to travel just because your on your own. Just remember these things:
Following tips may prove fruitful for traveling alone:
- Plan ahead - Research and read about the place you’re heading to. Know where’s the nearest hotel, restaurant, and such. Make reservations too, if possible. That way, your travel is on a good start
- Take a city map - You better study how to read maps. Needless to say, these can guide you where you are going, especially if it’s the first time you’re going to that place. Relying too much on the cab driver is not a good idea
- Learn the language - Just study the basics, and the most common things you’re likely to ask a local. Also get yourself a basic dictionary and learn the language before you arrive
- Don’t be afraid to ask for directions - It would be okay to ask someone for directions, but be sure you are going to choose who to ask. You can ask a waiter in restaurant, or the receptionist in your hotel. Just be sure you get all information. Asking from a complete stranger outside is not advisable
- Pack your baggage carefully to avoid any kind of problems during the journey. List of all requirements should be made so that you don't miss anything. Lock in luggage is necessary to avoid the thefts. Over weight of your luggage can become hurdle in your smooth traveling.
- Hide your valuables - Put your guard up. Don’t invite muggers to come and get you. Don’t wear too much jewelry outside the streets. Use inexpensive accessories.
- Dress appropriately - Check what the locals wear on a given time of day. You don’t want your clothes screaming you’re a tourist. The lesser attention you draw to yourself, the better.
- Keep all your medicines and also few medicines for precaution because you cannot rely on anyone for the help during emergency. Travel insurance policy can provide a great help when you don't have enough money to spend on the medical treatment and expenses on hospital bills.
- Arrange for the passport and visa in advance to avoid any kind of delay in the journey. You can also contact to the travel agents to make your trip comfortable. You can book your tickets online by visiting the websites of airlines.
- Lodging in hotels and resorts sometimes cost a lot for single person. You should book the room in advance which can help you in taking the proper rest when you reach the place. Online booking of accommodation is a good option for single travelers.
- Books are the best companion of loneliness. If you don't like reading novels then magazines are other choice. You can carry the reading material and can keep yourself busy during the journey. It's better to avoid relying on strangers from the safety point of view and reading habit can make your boring journey interesting. Listening music can also be a good option.
- No need to carry cash, alternative is to use electronic money for transaction. Credit cards and debit cards can be used for shopping purpose. Never buy heavy things which you can't carry. Basically, take just enough cash. Traveler’s checks and credit cards are good, and it could be your primary mode of payment, but you might want to keep a few extra dollars in your pocket with local money.
- To make your traveling interesting you can indulge in exciting things like trekking, mountaineering, river rafting, bungee jumping, scuba diving etc. Activities which give you pleasure should never be missed. Skiing on the snow covered landscape is usually enjoyed by the people traveling alone.
- Lastly, enjoy your self - Well, you are traveling, so make the most of it. Make friends with a local. Talk to somebody over lunch in a café. Get the addresses of the friends you make to send them a thank you card. Maybe next time, you’d be their host. Always keep your confidence up and boost your morale before starting your journey alone.
With solo traveling, you will definitely learn more about your self and what you can do. It can also be fun..
Try it - traveling alone can be one of your best experiences.
Saturday, March 14, 2009
What Is Vegan And Veganism
Veganism is something more than an eating choice - it is a lifestyle or a movement.
The Vegan lifestyle choice is quickly gaining popularity in the United States and the rest of the world.
Vegan (pronounced vee-gun) refers to people who choose to forego meat and dairy products. Instead, their diets consist solely of plant-based foods. Not only do Vegans eliminate foods derived from animals, they also avoid clothing and products made from animal by-products.
You might be thinking that you got along so far by eating eggs, hamburgers, dairy products, hot dogs, poultry, beef, pork, and fish - so why should you go vegetarian, let alone vegan now?
Firstly, becoming Vegan means changing your whole lifestyle
Eating Vegan doesn't have to be boring. In fact, it is one of the most exciting way to eat! Fresh and organically grown plant-based foods are among nature's most healthful and delicious gifts
Being a Vegan has many benefits, but first, what exactly does being Vegan mean?
Most people are not exactly sure exactly what this term defines.
So here goes, a VEGAN is a person who not only consumes only plant products, but is also someone who does not support any product or food derived from the pain and suffering of any animal.
Then what is the difference between a Vegan and a Vegetarian?
A vegetarian is someone who doesn't eat any meat - In other words, they don’t consume meat, poultry, fish or other water animals or food made using animal fat, but they consume dairy products.
The main difference between a Vegan and a Vegetarian is that Vegans not only consume any animal by-products, which include eggs, dairy (including cheese, butter) or use products that have been tested on animals. Even honey is also avoided, as bees are killed during its production. And finally, Vegans also avoid wearing animal products like wool, silk or leather and don’t use cosmetics and toiletries that have been tested on animals or which contain animal ingredients.
To be a successful vegetarian or Vegan, you need to become more aware of nutrition. You learn what foods contain enough plant protein to satisfy your daily needs. You learn how to regulate the amount of carbohydrates and sugars you eat, to avoid the risk of diabetes. You start to understand the positive effects of a diet high in plant fibers, which help keep you regular.
Some benefits of being Vegan
It is believed, or at least I am of the firm belief that eating a meat free diet can definitely improve your health in addition to increasing your quality of life and as a result one tends to live longer.
The reasons?
Medical research has proven that a meat free diet considerably lowers ones chances of being diagnosed with ailments such as diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, heart disease and even certain types of cancers.
Studies have also shown that not meat free diets provide more energy, in addition to building a more efficient immune system. It is also said that Vegans live six to ten years longer than average meat eater and also rid the system of pesky allergens that cause food allergies, ADHD, and asthma. Furthermore, it can also be said that Vegans have healthy hair, lower body weight in general and most importantly a clearer and suppler skin.
Most of us don't eat very well. We either eat fast food too much and even real sit-down restaurants are sometimes not always healthy for us. We are addicted to the bad habit of eating out of boxes, cans, and the freezer. In fact, when you eat at most chain restaurants, you're eating out of boxes, cans, and the freezer!
Most non-vegetarian foods are either processed or frozen, if not come in cans. When we eat high fat meats, low fiber processed foods, and fill our bodies with preservatives and chemicals, we're much more prone to high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and other serious health issues.
Vegetarians (fruits and vegetables people) don’t suffer from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and any other diseases which tend to be linked with being overweight. In other words, you can eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and yet not gain any weight. This goes on to indicate that the food eaten in a vegetarian diet helps with the fat burning process. It also indicates that eating vegetables helps with insulin resistance instead of the food being stored as fat it tends to get taken up by the cells and burnt off hence no weight gain.
But, despite calling myself a vegetarian, I have put on tremendous amount of weight. This goes to show that vegetarian doesn’t really mean only vegetables and fruits, but there are fats (sweets, desserts, syrups), carbohydrates (rice and others) – the list is endless. So there is no guarantee that you are going to lose weight by just avoiding meat. Meat taken at reasonable amounts can lead to a balanced weight
However, being a Vegan will completely rid your diet from any of these processed foods. It will also rid you of all the fat and poisons generally found in processed or fast food that your body just wasn't programmed to intake. In other words, a family can easily and safely avoid the chemicals, preservatives, growth hormones and other harmful toxins found in almost all of today's meats and over-processed foods!
If you project to people that they don’t abuse their car like they abuse their bodies – they would perhaps get the message a lot better. A car engine that hasn’t been tuned or isn’t getting the type of gasoline it needs simply will not run efficiently, nor "live" for as long as it was intended to do.
In other words, the human body shares the same concept with a car
So just for kicks, try eating vegetarian (fruits and vegetables) for a week or two. See for yourself if you feel different, more mentally acute and note any difference
Gets you thinking ...right?
Hence, going Vegan and eating in this manner is sure to you an incredibly healthier lifestyle.
Many familiar favorites and international specialties are naturally Vegan – Italian spaghetti with marinara sauce, pasta with garlic & olive oil, a cheese-less pizza piled high with toppings; bean & rice burritos smothered in vegetarian green chilly, sizzling fajitas with peppers, onions, squash and mushrooms, tortilla chips & guacamole dip; Middle Eastern falafel, hummus, stuffed grape leaves and lentil soup; Indian vegetable curries, samosas, dal, and rice biriyani; Thai coconut curries, spring rolls & rice noodle dishes; Chinese stir-fry veggies in various sauces, sesame tofu, vegetable dumplings; Japanese vegetable sushi; and french fries!
Some interesting vegan recipes can be found at... http://www.veganchef.com/
The Vegan lifestyle choice is quickly gaining popularity in the United States and the rest of the world.
Vegan (pronounced vee-gun) refers to people who choose to forego meat and dairy products. Instead, their diets consist solely of plant-based foods. Not only do Vegans eliminate foods derived from animals, they also avoid clothing and products made from animal by-products.
You might be thinking that you got along so far by eating eggs, hamburgers, dairy products, hot dogs, poultry, beef, pork, and fish - so why should you go vegetarian, let alone vegan now?
Firstly, becoming Vegan means changing your whole lifestyle
Eating Vegan doesn't have to be boring. In fact, it is one of the most exciting way to eat! Fresh and organically grown plant-based foods are among nature's most healthful and delicious gifts
Being a Vegan has many benefits, but first, what exactly does being Vegan mean?
Most people are not exactly sure exactly what this term defines.
So here goes, a VEGAN is a person who not only consumes only plant products, but is also someone who does not support any product or food derived from the pain and suffering of any animal.
Then what is the difference between a Vegan and a Vegetarian?
A vegetarian is someone who doesn't eat any meat - In other words, they don’t consume meat, poultry, fish or other water animals or food made using animal fat, but they consume dairy products.
The main difference between a Vegan and a Vegetarian is that Vegans not only consume any animal by-products, which include eggs, dairy (including cheese, butter) or use products that have been tested on animals. Even honey is also avoided, as bees are killed during its production. And finally, Vegans also avoid wearing animal products like wool, silk or leather and don’t use cosmetics and toiletries that have been tested on animals or which contain animal ingredients.
To be a successful vegetarian or Vegan, you need to become more aware of nutrition. You learn what foods contain enough plant protein to satisfy your daily needs. You learn how to regulate the amount of carbohydrates and sugars you eat, to avoid the risk of diabetes. You start to understand the positive effects of a diet high in plant fibers, which help keep you regular.
Some benefits of being Vegan
It is believed, or at least I am of the firm belief that eating a meat free diet can definitely improve your health in addition to increasing your quality of life and as a result one tends to live longer.
The reasons?
Medical research has proven that a meat free diet considerably lowers ones chances of being diagnosed with ailments such as diabetes, arthritis, high blood pressure, heart disease and even certain types of cancers.
Studies have also shown that not meat free diets provide more energy, in addition to building a more efficient immune system. It is also said that Vegans live six to ten years longer than average meat eater and also rid the system of pesky allergens that cause food allergies, ADHD, and asthma. Furthermore, it can also be said that Vegans have healthy hair, lower body weight in general and most importantly a clearer and suppler skin.
Most of us don't eat very well. We either eat fast food too much and even real sit-down restaurants are sometimes not always healthy for us. We are addicted to the bad habit of eating out of boxes, cans, and the freezer. In fact, when you eat at most chain restaurants, you're eating out of boxes, cans, and the freezer!
Most non-vegetarian foods are either processed or frozen, if not come in cans. When we eat high fat meats, low fiber processed foods, and fill our bodies with preservatives and chemicals, we're much more prone to high blood pressure, diabetes, high cholesterol and other serious health issues.
Vegetarians (fruits and vegetables people) don’t suffer from high blood pressure, high cholesterol, and any other diseases which tend to be linked with being overweight. In other words, you can eat a lot of fruits and vegetables and yet not gain any weight. This goes on to indicate that the food eaten in a vegetarian diet helps with the fat burning process. It also indicates that eating vegetables helps with insulin resistance instead of the food being stored as fat it tends to get taken up by the cells and burnt off hence no weight gain.
But, despite calling myself a vegetarian, I have put on tremendous amount of weight. This goes to show that vegetarian doesn’t really mean only vegetables and fruits, but there are fats (sweets, desserts, syrups), carbohydrates (rice and others) – the list is endless. So there is no guarantee that you are going to lose weight by just avoiding meat. Meat taken at reasonable amounts can lead to a balanced weight
However, being a Vegan will completely rid your diet from any of these processed foods. It will also rid you of all the fat and poisons generally found in processed or fast food that your body just wasn't programmed to intake. In other words, a family can easily and safely avoid the chemicals, preservatives, growth hormones and other harmful toxins found in almost all of today's meats and over-processed foods!
If you project to people that they don’t abuse their car like they abuse their bodies – they would perhaps get the message a lot better. A car engine that hasn’t been tuned or isn’t getting the type of gasoline it needs simply will not run efficiently, nor "live" for as long as it was intended to do.
In other words, the human body shares the same concept with a car
So just for kicks, try eating vegetarian (fruits and vegetables) for a week or two. See for yourself if you feel different, more mentally acute and note any difference
Gets you thinking ...right?
Hence, going Vegan and eating in this manner is sure to you an incredibly healthier lifestyle.
Many familiar favorites and international specialties are naturally Vegan – Italian spaghetti with marinara sauce, pasta with garlic & olive oil, a cheese-less pizza piled high with toppings; bean & rice burritos smothered in vegetarian green chilly, sizzling fajitas with peppers, onions, squash and mushrooms, tortilla chips & guacamole dip; Middle Eastern falafel, hummus, stuffed grape leaves and lentil soup; Indian vegetable curries, samosas, dal, and rice biriyani; Thai coconut curries, spring rolls & rice noodle dishes; Chinese stir-fry veggies in various sauces, sesame tofu, vegetable dumplings; Japanese vegetable sushi; and french fries!
Some interesting vegan recipes can be found at... http://www.veganchef.com/
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