It’s Never Too Late for Susan Boyle

It’s never too late
By: Lawrence C.
Photo by ITV

It’s never too late for ones inspirations as long as is decided to make it. This is what Susan Boyle proved to the Britain’s Got Talent judges Simon, Pier and Amanda in awe. As well as a reminder to the world that never judge a person by ones accidents.

Susan Boyle is now a brand. Thru social media she is known well, reaching millions of hits on YouTube and searches on Google. Such fame that entertainment moguls would their talents to achieve and was easily reached by her in few days.

Her own style and identity shined amongst the rest and that of an expected standard that is to be pleasing, attractive and a youthful talent.

Will she maintain her own identity? Someone who is outdated with her looks but with an exceptional talent. (wherein such irony could even made her famous…)

Or upgrade for the better that is to allow men of arts and even experts of science to procure a more beautiful Susan for the audience to love more.

Share your insights and win a FREE Botanical Face Spa or a FREE Silhouette Body Spa! by Subtle Senses. There are 25 vouchers to be given to most substantial comments and this open to all contest ends on May 1, 2009.

Source: Does Susan Boyle Need A Makeover?

Wine Lessons: How To Preserve Leftover Wine

This guide is being reprinted with permission from Yats Wine Cellars: The Best Wine-Shopping In Asia

LESSON #1: How To Preserve Leftover Wine

We can’t rejuvenate wines, at best we can stop or slow down its deterioration once the bottle is uncorked.

YOU open a few wine bottles during a dinner party for friends and there is a lot of left-over wine. It is a terrible waste to pour good wine down the drain. Can these half-finished bottles be saved for enjoyment the next day?

The answer is certainly YES.

Let’s understand the problem first before we discuss a solution.

The problem can be expressed in one word – oxidation. Oxygen in the air causes the wine to deteriorate. All we need to do to preserve a semi-finished bottle of wine is to eliminate or to reduce oxygen contact with the wine.

Here is an easy and inexpensive way to achieve this.

Transfer the wine from the bottle into a smaller container such as a small plastic mineral-water bottle, so that the wine fills up the entire bottle leaving very little room inside for air. This immediately reduces the air-to-wine ratio inside the container.

To achieve even better results, we must reduce the negative impact of air contact with wine by reducing oxygen’s oxidizing power. This is done very simply by lowering the temperature of the container, as low as possible without freezing the wine. At very low temperature, oxidation hardly occurs.

We can’t rejuvenate wines. At best we can stop or slow down its deterioration once the bottle is uncorked. So if you notice half way through dinner that some of the wines will not be finished, start the preservation process earlier so the wine is fresher to begin with when it enters the smaller container.

Sparkling wines can be resealed with a Champagne stopper and kept reasonably lively overnight if stored in cold temperature. Its pressure of the fizz inside the bottle prevents external air from entering. Furthermore, Champagne is very high in acidity which helps to preserve it against oxidation also.

For very serious – read expensive – wines especially older and more fragile bottles, you might have to invest lightly on a pump-and-stopper apparatus. It will set you back by a few bucks but your leftover can be enjoyed for 2-3 days.

Of course, why would you take that long to drink it? That’s beside the point. This gadget allows us to create a vacuum inside the bottle by pump air out of it. Don’t apply it to Champagne of course. You don’t want to pump the bubbles away.

NEXT LESSON: Simple ways to differentiate a good from an ordinary wine

Source: How To Preserve Leftover Wine

Wine Lessons: How To Preserve Leftover Wine

This guide is being reprinted with permission from Yats Wine Cellars: The Best Wine-Shopping In Asia

LESSON #1: How To Preserve Leftover Wine

We can’t rejuvenate wines, at best we can stop or slow down its deterioration once the bottle is uncorked.

YOU open a few wine bottles during a dinner party for friends and there is a lot of left-over wine. It is a terrible waste to pour good wine down the drain. Can these half-finished bottles be saved for enjoyment the next day?

The answer is certainly YES.

Let’s understand the problem first before we discuss a solution.

The problem can be expressed in one word – oxidation. Oxygen in the air causes the wine to deteriorate. All we need to do to preserve a semi-finished bottle of wine is to eliminate or to reduce oxygen contact with the wine.

Here is an easy and inexpensive way to achieve this.

Transfer the wine from the bottle into a smaller container such as a small plastic mineral-water bottle, so that the wine fills up the entire bottle leaving very little room inside for air. This immediately reduces the air-to-wine ratio inside the container.

To achieve even better results, we must reduce the negative impact of air contact with wine by reducing oxygen’s oxidizing power. This is done very simply by lowering the temperature of the container, as low as possible without freezing the wine. At very low temperature, oxidation hardly occurs.

We can’t rejuvenate wines. At best we can stop or slow down its deterioration once the bottle is uncorked. So if you notice half way through dinner that some of the wines will not be finished, start the preservation process earlier so the wine is fresher to begin with when it enters the smaller container.

Sparkling wines can be resealed with a Champagne stopper and kept reasonably lively overnight if stored in cold temperature. Its pressure of the fizz inside the bottle prevents external air from entering. Furthermore, Champagne is very high in acidity which helps to preserve it against oxidation also.

For very serious – read expensive – wines especially older and more fragile bottles, you might have to invest lightly on a pump-and-stopper apparatus. It will set you back by a few bucks but your leftover can be enjoyed for 2-3 days.

Of course, why would you take that long to drink it? That’s beside the point. This gadget allows us to create a vacuum inside the bottle by pump air out of it. Don’t apply it to Champagne of course. You don’t want to pump the bubbles away.

NEXT LESSON: Simple ways to differentiate a good from an ordinary wine

Source: How To Preserve Leftover Wine

Pregnancy Tips: What Are Fibroids and How Do They Affect Conception?

GREAT EXPECTATIONS
By Dr Lai Fon Min
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist | A Company for Women, Medical Centre
Reprinted with permission from “Great Expectations” by Today’s Parents magazine

I HAVE BEEN TRYING UNSUCCESSFULLY TO CONCEIVE FOR THE LAST SEVEN MONTHS. MY GYNAE DISCOVERED I HAVE FIBROIDS. WHAT SHOULD I DO AND HOW DOES THIS AFFECT MY CHANCES OF HAVING A CHILD?

Uterine Fibroids (myoma or leiomyoma) are very common – they are benign (noncancerous) growths of the uterine muscle. The size and location of the fibroids are important. The large majority of them are very small or located in an area of the uterus such that they will not have any impact on reproductive function.

There are three general locations for fibroids:

(1) Subserosal – on the outside surface of the uterus
(2) Intramural – within the muscular wall of the uterus, and
(3) Submucous – bulging into the uterine cavity.

The only type that will have any impact on reproductive function (unless it is very large) is the submucous type that is within the uterine cavity. These are much less common than the other two types of fibroids.

Because of their location inside the uterine cavity, submucous fibroids can cause infertility or miscarriages and may be removed hysteroscopically (a slim instrument inserted through the cervix into the uterus).

Other causes for infertility should be considered before treatment is initiated for subserosal or intramural fibroids which do not distort the uterine cavity.

Studies of infertile women with submucous fibroids distorting the endometrial cavity found significantly lower pregnancy and delivery rates, compared with infertile women without fibroids.

It is important to note that removal of submucous fibroids led to a significant increase in the pregnancy rate compared with the case in infertile women without fibroids.

Source: Pregnancy Tips: What Are Firboids And How Do They Affect Conception?

Expert Advice: Choosing Fabrics For The Home (Part 1/2)

How To Choose A Fabric For Your Home (Part 1/2)

Colour, design and texture may be foremost on your mind when choosing fabrics for curtains or upholstery. But there’s also fabric mix, durability and flammability to consider.

By Grace Chan | reprinted from “Expert Advice” by Home Concepts Magazine

WHEN selecting curtains or any other upholstery, fabric is one of the main considerations and is essential to the overall design and practicality of your home.

The cost of a fabric, or how heavy or substantial it feels, is not necessarily an indication of its suitability. However, it should always resist ignition from a lit match or cigarette.

Over and above the aesthetic aspects, fabric care is also vital to the durability of your furnishings. Sending them to the professionals for dry cleaning may be the best and easiest way out. However, should you prefer to do your own washing, you need to check carefully if the fabric allows for machine wash, tumble-dry, bleach and ironing.

Atmosphere has over 1,300 different fabric selections in its store and has its own mill in Bangalore, which is among one of the largest and most modern in the world. With a multinational team of designers working in their fabric design studios in New York and Bangalore, there is no doubt that Atmosphere’s fabrics are contemporary and innovative.

Dolly Mirpuri, business manager of Atmosphere, has been in the fabric industry for the past 10 years and has this to share.

HOW ARE FURNISHING FABRICS NORMALLY USED IN THE HOUSE?

Curtains, upholstery, cushion covers and bedspreads are traditional ways of using fabrics in the home. Wall panelling, bed runners, table runners and Roman blinds are more innovative methods of using the fabrics.

WHICH TYPES OF FABRICS ARE SUITABLE FOR CURTAINS?

Light or heavyweight fabrics can be used for curtains depending on the look and style required. Using silk fabrics, for example, will reduce noise inside the home as it has the ability to absorb sound and ‘breathe’. Breathing allows movement of air via the fibres in the fabric, enabling its surface to stay cool and within the range of atmospheric temperature.

For Roman blinds, heavier weight fabric will give a better drop. Curtains are also often used together with sheer fabrics which are translucent. Even when drawn, sheers allow some light into the room, unlike curtains which cut off light significantly.

WHICH TYPES ARE SUITABLE FOR UPHOLSTERY?

Heavyweight fabrics which are durable are suitable for upholstery. Upholstery fabrics sold under our brand, Atmosphere, pass the International Rub Test for durability and therefore each upholstery fabric has been categorised as either light or of dual usage (curtain and upholstery) depending on its suitability for use as curtains or upholstery.

WHAT ARE THE CONSIDERATIONS FOR A FABRIC FOR THE HOUSE?

The fabric selection would depend on the style and design of the home. During the selection process, you have to decide on the appropriate colour after picking out the fabric design. If the house is too bright, it may require shade curtains.

Also, the type and quality of fabric matters. If there is strong, direct sunlight, some dark-coloured fabrics may not be practical as very dark colours tend to fade under direct and harsh sunlight. However, this problem can be solved by using a suitable blackout fabric lining. Customers may also opt for silk cotton blends.

Fabrics from Atmosphere have designs inspired from all parts of the world, so whether your home has a Far East or a minimal-and-modern New York classical or contemporary look, we will always have a suitable fabric for you.

WHICH ARE THE TRENDY FABRICS USED FOR CURTAINS IN MODERN HOMES?
This, again, depends on the décor. For a home with an airy and casual feel, linen is great as it hints of the tropics especially when the place comes with lots of greenery. Dramatic patterns work best as accent pieces. Textured fabrics are interesting and add depth to the fabric. Two-sided fabrics could be used on throw pillows with the reverse side for the back or on light sliding panels as a divider between spaces.

Click here to read Part 2

Source: Expert Advice on Choosing Fabrics For The Home

Expert Advice: Choosing Fabrics For The Home (Part 2/2)

(Click here to read previous chapter)

Colour, design and texture may be foremost on your mind when choosing fabrics for curtains or upholstery. But there’s also fabric mix, durability and flammability to consider.

By Grace Chan | reprinted from “Expert Advice” by Home Concepts Magazine

CAN YOU TELL US WHICH FABRICS NEVER GO OUT OF STYLE?

Plain and textured fabrics are perennials. They are easy to match and are safe as they never go out of style. Silk as a category has been popular for the last 2,000 years. Fabrics that have fine linen, cotton and pure yarns will always be evergreen favorites as more and more people around the world prefer organic and pure fabrics rather than polyesters. Blended fabrics are durable and elegant and timeless, too.

WHAT DOES ONE NEED TO CONSIDER WHEN LOOKING AT FABRIC DESIGNS?

For a small apartment, avoid big prints. Use small patterns, textures and lighter shades of colour. If there is a need to use big prints, use them only as accents. Big patterns for a big area will sit better than a small patterned fabric. Smaller prints may end up looking too busy if used to fill a big area.

WHAT DURABLE MATERIAL WOULD YOU RECOMMEND TO A FAMILY WITH YOUNG CHILDREN?

Cotton, polyester and acrylic fabrics will be more suitable for them. These fabrics are more durable, easy to maintain and are washable at home.

WHICH MATERIAL ARE BEST SUITED FOR SOMEONE WITH A DUST ALLERGY?

Avoid heavy velvets and chenille. Cottons, silk blends with polyester or acrylic fabrics are suitable when you have a dust or allergy problem.

WHAT KIND OF MAINTENANCE IS NEEDED FOR CURTAINS AND UPHOLSTERY?

Regular vacuuming and periodic dry cleaning is required. Using Scotch-Guard treatment helps to protect it further. All curtains and Roman blinds must be lined with good quality lining fabric. This helps in good draping and extends the durability as the sea wind and sun tend to reduce the life of fabrics.

CAN ANYTHING BE DONE TO REMOVE STAINS ON FABRIC SOFAS?

Leave it to the professionals to do the dry cleaning. There are specialists who do spot cleaning for upholstery. For curtains, take it to your trusted dry cleaner.

WHEN PROPERLY MAINTAINED, HOW LONG WOULD QUALITY FABRICS FOR UPHOLSTERY AND CURTAIN LAST?

When well maintained, fabrics can last for several years. While fabrics may last long, they can look dated if not changed once in say, two years.

WHAT ARE FIRE RETARDANT CURTAIN FABRICS?

Silk is inherently fire retardant as silk is a protein fibre and not a cellulose like cotton. We do fire retardant treatments on our non-silk fabrics, if so required; it takes about two weeks for the treatment.

WHAT CAN YOU SAY ABOUT ENVIRONMENTALLY-FRIENDLY FABRICS?

Linen, silk and cotton are eco-friendly. Our fabrics are silks and blends of silks and cotton and are all environmentally friendly.

Source: Expert Advice on Choosing Fabrics For The Home

Pregnancy Tips: Are Migraine Medications Harmful For Me?

GREAT EXPECTATIONS
By Dr Lai Fon Min
Consultant Obstetrician and Gynaecologist A Company for Women, Camden Medical Centre |
reprinted with permission from “Great Expectations” by Today’s Parents magazine

I AM EXPECTING MY FIRST CHILD AT THE AGE OF 32. I AM PRONE TO MIGRAINES BUT AM AFRAID TO USE ANY MEDICATION AS IT MAY HARM MY BABY. PLEASE ADVISE.

Migraine does not increase the risk for complications of pregnancy for the mother or the foetus. Several studies have shown a tendency for migraine to improve with pregnancy. Between 60 and 70 percent of women either go into remission or improve significantly, mainly during the second and third trimesters. Management of migraine during pregnancy should first focus on avoiding potential triggers; for example, stress, change in sleep pattern, bright lights or excessive computer use, irregular meals, smoking, alcohol and certain foods containing red wine or MSG.

Consideration should also be given to non-drug therapies. If medication becomes necessary, paracetamol (Panadol) can be used safely. NSAIDs (aspirin, ibuprofen, naproxen) can be used as a second choice, but not for long periods of time, and they should be avoided during the last trimester. A common antimigraine drug is ergot in combination with caffeine – Cafergot. Ergot is contraindicated in pregnancy.

For treatment of severe attacks of migraine, chlorpromazine, dimenhydrinate, and diphenhydramine and metoclopromide can be used to help with the nausea and vomiting in severe attacks; metoclopramide should be restricted to the third trimester. In some refractory cases, steroids like dexamethasone or prednisone can be considered. Should prophylactic treatment become indicated, the beta-adrenergic receptor antagonists (e.g. propranolol) should be avoided.

Source: Pregnancy Tips: Are Migraine Medications Harmful For Me?

How To Preserve Your Backpacking Experience

Characteristics of a good backpacking journal: it should…be compact, have a case to protect it from rain and spills, contain blank areas to write your notes, and cue spaces to remind you about specific things

By: Nomad Rick

BACKPACKING is a great way to escape the rat race and be one with nature. Alas, your backpacking experiences can fade with time. The best way to prevent this is to keep a backpacking journal for your adventures.

Backpacking Journals
Take a minute to give some consideration to your most recent backpacking experience. What sticks out in your mind? Now think about the first time you ever went backpacking. Undoubtedly, you remember few things about the geography, people you went with, particular backpacking routes and spectacular views. The experiences you’ve forgotten are lost to time. If you had kept a backpacking journal, this won’t be the case.

There are famous instances of people keeping journals throughout time. Of course, Anne Frank’s Diary is the best example. In her diary, Anne kept a running commentary of the two years her family spent hiding from the Nazis. While your backpacking experiences better be more lighthearted, keeping a journal will let you remember them as the years pass.

A good backpacking journal combines a number of characteristics. First, it should be compact so you don’t have to take up unnecessary space for other things. Second, it should have a case to protect it from rain, spills and so on. Third, the journal should contain blank areas to write your notes. Fourth, the journal should contain cue spaces to remind you to keep notes on specific things. Cues should include:

* Who you went backpacking with,
* Where you backpacked and if you enjoyed it,
* Who you met and contact information for them,
* The geographic and weather conditions,
* Routes you tried and how far you made it, and
* Any unique things that occurred while backpacking.

At the end of the trip, you should be able to get the following from your journal:

1. Contact information for other backpackers and people you met,
2. Enough detail to provide you or a friend with a guide if you backpack the location a second time.
3. Memories to reflect upon years later, and
4. Something to pass on to your friends, children and grandchildren.

To get the most out of your backpacking journal, you should write in it during backpacking breaks or immediately after. Every trip is special, even if you just go out for a weekend. Backpacking is a great way to commune with nature. Make sure to preserve the experience.

Source: How To Preserve Your Backpacking Experience

A Backpacker’s Guide To Life

The load I carry follows me wherever I go. I will carry it well some days. Other days I will fail miserably, and that is what it means to be human’

By: Mike Ege

Okay, so not everybody loves backpacking as much as I do. I agree that there are still a lot of people out there who will never don a pack even once in their lives. I know that there are people in the world who don’t like sweating and hiking and bugs and carrying weight and sleeping on the ground. There might even be some folks out there who don’t know what giardia is. (It’s a microbe that will mess up your digestive track for weeks if you drink contaminated water). Worse yet, there are actually people in the world who couldn’t care any less about all that I am talking about. This is for those people.

I don’t love backpacking for the cold nights or the tough climbs. I don’t love it for the mosquitoes or even the body odour. What I love is the parallel to life it offers me and the fresh perspective I gain from a few days in the woods. It rattles me loose from my every day life; it reminds me that I am not so big and important. It lines things up again, like when I file the papers from my desk in a real file cabinet. Backpacking brings me back to basics, to the stuff that really matters. It reminds me that I love my family, that I have physical limits, that I’m not twenty anymore. It causes me to reflect and slow down and know pain. There is nothing like hiking with 40 pounds on your back to remind you what tired really is.

I know from my time on the trail that I have a certain load to carry, and sometimes there isn’t much I can do about that load. Some of the load I put there myself, some was given to me. All I know for sure is that I have to carry it; that it’s mine. Nobody is going to carry it for me, and feeling sorry for myself won’t make it any lighter. I can spend my miles letting everybody know how hard I have it, or I can decide it’s my load and carry it as well as I can, with my chin up. I have learned rule number one in the wilderness of life is;

Carry your own load and stop griping about it.
I understand from a few miles in the majestic mountains that I am loved profoundly and deeply insignificant, all at the same time. I see in those alpine peaks a God who made them just for me, and I believe I am loved. I see in the mountains how little I know and how small I am, and how short the period of time is that I occupy on this earth. Learning to sit with this vast discrepancy has been a tough lesson, but I know that both are and must be true. It is the balance of things. It is the equilibrium between my need and my value, between my sin and my sanctity. I think I would have designed the world with just one option, but God seemed to think we would stand more solidly with two legs, one positioned in a deep knowing about ourselves in both camps. I have learned that the second rule for my life is;

I am both saint and sinner.
I have learned that who I am as I travel down the path is far more important than the coolness of the toys in my pack. I can have all the gizmos and latest fad gear, but when it gets right down to it, my life isn’t really any better because I have the toys. I have learned that bigger toys don’t make me any bigger, and I can live without them. Sure, I like them, but they don’t edit who I am by making me more or making me less. I know that I am significant and powerful without having to look and act and pretend that I am significant and powerful. I know that the third rule is;

I am more than what I carry with me.
I am beginning to know who I am in the journey, not by the size of my pack or the miles I travel, but by the man I am to others in the journey. I can still be an important man without a Humvee. I can still impact the world in important ways without a large 401K. Because you can’t take away from me the very core truth about who I am. I also know that I can do an immense amount about who I want to be in the journey. So I choose to choose, to exercise that gift to be responsible for me. I am learning that the fourth rule is;

I can choose how and who I am.
I realize that backpacking is an analogy for life both on and off the trail, whether I am cresting a mountain ridge or driving in traffic. Because the load I carry follows me wherever I go. I will carry it well some days. Other days I will fail miserably, and that is what it means to be human. I choose to believe I am more than my load, and that I have a choice about me, and how I live.

You may never backpack or see a mountain meadow anywhere except in a picture. That’s fine, because you don’t need to get sweaty to understand what it means to carry a pack. You carry one every day. So who and how will you be today on the trail of life? And more importantly, who and how do you want to be?

Source: A Backpacker’s Guide To Life

Cyprus, the Perfect Holiday Destination

Where To Travel: Cyprus
The weather is but one factor that makes this beautiful island so appealing to the countless people who return year after year

By: Kev Moore

Cyprus is just about as far south as Greece extends before you reach the Middle East and Egypt. This is why the island is blessed with over 320 days of glorious Mediterranean sunshine every year and the temperature seldom drops below 18c even in winter. That’s if you can call December to February a winter at all. So if it’s sunshine holidays you are after then perhaps you should consider taking your next vacation in Cyprus. The weather is only one factor however that makes this beautiful island so appealing to the countless people who return there year after year for more of the same.

Once you arrive in Cyprus you could be forgiven for thinking that you have in fact landed back in the U.K. but in some alternate reality because Cyprus as often been referred to as England with the sun. Most Cypriots speak excellent English as a second language and it’s taught in all the schools even at primary level. They drive on the left and all the road signs are in English as well as Greek so getting around is much the same as back home but without all the congestion or hassle. perhaps this is why so many expats settle in Cyprus to enjoy their retirement in the sun.

There is good reason why Cyprus is so “English” and why so many Cypriots embrace English culture so readily in fact there are two factors that have influenced Cyprus in this way. The main reason Cyprus is so English is due to the British occupation of the Island from 1923 to 1960 after which time Cyprus became a stand alone republic although an agreement was reached allowing Britain to keep several military bases as sovereign or crown property. Another strong influence has come from the large Anglo Cypriot community which established itself in the U.K. during the years of British rule especially around the London area. As many of these “English” Cypriots have returned home they have brought the British influence of business and culture with them too. Despite this European influence Cyprus still retains its own culture both in language and customs which is what makes it so unique.

There aren’t many places left in the world where you can leave your doors unlocked or walk the streets in the dead of night without fear of molestation but Cyprus is one of them. The island boast one of the lowest crime rates in Europe which makes it a great place to live. Sure there are “bad apples” where ever you go and Cyprus has its share too but they are a minority and the Cyprus authorities have been known to permanently expel some criminals from the island altogether. If you are one of those people who also hate being accosted by street vendors forcing their tat onto you and your family take heart because the authorities are pretty strict there too.

For people who just want to relax without being hassled Cyprus is the perfect holiday destination. With miles of sandy beaches and delightful secluded bays you are sure to find somewhere to chill out whilst you enjoy all that Cyprus sun. The island is steeped in centuries of rich cultural history so there is more than enough to keep even the most enthusiastic culture vultures occupied. If you want to see more of Cyprus whilst on your holiday be sure to check out the many excursions that are on offer to all those places of interest. Or even better, you could take advantage of some of the excellent Cyprus car hire deals and enjoy the freedom of seeing Cyprus at your own pace.

However you decide to enjoy your holiday in Cyprus whether it’s relaxing on the beach or taking in the vibrant night life of the many bars and restaurants the island has something for everyone. From pretty little coastal resorts tucked avoiding the hustle and bustle to the thriving holiday towns with every possible amenity. Until you experience Cyprus for yourself you can never completely fathom why so many holiday makers return to her beautiful shores year after year. In fact some of those visitors have so fallen in love with her that they have purchased a home of their own there but that’s another story. Enjoy Cyprus!

Source: Cyprus, the Perfect Holiday Destination