Along with crocuses and daffodils comes another surefire sign of spring: florals in fashion.
The garden-party look is a seasonal classic, but there's been some updating this season. Look for artistic - almost abstract - brush-stroke technique, or realistic, photo-style prints. Other twists include tulip-style hemlines and fabric petals adorning everything from tank tops to ball gowns.
Flowers, say designers, are an endless source of inspiration because of their delicacy, femininity and beauty. And it turns out many fashion insiders are gardeners (or aspiring gardeners), too.
The AP asked designers who are offering florals in their spring collections about their favorite flowers:
Carmen Marc Valvo
Flowers creep into his clothes all the time, but there have been two specific flower-themed runway shows. One came after his treatment for cancer six years ago. He saw the rebirth of his peony trees as a hopeful sign, so he used pinks, chiffon petals and "dewdrops" of crystals.
A few years later he blew up Georgia O'Keefe-style flowers as prints.
"I was fixated by the way petals moved, and I started playing with organza like an origami rose," Valvo says.
The highlights of Valvo's actual garden include the Carmen rose and his peonies. Those peonies have taken him on a roller coaster of growing, thriving, shriveling up and once again blossoming. His orchids are also finicky, but Valvo now has a greenhouse for them.
"When they come back, it's very satisfying," he said.
Tracy Reese
Peonies are also a favorite for Reese. She said she likes that they evolve from such a compact ball into lovely layers as they blossom. They're also such a welcome sign of sunny days ahead after a long winter, Reese said.
In her work, though, Reese doesn't restrict herself to springtime blooms. Many of her fall collections, including the one just previewed at New York Fashion Week, will incorporate florals.
"It's hard to point to a season where we haven't used flowers for something - either shape, color, print," she said.
Florals are a staple of her wardrobe, and she likes to mix them with other prints.
"I'll wear florals and plaid, a striped sweater and a floral-print skirt, but sometimes there's nothing more beautiful than a spring garden dress."
Shoshanna Lonstein
Lonstein recently tossed the holiday paperwhites and moved on to cut gardenias and honeysuckle in the spirit of spring. Later in the season, the hydrangeas she planted will blossom. She loves having their cut flowers in the house.
She also grows tomatoes, but is a killer of orchids.
"I need to stick to the sturdier bushes," she saod.
You won't find watercolor florals in her designs either, but every collection has florals, including one lily of the valley print that was fashioned after her wedding bouquet.
She said florals look chic and sophisticated when they're anchored with black or on tailored pieces.
"You don't want too much fabric," she said. "Try sleeveless or the top part of dress that's floral with a black skirt or vice versa. If you pull one color out of the print and stick with it for the rest of the outfit, you'll have a nice balance."
Michael Smaldone, creative director at Talbots
"I'm a pink guy, but my favorite flower is an orange poppy," Smaldone said. "I love how they're both wild - with ugly leaves and hairy stems - and have a beautiful delicate flower."
His thumb is pretty green, he said.
"I like to get as tropical as I can in a nontropical location," he said. "My garden is very green, organic and has things with big leaves. There are poppies all over the place to give a burst of color."
He turned to a brush-stroke floral print for Talbots' spring line, though, because he thought that approach was very optimistic, something the fashion world needs right now.
But whatever the climate is for style trends, flowers always fit in, Smaldone said.
"You can do everything with them," he said. "They can fit into any trend: ethnic, watercolor, Impressionistic, pop art - you name it."
LeAnn Nealz, American Eagle design chief
Nealz said she loves white magnolias for their intoxicating scent, but ranunculus are her favorites because they're so cheerful.
"They look like they're made of hundreds of layers of brightly colored paper," she said.
Nealz interpreted sweet, small florals for spring onto a flirty daytime skirt as well as a day-to-night minidress. She used a more tropical flower for menswear on board shorts.
Janie Schoenborn, Lilly Pulitzer design director
Coming from a long line of gardeners - her father has a degree in landscape design, mom has a traditional English garden and Aunt Molly's specialty is tropicals - Schoenborn is trying to keep up the tradition with lilacs and syringas.
So far, she hasn't done a lilac print for Lilly Pulitzer, but a shade of lavender was just added to the label's palette so it probably won't be long until she tries one.
"Every spring is a floral bonanza for us," Schoenborn said. "We don't always do an exact replica of a flower. Right now we have an abstract orchid. There's a Queen Anne's lace that we hadn't done but will have for summer. ... We don't discriminate against any flowers, but we like 'pretty' so no cactuses, but we'll even do lemon and lime blossoms."
Peter Som
Som is yet another peony fan, and he also has a thing for green roses. There are some orchids in his house right now that he's trying to revive, but it's not going all that well.
"I wish I had a green thumb," he said.
His spring collection had an underlying vibe of Japanese woodcuts - and he found that all sorts of floral prints worked with it. The range included big-scale flowers to 1940s'-inspired painterly blooms.
"A flower is eternally beautiful," Som said, "and it really screams spring."
Sunday, October 31, 2010
Friday, October 29, 2010
New baby marks sixth generation of Berks family
The baby that Mary W. Hahn held during a party earlier this month to celebrate her 100th birthday was particularly dear to her, as he represented the sixth generation of her large extended family.
Tiny Collin Podguski of Reading, who turned 1 month old the day of the party, rested peacefully in the arms of his great-great-great-grandmother, completely unaware of the significance of the event.
"He's so sweet," Mary said, as she cradled and rocked the baby.
Hahn, who lives in Sinking Spring with her 81-year-old daughter, Kathryn H. Styer, was feted at a party in St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Adamstown, Lancaster County.
More than 100 friends and relatives showed up to celebrate her birthday and the accomplishment of six generations of one family. They snapped photos, ate cake, drank punch and marveled at Hahn's long life.
She grew up in Alleghenyville and moved to East Earl Township in Lancaster County when she married her husband, Harvey, in 1929. She was married not quite two years when Harvey died as a result of blood poisoning, leaving Hahn pregnant with a son, also named Harvey. She also had a young daughter, Kathryn.
She never remarried and has lived with her daughter for 33 years. Hahn said she feels fortunate that she is in relatively good health and able to enjoy time with her family and friends. She and family members attribute her long healthy life, at least partially, to the fact that every day Hahn consumes the juice of a whole lemon.
"Every morning she cuts a lemon in half and squeezes all the juice out of it and drinks it," Styer said. "She's done that for 50 years, and that's what she says has kept her healthy."
Hahn also wears a copper bracelet to ward off arthritic pain.
"I don't have any pain from it, so I guess the bracelet works," she said.
The centenarian also is known for her healthy appetite. Family members observed that she keeps up with the younger folks when it comes to eating. In fact, she celebrated her 100th birthday in two different restaurants.
"We went to lunch at Shady Maple, and then in the evening we went to the Deluxe diner, and they had pie for me and sang 'Happy Birthday,' " Hahn said. "It was a good day."
Tiny Collin Podguski of Reading, who turned 1 month old the day of the party, rested peacefully in the arms of his great-great-great-grandmother, completely unaware of the significance of the event.
"He's so sweet," Mary said, as she cradled and rocked the baby.
Hahn, who lives in Sinking Spring with her 81-year-old daughter, Kathryn H. Styer, was feted at a party in St. Paul's Lutheran Church in Adamstown, Lancaster County.
More than 100 friends and relatives showed up to celebrate her birthday and the accomplishment of six generations of one family. They snapped photos, ate cake, drank punch and marveled at Hahn's long life.
She grew up in Alleghenyville and moved to East Earl Township in Lancaster County when she married her husband, Harvey, in 1929. She was married not quite two years when Harvey died as a result of blood poisoning, leaving Hahn pregnant with a son, also named Harvey. She also had a young daughter, Kathryn.
She never remarried and has lived with her daughter for 33 years. Hahn said she feels fortunate that she is in relatively good health and able to enjoy time with her family and friends. She and family members attribute her long healthy life, at least partially, to the fact that every day Hahn consumes the juice of a whole lemon.
"Every morning she cuts a lemon in half and squeezes all the juice out of it and drinks it," Styer said. "She's done that for 50 years, and that's what she says has kept her healthy."
Hahn also wears a copper bracelet to ward off arthritic pain.
"I don't have any pain from it, so I guess the bracelet works," she said.
The centenarian also is known for her healthy appetite. Family members observed that she keeps up with the younger folks when it comes to eating. In fact, she celebrated her 100th birthday in two different restaurants.
"We went to lunch at Shady Maple, and then in the evening we went to the Deluxe diner, and they had pie for me and sang 'Happy Birthday,' " Hahn said. "It was a good day."
Melo still eyes change for the better
Not long after George Karl made his triumphant return with a resounding victory over the Utah Jazz, the Denver Nuggets coach had an important announcement for the assembled media. Despite Carmelo Anthony’s(notes) well-chronicled efforts to push for a trade, Karl said, the Nuggets are ”going to keep him here whether he knows it or not.”
Anthony later laughed off his coach’s attempt at humor because that’s all it was – a joke. For all the goodwill inspired by the Nuggets’ season-opening rout of their Northwest Division rival, Anthony told Yahoo! Sports Wednesday night that he still doesn’t intend to sign the team’s three-year, $64 million contract extension.
Anthony actually considers these Nuggets more talented than the team he helped take to the 2009 Western Conference finals. But even that doesn’t seem enough to convince him to stay, despite the best intentions of Karl, Nuggets president Josh Kroenke and new vice president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri.
”They want to sit down and talk, but my thing is it’s way beyond this year,” Anthony told Yahoo! Sports after scoring a team-high 23 points in the Nuggets’ victory. ”It ain’t got nothing to do with the new GM, Josh, the players. For me, I feel it’s a time for change.
”If I do nothing now, I’m never going to do anything. I feel like my time is now to make a decision if I want to leave or if I want to stay.”
League sources still expect the Nuggets to try to trade Anthony rather than risk losing him for nothing when he can opt out of his contract at the end of the season. Denver’s options could improve after Dec. 15 when free agents who signed in the offseason can be traded. Sources close to Anthony say he is worried about being dealt to a team that has to gut its roster to acquire him. Possible trade partners also aren’t going to want to give up much for Anthony unless they receive some kind of assurance he’ll sign an extension. Another potential roadblock is the $1 million trade kicker Anthony has in his contract.
In July 2006, Anthony signed a five-year, $80 million contract extension that included an opt-out before the final season. He passed on taking a shorter deal like the ones that allowed his fellow draft class members LeBron James(notes), Dwyane Wade(notes) and Chris Bosh(notes) to become free agents this summer. At the time, Anthony called it a ”no-brainer” to take the guarantee of another year of salary – even though it limited his flexibility – because he still remembered how much his family struggled for money when he was growing up.
Four years later, Anthony no longer feels the pressure to take the maximum extension the Nuggets are offering.
”I can’t go out there playing and thinking like that,” he said. ”I won’t be able to be as effective as I can be out there thinking like that.”
Anthony has been interested in playing for the New York Knicks or Chicago Bulls, sources close to him said in September. The Bulls and Nuggets talked that month, league sources said, but the Nuggets didn’t have much interest in acquiring forward Luol Deng(notes) and his hefty contract, and the Bulls didn’t want to part with center Joakim Noah(notes). League sources also continue to say the Knicks don’t have the right pieces to put together a credible offer for Anthony.
The New Jersey Nets made a bid to land Anthony with a package built around rookie forward Derrick Favors(notes), but the Nuggets wanted to continue exploring their options. The Nuggets remain confident they can resume talks with the Nets at any time. One source close to Anthony, however, doesn’t think he has warmed much to the idea of playing for the Nets.
”Well, we have to see what happens,” Anthony said. ”I’m keeping my options open.”
Anthony didn’t have to endure any substantial heckling from Nuggets fans during the season opener. He heard ”a couple boos” when he missed two straight shots, but nothing that bothered him. When he wasn’t in the game, Anthony cheered for his teammates from the bench. With the Nuggets well on their way to routing the Jazz, he went to the sideline for good midway through the fourth quarter and received a strong ovation from the crowd.
Once the final buzzer sounded, Anthony walked to the locker room with his young son, Kiyan. Soon after, Anthony exchanged pleasantries with Ujiri.
”I looked at it like another game,” Anthony said. ”Another night.”
The question now: How many more nights will Anthony continue to wear a Nuggets uniform?
Anthony later laughed off his coach’s attempt at humor because that’s all it was – a joke. For all the goodwill inspired by the Nuggets’ season-opening rout of their Northwest Division rival, Anthony told Yahoo! Sports Wednesday night that he still doesn’t intend to sign the team’s three-year, $64 million contract extension.
Anthony actually considers these Nuggets more talented than the team he helped take to the 2009 Western Conference finals. But even that doesn’t seem enough to convince him to stay, despite the best intentions of Karl, Nuggets president Josh Kroenke and new vice president of basketball operations Masai Ujiri.
”They want to sit down and talk, but my thing is it’s way beyond this year,” Anthony told Yahoo! Sports after scoring a team-high 23 points in the Nuggets’ victory. ”It ain’t got nothing to do with the new GM, Josh, the players. For me, I feel it’s a time for change.
”If I do nothing now, I’m never going to do anything. I feel like my time is now to make a decision if I want to leave or if I want to stay.”
League sources still expect the Nuggets to try to trade Anthony rather than risk losing him for nothing when he can opt out of his contract at the end of the season. Denver’s options could improve after Dec. 15 when free agents who signed in the offseason can be traded. Sources close to Anthony say he is worried about being dealt to a team that has to gut its roster to acquire him. Possible trade partners also aren’t going to want to give up much for Anthony unless they receive some kind of assurance he’ll sign an extension. Another potential roadblock is the $1 million trade kicker Anthony has in his contract.
In July 2006, Anthony signed a five-year, $80 million contract extension that included an opt-out before the final season. He passed on taking a shorter deal like the ones that allowed his fellow draft class members LeBron James(notes), Dwyane Wade(notes) and Chris Bosh(notes) to become free agents this summer. At the time, Anthony called it a ”no-brainer” to take the guarantee of another year of salary – even though it limited his flexibility – because he still remembered how much his family struggled for money when he was growing up.
Four years later, Anthony no longer feels the pressure to take the maximum extension the Nuggets are offering.
”I can’t go out there playing and thinking like that,” he said. ”I won’t be able to be as effective as I can be out there thinking like that.”
Anthony has been interested in playing for the New York Knicks or Chicago Bulls, sources close to him said in September. The Bulls and Nuggets talked that month, league sources said, but the Nuggets didn’t have much interest in acquiring forward Luol Deng(notes) and his hefty contract, and the Bulls didn’t want to part with center Joakim Noah(notes). League sources also continue to say the Knicks don’t have the right pieces to put together a credible offer for Anthony.
The New Jersey Nets made a bid to land Anthony with a package built around rookie forward Derrick Favors(notes), but the Nuggets wanted to continue exploring their options. The Nuggets remain confident they can resume talks with the Nets at any time. One source close to Anthony, however, doesn’t think he has warmed much to the idea of playing for the Nets.
”Well, we have to see what happens,” Anthony said. ”I’m keeping my options open.”
Anthony didn’t have to endure any substantial heckling from Nuggets fans during the season opener. He heard ”a couple boos” when he missed two straight shots, but nothing that bothered him. When he wasn’t in the game, Anthony cheered for his teammates from the bench. With the Nuggets well on their way to routing the Jazz, he went to the sideline for good midway through the fourth quarter and received a strong ovation from the crowd.
Once the final buzzer sounded, Anthony walked to the locker room with his young son, Kiyan. Soon after, Anthony exchanged pleasantries with Ujiri.
”I looked at it like another game,” Anthony said. ”Another night.”
The question now: How many more nights will Anthony continue to wear a Nuggets uniform?
Tuesday, October 26, 2010
Hot car can be deadly for dogs
If you've ever left your dog in the car for "just five minutes" on a summer day, the officers of the Washington Humane Society want you to hear some cautionary tales.
"They all say the same thing: 'I never thought that this would happen,' " said Mitchell Battle, deputy director of humane law enforcement at the Washington Humane Society. " 'I was only going to be gone for two minutes.' "
But just running inside for a quick errand can be deadly to your pet - even if the weather isn't all that hot.
In one fatal incident Battle responded to, the temperature was only in the 70s. A woman stopped at home, parked in the shade and came out after what she said was 15 minutes. By the time officers got there, the shade had moved, turning the car into what officer Eve Russell calls "a solar powered Easy-Bake oven."
Everyone has opened a car door and been amazed by how much hotter it is than outside - but you may not realize exactly how hot a car can get. Check out the numbers at the Web site mydogiscool.com, a program of United Animal Nations. When it's 72 degrees, a car in direct sun can reach an internal temperature of 116. Even in the shade, a car can be 10 to 20 degrees hotter than outdoors, and cracking the window has almost no effect.
Veterinarian Cate Rinaldo, a volunteer with United Animal Nations, points out that dogs don't have sweat glands all over their bodies like humans do, so the main way they can cool off is by panting, which isn't very efficient.
Once a dog's body temperature gets over about 106 - normal temperature is around 101 - the result is "everything from nerve damage, heart problems, liver damage, systemic organ failure, and it happens fast, within a matter of minutes," she said.
Summer is also vacation season, and the Washington officers are often called to cases where people travelling with their dogs tried to use the car to extend their stay by a few hours.
"They check out of their hotel at noon and they still want to go to the zoo or a museum, and they leave Fluffy in the car," said officer Ann Russell.
Remember that one more museum isn't worth the risk to your pet's life - and that cars are not the only place where dogs can get overheated. Rinaldo said before she was a vet and knew of the dangers, one of her dogs collapsed from heat exhaustion after playing off-leash on a 75-degree day.
That dog survived, but not all are so lucky. One 90- degree day in the San Bernadino mountains, Andy Hoodward of Orange, Calif., was flagged down by a couple carrying their dog in a backpack.
"The woman explained that they had set out hiking in the morning but a couple of miles in, the dog had become lethargic, unresponsive and would neither walk nor drink," Hoodward said.
The couple were also in bad shape, and Hoodward drove them to a ranger's station, but it was too late for the dog, which died on the trip.
And officers say anyone can be the victim of inattention or miscalculation. Russell tells of one woman who worked with autistic children and was a volunteer guide dog puppy raiser - "the most responsible person you can imagine," she said. In an emergency with one of the children, the woman accidentally left a puppy in a car and it died.
Even indoors, it can get too hot for some animals. Battle tells of an elderly, overweight beagle that died of heat exhaustion in his own home; sadly, the house did have central air conditioning but the owners hadn't left it on since there were no people home.
Be especially careful if you confine your dog to a crate or one area of the house, and he's not free to seek a cooler spot. If you leave your dogs outside, even on a patio or deck, make sure they have shade all day and remember that the sun moves. Use a tarp or awning to shade the spot, and perhaps reconsider whether your dogs might be happier indoors.
"Go out there barefoot and step on the concrete where your dogs are," Battle said. "It's not as comfortable as you think it is."
"They all say the same thing: 'I never thought that this would happen,' " said Mitchell Battle, deputy director of humane law enforcement at the Washington Humane Society. " 'I was only going to be gone for two minutes.' "
But just running inside for a quick errand can be deadly to your pet - even if the weather isn't all that hot.
In one fatal incident Battle responded to, the temperature was only in the 70s. A woman stopped at home, parked in the shade and came out after what she said was 15 minutes. By the time officers got there, the shade had moved, turning the car into what officer Eve Russell calls "a solar powered Easy-Bake oven."
Everyone has opened a car door and been amazed by how much hotter it is than outside - but you may not realize exactly how hot a car can get. Check out the numbers at the Web site mydogiscool.com, a program of United Animal Nations. When it's 72 degrees, a car in direct sun can reach an internal temperature of 116. Even in the shade, a car can be 10 to 20 degrees hotter than outdoors, and cracking the window has almost no effect.
Veterinarian Cate Rinaldo, a volunteer with United Animal Nations, points out that dogs don't have sweat glands all over their bodies like humans do, so the main way they can cool off is by panting, which isn't very efficient.
Once a dog's body temperature gets over about 106 - normal temperature is around 101 - the result is "everything from nerve damage, heart problems, liver damage, systemic organ failure, and it happens fast, within a matter of minutes," she said.
Summer is also vacation season, and the Washington officers are often called to cases where people travelling with their dogs tried to use the car to extend their stay by a few hours.
"They check out of their hotel at noon and they still want to go to the zoo or a museum, and they leave Fluffy in the car," said officer Ann Russell.
Remember that one more museum isn't worth the risk to your pet's life - and that cars are not the only place where dogs can get overheated. Rinaldo said before she was a vet and knew of the dangers, one of her dogs collapsed from heat exhaustion after playing off-leash on a 75-degree day.
That dog survived, but not all are so lucky. One 90- degree day in the San Bernadino mountains, Andy Hoodward of Orange, Calif., was flagged down by a couple carrying their dog in a backpack.
"The woman explained that they had set out hiking in the morning but a couple of miles in, the dog had become lethargic, unresponsive and would neither walk nor drink," Hoodward said.
The couple were also in bad shape, and Hoodward drove them to a ranger's station, but it was too late for the dog, which died on the trip.
And officers say anyone can be the victim of inattention or miscalculation. Russell tells of one woman who worked with autistic children and was a volunteer guide dog puppy raiser - "the most responsible person you can imagine," she said. In an emergency with one of the children, the woman accidentally left a puppy in a car and it died.
Even indoors, it can get too hot for some animals. Battle tells of an elderly, overweight beagle that died of heat exhaustion in his own home; sadly, the house did have central air conditioning but the owners hadn't left it on since there were no people home.
Be especially careful if you confine your dog to a crate or one area of the house, and he's not free to seek a cooler spot. If you leave your dogs outside, even on a patio or deck, make sure they have shade all day and remember that the sun moves. Use a tarp or awning to shade the spot, and perhaps reconsider whether your dogs might be happier indoors.
"Go out there barefoot and step on the concrete where your dogs are," Battle said. "It's not as comfortable as you think it is."
Monday, October 25, 2010
Michelin Stars Draw Shots
Michelin's latest dining guide dished out heaping servings of three-star reviews to restaurants in western Japan—raising objections from Western and Japanese chefs alike and sparking grumbling over whether the high ratings are merited.
In a 511-page volume published Friday, the restaurant-review arm of France's Michelin awarded its highest rating to 12 restaurants in the Kansai region, a cradle of Japanese cuisine that encompasses Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe. That gives the three-city area more three-star ratings—haute cuisine's answer to the Oscar—than any place on the planet, ahead of Tokyo's 11, Paris's 10 and New York's five.
Though France overall still has the most of Michelin's highest-rated restaurants—26—that is likely to shift next month when Michelin publishes its 2011 Tokyo guide, said a person familiar with the matter. Soon, it will be official: Japan is the world's new gastronomic capital.
Or is it? The generous distribution of stars has prompted a snarky backlash among some Western critics and celebrity chefs, whose collective egos can be larger than a croquembouche. Some have said Michelin is showering stars upon Japan in an attempt to gain favor in a brand-conscious, France-loving country where it wants to sell not only culinary guides, but automobile tires.
"Is that good marketing for the guide, or what?" asks chef Daniel Boulud, whose Manhattan restaurant, Daniel, is one of New York's five three-star restaurants.
Many Japanese chefs, especially in the Kansai region, say they never courted this attention. Even a single Michelin star can be seen as a curse by the Japanese: Their restaurants are for their customers. Why cook for a room full of strangers? Even worse: crass foreigners.
"It is, of course, a great honor to be included in the Michelin guide. But we asked them not to include us," says Minoru Harada, an affable young Osaka chef. His Sakanadokoro Koetsu, a fish restaurant with a counter and 10 seats, just earned a single star, its first. Loyal customers have sustained the restaurant over the years, he says, adding: "If many new customers come, it is difficult."
There is nary a Philippe Starck chair in sight at Mr. Harada's homey restaurant. During lunch late last week, customers' bento boxes shared counter space with an enormous bunch of fresh maitake mushrooms, simmered vegetables left to cool in a giant Tupperware container and a newspaper-wrapped fish.
For a Michelin-starred restaurant in France, this could be perceived as an unhygienic assault on the senses. But customers here couldn't care less, chatting quietly with Mr. Harada while popping delicately seared bonito slices into their mouths.
"This is really amazing," chirps a middle-aged suited executive, a regular.
Amazing it may be, but detractors say the global tire giant has been generous with its ratings to pump up its primary business.
"It's easy: You win over the hearts of the Japanese by saying nice things about them, you get access to their wallets and you sell tires," said Pascal Rémy, a former Michelin inspector and author of the 2004 book "L'Inspecteur se Met à Table" (The Inspector Spills the Beans).
In an interview, Mr. Rémy alleged that since 2002, the guide has been increasingly used to raise Michelin's profile in foreign markets as its standards have fallen. Mr. Rémy's contract with Michelin was terminated in 2003.
Michelin says Mr. Rémy wasn't privy to its strategic plans and was gone well before the first Japan guide was launched in 2007. "It's ridiculous. It's not true at all," a spokeswoman said. She declined to provide reasons for Mr. Rémy's termination.
Jean-Luc Naret, the director of the Michelin guides, says Michelin's interests are purely gastronomic. "We never give stars to a restaurant just to sell a book," he said in an interview this week in Tokyo.
Top Western chefs are nearly unanimous in praising the quality of Japan's food and the unparalleled devotion of its chefs. But they say that while many Japanese chefs are innovative, they are best known for recreating their own ancient traditions or imitating the great international cuisines. Many U.S. and European chefs point out that they face challenges Japanese chefs often don't: Their restaurants are expected to break new culinary ground, and serve the result to a relatively large number of patrons.
Philip Howard, whose London restaurant, The Square, holds two stars, points out that some of Japan's top ratings go to small spots. Running a larger establishment, he says, "is a different kettle of fish."
Guy Job questions whether Michelin applies the same standards world-wide. Mr. Job, the deputy managing director of the Collège Culinaire de France, a group that promotes French gastronomy, recalls his disappointment at one Michelin-starred spot in Japan.
"It was next to a subway entrance. You couldn't even sit down properly," Mr. Job said of the restaurant, which he declined to name. "I know that I am a bit old school—but still, there are limits."
A Michelin spokeswoman said comparing Japan and France is impossible. "More stars in Japan does not mean that food here is better than that in France," she said, adding that Tokyo has 160,000 restaurants, compared with Paris's 15,000.
While Tokyo is known for its sophisticated international fare, Osaka has long been regarded as the country's culinary belly, featuring everything from street fare such as takoyaki—grilled balls of batter and octopus—to traditional kaiseki cuisine, with its multiple carefully presented courses that incorporate freshest seasonal ingredients.
Until Michelin released its first guide to the Osaka area a year ago, stars have meant little here.
"I had heard about the Michelin guide from friends who had studied in France," said Chef Hideaki Matsuo, who has served local cuisine, such as squid with apricot-pulp sauce, for 30 years. Last year, he received his first Michelin rating, two stars. Last Friday, Michelin upgraded him to three. "To be honest, I never thought I would be awarded with this honor."
Mr. Matsuo says his bookings have increased 10% to 15% since his inclusion last year. Now, he's bracing for more.
"One of my friends in Kobe said his phone was ringing off the hook after he was awarded three stars," he said. "I can see how chefs might be worried about that—because it gives you less time to focus on the food."
In a 511-page volume published Friday, the restaurant-review arm of France's Michelin awarded its highest rating to 12 restaurants in the Kansai region, a cradle of Japanese cuisine that encompasses Osaka, Kyoto and Kobe. That gives the three-city area more three-star ratings—haute cuisine's answer to the Oscar—than any place on the planet, ahead of Tokyo's 11, Paris's 10 and New York's five.
Though France overall still has the most of Michelin's highest-rated restaurants—26—that is likely to shift next month when Michelin publishes its 2011 Tokyo guide, said a person familiar with the matter. Soon, it will be official: Japan is the world's new gastronomic capital.
Or is it? The generous distribution of stars has prompted a snarky backlash among some Western critics and celebrity chefs, whose collective egos can be larger than a croquembouche. Some have said Michelin is showering stars upon Japan in an attempt to gain favor in a brand-conscious, France-loving country where it wants to sell not only culinary guides, but automobile tires.
"Is that good marketing for the guide, or what?" asks chef Daniel Boulud, whose Manhattan restaurant, Daniel, is one of New York's five three-star restaurants.
Many Japanese chefs, especially in the Kansai region, say they never courted this attention. Even a single Michelin star can be seen as a curse by the Japanese: Their restaurants are for their customers. Why cook for a room full of strangers? Even worse: crass foreigners.
"It is, of course, a great honor to be included in the Michelin guide. But we asked them not to include us," says Minoru Harada, an affable young Osaka chef. His Sakanadokoro Koetsu, a fish restaurant with a counter and 10 seats, just earned a single star, its first. Loyal customers have sustained the restaurant over the years, he says, adding: "If many new customers come, it is difficult."
There is nary a Philippe Starck chair in sight at Mr. Harada's homey restaurant. During lunch late last week, customers' bento boxes shared counter space with an enormous bunch of fresh maitake mushrooms, simmered vegetables left to cool in a giant Tupperware container and a newspaper-wrapped fish.
For a Michelin-starred restaurant in France, this could be perceived as an unhygienic assault on the senses. But customers here couldn't care less, chatting quietly with Mr. Harada while popping delicately seared bonito slices into their mouths.
"This is really amazing," chirps a middle-aged suited executive, a regular.
Amazing it may be, but detractors say the global tire giant has been generous with its ratings to pump up its primary business.
"It's easy: You win over the hearts of the Japanese by saying nice things about them, you get access to their wallets and you sell tires," said Pascal Rémy, a former Michelin inspector and author of the 2004 book "L'Inspecteur se Met à Table" (The Inspector Spills the Beans).
In an interview, Mr. Rémy alleged that since 2002, the guide has been increasingly used to raise Michelin's profile in foreign markets as its standards have fallen. Mr. Rémy's contract with Michelin was terminated in 2003.
Michelin says Mr. Rémy wasn't privy to its strategic plans and was gone well before the first Japan guide was launched in 2007. "It's ridiculous. It's not true at all," a spokeswoman said. She declined to provide reasons for Mr. Rémy's termination.
Jean-Luc Naret, the director of the Michelin guides, says Michelin's interests are purely gastronomic. "We never give stars to a restaurant just to sell a book," he said in an interview this week in Tokyo.
Top Western chefs are nearly unanimous in praising the quality of Japan's food and the unparalleled devotion of its chefs. But they say that while many Japanese chefs are innovative, they are best known for recreating their own ancient traditions or imitating the great international cuisines. Many U.S. and European chefs point out that they face challenges Japanese chefs often don't: Their restaurants are expected to break new culinary ground, and serve the result to a relatively large number of patrons.
Philip Howard, whose London restaurant, The Square, holds two stars, points out that some of Japan's top ratings go to small spots. Running a larger establishment, he says, "is a different kettle of fish."
Guy Job questions whether Michelin applies the same standards world-wide. Mr. Job, the deputy managing director of the Collège Culinaire de France, a group that promotes French gastronomy, recalls his disappointment at one Michelin-starred spot in Japan.
"It was next to a subway entrance. You couldn't even sit down properly," Mr. Job said of the restaurant, which he declined to name. "I know that I am a bit old school—but still, there are limits."
A Michelin spokeswoman said comparing Japan and France is impossible. "More stars in Japan does not mean that food here is better than that in France," she said, adding that Tokyo has 160,000 restaurants, compared with Paris's 15,000.
While Tokyo is known for its sophisticated international fare, Osaka has long been regarded as the country's culinary belly, featuring everything from street fare such as takoyaki—grilled balls of batter and octopus—to traditional kaiseki cuisine, with its multiple carefully presented courses that incorporate freshest seasonal ingredients.
Until Michelin released its first guide to the Osaka area a year ago, stars have meant little here.
"I had heard about the Michelin guide from friends who had studied in France," said Chef Hideaki Matsuo, who has served local cuisine, such as squid with apricot-pulp sauce, for 30 years. Last year, he received his first Michelin rating, two stars. Last Friday, Michelin upgraded him to three. "To be honest, I never thought I would be awarded with this honor."
Mr. Matsuo says his bookings have increased 10% to 15% since his inclusion last year. Now, he's bracing for more.
"One of my friends in Kobe said his phone was ringing off the hook after he was awarded three stars," he said. "I can see how chefs might be worried about that—because it gives you less time to focus on the food."
Sunday, October 24, 2010
Life Story
As a pioneer in both financial investment and philanthropy, the late Sir John Templeton spent a lifetime encouraging open-mindedness. If he had not sought new paths, he once said, "I would have been unable to attain so many goals." The motto that Sir John created for his Foundation, "How little we know, how eager to learn," exemplified his philosophy both in the financial markets and in his groundbreaking methods of philanthropy.
John Marks Templeton was born on November 29, 1912, in the small town of Winchester, Tennessee. He followed in his brother's footsteps and attended Yale University, supporting himself during the Depression and graduating in 1934 near the top of his class and as President of Phi Beta Kappa. He was named a Rhodes Scholar to Balliol College at Oxford, from which he graduated with a degree in law in 1936.
Templeton started his Wall Street career in 1938 and went on to create some of the world's largest and most successful international investment funds. He took the strategy of "buy low, sell high" to an extreme, picking nations, industries, and companies hitting rock-bottom, what he called "points of maximum pessimism." When war began in Europe in 1939, he borrowed money to buy 100 shares each in 104 companies selling at one dollar per share or less, including 34 companies that were in bankruptcy. Only four turned out to be worthless, and he turned large profits on the others.
Templeton entered the mutual fund industry in 1954, when he established the Templeton Growth Fund. With dividends reinvested, each $10,000 invested in the Templeton Growth Fund Class A at its inception would have grown to $2 million by 1992, when he sold the family of Templeton Funds to the Franklin Group. In 1999, Money magazine called him "arguably the greatest global stock picker of the century."
But John Templeton's interests were never confined to the merely financial. An unfailing optimist, a believer in progress, and a relentless questioner and contrarian, he devoted the second half of his long life to promoting the discovery of what he called "new spiritual information." To his mind, this term encompassed progress in understanding not only matters usually considered religious but also the deepest realities of human nature and the physical world—that is, subjects best investigated by using the tools of modern science. Templeton was convinced that our knowledge of the universe was still very limited. His great hope was to encourage all of humanity to be more open-minded about the possible character of ultimate reality and the divine.
In 1972, he established the world's largest annual award given to an individual, the Templeton Prize, which honors a living person who has made an exceptional contribution to affirming life’s spiritual dimension. Its monetary value, currently £1,000,000, always exceeds that of the Nobel Prizes, which was Templeton's way of underscoring his belief that advances in the spiritual domain are no less important than those in other areas of human endeavor. Templeton also contributed a sizable amount of his assets to the John Templeton Foundation, which he established in 1987. That same year, he was created a Knight Bachelor by Queen Elizabeth II for his many philanthropic accomplishments. (In the late 1960's, he had moved to Nassau, the Bahamas, where he became a naturalized British citizen.)
Although Sir John was a Presbyterian elder and active in his denomination (also serving on the board of the American Bible Society), he espoused what he called a "humble approach" to theology. Declaring that relatively little is known about the divine through scripture and present-day theology, he predicted that "scientific revelations may be a gold mine for revitalizing religion in the 21st century." To his mind, "All of nature reveals something of the creator. And god is revealing himself more and more to human inquiry, not always through prophetic visions or scriptures but through the astonishingly productive research of modern scientists."
Sir John's own theological views conformed to no orthodoxy, and he was eager to learn not just from science but from all of the world's faith traditions. As he once told an interviewer, "I grew up as a Presbyterian. Presbyterians thought the Methodists were wrong. Catholics thought all Protestants were wrong. The Jews thought the Christians were wrong. So, what I'm financing is humility. I want people to realize that you shouldn't think you know it all." He expected the John Templeton Foundation to stand apart from any consideration of dogma or personal religious belief and to seek out grantees who are “innovative, creative, enthusiastic, and open to competition and new ideas" in their approach to the Big Questions.
Sir John's progressive ideas on finance, spirituality, and science made him a distinctive voice in all these fields, but he never worried about being an iconoclast. "Rarely does a conservative become a hero of history," he observed in his 1981 book, The Humble Approach, one of more than a dozen books he wrote or edited.
Sir John's death in 2008, at age 95, was noted around the world, with tributes that acknowledged the extraordinary breadth of his career and his vision. In an obituary titled "Maximum Optimist," the Wall Street Journal wrote:
The Economist observed that
John Marks Templeton was born on November 29, 1912, in the small town of Winchester, Tennessee. He followed in his brother's footsteps and attended Yale University, supporting himself during the Depression and graduating in 1934 near the top of his class and as President of Phi Beta Kappa. He was named a Rhodes Scholar to Balliol College at Oxford, from which he graduated with a degree in law in 1936.Templeton started his Wall Street career in 1938 and went on to create some of the world's largest and most successful international investment funds. He took the strategy of "buy low, sell high" to an extreme, picking nations, industries, and companies hitting rock-bottom, what he called "points of maximum pessimism." When war began in Europe in 1939, he borrowed money to buy 100 shares each in 104 companies selling at one dollar per share or less, including 34 companies that were in bankruptcy. Only four turned out to be worthless, and he turned large profits on the others.
Templeton entered the mutual fund industry in 1954, when he established the Templeton Growth Fund. With dividends reinvested, each $10,000 invested in the Templeton Growth Fund Class A at its inception would have grown to $2 million by 1992, when he sold the family of Templeton Funds to the Franklin Group. In 1999, Money magazine called him "arguably the greatest global stock picker of the century."
But John Templeton's interests were never confined to the merely financial. An unfailing optimist, a believer in progress, and a relentless questioner and contrarian, he devoted the second half of his long life to promoting the discovery of what he called "new spiritual information." To his mind, this term encompassed progress in understanding not only matters usually considered religious but also the deepest realities of human nature and the physical world—that is, subjects best investigated by using the tools of modern science. Templeton was convinced that our knowledge of the universe was still very limited. His great hope was to encourage all of humanity to be more open-minded about the possible character of ultimate reality and the divine.
In 1972, he established the world's largest annual award given to an individual, the Templeton Prize, which honors a living person who has made an exceptional contribution to affirming life’s spiritual dimension. Its monetary value, currently £1,000,000, always exceeds that of the Nobel Prizes, which was Templeton's way of underscoring his belief that advances in the spiritual domain are no less important than those in other areas of human endeavor. Templeton also contributed a sizable amount of his assets to the John Templeton Foundation, which he established in 1987. That same year, he was created a Knight Bachelor by Queen Elizabeth II for his many philanthropic accomplishments. (In the late 1960's, he had moved to Nassau, the Bahamas, where he became a naturalized British citizen.)Although Sir John was a Presbyterian elder and active in his denomination (also serving on the board of the American Bible Society), he espoused what he called a "humble approach" to theology. Declaring that relatively little is known about the divine through scripture and present-day theology, he predicted that "scientific revelations may be a gold mine for revitalizing religion in the 21st century." To his mind, "All of nature reveals something of the creator. And god is revealing himself more and more to human inquiry, not always through prophetic visions or scriptures but through the astonishingly productive research of modern scientists."
Sir John's own theological views conformed to no orthodoxy, and he was eager to learn not just from science but from all of the world's faith traditions. As he once told an interviewer, "I grew up as a Presbyterian. Presbyterians thought the Methodists were wrong. Catholics thought all Protestants were wrong. The Jews thought the Christians were wrong. So, what I'm financing is humility. I want people to realize that you shouldn't think you know it all." He expected the John Templeton Foundation to stand apart from any consideration of dogma or personal religious belief and to seek out grantees who are “innovative, creative, enthusiastic, and open to competition and new ideas" in their approach to the Big Questions.
Sir John's progressive ideas on finance, spirituality, and science made him a distinctive voice in all these fields, but he never worried about being an iconoclast. "Rarely does a conservative become a hero of history," he observed in his 1981 book, The Humble Approach, one of more than a dozen books he wrote or edited.
Sir John's death in 2008, at age 95, was noted around the world, with tributes that acknowledged the extraordinary breadth of his career and his vision. In an obituary titled "Maximum Optimist," the Wall Street Journal wrote:As an investor, he always had confidence his picks would improve over the long term. Appropriately, the same "enthusiasm for progress," as he put it, also made him one of the world's great philanthropists. Life's spiritual dimensions were his abiding inspiration.
The Economist observed that
Sir John revered thrift and had a horror of debt. His parents had taught him that in small-town Tennessee, instilling it so well that in his white-columned house in the Bahamas, overlooking the golf course, he still cut up computer paper to make notebooks. But he made an exception for love, which needed spending. You could give away too much land and too much money, said Sir John, but never enough love, and the real return was immediate: more love.Sir John's passing was also marked by Nature, the world's leading scientific journal:
Templeton was a deeply spiritual, although unorthodox, individual. He lived a life firmly rooted in the Christian traditions of modesty and charity. Yet he was also a great admirer of science, the undogmatic practice of which he believed led to intellectual humility. His love of science and his God led him to form his foundation in 1987 on the basis that mutual dialogue might enrich the understanding of both.
Friday, October 22, 2010
Life is Beautiful
When I was asked to give a write-up, on the topic “Life is Beautiful” I smiled. I believed it was a simple topic with a very simple proposition. With a firm belief in myself, I tried to pen a few words. I found myself helpless as I had fiddled away precious time. Apparently an innocuous proposition made me ponder, which began in a listless way and later took a definite direction.
As my thought process gained some ground, I could not fathom the depth of this topic nor scale the height of it. At one time I thought it could be dealt by filling the write up with anecdotes of my life and thus proving Life is Beautiful. The very next instance made me shudder, as a serious topic should be dealt philosophically. A chain developed with one approach giving way to the other.
“I think, therefore I am” – Life Philosophically
“Congito Ergo Sum" To quote Descartes this phrase translates into ‘I think therefore I am’. Is Life a gift to us by ‘Him’, or a process, which began with a Big Bang, when the entire cosmos emerged out of a super-explosion? Is Life a sheer serendipity? Going back to Descartes, Life is just what one thinks and I think it is beautiful. Evolution of man from an insignificant microorganism to a thinking human being, Life seems to be a fascinating process.
According to Hindu philosophy, Life follows a ‘Karma’ pattern. Every human being gets the life he deserves, proposing an incremental development with good deeds in present life presenting with a better life.
Life is beautiful if we do our best within the boundaries and the destiny takes care of the rest.
“Sweet are the uses of Adversity” - Life Poetically
This approach closely follows the philosophical approach with a beauty of its own. To appreciate the beauty of life one can relish the works of artists and writers of renaissance period. Be it Da Vinci with the ethereal Mona Lisa, Rembrandt or Monet with Water Lillies brought out the essence of life.
One of my favorites William Shakespeare brought out the beauty of life with comedies, and tragedies. One sonnet, which proves Shakespearean essence, is a sonnet from the Play “As You like it”. This sonnet brings out the beauty of life in ugliness, spark in coal, and silver lining around a dark cloud.
It is from Act II Scene I Duke Senior, the banished duke says about Sweet uses of adversity.
To quote a part of it “Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in his head; And this our life exempt from public haunt Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones and good in every thing.”
A beautiful piece of poetry which, asks us to see good in everything.
Life through a Winner’s Eye
Life stories of some men make one succumb to their ingenuity. Some people have proved and some are proving without a second doubt that they are winners. Anybody, who has read “A Beautiful Mind” or has watched a movie by the same name, can never remain untouched by the courage of a schizophrenic Prof. Nash who overcame the disease by merely accepting the haunting illusions and getting the coveted Noble prize for game theory.
Political leaders, Writers, Economist, Musicians and Sportsmen have been a beacon to their fellowmen.
Life is Beautiful
“Laugh and be merry better the world with a song, better the world with a blow in the teeth of a wrong….” So goes a poem.
Life is as one experiences it. One has to drink deep of every moment. For the present moment is a past moment in the future.
After a serious contemplation if one can live a carefree life like Calvin and Hobbes and enrich it every moment then,
Life is fascinating, wonderful and Very Very Beautiful.
As my thought process gained some ground, I could not fathom the depth of this topic nor scale the height of it. At one time I thought it could be dealt by filling the write up with anecdotes of my life and thus proving Life is Beautiful. The very next instance made me shudder, as a serious topic should be dealt philosophically. A chain developed with one approach giving way to the other.
“I think, therefore I am” – Life Philosophically
“Congito Ergo Sum" To quote Descartes this phrase translates into ‘I think therefore I am’. Is Life a gift to us by ‘Him’, or a process, which began with a Big Bang, when the entire cosmos emerged out of a super-explosion? Is Life a sheer serendipity? Going back to Descartes, Life is just what one thinks and I think it is beautiful. Evolution of man from an insignificant microorganism to a thinking human being, Life seems to be a fascinating process.
According to Hindu philosophy, Life follows a ‘Karma’ pattern. Every human being gets the life he deserves, proposing an incremental development with good deeds in present life presenting with a better life.
Life is beautiful if we do our best within the boundaries and the destiny takes care of the rest.
“Sweet are the uses of Adversity” - Life Poetically
This approach closely follows the philosophical approach with a beauty of its own. To appreciate the beauty of life one can relish the works of artists and writers of renaissance period. Be it Da Vinci with the ethereal Mona Lisa, Rembrandt or Monet with Water Lillies brought out the essence of life.
One of my favorites William Shakespeare brought out the beauty of life with comedies, and tragedies. One sonnet, which proves Shakespearean essence, is a sonnet from the Play “As You like it”. This sonnet brings out the beauty of life in ugliness, spark in coal, and silver lining around a dark cloud.
It is from Act II Scene I Duke Senior, the banished duke says about Sweet uses of adversity.
To quote a part of it “Sweet are the uses of adversity, Which, like the toad, ugly and venomous, Wears yet a precious jewel in his head; And this our life exempt from public haunt Finds tongues in trees, books in the running brooks, Sermons in stones and good in every thing.”
A beautiful piece of poetry which, asks us to see good in everything.
Life through a Winner’s Eye
Life stories of some men make one succumb to their ingenuity. Some people have proved and some are proving without a second doubt that they are winners. Anybody, who has read “A Beautiful Mind” or has watched a movie by the same name, can never remain untouched by the courage of a schizophrenic Prof. Nash who overcame the disease by merely accepting the haunting illusions and getting the coveted Noble prize for game theory.
Political leaders, Writers, Economist, Musicians and Sportsmen have been a beacon to their fellowmen.
Life is Beautiful
“Laugh and be merry better the world with a song, better the world with a blow in the teeth of a wrong….” So goes a poem.
Life is as one experiences it. One has to drink deep of every moment. For the present moment is a past moment in the future.
After a serious contemplation if one can live a carefree life like Calvin and Hobbes and enrich it every moment then,
Life is fascinating, wonderful and Very Very Beautiful.
Sunday, October 17, 2010
Ticket Prices for London Olympics Revealed
If you are thinking about going to the 2012 London Olympics, a top-priced ticket for the opening ceremony will cost you about $3,220 (2012 pounds).
But you can get into the ceremony and all other events for as little as $32.
Organizers announced ticket prices for all 26 sports on the Olympic program, and said tickets will go on sale in March. A total of 8.8 million tickets will be available, though 25 percent are reserved for sponsors, et al.
Some 2.5 million of the tickets are priced at $32, and about two-thirds are less than $80, officials said. There will be special "Pay Your Age" pricing for kids.
Of course, premium seats are substantially more -- $1,160 for the men's 100-meters final, for instance.
Every ticket includes a free London travel card worth about $12.
"Our pricing system is affordable and accessible because we want the venues full to the rafters with people who want to be at the greatest show on earth," said organizing committee (LOCOG) chairman Sebastian Coe.
Organizers said they hope to raise about $704 million from ticket sales, about a quarter of the operating budget for the Games.
But you can get into the ceremony and all other events for as little as $32.
Organizers announced ticket prices for all 26 sports on the Olympic program, and said tickets will go on sale in March. A total of 8.8 million tickets will be available, though 25 percent are reserved for sponsors, et al.
Some 2.5 million of the tickets are priced at $32, and about two-thirds are less than $80, officials said. There will be special "Pay Your Age" pricing for kids.
Of course, premium seats are substantially more -- $1,160 for the men's 100-meters final, for instance.
Every ticket includes a free London travel card worth about $12.
"Our pricing system is affordable and accessible because we want the venues full to the rafters with people who want to be at the greatest show on earth," said organizing committee (LOCOG) chairman Sebastian Coe.
Organizers said they hope to raise about $704 million from ticket sales, about a quarter of the operating budget for the Games.
Thursday, October 14, 2010
My Dog Has Aggressive Behaviour
Dogs behave aggressively for many reasons. If you are not strongly the alpha pack leader then your dog will want to try and take on that position, or as a puppy something bad happened that is now triggering aggression. Find out when and what is causing the aggression then you can deal with it, and the sooner the better. If you let aggressive dog behavior go on for a long time you end up being scared of your dog and it is potentially dangerous for yourself and others.
How early can Aggressive Behavior Start? It can be as young as six weeks old. When socializing with other dogs and people it is important to teach your puppy not to bite people, but also that it is ok to "play" with dogs. Socializing your dog is important in the first 14 weeks and depending on your dog this period could go for much longer.
This could mean several things. 1. Don't take your new puppy away from the litter before eight weeks old. 2. When you bring your puppy home at eight weeks, it is important not to be too stern within the first 2 weeks. Instead create a gentle environment. 3. Shouting and hitting can lead to aggressive behavior in dogs.
4. Aggressive behavior can be avoided if your dog is completely socialized with other dogs and people by 14 weeks.
Aggressive behavior can be triggered by various factors. Some dogs are breed for temperament, however this is not set in concrete. Neutered and Spayed dogs tend to be a lot more docile.
Environment plays a major role in whether your dog will become aggressive or not. If your puppy is frightened at a young age or attached by a dog or human at a young age, lives in terrible conditions with no socializing - this will create a dog who is prone to aggressive behavior.
To stop aggression show your dog you are the pack leader. If your dog is shown aggressive behavior he may be testing the water for dominance. When you establish that you are top dog for him as a puppy it is important to continue with that theme through his adolescence, so you are always in control.
Controlling and Stopping Dog's aggressive behaviors.
A dog has reached full sexual maturity at 14 months. If there is any signs of aggression particularly if they have been altered then you should be addressing this as soon as possible. The first thing to look at is the pecking order. Are you top dog - the alpha pack leader? Only associate rewards with good behavior, never with aggression or aggression from scared behavior.
Your voice and commands are key to a well controlled dog. When feeding and walking make sure you are the dominant leader. The saying - give an inch and they take a mile also can be related to letting up on your dog around the home and this can result in them being more aggressive to others.
If you do your job and train your dog well there is less likelihood of your dog being defensive or aggressive and reduces any chance of him striking out at a person as a result of fear. Dogs that strike out generally have not been socialized. If your dog does show signs of aggression, until you can have them trained keep them away from anything they may see as a threat like small children.
Owners with aggressive dogs is more common than you think but it can be fixed even with an older dog. Professionals are always a good alternative if you think the problem could become violent.
How early can Aggressive Behavior Start? It can be as young as six weeks old. When socializing with other dogs and people it is important to teach your puppy not to bite people, but also that it is ok to "play" with dogs. Socializing your dog is important in the first 14 weeks and depending on your dog this period could go for much longer.
This could mean several things. 1. Don't take your new puppy away from the litter before eight weeks old. 2. When you bring your puppy home at eight weeks, it is important not to be too stern within the first 2 weeks. Instead create a gentle environment. 3. Shouting and hitting can lead to aggressive behavior in dogs.
4. Aggressive behavior can be avoided if your dog is completely socialized with other dogs and people by 14 weeks.
Aggressive behavior can be triggered by various factors. Some dogs are breed for temperament, however this is not set in concrete. Neutered and Spayed dogs tend to be a lot more docile.
Environment plays a major role in whether your dog will become aggressive or not. If your puppy is frightened at a young age or attached by a dog or human at a young age, lives in terrible conditions with no socializing - this will create a dog who is prone to aggressive behavior.
To stop aggression show your dog you are the pack leader. If your dog is shown aggressive behavior he may be testing the water for dominance. When you establish that you are top dog for him as a puppy it is important to continue with that theme through his adolescence, so you are always in control.
Controlling and Stopping Dog's aggressive behaviors.
A dog has reached full sexual maturity at 14 months. If there is any signs of aggression particularly if they have been altered then you should be addressing this as soon as possible. The first thing to look at is the pecking order. Are you top dog - the alpha pack leader? Only associate rewards with good behavior, never with aggression or aggression from scared behavior.
Your voice and commands are key to a well controlled dog. When feeding and walking make sure you are the dominant leader. The saying - give an inch and they take a mile also can be related to letting up on your dog around the home and this can result in them being more aggressive to others.
If you do your job and train your dog well there is less likelihood of your dog being defensive or aggressive and reduces any chance of him striking out at a person as a result of fear. Dogs that strike out generally have not been socialized. If your dog does show signs of aggression, until you can have them trained keep them away from anything they may see as a threat like small children.
Owners with aggressive dogs is more common than you think but it can be fixed even with an older dog. Professionals are always a good alternative if you think the problem could become violent.
How to Use Mobile Phone Healthily – 5 Ways to Avoid Radiation
As time goes by, mobile phone has become an indispensable part of our modern life. In this circumstance, it’s important not only to choose the most advance phones, but also to use them in healthy ways. Because, 40% microwaves with high energy between 300 MHz to300 GHz would be accepted by human body and we have little consciousness of it. Finally we have to pay for our ignorance because the radiation might causes various disease, such as cancer. Here are some practicable ways to avoid radiation in daily life.
Don’t stick the mobile phone around your waist and neck.
There are many important internal organs in our belly and head, if they get too closed to the mobile phones, they suffer harmful effect and suffer us in the same time.
Cut short your conversation.
The longer you talk, the more radiation you suffer. So, for health of your own and others, talk on mobile phones as less as you can.
Don’t call when the signal is weak.
Some place in a building, such as corners and stairs, the signal is weaker than others. To compensate this short, our phones will magnify the radiation and become more harmful. Apparently, it’s unwise to call in such situation.
Complement more protein and Vitamin B.
Protein and Vitamin B can protect you from microwaves. Especially people who have to use mobile phone a lot, eating more food which is full of protein and Vitamin B would helps them lead healthier ways.
People who are lack of immunity are not supposed to use mobile phones.
People like children, elders and pregnant women, who have weaker immunity, would suffer more harm than others. Children can’t grow up properly, mother-to-be may bring problems to the carrying babies. They all should be cautious about it.
However, mobile phone, like all other technologies, has both kinds of effects on human, nonetheless, with wisdom, we may make good use of the positive and protect ourselves from the negative.
Don’t stick the mobile phone around your waist and neck.
There are many important internal organs in our belly and head, if they get too closed to the mobile phones, they suffer harmful effect and suffer us in the same time.
Cut short your conversation.
The longer you talk, the more radiation you suffer. So, for health of your own and others, talk on mobile phones as less as you can.
Don’t call when the signal is weak.
Some place in a building, such as corners and stairs, the signal is weaker than others. To compensate this short, our phones will magnify the radiation and become more harmful. Apparently, it’s unwise to call in such situation.
Complement more protein and Vitamin B.
Protein and Vitamin B can protect you from microwaves. Especially people who have to use mobile phone a lot, eating more food which is full of protein and Vitamin B would helps them lead healthier ways.
People who are lack of immunity are not supposed to use mobile phones.
People like children, elders and pregnant women, who have weaker immunity, would suffer more harm than others. Children can’t grow up properly, mother-to-be may bring problems to the carrying babies. They all should be cautious about it.
However, mobile phone, like all other technologies, has both kinds of effects on human, nonetheless, with wisdom, we may make good use of the positive and protect ourselves from the negative.
Sunday, October 10, 2010
How Babies Grow in the First Year
Watching your new baby grow is a miraculous time in any parent's life, and be prepared for strangers, friends, relatives and your pediatrician to ask for updates on your baby's progress. But it's important to keep in mind that each child is different and will progress at his own pace with your encouragement and support.
"Different babies may do subtly different things at various ages and may reach several of these developmental milestones at various times," says Dr. Joseph Kahn, chair of pediatrics at St. John's Mercy Children's Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. "For that reason, I encourage parents to look at development over time rather than be concerned if their baby can't 'do everything a baby should do' at any given point in time."
How Babies Grow
Here is an overview of the developmental milestones that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends pediatricians look for at each well-baby check:
Newborn: "At 1 week of age a baby should respond to sounds by startling, blinking, crying or calming," Dr. Kahn says. He should fix on a human face and begin to follow movement with his eyes. His legs and arms should move but should still have a flexed posture.
How You Can Help: Babies like soft voices and listening to a "sing-song" manner of speech. "Parents should begin to learn their baby's temperament and learn to console their baby by cuddling, playing, talking and singing," Dr. Kahn says.
1 Month: Your baby will probably begin to lift his head and sleep up to three to five hours a time and stay awake for more than one hour at a time. "Remember that it is normal for crying to peak at about 6 to 8 weeks so don't be concerned if your baby seems fussier at this age," Dr. Kahn says.
How You Can Help: Console your baby by talking to him and holding him when he is upset.
2 to 3 Months: An early important milestone is the social smile, according to Dr. Carole Allen, director of pediatrics at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates and president of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). "It is a cognitive developmental milestone. It shows that they can see the world and learn from it, and they also realize they can influence the world by their actions."
Your baby will begin to coo and respond to your verbal and visual stimuli, Dr. Kahn says. When lying flat he should also be able to lift his head, neck and upper body and begin to develop head control when held in an upright position.
How You Can Help: Talk to your baby and smile and laugh with him; sing to him.
4 to 5 Months: Your baby may begin to roll from his stomach to his back, reach for more objects and begin cooing more than ever. "Older siblings in particular often get the most reactions from babies starting around this age," Dr. Allen says.
How You Can Help: Help your baby practice sitting up with support by holding him in a sitting position. Begin to establish a bedtime routine and age-appropriate toys for your baby.
6 Months: "Many babies can sit up without support at this age," Dr. Allen says. He may start working on developing fine motor skills by grabbing objects and mouthing them, transferring things from hand to hand and using a raking motion to explore with the hands. He may also be ready to practice drinking out of a regular cup.
How You Can Help: Begin putting your baby to bed while he is awake. Read books and stories to him.
7 to 9 Months: Your baby will begin vocalizing more without discrimination, and may be able to say things like "ma-ma," "da-da" or "ba-ba." "He may begin crawling, pulling up on furniture, cruising and working for a toy that's out of reach," Dr. Allen says.
According to Dr. Kahn, fine motor skills continue to develop during this time, and your baby may start practicing a pincer grasp and grasping things between his thumb and forefinger. Also look for that first tooth eruption between 8 and 9 months of age.
How You Can Help: Play games such as "peek-a-boo" and "so big" with your baby to help teach the concept of object permanence. Be aware that your baby may begin to experience separation anxiety, and be sure he has a consistent comfort object to help ease his fears.
10 to 12 Months: By her first birthday your child may be walking independently, although many children don't walk until about 15 months of age, Dr. Allen says.
"He should point with the index finger and say one to three words other than 'ma-ma' or 'da-da," Dr. Kahn says. "He will begin to drink from a cup, look for dropped or hidden objects, wave goodbye and begin to feed himself more with his fingers."
How You Can Help: Be sure to praise good behavior, read more to your child, set limits and distract your child when he is getting into things. Set rules and establish routines.
Be sure to discuss your baby's development with your pediatrician at routine checkups and use these milestones as a guide for those discussions, keeping in mind that no two babies (or even siblings, in many cases) are exactly alike and will learn skills at their own pace with the proper guidance and safe environment in which to learn and explore.
"Different babies may do subtly different things at various ages and may reach several of these developmental milestones at various times," says Dr. Joseph Kahn, chair of pediatrics at St. John's Mercy Children's Hospital in St. Louis, Mo. "For that reason, I encourage parents to look at development over time rather than be concerned if their baby can't 'do everything a baby should do' at any given point in time."
How Babies Grow
Here is an overview of the developmental milestones that the American Academy of Pediatrics recommends pediatricians look for at each well-baby check:
Newborn: "At 1 week of age a baby should respond to sounds by startling, blinking, crying or calming," Dr. Kahn says. He should fix on a human face and begin to follow movement with his eyes. His legs and arms should move but should still have a flexed posture.
How You Can Help: Babies like soft voices and listening to a "sing-song" manner of speech. "Parents should begin to learn their baby's temperament and learn to console their baby by cuddling, playing, talking and singing," Dr. Kahn says.
1 Month: Your baby will probably begin to lift his head and sleep up to three to five hours a time and stay awake for more than one hour at a time. "Remember that it is normal for crying to peak at about 6 to 8 weeks so don't be concerned if your baby seems fussier at this age," Dr. Kahn says.
How You Can Help: Console your baby by talking to him and holding him when he is upset.
2 to 3 Months: An early important milestone is the social smile, according to Dr. Carole Allen, director of pediatrics at Harvard Vanguard Medical Associates and president of the Massachusetts Chapter of the American Academy of Pediatrics (AAP). "It is a cognitive developmental milestone. It shows that they can see the world and learn from it, and they also realize they can influence the world by their actions."
Your baby will begin to coo and respond to your verbal and visual stimuli, Dr. Kahn says. When lying flat he should also be able to lift his head, neck and upper body and begin to develop head control when held in an upright position.
How You Can Help: Talk to your baby and smile and laugh with him; sing to him.
4 to 5 Months: Your baby may begin to roll from his stomach to his back, reach for more objects and begin cooing more than ever. "Older siblings in particular often get the most reactions from babies starting around this age," Dr. Allen says.
How You Can Help: Help your baby practice sitting up with support by holding him in a sitting position. Begin to establish a bedtime routine and age-appropriate toys for your baby.
6 Months: "Many babies can sit up without support at this age," Dr. Allen says. He may start working on developing fine motor skills by grabbing objects and mouthing them, transferring things from hand to hand and using a raking motion to explore with the hands. He may also be ready to practice drinking out of a regular cup.
How You Can Help: Begin putting your baby to bed while he is awake. Read books and stories to him.
7 to 9 Months: Your baby will begin vocalizing more without discrimination, and may be able to say things like "ma-ma," "da-da" or "ba-ba." "He may begin crawling, pulling up on furniture, cruising and working for a toy that's out of reach," Dr. Allen says.
According to Dr. Kahn, fine motor skills continue to develop during this time, and your baby may start practicing a pincer grasp and grasping things between his thumb and forefinger. Also look for that first tooth eruption between 8 and 9 months of age.
How You Can Help: Play games such as "peek-a-boo" and "so big" with your baby to help teach the concept of object permanence. Be aware that your baby may begin to experience separation anxiety, and be sure he has a consistent comfort object to help ease his fears.
10 to 12 Months: By her first birthday your child may be walking independently, although many children don't walk until about 15 months of age, Dr. Allen says.
"He should point with the index finger and say one to three words other than 'ma-ma' or 'da-da," Dr. Kahn says. "He will begin to drink from a cup, look for dropped or hidden objects, wave goodbye and begin to feed himself more with his fingers."
How You Can Help: Be sure to praise good behavior, read more to your child, set limits and distract your child when he is getting into things. Set rules and establish routines.
Be sure to discuss your baby's development with your pediatrician at routine checkups and use these milestones as a guide for those discussions, keeping in mind that no two babies (or even siblings, in many cases) are exactly alike and will learn skills at their own pace with the proper guidance and safe environment in which to learn and explore.
Saturday, October 9, 2010
Give Your Rooms A Makeover - Painting Ideas!
Painting the inside of your house is an impressive way to transform your rooms giving them a new look and it's cost effective too. There is not a lot of time involved to paint a room. There are several crucial factors to take into account to achieve a professional finish. Check out this easy guide for room painting ideas.
Color. Are you preparing to sell your home? An appealing and functional room color is paramount for perspective buyers. It's also a crucial element that other items such as your carpet and tiles tie in well with your wall color. Neutral wall colors allow you to be more adventurous with furnishings and contrasting decorations. White will make the rooms look larger. For the bedrooms, consider soft colors and relaxing themes.
Preparation. Depending on the condition of the walls you may be required to do some preparation work first. Are they sheet-rock walls? You might not require a great deal of preparation. On the other hand, some colors may require to be sealed off prior to going over. If your situation requires you to paint white walls over a strong color such as red, you may experience some running. You can apply sealant or you might prefer to use extra coats of paint. Sealer would be ideal in this scenario. Make sure you check for nail holes and additional flaws. Minor holes are comparatively easy to fill. Toothpaste is a simple way to fill small holes
Latex paint or oil paint. Modern-day latex rubber-base paint is adaptable for the majority of surfaces. It cleans up with ease and will not pose any issues. Paint fumes will not hang around for long. Several latex paints are produced to repel wear and grimes. Even so it can take a long time for some latex rubber-base paint to cure properly. Throughout the drying time, tarnishing is likely if due care is not taken. Oil based paints are extremely hardwearing. They are inclined to be stain repellent as well. Oil color paint dries tardily. It could easily take up to two days for the paint to fully dry. Throughout that time, it can smear easily if disturbed. It usually omits strong smells whilst it is drying out. If you happen spill this type of paint paint, it will be difficult to remove.
If in the past you previously painted your room walls, you will be aware of what type of paint was applied. However do consider that there may be issues if applying rubber-base paint on top of oil paint. If you are uncertain about the surface, remove a sample of the paint. Is it elastic and slightly flexible? If this is the case, it is in all probability latex paint. If not, it is most likely oil. Apply the identical type of paint over existing paint for best results. If not, make certain you prepare the surface, sand and seal the walls.
Conclusion. Preparing your painting project is one of the most significant things you need to get right. Determine the type of paint you will use. Find out about the origin of the type of paint that exists on the walls. The procedure won't take long. You can have a brand new looking room that's easy on the eye in no time.
Color. Are you preparing to sell your home? An appealing and functional room color is paramount for perspective buyers. It's also a crucial element that other items such as your carpet and tiles tie in well with your wall color. Neutral wall colors allow you to be more adventurous with furnishings and contrasting decorations. White will make the rooms look larger. For the bedrooms, consider soft colors and relaxing themes.
Preparation. Depending on the condition of the walls you may be required to do some preparation work first. Are they sheet-rock walls? You might not require a great deal of preparation. On the other hand, some colors may require to be sealed off prior to going over. If your situation requires you to paint white walls over a strong color such as red, you may experience some running. You can apply sealant or you might prefer to use extra coats of paint. Sealer would be ideal in this scenario. Make sure you check for nail holes and additional flaws. Minor holes are comparatively easy to fill. Toothpaste is a simple way to fill small holes
Latex paint or oil paint. Modern-day latex rubber-base paint is adaptable for the majority of surfaces. It cleans up with ease and will not pose any issues. Paint fumes will not hang around for long. Several latex paints are produced to repel wear and grimes. Even so it can take a long time for some latex rubber-base paint to cure properly. Throughout the drying time, tarnishing is likely if due care is not taken. Oil based paints are extremely hardwearing. They are inclined to be stain repellent as well. Oil color paint dries tardily. It could easily take up to two days for the paint to fully dry. Throughout that time, it can smear easily if disturbed. It usually omits strong smells whilst it is drying out. If you happen spill this type of paint paint, it will be difficult to remove.
If in the past you previously painted your room walls, you will be aware of what type of paint was applied. However do consider that there may be issues if applying rubber-base paint on top of oil paint. If you are uncertain about the surface, remove a sample of the paint. Is it elastic and slightly flexible? If this is the case, it is in all probability latex paint. If not, it is most likely oil. Apply the identical type of paint over existing paint for best results. If not, make certain you prepare the surface, sand and seal the walls.
Conclusion. Preparing your painting project is one of the most significant things you need to get right. Determine the type of paint you will use. Find out about the origin of the type of paint that exists on the walls. The procedure won't take long. You can have a brand new looking room that's easy on the eye in no time.
Winning Your Ex Back
If you want to win your ex back, then read on for some useful tips that will help you win back the love of your life. Breaking up could be one of the worst things that can happen to you, but these events are learning situations that can help you to become more mature and responsible by being able to manage stress in life as well as your emotions.
Hence, one of the first few things to do is to control yourself and your emotions. If the reason for the recent breakup is some misunderstandings that got out of hand and ensuing in a vicious fight, then it is about time to learn humility by making an apology for your actions. It doesn’t matter if it is your fault or not, sometimes compromise is necessary in order to maintain your communication with your partner. Hence, remember the two C’s â€" Compromise and Communication.
Another useful tip to get an ex back is to give your ex-partner the space he/she wanted. In other words, temporary stop harassing your ex for the next few days or a week. This will give both of you ample time to think over your relationship. If you spent most of your times together in the past, your absence today and in the next few days will definitely make your ex miss you and long for your presence and company. And your ex might initiate communication with you, giving you the chance to repair the relationship.
That will lead you to the next stage to win your ex back; and that is - to start dating again. The fact that you fell in love first time around, love should come easier for you since you already knew each other and each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Become the person your ex fell in love with. Make yourself attractive, put on some neat clothes that will make you handsome or beautiful.
Hence, one of the first few things to do is to control yourself and your emotions. If the reason for the recent breakup is some misunderstandings that got out of hand and ensuing in a vicious fight, then it is about time to learn humility by making an apology for your actions. It doesn’t matter if it is your fault or not, sometimes compromise is necessary in order to maintain your communication with your partner. Hence, remember the two C’s â€" Compromise and Communication.
Another useful tip to get an ex back is to give your ex-partner the space he/she wanted. In other words, temporary stop harassing your ex for the next few days or a week. This will give both of you ample time to think over your relationship. If you spent most of your times together in the past, your absence today and in the next few days will definitely make your ex miss you and long for your presence and company. And your ex might initiate communication with you, giving you the chance to repair the relationship.
That will lead you to the next stage to win your ex back; and that is - to start dating again. The fact that you fell in love first time around, love should come easier for you since you already knew each other and each other’s strengths and weaknesses. Become the person your ex fell in love with. Make yourself attractive, put on some neat clothes that will make you handsome or beautiful.
Thursday, October 7, 2010
Do you want to keep you teeth clean?
Everyone knows that keeping your teeth clean is the only way to ensure that you'll get to keep them. From the moment we use our first toothbrush we are constantly hearing about the importance of brushing our teeth after every meal and using dental floss to get what the toothbrush misses. But despite our best efforts and consistency in brushing and flossing our teeth, it is still possible to get cavities. Sometimes the build up of calculus is simply hereditary, but there are a few things we can do to make sure our teeth are as clean as possible.
One of the most important ways to keep your teeth clean, other than brushing and flossing, is to make sure you are not snacking excessively in between meals. Your saliva acts as an important cleaning agent and does its best work in-between meals and after brushing. If you are constantly snacking your saliva doesn't have a chance to do its job. Another tool that can provide added benefits is mouth wash, especially mouth wash with fluoride. Your diet is also an important part of the health of your teeth. If you eat a lot of sugary foods you can contribute to the deterioration of your teeth. The same is true for foods with a high acidic content like carbonated beverages and some fruit juices. When you don't have the option to brush your teeth after meals, a sugar-free gum can be beneficial in helping remove food from your teeth. If you take care of your teeth, you are more likely to keep them.
One of the most important ways to keep your teeth clean, other than brushing and flossing, is to make sure you are not snacking excessively in between meals. Your saliva acts as an important cleaning agent and does its best work in-between meals and after brushing. If you are constantly snacking your saliva doesn't have a chance to do its job. Another tool that can provide added benefits is mouth wash, especially mouth wash with fluoride. Your diet is also an important part of the health of your teeth. If you eat a lot of sugary foods you can contribute to the deterioration of your teeth. The same is true for foods with a high acidic content like carbonated beverages and some fruit juices. When you don't have the option to brush your teeth after meals, a sugar-free gum can be beneficial in helping remove food from your teeth. If you take care of your teeth, you are more likely to keep them.
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