Putin's SS - The Kremlin's Bodyguards

In early 2016 the Kremlin officially announced the consolidation of several security agencies to create one National Guard consisting of an estimated 350,000-400,000 personnel. It's one powerful and well-armed security agency, a de facto personal army, an executive military protection force, under Putin's direct command. Historically such exclusive protective services are de rigueur for any autocrat.

Interestingly, the creation of such an ominous force goes against the official government that Putin's popularity rating is about 80%. If that's the case, what does he have to fear especially after his triumphant walk-over victory in Crimea and successful "shock & awe" aerial military campaign in Syria to save an embattled allied in Assad all while suffering minimal casualties.

Obviously Putin is preparing himself against internal threats. Despite the recent recovery in oil prices and rise in the ruble, the two- year recession has hurt the Russian citizenry whose economic pain is not shared by the outsized and continued corruption of favored businessmen and officials.

One of Putins' fears is that the upcoming fall legislative elections may not fully support Putin and his party which may forecast a less than guaranteed presidential electoral victory for Putin's second term bid in 2018.

In other words Putin is pre-positioning himself in case the people, his enemies and even his political allies turn against him. Furthermore a deteriorating economic situation could force the hand of the armed services that may be reluctant to engage in a bloodbath with a well-armed and loyal contingent. Such militarized protection services are always geographically stationed close to the capital insuring maximum force and reducing disloyal influence by rogue officers.

Additionally Putin may feel that hiss overall influence may be waning and he's surrounding himself with a leadership of loyal true political believers who he trusts implicitly to carry out his orders because he realizes that even economic incentives to buy loyalty can't be counted on during a severe crisis. Even his billionaire oligarchs may be willing to forgo their riches for political change.

This show of reorganizing security services that will be led by loyalists is the hardware to support his public relations' machinery software, a chapter blatantly ripped from a 21st century autocrat's playbook utilizing military methods legally within a technically democratic country. This is not so different from genuine democracies everywhere that use this same method by loading up the legislative branch with loyalists. The only difference is the method how power can be maintained most successfully- through the barrel of a gun or pen

Copyright Indo-Brazilian Associates LLC 2016. All rights reserved.

Indo-Brazilian Associates LLC is a NYC-based global advisory service and think tank with connections at the highest levels specializing in international investment, political and security risk assessments. International business is increasingly complex featuring a highly mobile professional class in all corners of the globe. We provide you the tools to successfully negotiate cross-culturally in your global business endeavors. Tell us about your challenges. We'll get you on the "Short List".

We provide executive coaching, speaking engagements, speechwriting and workshops. Contact us at http://www.indobrazilian.com
 
 
 
 
 
 

Putin's Teddy Bear Military - A Cardboard Cutout

Who's afraid of the big bad bear?

President Putin has masterfully crafted a program to provoke the West into a hissy-fit about a former military superpower seeking to recapture its past Soviet era glories and domination through military adventures that challenge NATO and American might. During Russia's recent aggressive thrust close to and beyond the Near Abroad, Russia engaged in battles that were guaranteed public relations victories, not military ones notably: Crimea, eastern Ukraine and Syria. Each encounter had limited downside risk because Russia's military

faced inferior, if any, opposition. Consider the following:
  • Eastern Ukraine has a large ethnic Russian population and Ukrainian government forces in effect felt like it was fighting on foreign soil. Although Russia denied utilizing its ground troops in this campaign, they still had to be clever to minimize the burials of "little green men."
  • Crimea was a lightning invasion of an island whose Russian population heartily welcomed them. Ironically it was a Pyrrhic victory because Russia now assumes Crimea's burdensome economic responsibilities.
  • Syria is exclusively an air campaign (a cost savings on body bags), a reinforcement of long-established military installations and access to a deep-water port at the behest of longtime ally, the Syrian government. As a de facto intensive training exercise Russia has been able to test their new high-tech toys under battle conditions against an opposition that didn't have advanced weaponry to threaten them.
In each case Russia engaged their military where the West was not legally compelled nor threatened to intervene because neither Ukraine nor Crimea are NATO members and Syria is a Russian ally. Additionally each territory conquered had a sizeable Russian population. In the meantime Russia has continued their incursions over the tiny Baltic States and small nearby NATO countries.

Militarily thin Russia is like a former world-class prize fighter who gets himself back in decent shape though far from his peak fighting years. He then buys some cool-looking boxing trunks, gets a good promotional manager and proceeds to beat up drunken beer-bellied toughs in a local dive bar and avoids battle-hardened fighters. It's all a clever measured risk that maximizes Russia's image and minimizes their military's short-comings. Any significant Russian ground battlefield losses regardless if it's a skirmish would spell doom for Putin's strongman political image. The question is whether Putin push his military too far in future ventures.

Russia is a bully in its neighborhood casting a long and dark shadow over smaller nearby countries. To these small countries Russia is a big, hungry bear seeking easy morsels. Though it seems implausible that Putin will risk any military offensive maneuvers in Europe because of potential world condemnation and sanctions, Putin's thirst to gain respect may supersede better judgment.

On the other hand, election victories by European ultra-conservatives in 2017 in France, Germany and other countries may provide Putin a level of respect he desires and will cease his military threats. Nonetheless Putin is keeping his worst-case options open in case the European ultra-conservative parties fall short in the elections and decide change their pre-electoral rhetoric to engage with Russia with respect and as an equal.

Taking the non-NATO small countries "hostage" militarily may provoke, in the eyes of the Russians an aggressive military NATO reaction, a confrontation Putin is guaranteed to lose badly.

So I ask again, "Who's afraid of the big bad bear?"

Copyright Indo-Brazilian Associates LLC 2016. All rights reserved.

Indo-Brazilian Associates LLC is a NYC-based global advisory service and think tank with connections at the highest levels specializing in international investment, political and security risk assessments. International business is increasingly complex featuring a highly mobile professional class in all corners of the globe. We provide you the tools to successfully negotiate cross-culturally in your global business endeavors. Tell us about your challenges. We'll get you on the "Short List".

We provide executive coaching, speaking engagements, speechwriting and workshops. Contact us at http://www.indobrazilian.com
 
 
 
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The Need for an Impartial International News Service

The history of 2016 will be very hard to write. There have been so many false bulletins repeated by every news outlet, and with commercial and political pressures behind every medium, the news is rushed out in fierce competition to be first. Falsities were often corrected, but corrections are always less sensational, and hence less memorable, than the first scandalous pronouncement. Then both in connection with the Brexit referendum in the UK, and the presidential election in the USA, individuals were contradicting themselves and making unsubstantiated statements at a rate that left both the media and the public confused and floundering far behind the facts, where facts were able to be discerned.

The news media must share a good proportion of the blame for the disastrous outcomes of the UK Brexit referendum and the US presidential election. In both cases, emotion was allowed to overwhelm reason: the perceived need for strict controls on immigration was trumpeted much louder than the opposition could voice the consequences of undefined social and economic policies. In both cases, it was the opposing social and economic arguments that were based on fact, the benefits of the huge European free market in the one case and the extrapolation of the successful Obama policies in the other, yet linked to more liberal policies on immigration they were destined to be lost in the media clamour.

There was a time when the BBC World Service was regarded as a relatively impartial news medium but funded by an annual grant from the British Foreign Office it could not be said to be entirely free of political bias. Since this support ended in 2014, the BBC has proposed limited commercial activity which suggests a move out of the frying pan into the fire. Anyone experiencing the incessant commercial breaks on alternative news services knows the pernicious influence of big business, overt recurrent boredom imposed by the have-plenty on the have-nots and concealed political manipulation.

While the BBC World Service could serve as a useful model for an impartial international news medium, the new organisation cannot be associated with any one national government. It must be under the aegis of the United Nations. Issues like Brexit and the US presidential election have complex international ramifications and must be seen and reported from a global perspective. A nucleus already exists to distribute news of UN activities, but this needs to be greatly expanded to provide a fully global news service. Freed from competition, it would have no need to rush, and could take its time checking facts to ensure accuracy. Freed from the need to take commercial breaks, it would have time to fully consider current issues, consulting leading experts in all fields and at all locations. The need for UNIVOX may have existed for a long time, but it is perhaps only in the confusion of 2016 that it has become an urgent necessity.

My novels set in Ghana: The Colonial Gentleman's Son and Return to the Garden City, as well as my children's book: Saint George: Rusty Knight and Monster Tamer, together with many pictures of Ghana are featured on the website http://www.ghanabooksjwp.com and the books are available on amazon at http://www.amazon.co.uk/Return-Garden-City-John-Powell/dp/184624949X/ref=sr_1_1?ie=UTF8&qid=1442856892&sr=8-1&keywords=Return+to+the+Garden+City and other booksellers.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Under the Hood of Website Translation

If you are a smart marketer or an ambitious entrepreneur, chances are that words like website translation are not alien to you. You must have already grabbed the opportunity to make your product and brand stand visible and comfortable on a global stage. You must have started having conversations or strategies to shape your significant content formats like website or apps into a translation context.

It is very helpful at this point to understand some details that go into the making of this magic called effective translation, the wonder called 'translation with a global impact'.

Have you covered aspects like content template or source code sharing with the service provider among other elements? It would help if your code or format, whether it is a word document or an in-CMS transition, aligns well with the overall translation process and expertise.

It would also assist in a major way if you make a clear and informed choice about some not-so-easy decisions well in advance and carry these postures throughout the association - like, use of translation proxy or avoiding it; picking development server, having or not having multiple instances, the repository of documents and the technical language (HTML or PHP) deployed in the process. Sometimes, choice of local domain and hosting provider can make a lot of difference in optimization, reach and accessibility for the website. Certain decisions can be tough to make but if they are made with discretion and prudence then they pay off well in comparison to unexpected, unpleasant surprises.

Do not leave the task only to developers and translators. Website translation includes and but is not all about grammar and vocabulary only. Even punctuation or sentence construction or use of colloquial impact can be the game-changer. This is a realm that should incorporate linguistic experts and cultural natives to weed out any gross oversight or errors that might skip the eye of the technical professional.

Website translation and localization can seem like a one-off job but, in reality, it could be a real-time, iterative and a continuous process that could span other parts of the marketing chain and lifecycle easily. Be ready for the onerous demand that could arise from this nature and also make sure you pick a team that can deliver them. The process entails but is not limited to content. The layout of the new content, effective localization and visual characteristics matter equally when it comes to successfully translating a website. They should be envisioned in time and not addressed as a quick-fix or knee-jerk treatment.

Testing is a crucial ingredient to facilitate a smooth and actionable translation process. This should be both functional and user-oriented. Just ensuring that the content appears in a specific language is not enough unless the user can relate to the website in a way that is easy, engaging and familiar.

Accessibility is usually an afterthought for many translators. But in this Internet-dominated age, SEO context and Meta tags or Metadata are very important in driving the right traffic and optimizing visibility. Onboard a language service provider that thinks of these parts as an overall strategy and not as an add-on.

Images, cultural nuances, choice of appropriate words, confirming the connotation of a slogan etc. are some more areas that need more than a technical approach to the translation process. One should have a team or an expert who can point out misalignment or misinterpretation possibilities for a new audience before they blow out of proportion.

Have a consistent strategy, both for website translation and localization and also for aligning it well with the overall branding framework.

All in all, you as a brand and as a brand custodian have to be as devoted and clear as you would expect the translation provider to be. The job entails an investment of thought and the use of right strategy and this also connects to the kind of service provider you ultimately choose and continue.

I am an Expert in the medium of translation and language services. I have working knowledge in website translation, Translate from English to German, and provide Multilingual E-mail Support.I am passionate in Localizing global brands to reach the target audience in the most efficient way.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

Being Your Own Boss - Sometimes It Gets Lonely - Depression Awareness Month

(This post was uploaded in support of Depression Awareness Month)

When the idea to start your own business first popped into your head, I'm guessing a certain level of pessimism invaded the bubble. The thought of the grind ahead I'm sure became all you thought about and perhaps, for some of you, those thoughts delayed the start-up somewhat.

But over time, that urge to be your own boss overwhelmed the pessimism and you made the jump.

And here you are.

You're the boss.

And, it's a bit scary right?

Sure it's got its perks. You can pick the kids up from school. You no longer have to get approval to be ill and you set your own hours.

Although...

Even though you get to set your own hours, you never really switch off. The traditional 9 to 5 that forced you to become your own boss somehow gave way to a more gruelling 24 / 7.

Okay, you get to be ill without having to convince someone you are not fit to go to work but now, when you get ill, you probably won't get paid.

And yeah, you get the option of more time with the kids but at what cost?

With your business on your mind 24 hours a day, where's the escape? Even something as simple as watching TV loses its appeal. Sure, you are fixing your gaze on the screen but your brain isn't engaging with the content like it used to. You've got work on your mind and everything else, whether we want to admit it or not, is a distraction.

Being your own boss is lonely. You may be surrounded with staff and have a loving partner at home and kids who adore you but it's still lonely.

There's a pressure in being your own boss that you never knew existed. It makes you think about all those bosses you didn't much care for. It takes you back to those moments when you thought your boss could have handled a situation better and you start to empathise somewhat.

You start to put yourself in their shoes. What kind of pressure was your former boss under? You get a bit ashamed that you never thought to ask them. You were never there for them.

Just like no one is really there for you. Not really.

I guess today's post is about me. I have no advice to give.

The government wants us to start small businesses and employ people but as soon as we do, they turn against us. Everyone has rights but we don't.

It feels like the whole world is against us.

Sometimes we make stupid decisions. Like employing friends or family. We feel the need to surround ourselves with people we can trust yet fail to take into account that the moment we do, we kill relationships and find ourselves more alone than ever.

I'm sure there are times when employing family or friends has worked out well for someone but I'm guessing it doesn't happen often coz there's a famous saying floating around advising against doing such a thing.
So if you're smart you avoid those pitfalls and make that famous Whitesnake song your own personal anthem.

Being your own boss is amazing but it's also a lonely road that you walk alone.

It doesn't have to be that way though; the government could make it easier for us. Sure they offer business advice initiatives but they're all geared to growing your business which in turns adds more pressure and serves to isolate you further from the world.

Maybe the government could do more to help us job creators? Maybe they could, I don't know, allocate a few hours per month of free counselling? Give us a safe environment where we can just talk about our problems without worrying anyone?

You see, that's the real issue I have, as a business owner who can you really, deeply confide in?

If business is going well, who can you really share that info with? Your friends? That could illicit jealousy and could easily come across as bragging. Your staff? Well, that could just make them greedy. Your loving partner? Maybe, but is that enough?

And what about those times when things are not going so well? Who do you talk to then? You don't want to burden your loved ones with that and you definitely can't talk to your staff about it because more often than not what's causing you sleepless nights is merely a blip in the grand scheme of things and sharing every blip can and will create paranoia amongst your workforce.

Fact is, you chose to be your own boss. As the boss you are a general. It's your job to keep certain things to yourself until they absolutely need airing.

But it's still hard.

Wednesdays for some reason have always been hard for me (this was posted on a Wednesday) I call them wobble Wednesdays. It's the only day of the week where I allow dark thoughts. I do all my panicking on a Wednesday, the logic behind it being that I can analyse any blips and if there are any that have the potential to develop into something more substantial then I've given myself time to find a solution before payday hits.

I will be honest, today's blip is not work related, well, not exactly. Today's blip is down to me having to miss a family function this coming Friday due to work. A family member is reaching a certain milestone this Friday, it's a big occasion, a get-together if you will, and I won't be there because my business needs me to be somewhere else.

Let's just say the news of my impending absence hasn't gone over well.

Funny thing is, if I wasn't my own boss and informed them that I had to miss the function due to my employer scheduling me a late shift the response to my absence would have been accepted. Heck, I would have even gotten some sympathy out it, but, as my family know that I am my own boss and that one of the most famous "perks" of being your own boss is that you pick your own hours, well, let's just say that I'm not getting any understanding whatsoever let alone sympathy.

But I am my own boss. And I am alone. I guess deep down I wouldn't have it any other way.
At least Whitesnake understands me...

When I'm not whining about being alone and listening to Whitesnake; I'm getting small business online at http://www.brandtec.co.uk
 
 
 
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Small Changes, Every Day - Real Change Is Only Days Away

The end of every year is a natural time to reflect on what's gone and to ponder what's coming. In reflection, there are things we can accept. In pondering, there are things we want to change.

I'm working on three things I want to do less, and three things I want to be more.

It has occurred to me recently that the signs are good I'm ready for change. I've made small changes that I didn't even decide to make consciously. The thought entered my mind - that would be good - and I practiced it twice or three times, and the habit's already in the shape of the making.

If we seek to change anything, our habits spring to the forefront.

Change is about habit challenge and conquest. We cannot change if we don't challenge our habits, and changing our habits necessitates a conquest. Change doesn't occur unless we're relentless.

Relentlessness is nothing if not a building force of enquiry and action in the direction of our goals. Small changes, made every day, prove that innovation energises confidence, and that confidence bolsters commitment.

As we plunge through the waves on the tempestuous ocean of life, journeying from distal and familiar lands on the past horizon, we get marooned on lands of unhelpful habit that are maintained in the present. We will need to embark on a fresh voyage away from familiar lands if we're to install change into our lives.

Commitment honours the intent of change, and confidence flourishes when commitment is solid. Small changes done every day show underlying commitment and are the way to build confidence.

Small changes that stick are better changes than large changes that don't.

Steve Wickham holds Degrees in Science, Divinity, and Counselling. Steve writes at: http://epitemnein-epitomic.blogspot.com.au/ and http://tribework.blogspot.com.au/
 
 
 
 
 

Disruptive 3D Technology Considered

The other day our think tank was discussing the challenges of 3-D printing and how "Capitalism will begin to suffer damage when 3D printing starts to affect the retail distribution chain." Consider if you will that in the future people will be 3D printing at home using carbon composite layering graphene, metallic materials, plastics, ceramic materials, etc. - people don't need to go to a retail store to buy cheap products, they can merely print them in their living room. What about the jobs at the major retailers, what about the management in retail, the buyers, truck drivers, warehouse staff? All those jobs gone?

When does this happen - as 3D printing technology matures. How fast will that happen - as fast as it takes for people to print out the new evolutions of their 3D printers at home. In other words, the technology will outpace the ability of the markets to react. Capitalism is very good at eliminating losers. The problem is that retail will be a loser almost overnight (10-15 years). Enjoy watching the few remaining Macy's Thanksgiving Day parades.

One think tanker who leans left-politically suggested that "We need to prepare government to step in and soften the coming economic shocks. People with no hope of finding work will need food, shelter and health care."

Not so fast, my capitalist brain screams - you see, yes, disruptive technology always threatens the incumbents in the market-place, but that's okay, if the free-market is working right, everything re-adjusts. If we have crony capitalism subsidizing, or governments nationalizing to prop up dying industries that's when we have problems.

In socialism the leaders who use populist themes have to go with mob rule to bail-out or subsidize such old tech against the onslaught of the new. In free-market capitalism there will be shocks to the system, but the system can realign on its own and continue forward. Printing Press, Cotton Gin, TV, Air travel, cell phones, computers, etc. and yes, what comes next will also disrupt and if companies like Boeing have anything to say "It will fly like nothing else, and GE, DuPont, and other companies will buy up the innovators and make it part of the new business units to carry on.

Why bother propping up things like video rental stores or one-hour photo developing franchises? I guess, I have more belief in free markets, mostly in hindsight. But it will only work if we leave our hands off of it.

Price controls, minimum wage laws, subsidies, they all distort free markets, I worry more about that more than the next new thing on the bleeding age in the age of Singularity and the Internet of things. Think on this.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Innovation in America. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net.



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3 Signs You've Got A Chronic Sinus Infection And Don't Even Know It

As the weather changes, our bodies feel as though we are being pulled in different directions. A continuous stuffy nose runs amuck, and even though we tend to attribute this to bad allergies, it turns out that we are actually talking about chronic sinus infections. Pain in your sinuses is quite high, you're dragging, and we've made these symptoms a part of just another bad allergy season.

This highlights one major point --- most people can't tell the difference between bad allergies and a severe sinus infection. Though that is alarming enough, very few will touch base with their doctor & simply taking OTC medication to alleviate their symptoms rather than find out what is really causing a problem.

For starters, inflammation is found in the nasal areas of your face. The inflammation causes some rather large amounts of mucus to fill up nasal cavities, which causes some serious pressure. This, in turn, causes the complaints of headaches and pain in the face, which are the red flags that are missed by many people. One thing that should always be remembered is that the human body is an amazing creation that will let us know almost immediately when something is not right. Pain is one way we are being told that we need to get things checked out.

Something else people miss regarding chronic sinus infections is that they begin to attribute their high amount of fatigue to everything but a sinus infection. When you take into consideration the high amounts of swelling and pressure in your face and nasal passages, being able to breathe adequately will be compromised. This, in turn, makes laying down and sleeping harder to do because you are not able to draw in air in an effective manner. Sleep deprivation is never a healthy part of daily living, and it should be very high on the list of things that should concern you enough to seek medical advice.

One final item of note we alluded to slightly is that people often confuse a chronic sinus infection with something else such as bad allergies, a cold, or the flu. Moreover, they just don't equate runny & stuffy noses, as well as breathing difficulty, with a sinus infection. A pretty good way of knowing when to consider a sinus infection is that a cold or flu typically last about a week or so. If your symptoms persist beyond that time frame, it's likely not one of those causing problems. Also, sinus infections may not actually have a tell-tale marker like mucus production when blowing your nose because the congestion is either further in the nasal passages or may be directly linked to swelling of the passages making it harder to breathe.

A chronic sinus infection is no time to play self-diagnostician. You need to get things checked out with your doctor. If you suffer from anything noted above and there is no improvement within a week or so, see your doctor.

For more information on identifying and treating sinus infections, click here today.
 
 
 
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Cold Sore Remedies That Actually Work

Cold sores are red, painful, fluid-filled blisters found around the mouth and nose. They are contagious and are caused by herpes simplex virus type 1. If the sore is burst open and the fluid oozes out of the blister, it becomes highly contagious. They can be treated easily by use of natural remedies. Given below are some easy to use home remedies and you can get relief from your sores by following them.

Use of lysine
Lysine is an amino acid and is used to make protein. It can be obtained from supplements and various food sources, such as eggs, milk, cheese and fish. Lysine supplements are necessary for the duration of the sores.

Lip balms
Lemon balm is enriched with anti-viral properties. It also reduces the chances of recurrence of these sores.
The use of petroleum jelly is also beneficial against the sores. It also prevents any kind of secondary infection and accelerates healing.

Ayurvedic treatment
An ancient Asian medicine like Reishi, also known as Ganoderma lucidum, is used to strengthen the immune system. Reishi stalls the spread of herpes virus. It is available as a supplement and is known to treat the sores efficiently.

Resveratrol treatment
This is found abundantly in red grapes and is actively used to treat herpes simplex virus. Resveratrol cream suppresses the sore and stops it from developing.

Avoid rubbing
Do not rub, scratch and touch the infected area. This may spread the virus to other parts of your face and also infect other people nearby. Clean the sores with a soft cloth and use warm water to reduce the itching.

Vitamins and diet
Vitamin B and other vitamins rich in antioxidants help fight cold sores. A deficiency of vitamin B may lead to the outbreak of sores. Use vitamin B supplements to avoid such a condition.

Avoid salty and acidic foods like lemon. It may aggravate the condition and make the sore painful.

Zinc is considered to be useful in treating cold sores. Wash the sore affected area with zinc solution.

Ice treatment
Use ice on the sores to relieve the itch. Ice brings down the inflammation and treats severe sores.

Avoid stress
It is important to stay happy and avoid any kind of tension. Exercise and meditate to boost your immune system. A healthy body has less chance of getting infections.

By following the above mentioned home remedies, you can easily cure your cold sores in quick period of time.
 
 
 
 
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Tips To Ensure Your Safety and Health When Moving

Moving is a painful and stressful task to carry out. There are many people who prefer to plan a self move, but they little realize the danger and difficulties associated with it. You could hurt yourself or get injured during the move, if you are not well acquainted with the process. A list of tips given below can help you to carry out a safe and healthy move.

Do the right packing

Try to make the boxes lighter. You must remember that the boxes have to be carried by you. So, do not make them too heavy to carry. You need an extra person for help, if the boxes are heavy.

Prepare your back

Your back will get injured, if you do not move your stuffs properly. Stretch your body before carrying heavy boxes to avoid back injury. This will help to make your body suitable for the relocation.

Use the right clothing

You should wear closed shoes and loose clothes. Never wear sandals during a move. Always wear closed shoes for proper grip and support of your feet. Wearing loose clothes will help you in free movement during the move.

Lift with care

Bend your knees and push your waist back while lifting a heavy stuff. This will help you to protect your waist from injury, as the weight will be on your legs.

Rent the right equipment

Dollies can be used to move furniture and heavy objects. Straps should be used to protect the stuff on the dolly from falling down. Wear gloves for a proper grip. You can also use furniture sliders during a move.

Look for dangers

Be extra cautious, if you are organizing a move on a rainy day. Mud and water will make your floor slippery. So, make the floor dry before starting your move to avoid any kind of danger.

Prepare an emergency kit on stand by

It is very important to have a first aid kit, in case anyone gets hurt during the relocation. Ointments, band aids and painkillers should be included in that emergency kit. Also make a list of emergency telephone numbers and inform everybody about the location of the emergency kit.

Keep pets and kids away

Keep your kids and pets with some friends or family for the moving day. A babysitter can also be hired to take care of your children. It is a better option to keep them away from the move to avoid any danger.

Hire movers

Movers should be hired for lifting heavy and large stuffs. Lifting heavy items can be injurious and risky for your health. Look for the professionals to move the bulky items to your new house.

Follow these basic tips for a safe and healthy relocation and also to avoid any risk or danger.
Call residential movers Santa Monica for relocation help. Read more!
 
 
 
 
 
 

Faculty Professors And Staff At Universities Vow To Fight Against Donald Trump

Last time I checked, Universities existed to teach the next generation and prepare them to take the helm and propel our society and civilization, and humankind into the future with the right knowledge and skills to do it. And yet, these days professors and academia in general seems to have taken up a new cause, they call it many things; social justice, equality, diversity, sustainability, progressive agenda. In fact, it appears that they believe these things to be more important to their mission than actually teaching our next generation the very subjects we've hired them to teach. Let's talk.

The other day, I read an open letter from a Chemistry Professor to the faculty and staff at the local University, asking them to repost it all over social media. The letter talked about attacking the Trump Administration, which had yet to even come into power. One of the main points of the letter, also endorsed by the State University Employees Union, stated; "We will fight the normalization of evidence-free social discourse by modelling for our students and communities the power of evidence-based open inquiry in real problem solving."

This statement appeared after an anti-Trump tirade calling the President-Elect a racist, misogynist, and hater.
Let's take this statement and break it down to find the flawed logic here. The exact words are: "We will fight the normalization of evidence-free social discourse by modelling for our students and communities the power of evidence-based open inquiry in real problem solving," unfortunately, in the open letter he hadn't stated any evidence, he only reiterated the hate-speech against right politically leaning folks that we've heard repeated by Cable Media, Left-Leaning Newspapers and surrogates of the Clinton Campaign during this much heated past election season.

Next, he talks about "Modeling Students" - wow, are we sure he don't mean brainwashing them as socialist followers? The Professor of Chemistry (PhD and tenured) made a number of allegations as to the character of Donald Trump, and company without any evidence whatsoever, how are we to take this hypocrisy - isn't this just "venting" because he and his friends, associates and fellow academics are upset the election did not go their way this time, why engage in 7th grade debate club debating tactics and 8th grade reading level political rhetoric tactics like this?

After all, we can read the LA Times, Chicago Tribune, Washington Post, New York Times for that, did or professor miss his calling in journalism? Why do they state they want to "Fight" why can't they just do their jobs and teach? We put these folks on pedestals, actually they put themselves there and told us to treat them as such, and once their they call us ignorant and racist. Why do we need arrogant academics to talk down to us?

If they are so great, why do they need to hide-out in academia, tell them to come out here in the real world, run a business, get a job, run for office, join the military? Maybe that saying; 'those who can't teach," is more correct than we've been led to believe? Maybe Ronald Reagan was right. "It's not that the left is ignorant, they just know too many things that simply are not so."

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on the Future of Education. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net.
 
 
 
 
 

Trump's Generals - The Militarized Government

Trump's appointment of a coterie of former and current military generals to key high-level government posts is unnerving and quite ironic from a man who aggressively avoided being drafted in the Vietnam War. Now he needs their services. It's not so much about defending America's core interests overseas which is a necessity for this empire, rather it's the almost exclusive appointment of generals that give the frightening perception that America could be not only more aggressive overseas but domestically as well. It's the latter that is most worrisome as a threat to our freedoms.

It's an open secret that significant economic structural flaws worldwide exists. We barely escaped an economic meltdown in 2008, however because no genuine changes to fix the system were undertaken combined with an exploding global debt crisis, we're heading for an inevitable train wreck. According to Trump, he has good instincts and his instincts probably tell him that this train wreck will happen on his watch which is why he needs as much "crowd control" protection as possible.

Despite their personality differences, generals are trained in the same culture and speak the same language which means there's less ambiguity on objectives just differences on tactics. The militarization of the government is almost complete as the newly appointed generals now command an experienced and militarized law enforcement. Trump can ill afford a usually diverse civilian cabinet who may demure in times of crisis.

The key question is how his team will react to stem a severe economic crisis and/or terrorist attacks. With respect to the former, each recession over the past 20 years has been progressively worse than the previous one, with the 2008 one "arrested" at the precipice of a bottomless black hole. More importantly is how he will manage messy aftermath - not economically but on the streets. Like a meteorological disaster, the initial destruction is terrible but the looting is often just as deadly.

With respect to the latter, with a militarized government will he unhesitatingly declare martial law and either suspend or even crush civil liberties? Would this provoke nationwide riots that would make the 1968 anti-war and civil rights riots look like a family picnic? And would they dramatically increased government surveillance powers? With such advanced technology even the business sector knows you better than you know yourself.

Already cities are declaring themselves "sanctuaries" for the undocumented population which could be expanded to include law-abiding people protesting government policies. To what extent will the government "squeeze" the states to comply to arrest these individuals if the state refuses?

There's insidious legal language buried in the Homeland Security law that gives government far-reaching powers during a crisis. The issue is what and who defines a crisis? Could this be used as a pretext for a soft coup for indefinite government lockdown on freedoms? For this reason this is why you have to question why so many generals, who aren't from the Colin Powell mold, have been appointed to high-level cabinet posts.

This pre-positioning of particular military personnel in high-level cabinet posts is a frightening parallel to the playbook chapters of autocrats Russia's Putin, Turkey's Erdogan and China's Xi who all have successfully legally silenced their critics. How America responds during the next crisis will determine which direction our democracy is headed and what form will it take.

Copyright Indo-Brazilian Associates LLC 2016. All rights reserved.

Indo-Brazilian Associates LLC is a NYC-based global advisory service and think tank with connections at the highest levels specializing in international investment, political and security risk assessments. International business is increasingly complex featuring a highly mobile professional class in all corners of the globe. We provide you the tools to successfully negotiate cross-culturally in your global business endeavors. Tell us about your challenges. We'll get you on the "Short List".

We provide executive coaching, speaking engagements, speechwriting and workshops. Contact us at http://www.indobrazilian.com



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Dear Liberals, Don't Cry Over Trump's Victory - It Was Destined To Happen

They accused him of being a racist, islamophobe, xenophobe, male chauvinist pig, and what not. Media, which did not hide its loyalty to Hillary Clinton, demonized him. They lined up women, one of them porn stars, to accuse him of misbehaving with them, and they even dug out some old tapes to stigmatize him. The left-leaning media, headed by the New York Times, published editorial columns exhorting the people not to vote for him. They published what they called pre-poll survey results, in which they blissfully predicted Hilary Clinton's landslide victory and derived great pleasure out of their false predictions. They even went to the extent of frightening the people that if they elect Trump the consequences would be apocalyptic.

In spite of their 'leave no stone turned' efforts, Trump triumphed and Hillary humbled. The left liberals, who went all guns blazing against Trump, bit the dust. The scaremongers were overwhelmed. And the people, especially the toiling masses, who are concerned about their nation's deteriorating economy and the impending danger of radical Islam, showed their anger through ballots and delivered a decisive verdict.

The left-liberals, back in India, made umpteen comparisons between Narendra Modi and Donald Trump.
They feel that they both subscribe to similar kind of right-wing ideologies that are equally dangerous to the pluralistic ethos of the world. However, in their over enthusiasm to be the defenders of liberalism they often act like terror apologists and don't leave any opportunity to aid the growth of radical Islam. However, all these liberals miserably failed in gauging the anger of the common man, whom they derisively call as 'cattle class', and gave excessive weightage to the views of the elite opinion makers. They never stop throwing stones at Modi and Trump and, while doing so, they invariably fail to realize the fact that politicians such as Modi and Trump are supremely astute and they have the innate knack to use all the stones thrown at them to build stairs for their political ascent.

The left-liberals, in their over enthusiasm to promote their outdated ideology, keep raving and ranting without realizing the fact that the world has taken a 'right turn' long ago. Donald Trump's victory proves that the 'right turn' is indeed irreversible and the humanity will continue to move forward in the same direction. Because the people realized, though a bit late, that the left-liberal ideology will only make this world a precarious place to live, by giving more than enough leeway to the terrorists and other anti-social elements.

Now, what next? Will Trump declare a crusade against Muslims? Will he drive all the immigrants out of the US? Will he impose curbs on women and dehumanize them? Will he unleash a tempest of Islamophobic, xenophobic sentiments to trigger widespread riots and unrest all across the world as predicted by the left-liberals? It is highly unlikely. They said the same when Modi was inching nearer to 7, Race Course Road. However, nothing of that sort happened. In fact, people are happy with Modi's corruption free governance.

We can reasonably expect that the same will happen even in the US. Under Trump, the US may grow stronger and his leadership may contribute to the further strengthening of the Indo-US bilateral ties and cooperation.

To conclude, the liberals should stop crying over Trump's victory and realize the fact that the world has taken an irreversible 'right' turn. Unfortunately, their rant has not stopped even after people delivered their decisive verdict. They carried out protest demonstrations against Trump and they even have the audacity to declare that Trump is not their president. Somebody should remind them the phrase "Vox Populi, Vox Dei", which means "the voice of the people is the voice of God." It is amply clear that their cause has run out of steam and frustration started haunting them. But they don't have any other option except accepting the truth and reconciling themselves to it.

To read more articles by the same author visit his blog: http://www.pensivewebizen.in
 
 

 


 

 
 
 

WMD In Iraq, Was Bush Correct?

Today, everyone jokes about the Bush Administration's claim that Saddam Hussein had Weapons of Mass Destruction (WMD). We hear things all the time about "yellow cake" and how the CIA and intelligence agencies supposedly lied that Saddam was trying to get Uranium to enrich. Somehow the narrative of WMD changed definitions in the left-leaning media to mean "nuclear" weapons of mass destruction, not biological or chemical WMD.

The other day, I read another report from a Think Tank that stated; "Congress believed the so-called WMD 'lies' too, long before Bush. In fact, British Intelligence still stands by the story."

This hardly surprises me, because we now know that the WMD (chemical weapons) left Iraq three days before we entered Baghdad, a Russian Convoy took them across into Syria, some actually made it to Libya, which is why the Bush Administration noted the axis of evil and three more countries were later added.
Gaddafi immediately realized he was next and made a deal with the Bush Administration to come clean.

British Intelligence did get it right, still have it right. It's just now WMD meant radioactive material in the media, but we know Saddam had chemical weapons, mostly because we sold them the chemicals to use against the Iranians in that long war they had. I think if more folks would stop with the sound bites and TV Cable political rhetoric and read up on this stuff things would sure be a lot better.

How do we know Iraq had WMD? Simple, we know this because we sold it to them to use against the Iranians in the Iraq-Iran war. Chemical weapons that is, and they had some left-over and created some too.

It's not hard to make the stuff, Iraq had weapon scientists too, some even came over after the Fall of the Soviet Union, bioweapon specialists. There isn't anything secret about any of this, and the two presidents didn't say that, Obama did before elected but he wasn't privy to any of this and lies about everything anyway.
President Bush knew he couldn't prove the Yellow Cake thing after the Spanish intelligence blew the Niger yellow cake story out of proportion. Libya ended up with some of that WMD too, and did you see how fast Gadhafi capitulated when we found out, he practically made a deal to come clean whatever we asked to the Russian's chagrin.

Anyway, maybe it's time we stop playing games with media quotes, especially out of context, one can't have it both ways, one can't cite the media when it suits them then call it all lies and condemn it when it doesn't - there is no honor to that behavior. If we keep rewriting history, we won't learn from it, and thus, we will be doomed to repeat it.

Lance Winslow has launched a new provocative series of eBooks on Future Military Technologies. Lance Winslow is a retired Founder of a Nationwide Franchise Chain, and now runs the Online Think Tank; http://www.worldthinktank.net.



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Royal Raider: Mahmud of Hazni

Introduction

Indian history is a history of invasions, particularly from the North West Frontier. Here the high Hindu Kush Mountains formed an impregnable barrier, but some passes through these mountains made it easy to enter the rich and fertile plains of India. The most famous of these passes is the Khyber pass that connects India (now Pakistan) to Afghanistan and Central Asia., This pass has been the conduit for innumerable invasions of the fertile plains of India. Unfortunately as brought out by Field Marshal Viscount Montgomery in his " History of Warfare", these passes were never guarded by the Hindu rulers of India, who really lacked strategic sense regarding the guarding of these important passes.

These passes, notably the Khyber Pass was the conduit of the first invasion of India by the Muslims and the royal raider who first crossed this path was Mahmud of Ghazni. He was the first Muslim conqueror who rode into India and all along he displayed a shrewdness that stood him in good stead. In fact, now we can analyze and say that he followed Clausewitz Principles of war and was thus immensely successful. Mahmud of Ghazni never established an empire in India, content to loot the Indian temples and lay waste the countryside, as he moved into India in a number of invasions of the sub-continent

A Royal Raider

Mahmud of Ghazni remains an enigmatic figure. His character envelopes two distinct aspects of life. On one side he was a despotic raider, who looted the temples and the people and on the other side he was a man who patronized the arts and made Ghazni not only a beautiful city but also the center of Islamic scholarship, fine arts, and culture.

Ghazni was born in 971 and right from his younger days received Islamic education and had a fair knowledge of the Koran as well as the Hadiths. He belonged to the Yamini dynasty, which claimed its lineage from the Persian rulers. He was perhaps destined for greatness as by 994 CE he had made his mark as a ruler. He was only 23 years old at that time. His authority was recognized by all at that time and he has conferred titles like Amin-ul-Millat (protector of People) and Yamin-Ud -Daula (right hand of the empire).

When Mahmud assumed these titles he was fired with a zeal that now historians have recognized as an attempt to establish the glory of Islam. It is worth quoting the Muslim historian in the court of Mahmud named Utbi, who has stated that the aim of Mahmud was to end idol worship and spread Islam, perhaps to a point it may be true, but does not explain how and why he looted the Hindu temples for their wealth. Obviously, he was a man who wanted riches and this is something not compatible with Islamic thought. Yet he looted the temples for their wealth.

As per the historian Henry Eliot in a span of 27 years, Mahmud invaded India 17 times. The primary purpose of these raids was not to spread Islam but loot the temples. He looted the temples of Nagarkot and Mathura after he had defeated the Hindu king Jayapala. His most famous loot was the temple of Somnath, which he stripped, bare and carried away the riches to his native Ghazni.

Ghazni as a Soldier and a Man

Mahmud of Ghazni is certainly one of the great captains of war. he defeated most of the Hindu kings of that period by the dint of his ability. He showed that he had courage and strength which when combined with a sharp brain makes for a lethal combination. He was also a shrewd general and at times left the battlefield to avoid a defeat. In fact, this was the reason he did not face the force of Bhoj in 1026 CE as he suspected he would be defeated.

In a few battles, Mahmud just scraped through by the skin of his teeth like in the battle with Baji Ray of Bhatinda in 1005 CE and against Anandpala in 1008-9 CE. It must be conceded that Mahmud was a great motivator and shrewd judge of the situation and on innumerable occasions led his men to victory just by his example. He combined religious zeal with economic motivation and fired his soldiers who followed him blindly.

It is a tribute to Mahmud that he converted his small kingdom into an empire that stretched from the Caspian to the North of India. Mahmud was not interested in establishing an empire in India, content to loot and plunder the wealth of India.

Mahmud no doubt looted India, but he took craftsmen from India to his native Ghazni and erected lovely mosques and places of learning. Ghazni flourished under Mahmud and it is worth remembering that his realm was more extensive than the empire of Khalifa of Baghdad.

Some reports suggest that Mahmud was, despite being a devout Muslim. His favorite homosexual lover was Malik Ayaz, a Georgian slave. Homosexuality is completely forbidden in Islam.Malik Ayaz was beholden to Mahmud and from a slave, he rose to be the governor of Lahore, which had been captured by Mahmud after a long siege. His tomb is still in Lahore.

Mahmud of Ghazni had also 9 wives, dozens of concubines as well as male slaves. in all probability he was bisexual. This fact is now overlooked by most historians of that era.

Last Word

Mahmud passed away in 1030 CE. He left behind 5 sons, but they were unequal to retaining the empire and within a short time, the empire of Mahmud of Ghazni disintegrated. In fact, the last 4 years of his life were spent in fighting invasions from other Turks in Central Asia. By 1040 his son Masud was defeated at the Battle of Dandanaqan, resulting in loss of most of the western territories to the Seljuks. These were the last gasps of the Ghazni Empire.

Mahmud, however, will be remembered as a great general and for central Asian nations, he is an icon. His tomb is a tourist attraction. Perhaps Mahmud was so intent on his campaigns that he never laid the edifice of a stable administrative framework and that led to the collapse of his empire, but as a soldier who fought battles over hundreds of miles and showed his military prowess, he perhaps is to be rated just a shade below Changez Khan.
 
 
 
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Flotsam and Jetsam

Nothing, utterly nothing has an exact twin. There are no two things in the universe which are exactly the same (except maybe photons and their cousins; but they're relatively hard to nail down). Nevertheless, now and then you run across word twins like Flotsam and Jetsam. Now and then. Nook and cranny. Spick and span. Vim and vigor. Peanut butter and jelly. Nuts and bolts. Odds and ends. Bells and whistles. Scotch and soda.

You would think from high school biology class that xylem and phloem, i.e., tree guts, are the same thing, but no! (Look it up). How many writers have jammed the phrase "Flotsam and Jetsam " into a clichéd glob? FlotsamandJetsam. FlotsamandJetsam. For pete's sake! The two do not mean the same thing! Picture yourself aboard a sinking ship. Jetsam is stuff you pitch over the side to lighten the ballast to keep yourself afloat longer. Flotsam is what your buddies find washing ashore later. The fact that you can ask important and intelligent questions about the two words proves that there are differences.

Does jetsam become flotsam after an expiration period?

Now, picture a couple persons in a small leaky dingy, bailing like hades with a couple #10 coffee cans. Does bailed water pitched over the side count as jetsam? It certainly couldn't be flotsam.

Was Navy Lieutenant John F. Kennedy considered jetsam when he jumped over the side of rammed and sinking PT-109?

If a bozo second mate snags a floating bottle of ship's medicinal brandy bobbing by as the ship is foundering, empties the contents, belches, then thoughtlessly lobs the bottle back into the sea, does the bottle count as flotsam, or jetsam? What about the bottle's former contents six minutes later after biological processing, especially if the men's room is inaccessible because of being flooded shut? If that second mate can't swim and plummets to the sea bed, is he at any point either jetsam or flotsam? Answer: depends if he fell off the ship in a stupor, or was unceremoniously heaved off by the first mate or captain, either of whom may or may not have also helped themselves to something in the ship's medicine locker.

Another curious situation: the husband who got "accidentally" bumped over the rail of a sinking ship, because the long-suffering wife had been looking for such an opportunity, is clearly jetsam. The wife might evolve into flotsam in a few days, hopefully closer to land. Alfred Hitchcock already wrote that one, I think.

The grand question here is, once the ship itself goes down, which twin is it?

Why on earth or at sea did the gods of language create so many twinsy words like Flotsam and Jetsam? Almost certainly because essays like this will employ one bachelor-degreed graduate in philosophy or English for a whole month, and that can't be too bad a thing.

[To be published as part of "Captain [OF] America," 2017, by Rod A. Walters]
 
 
 
 
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Things To Avoid When Enrolling In Clinical Sports Massage Courses

A lot of individuals are seeking for stable and high paying jobs. However, due to the increasing number of applicants, landing a job can be difficult. Thankfully, more and more industries thrive today which can help you such as the health industry.

When talking about health, most individuals think of professionals seen on clinics and hospitals. However, some health professionals can also offer their services to athletes by completing clinical sports massage courses. But, before becoming a professional massage therapist, you need to look for the right courses. To help you, below are some things you need to avoid when enrolling in such course.

Not assessing the institution's credibility

One of the things individuals need to avoid when enrolling in clinical sports massage courses is not assessing the institution's credibility. As of now, there are numerous institutions that offer different types of massage courses. However, some of these institutions cannot provide the best courses since they are not accredited by organizations. Apart from that, some institutions only offer basic trainings which can limit their students. So, it is best to check credibility first before enrolling.

Forgetting to check training courses

The next factor individuals need to know when enrolling in massage courses like clinical sports is must not forget to check training methods offered. In order to attain the skills and knowledge in massage, it is imperative that you enroll in effective training courses. Sadly, most individuals focus on simply getting a diploma on such course to find jobs. As a result, they cannot provide the best services to their clients when they work. Therefore, it is best to check training courses and determine if these courses can match your
needs.

Neglecting expertise of instructors

It is also imperative for individuals not to neglect the expertise of instructors. Surely, institutions may provide effective training courses. However, these courses are quite hard to understand since instructors do not have the right teaching methods. Because of this, individuals will have difficulties in understanding lessons. Thus, individuals must also evaluate instructors. In this way, they can find effective courses.

Not asking about training options

Finally, it is also a must to ask about training options. As of now, with regard to training course, providers offer different options. For one, you can learn in classrooms from professional therapists. Next, some institutions can offer hands-on experience by organizing events in nearby locations. And, individuals can also find training courses online. Unfortunately, some individuals do not know these options since they forget to ask course providers.

These are only some of the factors individuals need to be aware of when searching for clinical massage courses.

Click here for more.

SchoolOfNaturalTherapies is an institution that offers a wide selection of massage courses. These courses are handled by professional therapists. As a result, students are rest assured that they can attain the best skills and knowledge. To know more, go to this site.
 
 

 


 
 
 

Give the Gift of Presence: How to Improve Trust With Your Team and Clients

I was sitting in my doctor's office. She'd just done an exam for causes of my vertigo (fortunately benign) and was speedily typing her notes into the computer.

A little hesitantly, I said, "I forgot, I have another question". She immediately stopped typing, and swiveled her chair to face me, expectant. I asked my question, and after fully answering it, she turned back to the computer.

Wow, I thought. That was an awesome example of presence. I felt seen. I felt heard. I felt important to her.
That kind of presence has unfortunately become more rare in the business world, as we all feel pressed for time. We all have many tugs on our attention and time.

How often do you see people attending a meeting and instead of listening to the person speaking, they're staring at their laps? They've tucked their phones out of sight and are busily texting.

As the speaker, how do you feel when you look out and see people not paying attention? How do you feel about those who are looking at you and listening actively?

Our focused attention and engagement, our presence, affects how people see us.

The times we spend together are an opportunity. Like Ralph Waldo Emerson, "what you do screams so loudly that I can't hear what you say". It's not enough to tell someone they're important to you. You have to show them.

When you choose to pay close attention when you're with someone, you're sending a message that they are important to you, that they are valued.

You build trust and connection when you offer customers, team members, vendors, and colleagues the gift of your presence. They know that they are appreciated.

This kind of sincere connection can't be faked. It has to be sincere.

No matter what you've done before, you can change right now, in an instant. In the next interaction you have, you can choose to be fully present.

As a leader (and you are!), your presence lifts people up, leaving them feeling a little bit better about themselves.

Your presence makes a big difference. Make the people connected with your business feel they matter by the extraordinary power of presence.

Ursula Jorch, MSc, MEd, mentors entrepreneurs starting their businesses and seasoned entrepreneurs in transition to create the business of their dreams. Her coaching programs provide knowledge, support, clarity, inspiration, and a community of like-minded entrepreneurs to empower you to reach your goals. Start with a free guide and other valuable info at http://www.WorkAlchemy.com.
 
 
 
 
 
 

Knee Replacement Surgery Facts: What Happens Before, During and After Knee Arthroplasty?

Over a period of time, due to advancing age or injury, the knees lose their flexibility. As a result, it becomes painful for people to bend their knees due to accompanying inflammation and pain. The mobility becomes further restricted and the pain increases when the cartilage between the two knees wears out with age.

The bad condition of the knee joint and the surrounding cartilage make it difficult for people to move, thus hindering their performance in conducting daily activities. If nothing is done to rectify the condition, the situation only worsens, becoming more painful and difficult.

In such cases, surgery is often recommended as the first line of treatment, most commonly after there is no relief from pain from medications and physiotherapy. It is estimated that more than 90 percent of the patients benefit from the procedure.

During knee replacement, the knee joints that get damaged because of injury or osteoarthritis are replaced with mechanical implants. The doctors may decide to conduct a total knee replacement or partial knee replacement, depending on the condition of the knee.

Patients suffering from osteoarthritis of the knee are often surrounded by a number of questions, especially related to whether they should undergo knee replacement or not or if there is any other alternative line of treatment. Some of these common questions that a patient advised to undergo knee replacement typically have are discussed below.

Question 1: Is total knee replacement the only solution to get relief from osteoarthritis pain?

No, total knee replacement is not the only option to get relief from pain. However, 90 percent of all knee-related surgeries include total knee replacement. The other options that you may opt for include partial knee replacement, minimally invasive knee replacement, physical therapy and pain control using drugs and ointments.

In case of partial knee replacement, the surgeon just cuts out the part of the knee damaged and replaced it with mechanical implants. The rest of the knee is left in its natural form. It requires smaller incisions and recovery is quick.

However, this minimally invasive form of surgery is performed only by a handful of specialized doctors. In addition, there is a risk that the osteoarthritis may return in the part of the knee, left by the doctors in its natural form. This may require further surgical intervention in the future.

On the other hand, minimally invasive form of total knee replacement is a newer form of technique that allows surgeons to replace knees without making a larger incision. It results in less damage to the tissues, minimal scarring and quicker recovery time. However, the long-term benefits of this technique are still being researched.

Osteoarthritis patients are often prescribed medications, physical therapy and exercises at the primary level. Knee replacement is recommended only when there is no relief from these techniques or when the movement is totally restricted because of severe pain and inflammation.

Question 2: What are the complications associated with the procedure?

Knee replacement surgery is considered as a safe procedure. Only a fraction of patients experience complications after knee replacement. One of the most common surgical complication is the occurrence of an infection post surgery. However, so far it has affected only 2 percent of the patients.

Other complications may include blood clots, damage to the blood vessels and surrounding tissue, recurring pain and rejection of the implant or a defect in it.

Question 3: How much time does it take to recover?

Despite hospitals and surgeons claiming that an osteoarthritis patient is able to walk normally within a week of operation, it may take several weeks for the patients to recover from the surgery.

Soon after total knee replacement, patients are advised to undergo a combination of physical and occupational therapy at the hospital itself. The therapy may continue for days after the patient is discharged from the hospital. Typically, a total knee replacement patient is required to stay in the hospital for three to five days after the surgery.

The patients start to walk or stand, with the help of a walker or without support, when they leave the hospital. The rehabilitation and recovery continues for at least two months after the surgery. Along with occupational and physical therapy, some set of exercises is often recommended to be performed at home for quick recovery.

By the end of eight weeks, the patients are expected to stand and walk properly without any support and resume doing household work. However, recovery could be slow in some patients. Patients are often asked to avoid squatting and complete bending of the knee.

Question 4: What exactly happens during knee replacement surgery?

During the knee replacement surgery, the surgeon encases the shin bone with plastic and the thigh bone with a metal casing. All this is done under the influence of general anesthesia. Prosthetic implant is then used to replace the worn out, irregular surface of the knee bone.

The surface under the knee cap is also replaced with plastic. This is done to ensure smoother movement of the joints after the surgery and to reduce pain. Overall, the surgery includes removal of some natural cartilage and bone.

Either cement or some other material is used to join the artificial parts or implants with the shin bone, thigh bone and knee cap. After setting, the artificial parts form joints that depend on the surrounding ligaments and muscles for support and proper functioning.

Question 5: Am I eligible for knee replacement?

You are eligible for knee replacement surgery if you are above 50 years of age and suffer from severe arthritis of the knee. The conditions should be so severe and painful that makes it impossible for you to stand or walk properly or hinder with the daily routine of activities.

Patients with damaged knees due to an accident, with no gap between the knees and those with severely restricted movement are perfect candidates for this type of surgery.

Question 6: Is it a safe procedure?

Knee replacement has been there as an option for more than four decades now. It is a safe procedure, however, like all other surgeries, it has risks too. Apart from blood clots, infection and bleeding, there are certain things that the surgeon should pay particular attention to while performing the surgery.

Some of these concerns include:
  • Pieces of bone marrow or fat entering the bloodstream during the surgery pose a serious risk. These tiny pieces can enter other organs such as lungs and cause serious problems.
  • Pressing of the nerves may cause numbness.
  • The artificial parts or implants can break inside the body or become loose.
  • Other bones may also break if pressurized during surgery.
All these complications during knee replacement may result in longer hospital stay and recovery time. The patient may even lose his or her life if proper care is not taken to limit the infection and bleeding or to stop the formation and circulation of blood clots.

Question 7: What happens after knee join replacement?

You are expected to take occupational and physical therapy after knee replacement. In addition, you should completely avoid twisting or pivoting the leg in question for at least six weeks. Kneeling and squatting should also be avoided and you should try to keep your knee as straight as possible when lying down in bed.

You should follow all guidelines to reduce knee replacement recovery time. Remember, not following any of the recommended guidelines may increase your recovery time and can also lead to dislocation of the joint.

You are also required to avoid stair climbing, playing with the pets and falls during the recovery period. The doctor must be consulted before resuming back to normal routine activities, including sexual activity, driving, exercising and gym.

Question 8: How long does the new joint last?

Knee replacement surgery started to take place during the 1970s. Around that time, the average year of the replaced joint was considered to be around 10 years.

However, with advances in medical sciences, artificial joints with different average lifespans are now available. More than 80 percent of the joints replaced nowadays have a lifespan of more than 20 years. This has been made possible by improvements in the artificial joint material and the material used to join them with the bones.

The cost of knee replacement surgery depends on the life of the implant, the duration of stay at the hospital, the fees of the doctor, the country and the type of hospital you are deciding to get operated in.
http://www.webmd.com/osteoarthritis/guide/knee-replacement-surgery#3-8
http://www.healthline.com/health/total-knee-replacement-surgery
 
 
 
 

Is Your Handbag Playing With Your Health?

Many of us are unaware that handbags can cause illness. A handbag can house millions of germs and dangerous bacteria that can cause skin diseases, breathing problems and even stomach infections.

Let's see what are the things that can make handbags unhealthy:

1. Carrying Used Napkins Can Cause Diseases

Carrying used tissue papers, sponges, wipes and napkins in a handbag can cause skin and respiratory diseases. There is no point of re-using tissue papers. It is better to discard the napkins and tissue papers immediately after a single usage. Washable cloth napkin should go into a laundry basket rather than remaining in a handbag.

2. Cosmetics

Cosmetics often carry germs. It is best to wash make up brushes and clean cosmetics after each use. Take out unnecessary cosmetics from the handbag.

3. Chunks Of Eatables

Keeping eatables in a handbag while on the go is not a bad idea. It is good to have something to eat to get rid of growling belly and hunger drive. Always make sure to keep a container for all eatables or a plastic bag, to ensure that the bag is free from food chunks and bacteria. You can discard the plastic bag or wash the container, on reaching home.

4. Heavy Contents

It is important to take out useless items from a handbag. Keeping unnecessary things makes handbag heavy. There is no reason of suffering from aching shoulder because of unwanted items. It is ideal to keep separate bags for shopping, job, party and long journeys. Using a single bag for multiple purposes will only add unnecessary items, thus, adding extra weight on your shoulder.

5. Mobile Gadgets

Mobile phones and gadgets often house germs and bacteria. So always keep your handset and gadgets clean. A recent research reveals that a mobile phone contains more bacteria than a toilet bowl. Using mobile phones and portable gadgets with clean hands can reduce the risk. Always wash hands immediately after eating or using a phone. This prevents digestive and skin diseases.

6. Unhygienic wallet

Currency notes and coins come from hand to hand. Many people might have touched the money before it get our wallet. It is necessary to wash hands immediately after handling cash and coins.

Prevent Injuries, Infections And Diseases

Always be careful how you place items in your handbag. Organizing your possessions can prevent injuries. It is wise to organize things in different pouches and labeling them, to get the required item easily without any fuss. Place sharp items properly to avoid any injury or accident.

Women carry their handbags when ever they step out of their dwellings. Handbags contain almost everything that they consider useful while away from home. Usually, a lady's handbag contains things like; cosmetics, medicines, mobile phone, charger, data cable, flash drive, eatables, napkins, small towel, mirror, wallet, credit card, contact cards, ID card, passport, keys, gloves, sun glasses, contact lenses etc. You name it and it is there!
 
 
 
 

Benefits Of Pine Pollen

Pine pollen is a powerful herb obtained from a pine tree. Some individuals and companies make the powder out of the pollen. This makes it easy for people to take it. There are plenty of benefits that come with pollen powder. These benefits include:

Rich in Phyto-Androgens

Two of the popular Phyto-androgens are Gibberellins and brassinosteroids. Gibberellins are similar to testosterone in structure and are heavily used in the first stages of germination. Professionals have found out that Gibberellins mimic testosterone thus stimulate the production of androgen. The Phyto androgens have also been found to regulate the action on the prostate. The sterol component of gibberellins regulates the size of the prostate. If the prostate is too big, it shrinks and vice versa. The brassinosteroids aid in removing xenobiotic substances from the liver thus keeping you healthier.

Beauty

The product is not only ideal for men-it's also ideal for women. Experts have found out that the pollen supports elastin and collagen. To take advantage of this, you should apply it externally on your skin. You can also take it internally where you get to benefit from the vitamins, amino acids, minerals, and antioxidants that it contains.

Hotbed of amino acids, vitamins, and minerals

Pine pollen is a complete protein source as it contains all of the essential amino acids and many others. Some of these amino acids include: Alanine, Arginine, Asparic acid, Histidine, Serine, Proline, Phenylalanine, Leucine, threonine and many others. It also contains plenty of vitamins such as vitamin A, B1, B2, B3, B6 B9, beta carotene, and many others. When it comes to minerals, it contains magnesium, potassium, calcium, manganese, selenium and many trace elements.

How to take pine pollen

There is plenty of information on how to take the pollen. Some people advise that you place the pollen under your tongue so that it gets absorbed directly into your system. While this method is effective, experts have reported that it puts you in great danger of developing cancer of the digestive system. According to scientists, the best way of taking the pollen is diluting it in one or two cups of water and drinking it. This way you don't put a lot of pressure on your tongue and still get some of the pollen absorbed directly into your body without going through the digestive system.

Conclusion

These are some of the benefits that come with pine pollen. Some people have developed reactions from taking it; therefore, to avoid complications you should always consult your doctor before you take the pollen.
We have high quality Pine pollen powder that you can use to get the benefits mentioned above. In addition to the pollen, we also have he shou wu extract and many other products. Visit the given links to know more.
 
 
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Homeless at Christmas

Can you think of anything more dreadful than being homeless at Christmas? Walking cold wet streets with no-one to go to, nobody that cares whether you live or die, permanently hungry, wondering if you will find a bed for the night. No wonder many are turning to drugs and alcohol. Maybe a side benefit of ending homelessness and reducing prison intake would be to get these people off the streets, re-house and re-educate them before they turn to a life of crime. It is no wonder we need more police!

Sleeping in cold wet doorways must be unbearable at any time of the year but at Christmas everyone is heading "home" to enjoy the friendship, good food and warmth with their friends and loved ones.

"The Salvation Army" and many other organizations do what they can to help the needy, homeless, and neglected members of society and do a great job, but it is the 21st century and one would expect a solution for homelessness to have been found; but no, the problem is getting worse with a growing number of street dwellers and the hidden number of sofa sleepers that are only a breath away from homelessness. Hundreds of homeless roam the streets of our towns.

The government is failing to provide enough dwellings for people. The housing crisis is growing daily, as is the decline of many of the "private lets". Spurred on by the crisis of lack of affordable accommodation, rogue landlords are cashing in on the demand for housing for the needy and are taking advantage of them.
What solution is available? Would you believe there are ranges of eco-friendly dwellings in the pipeline, designed with low running costs, by a number of companies, they are affordable and could be used by councils to rent to the needy, they could also be offered to increase the capacity of private dwellings. All we need is cooperation from the government to give the OK and support. What are they waiting for - the crisis to grow to experiential numbers of homeless, creating crimes for survival in their harsh reality. Who can blame them for submitting to the numbing effects of drugs and alcohol to lessen their pain and frustration.
Or consider the aged confined to hospital after illness or falls when their family live too far away to care for them. Eco-friendly extensions to the family home could solve this and give the elderly a certain amount of independence and dignity whilst making it convenient for relatives to help. More strain on the NHS trying to arrange home care.

Just announced, council tax bills are about to rise by 3% to cover the social care costs as an emergency sticking plaster tactic, when with an overhaul system reform, the whole housing crisis could be addressed.
If you would like to add your signature to the petition for more housing, we appreciate your help, and that of your friends and colleagues. Help us to gain one million signatures for the government to see we mean business. The whole country could benefit including the street dwellers.

Thank you!

http://you.38degrees.org.uk/petitions/solving-the-housing-crisis-together
 
 
 
 

Hush Lil Birdie

Hush Lil Birdie Matahari rendah di udara berjemur di taman dalam cahaya keemasan; Kolam bersinar seperti madu dan pepohonan mulai terlihat ...