Booze and Pub related stuff nobody tells you about, until now!

For years, me and the wife had had dreams of setting up a bar in our house, obviously not a real bar, but one that we could prop up and to entertain our guests when we had a celebration or party. The first attempts were dismal failures. We had almost given up, when one day we managed to get a nice teak home bar for £50 from Ebay. Finally, maybe the gods of beer were smiling upon us. When we put it in our front room, we discovered that even so we had this nice looking teak home bar, it kind of looked like a shop counter, not the boozy bar we had always desired. How could we get the corner of our room looking the part? Would this cost us an arm and a leg? From some searches of the web, we found that some of the much needed dressing was quite expensive. Was there another way?

Of course there was, and as the saying goes, where theres a will, theres a way! I asked about to all and sundry, did they know where I could acquire the stuff I was after? All anyone ever said was ask in your local Pubs to see if they had any surplus or old stuff going begging they no longer needed, or “borrow” items, like pub ashtrays, glasses, beer mats and so on (We do not condone stealing anything from any public house, this method is not acquiring free stuff, its theft, plain and simple) While these methods might get you a few items, it wasn’t going to net you any great stuff in a short time.

I needed to populate my bar with brewriana as soon a I could as Christmas was fast approaching, so I came up with this tried and tested way of my new hobby of being a brewriana collector. (As you probably know all things beer, drink, pub and bar related collectibles is known as brewriana)

THE BLAG

It was simple, I would politely ask as many drinks manufacturers, breweries and pub suppliers for anything that they may have that they could send me! Yup, you read it, I would ask nicely. Simple as it was, I then looked to the net for the details of as many as I could. There were hundreds!

If I had had to send letters to ask, the postage alone would have cost me in excess of £100 easily, so I opted for the cheaper and easier way. Email. So I figured, it wouldn’t cost a penny to email them as opposed to sending loads of letters through the royal mail, but I then realised, I would have to write hundreds of emails instead! Time consuming or what?

No, not at all, here’s how I did it.

I wrote a catch all message on notepad basically saying that I had a new home bar, and that I would like to ask if they could send me anything that would make it more pub like. I never personalised the message to target any one type of manufacturer, or company, just kept it nice and generic. Any how, here’s my original message, Although, you could use the same one that I did, try and be a bit original and create your own, you don’t know how many others before you may have used mine (Not to mention, me!) so create your own as if its been used a lot, it will definitely ruin your chances of getting anything.

Hi there, I’d just like to make an enquiry, I am currently making a home bar in my house and are trying to find some drinks advertising posters/beer mats/advertising to add to it just to make it feel like a real pub (Its only little though!) I was wondering if I could request some such advertising from you about your products, or anything else you could spare to help me make my home pub dream come true! I know it is a bit cheeky asking, but hopefully you could help me fulfill my dream! If it possible, my details are: (Your details go here) Thanks, all the best, (Your name here)

This is what I used for 95% of all the email enquiries I made to the 300+ places I enquired to, sometimes changing the text slightly to personalise it to the particular place. I advise you, if you are going to use this method to blog, make sure that you save the original text in a simple notepad type program in a place you can find it, so you can copy and paste the text to the body of your email. Of course you will have to type the subject line each time you send one, mine usually said “An enquiry?” (How else do you ask without sounding brash and undeserving?)

FIND YOUR TARGETS!

Next, to find the possible targets to canvas for your blog campaign. If you were to search for each and everyone of the breweries and drinks firms in your geographic region, you would take months. So look for sites that list as many of the ones you need, save the sites in your faves so you can come back to it regularly. I am in the UK, so I went primarily to UK companies, but this method of blog will work where ever you are, just use target companies in your country or near abouts, as if you contact other ones in different countries, you probably will have little or no luck (trust me, I tried quite a few European ones and had hardly any response) Make sure the ones your contacting have an office or contact address in your own country, as they will be more likely to respond with what you are after. Some of the sites that I used are: http://beerme.com, which has great global brewery links, http://www.thepublican.com , a great UK one, for people in the trade, outside of the UK though, it may be limited of use, and this great one for real ale & micro breweries, http://www.quaffale.org.uk/php/brewery_links.php again, more for the UK, but with a bit of searching around for similar listing sites in your own country, I’m sure you will dig up loads of similar sites that will suit your purpose. Also search out the printing companies who print the bar runners and drip mats for the companies, more than often they will send you a load of random samples if you ask nice!

RESULT

Within a few days of contacting the first few, I was surprised at the response, soon enough sets of pint glasses were arriving, tons of beer mats, bar runners, posters, flyers, point of sale advertising stuff and much much more started to flood through my door each day. I can say it kept the postie busy! I had very few that turned me down, and those who did tended to be the bigger companies who you would have thought would be able to spare a bit of the advertising crap they sell their products with (Not to name names, Coca-cola, Pepsi, Coors, Fosters and some other big firms told me that if I wanted stuff, to visit their online shop. Skinflints!) It would be ridiculous to assume that every single one would oblige, but I estimate at least 65-75% of all I contacted, sent me something or offered to if I sent a SAE. That is why, the amount of places you must contact is as many as you can find. This may take a few days to contact the most companies (It took me 3-4 days to canvas 300+) but this way will ensure that you will receive plenty of stuff. I can assure you, this does work 100%, follow my method and you will not fail.

THINGS TO BEAR IN MIND

Many breweries and companies now will not give some items away (Such as pump clips) this is because of greedy collectors in the past, taking advantage of blogs like mine, but instead of keeping the stuff, they sold on the things they got for inflated prices to other collectors. After catching on to this, the companies stopped giving stuff like that away and many now sell pump clips instead. If you are attempting this blog, make sure that you don’t get greedy and try to get more than you really need, if too many people get greedy then they probably will not give stuff out anymore, and we don’t want that. Also make sure from your emails, you don’t sound like a professional collector, or even worse, a private dealer. If they suspect this, then you will be refused. Always remember too that manners cost nothing. Always be polite in your dealings, as many of the companies keep your details on their mailing lists and sometimes send parcels of new promotional items when a new one is released or new drink is launched. Please bear in mind that patience is a virtue, and it may take a long time for some to get back to you, some you may think have ignored your message and will not be sending a thing, only to discover two months later a parcel at your door from said company. Do not feel the need to send repeated mailings to blag further. Once is plenty, if they say no, go to the next. So, there you go, a totally tried and tested method to getting free Brewriana goodies, try it for your self and see for yourself, and remember, mines a pint!

Does Death Come Without Warning?

Edgar Cayce expressed it best – in a trance, the psychic stated, “.. with error entered that is called death, which is only a transition or through God’s other door into that realm where the entity has built, in its manifestations as related to the knowledge and activity respecting the law of the universal influence.”

“Dying is a process which begins before the soul takes leave of the body and in fact begins before any illness, accident, or happening which may cause physical death.” – Harvey A. Green

In sleep, the soul travels to realms outside the physical and material world. A time comes when in these travels, the spirit/soul departs in preparation of moving past this earthly life. It is a time when the soul travels between the two worlds-the earthly realm and the realm beyond. Death is an inevitable part of being born. In youth when life is full of dreams and health is excellent, who ponders death? Yet- in a moment, death can come knocking.

No one really knows what lies beyond death.

It is all speculation as to how and what the realm beyond death is like.There are no verifiable evidence of a dead person coming back to this life to share a glimpse, if that, of what life is after death. Contact with those who passed on are all based on personal experience, some are conducted at seance, where a medium claims the uncanny ability to make contact with those who are supposedly in the other realm.

There are volumes of books written about specific evidence that there is life beyond the gates of death. Religious or social beliefs, teachings, culture or tradition has not presented a concrete evidence of life after death. There are those who do not believe there is life beyond. Death is the end. These can only be subject to argument- they can neither be proved or disproved.

A Transition Zone

Death is a mystery. More mysterious is the question where do the dead go? Is there a life after death? What do us, living humans know about death? Is there such a place where life goes on after death in a totally different realm? Death is the end of a physical, material existence. There is a popular belief that at death, the dying person sees a playback of his /her life – success, failure, mistakes, relationships, a total sum of what their life was all about.

Rudolph Steiner writes: “our transition after death is like stepping into our own thoughts where we have existed all along. This is an inward step, so small, so natural; yet from a material perspective it is so abrupt, and so extreme. At the moment of change some of us are completely aware of what is happening, some of us only partly aware, and yet others totally unaware. Ultimately we meet and greet our own death with the same awareness and attention to detail we gave to our experiences in life.”

The transition zone is a place where the soul/spirit goes immediately after dying. This is a spiritual dimension where the soul gets a chance to adjust to what is beyond the physical death. This is believed to help the soul who is crossing over, avoid confusion and minimize the shock of dying as the soul enters a different realm and dimension. For some, it can be a hellish experience, but a temporary one. There are those who do not realize they died and passed on to another realm. It is like a dreamstate, where a dreamer is transported to a world not consistent with their waking reality.

Spiritual Perspective of Death

Some of us are afraid of death. It is human nature to cling on to life. Medical breakthrough makes it possible to prolong life. There are many cases where such measures are futile, the physical body becomes a prison. Yet- no one knows when the Grim Reaper will come calling. Life does have its ups and downs. Torment can plague a person in its very core. When it is too much to bear, a person commits suicide. Accidents have claimed many lives. Death is a road to one destination for all of mankind. What awaits us in that realm?

Is there a reality beyond death? Edgar Cayce and Rudolph Steiner believe there is a realm beyond the gates of death.While on earth, our reality is outwards. We clutter our lives, we develop attitudes that can be harmful. We stay further away from an inner reality, a spiritual perspective. Upon death, as the soul leaves the physical body, it reflects on the physical realm inwardly. These are the memories, relationships, activities and the clutter stored within which seem prominent at the first stage of dying.

In death, one steps into one’s thoughts, seemingly a small, natural step, yet from a material standpoint, it is extreme and abrupt. In time, the soul/spirit’s attention finds a different focus. For those who receive prayers from loved ones on earth, this is a time when it is needed the most.

The Borderland

Some writers refer to a realm, the borderland, found at the outer edge of the mental realms, where all the material aspect of life is manifest in its purest state. It is believed that the soul who gets here in this realm is definitely aware of a change, or awakening. Senses are sharper and more sensitive. The soul/spirit finds its true being. In this realm, one feels like one just emerged from a hazy daze. The surroundings are familiar- places, faces of people you’ve known who passed on before you, some unknown souls who may have shared some connection on earth.

The borderland is where a detailed review of one’s earthly life occurs, with clarity that was obscured while on earth.

Rudolph Steiner notes that there are beings around who provide protection from getting immersed in this emotional state and confusion. There is no limitation imposed by time or space in this realm, but this review process is gradual. This provides the healing that is needed. This process allows the soul to move on. There are regions in the valley of death where the departed travel as they ascend to the Eternal Light.There are Beings of Light who have always been around in that realm by their choice to provide guidance.

Death is indeed a celebration of life. Beyond its door is a good place- where illness, violence, anger, hatred and other negative human traits are not known to exist. There are souls who need to work on negative traits while on earth.

There is a belief that some souls/spirits choose to stay in solitude for undetermined length.There are souls/spirits who choose to be earthbound. There are others who choose to re-incarnate and plan their next life on earth. Edgar Cayce predicted that he will be back on earth in 200 years.

Gifted individuals who have a second sight or insight into life beyond the grave share their beliefs on what lies beyond the gates of death. These thoughts help to diminish the fear of dying and it is refreshing to have a glimpse of what awaits in the realm of eternity.

Psalm 23

The Lord is my Shepherd, I shall not want

He makes me lie down in green pastures. He leads me beside still waters.

He restores my soul, he leads me in paths of righteousness

for his name’s sake

Even though I walk through the valley of the shadow of death,

I will fear no evil for you are with me.

ref mat: research of Harvey A. Green

Edgar Cayce – Discourses

Rudolph Steiner

Emanuel Swedenborg

Harinder S Sandhu life afterdeath.info

Plastic debris is pouring into our oceans from every corner of the planet. The world's rivers carry an ever-increasing amount of empty bottles, wrappings, and a myriad of other discarded household items to the sea 24 hours a day. Sewers and storm drains exhale plastic bags, cigarette lighters, bottle caps, and other plastic litter from our streets and highways like an inexorable monster – a monster that is slowly killing our oceans and polluting the food we eat.

Plastic has filled our seas with terrifying speed. In just a few decades, our addiction to this revolutionary product has transformed our once pristine oceans into dumping grounds for plastic waste in every shape and form. You can go to almost any place in the world and see plastic littering the landscape – waiting for rains and winds to take it to the oceans, all the way to the delicate marine ecosystems. Plastic is everywhere and its presence in nature is growing fast.

When we throw plastic waste into nature, we may think that it just disappears somewhere and never bothers us again. We maybe believe that the story of plastic ends when we get rid of it. But the fact is that this is just the first chapter in its long and disturbing biography. Discarded plastic piles up on our beaches and pollutes the shores of even the remotest of natural paradises. It travels in the ocean currents and forms huge areas of plastic accumulations in the sea. It breaks down to smaller polymers and transforms itself into plastic soup, releasing high amounts of toxic chemicals into the ocean. The story continues and gets even darker when small marine organisms ingest these toxins and pass them on to fish – the fish that end up on our dinner plates. When we consume the fish, the last missing link in the destructive circle of plastic has found its place; the plastic bag we threw into nature has made its way back to bite us.

Plastic also kills marine life directly. Turtles, whales, seabirds, and numerous other animals mistake plastic for food and die a slow death with their stomachs full of indigestible litter. Hundreds of thousands – maybe even millions – of seabirds and marine mammals die each year from eating plastic. These animals are the defenseless and forgotten victims of our careless and inefficient treatment of plastic waste. They suffer and die is silence, far away from our eyes.

The plastic problem is getting worse by the hour. There are billions of new people coming into this world in the next few decades. Most of them will use plastic every day and many of them will throw it into nature once they are done with it. This plastic doesn't just disappear when the millions of bottles of water are consumed and the lighters and containers are empty. It outlives the people who discard it many times over. If you do the math, you will see that the equation is completely crazy. It is unsustainable at best, a terrifying and merciless Grim Reaper at worst.

Plastic is no doubt a great invention. It keeps our food fresh and lets us carry our drinks in shatter-resistant bottles. It is cheap, durable, and its imperiousness to water makes it useful in a wide range of products. It is a good and useful material and we shouldn't blame it solely for all the problems it creates. Plastic is not the main demon here. The real problem is our senseless and careless way of treating it when we don't need it anymore. We throw plastic bags and bottles into nature without thinking about the long-term negative effects our actions have on the planet. We don't recycle enough plastic, even if there is a growing demand for recycled materials in the world. We simply don't care enough to fix the problem. Maybe we are getting used to seeing plastic waste everywhere. Maybe we are getting numb to all the trash around us. Whatever the reason is for our inaction, we cannot continue like this. We have to change our attitudes and harmful ways if we want to keep our planet healthy and beautiful for our children and grandchildren. If we don't, we may soon discover that plastic waste has taken over the beauty and biodiversity of nature. We may find out that the once plentiful bounty of the sea has vanished and all that is left is a slowly dying ocean with ever-widening plastic deserts and growing toxic concentration.

The good news is that we can stop the destructive cycle of plastic and save our oceans if we want to. The problem is completely solvable. We can start by recycling more and simply stop throwing plastic into nature. We can pick up the plastic bag flying toward the ocean when we enjoy a nice day on the beach with our families. We can demand real action from our leaders and refuse to settle for an acknowledgment of the plastic problem with a vague promise to improve things. We can start educating more people about the harmful qualities of plastic and strongly condemn and penalize careless treatment of plastic waste. We can widen our vision and try to see beyond our immediate surroundings and favorite holiday spots. There are numerous ways to be better, but the clock is ticking fast. The time to do something is already long due. The pain and suffering of our oceans and its creatures is very real and it's happening right now – even if we can't always witness it first hand.

The increasing flow of plastic from land-based sources is a colossal problem for our oceans and for all of us. It is suffocating our seas and polluting our food. We can pick up and remove plastic from our beaches and oceans all we want, but if we don't stop the flow of plastic from our cities and rivers, we are fighting against windmills that just keep blowing more and more plastic on our way – windmills that are gaining more power every time a new person is born into this world. The war against plastic is won or lost upstream.

Ajo Macho: Used to protect ones self from the envy of others, from witchcraft and to attract luck. Anoint the self or use a personal candle that has been anointed with the oil.

Anima sola: This oil is used to help the spirits of the dead cross over to the other side with more ease. When somebody dies, sprinkle around the afflicted room then touch them in the shape of the cross on the forehead. This will aid their passage to the other world smoother.

This oil can also be used to recover items that have been lost.

Albion: This oil is dedicated to this god, son of Poseidon and patron Greek god of Briton.

God to all seafarers and boatwrights. Pray to him and use this oil if needing help when travelling over water and for power if you yourself are British or, of British decent.

Algiers: This is to create ambiance and mood wherever it is used. Anoint a light bulb with this to create an alluring sense to any situation. Warning, take care when anointing the bulb as not to cause overheating.

Algiers fast luck: Use this in any luck or fortune rituals, charms etc. Anoint a green candle and burn to attract luck and good fortune.

Alien: For the use of the contact of extraterrestrial beings or other dimensional entities, or simply other worldly forces. Use on white candles.

All Healing: Use this oil when attempting spiritual healing of any type. To apply healing to others, use a few drops on hands to aid the transference of energies from one to another, or alternatively use upon image dolls or candles, or a personal candle can be employed all for spiritual help at healing yourself or others. This is also said to work well by adding a few drops to the bath water to ease pain.

All-Purpose: This oil goes right across the board for the myriad of its uses. You should ideally employ this when wanting to add extra power to your consecrations or are simply confused about which oil to make use of.

All Saints: A good success oil. For successful business deals, mix this with better business oil and anoint a blue candle. Also add to business incenses, candles etc., just to aid your ventures.

All Spice: To help students study, anoint their shoes and also a purple candle.

To add more willpower to achieve success, rub on feet and navel. Apply to neckline for more energy and incentive for the idle, gives ambition in all fields of achievement.

Can be utilised as per all saints oil for success in rituals by adding to other rites.

Almond: To calm foes down, anoint a white figure candle. To attract money and also save it, anoint wallet or purse daily. To attract much money add to fast luck or wealthy way incense (usually one drop per spoonful.) This can also be an aid for wakefulness, dab over eyebrows every morning when getting out of bed to make oneself more alert.

Altar: A sanctifying oil. Should be used on altar at least once a week (particularly on a Sunday.)

Use this to consecrate altar and all manner of ritual tools. Leave a dish containing this oil on the altar as an offering for appeasement.

Altaric: See Earth oil.

Amarra Hombre: This is used by women and homosexuals to trap and bind their man/men.

Mix with controlling oil and anoint a controlling candle.

Amber: A protection oil. For protection against a person trying to break up your relationship, Anoint a white figure candle and write your partners name on it. Then anoint a black figure candle; burn them both for 10 minutes daily until the problem dissipates.

For protection from harm, anoint a Breastplate of Moses seal (from the 6th and 7th books of Moses.)

And continue to anoint it every 7 days to keep it charged. This oil can be used in conjunction with all manner of protection oils and agents etc.

Halloween isn’t only for children; it has becoming increasingly popular with adults as well. Costume parties are not limited to Trick-or-Treaters below the age of twelve as more and more costume parties are organized for adults. During the week before and after Halloween these parties take place at office functions, hotels, night clubs, and people’s homes.

Halloween has become a time for children and adults alike to let their hair down and dress up as any of the fantasies they day dream about. Halloween isn’t only about being spooky and scary and the costumes shouldn’t be confined to scary monsters and creatures of the underworld. Aside from being spooky and scary, you can also be sexy, silly, funny or enchanting! Couples can even dress up together like Gomez and Morticia Addams or a master and sexy French maid.

When coming up with a costume, do not think of the ordinary. Be creative! If you’re short on ideas, here are some suggestions for your own adult Halloween costumes.

Costume Ideas for Women

Did you love fairy tales as a child and have always wanted to revisit that old Disney princess costume you once wore in third grade but were afraid of being called too kiddie? Then dress up as Tinkerbell, the naughty and sexy green pixie. Dressing up as Betty Boop can also be a sexy costume with a slight nostalgia of childhood.

If you love superheroes and comic books, you can dress up as Super Girl, Batgirl, Wonderwoman, or Catwoman.

For those who like history and literature, some costume choices for you are a Renaissance queen or peasant, Cleopatra, Hermione Granger from Harry Potter, a Greek goddess, The Wicked Witch of the West from The Wizard of Oz, or Arwen from The Lord of the Rings. Queen Gorgo from Frank Miller’s graphic novel 300 can also be a good choice.

But of course, there’s nothing wrong with the traditional costumes. Why not a witch, a temptress, a Playboy bunny, or a sexy she-devil? They can still guarantee the head turns.

Costume Ideas for Men

Men also have a wide array of adult Halloween costume choices. There are the superheroes and villains like Batman, Robin, The Joker, Superman, Spider-Man, Iron Man, Incredible Hulk, Captain America, and all the superheroes from both Marvel and DC Comics.

If you want references with pop culture, you can dress up as Frodo the Hobbit, King Leonidas and Xerxes from 300, Jack Sparrow from Pirates of the Caribbean, or Neo from The Matrix.

Count Dracula, the Grim Reaper, Mad Scientist, Playboy and the basketball jock still remain a popular choice of Halloween costumes for men.

Costume Ideas for Couples

Couples also enjoy dressing up during Halloween because this is the chance for them to dress up together. Most of the popular couple costumes are Playboy and a Playboy bunny, a doctor and a sexy nurse, a master and slave, Barbie and Ken, and Greek god and goddess.

Characters from different movies and stories like Romeo and Juliet, Big Bad Wolf and Little Red Riding Hood are also very popular costume choices for couples.

The Cactus Friends, the Moofia, Adios & Ciao Ciao! If you have any idea what I am talking about, it may be due to LeSportsac.

LeSportsac got its start as a small fashion bag company in 1974. It was popular throughout the 70’s and part of the 80’s but mellowed out for a while until its comeback in the early 2000’s. In 2001, the co-owner of LeSportsac, Timothy Schifter, announced that the company would be making some changes. Instead of concentrating on the 35+ age group, the company began designing fashion bags for the younger crowd. This decision has led LeSportsac into the heart of pop culture territory. The company now has a line labeled by Gwen Stefani and LeSportsac bags have even been seen adorning fashionable Carrie (played by Sarah Jessica Parker) on the popular HBO series Sex in the City.

This comeback may have been right on-time. In 2003 an Italian artist named Simone Legno was discovered and entered into a collaboration with the co-founder of the Hard Candy cosmetics company, Pooneh Mohajer, and her husband, Ivan Arnold. Several other collaborations followed but despite the variety of Tokidoki items, until recently many fans only knew Simone Legno’s art through fashion bags made by LeSportSac.

The fashion bag company began producing Tokidoki merchandise in 2006 and since then Tokidoki art is quickly moving into the center of pop culture.

The Tokidoki-LeSportsac collaboration has proven to be so successful that the fashion bags have been known to sell for up to four times their retail value on E-bay. There are even issues with faux Tokidoki fashion bags being passed off as the real thing. This problem is so bad that in 2007 a blog was created by Tokidoki to help consumers avoid purchasing a reproduction.

The cute Tokidoki art is not the only thing that has made this particular LeSportsac line so popular. Each bag comes with a Tokidoki character keychain called a Qee. These keychains have become a favorite collector’s item among Tokidoki fans.

Fans are now awaiting the new Tokidoki bags for 2008. LeSportsac is going to remove their label from the bags and they will be branded as Tokidoki only. These new bags will be available in 8 styles. There will be 4 new prints for 2008: a fun print featuring carnival foods called Carnival, Eco-Mondo – a print for lovers of the environment, a punk motif called Concerto Punk, and the last will be a plain black design featuring Adios, Fantasmino, and Nana on the lining.

It is amazing what the right collaboration can do for the fashion world and for those involved. Now, the Cactus Friends, a group of very prickly anime-style cartoons wearing cactus costumes in order to protect themselves from the cruelty of the world, the Moofia, a cute but fierce variety of cartoons representing the different types of milk that are consumed throughout the world, and Adios, the Grim-reaper, along with his girlfriend, Ciao Ciao, are becoming household names. The heart and cross-bones and other Tokidoki depictions have become everyday sights. Due to a series of collaborations, Tokidoki items now range from apparel to footwear and from toys to sporting goods.

Recently I experienced a really nasty Gluten attack. It could happen to you too, even if you ate in a restaurant that specialises in gluten free, or are traveling on public transport, planes, trains etc, that cater for GI people, and why? Simply because we have no legislation in the health food industry to protect us. All I did was eat a supposed GF free biscuit.

I’ve run a health food business and know how busy you can be, and how easy it would be for a supposed gluten free product to slip through the GI radar. But that’s no excuse for being slack when a serious health allergy is involved.

This slip-up happened because the warning was written in small print on the packet, and said that the contents may contain seeds. After falling very ill, I can assure others that they were right about the seeds. And that in all probability the offending seeds must have been millet. Not long ago while surfing the celiac forums on the net, I read where some say they are able to tolerate millet and even oats. Really strange as oats and millet both read as low gluten substances. Yet these people say they can tolerate them, and again why? Because clearly there is a definite rating in each person’s immune system. Some high others low. A theory backed up by many health specialists /medicos. All very well and good but where does that leave us, if we’re left at the mercy of gluten free food retailers and food outlets that include these border line foods in supposed GF foods they are selling? What if their customer has a high allergic rating, rather than a low one?

In two words. very sick! What has to happen to squash this from being an on going heath pitfall for GI sufferers is some sort of legislation within the food industry. If any supposed GF food is rated as low then its taboo. If you’re allergic then thats it, end of line. It is my belief we should be treated the same as those with peanut allergies. Truth here is sometimes there are slow deaths, and quick deaths, due to allergic reactions. And we must protect ourselves as best we can so we don’t fall into that equation.

After falling sick last Friday; I’ve been able in hindsight to list the Gluten allergy as it happens over hours. Unlike nut allergy people who know straight away they have eaten peanuts and begin going into an anaphylactic attack. But when we are under allergic gluten attack, we are unaware initially of our allergy, as our digestive system is slower in responding.

Thought this might be of help to other GI sufferers if I list how I experienced this last attack.

My first symptom of feeling a bit off colour, along with a feeling of heat beginning to spread through my body was about three hours after ingesting a supposed GF free corn biscuit. And about one hour later was followed by a second symptom of an over whelming need to run to the loo. Third symptom within minutes, happened while making a rush to the loo. It was when I stood up I realised I was finding it increasingly hard to walk in a straight line.

I actually lost my balance. Fourth symptom is shooting stomach pains, quickly followed by fifth symptom. This one for me is the worst, and is experienced as dizziness, once it moves in it stays until you’re forced to lie down. But still the dizzy feeling continues, really upsetting. All you can do is fall into bed pull the covers over your head, and pray to get better. But not before you’ve made sure a bowl is close at hand. Even though I’m fortunate in having a homeopath husband who kept squirting remedies into my mouth to ease the attack. I still secretly wished the grim reaper would decide it was my time. Truly you feel that bad. On waking next day I knew I was on the mend, but still felt bit wonky and slightly nauseous. Loose bowels followed, until next day constipation set in and became problem for next week. Seems once gluten his infiltrated our allergic bodies it simply doesn’t want to leave.

Well hope that helps others, the really terrible part is there is no accredited medicine you can take to ease the awful symptoms. Recall I mentioned that there are twenty-two yards of intestine for our food to wander through. Oh happy days Gluten free sufferers, Bye for now.

Image boards have become a popular web pastime in recent years. If you’ve been to places like 4chan, 7chan, and the like, you’ve seen a unique culture that mixes illustrated and photographic art from both Western and Japanese culture. After you browse these places for awhile, it starts to become apparent that Japanese and English are mixed together so much, you need a foot in each culture to understand what’s going on.

So here’s a guide to the most common Japanese words you’ll find in the world of image boards. Keep in mind that these places are inhabited mostly by anime, manga, and video game fans, so most of the terms have to do with this culture.

anime – Japanese animation. All animated cartoons originating in Japan.

baka – A fool, or art representing foolishness. Disney’s character Goofy would be considered baka.

bancho – A delinquent or rebellious boy.

bara – A gay man, or art appealing to or depicting gay men.

bishojo – A beautiful young woman, older than adolescence but younger than university age.

bukkake – A fetish for messy sex, and art depicting this fetish.

burikko – An adult pretending to be a child. Features in art depicting age-play.

-chan – A suffix meaning “relating to;” also a Japanese honorific.

chibi – A short, small person or a very young child. Also a specific anime/manga drawing style, making a character appear dwarfish or distorted. Western cartoon elves might be considered chibi.

cosplay – The activity of dressing up as a favorite character from anime/mange. Frequently done at comic book conventions and other fan events.

desu – A short Japanese word that links a noun and verb, literally translated as “it is.” Image boards have taken this as a meme, often repeating “desu desu desu,” for various reasons, including to tease the newbies or stubbornly persist in an argument.

doujinshi – Self-published work. The equivalent of desktop self-publishing for manga.

ecchi – The generic term for sexual material.

futanari – Hermaphrodites, or art depicting hermaphrodites. Half-male-half-female.

gaiden – Side or supplemental material. In image boards, gaiden would be some four-panel cartoons of manga characters, depicting events that don’t count in the manga itself. A side-story or spin-off.

guro – Very gross pornography depicting extreme injuries, mutilation, or death. The manga equivalent of “snuff porn.”

hentai – Erotic bondage manga. Most erotic Japanese illustrative material falls into this category.

hikikomori – An otaku taken to the next level: a loner and outsider whose only interest is anime/manga fandom. The equivalent of a Western “basement geek,” only suggesting a neurotic, unhealthy degree of both obsession and isolation.

itasha – The subculture of decorating a vehicle with decals of manga/anime characters.

josei – A manga genre appealing to adult women. The equivalent of Western soap-operas.

kaitou – A mysterious. elusive thief. Also someone with phantom-like aspects. A stealthy person who lives in the shadows. The equivalent of Western rogue or hobbit.

katana – A Japanese sword. About 99% of the time when you see ninjas and samurai with swords, they’re shown wielding katanas.

kawaii – Meeting the Japanese standard for “cute.”

kawaiiko – A cute child.

kei – Originally a sculpture style used to depict Buddha. As opposed to the more familiar (to the West) vision of Buddha as a jolly, laughing fellow, Japanese Buddhas are slim and serious.

lolicon – A slang term shared between Japanese and Western culture, for the preference for child-like depictions of women.

manga – Japanese comic books. All graphic, printed media of a cartoon nature originating in Japan.

mangaka – A manga creator. Japanese for “cartoonist.”

manzai – A style of humor involving a comedic duo of one “straight man” and one “funny man.” In Western culture, Abbot and Costello would be considered manzai.

mecha – Anime or manga involving large, armored, warrior robots, usually piloted by a human inside.

meganekko – The attraction to girls who wear glasses. Anime or manga depicting “geeky” girls.

miko – A female temple attendant. The equivalent to a Western nun.

moe – A slang term for a fan of anime or manga, or the attraction to anime and manga characters.

neko – A kitten or a cat, especially when shown as being cute. Also applies to describe a woman in a cat costume, or half-human-half-cats.

oekaki – Scribbling and doodling. Amateur art by fans.

ojou – A high-class or wealthy woman.

omorashi – A fetish for urination. The equivalent of Western “water sports.”

oni – A demon or evil spirit.

oranyan – A male who is by turns aggressive and aloof, and sweet and charming.

otaku – A very strong fan of manga, anime, or video games. More serious than moe, not as serious as hikikomori.

pokemon – The most famous anime/ manga/ video game franchise in Japan.

sakura – A cherry blossom. A very common artistic theme in Japan.

seinen – A manga genre appealing to adult men. The male equivalent of josei.

sensei – A teacher or master.

sentai – Japanese superheros. Also refers to military heros; in the West, Hercules and G.I. Joe would both fall under the category of sentai.

shibari – Japanese bondage, involving rope bondage raised to an intricate and specialized art form.

shinigami – A Japanese angel of death, in mythology. The equivalent of the Western “grim reaper,” although shinigami are a whole class of entities and not just one.

shojo – A manga genre appealing to young women and girls. The younger equivalent of josei.

shonen – A manga genre appealing to young men and boys. Usually action and adventure stories.

shotacon – The Japanese version of “boy’s love,” the depiction of young boys in an erotic context. The male version of lolicon.

sukeban – A delinquent or rebellious girl.

tan – A suffix meaning a character used as a mascot for a product. For instance, characters used to represent different computer operating systems are “OS-tans.”

tsundere – A female who is by turns aggressive and aloof, and sweet and charming.

yakuza – Japanese gangs and gangsters. Organized crime. The equivalent of Western Mafia.

yandere – A psychotic stalker. A genre of Japanese manga/anime depicting shy, quiet people who become smitten to the point of obsession with someone, eventually turning violent and abusive, maybe even murderous.

yaoi – Japanese manga/anime depicting male homosexuals but intended for females. In the West, if you made fiction especially for “fag hags,” it would be called yaoi.

yuri – A lesbian, or art appealing to or depicting gay women.

Twice in my life I have watched the health of a loved one deteriorate until their body could no longer support life on its own. It’s like watching someone drown while holding a life preserver in your hand, except the victim has made a legal choice to refuse your help. In each case, a precarious but necessary decision was made-whether or not to allow euthanasia.

There are two types of euthanasia. Passive Euthanasia, which involves “not taking action” to prevent death, (when doctors refrain from using life support to prolong the life of a terminally ill patient) and active euthanasia, which requires an action on the part of a doctor or medical practitioner to “pull the plug” or administer a lethal injection to bring about the impending death of a critically ill patient.

Life support replaces a failing bodily function. When patients have treatable conditions, life support may be used temporarily while the condition is stabilized and the body is able to resume normal functioning. At times though, the body never regains its ability to function without life support. My grandfather refused to be placed on life support or be revived if he was code blue. My uncle, on the other hand, was placed on life support and suffered day after day while confined to a hospital bed for almost a year. Connected to tubes that fed him and machines that breathed for him, he could not talk or do anything for himself-things a healthy person would take for granted. Both my grandfather and my uncle were dying a slow death. My grandfather refused the life preserver. My Uncle accepted a life raft with a slow leak in a sea of sharks.

Some people believe that it is not wise to circumvent the dying process. The late psychiatrist and famous author, Elisabeth Kubler-Ross, shared that her experience in working with thousands of dying patients and their families convinced her that euthanasia was wrong even for patients with terminal illness. She believed that euthanasia (which she called suicide) cheats people out of the opportunity to complete their unfinished business. The unfinished business she referred to is the contemplation of the ultimate meaning of one’s life. She felt the “end of life” period is a time for resolving old disputes, mending relationships, and coming to a final recognition and appreciation of all the good things that have been a part of one’s life. Personally, I believe we need to do this daily! Dr. Kubler-Ross believed that, despite their compassionate motives, those healthy bystanders who encourage or even assist in euthanasia are stealing the last precious moments of these patients’ lives. I understand her theory, but I believe that every person’s unfinished business must eventually come to an end. If one is unable to live without life support, and feels his business is complete, it would be cruel to force them or their family to suffer needlessly.

USA Today has reported that, among older people with terminal illnesses who attempt suicide, the number suffering from depression reaches almost 90%. Even Jack Kevorkian, the notorious “suicide doctor,” said at a court appearance that he considers anyone with a disease who is not depressed “abnormal.” Kevorkian and others who argue in favor of physician-assisted suicide believe that even though depression is treatable; the disabling disease is not. Treating depression in critically ill patients will help to alleviate some of the emotional despair, but it does little to relieve physical symptoms. The patient will still lie on “death row” until the grim reaper comes.

My grandfather was diagnosed with emphysema fifteen years before his struggle to breathe confined him to his climate-controlled bedroom. Much of the last year of his life was spent in a hospital. The non-stop care for his declining health was beginning to take its toll on my family who never left his side. My grandfather knew that he would not be able to recover from his illness and lead a normal life. Therefore, he signed a document in which he requested that he not be resuscitated or placed on life support in the event of cardiac or respiratory arrest. I remember talking with him in his final days. I asked him if he was ready to die. “I believe I am,” he affirmed. He passed peacefully in the hospital without the assistance of life support.

Every person has a right to choose and no one should be denied the God-given power of free will. I believe a person, who is kept alive by machines against his/her will, becomes a victim of someone else’s choice.

We have more compassion for our pets than we do for our dying family members. We will euthanize our sick and dying dog, but we will allow our loved one to suffer to the end. I’m not trying to pin guilt on anyone about any end of life decision they may have made for someone, I am simply making an observation in hopes of helping others avoid the end of life trauma that my uncle endured.

One of the greatest manufacturing feats ever accomplished in the history of the world may be the creating and manufacturing of the F-14 Super Tomcat by Grumman. It was the premier long-range strike fighter. The Tomcat replaced the F-4 Phantom and was designed to defend our US NAVY’s fleet.

Its long history began with its first flight on December 24, 1970. Grumman in New York built it for $38 million. Grumman’s manufacturing operation were designed for continuous improvement. One of the key manufacturing processes that Grumman excelled in was hot forming or forging. They produced more than 2,000 titanium parts per month without a preforming operation.

Grumman’s integrated manufacturing operations included a facility to manufacture all aluminum, steel and titanium sheet metal parts with heat-treating and finishing capabilities. All designs and flight testing was done on site with more than 27,000 hours of wind tunnel testing. The F-14 was tested for aerodynamics, propulsion, structural loads and spins.

The F-14’s weight was critical and the final design had a weight of 25% titanium, 36% aluminum, 15% steel and 4% bonded metallic materials.

In all there were 38 squadrons who flew the Tomcat at one time or another. The last “Cat shot” of the F-14 took place on the U.S.S. Theodore Roosevelt, on March 11, 2006.

Some of the squadrons flying the F-14 Tomcat were –

The Red Rippers, The Wolfpack, The Tomcatters, The

Grim Reapers, The Black Knights, The Bounty Hunters and the Checkmates to name a few. Doesn’t sound like anybody I would want to have chasing me around with Phoenix missile. I’m glad there are on our side.

As of this date, the F-14 Tomcat is fully retired. The majority of aircraft will find homes at museums, and unfortunately some will go to the BONE YARD. Thanks to all the men and women who keep our country safe.