Bonmarche Summer Dresses

by editor | Jun 24, 2012 | Lifestyle

Find Cool Summer Dresses

You won’t be disappointed when you go to the Bonmarche online emporium, with a great choice of quality styles for all sizes and pockets.

Kids Go FREE on LEGOLAND Holidays in June & July

by editor | Jun 24, 2012 | Lifestyle

LegoLand Kids Go Free 1 June – 31 July

Furnishing A Small Apartment

by editor | Jun 22, 2012 | Lifestyle

Furnishing A Small Apartment
Small flats and apartments can be great; if you choose the right furniture to go in them, and don’t let them get overcrowded with belongings. The secret to doing this is to decorate and furnish the flat as one unit rather than looking at each room separately.
So, for example, choose furniture from one store to give a feeling of cohesion. There are ranges of furniture which can complement both a dining room and living room. If you have a kitchen diner, you can choose a practical table that will double up as an extra food preparation surface. Position the table near to the working end of the kitchen so that you don’t have to carry items to and from the table too much.
A dining table with extending leaves often works well in a small property, as you can fold down the leaves outside of meal times, increasing the feeling of space in the room. Many stores now sell dining room sets – a table and four or six chairs – which offer good value compared with buying a table and chairs separately.
When furnishing the bedroom, look out for units that contain both hanging space and drawers. You might consider getting fitted wardrobes built-in along one wall of the bedroom. Although you’ll lose a bit of the floor space, you can create a great amount of hidden storage there.
The lounge area can also have extra storage space inside furnishings like the sofa and coffee table. These are great places to put items like magazines, books and DVDs.
The best place to look out for bargains and furniture sales is on the internet. For example, you can see the latest offers from Harveys Furniture on YouTube, as well as catching up on the archive of the store’s funny ads from over the years!

Furnishing A Small Apartment

by editor | Jun 22, 2012 | Lifestyle

Furnishing A Small Apartment
Small flats and apartments can be great; if you choose the right furniture to go in them, and don’t let them get overcrowded with belongings. The secret to doing this is to decorate and furnish the flat as one unit rather than looking at each room separately.
So, for example, choose furniture from one store to give a feeling of cohesion. There are ranges of furniture which can complement both a dining room and living room. If you have a kitchen diner, you can choose a practical table that will double up as an extra food preparation surface. Position the table near to the working end of the kitchen so that you don’t have to carry items to and from the table too much.
A dining table with extending leaves often works well in a small property, as you can fold down the leaves outside of meal times, increasing the feeling of space in the room. Many stores now sell dining room sets – a table and four or six chairs – which offer good value compared with buying a table and chairs separately.
When furnishing the bedroom, look out for units that contain both hanging space and drawers. You might consider getting fitted wardrobes built-in along one wall of the bedroom. Although you’ll lose a bit of the floor space, you can create a great amount of hidden storage there.
The lounge area can also have extra storage space inside furnishings like the sofa and coffee table. These are great places to put items like magazines, books and DVDs.
The best place to look out for bargains and furniture sales is on the internet. For example, you can see the latest offers from Harveys Furniture on YouTube, as well as catching up on the archive of the store’s funny ads from over the years!

Living in the Same Box

by editor | Jun 20, 2012 | Lifestyle

Living in the Same Box
David Wallechinsky in The Complete Book Of The Olympics (Penguin Books, 1984) gives us a story that is worth retelling.

It is 1936. American Jesse Owens seems sure to win the long-jump competition in the Olympic games. The previous year he had jumped 26 feet, 8 1/4 inches – a record that will stand for 25 years.

As he walks to the long-jump pit, however, Owens sees a tall, blue-eyed, blond German taking practice jumps in the 26-foot range. Owens feels nervous. He is acutely aware of the Nazis’ desire to prove “Aryan superiority.” And as a black son of a sharecropper, he knows what it is like to be made to feel inferior.

On his first jump, Owens inadvertently leaps from several inches beyond the takeoff board. Rattled, he fouls on his second attempt, too. One more foul and he will be eliminated.

At this point, the tall German introduces himself as Luz Long. “You should be able to qualify with your eyes closed!” he says to Owens, referring to his upcoming two jumps.

For the next few moments, the African American and the white Nazi chat together. Then Long makes a suggestion. Since the qualifying distance is only 23 feet, 5 1/2 inches, why not make a mark several inches before the takeoff board and jump from there, just to play it safe? Owens does and qualifies easily.

In the finals, Owens sets an Olympic record and earns the second of four gold medals. But who is the first person to congratulate him? Luz Long – in full view of Adolf Hitler.

Owens never again sees Long, who is later killed in World War II. “You could melt down all the medals and cups I have,” Owens later writes, “and they wouldn’t be a plating on the 24-carat friendship I felt for Luz Long.”

Luz Long made his mark in world history and taught the rest of us a valuable lesson.

Someone else put it like this: “We can learn a lot from crayons. Some are sharp… some are pretty… some are dull… some have weird names… and all are different colors…. But they all have to learn to live in the same box.”

– Steve Goodier

Find Steve Goodier here: http://stevegoodier.blogspot.com/.

Newsletter: http://LifeSupportSystem.com.

Brush Up On Your Barbeque Etiquette

by editor | Jun 20, 2012 | Lifestyle

Brush Up On Your Barbeque Etiquette

Summer has arrived, marking the beginning of the barbeque season. This is the
time of the year when the grill is hauled out and cleaned off, the required
cooking utensils are inventoried, the lawn furniture is hosed down, and the
sauces and rubs are added to the grocery list. It is also the time for
revisiting your barbeque etiquette.

If barbeque etiquette sounds like an oxymoron, it isn’t. There are indeed rules
for properly conducting yourself as a host and as a guest. Just because these
festive events are held outdoors and are casual in nature does mean that
anything goes. Whether the occasion is for business such as the company picnic
or simply a neighborhood gathering, there are standards to follow.

Etiquette Tips for the Hosts:

1. Be prepared. That means making sure you have enough of everything from
charcoal or propane to food and beverages and don?t forget the cups, plates and
napkins. Grandma?s china and crystal are not appropriate substitutes when you
run out of serving items.

2. Have a rain plan. While rain should be forbidden during outdoor events, it
will occasionally show up. Either arrange for tents or know how you will handle
an indoor picnic.

3. Provide all the food and beverage. Unless you are hosting a family reunion
or the traditional neighborhood party, don?t ask people to bring things.

4. Have plenty of bug spray and insect repellent. Your guests should be the
ones eating, not eaten. If you live in a ‘buggy’ environment, it is a good idea
to have food domes on hand, not only to keep certain foods warm, but to keep
flying pests out of your culinary delights.

Etiquette Tips for the Guests:

1. Keep your grilling advice to yourself. Your host is in charge of the grill.
You may have what you consider is a better way of doing of things, but unless
you see that the host is about to set the place on fire, keep your mouth shut.
Open it only for conversation and food.

2. Leave your legendary potato salad at home. Unless you are asked to bring a
dish, don’t. It would be an insult to your host.

3. Volunteer to help. Now that?s good barbeque etiquette. These events can get
hectic at the last minute so offer your assistance in case it is needed.

4. Use your napkin to clean off your sticky fingers. Tempting as it may be to
lick your fingers, it is simply not good manners. Neither is using your finger
nail or toothpick to pick the corn out from between your teeth. Be sure to have
dental floss on hand, but excuse yourself to use it.

Etiquette Tips for the Business Barbecue

1. Maintain your professionalism. While you are there to have fun, be mindful of
your actions and your words.

2. Dress like a professional. Business attire is not expected, but make sure
that your casual dress is conservative. Avoid anything that is sloppy, shabby,
sexy or revealing.

3. Hold back when serving yourself. Piling on as much food as your plate will
hold makes you look like you only came to eat. You can go back for more once
everyone has been served.

4. Play it safe with the drinks. If alcohol is being served, limit your intake.
Warm weather, alcoholic beverages and a company barbecue can be a dangerous
combination.

Barbecues and picnics provide a relaxed way for family, friends and co-workers
to gather together, to catch up and get to know each other better. Enjoy
yourself and others but always be mindful of your manners. Demonstrate your best
barbecue etiquette so you will be invited back and you will still have a job on
the next working day.

© 2012, Lydia Ramsey. All rights reserved. Reprints welcomed so long as article
and by-line are kept intact and all links made live.

Lydia Ramsey is an international business etiquette expert, based in Savannah,
Georgia. Through her keynote addresses, live seminars, executive coaching, her
books and other products, she has helped individuals and organizations add the
polish that builds profits. Visit her website to learn more:

http://www.mannersthatsell.com

Do All the Good You Can

by editor | Jun 20, 2012 | Lifestyle

Do All the Good You Can
Someone advised, “If you can’t be kind, at least have the decency to be vague.”

You’ve probably heard it said that it’s nice to be important, but it’s important to be nice. And there’s truth in that. But isn’t there something even more important than being nice? More important even that being good? What about DOING good? What about standing up and being counted? When courageous people take unpopular stances, they aren’t always seen by their opposition in a soft and gentle light.

Not too long into the American Civil War the Union finally won a victory at Antietam. President Lincoln used the occasion to produce a proclamation to free American slaves. He called his cabinet together and laid the document before them. He had been shaking the hands of well-wishers all morning and his arm and hand were stiff. He rested his arm and spoke to Secretary of State William Seward.

“If my name ever goes into history, it will be for this act, and my whole soul is in it. If my hand trembles when I sign the Proclamation, all who examine the document hereafter will say, ‘He hesitated.’”

Then he picked up a pen and signed “Abraham Lincoln” in bold writing. There were a large number of people that day who would not have used the word “nice” to describe his action. In fact, a great many not only couldn’t say anything kind, they couldn’t even be vague. He was slandered, maligned and demonized. But that signature, coupled with a later Union victory, changed the course of history forever. American slaves were finally to be freed.

How many slave-owners of the day were reputed to be nice people? And in most areas of their lives, many probably were. But there comes a time for each of us to stand up and do right thing. To DO good.
I hope that that my personal moral code will always be broader than simply trying to be a pleasant person. I hope I don’t back down when I have a chance to DO good, to make a real difference, even at a cost.
I don’t think it was never put better by anyone than by eighteenth century church reformer John Wesley.

“Do all the good you can,
by all the means you can,
in all the ways you can,
in all the places you can,
at all the times you can,
to all the people you can,
as long as ever you can.”

What if we tried to live by the motto: DO all the good you can? Now, THAT would be nice.

– Steve Goodier

Find Steve Goodier here: http://stevegoodier.blogspot.com/. 

Newsletter: http://LifeSupportSystem.com. 

YOU’RE STUCK WITH ME

by editor | Jun 17, 2012 | Lifestyle

YOU’RE STUCK WITH ME

Even though her toddler was throwing a furious tantrum, (or, as my southern
American friends might say, pitching a fit) from the seat of a grocery
cart, one mother was unfazed. You may as well give up on the crying, she
said as calmly as if she were soothing her to bed instead of leading her
out of the store. It won’t work. You’re stuck with me for 18 years.

That little child may not know how lucky she is to be stuck with her for 18
years. Even when she’s cranky, out of sorts or otherwise going through a
phase, her mother will be there. She’s stuck with her. Most relationships
that truly matter are built on that kind of sticking-power. And not
everyone has someone they can always count on to stick around.

A university instructor posed a riddle to her graduate education class.
What has four legs and leaves she asked, hoping the students would
realize that by considering alternative meanings to the words legs and
?leaves? that they could arrive at the solution  a table. However, one
woman unexpectedly answered, My last two boyfriends. Maybe you can relate.

People will leave relationships for any number of reasons. And sometimes we
should put certain relationships behind. Not every friendship or romance
has a healthy future. Sometimes we bring along so many destructive problems
and behaviors that a happy relationship has no chance of long-term
survival. Sometimes addictions make staying in a relationship impossible.
Sometimes leaving is necessary.

But there’s also a time to stick around. Something all relationships of
many years have in common is this: every one of them is made up of people
who have had plenty of opportunities to bolt or quit, to move out or to
move on, but they stuck around. Maybe because they knew that the people
they love are not always lovable or easy to be with, and that’s okay.
They want a relationship that matters, one that is important and lasting,
and that kind is nurtured by patience and understanding.

Author John Gray sometimes tells about a young mother who asked her
visiting brother to get her some pain pills. He forgot and, when her
husband returned home, she was upset and in pain more than a bit crazy.
He experienced her anger as a personal assault and exploded in defense.
They exchanged harsh words and he headed for the door.

His wife said, Stop, don’t leave. This is when I need you the most! I?m in
pain. I’ve had no sleep. Please listen. You are a fair-weather friend. If
I’m sweet, you’re okay; but if I’m not, out you go! And then tearfully,
and more subdued, she said, I’m in pain. I have nothing to give. Please
hold me. Don’t speak…just hold me. He held her and neither spoke,  until
she thanked him for being there.

I suspect there will be plenty of other times their relationship will be
tested. And I also suspect that every time it goes through a rough patch
and survives some sort of adversity, every time they decide that being
together is important enough to stick it out and fix what’s wrong, then it
will change. Maybe not much, but a little. And in time, little by little,
that relationship, their togetherness, will become a thing of beauty; a
pearl of great value.

And definitely worth sticking around for.

– Steve Goodier
__________

Find Steve Goodier here: http://stevegoodier.blogspot.com/.
Newsletter: http://LifeSupportSystem.com.

Project B. Feat. Kelly Rowland Remix

by editor | Jun 15, 2012 | Lifestyle

Project B. Feat. Kelly Rowland Remix “Summer Dreaming”

Track For Bacardí 150th Anniversary

Project B. featuring world renowned singer Kelly Rowland have recorded a remix to the famous “Summer Dreaming” song, known from the Bacardi TV commercial
Today, (Thursday, 14th June 2012), Project B.featuring world renowned singer Kelly Rowland have recorded a remix to the famous “Summer Dreaming” song, known from the Bacardi TV commercial that aired in Germany, Switzerland and Austria. The song will be released following the official launch party in Berlin on 8th July where Kelly Rowland and Project B. will give a live performance of the “Summer Dreaming 2012” club mix in front of 250 guests.

The “Summer Dreaming” song was originally performed by Kate Yania over a decade ago and held the number one spot in the music charts in Germany, Austria and Switzerland for weeks on end. The new interpretation of the song breaks up the familiar structure and substitutes electro beats for more organic sounds. Rowland’s stunning voice has already given the remake, which will be on sale from 8th July, the sound of a genuine dance classic.

The former Destiny Child’s singer first heard the former number one hit after attending the Bacardi anniversary party in January and was fascinated by the idea of remixing the song with Project B.

“The song and its history enthralled me right away. My aim was to record a joyful, colourful, sexy song and give it a bit of soul quality. The collaboration with BACARDÍ was so much fun. We had an awesome time recording the song.” said Rowland.

Since it was founded in 1862 BACARDÍ has brought together – music, friends and innovative drinks – and in doing so it has delivered the perfect ingredients for unforgettable parties. In keeping with the slogan “BACARDÍ – It started with a party” there are to be parties all over Germany to celebrate the 150th anniversary. The highlight will be the official song release party in Berlin on 8 July. Almost 250 guests will be invited to hear Project B. and Kelly Rowland perform a live display of the “Summer Dreaming 2012″ club mix.

“I’m so looking forward to the party,” says the singer. “We want to celebrate and have fun. Berlin, the party metropolis, is exactly the right place for it.”

All Jigsaw Puzzles

by editor | Jun 14, 2012 | Lifestyle

They’re a bit like Cornflakes,
You Forget How Good They Are!

Adidas

by editor | Jun 14, 2012 | Lifestyle

Sports gear from the Adidas Shop

Kids Clothes from Debenhams

by editor | Jun 14, 2012 | Lifestyle

Great quality at low prices, kids clothes from Debenhams

Smart Mens Jackets from Marks and Spencer

by editor | Jun 14, 2012 | Lifestyle

Smart Jackets from MandS

10 Hot Picks from Agent Provocateur

by editor | Jun 14, 2012 | Lifestyle

Looking for Something Really Special

100 items of Sexy Lingerie From Pabo

by editor | Jun 14, 2012 | Lifestyle

Starting with 4Sexy Corsets

Why So Many People Have Tried Dating And Are Still Alone

by editor | Jun 13, 2012 | Lifestyle

Why So Many People Have Tried Dating And Are Still Alone

Let’s face it; we all want to find our special someone. Even on
a “No Strings Attached” dating site, I am looking for a regular
girlfriend.

Unfortunately, too many people involved in the Dating Game are
hurting their chances of success, before they even go on that
first date.

I will give you an example or two.

One lady I knew a few years back had been single for years. Her
older sister thought she and I would be a good match, so the
older sister played matchmaker. I agreed to at least give the
younger sister a chance, so I tried to set up our first date.
But, I never actually got the chance to go out with my friend’s
little sister.

Why? You might be surprised.

The younger sister would only agree to go out on a first date
with me, IF I promised to marry her!!!

I would not make that kind of promise. Sure, I was looking for a
wife, but I was not going to commit to marriage with a woman with
whom I had never been on a date!

I still see the younger sister’s profile in Yahoo Personals
every time I look in her hometown to see who is available. We are
actually 15 years down the road. I have been in a few
relationships, including one marriage, and yet she is still
looking for her next husband.

There was another lady for whom I was very fond, and I really
wanted to date. But her deal was that she would not agree to a
date, unless I would agree to date her for several months.

I did not even know whether I would like her after our first
date, let alone like her enough to date her for several months
based on a commitment made before I got to know her. (She is also
still looking for a boyfriend on Yahoo Personals, as well.)

Put yourself in my shoes. If you were to go out with me, you may
decide after the first date that we are not compatible. So why
would you want to commit to several months worth of dates or even
marriage prior to your first date with me? You wouldn’t, would
you?

“No Strings Attached” is the only way to date, if you ask me.
We should have the freedom to go on a date, without having to
commit ourselves to anything beyond that first date. We should
feel that we have the freedom to say no. If we don’t work
together as a couple, there should be no expectation to drag it
out for months with no positive end in sight.

We should all have the freedom to choose if we want to go on a
second date, a third date, or even a twentieth date.

We should only seek marriage because we both want to be married
to each other. We should not ever feel obligated to marriage on a
first date or third.

So here I am. I don’t want to lie to you. My personal integrity
will not allow me to lie to you.

But, if you want me to agree to multiple dates or marriage before
we go on our first date, then the only way that you and I will
ever go out is if I let my integrity fall by the wayside.

The only commitment I can make to you is that if I like you, we
can go out twice. If we continue to mutually like one another,
then maybe we can go out on a third date. And maybe some day, we
will decide that we would be a good pair in marriage.

And if this is not acceptable to you, then I might have to throw
my personal integrity out the window, and lie to you, just so I
can go on that first date with you to see if we could be a good
match.

If you don’t want guys to lie to you about the future, then
don’t ask them to commit to something that no person in their
right mind will commit to before the first date!

———————————————————————
Lance Metzger writes about relationships, offline and online
dating. Our no-strings-attached dating site has become a popular
online adult dating destination, due to its large membership
base of people looking for relationships of all kinds. Learn
more at: http://www.nsadatingsite.com/
Consider Lance’s new Kindle book, “Making Memories: Creative
Dating Ideas”: http://raintreepublishing.com/creative-dating-ideas/

Why So Many People Have Tried Dating And Are Still Alone

by editor | Jun 13, 2012 | Lifestyle

Why So Many People Have Tried Dating And Are Still Alone

Let’s face it; we all want to find our special someone. Even on
a “No Strings Attached” dating site, I am looking for a regular
girlfriend.

Unfortunately, too many people involved in the Dating Game are
hurting their chances of success, before they even go on that
first date.

I will give you an example or two.

One lady I knew a few years back had been single for years. Her
older sister thought she and I would be a good match, so the
older sister played matchmaker. I agreed to at least give the
younger sister a chance, so I tried to set up our first date.
But, I never actually got the chance to go out with my friend’s
little sister.

Why? You might be surprised.

The younger sister would only agree to go out on a first date
with me, IF I promised to marry her!!!

I would not make that kind of promise. Sure, I was looking for a
wife, but I was not going to commit to marriage with a woman with
whom I had never been on a date!

I still see the younger sister’s profile in Yahoo Personals
every time I look in her hometown to see who is available. We are
actually 15 years down the road. I have been in a few
relationships, including one marriage, and yet she is still
looking for her next husband.

There was another lady for whom I was very fond, and I really
wanted to date. But her deal was that she would not agree to a
date, unless I would agree to date her for several months.

I did not even know whether I would like her after our first
date, let alone like her enough to date her for several months
based on a commitment made before I got to know her. (She is also
still looking for a boyfriend on Yahoo Personals, as well.)

Put yourself in my shoes. If you were to go out with me, you may
decide after the first date that we are not compatible. So why
would you want to commit to several months worth of dates or even
marriage prior to your first date with me? You wouldn’t, would
you?

“No Strings Attached” is the only way to date, if you ask me.
We should have the freedom to go on a date, without having to
commit ourselves to anything beyond that first date. We should
feel that we have the freedom to say no. If we don’t work
together as a couple, there should be no expectation to drag it
out for months with no positive end in sight.

We should all have the freedom to choose if we want to go on a
second date, a third date, or even a twentieth date.

We should only seek marriage because we both want to be married
to each other. We should not ever feel obligated to marriage on a
first date or third.

So here I am. I don’t want to lie to you. My personal integrity
will not allow me to lie to you.

But, if you want me to agree to multiple dates or marriage before
we go on our first date, then the only way that you and I will
ever go out is if I let my integrity fall by the wayside.

The only commitment I can make to you is that if I like you, we
can go out twice. If we continue to mutually like one another,
then maybe we can go out on a third date. And maybe some day, we
will decide that we would be a good pair in marriage.

And if this is not acceptable to you, then I might have to throw
my personal integrity out the window, and lie to you, just so I
can go on that first date with you to see if we could be a good
match.

If you don’t want guys to lie to you about the future, then
don’t ask them to commit to something that no person in their
right mind will commit to before the first date!

———————————————————————
Lance Metzger writes about relationships, offline and online
dating. Our no-strings-attached dating site has become a popular
online adult dating destination, due to its large membership
base of people looking for relationships of all kinds. Learn
more at: http://www.nsadatingsite.com/
Consider Lance’s new Kindle book, “Making Memories: Creative
Dating Ideas”: http://raintreepublishing.com/creative-dating-ideas/

Wal-Mart Has Everything You Need Including Your Next Dating Prospect

by editor | Jun 12, 2012 | Lifestyle

Wal-Mart Has Everything You Need Including Your Next Dating Prospect

The difficulty of adult dating was brought home to me the other
day.

My 20-year-old nephew came to live with me and my kids, until he
can get on his own two feet financially. His hometown – my
hometown is really small… providing little opportunity to
someone looking to get started in life on the right foot.

He spends his days looking for a job, and now and again, he will
slip out in the evening time.

I never really gave much thought about his evening time getaways.
He is an adult – he can do what he wants to do with his own time.

But by chance, I asked him the other evening if he had gone to
that bar that allows 18-year-old’s to enter. He said he had not.
He explained that he did not feel comfortable enough with finding
his way around town, to be able to find the bar without getting
lost.

A bit surprised, I asked him where he went on Friday night…

His answer was even more surprising…

He was going out to meet girls his own age… Starting
conversations in convenience stores, restaurants, and WAL-MART!!!
Until now, I knew that you could find anything you ever wanted at
Wal-Mart… I just never stopped to think of it as a place to
meet new women…

I have to give him credit for creativeness…

My nephew is at that somewhat awkward age – after high school and
before he has turned 21. He is also in a new place, where he does
not know his way around town, and in a town where he does not
know anyone but our family and our small circle of friends, all
of whom are at least ten years older and with children.

I do the online dating thing, but to my knowledge, he is not
exploring the prospects for online dating in our town… And even
if he did, although we are in a bigger town than the one he came
from, we are still living in a mid-sized town with limited dating
possibilities. I know this is true, because even though I find
people to date in the town I live in – through online dating
sites – I frequently date people from nearby small towns as well.

His mother – my sister – having been a single mother for most of
the last ten years seems to have taught my nephew the importance
of starting conversations to lead to that next date. His mother
has not had Internet access since she and my nephew’s dad were
divorced. So while I was exploring the big beautiful world of
online dating, she was still dating the old-fashioned way.

Ten years down the road, my sister has found a replacement for
her first husband and now she has a new baby at home, nineteen
years younger than her first child. I tease her that she finally
got her kid raised and out of the house, and now she has to do it
all over again…

At first I thought that until my nephew gets into a regular job,
a regular church, and a regular daily routine, I suspected that
it will be somewhat difficult for him in the dating world. But
then again, maybe not… He actually already has a list of phone
numbers he has acquired on his evening time adventures…

In this day and age, many people think of online dating as the
quickest and most economical way to find someone worth spending
their time… But as my nephew has reminded me… There was a
time before the Internet, and those dating techniques used before
the Internet age actually still work today…

So the next time you are out on the town and you meet someone who
strikes your fancy, walk up to them and say Hi. Show interest and
it could lead to a phone number. Finally, with a phone number in
hand, follow up. You never know where that phone call might take
you and your heart’s interest…

———————————————————————
Lance Metzger writes about relationships, offline and online
dating. Our no-strings-attached dating site has become a popular
online adult dating destination, due to its large membership
base of people looking for relationships of all kinds. Learn
more at: http://www.nsadatingsite.com/
Consider Lance’s new Kindle book, “Making Memories: Creative
Dating Ideas”: http://raintreepublishing.com/creative-dating-ideas/

Verify The Identity Of Your Online Dating Match

by editor | Jun 12, 2012 | Lifestyle

Verify The Identity Of Your Online Dating Match

The biggest hurdle that most people face in online dating world
is the question and concern of whether the person at the other
end of the conversation is really who he or she says that they
are. It is hard to get comfortable with the person you are about
to meet, when you have no other connection to that person beyond
an anonymous internet connection.

In the real world of dating, before you go on a first date, you
probably know:

* Where someone works;
* Where they live;
* Who some of their friends are;
* Where they go to hang out;
* What they drive…

Sure, you cannot tell a lot about a person from information such
as this, but you can sure tell a friend these things in the event
that something goes awry on your first date. It is always better
to be safe than sorry.

Your friends are able to know something real and truthful about
the person you are about to go on a date with, because you are
able to learn that information before you go on your first date.

But, when you are doing the online dating thing, you can chat or
email back and forth with a potential date, and even after
several months of talking, you could potentially still not know
the first thing about the person you are ready to meet. For all
you know, they could be pathological liars.

With online dating, it is difficult to really know anything about
the person you want to meet, UNLESS, you join a dating website
that has systems in place to verify the information that a person
gives online. For example, does he or she really work where they
say? Do they live where they say? Is that picture on their
profile really what they look like in person?

But, if like me you have been around online dating for a number
of years, it is really difficult to find a website that offers
systems to enable the dating website’s management team to verify
any kind of information about their members.

When I took the decision to start an online dating site, I wanted
to set up a system that would allow our management team to verify
information about our members, so that we could offer our members
a safer online dating environment. On our website, with our
latest service upgrade, we finally have the ability to verify
information about our members, providing our members a much more
honest and safe dating community.

Although members are not required to verify their personal
information, we do give our users several ways to verify their
personal information. When a member verifies their personal
information, we show our other members a logo which identifies
what information has been verified in the user’s profile.

Online dating should lead to fun and fulfillment, and hopefully,
we have been able to introduce an element to our site that will
let you see our dating community as one of the safer dating
websites available online.

———————————————————————
Lance Metzger writes about relationships, offline and online
dating. Our no-strings-attached dating site has become a popular
online adult dating destination, due to its large membership
base of people looking for relationships of all kinds. Learn
more at: http://www.nsadatingsite.com/
Consider Lance’s new Kindle book, “Making Memories: Creative
Dating Ideas”: http://raintreepublishing.com/creative-dating-ideas/

Tips To Help You Spot and Avoid Online Dating Scams

by editor | Jun 12, 2012 | Lifestyle

When seeking romance on the Internet, you should be aware of the
many scammers that are seeking to victimize those looking for love.

A friend of mine recently experienced a scammer’s attempt to get
into his wallet. I warned him of the danger, but he wanted his
new girl to be real, so he was willing to remain optimistic
through the entire process.

Don’t get me wrong, I do not have a problem with optimistic
people, especially since I live an optimistic life, even myself.

Through the entire process, my friend would call and ask what I
thought of his interactions for that day. I tried not to be too
critical of his potential new love, but I frequently cautioned
him to look for red flags in her story.

Here is a short list of the Red Flags you should be aware of when
seeking a date online:

* Declarations of Love after only a few emails. When someone
declares their undying love after only a few emails and before
you have met them in person, the most impressive of red flags
should be triggered. There are only two types of people who
declare love, without first meeting you in person: 1] desperate
stalkers (do you remember the movie, Fatal Attraction), or 2]
scammers.

* They Are Out-of-Country – They may say they are from the
United States, but for whatever reason, they are outside the
country currently. This is the first signal of their upcoming
bait-and-hook strategy. What this generally leads to is a
suggestion that they do not have the money to come home and they
need your assistance to pay for their flight; or in one
conversation I was involved, her U.S. babysitter is demanding
money to pay for babysitting services for her young child. If you
send them the money, they will lose it, or the money will be
stolen from them, and they will need more so that they can get
back home to you.

* They Dodge Personal Questions – They always seem distracted or
dim-witted when you ask them questions. Nine times in ten, they
will never answer a question you asked. If you are wondering what
is up, keep asking questions. This is important, and it takes us
to our next red flag.

* Look For Inconsistencies In Their Story – My friend finally
caught the red flag when his girl, who had already explained that
both of her parents had died in a car wreck four years before,
slipped up. She said the reason that she chose to go to college
in Nigeria (go figure) was that her dad “owns” a business
there. (Which dad? Her dead one?)

* Bad Grammar and Spelling – Don’t get me wrong. There are
plenty of people here in the U.S., who don’t spell so hot. But
those who are in the States will mask their poor spelling and
grammar with plenty of abbreviations: LOL (Laughing Out Loud),
BRB (Be Right Back), TTYL (Talk To You Later), CYA (See Ya),
ROFLOL (Rolling On the Floor Laughing Out Loud), and WTF (What
The … you know). Foreigners don’t know these keyboard
shortcuts, nor would they understand why they would be used.

* Lackluster Photographs – Frequently they show pictures with
little or no quality, pictures that are hard to see. Some will
actually have two or three good quality pics, but not more. (This
isn’t a perfect catch, since I only have two photos, one of
which is from a professional photo place.) But, as has been
pointed out many times before, the scammers will NEVER have a
photo with their friends. If the scammer sends you a small photo,
ask for a bigger copy. The scammer will not be able to produce
one. (This is an area where my own photos can be seen to be real,
as I can produce all my photos in their original monster-size.)

* Lack of Local Knowledge – When my friend found his girl, she
claimed to have been from a town only 15 miles from his home.
Even if he had never been to her town, he could go to Google to
find some information about her town (which he did). When they
are from your town, you can ask them about favorite restaurants
or party places. Don’t be afraid to test them by asking about
something that you know does not exist. If they claim knowledge
of what you know does not exist, then you will have received a
super huge red flag.

* They Have No Family – This is frequently a hook for gaining
your sympathy. Sometimes it might be true, we do know of people
who have lost their whole families. But if they volunteer the
information, without your first asking, then you definitely need
to red flag that contact, and start looking for other red flags.

Many of these red flag items should not be viewed as absolute
signals of a fraudulent flirt. But, when red flags start piling
up, you should be fully aware of the very real potential of
someone trying to scam you.

If you see any of these red flags, but you wish to remain
optimistic, figure out what you think the bait-and-hook will be,
and then make sure that you don’t fall for it when it comes to
you.

If an online lover requires you to spend money or give them
money, then you need to notify the dating website where you met
this person, so that the dating website can kick that person off
the website.

My friend was seeing red flags left and right, and yet he desired
to remain positive. I told him what the bait-and-hook would be,
and he continued forward optimistically. Then on a lark, he put a
sentence from his lover’s first email into Google and discovered
a word-for-word documentation of all of the emails he received
from his girl on a website called: http://www.RomanceScam.com

My friend did not have to play the game until the bait-and-hook
was offered. Instead, he was able to see well ahead of that play
that his girl was sending him a series of form letters that she
(or he) uses with many potential marks.

Fortunately, my friend was able to see the light before his phony
girl got into his wallet. And hopefully, since you have now read
this article and you are now aware of what is going on out there
in the online dating world, you will not get taken to the
cleaners either.

———————————————————————
Lance Metzger writes about relationships, offline and online
dating. Our no-strings-attached dating site has become a popular
online adult dating destination, due to its large membership
base of people looking for relationships of all kinds. Learn
more at: http://www.nsadatingsite.com/
Consider Lance’s new Kindle book, “Making Memories: Creative
Dating Ideas”: http://raintreepublishing.com/creative-dating-ideas/

London 2012′s oldest torchbearer celebrates her 100th birthday

by editor | Jun 12, 2012 | Lifestyle

London 2012′s oldest torchbearer celebrates her 100th birthday
Diana Gould celebrates hitting three figures with an exercise class and cake at her Barnet retirement home

London 2012′s oldest Olympic torchbearer Diana Gould today celebrated reaching the landmark age of 100.

To mark the special day, Diana held a communal exercise class for the residents of the block of retirement flats in which she lives and was later presented with a cake by her friends. Diana is set to run with the torch on Day 68 of the Olympic Torch Relay, just 2 days before the torch arrives to light the cauldron at the Olympic Park during the Opening Ceremony of the London 2012 Olympic Games

In the below footage, Diana gives her thoughts on reaching 100, her reaction to receiving her letter from the Queen and looks ahead to running with the Torch in late July

Olympic Apparel For London 2012, Designed By Cedella Marley

by editor | Jun 12, 2012 | Lifestyle

The Jamaica Olympic Association And PUMA
Unveil Olympic Apparel For London 2012, Designed By Cedella Marley

Usain Bolt and Cedella Marley Showcase the Jamaica Track & Field Olympic Wear

London, United Kingdom (June 1, 2012) –The Jamaica Olympic Association and PUMA today launched the Jamaican Team uniforms for the London 2012 Olympic Games™, including podium and ceremony wear with the help of Jamaican Track Athlete and World’s Fastest man Usain Bolt. Fashion designer Cedella Marley, daughter of Reggae icon the late Bob Marley, unveiled her designs alongside Usain Bolt at the launch in London today.

The designs will be worn by the entire team (men and women), including three-time Jamaican Olympic gold medallist, fastest man in the world and PUMA athlete Usain Bolt.  PUMA’s partnership with Marley, the eldest daughter in the Jamaican family dynasty, underscores the brand’s long-time commitment to the Caribbean nation, with its rich cultural heritage, global music contributions and its unparalleled dedication to Athletics.

“It is truly an honor to design this collection for my home country and my home team,” said Cedella Marley.  “It’s not even a dream come true because it’s something I never dreamed would be possible. I ran track in high school in Jamaica and I’m still a huge fan of Jamaican Athletics, so to have a role in creating the outfits for our Olympians is a thrill. I admire what PUMA has been doing in Jamaica over the years and the Marley family has the same type of give-back philosophy. I think this partnership is going to be legendary.”

Staying true to PUMA’s DNA of sportlifestyle, the collection incorporates high-tech fabrics and silhouettes engineered to enhance the performance of the athletes hailing from the fastest country in the world—Jamaica. Taking inspiration from the vibrant colors and patterns of the Caribbean nation as well as the African influences that have come to characterize that country, Cedella Marley’s unique designs are sure to make the world take notice in the summer of 2012.

“I can’t think of a better person to design our Olympic outfits than Cedella,” said Usain Bolt. “PUMA got that right…hooking up with a legendary Jamaican. She’s a great designer but also carries on the spirit of our nation through the legacy of the Marley family. It’s going to be inspirational to run in London with that energy surrounding me.”

PUMA’s Olympic wear will be accompanied by a lifestyle collection of apparel, footwear and accessories which will be available at PUMA retail stores globally in June 2012.

Montblanc Hosts International Gala Event

by editor | Jun 12, 2012 | Lifestyle

Montblanc Hosts International Gala Event
to Celebrate the Official Opening of its New
and Biggest Concept Store of Montblanc in the World

VIP Guests Nicolas Cage, Naomi Watts, Jessica Alba and Amber Heard Attend Opening
International guests from the worlds of film, music and the arts joined luxury Maison Montblanc, for an epic and unique celebration to launch its new 4-storey store in the heart of Sanlitun in Beijing. This contemporary and imposing concept store is Montblanc’s biggest flagship in the world, a place where visitors will be invited to discover the world of Montblanc masterpieces in an interactive and innovative way.

At the World Premiere of its China flagship store, Montblanc presented the entire Collection Princesse Grace de Monaco, an exquisite tribute to the timeless elegance of Grace Kelly. Bringing together all the facets of the brand’s renowned expertise, on this special evening in Beijing, Montblanc celebrated the captivating life and style of the late Princess Grace of Monaco with this collection of precious Watches, Writing Instruments and Jewellery. On the doorstep of the new concept store, guests were transported to the historic streets of Europe’s prestigious principality, Monaco, recreated in China’s capital for one night only

Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2012 Announced in Monte Carlo

by editor | Jun 12, 2012 | Lifestyle

James Mwangi of Kenya’s Equity Bank named Ernst & Young Entrepreneur Of The Year, the world’s most prestigious business award for entrepreneurs

MONTE CARLO, 9 JUNE 2012 – James Mwangi of Kenya’s Equity Bank was last night named the Ernst & Young World Entrepreneur Of The Year 2012 at an awards ceremony held in Monte Carlo’s Salle des Etoiles.

Tips For Building a Successful Long Distance Relationship

by editor | May 31, 2012 | Lifestyle

Tips For Building a Successful Long Distance Relationship

From time to time, life will hand you a twist, and you will be
required to move from one place to another – this can be the
result of a job transfer, leaving home to attend college, or any
of a number of other reasons. When you move from one town to
another, it is not always possible to bring your partner with
you, and this sometimes leads to the formation of a long distance
relationship (LDR).

I have to be honest, it takes a very special set of people to
engage in the long distance relationship successfully and for a
lengthy amount of time. The weaker among us may work to keep the
facade, while at the same time looking for companionship closer
to home. I will be honest, I am not suited to the long distance
relationship, but I have known people who were able to do it
successfully over a number of years.

When you have a long distance relationship, it is always good to
maintain communication, whether it is through the phone, email or
any other possible means. It can be a bit straining and
expensive, but that is the only means that will keep the two of
you together. These days with Voice Over IP (VOIP) telephone
services, the cost of long distance phone services can be
drastically reduced, but these services require the user to keep
access to a high-speed internet access, in order to successfully
utilize the services.

Partners should also maintain a high level of honesty and respect
for each other. If you do not trust your partner, you will be
kept awake wondering whom they are with and whether they are
still faithful.

Do not ask your partner “who were you with?” or “what did you
do?” There is a difference between genuine interest and
suspicion, and the person whom you ask those questions can
usually distinguish between the two motives.

Insecurity will poison and ultimately kill any relationship.

If you find yourself straying, or simply do not love your partner
anymore, it is always best to come clean. Do not lie or pretend
that you are not going out with someone else. It may be seem more
convenient to hide the truth, but if you try, you are just
delaying the inevitable breakup.

When you decide to break the relationship, do not leave a message
on the answering machine.

Understand if your partner is unable to return your calls
immediately, or does not write that often. It may because of a
new lifestyle or a pressing job.

It also helps to tell your partner what you did, how you are
feeling and where you think the relationship is heading.

Make a habit of visiting each other when it is possible,
especially during holidays. This helps break the gap that the
distance is putting between you. Absence may make the heart grow
fonder, but presence gives it strength. The hellos may seem odd
and the goodbyes painful, but it gets easier with time.

Having supportive friends is also an added advantage. Some may
think it is an absolute waste of time to maintain a long distance
relationship, while others will respect you for trying to hold
the relationship together despite the distance.

A long distance relationship is just like any other relationship
– the only difference is that you will have to work a little bit
harder to stay together. If there is no reason to break up, head
on.

Keep in mind that nothing comes in life comes on a silver
platter. Relationships like anything else in life requires work
to be successful. If you are committed to your significant other
and him or her to you, then the long distance relationship is not
a bad thing. My brother was involved in a long-distance
relationship for more than four years, while he and his current
wife were working their way through college. It worked out well
in his case, and it could work out well in your case also.

If you find yourself involved in a long distance relationship,
you should use this article as a guide to help your relationship
be successful in the end. You never really know what cards life
is going to deal to you, so invest in what is important to you,
and find the fulfillment you have always wanted to find in your
own life.

———————————————————————
Lance Metzger writes about relationships, offline and online
dating. Our no-strings-attached dating site has become a popular
online adult dating destination, due to its large membership
base of people looking for relationships of all kinds. Learn
more at: http://www.nsadatingsite.com/
Consider Lance’s new Kindle book, “Making Memories: Creative
Dating Ideas”: http://raintreepublishing.com/creative-dating-ideas/

WHERE THERE’S A NEED

by editor | May 31, 2012 | Lifestyle

WHERE THERE’S A NEED

I found myself stopped at an intersection on a wintery day. Strong arctic
wind battered my car. I spotted a young woman who stood alongside the
street rubbing her bare hands together and dancing in place to keep warm.
Beside her rested a sign that read, “I have a baby and no food.” Her face
showed she had been crying, likely from the pain of the bitter wind.

Homeless and unemployed people are a common sight in many of our larger
cities, and most motorists drive by without offering assistance. They have
no doubt been taught that giving money fosters a dependent lifestyle, or
the ready cash may be used to purchase alcohol or drugs rather than the
food for which it was intended. Like me, they may have been taught that
money is best given to a local charity or through one’s faith community, as
these institutions often have excellent programs to help those in need.

And though this is true, I sometimes recall a humorous story about two
college students who encountered a homeless man on a sidewalk. One of the
students took a couple of dollars from his wallet and handed it to the
unfortunate stranger. His friend commented, “Why did you do that? He’s just
going to spend it on booze or drugs.” The young man answered, “Yeah…like,
we’re not?”

On that icy day as I waited for the light to turn, I felt conflicted about
that young woman. I figured she was probably staying at one of the women?s
shelters in the area and wondered if her baby was there now, as there was
no child in sight. Should I give her money? She was obviously in need. And
whether or not she actually had a baby at all really didn’t matter. I gave
up guessing people’s motives and analyzing their stories long ago. It was
cold. She was cold. And she apparently felt she had to be there.

What should I do? How could I help? What was best?

As I wrestled with these questions, a window rolled down from the car in
front of me and a hand shot out holding a warm pair of gloves. The driver
had taken her own gloves off and gave them to the shivering woman. I saw
the young woman mouth the words “Thank you” as a broad smile lit up her
face.

It occurred to me that, as I debated, somebody else helped. As I hesitated,
someone else acted. As I tried to decide the BEST way to assist, somebody
else just did what she could. In other words, as I did nothing, someone
else did SOMETHING.

I made myself a pledge that day to always try to do SOMETHING. And I?m not
just talking about giving money. I?m not even talking about the homeless,
necessarily. Where there?s a need, there?s an opportunity. So I promised
myself that, whenever or wherever I spotted a need, I would try to do
SOMETHING.

Educator Leo Buscaglia said, “Too often we underestimate the power of a
touch, a smile, a kind word, a listening ear, an honest compliment, or the
smallest act of caring, all of which have the potential to turn a life
around.” Even speaking, listening, and noticing — they may not seem like
much, but they are something. And the smallest act of kindness carries
great power within.

I don?t want to underestimate what I CAN do. Where there?s a need, there?s
an opportunity. My action may not turn a life around, but it can make some
kind of difference. And I?ll trust that the something I do, no matter how
small, will be better than the nothing I might have done.

– Steve Goodier
__________

Find Steve Goodier here: http://stevegoodier.blogspot.com/.
Newsletter: http://LifeSupportSystem.com.

Designer Christian Louboutin Launches Search For The Next Female Star

by editor | May 26, 2012 | Lifestyle

Christian Louboutin & Celebrity Guests
From Across The Globe To Attend Exclusive Party In London

Acclaimed fashion icon Christian Louboutin and Martini celebrate the launch of a global search across 25 countries, for the next female supermodel to star in a TV commercial worth €150,000.

To launch the search, celebrity attendees included The Saturdays, David Gandy and fellow designer Matthew Williamson celebrated at the Design Museum London, home to Christian Louboutin’s exhibition, showcasing twenty years of his designs and inspiration.

The casting will go live across 25 countries on May 28th from Brazil to Spain, South Africa to Italy. The successful candidate will be chosen in October by Christian Louboutin and a high profile judging panel.

Instantly recognisable by their trademark shiny red-lacquered soles, Louboutin will be giving away 12 pairs of his famous shoes to the successful candidate chosen by the high profile selection panel.

The female casting star competition follows the successful launch of Martini’s ‘Luck Is An Attitude’ competition in 2011 to find a male model, launched by supermodel David Gandy.

Virgin Atlantic Launches London to Vancouver Service

by editor | May 26, 2012 | Lifestyle

Virgin Atlantic Launches London to Vancouver Service

Virgin Atlantic has made their inaugural flight of their new London to Vancouver service. Flights will initially operate four times a week from London Heathrow to Vancouver throughout the summer up until 27th October 2012. The British airline anticipates up to 40,000 passengers will travel on new route in the first season.

GROWING GOOD CORN

by editor | May 26, 2012 | Lifestyle

GROWING GOOD CORN

Have you noticed how all of life is connected? You probably know
about the relationship between honey ants (farm ants) and aphids.
The ants can’t seem to get enough of the tasty honey dew left behind
by aphids, those tiny sap-sucking insects probably living in your
garden. These two insects have a fascinating relationship. In
exchange for all the sugary treats aphids deposit on leaves, the
ants wage fierce battle against wasps, beetles and spiders that try
to dine on aphids for lunch. As those aphids keep their ant friends
happy, the ants keep their aphid buddies alive. Everyone wins,
except the plants, of course.

The ants do better because of the aphids. The aphids do better
because of the ants. It’s a relationship called mutualism, and the
rest of us could probably take a lesson. People, too, succeed best
when they help others out.

James Bender, in his book How to Talk Well (New York: McGraw-Hill
Book Co., Inc., 1994), illustrates how it benefits to everyone when
we mutually help each other. He relates a story of a farmer who grew
award-winning corn. Each year he entered his best corn in the
regional fair where it won a blue ribbon.

One year a newspaper reporter interviewed him to learn about how he
grew blue-ribbon corn year after year. The reporter discovered
something interesting. He learned that the farmer actually shared
his best seed corn with his neighbors.

“How can you afford to share your best seeds with your neighbors
when they are entering corn in competition against yours each year?”
the reporter asked.

“Why sir,” said the farmer, “didn’t you know? The wind picks up
pollen from the ripening corn and swirls it from field to field. If
my neighbors grow inferior corn, cross-pollination will steadily
degrade the quality of my corn. If I am to grow good corn, I must
help my neighbors grow good corn.”

It’s a simple and important principle. His corn cannot improve
unless his neighbor’s corn also improves. He cannot succeed simply
by watching out for Number One. He succeeds best by helping his
neighbors succeed. That’s mutualism.

And I am aware that it goes for me, too. Do I want to succeed? Then
I must help others to succeed.

Do I want to live in peace and harmony? Then I need to help my
neighbors also live in peace, and the very peace they experience
will add to my own.

Do I want to live meaningfully and well? Then I should help to
enrich the lives of others, for my own happiness and well-being is
bound up in the lives I touch.

In other words, if I want to grow good corn, I need to help my
neighbors grow good corn. Call it mutualism. Call it a principle of
success. Call it a law of life. I only know that none of us truly
wins until we all win.

– Steve Goodier
__________

Find Steve Goodier here: http://stevegoodier.blogspot.com/.
Newsletter: http://LifeSupportSystem.com.

Getting Past First Base In The Dating Game

by editor | May 20, 2012 | Lifestyle

Getting Past First Base In The Dating Game

http://www.nsadatingsite.com

This is going to sound cheesy, but I am going to share it with
you anyway.

For years, the first date was the worst part of the dating
process for me and my date.

She and I were often uncomfortable on our first meeting, and it
was a struggle to get through the evening to the point of comfort
between my date and myself.

One of my female friends shared with me an idea that she had come
across years before, and when I tried it for myself, it changed
most of my first dates from a nervous uncomfortable experience
into a fun and engaging evening.

Take Pen And Paper On Your First Date

In most cases, I will have talked to the person I am meeting once
or twice, before we go on the actual “first date”. So, to a
point, we are somewhat comfortable with each other. But, I am
always nervous on that first date anyway, and so is she.

It is not uncommon to be uncomfortable on that first date,
because as human beings, we want the other person to like us, as
much as we think we like them.

It is that fear of rejection that causes the most nervousness on
that first dinner date, and my friend forever changed that
experience for me to the positive, due to what I am about to tell
you right now.

Pen and paper?

Oh yeah…

It never fails. We sit down to order dinner, then we are never
sure where the conversation is going to go next.

When I feel that first twinge of uncertainty in the conversation,
I reach in my pocket and put a pen on the table in front of her.

I let curiosity drive the moment.

She is usually very confused by the ball-point pen, and she looks
at me in a quizzical manner.

I just smile.

Then I reach in my pocket and get a piece of paper. I reach
across the table and put the paper in front of her, then I make
eye contact, and respond to her confusion with another smile.

Then I place pen and paper in front of myself.

Only after I have got my own pen and paper on the table do I
speak.

I usually say, “Humor me. It will be fun.”

She will usually agree.

Then I will say, “I know you have questions, and sometimes it is
easier to put them on paper than it is to ask them in person.”

I will follow that with, “I am pretty sure that there is at
least one question about me that you might be too nervous to ask
me. If so, write it down on the paper, and I will do the same
with the question I have for you that I might be too nervous to
ask.”

Take Notes

Take notice of the reaction offered by the other person.

The body language will say more than the words that come from the
mouth.

I generally see one of three responses from the person I am with:

1) A grunt of dissatisfaction and a roll of the eyes. This means
that very likely, the date will end after dinner, and you will
never see her again.

2) A sparkle in the eye, and she will pick up the pen and begin
to write. This could be very interesting. You will be surprised
at the depth of some of the questions asked.

3) She will push the paper aside and begin to speak. Ah yes…
This one is feisty… She is not easily intimidated, and she
certainly will not be afraid to ask you ANY questions. In this
instance, she will quickly ask the most personal questions that
she could ever think to ask on a first date.

The Point Of This Exercise

As someone on a first date, we are both trying to sell ourselves
to the other person as someone with whom they should want to
spend more of their time.

As someone who has worked in sales, I know that successful sales
people don’t focus on what is in it for themselves, but instead,
they focus on answering all of the questions most important to
the other party, in an effort to help them make a good decision.

The point of this exercise is to open the communication channels,
so that both of you will be willing to dive into those very
important questions that you will need answered to decide if this
dating prospect is right for you.

If at the end of that first date, you have successfully
eliminated someone from your shopping list, you will be ahead of
the game. Most people don’t figure that out that someone is a
bad match until they have gone on two or three dates.

The pen and paper is simply a tool designed to open the
communication channels with the other person.

It is never necessary to actually write anything on your piece of
paper, unless the other person starts writing.

In order to ease the willingness to ask and answer questions, I
always make my first question somewhat silly. My goal with
selecting a humorous or silly first question is to “lessen the
tension” in the conversation and to create a “feeling of fun”
in the experience.

Even if I never go out with her again, I want her to tell her
friends that her date with me “was fun.”

Spice Up Your Love Life With Pen And Paper

Always take two pens and two sheets of paper with you when you go
on a date.

If you never have to use them, that might be a good sign for your
second date.

———————————————————————
Lance Metzger writes about relationships, offline and online
dating. In our minds, “No Strings Attached” simply means,
“Let’s get to know one another before we start making any
commitments to one another.” To explore No Strings Attached
Dating, please visit the NSA Dating Site at:

http://www.nsadatingsite.com/

Consider Lance’s new Kindle book, “Making Memories: Creative
Dating Ideas”: http://raintreepublishing.com/creative-dating-ideas/

JUAN OF THE DEAD

by editor | May 19, 2012 | Lifestyle

JUAN OF THE DEAD

DVD Release date: 4th June 2012
DVD RRP: £15.99 Cert: 15

“Hello, Juan of the Dead…We kill your loved ones…!”
Following in the witty and gory footsteps of Shaun of the Dead, comes Cuba’s first full-length horror film, JUAN OF THE DEAD!
JUAN OF THE DEAD tells the blood-drenched tale of a slacker who decides to save Cuba from an invasion of cannibalistic zombies. As the zombies turn Havana into a gory circus of flying limbs and severed heads, the nightly news anchors continue to calmly assert the government line, that the attacks are not the work of the undead but dissidents in the pay of the United States.

Scattered with allusions to traumatic moments in Cuba’s recent history, this is a zombie film with real satirical bite.

For check discs, competitions and further press information please contact
Chris Boyd – 0207 535 7309 / [email protected]

Piggy

by editor | May 19, 2012 | Lifestyle

PIGGY

DVD Release date: 21st May 2012
DVD RRP: £15.99 Cert: 18

Tough, shocking and utterly compelling, PIGGY is a dark and brutal tale of revenge and retribution on the mean streets of London.

When his brother is murdered Joe (Martin Compston – The Disappearance of Alice Creed, The Damned United) finds solace in an old family friend, Piggy (Paul Anderson – Sherlock Holmes, The Firm, The Sweeney). Piggy helps Joe to cope with his grief, intent on saving him and helping him get justice for his brother’s killing.

But as their friendship grows Joe finds himself in an increasingly dangerous world of violence and revenge. Soon Joe’s life begins to collapse around him as he starts to question who Piggy really is, culminating in a brutal, disastrous climax that will stay with you forever.

With an electrifying performance from Paul Anderson in the title role, PIGGY signals the arrival of director Kieron Hawkes as a major new force in gritty British cinema.

For check discs, competitions and further press information please contact
Chris Boyd – 0207 535 7309 / [email protected]

Broken Hearts Of Online Dating

by editor | May 19, 2012 | Lifestyle

How To Avoid The Pitfalls, Wrong Turns, Broken Hearts Of Online Dating
Copyright (c) 2009-2012 Lance Metzger

As an experienced online dater, I feel qualified to help you avoid
pitfalls, wrong turns, broken hearts, and the general
catastrophes associated with internet wooing.

When you join your first online dating community, you will be
required to fill in personal information. Please be honest. You
are shorter and fatter than you think.

However, you have to be true to yourself too. Do not embellish
your life just because you think that is what the opposite sex
wants to hear. If you create a fake persona, you will regret it
and look like a liar.

Warning: Prepare To Be Overwhelmed!

After signing up, uploading your picture and answering personal
questions, you will be bombarded with images of single people all
wanting to be friends with you. It is a heady experience, but it
isn’t real.

* Think of online dating as “an Ebay for your heart.” Yeah,
there is a lot of stuff on there, but you don’t need it all.
It’s like going to the mall with unlimited credit. Take a deep
breath and remember that these are people, not things to be
purchased.

* Take it slow. Don’t act like the greedy kid in Willie Wonka.
You are way better than that. Remember that the person you pick
to correspond with is also connecting with other people. So, do
yourself a favor and don’t tell all your friends about this
great guy/gal you met. Chances are your new “mate” might not be
around in three days and you will look like a desperate loser.

* Keep in mind that this is a “dating” website and some people
are looking to date many people as possible because, after all,
they paid for it.

* Take your time to correspond and build up a friendship before
you agree to meet someone in person. In the car business,
salespeople encourage you to take a test drive to promote in you
a feeling of “ownership.” If you want a shot at more than just
a string of one time coffee dates, you have to do the same. You
need to become “real” to the person you are interested in.

Write. Text. Whatever. Let your potential partner see you as a
person. Let a friendship grow naturally so when you finally meet
it is with a sense of anticipation, not dread. A date will be
less likely to dump you on the spot if they are eager to meet you
despite your shortcomings, and you will be more likely to
overlook their receding hairline or less-than-perfect abs.

Follow All The Safety Rules

Meet in a public place, let a friend know where you will be, and
don’t give out personal contact information until you are sure
that your date is reasonably trustworthy. Bad things don’t
happen very often, but they do happen.

Don’t believe everything your date tells you. Caveat Emptor –
Buyer Beware.

Be financially savvy. Dating sites are in this for the money.
They offer you the “convenience” of debiting your checking
account or credit card every month. Stay aware of when this
deduction will occur, or even keep a calendar specifically for
this purpose. Cancel your membership if you feel like you have
met someone special and no longer need the service, or if you
feel like this just isn’t working out for you.

Do not let your naysaying friends talk you out of this. In the
past, “computer dating” had a negative connotation; happily, I
believe that is changing. Users now realize that people on a
dating site are busy professionals who don’t like meeting
potential partners in a more traditional way (i.e., bars). The
men aren’t creepy weirdos and the women aren’t chubby
introverts….well, at least, not all of us.

Finally, be realistic. You will never meet the perfect person and
you will never be the perfect person. Relax. Readjust your
expectations and you and your date will have much more fun.
That’s what its all about, isn’t it?

———————————————————————
Lance Metzger writes about relationships, offline and online
dating. Our no-strings-attached dating site has become a popular
online adult dating destination, due to its large membership
base of people looking for relationships of all kinds. Learn
more at: http://www.nsadatingsite.com/
Consider Lance’s new Kindle book, “Making Memories: Creative
Dating Ideas”: http://raintreepublishing.com/creative-dating-ideas/

When Commitment Seems A Bit Too Much Trouble

by editor | May 19, 2012 | Lifestyle

When Commitment Seems A Bit Too Much Trouble
Copyright (c) 2011-2012 Lance Metzger

The nuclear family (man and wife, plus 2.2 kids) is a fantasy
that some people want to chase, and while there is nothing wrong
with that, it is not the right relationship dynamic for some
people.

Divorced And Living Together

My mother divorced my dad in 1985. He remarried in 2000, but she
remains unmarried to this day.

That is not to say that she is alone… In fact, she has been
living with the same fellow since 1989.

If you ask her “when” she plans to marry, she will hurl a load
of angry words in your direction.

But, if you ask her “why” she is not yet married, she will tell
you in no uncertain terms that she will never marry again, and
definitely not to the jerk she is with now. LOL

Her “why” is simple. You “cannot trust a man to keep his word
about anything.” LOL again.

If you ask me, it has nothing to do with whether the men in her
life keep their word about anything. Instead, by staying
unmarried, she is keeping her life simple. And if she and
whomever she is with decide to break the relationship bond, then
not having to get a divorce makes the process much easier and
without complications.

I don’t usually share personal stories about my family with my
readers, but in this case, I made an exception.

I made an exception in this case for two reasons: you probably
will never meet my mother or be able to track her down, AND her
story perfectly demonstrates how relationships can be more
complicated than they appear on the surface.

Divorced and Living Apart, But Still Dating

There is another couple I know, whose kids I went to school with
when I was younger. I have always got on well with them, and we
kept in touch after I grew up.

In their case, they divorced about the same time my parents
divorced — over 25 years ago.

But every time I see them, they are together, on a date.

One day, curiosity got the best of me. I asked them why they
still keep different homes if every time I see them they are
together. She laughed at my question.

The two of them explained that while they enjoy the company of
the other, most of the time, they grate on the other one’s
nerves if they are together too much.

So after 20 years of marriage, 5 years of dating other people,
and 20 more years of dating each other, they have come to the
conclusion that it is best to live in different houses and go on
several dates a week.

When they start to tire of the other, they stop seeing each other
for a little while.

When they are ready to start dating again, the one who broke it
off previously will call the other one on the phone.

After a couple phone calls, they will rekindle their dating
relationship. And I will begin to see them out on the town
together for dinner and such again.

Friends With Benefits

My sister has a relationship very similar to that of my moms.

She and her husband ended their marriage after only twelve years.
I can almost understand the hatred she has for men now, but not
completely.

Yeah, her husband was a jerk of super-hero proportions, but I
could almost understand why he acted in such a vile manner
because she treated him like yesterday’s garbage.

Nevertheless, that marriage was one that was made in hell. And it
ended much later than it should have.

When it all came to its brutal end, he bought tens of thousands
of dollars of stuff in her name, ruining her credit forever. When
the judge decided he needed to give her his car as part of the
settlement, he took out all of the parts necessary for the
vehicle to operate the vehicle.

It took my sister six years to gather all of the parts necessary
to start the vehicle again.

Can I say vicious?

My sister decided that she liked intimacy, but she certainly
wasn’t going to let another man ever “tell her what to do.”

For years, she had several “friends” with whom she carried a
“friends with benefits” relationship.

After several boyfriends, she finally settled down with one poor
chap, who she runs through the ringer regularly.

I cannot tell you how many phone calls I have received, my wife
and my brother have received, from my sister’s current live-in
boyfriend, with him crying on the other end of the line, because
my sister is being mean to him and threatening to end the
relationship.

All I can tell him is to lay down to take the abuse, grow some
balls and stand up to her once in a while, or move on to another
woman who will treat him better. LOL

In his case, I suspect he was much better off when he had a
“friends with benefits” relationship with my sister, instead of
a live-in boyfriend/girlfriend relationship.

The Nuclear Family Is Dead

I do say that tongue-in-cheek, because my brother does have a
nuclear-family relationship, with a wife and 3 kids, but he is
the only one left in our family who does.

As far as I am concerned, I am happy to remain a bachelor on the
prowl.

Maybe in a few years, I will grow up and accept the standard
definition of a relationship as a relationship I want in my own
life. But I am almost 40. Sometimes I think that if I haven’t
done it yet, I probably never will.

Just because most people on this earth choose the nuclear-family
relationship does not mean that it is the perfect relationship
dynamic for everyone on the planet.

Let’s face it. Commitment is not the perfect solution for
everyone, and it never will be.

———————————————————————
Lance Metzger writes about relationships, offline and online
dating. In our minds, “No Strings Attached” simply means,
“Let’s get to know one another before we start making any
commitments to one another.” To explore No Strings Attached
Dating, please visit the NSA Dating Site at:

http://www.nsadatingsite.com/

Consider Lance’s new Kindle book, “Making Memories: Creative
Dating Ideas”: http://raintreepublishing.com/creative-dating-ideas/

CHECK IT OUT

by editor | May 17, 2012 | Lifestyle

CHECK IT OUT

Joan, the town gossip and supervisor of the town’s morals recently
accused George, a local man, of having a drinking problem because
she noticed his pickup truck outside the town’s only bar one
morning. After all, she reasoned, it was a logical assumption.

George stared at her for a moment and said nothing. Later that
evening, he parked his pickup truck in front of her house and left
it there all night.

Why is it that so many of our logical assumptions are just plain
wrong? And why do we want to act as if they must be true?

In an age long before the Internet, a young American at a banquet
found himself seated next to the eminent V. K. Wellington Koo, a
Chinese diplomat. Completely at a loss as to what to say to someone
from such a different culture, this young man ventured, “Likee
soupee?” After all, he assumed, don’t all Chinese speak in broken
English?

Mr. Koo smiled and nodded. Later when called upon to speak,
Wellington Koo delivered an eloquent talk in exquisite English, sat
down while the applause was still resounding, turned to the young
man and whispered, “Likee speechee?

Another assumption that was completely wrong. And I can relate. I
regularly assume things and act as if they must be true.

Do you know one of the reasons why red roses are so popular? Men
keep buying them. They ASSUME that all women prefer red roses when
flowers are in order. And when asked their partner’s favorite color
of rose, men usually say it’s red.

But what do the women say? When women are asked what color of rose
is their favorite, they are more likely to answer that they prefer
yellow, white, black, peach or lavender. And when asked what kind of
flowers they would prefer to receive from that special person, the
answer is generally not roses at all. Try daisies, tulips or
gardenias. The age-old assumption that most women like red roses
best is simply not true.

Sometimes I think it has taken way too long, but I’m learning to ask
about these things I always KNEW were absolutely true. At least I
assumed so. When my wife is silent, I’ve always assumed she was
angry with me. But now I’m learning to ask. And I’m discovering that
her aloofness sometimes actually comes from the fact that she is
worried about something not related to me at all.

Assumptions. We all make them. They’re too often wrong and can
easily get us into trouble.

So here is what I’ve learned: when in doubt, check it out. And if
I’m not in doubt, I still check it out. I’m sure I know what she
likes? I check it out. I believe I know what the silence is all
about? I check it out. It’s only logical? I still check it out.

We may think we know. But what we know may not be so. Best to check
it out.

This may sound simplistic, but I am always amazed how often we are
in distress over things we assume to be true. Yet nobody has checked
them out. And I also know that when I check my assumptions out, I
can expect to be surprised.

– Steve Goodier
__________

Find Steve Goodier here: http://stevegoodier.blogspot.com/.
Newsletter: http://LifeSupportSystem.com.

Asia Fashion Exchange

by editor | May 17, 2012 | Lifestyle

AUDI STAR CREATION 2012 HAS ITS TOP 12
Fashion designers from 7 countries make the cut, including Japan, Singapore and South Korea; scramble to ready collections for the May 14 runway showdown begins

7 March 2012, Singapore – The 12 aspiring fashion stars who will face off on the runway at Audi Star Creation 2012 have been picked from over 250 submissions for the regional fashion design competition. The strongest showing this year came from South Korea, which produced four finalists. Singapore and Malaysia have two finalists each, and China, Indonesia, Japan and Thailand complete the seven countries that will be represented at the finals.
The 12 finalists for Audi Star Creation 2012 are:
Liang Wang, 27, China
Natalia Kiantoro, 22, Indonesia
Tatsuya Tsukahara, 24, Japan
Ling Siu Gin, 21, Malaysia
Vincent Wong, 22, Malaysia
Eugenice Chen, 20, Singapore
Jaslin Ong, 21, Singapore
Kim Mina, 24, South Korea
Kim Soo-Jeong, 25, South Korea
Kim Yong Woo, 27, South Korea

Ko Youngji, 32, South Korea
Soravit Kaewkamon, 23, Thailand
Singapore is fielding this year’s youngest finalist – Temasek Polytechnic Apparel Design and Merchandising student Eugenice Chen, 20. The oldest contender comes from Korea – 32-year-old Ko Youngji. Details of the collections that all 12 will present on the runway are appended.

Aspiring designers from around the region were challenged to come up with six original, creative and commercially viable designs based on the theme, “Fashion Without Frontiers”. The competition was open to designers between 16 and 35 with less than two years of experience in the fashion industry, and after an intense month of judging, these 12 have been chosen to transform their ideas into catwalk-ready collections.

The final face-off takes place at the Asia Fashion Exchange’s Tent@Orchard on May 14. Three of the 12 winners stand to walk away with a $10,000 cash prize from Audi Singapore, a one-year internship with leading fashion retailer FJ Benjamin and the chance to develop a capsule collection that will be launched at Audi Star Creation 2013. Of the three, the one whose collection best embodies Audi’s design spirit of innovation, technology and progression will receive the Audi Young Designer Award (AYDA) – an additional  $10,000 cash prize. This is the third time the AYDA is being presented.

Three-time Audi Star Creation judge and Vice-President of the Textile and Fashion Federation (Singapore), Mr David Wang, says this year’s judging was significantly harder given the sheer number of entries and the rising standards of submissions. This year saw a record number of 255 entries from 13 countries.

“The theme was deliberately chosen to allow for a wide interpretation, but we were surprised at how far some designers were able to push it while still infusing their collections with both personal and cultural styles. This year, we’re going to be treated to everything from military-inspired womenswear to bold and unorthodox draping. It is going to be quite spectacular,” said Mr Wang.

Audi Singapore, which has increased its stake this year in Star Creation to be the competition’s presenting sponsor, will again also be presenting the Audi Young Designer Award to one of the winners.

Mr Reinhold Carl, Managing Director of Audi Singapore, said: “Since 2010, we have kept an eye on the winners of Star Creation to give out the Audi Young Designer Award. This goes to the designer who best embodies the progressive spirit of our brand in their designs, and the past winners of the award, Daniel Ngoo and Hiroyuki Watanabe, have wowed us with distinctive twists in their work. I am most excited to see how these qualities will be embodied in the collections of this year’s participants.”

Felix Baumgartner Arrives In London Ahead Of 120,000 ft. Freefall Record Attempt

by editor | May 17, 2012 | Lifestyle

Austrian base jumper visits UK following successful completion of 71,000ft. test jump last month

LONDON, UK – WEDNESDAY 25th – THURSDAY 26th APRIL 2012: Felix Baumgartner, the Austrian BASE jumper aiming to break the speed of sound during freefall from the edge of space, has arrived in London as he makes final preparations for his record attempt later this year in Roswell, New Mexico, USA.

Fresh from the successful completion of a 71,581 ft. test flight last month, Felix now has his sights set on his final jump (120,000 ft.) which will see him attempt to break the 52-year-old world record for the highest ever freefall.

Joining him on his London visit is Colonel USAF (Retired) Joe Kittinger, the man who has held the world freefall altitude record since 1960. Felix and Joe will also be joined by Art Thompson, Technical Project Director of Red Bull Stratos, who heads up the team of scientists, meteorologists and engineers who have spent five years developing the project.

On March 15th, Felix successfully completed a test flight to an altitude of 71,581 ft. in a capsule attached to a helium balloon. After a 90-minute ascent he stepped off the platform, and proceeded to freefall for three minutes and 33 seconds, reaching a top speed of 364.4mph, before deploying his parachute at 7,890 ft. above sea level. Just over four minutes later, he landed safely 30 miles away from the original launch site in Roswell.

The test flight represents a major landmark for the project, marking the first time that the manned Red Bull Stratos capsule has crossed the Armstrong Line (approximately 62,000ft.), where low atmospheric pressure causes liquid to boil in the unprotected human body. It has also enabled Felix to freefall from more than twice the height of his previous personal best of 30,000 ft. whilst experiencing stratospheric conditions similar to those he is likely to experience when he makes the final record attempt.

Felix’s world record attempt will take place in Roswell, New Mexico and is currently scheduled to launch in the summer of 2012.

Geoffrey Fletcher Launches Filmmakers Competition At Tribeca Film Festival

by editor | May 17, 2012 | Lifestyle

Stars of ‘The Avengers’ celebrate imagination at their New York Premiere

Stars from the summer’s most hotly anticipated film celebrated imagination at the New York premiere of ‘The Avengers’.
Chris Hemsworth, Mark Ruffalo, Cobie Smulders and Tom Hiddleston reflected on their experience of making the film and bringing the comic book series to the big screen.
Bombay Sapphire announces the launch of their Imagination Series Filmmakers Competition at Tribeca Film Festival this week,  hosting the exclusive after-parties of Emily Blunt’s ‘Your Sister’s Sister’, Chris Rock’s ‘2 Days In New York’ and the closing premiere, summer blockbuster ‘The Avengers’.
To celebrate filmmakers around the world, Bombay Sapphire, in association with Tribeca Film Festival, is offering budding filmmakers the chance to make their own short film, using their imagination to interpret Oscar-winner Geoffrey Fletcher’s short film script.
Oscar-winning scriptwriter Geoffrey Fletcher today announces a new competition to find a rising star in filmmaking to bring his script to life.

From the 26th of April, budding filmmakers can view the script at www.imaginationseries.com and can submit their interpretation of the Geoffrey’s script on this site from the 8th of May 2012. A global judging panel, including Geoffrey Fletcher and industry leaders put together by the Tribeca Film Festival, will select five winners from a shortlist of entries who will then go on to produce and direct their own individual films and view these at a star-studded international premiere early 2013.

For more information visit  www.bombaysapphire.com | www.facebook.com/BombaySapphire