Demon Possession is it real or just a mental disorder
Jan 24th
Just about everyone these days has heard about ‘ demon possession ‘, it was made a household name by the 1973 movie ‘ The Exorcist ‘, and again it has become popular after the 2005 movie ‘ The Exorcism Of Emily Rose ‘. To myself and thousands of others, we have known and believed in demon possession for a long time from another source, the Holy Bible. The Bible written in sections or books, some more than a couple thousand years ago, tells us all we need to know about demon possession and that it is a very real condition.
In this day and age, when you mention demons or demon possession, most folks laugh or joke about it. Do these same folks laugh and joke about the Holy Bible ? To laugh and joke about the belief of demons and demon possession, is the same as laughing and joking about the Holy Bible and the word of God. If you are a true Christian and you believe in the Holy Bible as being the divinely inspired word of God, then you should have no doubts about the existence of demons and demon possession.
What are demons ? Demons are supernatural beings with great power and knowledge, their knowledge comes from not just their high intelligence, but the fact that they have been alive since before the earth was created. They are often called or known as ‘ fallen angels ‘, in fact that is exactly what they are. When satan rebelled against God, he along with his followers, (1/3 rd of the angels of heaven), were cast out of the Third Heaven, where God’s throne and the actual city or place called Heaven currently exists. These ex-angels, now called ‘ demons ‘, were banished forever from the 3rd heaven where they once worshipped God and his son Jesus. Now for thousands of years, they have been condemned to live in what is called heavens 1 and 2, this area encompasses the planet earth, the sky above it, the stars, planets and the solar systems beyond it.
Demons are usually invisible in their natural state to the human eye, but they can take on any solid form they wish, and then we can see them. Demons can appear as wips of what looks like smoke, lasting only a few seconds, or at other times they look like fleeting shadows, often seen out of the corners of the eyes. They can take on any shape they choose, even an animal, they can appear solid or transparent and ghost-like.
What does the Bible tell us about demons and some of their abilities:
Demons seem to desire a body to possess or use as a host, like a parasite. It could be that when they were cast down from Heaven that they were changed into another form, or they just have a strong desire to control and cause as much trouble to humans as they possibly can. In ‘ Mark 5:12 ‘, when Jesus was exorcising demons from a possessed man, the demons spoke to Jesus and begged him, saying: ‘ Send us among the herd of pigs; allow us to go into them ‘.
Demons have great strength. In ‘ Luke 8:29 ‘, a man was possessed by demons, and while possessed he was able to break chains easily, the demons also made the man want to dwell among graves and lonely places.
The demons are responsible for many of the diseases and illnesses that people have. In ‘ Luke 11:14 ‘ , a man that had been mute and unable to speak, became able to speak normaly when Jesus removed a demon from him.
What are some causes of demon possession ? Sin. yes, sin is the cause or thing that leads to someone being controlled and ultimately possessed by demonic forces:
Abuse – Some folks claim they were abused as children, and this has brought them under the control of demons.
Occult Activity – Reading and trying spells and other things in occult books.
Spirit communication – Using an ouija board, channeling, or automatic writing, is an open door to demon possession.
Astrology and Fortune Telling – Using ones horoscope or visiting a fortune teller to know the future is wrong according to the bible, clearly a warning that demonic forces are involved with it.
Music and Movies – Movies and music can be fun and inspirational, but most of the movies today are very sinful. Todays movies are full of such sinful things as sexual encounters that are out of marriage or with the same sex, cussing or using Jesus’s name in vain, and there are numerous movies these days that show or try to let us think that dabbling with spells, sorcery and witchcraft are ok, when the Bible clearly says that any witchcraft or sorcery is wrong and can open the door to demon forces.
Sexual perversions – Pornography is very addicitve and often leads to more and more perverted sexual desires, such as same sex encounters and sex with animals which is growing more and more in todays perverted world, all of which is evil and wrong according to the Bible and Jesus. Demons can use these filthy and perverted desires to weaken our wills and mental states, until we allow them to enter us, and possess us.
There are many other activites and things that can ultimately lead to someone becoming possessed and controlled by demon forces, but the main cause is sin.
There are a lot of folks that say demon possession is just symptoms of either a mental illness or some other medical condition, or sickness. This can be true at times when the person does have a medical problem, but in a true case of demon possession, there will be signs or activity that NO sickness or disease can manifest, such as:
Knowledge of future events and hidden things – Demon possessed people have been known to gain a sudden knowledge about things that was never shared with others, or to even reveal future events that come true.
Superhuman strength – Possessed individuals have been known to break ropes, chains and other restraints with ease, and it often takes up to 4 full grown men to hold a demon possessed child down.
Speaking in unknown or strange languages – Demon possessed inviduals who have no prior knowledge of foreign languages have been known to start taking fluently in strange languages or foreign tongues, such as Aramaic, Latin and other languages.
Levitation and Psychic Powers – Demon possessed individuals have been known to levitate and hover in the air in front of other witnesses, or cause objects in the room to move by themselves.
Smells – Often in the presence of a demon possessed individual the surrounding air will become so horriblly smelling that folks will get sick, the smell has been described as the smell of cancer or death, or even sulphur.
Reaction to Holy relics or sacred items – Demon possessed individuals have been known to fear or even react violently to crosses, bible reading, holy water or other sacred relics and symbols. In one case of demon possession in pennsylvania in the early 1980s a young man, who was possessed had his head covered with a sack, so he could not see. He held his hands behind his back and a few different items were placed in his hands, when a cross was dropped into his hand, it burned his skin and became hot to others that touched it.
The best way to avoid demon activity and possession in your life is to avoid sin as much as possible. Read your bible as often as you can, go to a nice bible believing church, and most importantly, accept Jesus Christ as your lord and saviour, repent of your sins, and try not to sin like you did before your conversion.
As we are now living in what I call the ‘ End Times ‘, we will be seeing and hearing a lot more news about possession and demon activity. If you would like to know a lot more about the ‘ End Times ‘, and read some great Christian articles on such subjects as ‘Being Saved, Armageddon, The Rapture, and much more, visit the website: ‘ Signs Of The End Times ‘
http://www.rb59.com/end-times
By Robert W. Benjamin
Copyright © 2006
You may publish this article in your ezine, newsletter on your web site as long as it is reprinted in its entirety and without modification except for formatting needs or grammar corrections.
Robert W. Benjamin has been in the software business on the internet for over 5 years, and has been producing low-cost software for the past 25+ years. He first released products on the AMIGA and C64 computer systems in the late 1970s-80s.
RB59 Softwarehttp://www.rb59.com/software
How to Select a Distributor Product
Jan 24th
One of the best ways to make additional money to have for the extra things you enjoy in life is to become a distributor. Distributors can sell distribute products both on the internet and offline. The key to a sound home business is to think about the products when you read that the words, distributor wanted. Here are some tips for distributor wanted opportunities.
A great market to get into for a home business is the wellness industry. There are so many choices for wellness products and often you will find that a distributor is wanted in this niche. The key is to find out what type of product is going to be distributed. One key factor for distributorship is that the product is consumable. A product that is consumable is going need to be re-ordered and replaced. This means that you can build up a strong repeat customer base when they find out how great the product that you are distributing works for them. here are many, many different consumable products in the wellness industry that use distributors.
Another terrific selling product is anything that has to do with information. Consumers crave information. There are many informational products that compliment major wellness industry products such as fitness videos, diet videos, recipe collections, health books and so forth. For example, if you distribute Pilates’ fitness equipment, there are some terrific Pilates’ fitness instructional videos that can be sold with the equipment. If you distribute health supplements, there are some great books on different health issues and concerns that you can also distribute. Having informational products to go with your main distributorship is an excellent way to grow your small home business.
It is important to select a product that is in the median range in price. This means that the average person will be able to afford the product. If a product is extremely expensive, you automatically limit the number of potential customers because it narrows the market for the product. Another good reason to be a distributor in the wellness industry is because there are so many different product options that are in the median price range. This means that you have a larger potential customer base when you start your home business. You can sell high end products but having something that can fit virtually any budget will help to increase your distributorship.
Another key element in selecting a product to distribute is choosing one that is well known and the majority of people could use if they chose to do so. For example, you will have a very narrow market for pot belly pig collars because the majority of people do not own them as a pet. The wonderful feature of the wellness industry is that people are concerned about their health and wellness. Additionally, there are many different types of products within the industry that the average person can take advantage of using. For example, many people are concerned about looking young. There are many different types of anti-aging products available for distributorship. Having a well known and common product makes it possible to market to a larger group of potential customers than having a restricted product.
Zach Thompson is a 23 year-old network marketer & marketing consultant. Why Distributor Wanted?
Kids & Dogs – A Common Sense Approach
Jan 24th
Statistics show the most bitten member of American society are children under the age of 12 and most dog bites causing serious injury involve medium to large sized dogs with children under the age of 5. The dog is usually known to the child or is the family’s pet.
To understand how these bites occur, what causes them and how to prevent them, a little education in the nature of dogs and the nature of small children will help shed some light on these aggressive behaviours.
A dog’s temperament is first inherited (this is deeply ingrained responses to the world surrounding them and is unchangeable), and then modified by events and/or proper training in his life.
Genetics: Some breeds and certain bloodlines within breeds are friendlier, more suited to living in a family environment, more tolerant with children and more adaptable to training. Most of their actions are instinctive. By default, a dog will react to situations according to what his instincts tell him unless these instincts are overridden by the consistent training and socialization he needs to receive from his owner throughout his life.
Some unscrupulous breeders who sometimes intentionally breed dogs without adequate knowledge of dog behaviour may use unsuitable dogs (i.e. those with poor temperaments) for breeding. These are dogs that are mentally unpredictable or have illness or physical defects that affect their behaviour.
A dog’s basic temperament, instincts and training have the biggest effects on how that dog reacts to the world around him and his levels of tolerance. Therefore, a responsible breeder should always put emphasis on good temperament when selecting breeding stock.
Past events & experiences with children: If your dog has had several painful or frightening encounters in the past with children, then he is probably going to be apprehensive around children, sometimes to the point of being aggressive. On the other hand, a well-socialised dog from an early age takes stressful and unusual situations in his own stride. Such dogs tend to be much less fearful of a busy family environment with noisy and unpredictable children around.
Here is one of the most commonly reported scenarios in a bite case:
A very young child sees a pretty dog he’d like to pet. The dog may not want to be petted. The dog’s first instinctive reaction is to show his displeasure by giving a warning — growling. The growl means that something more unpleasant will follow if the warning isn’t heeded.
Almost any dog will bite under the right circumstances.
A dog is an animal whose behaviour isn’t the same as humans and can’t always be predicted with 100 percent accuracy, no matter how friendly or reliable he is.
The type and number of warnings that a dog gives out can vary, few dogs actually will strike without giving some form of indication beforehand. When faced with a child in this situation, normally many dogs would just walk away. Walking away can be considered a form of warning.
If the child keeps trying to pet the dog, a sterner warning, usually a growl, will ensue. Other types of warnings can be more subtle – for instance, a stiffening of the body and showing of its teeth. Small children may not recognise this as a form of warning or understand what a growl means even though it may be quite obvious to an adult.
Dogs instinctively set up an invisible “fight or flight” boundary around themselves as their safety zone. The size of this boundary depends on his level of confidence and tolerance. A fearful dog will give itself a wider area than a more stable one.
When someone whom the dog perceives as threatening invades his area, the dog reacts either by running away or staying put to fight and defend itself no matter how afraid it might be. Some dogs will choose to fight first, rather than run.
A small child who keeps petting or hugging a dog has already intruded well within the dog’s flight or fight boundary. If the dog’s attempts to warn the child fail, the dog (in his mind) has no other recourse — he bites. This is a perfectly acceptable and instinctive behaviour to the dog. He is responding to what he perceives as a threat and is doing what his instincts tell him to.
Dogs do not think in the same way as humans do. A child’s innocent action, petting the dog, can often be provocation for a bite.
Don’t forget dogs have predatory instincts. Running, playing, screaming kids can trigger an instinctive predator-prey reaction in some dogs. Children who wrestle with dogs unknowingly encourage them to use their teeth and provoke a bite. Dogs equate this kind of play with littermates or other dogs where using teeth is allowed. Startling a sleeping dog or petting him when he’s eating can also bring about the same dangerous reaction from the dog.
Guidelines for families who already have a dog or are thinking of getting a dog for the children and what can be done to prevent dogs from attacking children:
* Take your time when looking for a dog. Research, do your homework, learn the differences in the various breeds and choose one that best suits your lifestyle and experience.
* Be honest with yourself about the amount of time and work you’re willing to invest in a dog. If you don’t have time to raise and train the dog properly, don’t get one.
* Consider postponing the purchase of a dog, especially a large one, until your children are at least 6 years old.
* Never leave any child under the age of 12 unattended with any dog or puppy. So keep supervision a strict rule in your household.
* Babies and toddlers should always be kept higher than the dog and keep your young children off the floor when there is a dog in the same room. This is to make sure that the dog (that sees the world in hierarchy) sees your children as a leader and not a littermate which it will boss around, push over, growl at and even bite.
* Educate and involve your children in your dog’s care even if they are small tasks – for example you child can instruct the dog to sit before you put the food bowl down, help brush and groom the dog with you holding the collar, attach 2 leashes to your dog so that you child can hold onto one too. This level of involvement from an early stage will help the dog build a positive association with your children.
* Avoid giving your dog items that it can get possessive over with children around such as pig’s ears, smoked bones, rawhide etc. It is very important to rain your dog to allow things to be taken away from his mouth by trading higher value treats for the item first.
* Obedience training and socialization are an absolute must for a dog that will be spending time with children. Remember that a dog will act according to his instincts if he doesn’t receive proper training or if that training isn’t kept up through regular practice. The dog needs to be taught to obey commands under all conditions no matter how distracting. Just as responding to the command to “come” could save the dog’s life someday, an immediate response to the command “leave it!” could save a child from serious injury.
* Children need to be taught how to be respectful to dogs. They need to learn what kinds of games are appropriate, how to touch the dog properly, how to interpret the dog’s body language and when the dog is not to be disturbed. Avoid wrestling, spanking, kicking, ear pulling, pony-riding, tug of war, fur grabbing, toy hitting, rough play and chasing.
* Telling the toddler to stay away from the dog just isn’t enough! Your children may be too young to understand, so it will be up to you to physically supervise them and protect them from potential harm. Remember that young children do not recognise when they may be in trouble. Adult supervision around children and dogs is absolutely critical. Small children should never, ever be left alone with any dog, no matter how reliable the dog has been before.
* Buy your dog from a reputable, responsible breeder who puts priority on good temperament and health and consistently produces dogs that excel in those areas. Choose a breeder who’s experienced and willing to guide and advise you about care and training throughout the dog’s life.
* Teach your children how to behave correctly and safely around dogs and to respect them. In order to promote a healthy relationship between your dog and your children, educate your children about the way they should treat a dog – for example dogs should be petted softly, stay away from food dishes, toys and bones and not to startle the dog especially when it’s sleeping.
* Remember that what your dog tolerates from your own children may not be tolerated from someone else’s. You need to take extra safety precautions when other children visit and make sure that the children obey your ground rules.
For more information and tips on Dog advice and care, check out our website: www.dog-advice.net
Alfred and the Cakes
Jan 24th
For years the Danish Vikings had plagued the various Saxon kingdoms, creating havoc by pillaging and burning. They robbed the monasteries killing the monks and stealing the church gold. But in recent years things had changed, instead of simply raiding, the Danes had come to conquer and stay. Northumbria, Mercia and East Anglia, had all fallen to the Danish invaders, leaving Wessex as the only Saxon kingdom not yet under the thrall of the Danes.
Despite being hard pressed by the invaders, The Saxon King, Ethelred with his younger brother Alfred (Aelfred) at his side, won a stunning victory over the enemy on the 8th of January 871 at Ashdown. The victory however was short lived. The Saxons were overwhelmed by the Danes on 22nd of January at Basing. The Saxons rallied, but after a hard fought battle were again beaten and Ethelred killed at the battle of Merton. Alfred became king of Wessex on the death of his brother and was forced to negotiate the payment of Danegelt – Literally a payment to get the Danes to leave his Kingdom alone.
For the next few years a peace of sorts reigned, as the Danes consolidated their gains elsewhere. But in 876 Guthrum a new leader of the Danes appeared and captured Wareham. A peace was negotiated by Alfred, and hostages taken by both sides. It wasn’t long before Guthrum broke faith with their agreement and attacked and captured Exeter. The Saxons retaliated and besieged by Alfred and his army, Guthrum agreed to another peace. Alfred insisted that this time Guthrum and his men decamp to Mercia.
The uneasy peace held until January 878, when Guthrum attacked without warning and overran the Saxon army at Chippenham, while Alfred’s court was still celebrating the twelve days of Christmas. Alfred had no choice but to flee to the marshlands and tidal swamps surrounding Athelney in the Somerset levels. There he licked his wounds and began to rebuild his army.
According to legend, when the king – in disguise to avoid detection by Guthrum’s Men – first arrived in the swamp, he sought shelter with the family of a swineherd. The wife of the swineherd not knowing her guest was a king, asked Alfred to keep an eye on the cakes and make sure they didn’t burn. Alfred agreed, but having other things on his mind, allowed the cakes to burn. The wife returned and gave him a piece of her mind and a clout around the ear too boot. The tale has passed into legend, but whether it is true or not, no one knows. But what history does show is that Alfred left the swamp in the spring and defeated Guthrum at Eddlington, then went on to become Alfred the Great, the king of England.
The Cakes would not be what we call cakes, but would most likely be oatcakes, part of the family’s staple diet and be eaten as an alternative to bread. The recipe below is the nearest I can get to the original.
Oatcakes. Ingredients
A spoonful of pig fat
4 oz oatmeal (porridge oats)
A pinch of salt
Some warm water
Method
Melt the fat; add it to the oats and salt. Stir in warm water until you have softish dough. Powder board with dry oatmeal, turn dough onto it and kneed. Flatten out dough cut into portions Bake on a hot griddle for approx five minutes a side, should be cooked but not brown.
And remember, DON’T BURN THE CAKES.
Copyright Fred Watson 2007
Fred Watson published his first book, a fantasy adventure novel aimed at the 8-12 age group in November 2006. A grandfather of four, he loves to write for all age groups, has an abiding interest in history and continues on a regular basis to add new stories etc to his website. http://www.footprintpublishing.co.uk/history.html
Holiday Arguments
Jan 24th
Relationships have a point that all sane men fear: The annual holiday with the girlfriend. It goes without saying; The minute she (or her friends – whatever comes first) regard you two as a couple, demands for a fortnight for two away somewhere hot are guaranteed. And don’t even think of agreeing then putting it off somewhere down the line – she’ll be a fucking nightmare for the rest of the year. You HAVE to go on holiday.
BEFORE YOU GO
Time to make the booking. Your mates’ have all told you what an excellent time they had with their girlfriends in a villa on some Greek island. “Excellent” you think. Cheap booze and peace & quiet. However, she’s just read Cosmopolitan magazine and has other ideas. Kenya, for two weeks. In August. “In the name of Christ you fucking idiot” you implore. “Al Qaeda will skin us alive and feed us to hyenas. And it’s 65 fucking degrees and raining”. Her face twists until it resembles a dog’s arse. “You can stop bitching, ‘cos I’ve already made the booking. With your credit card”. Christ.
SATURDAY
7am: Wake Up: As far as this goes, this is prime time for blazing rows. Rows so big they can split the earth open. Predictably, she’s on blob week. “so no funny business like last time you filthy animal”. Sadly, this is just the beginning.
9am: Packing: Her tongue is sharpening by the minute. You’re taking 3 pairs of socks, 3 of pants, 1 pair of shorts and 6 t-shirts. “Six shirts?” she rants. “So I suppose I can’t take anything can I?” She flips the suitcase over in anger and storms up to the bathroom, crying. You take out 3 t-shirts & repack, to include her hairdryer, 10 pairs of identical shoes, and all the make up she’s ever bought.
10am: To The Airport: “We’re late, we’re late, we’re fucking laaate” She’s only just remembered you’re meant to be boarding at 9am, but she won’t check the tickets “In case it’s true”. You breathe deeply and count to 10. She’s never learned to drive because she can’t be bothered and she doesn’t read maps to get you to the airport quicker. You harbour images of her being sucked out the plane toilet at 20,000 feet.
11am: Airport: You arrive. Six fucking hours early. She’s still worried you’ll miss the flight. At check-in you bundle the 5 bags you’re carrying to the woman, stow away the parking tickets and keys, hold the bag full of women’s mags and her travel pillow, call your mate who’s feeding the cat, check the car booking for when you arrive, and notify the hotel in advance. All she’s got to look after are the passports. “Oh, I though you were doing it”. She glares at you. She knows she’s wrong but she’s not budging. Back home in the car, return to the airport with the documents. Still 3 hours to go.
6pm: On The Plane: “I’m not eating this shit. There’s no legroom. Can’t you move up a bit? Wish I could smoke. Those hostesses are fucking rude. This bloke behind me is winding me up”. All the things that were annoying you, now annoy you double, because she’s moaning about them. You can’t take it, “Look, for fuck’s sake. Just shut up will you? Please?” The high altitude leads to more tears. The pilot comes over & informs you that you’ll be arrested at the airport if you raise your voice again, while she quivers like you’ve just smacked shit out of her.
11:30pm: At The Hotel: Her eyes are red like a baboons arse, and she’s getting pricklier by the minute. She spies a cobweb in the room and screams. “There’s no fucking spiders, love” you try to calm her with. She shakes, “G-e-e-t m-e-ee o-u-u-ut of h-e-e-ere NOW!!!!” Downstairs, you spend an hour explaining that you’re saddled with a mad bitch and require alternative accommodation.
SUNDAY
7am: Breakfast: Come on, it’s a holiday. You need a lie-in, but she’s not interested. “Let’s have breakfast, we never have breakfast together”. You go down and chew on a stale bread roll and a black banana. “You wanted to come here” she retorts. You see red. 10 minutes later you’re banned from the dining room for blue language.
8pm: Local Nightclub: You go up to the bar to get a couple of drinks. It’s a shit nightclub, but for once she looks happy enough. On your return, she’s surrounded by 5 massive local lads. The stop talking and stare at you like shit on their shoe. “come on love, let’s go” you suggest. “Oh guys, this is my boyfriend” she says. One leans over and whispers “Your woman, I am going to fuck her tonight”. He grins and pulls his shirt back to reveal a machete. Once you escape with her, she thinks you’re a jealous racist. You wait until inside the taxi before you really let rip.
MONDAY
5pm: Hotel Bar: You’ve been gasping for a proper drink, and finally she makes up her mind that she wouldn’t mind one. You buy her a vodka and red bull and a pint of lager for yourself, and watch a veil of madness draw over her face. After 2 hours of lechery, giggling and unfunny innuendo, she gags on her 3rd drink and you spend the rest of the evening keeping her hair out of the toilet as she throws up. “You bastard” she says the next day. “How could you let me get that drunk?” “You only had 3!” you yell back. “Well that’s it. We’re not drinking until we get back”. She leaves it hanging in the air, itching for a row.
TUESDAY
12pm: At The Pool: At last, a chance to unwind. You’ve got the last 2 sunbeds, a cold drink and feel like nodding off for pleasantly for a couple of hours. You don’t even flinch when she says “Oh it’s too bloody hot. I told you I don’t like it too hot” ” Why don’t you go for a swim & leave me in peace, eh?” you offer. When you wake up an hour later, there’s a lad sitting next to you. “Christ mate” he nudges your arm with. “Have you seen that chick over there with her tits out? One minute she was on the Bacardi’s, next she’s giving it the Stringfellows routine!” She is standing on a table, stripping, with a group of builders egging her on. Later, she blames you. “I told you I dint’ like it hot. Why didn’t you stop me, you bastard? God, you hate me…” You raise your hand and the boy who was sitting beside you grabs it from behind. “Eh, this bloke giving you shit, love?” Chriiiist.
3pm: On The Beach: “If that’s what you want, my sweet.” is all you can say when she demands her sand time. It’s absolutely roasting down there and she cooks herself like a lamb shank. “Right, I’m going topless” is all she says. “If you get your fun bags out, it’s all over” you say. Moments later your face is wrapped in her bikini and she’s offered ice creams, bracelets and foot-rubs. “They’re sooo friendly here” she says. “You daft, blind slag” is all you can manage. 3 hours later, she tells you you’ve been using oil instead of protection cream. You now glow hotter than the sun and have melted the sand beneath you into glass.
WEDNESDAY
7am: Shopping: She gets it into her head that she wants to visit the ‘local’ flea market on the day you’re recovering from 3rd degree burns and sunstroke. It’s 4 and a half hours’ journey on an unventilated coach, every pothole is bringing uncontrollable outbursts of agony and nausea. You’re too weak to argue at this point, despite her looking over and tutting every 30 seconds. You need sympathy. You get 6 hours in a slum, with con-men selling hooky watches and driftwood ’sculptures’. “Come on pet” you plead. “This stuff is half the price on the resort, let’s get to a cafe”. “You ignorant pig” she replies, slapping your arm and making you gag. You estimate the national sentence for murder and weigh up your options.
6pm: Restaurant: “Eh, I’ll have the Ethethethes Methethetheses, grassy arse” she shouts as you shake your head with ingrained bitterness. You order egg and chips. There’s only 2 days left of this hell and you’re not spending it on porcelain. When her dinner arrives, it’s 2 bulls testicles, a goat’s eye with a horse’s dick through it and blue stallion sauce. “I can’t eat this, You’ll have to have it”. And with that she deftly swaps plates. The nausea returns as you battle to eat this car accident of a meal. You spend the next 2 days on the toilet squeezing out a drizzle of blood from your anus, while she complains about you being ‘unadventurous’. Too weak to argue, you reach for her toothbrush and dip it in.
SATURDAY
The Flight Back: “I’ve never been so embarrassed in my life. That’s the last time I go on holiday with you. I knew I should’ve gone to Magaluf with the girls. You actually enjoyed wasting my time and money, didn’t you?” It’s all or nothing now, and you let rip with a huge, primal scream. 20,000 feet below, chimpanzees return the cry. Lions wake up and roar at the sky. Birds leave their roosts and trees are split open. Oxygen masks fall from above. “Ooh, get you!” she replies. “I hope YOU’VE enjoyed yourself, you PRICK!”
3 DAYS LATER
You realise that you’ve been using the wrong toothbrush.
Making Her Valentine’s Day Special One Step at a Time
Jan 24th
Making Her Valentine’s Day Special One Step at a Time
When you want her to know she fills your soul, makes you a better person and that words fall short in expressing your undying love, the overwhelming feelings can sometimes leave you without any good ideas for your Valentine’s Day. But there is hope in delivering a satisfying, personal and romantic Valentine’s Day tailored just for her if you plan ahead and do it all one step at a time.
Step One: Determining Her Wants and Needs
The first step to creating an amazing Valentine’s Day for the special woman in your life, is knowing who she is and what she needs. Does she prefer to be active on a day off? Is she more relaxed and prefers to lounge? What kinds of things does she need in her life right now? A pedicure? A massage? A new movie that was just released on DVD? That necklace she’s been talking about?
You should even try to think of things she may have told you about, like where she used to go to get away when she needed to be alone.
Step Two: Combining Needs with Location
Now that you’ve taken some time to really think about who your lover is and what she needs this Valentine’s Day, choosing a location shouldn’t be so difficult.
If she’s active and used to love getting away out in the country, take her to the zoo for a quiet picnic for two and some animal sight seeing. If she prefers to lounge around and has fond memories of cuddling by the fireplace, set up a love nest with blankets, pillows and mattress pillows in the loft or living room. Consider a portable DVD player as a gift to make your hide-away evening amazing with some romantic films and a backpack full of snacks, sandwiches and of course, chocolate.
Maybe your partner is a very busy woman, however, and has expressed a strong desire to be caught up in life. These women usually work very hard while trying to juggle a home and children. For this kind of Valentine’s Day need, I would suggest taking Valentine’s Day off, seeing the lovely woman off to work, hiring a housekeeper and asking grandma to come get the kids. This leaves you with ample time to plan reservations at an elegant restaurant or an indoor picnic near the fireplace or television. You could also have a hot bath ready for the moment she steps in the door, complete with red rose petals floating gently atop the water, bath oil already mixed in and lovely, aromatic candles lit about the clean bathroom. This is an excellent precursor to a simplistic but tasty dinner like the ones listed at the end of this article.
For those men who love the woman with a wild or unpredictable streak, choosing a location may be more difficult. Which is why you are the kind of man who shouldn’t make reservations too far in advance. Choose two locations which don’t require too much planning. One of these locations should be a relatively active location like an outdoor community concert performed in her taste of music. Maybe she likes more excitement like local off-roading shows or carnivals and theme parks, which would also make a private meal for two in the parking lot a special treat. The right picnic basket and a blanket could turn your tailgate into a memorable experience. The other location should be a relaxing location like a popular Garden or park. Taking along a specialized picnic basket with wine will warm her heart and likely take her desires home after the meal.
Step Three: Executing the Plan With Creativity
You shouldn’t be surprised that the nurturing woman you love and adore appreciates silly and creative gestures in almost any form. While men are physical and literal creatures who usually keep balance in the family, women are emotional, sensitive and caring, which promotes happiness, positive behavior and other nurturing qualities in the home. So even if you feel a little strange going to the craft store for card stock and stickers, know that she will melt and believe that you’ve begun to understand her.
A great example of adding creativity to your Valentine’s Day would be placing hand written notes inside each pocket of a beautiful gift basket or picnic basket on your outing. Not only will she enjoy ruffling through to find the food and drink you brought, but the little notes will be like an extra kiss on the cheek every time she reads one. Simple phrases like “You make me melt” or “This day should last forever” and “I love you more with time” should be superb.
Another way to get creative, especially for an outdoor event that leaves you with little privacy until retirement, is finding sneaky ways to give her jewelry, notes, candy or other small gifts, including gift cards. There are several ways to do this including buying her an oversized zip-up jacket just to keep her warm while you’re outdoors. Slip notes, jewelry and candy into the pockets and watch as she discovers them while warming her hands!
You could also try buying her a small, inexpensive jewelry box, placing little notes and jewelry inside and then wrapping it. She’ll probably like the jewelry box and then be surprised to find there’s more to the gift. If you plan ahead and have reservations for a restaurant or a fun place like Medieval Times, you can request that they make an announcement for you or bring her gift to her with her meal. Be cautious, however. Women who don’t like attention won’t find this flattering.
Once you’ve decided on how to be creative and have a location, all you need to worry about is being relaxed and getting her there. A stressed out guy is the last thing a woman wants on Valentine’s Day so be sure to be her rock and get her through this cherished holiday.
The Valentine’s Day Food
At last, here are some great recipes to top off that special evening with. They are simple and very basic, though they can be dressed up for elegance and will wow her, even if the meal isn’t perfect.
Grilled Sandwiches
Butter two slices of bread and sprinkle them each with garlic powder (just a pinch or two) placing one, butter side down in a hot pan. Place a slice of cheese on the frying bread and then sliced turkey or chicken. Top with another slice of cheese and then place the other bread slice (butter up) on top. Once the cheese has begun melting and the bottom slice of bread has turned brown (use a spatula to lift the bread corner and peek), gently scrape the sandwich from the pan and flip it. For an elegant touch, add a sprig of parsley on top.
Pita Sandwiches
With pita bread from the bakery at your grocery store, fill with fresh spinach, chopped and pre-cooked chicken strips (found in the deli meat section), shredded cheese and pearl tomatoes. Bring the Ranch dressing along and top the pita pockets with it during serving. For an elegant touch, place on a plate next to 2 bright strawberries.
Pigs in a Blanket
Using Snack Sausages, hotdogs or pre-cooked sausages cut into 2 inch weenies, roll into raw crescent rolls (found in cookie dough section next to sliced deli meats) and cook according to package. Remember to preheat the oven and put a timer on. For best results, stand around and wait until they are done rather than multi-tasking while cooking. To fancy them up, serve with canned asparagus.
By taking things one step at a time you can enjoy your Valentine’s Day with your special partner and have a great time, above all else. There’s nothing more rich than enjoying the small days throughout the year that make all the other times worth while. Happy Valentine’s Day.
Picnic-Basket.com is your leading source for everything picnic related. With an extensive picnic resource area full of great recipes (including our free picnic cookbook), picnic ideas, suggestions for great picnic locations and games. Picnic-Basket.com has the largest selection of picnic supplies available online.
Patron Christian Saints of Dogs
Jan 24th
I have always loved animals-primarily dogs. I have had four dogs in my life and each of
them brought a different strength to my life…not to even mention the unconditional love.
If humans were like dogs, the world would be a much better place.
With that in mind, I began wondering if dogs had guardian angels looking over them.
While I was always sure that they did, I wanted to know if there were any Saints, as
recognized by the Catholic Church that particularly aided dogs. Here is what I found:
St. Francis of Assisi-Patron Saint of Animals:
Born in northern Italy (at Assisi in Umbria) in 1181 and christened Giovanni (John) after
John the Baptist, this saint began life as the son of a wealthy cloth merchant, Pietro
Bernadone. Johns father was French and as such, he nicknamed him Francesco
(Francis), the little Frenchman. As a youth, Francis was extravagant, carefree and
loved by everyone. He was a natural leader and while growing up he became the leader
of a group of young people who spent their nights at wild parties and who were
accustomed to vice.
Francis wanted to be a knight. He got his chance when Assisi declared war on their long
time enemy, Perugia. Most of the troops from Assisi died in the fight; however, Francis
was taken prisoner (because of his wealth) and held for ransom. After a year in the
dungeon in Perugia, Francis ransom was paid and he was set free. Still wanting to be
a knight with all of the glory attached to that title, a call for the knights for the Fourth
Crusade gave him a chance for his dream. He suited up with a suit of armor decorated
with gold, and he boasted that he would return a Prince. But within one days ride from
Assisi, he had a dream in which God told him to return home, and despite the humiliation
from the townspeople, he did return home. But Francis did not change overnight. He did
begin to spend more time in prayer, went off to a cave and wept for his sins. But there
was still a business to run…he could not give himself totally over to God.
But on a pilgrimage to Rome, that all changed. He gave up his rich attire and donned a
beggars garb and began ministering to those suffering from the Black Death.
After the pilgrimage to Rome, at the age of 26, while praying at a chapel in San Damiano
that had fallen into ruin, he heard an image of Christ say to him Repair my fallen
House. Francis took this literally and began the necessary repairs on the little chapel.
However, Francis had no money of his own and so to pay for the restoration, he stole
bolts of cloths from his fathers warehouse. This angered his father so much that he
threw Francis out of the house and disinherited him. This was a turning point and a
freeing moment for Francis and he spent the rest of his life emphasizing poverty,
humility and discipline. Within 15 years, Francis was the leader of 5,000 Friars Minor
(a Monk Order) and a growing Order of Nuns, Poor Clares.
Francis is remembered not so much as a religious organizer but as a charismatic example
and a compassionate soul for the unusual. It is believed that he preached sermons to
birds and entered into a peace treaty with a wolf so that the wolf would no longer
terrorize a town. In 1224, he was granted the Stigmata (the mark of Christs five
wounds) on his own body. He died in 1226 at age 45 and is enshrined in the basilica of
Assisi bearing his name…although he would much have preferred a paupers grave. He is
considered to be the founder of all Franciscan orders.
St. Dwynwen (Dwyn) of Tolentino-Patron Saint of Sick Animals:
Dwyn was a 5th century Welsh maiden from a wealthy
family. Her father was a Welsh Saint and king, Brychan Brycheiniog of Brechon. She
had her love troubles, however. The story is that Dwyn fell madly in love with a Welsh
prince named Maelon Dafodrill. A marriage was planned but it was not to be. As St.
Dwyn distanced herself from Maelon, his bitterness toward her became unbearable.
Heartbroken, Dwyn accepted a heavenly potion offered to her by an Angel appearing to
her in a dream to soothe her heartache. However, the angel failed to tell her the effect of
the potion on Maelon, who was turned into stone (or ice according to other accounts)
once administered to him. Appalled, Dwyn requested and was granted three wishes from
the angel:
That Maelon be restored to life
That all True Lovers that invoke her name either achieve their hearts desires or
recover quickly from disappointment
That she not marry or wish to
Dwyn committed her life to God and founded a convent on what is now Llanddwyn
island, just off the Isle of Angeles. Within that Abbess, there is a miraculous spring
(Ffynnon Dwynwen) wherein, from the movement of the fish, the adept can tell the
future. One other interesting fact, the water works wonders with sick animals. Over time
Dwyns name was invoked to heal sick and distressed animals, a tradition that has
survived even today.
The ruins of Llanddwyn chapel, a 16th century Tudor church, can still be seen.
Moreover, her name lives on in the town of Porthddwyn and a church dedicated to her
can be found in Cornwall.
St. Roch- Patron Saint of Dog Lovers:
St. Roch was a French Saint born in 1293. He enjoyed a wealthy and privileged youth as
the son of the governor of Montpellier. However, he was orphaned at 20 and decided to
give all his property to the poor and handed over the city government to his uncle. He
then began a pilgrimage to Rome disguised as a mendicant pilgrim where he nursed the
victims of the Plague/Black Death, where he was often successful in miraculous results
with these victims.
Roch became infected with the Plague himself at Piacenza and stopped his ministry as he
knew he would be contagious to others. He went into the forest to die alone but was
befriended by a dog (and later the master) who would bring him food snatched from his
masters (Gothard) table. Roch finally recovered, thanks to the nutrition and
companionship offered by the dog and his master and he decided to return to Montpellier.
Because of his illness, no one recognized him and he was thrown into a dungeon as he
was thought to be a spy. There Roch died at the age of 32 after 5 years in the prison in
1327. Once dead, he was finally recognized by a family member by an X-Shaped
birthmark on his breast and his family grieved over his horrible death. He was given a
public funeral and numerous miracles attested his sanctity.
In 1414, during the Council of Constance, the black plague was rampant, The Fathers of
the Council ordered public prayers and processions in honor of St. Roch and immediately
the plague ceased. St. Rochs relics were carried to Venice in 1485 where they are still
venerated. The letters VSR (Viva Saint Roch) were once inscribed over most
doorways in Europe as protection against pestilence.
St. Anthony the Great-Patron Saint of Domestic Animals:
Anthony was born in Memphis, Egypt in 251 to wealthy parents. When he was 20 years
old, his parents died and left him to care for his unmarried sister. After hearing the words
of Jesus instructing him to sell what you have and give to them poor as your reward
would be treasures in heaven, he gave up his wealth to the poor and needy. He also
placed his sister in the care of a group of Christian Virgins, similar to a nunnery. He left
Memphis for the desert living in a tomb and doing battle with the devil. The devil
afflicted him with boredom, laziness and phantoms of women which he overcame by the
power of prayer. He wore sackcloth and never washed his body or his feet and spent
his time in intense prayer. He attracted admirers from the local villages who would bring
him food and water. Once again the devil played havoc with Anthony and rendered him
unconscious after beating him mercilessly. When the local villagers found him in this
condition, they carried him to a church to provide a haven for recovery.
Once recovered, he returned to his hermit-like life, living in an old abandoned fort for
some 20 years. He communicated to the outside through a crevice in the fort in which
food and water could be passed. He did not allow anyone to enter his cell- those who
sought his counsel listened from the outside. The devil again began to torture Anthony,
only this time the phantoms were in the form of wild beasts, lions, snakes and scorpions.
But Anthony would laugh at them, invoke the name of God and the phantoms would turn
to smoke.
Eventually, he did emerge from the fort with the help of villagers tearing a wall down.
While all expected him to be wasted away or insane from his isolation, he emerged
healthy, serene and enlightened. He was hailed as a hero and his fame began to spread.
Anthony returned to his fort after confirming the followers in Fayyum in the Christian
faith. He wanted to be in isolation again, but people kept seeking his counsel, including
Emperor Constantine. Anthony did write Emperor Constantine a letter blessing him, and
praying for the peace and safety of the church and empire. Anthony realized that all of
the visitors were keeping him away from his worship, so he traveled into the inner
wilderness of the eastern Desert of Egypt. When he found a spring of water and palm
trees, he decided to settle there. On occasion, he would go to the outskirts of the desert
by the Nile to visit his brethren and then return to his inner sanctuary. At his
recommendation, all his followers took up mat-weaving and brush making so that idle
hands would not be the devils playmate. On this spot now stands the Monastery of
Anthony the Great.
When Anthony determined that his day of departure had come, he gave away his
belongings and stretched out on the ground and gave up his spirit. He instructed two of
his brethren to bury him secretly, and to this day, the grave-site is unknown. The year
was 356 and he was 105 years old. Many miracles are attributed to this religious father.
In Christian Iconography, Anthony is portrayed by the smallest bell in the carillon and
the smallest pig in a litter….referred to as Tantony.
His biography can be found in the book entitled Life of Saint Anthony the Great written
by St. Athanasius. Many stories are also told of him in various collections of sayings on
the Desert Fathers.
These four saints are those who protect dogs, healthy and afflicted. It is good to know
that these giving creatures are cared for in a heavenly way. I hope you enjoyed this
information!
References:
1) Saints Preserve Us! (Book)
Sean Kelly and Rosemary Rogers
Copyright 1993
2) St. Francis of Assisi (Article)
Terry Matz for Catholic Online (http://www.catholic.org)
Copyright 1996-2000
3) St. Roch (Article)
Catholic Encyclopedia (http://www.newadvent.org)
No author cited
4) St. Dwynwen (Article)
www.geocities.com
No author cited
5) St. Anthony the Great
Wikipedia (http://www.en.wikipedia.org)
No author cited
Lynda M. Long (with References Identified)
My name is Lynda Long and I recently left the corporate business world as a CPA after 31 years for a more peaceful existence. Since February 2006, I have concentrated on spending time with the people and things that bring me joy. Visit me at my website: http://www.2girls-creditcard.com !
Szentendre
Jan 24th
Urchins, tongue of flamingo, stuffed skylark are possibly not every ones ideal form of cuisine, however they were enjoyed by the Romans who once resided in the area we now associate with Szentendre. Ahead of the Turkish invasion, Slavs and Greeks moved into the area, as well as peoples from many other places along with a high proportion of Serbs. Having set up their various trades and businesses, which included blanket making, shoesmiths, tanners, furdressers, tailors, soapmakers, cobblers, coopers and merchants. They settled and developed a multitude of different cuisines and subsequently enjoyed a life where the focus of each household was the kitchen and the pantry, pursuing an interest in food that perhaps they had inherited from the Romans. Their ovens contained the facility to both grill or skewer meats and the potters learnt to manufacture utensils for the Serbs, who brought recipes for their ancient Rachus meat dishes cooked lovingly in the oven.
The merchants used the Danube to trade with others, and Szentendre became an area where both Oriental and Hungarian herbs and spices were to be readily found. As a result of its success, Szentendre held three major Fairs each year and after the harvest they organized pig markets, leading to the residents obtaining a permit to organize national animal fairs.
Soon the town became a centre of inns and restaurants – in 1787, forty five restaurants are recorded. Later the locals realized that the volcanic soils were ideal for the growing of vines and soon the red wines of the region were becoming known in Austria, Bohemia, Russia and Poland. Eventually a special feast was organized on St Emericus’s day and all was going steadily down hill until a vine-pest destroyed the fun in the 1940’s. Alchohol free, the Serbs chose to leave the area, which became repopulated by Hungarians who now grow a wonderful variety of fruit there, including apple, cherry, morello, plum, walnut, almond, peach and chestnut.
The people of Szentendre however, still enjoy the gifts of civilization and bars and restaurants are still plentiful, and with the vivid fiesta at Pobrozsenszka celebrated by the remaining Serbian population in the surrounding areas every year, with the added bonuses of visiting artists and exhibitions, no further proof is needed that fun and culture can coexist.
I love food. Not just eating it but sourcing the ingredients, cooking, table preparation and creating the right ambience to make a meal a memorable and exciting experience. Imagine my delight when my wife decided that we would start a business in Budapest Hungary. We went out there in 2003 to purchase one apartment and we now own six. A sucessful business giving me the delights of the Hungarian cuisine. I am so pationate about it, I will be writing many articles as well as giving you many interesting and delightful recipes to try.
School Nurses To Prescribe The Pill
Jan 24th
The UK currently has the highest rate of teenage pregnancies in the whole of Europe, and even though emergency contraception is available to buy over the counter, the reality is that most children dont have the money to buy them. However, they all have access to their school nurse, who they say is in a ideal position to prescribe emergency contraception.
These proposals could have several implication which must be consider. What message is this sending out to children who fear pregnancy resulting from sexual relationships? Could this encourage promiscuity as was once thought of the supply of free condoms. Should we just deal with the consequence of the childrens mentality of earlier sexual relations or should more be done to improve sex education in schools to prevent children growing up with the mindset that it is acceptable to be a teenage parent.
School nurses are also asking to be able to prescribe the following to their students
Emergency post-coital or regular contraception
Eczema ointment or antibiotics
Antibiotics
Medication for bed wetting
Paracetamol and other common analgesics
Immunisations for those who have not already received them
Nicotine replacement therapy
Should all these additions be granted, the school nurse will be given the authority to prescribe a number of highly controversial medications to children. Again,w e must ask ourselves, are GPs under such strain that they can not handle this themselves? Will school nurses have to seek consent from parents before prescribing medications to children? Will they have the time to fully explain the implications and side effects of the medications they prescribe? Will the children they are prescribing to fully understand what it is they are being asked to take? Most importantly, is this really necessary.
It is no secret that drug companies play with statistics to make certain conditions seem more serious than they really are in order to increase sales, and incentives to prescribers is extremely common in the industry. We should hope our children are not being made guinea pigs to fulfil financial goals.
With the proposed improvements that are being made in the nutrition of children, more should be done to seek other natural organic methods of improving the health of children in schools. The way of thinking should be along the lines of the children arent concentrating well in school, lets get them to drink more what and less fizzy drinks or a lot of our children are becoming obese, lets introduce more exercise time and incentives for healthy eating and not children keep getting infections, lets kill of their natural defences and given them a course of antibiotics to wipe all bacteria in their bodies good or bad or too many children are smoking behind the bike sheds, lets give them nicotine in the form or patches instead of cigaretes and hope they stop. If they dont, they cat say we didnt try.
A question we really should be concerning ourselves with is. Are the schools of today really where we want to send our children. Whether you have children now, may do in the future, or are just a member of the society these children will grow up into, remember there are always choices. You can home school your children, thereby ensuring a nurturing fulfilling environment for them to learn in (ignore people who say home schooled children dont have social interaction, do your research, this is far from the truth). You can become as involved as you can in your childs school, one conscientious mother I know is on the board of governors for her sons schools where real changes can be made. Or finally you can at least investigate the school you send your children to, even if it means they leave the area they live in and continue their education at home with you.
Take care and be healthy
Julian Hall of Davidel – The Natural Health Care Company – providers of herbal medicine,
herbalife and other natural health products
herbalife and other natural health products
Kosher Food – Kosher Take-out, Steak and Dairy
Jan 24th
Kosher food satisfies Kashrut or Jewish nutritional laws. The word kashrut means healthy or appropriate in Hebrew. If the food attunes the Halacha or Jewish law, then that food is kosher food. On the contrary, foods usually tagged as Jewish are not essentially kosher.
Jewish foods are usually those dishes, which are conventionally Jewish. Kishka, latke, cholent, Kreplach, and kugel are traditional Jewish foods. Jews consider these foodstuffs as kosher foods, if they are prepared according to Kashrut.
The laws of kosher food are straightaway obtained through the bible through interpretations from rabbis since years. Rabbis are spiritual leaders of Jews that are believed to be descendent of God.
The torah states that the cud-chewing mammals and clover footed are kosher. Even, goats, sheep, and dear are also kosher. However, pig and rabbit are not kosher.
In the United States, certain birds such as turkey, duck, goose, and chicken are kosher. Fish or any other seafood having fins, which are easily detachable scales are kosher.
Clams, shrimp, lobsters, and shellfish are not kosher. Other fishes as such herring, carp, and tuna are kosher, only if the kosher fishmonger prepares the fish with certain kosher slicing equipments.
Kosher Passover:
Kosher Passover is a holiday that celebrates the escape of the Israelites from Egypt and liberation of Israelites from slavery. At the time of Kosher Passover, Jews avoid eating chometz or food including spelt, rye, oats, wheat, and barley.
People cannot cook food for a period of 18 minutes, if they expose themselves to water. This explains that the Hebrews lacked enough time to raise their breads, as they were in a hurry to leave Egypt.
People can find kosher dairy and steak foods at many kosher take out. Jewish consider milk or any food containing a milk derivative, even in very small amount, as kosher dairy.
Kosher dairy recipes are available on the Internet. Danny Kaye’s Lemon Pasta, Crustless Quiche, Broccoli Cheese Soup, Blintz Souffle, Cheese Balls, Eggplant Parmesan, Pasta in Mushroom Cream Sauce and Potato Cheese Bake are famous in kosher take-outs.
Submitted by Content Editor at Inter-Dev – Internet Marketing Company.