There's no real practical reason to ask "who wants to be a millionaire?" because the only people who won't put their hand up are religious types who've taken vows of poverty and those who are already multi-millionaires. Unfortunately, there's a big gulf between those who want it and those who do the things to make it happen.
Based on recent statistics on UK household income, millionaire-dom is not something that's going to happen for most people, even with the dubious benefits of inflation. An adult earning the median level of income (£26,200 a year in 2011) and saving an impressive 20% of that would need almost 200 years to save £1 million (excluding taxes and investment gains). It's pretty clear, then, that a would-be millionaire has to think outside the boundaries of "median" experience.
Start a business
There are certainly people who can become millionaires by working for other people, but this is not an especially good route to choose. The trouble with trying to become a millionaire by working for other people is that there are always other people siphoning off the value of whatever you produce. Say you're a hotshot salesman – although you're going to get your cut, a lot of the value you create is going to get split among a broader pool of workers, managers and the owner(s) of the business.
Start your own business, though, and you get to decide how to divide that pie. Better still, your ownership stake can become more and more valuable over time as that business becomes larger and larger. While a good employee may get raises and promotions as his or her employer grows, they'll never see the same benefits (including the appreciation in the value of the ownership interest) as the owners.
Use other people's money
One of the remarkably consistent features of stories about people who go from relatively no wealth to major wealth is the role of other people's money in making it happen. Sometimes it's start-up capital from a generous relative, or maybe it's a small business loan or venture capital.
Borrowed money can be a major force multiplier. Behind virtually every property empire is borrowed money and the use of leverage in investing (whether through buying stocks on margin, buying options or buying futures) can rapidly magnify a skilful investor's success. Of course, this cuts both ways – just as borrowed money can create a large business (or portfolio) quickly, just one mistake in an over-leveraged enterprise can bring the whole thing crashing down.
It comes down, then, to risk tolerance. Those who really want to build large wealth (and do so quickly) through business or investment will have to do so in part with other people's money.
Cultivate a valued skill
Wages respond to supply and demand just like everything else, so it is very important to cultivate a skill that is not only in demand, but scarce enough to be valuable. Architecture and law, for instance, are both specialised skills, but not necessarily rare enough to make their practitioners wealthy unless they are at the high end of their profession.
Sports is an obvious example, but most people know in their teens whether they have the rare physical gifts (and perhaps the even rarer mental discipline and dedication) to open the doors to a professional sports career, and it's not really a door that can be opened in college or later. Medicine and engineering, though, are both open to college-aged people who have the requisite abilities and the willingness to put in the effort. The services of these professionals are not only almost always in demand, but the supply is small enough that professionals here can fairly expect to become millionaires on the basis of their labours.
This is also true for unconventional skills as well. Pursuing a career as a writer, actor or professional gambler is a virtual guarantee of poverty for most people. For those who actually have the skills necessary to succeed, though, it can be their best chance of building real wealth.
Out-think or out-hustle
Lazy and self-made millionaire just don't go together. Going back to that supply-demand equation, anything that's relatively easy, convenient and accessible is going to have ample supply and relatively low payouts. Since most people don't actually want to work that hard, though, there are real wealth-creation opportunities out there for those willing to think and/or work just a little harder than average.
One option for building exceptional wealth is to out-think the majority of people out there. While pursuits like writing, investing and inventing all involve a tremendous amount of effort and dedication, there is at least some aspect of out-thinking to them all. Steve Jobs of Apple, Richard Branson of Virgin and Lord Alan Sugar all clearly worked hard to achieve success, but a lot of that success was predicated on seeing things that others didn't see and figuring out how to do them even better.
Out-hustling is an undervalued aspect of wealth creation. Success in business is often about the hustle – the willingness to make one more call or work an extra hour later. The field of "hustle" is wide, rich and fertile. You can make good money visiting auctions and reselling undervalued items, just as you can make good money from a variety of multi-level marketing programs. The question is whether you want to spend the hours it takes to drive the process forward.
Rental property is a good example. It is actually not all that difficult to find rental properties, buy them and rent them out. Do this well and it's fairly easy to earn an annual return of 8-15%. The problem is that there are a myriad of small annoyances that go with it – hassles in haggling over the purchase price, hassles in getting mortgages, hassles in getting tenants, hassles in dealing with tenants and so on. Some people just don't want to be bothered with this, but those who don't mind the annoyances can reap the rewards.
The bottom line
Having £1 million or more in net worth is still uncommon enough to be special and significant, and it doesn't often come as a by-product of luck or chance. Hard work is a virtual requisite, but so too is a willingness to take on some risk (such as starting a business or using leverage) or cultivate a rare gift (like writing or inventing). Although simple living and sound investing will help anyone build more wealth, a special level of success requires a special person who is willing to do more and risk more than most people
Saturday 28 January 2012
Thursday 26 January 2012
The Real Signs They're in Love!
How do you know if they love you so?
1. EyesFirst of all, look deeply into their eyes. Notice if their pupils are dilated because if they are, they’re very attracted to you. Sexual desire – like fear – stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, one of the effects of which is wide, opened pupils. It can also relax the muscles around the eyes, giving them a softer “doe-eyed” appearance. Aww.
Then hold your partner’s gaze for four seconds or more – body-language research has shown that a long “eye meet” is only tolerated when a person feels affectionate towards a partner, otherwise it is perceived as an aggression action.
2. HipsWhen people are with someone they are fiercely attracted to, they unconsciously shift position so their hips are facing towards them. A US study conducted by David Givens and Timothy Perper revealed that lovers practice “total body synchrony”. Eh? In short, “they pivot or swivel until their shoulders become aligned, their bodies face-to-face…” Hmm, maybe this explains why dancing partners keep falling for each other on Strictly. But it’s more than just facing your lover -- couples in love often mirror each other’s actions, or move in tandem; specifically, they follow each other without question, or do not verbally acknowledge gestures between each other (for example, they could take a sip of your drink without asking, or you’d sit next to them without asking permission).
3. HairDoes it look great? Great! Being in love stimulates people to improve their appearance so a new haircut can be a sign of attraction. Does it look messy? Better! Repeated grooming gestures are another body-language giveaway of attraction. Women will twirl, stroke and play with their hair in the presence of their dream man, as a subconscious, “Please God let me look OK,” message. Men, in contrast, will often raise a hand to flatten their hair around women they adore: not only is it grooming, but it also gives the impression of increased height.
4. Energy“I could have danced all night,” isn’t an exaggeration – people in love DO have more energy than the uninfatuated. Anthropologist Dr Helen Fisher ran brain scans on people who confessed to being “madly in love” and found activity in the limbic system of the brain due to a molecule called phenylethylamine (PEA) which is released when we form an intense emotional bond. This action caused “feelings of elation, exhilaration, and euphoria,” says Fisher. This might explain why people in love never sleep either, preferring to spend all night Googling their beloved.
5. TrustWhen we enter the “attachment” stage of love – the slightly calmer state we reach after the initial lust and infatuation have receded – increased levels of a hormone called Oxytocin cause us to trust our partner. Oxytocin (also known as the bonding hormone) is released during sexual contact and is responsible for boosting feelings of affection and togetherness, and its effect on trust let us do things like spend the night together and make love. Does your partner take your word for things, let you borrow their car and not triple-check where you go at night? Then they’re in deep, baby. Enjoy!
1. EyesFirst of all, look deeply into their eyes. Notice if their pupils are dilated because if they are, they’re very attracted to you. Sexual desire – like fear – stimulates the sympathetic nervous system, one of the effects of which is wide, opened pupils. It can also relax the muscles around the eyes, giving them a softer “doe-eyed” appearance. Aww.
Then hold your partner’s gaze for four seconds or more – body-language research has shown that a long “eye meet” is only tolerated when a person feels affectionate towards a partner, otherwise it is perceived as an aggression action.
2. HipsWhen people are with someone they are fiercely attracted to, they unconsciously shift position so their hips are facing towards them. A US study conducted by David Givens and Timothy Perper revealed that lovers practice “total body synchrony”. Eh? In short, “they pivot or swivel until their shoulders become aligned, their bodies face-to-face…” Hmm, maybe this explains why dancing partners keep falling for each other on Strictly. But it’s more than just facing your lover -- couples in love often mirror each other’s actions, or move in tandem; specifically, they follow each other without question, or do not verbally acknowledge gestures between each other (for example, they could take a sip of your drink without asking, or you’d sit next to them without asking permission).
3. HairDoes it look great? Great! Being in love stimulates people to improve their appearance so a new haircut can be a sign of attraction. Does it look messy? Better! Repeated grooming gestures are another body-language giveaway of attraction. Women will twirl, stroke and play with their hair in the presence of their dream man, as a subconscious, “Please God let me look OK,” message. Men, in contrast, will often raise a hand to flatten their hair around women they adore: not only is it grooming, but it also gives the impression of increased height.
4. Energy“I could have danced all night,” isn’t an exaggeration – people in love DO have more energy than the uninfatuated. Anthropologist Dr Helen Fisher ran brain scans on people who confessed to being “madly in love” and found activity in the limbic system of the brain due to a molecule called phenylethylamine (PEA) which is released when we form an intense emotional bond. This action caused “feelings of elation, exhilaration, and euphoria,” says Fisher. This might explain why people in love never sleep either, preferring to spend all night Googling their beloved.
5. TrustWhen we enter the “attachment” stage of love – the slightly calmer state we reach after the initial lust and infatuation have receded – increased levels of a hormone called Oxytocin cause us to trust our partner. Oxytocin (also known as the bonding hormone) is released during sexual contact and is responsible for boosting feelings of affection and togetherness, and its effect on trust let us do things like spend the night together and make love. Does your partner take your word for things, let you borrow their car and not triple-check where you go at night? Then they’re in deep, baby. Enjoy!
Monday 23 January 2012
Family 2-Clean, lean and zesty whites
Sauvignon Blanc: boasting delicious gooseberry, melon and pinapple aromas, medium bodies and juicy, packed with fresh ripe melon and guava fruits, it has a hint of bell peper. Perfect match to accompany a selection of dim sum, antipasti or canapes, salmon or lightly spiced white meat. A good rival of the classic Sancerre
Albarino: a fresh bouquet of peach and apricot leads to a rich and full palate with a hint of lemony acidity. Perfect with selfish, particularly calamari, tiger praws and mussels.
Unoaked Chardonnay: aromatic, with clean mineral notes and hints of citrus: peach and pears. Try with white meats or seafoof, such as boiled lobsters with tarragon butter, sauted langostinos with Chardonay reduction or pork medallions with mustard cream sauce
Albarino: a fresh bouquet of peach and apricot leads to a rich and full palate with a hint of lemony acidity. Perfect with selfish, particularly calamari, tiger praws and mussels.
Unoaked Chardonnay: aromatic, with clean mineral notes and hints of citrus: peach and pears. Try with white meats or seafoof, such as boiled lobsters with tarragon butter, sauted langostinos with Chardonay reduction or pork medallions with mustard cream sauce
Saturday 21 January 2012
The wine styles
Many grapes can be used to make unique wines or blend together into a variety of different wines.Some of the finest wines including the famous and expensive "first growth" vineyards from Bordeaux- are blends of 2 or more grape varieties.You should taste the wines moving from th lighter styles to the heavier ones, white then reds. It is arranged this way so your mouth is not overpowered by the rich styles., so you can fully appreciate the lighter styles. It is a good idea to have a sip of water between each wine to clean your palate and reset your taste buds.
Family 1. Crisp, fresh dry whites: Easy drinking, refreshing whites which are perfect on a hot summer day.
-Pinot grigio (Italian). The palate is fresh, dry but fruity, with cleansing and green apple flavours, pear overtones and a clean, balance finish. Perfect as an aperitif or best suited to light dishes such as salds and fish.
-Gavin (Italian). Made from "Cortese", the local variety of grape from which it is exclusively made and whose existence is reported from the 1660s. The fragance display notes of floral, green fruit character with a "minerally" undertone, dry and balanceed witha good refreshing and lingering length. It whets the appetite in its pairings with hor-d'oeuvres and fish dishes.
-Chenin blanc (South Africa or Loire, France). Whether dry or sweet, the best ones possess marvelously concentrated rich, honey fruit together with refreshingly vibrant acidity.Its zestiness makes it an ideal accompaniment to fresh seafood and light salads.
Family 1. Crisp, fresh dry whites: Easy drinking, refreshing whites which are perfect on a hot summer day.
-Pinot grigio (Italian). The palate is fresh, dry but fruity, with cleansing and green apple flavours, pear overtones and a clean, balance finish. Perfect as an aperitif or best suited to light dishes such as salds and fish.
-Gavin (Italian). Made from "Cortese", the local variety of grape from which it is exclusively made and whose existence is reported from the 1660s. The fragance display notes of floral, green fruit character with a "minerally" undertone, dry and balanceed witha good refreshing and lingering length. It whets the appetite in its pairings with hor-d'oeuvres and fish dishes.
-Chenin blanc (South Africa or Loire, France). Whether dry or sweet, the best ones possess marvelously concentrated rich, honey fruit together with refreshingly vibrant acidity.Its zestiness makes it an ideal accompaniment to fresh seafood and light salads.
Introduction to wine tasting
When evaluating wines, you should look to examine them from the perspectives of appearance, bouquet, taste and aftertaste.
Appearance
After pouring into a glass, firstly examine its colour. With the galss about 1/3 full, hold it by the stem and look at it in front of a white background-a piece of plain paper will do.
Next, give the wine a swirl in the galss to further examine its appearance. As the wine cascades down the inside of the glass we look for its "legs"- the lines formed as the wine settles again. An examination of a wine's "legs" will give you information concerning its body: slowly falling drops indicate a rich, full bodied wine, while quickly falling drops indicate a light bodied wine.
Bouquet
The aromas are the most important part of tasting and enjoying wine and, as anyone who has had a cold with a stuffy nose can attest, the sense of smell is integral to tasting.
Taste
The palate perceives only 4 tastes: sweet, sour, bitter and salty. Sweetness is perceived on the tip of the tongue with sour and bitter mostly in the middle of the tongue and its sides. Salty flavours are sensed at the back of the tongue, but are not a characteristic found very often in wine. If it is, it is not likely to be a positive attribute.
Take a decent sip of the wine and let it cover the entire inside of the mouth so that all of your taste centres can come into play-don't swallow it yet! Move your wine around your mouth and feel its weight, or body.
Finish
This is the lingering effect of a wine on a palate. The lenght and flavour of the aftertaste is a positive characteristic and great wines can linger for 2 or 3 minutes or even longer in some cases.
Appearance
After pouring into a glass, firstly examine its colour. With the galss about 1/3 full, hold it by the stem and look at it in front of a white background-a piece of plain paper will do.
Next, give the wine a swirl in the galss to further examine its appearance. As the wine cascades down the inside of the glass we look for its "legs"- the lines formed as the wine settles again. An examination of a wine's "legs" will give you information concerning its body: slowly falling drops indicate a rich, full bodied wine, while quickly falling drops indicate a light bodied wine.
Bouquet
The aromas are the most important part of tasting and enjoying wine and, as anyone who has had a cold with a stuffy nose can attest, the sense of smell is integral to tasting.
Taste
The palate perceives only 4 tastes: sweet, sour, bitter and salty. Sweetness is perceived on the tip of the tongue with sour and bitter mostly in the middle of the tongue and its sides. Salty flavours are sensed at the back of the tongue, but are not a characteristic found very often in wine. If it is, it is not likely to be a positive attribute.
Take a decent sip of the wine and let it cover the entire inside of the mouth so that all of your taste centres can come into play-don't swallow it yet! Move your wine around your mouth and feel its weight, or body.
Finish
This is the lingering effect of a wine on a palate. The lenght and flavour of the aftertaste is a positive characteristic and great wines can linger for 2 or 3 minutes or even longer in some cases.
Thursday 19 January 2012
Wednesday 18 January 2012
Beautiful thoughts
- The line suggests that our lives have tides like the sea and we must take advantages of lucky opportunities, in order to be transported to good times.
- Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work
- If you can change the situation, change the attitude about it
-The difference between a successful person and a failure often lies in the fact that the successful men will profit by his mistakes and try again in a different way. Even if you make mistakes along the way, don't dwell on them, learn from them and move forward. If you do, you will discover a whole new world of selling one that excites you, energizes you, and puts you in control of your own destiny
- Opportunity is missed by most people because it is dressed in overalls and looks like work
- If you can change the situation, change the attitude about it
-The difference between a successful person and a failure often lies in the fact that the successful men will profit by his mistakes and try again in a different way. Even if you make mistakes along the way, don't dwell on them, learn from them and move forward. If you do, you will discover a whole new world of selling one that excites you, energizes you, and puts you in control of your own destiny
Friday 13 January 2012
A history of bad luck and tragedy on Friday 13th
By Emma Kemp
Whether you take Friday 13th superstitions at face value or think they are nothing more than urban legends, here are 13 unlucky - and sometimes tragic - events that have occurred on Friday the 13th.
1. On Friday, 13 November, 1829, American stuntman Sam Patch scheduled his largest ever jump – a 125-foot jump into the Genesee River, USA. Known as ‘The Yankee Leaper’ Patch became the first famous American daredevil after he successfully jumped from a raised platform into the Niagara River. The Genesee River jump killed him.
2. On 13 September, 1940, five German bombs hit Buckingham Palace and destroyed the Palace Chapel, as part of Hitler's strategic ‘Blitz’ bombing campaign.
3. A Swedish military DC-3 plane carrying a crew of eight disappeared over the Baltic Sea On 13 June, 1952. After one of two Catalina rescue planes sent to search for the plane was attacked by Soviet forces the incident became known as the ‘Catalina affair’. In 1991, the Soviet air force conceded it had also shot down the DC-3.
4. On Friday, 13 November, 1970, a massive storm killed approximately 300,000 people in Chittagong, Bangladesh, and created floods that killed as many as one million in the Ganges Delta.
5. A chartered plane carrying 45 rugby team members and their friends and families crashed in the Andes Mountains on Friday 13 October, 1972. Sixteen of the group survived for 72 days while the world thought they were dead, in what would become headline-making acts of cannibalism. Their ordeal was made famous by a 1974 book called ‘Alive!’ by Piers Paul Read and was later made into a film named ‘I am Alive’.
6. The ‘Friday the 13th virus’ infected hundreds of IBM computers across the UK on 13 January, 1989. It wiped out program files and caused considerable anxiety at a time when large-scale computer viruses were a relatively new threat.
7. On 13 October, 1989, the Dow Jones experienced the second largest drop in history at that time. This event was later nicknamed the ‘Friday the 13th mini crash’.
8. Well known rapper Tupac Amaru Shakur was pronounced dead on Friday, 13 September, 1996.
9. On 13 June, 1997, 59 people were killed and 103 seriously injured in a stampede during the premiere screening of ‘Border’, a patriotic Hindi movie. Known as the Uphaar Cinema fire, it is one of the worst fire tragedies in recent Indian history.
10. Hurricane Charley caused destruction in south Florida on Friday, 13 August, 2004. The strong Category 4 hurricane lasted six days altogether and hit Florida at maximum strength, making it the strongest hurricane to hit the United States since Hurricane Andrew in 1992. Damage in the state totaled approximately £8billion.
11. On Friday, 13 October, 2006, the ‘Friday the 13th Storm’ struck Buffalo, New York. The unusual early-season snow storm … It is also known as the ‘Arborgeddon Storm’, ‘Columbus Day Massacre’ and the ‘Octoblizzard’. An estimated 400,000 people were without power on Friday the 13th.
12. On Friday, 13 August, 2010, a runaway London Underground engineering train travelled four miles through five stations without a driver. The train in front was forced to skip several stations and was diverted to another branch of the network.
13. The asteroid ‘99942 Apophis’ will reportedly make a very close encounter with Earth – closer than the orbits of communication satellites – on Friday, 13 April, 2029.
Thursday 12 January 2012
Relationship shockers and how to handle them
What to do when your partner springs an unwelcome surprise
Sometimes a relationship can feel more like Tales of the Unexpected than Happily Ever After. The occasional piece of surprise news is to be expected, unless you live with the most predictable bore on the planet, but some shocks are harder to handle than others.
For example, perhaps your partner suddenly decides that the time is right to announce that they have an eight-year-old child with their ex. (This will be easier to hear if you and your partner have been together less than eight years. Otherwise, you're about to have one hell of a conversation.) Or perhaps they come home one day with the news that they've lost their job, or wrecked the car, or have decided to jack it all in and travel round the world... alone.
Often your head and heart will respond in different, conflicting, ways. Your head might be saying “life's short, it's not a problem, onward and upward” while your heart wants to punch the wall and scream like a child. Given that, it can be hard to work out how you really feel when your partner drops a relationship shocker, and to respond in a balanced way.
Read on for our advice on how to react to five common relationship newsflashes.
1. I never want kids
As with the “I have a child” shocker, this shouldn't cause problems if it's addressed at the start of a relationship. If it's a deal-breaker for you, better that you know after a couple of dates than after a couple of years.
It's a different matter if your long-term partner announces that they don't want kids, especially if you'd been longing (and indeed trying) for a family. Don't react furiously – hear them out. Ask for their reasons and say that you want to listen. They may be fed up with the perpetual frustration of trying for children, and they may want to refocus your relationship on the two of you. Respect those feelings, but be honest about your own.
2. I never want to get married
Take this with a pinch of salt if it's uttered during the first months of a relationship. People say all sorts of things in the spirit of rebellion or bravado, or through not wanting to be seen as clingy.
But if you're told this after being together for a year or more, that's another matter. Are they saying that they don't want to marry you or that they don't want to commit to you? Ask them what they really mean, and listen respectfully.
Maybe your partner has a point. Many happy couples never marry – and many unhappy couples do. Perhaps their family history of marriage hasn't been a happy one, or maybe they object to weddings themselves as big on cost and low on taste.
Welcome your partner's honesty, then ask them to hear your own point of view. If their objection to marriage makes you feel insecure, say so.
3. I've lost my job
This is something to help your partner through, not be angry with them for. Your role here is to provide emotional support by reminding them that they're not useless – because you can bet that that's how they're feeling.
You may also need to provide financial support. If you want your relationship to work in the long term, be prepared to be the breadwinner for a time. Don't let it become a long-term situation unless your partner has another role such as caring for your children. You need to encourage and help them back to work, not mollycoddle them so much that they decide it's easier to stay at home and live off you.
4. I want to travel the world
Partners should be able to go on trips separately. It's healthy to maintain separate interests and friends, and the occasional stag weekend or solo walking weekend offers valuable breathing space from each other.
But that's not what we're talking about here. A boyfriend or girlfriend who wants to go away on their own, for months, is not a committed partner. Either they're completely deluded (you'll wait a year for them to return from their jolly? Not likely) or they're trying to break up with you in a way that's both subtle and rather dramatic. This relationship is over. Wish them well, thank them for the good times, and don't bother driving them to the airport
5. I have a child
Your partner should tell you about this when your relationship is still new. Welcome their honesty, and don't let it be a deal-breaker. Adults have kids in relationships, and often those relationships don't work out.
Reassure your partner that you're not threatened, and that you want to encourage the best relationship between them and their child. Accept that they will need to maintain contact with their ex – your partner will welcome your maturity.
It's far trickier if you've been with your partner for some time before they reveal that they're a parent. You may be shattered by the loss of trust, and you'll feel feeling very insecure. Explain your feelings to your partner, and try to understand why they couldn't tell you about the child sooner. They may have valid reasons for keeping quiet. If you are both committed to the relationship but find this bombshell difficult to handle, talk to a counsellor.
Wednesday 11 January 2012
Bolivia facts. Reason to visit this place...
1. The highest navigable lake in the world is found in Bolivia at 3810 meters above sea level (that's 12,382.5 feet above sea level.) That's Lake Titicaca! It takes 6 hours to cross it on a fast hydrofoil. It's also one of the deepest lakes in the world.
2. The largest deposit of salt on the planet is also found in Bolivia. The Salar de Uyuni (Uyuni salt beds or salt flats) contain over 64 million tons of salt! Believe it or not what you see in the picture below is SALT! When it rains the water forms a thin layer on top that reflects the entire sky!
3. The largest deposit of lithium in the world is found under all that salt! That's right, it's buried under all that salt! Major battery manufacturers are now interested in Bolivia because they want to extract the lithium to make long-lasting batteries for cars, cellular phones and more. That would be really great for our environment, but it would mean destroying part of Bolivia's biggest tourist attraction! See more about the Salar de Uyuni.
4. Bolivia is also home to the Cerro Mutún, located in the Department of Santa Cruz. It is the world's largest iron ore mine. President Evo Morales blocked a Brazilian company from exploiting it because they planned to destroy 45 hectares a DAY of Amazonian wood to run the mine. Instead, he gave the contract to Jindal, a company from India which will use natural gas from Bolivia's pipeline, only 12 miles away.
5. Bolivia is located within one of the wettest zones on the planet. We get over 8000 millimeters (8 meters!) of rainfall per year.
6. Bolivia contains 40% of ALL animal and plant life in the world (called biological diversity or biodiversity). Our tropical rainforests and Pantanal Wetlands are some of the most biologically abundant ecosystems in the world.
7. Did you know there are more wetland regions and more bird species than the Pantanal in Bolivia's northern Department of Beni? All rivers that cross through Beni are tributaries of the Amazon River and there are hundreds of lakes and lagoons in Beni, all filled with Bolivia's abundant wildlife! The Amazon River pushes so much water into the Atlantic Ocean that, more than one hundred miles at sea off the mouth of the river, you can still dip fresh water out of the ocean!! Read more about that here.
8. Bolivia has 36 native cultures and over 20 official languages and nearly half of them reside in Beni. For example, the Moxos, which date back about 5000 years, once numbered around 8 million! They existed at the same time as the Tiwanakotas and their society was just as advanced. They built over 20,000 hand-made hills all connected by an effective system of aqueducts, channels, and terraces that covers thousands of square miles. The irrigation, cultivation and flood control systems of this hydro-culture rivaled those of Egypt. Bolivia's native peoples knew how to work with nature, not against her.
9. Bolivia is among the top "mega-diverse" countries on our planet. Together, the mega-diverse countries contain over 70% of all species known to humankind. In plant species Bolivia is the 11th country in the world (over 20,000 plant species). In vertebrate species it is 10th in the world. In bird species it is 7th in the world and in butterfly species it is 4th in the world. See more photos and facts about Bolivian wildlife here.
10. The world's largest butterfly sanctuary is located right here, in Santa Cruz Bolivia.
11. Bolivia has 23 major ecoregions, numerous sub-ecoregions, and hundreds of ecosystems - more than most countries.
12. Bolivia is home to the world's one and only known bolivianita mine. Bolivianita is a precious stone or gem that is partially yellow and partially purple. It's produced when citrine and ametrine combine. It is said that hundreds of years ago a beautiful Ayoreo princess named Anahí fell in love with a Spanish conqueror. This angered the members of her tribe so they plotted to kill the Spaniard. Anahí found out and warned him to leave for his safety. The members of her tribe, in an attempt to kill the Spaniard, accidentally killed Anahí instead. The two fused colors represent Anahí's broken heart, divided between her love for her people and her love for her Spaniard, to whom she gave the gem as she lay dying. Read about more famous people from Bolivia.
13. Bolivia is the NUMBER ONE country on Earth for certified tropical forests. Bolivia is among the top 5 exporters of certified tropical wood in the world.
14. Bolivia is one of Earth's top 12 countries with the greatest amount of organic agricultural surface in the world. Exports of organic products could reach an estimated 450 million dollars worth by 2016.
15. Bolivia is among the top 3 exporters of organic Brazil nuts in the world.
16. Bolivia is among the top 10 exporters of organic coffee and cacao in the world.
17. Bolivia is home to the two highest cities in the world. Potosí is the highest, and La Paz is the second highest. In the 1570's Potosí was also the most populated city in the world! See more on the major cities of Bolivia here.
18. Bolivia has two seats of government. The Executive and Legislative branches of government are in La Paz and the Judicial branch of government is in Sucre. People sometimes say Bolivia has two capital cities. Does Bolivia have two capital cities?
Love your liver month
It's the largest organ inside the body and boasts more than 500 functions, from combating infection to turning food into energy, cleaning the blood and destroying toxins.
But how many of us really know how to look after our liver?
Contrary to popular belief, a January detox is not the way to restore the organ to peak condition after the ravages of Christmas boozing. In fact, experts brand it “pointless”, saying a short burst of abstinence will do nothing to improve liver health in the long-term.
So, to mark Love Your Liver month, we bring you some tips on how to keep yours in peak condition:
Ditch the Detox
As consultant hepatologist Dr Mark Wright puts it, “detoxing for just a month in January is medically futile”.
Instead, taking at least two alcohol-free days a week throughout the year is a much more effective way of keeping the liver healthy.
The thinking behind this is that a person’s overall alcohol intake is then kept down and the liver is given time to recover every few days. If it has no lasting damage, the liver can repair itself astonishingly quickly – taking as few as 24 hours to go back to normal.
Don’t binge drink
Even if you’re managing to steer clear of the beer a couple of times a week, don’t think you can save up those days’ allowance and drink them all at once come Friday night. It doesn’t work that way.
Heavy drinking over a long period can lead not only to liver disease but also to liver cancer, and bingeing places huge stress on the organ.
So, remember – women should stick to drinking no more than two to three units in a day while men should drink no more than three to four. And don't forget to stay off the booze for at least two days a week.
Deal with your diet
The brutal fact is that liver disease is on the increase in the UK – it’s now the fifth largest cause of death. It can also be a silent killer, with no symptoms until it’s too late.
If you are overweight and drink alcohol you are three times more likely to contract liver disease, with fatty deposits causing inflammation and scarring.
Crash diets aren’t the solution – slow and steady healthy eating is. It’s the usual advice: five portions of fruit and veg a day, plenty of water, and try eating from a smaller plate and cutting down on fatty or sugary foods.
Get active
Each day take at least half an hour’s exercise, which leaves you “warm and slightly out of breath”. It will regulate your body weight, and some studies suggest at least 150 minutes a week of appropriate activity improves liver enzymes.
Feeling tired all the time?
Ask your GP for a liver function test. Your liver has no nerve endings to transmit pain so it’s not immediately obvious when something is wrong. If you feel you’ve regularly overdone the alcohol and fatty foods and are feeling persistently weary now, get it checked out.
Remember your ABC
Viral illnesses hepatitis A, B and C now affect more than 700,000 people in the UK. While most recover from hepatitis A with no lasting damage, hepatitis B and C can cause long term problems and even liver cancer. And an estimated five out of six people with chronic Hepatitis C are unaware of their infection.
So take steps to ensure you don’t catch these viruses. Hepatitis A is easily picked up by eating food or drinking water contaminated with the virus through poor hygiene, particularly when abroad. Hepatitis B and C are blood-borne viruses.
Avoid unprotected sex, never share razors, nail scissors, clippers or toothbrushes, only use properly licensed tattoo parlours or acupuncture specialists, and if you are heading off on a far-flung holiday check with your GP first to see whether you should get vaccinated against Hepatitis A or B. There is no vaccine against Hepatitis C.
Ever had a blood transfusion?
If this was before 1991 when blood wasn’t screened for viral hepatitis you could have Hepatitis B or C without knowing: Ask your GP to be tested.
The same applies if you have ever received medical or dental treatment in countries where the equipment may have been inadequately sterilised. Treatment works best if the virus is detected early – so protect yourself by getting the answers you need.
Have a cup of coffee
Bizarre but true: One cup of coffee a day was found to decrease the risk of dangerous scarring (cirrhosis) of the liver by 22 per cent.
While you shouldn’t use it as an excuse to get blotto then down a morning cappuccino in compensation, the drink certainly has a protective effect, say researchers in California
But how many of us really know how to look after our liver?
Contrary to popular belief, a January detox is not the way to restore the organ to peak condition after the ravages of Christmas boozing. In fact, experts brand it “pointless”, saying a short burst of abstinence will do nothing to improve liver health in the long-term.
So, to mark Love Your Liver month, we bring you some tips on how to keep yours in peak condition:
Ditch the Detox
As consultant hepatologist Dr Mark Wright puts it, “detoxing for just a month in January is medically futile”.
Instead, taking at least two alcohol-free days a week throughout the year is a much more effective way of keeping the liver healthy.
The thinking behind this is that a person’s overall alcohol intake is then kept down and the liver is given time to recover every few days. If it has no lasting damage, the liver can repair itself astonishingly quickly – taking as few as 24 hours to go back to normal.
Don’t binge drink
Even if you’re managing to steer clear of the beer a couple of times a week, don’t think you can save up those days’ allowance and drink them all at once come Friday night. It doesn’t work that way.
Heavy drinking over a long period can lead not only to liver disease but also to liver cancer, and bingeing places huge stress on the organ.
So, remember – women should stick to drinking no more than two to three units in a day while men should drink no more than three to four. And don't forget to stay off the booze for at least two days a week.
Deal with your diet
The brutal fact is that liver disease is on the increase in the UK – it’s now the fifth largest cause of death. It can also be a silent killer, with no symptoms until it’s too late.
If you are overweight and drink alcohol you are three times more likely to contract liver disease, with fatty deposits causing inflammation and scarring.
Crash diets aren’t the solution – slow and steady healthy eating is. It’s the usual advice: five portions of fruit and veg a day, plenty of water, and try eating from a smaller plate and cutting down on fatty or sugary foods.
Get active
Each day take at least half an hour’s exercise, which leaves you “warm and slightly out of breath”. It will regulate your body weight, and some studies suggest at least 150 minutes a week of appropriate activity improves liver enzymes.
Feeling tired all the time?
Ask your GP for a liver function test. Your liver has no nerve endings to transmit pain so it’s not immediately obvious when something is wrong. If you feel you’ve regularly overdone the alcohol and fatty foods and are feeling persistently weary now, get it checked out.
Remember your ABC
Viral illnesses hepatitis A, B and C now affect more than 700,000 people in the UK. While most recover from hepatitis A with no lasting damage, hepatitis B and C can cause long term problems and even liver cancer. And an estimated five out of six people with chronic Hepatitis C are unaware of their infection.
So take steps to ensure you don’t catch these viruses. Hepatitis A is easily picked up by eating food or drinking water contaminated with the virus through poor hygiene, particularly when abroad. Hepatitis B and C are blood-borne viruses.
Avoid unprotected sex, never share razors, nail scissors, clippers or toothbrushes, only use properly licensed tattoo parlours or acupuncture specialists, and if you are heading off on a far-flung holiday check with your GP first to see whether you should get vaccinated against Hepatitis A or B. There is no vaccine against Hepatitis C.
Ever had a blood transfusion?
If this was before 1991 when blood wasn’t screened for viral hepatitis you could have Hepatitis B or C without knowing: Ask your GP to be tested.
The same applies if you have ever received medical or dental treatment in countries where the equipment may have been inadequately sterilised. Treatment works best if the virus is detected early – so protect yourself by getting the answers you need.
Have a cup of coffee
Bizarre but true: One cup of coffee a day was found to decrease the risk of dangerous scarring (cirrhosis) of the liver by 22 per cent.
While you shouldn’t use it as an excuse to get blotto then down a morning cappuccino in compensation, the drink certainly has a protective effect, say researchers in California
Sunday 8 January 2012
THOUGHTS
- Love should not take as a distraction from grown up concerns.
- We are devoted to reproduction not for happiness not for recreation purposes
- Nature is not happy with us to being together because there is not balance for recreation
- If he is not really good for my children just let him go
- We can change our attitude to certain events
- Prosperity drives bad temperament
- Expectations are highly among richers
- Most things that stress out are the things that come by surprise, the answer calmly prepare yourself
- Anxiety causes paranoid what we grow out of there can be given us a different outlook
- Life is a risky business
- Love never sizes to understand situations
- Worries are the ultimate input for improvement
- We should not feel guilty for wanting a pleasurable life
- Free us of that kind of expectation that can bitter us
- Remember what you felt at that moment. The explanations and responses will not be sufficient. They will confuse you even more with that which is already complex, simply forgive me.
- I forgive you because i love you and you do love me
- To follow a spiritual path you need to be able to dare and laugh
- Stay out of other people's drama. And don't needlessly create your own
- Be curious. don't be scared to learn something new
- Don't worry too much about what other people think about you
- Let go of things you can't change, concentrate on things you can
- Realize that the harder you work, the luckier you will become
- Follow you heart. Don't waste your life fulfilling someone's dreams and desires
- Take it slow and add up all your small victories
- Excel at what you do. Otherwise you'll just frustrate yourself
- Realize that you re never quite as right as you think you are
- Make mistakes, learn from them, laugh about them and move along
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