The Dbottino Weblog

A pernickety, colicky infant is no joy whatsoever for a parent. Being the parent during this situation can be fairly stressful and demoralizing. Luckily, currently there are several manufactured goods to be bought by the modern parent in order to help keep your kid occupied. Babies are used to continuous motion whilst in the parents’ womb and when their little ones get unhappy, lots of mothers are happy to depend on the help of a baby bouncer to simulate this calming environment. Knowing what you require can in reality be extremely hard, therefore here’s a few guidelines to help you make the right decision.

Critical Features: First, a bouncer must deliver the bounce factor. When a mother can not rock and soothe their kid, then it’s valuable to have a reliable stand in. On a whole most baby bouncers come with a soft seat that is fixed to a U shaped stand. When the baby moves, the seat has a spring like action thus calming the child. The most straightforward baby bouncer products available have only these fundamentals and can be obtained for less than £15. However, there are dozens of additional features when you pay a bit more money. Countless bouncers are battery powered & can function even when your baby is not moving. There are also chairs that can switch between rocking & bouncing, for considerably more options. Finally, it’s incredibly common to have a toy bar on a bouncer. This allows you to position an arrangement of toys ahead of your toddler for distraction and entertainment. Models with added features can cost between 50 and 150 pounds.

Locate Your Unique Style: While it’s been common for quite some time to find kids items that are delightful, it’s not always to the liking of the parent. Your individual style may be noticeably cleaner or more current and therefore you would want your furnishings, which includes your baby products, to reverberate this. After all, you are going to be the main person that will have to lug the bag and look at the items all day. You should like your baby bouncer! Luckily, whilst there are still stacks of charming baby prints on the market at this moment in time, you can if you look right find clean lines & basic styling. Both Bloom and BabaBing brands make a great example of a up-to-date, but sensible, baby bouncer.

When your baby is crying & needs calming, you basically yearn for a baby bouncer that does the job. Finding that in a bouncer is not hard. Even the basic level products should get the job done correctly. For additional options you can pay a bit more money for added convenience. Lastly, with countless brand new baby bouncers, you don’t have to be stuck with the same old baby bouncer. Let your interests mirror your personal style. Find a huge selection of baby and child products including; baby bouncers, cot beds and prams & pushchairs from leading brands online.

United Kingdom’s Army talisman Sandbag was only recently brought back to the country to hit the hay from his important tasks in Iraq. After becoming foundational for the troops Sandbag is nowadays loving a well won relax – and so what is existence like for a conscientious mutt, and what awaits our canine companions in their time off?

It may generally be awfully problematic to come across pet health insurance for one’s dog who remains typed as ‘working’ whether it’s a sheep dog, a racing dog or perhaps a dog used exclusively for reproduction objectives. Consequently folk might presume when it comes to a military or constabulary dog that it’s even more thorny to obtain pet health cover. Also it is great to rest in the knowledge that a myriad of trained dogs are rather nurtured when their season of inspiring assistance are finished. With many providers available, choosing the right dog insurance for your pet is imperative.

When he was born in the forward operating base at North Point within Umm Qasr, Iraq, Sandbag a sandy-coloured mutt, soon held his place as a prized member and talisman of the British troops there. The soldiers made sure he was appropriately inoculated, bequeathed him with a collar, let him into the base when he barked outside and nourished the hungry guy in the morning, shortly before he went & stood vigilant sentinel with the sentry guard force. Supplying warmness, much needed friendship, constant accompaniment, & also welcome enjoyment during the odd patrol, Sandbag was a highly valued blessing when it came to keeping spirits high.

In spite of this, when the time came the military pulled from the southern port in the middle of this year, they had to forsake Sandbag in the Middle East & there were great concerns among the guys who’d taken the hungry guy into their hearts. The troops were concerned that if Sandbag was left to preserve himself their four-legged friend would be executed by the locals, who hold little courtesy for strays. But thanks to fund-raising activity, on Facebook among other places, the Blue Cross raised more than £13,500 in just two months, allowing them to transport Sandbag to the UK.

Deputy dog Sandbag is not the only canine to be supplied the thanks he earned for his invaluable efforts. Dogs will of course prove a great asset on the grounds of law enforcement processes. They save exceptional time looking for missing people, narcotics & contraband. Careful training means that police force pups might well never locate any potentially nasty objects but preferably suggest where it is likely to be to his trainer.

As repayment for all their efforts police mutts in Cambridgeshire only recently became the first in Country to redeem the correct pension merited after their time off. Previously pups on duty for the Cambridgeshire constabulary retired as they got older, at that time the dog’s specialised trainer would sign certificate evidencing that he would have to assume liability for the mutt for the rest of his life. This new programme means that retired pups will now have their food, vets charges & kennelling all paid for by the police force.

And so there we have it, the highly inspiring work these lively pooches do brings an entirely new level of meaning to the phrase ‘man’s best friend’. So thank goodness that there are kind individuals out there with the readiness to supply well-deserved relaxation and affection for our best friends once they are put out to pasture.

Matches is the universe’s uttermost important fashion haven and has been up-to-the-minute accessible since 2006. We go after the most important compilation of the planet’s most fantastic designers every interval. Universal top brands include Chloe. Matches is a store with variation. It was introduced by lively couple Tom and Ruth Chapman circa 1990. The Chapman’s have always believed in elegantly arranged fashion in trendy yet accustomed merchandise spaces with each Matches chain having its individual well-defined individuality that is contrived to celebrate its London zone. With 14 shops around London in striking surroundings such as abundant Wimbledon and serene Marylebone, it is true to mention that Matches are at the pure epicentre of the universe’s uttermost beautiful communities.

This fabulous Matches individuality can also be investigated connected where our adroit and competent internet site is the unparalleled store for all the designer attractions accessible in our London stores. Continually renewed the website instructs and inspires with sensational accessible editorial content. Full of the slinkiest garments in shop and deft style information the mystylist service offers fashion information from our international buyers alongside insider fashion revisions from in house fashion journalist Ruth Griffin on the Matches diurnal blog.

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In the time prior to internet based broadband services, if you wanted to hire video games, you used to have to run to the shop, roam round ceaseless displays before you would see the game you were hunting for, and then have to race to the shop the following day in order to avoid paying overdue charges. With this state-of-the-art service for net computer game rentals issues of this kind are thankfully done with.

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The world of poker may have been changed completely due to the internet, but the best poker rake back has made the game even more enjoyable. Nowadays, as well as enjoying your favorite card game and focusing gameplay, full tilt poker rake back provides you with the opportunity to minimize losses and maximize your earning potential. Even so, ultimate bet poker rakeback provides you with much more than that. As it happens, getting to learn all the tricks of the trade from the best-of-breed websites offering poker rake back is really a no-brainer. If you want the optimum return on each wager you make, look at what these new styles of internet sites have to offer.

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Within our Bangkok salsa community we’ve been discussing what makes a good follower. Much attention is given to clear leading in partner dancing but following, traditionally the woman’s role, has its challenges too. Heidy Robinson from Salsawild gave “a few tips on how to be led well”, which Atip summarised for us. On reading this I was struck by the similarities to ‘dancing with life’.

You might have noticed that you are never in complete control of your life. Attempting to control other people, events and even yourself is hard work and drains your energy. It means missing out opportunities, limiting your spontaneity, conflict when others don’t comply and disappointment when things do not go according to your plan.

If you are not in control, who or what is? Some say life is pure chance, some believe in fate and others name our higher selves, God or the universe. The more I coach, the more I see how perfectly situations and people come into our lives to teach us and serve us. I do not believe this is chance, I believe we are being danced by a higher power.

Whilst this dance is choreographed and led for us, I do not see us as merely puppets. We have the opportunity to ignore the lesson (in which case it will return to us in a different form until we can’t ignore it) and to dance in our own unique style using technique and flourishes to enhance our experience. In dancing we can not be led if our arms are limp and floppy, in life we can not laze on the couch and expect life to be brought to us on a plate! Here are 3 tips from Heidy…..

The most important thing to remember is to loosen up. The looser you are, the simpler it will be for you to be led. If you are stiff, then it is difficult for the man to lead you to the proper spot that he wants you to go.

When you hold on to life’s events too tightly you’re not in a position to be led. Let go of expectations, be flexible. Ask for what you want, but stay open to different possibilities of how this will be delivered.

Be aware. If you are aware of your partner and how he moves you will find it a lot easier to be led by him. Pay attention to when he reaches for your hand and what direction he is pulling you. If your attention is elsewhere, you will not be ready for the move he is about to whip out for you.

In dance we’re usually led by the hand. In life we’re lead by the heart. Pay attention to your feelings. Adopt a process for tuning in and connecting with your dance leader. This could be mediation, walking in nature, swimming, journal writing, whatever it takes for you to switch off your head chatter and be guided your heart. Clear out old feelings, childhood patterns and limiting beliefs so you can be attentive to this moment.

Smile! It will make the man’s job much easier if you look like you are having fun. Who wants to lead a woman around the dance floor if she looks miserable? Get out there and have fun!

If it ain’t fun why are you doing it? (Favourite saying of Judi Talesnick) Do things that make your heart sing. If
there’s something you have to do- find a way of making it fun! Smiling and enjoying each moment is the quickest way to attract others to dance with. Let your partner know what you like and you’ll get more of this! Soon you’ll be spinning, wiggling and shining like a pro!

(This article also appears on www.soulsanook.com)

Debbie Reeds is an International Life Coach currently based in Bangkok. She coaches individuals to be happier and more successful on their own terms. For further information please see http://www.soulsanook.com

Most politicians bend the laws of the land and steal money or solicit bribes because they need the funds to support networks of patronage. Others do it in order to reward their nearest and dearest or to maintain a lavish lifestyle when their political lives are over.

But these mundane reasons fail to explain why some officeholders go on a rampage and binge on endless quantities of lucre. All rationales crumble in the face of a Mobutu Sese Seko or a Saddam Hussein or a Ferdinand Marcos who absconded with billions of US dollars from the coffers of Zaire, Iraq, and the Philippines, respectively.

These inconceivable dollops of hard cash and valuables often remain stashed and untouched, moldering in bank accounts and safes in Western banks. They serve no purpose, either political or economic. But they do fulfill a psychological need. These hoards are not the megalomaniacal equivalents of savings accounts. Rather they are of the nature of compulsive collections.

Erstwhile president of Sierra Leone, Momoh, amassed hundreds of video players and other consumer goods in vast rooms in his mansion. As
electricity supply was intermittent at best, his was a curious choice. He used to sit among these relics of his cupidity, fondling and counting them
insatiably.

While Momoh relished things with shiny buttons, people like Sese Seko, Hussein, and Marcos drooled over money. The ever-heightening mountains of greenbacks in their vaults soothed them, filled them with confidence, regulated their sense of self-worth, and served as a love substitute. The balances in their bulging bank accounts were of no practical import or intent. They merely catered to their psychopathology.

These politicos were not only crooks but also kleptomaniacs. They could no more stop thieving than Hitler could stop murdering. Venality was an
integral part of their psychological makeup.

Kleptomania is about acting out. It is a compensatory act. Politics is a drab, uninspiring, unintelligent, and, often humiliating business. It is
also risky and rather arbitrary. It involves enormous stress and unceasing conflict. Politicians with mental health disorders (for instance,
narcissists or psychopaths) react by decompensation. They rob the state and coerce businessmen to grease their palms because it makes them feel better, it helps them to repress their mounting fears and frustrations, and to restore their psychodynamic equilibrium. These politicians and bureaucrats “let off steam” by looting.

Kleptomaniacs fail to resist or control the impulse to steal, even if they have no use for the booty. According to the Diagnostic and Statistical
Manual IV-TR (2000), the bible of psychiatry, kleptomaniacs feel “pleasure, gratification, or relief when committing the theft.” The good book proceeds to say that ” … (T)he individual may hoard the stolen objects …”.

As most kleptomaniac politicians are also psychopaths, they rarely feel remorse or fear the consequences of their misdeeds. But this only makes them more culpable and dangerous.

Sam Vaknin ( samvak.tripod.com ) is the author of Malignant Self Love – Narcissism Revisited and After the Rain – How the West Lost the East. He served as a columnist for Global Politician, Central Europe Review, PopMatters, Bellaonline, and eBookWeb, a United Press International (UPI) Senior Business Correspondent, and the editor of mental health and Central East Europe categories in The Open Directory and Suite101.

Until recently, he served as the Economic Advisor to the Government of Macedonia.

Visit Sam’s Web site at samvak.tripod.com

Moments of Grace

John Cali

As many of you know, I normally don’t pay much attention to the mainstream news media. But I have during this very difficult time in the aftermath of Hurricane Katrina.

We’ve all heard many stories of the human horrors left festering in Katrina’s wake. And we’ve heard people in positions of responsibility, folks who should know better, pointing fingers and finding blame everywhere except in themselves.

CNN host Howard Kurtz exclaimed, “Good God, what is wrong with these people? Will they ever learn to see somebody else’s misfortune as something more than their political opportunity?”

But, for the first time in my personal memory, the mainstream news media are focusing not only on the bad news, but also almost as much on the good news, the news of all the “good Samaritans” out there.

National Public Radio reporter Robert Smith said “There’s no shortage of kindness, even if there is a shortage of space.”

There have been, as another wise reporter said, “moments of grace.” Moments that restore our faith in humanity, in ourselves, and in the basic goodness of life.

In an eloquent and poignant letter, a dear friend wrote me about her own moments of grace.

Here’s her letter:

Dear One,

On the subject of Hurricane Katrina, may I make a few comments? I live and work in Houston TX, as you may or may not know. There has been a plethora of accusations and blaming, but I feel those are people who’ve not yet learned that blaming and accusation get us nothing.

Rather I’d like to tell you that in my job as a rabbi’s assistant, the very morning the hurricane made landfall, my phone was ringing non-stop with people saying “Tell me what to do, how can I help? I can’t sit here doing nothing!” And it has continued to ring with that same sentiment ever since.

Houston citizenry has opened their hearts and homes and wallets, they have volunteered for feeding the hungry and clothing those who arrived here with only the shirt on their backs. They have sat with refugees and listened to them talk, something that many desperately needed. They have played with the children and brought toys.

As we continue to become more organized, there are solid plans in place so that the most can be accomplished to help the hurricane victims without duplicating efforts. People from all walks of life have stepped up to the plate and worked tirelessly.

People from nearly every state in the Union have called to volunteer parts of their homes, their vacation homes, air mattresses, anything they have to house those who’ve lost everything.

This country has not lost its heart nor its faith! I have a sign in my office that states (not my words) “I don’t believe in miracles, I depend on them.” And oh my goodness they abound here and I am grateful to be here.

Much love,

(Name omitted)

And here’s Chief Joseph.

Chief Joseph

If nothing else good comes from this, it’s certain it will create, already is creating, a much greater sense of oneness than has perhaps ever existed in your United States.

That sense of oneness, as it radiates its energy out to the world, will bring all of you, all over the planet, into a much different place than you have ever experienced before. It will bring you far closer to your dream of peace on earth than you have ever been. To paraphrase your writer, Charles Dickens, it is a far, far better place you go to than you have ever known.

There have been many stories of the big and little human tragedies and triumphs Katrina has created. It is clearly a time of transitioning, of quickening of the energies on your planet.

While many have died, none have died in vain. Even in this time of sadness, trauma, and many grisly scenes broadcast all over the planet — even in this time of human terror — there is much to rejoice in. There is much to celebrate. There is much you, as a human race, have to congratulate yourselves for.

You have come together — most of you, though not all — into a greater awareness of what it means to be human at this time on your beloved planet.

You are more aware — and this happened in the blink of an eye — of how deeply connected you are with each other and with all that is.

That greater awareness is one of the many blessings to come out of this time of human trial and trauma. There are many good people among you — and all of you are of good intent. There is much good in all of you. You have far more in common than you have differences among you.

Celebrate yourselves. Be joyful in your knowing you are not lost, your world is not lost, your world is not broken, you are not broken. Know all is well.

Those who died were ready to move on. None of you dies except in the manner and timing only you decide, at some level of your awareness. Whether it be by “accident,” so-called “natural causes,” or by your own hand or that of another. You are in control.

And that is why we say no one died in vain. All who died were ready, and are now rejoicing in the loving embrace of their souls and all of us in these dimensions of spirit.

Their deaths have also given all of you still on earth another grand opportunity to remember who you truly are, and to embrace your humanness — and each other.

Nothing happens haphazardly, not even so-called natural disasters such as Katrina. You live in an orderly universe where there are no accidents, no coincidences.

We realize it is hard for many of you to see it that way right now. But you will ultimately come to see the beauty and the perfection of all life, the “good” and the “bad.”

All is well, friends. You are safe. You are in good hands. Your lives are simply one long succession of moments — moments of grace.

Copyright © 2005 by Great Western Publishing

1. What the difference between thoughts and feelings?

Thinking Sentences – I feel like… feel as if… or feel that…are
thought projections.

When we start with – I feel – and add the specific feeling, we are into emotions.

2. Do adults require responsibility for our own feelings?

Our law mandates it.

Does it lead to good human relations to say, You are making me crazy!

compared to – I feel like I am going crazy!

3. Is decision-making pure logic and reason?

95% of all major decisions in life are motivated by our emotions, and
edited by our thinking, after-the-fact.

Asking Questions of you such as – How will doing this make me feel
tomorrow, next month, and next year? How will not doing this make
me feel in the future?

4. Are you aware of other people’s feelings?

Am I a habitual critic and judge of others? Do I make people comfortable,
or put-down their feelings and ideas? Do I ask myself – how will what I say
make them feel?

5. What is wrong with labeling situations and people, it feels OK to me!

Leaders label feelings as productive or hurtful – it avoids personal insult
and leads to solutions, not anger.

You are making me feel ignorant and useless! You are a butthead!, or

I feel uncomfortable in meeting new people; it makes me angry with others.

6. Do I show people I appreciate them or just complain?

That is first-class work, and brilliant thinking. I can depend on you.

We show people we value them by our words and actions.
The # 1 complaint of significant-others, business associates and executives is lack of recognition by others.

7. Do you recognize your own feelings of fear, anxiety and anger before you
act on them?

When you feel the heat of anger or the stress of fight-or-flight, you have half-a-second to veto it. You can train yourself to increase the veto-time over impulsive behaviors up to a few seconds. It makes the difference between success and failure in relationships.

8. Are most of the emotions you experience – negative?

You can use a Duchenne-Smile (teeth-and-eyes), to raise your level of positive
emotions. We have the choice of smiling or frowning, and to train ourselves to pick positive feelings.

Do you know the Butterfly Effect? Small changes lead to Massive-Reactions!
Does the flap of the wings of a butterfly in Brazil, set off a tornado in Texas?
Google up – Edward Lorenz, MIT

9. Are you a guilt-tripper for others?

Do you tell folks what they should, could or ought to do?

Is it better to ask – the magic question – What can I do to help make you feel better?

10. Do you avoid toxic people who put you down instead of lift your spirits?

Naturally you do, now ask yourself whether you are guilty of being a toxic,
negative personality at home or in your career?

How many folks come to you to ask personal advice? They do not want solutions; they want empathy and compassion, and a word of cheer.

Body language begins with your posture, your facial expressions, and your gestures. You choice of words is last on the list, so control how you appear
to others.

We are a nation of stressed out mothers, fathers, brothers, sisters, grandparents, wives, husbands… you get the idea.

It’s easy to get caught up in the spiral of everyday life and forget to honor your spirit and body. Studies have shown that stress causes or exacerbates ailments such as strokes, heart attacks, high blood pressure, etc.

But do any of these facts, slow you down?

Chances are the answer to the question is “no”. Unfortunately, many people do not take the time to unwind, until it’s too late and they are lying in a hospital bed.

Stress reduction techniques vary. Below are four easy stress management techniques:

• Take five minutes out of your day and sit by yourself with your eyes closed. If you are a busy parent, student or working stiff like the rest of us, it may prove difficult, but it’s important that you find some time for yourself.

The five minutes can come at the end of the day, right before you go to sleep. This is also a great way to unwind before bedtime.

During these 5 minutes, think of happy thoughts. A vacation that you enjoyed or a good joke – anything that makes you happy and content.

• Take time to treat yourself to the good things in life. Visit your local day spas or take a nice vacation. Life is short and as the saying goes “you can’t it with you”.

• Designate a relaxation day, every three months. This is only four days per year out of 365 days. Use this day to get a therapeutic massage, a facial or manicure. Take your husband, mom, sister, best friend with you or get them a gift certificate so that they can also enjoy the experience. This is an especially wonderful gift, if they have a special occasion coming up such as an anniversary, graduation, new birth, mother’s day or valentine’s day.

Delia Galley writes about stress relief techniques. Visit http://www.dayspafan.com to find your local day spas.