SOURCE

 A new study by the United States National Aeronautics and Space Administration (NASA) found an alarming decrease in the amount of freshwater available in the Middle East.

 The report said that an amount of freshwater “almost the size of the Dead Sea” has been lost in parts of the Middle East over the past seven years.

  According to a NASA press release, scientists at the University of California, the Goddard Space Flight Center in Maryland and the National Center for Atmospheric Research in Colorado, found that “During a seven-year period beginning in 2003 that parts of Turkey, Syria, Iraq and Iran along the Tigris and Euphrates river basins lost 144 cubic kilometers of total stored freshwater.”

 The researchers attribute about 60% of the loss to pumping of groundwater from underground reservoirs, the NASA release said.

 The findings, which will be featured in the coming issue of Water Resources Research, are the result of one of the first comprehensive hydrological assessments of the entire Tigris-Euphrates-Western Iran region.

 According to the researchers, since obtaining ground-based data in the area is difficult, satellite data, such as those from NASA’s twin Gravity Recovery and Climate Experiment (GRACE) satellites, were essential.

  GRACE is providing a global picture of water storage trends and is invaluable when hydrologic observations are not routinely collected or shared beyond political boundaries, NASA said.

GRACE satellite data (Screenshot: NASA website)

 “GRACE data show an alarming rate of decrease in total water storage in the Tigris and Euphrates river basins, which currently have the second fastest rate of groundwater storage loss on Earth, after India,” Jay Famiglietti, principal investigator of the study and a hydrologist and professor at UC Irvine, said.

 “The rate was especially striking after the 2007 drought. Meanwhile, demand for freshwater continues to rise, and the region does not coordinate its water management because of different interpretations of international laws.”

 GRACE,” he added, “Is the only way we can estimate groundwater storage changes from space right now.”

 The data led the team to conclude that about one-fifth of the water loss noted was the result of soil drying up and snowpack shrinking, partly in response to the 2007 drought.

 According to the study, loss of surface water from lakes and reservoirs accounted for about another 20% of the losses. The majority of the water lost – roughly 90 cubic kilometers – was due to reductions in groundwater.

 “That’s enough water to meet the needs of tens of millions to more than a hundred million people in the region each year, depending on regional water use standards and availability,” Famiglietti said.

 “Water management is a complex issue in the Middle East,” fellow researcher Kate Voss noted. “It’s an area that is already dealing with limited water resources and competing stakeholders.”

  Famiglietti added: “The Middle East just does not have that much water to begin with, and it’s a part of the world that will be experiencing less rainfall with climate change.

 “Those dry areas are getting dryer. The Middle East and the world’s other arid regions need to manage available water resources as best they can.”

NASA’s GRACE is a joint mission with the German Aerospace Center and the German Research Center for Geosciences, in partnership with the University of Texas at Austin.

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–Insights from the Dalai Lama

Meanwhile women had more procedures to inject fat than to remove it for the first time.

Eye lid surgery as well as face and neck-lift operations both soared in popularity in both sexes in 2012.

The British Association of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (BAAPS) said overall the number of procedures was stable.

There were 43,172 surgical procedures carried out by the BAAPS 230 surgeons last year.

There were 642 operations on moobs – man boobs – down 18% from 2011. Surgeons speculated that more people were heading back to the gym instead.

Breast augmentation was again the most common procedure in the UK with 9,843 going under the knife. That was a fall of 1.6% on the previous year, which was put down to the health scare around PIP breast implants.

There were concerns about the implants rupturing and leaking non-medical grade silicone into the body.

Fat transfers which take fat from one part of the body to inject into another, often the face, increased by 13%.

It was one of a suite of anti-ageing procedures which increased in popularity among men and women in the past year. Facelifts went up by 14%, brow lifts by 17% and eyelid surgery by 13%.

However, liposuction and tummy tucks both fell by more than 10% in men and women.

The president of BAAPS and consultant plastic surgeon, Rajiv Grover, said: “The growth rates for surgical facelifting and other anti-ageing procedures showed a double digit rise, despite a double dip recession.

“Whilst there is an undeniable rise in demand for non-surgical treatments of the face, for example Botox and fillers, once there is actual loose skin in the neck or jowling, only surgery is likely to make a significant improvement and the public seem to be increasingly aware of this.

“The considerable drop in body-shaping procedures such as liposuction and tummy tucks may well be due to people choosing to head back to the gym, perhaps inspired by an unforgettable summer of Olympic golds!”

View the original article here

Azharuddin feels that the Indian side have lost their drive and passion for the game

Former India captain Mohammad Azharuddin believes that the national team have lost all sense of direction and called on skipper Mahendra Singh Dhoni to inject some energy into his side and wake them up.

Azharuddin also noted that India’s record would only continue to get worse if they fail to solve their ongoing bowling and batting issues.

“The team has no direction,” Azharuddin said. “Nobody knows what is happening. Something needs to be done.”

India’s bowling attack has seen change after change since bowlers come in for a while before leaving with a serious injury and Azharuddin pointed out that the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI) have to ensure that they are fully fit at all times, while also planning ways in which to decrease the number of runs they give away during the death overs of a limited overs match.

“Bowling has really been an area of concern,” Azharuddin said. “The wickets at home are not helping them much, so it’s crucial for them to really work hard. The strike bowlers have made the matters worse by picking up regular injuries. Asking for turners won’t solve the purpose. Despite having turning tracks against England, we went on to lose the Test series. Before opting for a particular wicket, the captain and coach must know whether they have suitable players.”

Azharuddin also had some advice for Dhoni, saying: “Dhoni should pick the right team, he should not go by the players’ reputations. To win a match, it’s crucial to back the best eleven. With Virat Kohli too struggling at the top, he must think of an alternative.”

However, the former captain also stated that domestic pitches have to be prepared in a way that they offer something to the bowlers and batsmen as well, otherwise, every youngster that rises through the ranks will want to be a batsman and India will start to face a shortage of bowlers in the near future.

“Though the BCCI has come up with some unique ideas, things haven’t really changed much,” he said. “The wickets still heavily favour the batsmen. It’s time we give bowlers some options. If we can’t provide a sporting wicket at the domestic level, how can we even judge our bowlers? This first-innings lead system in the Ranji Trophy is spoiling the whole challenge since everyone is playing safe these days.”

Azharuddin recently had his life ban, which he received for match-fixing in 2000, lifted and the ex-skipper noted that he was ready to give something back to the sport he had dedicated his life to.

“I’m happy to have come [out] clean,” he said. “Now, I will be happy to do something for Indian cricket.”

Team scores have dropped across the board since the implementation of the new rules

India off-spinner Harbhajan Singh believes that bowlers of all calibres will continue to struggle under the International Cricket Council’s (ICC) newly implemented ODI rules.

Dhoni noted that the rule only had a positive impact on subcontinent pitches, but added that the pitches had to be developed and maintained like the one in Delhi.

“The new ICC rule was not good keeping in view the Asian conditions unless the wickets were developed on the line of New Delhi, which favoured batsmen, seamers as well as the spinners,” Singh said. “I would suggest that wickets should be made in a way that would also favour the bowlers, particularly bowling the middle overs of the match.”

The new ODI rules state that two new balls will be used at both ends of the ground and bowlers are now permitted to bowl two bouncers per over, while the batting powerplay no longer exists.

Furthermore, the bowling powerplay will have to be completed before the 40th over and no more than four fielders can be outside the 30-yard circle during non-designated powerplay overs.

Singh also pointed out that ODIs have seen a massive drop in scores since the implementation of the new rules and he attributed this decrease to the fact that one more fielder has to remain in the 30-yard circle at all times.

Daily Real Estate News | Wednesday, January 23, 2013

Short sales are getting much shorter, Freddie Mac says. The mortgage giant launched a Freddie Mac Standard Short Sale program on Nov. 1 that sought to speed up the short sale process and make it easier and more transparent.

“We estimate that the time to complete a short sale will decrease by approximately 50 percent to 75 percent,” as a result of the changes, writes Tracy Mooney, Freddie Mac’s EVP in a recent blog post.

Among the changes that took effect Nov. 1, 2012:

• Mortgage servicers have 30 days to make a decision on a      short sale once they receive an application. If they need to negotiate      with a third party, they have 30 additional days. A final decision on the  short sale must be made within 60 days.
• Mortgage servicers are required to acknowledge they  received the short sale application within three days of submission. Servicers must provide weekly status updates if they end up needing more      time to review the application past the initial 30-day period.
• Mortgage servicers have authority now to approve short  sales when qualifying financial hardships for home owners who are past due      or current on their mortgage payments.
• Mortgage servicers are also now able to approve short  sales without seeking a separate review by the mortgage insurance company.
• Following a short sale, home owners may be able to  qualify for up to $3,000 in relocation assistance.

Disclaimer:

Elizabeth “Betsy” DiRiego of Re/Max Connection Realtors is not a licensed financial advisor, and is not providing any financial advice; you should consult with a licensed financial advisor prior to making any financial decisions.  Elizabeth “Betsy” DiRiego of Re/Max Connection Realtors is only providing this statement for informational purposes.

Elizabeth “Betsy” DiRiego of Re/Max Connection Realtors accepts no liability for the content of this blog, or for the consequences of any actions taken on the basis of the information provided. Any views or opinions presented in this blog are solely those of the author and do not necessarily represent those of the company.

Elizabeth “Betsy” DiRiego of Re/Max Connection Realtors, 1000 East Lincoln Drive, Suite 2, Marlton, NJ 08053 www.HomesToBetsy.com and http://hosted.cdpe.com/HeavensToBetsy

New data showed that among 1,000 girls ages 15 to 19, about 72 became pregnant in 2010 – the latest year for which figures were released. In 2001, there were about 99 girls getting pregnant per 1,000 in the city.

The department said the decline was larger among younger teenagers than among older teens: 32 percent in the 15-to-17 age group, and 24 percent for 18- and 19-year-olds.

[cbs-audio url="http://cbsnewyork.files.wordpress.com/2013/02/teenpregnancy.mp3" size="340px" download="false" name="Teen Pregnancies Down 27 Percent Over 10 Years In NYC" artist="WCBS 880's Monica Miller Reports"]

In the same decade, fewer high school students reported ever having sex. In 2001, 51 percent said they had, and in 2011, it was 38 percent, based on a representative sample of several thousand students who responded anonymously.

The department said there were more than 19,000 teen pregnancies in 2010, and 87 percent of those were unintended.

However, “teens are delaying having sex, and they’re more likely to use contraceptives,” said Deborah Kaplan, assistant commissioner of the department’s Bureau of Maternal, Infant and Reproductive Health.

As a result of efforts to reduce pregnancies by educating middle and high school students, “they’re more aware of the risk,” Kaplan said.

In addition, professional clinical services available to them include condoms and other birth control like the morning-after pill.

“Our efforts are having an impact,” she said.

Please leave your comments below…

(TM and © Copyright 2013 CBS Radio Inc. and its relevant subsidiaries. CBS RADIO and EYE Logo TM and Copyright 2013 CBS Broadcasting Inc. Used under license. All Rights Reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed. The Associated Press contributed to this report.)

The Bedol Water Clock keeps perfect time without batteries or electricity. Just open the fill cap and add water. Cutting-edge technology enables the amazing Bedol Water Clock to generate it own clean energy. Electrodes within the water reservoir convert ions into a current strong enough to power the clock for 3-month or more. A built in memory chip ensures you never need to reset the time while changing the water. Hassle-free alternative energy makes this clock a great green gift. A fool-proof, fun way to decrease your carbon footprint.

Kallis believes enforcing the death penalty will significantly decrease the number of murders in South Africa

South Africa all-rounder Jacques Kallis has called for the restoration of the death penalty in the country after the brutal murder of a former first-class cricketer, who had strong links with many players in the current side.

Flags at the Newlands stadium were lowered to half mast in remembrance of John Commins.

Via his Twitter account, Kallis stated that he was disgusted with the amount of crime in South Africa and added that the death penalty should be reconsidered as an option to help decrease the murder rates in the country.

“Thoughts and prayers with @DonneCommins and family. Tragic news. Something really has to be done about the crime in this country #deathpenalty,” Kallis said.

Donne Commins, who is the daughter of the victim, is currently the agent of many of the South African players, including Morne and Albie Morkel, Herschelle Gibbs and Mark Boucher, who is Kallis’ best friend and was forced to retire last July after a freak eye injury during a warm-up match against Somerset.

Cricket South Africa were planning to honour Boucher for his illustrious career and help promote his Save the Rhino foundation, which tackles the growing problem of poachers in the country, but were forced to postpone the event due to the murder.

“Donne has been very close to me for most of my career and has been much more to me than a business partner,” Boucher said in a statement. “She has been incredibly supportive over the past few months in particular during which time she has been a tremendous pillar of support.”

Boucher is now set to be honoured during South Africa’s second Test against Pakistan in Cape Town.

The Pattern: I made this scarf from the book 101 Designer One-Skein Wonders. The pattern was pretty straightforward without any errors or confusion. The little opening part was actually very easy (I thought it would involve some complicated sewing or just be more difficult). Definitely a simple pattern that was just meant to be done while watching TV. I did it exactly as stated, except for the last little.. petal? (what do you call that?). It decreased too slowly, making it much more pointy than the first one, so I made up my own decreases for the last couple rows to end it quicker. I think I mayyy have wanted a narrower scarf. A wide scarf has its benefits though, because it really does give some serious warmth. I didn’t make the suggested 16″ neck length (I was more around 14″) and I’m glad I did. It fits just perfect.

The Yarn: I must admit, I had some issues in this department! The pattern calls for a sport weight yarn. I began with that, but the border was SO holey. I went up to a DK weight, and it was still too holey. I finally tried this worsted weight yarn, and it looked great, just like the example picture. Maybe I could have used the thinner weight yarns if I used a smaller needle, but I thought size four was definitely small enough! I put my DK weight attempt to the side, because it looked like a nice, lightweight fashion scarf. Now that I know how much I like this one, I might just finish it up! I used the leftover Red Heart Kids I had from my Slipper Socks and I used it all up! Hooray!

What’s Next for Me: Apparently another one of these! And I’ve started crocheting a pair of socks (with sock yarn I got for Christmas) and I’m to the heel of the first sock! Look at me go!

Turn your frown upside down

Photo by: Road fun http://www.flickr.com/photos/guest_family/6175062186

Will stress be the next big killer?

by Ann Blanton

Whatever the health condition, stress can definitely make things worse.

A person’s health is continually changing both physically and emotionally. When you’re stressed, your immune system can suffer, which can often result in developing physical and emotional symptoms. At times, you’ll be physically ill, but mentally, you’ll be in good spirits. In today’s society, the issue of how to stay healthy is often a question of how to cope with stress.

So what is stress? 

Stress is defined as the emotional and physical endeavor that is caused by our response to pressure from the outside world. It’s a physical and psychological reaction that is caused by a disruptive or stimulating event.

If you’re stressed, your heart will beat faster, your muscles will feel tense, and your stomach will be in knots. It’s likely that your body will react in response.

Symptoms 

The symptoms pf stress often imitate the symptoms of other problems. You might think that an illness is to blame for a headache, but the common denominator might be stress. Certainly stress symptoms can affect your body, your thoughts and feelings, and also your behavior. Stress can come in many disguises with the constant worrying, deadlines, sitting in traffic, and even standing in the lines at the supermarket. Watching the news gives a person a feeling of stress. Let’s take a closer look at some of the physical symptoms.

Physical symptoms

Headache

Muscle tension

Chest pain

High blood pressure

Fatigue

Upset stomach

Constipation

Diarrhea

Shortness of breath

Weight gain or loss

Skin problems such as acne

Trouble sleeping

Sexual problems

Back and neck pain

Emotional symptoms 

Stress can affect us psychologically as well. Emotional stress is unexplainable because of the way it affects our body through mental state. It strikes our mood greatly that our physical state can actually become unresponsive the minute it manifests itself.  Sometimes it’s easier for those around you to understand the magnitude of your stress. After all, emotions speak louder than words. Listed below are a few of the emotional symptoms that can affect stress.

Fear

Guilt

Grief

Depression

Anxiety

Panic

Denial

Irritability

Feeling overwhelmed

Loneliness

Crying

Cognitive symptoms

When you’re stressed, you have difficulty remembering information. You become forgetful and have trouble figuring out problems. Most of these symptoms are due to an incapability to concentrate. You might also have interfering thoughts, which makes it difficult to use your mind efficiently. Make time for relaxation in your life if you are having any of the problems listed below.

Forgetfulness

Precoccupation

Difficulty concentrating

Negative self-esteem

Loss of creativity

Loss of sense of humor

Pessimistic predictions for the future

Behavioral symptoms

Because stress affects your mind and body, it’s no surprise that it can also affect your behavior. Stress often causes tension, thus, your behavior can become out of control. Normally when you’re under a lot of stress, you usually don’t act in the same manner as you would if you were not feeling stress. Here are a few examples that are related to behavioral issues.

Changes in eating patterns

Increased alchol and tobacco consumption

Restlessness

Absent mindedness

Mannersim such as biting nails

Withdrawal

Hostility

Critical attitude toward others

Impatience

Ways to reduce stress 

Removing all stress from your life is impossible. Let’s take a look at ways you can reduce stressful situations

Avoid those who keep you stressed – We all know people who push our buttons and know how to keep us stressed. If this is the case, it might be best to avoid these individuals. If that’s not possible, limit the time you spend with them.

Express yourself- Talk openly to a friend who will listen, and don’t allow your emotions to bottle up.

Exercise – Vigorous exercise decreases stress hormones and releases endorphins, circulates the blood and boosts your mood. Those who exercise regularly, may not be as affected by stress compared to those who don’t work out at all.

Drink plenty of water – Dehydration can cause stress and stress can cause dehydration so drink lots of water and break the cycle. Water also makes you feel full and curbs stressful eating.

Good nutrition -How you handle stress will depend on how well your nourished. Proper nutrition will not get rid of stress, but it will help you manage it efficiently.

Relax – It’s important to take a few moments each day to find ways to relax your mind. Think of things you enjoy doing. It doesn’t matter if you just sit quietly and pray,  read a book, listen to music or take a bubble bath; it will help soothe your mind and you’ll look at life with a different perspective.

Sleep – If you’re a night owl, maybe it’s time to change your routine and “hit” the sack a little earlier. Don’t get stressed if you find it difficult to fall asleep.  Sleep deprivation can cause weight gain, irritability and a lack of concentration; these are all factors that can lead to stress.

Cut down on caffeine – Limit beverages that have caffeine such as coffee, tea, soda and chocolate. If you drink coffee,  you might want to switch to decaf. If you prefer tea, try green tea or an herbal blend. Soda is also available without caffeine.

Regardless of how you identify with the stress in your life, it can impair the way you live, work, and feel. So, what are some of the ways that you deal with stress?

I’ve had many articles published at Fitness Plus Magazine. Here’s the link to view them if you want to check them out. http://fitplusmag.com/magazine/author/annblanton/  I also had my first short story published as an anthology in a book titled, “Heartscape”.

1 Peter 5: 6-7 says: Humble yourselves, therefore, under the mighty hand of God so that at the proper time He may exalt you, casting all your anxieties on Him because He cares for you.

Supplies: set of 5 size us5 double pointed knitting needles
Worsted weight yarn

Gauge isn’t terribly important.

Tusk/body

Cast on 6 and distribute onto 3 needles evenly. 2 on each needle.
Rounds 1-8 knit
9. Increase one on each end of each needle. 4 on each needle
10. Same as 9. 6 on each needle
11. Knit round
12. Same as 9. 8 on each needles
13-21. Knit rounds
22. Decrease by one on each end of each needle. 6 on each needle
23-24. Knit rounds
25. Same as 22. 4 on each needle.

Fins

Divide one needles 4 stitches onto two needles. That will be the underside of the narwhal. Now work on one side of fin with one needle with 2 stitches and one with four. Grab another needle. So many needles!!!

Start on the needle with 2 stitches.
1. Increase by one on each end of each needle. (4,6)
2. Same as 1. (6,8)
3. Same as 1. (8,10)
4-5. Knit rounds
6. Decrease by one on each end of each needle. (6,8)
7. Knit round
8. Same as 6. (4,6)
9. Knit round
10. Knit two together till you have one stitch remaining and bind off.

Do the exact same thing to the other side. Now stuff the little guy. Stuff his body and each fin then sew him up closed. Now make 2 little triangles for side fins.
Something like…
Cast on 4
Knit one row
*Knit two together twice
Knit a row
Repeat from* and cast off. Make 2 sew on sides.

And you’re done. You can give him a face. Or her a bow or whatever you want. It’s your little narwhal. Narwhal!!!!

Let me know how this goes for you.

Xo

John 3:30 He must increase, but I must decrease

2 Corinthians 5:17 says therefore if any man be in Christ, he is a new creature: old things are passed away; behold all things are become new. To become a new creature, Christ must increase in our life and we must decrease. The spirit needs to increase and the flesh must decrease. John 6:63 says it is the Spirit that quikeneth; the flesh profiteth nothing. The first place Christ needs to increase is in our thoughts. Proverbs 23:7 says for as he thinketh in his heart, so is he. We are what we think off. If an individual thinks of committing adultery with a woman, he is an adulterer. That is why Jesus said in Matthew 5:28 but I say unto you, that whosoever looketh on a woman to lust after her hath committed adultery with her already in his heart. This also applies to women too. If an individual thinks of lying in his heart, he is already a liar because as a man thinketh in his heart so is he. This is why the psalmist says if I regard iniquity in my heart; the Lord will not hear me, Psalm 66:18. Transformation only comes when we renew our thoughts .Romans 12:2 says and be not conformed to this world; but be ye transformed by the renewing of your mind, that ye may prove what is that good, and acceptable, and perfect, will of God. You are not a new creature if there is still a brother or sister you are wishing that something terrible to happens to. To become a new creature Christ needs to increase in our thoughts. Philippians 4:8 says finally, brethren, whatsoever things are true, whatsoever things are honest, whatsoever things are just, whatsoever things are pure, whatsoever things are lovely, whatsoever things are of good report; if there be any virtue, and if there be any praise, think on these things.

Another area Christ needs to increase is in our conversation. Ephesians 4:29 says let no corrupt communication proceed out of your mouth, but that which is good to the use of edifying, that it may minister grace unto the hearers. There are some words or slangs that should never proceed out of the mouth of a believer. There are some jokes a believer should not even entertain. Ephesians 5:3-4 says but fornication , and all uncleanness, or covetousness, let it not once named among you, as becometh faith saints; neither filthiness, nor foolish talking, nor jesting, which are not convenient: but rather giving of thanks. Colossians 3:8 says but now you also put off all these; anger, wrath, malice, blasphemy, filthy talk out of your mouth. As wise children of God, our word needs to be full of grace. Ecclesiastes 10:12 says the words of a wise man’s mouth are gracious. When someone cuts you in traffic and you swear at them or curse them, such words are not full of grace. The reason why Christ needs to increase in our thoughts is because our thoughts control our speech. Luke 6:45 says out of the abundance of the heart, the mouth speaks. Our speech can either bring justification or condemnation on us. Matthew 12:37 says for by thy words thou shalt be justified, and by thy words thou shalt be condemned. In other words our thoughts can bring condemnation on us or justification. I pray that our words will bring us justification on the day of judgment in Jesus name, amen.

PRAYER POINT: Father, rid of every evil thoughts and increase in my thoughts.

Beyond what it does to me, I dislike what it does to us.  Old friends?  I don’t talk to them ever.  I “like” their crap, they “like” mine, and we subconsciously call that maintenance of our friendship.  Certainly, I am blessed to have friends legitimate enough that even without frequent catch-ups, we un-arduously “pick up where we left off” even after months without contact.  However, I am sick of the illusion of connection that Facebook sells.  I would rather have fewer “likes” and more phone calls, emails, even just messages on Facebook; I won’t dream of written letters though—a tad archaic, quite unwieldily, and possibly awkward.

I will not quit Facebook.  It has its uses and it is indeed a marvel of modern technology.  Magnificent for networking and connecting the previously easily disconnected.  It’s a fantastic medium for the sea of acquaintances in my (any) life.  Thus, I will keep it in a minimized form—one that enables me to remain connected to a degree, but one such that I no longer feel accountable to it.  I eagerly await any isolation that may come—for it will be impetus to call those I consider important to me instead of settling for dried husks of human interaction.

No offense intended—I consider none on here shallow by any means.  In all likelihood, my friends carry the mixed blessing of the Book of Faces better than I.  Only for I, for now, it has been too much of a curse.

On this day, Day 1, I feel good.  I feel a sense of… freedom.  I feel as though I am living less for the sake of some collective approval and more for the sake of my authentic self.

I do not know what to do. I am afraid to put walls back up and turn off my sexual desire for my partner, but I do not how else to ease the stress and complications that this causes. I am sexually frustrated all the time, which makes me irritable and that never helps anyone.

I do not sex to be a chore or a burden to either of us, and yet I feel that it is already. I am getting increasingly frustrated with myself and beginning to resent myself. I am starting to not like sex and just wanting it to go away. I wish I didn’t have any sexual desires at all, it would make life so much easier.

I have tried exercise, food changes, toys, masturbation, abstinence, etc. Nothing seems to curb the desire.

If you have any ideas, please let me know.

Additional details and a break down by County can be found here.

this one couldn’t decide what it wanted to be…

it ended up as a kitty nugget for my bestie

another owl nugget – slightly less derpy looking than this one

three little bodies, waiting eyes and stuffing!

With a crafty ladies gift exchange party on the horizon, I decided I wanted to make something simple that involved stepping outside my knitting comfort zone and learning something new – Owl Puffs fit the bill. They knit up quickly, are easy to carry around, and cute as a button.  In the process of making my first batch, I have learned not one, but two new techniques.  

K1FB was much easier to master than I anticipated.  I’ve been making hats for a few years now, so decreases are no big deal. Increases, on the other hand, are scary business.  After watching Knitting Help’s how-to vid a couple of times, increases quickly became second nature.

Kitchener as a bind-off was intimidating – mostly, if not only because it’s supposed to be invisible.  From my very first attempt, it turned out perfectly!  Regardless of the weight of the yarn or the size of the needle, it is a surprisingly easy way to bind off.  I’m interested to use it in the future for grafting purposes.

For the rest of the evening, I’m working on stitching on eyes and beaks, then stuffing with beans and polyfill.  The beans give a nice weight to the owls that lets them stand up a little better, and the polyfill makes them squishy soft.

What are you working on, crafty friends?  I’m dying to see!

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Just under half of employers expect to recruit additional graduates in 2013 with a third maintaining the same amount, research from High Fliers has found.

The report highlights the importance of work experience, as a third of recruiters who have entry-level positions available, will award them to graduates who have worked for their organisation in the past. These positions will be available exclusively to graduates who undertook industrial placements, are former interns or have completed vacation work in the past.

The report shows a more positive outlook for the year compared to 2012 however, with graduate recruitment set to increase across the public sector as well as at retailers, engineering and industrial companies. This trend has been consistent with the last three years, and competition for places in these industries is likely to increase further.

The majority of employers who feature in the research declared that graduates who have no previous work experience in their chosen field are ‘unlikely to be successful’ during the selection process for available schemes, and have ‘little or no chance’ or receiving a job offer.

But a spokesperson from Sainsbury’s – who took part in the study – believes that ‘research is key’ when applying for a graduate scheme, and that as well as gaining work experience, more background research should be done in preparation:

‘Really think about the industry you want to get into and how a graduate scheme will help you in your chosen future career. It is also a good idea to speak to graduates who are currently on the scheme you are looking to apply for.’

But graduates should be focused and aware of the working environment that they are hoping to work in:

‘Be clear on the reasons that you want to work for that particular company and within the area you are applying for, and it is always a good idea to brush up on competitor activities as well so you know how your chosen company is performing in the market place.’

But selecting the right scheme that matches your attributes and goals may also increase your chances of being selected:

‘Reflect on your ambitions and skill set and make sure this matches up to the graduate schemes you are applying for.  Make use of the careers service at your university who will be able to help you with this.’

Of Yorkshire’s higher education institutions, only the University of Leeds was named in the report as one of the top ten locations in the country being targeted by graduate employers for candidates. No one from the university was available to comment.

Click here for the full High Fliers report.

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Weight Management – Why women gain weight

by Ann Blanton 

If you’re someone who gets frustrated or discouraged every time you step on the scale, you’re not alone. Every day weighing can sabotage you from accomplishing your weight loss goals, so you might want to limit yourself from getting on that pesky contraception.

First, it’s important to know that daily weighing is not required. There are many causes why the numbers on the scale increase rather than decrease. Let’s discuss what some of those reasons are.

Sodium

Salt does not make you gain fat. Why? Because it contains no calories. Yet, weight gain is certainly a temporary possibility if consumptions are too high. This is simply because it causes your body to retain water. The body naturally tries to eliminate extreme amounts by diluting it with water. Then again, weight loss is more likely if your consumption is too low. For this reason, it removes water. Foods that are highly processed are more likely to have higher contents of sodium.

Glycogen

I like to think of glycogen as a tank that’s filled with stored carbohydrates. On any given day, if you fail to take in  adequate amounts of carbohydrates, your glycogen supply will diminish. When this happens, your appetite could slightly increase; and your body will replace its fuel with water. It’s not uncommon to experience shifts in water weight up to approximately two pounds daily without changing your activity level or calorie consumption.

Muscle

If you’ve been including weight training along with cardiovascular activity into your daily routine, don’t be alarmed if you see increased weight gain.  Long lean muscle has positive effects on the body for many reasons. It boosts metabolism, protects the bones against disease such as osteoporosis by preventing bone loss, gives you with a sexy physique and provides confidence by increasing your self- esteem.  What’s more, if you don’t use it you’ll lose it.

Menstruation 

Let’s take a moment to talk about why weight fluctuations are often a result of menstruation. Fluid retention or edema is frequently the culprit during this time of the month, because hormonal changes are usually taking place. At this time, some women experience difficulty with bowel movement that can also lead to water retention.

During the pre-menstrual cycle, magnesium levels typically plummet. When this happens, it creates a lower production of insulin levels. As the levels drop, sugar cravings take place.  Most often, the end result is  weight gain.

Peri–Menopause  and Menopause 

Weight gain often becomes a problem for women who are approaching the years of peri-menopause and menopause, particularly around the mid section. Although a hormonal imbalance takes place for many women, hormones alone are not entirely the problem. The difference between genetics and lifestyle principles are also linked. Along with the aging process, metabolism clearly slows down and muscle mass begins to decline. Failure to do something about this, your body composition will change from a reduced amount of muscle to additional fat.

Sleep Deprivation

Sleep deprivation can often be the cause of many negative effects  on the body. Lack of sleep decreases your energy level, affects motivation to exercise and often results in eating more than what’s normally required for the body. Little or no sleep causes a rise in ghrelin; the hormone that stimulates the appetite. So, if you’re not dropping those few extra pounds, perhaps you’re not getting enough shut- eye.

Stress 

Let’s face it, stress is a way of life! With today’s economy, who wouldn’t be stressed. Acute stress may lead to appetite loss, whereas, chronic stress may enhance appetite. Prolonged stress triggers the hormone cortisol by releasing it into the body. When this happens, it affects metabolism; it can also lead to depression, sleep deprivation and obesity. The best way to reduce stress is through physical activity.

Hypothyroidism 

The tiny butterfly gland located in the middle of the neck can wreak havoc on the entire body if it’s not controlled. Hypothyroidism (underactive), is an autoimmune disease that affects the thyroid by not producing enough of the hormone, T4 (thyroxine). When levels become low, it instantly signals the brain and tells the thyroid to release more T4. When this happens, if affects the metabolic rate which in turn affects the body to burn fat, as a result, unexpected weight gain.

Medications

It’s not uncommon for certain types of prescription medications to cause weight gain. This is because some medications can increase appetite, quench your thirst for sugary drinks, increase water retention and reduce the ability to burn fat. If this is a concern and you experience these side effects, you might want to talk to your health care professional.

So, what do you think,  is it true, does the scale really lie? The next time you step onto the scale, take all these facts into consideration.

Stop by often. I always appreciate your comments.

I’ve had many articles published at Fitness Plus Magazine. Here’s the link to view them if you want to check them out. I’ve also had my first short story published as an anthology in a book titled, “Heartscape”. http://fitplusmag.com/magazine/author/annblanton/