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Date:Sat, 06/09/2018 - 9:00am - 4:00pm
Location:Suny Potsdam Maxcy Hall Potsdam, New York
Contact Information:Jo Ann Roberts, 315 386-4000 or by email: firstname.lastname@example.com.
Contact Information:The 1st annual North Country Kids Expo is planned for Saturday June 9th at Maxcy Hall Field house, SUNY Potsdam in Potsdam, New York. Bring your family for a day of play! and learn about all of the great ways to enjoy and entertain your family throughout the year in the North Country! The EXPO will include exhibits, demonstrations and play spaces - as well as being a resource fair so that people know about what is available for families, from health care to campgrounds, child care to party planning. ATTENTION EXHIBITORS: The St. Lawrence County Chamber is currently recruiting vendors, organizations and businesses for the event. Booth fees are from $60 to $80. Those interested in creating interactive play spaces will be given a third booth free. If interested in being a vendor at the North Country Kids Expo, visit SLCchamber.org for the registration packet and more information or contact Jo Ann Roberts, St. Lawrence County Chamber Event Coordinator, at 315 386-4000 or by email: email@example.com.
Event Specifics:


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My original intention with this blog was to create an online book of sorts. I planned to write several articles and consider them chapters in a bigger book that details the trials of living with HIV. It also details what I've done to survive this plague. I've now been living with this virus for nearly twenty-eight years! The road to creating multiple chapters in a blog format has been a a long one... However, it's also been a fun one. I've gotten to know loads of people who are dealing with HIV and AIDS. And, I've compiled my thoughts and secrets into one online resource.
Here are the titles (with links) of all of the chapters (there's a whopping 21 chapters) of this book...
- CHAPTER 1 - Introduction to the Secret
- CHAPTER 2 - Who Am I
- CHAPTER 3 - HIV Medication
- CHAPTER 4 - Side Effects
- CHAPTER 5 - Fitness
- CHAPTER 6 - Nutrition in a Nutshell
- CHAPTER 7 - Personal Hygiene
- CHAPTER 8 - Sex, Drugs, and Rock-n-Roll
- CHAPTER 9 - Colds, the Flu, and Other Painful Maladies
- CHAPTER 10 - Positive Attitude
- CHAPTER 11 - Suicidal Tendencies
- CHAPTER 12 - Family and Friends (support system)
- CHAPTER 13 - How to Live Longer
- CHAPTER 14 - Stress (fancy word for life)
- CHAPTER 15 - Hobbies and Extracurricular Activities
- CHAPTER 16 - The War of the Body
- CHAPTER 17 - Giving Back
- CHAPTER 18 - Urban Legends and Myths Demystified
- CHAPTER 19 - What is the Magic with Magic
- CHAPTER 20 - Get Your Hopes Up
- CHAPTER 21 - Amalgamation
As my blog category "The Secret" comes to a close, I'm considering putting it into an ebook and giving this information away for free. Did you know that 68 percent of all people living with HIV reside in sub-Saharan Africa. For this reason, I'm trying to translate my eBook to include: Portuguese, Spanish, French, German, Mandarin Chinese, Afrikaans, Zulu, Swahili, Niger-Congo phylum, Khoi-San, Nilo-Saharan, Afro-Asiatic, and Bantu. If you have have any additional language requests or ideas, please let me know in a comment.
p.s. This post is a chapter in my blog-book, The Secret to Longevity. Checkout my similar posts here: http://hivlongevity.com/the-secret. Or, follow the goodie trail:
Previous Secret Article — Next Secret Article
Please comment. And, if you dig, share this article:
Get Your Hopes Up
Funny how article titles happen... I started to call this one, "Don't Get Your Hopes Up" because it discusses a very serious subject and the possibility that HIV and AIDS will never be cured. The more I thought about it, the more I couldn't stand the name. I mean come on... I'm supposed to be Mr. Positive (no pun intended) here. It is my duty to inspire and exude positive energy. How on earth can I do that with a stinky disappointing title? So, I turned my frown upside-down and came up with a better, enlightened title, Get Your Hopes Up!
That said, this topic might dishearten some of you. I however, choose to [...]
What is the Magic with Magic
Earvin "Magic" Johnson, Jr. (born August 14, 1959) announced that he was HIV+ back in November of 1991. That is nearly twenty-two years ago!! So I ask again, What's the magic with Magic?
There is much speculation surrounding the question of why Magic Johnson (and many like him) have successfully stayed alive despite this death sentence. And, I believe that you can find a direct connection in [...]
Urban Legends and Myths Demystified
Throughout "the Secret" section of my blog I have tackled a bunch of subjects from staying healthy to preventing the spread through safe sex. Many of these topics have been fairly taboo. This topic might just prove to be the most taboo of all. However, I would be remiss if I didn't [...]
Giving Back
Happy Valentine's Day!!!
It is sort of fitting to have an article about [...]
The War of the Body
In many of my previous posts I have talked about the war of the body. I've even posted some information about it. Today's Secret article is going to breakdown my idea and how it has helped me.
After all of these peaceful and loving blog entries, let me step out on a limb and discuss [...]
Hobbies and Extracurricular Activities
Let's kick this bad boy off with one of my favorite quotes:
"Adventure is worthwhile in itself."
—Amelia Earhart
Most of my blog articles about living longer have been about fitness, healthier living, mental toughness, medication, and other related subjects. One longevity subject that is often overlooked is [...]
Stress (fancy word for life)
After all of the posts in the secret article thread, I figured it was time to tackle stress. It's also a very good time to bring it up, considering our last post was about living longer. One thing we didn't discuss during that article was managing your stress levels. The main reason for this [...]
How to Live Longer
Don't laugh; the fountain of youth does exist. Living longer does not only apply to HIV+ folks, this information will work for everyone. Following some simple guidelines and principals can have you on the path to increasing your life expectancy.
Many people from different walks of life told me precisely what I needed to do to prolong my life [...]
Family and Friends (support system)
Most of us are looking for support systems in our daily lives. And, the funny thing is that our family and friends surround us and we often fail to recognize that they are [...]
Suicidal Tendencies
Let me start this post by stating that I honestly believe that everyone has thought about, and/or considered suicide at some point in their lives. That said, I was told directly by a psychologist many moons ago, that I was wrong about that … I guess we must agree to disagree on this one, because I'm sticking to my guns. However, it's probable that I am [...]
Positive Attitude
Let me start by saying that I do not condone, nor believe in positive thinking/attitude without something to back it up. E.g. I don't think you can look at a weed-filled garden and chant there are no weeds 1,000 times and then they mysteriously and suddenly disappear. That said, I do sincerely believe in [...]
Colds, the Flu, and Other Painful Maladies
DISCLAIMER I really hate putting these things in here, but I feel that in today's letigious society it is absolutely necessary. That said, I am not a doctor! I don't even pretend to be one. These posts are merely my opinion and based on life experiences. If I made a mistake in this (or any) of my Blog entries, then I apologize. I also encourage you to post a comment and correct me. If you follow any advice or ideas in this Blog, you do so at your own risk! Enjoy!
I used to think that the word disease was simply [...]
Sex, Drugs, and Rock-n-Roll
This post is rated PG-13 ... It contains sexual inuendos, devious acts, and [...]
Personal Hygiene
The term "hygiene" is derived from Hygeia, the Greek goddess of health, cleanliness and sanitation. It does not come from the other Greek word, Hydra, which is a 9-headed serpent whose breath was poisonous!
Personal hygiene is often overlooked as a simple way to stay healthy. When you ask most people to list some easy ways to maintain health, they immediately shoot back with [...]
Nutrition in a Nutshell
…from soup to nuts…
Let's talk about food! after I go over the rules of engagement: DISCLAIMER - the ideas presented here are merely guidelines to help you on your path to enlightenment. I strongly urge (and insist) [...]
There is a fad that is sweeping across America (and the world for that matter). It is categorized as healthier living. With more than 30% of Americans being classified as obese, it is time for this fad to kick into action!
Gratuitous Disclaimer: I am afraid that before I talk about this fantastic subject, I must first warn you of the inherent danger associated with it… Working out and exercise can be dangerous. You can be seriously injured, crippled or killed. The opinions, stories and ideas presented here are my own and do not constitute a recommendation of or endorsement for any particular or general use. You should seek a professional medical evaluation before starting an exercise program. If you choose to workout, you do so at your own risk. More no this here.
With that painful dissertation out of the way...
Exercise is an essential part of life. Without it, our [...]
Side Effects
Let's take a moment and talk about the confounded side effects of HIV and its associated medication. Sometimes side effects are unavoidable. And, we usually weigh the pros and cons... For instance, my current triple drug cocktail gives me diarrhea on a daily basis. This is a pain in the ass (no pun intended)! However, it is acceptable when you consider the fact that my other option is to die a slow and painful death... On the other hand, when I was getting Peripheral Neuropathy from DDI, I considered this a bad and dangerous side effect that I eliminated by switching medications. The picking and choosing of the lesser of two evils is obviously a personal choice...
Here are many of the side effects that I am currently experiencing, or have experienced in the past:
This is a battle that I deal with on a daily basis. My gastro-Dr. prescribed Pamine Forte, which I took for a while. This appeared to subside my … ahem … issues. However, it was a pain to get the pills refilled, because my doc wanted me to keep visiting him. Juggling life is painful and throwing in frequent visits to a gastroenterologist wasn't at the top of my list. So, I take Immodium AD (over the counter) and it seems to work just as well.
My daily regiment includes drinking a fiber supplement (Konsyl) every morning and every night. I know that most of you are like, doesn't fiber loosen your stool? Well… Yes… But, it also helps to regulate and control your bowels. For whatever reason, I have found that it is better to have regularity… At least than I can predict my outcomes.
Also, I carry two Immodium pills in my pockets at all times. I have found that you can easily find yourself in remote places without a proverbial pot to piss in, and this helps curb things. In addition to the ones in my pocket, I keep a bottle of the little green gems (Immodium) in: my backpack, desk drawer at work and glovebox of all of my vehicles. Call me a Boy Scout, but I feel the need to be prepared
I think that's enough talk about the runs.
Peripheral Neuropathy
In case you don't know what it is, peripheral neuropathy is extremely painful and disturbing. My experience was tingling in my feet that feels similar to your foot falling asleep. Along with this, my toes became so sensitive that a simple stub against a shoe or something else on the floor would drop me to my knees in pain and anguish.
One of the worst experiences of my life was when I was sent to a neurologist to figure out my foot problem. He inserted long thick needles into my foot, ankle, calf and shin and then sent electrical shocks through my muscles to determine if nerve damage had occurred, and/or what my problem was.
Unfortunately, all of this severe probing didn't uncover anything, but it did teach me to fear neurologists!
Dry Eyes
Over time, my eyes have become dryer. I'm not sure if this is purely allergy related, or if it stems from some of the medicine that I take. That is one of the many problems associated with HIV related side effects… Some of them could be happening for reasons other than medicines, etc.
I have found that eye drops help a lot with this problem, if I use them on a regular basis. Better than the old school Visine dropper, the newer single-serving droppers seem to be better for me. They don't have any preservatives that you will find in a typical bottle. I use drops morning and night. During the day, if my eyes are bothering me I will dose them. For this reason, I keep eye drop packs in my desk drawer at work.
Sensitivity to Sunlight
This one comes and goes. When it comes, it comes with a vengeance… I am talking to the point of not being able to keep my eyes open while outdoors. I usually attack this problem by having extra dark sunglasses that cover a big area. Wrap-around style are very nice and eliminate some of the Sun creep that you get in the sides.
I would like to darken the tint on my vehicles, but Maryland has strict laws about this… I am currently looking into having an eye doctor write me a waiver so I can tint the truck and minivan…
Rashes, Hives and Other Skin Problems
Itchy skin comes and goes for me. I think that I have naturally sensitive skin, so it is tough to say what comes from what. I sometimes get little sections of hives that are itchy and bothersome. I also get dry skin, mostly during the winter.
This one may or may not be related to medicine… I mean, life is tough enough as it is… Throw hemophilia into the mix with HIV, medication and everything else associated with my health and you get a depressing combination. In the past I have occasionally been so depressed that I considered suicide. I always fought through it and looked toward a brighter day. For the most part, I consider suicide a weak solution. I love a challenge and when life is getting me down, it is no exception.
I've never taken anti-depressant, and I can't imagine doing so. I'm not a proponent of all of these drugs that have been introduced to help depressed folks… I'm sure that there are many of you who would disagree with me on this point. I'm not knocking people who take them, I'm simply saying that I choose not to.
Vomiting and Nausea
This is a tough one. I think that everyone experiences this one from some degree or another… With DDI I was vomiting out of control. Sometimes, to this day, I vomit when I am taking medicine. Mostly I am able to hold it back. I will occasionally be coughing and it turns into a violent cough that ends with a vomit reaction.
Dunno how to cure this one, but I find that willpower and concentration can help.
Random Aches and Pains
Muscle soreness… Arthritic feelings… Joint aches…
More than likely, these come more from my active lifestyle and past mistakes.
Sleep Problems
I rarely experience this, but I have had some rough nights. Sometimes you simply can't sleep. This is probably related to something other than medicines, but I included it none-the-less.
I like chamomile tea at bed time and this helps me to go down nice and easy.
I love nightmares. Seriously! Some of my medicines have given me some extremely realistic and vivid nightmares. I dig it. Even though I love them, I thought I would include this as a potential side effect… Especially because not everyone enjoys them as much as me.
Night Sweats
One of my old medicines (I can't remember which) really gave me horrible night sweats. These days, I get them once-in-a-while, but they are far and few between. Plus, they aren't nearly as bad as they were in the past.
Night sweats can be so terrible that you can't sleep. Plus, the bed gets all stinky and impossible to sleep in. Horrible!
Trouble Waking in the Morning
Who doesn't have this problem? I mean… Some mornings are simply tougher than others to get out of bed! Is it a side effect of medicine or life? Who knows…
Loss of Fat in the Butt and Cheeks
This one has bothered me in the past… I mean, every guy wants a little meat in his behind. Chicks look at your butt… That's a fact. I want something there to see.
As far as my other cheeks, it is similarly painful to see the gaunt fatless features of my face. I think that most of this problem came from my hepatitis medicine that I was on years ago. It rid my body of Hep-C, so it can't be all bad… However, it also stripped the fat, which gave my face definition, etc. Now I look like a wasting-away human being and this bugs me, because I am more healthy now than I have ever been in my life!
Excess Fat in the Belly and Upper Back
As if it wasn't bad enough to take the fat from my butt, the medicines seem to have put it in my belly! WTF?? Just like butts, chicks dig abs. I pride myself in a fit and strong body, yet my distended abdominal region is a rascally sucker that pisses me off! I do a lot of hard work on my abs (1,200+ crunches per workout) and they still poke out some.
One thing that I have found useful, is working the transverse abdominis muscle. This is a muscle that wraps around your core underneath your abs and obliques. You can work it out by doing stomach vacuums and 2-point bridges among other things. I have found that the more effort that I put into this muscle region, the better my abs look and the more pulled in they become. Give it a go!
Gas and Bloated Belly
Gas might simply be a side effect of the Immodium. I dunno about you, but I get the farts a couple of hours after I take Immodium.
Sore Throat
Many mornings I wake with a sore throat. Usually it is minor and goes away after breakfast. Sometimes it is more serious and I take a couple of sprays of Chloraseptic to help soothe it. That's about all there is to say about that…
Excess Phlegm
Who knows why I included this… I would swear that I have copious amounts of snot that shouldn't be there. Does that mean it's from HIV or medicine?? No… But, I just thought I would mention it.
See ya next time!
p.s. This post is a chapter in my blog-book, The Secret to Longevity. Checkout my similar posts here: http://hivlongevity.com/the-secret. Or, follow the goodie trail:
Previous Secret Article — Next Secret Article
If you dig, don't forget to share this article:
HIV Medication
When I was first diagnosed with HIV, there were no medicines available to combat this deadly disease. At the end of the 80's AZT became available. Early on I didn't take any of the medicines that were becoming available, but it was apparent that I would need them. Since I started on meds, I have ingested a ton of HIV and AIDS related medicines and homeopathic remedies.
I started out on AZT (Zidovudine) like most of the HIV+ folks. I also dabbled in DDI (Didanosine or Videx); which gave me projectile vomit fits and peripheral neuropathy among other things. Since then I have tried most of the medicines available today... My latest drug cocktail consists of:
- Sustiva (efavirenz) is in the category of HIV medicines called non-nucleoside reverse transcriptase inhibitors (NNRTIs). Sustiva prevents the cells from creating new virus and reduces the amount of virus in your body. Sustiva is used in combination with other drugs to treat HIV (hence drug cocktail). Normally, it is combined with two nucleoside/nucleotide reverse transcriptase inhibitors (called NRTIs or "Nukes").
- Viread (tenofovir disoproxil fumarate) is a NRTI (nucleotide as opposed to a nucleoside) type of medicine used in combination with other medicines. VIREAD blocks HIV reverse transcriptase (enzyme) that is needed for HIV to multiply. VIREAD lowers the viral load.
- Epivir (amivudine) is also an NRTI (nucleoside) prevents HIV from altering the genetics of T-cells. This prevents the cells from producing virus and lowers the viral load.
More Than You Ever Wanted to Know About AIDS Medication
Instead of writing a long dissertation on medicines that are available, I decided to point you in the right direction... This web site covers more than you ever imagined about HIV medicines:
Importance of Daily Medication Ingestion
I'm sure you've heard it all before... "You MUST take your medicine on a regular basis!" But, most of us lead lives where this is hard to do sometimes. As you know, your body can build up a tolerance to some of the HIV medicines available today. Most of the tolerances are enhanced by taking time off from the drug. Even worse, some drugs (like Sustiva) stay in your body longer than other ones and can be dangerous without the additional drugs from your triple drug therapy.
In order to enhance your drug experience and to make sure that you are making the most of medicines you ingest, make sure that you take them on a regular basis that is laid out by your prescribing doctor.
The easiest way that I have found to make sure that I always take my medicines is to keep a pill fob (small metal or plastic cylinder) filled with one days dosage. Gone are the days of 22 pills and or horse-sized pills. With today's small dosages, you can easily fit them into a single fob. I also keep a weekly vitamin container (that you can pickup at GNC or pharmacy store) for times when I go on "overnighters" or vacations. If you don't dog on fobs or medicine containers, Zip-Lock makes a snack-sized bag, which is a half-height sandwich bag. Get a box of those and use one for your medicines.
The key to taking your pills day-in-day out is to always be prepared. If you sometimes stay out all night without warning, then you should carry a dose with you at all times! Easy-peasy!
Vomiting and How to Control It
Many of the medicines that we have to take taste terrible and/or make us feel like vomiting. Over time, I found that you can control your vomit reflex by remaining calm and focusing on avoiding it. The main key is to stop telling yourself, Oh God, I'm gonna throw up! Try to avert your thoughts and think about something different. You may find this hard to do in the early stages, but just like anything else in your body, your brain can improve and strengthen with practice.
Remember that vomiting is simply the bodies reaction to a message from the brain. Calm yourself before taking your medicine by breathing deeply and meditating. Once you have reached a calm state, take your medicine with a focus on good things. By controlling your body and staying calm you can avoid vomiting.
Think! While Taking Your Medicine
I can't reiterate enough how important positive thinking is while enduring HIV. I have found that a good mental attitude is just as powerful (if not more so) as a top-notched doctor and good drugs. In the past I would take my pills thinking, this is prolonging my inevitable death. Then I would question why my CD-4 counts weren't improving. Looking back, I realize that I was taking 22 pills approximately every four hours of the day. So, five or six time each and every day I would chant the death mantra. Finally, I realized that this was part of my problem. I decided to do a test and start thinking more positive about my drug ingestion. I turned my death mantra into a life mantra.Every time that I took pills, I followed this procedure:
1. Calm myself with breathing and meditation;
2. Focus on the good side of the drugs;
3. While taking each pill, I would chant things like, "This pill is making me stronger and healthier."
After a while of doing this, I noticed that I was feeling better and healthier. My levels went up and I reduced my vomiting. All-in-all, I had created a better me and the medicines were working! Try it out for yourself.
I should mention that in later years, I adapted this process and created what I consider to be an even more robust life mantra. You can read more about this in one of my upcoming Blogs titled, "The War of the Body."
p.s. This post is a chapter in my blog-book, The Secret to Longevity. Checkout my similar posts here: http://hivlongevity.com/the-secret. Or, follow the goodie trail:
Previous Secret Article — Next Secret Article
If you dig, don't forget to share this article:
Who Am I
Who am I and Why am I Qualified to Write This Here Blog?
I'm Vaughn Ripley. I was born with a blood disorder called, hemophilia. I get injections of Factor VIII (pronounced factor eight) to stop severe bleeding that comes from my hemophilia. The blood products that I get to save my life bring lots of baggage with them... Along with a plethora of viruses and sicknesses, I have gotten Hepatitis C and HIV from tainted blood.
I was diagnosed as HIV+ back in December of 1986. For this reason, I'm one of the longest living HIV+ people on the planet.
I have dealt with many sicknesses through the years and tons of side effects of HIV medication.
My recent blood work revealed that my T-cell count is greater than 550 and my viral load is undetectable. I attribute much of this to my talented doctors and medicine intake. However, I also feel that much of my wellness comes from a powerful mental attitude and stringent focus on a health-filled fitness program.
My experiences and challenges have amalgamated to make me the right person to write this Blog... Read on and hopefully you will agree!
If you would like to find out more information about me, visit my personal web site at: http://www.vaughnripley.com
p.s. This post is a chapter in my blog-book, The Secret to Longevity. Checkout my similar posts here: http://hivlongevity.com/the-secret. Or, follow the goodie trail:
Previous Secret Article — Next Secret Article
If you dig, don't forget to share this article:
Introduction to the Secret
I am an HIV+ hemophiliac. I was infected through a bad blood transfusion of Factor VIII sometime in mid-1980.
More than 22,000,000 people have died from AIDS.
According to the National Institute of Health (NIH) web site an estimated 40,000,000 people were living with HIV/AIDS as of the end of 2003. And, approximately 1 of every 100 adults aged 15 to 49 are HIV-infected. An estimated 5,000,000 new HIV infections occurred worldwide during 2003 (that is approximately 14,000 new infections every day).
In 2003 alone, HIV/AIDS-associated illnesses caused the deaths of approximately 3,000,000 people.
The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC) estimates that as of 2003 nearly 950,000 United States residents are living with the HIV infection.
According to the National Hemophilia Foundation, the estimate for the number of people in the United States with hemophilia is approximately 20,000. They approximate that 50 percent of the hemophilia population in the United States contracted HIV in the 1980's! They also estimate a total number of HIV+ hemophiliacs at somewhere around 10,000. It is estimated that over 4,200 members of the HIV/hemophilia community have died since the onset of the crisis; this leaves approximately 5,800 of us still "alive and kicking" and hoping to stay that way until a cure comes along.
Quite a while ago I decided to write a book about how I have managed to live so long with this deadly disease. My book was going to be titled, Longevity Despite HIV - The Secret to Living a Long, Healthy and Happy Life In the Face of HIV or AIDS. It didn't take me long to change my mind about a published book. My next idea was to make it an e-book and make it available for free to the world. This idea lasted a little while and I completed my outline and compiled some ideas and information... Until recently, that was the direction I was going with this project. The more that I thought about it, the more I realized that I had to do this in a Blog environment.
Blogging is new to me, even though I have been writing all of my life. In addition to my writing, I contribute a good amount of posts to many online discussion forums. I figured it was time to start a Blog.
My decision to Blog comes from the fact that I have more to talk about than simply my book idea. So, I decided to create the Blog and make a category called, "The Secret." Under this category I will fulfill my dream of writing my book about longevity. While I am working on this project, I will continue to put my other ideas relating to HIV into written word on my Blog.
That's it in a nutshell... I hope you dig it!
p.s. This post is a chapter in my blog-book, The Secret to Longevity. Checkout my similar posts here: http://hivlongevity.com/the-secret. Or, follow the goodie trail:
Previous Secret Article — Next Secret Article

subset: commoncrawl


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With a Napoleon Direct Vent Gas Stove, you are guaranteed a lifetime of comfort backed with the best warranty program in the industry. They are the perfect blend of traditional old world charm and high-tech heating performance.
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You Are My Star Personalized Custom Vinyl Wall Decal Sticker
You Are My Star Personalized Custom Vinyl Wall Decal Sticker Available in the color of your choice!! Choose from any of our 21 MATTE FINISH COLORS.UPS SurePost within the Continental US. International USPS shipping is also available.NO ADDITIONAL SHIPPING CHARGES FOR ADDITIONAL ITEMS! ALL ORDERS OVER $50.00 PAID ON ONE INVOICE RECEIVE FREE SHIPPING WITHIN THE CONTINENTAL US! Please notify us after your purchase and we will refund your shipping charges:).............................................................................................................................Accepting Pay-Pal, Money Orders, and Credit Cards. We accept credit card information via phone, fax and email..............................................................................................................................100% Satisfaction Guarantee!! If you are unhappy with your order for any reason return it to us within 7 days for a full refund of your purchase price..............................................................................................................................All of our designs can be "custom sized", so let us know if you would like any design larger or smaller. We can also love to do custom work!! Let us know your design ideas!!


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Contact and Profile
PAE Due Diligence
The Support Letters
PAE in the Media
The Vital Alliances
The PAE Tripartite
Train for Success
How We Made it Work
What Successes
Artisan Jewellery
Learners at Work
Deaf Learners
Women Jewelers
NSA Award
Social Creativity
The PAE SCE Model
Challenges We Face
Towards NDP SDG 2030
PAE Tackles The SDGs
NDP SDG Directives
The Gender Bias
Funders and FAQs
Learner Applications
Trade Test
Contact Us
• All PAE graduates initiate their training by re-doing and perfecting all the fundamentals (all of the 12 steps of jewelry manufacturing processes), to top industry standard – minimum of 90% for each fundamental is required, in order to manufacture high-quality jewelry.
• Thereafter, all of the complex commercial & traditional jewelry manufacturing techniques required to manufacture high-end classic international jewelry, are taught.
• With these skills-sets mastered, a wide spectrum of jewelry pieces can be manufactured.
• Priority is given to this to prevent any learners from leaving with techniques that become outdated, thereby rendering them unemployable.
• The industry is becoming technologically advanced, and investment is required to facilitate training, and also to maintain competitive advantage in the international arena, especially in the current exchange rate
:– according to pundits, the weak rand is not likely to improve, and this affords us the opportunity to enter the export markets.
• Further Training for employees – PAE upgrades all their employees, and especially the Teachers, up to
level and also as assessors – continuous process.
• Expansion of PAE infrastructure (tools, equipment, machinery, space, learner numbers) was achieved organically over 14 years – this was achieved by analyzing the generic factors across the whole industry – for example:
- Market Demand – what does the jewelry industry actually need in order to grow?
- Poor learning outcomes within the sector teaching industry - Graduate Unemployability – why have we got c2500 unemployed graduates currently on the street?
- Government/Sector requirements – why is our jewelry industry not growing, why are we not exporting, especially in current favorable foreign exchange environment, and especially since we
prove that we
effectively train people to international standards?
• Why are current training methodologies within the sector failing? We believe this is primarily because the teaching industry uses predominantly a "simulated environment" system – this is
real interactive on-the-job experiential training.
• Each PAE expansion BATCH was a controlled event – it took place under the auspices of QMS >
international certification, in order to ensure the same high-quality teaching methodologies to each student was not compromised.
• We plan to retain more of our top "
Super Artisans
" as trainers, so they can create the next generation of
• Our
training is at a higher level than the current Level-4/ Diploma courses produced by the sector's teaching institutions.
• In the interim, we anticipate our current 95% placement rate will drop slightly, as the top graduates are kept within the company to train the next generation.
• More attention was given to the 'weaker' learners – the company prioritized taking students from ALL provinces, from a wide spectrum of:
- Industry.
- Unemployed.
- FETs/TVETs, UoTs, Schools for the disabled (Currently deaf learners).
- This also guarantees that students from 'weaker' universities are afforded the same opportunities of success as those from the 'stronger' institutions.
- Otherwise, they would've fallen through the cracks and would not have been in the industry today.
-This is because they arrived at PAE absolutely unemployable, and would not have succeeded without highly specialized and dedicated training.
• It is imperative that the 'weaker' ones are nurtured more than the 'stronger' ones, as one would do in a family environment.
• This program seeks to empower HDSAs by compensating for weaknesses in literacy and numeracy levels within HDSAs, by providing highly specialized training to ensure fit-for-purpose credentials, so that even the HDSAs with serious disabilities in such numeracy and literacies levels, may finally exit on the same high levels of international employability, in the hand-manufacture and mass-production environments.
• Pneuma has signed SLAs & MoUs with a number of companies (starting in Cape Town) to expand our successful training programs to these companies, by delivering effective industry-relevant training using Pneuma's training programs.
• The MQA Seta has agreed to support us with this initiative.
• This initiative will further be expanded as we negotiate with more companies .
• We are presently concentrating on companies in the Cape with KZN next on the list, so we don't saturate the local (Gauteng) market.
• SMME development for companies linked to Pneuma accreditation that need funding – for example, infrastructure funding for training.
• This will ensure that their spend goes towards building their SMME company, and not only for training needs, so we can transform the industry.
Development & Incubation
• Pneuma's initiatives have resulted in the development of a number of SMMEs & Entrepreneurs we've trained, by encouraging our students to develop their entrepreneurial skills whilst they are still training.
• Students are developed as follows:
- They are given the flexibility and encouraged to develop a client base within their areas.
- We allow them to in-house design and manufacture their own jewelry pieces for their clients, as encouragement for their entrepreneurial development (i.e., grow your clients, whilst you grow yourself).
- They are assisted in-house on business practices: for example, supply of materials (gold, silver, stones) and on costing structures for the jewelry they produce for these clients.
- They are permitted and assisted to manufacture the pieces in-house, as the quality of jewelry produced must be to top industry standard, and reflect positively on the student as well as the company.
- The pieces produced are then sold to clients, and the profit remains with the students.
- All pieces manufactured form part of the training Portfolio of Evidence.
• Pneuma has over the last 2 years financially assisted and provided space and all services, to an HDSA lady to run her 100% black owned SMME business from the premises and to render services to the industry.
• We are looking at expanding the SMME incubator by expanding sales – we will then use this as a conduit for our start-up SMMEs to grow the retail side of their business, by accessing a much larger market for sale of their product.
• This is because the SMME start-ups don't yet have the 'name' in the business, and need all the help they can get – since we'll be assisting BOTH their manufacturing processes AND the retail side of their business.
• We are planning to increase our SMME Incubation program (funding-dependent).
• Our Students' work is also exhibited at the IJL London, HKTDC Hong Kong and Jewellex SA exhibitions, and permanently at Pneuma Jewelers.
Thank you to all of our VIP stakeholders
Contact and Profile
PAE Due Diligence
The Support Letters
PAE in the Media
The Vital Alliances
The PAE Tripartite
Train for Success
How We Made it Work
What Successes
Artisan Jewellery
Learners at Work
Deaf Learners
Women Jewelers
NSA Award
Social Creativity
The PAE SCE Model
Challenges We Face
Towards NDP SDG 2030
PAE Tackles The SDGs
NDP SDG Directives
The Gender Bias
Funders and FAQs
Learner Applications
Trade Test
Contact Us


text:
Lakes of the world. Unusual lake. Lakes of the world
Lakes, formed from river oxbow lakes, are relatively small. Large arose in other ways. Some in valleys, blocked by avalanche or moraines, rock ridges left by retreating and now-vanished glaciers or dams erected by man. Lake Baikal in Siberia and lake in East Africa filled the huge cracks in the earth's crust, caused by powerful shifts. American Great lakes lie in the basin, formed during the ice age when the ice wore a large part of the continent. Glaciers not only plowed a deep bowl in the valleys, along which, but this entire region sank under the weight of ice, gavluvsga a lot of the continent in plastic basalt layers under it. Then the ice melted relatively quickly, but the concavity is not yet corrected.
Around the perimeter of the great lakes in shallow bays among marsh grasses the animals and their lifestyles are not much different from what we observed in a small freshwater reservoirs. Over them worn different dragonflies, among the plants reproduce gnats and mosquitoes; hiding in the mud snails and bivalves; fish and piranhas hunt, carp and Cichlidae pluck the plants. But where the lake bottom out to a great depth, the conditions have dramatically changed.
Baikal is the deepest lake in the world. In some places the bottom is a mile from the surface. Of course, compared to the ocean it's not much of depth, but in ocean bottom currents in the closed world of great freshwater lakes they invade rarely. Flowing into lakes rivers carry relatively warm water, and she stays on top of cold water at depth. Sometimes a strong storm can to some extent mix the upper layers of the raging water with those that are under them, but usually water in the depths of the great lake at a temperature close to the freezing point, black, oxygen-poor and contrary to all the legends about living in the lakes these monsters mostly lifeless.
And yet these lakes are inherent biological peculiarity. Community of animals, once established in these isolated aquatic realms, with little or no replenishment from the outside. A wandering inhabitant of the waters may enter the lake by travelling the river. But to get to it — most often means to swim against the current, to overcome the smaller lakes and waterfalls. Few of us ever do, and most of the inhabitants of the great lakes comes from species that lived near their origins. Minor genetic changes in some individuals in these close communities is not lost, as usually happens in large populations, it is easier and saved. Therefore, in lakes often develop their views, which are nowhere else to be found.
Lake Tanganyika about one and a half million years, and it found 130 species of cichlids and 50 species of other fish, is now completely unique. Like many of his crustaceans and molluscs. The inhabitants of lake Baikal, perhaps, even more remarkable. It is home to 1200 species of animals and 500 species of plants, over 80% of which are found only in him. Large flat worms, red and orange, stripes and spots; fish living on the bottom kilometre underground, and shellfish, whose shell is a lot thinner than their marine relatives, since lake water is less rich in calcium salts than sea.
Baikal has its unique mammal is a freshwater seal. It is very similar to ringed seal living in the Arctic, and almost certainly occurred from it. But between the Baikal and Arctic ocean — more than two thousand kilometers, and on the river path so many rapids and waterfalls that beat them not under force to any seal. It is possible, however, that the seal climbed into the lake by rivers during the ice age, when this trip was supposed to be a lot easier and a lot shorter. Modern Baikal seal not only the only member of his family living in fresh water, but noticeably inferior to all other dimensions.
In geological scale of the lake — a very fleeting ornaments of the earth's surface. Oxbow lake may disappear in several decades. More lakes can survive for thousands of years, but they are reduced. The river, flowing into quiet lake, thrown into the mouth load of sediment, forming a Delta that gradually invade the lake, causing it to dry out. Near the banks it is shallow because the streams there demolishing the soil from the surrounding heights. The bottom rises toward the light, and aquatic plants spread further and further, polluting the water with their stems, rotting leaves and roots. So the lake becomes a swamp, and it is, drying up, in turn becomes a fertile meadow, which was still a river winding, the first choking the lake.


text:
In the final tournament to finish up on Day 2, Qanba|Xiaohai (Iori/Mr. Karate/Kim) took the crown for King of Fighters XIII over MCZ|Tokido (Iori/Chin/Mr. Karate).
Tokido put up a great fight in the loser's finals beating LDA|ET 3-2 after being down 2-0. A simple change in the order of his fighters made the difference as he took the next three rounds to advance to Grand Finals. After that he had the daunting task of winning two straight sets against Xiaohai.
The first set he took rather convincingly 3-0. The second set turned out to be a bit more daunting as Tokido once again found himself down 2-0, but unlike Loser's Finals he didn't change his order, keeping Chin in spot #2 (his change in Loser's Finals was putting Chin in spot #3). Tokido took round 3, but that was the end of the road as Xiaohai took the tournament by winning round 4, taking the set 3-1 to become the EVO 2014 King of Fighters XIII champion.
That wraps up the Grand Finals of the major tournaments. Tomorrow will see the remaining finals which include BlazBlue: Chrono Phantasma, Killer Instinct, Super Smash Bros. Melee, Ultimate Marvel vs. Capcom 3, and Ultra Street Fighter IV. Due to having to work in the morning I likely won't be able to post the results of the first two tournaments, so I'll pick back up again tomorrow with the results of Super Smash Bros. Melee.


text:
A few choice selections from the comics due out November 28th:
Arrow #1
Description: The first time in print for these digital-first adventures!
Discover exciting new mysteries and plotlines for the ultimate Arrow experience!
Written by the show's creators and featuring covers and interior art from legendary GREEN ARROW: THE LONGBOW HUNTERS artist MIKE GRELL!
By: Marc Guggenheim, Mike Grell
Masks #1
Description: Starring The Shadow, The Green Hornet, Kato, Zorro, and The Spider, in a story that only Dynamite could tell! Before superheroes, there were Masks! They've always said it can't happen here . . . but what if it did? It's 1938, and the Justice Party has swept into office in New York State.
But the newly-elected officials are in the control of powerful criminals, who quickly corrupt the law to their own advantage. When a fascist police state is instituted, the only ones who stand in defense of the innocent are masked vigilantes like the Shadow, the Green Hornet, Kato, and the Spider.
Also, look forward to future appearances of Black Bat, Miss Fury, Black Terror, Green Lama and more! When the law is unjust, justice must be an outlaw!
By: Chris Roberson, Alex Ross
R.I.P.D.: City of the Damned #1
Dark Horse
Description: Roy Pulsipher and Nick Walker are dead, but that doesn't mean their time in law enforcement is over. Both Roy and Nick are officers in the Rest in Peace Department, sworn to serve the Almighty and protect the living from evil's foul corruption. Their current case has them chasing a ghostly fanatic determined to undo all of creation-a threat with very personal connections to Roy's past, stretching back a hundred years into a weird, Wild West and Roy's first day on the job. It's a twisted history that Nick is only starting to uncover, and one that could have him reconsidering ever joining the R.I.P.D.!
* Prequel to the upcoming feature film starring Ryan Reynolds and Jeff Bridges!
By: Peter Lenkov, Jeremy Barlow, Tony Parker, Dave Wilkins
Transformers Prime Rage of the Dinobots #1 (of 4)
Description: Bridging the story from the Fall of Cybertron video game to the Prime TV show-the DINOBOTS hold the line as CYBERTRON falls! With OPTIMUS PRIME and the Ark long gone, the rest of the population makes their escape from the dying world-but SHOCKWAVE remains behind, continuing his experiments!
By: Mike Johnson, Agustin Padilla, Ken Christiansen
Witch Doctor Malpractice #1 (of 6)
Description: The breakout medical horror hit from ROBERT KIRKMAN's Skybound imprint is back on call! Even the world's leading expert in supernatural disease needs to unwind sometimes. But when Dr. Morrow wakes up with no memory of what – and who! – he did last night, is it just a case of partying too hard… or something more malignant? (Hint: It's the malignant one!) 'Terrifying, hilarious, and above all else, smart.' – The A.V. Club
By: Brandon Seifert, Lukas Ketner


text: I have been a qualified Audiologist since January 2017, and completed my Master of Clinical Audiology at The University of Melbourne. I have supervised many Master of Audiology students (from Latrobe and Melbourne University) while working in Blamey Saunders hears company. I have worked in a number of areas of audiology including diagnostic assessment, adult audiological assessment, adult aural rehabilitation, hearing device fitting after finishing my degree in clinical audiology from Medical Science University of Iran (Tehran). The most rewarding aspect about being an Audiologist is teaching my clients about their hearing and guiding them through the sound discovery process. That moment when you see in their eyes that they are hearing everyday sounds again is priceless and very rewarding. It is life changing for my client and opens up a whole new world.


text:
Dikala Test Power E smkin mendekati..
tolong!!tggl lagi beberapa jam je nak test!!
[ONE] Who was your last text from?
[TWO] Where was your FS default pic taken?
[THREE]Your relationship status?
//it's complicated..
[FOUR] Have you ever lost a close friend?
//still together ^_^
[FIVE] What is your current mood?
//pening s2d power e
[SIX] What's your sista's name?
//no sister
[SEVEN ] What's your favorite color(s)?
// pink and soft colours
[EIGHT] With Who do you wish you were right now?
// mak hoho
[NINE] Have a crazy side?
//a a
[TEN] Ever had a near death experience?
// dkt2 nak accident
[ELEVEN] Something you do a lot?
// sleep hueheue
[TWELVE] Angry at anyone?
// angry with myself
[THIRTEEN] What's stopping you from going for the person you like?
// afraid he doesn't want me..
[FOURTEEN] When was the last time you cried?
// last night hee
[FIFTEEN] Is there anyone you would do anything for?
// yes
[SIXTEEN] Love your Boyfriend?
// very much
[SEVENTEEN] Who was the last person you talked to on the phone?
// mak
[EIGHTEEN] What are your favorite songs?
// songs by rossa and currently tak bisa memiliki T_T
[NINETEEN] What are you doing right now?
// wat bende ni
[TWENTY] Who do you trust right now?
// no one
[TWENTY-ONE] Where did you get the shirt you are wearing?
// da lme da xsure
[TWENTY-TWO] Have you kissed someone in the past week?
// mak,kuntui n ecah cyg
[TWENTY-THREE] What is your lucky number?
// 15081987 kot sbb dpt adiah tym 2 haha
[TWENTY-FOUR] Who are your friends that are closest to you?
// aini n dyod,uniten geng2 single LOL
[TWENTY- FIVE] Describe your life in one word?
// so-so
[TWENTY- SIX] Have you ever kissed in the rain?
// hurmm..mayb one day whaha
[TWENTY-SEVEN] Who are you thinking of right now?
// mak
[TWENTY- EIGHT] What should you be doing right now?
(TWENTY-NINE)If you could wish for something over a birthday cake right now what would it be?
// i want a perfect life...
(THIRTY) What did you hear now?
// org potong rumput
[THIRTY- ONE] Who was the last person who gave you a hug?
// mak
[THIRTY- TWO] Who was the last person who yelled at you?
// mak kui2
[THIRTY- THREE] Do you act differently around the person you like?
// not really
[THIRTY- FOUR] What is your natural hair color?
// pink whhaha
[THIRTY-FIVE]Who was the last person to make you laugh?
// my friends
ok.kembali berjuang


text:
Please to know that ABN-AMRO Bank is exercising their social responsibilities of not financing the operations of casinos in Singapore. They will still be financing the construction of the casino though, as they view it as any other real estate development.
Gambling - for one to win, many have to lose. :)
ABN Amro says no to casino financing
Dutch bank among big firms with 'green' social conscience
Christie Loh, Today, Wednesday April 18 2007
Unlike governments and companies increasingly lured by the lucrative casino business. ABN-Amro is saying not to the glitz and gains.
The line that the Dutch bank will not cross: Financing the casino operators of Singapore's two upcoming integrated resorts (IRs). "That is against our social and ethical risk model, " said Mr David Wong, the bank's managing director and chief executive for South-East Asia.
What is acceptable is the financing of the IR's construction, as it would be "like any real estate project", he said yesterday on the sidelines of a forum on corporate social responsibility (CSR) and the environment.
As the event participants heard, ABN Amro is part of a rising tide of global businesses guided not only by their social conscience, but by a "green" heart too.
Last year, environmental concerns led the Dutch lender to turn down 4 out of 33 financing projects in Asia. The rejections - none of which were for Singapore proposals - were for sectors such as forestry, mining, oil and gas, and gambling, said Mr Wong. No money is loaned if a proposal fails to meet the Equator Principles, a set of business guidelines adopted by 40 global financial institutions since 2003.
ABN Amro itself started sustainable development initiatives in 1998. It has, for instance, refused to lend money to an Indonesian miner until the bank has inspected and found the firm's nickel mining process eco-friendly, said Mr Wong.
Admittedly, however, it is "not easy to reconcile commercial demands with sustainable needs", he added.
This is a challenge facing businesses on the path to sustainable development.
"There must be economic drivers for human behaviour to change," said Lee Tzu Yang, chairman of oil giant Shell Singapore.
In his presentation during the forum, he recounted how the multi-national corporation effected a change in the public sector mindset. Shell had a project in southern China that involved uprooting an entire rural community.
Instead of leaving the people to fend for themselves, Shell asked the province's government to find them homes and jobs, said Mr Lee. These are relocating issues that the officials would never have thought of without the oil giant's beckoning.
In Singapore, it is a case of a lukewarm private sector, said Ms Claire Chiang, president of Singapore Compact, a non-government platform which promotes CSR. She cited the "very limited response from Singapore" for another "green" event here; the United Nations' first Global Business Summit for the Environment starting tomorrow.
"Singaporeans don't pay to got to forums unless htey are being funded to do so by the Government, " said Ms Chiang. Until chief executives are convinced of the benefits of sending their employees for such conferences, public awareness will not grow, she said.
Related post: Usury


text:
This product is out of stock, and not coming back.
It may have been replaced by a newer version, see replacement/alternatives listed below.
|Value for Money
|Ease of Setup/Use
by Panos Andriotis
on 2014-05-26 05:23:29
Excellent screen quality!!Fast and reliable!!
One question only... I have broke the digitizer
Where I can find a replacement please??
by Iggy Machin
on 2014-05-17 07:43:13
- Love this tablet.
- Smooth and battery lasting (after almost one year of use).
- Bluetooth impair automatically from connected devices like speakers and keyboards but I believe this is an Android 4.2 issue as there are apps that solve it, that is why I do not remark it as bad point.
- No whatsapp possible but other similar apps do (like line and viber)
Not chargeable by USB.
5Mp Camera... that don't looks like 5Mp but I don't use cameras so I could not say.
by Paul Moss
on 2014-05-09 15:09:23
I purchased three of these tables back in November of 2013. The speed of the tablets is decent depending on how much you load on them. I get a score of around 15500 to 16900 using Antutu depending on how the tablet is set up.Other graphics test showed around 26fps for the graphics.
I recently reset tablet back to factory reset and reload the apps I really needed. With too many apps the tablet becomes painfully slow and I mean slow. About 20 minutes to reboot. I had over 300 apps though. After my recent factory reset I installed an app called Link2Sd. This Link2SD app allow me to install my apps on my 32gig SD card that I purchased for this device. This helped with speed. I aslo installed SetCPU and set the min speed of the cpu to 816. This was a tremounds boost in preformance. I installed less apps and now the device is pretty snappy.
I love the display of these tablets. Netfilx works great as well.
Charger, Charger, Charger. I am having issues with all devices due to the charger design. The part that goes into the tablet seems to get loose very easy. Two of the three tables the charger now falls out way to easy. This is an issue with the tablet and not the charger cable itself. I purchased six chargers for the three tablest I have and it is the same no matter what charger is uses.
Even worse the third tablet, the one I actually use, is not charging most of the time. I have tracked this down to the internal conection of the tablet. I am now seeking warrenty advice on how to get this replaced or repaired. The tablet is not charging most times even if the tablet is off. I can monitor battery charging activities using an app and I can see the tablet is not charging when it is pluged in. Sometimes I can unplug the charger and plug it back into the tablet and this may work after about ten attempts for a little while.
Performance is an issue if to many apps are put on the tablet.
The camara is very poor on these tablets. I have a 5mp camara on my phone and it takes awsome pics. The 5mp camera on these tablest is sad to say the least. No flash, extreamly grainy. I do not use this camera for anything as it really does suck. Camera sould have been left out it is so poor.
by thanasis sagonas
on 2014-04-13 22:30:05
I have written my good points in a previous review. After further use, the tablet works fine and i am satisfied. I want to add one point. In my previous review i had metioned one issue with the 3g usb dongle. After great support of the chinavasion i found out that my usb dongle is not compatible with the tablet and another one, i use now works fine, so it's nothing wrong with the tablet. Just check your compatibility if you want to use yours.
by thanasis sagonas
on 2014-03-25 14:59:04
I have the tablet for about 2 weeks and looks and works fine. Very good value for money. Some details, very good screen and long lasting battery. In general you dont have the same feeling as a high end brand we all know, but still i preffer to have this tablet for these money. It's more than enough for every day use.
One problem only. I cannot connect to intrenet through my 3g usb stick as it is said to do. I don't know if it is a hardware or software (locked) problem. I hope chinavasion give a solution to this, because a lot of people need this for outdoor connection to the internet.
[Chinavasion reply]
- Please contact our technicians via email at firstname.lastname@example.com so we can help. Thanks


text:
Worrying, is just a natural part of life that everyone has to put up and worrying does have its purpose. It's worrying that makes us cautious when we need to be and it's worrying that sometimes makes us think twice. Sometimes, though, worrying can become almost a way a life for people and it prevents them achieving all that they could. In its most extreme forms, worrying can turn into an anxiety disorder that can get so bad that a person is scared to go out on their own, or talk to other people at all.
For me, it was a long period of everything going wrong around me that brought on over-worrying and anxiety attacks. For a long time, I used alcohol to overcome my anxiety which, of course, just makes things worse and, when you come off the alcohol; boy do you get to know anxiety then!
Personally, I think that what happens is that worrying becomes such an ingrained habit that you start to worry about everything. I would worry about the big problems that I had, and that was only to be expected, but, I would also become anxious about even the smallest things. The phone ringing would mean some kind of disaster was about to befall me, I would think that people looked at me in a "funny way", I even had to work up courage to talk my own children on the telephone , because I feared that they might have bad news for me.
I still suffer from mild anxiety sometimes, but it's now under control and I have learned to fight off any major panic attacks. It did take some time though to break the worrying habit. If you are a persistent worrier, then have a read of these ten tips on how to go about defeating worrying and anxiety. I hope that you find it useful.
1. Remember that People are less interested in you than you think
When I say that people are not as interested in you as you think, I don't mean the kind-hearted people that want to help you, I mean all the people that you think have it for you. In my case, that meant people that I thought I'd let down. People I owed money to, and complete strangers too. You do find, in time, that actually, these people don't give two hoots about you really. The people that chase you for money are just computers, the people you let down have forgiven or forgotten all about it and strangers couldn't care less about you anyway. When you do work up the courage to talk people who you think have it for you, you find that they are human beings after all and that are not entirely uncaring either.
2. Give yourself a set time to worry
Create a time in the day when you will allow yourself to worry and times that you won't. Beating yourself up about your worrying won't instantly stop it, but you can control when you will worry. If you can tell yourself: "No! I'm not worrying about that now; I'll worry about it at the prescribed time!" That way, you can give yourself a break from the anxiety and stress. I found this particularly useful in the evenings, when I was trying to get to sleep. I banned myself from worrying or even thinking about any problems I had until the morning.
3. Think about how many times your fears have never materialised
You know all those annoying people who tell you "It's probably not as bad as you think"? Well, actually, they have a point. When you get into an anxious state of mind, then you do always assume that the worst will happen. One way to get those fears back into perspective is to remember how many times you have been wrong about similar situations in the past, and your fears were completely unfounded.
4. Get busy with your hands
Don't sit there daydreaming because you know where your mind will end up wandering to. Do something that occupies you fully and keeps both your hands and your mind busy. Watching TV or listening to a radio doesn't work, because you will still find your mind wandering, but if you do something that you really have to concentrate on, it will help take your mind of your worrying. For me, it was writing that gave me the release that I needed, but it could be craft-work, working in the garden or even redecorating the house.
|Get busy with your hands
5. Learn to accept what you can't control
When you become an expert worrier, you also become a bit of a control freak. Don't try and control what you can't and learn to accept the uncertainty of life. If things have gone wrong in the past then try and accept that because, the past is certainly one thing that you control. You can't control what other people will do or say, any more than you can control whether or not the sun will shine or not today, so, don't waste your time worrying about either of them.
6. Write down a list of the things that are worrying you
One of the worst things that can happen when you become a worrier is that all your concerns start to tumble out of control in your mind. They hit you, one after the other; bang, bang' bang. Making a written list of your concerns might get you into a bit of a sweat when you do it, but, once you have finished, you begin to feel a little bit more in control. It will also give you a starting point from which to begin to tackle those concerns.
|Forget it all and go for walk
7. Forget it all and go out for a walk!
I expect that, in more formal advice on anxiety, the title would read; 'get some exercise'. However, as I am neither one for jogging and you wouldn't ever get me in a gym, I found a brisk(ish) walk does the trick just as well. Getting out in the fresh air for a while, especially if you can get to some green space, is very therapeutic and calming. Also, the exercise will make your body release hormones that will put you in a better frame of mind.
8. Help someone else with their problems
A great way to divert your attention from your own problems is to help someone else. Volunteer to work in a home for the elderly or help out at a centre for the homeless. It's another cliché that everyone loves to use, but it is a fact that there are always other people who are worse off than you are and helping them will help you by putting your worries back into perspective.
9. Expose yourself gradually to your fears
The biggest fear of all is the fear of the unknown. You are probably assuming that bad things will happen, so you would rather bury your head in the sand. Tackle the things that are worrying you slowly, one by one and you will find that your fears are most likely unfounded. For a long time, I avoided talking to people, because I thought they would judge me and I was wrong. I also, completely irrationally, avoided dealing with my debt problem and I was wrong about that too. Once I started to tackle my problems, in my own time, each and every one of them began to become less important than I had imagined.
|Live for today
10. Live in the here and now
My final piece of advice on how to beat worrying and anxiety is to live for today. Enjoy what is around you now and try and put the problems out of your mind. There is so much in a single today that you can be grateful for. Your worrying, though, is probably blinding you to those things. I know how difficult it is to think about today, when you are convinced that tomorrow will bring some new calamity, but there really is more to life than stressing over what could happen. What is happening, right now, is far more important.
Anxiety management help
Severe anxiety causes a lot more than just a lack of sleep. You can also suffer from physical symptoms such as sweating, dizziness and hyperventilation. If you are suffering from severe anxiety and frequent panic attacks, then do seek help from your doctor. Your doctor can refer you to anxiety management courses and, or, counselling. I attended both and found them to be extremely useful and, I promise you, anxiety can be beaten. There is also some useful information here at the Anxiety UK website.
Take care
You may also be interested in:


text: Sunwarrior isn't about making as much money as possible or stuffy corporate environments. We love making great products that work for you. We love unique, creative people and all the weirdness that comes with them. We love diversity. We know all too well that not all of us are at the same place or even on the same journey, and that's fine. We welcome you as you are now, who you are now, and hope to help you get wherever you want to be. {2uxpgyh6}


text:
Let's take another look at the October Main kit from My Creative Scrapbook
and see some more layouts created with it.
I think this is my favorite layout using the Main kit.
I absolutely love this picture taken a few years ago during a stroll through the woods. There was a clearing at some point and that is the view I saw from where I stood.
It was absolutely breathtaking.
Look at these gorgeous Prima canvas flowers included in the kit!
My next layout is of me and my good friend Christine
whose friendship I'm so thankful for.
Christine and I met online, a little over 10 years ago, on an IRC chatroom in which we both spent a lot of time (too much time, dare I say! ha!).
We were both huge fans of Tori Amos and,
despite a 10 year difference (she's the younger one), we hit it off instantly.We met in real life that same Summer and have been great friends ever since.
That deer from the Carta Bella chipboard pack is so adorable.
Speaking of giving thanks,
I wish to thank all of YOU who take the time to visit my blog regularly
and who leave encouraging comments.
I feel blessed to be part of such a wonderful creative family!


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Simply put, the cost of living in Thailand is astronomically lower than the majority of cities within Europe, North America and most of the world. There are an exponential amount of expats that are finding out how easy it is to get by on as little as $10 a day. The better news is that if you take advantage of these tips for living cheap in Thailand you may even be able to live on even less than that. Sounds like the perfect escape doesn't it?
Well it can be.
This type of living isn't for everyone, and there are many people in Thailand that spend an incredible amount of money per month in order to live affluently. However, if you are considering moving abroad to save money or are interested in finding an affordable vacation then this is the article for you. All you need to do is use common sense and cut a few corners here and there, and you may save more money than you even realize.
Where and When to Visit Thailand
One of the best ways to save money when traveling to Thailand is to plan your trip according to the low season. This is between May and November and means that prices for absolutely everything from airfare to hotels and even food at classy restaurants are a lot cheaper. You can even rent scooters for a better price and get discounts on attractions, drinks and shows.
An added advantage to the low season in Thailand is the fact that there are fewer tourists in the area, which means better access to a number of places and events for you. On top of that most business owners will be dropping prices and throwing in amenities and bonuses in order to compete for your valued money.
Steer Clear of Touristy Areas
Places such as Phuket and Ko Samui are known as top tourist destinations in Thailand, which means they come with extreme prices and are full of merchants looking to take the most money out of your pocket as possible. If you want to save money and connect with the "real" Thailand then try and head to the South and North Eastern parts of the country.
Cut Down on Island Living
The islands of Thailand are incredibly impressive and well worth a visit, but expenses can really stack up in these areas. Everything in the area needs to be imported which means prices for food, drinks and even services are much higher than on the mainland. You will definitely want to tour the islands, but leave your wallet at home and stick to souvenirs and restaurants in cheaper areas.
Overnight Traveling
Hotels and accommodations are probably going to be the most expensive part of your stay in Thailand, but you can eliminate part of that cost by taking overnight buses and trains. You can travel to an all new part of Thailand and get a decent sleep as many of the trains in the country are quite comfortable. While there are a number of overnight buses, trains are considered to be quite a lot safer, and far more comfortable.
Dining and Sleeping in Thailand
A good tip for traveling in Thailand is to never feel bad when locals, or anyone for that matter, offer you free things. Many Thai families are more than willing to share what they have and it is a part of their culture to display their kindness and ability to host. Turning down an invite to dinner may seem ruder than simply accepting and counting your blessings. Who knows, a family dinner may even lead to a free place to crash for the night. Now that's what we call traveling cheap.
While you may not need to fork over any money, you should always be willing to give what you can when dining in someone else's home or crashing on their couch. Simply offering to do the dishes or run some errands can go along way, and help you feel more welcome during your stay.
Find Free Water
You may not realize how expensive purchasing bottled water every day can get, especially when you are used to your Brita filter or just drinking from the tap. Instead, give this idea a try. Purchase large bottles of water, which are cheaper in the long run anyways, and then feel free to refill them in your hotel lobby before you head out for the day. It is quite a common occurrence for people to do so and you will not get the weird glances in your direction like you may if you did the same at home.
Fight your Urge to Tip
A lot of people see a lack of tipping as rude, but that is simply not the case in Thailand. While a lot of us have been raised and taught to tip based on good service, it is simply not expected in Thailand. Locals do not tip and foreigners are not relied upon to either. In fact, in some instances tipping is seen as a rude and unnecessary display of wealth.
Indulge in Local Cuisine
Surely you have had your fill of western food before heading to Thailand. To be honest, the imported foreign food in Thailand does not even taste the same or as good as the stuff at home, so why not just skip out on it altogether?
Thai food is delicious, cheap and diverse. The best part is that you will never be more than 5 minutes away from a food cart or a cheap restaurant where you can grab a quick bite to eat.
Leave the Alcohol in the Mini Fridge
There is more than enough whisky and beer available at the supermarket and it is extremely cheap when compared to bars and the mini fridge at your hotel. If you really want to cut down on costs then you can stick to cheap Thai Whisky, but it may leave you useless for the whole day after.
Added Tips about Thailand Law
Police in Thailand are more than willing to dish out fines for people not wearing seatbelts on the road and motorcyclists who opt not to wear a helmet. Just because the locals do it doesn't mean that you are going to get away with it either.
Littering is taken pretty seriously in Thailand and a tossed cigarette or throwing an empty beer bottle in the street can lead to a fine if the police see you do it. This is another law that locals tend to get away with breaking but where foreigners and expats are fined all the time. Thai people may be welcoming and friendly, but they do not want tourists coming in and making a mess of their streets or beaches.
Employment in Thailand
There are quite a few jobs that are available where you can get paid under the table in Thailand, however it is illegal. Teachers and anyone planning on doing business within the country should make sure they go through the Visa process and fill out all the right paperwork. If you want to simply earn a little cash on the side while touring the area by all means go for it, but be aware that there are consequences for breaking the law if you are caught.
Thailand has always been a popular vacation destination and it is quickly becoming one of the most popular places where expats head to in order to work abroad and save money. However, just like with any other destination in the world it is possible to blow all of your cash here if you try to live a certain way. Use common sense, try to keep tabs on your spending and make a budget, and get caught up in the local flavours and culture.
The Land of Smiles has become the Land of Opportunity for many, whether they are looking for a brief getaway or a new life abroad in Thailand. It is up to you to make the most of this unique and dazzling paradise and these tips should help you along the way.


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Testosterone is a male hormone. However, women also have minimum level of testosterone which helps in maintaining normal health. However, as compared to men this level is much lower. The hormone is produced by women's ovaries and also both men and women produce little amount of this hormone from adrenal cortex. When anyone has shortage of this hormone then they will get tired easily, feel pain in various parts of the body and tingling sensation etc.
What are the causes of low testosterone in women?
The secondary female characteristics are due to production of estrogen, which every woman is well aware of. Estrogen is one of the important female hormone that is produced in the ovary, which decides various female characteristics including their emotion.
If the level of estrogen is low then it will be directly related to menopause. However, the presence of little amount of male hormone can also affect the physical and mental fluctuations in women.
In addition to that these hormones are also responsible for maintaining and repairing of reproductive tissues in women. These hormones are released in the bloodstream and also responsible for bone mass.
The reason for lower level of testosterone is generally associated with dysfunction of pituitary gland, which is located in the brain. This is a master gland, which controls the secretion of various hormones from different glands of our body.
What are various symptoms of lower testosterone in women?
The production of testosterone amount is very low among women. However, the symptoms of lower testosterone among women are more or less similar to men. Some of the common symptoms are as follows:
- Sleeping disorder
- Feeling of tiredness
- Decrease interest in sex
- Unnecessary weight gain
- Increased accumulation of abdomen fat
- Dry vagina and pain during sexual activity.
The reasons for all these symptoms also depend upon various other medical conditions like high blood pressure, diabetes and obesity.
What are the treatments for lower testosterone in women?
The testosterone products meant for men should never be taken by women as they can cause imbalance in physical and emotional health. Some of the common therapies recommended for women are as follows:
- Women who are nearing menopause or already under menopause must get estrogen therapy with another hormone.
- There are few over the counter supplements available. However, it must be taken with caution as some of these supplements are designed only for men.
- Herbal products.


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Романские времена в истории Великобритании
Plan: 1. Introduction. 2. The Roman Empire. 3. The Roman Conquest of Britain. 4. Roman Influence in Britain. a) A Roman Villa. b) History of London. 5. The Fall of the Roman Empire. 6. Traces of the Roman Rule in Britain. 7. Conclusion. 8. Bibliography. Bibliography: 1) Zaitseva S.D. Early Britain. 2) Bell J.J History of England. 3) Павлоцкий В.М. Знакомимся с Британией. 4) Журина Т.Ю. 55 устных тем по английскому языку для школьников. Introduction. First & famous it is necessary to say that English language is one of my favorite subject, that is why I want to know more about the history of the country whose language I am studying. I learn English because I understand I can use it. For example, if I go to England or America Ill be able to speak English there. English is used not only in England & USA but also in other part of the world. I learn English because I want to read foreigner literature in original. I choose the topic of history because I like history too. And to my mind it is very interesting to know new facts from the history of England. In the history I like wars best of all, of course and thats why this topic attracted my attention. The Roman Empire. Two thousand years ago while the Celts were still living in tribes the Romans were the most powerful people in the world. Roman society differed greatly from that of the Celts. It was a slave society divided into antagonistic classes. The main classes were the slaves and the slave-owners. The slave-owners made up the minority of the population but they owned the land, tools, buildings and slaves. The slaves possessed neither land nor tools and were themselves the property of the slave-owners. The slaves could be brought and sold, exchanged or given away like any other thing. They could be kept in chains, whipped and put to death. Slavery was the first and the most inhuman form of exploitation. The slave owners appropriated almost all the results of the slaves labour; the slaves were given some food and clothing so that they would not die of starvation and cold. Thus, whatever was produced by the slaves beyond what they needed to keep themselves alive was taken away by their masters. Therefore the slaves were not interested in the results of their labour. Overseers forced the slaves to work more. The disobedient slaves were severely punished. Government bodies issued acts beneficial to the exploiters. With the help of the army the slave-owners put down the uprising of the exploited. The army also helped the slave-owners to protect their riches against foreign enemies and to wage endless wars in order to conquer new lands and to seize more slaves. The Romans conquered all the countries around the Mediterranean Sea. In the wars, in which Rome gained one province after another for the empire, many thousands of prisoners were taken. They were sold at the slave-market at Rome. Slaves were so cheap that all the Romans except the poorest had one or more, and rich slave-owners possessed hundreds of them. In the 1st century BC and in the 1st century AD slavery spread widely in the Roman Empire. Unlike the Ancient East and Greece where the land was cultivated chiefly by peasants, in Rome, very many slaves were engaged in agriculture; large farms in Italy were worked entirely by gangs of slaves. The slave system reached its peak in the Roman Empire. No other country in the ancient world had so many slaves as Rome did. In no other country did slave labour replace that of the freemen on such a large scale. The Roman Conquest of Britain. One of the last countries to be conquered by Rome was France, or Gaul as it was then called. The war against the Gauls, who were Celtic tribes, lasted for eight years. Julius Caesar was appointed Head of the Roman army which was sent to conquer Gaul. In the course of his campaigns Caesar reached the Channel and that was how the Romans came to see the white cliffs of the land of the British Celts. In 55 B.C. a Roman army of 10,000 men crossed the Channel and invaded Britain. The Celts saw their ships approaching and rushed to attack the invaders in the sea as they were landing. The Celts made a great impression on the Romans, who saw them for the first time in battle. On the occasion of the battle their hair and moustaches were dyed red and their legs and arms were painted blue. With loud shouts they attacked the Romans in chariots and on foot and the well-armed invincible Romans under one of the greatest generals of that time had to return to Gaul. In the next year, 54 BC, Caesar again came to Britain, this time with larger forces(25,000 men). The Celts fought bravely for their independence but they were not strong enough, in spite of their courage, to drive the Romans off. The Romans who had better arms and armour and were much better trained defeated the Celts in several battles. Some of the chiefs submitted and promised to pay tribute to Rome. Caesar then went back to Gaul to complete his conquer on the Continent. Although Julius Caesar came to Britain twice in the course of two years, he was not able, really, to conquer it. The promised tribute was not paid and the real conquest of Britain by the Romans was not begun until nearly a hundred years after Caesars visits to the island. In 43 AD a Roman army invaded Britain and conquered the South-East. Other parts of the country were taken from time to time during the next forty years. The hilly districts in the West were very difficult to subdue, and the Romans had to set up many camps in that part of the country. The Celts fought fiercely against the Romans who never managed to become masters of the whole island. They were unable to conquer the Scottish Highlands and the province of Britain consisted only of the southern part of the island. From time to time the Picts from the North managed to raid the Roman part of the island, burn their villages, and drive off their cattle and sheep. To defend their province the Romans stationed their legions in Britain. Straight roads were built so that the legions might march quickly, wherever they were needed, to any part of the country. These roads were made of several layers of stones, lime, mortar and gravel. They were made so well that they lasted a long time and still exist today. Bridges of stone were built wherever a road crossed a river; some of these bridges can still be found in Britain today. Besides, to guard the province against the Picts and Scots who lived in the hills of Scotland a high wall was built in the North. It was called «Hadrians Wall» because it was built by the command of the Emperor Hadrian. From one end of the wall to the another forts were built a mile apart and the Roman warriors could be seen marching up and down the whole length of the wall. When the Northern Britons were not at war with the Romans they often came to the wall and traded with the warriors and the Romans would go hunting in the region north of the wall. Roman Influence in Britain. As a result of the conquest signs of Roman civilization spread over Britain. There had been no towns in Britain before the Romans conquered it. The civilized Romans were city dwellers, and as soon as they had conquered Britain they began to built towns, splendid villas, public baths as in Rome itself. York, Gloucester, Lincoln and London became the chief Roman towns; there were also about fifty other smaller towns. London which had been a small trading settlement before the conquest now became a center for trade both by road and river. Colchester, Gloucester, York and Lincoln sprang up round the Roman military camps. The town of Bath became famous for its hot springs. The towns grew up as markets and centers of administration. In most towns there were market-places and plenty where merchants sold their goods. The rich merchants and official had luxurious houses which contained many rooms, with mosaic floors and central heating. Every Roman town had a drainage system and a good supply of pure water. Temples and public baths could be found in most towns. The Roman towns were military stations surrounded by walls for defence which were guarded by the Roman warriors. The Romans were great road-makers and now a network of roads connected all parts of the country. One of the chief road was Watling Street which ran from Dover to London, then to Chester and into Wales. Along the roads new towns and villages sprang up. Great tracts of forest were cleared, swamps were drained, and corn-fields took their place. The province of Britain became one of the granaries of the Roman Empire. A constant trade was carried on with other parts of the empire. The chief exports were corn, lead, tin, and building tiles. The goods were sent in wagons along the roads of Britain, Gaul and Italy to Rome. Britain imported luxury goods, especially fine pottery and metalware. But together with a high civilization the Romans brought exploitation and slavery to the British Isles. Rich Romans had villas in the country with large estates, which were worked by gangs of slaves. Prisoners of war were sent to the slave-market in the Roman Empire. The free Celts were not turned into slaves but they had to pay heavy taxes to the conquerors and were made to work for them. The Romans made them clean forest, drain swamps, built roads, bridges and walls for defence. That was how the famous Hadrians Wall was built too. Among the Celts themselves inequality began to grow - the tribal chiefs and nobility became richer than other members of the tribe. Many of them became officials acting for Rome. Tribal chiefs who submitted were appointed to rule their people as before, but now they acted in the name of the Roman Emperor. The noble Celts adopted the mode of life of their conquerors. They lived in rich houses and they dressed as Romans. They were proud to wear toga which was the sign of being a Roman citizes. They spoke Latin, the language of the Romans. But the rank-and-file Celts went on living in their tiny huts, they spoke their native Celtic tongue and they did not understand the language of their rules. Arkhangelsk City Lyceum The Roman Times in the British History Written by Popov Yuri Alexandrovich (10A) Directed by Drachova T.A. Arkhangelsk 1999 A Roman Villa. Forty-three years after the birth of Christ the finest soldiers the world had known came against the ancient Britons and conquered their land. These soldiers were called Romans, after their chief city Rome in Italy. They ruled Britain for nearly four hundred years & have left many traces behind them. While in Britain, one can still see the remains of their splendid roads, the ruins of the forts they built and parts of the great walls they erected to defend their towns. In the southern parts of the country homes called villas have been found. Villas are not great castles with thick walls & towers built as a protection against enemies, but simple dwelling - houses unfitted for defense. That shows how peaceful the country was when first these villas were built under Roman rule. On the heights of Greenwich Park overlooking the Thames there is a piece of pavement about two feet square. It was once part of the floor of one of these country houses. It is made of small pieces of red tile, each about a square in size, set in a bed of cement. No one can tell what part of the is belonged to; perhaps, it was a bit of the floor of a room, or a passage or even of a stable. What did the Roman villa look like from the outside? We can scarcely tell. Perhaps, it was a long whitewashed building with a corridor running its whole length. Or, perhaps, it stood round two sides of a square or round three, and had the corridor on its inner side. Some people think that only the lower walls of villas were built of stone, while the upper walls were made of rough plaster held together with a framework of wood. The roof was made of red tiles or slabs of gray stone. The floors of the lower rooms were raised a little on pillars, so that hot air from a furnace might circulate underneath. And their were special pipes in the walls, so that the hot air might rise through the walls, so that the hot air might rise through the walls and warm them. The Romans brought this way of warming houses from their old homes in Italy, & they found it very useful in the cold climate of Britain. The rooms on the ground floor were paved with small pieces of tile laid very closely together in cement. By using pieces of different colors, pictures were made on the floors of the living rooms. Some of these have been dug up today & can be seen in museums. They are called mosaics. The walls of the rooms were decorated with painted pictures. Somewhere in the villa the was a bath, for the Romans were very careful to keep themselves clean. And certainly, too, there would be statues, either roughly made in Britain useful or brought by merchants from Italy, where the best sculptors were. Then the owner bought these statues to decorate his villa. And beautiful dishes of red pottery would be seen everywhere in the house. Some of them would be used for decoration, & some for eating from or for holding things. And in the grounds near the house there would be an orchard, for the Romans loved orchards. Their were fond of growing trees of all kinds, so their would be cherry trees & apples trees. The Romans were the first to grow cherries in England. Let us pretend we are visiting a Roman villa many years after the conquest. A great many trees have been cut down since the Romans first come to Britain, so there is more room to grow corn then there used to be in the time of the ancient Britons. And many Romans who leave near the villa we are reading about have made much money by exporting corn to Roman armies quartered on the Continent. Their owner of the villa does the same us his neighbors. He has many labourers who help him to till his lands. He doesnt pay wages, as modern farmers do, but in return for work he gives his labourers piece of land, on which they can grow corn for themselves. Today labourers can leave their master & go to another or if they like. But none of these labourers who work for the master of the villa are allowed to do that. They lived in huts not far from the villa. The man who makes ploughs & hoes that are used on the farm & shoes. The farm horses lives in one of these small houses. He gets his wood from the great forest and his iron from the district that we now call Sussex. The man living in the neighboring hut is the cobbler, who tells leather & makes shoes & sandals for everyone one the estate, and harness for the horses. There is a joiner, to who is skillful in building barns and cowhouses, as well as in making carts. Sometimes however, things for the farm & the house are bought in London, & when anything requiring great skill has to be done, clever workers are send for from there. The master has slaves, too, & the work for nothing. We can imagine the owner of the villa strolling round his orchard in spring. He looks at his blossoming apple trees & wonders whether the cherry trees that his grandfather brought from the Continent will have a good crop this year. When he looks across river he doesnt see any buildings. There is only the marshy land, which is sometimes covered with water at high tide. And further of he can see forest. The merchants boats from Gaul are drafting up the river with the tide. And higher up are London Bridge and the red roofs of London. London, which the master of the villa looks at, has become a much bigger place than it was at the times of the ancient Britons. At has wharves & many warehouses. Its streets are noisy. There are huge buildings, such as temples & baths; and the inhabitants have lately built themselves a wall, because they fear that times of trouble are coming, & that all the wealth that they have collected will be in danger. But if you & I could see that Roman London, we should think it a very small places indeed. The villa is not far from the Roman road from Dover to London. The road is making for the southern and of London Bridge. The owner of the villa has seen Roman Emperors ride a long this road at the had of armies, and often he hears the steady tramp of squads of recruits, who have been sent to Britain from all parts of the world to fill gaps in the Roman garrisons. They are mere lads thinking of homes on the Rhine and the Danube, which they will never see again. Sometimes their officers ride up to the door of the villa to beg a nights lodging, especially in winter time. They have nothing like the long nights of winter in their southern homes. Our friend of the villa takes them in, for he has a boy of his own serving as an officer with the armies in the north of Britain & likes to send him messages, & parcels as well, on the baggage carts. The officers & he talk a good deal together. He wants to know the news from other parts of the Empire, & they wish to know something of the land to which they have come. He tells them that he supplies corn to the great armies lying on the Rhine, & that the chief trouble of this part of Britain comes from the Saxon pirates, who sometimes capture his ships, raid to the coast, & even threaten to plunder London. Since the citizens have built their wall, his wife has never ceased to beg him to give up the villa & live always in London. She says she cannot sleep peacefully at nights for fear of the pirates. In winter time the owner of the villa lives a good deal in London, partly because of his wifes fears, & partly because there is more company there. He is careful about religious things & attends the services at the temples. Occasionally he goes to the little Christian church built in his fathers days. The Romans of an earlier time worshipped many strange gods, & our friend has some images of them in his hall. But missionaries of the Christian religion have been preaching in Britain for many years, & his always willing to talk to them & listen to readings from their books about Christ. In his grandfathers time many Christians were persecuted & awful tales are still remembered. But people & more tolerant now, & the Christians have built themselves at church, in which the Christian faith is taught. History of London. Numerous finds prove that the area around London was inhabited by the Celts from 800 BC onwards. The earliest prehistoric settlers in the London area lived along parts of the Thames valley. Some of their flint tools have been found in river graver. All the time it was mostly wild forested countryside. In later prehistoric times the settlers became more organized. They lived in villages of huts made of timber, branches & clay. They hunted, fished & farmed. Following Caesars initial landing in Britain in 55 BC, the Emperor Claudius conquered the south-east of Britain & founded the military camp of Londinium on a strategic ford across the Thames. The camp rapidly developed into a flourishing port & trading post. The area of about 1 square mile which the Romans fortified with a massive rampart corresponds approximately to todays City of London. They built a bridge over the Thames & there has been a «London Bridge» in the same area ever since. Roman Londinium grew up on the northern side of the bridge. Products such as olive oil & wine were brought by ships from different parts of the Roman Empire & unloaded into wooden quays along the river. Londinium was surrounded with a wall of stone & brick which lasted for many centuries. Inside the Roman wall low houses were built with bright red tiled roofs. There were probably temples, bathhouses, shops & market stalls there. Around AD 61, the Romans faced an uprising of Boadicea, the warlike Queen of East Anglia, who even succeeded in capturing London. From about 240 onwards, London was the capital of one of the four provinces of Britain under the Emperor Diocletian. The Fall of the Roman Empire. The Romans remained in Britain for about four centuries & during that time Britain was a Roman province governed by Roman governors & protected by Roman legions. In the 3rd-4th centuries the power of the roman Empire gradually weakened. The unproductive labour of the slaves led to the economic decline of the empire. Neither new methods of land cultivation nor new technical inventions were introduced. Slavery became obstacle to technical progress. Poor cultivation exhausted the fields, the harvests became poorer from year to year. The uninterrupted struggle of the exploited against the slave-owners greatly weakened the Roman Empire too. The enormous number of slaves presented of great danger of the Roman Empire. The end of the 4th century found the Germanic tribes invading the Western Roman Empire & the slaves who hated the Roman state were joining them by the thousand. Early by the 5th century (407) the Roman legions were recalled from Britain to defend the central provinces of the Roman Empire from the attacks of the barbarian tribes. They didnt return to Britain, & the Celts were left alone in the land. During the 5th century the Germanic tribes overran the empire & settled in all parts of it. The fall of the Western Roman Empire meant the end of the slave-owning system in Western Europe. Conclusion. One year ago there was a film on Discovery channel. This film was about Roman conquest. I found the film very interesting and began to read books about that time. During this year I new many new facts about this period of history. Doubtless this work will help me not only in English, but also in history. Many new words and expressions were known by me. I think, that the most interesting information is about the meaning of the names of English cities. I sure, that if Ill find new information about Roman times in the British history, I certainly add it to my topic.