Natural Persona: March 2012

Tips on Creating a Cleansing Routine That Will Help You Age Gracefully

You can feel and look younger by having a proper skin cleansing routine that will take years of your appearance. With some research, time and effort, you can improve your skin condition for a younger and brighter looking skin.

There is nothing difficult about establishing a skin cleaning routine, and the hardest part is making a daily habit out of pampering your skin. When you don’t feel like cleaning your skin, keep in mind the long terms benefits of a consistent cleaning routine. Your complexion will look young and radiant, and eventually you will see it was worth more than the investment of your time and money.

Skin care should be an integral part of your hygiene routine like brushing your teeth, eating and showering. Other steps you can repeat as needed, and some steps you only need to do once or twice a week. Let us give you some guidelines and explanations of what each skin care product offers, and how frequently you should use the products.

Cleanser

Use a cleanser twice a day, once in the morning and once in the evening. In the morning you clean to remove waste and oil that your skin generated over night. Nightly cleansing removes oil buildup, bacteria, makeup and other pollutants that get on your skin during the course of your day. The night cleansing is the most important, because leaving all these foreign materials on your skin will cause premature aging and blemishes. Make sure to find a cleanser that is aimed at your particular skin type.

Exfoliants

These scrub away dead skin cells that cause dry skin, wrinkles, blackheads, blemishes and more. Most of them have tiny little granules that gently scrub away at the skin. If it feels to harsh or abrasive you will probably want to look for a more mild exfoliation cleanser. Daily exfoliation increases skin turnover by about 30%.

Toner

As a warning, do not use a toner with alcohol, because these will dry and irritate skin. Toners remove anything left over after your cleanser, and prepare your skin to absorb a moisturizer. You can use cotton pads or balls to apply the toner over your face and neck.

Moisturizers

There is a moisturizer for every skin type, so get one that matches your. Make sure that the moisturizer has a pH to protect your skin from the sun and other environmental factors. These will plump your face by retaining moisture which prevents wrinkles.

Eye Cream

The tissue around the eyes is delicate and does not have oil glands, so it needs a special type of moisturizer. Your eyes will often by the first place to show aging due to the delicate nature of the skin, so it is important to start using eye creams early on in life.

Masks

These do a deep cleaning of your skin, and should be used once or twice a week. They will make your skin look extra vibrant and healthy when stressors of life start showing on your skin.

Home Remedies for Treating Acne Problems

If you are that person who has battled acne for some time now, you are bound to have tried a home remedy or two that your mother or grandmother recommended to really deliver on its promises of clearer skin. Home remedies are merely made of ingredients that you can find in your kitchen. The fact that these can easily be acquired with little to no cost at all makes it a go-to for many people who would not want to spend money and risk using over-the-counter products not designed to get rid of acne.

Getting a thorough understanding of the basic causes of acne should somehow help you figure out just how these home remedies will work in order to get rid of your pimples. There are those that will clear clogged pores, those that will get rid of bacteria in the skin, as well as those that soothe swelling and inflammation. Note that there are those that are more effective than others. There are even those that will not work.

This is exactly why you should experiment on these home remedies so you can pick out which of these will work its wonders on you. However, if you are suffering from a rather severe case of acne, it would be best to invest in a reliable anti-acne product.

Mint Juice

Fresh mint juice is a good treatment for nodular or severe cystic acne. Apply this all over your face every night and if it proves to be effective for you, repeat during mornings. Mint works because this is an anti-inflammatory product which can help reduce the swelling that is commonly associated with acne.

Honey and Cinnamon

Mix 3 tablespoons of honey and 1 teaspoon of cinnamon powder to create a thick paste. Apply this paste over those areas with acne before sleeping and keep it on until the following morning then wash off with warm water. Repeat this for 2 weeks. Honey has long been known as an antibiotic while cinnamon is a powerful antioxidant. This combination is lethal to the "bacterium P. acnes," which can cause pimples.

Seawater
A relatively safe and natural way to cure your acne is to wash your face twice with warm, salty water. This will leave your face clean and oil-free without the need to use irritating soaps and other facial products.

Lemon and Rosewater
Squeeze the juice of one lemon and mix it with an equal part of rosewater. Apply the resulting concoction to your face and rinse it with water after half an hour. The acidity of the lemon and the antioxidant powers of rosewater will disinfect the skin and encourage exfoliation.

Garlic
Crush 2 garlic cloves and dab it in those areas that have acne, carefully working around your eyes. Garlic is a potent antibacterial that can effectively eliminate bacteria on your skin. It might have an unpleasant smell but has shown to be very effective.

Nettle Tea
Drinking 4 cups of nettle tea every day is a way to cure acne from the inside. This should be available in your local drug stores or organic food stores. Nettle is thought to possess healing properties and has shown to effectively work as an effective anti-acne remedy.

Aloe Vera
Aside from possessing antibacterial properties, aloe vera gel can also speed up the healing process of acne lesions. As an added bonus, it can even prevent the formation of unsightly scarring. Since fresh aloe works best, it would be best to keep an aloe plant in your home and just break off a stalk whenever you need it.

About the Author:
Amy C. is a blogger who writes about natural remedies for some of the most common health problems known. When she is not writing about these alternative treatments, she helps KB Accounting & Tax Services, a Phoenix Accountant and Phoenix Bookkeeper company, with its office administration and blogging activities. Stay tuned for her next entry to know the natural remedy that she is going to feature next.

The Best Leg Workout for Strong Muscles

Combined With Cardio

Whether at home or in the gym, there are numerous leg workouts which you can do in order to strengthen your muscles in this area. One of the more obvious ones which you can do all the time is walking. Although primarily known for its cardiovascular benefits, walking stairs or steep inclines can work wonders for building up leg muscles.

In terms of the gym, a lot of cardio exercises can be tailored to have a real benefit and strengthen your leg muscles. The three main ones are the burning machine, which will work on whichever part of your legs you program it too as well as the buttocks, the cross trainer and the rowing machine. Even 15 minutes on each of these pieces of apparatus three times a week will deliver significant gains in leg muscle strength.

Weight Training

Obviously the quickest way to build muscle mass and strength with leg workouts is by having a strong focus on weight training. Gyms are loaded with equipment which can help you achieve the results you want in relation to your leg workouts.

Take advantage of the trainers who work there too, they’ll be able to give you a great deal of quality advice and direction with regards how best to perform your leg workouts, including intensity and intervals.

Doing It At Home

If you’re not a regular down at your local gym then there’s no need to panic, there are many exercises you can perform at home which will help build muscle and strength with effective leg workouts. There are a wide number of computer programs and mobile apps, as well as DVD’s which provide a wide range of exercises and ideas, some even give simple ideas you can do while sitting at your desk in the office all day.

Try a simple yet effective exercise such as standing squats. Five sets of 20 standing squats three or four times a week will work wonders for the strength and tone of your leg muscles.

The Other Stuff

Obviously working out isn’t the only way to increase your muscle size and strength. You will also need to carefully consider what you eat, as well as making sure you warm up and cool down correctly, in order to gain maximum benefit from the exercises as well as prevent an injury from occurring.

Take some simple steps today and start building those leg muscles with some effective leg workouts.

Videojug is a leading video website specialising in "how to " content. They have a large database of videos including subjects such as leg workouts.

Racing to the Finish Line: Tips on Becoming a Runner

You have made the decision to become a runner. Yes, you want that sleek, lean look. You want some time to yourself to clear your mind. You are looking for that “runner’s high.” You want to be able to tell people that you are runner.

While running is definitely good for your mind, body and spirit, there are some things to know beforehand. Get a good pair of running shoes, dress appropriately, stretch, and make sure to focus on your running technique.

Running shoes: A good pair of running shoes is essential. They can make or break you both literally and figuratively. Without a good pair of shoes, you are more prone to injuries. While you do not have to spend a fortune, go to a running store to get fitted. Your typical sporting good store does not have the expertise you need. A running store will make sure you are fitted correctly by testing your gait and watching you run.

Make sure to bring a pair of your old shoes too so they can see how they wore. Go to a running store and in the long run (no pun intended), you will be glad you did.

Clothing: No, you don’t have to go out and buy a whole new running wardrobe, unless you want to of course. Find something you are comfortable running in and that fits you. You don’t want to have to constantly be pulling up your pants or pulling down your shirt. Choose materials that are moisture wicking and will keep you cool in the summer and warm in the winter.

Remember too, when you run outside, your temperature goes up anywhere from 15 to 20 degrees from the airs temperature. So, if it’s 50 degrees out, it will most likely feel anywhere from 65-70 degrees which could make a big difference on how you dress.

Stretching: There is much discussion about stretching when it comes to running. Some people feel you should stretch before and after you run. Others feel that you should only stretch after a run. Personally, I would do what is right for you. You know your body best and anything that helps minimize injuries and speed recovery is the way to go.

Running Technique: Pace yourself, you cannot go from no running to running a marathon. It just doesn’t work that way. And, if you try to, you are going to be more prone to injuries or become burnt out and quit all together. Develop a schedule for yourself. Make sure you increase in increments (both your pace and length) and schedule rest days for yourself too.

When you start to run too, you want to be aware of your posture. Land on your feet (toe/heel). Bounce as little as possible to minimize pressure on your knees. And remember to breathe, relax, and find your stride. After all, you are supposed to be enjoying yourself.

With taking just these few running tips into consideration, you are off to a good start. Take care of yourself and remember it’s not a race!

Joanna is an avid runner - among many other things. She is also a loving mother and a creative artist. In her free time, she bakes edible wedding favors for her party business and cookies for the kids' bake sales.

Last Call for Registrations: "Precision Hipwork" on March 31

If you have not yet confirmed your spot, please pre-pay or RSVP before noon on Thursday 3/29.

Precision Hipwork is the first of a five-part workshop series, Oriental Dance Deconstructed.

This week we'll examine leg-driven movements that give you the greatest degree of isolation in the lower body. This is the vocabulary you need for balancing, for the greatest range of layering options, and for poised, elegant, "crystal-clean" hipwork for theatrical Oriental dance. We will dissect:

Side-to-Side Tilts, Double Side-to-Side Tilts, and Lifted-Heel Side-to-Side Tilts
Walking and Turning with Side-to-Side Tilts
Push and Pull Travel Steps for Side-to-Side Tilts
Soft-knee Shimmy (A useful counterpart to the straight-leg Egyptian shimmy, which we'll cover May 12.)
Unweighted Hip Drops, "n"s, "m"s, and Traveling "n"s.
Basic Double Drop
Two Types of Triplet ("3/4") Shimmy
Upward-Tilting Small Hip Circle

I'll be presenting this material twice: Foundations from 2:00-3:00 for continuing beginners, and a Master Class from 3:00-5:00 for more advanced students. For this Saturday only, the cost is $18 for the Foundations hour, or $25 for the Master Class. Pay in advance for all five workshops at a discounted rate of $75 (Foundations) or $125 (Master Classes).

How Some of the Worlds Top Athletes Damage Their Careers Through Drug Use

How do recreational drugs play a part in athletes’ downfall in the same way as performance enhancing drugs and how can harm reduction be achieved?

Constantly Striving For More

If you’re a professional sportsman or woman you live your life almost in a constant bubble. There is the constant pressure to perform at your best day in and day out. As well as the pressures of remaining top of your game when you’re “at work” so to speak, there are also the added pressures of living your life in the public eye. One can only imagine the mental strain applied when you’re giving interviews and have to give the corporate, conditioned answer that will give a great soundbite and look wonderful in print. Although he has never been linked with substance misuse, an athlete such as Tiger Woods would be a perfect example of this.

Breaking It All Down

If the man on the street has a bad day at work, he may go for a drink afterwards. He may even indulge in recreational drugs from time to time. In this respect, many athletes are no different, and can also fall into this trap. Where athletes differ however, is that most of the time the common man isn’t subjected to random drug testing and are therefore unlikely to be discovered to have taken the drug.

Thus the problem becomes two-fold. Not only is there the significant risk of the athlete becoming addicted to harmful substances, there is also the likelihood that sooner or later, they will get caught by a drugs test, labelled a drug user and be stigmatised for the rest of their career. In recent years the careers of footballers such as Adrian Mutu and Mark Bosnich never really recovered from testing positive for cocaine.

On a positive note however, other notable footballers, such as Tony Adams and Paul Merson, underwent harm reduction programs and were able to come out with a better outcome. Adams even opened his own clinic, “Sporting Chance”, to help other professional sportsmen and women cope with their addictions.

Sports Taking Positive Action

These examples aside there have been many examples of professional sportsmen and women from around the world who have ruined their careers and indeed their lives through drug use. Most sports now have harm reduction programs in place in order to identify those who are potentially misusing substances so help can be given at an early stage. This applies to both recreational as well as performance enhancing drugs. Even WWE, derided by many for being “fake”, has a wellness policy in place in order to protect its performers from the effects of drug use.

Whatever your opinion on what WWE does, they must be given huge credit for taking action following tragic events and deaths in the industry linked to substance misuse.

For helpful resources about harm reduction, visist Innovation with Substance.

introduction

These days good or bad, society focuses heavily on appearance. So many people lost many valuable opportunities because they do not have any idea about the power of image. Every person’s image has power and art that should be accentuated to make him or her feel happy and satisfied. The power and art comes from unique characters or features that related to a person’s look. A person’s image created from two main effects; behaviors and look. The first is relaying on vocal communication, non-verbal communication and etiquette. And the look is an external fact depends on body shape, skin tone and face shape. This is briefly what is my profession about and you can read more about it and my services in my Profile.

In this blog am going to focus on conducting surveys about fashion and lifestyle. Share my work experience and "How to" from time to time.
You should know i am not a stylist focusing on body shapes and designs, I care more about your inner enrichment, boost your confidant and accentuate your power and the art of your image externally and internally to achieve a desired look.

How to keep active on holiday without packing a gym kit

It’s demoralizing to come back from your holiday and find that you’ve put on some pounds or that you are simply not as flexible or as strong as you were before. When you want to stay fit even when you are seeing the world, there are definitely options for you. While some people try to pack their weights and their scale for the road, check out some of these ways to stay in good shape even when you are off having a blast with your friends and family.

Go Swimming

If you are headed on a tropical vacation, you’re definitely going to bring your swimsuit. After spending all day at the beach, however, don’t forget that your hotel likely has a swimming pool as well. Swimming is a wonderful low-impact exercise, and it is a great way to relax after you have spent a lot of time running around during the day.

Walk Everywhere

When you are on holiday and you want to see the sites, check out areas where there is a lot of walking. Maybe you want to see the museums, or perhaps you’d like to walk around an old historic area and see what life was like years ago. A lot of walking is very good for you, and it keeps your level of energy high, even if you are not necessarily feeling the burn.

Eat In

If at all possible, get a hotel suite that has a kitchenette and purchase groceries from the local vendors. Not only will this give you the fun experience of seeing what the locals buy and eat, it will also cut down on the empty calories and sluggishness that you get from eating out all the time. This is also much better for your wallet.

Try New Exercises

Check out the area where you are going and see if they have any fun, physically-oriented classes that you want to take advantage of. For example, are you interested in hula dancing while you are in Hawaii, or water skiing on the Florida beaches? Exercise doesn’t need to take the form of weights or aerobics, so take the opportunity to learn more about the area you are in while staying in great shape.

Biking

If you are visiting a wonderfully scenic area, rent some bikes and see it from the road. A bike ride is a great cardio exercise, and you’ll find that there are plenty of opportunities for you to stop and see what your holiday area has to offer. This is a great family activity or a great activity for someone to do on their own. Small children can often be towed along on trailers, as well.

Take some time to think about how you can stay active while on holiday. You don’t want to get back and find that all of the work that you have put into your workout has disappeared, so take step to stay on top of things.

Rosie writes on behalf of Reserve Apartments a serviced apartments website which can help you to find accommodation for your holiday or business trip. Looking for quality Edinburgh apartments? Visit ReserveApartments.co.uk for their latest offers.

For Your Next, uh, "Fusion" Dance

Here is a very unusual prop! Via Laughing Squid.

What You Learned (or Missed) at Melissa's March 24 "Effortless Expression" Workshop

Not even your toughest questions stump Melissa V.

Thanks to Melissa Voodoo for an enlightening afternoon of somatically-informed dance inspiration at 440 Studios. We started the workshop with matwork, moving through mobility and coordination sequences to connect to our shoulders, hips, and core, then melted away remaining blockages with an intensive session of self-care trigger-point myofascial release using pinkie balls.

Fluid, open, and energized, we moved on to a series of poetic visualization exercises, exploring a part of the "core" that's rarely discussed in dance class -- the internal organs. While I routinely connect to the physical (and emotional) sensations of belly dance movements rippling through the general visceral area of the "belly," the idea of integrating awareness of specific organs was brand new to me. Focusing on the liver, spleen, and reproductive organs, Melissa led a short passage of dance movement to massage these areas, then opened the floor to experimentation with the highly metaphoric idea of organ-initiated movement. I loved the feeling of leading with my liver! I was surprised, too, at the range and ease of movement I uncovered in my spine and abdomen. I've never felt constricted in my waist (I am naturally flexible, and one of my early training challenges was actually to make my movements smaller), but I was amazed to see my undulations—which I've long considered to be "done," and as perfect as I can make them—become even more deeply articulated.

Intentionality, language, and the poetic aspect of belly dance have always informed my dancing and teaching, so I really appreciated Melissa's use of imagery and her more esoteric appreciation of movement and sensation. Her teaching, however, was balanced by plenty of straight-up anatomy, so that even those dancers who aren't instinctively wired to "go deep" could use her techniques to unlock freer and more precise dance articulation. I came away from the workshop feeling tall, tranquil, and excited about using and sharing Melissa's material. Thank you Melissa V!

Chewing Slowly Promotes Better Digestion

pinksherbet

If you are part of the majority of the population who is living a rather fast-paced urban life, you might have found yourself gulping down your meals in order to cope with your busy schedule. Although the type of food that we eat is something that we should consider as the number one priority; we should also consider the conditions that we are currently in as we eat.

No matter how nutritious a certain food item is, it could still give your body some amount of damage when you are eating it under stressful surroundings.

Fast eaters should be able to realize just how much satisfying it is to eat slower for the mind, body, and spirit. Aside from this, eating food too hastily can also give rise to a variety of health problems such as heartburn, indigestion, cramping, bloating, overeating, and weight gain.

What are the Benefits of Eating Slowly?

There are so many benefits that you can reap from actually slowing down the pace of eating your food. Better digestion is one of its most important benefits. When you are able to chew your food better, your stomach and intestines will be spared from having to work harder in order to break the food down. This leads to less digestive upset and better nutrient absorption.

When you eat slower, you are also able to hasten the rate of your metabolism. In this manner, your digestion will be slowed down, leading to more calories burned. Another way that chewing slowly can help you with losing those calories is that it will give your stomach ample time to signal the brain to tell you to stop eating. Normally, it would take 20 minutes for this signal to reach the brain. If you eat slowly, you would not have indulged yourself with too much food by the time that you are told to stop eating.

Finally, you are able to fully enjoy your food if you slow down. You will have time to actually see, taste, smell, and experience the item that you are eating. If you are a food lover, this should be one benefit that you will find very appealing.

How do I Eat Slowly?

There are quite a number of ways for you to effectively eat slowly. Most importantly, you should breathe. This will be a great way to calm down so you are more likely to practice slow eating. Take time to pause from eating at least three times during the entire meal and take in slow and deep breaths.

Also eat in a relaxed environment. Eating in front of the computer or the television is not the right way to do. Actually sit in your dining area and serve your food in the kitchen so you are less likely to take a second helping. You can also share the meal with other people and engage in positive and uplifting conversations. Pay attention to every bite that you take so you are able to experience its flavors. Put your fork down with every bite to slow your self down.

The use of chopsticks can be a very big help in making you eat your food slower. This is especially true if you are having a rather difficult time in using it. If you are not too great with chopsticks, you can use them as a very fine way to eat and chew slower than the usual.

Resource Box:

Amy C. is a health enthusiast who writes about the various ways to lose weight. She believes that losing weight is very feasible with the easiest steps possible. When she is not sharing health tips, she helps Greyside Group, a maritime security and executive protection company, with its office administration and blogging activities. Stay tuned for more advice on how to lose weight and live a healthier life.

Natural Beauty

Two photo essays:

10 Incredibly Hot Women Who Are Larger Than A Size 12
(Glamour photos with tasteful nudity and lingerie--click through at your discretion).

source

To find less cheesecakey images, click through the "link" link under each picture in the post. Here are some pictures from the website of listee Natalie Laughlin.

source

At the other end of the spectrum: Forever 21 Hates Women's Kneecaps
(Contains numerous images of women's kneecaps airbrushed away - click through at your discretion.)

source

Actual Face of Actual 42 Year-Old Actress Appears on Magazine Cover

An unretouched photo of Cate Blanchett graces the cover of the current "Intelligent Life" magazine.

One wonders if the same decision would have been made for an actress without Cate's perfectly even skin and dramatic bone structure, but it's still refreshing to see a woman in her 40s be allowed to look like a woman in her 40s.

Nomads are Busting Out All Over!

Two current New York City exhibitions may be of interest to readers of this blog:

At the Flushing Town Hall through April 29 is "Interwoven Worlds: Exploring Domestic Nomadic Life in Turkey."

"Interwoven Worlds" highlights hand-made carpets and textiles for which the Turks are celebrated. Beautifully crafted pieces are presented within two recreated dwellings – a nomadic tent and an Ottoman-style home– to weave together the rich traditions of Turkic peoples across space and time. The textiles are complemented by ancient ceramics, glassware and metal-ware.

On the one hand, depending on where you live, it may be quite a slog out there, but on the other hand you can make it a complete fun day out with a visit to Xi'an Famous Foods or any of the other zillions of tasty Flushing restaurants.

In Manhattan, at NYU's Institute for the Study of the Ancient World, is "Nomads and Networks, the Ancient Art and Culture of Kazakhstan," through June 3.

Nomads and Networks is the first U.S. exhibition to provide a comprehensive overview of the fascinating nomadic culture of the peoples of eastern Kazakhstan’s Altai and Tianshan regions from roughly the eighth to first centuries bce. With over 250 objects on loan from Kazakhstan’s four national museums, the exhibition provides a compelling portrait that challenges the traditional view of these nomadic societies as less developed than sedentary ones. Artifacts on view in the exhibition range from bronze openwork offering stands, superbly decorated with animal and human figures; to petroglyphs that marked important places in the landscape; to dazzling gold adornments that signaled the social status of those who wore them.

Read more about this exhibit from the New York Times.

I have no idea about Upper East Side restaurants, but I'm planning to combine my trip to the ISAW with a visit to the Central Park Conservatory Garden. (East side of the park, entrance at 105th St.)

Treadmill Movie Reviews

When working out on a treadmill the time clock seems to move faster if a good movie is on. Some persons find music a great motivator to keep them in the zone, while others find watching scenes from a story line appealing, and this is a fantastic way to burn calories with less conscious effort.

Treadmill videos on the internet are mostly about dogs, cats, and (even shrimp!) on treadmills, men dancing on treadmills, and people falling off treadmills. Those are not treadmill movies! Treadmill movies do not feature a treadmill as the hero, villain, or theme. No, a treadmill movie is simply a movie that people watch while using a treadmill! Treadmill users have being doing this at the gym for years, but, now that some home treadmills have bigger screens and can connect to the Internet, home users can choose the movies themselves, and watch in the privacy of their own homes.

A good treadmill movie is not simply one that is so mindless that you really don't have to pay attention. Nor is it one featuring things that bounce up and down more than a pornographic movie. No, a treadmill movie is like a movie you’d see on an airplane. That is, it keeps you engaged, passes the time, and you can follow the plot without having to pay close attention, or even to listen to, the words. So which movies are best for watching from a treadmill? On to the reviews!

Chariots of the Gods- This film won the Academy Award for Best Picture in 1981. It features runners who run for God and to overcome social prejudice. They run, they run, and they run. The well-recognized music plays. You run, you run, you run. Monkey see, monkey do. They win. You win. Everybody wins. What's not to like?

Following are a few of the best movies to watch while using a treadmill:

The Expendables - Many of the action heroes of recent years are in this one. You can probably identify with, or at least tolerate, at least one of these guys. As with most action movies that engage at all, you get to want to see how it turns out. If that takes long enough to get your workout in, that's a treadmill movie!

High Noon- This classic you may cause you to end up injuring yourself from running too long if you haven’t seen it before. It runs about an hour and a half, so you need to be in good shape for this one. As the clock ticks closer to noon, your running pace will quicken to match the ticking of the clock. You will identify with the hero and won't give up!

The Family Man- Tia Leone is in this one, so men will want to watch it, but it could be any movie that features the personification of your personal lust. That is, whatever leading lady or man you most desire. Sublimate your sexual desire into physical effort and replace heartbreak and alimony payments with cardiovascular health at the same time!

These movies have something in common. It's that they all feature a protagonist who faces formidable forces and must draw on all of his strength to prevail. This inspires us to pursue our own goals. If Schwarzenegger can neutralize that many bad guys while barely hanging on, we can at least put one foot in front of the other. Or at least you could tie a carrot to a string and dangle it in front of the treadmill.

The Fairy Tales of Franz Xaver von Schönwerth


Scenic Burg Falkenberg, Bavaria

Scenic Pilgrim’s Church of the Holy Trinity, Bavaria

Last year, a 19th-century collection of fairy tales collected in Bavaria's Upper Palatinate were uncovered in an archive in Regensburg, Germany, and a few were published (in German). English translations are apparently underway, and a translation of one story appeared earlier this month in The Guardian. Read "The Turnip Princess."

The Guardian reported that many of these stories were "rediscovered," but Harvard folklorist Maria Tatar amends this account in a recent post on New Yorker Magazine's "Book Bench" blog, reporting that the stories were not not so much lost but languishing. Von Schönwerth is on the shelf at some American academic libraries, but many of the stories he collected are in manuscript form (untranslated from German), and, unlike those collected by his contemporaries, were not polished into smooth narratives. Tatar writes for the New Yorker:

Schönwerth’s tales have a compositional fierceness and energy rarely seen in stories gathered by the Brothers Grimm or Charles Perrault, collectors who gave us relatively tame versions of “Little Red Riding Hood,” “Snow White,” “Cinderella,” and “Rapunzel.” Schönwerth gives us a harsher dose of reality than most collections. His Cinderella is a woodcutter’s daughter who uses golden slippers to recover her beloved from beyond the moon and the sun. His miller’s daughter wields an ax and uses it to disenchant a prince by chopping off the tail of a gigantic black cat. The stories remain untouched by literary sensibilities. No throat-clearing for Schönwerth, who begins in medias res, with “A princess was ill” or “A prince was lost in the woods,” rather than “Once upon a time…”

Read the full post. Writing on her own blog, Maria Tatar promises "Next week, I’ll add my translation from one of the tales in Prinz Rosszwifl." I am looking forward to it!

In a tenuously-related but interesting parallel, when one googles "Bavarian Turnip," the top hit is an abstract from a journal article: "Notes on neglected and underutilized crops —The ‘Bavarian Turnip’ — a rediscovered local vegetable variety of Brassica rapa L. em. Metzg. var.rapa"

The 'Bavarian Turnip,' ('Bayerische Rübe,' Brassica rapa L. em. Metzg. var. rapa) is a nearly lost crop today. Until 1900, this local variety was commonly grown in Bavaria for human consumption. The special and very distinct characters of this variety in comparison with recent breeds are preferred by the farmers' families and assured the persistence and survival of this turnip in situ (on farm). In the region of Dachau and Freising, located north of Munich, only four farms are known, where this old crop is still grown and maintained. Urgent measures have to be taken to safe this cultural relict for future generations.

Prince Waits Patiently in the Turnip Field

Scenic Horse in Scenic Turnip Field

The Best Running Shoes of Olympics 2012

Olympics 2012 is anticipated to be the best show on earth, with an estimated viewing audience in the billions and who better to showcase the best runningshoes of the event, but track stars.

Adidas, Nike, and New Balance are the leading trademark brands worn by elite athletes and sought after by adoring fans and exercise buffs. If you are among the many looking to optimize your workout program, inspired by your favorite Olympic stars or a fan of their athletic footwear, then these 7 high profile brand of running shoes should be part of your collection.

FOOTWEAR OF THE WORLD'S BEST ATHLETES:

Number 1: Adidas

World renowned German based footwear producer, Adidas Group is the parent company of Adidas, Reebok and TaylorMade Golf sport products. Adidas offers a vast range of athletic sporting goods to customers globally. Under its Sport Performance segment it stays on top of other premium brands developing a line of modern products focused on sprinting and training and a Sport Style segment aimed at fashion conscious consumers. Popular Styles worn by sprinters for both purposes include:

· Reebok line: ZigTech, RealFlex, Crossfit

· Adidas: Clima Cool Ride, Supernova Glide

· AdiZero line: Rush, Rocket, Avanti, Mana 5, Tempo 5

These are but a few in the scope of multifunctional Sport line designed to meet the individual needs of athletes and chosen according to their preferences. Adidas is the official London 2012 sponsor with control over the sports gears of athletes on the winners’ podium.

Number 2: Nike

Nike, the world’s leading sportswear giant based in the United States and sponsor of premier athletes and sports teams around the globe, is the trendsetter in sport performance gears for men and women. Here are some favorites:

· LunarEclipse+2

· LunarElite+

· LunarGlide+3

· AirPegasus+ 28

· LunarSwift+3

· Free 3.0 V2-3 & Free Run+2

Nike and Adidas are two sportswear giants expected to prominently display their gears in Olympics 2012.

Number 3: Puma

Puma, headquartered in Germany is a multinational sportswear company with claws strategically locked onto Jamaican athletes who are chock full of “gold” as forerunner, Usain “lightning” Bolt exemplifies. Here are the top picks among the Puma line for men and women:

· Faas 250, 300, 500 & 800 (Jamaican inspired line- minimalists)

· CompleteHaraka XCS

· Complete Velosis 2 & 3

· Complete Trailfox 4 & Pumagility

Number 4: Saucony

Saucony, a timeless U.S. based manufacturer, is popularly known for its high quality performance racing shoes for both men and women. They incorporate the latest technologies dedicated to the individual taste of runners. These are some of the select choices:

· GridFastwitch 5

· Grid Type A4

· Hattori/AW

· Men’sShowdown

· ProGridKinvara 2

Number 5: Mizuno

Mizuno Corporation is a Japanese owned sportswear and equipment manufacturer with a sterling reputation as an innovator in the sports world. The Mizuno name is prominently associated with Track & Field, Rugby, Golf, Tennis, and the Olympics. Some of its popular shoe designs are:

· WaveNexus 6 - Men

· Wave Universe 4 - Men

· WaveRonin 4 – Men/Women

· WaveMusha 4 - Women

Number 6: Asics

Ascis Corporation is another Japanese owned, famous athletic company ranked among the best in performance footwear. Asics produces footwear and sports equipment for over 18 reputed sport disciplines. A few of its most endeared footwear among athletes include:

· GEL-DSTrainer 6,14-17

· GEL-Kayano

· GT 2150/60

· GEL-FujiRacer

Number 7: New Balance

New Balance Athletic Shoe, Inc. (NBAS) is an internationally known American footwear producer that competes with Adidas and Nike for the spotlight as one of the largest makers of sports footwear globally. New Balance running shoes offer performance innovations for Track and Field with gel inserts, heel counters, and varying widths tailored to recruit several generations of athletes. A few of the favored designs include:

· Minimus collection: Zero, 10 & 20

· New Balance 904 & 5

· NewBalance 890v2

Although prices for all footwear vary from affordable to expensive, once planned, they can fit into most budgets. Guaranteed to be well worth it! They may just inspire you to take on a new work out challenge for a fitter you, in time for Olympics.

The 10" Shaming Wand

What does it say about the current state of woman's reproductive healthcare when Doonesbury isn't so much satire as it is a factual depiction?

Foxy!

Creative and foxy lips!

source

More at andrussi.deviantart.com

What You Learned (or Missed) This Winter

This is a cameraphone clip of "Halcyon," (the choreography I taught as "Dryad Dance") earlier this year. The music is "Keridwen and Gwion" from the German ensemble Faun.

Cute Anatomy

I am a sucker for cute. Knowing that this propensity is not shared by all, I try not to push too much cute on the public at large, but hopefully these whimsical depictions of our internal workings can be appreciated by all. Much much more at ilovedoodle.tumblr.com

5 Important Tips to Hide those Zits

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Is there anything worse than going out on a date when you know you've got a big zit on your forehand? Or how about landing a huge job interview but waking up in the morning with pimples all over your chin? And of course there's the classic zit on the tip of your nose that will ruin any occasion.

Sometimes it's so bad you don't feel like going out at all, and you can only muster up enough energy pick up the phone and cancel all your plans.

Acne is definitely embarrassing and it gets in the way of regular life way too often. But you don't have to let it control you because you can fight back - or at least hide it. With a bit of experience, strategy, and the right products you can still live a normal life.

Don’t Pop Pimples - your first temptation is probably going to be popping those pimples right away. It's common for people to think “it will heal quickly” or “there's just no other way!” You have to weigh your options carefully because sometimes more acne is the price you pay for a temporary solution. If you can help it, don't burst your pimples and try to find another way. Otherwise you might be dealing with a much more severe breakouts, or possibly acne scars if you do it enough.

Find a Good Foundation - finding a good foundation will be absolutely key in covering up noticeable acne. This can be a tricky area because foundation's that cover the best also tend to clog your pores. So there's a bit of a trade-off in overall effectiveness with long-term thinking as well. In general, it's far better to use a mineral-based foundation rather than something liquid. Mineral-based makeup goes on lighter, and if you apply it with a brush, it's a lot more hygienic. You can find good ones at reasonable prices from popular brands all over.

The Right Concealer - when you have your foundation in place, you might need the help of a concealer as well. Sometimes foundation alone is enough, but a complementary concealer can really achieve the right tone and color to hide blemishes. You can also find concealers that come with a touch of medication so that you can zap your zits while hiding it at the same time. Just be careful that you don't go overboard if you're already using another topical cream. You don't want to accidentally dry up everything in the process.

Careful Application - something seems to come over people when they're dealing with acne, and a common reaction is to plaster their face with products or makeup. Whether you're using an acne cream or a concealer, you have to remember that more is not necessarily better. Use your products strategically and make sure you check in the mirror to see how things are progressing. Makeup also looks different under certain lighting, so get out good looks from all angles. And if you're using tools to apply your makeup, make sure they are totally clean and replaced on a regular basis.

Seek treatment - it doesn't matter how good your makeup skills are, this is only a temporary solution. It's meant for emergency situations so you'll still need to find a long-term treatment, maybe from a dermatologist if you have more serious acne. In some cases, it doesn't matter how good the makeup is, you might just have really sensitive that doesn't respond well. If you find your breakouts are getting worse, then don't hesitate to consult your general physician for referral to a skin specialist.

Andrea Warner is a Contributor at How to Get Rid of Acne Help, a site designed to help people with real-life practical advice in addition to dealing with the emotional aspects of problem skin. It is a great resource and a wonderful place to start for information regarding your acne problems: http://www.howtogetridofacnehelp.com/

Artistic Movement in Film

Two short films that interestingly portray bodies in motion.

Forms (Excerpt) from Nexus Productions on Vimeo.

(Athletics start at :34)

"Forms" (excerpted above) is currently on display at Bradford, England's National Media Museum:

Forms is a digital artwork that responds to the human body in motion. It focuses exclusively on the mechanics of movement, using footage of world-class athletes to illustrate human movement at the extremes of perfection.

Videos of athletes were processed through custom software to create evolving abstract forms that explore the relationships between the human body and its movements through time and space.

Divers (Short Animation) from Paris M. on Vimeo.

From DiversAnimation.com:

"Divers" is an experimental animation that was inspired by Busby Berkeley, mass gymnastics and experimental cinema from the 20s and 30s. I created it while pursuing my MFA in Digital Arts at Pratt Institute. As part of the project, I also developed a choreography-based animation toolset which I subsequently used during the animation process.