Oandee's Xomblurbs

If someone you love has depression, you may wonder if there is anything you can do to help. The simple answer is yes. Your support and encouragement can play a major role in a loved one’s recovery from depression.

Top Tips for you to know are as follow:

1.Learn about depression Educate yourself about the symptoms, causes, and treatments of depression.

2.Be understanding person.

3.Often, a depressed person will say hurtful things or lash out in anger. Remember that this is the depression talking, not your loved one, so don’t take it to heart.

4.Having patience is important. Even with the proper treatment, recovery from depression doesn’t happen overnight.

5.Making excuses, covering up the problem, or lying for a friend or family member who is depressed may keep the depressed person from seeking treatment.

6.Don’t try to rescue your loved one from depression. It’s not up to you to fix the problem, nor can you. Ultimately, depression recovery is in the hands of the depressed person.

The most important thing you can do to help a friend or relative with depression is to give your unconditional love and support.

Some supportive, positive things to say to a depressed friend or family member:

•“I love you no matter what you say or do.”
•“Don’t ever think you are alone in this or anything you go through.”
•“Please tell me what I can do to help you right now.”
•“I know I can’t understand what you are going though, but I am here for you if you want to talk.”

Article Source : HelpGuide.org

Helping a Spouse or Partner Depressed: 24905590

If the depressed loved one in your life is a spouse emotions!or romantic partner, there are a whole slew of additional issues that arise. Marriage is supposed to be a balanced partnership, but depression throws that balance completely out of whack. The depressed partner may be unable to fulfill both mundane responsibilities and the deeper emotional commitments that are the foundation of the relationship. Depression makes it difficult for a person to connect on a deep emotional level with anyone – even with the person he or she loves the most. To make matters worse, the sexual side effects of depression, and the antidepressant medications used to treat it, can further erode intimacy.
As the spouse or partner of a depressed individual, it’s easy to feel lonely, rejected, or unloved. Getting your partner into depression treatment is a step in the right direction. But in order to keep the relationship strong during the long recovery process, you may want to consider couples therapy. You can also use this time to learn how to manage stress in relationships and work through problems using emotionally intelligent communication. These skills will help you, through treatment and beyond, to communicate your needs clearly and respond to your partner’s needs in a healthy and positive way.

What Not to Say to a Depressed Person
Sometimes, it’s more important to know what NOT to say to someone living with depression. According to the Depression and Bipolar Support Alliance, you should avoid saying things like:
•It’s all in your head.
•We all go through times like these.
•You’ll be fine. Stop worrying.
•Look on the bright side.
•You have so much to live for; why do you want to die
•I can’t do anything about your situation.
•Just snap out of it.
•Stop acting crazy.
•What’s wrong with you?
•Shouldn’t you be better by now?

Article Source : HelpGuide.org

The Taj Mahal stands serene and awesome, on a raised marble platform, by the banks of the Yamuna, testifying to the timelessness of art and love. Its pure white marble shimmers silver in the soft moonlight, exudes a shell - pink glow at dawn, and at the close of the day, takes on the tawny, fiery hue of the majestic sun.

Shahjahan built the monument in memory of his beloved wife, Mumtaz Mahal, the 'lady of the Taj', who died giving birth to their 14th child. It has been called the most extravagant monument ever built for the sake of love. The construction of the Taj commenced in 1631, and was completed in 1653. Workers were gathered from all over the country and from Central Asia, and about 20,000 people were recruited to translate this wild dream into a reality.

The main architect was Isa Khan, who was brought all the way from Shiraz in Iran. After he was deposed and brutally imprisoned in the Agra Fort, by his son Aurangzeb, Shahjahan spent the rest of his life looking wistfully at his wife's final resting place, just across the river. The Taj remains a symbol of eternal love where the heart - broken Shahjahan was subsequently buried, re-united finally with his beloved Mumtaz.

The Taj Mahal: 24905590

The History of Thai Fruit and Vegetable CarvingFruit carving: 24905590
Fruit carving 2: 24905590
Fruit carving 3: 24905590

The story of fruit and vegetable carving begins about 700 years ago in Sukothai, the capital of the Tai people, in what is now the north of central Thailand. Sukothai was the capital of the region from 1240 - 1350. In preparation for one of their major festivals, Loi Kratong, one of the King’s servants, called Nang Noppamart, tried to think how she could make her Kratong more beautiful, in order to please the king. She took a flower and used it as a pattern to carve from. She then carved a bird and set it with its head pointing towards the flower. Loi Kratong is still celebrated today and Sukothai is one of the best places in Thailand to experience it.

Fruit and vegetable carving is also mentioned in the poetry of King Rama 2 who reigned from 1808-1824. He wrote about the beauty of Thai desserts and fruit and vegetable carving.
After the revolution in 1932 fruit and vegetable carving became less popular. Those worried about the art disappearing set up a course to train people to teach the art to everyone in Thailand.

Everyone can now enjoy this amazing art in hotels, cruise liners, in every Thai restaurant around the world and on the internet. Everyday more and more people are discovering with disbelief and amazement the beauty of this Thai art.

The art is now being passed to foreign people and is being practised around the world. It is particularly popular with chefs who use it to improve the presentation of their food.

Sources: Fruit and vegetable carving by Nidda Hongwiwut and Eyewitness Travel Guides - Thailand

Japanese tes ceremony: 24905590

The Japanese tea ceremony ( chadō, or sadō, or chanoyu - "the way of tea") is a traditional ritual based on Taoism (Daoism) and influenced by Zen Buddhism in which powdered green tea, or matcha , is ceremonially prepared by a skilled practitioner and served to a small group of guests in a tranquil setting.

The pronunciation sadō is preferred by some schools, including Omotesenke and the Mushanokōjisenke, while the pronunciation chadō is preferred by others, including Urasenke.

Cha-no-yu (literally "hot water for tea") usually refers to either a single ceremony or ritual, while cha-ji or chakai (literally "tea meeting") refers to a full tea ceremony with kaiseki (a light meal), usucha (thin tea) and koicha (thick tea), lasting approximately four hours.

Since a tea practitioner must be familiar with the production and types of tea, with kimono, calligraphy, flower arranging, ceramics, incense and a wide range of other disciplines and traditional arts in addition to his or her school's tea practices, the study of the tea ceremony takes many years and often lasts a lifetime. Even to participate as a guest in a formal tea ceremony requires knowledge of the prescribed gestures and phrases, the proper way to take tea and sweets, and general deportment in the tea room.

Japanese people wear a style of kimono called furisode, which have floor-length sleeves, on special occasions, most often at weddings, tea ceremonies, and other very special or very formal occasions.

Article Source : Wikipedia, the free encyclopedia

A Good Night Sleep: 24905590

Good Health Rests On A Good Night's Sleep

There is nothing like a good night’s sleep. When you wake up rested, you are ready to take on the day! However, if you are among the 15% of Americans who suffer from insomnia serious enough to require medical attention – the outlook is not so perky.

Your body needs enough rest to work right. In fact, getting enough sleep is one of the most important things you can do for your health, along with eating right and getting enough exercise.

Changes to our sleep patterns are a part of the normal aging process. As we age we tend to have a harder time falling asleep and more trouble staying asleep – which is a problem because research shows that our sleep needs remain constant throughout adulthood and that it is a misconception to think that sleep needs decline as we get older.

Did You Know

•Older women are more likely to experience insomnia than older men
•More than 50% of people older than 64 have some form of sleep condition
•Reducing sleep by as little as 1-1/2 hours for just one night reduces daytime alertness by 1/3
•Excessive daytime sleepiness impairs memory and ability to think and process information
•Long-term sleep deprivation increases risk of high blood pressure, heart attack and stroke

So what is keeping us awake? A number of factors acting alone or in conjunction will often influence our sleep experience.

Physiological Factors
•Changes in the patterns of our sleep (as we age we tend to spend more time in the lighter stages of sleep vs. deep sleep)
•Changes in internal rhythm cycles that coordinate the timing of our bodily functions
•Increase in the number of times we wake up at night related to various factors such as sleep apnea (the more this happens, the less sleep time we accumulate)
•Chronic pain brought on by health conditions such as arthritis, heartburn or heart disease
•Restless legs or muscle spasms
•Snoring

Psychological Factors
•Depression
•Stress

Environmental/ Personal Factors
•Social or recreational drug use – caffeine, nicotine and alcohol
•Environmental noise – television, radio, snoring, street noise, etc.
•Poor bed/mattress condition
•Poor scheduling – eating and/or exercising too late, napping too long/often during day

If you are having occasional difficulty sleeping or are suffering from insomnia, there is a lot you can do to get a better night’s sleep, feel refreshed when you awake and remain alert throughout the day.

Insomnia: 24905590

What is it?

There are four basic kinds of insomnia:
1.Difficulty falling asleep
2.Difficulty staying asleep
3.Waking up too early
4.Poor quality sleep

Someone with insomnia may have the following symptoms:
•Feeling tired and grumpy during the day
•Having trouble concentrating at work
•Falling asleep during the day

You can be tired and grumpy even if you don’t have insomnia. You may be worn-out from staying up too late at night. This does not mean that you have insomnia. Many people are sleepy during the day simply because they went to bed too late the night before. They don’t have a sleep disorder; they just didn't get enough sleep.

Everyone has an occasional night of bad sleep. For most people insomnia lasts only a few days and goes away without treatment. But stress or depression can cause a higher level of insomnia that may last for several weeks. This kind of insomnia may not go away on its own.

Who gets it?

If you have insomnia, then you are not alone. It is a common sleep disorder. About 30% of adults have symptoms of insomnia. Less than 10% of adults are likely to have chronic insomnia. It is more common among elderly people and women. Some medical conditions cause insomnia, or it may be a side effect of a medication.

How do I know if I have it?

1.Do you have trouble falling asleep or staying asleep, or do you wake up too early or feel unrefreshed after sleeping?
2.For a child, does the child resist going to sleep or sleeping alone?
3.Does this problem occur even though you have the opportunity and the time to get a good night’s sleep?
4.Do you have at least one of the following problems?

•Low energy
•Lack of motivation
•Attention, concentration or memory problems
•Poor performance at school or work
•Extreme mood changes
•Daytime sleepiness
•Trouble making errors at work or while driving
•Tension, headaches or stomach aches
•Frustration or worry about your sleep

If your answer to these questions is yes, then you might have insomnia.

Pearl: 24905590

A pearl is a hard, rounded object produced within the soft tissue (specifically the mantle) of a living shelled mollusk. Just like the shell of mollusks, a pearl is composed of calcium carbonate in minute crystalline form, which has been deposited in concentric layers. The ideal pearl is perfectly round and smooth, but many other shapes of pearls occur, see baroque pearl.

The finest quality pearls have been highly valued as gemstones and objects of beauty for many centuries, and the word pearl has become a metaphor for something rare, fine, and admirable.

Biologically speaking, under the right set of circumstances, almost any shelled mollusk can produce some kind of "pearl", however, most of these molluscan "pearls" have no luster or iridescence. In fact the great majority of mollusk species produce pearls which are not attractive to look at, and are sometimes not even very durable, such that they usually have no value at all, except perhaps to a scientist, or as a curiosity. These objects would be referred to as "calcareous concretions" by a gemologist, even though a malacologist would still consider them to be pearls.

One unusual example of "calcareous concretions" which nonetheless can sometimes have value, are the "pearls" which very rarely are found growing between the mantle and the shell of the queen conch or pink conch, Strombus gigas, a large sea snail or marine gastropod from the Caribbean Sea. These "pearls" are a by-product of the conch fishing industry, and the best of them show some chatoyance.
However, true iridescent pearls, the most desirable pearls, are all produced by two groups of molluscan bivalves or clams. One family lives in the sea: the pearl oysters. The other, very different group of bivalves live in freshwater and these are the river mussels, for example, see the freshwater pearl mussel.

Saltwater pearls can grow in several species of marine pearl oysters in the family Pteriidae. Freshwater pearls grow within certain (but by no means all) species of freshwater mussels in the order Unionida, the families Unionidae and Margaritiferidae. All of these bivalves are able to make true pearls because they have a thick inner shell layer composed of "mother of pearl" or nacre. The mantle of the living bivalve can create a pearl in the same way that it creates the pearly inner layer of the shell.

Fine gem quality saltwater and freshwater pearls can and do sometimes occur completely naturally, but this is a rare occurrence. Many hundreds of pearl oysters or pearl mussels have to be gathered and opened (killed) in order to find even one pearl, and for many centuries that was the only way pearls were obtained. This was the main reason why pearls fetched such extraordinary prices in the past. In modern times however, almost all the pearls for sale were formed with a good deal of expert intervention from human pearl farmers.

Black Pealr: 24905590

Tahitian Black Pearls
Black-lipped Pearl Oyster

The dark edge of the shell and its large size confirm that this is the shell of the Black-lipped Pearl Oyster.

Cultured Black-lipped Oyster pearls are sold today as Tahitian cultured pearls. Circlé pearls are ringed or grooved, an unexplained imperfection that can occur in pearl culturing. Once considered nearly valueless, they now add distinction to elegant jewelry.

Tahitian Black Pearls : (also called South Sea Black pearls) are grown in the waters of French Polynesia. They are saltwater pearls from the Pinctada margaritifera or black-lipped oyster and can range from gray to black with red, green or blue overtones. This oyster also is found in the Cook Islands, Fiji, Tonga, Samoa, New Caledonia, the Philippines, Panama, and the Gulf of Mexico. An adult Pinctada oyster can reach a diameter of 30 centimeters, with weight exceeding 5 kilograms (over 10 pounds). Rare specimens as large as 9 kilograms (over 19 pounds), in fact, have been harvested. It takes about two years before the oyster ready for harvesting. Only about 30 percent of the oysters cultured produce a pearl.

South Sea pearls : (also called White South Sea pearls) are saltwater pearls cultivated using the Pinctada maxima oyster (also called the silver lip or gold lip oyster), found in the South Seas (an area centered around Northern Australia and South-East Asia including Myanmar and Indonesia). They produce 10-20 mm pearls of silver or gold color. For centuries, pearl divers harvested these exotic shells for their valuable Mother of Pearl shell to make buttons.

Occasionally pearls were found inside, and these pearls were regarded as a rare and valuable bonus.

Fresh Waterpearl Necklace: 24905590

Saltwater cultured pearls come from the Akoya oyster (Pinctada fucata). Akoya oysters are also used by both the Japanese and the Chinese to produce saltwater cultured pearls. Akoya pearls are the most difficult to grow due to the low survival rates of the host oysters. Less than 5 in 10 will survive the nucleation process. Of the survivors, about 40% will successfully encircle the shell nucleus irritant with nacre. Overall, less than 5% of pearl output can be considered "high quality."

Freshwater cultured pearls come from freshwater mussels and are produced by Japan, China, and The United States. The most famous type of freshwater cultured pearl is the Biwa (pronounced bee-wah) pearl which use to come from mussels grown in Lake Biwa, Japan’s largest freshwater lake. Because of pollution, production has stopped. Freshwater shell and pearl mussels are from the family Unionidae, from which about 20 different species are commercially harvested. The tones of the freshwater cultured pearls are dictated by the mother shell. White is the most common, followed by pink. Other colors depend on the type of mussels. Big washboard mussels (Megalonaias nervosa) usually have pink pearls, as do the wartyback mussel (Quadrula nodulata). Threeridge mussels (Amblema plicata) have pearls in shades of blue-green and lavender. Muckets (Actinonaias ligamentina) produce fine pink pearls, and sand mussel (Lasmigona costata) have salmon-pink pearls. Other mussels used to produce freshwater cultured pearls include the ebony, heelsplitter, pimple back, elephant ear, mapleleaf, three-ridge pigtoe, pistol grip, and butterfly.