Black Hair

Stress Induced Hair Loss: The Bald Truth

Stress is something almost all of us have to live with. It’s a fact of life, and while it can have it’s beneficient effects, like spurring us on to greater achievements and making us far more focused and intense at a task, taken to an extreme stress can be detrimental to a person, both psychologically and physiologically. One of more annoying effects of extreme stress is a scientific condition called Telogen Effluvium. In layman’s terms, this scary sounding name actually means that a person’s hair starts thinning due to stress.

Stress doesn’t directly contribute to one’s hair loss, however. Despite what most people may think, it’s actually a proven fact that the stress a person feels doesnt have a direct physical bearing on that person’s hair loss. Being stressed out doesn’t cause your hair to pop off your head faster; rather, when a person is under stress, he/she actually falls into certain personal habits that lead to hair loss. These personal habits ARE a direct effect of stress, and dealing with them will help to minimize stress-related hair loss. Here are a few of these habits, and a few precautions you can take to avoid them:

Poor Diet – When people are overstressed, they tend to neglect their eating habits. A person who has an unbalanced diet will eventually suffer from a lot of different physical ailments, and frankly hair loss would be the least of a person’s worries in this case. However, hair loss is a relatively mild warning sign that you should correct your diet and start eating right. To show how a poor diet affects a person’s hair, here is a little fact: normally a person WILL shed hair, roughly about 100 follicles a day, andthese are eventually replaced by the body naturally.

People who have an unbalanced diet will usually lose 200 to 300 hairs in a given day, more than the body can replenish immediately, and THIS causes hair loss. By getting a balanced diet rich in protein, with low fats and carbohydrate content, this type of hair loss can eventually be overcome, as the added nutrients will bring the rate at which you shed your hair to normal levels, and eventually your scalp will replenish your hair naturally.

Alchohol And Cigarettes – sad to say, as a result of stress some people turn to vices to cope with the stress. Alchohol and cigarettes are relaxants, and being readily available and legal, are sometimes overindulged in by people going through periods of high stress. While taken in moderate amounts, both of these vices already carry their own corresponding health risks. However, in times of stress even people who are merely casual social drinkers or smokers may suddenly increase their intake as a means of coping. During these times, the increased intake of alchohol or nicotine causes physical problems. You may have noticed that habitual chain-smokers, for example, have yellowed finger nails or yellow teeth.

Aside from these obvious effects, it’s been shown in studies that hair loss is also one fo the effects of over indulgence in booze or smokes. The remedy for this is obvious; quit smoking or drinking. However, even if you’re not ready or willing to give them up just yet, then at the very least cut back a bit, and avoid the habit of turning to the bottle or grabbing your lighter whenever you get stressed out.

Hair-Fiddling – funny as it seems, a lot of people still carry nervous habits with them throughout life that become more apparent in times of stress. Some of these can actually lead to hair loss. There are people who bite their nails, fiddle with their purse, twirl a ballpen… then there are the people who fiddle with their hair in one form or another. Some girls, for example, have the habit of chewing the ends of their hair when nervous, which leads to a lot of split ends. The nervous habits that most lead to hair loss are ones that involve more drastic versions of hair-nibbling, like actually pulling or twisting your own hair when annoyed, or scratching your head when stumped.

If you’re one of the people who indulges in these nervous habits, then the solution is pretty much to discipline yourself to stop yanking your hair out by the roots whenever your kids blow up the kitchen or your boss starts screaming at you for your deadlines. If you must have a nervous habit, find something relatively harmless – buy a stressball, it’ll even strengthen your grip.

Despite these sage little pieces of advice, however the fact remains that stress is still, ultimately, the cause of your hair falling out. The remedies given here are not permanent fixes, just patch jobs to stall the problem. If you really want to stop your own personal case of Telogen Effluvium (man, the name still sounds scary!), find a way to deal with your stress. Learn to laugh at your problems more, read a book, get more exercise, find a new hobby.

Above all, keeping healthy and having a positive, light, and happy outlook on the world keeps you from getting stressed out. Keep a smile on your face and in your heart, and you’ll be surprised how easy it can get dealing the universe in general.

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Healthy Diet for Healthy Hair

Good nutrition is vital to healthy hair growth, just as it’s essential to overall good health. Although your body needs a variety of vitamins and minerals to maintain proper body functions, there are several that are specific to hair growth and health.

Nutrition has a lot of role for your hair care. Proper nutrition is very important for growth of hair follicles and healthy hair fiber. A balanced diet that contains natural vitamin supplements, proteins and mineral supplements can help in the healthy growth of hair follicles. If there is no proper nutrition the hair follicles will shed. The natural health supplements help your scalp get what it needs for creating beautiful, full-bodied hair and also help them to sustain when they get old.

Here are the tips for healthy hair:

Just like your body, your hair needs a balanced, nutritious diet to stay healthy. That’s why this food plan contains a rainbow of fruits and vegetables that are loaded with vitamins and antioxidants, whole grains for minerals, nuts and seeds for minerals and vitamins, and lean protein for iron. A fortified breakfast cereal will help your body get all of the other good stuff it needs.

Iron deficiency can cause thinning hair or hair loss. Make sure you eat plenty of iron rich foods, such as red meat, eggs, legumes, wholegrain cereals, dried fruits and green, leafy vegetables.

Water not only hydrates your body, but helps keep your hair silky and shiny. This diet includes eight to 10 glasses of water and juices a day for maximum hydration.

When possible, always choose organic produce. Foods that a rich in silica are rice, oats, lettuce, parsnips, asparagus, onion, strawberry, cabbage, cucumber, leek, sunflower seeds, celery, rhubarb, cauliflower and green, leafy vegetables.

Eat sufficient amounts of protein. Protein is composed of the amino acids essential for the building of new cells, together with hair. Five amino acids are of particular significance to hair growth – cystine, cysteine, methionine, arginine and lysine.

Bacon although it’s not a good food to eat if you’re trying to lose weight, Kingsley recommends eating a normal serving of bacon for extra B vitamins, zinc, and protein.

Sprinkling flaxseed oil and pumpkin seeds over your morning cereal is another great way to get these much needed essential fatty acids in your diet.

Brown Short-Grain Rice

You should have complex carbohydrates, which feed you energy over a longer period of time than refined carbohydrates, with your protein source at meals. Brown short-grain rice is an ideal form. It’s also a good source of B vitamins and some fiber.

Strict dieting can have a negative effect on hair growth. It causes the normal hair cycle to stop and you may lose a lot of hair. Once you return to healthy eating habits your hair will grow normally again.

Copper: Copper is involved in the pigmentation of hair. Optimize your natural color with a diet with plenty of this mineral. Shellfish, liver, fresh vegetables, nuts, seeds and meat are all high in copper.

Sulphur is necessary for the proper functioning and utilization of the B vitamins and thus contributes to the strength of the hair.

Eat plenty of fresh fruit and vegetables to make sure you are meeting your daily vitamin and mineral requirements. Vitamin B2, Biotin, Vitamin C and zinc are of particular importance.

Krabi newsletter January 2009

Krabi newsletter January 2009

Please check out our web site … http://www.gillhamsfishingresorts.com for all the latest news and info about fishing in Thailand at Gillhams Fishing Resorts.

Hi everyone and welcome to 2009. Let’s all hope this recession ends soon – it’s really crippling us, as the first thing people do in troubled times is not take an exotic holiday. Don’t forget to cheer yourselves up and come and see me at the Carpin’ On show 2009 at Five Lakes near Maldon in Essex – see the link on our website. We are on Stand 10A, and if you book and pay on the day you receive a 10% discount. If you bring a Big Carp Magazine and show me, we will give you a further 5% discount, so that’s a massive 15% off the best fishing holiday on the planet. If you buy your tickets in advance for the show you automatically go into the free draw for a week for two with flights, fishing and accommodation at Gillhams Krabi. Just click on the link above.The first few days of January saw the end of a holiday for a few people who spent Christmas with us. It’s always a sad moment, as people who came as clients and leave as friends depart, but most rebook so we all meet again. As I write this report the heatwave continues; we are having the hottest January on record, the sun is relentless, and every day is over 100 degrees. We haven’t had a drop of rain in five weeks; the lake has dropped a foot as we water the gardens twice a day from the lake. The gardens are struggling in the heat in the jungle around us; the trees are going brown so I just hope there isn’t a fire! The intense heat and flat calm conditions are making the fishing very hard, especially for the arapaima; they are just not feeding hard at all, just taking the odd snack. The Mekong catfish have started to feed in earnest again though, and it seems the stingray like the hot weather also. Talking of stingray, I was landing one for angler Eric Keogh, and stingrays are hard to net – it takes two or three of us to manhandle them into the net. As I was shoving the fish into the net, it swished its tail, impaling its sting into my foot, and I have never in my life experienced pain like it! Within seconds my whole leg was on fire; it was like someone pushing a red-hot poker up my leg, and all my muscles started to seize up as I went into shock.The lads on the lake bundled me into our car and drove like lunatics to the local hospital, where they had been pre-warned of our arrival. The hospital had staff waiting, and I was rushed into emergency. By now the pain was excruciating, and my shirt was soaked with sweat. Immediately two doctors appeared and started injecting my foot with anesthetics and an anti-venom type substance. Next, the doctor cut open the wound and removed the sting and a black skin that covers the sting. The wound was then packed out with antibiotics and cotton wool. I had to go to hospital every day for over a week for more injections, and to have the wound opened and cleaned. All our stingrays in the lake had their stings removed, but we did not realize that every so often a stingray has two stings. This one had been overlooked and had two; the sting folds flat to the tail and we had missed this one. The 110lb fish had its sting removed this time. We have stingray to over 200lb in the lake, and in future we will no longer net them in this way until we are sure the sting is absent. Fishing at the lake is perfectly safe as stingrays stay away from people. They are like any creature – if cornered and panicked they lash out. The only time they will sting is when you start annoying them. It was my own fault for being blas? about these beautiful fish. I will have more respect for them next time, and for our customer’s safety no angler is allowed in the lake until any fish has been contained and made safe. This ensures that our customers are 100% safe at all times. For the record freshwater stingray are believed to reach 1,000lbs with 5m wingspans, so this fish was a baby really at 110lb. Mind you, can you imagine a 110lb hornet? We have five different species of fish in Gillhams over 100lb, and landing these huge fish is dangerous. We are professionals but we still get hurt; a moment’s lapse in concentration is all it takes. I will repeat our customers are safe as long as they take our advice and do not enter the water ‘til we say it is 100% safe to do so.We are still getting the odd person, with the emphasis on odd, who come here, get a huge fish, and feel let down because they wanted one bigger. One guy this month had a 60lb Chao Phraya catfish, which is only 4lb off the world record, but he did not want a photo because in his words he will wait for a big fish. He even admitted it was the biggest fish he had ever caught! Mind you the same guy had his biggest carp, but waited for a bigger one, then when he had an arapaima and a big red tail catfish in a day, he was also disappointed because he had to wait a whole seven hours between fish! Oh where do they come from? Luckily the real nice guys who appreciate catching fish outweigh these so-called fishermen. Some people just want a trophy shot, and do not wish to put in any effort. We even get some that are gutted they don’t get several 100lb fish a day with a couple of 300lb-plus fish thrown in. We are thinking of starting a new service for these people where people can order their fish online; we will enhance their mug behind a fish and send them the picture of their prize without them even having to take the trouble to come here, and I bet we would have some takers! The other annoying people who come here who really wind us up are the litter louts. Last week we had a prat come here who actually called his self Gayland (I kid you not) with his two boyfriends, who I presume were called Ben Dover and Phil McCavity! Now he (it) was the typical berk who only wanted a trophy shot. On arrival they commented how beautiful the place is, only to throw rubbish all around their swim! Luckily I was out all day and just missed them leaving, because their swim was an absolute tip with rubbish strewn everywhere. It took the boys ten minutes to clear the mess of food wrappers, fag ends and general crap! If I had been there I would have donned the rubber gloves and dragged them by their blouses to clear up the mess themselves! We supply rubbish bags and have sand pots in the swims for faggot ends, so please use them. I personally get really angry about cigarette ends thrown on the ground or tossed in the lake. It makes me wonder what these people’s houses are like. That’s it – monthly whinge over!Back to a bit of humor – my manager Watt, bless him, is very gullible and Sean got him a treat this month. Watt wanted to know how he could increase the size of his manhood, so Sean informed him of a cream called 3-in-1 that triples the size of your tackle, and poor young Watt fell for it. My daughter Becca bought some Immac hair remover over at Christmas, so we put it in a plain bottle and presented it to Watt. He went off with our security man the local policeman; they smeared the cream around their parts, and sat around for an hour talking of what they were going to do with their new king size weapons! After an hour they washed the cream off, along with all their forest. They came to see me in a state of horror and shock, but were very relieved when I told them it is the first stage of growth and to repeat it next month. Oh what a horrid person I am! Roll on next month!The top method this month looks alien to European anglers, but lots of Siamese carp are coming out to a method feeder fished 3ft below a float with a golf ball sized fishmeal boilie suspended under it. Now I just wonder, would this method work in European waters? The first of the new arrivals were our dear friends Wil and Betty from Holland, who came last year for a few days and stayed a few weeks before setting off on an epic motorcycle journey from India back to Holland. This time their trip was tame, coming straight to Thailand and back by plane. We are planning a trip together now for June when we are going into the jungle fishing for Thai mahseer, that’s if the troubles in the Congo don’t end, because the minute they do we are all planning to race to catch a Goliath tiger fish. Last year Wil and Betty came as clients, and this year, as with many of our guests, they returned as friends. They planned a five-day trip here, and once again stayed longer – as Wil got into the fishing, the trip grew to ten days. We were dreading another group that came to us, as there were 30 people. We had to arrange a speedboat to collect them from an Island 50 miles away, and minibuses to transport them from the beach to here, but they were an absolute joy to host. The whole day went smoothly, and we even managed to accommodate them for the night when they didn’t wish to leave. There was not one person in the group who was the slightest problem, but the fish kept their nuts down though, as there had never been so many lines in the lake at once. Paul and Lorraine, it was a pleasure hosting you all, and we are looking forward to you all returning this year for a holiday. As for Lorraine, she deserved a medal organizing the whole holiday for 30.We also had a visit from two brothers who we nicknamed The Wurzels, a really nice pair of lads who lived on a farm in the country, and decided to have an adventure. They had never been out of their county, let alone the country, and they had never heard of a place called Oxford where our guide Kevin hails from. Imagine the boys’ surprise when they landed in Thailand! Apparently at home they don’t go out drinking, “We’ze don’ts goes out dranking, we’ze stays in wiz a noice cup orf tea.” We asked one brother if he saw the guy opposite land the big Mekong catfish. He replied, “Nooooooo, I warz wachin’ der arnts – oi loike arnts, they is fazinating indzects.” Yes they were proper characters, really nice lads on an adventure, and imagine their return home to the farm explaining all the things they had seen to their family, “Duz yoo nowz in that Thailand theyz eats frags snakez an bugz, and even der gals haz got willies, not likes our sis aat all, yer nowz!” I must stop, but they kept us amused and were real nice guys.So now enough of my twaddle and onto the fishing. This month has seen 45 day tickets (30 in one group) and 38 guests on Thailand fishing holidays, fishing in Thailand from a few days to a couple of weeks. Between them they landed 465 fish of 15 species, made up as follows… 25 arapaima to 400lbs, 12 Mekong catfish to 180lbs, 255 Siamese carp to 120lbs, 72 red tail catfish to 80lbs, five alligator gar to 15lbs, four Asian red tail catfish to 30lbs, 13 black pacu to 30lbs, seven Chao Phraya catfish to 65lbs, 19 spotted sorubim to 35lbs, four Julian’s golden prize carp to 25lbs, eight spotted featherback to 10lbs, 17 rohu carp to 16lbs, 18 striped snakehead to 4lbs, five giant stingray to 120lbs, and one wallago attu of 24lb.As mentioned earlier Wil, with his much better half Betty, from Holland were the first new guests in after Christmas. The fishing this year was slower than last, but as Wil targets big fish it suited him and his style of fishing. Wil’s target this year was to fish Siam carp. Betty once again was chief photographer, reporter, general gopher, and live bait catcher. Betty loves float fishing for our lesser species, but Wil made strict rules – no float fishing before 9am so as not to spook the fish! Wil ended his session with five arapaima to 200lb, 13 Siamese carp to 110lb, and three Mekong catfish to 130lb. That’s three species in one trip exceeding 100lb! Plus he had five red tail catfish to 45lb, and some rohu and pacu.The next new arrivals who came to us via Siam fishing tours, were totally laid back Mark with his non-fishing wife Carol. I have never in my life met someone as chilled out as Mark, a lovely guy who just got taken in by the peace and tranquility of Gillhams. We actually had to pick up Mark and all his equipment and move him to a different spot, as for four days Mark sat gazing in awe at the beauty of our resort, failing to cast at showing fish or sometimes for that matter even failing to cast. Poor Mark ended the trip with just one fish (mind you that was one more than Siam fishing tours managed to get him). He has vowed to return with his fishing head on next time, but mind you, Mark showed that you do not need to catch fish to enjoy a trip here. Day-ticket visitor pearl necklace Terry came for a day on the busiest day of the month when we had the group of 30 in, but he saw enough to fit a four-hour session in the next morning before leaving Krabi, and his keenness paid off with a 55lb Chao Phraya catfish and three Siamese carp to 40lb. Ian Norris, an ex-pat living in Australia did the usual, a 24-hour trip, and left it ‘til the last hour to catch, but it was worth the wait when first he landed a rare wallago attu at 24lb, followed by the ever-friendly Siamese carp, Black Spot, at 70lb.Steve Cox made a return visit for a three-day trip with his mate Colin and two Thai friends, Kuan and Jay, who are regulars at Bungsamlan Lake in Bangkok. The Thai lads gave the two Brits a proper lesson in fishing with their knowledge of Thai species, landing 25 fish to the Britt’s 11 fish! Whenever Coxie leaves Gillhams, a big Siamese carp comes out, and this trip was no exception because as he left Wil had a 110lb carp. Another 48-hour visitor was builder Steve Holberry from Manchester with his mate Mark. They landed 12 fish between them, with the icing on the cake going to Steve in the shape of a 90lb Siamese carp. The cobblers from Manchester, Ross and Slim John, made the short drive from Phuket for a 1? day trip. Slim John only made part of the first day, and retired knackered after landing seven carp in a short flurry of action, deciding to stop while ahead, and work his way through our restaurant menu! Ross meanwhile gave his all, fishing ‘til the final whistle for a haul of six Siamese carp to 60lb, one 50lb red tail catfish, and a 150lb Mekong catfish. This fish took him all over the lake while Slim sat eating a box of pies. Judging by the amount consumed by Slim, we estimated the fight took one hour, or 10 pies, 11 cakes, a bucket of ice cream, and 20 fags!Then came the incredible hulk brothers Ricky and Terry Clark. These two giants were spot-on sound guys who came and enjoyed every moment of their stay. They came hoping for an arapaima, but whatever they caught was a bonus – just the attitude needed to fish here. Now the first day Ricky, who is about 10ft tall with a physique that makes Arnie look a wimp, caught a nice Mekong catfish. He plucked it from the landing net as if it was a minnow, “How big,” he asked? Well judging by the ease with which he had just lifted, it I would have said 5lb, but went for 120lb instead so as not to offend him! “No,” he stated, “I reckon 180lb,” and who was I to argue? But to humour him, I went to lift it, and amidst laughter from all around, I nearly followed through, and for sure it was easily 180lb. Ricky went on to take three Mekong, 17 Siamese carp, two red tail catfish, one pacu, and his target species, a nice 200lb arapaima. Terry, who is the same size as Ricky, with arms like hams, caught ten fish including two 100lb-plus arapaima. I am very glad the brothers were here when they were, as during this time I had the mishap with the stingray, and the lads plucked me from the lake like a feather and ran with me to the waiting car. Thanks you two, I owe you one. The hot weather was certainly bringing the stingrays on the feed, as two days later Keith from Liverpool landed another one, minus a sting! This fish weighed in at 120lb, and compensated for a lost arapaima.Another laid back Mr. Nice Guy, Ken Weeks, booked in for a week. Ken came to chill out and hopefully catch a few fish. He was great fun to be with, and thoroughly enjoyed his stay here. The first few days Ken just chilled in the wrong swim, but was not bothered. Later in the week he moved to the other end of the lake, landing 31 fish for the week. He got into a shoal of Siamese carp, and took 18 to 50lb. At the same time my dear friends Jamie and Carol Mclean arrived just for a quiet break to see us. Jamie did manage a couple of short sessions between the swimming pool and sightseeing, while Carol divulged her secret steak and kidney pudding and bacon pudding recopies to Steve. Oh mate, these are to die for, and are now on the menu here at Gillhams – I have already put on another 20lbs! Jamie’s best fish from five was a red tail of 65lb. I had an enquiry before Christmas from a guy by the name of Jerker who wished to visit for a 48-hour trip. I thought it was a wind-up from a mate, but actually it turns out to be a popular name in Scandinavian countries – apparently there are lots of Jerkers over there! I suppose when they leave they say Jerker’s off! Sorry couldn’t resist that; it’s a bit like the lad called Wayne Kerr. OK back to the story… Jerker was a fishing fanatic; he booked three rods, and was buzzing from the moment he arrived. He had his better half Ida with him, and what a pair! He said that Ida could fish, but he only wanted her to use maize or boilies so as not to catch bigger fish than him. The first day Ida was a machine, taking eight Siamese carp in a short feeding spell, but the next day she properly gave Jerker a spanking with a 150lb Mekong catfish in the morning, followed by three more Siamese carp to 120lb. While all this was happening, poor Jerker in the next swim landed just two fish. The following week Jerker returned for a day’s fishing, and to save face poor Ida was not allowed to fish! He had a better day, probably because Ida was showing him what to do, landing five fish with some small carp, by Ida’s standards, up to 55lb, along with a nice featherback around 12lb.Reiner from Dream Lake in Chiang Mai sent his Austrian client Andreas to us. By the time he arrived we were in the middle of a heatwave and the fishing was slow, but in a week he still managed 21 fish of five species. His target featherback eluded him, but on the final day, in the last hour of fishing, Andreas landed a dream fish in the shape of a 400lb arapaima! This was the same fish that rescued Len Gurd’s trip last month, again in the last hour of the last day. This arapaima is just packing on the weight – it was stocked at 300lb and avoided capture for 18 months. We are sure if it avoids capture for the next 18 months, it will reach 500lbs! At the same time as Andreas we had German client Peter in for three days. Peter’s target were predators, and he scored with two arapaima, best 160lb-plus, an 85lb stingray, and also took three red tail catfish. Germany has been making a good appearance here this month, and our final German client for the month was catfish fanatic Michael Zellner, who came for four days, and immediately rebooked for July when the heatwave will be well and truly over, as it will be our rainy season by then. Michael only landed nine fish due to the extreme heat, as we suffered the hottest January on record, but he did land his dream fish, an arapaima of 120lb. Michael’s attitude was what we wish everyone’s would be, enjoy the holiday – one big fish makes the holiday, and he could see enough potential here if the weather is kind to re book.A bit of a sad one is the way to describe the next visitors. Here at Gillhams we want everyone to enjoy the peace and tranquility of the lake. We designed a fishery for the specialist angler where patience is rewarded with the biggest fish of your dreams. Most people catch a dream fish in a week, and sometimes two or three. We have never claimed Gillhams as a mackerel fishing location where you catch a fish a chuck from an overcrowded stock pond where all the fish are starving and emaciated. Our fish are the biggest and best-conditioned fish in Asia due to a low stocking density and an abundance of natural food. You should expect around four fish a day with a dream fish as a bonus. Henk and Job from Holland had not done their homework because if you look through our website you will see we are not a single specie overstocked bowl, and we chose the area for its peace, quiet and beauty, not like Bungsamlan in Bangkok where you can sit with crowds of muppets crossing lines amongst skyscrapers and fumes, hauling out vast bags of starved, badly beaten catfish before heading back to your hotel through traffic jams for a night of debauchery in the girlie bars. Unfortunately Gillhams was not for Henk and Job, so after a few days of only fishing part time they landed six fish, with a stingray of 80lb and Siamese carp to 50lb, before they headed back to Bangkok for a wild time in the bars, plus sticking hooks in numerous half starved and tatty Mekong and striped catfish amongst the crowds.By contrast to Henk and Job, the next guest had read up on us, and wanted peace, quiet and big fish in beautiful surroundings. The spritely 70-years-young Arthur Hawkins, with his delightful fishing partner and wife Angie, came for a week on their way home from visiting their daughter and grandchildren in Australia. Arthur first noticed Gillhams via the article by Gary Newman in Anglers Mail after the Anglers Mail visit here. Arthur’s target was a big fish of any species, as he wanted to win a Jonny foreigner hat. In a week of chilling out and a second honeymoon, Arthur landed 13 fish of five species, the best being two arapaima to 220lb, and four red tail catfish to 75lb. Not to be outdone, Angie showed just what the women can do; she was a very competent and experienced fisherwoman who is thoroughly enjoying retirement with Arthur, fishing around the world. Angie landed 12 fish of four species, the best being four red tail catfish to 80lb, and six Siamese carp to 45lb. If poor Angie had not lost a couple of big fish, one being an arapaima, she would have upstaged Arthur. The couple both realized that the extreme heat was slowing the fishing, but agreed that Gillhams would still be paradise without the fish – in their words the fish were a bonus. Top couple, top fishing – we will see them both later in the year.Gillhams is starting to get noticed in Singapore, so if any of our Singaporean followers are reading this and know the dates of the Singapore fishing show, please email me so we can attend and show just what we have, only a 1? hour flight from Singapore. One guy who made the trip this month was Nick Wheeler, an ex-pat Englishman working and living there, Nick came with his wife and one-year-old daughter for a week’s holiday with three days fishing, and landed ten fish in the three days of six species, with arapaima to 120lb, Chao Phraya catfish to 60lb, a baby Mekong catfish of 65lb, plus red tail catfish to 65lb along with Siamese carp and sorubim, all in all a fair bit of sport for a short trip.So that’s me running out of space folks, but don’t forget the Five Lakes show on the 7/8 March. By the time you get next month’s newsletter I will be freezing in the UK, wearing shoes, long trousers and jackets for the first time in a year! If your fishing club want a talk on Thailand fishing holidays or fishing in Thailand, please contact me, as I still have some dates available. Forget the recession, and treat yourself to the fishing trip of a lifetime here at www.gillhamsfishingresorts.com Phone +66861644554. So, ‘til next month, from all of us at Gillhams, bye for now, thanks for your support, and catch a whacker.Stuart and the team.

Please check out our web site … http://www.gillhamsfishingresorts.com for all the latest news and info about fishing in Thailand at Gillhams Fishing Resorts.

The Birth of the American Detective Story

It has been said that the American detective story began sometime in the later nineteenth century. Many critics give credit to an author named Anna Katherine Green for starting this American version of what was already an interest in Europe. Shortly after the budding of what we call the beginning of American detective stories, the realization was that even the first American detective story was influenced in some way by Europe. Whether it was influenced by one of the earlier novels such as Collins, or even by one of Doyle’s Sherlock Holmes tales, it is uncertain, but it was almost surely derived from Europe. The plots and themes all point to the European influence and rules.

It was later largely realized that the most significant difference between the American version and the English version is the language. The American crime story is much more harsh and blunt. The language that an American crime story entails is various and is much like the blend in our current society whereas the language in a classic English derived crime story is more upper class English and not as corrupt with obscenities or just plain old regular American dialogue. American crime stories blend perfectly the everyday speech that is commonly heard in this vast melting pot of different cultures and heritages

These pulp fiction stories were truly the first real stories that can be called American in almost every sense. The corruption of the social life in America and the prohibition that was ongoing in larger cities spurred a sort of revolution. This disgruntlement had to show its face somewhere and pulp fiction stories became the method of choice for many writers. The Black Mask was one such pulp magazine publication that actually lasted for quite some time before finally being killed off sometime in the nineteen fifties.

Pulp magazine stories gave way to the hard – boiled detective stories around the nineteen twenties. This type of story focused on the tough guy detective. They were stories of gangsters and the like. They were definitely no comparison to Sherlock Holmes, who despite his cleverness, was not perceived as being much of a tough guy.

Book publications of American detective fiction appeared in the late twenties and the early thirties made this action more popular among writers and publishers alike. Even though these stories that were made into books had most likely already appeared in pulp magazine publications somewhere along the line, the writer had to be one of the best available. It was not common to allow someone who was not one of the best in the field to be published, therefore, only the top pulp writers were offered such a special achievement. Others were simply not good enough, by publishing quality standards, to spend the time and money on.

Books opened the door to television and the detective program was born. This type of show offered a short story that was acted out on live television. Most of these were badly acted and had poor characters but they were able to evolve over the years into something much more desirable to watch. With some of the current crop being actually quite good.

Liven Up Long Hair

One day you feel that your hair looks great, the next day it seems a total disaster. This may happen because you experience “a bad hair day”. You’re not alone in this matter. Many women say they have their bad hair days several times in a month. It’s the euphemism for any time something goes completely wrong and this is a true tribute to see how much hair matters to most of us. According to national studies, women feel more confident when their hair looks great or at least good. More than half the surveyed women said that if their hair didn’t look right, it affected their mood for the rest of the day.

Me, as the owner of a beauty hair club http://hair-long.blogspot.com and other professionals agree that there can be done several things to improve our hair, but how much control we have over our hair depends on some few factors:

Heredity is one of the most crucial elements. We are all born with a set number of hair follicles, and regretfully, there’s nothing we can do to change that number. The diameter of each strand (or hair texture), the amount of hair wave, and the hair color are predetermined as well. Also one must take into account specific changes that are arranged genetically. We all produce more pigments as we get older. Pigment creation increases during adolescence and slows its speed in midlife. Hormonal changes are also an important factor that can change hair, make it thicker, denser or curlier.

Genetical factor isn’t the only thing that changes hair – the environment can affect it too – weather, sunlight, and water minerals can add to your hair troubles.

Besides, most of us want to change what nature gave us: we try to make hair into something it is not. If the hair is very curly, we want to get it straight; if it is straight, all we desire is make it curly. Chemical treatments, rough styling methods and heat styling can take their toll on hair, making it dry and weak as time passes by.

Take some time for your hair and relax. The hair care section at http://hair-long.blogspot.com provides you with information on how to take care for long naturally strong hair. Enjoy it!

Bad Hair Days: Loving Your Locks!

Let’s face it ladies, when it comes to our hair, we have all had some bad days. No matter what your ethnicity or hair type, this is a common factor that we can all relate to. Whether it’s the rain and humidity or just one of those days where your locks seem to have a mind of it’s own. Well, as bleak as it may seem, there are a few things that we can do to get and keep our hair on the right track(no pun intended). Here are a few quick tips that may help you get through those times.
First, when it comes to styling products there are so many out there that sometimes you may feel overwhelmed when trying to choose what’s right for your hair type. Here’s a rule of thumb that applies to everyone no matter who you are. Less is more! Remember this ladies, when it comes to oil sheen, styling gels, spritz, hair sprays and even conditioners. These products, if used in excess, can weigh your hair down and leave you with a finished product that makes you look like you need to wash it all over again. However, if used sparingly (and I place extra emphasis on the word sparingly) we can all achieve that fresh from the salon look for just pennies at home.
1. It is a must that you find a shampoo/conditioner duo that your hair agrees with. Take the time to experiment by trying various brands until you find one that your hair responds well to. You’ll find that if you change the product that you have been using for that last few months or even years, your hair will thank you for it and reward you with a better attitude. In addition to finding a great new shampoo, you should use a clarifying shampoo about every 8 weeks to remove the build-up from all the styling products you use on a regular basis. This will give your hair more movement and vitality.
Headnote: Clean hair is healthy hair but over washing can do more harm than good by stripping of natural essential oils. If you have dry and/or damaged hair, wash your hair only about every 7 days. If your hair is oily, washing it more often may be necessary. But whether dry or oil, use caution while washing (and combing after washing) to avoid breakage as hair is in its weakest state when it is wet.
2. Conditioners must be rinsed out completely to avoid weighing the hair down. Rinse in cold water if your hair is oily. This will close the pores in your scalp preventing excess oil to saturate your hair. On the contrary, rinse in hot water if your hair is dry. The hot water will draw natural oils from your scalp through the length of your hair creating a natural shine. Not too hot though, you don’t want to burn your scalp!
3. A great product that is often used by professional stylists are anti-frizz serums. These add light shine and prevent your hair from frizzing and puffing up on those humid days and allow you to enjoy outdoor activities in peace. Anti-Frizz serums are worth gold (if used properly). Too much will leave you look a wet puppy… Again, less is more. Only a dime size drop is necessary; rub into palms and evenly distribute over entire head (damp or dry).
4. Oil sheen is only necessary if your hair is feeling and looking dry or dull and in need of a boost of shine. Never spray oil sheen closer than 15 inches close to your hair and keep the bottle rotating at all times. Over use of oil sheen will prevent movement and body in your hair and give a greasy appearance. Instead, opt for a hot oil treatment. Hot oil treatments are far more beneficial than oil sheen when it comes to countering dry/damaged hair.
5. Gels and Spritz tend to be over-drying but if you must use, opt for clear gels over brown as browns especially tend to over-dry the hair and look for spritz with no alcohol.
6. Avoid blow drying hair too often. Occasionally give your hair a break by allowing a little extra time to either let air dry or use low heat under a hooded dryer.
7. For those of you who use curling irons or flat irons on a regular basis; Cut back! Over use of heat styling is extremely damaging. If you haven’t already, replace your old appliances with ceramic. Not only will ceramic curling irons and flat irons make your hair smoother, silkier and shinier they are far less damaging. Select ones with thermostat controls so that you can adjust the heat to a setting that is appropriate for your hair texture.
8. Lastly, there is only so much that we do from the outside. Healthy hair starts from within. This means diet and exercise is essential. Drink lots of water, avoid alcohol in excess, eat fruits and veggies daily, avoid smoking, and get up and get moving.
Of course, these are some basics. Achieving beautiful healthy hair is a life long pursuit. Let’s continue to make this world a more fabulous place by loving our locks!

The Minneapolis Urban League Receives National Attention and Unveils Collaborative Logo!

Breaking news the Minneapolis Urban League has gain national attention for their upcoming 1st Annual Minneapolis Urban League Prostate Cancer Awareness and Education Day on June 20, 2008.

Stephanie Chisolm, PhD – Director of Patient Education with the American Urological Association in Maryland says, “This is a great opportunity for the AMA to engage with the Minneapolis Urban League and their Social Wellness Cluster that does such a great job in the Twin Cities.”   Mr. Theodus Mitchell with the Center for Disease Control (CDC) says, “This is great and the CDC supports any efforts that the Minneapolis Urban League is involved in to address health disparities in communities of color.”

Mr. James Hedley with the National Institute on Health says, “The NIH will supply information to the Minneapolis Urban League to assist them with their efforts to address Prostate Cancer.”

Yesterday, the original press releases posted on I-Newswire.com was viewed nationally by over 40,000 news organizations and individuals and continues to grow.  The Tampa Tribune, (FL) and the St. Pete Times (FL), both want more information about the event feature their hometown favorite Mr. Bob Samuels.

This event is free and open to the public.  For more information go to www.tcbusiness.org or call 612-302-3100.

About Mr. Samuels:

Mr. Bob Samuels, a dedicated community activist, Mr. Samuels is listed in “Who’s Who in Black America”.  As one of the founders of the Harlem YMCA’s Black Achievers in Industry Program, he helped establish the United Negro College Fund’s Corporate Matching Gifts Program, and as a result of working with the United Negro College Fund, he was awarded the “UNCF’s Outstanding Citizen’s Award.” Mr. Samuels was the founding president of both the National Association of Urban Bankers and the New York City Urban Bankers Coalition. In 1984, the National Association of Urban Bankers honored him by renaming the “Outstanding Banker of the Year Award” to the “Robert J. Samuels Founder’s Award”. In 1998 the Urban Bankers further honored him by placing his likeness in the Baltimore Great Blacks in Wax Museum. In December of that year he was also inducted into the Black Hall of Fame in Philadelphia.

This event is open to the public and all men and their families who want to know about Prostate Cancer Awareness, Prevention and information you need to know are invite to attend this exciting educational event.  There will be food, beverages and informational hand-outs to help you be well informed of your risks as it pertains to Prostate Cancer.

Samuels was diagnosed with prostate cancer at age 56 — in the prime of life — the cancer had advanced dangerously far. Samuels was shocked to discover that as an African American, he was at high risk for the disease.  He was also surprised that since he had an annual physical examination every year his physician had never discussed his risk for prostate cancer. Samuels had been a banker for 31 years in New York and he became one of the first Black Vice President’s of a major bank in the nation. 

 Today, with his cancer in remission, this retired banking executive has channeled the energy that made him so successful in his career into a new role as one of prostate cancer’s most aggressive advocates. As Founding Chairman of the National Prostate Cancer Coalition, Samuels moved prostate cancer into the national spotlight. Samuels went on to lead advocacy efforts in Florida, and is founder and chairman of the Florida Prostate Cancer Network (FPCN), one of the most active state coalitions in the nation.

Prostate cancer is the No. 1 diagnosed cancer (non-skin) and the No. 3 cause of cancer deaths in Florida. Samuels works relentlessly to educate Floridians about the disease.

As a men’s health activist and organizer, Samuels is involved in numerous activities including:• Founding Chairman of the National Prostate Cancer Coalition• Founding Chairman of the Florida Prostate Cancer Network Inc.• Former  member National Cancer Institute’s (NCI) Prostate Cancer Progress Review Group• Consultant, Food & Drug Administration’s Oncology Drug Advisory Committee (ODAC)• Former member NCI Consumer Advocates in Research & Related Activities (CARRA)• Former patient representative to the Eastern Cooperative Oncology Group (ECOG)• Former Co-Chairman of The Florida Prostate Cancer Task Force• Former Board Member of H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center & Research Institute• Former Member of the U.S. Army’s Prostate Cancer Research Panel

Samuels has led numerous battles in the fight against prostate cancer. As Founding Chairman of the National Prostate Cancer Coalition he lobbied Congress repeatedly for increases in prostate cancer research funding and was instrumental in getting the State of Florida to recognize, as a matter of public policy, prostate cancer as serious diseases needing to be addressed at the state level. During 2004, he was recognized by the Florida Department of Health with their UNSUNG HERO’S Award.  The State Department of Health honored his leadership and contributions toward getting stakeholders throughout the state involved in approving the Florida Prostate Cancer Education Act. Samuels was instrumental in obtaining a $1million DOD grant to establish joint venture prostate cancer training and research Institute at FAMU with Moffitt Cancer Center.

Recent Awards and Recognition include:• Tribute in 109th Congressional Record of the US House of Representatives• US Department of Health and Human Services “Minority Health Community Leadership Award”• Prostate Net’s Award for Lifetime Excellence in Advocacy to Eliminate Health Disparities• Hillsborough County Commission – Humanitarian Award• Tampa Mayor Pam Iorio’s – Outstanding Citizen’s Award• The Florida Legislature – Citizen’s Recognition Award• ONYX Magazine’s – Humanitarian Award

Mr. Samuels comes to Minneapolis courtesy of the Urban Financial Services Caolition that will hold their annual conference in downtown Minneapolis June 18-22 at the Hyatt for more information go to www.ufscnet.org

We ask that you join us on June 20, 2008 from 4:30 p.m. until 6:00 p.m. for this once in a lifetime educational, information session and community health disparity awareness cause at the Minneapolis Urban League, located at 2100 Plymouth Avenue North.  For more information call (612) 302-3100.

This message has been brought to you by the Minneapolis Urban League, Clarence Hightower, President and Twin City Business – www.tcbusiness.org/blog

Different Hair Straightening System for Thick Wavy Hair

I believe that all curls are not created equal. There are diverse hair straightening system for a same hair type, everybody has their own system. Here are some tips for thick wavy hair.Tip1:First, shampoo with a moisturizing shampoo and conditioner. Then blot your hair with an Aquis towel until is damp. Apply straightening product, then dry hair on low/warm until it is a little dry. Then take a large natural-bristle round brush and dry it section by section on high heat. This takes about 20 minutes. Put some finishing cream on the dry hair, then use a ceramic hair straightener and carefully press each small dry section. Then put a little more finishing cream or serum on the hair and it would good to go!

You could wear this hairstyle two days, tops. During the middle of the second day, wash your hair because it starts to smell a little and it’s dirty.Fave products: Biosilk Silk Therapy for styling and finishing, Bed Head After-Party Smoothing Cream for finishing, Phytodefrisant, Kerastase Oleo-Relax Serum, and Matrix Sleek.Look Extreme Cream for straightening, and Redken Anti-Snap when you need some extra protection and strength.Tip2:Wash the hair with moisturizing shampoos (All Soft, K-Pak or Nature’s Therapy), then condition for at least five minutes with All Soft, Frizz Ease Glistening Creme or Biotera. You could allow your hair to air dry 15-20 minutes then spray in Aussie Hair Insurance, Jhirmack HeatCare or Neutrogena Overnight Therapy, whichever bottle finds my hand first. Then use Tresemme European Slick melting gel on your hair from the ears down. This is a wonderful product and keeps your hair virtually frizz-free even in high humidity. Dry your hair with a paddle hairbrush and hairdryer, first “rough drying” then straightening each section individually with the brush’s tension. Finally mist a silicone spray on the bottom half of your hair!Wash my hair every 3rd or 4th day. You can stand wearing it down for three days tops and usually wear it up on the 4th.Tip3:Apply the product with your hair almost dripping wet, first apply Redken straight, mixed with anti-snap and outshine. Then comb through, next apply Modern Elixers styling serum mixed with a few drops of glossing drops. Comb it straight then apply your make-up. Let it dry for about 10 minutes. Blow dry upside down, shaking the hair. When it is almost dry, begin using the round brush, starting in the back at the nape with the rest clipped on top of your head. Bring down a small section at a time and continue to dry.These are basically the process I do on my clients also and they love these blow-outs.We offer the best hair straighteners reviews and source, please check the products and read the reviews, then choose the best hair straightener for you and your hair. All about hair straighteners on http://www.hairstraightening.net

In Bible versus Quran: many strong men are slain by the foreign woman

This is the fourth article of the series:

“The Foreigner woman in Bible versus Quran”

Few quotes from the previous articles of this series are given here.

In language, the foreign or the strange woman is the alien or the exotic or the outsider woman.  However, as determined by the Bible (e.g. 1 Kings 11:1), the foreign or the strange woman is the non-Israelite woman.

Subsequently, all non-Israelite women are foreign or strange women.

This indicates that the women in the Bible are but one of two categories; they are either Legitimate or Foreign.

Moreover, the Bible (Ezra 10:2) states that you break faith with God if you marry foreign women.

Ezra 10:2 (English Standard Version):

“…We have broken faith with our God and have married foreign women from the peoples of the land…”

According to the inspired word of God (1 Kings 11:1-11), the Bible says that

The commandment is a lamp and the law is light to keep you from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman which flatters with her smooth words.  Do not let your heart turn to her ways or stray into her paths.  Her (the strange woman) house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.  She has cast down many wounded: many strong men have been slain by her.

Herein, there is an interesting remark:

Proverbs 22:14 Says that the mouth of the strange women is a deep pit. 

On the other hand, Proverbs 23:27 says that a prostitute is a deep pit…

Proverbs 23:27 (English Standard Version): For the prostitute is a deep pit…

(Read the second article of this series: The Foreigner woman in Bible versus Quran (2)

Meaning-wise, does this indicate that the mouth of the strange women is equivalent to a prostitute?

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On the other hand, all women are equal in Islam.

Historical backgrounds:

There were some historical events that happened before the Quran puts the Law that all men and all women are equal in their duty and responsibilities regardless of their race, color, location etc.

 (1) The first event was when Thabit ibn Qays who was hard of hearing and when he came to see the Messenger of Allah, the Companions made room for him in order for him to sit next to the Prophet so that he could hear him.  He came one day when people were already seated and started stepping over people, saying: “Make room! Make room!” One man said to him: “You have found a place, so sit down!”

Thabit stood up and said: ‘I did, O Messenger of Allah!’

The Messenger said to him: ‘Look at the faces of those present’.

And when he looked, he asked him: ‘What do you see?’

He said: ‘I see white, red and black people’.

The Prophet Muhammad said: ‘Well, you are not better than any of them unless it be through your good deed and faith and God- fearfulness and apprehension.

 (2) The second event; on the day Mecca was conquered, Muhammad ordered Bilal (a black Ethiopian slave) to climb on the roof of the Ka’bah and perform the call to prayer.

A man commented on this: ‘Praise be to Allah, that Allah has taken my father to Him and made that he did not see this day’.

Another man said: ‘Did Muhammad not find any other caller to prayer except this black raven?’

One person said: ‘O servants of Allah! How can this black slave be allowed to perform the call to prayer on top of the Ka’bah?’

Another man said: ‘If Allah is displeased, He will change him’.

(3) The third event; Safiyyah bint Huyayy ibn Akhtab (a Jewish wife of the Prophet Muhammad) went to Muhammad, and said: ‘O Messenger of Allah, women revile me, saying: O Jewess, daughter of Jewish parents!’

Muhammad said to her: ‘could you not have said to them in reply: my father is Aaron, my uncle is Moses and my husband is Muhammad’.

In response to such events, Allah revealed Verse 49:11 and 13 of the Quran.

The meaning of Verse 49:11

And whoever does not repent, of such immorality, those, they are the evildoers.

In other words, do not defame one another nor backbite against each other, nor insult one another by nicknames that he or she dislikes to hear.  Bad is the name of lewdness after having accepted faith.  And whoso turned not in repentance from doing that after having accepted faith, such are those who are evil-doers and they harm themselves with punishment in the Hereafter.

The meaning of Verse 49:13

O mankind! Lo! We have created you male and female from Adam and Eve, and have made you nations and tribes that you may know one another. Lo! The noblest of you in the Hereafter, in the sight of Allah on the Day of Judgment, is the best in conduct in the life of the world Lo! Allah is Knower of your status and lineage; He is Aware of your works and standing in His sight.

In other words, the verse says:

O mankind! We have indeed created you from a male and a female, from Adam and Eve, and made you nations and tribes that you may come to know one another that you may acquire knowledge of the customs of one another and not to boast to one another of whose is the more noble lineage, for pride lies only in the extent to which you have fear of God.  Truly the noblest of you in the sight of God is the most God-fearing among you.  Beyond doubt, God is Knower of you; He is Aware of your inner thoughts.

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The Bible (King James Version)

Proverbs 5:20

And why wilt thou, my son, be ravished with a strange woman, and embrace the bosom of a stranger?

Proverbs 6:23-24

23For the commandment is a lamp; and the law is light; and reproofs of instruction are the way of life:

24To keep thee from the evil woman, from the flattery of the tongue of a strange woman.

Proverbs 7:4-5 and 25-27

4Say unto wisdom, Thou art my sister; and call understanding thy kinswoman:

5That they may keep thee from the strange woman, from the stranger which flattereth with her words.

25Let not thine heart decline to her ways, go not astray in her paths.

26For she hath cast down many wounded: yea, many strong men have been slain by her.

27Her house is the way to hell, going down to the chambers of death.

Proverbs 23:33-35

33Thine eyes shall behold strange women, and thine heart shall utter perverse things.

34Yea, thou shalt be as he that lieth down in the midst of the sea, or as he that lieth upon the top of a mast.

Proverbs 22:14

14The mouth of strange women is a deep pit: he that is abhorred of the LORD shall fall therein.

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The Quran (Yusuf Ali Translation):

Verse 49:11 and 13

11) O ye who believe! let not some men among you laugh at others: it may be that the (latter) are better than the (former): nor let some women laugh at others: it may be that the (latter are better than the (former): nor defame nor be sarcastic to each other, nor call each other by (offensive) nicknames: ill-seeming is a name connoting wickedness, (to be used of one) after he has believed: and those who do not desist are (indeed) doing wrong.

13) O mankind! we created you from a single (pair) of a male and a female, and made you into nations and tribes, that ye may know each other (not that ye may despise (each other). verily the most honored of you in the sight of Allah is (he who is) the most righteous of you. and Allah has full knowledge and is well acquainted (with all things).

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Back to my question to the smart and interested reader:

Are the Scholars honest when they claim that the Quran quoted from the Bible?