There are thousands of flawless images we see every day in the glossy magazines and papers.
Technology these days ensures that they all have glowing, flawless skin - not a blemish or wrinkle in sight, perfect lighting with not an undereye bag even attempting to show itself. Clever, manipulated advertising that persuades people to think that the creams, potions and pills will work similar wonders for them too and they will spend hundreds trying to achieve the same look.
Here's how they do it:
The Evolution of Beauty
This is still an ad for Dove beauty products but at least they're now using a more realistic ideal of beauty and not the airbrushed image that we've come to accept and that young girls and women these days seem to aspire to.
No longer can we say, the camera never lies.
Time management solutions for busy people - organise your business, your life and have fun.
Snow In Sussex
The first snow of the year.
This is what I woke up to this morning. Well, when I first woke at 5am it hadn't snowed but it did a couple of hours later.
A heavy covering - not just the usual dusting that makes it this far south maybe once a year. It will probably be gone by lunchtime but for the moment it looks lovely.
Training In The Wind
Another training run today - actually the first one of the week. Tuesday I was out all day, so didn't get a chance and on Wednesday I had my aborted cycle ride into town. Well, cross-training is part of the training schedule. I think cycling hard into an almost gale force wind, even if only for a few miles, is enough of a training challenge.
Perhaps with all this wind, it will end up being good preparation for race day in February. If the weather continues as it has for the last couple of months then there's every chance there'll be a strong wind blowing along the seafront route which will certainly slow things down. This year it's a purely road course which is meant to be faster than the mix of road and grass verge which has been the route in previous years. Not that it's likely to make a difference to me. I'll definitely be slower At least there's no danger of dodging cowpats along the route, as I was this morning now the cows are back on the Tye and of course with all the recent rain, it's pretty soft and muddy underfoot now.
Perhaps with all this wind, it will end up being good preparation for race day in February. If the weather continues as it has for the last couple of months then there's every chance there'll be a strong wind blowing along the seafront route which will certainly slow things down. This year it's a purely road course which is meant to be faster than the mix of road and grass verge which has been the route in previous years. Not that it's likely to make a difference to me. I'll definitely be slower At least there's no danger of dodging cowpats along the route, as I was this morning now the cows are back on the Tye and of course with all the recent rain, it's pretty soft and muddy underfoot now.
Big Brother Furore
It's almost laughable and a slightly disturbing portrayal of the youth of Britain today. A group of foul-mouthed women - shouting abuse at Shilpa Shetty on Big Brother. Mind you she gave almost as good as she got and pointed out what Jade Goody is famous for - good point Shilpa. It was school playground bullying and mudslinging of the worst form and Shilpa showed her class and upbringing by not only being astounded by the barrage of obscenities but by not sinking down to Jade's level. Meanwhile Jo and Danielle sat sniggering, occasionally casting a comment in Shilpa's direction.
I'm not surprised that the other foreign housemates - Jermaine and Dirk were equally amazed at their behaviour. A poor example to be displayed on prime-time TV. I'm surprised no one said anything to them.
What little I saw wasn't rascist but total social and cultural ignorance. I hope that the three perpetrators are suitably reprimanded - either while they're in there or certainly when they get out. I think they all stand being torn to pieces by the press. It says alot when it's raised during questions in the House of Commons and on the front page of most papers.
As Jade and Shilpa are now both up for eviction this week - the result should be interesting. I just hope Jade gets voted out. Not that I'll be voting. Despite it's car-crash like fascination - I think it's something I can survive without.
I'm not surprised that the other foreign housemates - Jermaine and Dirk were equally amazed at their behaviour. A poor example to be displayed on prime-time TV. I'm surprised no one said anything to them.
What little I saw wasn't rascist but total social and cultural ignorance. I hope that the three perpetrators are suitably reprimanded - either while they're in there or certainly when they get out. I think they all stand being torn to pieces by the press. It says alot when it's raised during questions in the House of Commons and on the front page of most papers.
As Jade and Shilpa are now both up for eviction this week - the result should be interesting. I just hope Jade gets voted out. Not that I'll be voting. Despite it's car-crash like fascination - I think it's something I can survive without.
Pedalling Against The Wind
I thought I'd cycle into Brighton yesterday as the weather had cleared up in the afternoon and the sun came out. I also thought the wind had dropped. How wrong I was. I've cycled in on a few windy days and it's been hard work but bearable. However, yesterday, the wind was so strong that I was almost bought to a halt even cycling down hill. Trying to battle along the seafront was
I knew that with a wind this strong I wasn't going to make it into my meeting in time, so I abandoned my bike at Rottingdean and hopped on a bus, which despite taking a roundabout route, got me to my meeting only a few minutes late. I collected it on my way back and with the wind behind me it was a quicker ride back home. Even cycling back up the hill was easier.
Today is a whole different ball game. The wind and rain buffetting the windows woke me up at 5am. Fortunately I didn't have to go anywhere, so I was able to stay at home listening and watching the wind howling outside. Battering the fences - one of my panels has now disintegrated completely and a few more in neighbouring gardens have also collapsed under the constant gusts.
At least it's keeping the fencing companies busy for a few months more.
I knew that with a wind this strong I wasn't going to make it into my meeting in time, so I abandoned my bike at Rottingdean and hopped on a bus, which despite taking a roundabout route, got me to my meeting only a few minutes late. I collected it on my way back and with the wind behind me it was a quicker ride back home. Even cycling back up the hill was easier.
Today is a whole different ball game. The wind and rain buffetting the windows woke me up at 5am. Fortunately I didn't have to go anywhere, so I was able to stay at home listening and watching the wind howling outside. Battering the fences - one of my panels has now disintegrated completely and a few more in neighbouring gardens have also collapsed under the constant gusts.
At least it's keeping the fencing companies busy for a few months more.
Get It Backed Up
My laptop has been playing up for a while. It's four years old so could be considered technologically obsolete - although in reality it's still pretty high spec. Like most people who probably assume or hope it will never happen to them, I back up my data occasionally but I did think - what if the worst happened and I lost everything? One of my readers contacted me after my last newsletter with some advice and suggestions.
Hard disk drives aren't that expensive these days as with most technology, they get bigger and bigger and cheaper and cheaper. Should the worst happen, I now have my data backed up on a regular basis and at the press of a button. Working in the world of technology for many years it all very familiar - full backups, incremental, differential. Most devices are plug and play, so you don't need a science degree to set it up. Plug it in, follow the instructions and it will install itself. It's also possible to sign-up for online backups for a monthly fee.
Think of the impact if you were unable to access any of your data or were without your computer for any length of time. Your client details, documentation, contact information etc. How would your business continue to function? What would you need to keep going?
Western Digital - 250GB External Hard Drive
Hard disk drives aren't that expensive these days as with most technology, they get bigger and bigger and cheaper and cheaper. Should the worst happen, I now have my data backed up on a regular basis and at the press of a button. Working in the world of technology for many years it all very familiar - full backups, incremental, differential. Most devices are plug and play, so you don't need a science degree to set it up. Plug it in, follow the instructions and it will install itself. It's also possible to sign-up for online backups for a monthly fee.
Think of the impact if you were unable to access any of your data or were without your computer for any length of time. Your client details, documentation, contact information etc. How would your business continue to function? What would you need to keep going?
Western Digital - 250GB External Hard Drive
Seaford Striders
Despite the recent cold and wind, I managed to drag myself out last night and went along to my first session with a local running Club the Seaford Striders. I thought it was about time I ran with other people, if only to challenge myself a bit more than my gentle runs out on my own, when I don't really know what pace I'm doing.
I'd done my long run on Sunday and thought I’d run further than the 5 miles I ended up doing. Unfortunately my calf muscles were so tight that I was stopping to walk every now and then for the first half hour until I finally found my rhythm for about 10 minutes and then, battling the wind, just looking forward to getting back.
I was therefore a bit wary about how far I’d get and how fast the pace would be when running with the Striders. Well, I managed it – pretty much non-stop for 5 miles in around an hour with only the occasional pause while we waited for the slower ones in the group to catch up and make sure that no-one got lost as we wound our way round the streets of Seaford.
I'd done my long run on Sunday and thought I’d run further than the 5 miles I ended up doing. Unfortunately my calf muscles were so tight that I was stopping to walk every now and then for the first half hour until I finally found my rhythm for about 10 minutes and then, battling the wind, just looking forward to getting back.
I was therefore a bit wary about how far I’d get and how fast the pace would be when running with the Striders. Well, I managed it – pretty much non-stop for 5 miles in around an hour with only the occasional pause while we waited for the slower ones in the group to catch up and make sure that no-one got lost as we wound our way round the streets of Seaford.
It's Not Me ..!
Judging by the number of 'Mail Delivery' emails I've been receiving over the last few days, it looks as if someone is using my site addressed to send out spam. I’ve got used to the usual spam messages coming through on a regular basis and most of these get filtered out by various spam filters but this time my web address has been 'spoofed'.
It seems to be an inevitable part of having a presence on the web that at some point your web address will either be on the receiving end of endless spam or become the apparent deliverer of spam. I can only hope that they’ll move on but I've been getting a steady stream over the last few days. If anyone bothers to look at the header they'll see it hasn't really come from me but I would imagine it's just another annoying piece of spam ending in their inbox. I'm just hoping that most people these days have spam filters set up, so the majority won’t have got through but to anyone else ... I can only apologise.
It seems to be an inevitable part of having a presence on the web that at some point your web address will either be on the receiving end of endless spam or become the apparent deliverer of spam. I can only hope that they’ll move on but I've been getting a steady stream over the last few days. If anyone bothers to look at the header they'll see it hasn't really come from me but I would imagine it's just another annoying piece of spam ending in their inbox. I'm just hoping that most people these days have spam filters set up, so the majority won’t have got through but to anyone else ... I can only apologise.
Wimps And Hypochondriacs?
Just returned to the land of technology and mobile phone coverage after a relaxed and unstressed Christmas and New Year down in Somerset.
Are we turning into a country full of wimps and hypochondriacs? If the ads over Christmas and New Year are to be believed or even worse followed, are lives are not complete unless we’re, not only out buying a brand new sofa in the January sales but we’re filling our bodies with a concoction of chemicals to ease our day-time cold, night-time flu, coughs, colds, headaches, indigestion, constipation and easing our congested nasal passages.
Do we really need all these off the shelf remedies? Well, the simple answer is no – covering up the symptoms by bombarding our bodies with a bunch of suppressants is not only a waste of money but won’t actually do you much good. If you’ve got a cold then the worst of it will disappear in a couple of days anyway – about the same amount of time that these remedies are likely to work. Plenty of rest, liquids in the form of hot honey and lemon drinks are more likely to benefit something more serious. Peppermint and nettle tea will help ease the Christmas overindulgence – or just don’t stuff yourself as if you’ll never see another hot meal again!
Eat healthily, exercise regularly and you won’t need a cabinet full of medicines for every little ache, pain and stomach disorder.
Are we turning into a country full of wimps and hypochondriacs? If the ads over Christmas and New Year are to be believed or even worse followed, are lives are not complete unless we’re, not only out buying a brand new sofa in the January sales but we’re filling our bodies with a concoction of chemicals to ease our day-time cold, night-time flu, coughs, colds, headaches, indigestion, constipation and easing our congested nasal passages.
Do we really need all these off the shelf remedies? Well, the simple answer is no – covering up the symptoms by bombarding our bodies with a bunch of suppressants is not only a waste of money but won’t actually do you much good. If you’ve got a cold then the worst of it will disappear in a couple of days anyway – about the same amount of time that these remedies are likely to work. Plenty of rest, liquids in the form of hot honey and lemon drinks are more likely to benefit something more serious. Peppermint and nettle tea will help ease the Christmas overindulgence – or just don’t stuff yourself as if you’ll never see another hot meal again!
Eat healthily, exercise regularly and you won’t need a cabinet full of medicines for every little ache, pain and stomach disorder.
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