danita

“They will ask thee concerning the Spirit. Say: The Spirit is by command of my Lord, and of knowledge ye have been vouchsafed but little” (Koran Al Israa 17:85)

Introduction

At present we are living in a very complex era that humankind’s intelligentsia call the “Space Age,” the “Computer Age,” the “Atomic Age,” the “Information Age,” and the “Technological Age.” These are descriptive culminating “Ages” of the Piscean period that will soon give way to other developments. In time, we will hear terms or phrases such as, the “Ascension Age,” the “Quantum Age,” the “Hyper-Space Age,” and the “Photon Age.” All of these latter Ages allude and refer to the characteristical nature of the forces that will soon interact, interface and integrate with humanity in the coming Aquarian Age causing a transmutation within the psychosomatic system of man at cellular and atomic levels. The two-helix DNA structure comprising our genes would split and multiply into twelve strands, in accord with the same law that divides a cell. Certain atoms within the pineal gland would simultaneously become active, as would certain sections of the brain. The synapses and dendrites of the neurons of the brain would form new connections all over the grey matter linking both the right and left hemispheres, and both the cerebellum and the cerebrum. Chakras beyond the major seven would likewise be stimulated and anchored into man’s lower force-field. Additionally, the various layers of the chakric-system and their many petals or attributes would unfold giving man untold abilities. It is said that the attainment of enlightenment is not merely a psychological event, it is also a chemical and electrical one. It is in fact an alchemical affair. In short, in the Aquarian Age man will be spiritually mutated, and made anew to a greater perfection-but only if man is prepared and works to facilitate this. This transmutation is the evolutionary quantum leap that awaits humanity.

With all of the awe-inspiring metaphysical developments that would occur, there are still simple truths that would need to be addressed to enlighten the layman, such as the existence of the soul, which is the topic of this paper. There are lots of seekers and potential seekers of a higher reality that need to be shown the way. It is the writer’s hope that this paper would fill the void in people’s mind regarding the hidden side of their existence, and hopefully, cause then to fathom further in the marvelous mysteries of the universe.

The Search for the Soul

The scientific search for the soul began ever since the dawn of spiritualism that had its onset in the early decades of the 19th century when the Fox sisters claimed communications with the spirit world. Still, in spite of all the “marvelous” high-tech achievements of man in these latter days of the Piscean Age, the question of the existence of the soul and its survival of physical death remains unanswered successfully by conventional science. The soul’s existence has not been academically and scientifically “proven” in the laboratory to the satisfaction of scholars of all branches of learning; on the other hand, however, the non-existence of the soul has not been proved either. To our knowledge, the devices that would monitor, measure, and scan frequencies beyond the known energy-spectrum remains to be invented ere the concrete proof of the existence of the soul required by Science may be attained. The many inventions of Tesla and Edison revealed that they were pioneers working on this problem.

Throughout the centuries philosophers have been speculating upon the existence of the soul and its survival of the body; of its nature and relationship to the physical form; of its origin and destiny; and also of its possible glorified nature, or its state of immortality. However, intellectual and analytical reasoning have failed to provide any substantial evidence of an independent entity existing apart from the physical body. The serious search for the soul by our world philosophers and thinkers through a priori, or reason alone seems to have waned in the twentieth century. Perhaps it is realized that the intellect has its limitations in grasping, comprehending, and truly knowing abstract and metaphysical matters, or it could also be the realization that any concept that could be thought of has already been conceptualized in the past–that any novel ideas would merely be variations of former metaphysical speculations and of the wide variety of theories, and would not make man any more wiser. This would once again substantiate the eternal truth that there is nothing new beneath the sun. Still, there are always die-hards.

The physical senses, the mortal mind, and the intellect are poor faculties when it comes to determining the nature of Reality or the Absolute. What is relative may be known intellectually and experienced objectively; relative absolutism may be speculated upon though without knowing whether one’s conclusions are of the absolute truth in the absence of scientific proof, even if they be rational and logical; examples of this is the “Unified theory” of Einstein and the “Idealism” of Kant. Absolute absolutism is simply indescribable and ineffable. It transcends the intellect, and anything said about it in conventional terms is simply misleading. Even our description “indescribable and ineffable” may be inappropriate. From the standpoint of the Absolute all that we know of whether through our senses or intellect are perhaps erroneous and illusory.

In the Qabala, the esoteric oral tradition of the Hebrews/Jews, the Absolute is called “Ain Sof.” It is the hidden God, the Source of all not mentioned in the exoteric scriptures. Jehovah, the god of Moses, with his human characteristics, is merely a reflection of the supreme god found in the pantheons of the coexisting cultures of the time. The existence and nature of Ain Sof was not publicized because the Initiates knew that the mental capacity and spiritual development of the masses had not reached the required level whereby such revelations could be intuitively grasped and safely applied. This state of affairs still exist nowadays but with a twist. Now the mental development of man has far outpaced his spiritual side. Whenever abstract matters are discussed, the human mind tend to concretize and anthropomorphize that which cannot be objectified or understood intellectually; and with man’s failure of apprehending abstract matters he comes to the conclusion of their non-existence. Man, therefore, becomes ignorant of his ignorance.

Though the above ideas concerning Reality may appear to be distinct, in actuality, they are interrelated and are connected with one’s mode of apperception and intuitive insight. Superficially, they are our different ideas or understanding of Absolute Reality. We will not speculate further upon this, for the more we delve intellectually, the further we stray from the truth. Reality may only be known and experienced mystically.

How is the soul related to the above concepts? Is the soul merely another invention of the mind, or can it be known and experienced in a physical and concrete manner, or any way that transcends the physical senses and intellect? As the Age of Pisces relied heavily upon analytical thought in order to apprehend “truth,” so the Aquarian Age will rely most emphatically upon altered states of consciousness, intuition and other higher faculties in order to perceive, experience and comprehend abstract realities. Whether the intuition or a higher faculty proves the existence of the soul will depend entirely upon the empirical knowledge acquired by each individual in an absolute state of awareness. That science would finally prove the existence of the soul, or certain aspects of it at some future date we have no doubt, but the answer to such a question may be acquired here and now through mystical means. In the coming Age there will be a shift of emphasis from speculative metaphysics to applied metaphysics or practical mysticism. Though this is already occurring with the varied activities of the proponents and exponents of occultism and metaphysics in the last few decades, this condition will intensify further in the next millenium. The true knowledge of the soul would have to come from the soul itself. It cannot be otherwise. Science may only discover aspects of it.

When Prometheus stole fire from the gods and gave it to humanity he ushered man onto the road of civilization and into the path of spiritual inquiry. Fire relieved prehistoric man of many fears. With the discovery of fire, man could for once in his life relax in the comfort of his cave without the fear of being attacked by unexpected predators. In his new-found ease man commenced to think and introspect. His higher mind began to awaken and he started off pondering upon the existence of invisible realms and a “self” independent of the material form. This cogitation was triggered by certain experiences that he had such as dreams, psychological impressions, and unexplainable instinctive knowledge. In dreams he felt that something within him goes forth out of the body to continue the activities of the day. This was the birth of the belief in the existence of the soul. The belief and search for an incorporeal principle of human life, therefore, goes way back beyond recorded history and is to be found in all cultures in one form or another. So far, only the spiritual cream of society–the mystics and saints–have solved the problem of the existence of the soul through experimentation in the laboratory of the Spirit.

Throughout the ages mystics, sages, and prophets have impressed upon us the importance of knowing the immaterial entity that animates and directs the body. Some consider this entity to be the mind, the self, the soul, the life-force, the spirit, the ego, the personality, the psyche, the Spark of God, etc. They declare that it is only through knowing this intangible reality of man is it possible to know one’s Source and one’s purpose of being. The instinctive drive that motivates and impels man to search for the soul stems from the imponderable soul-factor itself. The importance of the search is sensed by the mind but the exact reason is not known explicitly. This is what Jung called the religious instinct. Moreover, this “instinct” is not to be found in man alone, but also in the other primates and the cetaceans. Another curious fact is that the higher animals exhibit many so-called human qualities such as guilt shame, and pride. If these feelings are associated with the soul, then soul, or at least soul-essence may be said to indwell in animals also. However, man is considered the only being that wonders about the soul, death, the after-life, etc. In The Meaning of Immortality in Human Experience, William Ernest Hocking (1873-1966), the American philosopher says that,

“Man is the only animal that contemplates death, and also the only animal that shows any sign of doubt of its finality.”

Does the soul really exist? And what is the value of identifying the soul? Without the search and discovery of the “soul” along with the knowledge of its purpose of existence through whatever means possible, there would always be a feeling of dissatisfaction and uneasiness in the bosom of man. Without the undeniable proof of the survival of individual identity life would appear to be a series of meaningless events and experiences. If the soul does not exist and everything ends at the death of the human form then all the struggles and all the strivings in life serves no purpose. Why bother with the harsh teachings of life if all will end up in total annihilation with not a single iota of the immaterial man surviving the physical form? Suicide would be a convenient escape; and yet, somehow, we sense that suicide somehow violates cosmic rules–rules laid down by whom or what?

On the other side of the coin, man’s inflated ego has caused him to believe that he is the only creature on earth with a soul. His “superior intelligence” is proof of it. Man believes that no other creature possesses faculties such as imagination, reason, and the will as he has–the vital faculties needed to control and direct the environment. This reasoning gave man a sense of supremacy and uniqueness; and also the sense of being the chosen one of God, for was he not made “in the image of God”? This is basically an egocentric point of view, one that gives rise to the exploitation, abuse, manipulation and ultimate destruction of Nature. Associated with this belief is the presupposition that intelligent life only exists on earth, and that Man is representative of it. Man is so blinded by the ego that he does not realize that life adapts itself to whatever conditions it finds itself. The chemical and environmental necessities for sentient life here on this planet may not be the requirements for the manifestation of life on another planet. Life may subsist on other or unknown elements. For instance, carbon being the basis of life on this planet may not be the basis of life on other planets. Other planets may make use of silicon, silica, or other materials instead. That which gives life is not any of the known gases, but the universal life-force called prana. Aside from this, from the metaphysical point of view, life does not solely exist in the spectrum of energies that we objectively perceive, but exists even beyond that. So, as an example, a planet such as Venus or Pluto may be host to intelligent beings residing in the higher dimensions of the planet without being detected by the crude telescopes or instruments that we call technologically advanced, such as the Hubble Space Telescope.

Vital questions that might be addressed are whether animals possess souls, or is this a unique gift to man alone; is soul a substance or a function; and that if man evolved self-identity out of the functions of the life-force, at what point of his evolution did he acquire it; and should soul be considered an entity, at what point in the fetal development does it ensoul the form, or does it enter when the baby takes in its first breath? Such questions may only be answered should we possess a true knowledge of the metaphysical part of life. A study and understanding of all of the seemingly intangible aspects of nature such as the microcosmic constituents and functions of man–the etheric elements supporting organic life, the divine spiritual force that sustains the microcosmic structure, the three-fold Soul, etc., assists greatly in answering profound questions.

Man possesses subconscious knowledge of his soul, but for some reason he blocks this out consciously by “pretending” to be ignorant. He hypnotizes himself into disbelieving immaterial realities for this is the line of least resistance to him. Actually it is much easier to remember than to forget. The proof that the soul, the spiritual essence of man exists is that we are searching for it! It is the mystery of the soul searching for itself.

We realize that this topic is controversial in nature, and as being related to religion, it acquires a certain sensitivity among religious fundamentalists. However, this emotional sensitivity should be shelved aside in the rationalistic study of the soul; for one must be objective, open-minded, sensible, tolerant, and circumspect in the acquisition of beneficial knowledge. Unrestrained emotionalism is a hurdle towards the acquisition of truth. Hopefully this paper would offer the reader a greater insight into the mystery of the soul and our intense search for it. This is a complex subject and it would not be possible to wholly satisfy the intellect. Its purpose is no more than to act as a stimulus for the mystical consciousness of the one perusing its pages. Whenever we use the word “soul’ we are generalizing and mean the whole immaterial part of man, unless otherwise specified or implied.

DEFINITION

The Webster’s Dictionary defines soul as “the immaterial essence, animating principle, or actuating cause of an individual life,” and also as the “spiritual principle embodied in human beings, all rational and spiritual beings, or the universe.” It also defines the soul as the “person’s total self.”

Religion and philosophy regards soul as the immaterial aspect or essence of the microcosmic man that confers a sense of self and being–a sense of being an independent entity, quite apart from the external environment. Basically, religious philosophical thought believe the soul to be eternal in essence. Neoplatonism is one of the school of thought that propounds this tenet. The theologian and prelate St. Augustine likewise, believed in the immortality of the soul, as did Cicero, the Roman orator. The soul is often thought to be synonymous with the mind or consciousness. Theology builds up upon the above definitions by considering the soul to be divine in nature and capable of surviving the dissolution of the physical form. In our modern times the belief in soul survival is called Survivalism. Certain schools of metaphysics further assert that the soul, or spirit to be a spark or emanation of the Source of all and that it is an evolving aspect of the microcosm working towards apotheosis or deification.

Perhaps it would be superfluous to say that the soul-concept is subjective. Whether it exists is beside the point: the Self, or soul as an essence has never been perceived objectively by anyone. What are seen as phantoms or ethereal forms by psychics or the average person during certain psychological states are possibly the sheaths enshrouding the spiritual essence. If we have a soul, then what are we? What is “it” that is supposed to possess a soul or Self? Can a Self possess a Self? Is the soul to be differentiated from the Self? Unless we recognize that there are various aspects to the immaterial man we would not begin to understand him. It is in this respect that Occultism, Mysticism, the Ancient Wisdom and Metaphysics in general, are far in advance of the knowledge possessed by exoteric Religion, Philosophy, and Science.

The soul is not wholly definable. We may generalize and say that the soul is the immaterial aspect of man; and yet this non-substantial quality of man is composed of various components, not all of which may be immediately apprehensible by the various faculties of the mind. Also, our media of information conveyance such as words, signs, and symbols are incapable of transmitting the whole truth as it is. The divine aspect of the immaterial man cannot be expressed through language, nor can they be formulated into ideas. A faculty of a lower aspect of the microcosm is incapable of knowing a higher aspect in its entirety. In order for a higher aspect of the microcosm to be known it is necessary to exercise the faculties associated with it. For instance the clich? “it takes a thief to catch a thief” describes and supports our proposition exactly. No one knows a thief better than another thief. Likewise, in order to know something we must be that something or function at its level. This metaphysical principle has a very wide application, and many unusual occult phenomena may be produced from its use.

Although the academic definition of the soul has been given above, there is no standard agreement or understanding as to the terms “soul” and “spirit” and also of the other spiritual concepts taught in the many religions, sects and cults. This lack of standardization causes confusion and often result in senseless heated debates and even physical conflicts. Some systems of metaphysics consider the above terms as archaic and specific words denoting the various aspects of the soul or spirit are utilized instead. Should religion update its terminology and doctrines in accord with the modern findings of science and the pure spiritual teachings of mysticism it would be more aligned with the plan of God and attract more followers into its fold; as it is, true religion appears to be withering in the temples of God. This statement may be contradicted, however, those that argue against it may not understand what true religion is.

The many attributes of the soul are generally known to be the personality, the conscience, the emotional feelings, the mental faculties, the Ego, the memory, the various levels of consciousness, and the will. Generally speaking, philosophy, religion, and metaphysics are all in agreement as to this.

Copyright © 2006 Luxamore

Calibration: “The act of checking or adjusting (by comparison with a standard) the accuracy of a measuring instrument…” - English dictionary

Most people associate “calibration” with instruments such as a thermostat or police radar gun. We calibrate or check to ensure that the instrument has retained absolute accuracy of performance. However, we also see an extension of this word as “recalibration” and its association with the business world, specifically with service provider relationships. Typically, recalibration involves starting with a failure of a particular model or relationship, identifying the problem, and fixing or strengthening it. Just as with calibration, recalibration in business can make or break a company.

Today, many companies, small and large, are turning to outsourcing, which enables the organization to be more efficient and cost effective. Global outsourcing has become a controversial subject, and now plays a strong role in our economy. For small or start-up companies, outsourcing provides a way to build a successful business on a budget. A one-man office could take a portion of the operations, outsource them for a fraction of the cost of hiring someone full-time, and begin to establish that company. For large companies, outsourcing provides the opportunity to save money, thus increasing the bottom line and making shareholders happy. Additionally, outsourcing can enable penetration into new markets that would not be possible without the addition of local “partners”.

In choosing to outsource, companies must fully evaluate their business needs, how outsourcing will contribute to the organization and the value of the service being outsourced. Many organizations outsource activities and functions which are not their core competencies. In example, a technology firm with proprietary software might outsource content development for their marketing collateral. However, a firm that markets service as one of their core competencies would likely refrain from outsourcing their customer call center.

Outsourcing Legal activities have been a commonplace practice for many years. Even firms with in-house counsel outsource certain activities to outside counsel. In any area of business, the goal of outsourcing is to create greater operating efficiencies and ensure that internal teams are free to work on critical value tasks.

While outsourcing legal activities is not a new practice the way in which those relationships are managed has changed. As the practice of outsourcing has expanded businesses have begun to view these outside contractors in a different light. Once viewed as “work-for-hire” those that perform outsourced work are now viewed as essential business partners, or an extension of the core work force. Outsourced law firms should be integrated into business activities and no longer viewed as a function that happens in a silo. In-house counsel gains specialized knowledge and a broader knowledge base from outsourcing. These relationships need to be effectively managed to ensure the continuing value and successful outcomes. The business aspect of outsourced relationships needs to be managed as well as the communication aspect. Are the processes and methodologies being improved? Are you achieving the desired business results from the relationship? Are you achieving greater efficiencies by outsourcing? Work cannot simply be outsourced without a process of evaluation and measurement.

As for those that survive from outsourced work, their view too has changed. No longer content to perform a one time service, they are extremely focused on service and value realizing that it is critical to build long term relationships to sustain business, and that is a win-win proposition for both sides.

Richard A. Hall is founder and President/CEO of LexTech, Inc., a legal information consulting company. Mr. Hall has a unique breadth of experience which has enabled him to meld technology and sophisticated statistical analysis to produce a technology driven analytical model of the practice of law. As a busy civil trial attorney, he was responsible for the design and implementation of a LAN based litigation database and fully automated document production system for a mid-sized civil defense firm. He developed a task based billing model built on extensive statistical analysis of hundreds of litigated civil matters. In 1994, Mr. Hall invented linguistic modeling software which automatically reads, applies budget codes, budget codes and analyzes legal bill content. He also served as California Director and lecturer for a nationwide bar review. Mr. Hall continues to practice law and perform pro bono services for several Northern California judicial districts.

Blackjack has always rivaled poker for popularity. In fact, many land-based casinos featured Blackjack over poker. Some casinos in the not so distant past even closed their poker rooms for lack of activity.

Since the advent of televised poker tournaments, like the World Poker Tour, and the World Series of Poker, in particular, replete with celebrity players and fabulous amounts of prize money awarded the tournament champions, poker has taken the world by storm.

Although Blackjack remained highly popular, the game was surely being overshadowed by the multitude of high-profile poker tournaments. Not any more. The Ultimate Blackjack Tour for example, may be hot on the heels of the WSOP tour’s popularity, since the UBT will feature not only the best Blackjack players, but championship-level poker players as well.

Although the basic principle of Blackjack is simple; card values are added in an attempt to reach twenty-one without going over, the game is not purely one of luck, as there are numerous strategies that can be employed to increase one’s chances of winning.

Although various card games similar to what we now know as Blackjack had been played in other countries for many years, Blackjack did not make an appearance in American casinos until a few years prior to WW I. Played as a private game until around 1915, Blackjack was known by it’s French name of “Vingt-Un, (twenty-one). The game became “Blackjack” when the casinos established bonus payouts if a player’s first two cards dealt were a Black Jack (spades or clubs), and an Ace of Spades.

In the early 1930’s Blackjack had increased it’s popularity among gamblers to the point that it was now the third most popular game played, second only to Roulette and Craps. Shortly after the end of WW II Blackjack’s popularity soared, and the game was second in popularity only to Craps, it’s rise largely attributed to returning American soldiers, who played the game most frequently as a diversion from the strife of the War years. By the early Fifties, Blackjack had become the most popular card game in the U.S.

Blackjack has evolved in the casinos, and having a “black” Jack and an Ace of Spades is no longer the sole means of getting Blackjack. Now, any ten-value card ( ten or face card ), and an Ace of any color gives one a “Blackjack”.

Blackjack was hugely popular in the illegal casinos and card rooms of the U.S., but the game reached it’s zenith when the State of Nevada legalized gambling within its borders in 1931. It was then that the game could be played by locals and visitors, as well as the professional gamblers that were once only able to ply their trade illegally.

A Brief Blackjack Glossary For The Beginner:

- Blackjack - Ten value card and an Ace
- Broke or Bust - Hand card value over 21
- Hit or Draw - Request for additional cards
- Splitting Pairs - Two of the same value cards “split” into separate hands
- Double-Down - Both cards turned face-up. One extra card dealt only.
- Stand/Stay/Stick - No additional cards requested
- Push - Player and dealer have the same value hand - no winner

Kenneth Bateman writes numerous articles on the subject of online casinos. To read more of his articles on the http://www.21-online-casinos.com.

Well Darlings,

Yes, okay then, I’ll admit it. Once upon a time - this really is a fairy story, so you’d better believe it! - I did for a short time in my very early schooldays read Mickey Mouse, the comic. It was in the days when many a comic, including that one, cost around the same price as a chocolate bar - a Mars bar was 3d or 4d (old money - pre-decimalisation). Today, I notice, for the price of some comics you could buy more than half-a-dozen Mars bars, and a few of them can set you back more than six times the price of a newspaper. I hear you ask: Why is this? The answer is quite simple. Today we live in an age of market forces. Few things today cost what they are really worth - they cost as much as can realistically be obtained for them. The modern philosophy of reasoning with children rather than laying down the law (discipline) works well for market forces - mostly the children win the arguments, and they will have their comic no matter what it costs.

But that was not the point of this story, I have digressed. No, the point I wanted to make was that I think we still retain a great fondness for the comics with which we were brought up, and perhaps all the subjects contained within their covers. Many may not have survived the years but a mention of them, or something that reminds you of them, can still produce those pangs of nostalgia: thoughts maybe of a wonderful time in your life - a time of innocence and when everything was an adventure.

So, being brought up on Mickey Mouse in my days of innocence, you can imagine the mixed feelings that engulfed me when I read about the pirate video made at Disneyland Paris showing Goofy grabbing hold of Minnie’s boobs, and Mickey having a gay romp - with a snowman, I believe. There has to be a joke here about snowballs, but I’ll leave it out. Apparently the risqu? footage was shot backstage by another worker using a concealed camera in an area that is inaccessible to guests - so it is all for real! - and it only lasts for a couple of minutes of the otherwise normal film showing the Disneyland at large. Is it funny? Well, I haven’t seen it but yes, I guess it is - once you get over the initial shock of your childhood heroes having sexual lives.

A Disney spokesperson has said: “We regret any offence it (the video) might cause. Action has been taken to prevent this happening again.”

Now that statement might be a comfort for some people, but for me it has turned my shock into pure horror! Please, someone tell me they haven’t castrated Mickey Mouse!

And now for some more political correctness gone mad: For many years Alan & Thomas, the insurers, have like countless other firms and places of work circulated cards for all the other staff to sign when it has been some employee’s birthday. However all that has now ended for this company. Why? Because they fear any humorous references to being “past it” or “over the hill” written in a card may be considered ageist and in breach of the new age discrimination laws, thereby leaving them open to prosecution. They say the new law is “a potential minefield”, and as insurers I guess they know quite a bit about interpreting the law.

The new laws, which came into effect on Oct 1st, make it illegal for an employer to discriminate against any worker on the basis of age when it comes to hiring, firing, promotion, or retirement. This has led to employer’s fears of a floodgate of younger workers who will sue if they are not paid and treated exactly the same as older ones, and vice versa. To further worry them, employers now bear the burden of positively proving they haven’t discriminated against a worker in a lawsuit where, should they lose the case, the potential rewards against them are uncapped. And hot on the heels of all this, the Political Correctness Brigade seem to have collared every adjective or description that could be put with age, and you now use it at your peril.

Political correctness is making a mockery of the law by using it to ban many time-served expressions of affection. These people are taking our language and mutilating it. Old, when used in association with people, can no longer mean anything now but something bad. They have taken everything else that might have been associated with this word - things like “wisdom”, “liable to be knowledgeable”, or “one to be respected” (to name just three that readily spring to mind) - and have trampled it underfoot.

Some terms of endearment you may no longer use without worrying about the PC Brigade: “Old John had to miss the game.” - even though in this context old may be suggesting a close long-time friendship. “I’ll see what the old man says about it.” - even though this refers to the boss, a person who may enjoy this expression recognising his seniority. “I’ll get Tom some help, he’s not a spring chicken anymore.” - even though this might be caringly recognising an actual limiting factor. “I say old boy, wasn’t that a great show!” - even though this may be expressed as a term of equality, brotherhood and affection. All my school chums have always been “old boy” to each other, but not anymore, I guess.

At the other end of the scale, don’t ever refer to anyone as being “wet behind the ears” anymore without first looking over your shoulder, and even to mention: “I’ll see what the younger ones say about it,” may now get you viewed with suspicion - why should you be expecting their opinions to differ merely because of their age? (For God’s sake - why shouldn’t they?) Finally, and relevant to many a shopkeeper, do beware of calling anyone “son” who is not really your son - not only are you being ageist by bringing attention to an obvious age difference (whether you are actually older or not), you could also be seen as casting aspersions on the morality of that person’s mother! What a world we live in!

Where will it all end with this political correctness? In utter silence by a nation of hermits? A nation of people who may not be spoken of as fat, thin, tall, short, midget, dwarf, blind, deaf, dumb, mute, retarded, ill, crippled, bald, old, or young (amongst many, many other terms), and where no-one may be referred to as Jock, Paddy, Taffy, or Joe, (to name but a few) or ever pop along to a Packy shop for some fags or visit a Chinky for a curry - no matter how affectionately these terms may be meant or received? A nation where no difference between any of us may be noticed or mentioned, and where all the races, religions and cultures making up our multiracial society shall enjoy absolute equality in all things - providing, of course, we are not referring here to the endemic British people or Christianity?

It’s all a little bit like Communism, isn’t it? Everybody is equal - except some are more equal than others. The privileged set will, of course, include the politically correct people.

I started this column by referring to my younger days. For some of those days I happened to live with my grandmother in a Guest House on the outskirts of the London Borough of Croydon. A major part of the clientele at this establishment were theatrical performers, and they came in all shapes, colours, and sizes. I particularly remember a young (but not to me at the time - I was about six!) conjurer who stayed for several weeks. He was the first non-white person I had come close enough to, to examine our differences - to touch his black skin, and to query the pink palms of his hands. I can remember sitting on his knee and checking those hands, and the coarse curly black head of hair. I guess now I must have said a lot of embarrassing things, but he seemed not to mind. He was a great guy who played games with me (no, he wasn’t a pervert!), amazed me with his magic tricks, and even occasionally took me to the swings in the nearby park. When he had to move on he bought me a present, (a magic set, what else?) and I can remember crying; pleading with him to stay.

The point I’m making here is: that house was full of differences - and nobody gave a damn. There were several Oriental ladies at this time (I don’t exactly know what they did); three dwarves (I can remember pulling them apart too!) - and everybody referred to them as just that - dwarves - and they didn’t mind, no offence was intended or taken; then there were a couple of other people; and then my friend the coloured magician - again, everybody called him that - coloured - and he was quite happy with it. In those days nothing was wrong with the word “coloured”, it wasn’t offensive, it was merely descriptive. For a description you need a word, and very often there is nothing at all wrong with that word, it is not offensive - not until some people like the Politically Correct Brigade make it so by convincing you it is.

My grandfather was quite happy to be called old - I used to call him “old daddy”. My father, “soldier daddy”, had to be away for much of the time, and I never knew my mother, she died whilst I was still a small baby. Everybody knew “old daddy” was deaf - he was deaf in one ear, and bald - he was almost totally bald. He may not have enjoyed any of those conditions, but I’m sure he was sensible enough to know that changing the words for any of them would not have improved his life or those conditions by one iota. As words: deaf, bald, and old were merely descriptions, accurate ones, and there was absolutely nothing offensive in those words.

To call a Pakistani person a Packy (or Packi) should be no more offensive to anyone than calling a Scotsman a Scot (but never Scotch - that’s the drink!) It’s sad that today some people have been allowed to make it offensive. For years I phoned a local restaurant, the Mayflower in Swindon, always starting off with: “Is that the Chinky’s?” I’m sure that had they have minded they would have said so, and they would not have invited me and my partner for the free Xmas Dinner they used to put on for some of their customers every year. Another Chinese guy I know, everybody affectionately calls him Sam because we have no hope of pronouncing his name correctly, used to advertise his chip shop as “the local Chinky”. There never was anything offensive in “Chinky”, not until some people made it so.

At the hands of the politically correct so many long-standing terms of affection fall foul. One should no longer greet anyone with the likes of: “my love”, “dear”, or “sweetheart” anymore - not unless they really are that - and something as commonly heard in London as: “Hello me ol’ China - ‘ow yer doing?” has these PC people positively doing somersaults. I say: Leave us alone! Find something better to do!

“What’s in a name? That which we call a rose by any other name would smell as sweet; so Romeo would, were he not Romeo call’d, retain that dear perfection which he owes without that title.” - Romeo and Juliet, by William Shakespeare.

People are people, and words are merely words that mean what people make them mean, they are not that important. Important is how we feel about each other and how we treat each other, and busybodies playing around with the language we use does nothing to help or improve anything. I am fully convinced that the day we wake up and outlaw political correctness is the day we will solve one hell of a lot of this country’s problems!

See you next week . . .

“The Bitch!” 21/10/06. - With “The Bitch” perhaps being a politically incorrect term for the critical naff old queen who writes this column - and even that description now being politically incorrect in itself too! Oh, dear! What are we supposed to do to appease these PC nutcases? Lie about everything?

Michael Knell

The first video game system that I actually owned was an Atari game console that played only pong and pong like games. The console used your television to visually display the game and its “action”. We were thrilled with the system and many hours were spent staring at the television screen with the eerie beep of the pong hitting the paddles echoing through out the room. The next video game system I owned was also an Atari, but instead of being dedicated to only one game, this actually accepted a variety of cartridges which played wonderful games, including Asteroids, Space Invaders and Pac-man. And we once again embraced them as wonderful advancements in technology and introduced them to our children.

Before I knew it, the kids were asking for a Commodore 64. They now wanted a personal computer and I was saving the money to get one, because the price was right. The C64 did not require a monitor, and could be plugged into a television set, and had graphics that were evolving away from the simple shapes of Atari to realistic drawings. Instead of all action games, some of the games involved solving problems and were much more “intellectual”. Even better, you could copy the games on a cheap cassette tape and pass them around.

The next video game system that the kids were asking for was the Nintendo Entertainment System. It had high-resolution, full color, tiled backgrounds and the games were longer and contained more detailed graphics. Super Mario Brothers was the big hit game that everyone wanted. When the Sega Mega Drive was introduced, they were still happy with their NES. Then the kids outgrew the video game systems and it wasn’t until I discovered the role playing game called Morrowind that I was drawn into PC video games. I was totally blown away! I could not believe the advancements in technology that enabled such realism! And to my grandchildren, who by the way have Nintendo 64 and Play Station 2 and full access to PC games, these are common, everyday toys. How amazing is that!?

Sandra Cundy

Arriving in Delhi in March, the temperature was somewhat higher than in Europe at about 30?C, but surprisingly, not unpleasant due to the lack of humidity. As this was our third visit to Delhi, the hustle and bustle of humanity, the porters vying to push our luggage trolley and the general feeling of organised chaos, came as little of a surprise. However, there were some changes since our last visit. The drive into the city seemed to take much less time than previously, I think because the road had been widened in places and the extension of the metro system had reduced the traffic by a minuscule but noticeable amount.

In other respects, the journey was just the same; tuk tuks whizzing in and out of other traffic, hundreds of bicycles and motor scooters each with upwards of two passengers, overloaded buses and lorries and the ubiquitous Ambassador car. Nonetheless there are now far more other makes of private vehicle on the roads than before, Tata being a favourite, manufactured by the giant company formerly only known for its trucks, but now making affordable family cars as well as branching out into the telecoms business.

The welcome at our hotel was, as always in good Indian hotels, impeccable and we were soon ensconced in the bar with an ice cold Kingfisher beer and were soon deep in conversation with the incredibly well-educated barman about, amongst other things, Indian politics and the growth of international business in this part of the world.

Another Kingfisher in and we were a bit peckish, the effects of our Virgin Atlantic breakfast having worn off. The speciality here was Chinese cuisine so we opted for king prawns in a wonderful chilli and garlic sauce plus (more) prawns wrapped in crispy filo pastry and served with a delightful, light dipping sauce, slightly sweet and slightly spicy. But enough of Chinese food, after all, we are in India!

The same night we ate a tandoori chicken dish as well as spicy, very finely minced lamb patties. To accompany the meat, we chose a tarka dal (red lentils, spiced with cumin, garlic, ginger and chilli, to name but a few) served in tiny individual dishes, as is traditional, as well as light-as-air naan bread. To follow we had (rather unnecessarily, but my husband has a sweet tooth) Zauk-e-Shahi, which we were told translates as Dessert of the Royals and is a reduced milk, saffron and paneer (similar to cottage cheese) dumpling encrusted with poppy seeds. It was a truly wonderful meal, made so particularly by the friendliness of the waiting staff and their happiness at our interest in the food and how it was cooked. They were astounded to learn that we in the West, cook Indian food in our homes too!

On day two, after a breakfast buffet which catered to every possible taste and dietary requirement, we headed back to the airport and flew to Udaipur. As there was a lengthy check-in period and the flight was slightly delayed, I just had to try the samosas, which at less than one rupee for two (if my memory serves me correctly) was the bargain of the holiday. On top of that, they were very tasty and hardly greasy at all - pretty amazing for a fast-food snack in any country.

On arrival in Udaipur, we were once again struck by the bright colours worn by the Rajastani women - shocking pink, orange and yellow being predominant. Negotiating the narrow, winding streets, many of the shops were also festooned with the same rainbow-hued saris.

Our hotel was part of the City Palace complex, still partially occupied by the Maharana himself and its main attraction, apart from the palace itself, is its outdoor bar and restaurant set right at the edge of Lake Pichola, overlooking virtually the whole lake and in particular, the Lake Palace Hotel, famous for featuring in the James Bond film “Octopussy”. The view from this terrace of the setting sun reflecting in the lake and the twinkling of the uplighting of the Lake Palace is really something to see, but on this particular evening, the thrall of the sunset was interrupted by first an elephant complete with howdah but no passengers, swiftly followed by a procession of various classic European sports cars and then a marching band. Apparently, the sports car drivers were on a tour of India and had been invited by the Maharana to a banquet. As a consequence, we too were treated to processions, music and fireworks far into the night.

Knowing that there would be less choice at some of our other destinations, we went the Chinese route for dinner which consisted of chicken fried in chilli sauce, crispy shredded mutton tossed in lemon, honey and chilli plus Sweet and Sour Vegetables - red and green pepper, cauliflower and peas, which, with egg fried rice, all went down very well.

The next morning was taken up with sightseeing - a drive around Lake Pichola, the Princes Garden and the City Palace, of which there is far too much of interest to describe here. Lunch was samosas and vegetable pakora, served with a chilli dip and washed down with more Kingfisher.

Following the obligatory sunset drink, for our dinner we chose Seekh Kebab (spiced minced lamb), Khumb Palak (mushrooms simmered in pur?ed spinach with herbs and spices), Dal Dhaba (green lentils with cumin, onion and tomato) and Tandoori Khatta Aloo (potato marinated in fermented yoghurt and aromatic Indian spices, cooked in a Tandoor). To mop all this up, we had Kulcha, which is a leavened flour bread stuffed with onion and green chilli, then fried - absolutely wonderful …. and so to bed!

In the next installment we’ll be moving southeast through Rajastan - next stop Bijaypur.

Liz Canham:

A recent online survey of PC gamers has revealed that “The Sims” is one of the most popular and best-selling games of all time.

Electronic Arts, distributors of the game, announced that the virtual-life game created by Will Wright and Maxis, has sold over 7 million copies worldwide (2002) to dethrone Myst as the top-selling computer game of all time. If you combine The Sims with all its expansion versions, The Sims series will have accounted for more than 13 million sales worldwide.

The Sims was first released on February 4, 2000 and, since then, seven expansion packs and a sequel, The Sims 2, have been released.

The great appeal of the game is that, instead of meeting a set of objectives, players engage in a fully interactive environment and are encouraged to make choices about everyday living. It is up to the player to decide how he wants to spend his “virtual day,” with the only real objective being how to organize his time and activities to help him reach his personal goals.

Like real people, Sims (which also refers to the virtual character in the game as well as the game itself) have a certain amount of free will, which means they can choose to ignore a player’s commands and do something else that they think is more important, just like real people. For example, you may want to make them go to the supermarket or visit a friend, but if their energy level is too low, the Sim may just decide to sleep instead to build up his energy reserves.

The game calls for players to make decisions for their Sim characters about personal development (such as adding specific activities like exercise and reading to enhance creativity, and logic), personal hygiene (how often he must clean the house, do the dishes or take out the garbage), personal finances (what kind of job does he take on and how does he spend his income), eating, and sleeping.

Let’s say the Sim does not have enough eat or sleep, or has not created a healthy environment, they could get sick and die. If the Sim does not have enough recreational activities, his fun level bar falls and he becomes depressed (but never to the point that he commits suicide).

Players also have control over how their Sim character relates with other characters. They can make their Sim a nasty person who insults, slaps or even attacks other Sims, which usually means they get insulted, slapped and attacked in return.

Kadence Buchanan writes articles for http://igamerscorner.com/ - In addition, Kadence also writes articles for http://4boatingstuff.com/ and http://wonderfulworldofsports.net/.

No matter how much you may look forward to the holiday season, it is difficult to get away from the fact that the holidays can be quite stressful. If you wish to successfully manage holiday stress then you need to have a strategy. Assuming that everything should go smoothly is setting you up to get overwhelmed. Happier holidays do not happen by accident. They are designed.

Creating realistic expectations can be quite challenging because most of us want the memories to be perfect. It becomes difficult to enjoy time with family and friends when you have too many responsibilities and not enough time. I suggest that you think on paper. Make to-do lists. Focus on the activities that will bring the desired result. Understand what makes the holiday season special for you. What kind of experiences do you want to create this year? Remember that everything does not have to be perfect. Once you have clarity on this, things will fall into place much easier.

Recognize and accept your own limitations. Plan ahead and create a budget. Don’t confuse being busy with accomplishment. Learn from your past mistakes. Better yet, learn from other people’s mistakes. Lack of planning ultimately leads to failure. The holiday films that we all enjoy don’t show you the crew of staff behind the scenes who set up everything to look perfect. Be wise in your approaches.

Here are some examples:

? Save yourself a few hours by ordering a cake instead of baking it yourself.

? Allow a cleaning person or crew to come in once a year during the holiday season to clean your home.

? Avoid the crowded stores; shop from the Internet or from catalogs. These companies can ship the gifts for you.

? If you are having an informal get-together use nice, sturdy, and disposable plates and utensils. Save the china for the more formal events.

? Most guests are willing to bring a side dish or appetizer. Let them help.

? Designate a children’s room for play and one for eating. Decorate with an inexpensive tablecloth. Place a few drop cloths under the children’s seats to save wear and tear on your carpet. This can reduce lots of stress.

? Gather your family, order a couple of pizzas and have a decorating party. Create some family traditions.

? If you have a crowd coming over or people with small children, you can decrease your anxiety by putting up the breakable treasures.

? Buy a few disposable cameras and place them throughout the house. Tell your guests to take pictures as they see fit. This will keep you from being solely responsible for getting the holiday memories and you may finally get in some of the pictures.

Brace yourself for the upcoming stress of the holidays. Watch out for increased irritability, decreased sleep or feeling overwhelmed. Give yourself enough time so that you don’t have to rush. Don’t let your mouth overload your back. Learn to say “No”. Some simple but powerful advice is: Remember to breathe. By the way, you should expect to feel down right after entertaining and after Christmas Day.

If you are going to be a guest at someone’s home, you may want to consider these suggestions:

1. Don’t stay too long. You may want to shorten the length of the visit instead of wearing out your welcome.

2. Discipline your own children. If Little Johnny goes wild, then Little Johnny’s parents need to be the ones who handle it - no one else. This keeps toes from getting stepped on.

3. Set differences aside. Don’t try to resolve past issues at this time.

4. It may be wise to make separate accommodations as a hotel rather than staying at a relative’s home.

5. Be helpful to the host.

It is totally normal after being in situations that place you under peak emotional demands that your body and mind will need to regroup. Make sure you get plenty of extra rest.

Helen Keller once said, “The only real blind person at Christmas time is he who has not Christmas in his heart.” Christmas is a state of mind. Enjoy the holiday season. There is more to it than baking and entertaining. Make sure they are full of fun and laughter. Create happy feelings and memories. Look at the holidays through the eyes of a child.

The three stages of a man’s life:

1. He believes in Santa Claus.
2. He doesn’t believe in Santa Claus.
3. He is Santa Claus.

What should you do if you are having a hard time with the holidays

If you and your family are dealing with loss or separation, discuss how you are feeling. Acknowledging how you feel will reduce emotional stress. Holding feelings inside creates tension and depression. Symptoms to watch out for are:

? Depressed Mood
? Anxiety
? Irritability
? Low Energy Level
? Restlessness
? Sleep and/or Appetite Disturbance
? Feelings of Worthlessness
? Feelings of Hopelessness and/or Helplessness

Mark Webb is the author of How To Be A Great Partner and founder of Partner Focused Relationships?. Sign up for Mark Webb’s “Relationship Strategies” Ezine ($100 Value). Just visit his website at http://www.powerfulrelationshipadvice.com or http://www.therelationshipspecialist.com

Ask anybody who the greatest guitar players in the history of rock music are, and you’ll likely get the standard answers. The big three, Clapton, Beck and Page; certainly Eddie Van Halen; maybe Stevie Ray Vaughn. The metal-heads will cite Randy Rhodes and George Lynch. These are all valid answers, but if you would put forth names like Elliot Easton and Andy Summers, you might be likely to get a blank stare in return. Too often great guitarists are overlooked simply because they lack the flash of a star like Eddie Van Halen or because they are part of a group that simply has an overabundance of talent and they tend to be moved to the background. Take Andy Summers, guitarist for the Police. Everybody knows who Sting is, and there is no doubt that he is tremendously talented, as is drummer Stewart Copeland. As part of that unit, however, Summers was often overlooked. What is so amazing about Andy Summers is not only his command of the instrument, but his overwhelming versatility. From ska to punk to reggae to straight ahead rock and roll, nothing is outside of his ability. His style has been described as minimalist, but that minimalism is a plus, and he is to be credited for not falling prey to his critics and trying to overplay to compensate for a lack of complex layers of sound. Below, in no particular order, I’ve listed some of my favorite underappreciated players, and the reasons why I consider them to be great.

Elliot Easton (The Cars): Elliot Easton is probably the greatest reason for the success of The Cars. Without Easton’s accessible rock guitar cutting through the synth driven Cars sound, they never would have found the mainstream acceptance that they did. Imagine the spacey pair of Ric Ocasik and Greg Hawkes playing over an equally new-wave influenced guitarist and you have a style of music that would not appeal to people on a large scale. Easton’s Buddy Hollyesque sound, however, served to make The Cars commercially viable. “My Best Friend’s Girl” from their debut album is an excellent example of how Easton’s contribution was essential in creating hit records for The Cars.

Warren DiMartini (Ratt): What impresses me most about DiMartini is that fact that despite being known as a speed demon who is content to throw a startling flurry of notes at the listener, is that he knows the value of a rest. Too many metal artists try to play as fast as possible, and DiMartini can keep up with the best of them, but I’m more taken with the fact that on songs like “Lay it Down”, “Wanted Man” and “Round and Round”, it’s DiMartini’s artful use of pauses and mutings to lend depth and character to what would otherwise be just another ripping metal tune.

Kathy Valentine (The Go-Go’s/solo): The Go-Go’s will never be known for stunning musicianship, but Kathy Valentine’s reputation suffered from being thrown together with a group of girls who were far less proficient in their playing. Not to say that the Go-Go’s were not any good. Their style of music was based on catchy beats and fun lyrics, so being technically perfect was not a requirement. Unfortunately, the fact that this was an easily exploitable fault that the critics could grab a hold of, the band was unfairly criticized for being “a bunch of girls who could barely play their instruments.” If they had bothered to check, they would have found the Valentine was actually an experienced and talented guitarist, making the switch to bass to fill the spot with the Go-Go’s. Actually, a casual listen will show that Valentine’s bass playing stands out more that Charlotte Caffey’s or Jane Wiedlin’s guitar work. At times it’s almost melodic. Since the Go-Go’s Valentine has gone solo, along with a side project called the Delpines. I would strongly urge you to check out Valentine’s appealing mix of rock and punk on her “Light Years” album.

Slash (Guns ‘N’ Roses/Velvet Revolver): Guns ‘N’ Roses now Velvet Revolver bassist Duff McKagan once claimed that Slash had “the fastest right hand I’ve ever seen.” While it may be argued that the left (fretting) hand is more important for a guitarist, after hearing Slash play, there can be no discounting the value of a fast right hand. “Sweet Child of Mine”, “Paradise City” and “Welcome to the Jungle” received more radio play, but to hear one of the best examples of Slash’s work, check out “Mr. Brownstone” on “Appetite for Destruction”.

Steve “Steamin” Clark (Def Leppard): It seems that all great artists have their demons and Steve Clark was no exception. Before alcohol claimed his life at too young an age, Steve Clark had built up a legacy of fine work that will live on. Steve’s gift was an ability to build spatial separation into his phrasing. It was almost as if he was playing in a huge empty amphitheater in which each note rang out perfectly and separately and yet, along with the complimentary work of bandmate Phil Colin, fit tightly together like pieces in a puzzle. The song “Love Bites” from the “Hysteria” album perfectly illustrates this point. Unlike previous member Pete Willis, Colin provided a perfect foil for Clark to play off of. Unfortunately, Def Leppard seemed to be associated more with the fact that drummer Rick Allen played with one arm, the result of a 1984 auto accident, taking some of the attention away from the fact that Clark’s playing made Def Leppard one of the finest pop metal bands of the 80’s.

Howard Leese (Heart): Fated to share the stage with two of the most beautiful and talented women of the rock era, Howard Leese continued to lend his creative talents to Heart long after its other founding members had departed. It was Nancy with her beautiful blond tresses that stole the spotlight, but it was Howard’s guitar that powered the group. Secure in the knowledge that he was a key component in Heart’s driving guitar based sound, he was never bitter about the fact that his name was only recognizable amongst true fans of the group. Listen to “Barracuda” or “Magic Man” or “Even it Up” and you are instantly struck by the inherent “coolness” of the opening riffs, and his mastery of harmonic overtones is second to none.

Mick Mars (Motley Cr?e): Mostly thought of as a fair to middling heavy metal guitarist, Mick Mars phrasing is perfect for the Cr?e’s sound. Chunky, dirty and staccato at times, it still manages to be melodic. Upstaged by Vince Neil, Nikki Sixx and Tommy Lee and their bad-boy images, Mick stays cool and aloof behind his powerful music. Despite the darkness inherent in some of their tunes, you cannot fail to be uplifted by Mick Mars’ musical skills.

Really there are so many worthy players that I could go on and on, but this is just a listing of those few that have bugging me for years. It’s true that people have their own tastes, and for some, these guys wouldn’t even make the top 10, but it makes me feel better to have my sentiments known. If I’m lucky there may be a few of you out there - just a few - who will say, “Man, I’ve been saying for years that he (or she) has never got enough credit.”

Kenny Auyoung: Webmaster @ GetMeABand.com - Looking for a band? Search through thousands of musician’s profiles to find the right band members in your local area. Find musicians, start a band, and play music - http://www.getmeaband.com.

What do you think of when you think of bouquets?

Most people just think of flowers.

Whilst bouquets DO usually have flowers, no-one said they can’t be made with other things as well. There are all sorts of different bouquets you can make, including fruit bouquets, candy bouquets, and cookie bouquets…

*** Fruit Bouquets ***

When you make a fruit bouquet, you should still use flowers, just add some fruit in as well.

Now… certain fruits will look right, while others wont. Small fruits, like apples and oranges are good, whereas bigger fruits like watermelon won’t really work! For more interesting colors, something like a peach can add some interesting tones.

A fruit bouquet makes a perfect gift for someone who is sick in hospital. They’ll love how it looks, and eating the fruit will help them get better!

*** Candy Bouquets ***

For a totally different look, how about a candy bouquet? Kids will love this, particularly if you put their favourite candy in it. Wrapped candies are ideal, as they can just be wired and added to the bouquet without any extra work.

Unwrapped candies can still be used though, they just need to be wrapped in cellophane… I usually use clear cellophane, but colored cellophane can be used for an interesting effect.

*** Cookie Bouquets ***

Another option is a cookie bouquet. You’ll need to wrap that cookies in cellophane quite tightly to make sure the cookies don’t go stale. If the cookies look nice (with big choc-chips), then clear cellophane is probably best.

Cookie bouquets will be particularly popular if you bake your own delicious cookies.

As you can see, there are quite a few different option for bouquets. There are other types of bouquets you can make as well (such as a toy bouquet!), but fruit bouquets, candy bouquets, and cookie bouquets are the most popular. Why not try and make your own today?

Peta Fletcher has been making bouquets for over 14 years. Her website has lots of free information, including how to make a candy bouquet:http://www.visionsofsilk.com/How_to_make_a_candy_bouquet.shtml