World’s Weirdest Hotels (Guest Post)

Hotels used to be straightforward. A place whereby the weary traveller could rest his/her tired body in a clean bed with an option of breakfast in the morning. As a function they are used by businessmen and women, holidaymakers and couples.  These days however, there is an increasing focus on a move towards themes. This is something which has become ever more apparent as the recession has made competition so fierce that other marketing strategies have become necessary. Themed hotels have proved a success as their popularity is clear. Kids in particular appreciate the extra excitement involved in staying in a non conventional hotel. Whilst this is all very good for business, there are some themed establishments which really are questionable and maybe should never have become a themed hotel in the first place.

Lego Land (UK)

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Lego is a favorite toy the world over and has passed down from generation to generation but isn’t it going a little far to base a hotel on childhood memories? As one might expect, the rooms are rather obviously child orientated. There are even themed restaurants to ensure you can never get away from the branding. This themed hotel in Windsor is however, strangely popular, especially with parents and AFOL (adult fans of Lego).

Plane Hotel (Costa Rica)

You have most likely travelled a few hours on a plane to get to your foreign destination, so this is the last place you would want to spend your fortnight once you get there. Hotel Costa Verde situated in a jungle in Costa Rica is one such place. It is basically a hotel built from the salvaged fuselage of a 1965 Boeing 727.

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Ice Hotel (Canada)

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It seems rather strange to construct a hotel from a substance which is liable to melt. Made purely of snow and ice, the hotel is located just a few minutes away from Quebec. The concept is so ridiculous that it has to be rebuilt every month by over 50 workers. Guests also have to sleep in special arctic sleeping bags which surely is an experience one would pay to avoid!

Prison Hotel (USA)

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This one takes the biscuit. Why oh why would any sane individual want to bed down in a prison as part of their hotel stay? Well this is exactly what you’d get if you stay at the Liberty Hotel in Boston. The creepy, albeit luxury hotel is formerly an actual prison where real violent criminals would have shared the same space as you.  It’s hard to image a place like this being conducive to a good night’s sleep. Of course, there is never a shortage of thrill seekers out there!

Dog Bark Inn (USA)

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The saying goes ‘only in America’ and this certainly applies to this establishment. The hotel (or Bed &Breakfast technically) is actually built inside the body of a giant Beagle dog. The hotel sleeps only four guests with the toilet being disguised as a fire extinguisher. Sure there are lots of dog lovers out there but this is just… (Barking?)

So there you have it, 5 unusual themed hotels for your consideration from the people at Thorpe Breaks – what’s the weirdest hotel you’ve ever seen? Did you stay?

8 Ways to Entertain Your Children (Guest)

Today's guest post is brought you by Angelina Lawson. Thanks! 

When you are blessed with a family, you are always searching for different ways to entertain your children. You want to enrich their lives, make sure they enjoy themselves and have quality time together. If you find yourself in London, there are a host of things you can do to occupy your children. Plan ahead and use a little creativity to keep everyone actively engaged.

1. Take a look at the box office and discover what the London theatre has to offer. There are many excellent theatres in London and family-oriented shows are always part of their productions. Currently, "The Wizard of Oz," "Lion King the Musical" and "Shrek the Musical" are only few of the most popular choices that are intended for children but it is no surprise to find that it will be enjoyed by the entire family also.

2. When planning your visit to the London theatre, make a day of it. Stop in at the Harrod's to do a little shopping before the show and then find a place to enjoy a meal to finish off your experience.

3. Try a London theatre scavenger hunt or I Spy. When everyone is settled in the theatre, waiting for their Box Office show to begin, ask your children to find different things in the theatre. You may be thinking of a particular movie poster, a person in the audience or something at the concession stand but your kids will find things that might have skipped your notice.

4. Take a Thames River tour. If your box office show is in the evening, you'll have an entire day ahead of you. A journey on the Thames will give you an entirely different perspective of Britain's capital.

5. Go on a walking tour of the city. There are so many highlights such as the Tower of London, Big Ben, Westminster Abbey and Buckingham Palace. Be sure to stop and visit all of your favourites.

6. Pack a picnic and head to the park. Your picnic can be before or after the show at the London theatre. The children will enjoy the fresh air, can have some physical activity and then settle down for a bite to eat.

7. Take a trip on the train. Choose a destination that everyone has always wanted to visit and do a little exploration on the railway. Tickets are inexpensive and there is so much of interest to see.

8. Spend the night in a hotel or bed and breakfast. Children love the excitement of an overnight.

Do glasses make you funnier? (Guest)

(Thanks to Victoria for this guest post)
Do glasses make you funnier?
According to a report in March, some of Britain’s top comedians are earning up to £20million a year. With such enormous success, it’s easy to notice just how many of these funny stars wear glasses. For all celebrities, creating a memorable look can be essential for gaining popularity a good reputation. Could their glasses be partly a reason for their success? Let’s take a look at the top comedians and their choice of glasses...
Harry Hill has enjoyed years of success and gained a reputation as a quirky oddball with a unique zany sense of humour. For Harry, his clothing and overall image are a huge part of his slapstick comedy act, such as his platform shoes and oversized shirt collar. His glasses are no exception to this character and add to his wacky image. He favours a pair of semi-rimless frames in a winged black shape.
Next up it’s Stephen Merchant, best friend of Ricky Gervais and all-round funny guy. Stephen always plays the geeky character, and his glasses fit this style perfectly, but unlike Harry’s more extrovert frames, Stephen prefers the basic rectangular frame shape. For Stephen, his comedy act largely relies upon his nerdy character, so a pair of simple frames is the perfect addition.
Renowned as one of the kings of early comedy, Ronnie Corbett’s recognisable look is due partly to his eyewear. The times may have drastically changed since his comedy debut in 1970, but Ronnie’s glasses have largely remained the same. Ronnie likes the large round lens shape of glasses in a classic retro style. Ronnie is often characterised by his height and dark glasses frames, so perhaps creating a unique and recognisable look is one way to begin a successful comedy career.
For the female comediennes such as Sue Perkins and Sarah Millican, a narrow rectangular glasses frame is the style of choice. Sue and Sarah are universally popular for their acute sense of wit, so their eyewear needs to be taken seriously. Unlike the quirky slapstick humour of Harry Hill, these comediennes rely on intelligent observations and anecdotes for their acts, so simpler frame styles suit them perfectly.
Alan Carr is famous as much for his look and voice as he is for his chatty, frivolous sense of humour. Alan is never seen without his black rectangular glasses frames and having won over 10 awards for his comedy act, it is clear that the right pair of glasses can help secure notoriety as a memorable comedian.
With so many successful celebrity comedians choosing spectacles over contact lenses, perhaps it is worth asking whether glasses really can make you funny. But whether they rely on slapstick humour or witty observations, the right pair of glasses can be the ideal tool to mould their chosen image.
Victoria writes for Direct Sight, a site to buy glasses online.

Glow in the Dark Car Paint May Increase Driver Safety (Guest)

(Thanks to Paul for this guest post)

Glow in the Dark Car Paint May Increase Driver Safety

Drivers are always looking for ways to increase safety and decrease accidents. Car manufacturers equip cars with reverse cameras, motion sensors, and vibrating seats that alert you when a car is approaching at a dangerous speed. But the answer to nighttime driver safety may just be a paintjob. Glow in the dark paint not only adds style to your car, but may also help in reducing nighttime accidents.

How it Works

Glow in the dark paint has been used for all types of products to add a little flare and fun. With the introduction of glow in the dark paint on automobiles, car owners are styling their cars like never before. The look is like something out of a science fiction movie. The paint is invisible during the day, but at night the car lights up and shows off the colors.

The paint is made from nano-particle blends of non-organic materials. They are environmentally safe and made from recyclable materials. These particles are spherical shaped and so small they look like a powder. The powder is an additive that can be mixed into a variety of different clear paints. It comes in a range of colors from blue, to red, and even yellow. Each layer will offer more color in the dark, so it is suggested that 4 or 5 layers are applied to the car.

One it is dried, the particles use the sun to "charge" them the same way most glow in the dark materials do. In the dark the colors come alive and the areas the paint was applied to begins to glow.



Benefits of Glow in the Dark Car Paint

One of the most common causes of accidents at night is the failure to see the other car. Even with headlights, taillights, and streetlights, drivers are still at risk. With glow in the dark car paint, this would help eliminate the issue. Who wouldn't see a brightly glowing blue car in the middle of the night?

Another common problem with driving at night is drivers that simply forget to turn on their headlights until it is too late. Those drivers would still be seen if their cars glowed. As well as those drivers who are unable to see parked cars if they forget to turn on their headlights, if the parked car also glowed in the dark.

Is it street legal?

Depending on your local law, will depend on whether or not glow in the dark car paint is street legal. In many areas there are laws against adding florescent lights or additional lighting beneath the car or license plate area. In the car modification world, these are quite popular. However, under the laws, it states that powered lights are not permitted. With glow in the dark paint not being powered by bulbs, it often does not fall under the restrictions.

However, before you paint your entire car a glowing turquoise blue, check with your local laws to make sure it is legal. This will help avoid citations as well as the added cost of getting your car repainted.

Paul Ketzle lives and writes in London. He writes for www.carinsurance.org.uk where you can find more information on car insurance, trips, and tips for saving money when you drive

Most Bizarre College Courses in America (Guest)

Each year, American colleges offer a number of courses apparently for no reason at all. Here are some of this year's offerings that students can take as part of their curriculum.
The Joy of Garbage – Santa Clara University
Students can receive 4 units of credit by tracing the pathway of garbage disposal, which according to the syllabus are dumped on minority communities or shipped abroad. I thought our counties went to the big landfill in the canyon, but I guess I was misled on all those field trips I took to the waste management plant. This class costs students almost $5000 to take.
Harry Potter: Finding Your Patronus - Oregon State University
Part of mandatory freshman orientation, this class is designed to teach leadership around a Harry Potter theme. Unless they teach a spell to learn calculus, this class seems just silly.
Theatrical Fencing – University of Wisconsin
Distinct from actual fencing, students in the class fence with a wooden weapon that they must provide. Apparently the point is not to win, but to look good whether winning or losing. The class description calls theatrical fencing a distinct form of sword craft. They seem to have certainly got that part right. Now, I am waiting for the theatrical fencing Olympics.
Arguing with Judge Judy: Popular Logic on TV Judge Shows – University of California at Berkeley
Well, if this class were to exist, Berkeley is where I would expect it to be. I am not so sure that the judges apply logic as much as the laws of the land, but I suppose some of them might be logical.
Sport for the Spectator – Ohio State University
Are they kidding with this one? Maybe they teach them how not to make the Friday night bonfire. What's there to learn? Put on school colors. Go to location of sport activity. Find seat. Cheer for your team. Hold up card when told. Come to think of it, I could have used some direction when my sons where playing all those sainted teams such as St. Catherine or St. Clement. The really bad ones were named something like Queen of Heaven or Christ the King. How do you cheer against those? I used to feel guilty just because I wanted them to lose. My favorite was All Saints, which meant everyone in heaven was now after me.
Geology and Cinema – University of Minnesota
Sounds like life is pretty dull in Minnesota. What was that rock that rolled down on Indiana Jones anyway? Oh, computer graphics. Okay, how about the 3D rocks in Journey to the Center of the Earth? Oh, computer graphics again. I don't think I would do very well in this class.
Stupidity – Occidental College
Explains how stupidity reveals itself in culture and politics. One must wonder which stupidity are we talking about? Anyway, imagine taking this class and failing. That picture is just, well, idiotic.
Star Trek and Religion – Indiana University
Clearly jealous because Captain Kirk came from Iowa, or a Trekie who wants to go on and on about Star Trek, this class is supposed to explore religion in the future. Did anyone on Star Trek go to church?
Zombies in Popular Media – Columbia College, Chicago
Students review literature, comics and film to form critical theories about zombies and society. How hard is it? See zombie, run. You might want to run to have a cat scan of your brain, but run.

Author Amy Southerland is a career advisor and contributing writer.

Bizarre Alien Invasions - Plants and Animals, That Is (Guest)

(Hey guys, I know it’s been really slow around here. I’m working to get back on track again. In the meantime, here’s a guest post from Justin.)
When you first hear about invasive species, the image that may come to your mind most quickly is that of aliens coming to take over the earth and driving out the human species. However, if you've ever taken a class on ecology either in real life or in an online school, you may know that this term is reserved for animals and plants that have been displaced and are doing so well in their new environment that they are destroying local species. In this modern world, species become misplaced all the time, and here are just a few of the ones that are doing some damage.

In the plant world, bizarre invaders are often guilty of hurting or driving out other plants. For example, in many places in California, they're dealing with a parasitic vine called Japanese dodder. It makes kudzu, a vine known as “the Plant that Ate the South,” look tame. This nasty weed looks like nothing quite so much as bright yellow spaghetti, infests other plants and trees and kills them, and it propagates from even the smallest cutting.

Some plants are dangers to all around them, not just other plants. Giant hogweed is notorious in some parts of the world, distinctive for its size and huge white compound flowers. The sap from this plant can cause itching, blisters and burns that result in scars, and people have been known to go blind from contact with it.
Pigs are something most people think of as farm animals and sources of food. However, wild pigs are causing problems in the state of New York. Russian wild boars were brought in for captive boar hunts upstate and escaped, destroying gardens and infecting pets with nasty viruses. Nutria, a beaver relative with a long thin tail like a large rat, were introduced in North America on fur farms when many local populations in South America became extinct. They are well known to destroy wetlands and irrigation systems, displace native animals and even chew through tires or house paneling. They are so infamous that in some states there is a large bounty offered to anyone who brings in their pelts. Also large and dangerous are the anacondas that have begun to flourish in the Everglades, thanks to people releasing pet snakes when they realized how big they grow. These snakes now get into fights with the native, endangered alligators, fights which they often win.

Across the pond, England has also had a number of problems with introduced mammals. The American mink escaping from fur farms in the 1960s and 1970s contributed to the near-extinction of the English otter. Competing for the same food, and both more aggressive and less vulnerable to human disturbance, they pushed otters out of much of eastern and central England. Less dangerous and more amusing was the small herd of red-necked wallabies that escaped from a private collection in the English Midlands and became established as a breeding species in a small area of Derbyshire. Whilst it's easy to laugh at the idea of kangaroos in Europe, they did compete for food sources with the native deer. The population is now believed to be extinct.

Some of the most infamous invasive species are found in Australia though. European rabbits have caused many problems in Australia, most notably the near extinction of the local bilby, and entire states have put up rabbit-proof fencing in response. The worst however is the cane toad. This poisonous toad was introduced in the mid-1930s to control the native cane beetle, and has been rapidly spreading over Australia ever since. It has decimated local species, from birds and bugs to snakes, lizards, and even crocodiles. There are only three species in Australia that can eat the cane toad, and a kind of bird has learned to attack the non-poisonous underside in defense, but the toad has pretty much free reign over the landscape. Similarly to the Nutria, bounties have been put on their heads, although the bounty isn't always money.


Bugs are some of the most invasive of invasive species, as they can travel almost anywhere without detection. For example, Khapra beetles have been discovered recently in rice shipments from India to New York. They're found in many Asian countries, originally hailing from India, and eat their way through tons of stored grain before hunkering down to wait for the next shipment. They're resistant to insecticides too. Equally bothersome is the brown marmorated stink bug, also known as the shield bug for its shape. This insect commonly devastates orchards and vegetable fields. In fact, a disproportionate number of invasive pests are beetles, but they are not often thought of because they are small.

Though each of these species looks and acts differently, they all share the problem of being in the wrong place. Though they may be as cute as rabbits or as lovely as rhododendrons, there is nothing pleasant about what they do to the environment around them. Fortunately we now understand the dangers of introducing non-native species to new environments, and are actively working to eradicate and remove those that have made their way to where they don't belong.

Five Ways In Which 2011 Resembles 1911 (Guest)

Hey guys, it’s been a while since I’ve posted any guest posts, so here’s one from Steph Wood. I know it’s a bit word heavy, but there’s some really interesting stuff in there. :D

Bombs over Libya, revolutions, earthquakes, British royalty under the world’s gaze and rioting in its cities... But funnily enough, this isn’t the news of the year so far – it’s the news of a hundred years ago. Whether this tense, eventful and foreboding year is a lesson from the past or just a collection of meaningless coincidences, it’s certainly an interesting period to look back to.

War in Libya

At the time of writing, the battle for Tripoli is intensifying, the extent of the rebel’s occupation not yet clear to the outside world. The extent of international involvement in the conflict is providing air-superiority and tactical bombardment. Coincidentally, a full century ago Libya was the setting for the world’s first ever aerial bombardment. Italy had gone to war with the Ottoman Empire over possession of the lands that form the modern Libya: Tripolitania, Fezzan and Cyrenaica. In a sortie against Turkish troops, ace pilot Giulio Gavotti flew his Etrich Taube biplane and dropped four grenades onto an oasis and a military camp. His bombs may have missed the mark entirely, but he certainly hit the nail on the head when it came to the military applications of aircraft.

One wonders what the present civil war in Libya will subsequently create. A new nation rose out of the Ottoman Empire’s defeat, though it was first an Italian colony. But the demonstration of weakness in the Ottoman Empire sparked conflict in the Balkans and just three years later, most of the world was at war...

Revolutions

The war in Libya in 1911 wasn’t an uprising, but you don’t have to look far to find struggles against political systems in that year. In October 1911, the Xinhai revolution began in China, leading to the end of the Qing Dynasty and the formation of the Republic of China. But of course, the revolution lead to another civil war and the establishment of the People’s Republic of China, with the leaders of the republic establishing themselves in Taiwan. It was also in 1911 that Outer Mongolia, (the forerunner of the modern Mongolia) declared independence from China.

1911 was also the second year in a decade of unrest in Mexico, the year in which president Porfirio Diaz was sent into exile after six terms of political repression and electoral fraud. The man that Mexicans brought to power, Francisco I. Madero, wouldn’t last in this volatile period, and one can only hope that the revolutions of the Arab spring will be more stable and longer lasting.

Earthquakes

The 9.0 magnitude earthquake that struck Japan in March was a significant seismological event, the fifth most powerful on record. The Tsunami that followed was so tall that most defenses built to repel it were ineffective. Even despite national preparedness and the high construction standards of one of the world’s most foremost industrialized economies, the death toll rose to 15,694 confirmed deaths, with 4,669 additional missing and 5,714 injured.

The truth is that comparing 2011 with 1911 on the basis of its earthquakes isn’t particularly productive. Earthquakes are common events, and that’s true of earthquakes above 7.0 on the Richter scale. Among the few higher magnitude quakes than that which hit Japan, some (e.g Alaska, 1964) have resulted in a lesser loss of life: where and when an earthquake happens is perhaps more important than how severe it is.

The headline earthquake of 1911 was the Kebin earthquake, a 7.7 magnitude quake that hit Almaty in modern day Kazakhstan (then part of Russian Turkestan). 452 people were killed and the majority of the city was leveled. In a landlocked nation with significant mountain ranges, the earthquake itself caused few of these deaths (most people lived in wooden yurts, so toppled buildings weren’t really deadly): instead, the secondary effect of landslides were to blame.

Royalty

That two billion people watched the 2011 wedding of Prince William to Kate Middleton is a matter of perpetual, bafflement to British republicans, and the situation just a century ago adds fuel to the fire. One-hundred years ago, when George V was crowned and the British Empire was on every single continent of the world, there weren’t even two billion humans around to watch the year’s big event. Oh, and there wasn’t television either, of course.

The main event went on tour instead, when George and his queen held a Delhi Durbar in December, where they were officially declared Emperor and Empress of India. As dramatic as the finery on display doubtlessly was, the act of declaring Delhi the capital of India shows how much power the royal family once wielded, and rather makes a mockery of the column inches written about how ‘radiant’ Kate Middleton was a hundred years later.

British Riots

There cannot be enough unfavorable parallels to draw between recent looter’s riots in the UK and the real political needs of protestors elsewhere in the world. 1911 provides its own timely contrasts, being the first year that International Women’s Day was officially celebrated (in Austria, Denmark, Germany and Switzerland). In the UK, the Suffragette movement stepped up its attempts to get votes for women recognized. Bills for the vote being actively suppressed in Parliament, 300 women stormed the place, clashing with police. From then on, the Suffragette movement turned to more militant action.

And all 2011 ever gave us was a ‘comedian’ throwing a foam pie at a baffled old man. Thanks a lot 2011.

Steph Wood is a blogger with one eye turned to the past and the other turned towards a Camden food delivery. They write content for Just-Eat, a website with listings for Takeaways in Croydon and other UK locations.

Weird Tourist Destinations (Guest)

(Guest post from Heather here for you) 

Tourist attractions can bring life to otherwise dying towns, and the quest to find unusual sights can become a fun way to pass the time during family vacations. Here is a list of some of the top weird tourist destinations in the United States; next time you hit the road, keep these attractions in mind when the kids or the adults are looking for something different to do!

1. The Marfa Lights

What they are: Yellowish-green floating orbs that appear on clear nights and have even scientists stumped. Some people think they are mirages in the Texas desert, others think they are evidence that aliens are among us.

Perfect for: UFO believers, or anyone interested in the unexplained

Where to find them: Mitchell Flats, near Marfa, Texas

Cost: Free

When to visit: On clear nights to see the lights, or time your visit and go on Labor Day Weekend to visit the three-day Marfa Lights Festival.

2. Carhenge

What it is: A life-size Stonehenge replication built out of junked automobiles that have been painted gray to resemble the famous stones.

Perfect for: People who want to see Stonehenge but can’t afford to travel outside the U.S.

Where to find it: County Road 59, in Alliance, Nebraska

Cost: Free

When to visit: This attraction is open 365 days a year, but visit during daylight hours for the best view.

3. Toilet Seat Art Museum

What it is: A private home museum featuring over 1,000 decorated toilet seat covers.

Perfect for: People who are interested in strange collections or works of art

Where to find it: San Antonio, Texas

Cost: Free

When to visit: Call first, 210-824-7791

4. World’s Largest Ball of Twine

What it is: The biggest ball of twine in the world ever to be built by one individual.  There was a song written about it by Weird Al Yankovic, and Clark Griswold was keen on the idea of large twine balls in National Lampoon’s Vacation.

Perfect for: Fans of National Lampoon’s Vacation or Weird Al Yankovic, and people who like to look at really big things.

Where to find it: Darwin, Minnesota

Cost: Free

When to visit: Visit when it’s warm outside, because you’ll be standing outdoors to view the attraction; the second Saturday in August is Twine Ball Days.

5. Oregon Vortex

What it is: House of Mystery that was featured in a 1999 episode of the X-Files appears to defy the laws of physics, with brooms that stand on their own, things seem to roll uphill, and everything hangs at a strange slant.

Perfect for: X-Files fans, or anyone interested in things that defy the laws of physics

Where to find it: Gold Hill, Oregon

Cost: Children 5 and under are free; other prices range up to $9.75 for adults

When to visit: This attraction is only open from March 1 – October 31

Heather Johnson writes for HoneymoonDestinations.org, the best honeymoon research and planning website. Discover some great honeymoon ideas today!

How to Dodge the "Creep" Category

I've dealt with my fair share of creeps but one of my favorites was a guy who hit on me in my college library. I could barely understand him and I was pushing hard to finish up a paper, so didn't really notice that he was trying to flirt with me.

 

Long story short, he finally asked me a direct question and after having him repeat it a couple times, thinking he actually needed help, I finally made out "Do you know where the squirrels are?" Given that he was rather scroungy and the weirdness that had already happened, I thought maybe he was homeless and a bit crazy.

 

"Um, the squirrels?" I asked back, hoping that I just misunderstood, but nope. He followed up with "Well a fox like you should know where all the squirrels are." *groans* Lol!

 

Anyway, here's another guest post from Julee about how to avoid being a creep.

When it comes to dating, it’s helpful for a man to have a good reputation. Being considered funny, charming or good looking is a great way to keep your calendar full four weekends a month, while having a reputation as being mean or sleazy will ensure that you spend many Saturday nights alone. Still, if there is one label you want to avoid above all others, it's the "creep" label. Nothing is more long-lasting or damaging than getting hit with the creep label because it’s the complete opposite of a perfect date. Here are some tips for dodging this slimy rep.

 Don't Observe Too Much

It is fun and clever to make comments about your surroundings and the people in it, but pointing out that your waiter could be like Dexter on Showtime is a creepy observation. You don't want your date thinking you've got serial killers on the brain.

With that in mind, stay away from commenting on other women. Regardless of whether or not you are being complimentary or insulting, nothing says "I'm really hoping to turn you off" better than commenting on the perfection or the imperfectness of another woman's body. Most women don't think they are perfect and unless you're perfect yourself, you shouldn't talk.

Ex-Girlfriends

Nothing says creepy quite like a petty and bitter comment about an ex-girlfriend. She might have stolen your IPad, or kissed your brother, but the time to care about that is over and done. Now it's time to focus on the woman you're with. So avoid mentioning ex-girlfriends at all. If they do come up, instead of spewing hate such as "It was hell and that's where I hope she ends up someday," try to say something simple like, "It just didn't work out, but I wish her the best." It might not be the truth, but this is far less creepy.

Don't Stare

This rule is as simple as it gets. Women enjoy being looked at and appreciate the attention, but staring is weird and it makes them wonder what you're thinking. And while this should go without saying, make sure to keep your eyes on her eyes. It's okay to notice the rest of her, but remember you are talking to her, not her shirt.

The key to dodging the creep category is to be respectful and make a woman feel comfortable. A step down from “creepy” is “desperate” and you want to avoid both. Commenting on other women, bad mouthing your ex-girlfriends, and having your eyes glued on her or anyone else's body are going to put you in the creepy category. And once that happens, you can say goodbye to your dating life.
 

Should you stalk your loved one? (Guest)

Miss A here with a guest post about stalking your loved ones. Are you a Facebook stalker?

Thanks to the World Wide Web and mobile phones stalking has become such an easy and accessible task. It has almost become the norm to invade your loved one's privacy.

Here are the most common forms of stalking:

Checking their phone: Reading through ALL texts, including drafts. Checking call registers, listening to Voicemails. A serious STALKER will want to keep on top of EVERYTHING, I have a friend who's love rat boyfriend used to cheat on her most weekends, he would save these girls numbers on his phone under various pseudonyms. But she was no fool! (See example below)

• HSBC: Was great to meet you on Friday, I have something of yours lol xoxo
• Roy Rugby: Apparently you and your "girlfriend" aren't on a break you d**k! Don't contact me ever again 

Facebook and Email: A true stalker will have the login details necessary to increase maximum stalking potential. First stop: Inbox. Second stop: Sent Items. But even without these you can get a lot of stalking done. Check every new friend request. Who is this new girl? Do they have friends in common? For extra stalking pleasure, you can check their Facebook history, where has been looking? Checking out scantily clad teens is stalker jackpot! I feel tears and tantrums coming!

Other Stalking Methods:

• Checking general Internet history- Has he been on inappropriate sites again?
• Go through his things- Pockets, draws, shelves...

What did one do before the invention of all this wonderful stalking technology?

No stones were left unturned- Through using careful listening and thorough investigation techniques.

• He said he is going out with friends but you can't come. So, what do you do? A drive by or sending in your girls are full proof checking up techniques.
• You call the land line and ask to speak to your loved one and are shocked when his mum says: "Sorry love, who is this?" WHO IS THIS?? Is she mad, why it's you of course! Time to do some serious investigating... Where is that itemized phone bill?

Am I a stalker? Go through the following steps and work out whether you are a stalker of love:

Despite my knowledge of stalking I would never call myself a stalker of love. However, through reflection I have seen that I have been through the process of a "stalking learning curve" where I have learnt to reel in my stalking urges.

Exhibit 1: Passed Relationship ending 3 years ago. My gut reaction was to say that I never stalked him. On second glance however, things look different:

• Q: Did I have his Facebook and email login details?
• A: Yes.

• Q: Did I read his Inbox and sent items?
• A: Yes.

• Q: Did I check his Mobile phone?
• A: Yes.

• Q: Did I check his Internet history?
• A: Yes

So, why did I think I never stalked him? Because all of my stalking amounted to no results. He was one of the good guys. Note to self, stalking is not result based.

Exhibit 2: Passed relationship ending 8 months ago. Immediate reaction is that I was involved in slight stalking.

• Q: Did I have his Facebook and email login details?
• A: No.

• Q: Did I read his Inbox and sent items?
• A: Yes.

• Q: Did I check his Mobile phone?
• A: No.

• Q: Did I check his Internet history?
• A: No

Growing up and deciding that invading your loved ones privacy is wrong had made me an advocate for non-stalking. However, my gut instinct informed me that this man was a rat, I checked his Facebook inbox one time only and had all the evidence of foul play that I needed. Should I have been stalking this man? The answer is that I should never have been dating this man.
 
After discussing stalking techniques from the past and present and learning from mistakes with slight hiccups, I have arrived at the important question. Should you stalk your loved one? My answer on the whole is NO. You stalk because you are insecure and want to trust but how can he trust you if you stalk him? When stalking goes wrong you can end up feeling like a fool as well as getting a name for yourself that starts with Crazy... A good friend of mine ruined a loving relationship through her love staking ways. She was doing her usual stalking method of looking through her boyfriends emails, when she found that her boyfriend had been enquiring about Bridal Sets convinced that he was going to propose she set herself for a huge fall when it turned out that he had been helping a friend of his out, this ended in humiliation, tears and a broken relationship.

When Love stalking is acceptable: There are different levels of stalking, the above techniques that I have been through are only acceptable in extreme situations, such as if your relationship has come to an end and you need confirmation that this man is wrong for you. If you are with a lovely man, do not stalk him, it just isn't fair or kind! Other acceptable stalking methods include; initial check ups, for example you have met a new man so where is the harm in getting a better feel for him through checking his Facebook? Check his photos, wall, info and friends. That should be enough to get a good picture. Other than that try and refrain.

Warning: Love stalking is not good for the soul, it can cause pain.

Miss A is a Fashion Consultant for Kranich's Jewelers; browse through for great gift ideas, including Mothers Rings and much more!

5 Reasons Why Your Neighbors Hate You, and How to Repair the Relationship (Guest)

Hey look, it's Jennifer again!

Are your neighbors giving you the cold shoulder, or worse? If you have no idea why, check out this list to find out why your neighbors hate you:

1. But, It's A Classic!

Let's face it; you've been promising to fix up that old junker for years.

If your favorite ride is starting to sprout a garden of its own, it has got to go! There's nothing worse than a next-door neighbor with their own personal junk yard in the front. Even a covered clunker is an eyesore. If it makes you feel better, Old Betsy can go to a good cause. When you donate your old vehicle to Kars4Kids, you'll get the following advantages:

• Easy Online Donation Form
• Quick, Free Pickups
• A Valuable Tax Donation AND a Free Hotel Voucher

Best of all, your neighbors might not hate you anymore and won't try to plan flowers in your old clunker. Just maybe.

 

2. Everyone's a Music Lover, Right?

Sure, everyone loves music, just not your music! If you're just learning how to play the tuba, your neighbors don't want to hear that noise at all hours of the morning. The same goes for your garage band.

If you play rap or heavy metal until your over-sized bass amp shakes the window frames for a 10-mile radius, turn it down! The same goes for any other really loud noises that go on and on.

3. What Are You Waiting For? Next Christmas?

If your Christmas tree has been sitting at the curb so long everyone thinks you're waiting on it to grow legs and walk to the dump, it's a sure bet that you've gotten on more than one neighbor's last nerve.

Before next December rolls around, call a trash removal service to pick up that old, dried-up, tinsel-encrusted relic, along with any other unsightly debris in your yard. While you're at it, think about taking down the Christmas lights, too!

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4. My Dog Would Never Bother Anyone

Although you love your dog, your neighbors might not be so thrilled with him, especially if he does his thing in their yards each and every time nature calls or barks like he has rabies whenever they step outside.

Digging holes in their flower gardens and chasing their cats won't win any popularity contests, either. While no one is suggesting you get rid of Rover, keep him in your own yard and try some obedience classes to get the barking under control.

5. What Lawnmower?

If letting your grass grow past the two-foot mark is your idea of going green, think again. Of course, you are conserving energy -- your own and the lawnmower's -- but no one else appreciates this eco-friendly effort. Unless your entire neighborhood is planning on raising a herd of goats, each and every neighbor hates you and your yard.

Cut your grass, trim your bushes, and rake your leaves. You'll be amazed when people actually start to wave when they see you working in your yard!

Lucky for you, most of these issues are easy to fix. Make a few adjustments, no matter how painful, and you'll be nominated for neighbor of the year before you know it!

Funny Myths: Determining Your Child's Gender (Guest)

Guest post here from Julee Russo.

When we were little, we bought a couple pythons from this slightly creepy guy who looked and smelled both of Indian and hippie...and somewhat cowboy for that matter. Anyway, he tied a string to ring and let it spin over one of the snakes belly's to determine it's gender, just like mentioned below. For someone who sold snakes, you'd think he'd know enough about them to actually determine the gender rather than try to convince us this was a fool proof method, pfft.

 

How to determine a child's gender is something that many parents are very interested in. They often want to know which gender their child is going to be, even before an ultrasound test can tell them. Some may use a baby gender predictor to get an early estimate of their child's gender. They also might want to do things a certain way in their efforts to conceive a child so that they have more of a chance of having a baby of a certain gender. Do any of those things really work? Well, it depends on who you ask. Either way, they're interesting to learn about. Here are some great myths about determining your child's gender.  

1. If you're carrying your baby low, it's going to be a boy. This has been said for years and years, and sometimes it proves to be true. Other times that's not the case, and people carrying their baby low have a girl. 

2. If you're carrying your baby high up in your stomach, it's going to be a girl. Just like the myth above, this one proves to be true about half of the time—which would make sense. Your guess is as good as the next person's as to whether this is true of false.  

3. If you're carrying in front, it's a boy. See the myths above. 

4. If you're carrying wide and "spreading out," it's a girl. Ditto. 

5. Carrying a girl will give you morning sickness all day, whereas carrying a boy will not. It's hard to tell where this one came from or whether there's any truth to it. Having morning sickness all day is lousy, no matter what gender of baby you're carrying.  

6. Check your baby's heartbeat. If it's beating faster than 140 beats per minute, it's a girl. If it's slower than 130 beats per minute, it's a boy. What happens if the heart rate is in between the two? Should you resort to flipping a coin at that point?  

7. Try hanging a wedding ring over your belly, using a strand of the baby's father's hair. If it ring spins in a circle, it's a girl. If it swings back and forth instead, it's a boy. This one just seems odd—and what do you do if the father is bald? It would seem like you'd really be stuck at that point when it comes to figuring out the baby's gender.  

There are also claims that say what you eat before you get pregnant can affect whether you'll have a boy or a girl, but there's no scientific evidence for any of that. It's best that you eat a balanced diet so that you and your baby can be as healthy as possible. That's the safest way to do things.  

There you have it. There are plenty of myths about a child's gender and whether there's really a baby gender predictor out there. It's always good to know what they are, in case you want to test any of them out and see if they could become reality.

Weird things you didn’t know about your eyes! (Guest)

~~ My name is Tim Harwood and I am an Optometrist based in the UK. I finished Optometry school over 9 years ago and have been lucky to have found such an enjoyable and rewarding career. I also spend time writing content for my website Treatmentsaver which aims to help people chose where to have cosmetic surgery or laser eye surgery.~~

Our eyes are something that most of us take for granted but if you take a minute just to think how much duller your life would be without vision, then you may perhaps appreciate them a little bit more. Our eyes are like sponges and they are constantly taking in information about the world we live in. When we are looking at objects or landscapes our eyes need to take in massive amounts of information about the colour, shade, depth, size and movement to name a few and it does all this in the blink of an eye! As well as being amazing our eyes also have some strange characteristics that you might find surprising. Below are my top 5 weird things about your eyes:

1. We blink around 20,000 times per day: Blinking is an extremely important function for our eyes, hence the amount of times we do it! When we blink the surface of our eyes are cleaned of any debris and dirt and the front of the eye is replenished with fresh tears. Our tears provide the front surface of eyes with oxygen and they also contain cells that fight bacteria to ward off infection.
2. We can see better than 20:20 vision: In fact most people can see better than 20:20 vision. Most people wrongly assume the 20:20 vision is the very best vision that is possible but this is not the case. 20:20 is what optometrists expect the ‘average person’ to be able to see. The bottom line on the eye test chart at your Optometrist is actually smaller than 20:20 vision, so if you can see this line of letters then you have better vision than 20:20!
3. We see with our brains: Obviously our eyes play a vital role but it is our brains that actually process all the information to give us the actual image that we see. The eye’s role is to focus the light to the appropriate place on the retina and to organise all the different information about the object we are looking at. The brain then puts all this information (colour, contrast etc) that the eye has collected and then puts it all together to produce the finished image.
4. Only boys can be colour blind: This one isn’t 100% true but for the sake of this article it is! Approximately 8% of males are colour blind whereas it is only about 0.05% of women. Colour blindness is something we are born with and it never changes throughout our life. There are different degrees of colour blindness and contrary to what some people believe people with colour blindness can still see colours. It is just that they find it more difficult to distinguish one colour from another and they often confuse certain colours such as greens and browns.
5. You will need glasses for reading from aged 45 years onwards: This is a fact of life and is as inevitable as getting grey hair! This process is known as presbyopia and occurs as a result of the natural lens inside our eye losing its focussing ability as we get older. As this ability to focus diminishes so we will need to use reading glasses for near tasks. An alternative to glasses is laser eye surgery although the results are not as good as for those being corrected for distance vision problems.

Quirky pregnancy signs (Guest)

Another guest post here from Tania....love this one! If you've ever been pregnant, had a pregnant spouse, or found yourself reading too many mommy bloggers, you'll get a chuckle out of several of these.

When
I was so touched by a small gift that a friend gave me that I actually
cried, I knew it was time to take a pregnancy test. It was, of course,
positive. Pregnancy can be hilarious, especially when it is not our
pregnancy we’re looking it. With all those unpleasant pregnancy signs
and symptoms, the best defense is arming ourselves with a sense of
humor. Let’s take a look at the top ten quirky pregnancy habits. These
weird and wonderful habits will have you spitting out your drink... but
if you have a weak stomach, this is not for you!

You know that you are pregnant when...

1. You
   have visited every toilet in the mall multiple times, often only
   minutes apart. Your reasons for running to the toilet as quickly as you
   might vary throughout your pregnancy, from morning sickness to the need
   to pee every five minutes, but the restroom marathon will only end when
   you give birth.
2. You
   wake up in the middle of the night with a terrible craving for your
   favorite ice cream (or insert the craving of your choice here!), but you
   start feeling sick and throw up halfway through your snack. Who said
   morning sickness only happened in the morning? When you are done
   vomiting, you return to your snack as if nothing ever happened.
3. You
   start crying when your computer crashes, when your bank manager calls
   you to discuss that overdraft, or when your husband says he’ll be ten
   minutes late for that lunch. And that TV commercial is so touching that
   you can’t stop sobbing. Even if you were an ice queen before you got
   pregnant.
4. You
   are willing to drive for an hour to get your favorite nachos to go, and
   eat them in under ten minutes during the drive back home.
5. Forget about the pickled gherkins... you could drink all the vinegar out of that jar!
6. When your water breaks, you have to do the smell test to make sure you didn’t pee yourself!
7. You
   think getting up at midnight to put the new baby’s crib together is a
   perfectly reasonable thing to do. And you might as well paint the room
   while you are at it, too!
8. You forget that you can no longer squeeze in between two parked cars because of your baby bump, and you get stuck!
9. When you put the dirty dishes in the washing machine instead of the sink.
10. You
    can’t tie your own shoe laces any more. Or even see your feet, for that
    matter. And you have had to ask store assistants to tie your laces for
    you after trying on maternity clothes.

Do you have your own favorite pregnancy memory to add? Please let us know what quirky habits you had when you were expecting!