A School of Favoritism

Posted March 17th, 2012 by Joanna

A kindergarten already privileged children are beautiful. Teachers have a better opinion of them, give them more attention, evaluate them more warmly – in Models of the body and aesthetic psychology of Jean Maisonneuve and Marilou Bruchon Schweitzer (PUF, 1981). This creates a good confidence in children who will accompany all his life. Especially as it will set up a dynamic of success that will continue into adulthood. Then, in college and high school, a note may vary from 20 to 40% depending on the beauty of the student. Studies show that a student ugly but good is not disadvantaged in comparison with a beautiful student of the same level. However, if the prettiest is bad student, his grades will be significantly overestimated by the examiners, explained Jean Maisonneuve and Marilou Bruchon Schweitzer in The Body and the Beauty (PUF, 1999).

“Much more beautiful than the child, the child is ugly held responsible for his failure in school as much as his faults, says Jean-François Amadieu. First by teachers and by teachers and finally by recruiters. Beauty is a status that is degree: it enriches, as ugliness alter our skills. ”

The head of employment

Graduation, you thought being delivered from the tyranny of appearances? Error. “A comely appearance is crucial when hiring, but also for successful integration within the company, explains Jean-François Amadieu. It allows a better evaluation of performance and promotes a good career. “The candidate will be judged primarily on external criteria: care taken in person, weight, physical beauty, etc.. 50% of employers believe that physical attractiveness is an important criterion for recruitment ( Study of Urban Inequality Multicity H. Holzer, Michigan State University, 1993). The negative criteria: excessive weight, small size, long nose, large ears, face ugly, sweaty palms …

“The beautiful are considered more intelligent, more ambitious, warmer, more sociable, more balanced and less aggressive,” says sociologist yet. Thus, many recruitment specialists believe, consciously or not, a balanced personality shows. Worse, studies show that an equivalent degree in physics unprepossessing candidate will be hired for less pay. A situation that will not go in being absorbed: a British study, conducted on eleven thousand UK employees ( Beauty, Statute and the Labour Market by B. Harper, 2000), proves that if the finest earn slightly more than average National ugliest receive salaries of from 11 to 15% lower.

“The beauty not only to escape unemployment, but it becomes more wage premium, says Jean-François Amadieu. Beauty is a human capital as the labor market recognizes financially. “As demonstrated, we impose the dictatorship of the appearances, as media and social tyranny that we suffer, we appear in what they fundamentally unfair. “Of course we would prefer that this be the merits of each that determine graduation, access to jobs, etc.., Rather than an arbitrary criterion and primitive, admits Jean-Francois Amadieu. But it is telling the truth about the discrimination that we can develop strategies to mitigate, if not counter, the influence of appearances. Well known and used by all, it can also help shake up the order imposed. ”

Fine and good

U.S. researchers ( Physical Attractivities and Evaluation of Children’s Transgressions of KK Dion, 1972) asked adults to judge children 7 years accused of wounding a comrade with a snowball. Initially, the respondents were much more tolerant of the most beautiful children: the fault was judged slightly more attractive when the fault was. In a second step, they strongly believed that children récidiveraient less beautiful than others. Comments by sociologist Jean-Francois Amadieu: “Not only the” ugly “is considered more responsible for his fault that the” beautiful “, but in addition, this fault appears as enshrined in its very nature, it is likely to be repeated .

The Tyranny of Appearance

Posted March 14th, 2012 by Joanna

At school, in college, at work … Before our skills, it is our physics is judged. A beautiful denounced dictatorship, supporting evidence, by sociologist Jean-Francois Amadieu.

Since ancient Greece, we are victims and vectors of the same premise: what is beautiful is good. Even today, everyone senses and no one wants to believe: our whole life is subject to the tyranny of appearances.

For the first time in France, a book, The Weight of appearances (Odile Jacob, 2002), provides the proof. Professor of Sociology, Jean-Francois Amadieu identified thirty years of American and European studies on the subject and draws a conclusion frightening: our whole life, in all areas, in love and at work, our appearance will determine our relations with others .

Pushing his analysis, the sociologist shows how beauty is a great tool for social discrimination that elites impose lower classes. Worldwide, the canons of beauty are not they those of white Americans by TV and film: blond, thin, young. Whether they are resolved or we revolt, we are not at least from birth, subject to the first injustice: that of appearances.

Already in the cradle

Looks that are worn on the infant in its cradle are not neutral. A baby smiles and nice draw strength risettes while a child less attractive create some discomfort in adults. Even tiny – ears, birthmark, asymmetry of traits – the physical difference will be experienced by parents as a future disability. And raise different behaviors towards the infant.

“We cannot say that a mother or father a child prefer more beautiful than her siblings, explains Jean-François Amadieu. However, studies have shown that the activities will depend on whether the child is beautiful or ugly. For example, a mother with her infant will play a lot if it is beautiful, as she will focus on learning if it is unsightly. And because she knows he might face later in the eyes of others, she will look into it more. It is also proven that these children do better in school than average. What we have here a compensation effect in ugliness. “

What Is the Best Form of Glucosamine?

Posted March 6th, 2012 by Joanna

Glucosamine is an amino sugar that occurs naturally in the body. This is an important component of our joints, which has a crucial role in maintaining the integrity of cartilage.

It works by slowing cartilage degradation and increasing the lubricating action of synovial fluid. When the manufacturing process goes awry glucosamine, osteoarthritis may develop. Dietary supplements glucosamine are then considered.

Indeed, medical research has proven effective in relieving joint pain, and they are routinely used. They can be found in many forms in business, then how do you choose?

The three types of glucosamine that is found in commerce are glucosamine sulfate, glucosamine hydrochloride and N-acetyl-glucosamine (NAG). It seems they are also effective, but the SJC has not been evaluated by medical research for his role in osteoarthritis, and there are differences between the dietary supplements glucosamine to be reckoned with.

Glucosamine sulfate is the form most commonly found in commerce. One of the possible benefits of glucosamine sulfate is the sulfate content, a component of cartilage, which could contribute to the beneficial effect of glucosamine. By cons, the rate of glucosamine in this product is usually only 75% to 80% and sometimes considerably less.

Glucosamine hydrochloride, by cons, at a rate of glucosamine generally very high, up to 99%.

Another factor to consider is how glucosamine is produced. Generally, it is made from shellfish, which is not suitable for people with allergies to seafood and vegetarian. In this case, look for supplements made from plants.

Glucosamine is often combined with chondroitin. Indeed, the latter, besides its function complementary to that of glucosamine, improves the functioning of the latter by reducing the activity of an enzyme that degrades it. Products for joints, in addition to glucosamine and chondroitin, sometimes contain MSM, a sulfur compound that contributes to joint health and boosts their effect.

Chand Baori in Rajasthan

Posted March 3rd, 2012 by Joanna

Chand Baori is a building that tourists can not miss visiting during their trip to India . Located in the city of Abhaneri near Jaipur in Rajasthan, this building dating from the 11th century is not the only one ever built in India, but it is one of the deepest and broadest in the country.

Chand Baori baoris is one of the first (or bâolis) that were built throughout the history of Rajasthan. This is not only a monument to the amazing architecture, but also a building that was designed to solve the problem of water shortage in the region.

In this land of Rajasthan where the rains seem to be a gift from the Hindu Gods, these men have dug deep wells to ensure a supply of water for long periods of drought.

As can be seen, baoris have a form of inverted cone and along the walls of many terraces were built, all united by staircases.

In reality, Chand Baori is composed of 13 levels, of about 3500 stairs and has a depth of thirty meters. On one side we will discover the ceremonial temples which show that these wells were constructed both for practical reasons than religious.

According to legend, Chand Baori was built in one night and he is so deep that nobody could get a coin that will fall to the bottom.

Travelers can discover other degrees as well at the beautiful Rani ki Wav Patan (Gujarat) from the same time that Chand Baori, the Raniji ki Baori Bundi (the city where Rudyard Kipling wrote his novel The Book of the jungle), also located in the State of Rajasthan.

Raniji ki Baori was built during the reign of Queen Nthavati Ji. With a depth of 46 meters its pillars are adorned with beautiful sculptures and has a place of worship to each of its floors.

Food Supplements Against Osteoarthritis

Posted February 29th, 2012 by Joanna

Essential to good health and good nutrition, nutritional supplements have an important effect on healthy joints as well as those affected by osteoarthritis.

We know, for example, that vitamin D deficiency is associated with a significantly increased risk of osteoarthritis. It’s good to address deficiencies related to diet, but more and more scientific studies show that taking therapeutic doses of several dietary supplements can relieve people with osteoarthritis.

This is not surprising that some of these substances and regulated as dietary supplements in some countries like the UK or the U.S., are actually part of medicine against osteoarthritis in many others.

Evidence of the effectiveness of two major supplements, glucosamine and chondroitin, have existed for decades and were obtained through all means of measuring the most common: laboratory research on different types of cells in Using Petri dishes, human clinical studies and animal studies and even results.

It has been shown that glucosamine and chondroitin reduced pain, improved function and decreased the use of other drugs against osteoarthritis, physical therapy and even surgery.

More importantly, they show an excellent safety profile, including the long-term studies over several years. In general, side effects are equivalent to those of placebos used in clinical trials. This is very important because of the toxicity of acetaminophen and anti-inflammatory discovered in recent years.

Fish oil omega-3 were used in some small pilot studies, especially regarding rheumatoid arthritis, but also beginning to spread in the treatment of osteoarthritis.

ASU, based unsaponifiable components of avocado and soybean, has an anti-inflammatory and painkiller from 300 mg per day.

The hyaluronic acid in the form of oral tablets is new in the treatment of osteoarthritis – injectable forms are used for almost 20 years routinely in doctors’ offices.

Human clinical studies have shown promising results for several other ingredients, including MSM, the curcumin (a component of the spice turmeric), the membrane of eggshell powder and the green mussel extract and several herbs (devil’s claw, ginger, boswellia, hop extract, rose hips, to name a few).

Research on these ingredients is ongoing and is encouraging, however it is too early to know if they will be in the same category as glucosamine and chondroitin, especially with regard to potential structural benefits.

With the aging population and the many discoveries of food supplements promise for use against osteoarthritis , the future is certainly positive.

Langkawi, Malaysia

Posted February 26th, 2012 by Joanna

Langkawi is a beautiful archipelago in the Andaman Sea, 30 kilometers northeast andor the coast of Malaysia and southern Thailand .

Langkawi and beautiful beaches almost deserted is nicknamed the Jewel of Kedah state of Malaysia where these paradise islands protected by UNESCO because of its rich fauna and flora.

The Langkawi archipelago is rather odd since it has 99 islands when the tide is high, but are counted more than five at low tide.

Pulau Langkawi is the main island is this is where you will discover the most beautiful beaches, beautiful white sand beaches fringed with coconut palms that give the impression of playing Robinson Crusoe.

The island is accessible by ferry from Kuala Perlis, Kuala Kedah and Penang. It also has an international airport which greatly facilitates access to this tropical paradise.

The Malaysian government has invested heavily in the island of Pulau Langkawi into a tourist destination. Sultan Abdul Halim also made the same July 15, 2008 to change the name of the islands in Langkawi, the Jewel of Kedah.

Five beaches on the island is built resorts are very comfortable: queries answered, Pantai Tengah, Pantai Kok, Pantai Datai, Pantai Rhu Pantai Tengah and Pantai Cenang. It’s on the beaches of Pantai Rhu Pantai Datai and that are the most luxurious hotels.

Pulau Langkawi is known in Malaysia with a legend. A young woman named Mahsuri was unjustly accused of adultery. Her husband did not believe in the innocence of his wife and ordered her alleged lover and Mahsuri were tied to a tree until they die.

Before dying, Mahsuri cursed the inhabitants of the island and from that moment began the invasions and the people mourned for decades because of poor harvests. Mahsuri’s tomb is of course part of the essential places to visit on the island Pulau Langkawi.

To attract tourists to Pulau Langkawi authorities of the State of Kedah have transformed the island into a vast duty free where you can buy many products zero-rated.

Langkawi Mall, Langkawi Fair Shopping Complex and Jetty Point Duty Free Complex are three of the largest malls of the island that will offer you a wide choice of free goods.

The archipelago is also very popular with followers of snorkeling or scuba diving will discover that a flora and fauna in a protected marine park by the State of Malaysia.

In Kuah, the largest city of the island you will see Eagle Square on the magnificent statue of an eagle symboliqye of Malaysia. You will visit Ayer Hangat Village (the Village of hot water), Kota Mahsuri, Mahsuri where lies the memorial and the East Village.

You can also visit the Langkawi Underwater World, the largest aquarium in Malaysia which has a large variety of marine species, the crocodile farm or use the cable car to have a magnificent view over the archipelago.

As we pointed out earlier in this article, the archipelago is served by the Langkawi International Airport which serves Kuala Lumpur, Subang and Penang in Malaysia, and Singapore. Airlines operating at this airport are AirAsia, Firefly, SilkAir, Tiger Airways and national carrier Malaysia Airlines.

Probiotics for a Flat Stomach?

Posted February 23rd, 2012 by Joanna

A malfunction of the gastrointestinal system, manifested by constipation and bloating, may be partly responsible for a belly too round. These problems are often caused by an imbalance of intestinal flora. It consists of ten times more bacteria than there are cells throughout the human body, so it’s not really surprising that health suffers when it is compromised. But this is not inevitable, and some dietary supplements can improve the intestinal flora and help find the line.

Probiotics, live microorganisms are beneficial to health, which can be real allies to rebalance the digestive system. Indeed, the intestinal flora consists of bacteria and other pests. Sometimes, the balance between beneficial and harmful bacteria is upset after taking antibiotics, a period of stress or an inadequate diet. Take probiotics as food supplements can then restore the balance of the intestinal flora by promoting the presence of bacteria at the expense of harmful bacteria.

This leads to a better functioning of the intestinal mucosa and reduced bloating, flatulence and abdominal pain. Moreover, besides their well established efficacy in the fight against diarrhea, probiotics are also useful in treating constipation because they can accelerate intestinal transit and increase peristalsis. This is a good solution for a flatter stomach and intestinal comfort!

Probiotics also have a direct effect on weight. Indeed, a recent scientific study has shown that consumption of certain probiotic could lead to weight loss and decreased abdominal fat.

Further interest in the digestive system, probiotics have many other roles. The intestinal mucosa is one of the first lines of defense of the immune system and maintain good health with probiotics provides protection against nosocomial infections, infections of the respiratory system and certain vaginal infections.

The Reserve of Sian Ka’an

Posted February 18th, 2012 by Joanna

The reserve of Sian Ka’an Biosphere Reserve is the largest in the Caribbean zone of Mexico has an area of 650,000 hectares. This reserve is located on the coast of Yucatan was classified a World Heritage Site by Unesco in 1986 as part of its program “The Man in the Biosphere”.

In the Mayan language Sian Ka’an means the Gate of Heaven, the place where heaven is born, and his name evokes dramatic landscapes that delight tourists who wish to take their picture.

Located near major resorts on the Mayan Riviera as Cancun , Isla Mujeres (the island of women), Cozumel or the ruins of Tulum , access to the reserve of Sian Ka’an is regulated and limited numbers of visitors can want each day.

Despite this limitation it is still more than 40,000 visitors each year who can discover the spectacular scenery of Sian Ka’an.

Three areas of the reserve of Sian Ka’an are available only to persons possessing a special permit allowing them to study and research in the field: Cayo Culebras, and Muyil Uaymil.

Other sectors, called transition zones, which are accessible to tourists can observe some 2,000 people in their conservation of the environment and sustainable development. The purpose of their work is to find ways to integrate human activities into the environment without compromising the existence of other life planning.

Reserve of Sian Ka’an has five entrances to Pulticub, Santa Teresa, Chumphon, Chunyaxche and Chac Mool. Of park rangers employed by the government agency SEMARNAT continuously monitor the reserve to ensure that regulations are met.

The riches of the Sian Ka’an Reserve are very varied. It contains 110 km of the second largest barrier reef in the world, a magical place where lovers of scuba diving discover the wonders of the deep clear waters.

At Sian Ka’an we can observe 103 species of mammals, 336 species of birds, and discover some 23 archaeological sites were built there over 2300 years.

Through travel agencies in Cancun, Playa del Carmen , or large hotels in the Riviera Maya, you can visit deserted beaches of white sand where lay their eggs from May to August 4 species of endangered turtles.

Guides these agencies you will also visit the mangrove swamps of Zacate, lagoons and Mayan ruins lost in the rainforest.

At Sian Ka’an you will remain amazed by the beautiful sunset and many birds flying over the horizon.

Dinner, a Meal Should Not Be Overlooked

Posted February 15th, 2012 by Joanna

Do you suffer from power failure, or munchies a few hours after dinner? If this happens, you can ask yourself the following questions: Is what my last meal was well balanced? Did it contain enough fiber, protein and energy? If you answered negatively to either of these questions, you would have everything to gain by planning dinners more balanced.

The advantages of the dinner

Lunch has a positive effect when indisputable consists of well-chosen food. The advantages are many:

Provide energy for the next few hours;

Prevent cravings of late afternoon;

Avoid moments of boredom of the afternoon;

Prevent too hearty supper;

Help maintain or achieve a healthy weight.

To achieve this, the proteins , the carbohydrates and fats should be part of the meal in the right proportions.

The selection criteria of a good dinner

A minimum of 15 to 20 grams of protein to promote a better control of blood sugar and appetite. This amount of protein corresponds to 60-90 g (2-3 oz) of meat, poultry or fish, 250 ml (1 cup) of pulses from 100 to 150 g (3 ½ to 5 oz) tofu;

A few times a week, choose fish rich in omega-3 as a protein source (eg mackerel, salmon, sardines);

Good fats in moderation (a dressing with olive oil, a few slices of avocado, some nuts or seeds);

Products made from whole grains (whole wheat bread, brown or wild rice, quinoa, whole wheat pasta, etc.).

A fruit in season;

A variety of vegetables in good quantity and in any form (raw, cooked, in salads, soups or soup);

A milk product or milk substitute low-fat (eg, glass of milk ≤ 2% fat, soy milk, 2% MF yogurt, cheese ≤ 20% fat).

Do not forget to add flavor to these criteria, speed and fun!

Three menus noon to try

To help you apply the criteria listed above and enjoy the benefits of a balanced lunch, here are three examples of meals from the book “Menus noon”, published by Éditions de L’Homme (2005).

These three menus provide 18 to 32 g protein, 60 to 80 g carbohydrates, in addition to being low in fat and contain a significant amount of dietary fiber .

Chicken and pear salad refreshing

Green leaf lettuce and red

whole wheat Pita

Fruit Yogurt

Apple, green peas and mackerel salad

Spinach leaves

Whole Wheat Bread

Honeydew melon and mint

Crunchy broccoli and chickpea curry

Greens of the season

Clementine

Bon appetit!

The Fly Geyser in Nevada

Posted February 12th, 2012 by Joanna

The Fly Geyser is one of the curiosities of nature that surprises visitors can find out. Located in the desert of Black Rock Desert north of Reno in the State of Nevada in the United States, the Fly Geyser will impress you with its shapes and colors.

This curious geyser was born in 1916 in this arid Nevada when the locals decided to dig wells in the hope of finding water for livestock watering and irrigation of land.

While digging a well in the Black Rock Desert (the Black Rock Desert) they met a layer of thermal water at over 200 ° C, the hot springs are very common in the region.

Although the hole is plugged a few decades later, in 1964, scientists wanted to study how we could take advantage of the thermal energy of the area and a geyser began to spring from the old well.

This Geyser is located in a private ranch, the Fly Ranch. It will seek permission to visit or contact a local tourist agency in Reno or in the nearby town of Gerlach.

An organization called “Friends of Black Rock High Rock” organizes tours in groups of 25, the package costing $ 50.

We can therefore observe the impressive outpouring of warm waters of the Fly Geyser and above all, enjoy the magnificent colors green, red and orange.

According to experts, these colors are caused by thermophilic algae were mixed with calcium carbonate sediments that formed several years in this strange stalagmite from 4 meters high in the desert.