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Do you know Feng Shui? Feng shui - pronounced fehng-shway in English) is an ancient Chinese system of aesthetics believed to utilize the Laws of both heaven (astronomy) and Earth (geography) to help one improve life by receiving positive Qi.

The words feng shui literally translate as "wind-water" in English. This is a cultural shorthand taken from the following passage of the Zhangshu (Book of Burial) by Guo Pu of the Jin Dynasty

Qi rides the wind and scatters, but is retained when encountering water.

Many modern enthusiasts claim that feng shui is the practice of arranging objects (such as furniture) to help people achieve their goals. More traditionally, feng shui is important in choosing a place to live and finding a burial site, along with agricultural planning.

I received another spam message, asking me to forward it to 21 people for good luck. I don't believe in that kind of stuff, but the lessons in the email are worth preserving.

Mental Feng Shui

There's some mighty fine advice in these words, even if you're not superstitious. This Lotus Touts has been sent to you for goo d luck from the Anthony Robbins organization. It has been sent around the world ten times so far.

ONE. Give people more than they expect and do it cheerfully.

TWO.. Marry a man/woman you love to talk to. As you get older, their conversational skills will be as important as any other.

THREE. Don't believe all you hear, spend all you have or sleep all you want.

FOUR. When you say, 'I love you,' mean it.

FIVE. When you say, 'I'm sorry,' look the person in the eye.

SIX. Be engaged at least six months before you get married.

SEVEN. Believe in love at first sight.

EIGHT. Never laugh at anyone's dreams. People who don't have dreams don't have much.

NINE. Love deeply and passionately. You might get hurt but it's the only way to live life completely.

TEN.. In disagreements, fight fairly. No name calling..

ELEVEN. Don't judge people by their relatives.

TWELVE. Talk slowly but think quickly.

THIRTEEN! ... When someone asks you a question you don't want to answer, smile and ask, 'Why do you want to know?'

FOURTEEN. Remember that great love and great achievements involve great risk.

FIFTEEN. Say 'bless you' when you hear someone sneeze .

SIXTEEN. When you lose, don't lose the lesson.

SEVENTEEN. Remember the three R's: Respect for self; Respect for others; and Responsibility for all your actions.

EIGHTEEN. Don't let a little dispute injure a great friendship.

NINETEEN. When you realize you've made a mistake, take immediate steps to correct it.

TWENTY. Smile when picking up the phone. The caller will hear it in your voice.

TWENTY-ONE. Spend some time alone.

I am participating in a Photo Contest organized by FranceGuide, a department of the Office of Tourism of France. They are asking members of the public to upload a picture that captures the spirit of France.

You can choose one of the following categories :

- Nature & Sport
- Parties & Fun
- Fashion & Culture
- Relax

Then you can invite friends to vote for your picture. The pictures that receives the most votes, are then selected by the organizers and will win nice goodies, including trips to France.

I uploaded one photo in each category, and I would love it if you could vote for me (4 pictures).

Just go to the France Photo Contest Page and register yourself. You can then find my photos by typing in my pseudonym thorgal67

Thanks a lot for your help and votes!

http://photogame.franceguide.com/accueil.php

On Wednesday January 14th I went to the Roma, an old cinema in Borgerhout (Antwerp) that has been converted into a multi-cultural area. Multi-cultural because it offers many cultural events for different kinds of audiences. This time it was a tribute to Tom Waits, a so-called "fantastic" programme about Tom Waits in a Late Night smoky Bar.

The musicians were Antje De Boeck (voice) - a famous Flemish actress, Jef Neve (piano) and Rony Verbiest (accordeon). Tom Waits' voice can be described as a low, raw, almost rumbling voice. Very similar to Antje De Boeck's voice, somebody must have thought. I liked the result a lot.

However, the concert started differently from what I had expected. Antje De Boeck first brought a fairy-tale about the last boy in the world. You could sense that the audience didn't really know what to do with it either, but it became clear during the performance that this little boy represented Tom Waits who has his own peculiar way of looking at the world.

Then followed some entertainment that can only be described as perfect. Top musicians Jef Neve and Rony Verbiest brought the best of Tom Waits (replacing the saxophone with an accordeon) and even if it sometimes seemed that they lacked the routine of playing together, their spontaneity and craftmenship brought emotions of the highest level.

Of course Antje De Boeck is no professional singer, but some might say that neither is Tom Waits. She brought some of his classic pieces in a very intimate style (Tom Traubert's Blues, In the Neighbourhood...) and sometimes when you closed your eyes, it really sounded like Tom Waits up there on the stage. The way she moaned, whispered, rumbled really touched the right nerve.

If you are in Belgium, try to catch their act. A list of dates and places can be found in the Tom Waits Until Spring Agenda.

13 - Natural postpartum infertility

Also termed Lactational amenorrhea, a fully breastfeeding woman may not ovulate, or have regular periods, for up to 6 months; although this should not be relied on as a form of contraception

12 - Weight loss

As fat accumulated during pregnancy is used to produce milk, extended breastfeeding—at least 6 months—can help mothers lose weight.[54] However, weight loss is highly variable among lactating women, and diet and exercise are more reliable ways of losing weight