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February 1, 2012
Devastation and destruction are not things anyone wants to think about. In fact people see it happening all over the world, but they very rarely prepare for it because believing it won’t happen to them. However there is a serious movement in the United States who take preparing for disaster as seriously as they do heart attacks.
Labelled ‘Preppers’ for obvious reasons, this large group of people scattered all across the country, have assembled everything from gun collections, fully-stocked bunkers, a swimming pool full of fish, to self-sustaining farms, seed banks and escape plans from the cities. Everything from hardwearing safety clothing and rigger boots to personal documentation kits are stowed away in bunkers and basements, as part of disaster survival preparation.
Megan Hurwitt, a young urbanite enjoys a good party, and has her whole life in front of her. Megan enjoys driving around in her Mustang convertible and takes time to enjoy her life. Megan is also a prepper, and one of the more serious natural disaster preparers, from the looks of things.
Residing in one of the largest cities in the United States, Megan lives in an apartment in downtown Houston, Texas. Her home is stocked with an impressive gun collection and seed bank. Megan is preparing to survive a catastrophic oil crisis. All her survival preparation points to ensuring she is prepared at all times in case crisis hits whenever, wherever. Megan has compiled a compact bag, she calls a “go bag,” comprising of personal documents, Leatherman knife, flint, pepper spray, compass and a hygiene kit, which she carries with her at all times.
The entire idea that disaster should strike on a scale analogous to a Hollywood disaster movie of epic proportions, Megan keeps all her options open. Attending survival classes, Megan goes on regular trial runs of her planned escape route; in case the highways and streets of the city become inaccessible (as it did during a most destructive hurricane in Texas). At the end of her route is a bug out vehicle, safely stashed away and waiting for Megan and the day an oil crisis brings the United States to its knees.
There are so many reasons put forward by preppers for disaster preparation. From surviving an EMP detonation that will wipe out the USA’s transportation system, a coronal injection that will knock out the electrical grid, basically casting modern civilisation back to the stone-age; similar to the great Northeast Blackout of 2003, just longer, like forever.
Some reasons seem unfounded whilst others seem justified. Megan takes it all very seriously and feels her reasons are so justified; she makes a point of gunning it through her escape plan trial run – in workwear trousers and with a survival backpack. This young lady has it all together and believes preparing for a disaster is the smart move. We’re inclined to agree. Those who mock preppers need to remember that nobody saw a tsunami coming on December 26, 2004. For everyone on Sumatra, it was a day just like any other.
January 12, 2012
A story of hope now coming straight out of Islamabad, Pakistan; the ‘Persons With Disabilities’ group have hosted a fashion show aimed at showcasing the talents of handicapped people. The fashion show event titled ‘Missing Models of Pakistan’ and was perhaps the first event of this type and scale in the country if not the world. Wearing beautiful traditional costumes, 40 models from ‘Persons With Disabilities’ ran the catwalk and performed marvellously. Among the guests of honour was a chief member of the US ambassador’s office to Pakistan, the wife of the ambassador Dr Marylin Wyatt. The charity fashion show was jointly organised by Special Talent Exchange Program, Monthly Pakistan Special, International Labour Organisation, Directorate General of Special Education, Shahzads and Embers Design making the event a who’s who of Pakistan’s government officiaries and fashion designers. Everything from fashion workwear and traditional styles were on display and the models really impressed the audience.
After a watch of the fashion show, Dr Marylin Wyatt couldn’t sing enough praises of the models and organisers. She also noted the confidence displayed by the models and explained she too is a mother of a person with disabilities so the fashion show was incredibly close to her heart. Further in her capacity as an official governmental figure, Dr Wyatt encouraged the audience with promise that the recently ratified United Nations Convention of Rights of Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) would open more doors for special persons in Pakistan. Atif Sheikh, the chairperson of the fashion show explained the reasoning behind a fashion show for disabled persons; he explained that a person sitting in a wheel chair has an equal right to look beautiful.
Perhaps we here in the UK can learn something from this event. Whether you’re modelling Dickies workwear or the latest Alexander McQueen outfit, one shouldn’t take for granted how blessed we are to be fully functional. Perhaps tickets to a fashion show in the UK aimed at persons with disabilities wouldn’t be as sort after as a London Fashion Show Week ticket, but that’s not really the point. Most times people with disabilities don’t want our sympathy, but strive to show they are capable in their own way to do anything we can do. The catwalk shouldn’t be an exclusive club for traditionally ‘perfect’ human beings and a fashion show for a charitable cause needn’t be disconnected entirely from the charity they exist for.
January 11, 2012
The world is full of surprises, many of which have not been found and most of which may never be found, but nonetheless each day brings new and exciting history to learn. Archaeologists have one of the most wonderful jobs and one of the most recent archaeological discoveries is amongst some of the most interesting ever.
With many people travelling to see the Mayan temples and much emphasis being placed on the Mayans and their rich history, it’s perfect timing that they just discovered a Jade Necklace, believed to belong to the ancient Mayan ruler of Tak‘alik Ab’aj, which plays a big role in rich Mesoamerican history. The archaeological team lead by Christa Schieber de Lavarreda and Miguel Orrego Corza , which lead to the most recent archaeological discovery, certainly had their work cut out for them. Prepped in workwear trousers and digging gear they worked their way deep into structure 6 of the ruins and discovered this gem of a necklace, which the team believe has been lying there since the period between 190 b.C and 10 a.D. The extraordinary quality and beauty of the Jadeite necklace indicates a high-status and was possibly used as an offering or a burial of some sort.
Archaeologists have extremely interesting and rich careers which they spend a lot of digging at sites in the hopes that Mother Nature will reveal more of the large crevasse of history she jealously hides. With digs, pits, caves and deserts as an Archaeologists office, any decent clothing such as Scruffs workwear or Dickies store apparel would work well in the extreme conditions undertaken when Archaeologists are working toward discovering and revealing the most recent archaeological discoveries of all time.
November 16, 2011
The ice-cold, thin air, lack of toilets, warm beds and convenient kitchen utensils certainly makes for an interesting mountain climb; particularly when you’re going to be climbing the face of a mammoth rock for a week, or thereabouts. Mountaineering may sound like hard work – which it most certainly is – but the bonding between strangers, and possibly finding a passion for what most consider a crazy sport, far outweighs anything else.
Firstly, a super important factor to consider when climbing a snow covered mountain, are the shoes. Considering these articles will save your toes from hypothermia and a major chill factor it’s best to firstly invest in safety shoes. A decent pair of safety boots such as Dickies Boots, and several pairs of extra warm socks will ensure your toes stay warm, and attached to your feet.
One of the other fun aspects of climbing is the weather on mountains. It’s kind of a lucky packet scenario, you’re never sure what you’re going to get. The unpredictable mountain weather to means you can go from climbing beneath the glaring sunshine, to being stuck in a blazing snowstorm in a matter of minutes. There’s already a cool story to tell your friends. Shining sun, blazing hail stones, snowstorm and windburn, it’s all in days climbing.
One of the other fun sides to mountaineering, and this is for the ladies, is the lack of toilet facilities on any huge mountain. It’s mighty cold exercise when nature is calling, so it’s best to consider a funnel of some sort. That’s that on that subject. Just think about it though.
It goes without saying that mountaineering equipment needs to be top notch and it would be best that you get a professional to advise you on this subject. There’s no place for major mistakes when mountain climbing, even for beginners.
Exercise, preparation, equipment, clothing, highly experienced mountain guide and tenacity are all the perfect ingredients to a successful mountaineering expedition. One point that keeps coming up is to make sure you’re fully equipped with professional mountain clothing. Mountaineering means safety clothing such as Dickies Trousers, as well as thermal underwear to protect everything that matters, and that’s pretty much every part of your body.
January 12, 2011
Latest news has revealed that David Beckham is moving to Tottenham Hotspurs thanks to a chance encounter at Harrods. Who would’ve thought that such a huge decision could be sparked by a small chance encounter…
The official story is that David Beckham was busy doing his 2010 Christmas shopping at London’s premier department store in Knightsbridge when he bumped into Jamie Redknapp. During their conversation David Beckham mentioned in passing that he wouldn’t mind playing for Tottenham and more so wouldn’t mind playing for Harry Redknapp, Jamie’s dad. A Knightsbridge estate agent has confirmed that David Still owns his house in London so there shouldn’t be too many logistical issues with the move back to the UK Capital.
Soon after the chance encounter, Jamie mentioned Beckham’s interest in Tottenham and so began talk between David Beckham’s current club, LA Galaxy, and Tottenham, resulting in a loan move for 3 months to the London club. LA Galaxy were initially hesitant to allow David Beckham’s loan move to Tottenham but eventually agreed that it could be a mutually beneficial.
Harry Redknapp earlier this week revealed the breaking story saying that Beckham was interested in a move back to London football and that he likes the style of football that spurs plays. The good news of course is that David Beckham has a London property in Hertfordshire which is just 20 minutes away from the spurs training ground – score!
Harrods has always been known for its impeccable staff, elegantly dressed from top to toe in their black red and white workwear uniforms, always happy to help and willing to please. Harrods staff are well trained in the sales industry but now the luxury department store is taking their customer service to a new level by offering their staff a sales degree – the first of its kind in the UK.