Nominated for 9 Craft Awards (bestowed by the Director’s Guild of Canada), Queer As Folk is a groundbreaking drama series that has built itself a large cult following since its inception in 2000. Based on a British TV series of the same name, Queer As Folk is in many ways similar to HBO’s Sex And The City, and it’s one of the first TV dramas to be completely centered around the lives of homosexual characters, or even have prominent homosexual characters - following on the heels of groundbreaking sitcoms such as Ellen (1994) and Will & Grace (1998). The brainchild of UK-born writer and creator Russell T. Davies, Queer As Folk follows the life and times of a group of gay friends as they live out their respective lives in modern-day America…
Set in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, Queer As Folk follows the exploits of a group of gay and lesbian friends who live on or around Liberty Avenue. Most of the scenes take place either in the character’s homes, a local diner, or the popular gay nightclub Babylon. Lindsay Peterson (Thea Gill) and Melanie Marcus (Michelle Clunie) comprise the lone lesbian couple to star in the series, while various gay friends and neighbors such as Brian Kinney (Gale Harold), Michael Novotny-Bruckner (Hal Sparks), Justin Taylor (Randy Harrison), Ted Schmidt (Scott Lowell), Emmett Honeycutt (Peter Paige), etc. deal with each other and their own varying relationships. Composed in a drama/soap opera format, Queer As Folk centers wholly on the careers and lives (including sex, drugs, love, friendships, tragedies, etc.) of its diverse characters, maintaining a specific focus on its attempted realistic portrayal and illustration of the American homosexual lifestyle…
The Queer As Folk DVD features a number of interesting episodes including the series premiere in which, following a night of entertainment at Babylon with his friends, Brian goes home with a man named Justin, but has a difficult time conveying to Justin that he doesn’t want to pursue a relationship. Meanwhile, friends Lindsay and Melanie are celebrating the birth of their new baby boy, Gus… Other notable episodes from Season 1 include “Episode 110″ in which Brian evicts Justin after he forgets to set the alarm and the place gets robbed, and “Episode 118″ in which Justin learns that his parents are getting a divorce while Ted is reunited with Blake…
Below is a list of episodes included on the Queer As Folk (Season 1) DVD:
Episode 1 (Episode 101) Air Date: 01-17-2003
Episode 2 (Episode 102) Air Date: 01-17-2003
Episode 3 (Episode 103) Air Date: 12-10-2000
Episode 4 (Episode 104) Air Date: 12-17-2000
Episode 5 (Episode 105) Air Date: 01-07-2001
Episode 6 (Episode 106) Air Date: 01-21-2001
Episode 7 (Episode 107) Air Date: 01-28-2001
Episode 8 (Episode 108) Air Date: 02-04-2001
Episode 9 (Episode 109) Air Date: 02-11-2001
Episode 10 (Episode 110) Air Date: 02-18-2001
Episode 11 (Episode 111) Air Date: 02-25-2001
Episode 12 (Episode 112) Air Date: 03-04-2001
Episode 13 (Episode 113) Air Date: 03-11-2001
Episode 14 (Episode 114) Air Date: 03-18-2001
Episode 15 (Episode 115) Air Date: 04-01-2001
Episode 16 (Episode 116) Air Date: 04-08-2001
Episode 17 (Episode 117) Air Date: 04-15-2001
Episode 18 (Episode 118) Air Date: 04-22-2001
Episode 19 (Episode 119) Air Date: 04-29-2001
Episode 20 (Episode 120) Air Date: 06-10-2001
Episode 21 (Episode 121) Air Date: 06-17-2001
Episode 22 (Episode 122) Air Date: 06-24-2001
About the Author
Britt Gillette is author of The DVD Report, a blog where you can find more reviews like this one of the Queer As Folk (DVD).
Americans have more debt than ever before. A recent study shows that Americans, as a whole, are saving money at a lower rate than at any time since the Great Depression. In fact, the savings rate is actually negative, and that means that people are spending more money than they are earning. The problem with doing so is that it eventually catches up to you. You can either pay your bills or watch helplessly as the negative entries begin to pile up on your credit report.
Realizing that many Americans have found themselves buried under a pile of debt, and worse, having a credit report that accurately reflects that problem, a number of resourceful and unscrupulous companies have started companies that promise to “fix bad credit.” Their ads are on television, telephone poles and even in our inboxes in the form of spam. The promises are always the same; the companies offer, for a fee, to wipe out judgements, bankruptcies, tax liens, late payments and any other “black marks” on a consumers credit report, all for a fee.
There’s just one problem - they cannot do it. There just isn’t any way to legally remove accurate information from a credit report. These companies are promising the sun and the moon, collecting their fees and doing nothing. As a result of thousands of complaints, the Federal Trade Commission has been cracking down on these credit repair companies, but the twenty or so firms that the agency has shut down so far only scratches the surface. Hundreds of these companies remain in business, and consumers should be aware of these agencies that promise more than they can deliver.
While there are legitimate counseling firms that can assist you with debt problems, consumers should avoid companies that promise to “fix” a bad credit report by suggesting any of the following:
The only way to “fix” bad credit is to pay your bills, pay them on time, and wait. It takes years to get into credit trouble and it takes years to get out of credit trouble. There is no quick fix, no matter who promises you otherwise. Instead of paying someone to “fix” your credit, save the money and use it to pay down your debt.
©Copyright 2006 by Retro Marketing. Charles Essmeier is the owner of Retro Marketing, a firm devoted to informational Websites, including End-Your-Debt.com, a site devoted to personal bankruptcy, debt consolidation, establishing credit and credit counseling.
Scientific studies continue to show that green tea is good for
you. Tea began as a Chinese medicinal drink, and modern science
proves just how green tea is good for you. In traditional
Chinese medicine, tea helps to clear the eyes and head, resolve
excess phlegm, promote urination, relieve toxins, aid the
digestion, and quench thirst. As with so many foods and
medicines, the traditional Chinese medicinal thoughts are being
proven scientifically in modern times. Today, there is ample
evidence that tea is good for you as a daily tonic in the
interest of preventing or treating a wide range of maladies,
including: cancer, hypertension (high blood pressure), high
cholesterol, premature aging, food poisoning, dental decay and
bad breath, and even arthritis.
How Is Green Tea Good For You?
* Tea is rich in catechin polyphenols, particularly
epigallocatechin gallate (EGCG). EGCG is a powerful
anti-oxidant: besides inhibiting the growth of cancer cells, it
kills cancer cells without harming healthy tissue. It has also
been effective in lowering LDL cholesterol levels, and
inhibiting the abnormal formation of blood clots. The latter
takes on added importance when you consider that thrombosis (the
formation of abnormal blood clots) is the leading cause of heart
attacks and stroke.
* Green tea may be good for your waistline. In November 1999,
the American Journal of Clinical Nutrition published the results
of a study at the University of Geneva in Switzerland.
Researchers found that men who were given a combination of
caffeine and green tea extract burned more calories than those
given only caffeine or a placebo.
Green Tea Is Good For Your Immune System
* A Japanese report found that men who drank ten cups of green
tea per day stayed cancer-free for three years longer than men
who drank less than three cups a day (there are approximately
240 - 320 mg of polyphenols in three cups of green tea).
Meanwhile, a study by Cleveland’s Western Reserve University
concluded that drinking four or more cups of green tea per day
could help prevent rheumatoid arthritis, or reduce symptoms in
individuals already suffering from the disease.
* Scientists at the Saitama Cancer Research Institute discovered
that there were fewer recurrences of breast cancer, and the
disease spread less quickly, in women with a history of drinking
five cups or more of green tea daily.
Green Tea Is Good For Your Prevention & Treatment Of Cancer
* Scientists also discovered that EGCG from green tea can help
to prevent metastasis, or the movement and spreading of cancer
cells from one organ or tissue to the other by bloodstream or
lymph. Cancer cells secrete special enzymes in order to enter
and colonize tissues. Research shows that EGCG stops the
secretion of these special enzymes.
* A case study that was done in China, reports that those women
who drank green tea regularly had a 50% lower risk of developing
esophageal cancer. Men showed less risk as well, but not as
significant as women.
* Researchers from Sweden reported that green tea blocked the
development of new blood vessels in the lungs. By blocking the
development of new blood vessels in the lungs, tumors are less
likely to grow and metastasize. Scientists believe that EGCG
plays a significant rule in blocking the development of tumors.
Similar results were achieved in breast cancer, colon cancer and
melanoma studies. It is believed that drinking green tea for an
extended period of time will help to prevent and might cure
cancer naturally.
* The antioxidants found in green tea–called catechins–may
selectively inhibit the growth of cancer. In laboratory studies
using animals, catechins scavenged oxidants before cell damage
occurred, reduced the number and size of tumors, and inhibited
the growth of cancer cells. National Cancer Institute
researchers are investigating the therapeutic and preventive use
of tea catechins against a variety of cancers.
* One Chinese study involving over 18,000 men found green tea
drinkers were about half as likely to develop stomach or
esophageal cancer as men who drank little tea, even after
adjusting for smoking and other health and diet factors.
* In the laboratory, studies have shown green tea catechins act
as powerful inhibitors of cancer growth in several ways: They
scavenge oxidants before cell injuries occur, reduce the
incidence and size of chemically induced tumors, and inhibit the
growth of tumor cells. In studies of liver, skin and stomach
cancer, chemically induced tumors were shown to decrease in size
in mice that were fed green and black tea.
Green Tea Is Good For Your Teeth
* Green tea is good for your teeth, the catechins prevent decay
by killing the bacteria (Streptococcus mutans) that cause dental
plaque. Green tea also contains fluoride. One cup of brewed
green tea contains around 0.3-0.5 mg of fluoride. This is an
optimal level of fluoride according to dentists. As we all know,
fluoride builds in our teeth’s enamel, making it more resistant
against acidic environment, of our mouth. Green tea also
eliminates other bacteria that responsible for bad breath.
According to researchers, green tea polyphenols can inhibit, by
30%, the growth of bacteria that causes unpleasant breath.
* A study at the Beijing Dental Hospital found consuming 3 grams
of green tea a day, or about 2 cups, along with the application
of a tea extract reduced the size and proliferation of
leukoplakia, a precancerous oral plaque.
* Recent research suggests that green tea is good for your HDL
cholesterol ( the “good one”) and lowers triglyceride levels.
Several tests have been done. And green tea extract has been
shown to be good for your cholesterol.
Green Tea Is Good For Your Blood Pressure
* At the the end of a 5 week experiment, one group with the
regular diet showed blood pressure increases. For the catechin
fed group, the blood pressure stayed normal. After this initial
testing the scientists switched the diets for the two groups.
This switch led to a reversal of the blood pressure trends. The
study concluded that drinking moderate amounts of green tea each
day can help to prevent high blood pressure.
The catechins in green tea have additionally been shown to help
prevent excess cholesterol in the blood, killing the bacteria
that causes food poisoning, lower blood sugar, additionally
green tea is good for your high blood pressure by suppressing
the production of angiotensn II. Catechin is also a strong
anti-oxidant, which aids in aging related concerns.
Green and white tea leaves are less processed than oolong or
black teas, which prevents oxidation and retains the highest
levels of beneficial compounds. But all tea is good for you, so
find the ones you like and drink them daily!
There is no one right way to take a sauna. Above all you should
be in good company, so that you can enjoy the experience in
peace. Beginning users should use the sauna judiciously to
start. As long as you feel comfortable, you may stay in the
sauna, or repeat a hot-cold cycle as often as you wish. Avoid
using a sauna if you have a fever or an inflammatory disease or
injury, if you are pregnant, or if you have been drinking. You
may want to consult your physician if you have a disease, such
as heart disease, high blood pressure, asthma or skin disease.
To get the most of the sauna, you will need: At least half an
hour of time, preferably more, so you have ample time to relax.
A large towel to dry yourself A smaller towel to sit on A
bathrobe to wear while cooling down
Try this first, and once you’ve tried it out, you can change it
to suit your taste: Disrobe completely. It is also important to
remove watches, rings and all other jewelry because the heat of
the sauna may distort the metal and burn the flesh that wears
it. Contact lenses and glasses should also be removed. Let’s
face it, modesty is a universal trait - or is it vanity, and the
suspicion that we look rather better clothed than we do
disrobed? The first-time sauna bather often finds this casual
intimacy in the company of new acquaintances, if not total
strangers, a little daunting. The only way to deal with this is
to simply take the plunge. The chances are you’ll discover your
beer gut or your birth marks are in good company, and any
self-consciousness is soon dispelled by the camaraderie of the
visit. Bathing suits or towels don’t really belong into the
sauna, but I feel everyone has a right to experience the sauna
in comfort. If a towel makes the sauna less intimidating, by all
means use one. Start by taking a shower. This helps to keep the
hot room clean. Enter the sauna and sit on the upper bench. You
may want to use a small towel to sit on. Sit back for a few
minutes and let the heat permeate your body and open the pores
of the skin. You may adjust the air moisture by throwing water
on the stones of the heater. The steam will make the room feel
hotter. It is good to meditate, take a small nap or ponder over
days events. Would you like to take sauna to another level than
just sweat at the gym? Would you like to almost reach a high
level of peace and serenity? For additional information contact
- Sylita Thomas and visit the website
http://www.saunasteampower.com
Landscape gardening is creative art-work. It often has a point
of chief interest, just like the painting of a picture. And the
rest of the points simply forms a fine setting for it. In
landscape gardening, the gardener has a clear picture in his
mind what the whole (trees, paths, flower beds etc.) will be
once the work is completed.
Landscape gardening may follow along very formal lines or along
informal lines. The first would have straight paths, straight
rows in stiff beds, everything, as the name tells, perfectly
formal. The other method is, of course, the exact opposite.
The formal arrangement is likely to look too stiff; the
informal, too fussy, too wiggly. As far as paths go, keep this
in mind, that a path should always lead to somewhere and to
direct one to a definite place. Now, straight, even paths are
not unpleasing if the effect is to be that of a formal garden.
To avoid an abrupt curve and a whirligig effect in a curved
path, t is far better to stick to straight paths unless you can
make a really beautiful curve.
Garden paths may be of gravel, of stepping stones, of dirt, or
of grass. One sees grass paths in some very lovely gardens. They
may not work well in small gardens with limited garden areas
that they are re-spaded each season. Of course, a gravel path
makes a fine appearance, but again you may not have gravel at
your command. Stepp
ing stones, plain or decorated with a picture, suite your
garden as well. To place stepping stones, dig out the path for
two feet, then put in six inches of stone or clinker. Over this,
pack in the dirt, rounding it slightly toward the center of the
path. They form convenient places for water to stand. The under
layer of stone makes a natural drainage system.
Gardening is limited only by your imagination. There’re so many
things you can do with the garden. Besides garden paths, trees
and flower beds, wind chimes brings relaxation and joy to your
garden as well. In a nice summer morning, listening to your wind
chimes while you garden. To hang wind chimes from the top of
your porch, you can use a simple C shaped hook or any type hook
that screws into the ceiling.
