When Boris Yeltsin spoke about an experiment that 'they' wrought upon his Russian 'brethren' on June 1st, 1991; did anyone ask who THEY were? Here is what he said:

"Our country has not been lucky. Indeed, it was decided to carry out this Marxist experiment on us - Instead of some country in Africa, they began this experiment with us."

MOTHER RUSSIA AND THE BASILIDAE:

The creation of Divine Kings as outreaches for inner sanctum elites who controlled Rome and its Empire that grew every time it supposedly fell is part of many books I have done. Along with Manifest Destiny and the Flat Earth, the concept of Divine Kings needs close scrutiny. I think Hecateus gave up his Basilidae primogeniture right to be his familys spiritual leader for good reason and I think the Basilian Fathers and their Nestorian counterparts ran much of the Asian continent for their brothers in Rome and Britain. There is a good possibility that Genghis Khan fathered the line of adept Dragons like Count Drakul who fought for the Catholic Military Orders and whose progeny include St. Germain De Medicis who assisted or planned the New World Order now in control. A couple of paragraphs cannot do justice to the issue but here is a Catholic scholar speaking a little about the matter.

Is Holy Mother Russia undivided?

Despite his other great merits for the churches of the east and the Catholic Church in Ukraine through his association with the Servant of God Metropolitan Andrew Sheptytsky, Fr. Korolevsky's views were marred by his russophilism and the political-religious conception of a one and undivided Holy Mother Russia. His views were shared by many of the policy makers in the Catholic Church. For him there was one great Russia and one Holy Russian Orthodox Church, the great Russians. Ukrainians and the Belarus were "malorosy," the little Russians and white Russians. The initial treaty of friendship and non-aggression of Pereyaslav signed by the hetman Bohdan Khmelnitsky in 1648 eventually became the tool of imperial oppression and enslavement of cossack Ukraine by Muscovy under Tsar Peter and his successors. With the fall of the Tsars in 1917 the empire became the Union of Soviet Socialist Republics, a new prison of subjugated peoples and nations still struggling to cast off the spectre of Russian political and ecclesiastical domination even after the events of glasnost, perestroika and the collapse of the Soviet empire. It is only today, with the proclamation of an independent state of Ukraine, that the political west is accepting the right of these people to their own sovereignty. But old ideas die hard. Certain ecclesiastical circles in Rome had been infected by these views even to the present day.

A new perception

One of the principal voices of a new perception was Fr. Athanasius Welykyj, O.S.B.M., a young hieromonk of the Basilian Order, an indefatigable researcher and scholar. Fr. Korolevsky had enlisted him to assist in researching the Vatican archives. Fr. Welykyj, who would become the Proto-archmandrite or superior general of the Order of Saint Basil the Great, began to publish the Vatican documents in the Basilian Analecta. In 1961, he was called by Pope John XXIII and Cardinal Amieto Cicognani, the secretary of State, to head the secretariat of the Preparatory Commission of Vatican Council II. As secretary of the Council Commission on the Eastern churches, Fr. Welykyj made substantial contributions to the principal ideas of the Decree on the Catholic Eastern Churches (Nov. 1964), and many of the materials developed by this commission became the foundation for the conciliar documents on the Unity of the Church and Catholic ecumenism (1964). (1) Catholic ecumenism is anything but true ecumenicism.

American and British Corporate Interest in Russia:

Sometimes Marshal Pilsudski is called the Jewish Uncle due to his support for the Jews; this section has information about the nature of outside influences in the formation of the Russian Federation and why the British and others switched sides (or appeared to). Pilsudski was no tyrant despite having to assume dictatorial powers. Stalin and Hitler were both backed by International Financial interests and you could call Stalin their CEO he certainly was never a communist. The Americans had armed forces in support of the Bolsheviks a lot longer than others like Britain. I think we see the growth of Rockefeller or American branches of the Rothschilds in Russia and elsewhere in the early 20th Century but Londons Rothschilds still had control.

Marshal Jozef Pilsudski 1867-1935

Pilsudski was imprisoned in Siberia from 1887-1892 because his brother Bronislaw was wrongly accused in a plot to assassinate Tsar Alexander III. After his release in 1892, he joined an underground Polish political party (Polish Socialist Party) based in Paris. This party advocated an independent socialist Poland. {It is not to be confused with the Bolshevik version of socialism. It is a relative term when compared to the totalitarian Czarist system.} Starting around 1894, he actively printed, smuggled and distributed anti-Tsarist materials. While a medical student at the University of Kharkov, in the Ukraine, he became noticed for his revolutionary behaviour, for which he was arrested in 1900. After escaping Russian captivity, he made his way to Austrian Poland (Galicia) and proceeded to organize a Polish volunteer fighting force, later (during WW I) to be under Austrian command against Russia. He became the leader of the military wing of the Polish Socialist Party in 1904. His primary duty in this post was to organize protection for party members in Poland who were being persecuted by the Tsarist secret police, the OKHRANA.

During the pre-war period, Pilsudski attended Jagelleonian University in Krakow. Pilsudski was the founder of the Polish Legions (originally the Societies of TIR) that bore his name, which he used only to promote a free Poland. Starting around 1908, Pilsudski began to build the Legions with Polish volunteers from Galicia, assembling a force which eventually numbered 14,000 men. Pilsudski sided with Austria because of the three occupiers of Poland (Austria, Germany and Russia), it was the only power that even came close to offering any sort of post-war autonomy for Poland. Pilsudski offered intelligence information on Tsarist military movements to Austria and openly campaigned for Poles under Russian domination to rebel. Upon the surrender of Tsarist Russia in 1917, Pilsudski and many leading Legion officers were jailed by Germany, for refusing to allow the Legions to fight against France. The Germans also provided no guarantee of an Independent post-war Poland. This became clear when the German governor of warsaw, von Bessler, attempted to appoint a German as head of the Legions and thereby strip Pilsudski of control (after the battles had been won with the blood of Poles). In July, 1917, the Legions were supposedly disbanded. The Legionaries did not stop the fight for Independence. Underground para-military cells were formed to continue the fight for Independence for the remainder of WW I. Among the organizations was the POW (Polska Organizacja Wojskowa), which carried out attacks on German, Russian and Austrian targets. They were loyal to Pilsudski, who was at this time imprisoned at Magdeburg Castle.

Upon the surrender of Germany in 1918, Pilsudski was released to take control of the Army of the newly Independent Poland. The members of the POW (mostly ex-Legionnaires) were already being organized before Pilsudski was released on November 10, 1918. Independence was declared on October 7, 1918 by a Polish National Council in Exile, headed by Roman Dmowski (a National Democrat). He was supported by Ignacy Paderewski, who was then residing in the USA. Paderewski has some influence with American Politicians, including President Wilson {Totally 'possessed' by Col. House who was a seventh son of a seventh son and the man who selected directors for the FED for his Rothschild bosses.}. This influence became apparent when the creation of Poland was contained in President Wilson's 14 Points, and later as part of the Treaty of Versailles. The Western powers supported Paderewski in order to gain some influence in the region after WW I. Also on October 7, 1918, a Lublin Socialist named Daszyniski seized government offices in Galicia and became head of a provisory government of the Republic of Poland as of October 12, 1918. Daszyniski then appointed Pilsudski (still in jail) as Minister of War...

After the Treaty of Versailles was set into motion, provisions for the German Army to occupy and maintain parts of Poland, Lithuania and Bialyrussia were agreed upon by the Western powers. This was to ensure stability in the area until the volatile situation in Russia was settled. As the Russian civil war raged on, many western powers had been supporting Russian Tsarist Generals in their bid to retake Russia. The official granting of Polish territory under the Treaty of Versailles was to take place June 28, 1919. When the Germans began to leave the area prematurely, it left the entire region vulnerable to Bolshevik expansionism. This did not sit well, especially with the French. France became a strong supporter of Poland, and sent advisors and military equipment to aid the young Poland. The French hoped that Poland would help the cause of General Denikin, a Russian who was fighting the Bolsheviks. It was also hoped that any Russian lands that Poland took would be held in trust for Denikin.

England, on the other hand, actually tried to impede French efforts to support Poland because they had just concluded trade deals with the Bolsheviks. Labour Unions in England actually prevented the loading of ships destined for Poland. It was a common belief among the British elite that Poland was incapable of self government and should be administered by Russia. All of Europe was tired of war, and the Bolsheviks were seeding discontent and spreading the word of a proletariat uprising among the increasingly un-employed in many European nations. It became apparent to Pilsudski that he would have to make a pre-emptive strike to prevent Lenin from igniting revolution with his red army. When the Bolsheviks installed puppet governments in Lithuania and Bialyrussia in January 1919 (the LITBEL Republic), it became apparent that Lenin was systematically retaking territories of the Tsar and making them into Soviet Republics. Pilsudski decided to invade Bialyrussia and Lithuania in February 1919 in order to attack the Red Army before it could gain strength. By April 1919, Pilsudski had overthrown the LITBEL Soviet Republic. The vast majority of the city of Wilno was Polish, and Pilsudski was justified in taking the area and claiming it for Poland.

Lenin (and still, many modern historians) had mistakenly interpreted France's support of Pilsudski and saw Poland as a tool of the Western powers (who supported Denikin). In reality, Pilsudski gladly accepted France's aid, but did not support Denikin or any other Tsarist Generals. Pilsudski was content with the Reds and Tsarist weakening each other so he would have an easier time defeating which ever side won the Russian civil war. Both Lenin and Denikin wanted to include Poland in Russia, and Pilsudski would have to fight at least one of them. Pilsudski spent most of 1919 gaining control of much of Lithuania, Bialyrussia and the Ukraine. By December 1919, Denikin had fallen out of the picture, and had been replaced by General Wrangel. France continued to pressure Pilsudski to help the new Tsarist commander, but he refused. Lenin became concerned about the possibility of Poland supporting Wrangel, and decide to sue for peace with Pilsudski. In December 1919 there were peace talks held at Borisov (Pilsudski chose this location to deny access to western journalists, thereby preventing an opportunity for Lenin to use this event for propaganda). The British, under Prime Minister Lloyd George, pressured Pilsudski to accept an agreement on the Curzon {Admiral or Lord Curzon noted the Versailles Treaty was not an end to war and said it would begin again in 20 years. That was exactly how long until Britain again declared War. Is this pure co-incidence or informed insight?}Line, which gave an advantage to the Bolsheviks. The British were still interested in the trade agreements they had with Lenin, and it showed. Pilsudski rejected this proposal. He much preferred allowing Bialyrussia and Ukraine to set up buffer states, which would be teamed with Poland in a defensive alliance. The war continued...

... Pilsudski was in a fight for Poland's very existence, and it started to look very bad.

In July and August, the Western Allies urged Pilsudski to accept peace, and save what was left of Poland. Talks were held in Minsk, but were un-eventful. Lenin only pretended to seek peace, believing that he had already won the war. By mid August, warsaw was threatened. The French advisor to Pilsudski, General Weygand, advised Pilsudski to abandon warsaw and take up a defensive position west of the Wistula River. Pilsudski requested volunteers to defend warsaw, and thousands complied. Pilsudski decided to stand and fight. General Wladyslaw Sikorski was given the responsibility of defending the City itself, while Pilsudski assembled a strike force south of warsaw. On August 20, 1920, a miracle happened (as it became known, "The Miracle on the Wistula"). The Red army had made a critical mistake, and went north of warsaw in an attempt to cut off Polish supply routes from the Baltic. Pilsudski, who may have anticipated this maneuver, was ready and launched his counter-attack. The Red Army seemed to disappear as fast as it appeared. Thousands of terrified Russians surrendered, and others ran away so fast, they seemed to vanish. About 100,000 Russians were taken prisoner. Arriving too late, Budyenny became cut off from the main Bolshevik force, and Tukhachevsky was forced to retreat toward Lithuania in order to avoid having a major portion of his forces encircled and captured. Pilsudski again defeated Tukhachevski at the battle of the Neman River.

Pilsudski inflicted defeat upon the Bolsheviks in 1920 at the Battle of warsaw. His victory and wisdom kept Bolshevism from spreading west into Europe, and allowed Poland to rise to nationhood after over a century of occupation. This freedom was only to last two decades. The Bolsheviks were defeated soundly and were in full retreat. In a few weeks, Pilsudski had recaptured much of the territory that he controlled until April 1920. In early October 1920, Pilsudski secretly sent General Zeligowski to Wilno to overthrow the Lithuanian government there. The official line was to be that the Polish majority in Wilno requested assistance because they were being persecuted by the Lithuanian minority which governed there. Zeligowski took Wilno and the surrounding area and occupied it until a plebiscite could eventually be held in 1922. The majority decided to join Poland. Lenin became serious about peace, and on October 12, 1920, the treaty of Riga was negotiated, which came into force March 18, 1921. A new Polish Constitution was proclaimed on March 17, 1921. A free Poland became a reality for this first time in over a century.

... The Parliament elected Pilsudski as President by a majority of the vote in order to gain control of a rapidly deteriorating economic crisis. Pilsudski publicly declined, and appointed Ignacy Moscicki on June 1, but in reality retained actual power for himself. Pilsudski gradually increased his already dictatorial powers over the next few years. In 1927, many opposition leaders were arrested. Elections were held in 1928, and the Socialists gained some influence in the Sejm. Pilsudski, originally a Socialist started to lean to the political right. Bitter fighting between leftists and those on the right ended in 1930 when Pilsudski arrested all the radical leftist leaders. New elections were held in November 1930. In 1932 power was given to the president to rule by decree, which was formalized on April 23, 1935, just before Pilsudski died on May 12. After his death in 1935, General Smigly-Rydz took over as Commander in Chief of the Polish Army, and was the de facto successor to Pilsudski.

Pilsudski has been accused of Anti-Semitism and, in the case of Lithuanians, Ukrainians and Bialyrussians, ethnic cleansing. Upon closer examination, these accusations have no merit. The Polish Jews that Pilsudski supposedly persecuted turned out to be supporters of Bolshevism. Poland in reality was the most tolerant country toward Jews in Europe at the time. Many of the Bolshevik supporting Jews fled to Russia only to return later as Stalin's hand picked yes-men in the newly formed government of the People's Republic of Poland. The complaints of the ethnic minorities were in part exaggerated by Communist agitators, trying to discredit Pilsudski. The truth is, that even though the minorities experienced some discrimination with regard to language and religious rights, they were allowed much more freedom than the same minorities had on the Russian side. For example, Ukrainians were expected to learn Polish in Poland. In Russia, Stalin expected them to starve. Pilsudski also had to contain Bolshevism from spreading. During the 1918-21 War, some suspected Communists were summarily executed (without trial). It must be remembered that some measures during times of war are hard to understand in peace time. Pilsudski was fighting a war with a very dangerous enemy. The Bolsheviks used every deceptive tactic imaginable. Pilsudski could only succeed in his goal of setting up an Independent Poland if he could irradicate, where ever possible, any support for Lenin's ideas. Communism had very little support in Pilsudski's Poland anyway, and the number of these executions was very small. Almost all of those executed were certainly Communists. The executions were based on political lines, not ethnic ones.

Pilsudski's rise to role of dictator was not based on personal glory. He always had Poland's best interest as the basis of his actions. Poland was in many difficult situations. It was surrounded by hostile enemies. The post-war European economy triggered massive inflation. The last thing that Poland needed was a weak government that quarreled with itself. Pilsudski's strong leadership was the only thing that kept Poland on the map until Hitler and Stalin partitioned Poland in 1939. In revenge for Pilsudski's 1920 victory, Stalin made Poland pay a heavy price during and after World War II. Stalin was Budyenny's Political Officer during the 1920 Galician campaign. Stalin actually prevented Budyenny from reaching Tukhachevsky in time in order to help in the attack on warsaw. This interference may have caused the Bolsheviks to lose the entire Polish-Russian war. After Stalin consolidated his power, he went about re-writing history. He heaped much of the blame for losing to Pilsudski on Tukhachevsky and had him and other Bolshevik officers executed in 1938. After Stalin gained control of Poland in 1944-45, he began hunting down Polish veterans of the 1918-21 war. Many were executed or jailed in Siberia.

Stalin then tried to erase any memory of Pilsudski or his defense of Poland from the history books. (2)

THE CZAR IS KILLED:

The Second World War was the continuation of World War One and a plan to break down the existing structures in order to make this part of the One World plan come to fruition. They had tried this with the Merovingian Napoleon in a more direct fashion in the century before they put this refined plan in motion. Prince Bernhard was part of the Thulean Gestapo and I think Plantard was his equal on the apparent other side. Bernhard became the CIA man to head the Bilderberg founding and Plantard went on to be the Nautonnier of the Priory which even if it was new they both have been around in some way under some name since the Trojan War as I have demonstrated. Saunire as a top Priory official would have been part of the planning of this effort to unite the world beginning with Europe. Metternich, Czar Alexander II and others had seen the importance of uniting Europe. This Czar was assassinated for trying to create a real democracy and for his efforts on behalf of the US against the Rothschild plan. Clearly the Rothschilds had a change of heart after trying to break the US into many warring factions. They saw how to use the US as their own police force.

Author of Diverse Druids, Columnist for The ES Press Magazine, Guest writer at World-Mysteries.com

Article 1 August 3, 2007

Most musicArtist are very similar in character to Painters or Sculptors or Craftsmen. What I mean is that you are what your description implies and that is you are an Artist and while that is what sets you apart from some guys being in an Air Band it also is what the Labels have always counted on. Historically Labels have always known that you the musicArtist have been focused on your music. You did not have time to think about the details of getting gigs or producing a CD or even creating your words and music(some of you). Forget about doing Marketing or PR. Not only did you not have time for that but it got to the point that any of those areas you disdained so you hired Managers to handle all of that for you. All you wanted to do was your music.

The Labels came on as being able to handle all of that for you and in some cases they did it well, but as time moved on the Managers, Agents, Labels and others have created an industry that literally feeds off of the musicArtist. Now the CD sales have declined 17% in just the this last QUARTER. If there is a Label that will sign you they are now no longer giving the massive advances as before and in fact now because they are loosing money like water thru a sieve , they actually have the audacity to demand a piece your touring revenues. So what can you do?

The answer is quite simple, the same paradigm shift that has caused the musicindustry to turn upside down (technology) and for artist to make less money, is the same thing that will increase your income. Here it is:

Do NOT think of BRANDING yourself as denigrating your music; it is the opposite, when you create yourself as a BRAND you do two things. The first is that everywhere your musicis played it is identified with you and the second is. ..guess whatyou create a means of protecting yourself and your musicwith trademark protection (which cost you all of $250). Look at the Beatles the Grateful Dead and yes even Prince. So think BRANDBRAND...BRAND...because brother if you dont then I guarantee someone (like a Label) will and then you are screwed when you become huge...so do it now.

Create a mindset that the Band/Yourself is a Entrepreneurial Company. What does this mean? Think like this, Ken Abdo chair of the Entertainment Law Initiative at the Grammy Foundation, was quoted at a recent conference telling about A band called The String Cheese Incident had formed a vertically integrated company to handle management, recording, intellectual property, legal counsel, and all other aspects of the business that is the band. These guys took it into their own hands to control their future. No longer can you think of being a musicArtist or a Band as just a way to express yourself. You MUST think about it as does any entrepreneur starting something new and cool. Otherwise you will be screwed down the line.

Use Technology; do not let Technology use you: Right now CD sales are not only in the toilet but they are going threw the sewer system and that will not stop, for every digital download there are at least 10 copies ripped. But the thing is that the musicis being listened to by someone who is downloading it somewhere, so that means opportunity. How? Well for starters create your own damn website. I cannot believe how many musicians use MySpace to promote them selves and do not have a website to direct the fans to. So guess what? MySpace makes all the freaking money off the ad space AND they capture YOUR fans.

When you do make your websiteadd in ecommerce ...add in your own cool stuff to selladd in ADVERTISING abilitiesadd in blogs...chatforumsbackstage videosvideos of you practicing.videos of you picking your nose, ANYTHING to make them want to go to your site from the MySpace page you set up. Make it so they feel special. When a song is downloaded make a 10 second message to your fans at the end of the song that say hey putzcome to my site www.blahblahblah.com and see what other feenominal sh*t I have for you. Now you think this is cheesy or takes away from your song? GUESS WHAT? STEALING YOUR SONG TAKES AWAY FROM YOU!

So try to change your mindset as the itnertnet has changed the musicindustry and see what happens, you will live like Kings when you make musicas opposed to starve like Artist. Resources: http://www.uspto.gov/teas/index.html

Computer Backup- Forget About It!

Backup Software is for the birds! Computer Backup is too hard, too much trouble and a pain in the butt. Lets just forget about it.

Backup Software is touted as the savior of your computers critical business and personal files. They claim that all computer hard drives (where our files are stored) eventually will have a 100% failure rate. They try to tell us that the failure of our hard drives is just a matter of WHEN, not IF.

Do your backups they shout!

Poppycock!

BACKUP SOFTWARE- LETS GET REAL

You and I know the real story. The real story is that new computers are so well made that they almost never fail, right?

Therefore, we dont need to worry about buying backup software and setting up a computer backup system, do we? It would just be a waste time-- for sure!

After all we know that all the press about hard drive failures, natural disasters and terrorist attacks is just a conspiracy by the backup software companies to get us to buy their products.

Personally I never had a hard drive failure (that I recall). If my computer stops working for whatever reason, thats life.

Therefore, I ignore these software backup companies that try to push their backup software products on the unsuspecting public even though they make data and file restorations easy. I dont give them the time of day.

Therefore as you see, I dont need backup software, do you? Of course not.

BACKUP SOFTWARE- STARTING OVER WITHOUT IT IS EASY

In the unlikely event that I got a virus or a bunch of spyware on my computers Ill just bite the bullet and move on. After all, if I lost all my data to a virus, then so what? Who needs backup software?

Heck, Id just buy a new computer and begin again and Id still wouldnt need backup software because its just too much hassle.

If ALL my business data was lost due to a hard drive crash or virus corruption then Id just start my business over. No big deal. Its not that hard, right? Using backup software is just a pain.

BACKUP SOFTWARE FOOLISHNESS

So by now were all agreed that using backup software for computer backup is just for the foolish, right? Right.

Who would want to use backup software that automatically and easily backs up EVERYTHING on your computer hard drive to a DVD Rewriteable disk or USB external hard drive? That would mean you could easily recover from any computer disaster. That makes too much sense and is far too logical.

They claim that backup software is a virtual computer insurance policy against fire, flood, theft, earthquake, hurricanes, tornados and terrorist attacks.

Balderdash!

Ridiculous.

Hey, the businesses who survived Hurricane Katrina didnt need backup software did they? OK, OK I admit a lot of businesses without backup software and off site backup lost EVERYTHING and now they cannot recover their data and reconstitute their business. But thats life. Now these businesses and their employees can now move on to something new. How exciting!

Look, life without backup software is just so much more interesting.

By the way, did I tell you how much I enjoy playing Russian Roulette?

Did I neglect to mention my brief stay (it was really was only a few days) at the mental hospital? Ahh, thats ancient history. Lets get back to the present.

BACKUP SOFTWARE- THE PRESENT DAY

Want to hear something silly? My friend Ben down in New Orleans owned an insurance company. It made a very good living for him and his family. He didnt believe in backup software either. All his computers were destroyed by Hurricane Katrina.

Ben just laughed and said, No problem, this disaster gives me the chance to write the Great American Novel that Ive always dreamed of writing.

What about his 10 employees and his thousands of customers he was asked? Ben said, Heck, things always work out for the best dont they?

What about the income from the business that supported his family he was asked? Ben said, Oh, FEMA (Federal Emergency Management Agency) told me they would take care of us and not to worry.

See, Ben is all set and is none the worse for wear even though he didnt have backup software.

BACKUP SOFTWARE LESSONS

So boys and girls what have we learned about this backup software thing?

* If we dont have backup software, so what, it just makes life after a hard drive crash more interesting and fun.

* After a natural disaster that destroys your computers, FEMA will make it OK.

* All the hubbub about backup software is just a bunch of advertising hype to sell product.

* Just because you like to play Russian Roulette, you arent really crazy.

FINALLY- BACKUP SOFTWARE FOLLYIES

I know another guy, carl Jordan, who is crazier than I am. carl and the rest of the loonies at Tweak All Consultants (www.tweakspeed.com) actually believe backup software can save your bacon.

In my own strange way I try to be fair and balanced. Therefore if you disagree with me check out carls review of backup software at Backup Software

Now, wheres my medication? My meds really smooth me out. They also help me forget about rational things like computer backup and backup software.

Jack Back has been in the computer business since 1983 as an IT executive and working computer consultant company owner. He has helped many clients after a computer crash who had no computer backup. Hurry to get your FREE REVIEW of backup software that saves your irreplaceable computer data from loss, damage or destruction at the Backup Software website.

Creating a lush flower garden from scratch takes time - many perennial plants need a couple of years to grow to showy sizes. So don't worry if it takes several seasons to get your flower garden looking the way you'd want it to. That's perfectly normal.

This is a good time of year to take stock of your garden design. Ask yourself the following questions - the answers should give you some ideas on which projects to do this spring:

• Are the flower beds too narrow? A narrow bed isn't wide enough to show off layers of plants. If you have a skinny bed that can't be widened, between a hedge and a walkway, for instance, fill it with low-growing ground cover plants of one or two kinds.
• Are the planting areas all over the place? Look at the entire yard, not just the individual planting beds. Try to link beds, rather than having one here and another over there.
• Have you crammed in too many types of plants? You'll get more impact from perennials if you put three of one type in a clump, rather than three different plants or three of the same plant in different locations. Repetition of key plant groups or a key color creates harmony and coherence. Add contrasts in texture and form - for example, bigger leaves next to fine ones, or spiky flowers next to rounded and mounded ones.
• Have you screened eyesores? Treat the space around your house as a garden, not a yard. Your backdrop should complement your plants. Make storage sheds or garage walls into garden features (vine-covered trellises can hide ugly ones). Be sure to screen utilitarian necessities like the compost pile, air-conditioning units, heat pumps, and so on with attractive fences or evergreen shrubs.
• Do the garden and house complement each other? Look out the windows to make sure the picture is pleasing from inside the house too.
• Do you have a focal point? You could be asking plants to do all the work. Perhaps the missing element is what garden designers call a "focal point." Try adding a bird bath, a sundial, an arbor, or a trellis. And of course no garden is complete without an inviting bench, or two.

Yvonne Cunnington is an avid perennial gardener and the author of Clueless in the Garden: A Guide for the Horticulturally Helpless. For lots more perennial gardening tips, visit her website http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com | For more garden design tips, see http://www.flower-gardening-made-easy.com/gardendesign.html

Planning on-going fun and celebration at work, with your family or friends is an excellent way to do group mental flossing. These ideas have been known to improve relationships, enhance creativity, make people feel appreciated, and build an invisible web of goodwill.

Most of the ideas below come from a survey of the most popular ideas used at medium to large organizations in North America. All the ideas have actually been tried, and more importantly, they have been accepted with joy and appreciation and have produced positive results for the organizations that tried them. Use these ideas or let them inspire you to customize your own for your group environment. Most of them cost little or nothing and require virtually no time beyond informing people about whats happening. You can weave them into your day or use them to plan a special event. The most important thing is to not just talk about these ideas, but actually do them.

A. Fun Rituals:

1. Champagne Celebration: Maybe the office has just landed that big, long-fought-for account, or, perhaps the division has just had a productive week together. Why not celebrate working together---for any reason---with some champagne (or sparkling grape juice if you prefer)?
2. Kazoo Applause: At Apple Computers, during a quarterly meeting, they gave out kazoos to the whole group. Rather than applauding by clapping hands (how pass!), they hummed their acknowledgment with kazoos. How about trying slide whistles instead of gavels for formal meetings? In fact, how about asking for a standing ovation . . . right now?!
3. Noses: There are a variety of rubber animal noses and red foam or plastic clown noses---bring 'em in and wear for staff meetings, tough times, on Fridays, etc.
4. Laugh a Day: The corporate office of Bank of America issued a "Laugh a Day Challenge" to all its Northern California employees. For the entire month of April, employees were challenged to bring in a joke or cartoon every day to share with their co-workers. Those people successfully completing the Challenge were given a Corporate Challenge T-Shirt, and a book, internally published, filled with the best responses. [It's important to note the spirit of the "challenge" NOT the "competition". They weren't looking for the best jokes to "win", but simply the willingness to participate. Thus everyone wins, even the employees who did not bring in jokes, but who nonetheless got to hear them.]
5. Thanks in Advance: Sure we enjoy and deserve to celebrate and be acknowledged for our contributions when we retire. But, why wait?! How about a party and a celebration on the first day of a person's joining your company/organization? What a great way to set the tone and include them as a member of the team.
6. Contests: Try these at lunchtime or at social events: Balloon shaving, Lip synch, Air band (or air orchestra), Worst Hair Day, Giant bubbles, Golf course.
7. Secret Pal: Have everyone in the office/organization/division/etc. write his/her name, address, phone number, birth date (actual date of birth for those with nothing to hide!), and a short list of things they like (such as: flowers, sports, chocolate, funny hats, exotic post cards, music, etc.). Fold and put slips in a hat. Then each person picks a slip --- making sure that no one has picked their own name (if so, all slips go back in and try again). Once all slips are distributed and everyone has someone else's name, the fun begins! You are the Secret Pal to the person whose name you've picked. Over the course of the Secret Pal experience (we recommend at least three months) your "mission" is to do creative, spontaneous, fun, and enlivening things for your partner...all anonymously of course. You might send flowers to his/her home; leave a note on her desk about how much you enjoy working together, or admire her professional competence, or appreciate his contributions to the organization; or, perhaps, simply send a Valentine's card in September with a note that you just couldn't wait until February to send your love. The important thing is to make it fun and uplifting--and impossible for your partner to guess who their Secret Pal is. And, of course, the extra special fun is that while you are being a Secret Pal to your lucky partner, someone else in the group is your Secret Pal, and is doing fun things for you! At the end of the predetermined time span, have a public event where Secret Pals are revealed.

B. Theme Days:

1. Clothes: Hats; socks (one only? mismatched?); tacky tourist; tacky/ugly tie; clashing clothes; have Casual Dress Day once a week/month. (it's a way to acknowledge those "secret identities" we all seem to have; the sides of ourselves that our friends see, but that our co-workers--who, let's face it, we may actually spend more time with---rarely get to see). In Hawaii, on occasion even the television newscasters wear Aloha shirts rather than "business clothing" during broadcasts. It's a real nod to the playful, joie de vivre spirit in all of us; certain colors (eg. one color, or color family only, ebony & ivory, etc.); inside-out; crazy T-shirts; pajamas; eccentric accessories.
2. Food: Have a backward meal; notes on orange rind; hot dog bananas; use food colors to change colors of food (blue potatoes? purple pasta?); senior management can cook and serve food to employees; do-it-yourself banana splits; gourmet lunch; food Olympics...
3. Celebrate: Special holidays; un-birthdays; Tuesdays; your giggling friends; standing ovations (at meetings, in the cafeteria); crazy awards (to bosses, to employees, part-time staff); a person's first day on the job; airport arrivals; Christmas in July; summer beach party in February; helium balloons (notes inside, give 'em away, decorate or write messages on the outside); $1.00 present anonymous gift exchange; celebrity for a day; decorate your boss' office...
4. Flowers: Bring 'em in to adorn the office; give 'em away with a note of acknowledgment; have a bouquet that someone keeps for an hour and then passes on to the next person; balloon bouquets...
5. Photos: (baby, pets, cars, kids) For the bulletin board; for newsletters; awards meetings; the training room.
6. Special Person Days: Secretaries Day celebrations; Family Day: bring in photos or bring in the family for lunch, have a lunch out; special office picnic day; Gopher Day: delegate things to people (ie, will you please go-fer this or that) or, if you come in and see your shadow, you leave and don't return to work for six weeks; offer massages on April 30...
7. Be Kind to Others Day: (Of course this should really be every day!) Do spontaneous, anonymous kind things for each other---eg., clean all the tea cups in the staff room; finish a colleagues report; finish your assistant's filing...
8. Excuses: Put up a sheet of paper and ask people to contribute the best excuse they've ever heard or given for: being late, returning merchandise, not paying their bill, etc. (use a real one, or make one up)
9. Awards: Night Each person gets given the name of someone else at work. They choose an award title and a fitting prize to go with it. Choose upbeat, non put-down prizes. Here are some examples of titles and awards:
Best blow-dried hair...can of salon mousse.
Perkiest phone voice...new phone headset.
Most good-natured morning person...gift certificate for 10 cups of chai at local tea shop.
Most legible handwriting... pen embossed with their name and company name.

C. On Going:

1. Humor Area: Create laugh books (people write in funny anecdotes and non-toxic jokes; bind them and distribute at the end of the quarter or year); cartoon corner; jokes/cartoons on memos and newsletters; smile more; cartoon treasuries or funny magazines in waiting areas and bathrooms; laughter cart; a laughter room; comedy library of books, CDs and DVDs...
2. Games: Non-competitive/cooperative games; charades; skits; secret word (upon hearing the word, everybody crosses legs or looks up or changes seats, etc.); treasure hunt...
3. The Great Job Exchange: Trade jobs, clothes, offices for a day. OK, OK, at least try an hour. 10 minutes?
4. Elevators: Smile, introduce people to each other (you don't have to know them either) face everyone else; have cartoons on the side walls call an elevated meeting.
5. What's Good?: Begin meetings by asking each person "What's going good in your dept?
6. Joy Break Box: Instead of having coffee or tea at 3:15, take ten minutes off to do, read or play something fun (read a novel, thumb through a "Far Side" cartoon book, check out the movie pages for a comedy film to see later, listen to a comedy tape on your head phones); try to have a rule: "no-work-talk" on breaks; create a Joybreak Committee to plan occasional group break-time interactions and activities.
7. Stroll Meetings: For 2-3 person meetings, go on a walk together in nature (bring a mini recorder to capture ideas and decisions for the minutes).
8. Best Mistakes: Stories allot 5 minutes during meetings for people to share any recent embarrassing or funny stories from their work or personal life.
9. Mural: Put up a large piece of paper in a common area. Pick a theme and ask people to contribute to it over a period of time. They can draw pictures, doodles, write words, poetry, paste magazine clippings, etc.
10. Lunchtime Fun: Go out to lunch with co-workers all wearing noses or fun hats. Give an outrageously good tip to the waiter. Sing the waiter a song for doing such a good job.
11. Unbirthdays (pick anyone and give them a surprise birthday party)
12. Decorate the bosss office with streamers, flowers and balloons
13. Way to Go notes: Have you ever wanted to tell someone what you admire, respect or appreciate about them, but never got around to it? Create a large envelope for each person at work and put them in a common area. Each week invite everyone to write notes of specific acknowledgment to their bosses, employees or even service providers--where you have caught them doing something right. Put your notes in the appropriate envelope. After one month, everyone opens their envelopes.
14. Caption Contest: Put up a cartoon without the caption on the staff area bulletin board. Invite people to make up a new caption that fits the cartoon. As people go through their day they can read what other people wrote and add to the list.

Carla Rieger is an expert on creative people skills at work. Carla speaks at association conferences, sales conventions, staff in-service days, continuing education program and does leadership coaching helping workplace leaders keep their employees engaged. Contact info: http://www.carlarieger.com carla@carlarieger.com, or 604-222-2276.

Flowering cherries

While the briefness of their glory has to be acknowledged, cherries really are the hardy spring-flowering trees for temperate climate gardens. I can think of no others, apart from their close Prunus relatives and some of the magnolias that even come close to rivalling flowering cherries for sheer weight of bloom and vibrance of colour.

The genus Prunus, to which the cherries, plums, almonds, apricots and peaches belong, includes around 430 species spread over much of the northern temperate regions and has a toehold in South America. Although including a few evergreen species, such as the well-known cherry laurel (Prunus laurocerasus), the genus is mainly deciduous and generally hardy to the frosts likely to occur in most New Zealand gardens.

The genus Prunus is widely recognised as being divided into 5 or 6 subgenera, though some botanists prefer to recognise these as distinct genera. The subgenus cerasus is the one to which the cherries belong. This group includes a wide variety of species, many of which are not highly ornamental. The species which are of most interest to gardeners are the Chinese and Japanese cherries, not only because they tend to be the most attractive, but also because they tend to be reasonably compact, often have attractive autumn foliage as well as spring flowers and because centuries of development in oriental gardens have produced countless beautiful cultivars.

The Japanese recognise two main groups of flowering cherries: the mountain cherries or yamazakura and the temple or garden cherries, the satozakura. The mountain cherries, which tend to have simple flowers, are largely derived from the original Mountain Cherry (Prunus serrulata var. spontanea), Prunus subhirtella and Prunus incisa. They are mainly cultivated for their early-blooming habit, which is just as well because their rather delicate display would be overwhelmed by the flamboyance of the garden cherries.

The garden cherries are the result of much hybridisation, mostly unrecorded, so we can't be exactly sure of their origins. Prunus serrulata (in its lowland form) and Prunus subhirtella also feature largely in their background. The other major influences are Prunus sargentii, Prunus speciosa, Prunus apetala and possibly the widespread Bird Cherries (Prunus avium and Prunus padus). The result of these old hybrids and modern developments is the wealth of forms that burst into bloom in our gardens every spring.

Regretfully, that complex parentage and those centuries of development and countless cultivars combined with Western misunderstandings of Japanese names and multiple introductions of the same plants under different names has led to considerable confusion with the names of flowering cherries.

Most of the popular garden plants are lumped together under three general headings:

1. Prunus subhirtella cultivars and hybrids;

2. Sato-zakura hybrids;

3. Hybrids no longer listed under parent species, being instead regarded as just to difficult to classify in that way.

But however you view them, flowering cherries have so much to offer that a little confusion over naming and identification shouldn't stand in the way of your including them in your garden. And now that many of them are available as container-grown plants that can be bought in flower, it's really just a matter of choosing the flowers you like.

Nevertheless, it's nice to know exactly which plant you're dealing with, so that you can be sure of its performance and size. While most of the larger nurseries and garden centres take care to supply plants that are true to type, make sure on first flowering that your cherries match their label descriptions. Misidentification, or perhaps misrepresentation, is common.

Plants

Prunus subhirtella cultivars and hybrids

Although the flowers of Prunus subhirtella are usually small and fairly simple, they appear from early winter well into spring, depending on the cultivar. Not only that, the cultivars themselves are long-flowering, often being in bloom for three weeks to a month. There are many cultivars, but most are similar to, or forms of the two main types listed below.

'Autumnalis' ( 'Jugatsu Sakura')

This is the most reliable winter-flowering form. It often starts to bloom in late April to early May and can carry flowers right through until mid September. It seldom produces a massive burst of bloom, rather sporadic clusters of flowers. This is just as well because the flowers are damaged by heavy frosts. The flowers of 'Autumnalis' are white to pale pink opening from pink buds; those of 'Autumnalis Rosea' are the same but with a deep pink centre.

'Pendula' ('Ito Sakura')

Prunus autumnalis tends to have weeping branches and 'Pendula' is a cultivar that emphasises this feature. Its flowers are usually pale pink and open in late winter to early spring. 'Falling Snow' is a cultivar with pure white flowers, while those of 'Rosea' are deep pink.

Sato-zakura hybrids

'Fugenzo' ( 'Shirofugen' )

'Fugenzo' was one of the first, if not the first, Japanese cherry to be grown in European gardens. It 's origins can be traced back to at least the 15th century. Its flowers are white to very pale pink, opening from pink buds, and when fully open how two conspicuous green leaf-like pistils in the centre of the flower.

'Taihaku'

'Taihaku' , also known as the great white cherry, has white flowers up to 5cm across. It grows to at least 8m tall with a wider spread and its flowers open at the same time as its bronze foliage expands, making a pleasant contrast. Thought to have been lost to cultivation, this cultivar was identified in Sussex garden from an old Japanese print.

'Ukon'

Although 'Ukon' mean yellowish, this cultivar has very distinctive pale green flowers and is one of the few unmistakable cherries. Its foliage develops purplish tones in autumn. The unusual flower colour contrasts well with the likes of 'Sekiyama'.

'Amanogawa' ('Erecta')

'Amanogawa' grows to around 6m tall, but only around 1.5m wide, and has pale pink single flowers with a freesia-like scent. It blooms in mid-spring and in autumn the foliage develops striking yellow and red tones.

'Shogetsu' ('Shugetsu', 'Shimidsu-zakura')

'Shogetsu' flowers late and produces pendant clusters of white, double flowers that open from pink buds. The flower clusters are up to 15cm long, which makes a tree in full bloom an arresting sight, especially considering that 'Shogetsu' is not a large tree and that its weeping habit means it can be covered in bloom right down to the ground.

'Sekiyama' ('Kanzan')

Certainly among the most popular cherries and most often sold under the name 'Kanzan', 'Sekiyama' has a relatively narrow, upright growth habit when young but eventually develops into a spreading 12m tall tree. Its flowers, which are pink and very fully double, are carried in pendulous clusters of five blooms. They open from reddish-pink buds. The foliage has a slight red tint.

'Ariake' ('Dawn', 'Candida')

This cultivar grows to about 6m tall and flowers in spring as the foliage develops. The young leaves are a deep bronze shade that contrasts well with white to very pale pink flowers.

'Kiku-shidare' ('Shidare Sakura')

'Kiku-shidare' is similar in flower to 'Sekiyama', but it has a weeping growth habit. It is a small tree and is often smothered in bloom from the topmost branches down to near ground level. The flowers can each have up to 50 petals.

'Pink Perfection'

'Pink Perfection' was introduced in 1935 by the famous English nursery Waterer Sonsand Crisp. It is a probable 'Sekiyama' 'Shogetsu' hybrid and has flowers that show characteristics of both parents; the clustered blooms of 'Shogetsu' and the pink of 'Sekiyama'. The flowers are very fully double and the young foliage is coppery.

'Kofugen'

'Kofugen' has graceful semi-weeping branches and a fairly compact growth habit. Its flowers are not really single but semi-double, though the two whorls of petals are flat rather than ruffled, so the effect is not that easy to see.

'Shirotae' ('Mt. Fuji')

This beautiful tree has a spreading growth habit that in the best specimens shows distinctly tiered branches. Its flowers, which are white and semi-double on mature plants, start to open before the foliage expands. They are pleasantly scented.

'Takasago'

Although possibly a Prunus sieboldii cultivar, 'Takasago' is now more widely listed under the satozakura cherries. It bears clusters of semi-double pink flowers with bronze-red new foliage.

'Ojochin' ('Senriko')

This tree, rather squat when young, but eventually 7m tall bears single white flowers in such profusion as to give the impression of double blooms. Opening from pink buds, the flowers are up to 5cm in diameter and among the later to bloom. 'Ojochin' means large lantern, which aptly describes the shape of the flowers.

Other hybrids, species and their cultivars

'Accolade'

One of the most popular of all garden cherries, 'Accolade' is a Prunus sargentii Prunus subhirtella hybrid that develops into a flat-topped small tree. In spring it is smothered in pendulous clusters of large, bright pink, semi-double flowers.

Yoshino cherry (Prunus yedoensis)

Well-known as an avenue tree, this Prunus subhirtella Prunus speciosa hybrid is smothered in white to very pale pink blooms in spring before or as the new leaves develop. When the flowers are spent they form drifts of fallen petals around the base of the tree. There are several cultivars, such as the pink-flowered 'Akebono', the pale pink 'Awanui' and a weeping form ('Shidare Yoshino' or 'Pendula').

Taiwan cherry (Prunus campanulata)

The Taiwan cherry is valued for its early-flowering habit and fiery autumn foliage. The flowers, which are usually a vivid deep pink, are heavy with nectar and very popular with birds. Taiwan cherry is rather frost tender, though once established it grows well in most coastal areas.

'Okame'

Introduced in 1947 by the British authority Collingwood Ingram, 'Okame' is a hybrid between the Taiwan cherry and the Fuji cherry (Prunus incisa). It is usually quite hardy, though this appears to be variable, and it flowers heavily in early spring. The blooms open in late winter to early spring before the foliage develops and are a bright soft pink. 'Pink Cloud' is a similar though more compact cherry raised by Felix Jury.

Himalayan hill cherry (Prunus cerasoides)

This species is rather frost tender, especially when young, but is a beautiful tree where it grows well. Not only does it produce pink flowers in winter, when little else is in bloom, it has attractive banded bark and the unusual habit of shedding its foliage in late summer then producing new leaves before winter. The variety rubea has deeper pink flowers in spring.

Cyclamen cherry (Prunus cyclamina)

Flowering on bare stems in early spring, the cyclamen cherry is a hardy small to medium-sized tree from central China. The flowers, which are rose pink, are followed by bronze new growth that retains its colour for some weeks before greening. The leaves fall late in autumn and often colour well.

Sargent's cherry (Prunus sargentii)

This large and very hardy Japanese species is probably best known as one of the parents of the very popular hybrid 'Accolade'. It can grow to as much as 18m tall and will withstand at least -25C. Its 3 to4cm wide, bright pink flowers are complemented by red-brown bark.

Kurile cherry (Prunus nipponica var. kurilensis)

Usually little more than a large shrub, this Japanese cherry can reach 6m tall under ideal conditions. The flowers, which are soft pink and open from early spring, are backed by red sepals that hang on for a while after the flowers have fallen, thus prolonging the spring colour.

Prunus sieboldii

This hybrid has given rise to several popular cultivars. The original cross is a slow-growing small tree with semi-double 3 to 4.5cm wide flowers in spring. The new stems are often very glossy.

Cultivation

Flowering cherries are largely undemanding plants that thrive in almost any well-drained soil. For the best display of flowers they need to see at least half-day sun and if sheltered from the wind, the blooms and the autumn foliage will last far longer than if exposed to the full blast of the elements.

Cherries are often seen growing as lawn specimens, but they can be planted in shrubberies, borders or small groves. By choosing a selection that flowers in succession, it's possible to have bloom frommid-winter to early summer.

Cherries are natural companions for azaleas and rhododendrons, and can be used to beautiful effect as shade trees for the smaller varieties of these or to shelter a collection of woodland perennials such as primroses and hostas. Japanese maples also blend well with cherries and they can combine to make a brilliant display of autumn foliage.

Pruning

Flowering cherries seldom need major pruning once established. Young trees can be lightly trimmed to develop a pleasing shape and mature plant may be kept compact by tipping the branches, otherwise just remove any vigorous water shoots and suckers that sprout from the rootstock. Make sure that any pruning is done in summer to prevent infecting the trees with silver leaf fungus (Chondrostereum purpureum). Although this disease is present throughout the year, cherries are most resistant to it in summer.

Pests and diseases

Apart from the already mentioned silver leaf, there isn't really very much that goes wrong with flowering cherries that can't be tolerated. Sawfly larvae (peach or pear slug) sometimes cause damage to the foliage, and older plants sometimes suffer from dieback in their older branches, but these are seldom serious problems. The dieback is sometimes the result of Armillaria, so it may be advisable to insert some of the now readily available Trichoderma dowels into the trunks of any older cherries to prevent the problem developing.

Propagation

Virtually all of the fancier flowering cherries sold for garden use are budded or grafted, usually onto Prunus avium stocks. Although few home gardeners attempt them, these processes are not difficult. Budding especially, is straightforward and is carried out in exactly the same way as budding roses.

Species, including the standard Prunus avium stock, can be raised from seed or from softwood cuttings taken in spring or early summer. The seed should be removed from the fruit by soaking for few days until all the flesh has fallen away. It is usually best to simulate winter conditions by chilling the seed for a few weeks before sowing.

Graft height

When buying flowering cherries you may be faced with a choice of graft height. Which you choose largely depends on the cultivar and the type of growth best suited to your garden. With weeping cherries choose the highest graft possible (usually 8ft [2.4m]), to allow the maximum length of flowering branch. Upright cultivars like 'Sekiyama' are best grafted near ground level so that their erect habit has a chance to develop properly, while graft height in not that important with bushier trees.

The important thing to remember, particularly with high grafted plants, is that the main stem will not gain much height from the grafting point. The stems of a weeping cultivar may grow up before arching down, thus adding some height, but if you choose too low a graft that won' t make much difference. Low-grafted weeping cherries are, however, ideal for large tubs where they can be kept trimmed to shrub-like proportions.

I am a garden book author and horticultural photographer based in Christchurch, New Zealand. I run a stock photo library called Country, Farm and Garden (http://www.cfgphoto.com). This article may be re-published provided this information is published with it and is clearly visible.

One of the most important aspects of training your dog, and probably the most important part is YOU. When dog training, we must train the owner first. With proper techniques and knowledge of how to respond and communicate with your dog you will see great results.

dog training involves giving the skills to the owner to learn to work with their dog. It is about building better communication skills and understanding how your dog thinks and why he behaves the way he does. It takes time and patience and a significant amount of effort but in the end will be worth it. dog training is important, helps keep your dog safe and improves the quality of your time together.

Dogs have a tendency to be easily excited. Things such as taking the dog for a walk, run, or even going down to the beach can excite them. Dogs crave direction from their owner and want to follow your lead. They want to belong to a social group and you are the head of that group. Dogs will respond better to positive kinds of training. It is up to the owner to learn how his or her dog will respond best and use those methods that will be most effective.

Attending a dog training class is a great opportunity to learn more about your dog and allow your dog to gain trust in you. You have the chance to work under the guidance of a trainer and learn new methods to communicate with your dog and by doing so you will develop a deeper and more rewarding relationship with your dog.

Can your dog to sit, heel, shake hands? Easy to follow online guides and basic dog training at: Dog Behavior Training