Greener Weddings, Yoga Benefits, Date-Night Accessories, Fix Your Credit, Take Action Photos, Look Younger, and Make Chocolate Ice Cream

Visit the Soak Up Living blog to watch today's videos:


Fashion Team: Date Night Fashion
Fashion Team's Lawrence Zarian is at Mark's Garden Florist in Los Angeles with Anya Sarre from shoedazzle.com. They're looking at date-night accessories, undergarments, handbags and shoes.
19-Feb-11 5:03 AM GMT

Ginger's Green Scene: Saturday, February 19
Melissa Phillips, of Simply Perfect by Melissa joined us to tell us how to have a greener wedding.
19-Feb-11 4:16 PM GMT

John McEnroe Tennis on the Ave
MAVRIXONLINE.COM - Former world number one professional tennis player John McEnroe poses with a custom-made sculpture by artist Jeff Wyman that was presented to him prior to his appearance at 'Tennis on the Ave', a friendly tennis exhibition with Mats Wilander in the middle of Atlantic Avenue. McEn...
19-Feb-11 6:02 PM GMT

WATCH: Preschoolers Show Off Their Best Moves
WATCH: Preschoolers Show Off Their Best Moves Sat, 19 Feb 2011 14:15:00 EST
19-Feb-11 7:16 PM GMT

Weekend Movie Madness: Popcorn Biz
"Unknown" "I Am Number 4"
19-Feb-11 6:32 PM GMT

Credit Myths Busted!
Trying to improve your credit score? You may be doing it all wrong. Tracy Davidson helps you get back on track.
19-Feb-11 5:03 AM GMT

New Hands Give Man New Life
19-Feb-11 6:02 AM GMT

How To Take Action Photos
Things moving at speed are difficult to photograph properly. This film explains some of the main problems associated with action shots. Learn how to take the most effective action shots possible with VideoJug's advice.
18-Feb-11 5:33 PM GMT

A New, Easier Way to Look Younger
A new procedure uses technology usually reserved for pregnant women.
19-Feb-11 3:32 AM GMT

Healthy Bites
In honor of heart health month, Katie Cavuto Boyle gives us healthy substitutes for those high fat foods.
19-Feb-11 12:04 AM GMT

Heart Attack Warning Signs for Women
Heart Attack Warning Signs for Women Fri, 18 Feb 2011 18:45:00 EST
18-Feb-11 11:46 PM GMT

What Doctors Wish Their Patients Knew
2-18-11 What Doctors Wish Their Patients Knew
19-Feb-11 12:33 AM GMT

How To Make Cookies & Cream Ice Cream
Everyone knows that nothing tastes as good as fresh, homemade food, and ice cream is no exception! It's relatively quick to make, contains no artificial flavours or colours and tastes absolutely divine! Whether you want to make chocolate ice cream, lemon sorbet or just simple ice lollies and popsic...
18-Feb-11 9:30 PM GMT

NBA goes Hollywood
The NBA All-Star game is in Hollywood. Find out which actors the players would want to portray them.
19-Feb-11 2:32 AM GMT

SNTV - Natalie Portman at a glance
A look back at Oscar nominee Natalie Portman and her career to date
19-Feb-11 12:03 AM GMT

Crazy Sexy Diet
With a title like that, it better deliver. Author Kris Carr tells us why the diet she outlines in her new book is so crazy and sexy.
19-Feb-11 2:32 AM GMT

L.A.M.B. stirs fashion melting pot
Pop star-turned-designer Gwen Stefani goes global for inspiration for her L.A.M.B. Fall 2011 collection presented at New York Fashion Week.
19-Feb-11 12:56 AM GMT

Liquid Eye Lift: Would You Try It?
We visit Chelsea Eye & Cosmetic Surgery Associates to get a closer look at a procedure that reshapes and rejuvenates the eyes with liquid filler.
18-Feb-11 11:47 PM GMT

Benefits of yoga
Shaul Turner reports. 2/18/11
19-Feb-11 2:03 AM GMT

Volunteers Touch the Lives of Infants in Intensive Care
Volunteers spend their free time cuddling with babies at the Children's Hospital Los Angeles Neonatal Care Unit.
18-Feb-11 11:32 PM GMT

How To Make Chocolate Ice Cream
Everyone knows that nothing tastes as good as fresh, homemade food, and ice cream is no exception! It's relatively quick to make, contains no artificial flavours or colours and tastes absolutely divine! Whether you want to make chocolate ice cream, lemon sorbet or just simple ice lollies and popsic...

Christian The Lion - Reunited - From "The View"

What a sweet story! A win for nurture in the battle of nature vs. nurture.

The Digital Story of the Nativity

Merry Christmas from those of us at Soak Up Living!

"Raising Kids to Be Entrepreneurs" - Cameron Herold's Perspective

Interesting perspective on the entrepreneurial gene and raising kids to thrive in the entrepreneurial lifestyle.

Fun Lake Day

Springtime is here and you know what that means... It's time for a little fun at the lake!

Watch these kids as they wakeboard and towtube their way toward a day full of fun. You can almost feel yourself racing along, the spray of water and wind on your face. Can you picture yourself there with them?

Good Dieting Advice

More Facts About Dieting

By: David Vasquez

You may be so engrossed about your diet regimen that you can be heading the wrong way. Here are some truths about dieting that you should know.

1. Take it slow and enjoy your food

Why that's advisable: Eating slowly helps you savor the flavors and textures, so you feel more satisfied. It also helps prevent overeating - if you eat too fast you'll probably miss that "I've had enough" message.

But how it can backfire: Research shows that we eat many more calories at long, lingering dinners with friends. You're apt to order more and choose heavier dishes if that's what everyone else is doing. Plus, when you catch up over a two-hour dinner, you may eat the entire time or order dessert just to have a reason to stay and talk.

The point: Don't rush, but don't lose sight of what you're eating. If you can't resist food that's in front of you, ask the waiter to pack up half your entrée. And if you're full after the main course but not ready to head home, suggest that everyone take a walk around the block instead of ordering dessert.

2. Keep sweets out of the house

Why that's advisable: You'll be less likely to devour a whole carton of ice cream or box of chocolates in one sitting.

But how it can backfire: If you feel deprived, you're more likely to order the jumbo-size double-fudge sundae the next time you're at the ice cream shop. Having some tempting treats on hand also teaches you to build willpower, according to research published in the Journal of Consumer Research. "It allows you to develop a strategy for resisting them or controlling how much you consume," explains lead author Kelly Geyskens, PhD.

The point: If you can't have a little ice cream (or another personal trigger food) without overdoing it, ban it from the house. Buy treats that you can enjoy in small quantities and feel satisfied, like individually wrapped dark chocolate squares.

3. Avoid liquid calories

Why that's advisable: Soda and coffee drinks can be calorie bombs.

But how it can backfire: Not all beverages are created equal. While soda, for example, is empty calories, some drinks provide nutrients and might help you eat less later. One preliminary study found that dieters who drank at least one 8-oz glass of low-sodium vegetable juice each day lost 4 pounds in 3 months (those who skipped the juice only lost 1 pound). According to Carl L. Keen, PhD, professor of nutrition at University of California, Davis and one of the study authors, the volume and nutrient density of juice may help curb your appetite.

The point: Most of your drinks should be calorie-free, but if you're always super-hungry, try drinking 8 oz low-sodium vegetable juice or a fruit smoothie (keep it to about 100 calories) once a day to see if it makes a difference.

Find out how you can have have a healthy total lifestyle modification. Learn healthy ways on how to loose weight and stay fit for life. Visit www.killyourbellyfat.com.

About the Author

Find out how you can have have a healthy total lifestyle modification. Learn healthy ways on how to loose weight and stay fit for life. Visit www.killyourbellyfat.com.

(ArticlesBase SC #1833985)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - More Facts About Dieting

Be Positive! It's the Best Way to Ace an Interview

The Ultimate Interview Technique - The First Interview Tip All Candidates Should Know

By: R.Alexander

Today I want to write about an interview technique that is so fundamental, perhaps even so obvious it should not even need saying at all...you would think.

If you get it right, it can seem like you are the untouchable interviewee. You can give poor, unstructured answers or even be an unsuitable candidate for the role and the interviewer will not even notice, and can even be heard backwards rationalising their decision to recommend you for the job. It is not uncommon to hear the interviewer justify their decision with things like "they just had something about them" or "they deserve a chance."

We are not talking hypnotism or voodoo here, and there are no Jedi mind tricks involved (although get it wrong and it does have a 'dark side') no we are talking about being likeable.

No one should ever underestimate just how important this one concept is, in fact you could arguably say this is everything when it comes down to having a successful interview in many jobs. Tiziana Casciaro, professor at Harvard Business School, has been quoted as saying "How we value competence changes depending on whether we like someone or not" well you can quote me as saying "ain't that the truth"

In an ideal world this issue of likeability would be irrelevant, for the interviewer would be the pinnacle of emotionless professionalism. Their robotic like judgement would be based on your academic merit, how qualified you are or on the competency & motivational evidence your interview answers provide them.....but alas we are merely human (well most of us...) and just as you will form an opinion on how amiable the person behind the desk is - they will do the same with you.

Now let's be clear, this likeability concept is not just the same as having rapport or just being pleasant - although these are symptoms of being likable. It is much more then that but at the same time how do we define when it means different things to different people?

Well of course when dealing with such a subjective concept it can be difficult to define it, but what we do find is that there are some good general rules of behaviour and conduct that we can use as a pretty consistent guide (and these of course don't just apply when being interviewed for a job, they apply both on the job when dealing with others and in general areas of your life too.)

One of the first characteristics of the likeable candidate is that they will never under any circumstances display anything but positivity.

Now that I have said this I don't want you to act like you have just rode in on your unicorn of happiness and friendship to share joyous fuzzy lovedrops and celebrate the beauty of rainbows. That would just make you creepy.

What you should do is reframe everything to be positive. So let's say the last job you had you were overworked, underpaid, unappreciated and exploited and you're asked what you think about your previous employment - the positive person would focus on the fact that it gave you valuable skills and experience etc. If the interview time/date you are given is wrong or has needed to be rearranged, you see it as a chance to demonstrate your flexibility. Often in interviews you will be kept waiting while other candidates are seen first and are grateful for the opportunity. If you had trouble parking and the security guard/receptionist was rude, it doesn't even register on your radar and you certainly don't mention it or make an issue out of it (after all you are 'excellent at interacting with all kinds of people' remember.)

The likable candidate also seems to have the uncanny ability to know when it is their turn to talk and their turn to listen - we often refer to this as 'flow' (and for any hip hop fans out, this is not the same thing!) This comes from a solid understanding of the dynamics between interviewer and interviewee.

There is also another trait the candidate will have without exception - an enthusiasm for the role they are applying for!! This enthusiasm is demonstrated through their word choices, tonality, their smile and the fact that they have come prepared.

This goes a way to communicate that the role is something they really want to do. Research the company - know who you are going to be working for, for possibly the next few years of your life. Know the name of the role you have applied for, and understand what you will be doing inside out - memorise that job spec, tattoo it to your arm if you have to.

Been asked to bring an application/vetting/reference form? TAKE IT.

Going on holiday? Know the dates which you will be away. Know your notice period.

Understand that if a candidate is not prepared in any way it communicates to the interviewer that they don't care, it's not important or that this is a person that doesn't have their act together. As an interviewer it is very hard to like a person that is wasting their time.

About the Author

(ArticlesBase SC #1831386)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - The Ultimate Interview Technique - The First Interview Tip All Candidates Should Know

Help Children Enjoy Living a Simple, Happy Life

Childhood Pleasures

By: Julia Helsby

The children who enjoy life the most are the ones who have learnt to recognise the pleasure in the current situation. Those who are constantly striving for the next thing will never be satisfied. As parents we need to show our children how to enjoy life.

Take your time over things; don’t always talk about what is going to happen tomorrow or next week. Allow your child to explore the things around them, remember, the best things in life are free!

When you take your child out for walks or visits to the park in autumn, show them the leaves falling off the trees, and take the opportunity to explain why. Discuss the different types of trees, if you don’t know them – find out! Maybe it will help you to appreciate life more too!

Show an interest in what your child is doing and talk to them about what you are doing also, encourage them to ask questions, you might just be washing up, but use everything you do as a learning opportunity. Why are you washing up? Please resist the urge to say ‘Because no one else will’!

Help your child to develop their thinking and let them help you; they need to know that there are other people in the world besides themselves. A child who sees life as an adventure will not only enjoy life more but they will build up experiences that they can draw on in the future in all sorts of situations.

There are so many fun times that you can share with your child. For specific toy and play ideas see my fact sheet on ‘Playing with your pre-school child’. Remember also that there are a lot of items in your home that will keep your toddler happy safely. When l was busy at home in the kitchen and my toddlers used to seek my attention l would sometimes give them safe saucepans and wooden spoons, they would happily sit on the floor pretending to cook or using them as drums! Try to shut out the noise, it is the sound of your child experimenting and having fun! Surely it is better than the sound of crying.

On a hot day, put a small bowl of water outside (in the shade) give them spoons again and plastic bowls or beakers and watch them play for hours. Allow them to get wet, it really doesn’t matter. Please remember also to supervise children at all times when playing with or around water.

About the Author

Julia Helsby has been teaching children one way or another for over 20 years. As well as having as much fun as possible with her own children, having worked as a teaching assistant and a personal tutor for 8 years.

Julia believes that life is fascinating and fun. We should enjoy it as much as possible and encourage our children and those in our care to do the same. Julia has her own websites at http://www.julia-helsby.com The purpose of the website is to help you to enjoy yourself and your children. I can offer tips and advice but the important thing to remember is no one knows your child better than you.

(ArticlesBase SC #1830724)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Childhood Pleasures

Is Breakfast the Most Neglected Meal in Your Household?

Does Your Child Eat A Daily Nutritious Breakfast? Top 10 Healthy Benefits

By: Tammy Embrich

Does your child often forget to eat breakfast? Or maybe your household tends to get too busy in the mornings for a nutritious breakfast? Breakfast is often the most neglected meal of the day. Should we be concerned about this issue concerning our young children?

It would be an interesting discussion in classrooms if teachers asked their students, "How many of you eat breakfast on a daily basis?" I wonder what some of the answers would be, most importantly, the excuses given. Even more interesting ...what are some of the many benefits of eating a healthy breakfast, not only for children, but for adults as well?

You'll not get any arguments from me, I feel the benefits of eating breakfast every single morning. I try to eat the first meal of the day including plenty of fiber and at the same time, staying away from high fat foods.

Working out and then a nice healthy breakfast always gets me going in the morning. I feel more alert and ready to start my day. More energetic I think is the most rewarding benefit for me.

So, what about young students? What are the key benefits of children eating a healthy breakfast every morning?

Top 10 benefits for children consuming a healthy breakfast on a daily basis

* It gives them energy to start the day off right

* It helps them keep weight gain to a minimum. Skipping breakfast often results with over eating at lunch time.

* It increases their thinking ability for the school day thus resulting with higher scores on their studies.

* It wards off fatigue

* It jump starts their metabolism

* It helps build strong healthy muscles

* It helps lower blood cholesterol

* It helps with memory

* It helps with over-all nutrition

* It decreases tummy aches due to hunger pangs later in the morning

Don't let your child fill up on sugary cereals, donuts, and pastries. Smart choices for breakfast ideas would include:

High fiber grains such as breads and non sugar cereals

Fruits

Lowfat milk and yogurt

Whole wheat or whole grain pancakes or waffles

Hot oatmeal

Fruit smoothies

Even if you have to get your child up a half hour early in the morning to get them to eat a good breakfast, it is well worth the time. Making breakfast the most important meal in your household will help encourage better healthy eating habits.

 

 

About the Author

Article Written By Tammy Embrich

Tammy is the founder of Parenting Articles-Parent Zone, a free parenting resource website offering free parenting articles, tps, healthy recipes, and more.

(ArticlesBase SC #1831281)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Does Your Child Eat A Daily Nutritious Breakfast? Top 10 Healthy Benefits

Raising Financially-Literate Kids

How To Teach Children To Be Financially Literate

By: Vince Shorb

The importance and value of teaching financial literacy to our youth cannot be overstated.If this generation of young people cannot build their credit, manage a budget, or apply basic investment knowledge then we have produced an entire generation on their way to a lifetime of poverty and financial strife.

Recent studies show that over 70% of college graduates plan on moving back home with their parents after they graduate and many will stay there into their mid thirties simply because they lack financial literacy skills. Parents if you don't want to be embarrassed when you tell your friend that your 35 year old kid still lives with you, then pay close attention to this article.

By teaching financial literacy to children we give them the opportunity to consider their futures more carefully. When we preach the advancements made possible by going to college we often neglect to show them some specific examples or give them the other skills that will maximize their investment in a higher education. We often fail to show them how to take the extra money they earn with a college degree and get that working for them by establishing a savings and investment plan.

Here are 5 tips to ensuring you empower your children or students with practical money skills.

1) Help them understand the correlation between their desired lifestyle and their knowledge of money.

2) Start your children saving money when they are young.

3) Set financial goals as a family and involve your children in financial decisions.

4) Have them open their checking, savings and brokerage account immediately.

5) Sign your child up for a professional financial education course.

Ensuring that we teach financial literacy to children is actually the key to preventing future financial problems for our children and for the world. If we can teach the future generations how to manage money and how to make it appropriately we offer the entire world a better financial outlook. Each child will contribute to the financial ruin or the financial success of our world's future.

We can take the time now to teach financial literacy to children or we can end up teaching it to today's kids when they turn into tomorrow's adults. By then it can be too late. It is much easier to stay out of debt than to dig your way out of it; that is why we must teach financial literacy to our children before they leave home.

Unfortunately, our children will not be able to count on social security or Medicare. On top of that, due to our debt problem and the almost certainty of inflation, there will be an accelerated cost of living that is projected to be quite significant. Unfortunately, projected incomes for many of today's minimum wage jobs do not coincide evenly with poverty projections.

Those issues may be disheartening but by taking the time to teach financial literacy to your children you equip a child to move into adulthood with confidence and abilities that will serve them for the rest of their lives.

It's not easy to grow up in a financially unstable world. By making this mission a top priority we can count on the financial success of tomorrow.

About the Author

The National Youth Financial Educators Council is your financial education resources for financial educator training, curriculum, live events and financial education camps & workshops. Get your free video newsletter at http://www.FinancialEducatorsCouncil.org

(ArticlesBase SC #1831535)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - How To Teach Children To Be Financially Literate

Great Photography Tips on Using Lighting Successfully in Portraits

Photography Course Online - How Using Light Effectively Helps You Capture The Perfect Portrait!

By: Paul Summers

Want to capture the perfect portrait every time? Keep reading to learn some tips professionals use that you can adopt - even without a fancy camera or a studio of your own. Learn what you need to know about simple but effective lighting, flash photography, and more. You should also consider following a photography course online that would guide you step by step until you could take truly memorable portraits time and time again.

Good lighting is key to any successful portrait. With on-camera flash, you encounter problems that detract from a quality picture. For example, flash brightly illuminates your subject in an unnatural, flat light. It can also cast harsh shadows behind your subject - especially if they are positioned near a wall, or some other object. This effect is not attractive. Additionally, flash frequently reflects light from the pupils in the eyes, causing the dreaded red eye effect - something you definitely want to avoid.

Portraits are actually much more interesting if there is some shadow on the portrait, but not harsh background shadows. It is good to work with directional lighting and then use a reflector or some fill lighting to lighten up features that might otherwise fall into deep shadows. You don't want to eliminate the shadows altogether, though. That can make for a portrait that lacks dimension.

Where possible, try ambient light, such as that through a large window, or outdoor light instead. If using supplemental lighting, place a bright, diffused light directly behind where you are standing with the camera. This illuminates the subject's face effectively. You can then add some softer light to one side of the subject to fill in some of the shadows on one side and emphasise the subtle shadows on the other. You could also "bounce" some light from a reflector onto the side of the face, instead of using direct light, so it is less intense.

This set-up creates a well-lit portrait - then you can start experimenting with adjusting the lights to see the effect you can achieve. If the light behind you is very bright, you may need to slightly reduce the exposure on your camera to compensate so the bright light does not overexpose the subject. A decent photography course online would explain in detail exactly how to create these desired lighting effects.

Another approach to try is to place the bright light to one side of the subject and then to place your fill light or a reflector on the opposite side. Your fill or reflected light should always be less intense than the main light. This will show the curves on the face and body more effectively. If you use extra lighting, take note of how it affects your digital image. You may need to adjust the white balance on your camera or set your camera for the kind of lights you are using to avoid yellow or blue colour casts on your photos. You can avoid this if you use natural outdoor light.

For a great outdoor portrait, an overcast but bright, cloudy day works well. The clouds diffuse the sun so the light isn't too strong, yet there is plenty of light to work with. Alternatively, you can photograph in an evenly shaded area. This will also eliminate hot spots or over-exposed highlights on the face in your portrait. Make sure you don't have any light filtering in between leaves and branches, though, as that can look odd when it shows up in your pictures. Avoid using the flash outdoors if you can help it, too.

One great way to add dimension to your portraits and flatter almost every face and body type is to turn the subject's body away from the light about 90 degrees. In other words, have the subject face the light and then turn their body one-quarter turn. This gives shape to the body as the light wraps around it. Now turn the subject's face so it is facing the light. This illuminates the face, which is the focal point of your image. It gives your subject somewhat of a glow, and should result in some catch lights in their eyes, which can really bring a portrait to life!

Using lighting effects successfully can be a little daunting at first, but practice makes perfect - experimentation is key. By following a reliable photography course online you could easily master these, and more, lighting techniques, learning when and how to apply each for optimum results.

About the Author

You can discover the secrets of taking stunning photographs, simply by following a photography course online. Please check out http://www.photographycourseonline.info for further information.

(ArticlesBase SC #1831979)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Photography Course Online - How Using Light Effectively Helps You Capture The Perfect Portrait!

Sustainable Development - Interesting Advice for Your Organization

Role Of Corporate Sector In Sustainable Development—Need Of The Hour

By: DR.R.SRINIVASAN

Introduction:

The earth is restricted and has only a certain inadequate capability.  Consequently, augmentation can only occur over a limited period, until that aptitude is improved.  This gives rise to the idea of sustainable development.

In short, sustainable development implies progress that meets the need of the present generation without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs.

Many cultures over the course of human history have recognized the need for harmony between environment, society and economy.  In 1983, the United Nations had set up an international commission to resolve the conflict between the interests of economic development and the interests of environment that has created problems round the world.

The commission’s report, “Our Common Future”, popularly known as “The Brundtland Report” (following the name of its chairperson Gro Harlem Brundtland) that coined the term sustainable development suggested that economic development cannot stop, but it must change course to fit within the earth’s ecological limits.  The report observed that unintended changes are occurring in the atmosphere, in soil, in water, among plants and animals. Nature is bountiful but it is also fragile and finely balanced.  There are thresholds that cannot be crossed without endangering the basic integrity of the system.  The commission alerted that today we are close to many of those thresholds.

Corporate sector must make money; and staying in corporate sector and prospering is a fundamental value of any for-profit enterprise.  At the same time, corporate sector is required to take into account the interests of all stakeholders that include customers, employees, investors, vendors, government and the society.

The late 1990s and early 2000s were turbulent periods for the global investment community, with vast amount of shareholder wealth being created and destroyed.  Both the institutional and retail investors have learnt some painful lessons, re-examined their assumptions about what constitute tangible and intangible value, and broadened their scope to consider characteristics that could lead to long term financial success.

One area of corporate performance that has begun to capture the attention of investment professionals is sustainable development: a set of responsibilities that contributes directly to an organization’s risk management profile and is sometimes also linked with corporate responsibility.

There is considerable evidence that sustainable development contributes to shareholder value in a variety of ways-not only through tangible contribution such as risk reduction and profitability improvement, but also through intangible asset creation such as brand equity, human capital, etc.  Operating Corporate by pursuing the sustainable development path strengthens an organization’s intangible assets in a number of ways that in turn leads to tangible shareholder value creation.

It is now globally recognized that following sustainable development path makes good corporate sense.  This entails various approaches.  For example, eco-efficiency is based on a common sense proposition that reduces waste and inefficiency in production processes, saves money and protects the environment at the same time.  Life Cycle Analysis (LCA) offers a framework for understanding material flaws and potential impacts involved with providing services or products in a closed loop.  Sometimes referred to as ‘cradle to cradle’ or ‘cradle to grave’, LCA looks at an enterprise in terms of input, throughput and output.  This helps to identify inefficiencies that drain profit and produce waste including pollutants.

Many of these approaches: e.g. eco-efficiency, LCA, full cost accounting, industrial ecology, systems – based pollution prevention, etc. are new to the Corporate world.  Businesses keen to benefit from transition to sustainable development path therefore need to prepare themselves and have a longer time horizon and a broader set of goals than traditional companies.

Realization and recognition of the significance of sustainable development approach usually starts from the top management.  However, best intentions are meaningless if these are only lodged in the minds of a few individuals.  Values of sustainable development have to permeate throughout the organization.  Changing a company’s culture and outlook requires a contribution from everyone – starting from the chief executive officer and permeating through senior, middle, junior management and staff and all working as a team.

To make this change happen towards sustainable development approach, it is important to:

• Prepare a mission statement
  
• Form in-house waste reduction and pollution prevention teams
  
• Inform employees about economic, environmental and social trends
  
• Maintain regular communication lines
  
• Have commitment for community development efforts
  
• Be committed to honest and accessible public relations
  
• Measure and report on progress and performance
  
• Prepare annual sustainability report

Sustainability Reporting

As a result of global upsurge of interest in sustainable development, practice for sustainability reporting has emerged.  Sustainability reporting implies reporting on the economic, environmental and social aspects of organizational performance (also known as triple bottom line reporting).  The World Corporate Council for Sustainable Development defines sustainability report as “public reports by companies to provide internal and external stakeholders with a picture of corporate position on activities on economic, environmental and social dimensions.”

The Global Reporting Initiative (GRI), a multi-stakeholder, international body with a mission to develop and disseminate globally applicable sustainability reporting guidelines, has developed the framework for sustainability reporting for companies reporting on the economic, environmental and social dimensions of their activities, products and services.  The broad structure of sustainability report as developed by GRI contains:

• A statement of the chief executive officer describing the key elements of the report
  
• An overview of the reporting company and scope of the report
  
• An executive summary and key indicators
  
• Vision of the reporting company and how that integrates economic, environmental and social performance
  
• An overview of the governance structure and management systems that are in place to implement the vision
  
• Performance across social, economic and environmental areas of impact and activity

Sustainability reporting has the potential to provide critical information for corporate analysis.  This information facilitate financial reporting with forward-looking information that could enhance the report users’ understanding of such key value drivers as human capital formation in the company, corporate governance, management of environmental risks and the capacity to innovate.

Sustainability reporting has been steadily rising since 1993 and has considerably increased in the recent years.  The principal Corporate drivers for sustainability reporting are to:

• Have a good brand and reputation
  
• Be an employer of choice
  
• Maintain a strong market position
  
• Earn trust of the financial markets
  
• Be innovative in developing new products and services and creating new markets

Sustainability Assurance

Companies value the overall contribution that assurance makes to the sustainability reporting process.  Organizations in the forefront of sustainability reporting assurance also recognize the key role that they have in ensuring the credibility and usefulness of information flows within the organization, especially from non-traditional and non-commercial sources.

Currently, there are only two recognized professional standards for carrying out sustainability reporting assurance.  These are: AA 1000 – assurance standard developed by the Institute for Social and Ethical Accountability; and ISAE 3000 provided by the International Audit and Assurance Standard Board which is a part of the International Federation of Accountants.

Trends in Sustainability Reporting

Sustainability reporting has become a common practice in a number of countries like the USA, Europe, Japan and Australia. Sustainability reporting is yet at an emerging stage in Asia, Latin, America, Africa and Russia.

Though sustainability reporting is not mandatory in India, a small but a sizeable number of both subsidiaries of multinational and local companies are preparing sustainability reports mostly based on GRI guidelines.  However, majority of these companies are focused on community initiatives rather than governance risk and disclosure.

With globalization, Indian companies are increasingly realizing that they have much to lose by not following sustainability reporting norms.  Indian companies now see sustainability reporting as central to corporate social responsibility with “passive philanthropy” no longer a sufficient response to rising expectations.

Wrapping up:

The goal of sustainable development requires that the businesses take responsibility for their social, environmental and economic impacts.  Sustainable development can provide corporate sector with an opportunity to innovate and a means to grow at each level and step of business operation.  Making the right choices within a company, whether it is newly exposed to the concept of sustainable development or is already advancing its sustainability agenda, contributes to the company’s long term success. It is a matter of making the right choices and setting the right priorities.  This underlies the need for a positive mind set towards sustainable development.  Wider the spread of sustainability, greater the chances of its success.  In order to attain this, awareness must be created to the students  of present generation and  common public through education.

About the Author

Dr.R.SRINIVASAN is a Post graduate in commerce and corporate secretary ship . He received his doctoral degreein the Managementfaculty from Alagappa University in 1997. He is now Working as an ASSOCIATE PROFESSORin Post graduate and Research Department of Corporate Secretaryship at Bharathidasan Government College for Women (Autonomous), Pondicherry University, Puducherry.He currently teaches Accounting ,financial management and Research Methodology Subjects.

(ArticlesBase SC #1830600)

Article Source: http://www.articlesbase.com/ - Role Of Corporate Sector In Sustainable Development—Need Of The Hour

Living Vicariously Through John Lusk - Part III: Croatian Hospitality

Croatian Hospitality by John Lusk, November 1, 2009

Read more on John's blog: http://www.johnlusk.net/

We’ve tried pretty hard to keep a pretty open schedule, and mind, during this trip. The only ‘planning’ we did was to make sure we had a place to stay in Rome, an assigned seat on a flight from Rome to Split, Croatia and a ticket from Istanbul back to Seattle. Everything else has been fly-by-night, so to speak. So when we realized that we forgot to book a hotel in Split on our way to the airport, we knew that the next few days might be a bit more spontaneous.

Great call! I can’t do the story justice, but will do my best to summarize. Somehow, with the help of his daughter, Russ was able to find a hotel for the night in Split (he somehow pulled this off mid-flight). Our plan was to grab dinner around 10pm in Split and figure out what our Croatia trip was going to look like. How long do we stay in Split? Do we rent a car? How far to Dubrovnik? Is it worthwhile to travel to the island to Hvar given the off-season? Lots of questions in which we had no answers and that we needed to answer relatively quickly. So we got some recos from the hotel staff dude and he sent us to the ‘happening’ part of town with the most nightlife (Bacvice). He also gave us ample fair-warning that the city shuts down on Thursday evenings around 9pm and not to expect a ton of food options.

He was right. We wandered aimlessly for half an hour trying to find a place with not only food, but also a few people as well. Our only option was some Italian joint on the water near a discotheque type of place playing really old glam rock (right up my alley, btw). Fortunately, there was a table of women at the restaurant, so we figured that we might be able to get some info from them with regards to our time in Croatia. we couldn’t ask for anything better and would save our going out strength for Friday night. We enjoyed a great Italian meal, drank some decent local wine and tried to figure out what we were going to do the next day.

Then things changed…for the better. We ask one of the girls sitting at the table next to us if she spoke English and she said ‘of course.’ We ask her what to do in Split and that leads to numerous conversations with the other women. Turns out that they’re all in the tourism industry in Croatia and had plenty of insights and advice. We end up hanging out with these women for a couple of hours and the restaurant owner begins shutting the place down. (He turned off every light except the one above our table…I’m convinced the only reason he didn’t ask us to leave was b/c we kept ordering wine). After another hour, one of the women mentions that she has a couple of apartments that she rents out in old town Split (where you want to stay if you ever visit) and suggests that we stay in her rentals. We graciously accept and she offers to pick us up at our hotel the next morning to show us not only the apartments, but also Split.

We really didn’t think that she would show up the next morning, but sure enough, Ivana pulled up right at 10am. She spent her entire day playing tour guide and then took us to our new temporary homes. Not only are these places in the middle of old town (kind of like living in a medieval city), but she insists that we stay there free of charge. We graciously take her up on the offer, settle into our new digs and realize that we’ve also got free wi-fi. Unreal. If the hospitality in friendliness of the people we’ve met thus far are any indication of the rest of the country, we’re definitely spending more time in Croatia.

Here’s to serendipity…

Questions, Comments, Concerns? Feel free to comment at http://www.johnlusk.net/. And check out all the pics.

John

P.S. If you ever plan to travel to Split, let me know and I’ll connect you with Ivana. Her rental apartments are AWESOME and you absolutely cannot beat the location.

Living Vicariously through John Lusk - Part II: When in Rome and Rome in 3 Days

My own "When in Rome" story included flying there from London for a quick overnight jaunt, making friends with a couple of British girls at the Trevi Fountain, then meeting some off-duty Italian policeman on the Spanish Steps who invited us to a party a couple of hours outside of Rome where we danced until dawn barefooted on the beach. All in all, a pretty fun night! But that was in my younger, crazier days. This week, I'm just living vicariously through John. I think he's on his way from Croatia to Turkey now but here's a quick recap of his Rome trip.

When in Rome
by John Lusk on October 29, 2009 (read more at http://www.johnlusk.net/)

22 days ago I left my job. Today, I just about killed myself weaving in and of rush hour traffic on a scooter…in Rome! My, how quickly environments can change.

Here’s the situation. I’m bound and determined to make the most of the next 2-3 months. I have a mini-bucket list of sorts, and a some of that list involves travel.

14 days ago I was cycling with my friend Russ and we decided that doing an Italy, Croatia, Turkey adventure would be a great way to spend a few weeks. Told my friend Jason about it that following evening and he’d never been to Croatia or Turkey before, so why not? 14 days ago we purchased tickets to Rome and are now holed up in an apartment near the Vatican that we found through some dude on ‘A Small World‘ (yet another social networking site).

If actually booking the trip and making it happen within 14 days wasn’t spontaneous enough, Russ convinced Jason and me to rent scooters during our time here. Says it's the best way to see the city and not deal with all of the traffic issues. I have to say he’s right…, but damn, driving in this stuff is ridiculous. It seems like most of the ‘rules’ are merely suggestions and that the more aggressive you drive, the easier it is to actually survive. Our dinner hosts last night, Roberto and Paula, just about freaked when we told them of our intention to rent scooters. (Note: Roberto is an Italian friend of Jason’s whom he went to school with at U. of Washington). After spending a day on those things, I think we are absolutely nuts for making the call…but they're fun and it makes us look somewhat local.

We’ll see if we survive the day tomorrow. In addition to renting the scooters, we’re trying to score tickets to a Lazio game. Again, Roberto and Paula think we’re freackin’ crazy for going to a soccer game in which the fans are known for beating each other up when their team isn’t doing so well. Lazio is currently one of the worst teams in the Itialian Serie A. Hang on…

Rome in Three Days
by John Lusk on October 30, 2009

We landed in Croatia last night and there’s no way I can summarize our entire Rome trip in one post. So in the spirit of brevity I’ll try to touch on the highlights…of which there are certainly a few:

Highlight #1: Scooter drag racing. Ok, we didn’t really drag-race, but given that we couldn’t sleep due to jetlag, Jason’s an amateur photographer and I was in dire need of scooter practice, we went on a 3-hour cruise of Rome from 1-4 in the morning. What an absolutely amazing experience. First, there’s literally nobody on the street. You can seriously haul (about as fast as 125cc’s can take you) through the streets and not worry about getting jacked by a crazy Smart Car driver. Second, you can cruise around to all of the big-time tourists attractions and visit when absolutely nobody is there. Seriously! We hit the Vatican at 2am, the Spanish steps at 1:30am, the Trevi Fountain at 3am, and the Coliseum at 4am. And not a soul was there but us. If you’ve been to any of these places you know that standing room only crowds are the norm, all the time. Other than a couple of polizei guarding the areas it was just the three of us. Jason brought his tripod so we’ve got very cool shots of these places….with no people. And last, there’s something cool about cruising around Rome, on a bike/scooter, when nobody else is on the streets. An awesome feeling of freedom and excitement, especially when you’re cruising amongst some way old stuff. I highly recommend trying to pull it off if you ever get a chance to visit the city. (You have to check out Jason’s picture of Rome at night!)

Highlight #2: A guided tour of the city. As an ex-Expedia exec, my friend Russ knows how to travel right. He’s been to a ton of places and when it came to Rome, he was absolutely insistent that we rent scooters. He was also insistent that we hire a guide to take us around on the scooters during one of our days here. Great call. Maria, our cute Italian guide, took us to a number of different places and gave an insiders perspective of the different historical places. We found ourselves back at the the Vatican and the Coliseum, but this time, we were able to add some historical perspective. We were also following her on the scooters, were able to truly experience what it’s like to weave in an out of traffic, go the wrong way on one way streets, turn left from the right lane and pretty much do everything like the Roman Scooter riders do. I am proud to say that I’m no longer a scooter novice.

Highlight #3: An Italian Serie A match. There’s no hiding the fact that I’m a huge soccer fan (futbol). Our stay in Rome was primarily based around going to either a Lazio or AS Roma match during our visit. Not only did we have an opportunity to go to a Lazio game (and btw, most Romans either love AS Roma or they love Lazio…and there is no love lost between the two sets of fans), but our friend Roberto set us up with corporate seats from his company. I’m pretty sure he made this happen for our own safety, as we entered through some VIP entrance and then took ourselves to a hospitality suite of sorts where we were fed and given unlimited alcohol. And thankfully, our seat section were protected by plexiglass and guards on both sides, so no fear on our part. The actual match wasn’t particularly impressive, but the crowd was incredible. Lazio lost the match to Cagliariand their fans boo’d, hissed and whistled the entire game…I actually thought the fans might attack their own players at one point. Have to give the Italians kudos for their passion…it truly is unique.

I could have used another week in Rome. We did as much as we possibly could over a 3 day period, but there’s still so much to do and see. Took the flight to Croatia last night and the last 18 hours have already provided enough fodder for the next post!

Living Vicariously through John Lusk - Part I: A Search for Serendipity

Serendipity has always been one of my favorite words. For me, just the sound of the word is appealing, simultaneously connoting both serenity (as in having the patience to await something wonderful) and the act of being adventurous (as in taking a "dip" into something unknown and delightful). Plus, it's just a fun word to say.

So, when my childhood friend, John Lusk, suddenly quit his job as a high-powered executive of an exploding online company to go have fun for a while (we aren't 40 yet so it can't be a midlife crisis), started a blog and titled his first posting "A Search for Serendipity," you can bet I took notice. When I saw this picture of him serenely sipping a coffee somewhere in Croatia on Facebook earlier tonight, I knew he was well on his way...

Since I'm feeling a little landlocked at the moment (both literally and figuratively), I am welcoming this opportunity to live vicariously through him and his adventures and am confident that he won't let me (or you) down. He has graciously agreed to contribute his adventures and clever observations on life to the Soak Up Living blog but since he's probably zipping down a Turkish beach on an all-terrain vehicle at the moment, I am going to take the liberty to repost his last 3 blog entries for him. You can follow him yourself at http://www.johnlusk.net/.

A Search for Serendipity - John Lusk

I don’t have a ton of regrets. I might stress myself out analyzing the hell out of my decisions, but once I’ve made a decision, I typically don’t look back. Why should I? What’s done is done and you need to feel like you’re moving towards something. Now, all that being said, I do think it’s important to assess your choices and determine if you’d make the same decision knowing what you know now. A close friend of mine recently reminded me that the definition of insanity is doing something differently but always getting the same outcome. Not too sure if I got it right, but it sounded cool at the time, and if I’ve butchered the ’saying,’ I apologize. [A later correction from said friend on John's blog states that the definition of insanity is doing things the same way repeatedly but expecting different results...]

Three weeks ago, I chose to become unemployed for the first time in my career. I know, I know, you hear that and you’re like ‘what the hell are you thinking?’ I can assure that my thought processes are sane and that my decision was rational…should any of you think I’m a complete nutjob. So what am I doing? I’m going to take some time off and do some of the things I’ve always wanted to do, take a few risks I’ve always wanted to take and see if I can actually go to bed without setting an alarm. I’ve had opportunities like this before, and I’ve blown them both. The first time was after business school when I could have spent 3 months traveling through Africa and Asia (I chose to start a company selling computer mice out of my apartment in San Francisco instead). The second time was after selling the aforementioned company when I felt I had a once in a lifetime opportunity to help build a new group at Microsoft…and chose that option rather than taking some time to decompress.

So, for the third time in my life, I have the opportunity to simply live. History tends to repeat itself, and while I might be going about it differently, there is a good chance that I’m not able to relax and will feel the need to jump back into the fray immediately. And there’s certainly nothing wrong with that. But I don’t want the same outcome this time around. And what is that outcome? That a couple of months from now (or any period of time), when I’m busting my ass trying to grow a company, lead a team, drive a business, etc..., I’m looking back a this brilliant period in my life and wondering why I didn’t take some time for myself.

Life is too short. And while taking this time off might be hard for me to pull off, I can assure you I’ll do my best to make the most of it.

John

Questions, comments, concerns? Feel free to comment on John's blog at http://johnlusk.net/2009/10/28/a-search-for-serendipity/

40 Inspirational Speeches in 2 Minutes

If you are facing a significant uphill battle on a key issue in your life like I am and are craving a little motivation, you'll love this video montage of the most inspirational moments in film history. I've already watched it several times this morning!

Video Update: 8/6/09

View today's 25 new videos at www.SoakUpLiving.com!

Paris - a moveable feast for movie-goers
Paris's nighttime film festival, "Cinema by Moonlight," started for its ninth year Wednesday night. The festival offers free open-air screenings of movies in some of the most iconic locations of the capital.
6-Aug-09 12:34 PM GMT

Mr. Food - Summer Garden Salad
Mr. Food shows you how to make a delicious summer garden salad.
5-Aug-09 9:32 PM GMT

From unemployed to self-employed
A woman laid off from her job in the music business starts her own catering company
5-Aug-09 8:26 PM GMT

Travel Bites: Are You Hungry for Hungary?
Venture through upper Manhattan to the last few authentic Hungarian eateries, like the Hungarian Meat Market, while listening to the spicy Hungarian music by the Eletfa Folk Band.
5-Aug-09 8:03 PM GMT

Acupuncture for Fido and felines
A new approach to animal health is being introduced across parts of the U.S. Acupunture for pets is proving popular for animals suffering from various ailments. (August 5)
5-Aug-09 7:25 PM GMT

Indian beauties boogie in Manhattan
Stunning Bollywood actresses take over Time Square in New York to promote Bollywood Hero
5-Aug-09 6:59 PM GMT

Heigl, Butler share 'The Ugly Truth' about love
Katherine Heigl and Gerard Butler talk relationships and romance at the London premiere of their new movie 'The Ugly Truth.' (Aug. 5)
5-Aug-09 10:04 AM GMT

China's art "hair-itage"
Huang Xin uses human hair as building material for his sculptures of Beijing landmarks.
5-Aug-09 7:54 AM GMT

Change your life with positive affirmations
Change your life with positive affirmations CST
4-Aug-09 11:15 PM GMT

McAdams and Bana melt hearts
Rachel McAdams and Eric Bana star in the romantic film, "The Time Traveler's Wife," based on the best-selling novel of the same name.
4-Aug-09 10:02 PM GMT

Sexy Swim Wear Fashion Show
Barely there bathing suits, sexy cover ups and beautiful girls are just some of the things making summer hot.
4-Aug-09 8:06 PM GMT

It's about 'Time' for Bana, McAdams
Eric Bana and Rachel McAdams star in the movie adaptation of the best-selling book 'The Time Traveler's Wife.' (Aug. 4)
4-Aug-09 6:26 PM GMT

Cruz in new Almodovar film
Almodovar and Cruz reunited for Broken Embraces as they promote the film in Berlin
4-Aug-09 5:19 PM GMT

'Cooking Know How' Authors Make Veggie Burgers
The authors of "Cookign Know How" make veggie burgers with Scot and Kara.
4-Aug-09 4:34 PM GMT

How To Pick the Right Shoes For an Outfit
4-Aug-09 4:33 PM GMT

Tuesday's Trend: Bib Necklaces
Better stylist Debbie Wright shows how to make a fashion statement with a big -- and not the kind for peas and peaches.
4-Aug-09 3:42 PM GMT

Streep, Adams cook up more big screen magic
Nicole Evatt of The Associated Press talks love and food with Meryl Streep and the cast of "Julie & Julia." The film opens in U.S. theaters Friday, August 7th. (Aug. 4)
4-Aug-09 3:14 PM GMT

Tea Time
Give your mood and health a boost with a cup of tea.
4-Aug-09 2:05 PM GMT

Kutcher Spreads the love
Ashton Kutcher discusses playing a playboy on the red carpet at the Los Angeles premiere of his latest movie, 'Spread'. (Aug 4)
4-Aug-09 12:38 PM GMT

Celeb Mani-Pedis
Rachel Zalis from Life And Style Weekly shows the Fashion Team what's hot in the world of mani-pedis. See what Lindsay Lohan, Jennifer Lopez and other stars are doing to their nails this season!
4-Aug-09 4:00 AM GMT

Focus On Fitness: Benefits of Yoga
Learn the benefits of yoga on both mind and body from fitness experts.
3-Aug-09 10:22 PM GMT

Remodel Your Home Bathroom
Turn your bathroom into a soothing oasis.
3-Aug-09 7:48 PM GMT

5 Design Mistakes
Got a small space? Here are the top five design mistakes and how to fix them quick.
3-Aug-09 7:30 PM GMT

Inside Out Makeover
Stuck in a rut? Transform yourself from the inside out with these fun and practical tips.
3-Aug-09 6:30 PM GMT

Cultural Gifts - Reprinted in Honor of Bastille Day in France

One year ago today, a friend met me in Paris for his first trip to the City of Lights. In giving him the grand tour and my verbal overview about navigating the city both literally and figuratively, I realized that other first-time voyagers to Paris or France might enjoy benefiting from the cultural observations of someone who lived there for three years.

Every time I visit Paris, I am struck speechless by its architectural splendor, bemused by its cultural quirkiness, and impressed by the inimitable flair with which Parisians do just about everything. Whether it is a confident French girl sashaying down the street in fitted jeans and a simple white tank top with a scarf that seems to float suspended in the air around her, the way a fruit vendor splits a peach in half to show you the bright juicy pulp within, the feeling of lightness you get the first time you see the Eiffel Tower twinkle at night, or the olfactory overload experienced when entering a smelly cheese shop, there's no place like Paris in the world.

When you visit Paris, I hope you will fall in love with Paris the way that I have. You will, of course, experience very annoying moments having to do with cultural misunderstandings or bureaucracy, but I hope you won't let it get you down. You may occasionally think you are being treated rudely, but you are not - I challenge you to put yourself in the stylish, polished shoes of French society at large who have to withstand the incessant onslaught of non-French-speaking Americans who don't understand nor respect the French language or cultural norms. Patience runs thin in these situations, especially for the many service professionals who keep the Paris tourism industry in business and the millions of visitors per year happy on their holidays.

So if you are treated with a welcoming smile, a kind look, and assistance when in need, reward it with politeness and your best smile back and take it like the cultural gift that it is. If you are treated with a gruff attitude, ask yourself – what would I do if dozens of people from Romania barreled into my life every week, not speaking my language and not understanding my customs, foregoing on the polite small talk that Americans customarily use to oil interactions before asking you to give them or tell them something? Your patience might wear thin, too.

If you regularly remind yourself that you are in their country and that you are the one who doesn't always understand what is happening, you will get more pleasure out of your visit. I started a little game with myself several years ago – the more I believe I'm being perceived as just another annoying tourist, the more I try to be accommodating and see if I can get a smile out of him or her. It's especially fun going through Customs. Just don't get yourself arrested!

Originally posted July 2008 and modified from its original form.

© Copyright 2009. Soak Up Living. All Rights Reserved.

Soak Up Living in Freedom

I grew up knowing that death had almost touched my family before death had ever touched my family. My dad was seriously wounded in Vietnam before I was born. From a young age, my little sister and I knew he had been hurt in something called a "war," although we didn't have the contextual understanding to know what a war was. We just knew that my dad had lost his legs there and that we were all happy that he came back alive.

Many of his fellow soldiers were not so blessed. It wasn't until I moved to Washington, D.C. at the age of 18 and saw the Vietnam Wall and Arlington Cemetary that I truly understood how many soldiers had given up their lives and ongoing health upon their returns to protect our independence and freedom. And I remain to this day in awe of the incredible selflessness underlying that level of sacrifice. Knowing that countless soldiers voluntarily risk their lives daily to protect us makes me want to continue striving to be the kind of American whose freedom is worth protecting.

Anyone with a heart believes that war is a terrible thing. But I was given a slightly different perspective by my father, someone who had barely lived through one. Before I could walk, I was riding in parades on the 4th of July and Veteran's Day. I smiled and waved back at all the people beaming on the sidelines waving the pretty red, white and blue flags before I even came close to understanding their symbolism and significance. I grew up listening to my West Point dad talk about "duty, honor and country" and the importance of serving our great nation. For 37 years, I have watched my dad live and breathe his passion for serving our great country through civic service, political roles and grass-roots assistance to other veterans.

I still think war is a terrible thing. But it's also easy to forget that war is often a necessary outcome when good is not allowed to prevail through diplomatic relations or when nations protecting the "greater good" are forced to intervene to prevent those representing the "greater bad" from accomplishing it.

My dad's die-hard patriotism, my grandfathers' military service, the ongoing military service of my cousins (and the sacrifices made by their families) and my observations on the wars I've observed from afar as an adult have taught me that there is value to war. There is value to the collective, organized engagement of strong nations in battles against injustice. The value of war, or at least the threat of war, is that it reaches deep down into the hearts of patriotic men and women everywhere and calls them to serve our country, protect our freedoms and thwart the occurence of the "greater bad." And soldiers who experience that calling, as my father did back in the 60s and as my cousins continue to do in a world plagued by the kinds of heinous threats we face today, do it gladly.

These men and women who protect us wake up every day with a deep desire to protect our independence and freedoms. And I know I represent all patriotic Americans when I thank them for their service - for risking their lives and making personal sacrifices to keep us safe and protect America's independence. My father was one of those soldiers. And he has told me on numerous occasions that he would do it all again. And that makes me so unbelievably proud to be an American.

Happy Independence Day, America! Although Independence Day technically celebrates our independence from British rule on July 2, 1776, it also celebrates the patriotic spirit of America and the freedoms we continue to enjoy today. I hope Americans everywhere today will soak up living in the freedom that centuries of soldiers have earned for us with their selfless sacrifices.

Soak Up Living Top Stories - June 26, 2009

Pop icon Michael Jackson dead at 50, the Bateaux Mouches tourist boats in Paris celebrate 60 years on the Seine, budgeting for success, steps to prevent early aging, filet mignon with caramelized onions, homemade pizza, My Sister’s Keeper premieres in US, jazz up your summer cooking, tips to make your business soar, gym tips from Kelly Ripa, summer’s sexiest stars, art project you can do with the kids, it’s all about the resume, hot bikini fashions on the runway. View videos at http://www.SoakUpLiving.com for a limited time.


Celebrating 60 years on the Seine
One of the most popular draws of Paris celebrates its 60th birthday on Wednesday. The famed Bateaux Mouches boats take tourists and city lovers on trip down the River Seine, providing views from the Eiffel Tower to Notre Dame cathedral.

Christian Chenail Muse Runway Looks
These runway looks are a blend of the couture tradition and the modern woman.

Christian Chenail Muse Runway Looks for Flirty Fun
Get noticed in bright colors and cute cuts this summer season.

Christian Chenail Muse Runway Looks
The new season picks up where the last one left on so these looks will go perfectly with the items from last season.

Steps to Prevent Early Aging
Here are some expert tips and advice to help you keep feeling and looking young.

Bikinis on the Runway
Look hot this summer in a well fitted and bright colored bikini that will surely get you noticed.

Elisabeth Hasselbeck defends diet book
"The View" co-host Elisabeth Hasselbeck says a claim that she plagiarized parts of her best-selling diet book is without merit.

It's All About the Resume
North Texas job seekers gain career advice and opportunities at the National Career Fair in Dallas.

Chef Alli's Filet Mignon with Caramelized Onions

Art project you can do with the kids

Summer's Sexiest Stars Part 1
In the movie world, summer equals sexy and TV Guide Network is counting down the hottest stars in Hollywood. See where favorites like Ryan Reynolds, Sandra Bullock, Jennifer Aniston, David Annable, Amy Adams and a slew of others rank!

Summer's Sexiest Stars Part 2
TV Guide Network continues its look at the summer movie season's sexiest stars by ogling Katherine Heigl, Gerard Butler, Billy Crudup, Bradley Cooper, Sienna Miller, Evan Rachel Wood and many more!

Summer's Sexiest Stars Part 3
TV Guide Network concludes our countdown of the hottest stars of the summer with the actors and actresses who've taken the top spots, including Johnny Depp, Hugh Jackman, Zoe Saldana, Jessica Biel and Kristin Bell, just to name a few!

Hollywood Body Preview
Get a sneak peek at SECRETS OF THE HOLLYWOOD BODY as Kelly Ripa takes us to Physique 57, the fitness studio where she practices a revolutionary workout that gives her instant results.

Cameron Diaz is the mommy
Hollywood superstar Cameron Diaz chats about taking on her first role as a mother and the emotional challenges of playing the mom of a cancer sufferer in her new movie 'My Sister's Keeper.'

Viette's Gardening Tip - Hide a Pond

Tips to Make Your Biz Soar (The Sticking Point Solution)
Marketing whiz Jay Abraham's book THE STICKING POINT SOLUTION reveals high-impact strategies and ultra-practical tips that can create stunning business success "even during bad economic times.”

Jazz Up Your Summer Cooking!
Chef Christina Dimacall shows Jade and Bill how the make excellent summer treats grill-less!

My Sister's Keeper premieres in US
Cameron Diaz, Abigail Breslin and Jason Patric walk the red carpet at the world premiere of their new film, My Sister's Keeper

Take Charge Thursday: Budgeting for success

How to Get Your Partner Back on Their Feet After Losing a Job
The trick to helping your better, albeit unemployed, half? Motivate them without nagging.

Chef Yancy Makes A Homemade Pizza!

Sibling Brothers Bring Artistic Visions to Life
Two Texas-born brothers are transforming North Texas homes into art galleries.

Sunglasses, Sundresses and Stilettos
Sexy fashion show by Guess.

Pop Icon Michael Jackson dead at 50
Michael Jackson has died at age 50 of a heart attack. Jackson started his career as a child star who fused R&B and soul before his life deteriorated amid increasingly freakish scandals.