A hard knock life it is, couldn't have described it better myself.
My alarm went off at 6 this morning. I immediately realised that the bottle of red, and the packet of pop corn I had for dinner last night had done me no good.
I slowly opened one eye. Although my room was dark the sight of the world was too much to take in and I could feel an irritating headache coming on.
I closed my eyes again, rolled down on the winter cold floor and started counting down from 60.
- Did you sleep well? and what are you doing on the floor asked my date, a sexy italian consultant that I've been seeing for a few weeks. Apart from being 5 years younger, he is also aspiring to be the worlds greatest lover and cook. Not bad! Combined with the fact that he doesn't snore and have an adorable accent, the man is a bargain :)
48, 47, 46, - I am waking up, and on my way to take a shower, I replied.
As for sleep, did not sleep long but when I did, it was top quality deep sleep.
I stumbled into the bathroom, a quick facial wrinkle inspection, which confirmed that I won't have to get botox just jet.
After a long, warm shower, I got dressed and hit the road. Site survey, VIP - visit read my calender. I made a quick pitstop at my local coffe shop, a polish staffed canteen styled breakfast haven. The lady behind the counter looked at me and said "full fried"?
To which I replied, Continental with a caffe latte please. I have made a promise to myself to eat more healthy organic food, but with a potential hangover luring around the corner, I started regretting it.
I got in to the office just before 8. My boss met me in the door and said, "I've got something for you, for tonight".
-What could that be, I replied. A handsome stranger and a bottle of champagne? Dinner with Jamie Oliver?
-Hold your horses, it is a function..
- Oh, time to get my little black number out then, finally. What am I representing?
- I've put you down as head of security. I know you will be brilliant, you have the experience and the looks to go with it.
Upmarket venue and posh crowd, I am sure you will like it.
I forced a fake smile upon my face, great!
I was looking forward to a quiet Friday in, me myself and I, flat out on the sofa. Visually entertained by my much beloved flatscreen tv. I had been counting on it so much that I've actually gone out and bought a new, very soft and warm blanket, just for the occasion. Weekends off are a rariety and needs to be celebrated when they occur!
Upmarket venue, that usually mean a strange and clutterly decorated confinement, hosting a large number of attention seeking, stuck up wannabies, with money and material things being the common denominator. These people are usually cosmetically challenging, borderline obese and dressed up in ill fitting, small and revealing outfits.
They thrive on odd conversation, repulsive dance moves and chemical substances hazardous to health.
Most of them are loonies looking to mate and date. Somewhat rejected and under the influence, the find themselves left with one option, to pursue the security..
Watch this space, I will log in with an update and a need for councelling! :)
Friday, 28 November 2008
Friday, 14 November 2008
Audition for police officers - Middleton's X Factor
Looks like Kate Myddleton is turning into Simon Cowell in her search for personal protection.
Anyone wants to have a go??
"A shot of love with Tila Tequila" springs to mind..
Kate Middleton auditions police protection officers
Mandrake hears that Kate Middleton is currently "trying out" a series of police protection officers to find the one with whom she feels most comfortable.
Mandrake, by Richard Eden Last Updated: 11:44PM BST 27 Sep 2008
"Having a protection officer is a very close relationship and it is vital to get it right," says a security source familiar with the situation at Clarence House.
"The officer is the person with whom you can end up spending most time and it can be a nightmare if it is someone you can't get along with."
William and his father have agreed to pay for as much protection as is felt necessary for the 26-year-old St Andrews graduate.
Since she left the Scottish university in 2005 she has been pursued by paparazzi and there have been a number of potentially dangerous incidents.
Last year, the lawyers that she shares with the Prince threatened unprecedented legal action to try to protect her privacy from photographers. Harbottle and Lewis warned that they would seek redress under the Human Rights Act to spare her from harassment.
Comparisons have been made between her treatment and that of the young Lady Diana Spencer, who was followed daily by cameramen from the moment the courtship of Prince Charles became public.
Anyone wants to have a go??
"A shot of love with Tila Tequila" springs to mind..
Kate Middleton auditions police protection officers
Mandrake hears that Kate Middleton is currently "trying out" a series of police protection officers to find the one with whom she feels most comfortable.
Mandrake, by Richard Eden Last Updated: 11:44PM BST 27 Sep 2008
"Having a protection officer is a very close relationship and it is vital to get it right," says a security source familiar with the situation at Clarence House.
"The officer is the person with whom you can end up spending most time and it can be a nightmare if it is someone you can't get along with."
William and his father have agreed to pay for as much protection as is felt necessary for the 26-year-old St Andrews graduate.
Since she left the Scottish university in 2005 she has been pursued by paparazzi and there have been a number of potentially dangerous incidents.
Last year, the lawyers that she shares with the Prince threatened unprecedented legal action to try to protect her privacy from photographers. Harbottle and Lewis warned that they would seek redress under the Human Rights Act to spare her from harassment.
Comparisons have been made between her treatment and that of the young Lady Diana Spencer, who was followed daily by cameramen from the moment the courtship of Prince Charles became public.
Relationship with the principal.
Came across this article on the internet. It highlights the importance of creating a good working relationship with the principal. It also shows how easily this is ruined, and once this has happened your career could potentially be ruined.
The close protection field is a small, enclosed circuit. What comes around, goes around.
The moment you violates a client relationship, whether it will be by talking to the press or writing a book, e.tc. is the moment you can put your SIA badge and all your qualifications up on the shelf, cause quite frankly, you are burnt bread..
We all remember Beckhams BG, who got so carried away that he rocked up at VIP clubs, telling people that he is David Beckham...
From the Daily telegraph:
Sir - I retired from the Metropolitan Police in November 2001 and for the last 22 years of my police service I worked closely with the Royal Family and the Royal Household at Buckingham Palace. Between 1982 and 1999, I held the privileged position of being the personal protection officer to the Duke of York.Over the past two weeks I have watched the ruthless marketing of Ken Wharfe's book on Diana, Princess of Wales with disgust. I don't feel it is appropriate for me to comment on the effect this may be having on Prince William, Prince Harry or anyone else, but I have a view from a protection perspective.As a retired police inspector (the same rank that Mr Wharfe held), I am well qualified to comment on what he has done. Without going into the mechanics of protection, one of the most important objectives for a personal protection officer is building a professional working relationship with the principal. The closeness of the role requires a trust and confidence similar to that between "partners".Effective personal protection can only work by consent and co-operation; therefore, the chemistry between a protection officer and the principal is of paramount importance.Mr Wharfe has harmed the potential relationship between a protection officer and principal more than anyone can imagine. Private matters should remain private; confidences should not be betrayed and protection secrets must remain secret.This episode casts a cloud over one of the most professional protection departments in the world. I am sure that all Royalty Protection Officers - serving and retired - would also be saddened by Mr Wharfe's actions.Mr Wharfe's time as a protection officer is over, and reflecting on his decision to write this book, this is undoubtedly a very good thing. His motivation to "kiss and tell" was, most likely, to make a lot of money.My message to him is simple: if, as he has said in recent interviews, his real motivation to write this book was to "tell the truth about Diana", then he should prove it by pledging to give all profits from the book's sale to charity. This would go some way towards redeeming him.
From: Geoffrey Padgham, Bromley, Kent
The close protection field is a small, enclosed circuit. What comes around, goes around.
The moment you violates a client relationship, whether it will be by talking to the press or writing a book, e.tc. is the moment you can put your SIA badge and all your qualifications up on the shelf, cause quite frankly, you are burnt bread..
We all remember Beckhams BG, who got so carried away that he rocked up at VIP clubs, telling people that he is David Beckham...
From the Daily telegraph:
Sir - I retired from the Metropolitan Police in November 2001 and for the last 22 years of my police service I worked closely with the Royal Family and the Royal Household at Buckingham Palace. Between 1982 and 1999, I held the privileged position of being the personal protection officer to the Duke of York.Over the past two weeks I have watched the ruthless marketing of Ken Wharfe's book on Diana, Princess of Wales with disgust. I don't feel it is appropriate for me to comment on the effect this may be having on Prince William, Prince Harry or anyone else, but I have a view from a protection perspective.As a retired police inspector (the same rank that Mr Wharfe held), I am well qualified to comment on what he has done. Without going into the mechanics of protection, one of the most important objectives for a personal protection officer is building a professional working relationship with the principal. The closeness of the role requires a trust and confidence similar to that between "partners".Effective personal protection can only work by consent and co-operation; therefore, the chemistry between a protection officer and the principal is of paramount importance.Mr Wharfe has harmed the potential relationship between a protection officer and principal more than anyone can imagine. Private matters should remain private; confidences should not be betrayed and protection secrets must remain secret.This episode casts a cloud over one of the most professional protection departments in the world. I am sure that all Royalty Protection Officers - serving and retired - would also be saddened by Mr Wharfe's actions.Mr Wharfe's time as a protection officer is over, and reflecting on his decision to write this book, this is undoubtedly a very good thing. His motivation to "kiss and tell" was, most likely, to make a lot of money.My message to him is simple: if, as he has said in recent interviews, his real motivation to write this book was to "tell the truth about Diana", then he should prove it by pledging to give all profits from the book's sale to charity. This would go some way towards redeeming him.
From: Geoffrey Padgham, Bromley, Kent
Thursday, 13 November 2008
How good is your cultural awareness? you will love this test
http://www.kwintessential.co.uk/resources/culture-tests.html
Cultural awareness is extremely important for bodyguards. It is an understanding of how a persons culture may affect their values, behaviour, beliefs and basic assumptions.
Cultural awareness becomes central when we have to interact with peopole from other cultures. As a bodyguard you will most likely work for a variety of clients, in different locations.
What is considered appropriate behaviour in one culture, might very well be deemed inappropriate in another culture. Misunderstandings arise when we substitute knowledge of other peoples realities, by making assumtions based upon or own experiences.
For example, looking someone straight into the in Japan is considered rude.
Increasing your knowledge of cultural awareness means to see both the positive and the negative aspects of cultural differences, and apply this information on real life situations.
Diversity increases the level of complexity and confusion, making agreements difficult to reach.
It can also provide a different approach to problem solving as it creates valuable new skills and behaviours.
When working with people from different religions/ culturess, please remember:
We are not all the same
Similarities and differences are both important
There are multiple ways to reach the same goal and to live life
The best way depends on the cultural contingency. Each situation is different and may require a different solution.
Admit that you don’t know
Suspend judgments - gather as much information as possible so you can assess the situation correctly.
Empathy - Treat other people like you want to be treated.
Feedback - Welcome feedback from other people, constantly reassess your choices and assumptions, to ensure you have fully appreciated the situation.
Be openminded - Assume that other people are as resourceful as you are and learn from them.
Be approachable and adaptable.
Get to know you client, the location and threat.
Cultural awareness is extremely important for bodyguards. It is an understanding of how a persons culture may affect their values, behaviour, beliefs and basic assumptions.
Cultural awareness becomes central when we have to interact with peopole from other cultures. As a bodyguard you will most likely work for a variety of clients, in different locations.
What is considered appropriate behaviour in one culture, might very well be deemed inappropriate in another culture. Misunderstandings arise when we substitute knowledge of other peoples realities, by making assumtions based upon or own experiences.
For example, looking someone straight into the in Japan is considered rude.
Increasing your knowledge of cultural awareness means to see both the positive and the negative aspects of cultural differences, and apply this information on real life situations.
Diversity increases the level of complexity and confusion, making agreements difficult to reach.
It can also provide a different approach to problem solving as it creates valuable new skills and behaviours.
When working with people from different religions/ culturess, please remember:
We are not all the same
Similarities and differences are both important
There are multiple ways to reach the same goal and to live life
The best way depends on the cultural contingency. Each situation is different and may require a different solution.
Admit that you don’t know
Suspend judgments - gather as much information as possible so you can assess the situation correctly.
Empathy - Treat other people like you want to be treated.
Feedback - Welcome feedback from other people, constantly reassess your choices and assumptions, to ensure you have fully appreciated the situation.
Be openminded - Assume that other people are as resourceful as you are and learn from them.
Be approachable and adaptable.
Get to know you client, the location and threat.
Khaddafi's sexy bodyguards - the story behind
On September 20, President Bush lifted the U.S. trade embargo on Libya, which is now expected to pay more than $1 billion in compensation to families of the 1988 bombing victims of Pan Am Flight 103 in Scotland. In July 2004, the U.S. resumed diplomatic relations with Libya following dictator Moammar Qaddafi's agreement to give up his nukes program, to acknowledge responsibility for the bombing, and to renounce terrorism (Qaddafi was one of the first Arab leaders to denounce the attacks of September 11). Last April, in an attempt to normalize relations with the European Union, Qaddafi visited Europe for the first time in fifteen years. He has also been gracious enough to aver that "It is no longer acceptable or reasonable to say that the Jews should be thrown into the sea." Even as far back as July 2002, Libya was elected that year's chair of the Human Rights commission of the U.N., presumably the United Nations of Bizarro World. Indeed, all of the above is part of Libya's ongoing effort to rehabilitate its image in the eyes of the world, and of the extreme makeover of its non-elected leader Moammar Qaddafi. It's the political equivalent of a porn star — a porn star who kills people — going legit. But if Qaddafi ever wants his transformation to be complete, he'll have to do something not only about his country's ongoing human rights abuses (see Amnesty International), but also his trademark posse of female bodyguards. Everywhere he goes, he's surrounded by a badass bunch of Lara Croft clones, usually in matching colored camouflage (of dubious use in the desert). They've been described as "wearing their Kalashnikovs like Gucci fashion accessories." (Yes, news articles always describe that they're wearing. Not like you ever hear the AP mention the "navy wool, three-button, notched-lapel suits" of the Secret Service.) On a good day, the bodyguards make Qaddafi look like Hef. On a bad day, a Bond villain. On every day, a crackpot. You might argue, hey, at least the "Brother Leader and Guide of the Revolution" is employing and arming women, trusting them with the most important responsibility in the entire nation — i.e., him. Or that female bodyguards, fetishistic though they may be, are a little higher on the objectification ladder than, say, women dressed as schoolgirls. And yes, they do seem to be more than an armed harem: they're trained in weaponry; they "brawl" with Egyptian security men; they step into the line of fire. (The woman said to be Qaddafi's top bodyguard reportedly took a bullet for him in Athens in 1998). Naïve as it may sound, there's reason to believe — as you'll see — that among Qaddafi's options for sexual companionship, these are not the women who'd be asked to multitask. And believe it or not, when it comes to the ladies, some of Qaddafi's policies over the years have, arguably, been a half-step or so above abysmal. All told, a mini-overview of Qaddafi's oddly mixed record on women shows the Colonel to be even weirder about them than meets the eye. "Qaddafi is progressive on the one hand, and eccentric on the other," Michael Gunter, Ph.D., professor of political science and Middle East expert at Tennessee Tech University says, charitably. Progressive? Well, a little. When Qaddafi's party seized power in 1969, its intent was to modernize Libya, at least where expedient, while maintaining respect for Islamic tradition, at least where expedient. As part of this goal, women were used as a
The Lara Croft clones wear matching camouflage (of dubious use in the desert). "lever of social change," writes Maria Graeff-Wassink in her essay, Militarization of Women and 'Feminism' in Libya (quotes hers). Today, many urban Libyan women do not wear the Muslim head scarf; they attend university in droves. Back in the '70s, though, Qaddafi's biggest move was to determine that women should serve in Libya's army and that training should start young. He pointed out — clearly to counter conservative Muslims — that women had actually played roles in war throughout Libya's historical tradition. (He also, perhaps even more convincingly, pointed out that Israel's army had women and Libya, with its similar population, would need a similar number of bodies in uniform.) Graeff-Wassink sees "feminist" motive, or at least result, in the conscription of young women: "Girls at puberty, instead of remaining shut up in the home stuffing themselves with sweetmeats, were to put on uniforms to do the physical exercises of military training." But apparently, the plan for universal conscription of women was never fully carried out. A women's military academy opened in Tripoli in 1979 for "volunteers" (rumor has it that some were coerced) aged thirteen to seventeen. Qaddafi announced, "Women will not be free or respected or exercise their rights until they are strong and have taken possession of all the weapons: firearms just like the weapons of science, knowledge, culture, and revolution." By some counts, about 7,000 women had graduated from the academy by 1983 (it's not clear what they "did" with their degrees), but West Point it never was. The school closed that year after students ripped down fences to escape. Subsequent attempts to require women's military service never quite took hold. In any case, Qaddafi has clearly stated that he's determined his nation — whether through military service or otherwise — be a society "where there is total equality between men and women." He must be at least partly sincere about all this, as that "feminist" position is not necessarily one that will get him votes. (Not that he needs them. According to the CIA factbook, Libya is "in theory, governed by the populace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship.) But in large part, Qaddafi's talking smack. According to his proposition, there would have to be "total equality" among his elite bodyguards — half of those ladies would be out of a job. Then there's the matter of the beauty pageant. In 2002, evidently not that busy with the UN human rights thing, Libya rounded up contestants via the Internet and hosted the international "Miss @ Net World" pageant. During most of the event, the leggy ladies traipsed around Tripoli in matching (and modest) Qaddafi t-shirts. "Miss @ Net World USA" Tecca Zendik, in Qaddafi's tent for a photo op, evidently wept at the description of U.S. forces bombing Qaddafi's home. The Colonel himself comforted her by groping her knee and neck, and later rewarding her with honorary Libyan citizenship. Also, did you know about Qaddafi and Princess Diana? He's obsessed with her. Or, at least, Brother Leader is a sucker for a good love story. According to the London Sunday Telegraph, he tried to acquire the collection of Diana's intimate letters to suitor James Hewitt. Libya does appear prepared to sign the UN's Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, and has indicated some compliance with other protocols from the 2000 Women's Conference in Beijing. But otherwise, for better or for worse, women's rights are not mentioned specifically in Amnesty's most recent reports (they're a little busy with torture, unfair trials, and so forth). Still, responses to queries posted at libyana.org suggest that if Qaddafi meant all this stuff about women, perhaps he'd dispatch the bodyguards to set some civilians straight. Of one type of Libyan husband, "shiafti" writes: "He is cool about her driving a car and going shopping by herself but how can he be assured of her safety when it is difficult for her to go past the building door without being harassed and hit on." Another writes: "What amazes me the most is that Libyan men, even after being educated, living abroad, they still look at the Libyan woman as if she is an inferior human being, she is an item of pleasure, a cook and a housecleaner." Not blaming the guys, or saying these opinions are anything but generalizations, but: it's still pretty clear that in practice, women's rights don't trickle down into the culture from the pedestal Qaddafi puts them on. (Or, of course, that as a role model, no one really takes him seriously.) So, yes, Qaddafi loves the ladies. He digs his Moammar-sketeers. He thinks they're hot and that they should have power and rights — especially if they're protecting him. In other words, "Q" is for Women.
The Lara Croft clones wear matching camouflage (of dubious use in the desert). "lever of social change," writes Maria Graeff-Wassink in her essay, Militarization of Women and 'Feminism' in Libya (quotes hers). Today, many urban Libyan women do not wear the Muslim head scarf; they attend university in droves. Back in the '70s, though, Qaddafi's biggest move was to determine that women should serve in Libya's army and that training should start young. He pointed out — clearly to counter conservative Muslims — that women had actually played roles in war throughout Libya's historical tradition. (He also, perhaps even more convincingly, pointed out that Israel's army had women and Libya, with its similar population, would need a similar number of bodies in uniform.) Graeff-Wassink sees "feminist" motive, or at least result, in the conscription of young women: "Girls at puberty, instead of remaining shut up in the home stuffing themselves with sweetmeats, were to put on uniforms to do the physical exercises of military training." But apparently, the plan for universal conscription of women was never fully carried out. A women's military academy opened in Tripoli in 1979 for "volunteers" (rumor has it that some were coerced) aged thirteen to seventeen. Qaddafi announced, "Women will not be free or respected or exercise their rights until they are strong and have taken possession of all the weapons: firearms just like the weapons of science, knowledge, culture, and revolution." By some counts, about 7,000 women had graduated from the academy by 1983 (it's not clear what they "did" with their degrees), but West Point it never was. The school closed that year after students ripped down fences to escape. Subsequent attempts to require women's military service never quite took hold. In any case, Qaddafi has clearly stated that he's determined his nation — whether through military service or otherwise — be a society "where there is total equality between men and women." He must be at least partly sincere about all this, as that "feminist" position is not necessarily one that will get him votes. (Not that he needs them. According to the CIA factbook, Libya is "in theory, governed by the populace through local councils; in fact, a military dictatorship.) But in large part, Qaddafi's talking smack. According to his proposition, there would have to be "total equality" among his elite bodyguards — half of those ladies would be out of a job. Then there's the matter of the beauty pageant. In 2002, evidently not that busy with the UN human rights thing, Libya rounded up contestants via the Internet and hosted the international "Miss @ Net World" pageant. During most of the event, the leggy ladies traipsed around Tripoli in matching (and modest) Qaddafi t-shirts. "Miss @ Net World USA" Tecca Zendik, in Qaddafi's tent for a photo op, evidently wept at the description of U.S. forces bombing Qaddafi's home. The Colonel himself comforted her by groping her knee and neck, and later rewarding her with honorary Libyan citizenship. Also, did you know about Qaddafi and Princess Diana? He's obsessed with her. Or, at least, Brother Leader is a sucker for a good love story. According to the London Sunday Telegraph, he tried to acquire the collection of Diana's intimate letters to suitor James Hewitt. Libya does appear prepared to sign the UN's Optional Protocol to the Convention on the Elimination of all Forms of Discrimination against Women, and has indicated some compliance with other protocols from the 2000 Women's Conference in Beijing. But otherwise, for better or for worse, women's rights are not mentioned specifically in Amnesty's most recent reports (they're a little busy with torture, unfair trials, and so forth). Still, responses to queries posted at libyana.org suggest that if Qaddafi meant all this stuff about women, perhaps he'd dispatch the bodyguards to set some civilians straight. Of one type of Libyan husband, "shiafti" writes: "He is cool about her driving a car and going shopping by herself but how can he be assured of her safety when it is difficult for her to go past the building door without being harassed and hit on." Another writes: "What amazes me the most is that Libyan men, even after being educated, living abroad, they still look at the Libyan woman as if she is an inferior human being, she is an item of pleasure, a cook and a housecleaner." Not blaming the guys, or saying these opinions are anything but generalizations, but: it's still pretty clear that in practice, women's rights don't trickle down into the culture from the pedestal Qaddafi puts them on. (Or, of course, that as a role model, no one really takes him seriously.) So, yes, Qaddafi loves the ladies. He digs his Moammar-sketeers. He thinks they're hot and that they should have power and rights — especially if they're protecting him. In other words, "Q" is for Women.
A clients view on female bodygards (Gaddafi)
6/12/98: "A female bodyguard sacrificed her life to save Colonel Gaddafi from assassination. The beautiful security girl was one of a 40-strong, all-woman unit of personal guards who are trained killers & also claim to be virgins. "She threw herself on top of the Libyan leader when rebels opened fire on his motorcade, & died riddled with bullets. Seven other women bodyguards were also seriously wounded. A source said: 'Gaddafi was deeply distressed. Aisha, the woman who died, was his top bodyguard.'"Gaddafi surrounds himself with handpicked female bodyguards to foil such attacks. All of them swear an oath that they will give their lives for him. They never leave his side, night or day, & he insists they remain virgins. There is no shortage of volunteers for what is seen as a prestigious job. A special training college puts recruits through a tough program. Girls who don't drop out emerge as trained killers, experts with firearms & martial arts. Gaddafi makes the final selection &, despite the virginal tag, rumors abound that he demands their sexual favors." New opera based on the life of Libyan leader Moammar Gaddafi, featuring rapper as Gaddafi & chorus of all-female bodyguards;Brawl between Gaddafi's women bodyguards & Egyptian security;Gaddafi humiliated when notorious female bodyguards unceremoniously disarmed by Ethiopian SecurityGaddafi on women: "Women should be trained for combat, so that they do not become easy prey for their enemies." In the West, "the situation for women is hardly enviable: she has left home but only to confront a difficult fate, driving trucks & trains."
Female bodyguards are the best
Female bodyguards are being employed in larger numbers. They are proving to be more useful than the old style version of a macho protector. Hiring a woman as a bodyguard gives you the added protection that you can unleash her power with little chance of liability. No judge will believe that a woman is capable of using such a powerful force.Women that are being harassed and stalked by a rejected lover are turning to private security agencies to have a woman bodyguard protect them. The female bodyguard will quickly provide a solution. Any guy that is harassing and stalking her client will soon be taught a lesson he will never forget. A swift kick to his balls will teach him to keep his distance from his former girlfriend. He will be too embarrassed to report this painful experience to the proper authorities.One private security agency employs over fifty females who have earned black belts. Each one of them is capable of battling with as much as three ordinary men and sending them all to the hospital. One of the agencies bodyguards is a sixty year old grandma that has been proven to be the most deadly. She once demolished a street gang single handed. She was hired by a store owner that was being harassed by the gang. Witnesses said the sight of an elderly lady ass wiping ten tough men was a sight that they would never forget.Hollywood stars who are stalked by admirers are turning to female bodyguards for protection. Male bodyguards are useless against a gang of fans determined to sexually molest a celebrity. That gang has to be kicked and punched to protect their client. It would look awful if one of their male bodyguards would do that. A few female bodyguards with black belt experience could send a pack of stalkers running in the opposite direction. Nobody but the stalkers that were making the life of the celebrity a bad one would complain. Their complaints would fall on deaf ears.
A dictator of an oil rich country keeps one hundred female bodyguards in his compound. They are all lesbians that are extremely loyal to their benefactor. If he dies they will all be homeless. Each one carries a sword and pistol, they will quickly use either one if their master is in danger. A coup by members of the army was quickly defeated by his female bodyguards. The testicles of the disloyal were strewn around the compound grounds. No prisoners were taken. It is sure nobody will ever try to depose that dictator again.The female bodyguard is quickly replacing male protection because she is more effective. Many single men that are weak and poor as fighters are now marrying women that have earned the degree of a black belt. They have found it to be a great way of protecting themselves. The macho male is slowly losing his power in the face of a female that knows how to battle. This is bad news for bullies those that victimize the weak and good news for people who need a lady that can fight.melpol
It is generally believed that the profession of bodyguards is meant only for men. However, in some cases outstanding persons, such as actors, singers or businessmen for some reason prefer female
In Moscow, there is only one special school training female bodyguards. Nice and smart women between 21 and 37 can be accepted there for training. The owner of the school, former security services employee Nadezhda Mikhailova says that people employing female bodyguards first of all insist that these women must be very attractive and demonstrate good intellect. If a man prefers a female bodyguard he does not want to have someone unfeminine by his side. It often happens that expectations of majority of clients wishing to employ a female bodyguard are too exaggerated. They demand this woman must be a slender model-like blonde having a driving license, being able to act as a personal secretary, speak languages, know some fighting techniques and handle all types of guns. The school of female bodyguards usually ignores such exaggerated demands of clients, and certainly takes into consideration those reasonable ones. This is one of the reasons why girls under 21 are never accepted to the school.
Nadezhda Mikhailova says that young applicants usually look great but something is obviously wrong with their minds. These young girls imagine that being a female bodyguard is as cool as to act like Uma Thurman in Kill Bill. It is important that women wishing to be accepted to the school of bodyguards must be absolutely healthy, including perfect eyesight. Every applicant undergoes detailed psychological tests and really tough physical examinations. The school owner admits that although the exercises seem to be simple often even professional sportswomen fail to do them properly.
Under such severe conditions only five women have managed to complete a six-month period of studies lately. Nadezhda Mikhailova helped all of them with employment. Unfortunately, she says that wages paid to female bodyguards are lower than that paid to men of the same profession. “It is sad that clients do not believe in the great potential of female bodyguards. Their training level is as perfect as that of men. And it is important that in most cases female bodyguards are more effective than men. It is known that women oftener resort to “peace talks” than force. Women are seldom treated as a source of menace, and this fact helps female bodyguards act promptly and effectively in case of emergency.”
Victoria Korchagina, former biathlon athlete, is now the head of the North-west department of the National Bodyguard Association. She was one of the first female bodyguards in Russia. She explains that there are no special secrets pertaining to female bodyguards only. Like male bodyguards, women trained to become bodyguards are taught to use any item at hand for defense or attack. This may certainly be even a hairpin. Victoria Korchagina also explained that shooting an enemy is an outdate trend. Today, killers prefer strong and fast decomposing poisons. But irrespective of the instruments that killers employ for an attack main goal of personal bodyguards is to always avert or anticipate critical situations. For this purpose bodyguards must not only be able to analyze any situation but also to understand the issue of security as a complex. Indeed, Victoria adds that it is easier and better to teach a bodyguard give his diabetic client injections than have thorough checks-up of nurses coming to give these injections.
Unlike men, women readily assume more functions. Male bodyguards are more conservative than women: they believe that bodyguard’s hands must be always free and will never help their clients carry baggage. And this attitude sometimes entails really curious situations. One male bodyguard escorted a businessman with his family during a vacation abroad. When arrived at an airport abroad, the Russian group found out there was no tourist operator receiving them there and they had to get to a hotel themselves. The bodyguard would not carry the man’s baggage, and some boy at the airport insisted he could help carry the cargo. At the end, the annoying boy seized a suitcase out of the businessman’s hands and ran away. The bodyguard had to abandon his clients and chase after the boy about the airport for 15 minutes. And the man was no success. It should be mentioned that the suitcase contained all the best evening dresses of the businessman’s wife which meant that the unlucky bodyguard was dismissed immediately after the trip.
Outstanding clients abroad now understand perfectly well that female bodyguards are more universal than men. Even Sharon Stone employs female bodyguards. Indeed, female bodyguards can accompany their female clients in fitting-rooms in a boutique, in beauty shops or ladies’ room in a restaurant. Russia’s Victoria Korchagina was the personal bodyguard of Duchess of York Sarah Ferguson during her visit to Russia. She also was the bodyguard of Sir Paul McCartney during his tour in Russia. The Russian bodyguard admits that it is easier to work with foreign clients coming to this country as they are more attentive to security requirements and are very careful towards the escort. They seldom reveal snobbism while this is still the favorite tactics of many of Russian VIPs
The soccer billionaires
Playing soccer is the world's passion. Owning a soccer team is a more rarified pursuit.
In Pictures: The Soccer Billionaires
When reclusive billionaire Mike Ashley bought struggling British soccer club Newcastle United in the summer of 2007, the team's fans hailed their new owner and his deep pockets as potential saviors.
Not anymore. Through Nov. 11, Newcastle is in 18th place in the standings, a spot which puts them in danger of relegation to a lower league. Club fans, called the Toon Army, are also furious with ownership because of the resignation of beloved manager Kevin Keegan.
In Pictures: The Soccer Billionaires
Ashley, who had become a fixture in Newcastle's stands, is ready to return to the lifestyle that earned him the nickname of Britain's Howard Hughes. He says he can't take his kids to a game any longer out of fear they will be assaulted. After purchasing the club just over a year ago, he's looking to sell. "You want me out," says Ashley. "That is what I am now trying to do."
British papers have been thick with chatter of who could bid on the 116-year-old club. In those tabloids at least, Philip Anschutz emerged as a frontrunner this weekend. He's a Denver entertainment entrepreneur who ranked 36th on our Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans, and he already owns three other soccer teams.
Anschutz's sports holding company AEG (other-otc: AEGXY.PK - news - people ) denies any interest in the club, but don't be surprised if another billionaire might become the next Newcastle owner. The owner's box at soccer stadiums has transformed into a billionaire's club over the past decade.
Many of the men at the top of our rich lists have a pro soccer team on their long list of assets. Indian magnate Lakshmi Mittal and racing tycoon Bernie Ecclestone have a stake in the London's Queen's Park Rangers.
Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people ) co-founder Paul Allen is part owner of the new American Major League Soccer franchise Seattle Sounders. Luxury goods maven Francois Pinault doesn't just root for his favorite French side Stade Rennais; he also owns them.
In Pictures: The Soccer Billionaires
When reclusive billionaire Mike Ashley bought struggling British soccer club Newcastle United in the summer of 2007, the team's fans hailed their new owner and his deep pockets as potential saviors.
Not anymore. Through Nov. 11, Newcastle is in 18th place in the standings, a spot which puts them in danger of relegation to a lower league. Club fans, called the Toon Army, are also furious with ownership because of the resignation of beloved manager Kevin Keegan.
In Pictures: The Soccer Billionaires
Ashley, who had become a fixture in Newcastle's stands, is ready to return to the lifestyle that earned him the nickname of Britain's Howard Hughes. He says he can't take his kids to a game any longer out of fear they will be assaulted. After purchasing the club just over a year ago, he's looking to sell. "You want me out," says Ashley. "That is what I am now trying to do."
British papers have been thick with chatter of who could bid on the 116-year-old club. In those tabloids at least, Philip Anschutz emerged as a frontrunner this weekend. He's a Denver entertainment entrepreneur who ranked 36th on our Forbes 400 list of the richest Americans, and he already owns three other soccer teams.
Anschutz's sports holding company AEG (other-otc: AEGXY.PK - news - people ) denies any interest in the club, but don't be surprised if another billionaire might become the next Newcastle owner. The owner's box at soccer stadiums has transformed into a billionaire's club over the past decade.
Many of the men at the top of our rich lists have a pro soccer team on their long list of assets. Indian magnate Lakshmi Mittal and racing tycoon Bernie Ecclestone have a stake in the London's Queen's Park Rangers.
Microsoft (nasdaq: MSFT - news - people ) co-founder Paul Allen is part owner of the new American Major League Soccer franchise Seattle Sounders. Luxury goods maven Francois Pinault doesn't just root for his favorite French side Stade Rennais; he also owns them.
How to keep a billinaire safe..
Burglars beware. There's a house not far from New York City that's waiting for you.
Force entry through one of the bulletproof doors or windows and you'll trigger hidden shotguns loaded with non-lethal ammo. If somehow you're still standing, the owner can retreat to a hidden, fortified room where he can flood the rest of the house with tear gas.
Other security features include biometric scanners and trap doors. The fortress cost its owner (a prosperous hedge fund manager who we've agreed not to name) $10 million to build. It highlights just how concerned the ultra-wealthy are about their safety, and how much they're willing to pay to protect themselves.
In Pictures: How To Keep A Billionaire Safe
Russ Alan Prince, president of the private wealth-research firm Prince & Associates, recently surveyed a sample of the wealthy on the topic. Over 98% of them with a net worth of over $25 million paid for security services in the last few years. Over nine-tenths of that group believe that their wealth makes them a special target.
Paranoid? Maybe not. The hedge fund manager mentioned above was once kidnapped during a trip overseas. Sears chairman and billionaire Eddie Lampert was famously abducted in 2003. Successful banker Ernest Rady was bound and shot with a stun gun during a robbery at his home last year.
More recently, a camouflaged man tried to break into the home of Warren Buffett. He was fought off by an alert guard, which is a common security measure of the affluent. It's an expensive one, too. Experienced professionals, usually drawn from law enforcement and the military, can cost $400 per hour.
The hefty pay buys experience and plenty of loyalty. Billionaire Henry Nicholas hired a former Navy SEAL to guard his children. Earlier this week, the bodyguard was thrown in jail for refusing to cooperate with an investigation into Nicholas’ former company, "SEALs don't snitch," explained the jailed man’s lawyer.
Also loyal are the guard dogs. These aren’t mutts from the classifieds though. These are specially trained German Shepards that can run up to $55,000 each. The valuable canines receive years of intensive training to greet their owners with wagging tail but enemies with a vicious bite. (See "Niiiiice Doggie.")
Alarm systems, cameras at every entrance and safe rooms where the rich can take refuge behind steel doors are the norm. Some of the more expensive setups cost more than $1 million. (See "Platinum Protection.") Just in case the worst happens, there's kidnapping and ransom insurance. Annual premiums for particularly high-risk individuals can cost hundreds of thousands of dollars.
Then there's the Taser-armed robots. Mitch Gitter of Defender Security Services, a New York security firm, says he's recently outfitted houses of a couple well-to-do clients with these high-tech defenders. The robots, which cost $15,000 each, automatically track down an intruder and incapacitate him or her with a high-voltage energy pulse. Ouch.
How to be your own bodyguard
How To Be Your Own Bodyguard by Joseph T. Mullen ,
IN MORE THAN 30 YEARS AS A PRIVATE detective, I've had a lot of interesting jobs and met a lot of interesting people. I mean, why else would you stay in the business? The hours are terrible and the fringes are even worse. But, like I say, you meet interesting people.For instance, several years ago, I met the most trusted man in America, Walter Cronkite. I was his bodyguard.What happened was, somebody at the FBI called somebody at CBS and told them that they'd intercepted wiretaps. They were hearing things. So the people at CBS called me—my agency is in New York—and we followed Mr. Trusted around. We carried gym bags that were supposed to make us look like guys on our way to a workout.What we had in the bags were .38 pistols. In the car was a shotgun. Never had to use any of that artillery; but there's nothing like a bodyguard to make you feel secure.Of course, most people can't afford, and don't need, full-time protection. They don't have that many enemies, after all, and besides, having somebody around all the time gets old. I'm a pretty charming guy but I'm sure Mr. Cronkite got to the point where he wouldn't have minded going without my company.Still, it's an uncertain world out there. And the sad truth is, the better you do, the more precautions you need to take.Celebrities are obvious, high-profile targets and they typically use bodyguards who are just muscle. Their job is to keep people who want to touch the garment at arm's length. They aren't real bright, necessarily, but they can react with considerable force.Still, you can make enemies without being on the cover of People. If you have something—or even look like you have something—worth taking, then you can be sure that there are people who would be happy to take it from you. And if you're in the middle of some temporary—but very nasty—dispute, then you might want protection as well.Before restraining orders became so common, my company used to protect a lot of wives who were in the process of divorcing abusive husbands. Sometimes breaking up a business partnership can be just as ugly as getting out of a marriage. People decide they want to get even in, quite literally, the worst way. You have a key chain. Put one of those pepper-spray devices on it. They've been reported to send eight-foot Florida alligators retreating into the fetal position. But there are some situations where that little extra protection can be provided by the one person you know you can trust...you. In other words, you need to be your own bodyguard.This doesn't necessarily mean that you need to learn to punch eyeholes in a silhouette target with a Glock. Or go off to Japan and learn some ancient discipline with seven orders of belts.
I've been around a lot of bodyguards, and the best I've ever known is Robert Foti. I use him on jobs, and I recommend his course in basic personal security. He held one recently for a big law firm in New York, and on the first night, 30 or 40 people showed up. Word got around, and on the second night, 70 people came to listen to what Bob had to tell them about staying out of those situations where the only thing you have left is force and luck. (Write him at P.O. Box 309, Schenectady, NY 12301-0309; or give me a call at 212-581-5292, and I'll get ahold of him for you.)Bob can certainly handle himself when it comes down to that—he did two tours in Vietnam, with the Rangers—and he has all the skills he needs with a pistol and hand-to-hand combat. The point is, he does things so those talents never come into play.It starts with vigilance. That's the word Bob uses, and I can't think of a better one. You start out by being aware that you're a possible victim."Criminals like soft targets," Bob says. "They're looking for sleepwalkers in unsecured areas."There are things you can do that make it easy for them. Like wearing headphones. Right away, you've cut off one of your best senses for detecting a threat. Somebody might be coming up behind you, but you never hear him because you're listening to your favorite CD. Heightened awareness is your best defense.Of course, this means using your eyes. Bob says that one of your best tools is a pair of sunglasses. That way, somebody who's a threat never knows what you're looking at. You can study a guy on a subway to see if he's getting ready to make some kind of move without getting into one of those menacing "stare-downs" where the guy believes that you're "dissing" him.What you wear can be very important. It would be prudent to leave the big jewelry at home, or at least cover it up with gloves and a scarf when you're out on the street. Women shouldn't carry shoulder bags with a thin strap that can be easily cut or broken. Carry a small bag with big handles you can grip firmly. No high heels. Carry them in a bag. The best shoes, for men and women, are flat with rubber soles. Better for running and—if you get outrun and have no choice—kicking. For women who are worried about rape, Bob has this advice: "It's easier to get a dress up than it is to get pants down."Most people don't have concealed-carry permits, but that doesn't mean that they should walk around unarmed. You have a key chain. Put one of those pepper-spray devices on it. "Those things work," Bob told me one day. "I saw a demonstration where some cops in Florida used one on an eight-foot alligator, and that beast just went into a ball."But if you're going to carry one, get a couple of extras and go out somewhere and practice firing them. You need to know how to do it without even thinking about it when the time comes. It has to be an instinct. And quick. And you have to point it right at the guy's face; none of this "general area" stuff.Bob also likes a little hand-held ice scraper for your car window on the key chain. There's one made by a company called Choate, down in Bald Knob, Arkansas. Thing has little claws on it that work like a poor man's brass knuckles in a pinch. (The Executive Ice Scraper, $5, 800-972-6390.) And if you don't have one of those on your key chain, and you need a weapon, use the key. Put it between your fingers so it sticks out like a claw.Of course, if you're being truly vigilant, you should never approach your car, or the door to your apartment, with your keys in your pocket or in your handbag so that you're standing there fumbling for them. Have your keys—and your pepper spray—out and in your hand. It decreases your vulnerability.And even though that key chain is getting pretty heavy, it's a good idea to have a little flashlight on it. You can use it to check around, or under, your car from a safe distance. Criminals like the dark; it gives them the advantage.
Also, avoid underground garages if you can. Don't park next to other cars where somebody can hide and ambush you. If the parking lot has surveillance cameras, try to park near one. Make two trips if you have a lot of packages. That will keep one hand free—keys and your pepper at the ready.When you're going somewhere in the car, make sure you have enough gas and a cell phone, and be aware of where you'll go for assistance if you're rear-ended by someone who wants you to stop and get out of the car so he can take your wallet, your jewelry, your packages...or you. Don't ever stop and get out of the car in an insecure area.If you do find yourself in a bad situation, have a plan: if he wants your wallet, give it to him. You might also have your money and your cards concealed, and an old wallet with 20 bucks in ones that you can drop and then run."Give him what he thinks he wants," Bob says. "Stay alert, avoid situations where you're vulnerable, be ready to run or react, give up what you can afford to lose to save what you can't afford to lose—your life."Like most of what Bob says, that's solid. Remember, the first priority of any bodyguard is the safety of the subject. In this case...you. Don't be stupid by being brave.There's a lot more, of course, and you learn most of it by being in the trade. I've learned a lot over the years, but I still learn things from other people, like Bob Foti.JOSEPH T. MULLEN is a private detective in New York City
The cost of protecting the CEO
The Cost Of Protecting The CEO
Lehman Brothers Chief Executive Richard Fuld did learn a thing or two from the fall of Bear Stearns. When the 85-year-old Wall Street institution nearly went out of business a few months ago before being swept up by JPMorgan Chase, James Cayne, Bear's chairman, hired a bodyguard. According to recent news reports, Fuld has followed suit. He allegedly has kept out of sight and when he appears, it's with what seems to be hired protection. After all, you can't be too careful if you're held accountable for severely depleting the wealth of thousands of people vested in the firm's future. Whether or not a business is in financial ruin, guarding the boss is of the utmost importance these days. America's largest corporations are paying millions of dollars a year to protect their C-level talent, particularly the CEO. That personal security, as described in compensation reports filed with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission, includes everything from computerized home systems to use of company aircraft domestically and internationally, both for business and personal matters. The cost incurred by companies falls under the perquisite, or "perk," category. Among U.S. chief executives, Oracle's (nasdaq: ORCL - news - people ) Larry Ellison is racking up the highest personal security costs--$1.7 million in 2007, according to compensation reports filed with the SEC by his company. Up there with him are Limited Brands (nyse: LTD - news - people ) CEO Leslie Wexner ($1.25 million) and Amazon.com (nasdaq: AMZN - news - people ) CEO and founder Jeff Bezos, ($1.2 million). All three men are on the list of Forbes' richest people, which partly explains the fuss.
In Pictures: The Cost Of Protecting The CEO
Ellison's security expenses are notoriously high--the billionaire has also spent a considerable sum of his own money installing top-of-the-line security systems at his Malibu and Woodside, Calif., estates. Security specialist Alan Schissel said that in cases where companies are paying such incredible amounts, it's likely for a team to watch the boss' back, in addition to any home-security system costs. That goes for at the office, on the road and even at home. Schissel, CEO of Integrated Security Services, said that someone with 24-hour protection could require six bodyguards--commonly either current and former police officers or retired military--each working, on average, eight to 12 hours on a rotating basis. Though in many instances they're necessary, he doesn't consider their presence a benefit by any means. "I don't consider it a perk because it's somewhat of a burden," he said, explaining that effective security for high-profile executives often involves the presence of guards at all times. Mike Intravia, CEO of St. Louis, Mo.-based Allied Intelligence, said the globalization of big business has increased demand for the security services his business provides and has escalated costs. The rise in CEO travel has given "on the road" a new meaning. Now executives need watchdogs in foreign countries abroad--and that protection starts in the air. To ensure the safety of their leaders, as well as their leaders' families, some large public companies mandate private airplane use for all business and some private travel. At Ford Motor (nyse: F - news - people ), CEO Alan Mullaly spent $752,000 using the company jet last year. The CEO of Chesapeake Energy (nyse: CHK - news - people ), Aubrey McClendon, spent $600,000, while Starbucks (nasdaq: SBUX - news - people ) CEO Howard Schulz spent $400,000 on private flights. On the ground, one of the most important pieces in an executive's security team can be the driver--often more of a chauffeur commando than a mere wheel jockey. According to the book Just 2 Seconds, which analyzes hundreds of attacks on public figures from 1970 to 2000, the majority happened while the victims were in or around their cars. A trained security driver adds an extra layer of protection--often the most important layer, said Joseph Autera, senior instructor and president of Tony Scotti's Vehicle Dynamics Institute. If a CEO is ever attacked while on the go, "that driver may be the only real protection the executive has at that moment." If a trained driver had been on the job, things might have gone differently for financier Edward Lampert in 2003. Abducted from his company parking garage, the ESL Investments chairman was held for ransom for a little less than two days, until convincing his captors to release him. What are the risks? According to Just 2 Seconds, business executives aren't targeted for assassination as often as other prominent individuals. Of 436 successful attacks on public figures worldwide from 1970 to 2000, 68% of the targets were politicians and government officials, and just 6% were business executives. However, when kidnapping is the aim, their proportion rises. The book, co-written by Tom Taylor, Jeff Marquart and Gavin de Becker, best-selling author of The Gift of Fear, says that of 65 kidnapping incidents where a public figure was the target, 31% were executives, behind governmental officials at 42%.
http://www.forbes.com/2008/08/21/ceo-security-spending-lead-comp-cx_mk_0821security_slide_5.html?thisSpeed=15000
Monday, 10 November 2008
What's your favourite position in bed?
Knew you would click on the title as soon as it came up!! :)
This post is about positions.. not as naughty as it sounds.
Sleeping positions! After reading this extensive list, I have concluded that I am a mix of a starfish and a freefaller.
If I am really tired, I normally nod off in a free faller position.
If I am unable to fall asleep straight away, I tend to lie on my side, with my hands and arms under the pillow.
Actually, I've got a third position as well. The falling star: On my back, legs and arms out, anytime any where, and usually in a fancy outfit.
That's my drunken position, often accompanied by a loud snoring.
I go out, have a few drinks, return to base location and crash out!
Bedroom, bathroom, on the sofa, under the table. I have tried it all. In fact, the funniest one was when I was making my way home, early in the morning after a wild night out in the West End.
As soon as I got on the train, I could feel my eyelids getting heavy. I told my friend to wake me up should I fall asleep, she nodded quietly, and before I knew it, the familiar voice came on "All change please, this train terminates here". I looked up and realised we've ended up in Heathrow!! bugger..
We both stumbled across the platform, feeling worse for wear, we quickly decided to leave the train station and get some fresh air.
Half and hour later, we got on the eastbound service, promising ourselves not to fall asleep again.
I blame the large quantities of Tequila that we consumed the day before, although I've got both determination and stamina, I still couldn't manage to keep my eyes open. 5 stops down the line and I was asleep again, only to wake up in Cockfosters.
I was cold, starving and very hungover. The realisation that we were in Cockfosters, and nowhere near home brought a tear to my eye.
I will never, ever drink Tequila again.. at least not by the gallon.
Most of us give little thought to the position in which we sleep. But we should: it matters. Sleep experts believe that drifting off in the wrong position can be as damaging as walking around with a permanent slouch.
Modern man finds it hard to get a good night’s sleep. A recent poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation found that nearly two thirds of adults have trouble at least a few nights a week. Seven or eight hours is considered by experts to be the optimum amount for adults, but a third of Britons regularly sleep five hours or less a night, with 18 per cent claiming they never get a good night’s sleep.
But the secret of a peaceful night may be as straightforward as a simple adjustment to the position in which you sleep. Here, we’ve consulted sleep experts, physiotherapists and osteopaths to assess the most common ones. So what is your position doing to your body – and is it having a negative effect on how much shut-eye you get?
1 The foetus
On your side, legs bent
“Some 60 per cent of Britons go to sleep turned on one side, with their arms out and their legs slightly bent,” says Chris Idzikowski, director of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre and an expert in sleep disorders. “It is also one of the healthiest positions.”
Not only does it allow air to pass freely through the body’s passages, Idzikowski says it also deters stomach reflux, where digestive acid travels back from the stomach causing a burning pain – a common problem for those who sleep on their back.
However, do not put weight on your arms, as this will cause pins and needles; instead try crossing them in a brace position. Osteopaths also advise that foetal sleepers maintain a straight back. A supportive, “memory foam” mattress will help keep the spine in the best position, while a pillow between bent knees will support the hips.
Some doctors caution that sleeping on your left side can compress the heart. But Idzikowski says: “I have never heard of anyone damaging themselves in this way.”
2 The soldier
On your back, legs straight, arms by your side
While this is a seemingly neutral position in which to drift off, it’s hardly conducive to a good night’s sleep, as it is the one most likely to lead to snoring. If your rattling nasal passages don’t wake you up, they will almost certainly disturb your bleary-eyed partner.
“Lying on the back will increase the tendency of the tongue to fall on to the back of the throat,” says Dr Dev Banerjee, consultant sleep physician at Birmingham Heartlands hospital. “Snoring is caused by the vibration of the palate or fluttering of the tongue base on the throat. For this reason, I advise patients not to sleep in this position.”
3 The starfish
On your back, arms and legs outstretched
Those who prefer to sleep in this position are better off with a big bed – or without their partner. The starfish, or corpse pose, is similar to the yoga posture called savasana, which is believed by yogis to be the ultimate in relaxation.
According to Idzikowski, if you’re going to sleep on your back, it’s best to take up as much space as you can. “Drifting off with your arms outstretched and legs slightly parted allows the body to relax.”
However, this position also encourages snoring: “Personally, I don’t recommend sleeping on the back, and advise those who find it difficult not to do so to put a bolster behind their back or a pillow between their legs. You can even try sewing tennis balls into the backs of your pyjamas.”
4 The log
On your side, arms straight down
“As long as the mattress and pillows are supportive,” explains osteopath and sleep expert Danny Williams, “this position maintains a neutral spine, allowing it to lengthen. Also, breathing is not compromised and all of the body functions work well.” An all-round excellent position that should suit everyone.
5 The freefaller
On your front, head turned, arms up on the pillow
This “skydiving” position has the potential to cause a lot of problems. Resting with the neck at a 90° angle can cause stiffness and “cricks”. Sleeping with your hands up at face level can generate pins and needles, often the result of compression in the bundle of nerves in the neck. If you sleep in a bed that is too soft, this position may also put an asymmetrical strain on your spine. The good news is that it’s beneficial to the digestive system.
“Don’t have the neck too far forward or backward on the pillow, or twist it too sharply to one side,” says Sammy Margo, chartered physiotherapist and author of The Good Sleep Guide. “Take the strain off your twisted neck by slightly raising one side of your body with a pillow for support.”
6 The yearner
Sleeping on one side, arms reaching out
“This is an excellent position to sleep in, and the one I recommend,” says Sammy Margo. “Lying on either side can help the structures of the back discs, muscles and ligaments adopt an optimal position.”
Having your arms in front of you will prevent them going to sleep. You may wish to position yourself at a quarter turn so that you are not squashing your shoulders together.
“To achieve the midline position, which helps maintain the natural curves of the spine, a pillow placed between bent knees can be helpful to support the hips,” says Margo. “If you have a soft bed, or an hourglass figure, pillows can be placed under the waist to support midriff and back.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/health/3415952/Is-your-sleep-position-a-nightmare.html
This post is about positions.. not as naughty as it sounds.
Sleeping positions! After reading this extensive list, I have concluded that I am a mix of a starfish and a freefaller.
If I am really tired, I normally nod off in a free faller position.
If I am unable to fall asleep straight away, I tend to lie on my side, with my hands and arms under the pillow.
Actually, I've got a third position as well. The falling star: On my back, legs and arms out, anytime any where, and usually in a fancy outfit.
That's my drunken position, often accompanied by a loud snoring.
I go out, have a few drinks, return to base location and crash out!
Bedroom, bathroom, on the sofa, under the table. I have tried it all. In fact, the funniest one was when I was making my way home, early in the morning after a wild night out in the West End.
As soon as I got on the train, I could feel my eyelids getting heavy. I told my friend to wake me up should I fall asleep, she nodded quietly, and before I knew it, the familiar voice came on "All change please, this train terminates here". I looked up and realised we've ended up in Heathrow!! bugger..
We both stumbled across the platform, feeling worse for wear, we quickly decided to leave the train station and get some fresh air.
Half and hour later, we got on the eastbound service, promising ourselves not to fall asleep again.
I blame the large quantities of Tequila that we consumed the day before, although I've got both determination and stamina, I still couldn't manage to keep my eyes open. 5 stops down the line and I was asleep again, only to wake up in Cockfosters.
I was cold, starving and very hungover. The realisation that we were in Cockfosters, and nowhere near home brought a tear to my eye.
I will never, ever drink Tequila again.. at least not by the gallon.
Most of us give little thought to the position in which we sleep. But we should: it matters. Sleep experts believe that drifting off in the wrong position can be as damaging as walking around with a permanent slouch.
Modern man finds it hard to get a good night’s sleep. A recent poll conducted by the National Sleep Foundation found that nearly two thirds of adults have trouble at least a few nights a week. Seven or eight hours is considered by experts to be the optimum amount for adults, but a third of Britons regularly sleep five hours or less a night, with 18 per cent claiming they never get a good night’s sleep.
But the secret of a peaceful night may be as straightforward as a simple adjustment to the position in which you sleep. Here, we’ve consulted sleep experts, physiotherapists and osteopaths to assess the most common ones. So what is your position doing to your body – and is it having a negative effect on how much shut-eye you get?
1 The foetus
On your side, legs bent
“Some 60 per cent of Britons go to sleep turned on one side, with their arms out and their legs slightly bent,” says Chris Idzikowski, director of the Edinburgh Sleep Centre and an expert in sleep disorders. “It is also one of the healthiest positions.”
Not only does it allow air to pass freely through the body’s passages, Idzikowski says it also deters stomach reflux, where digestive acid travels back from the stomach causing a burning pain – a common problem for those who sleep on their back.
However, do not put weight on your arms, as this will cause pins and needles; instead try crossing them in a brace position. Osteopaths also advise that foetal sleepers maintain a straight back. A supportive, “memory foam” mattress will help keep the spine in the best position, while a pillow between bent knees will support the hips.
Some doctors caution that sleeping on your left side can compress the heart. But Idzikowski says: “I have never heard of anyone damaging themselves in this way.”
2 The soldier
On your back, legs straight, arms by your side
While this is a seemingly neutral position in which to drift off, it’s hardly conducive to a good night’s sleep, as it is the one most likely to lead to snoring. If your rattling nasal passages don’t wake you up, they will almost certainly disturb your bleary-eyed partner.
“Lying on the back will increase the tendency of the tongue to fall on to the back of the throat,” says Dr Dev Banerjee, consultant sleep physician at Birmingham Heartlands hospital. “Snoring is caused by the vibration of the palate or fluttering of the tongue base on the throat. For this reason, I advise patients not to sleep in this position.”
3 The starfish
On your back, arms and legs outstretched
Those who prefer to sleep in this position are better off with a big bed – or without their partner. The starfish, or corpse pose, is similar to the yoga posture called savasana, which is believed by yogis to be the ultimate in relaxation.
According to Idzikowski, if you’re going to sleep on your back, it’s best to take up as much space as you can. “Drifting off with your arms outstretched and legs slightly parted allows the body to relax.”
However, this position also encourages snoring: “Personally, I don’t recommend sleeping on the back, and advise those who find it difficult not to do so to put a bolster behind their back or a pillow between their legs. You can even try sewing tennis balls into the backs of your pyjamas.”
4 The log
On your side, arms straight down
“As long as the mattress and pillows are supportive,” explains osteopath and sleep expert Danny Williams, “this position maintains a neutral spine, allowing it to lengthen. Also, breathing is not compromised and all of the body functions work well.” An all-round excellent position that should suit everyone.
5 The freefaller
On your front, head turned, arms up on the pillow
This “skydiving” position has the potential to cause a lot of problems. Resting with the neck at a 90° angle can cause stiffness and “cricks”. Sleeping with your hands up at face level can generate pins and needles, often the result of compression in the bundle of nerves in the neck. If you sleep in a bed that is too soft, this position may also put an asymmetrical strain on your spine. The good news is that it’s beneficial to the digestive system.
“Don’t have the neck too far forward or backward on the pillow, or twist it too sharply to one side,” says Sammy Margo, chartered physiotherapist and author of The Good Sleep Guide. “Take the strain off your twisted neck by slightly raising one side of your body with a pillow for support.”
6 The yearner
Sleeping on one side, arms reaching out
“This is an excellent position to sleep in, and the one I recommend,” says Sammy Margo. “Lying on either side can help the structures of the back discs, muscles and ligaments adopt an optimal position.”
Having your arms in front of you will prevent them going to sleep. You may wish to position yourself at a quarter turn so that you are not squashing your shoulders together.
“To achieve the midline position, which helps maintain the natural curves of the spine, a pillow placed between bent knees can be helpful to support the hips,” says Margo. “If you have a soft bed, or an hourglass figure, pillows can be placed under the waist to support midriff and back.”
http://www.telegraph.co.uk/news/newstopics/politics/health/3415952/Is-your-sleep-position-a-nightmare.html
Tuesday, 4 November 2008
How to rate your hangover..
How to Rate a Hangover Only those who have been there can identify with this.........
One Star Hangover (*) No pain. No real feeling of illness. You're able to function relatively well. However, you are still parched. You can drink 5 sodas and still feel this way. For some reason, you are craving a steak & fries.
Two Star Hangover (**) No pain, but something is definitely amiss. You may look okay, but you have the mental capacity of a staple gun. The coffee you are chugging is only increasing your rumbling gut, which is still tossing around the fruity pancake from the 3:00 AM, Waffle House excursion. There is some definite havoc being wreaked upon your bowels.
Three Star Hangover (***) Slight headache. Stomach feels crappy. You are definitely not productive. Anytime a girl walks by you gag because her perfume reminds you of the flavored schnapps shots your alcoholic friends dared you to drink. Life would be better right now if you were home in your bed watching Lucy reruns. You've had 4 cups of coffee, a gallon of water, 3 iced teas and a diet Coke --- yet you haven't peed once.
Four Star Hangover (****) Life sucks. Your head is throbbing. You can't speak too quickly or else you might puke. Your boss has already lambasted you for being late and has given you a lecture for reeking of booze. You wore nice clothes, but that can't hide the fact that you only shaved one side of your face. (For the ladies, it looks like you put your make-up on while riding the bumper cars.) Your eyes look like one big red vein, and even your hair hurts. Your sphincter is in perpetual spasm, and the first of about five shits you take during the day brings water to the eyes of everyone who enters the bathroom.
Five Star Hangover(*****) You have a second heartbeat in your head, which is actually annoying the employee who sits in the next cube. Vodka vapor is seeping out of every pore and making you dizzy. You still have toothpaste crust in the corners of your mouth from brushing your teeth in an attempt to get the remnants of the poop fairy out. Your body has lost the ability to generate saliva so your tongue is suffocating you. You don't have the foggiest idea who the hell the stranger was passed out in your bed this morning. Any attempt to defecate results in a fire hose like discharge of alcohol-scented fluid with a rare 'floater' thrown in. The sole purpose of this 'floater' seems to be to splash the toilet water all over your butt. Death sounds pretty good about right now....
One Star Hangover (*) No pain. No real feeling of illness. You're able to function relatively well. However, you are still parched. You can drink 5 sodas and still feel this way. For some reason, you are craving a steak & fries.
Two Star Hangover (**) No pain, but something is definitely amiss. You may look okay, but you have the mental capacity of a staple gun. The coffee you are chugging is only increasing your rumbling gut, which is still tossing around the fruity pancake from the 3:00 AM, Waffle House excursion. There is some definite havoc being wreaked upon your bowels.
Three Star Hangover (***) Slight headache. Stomach feels crappy. You are definitely not productive. Anytime a girl walks by you gag because her perfume reminds you of the flavored schnapps shots your alcoholic friends dared you to drink. Life would be better right now if you were home in your bed watching Lucy reruns. You've had 4 cups of coffee, a gallon of water, 3 iced teas and a diet Coke --- yet you haven't peed once.
Four Star Hangover (****) Life sucks. Your head is throbbing. You can't speak too quickly or else you might puke. Your boss has already lambasted you for being late and has given you a lecture for reeking of booze. You wore nice clothes, but that can't hide the fact that you only shaved one side of your face. (For the ladies, it looks like you put your make-up on while riding the bumper cars.) Your eyes look like one big red vein, and even your hair hurts. Your sphincter is in perpetual spasm, and the first of about five shits you take during the day brings water to the eyes of everyone who enters the bathroom.
Five Star Hangover(*****) You have a second heartbeat in your head, which is actually annoying the employee who sits in the next cube. Vodka vapor is seeping out of every pore and making you dizzy. You still have toothpaste crust in the corners of your mouth from brushing your teeth in an attempt to get the remnants of the poop fairy out. Your body has lost the ability to generate saliva so your tongue is suffocating you. You don't have the foggiest idea who the hell the stranger was passed out in your bed this morning. Any attempt to defecate results in a fire hose like discharge of alcohol-scented fluid with a rare 'floater' thrown in. The sole purpose of this 'floater' seems to be to splash the toilet water all over your butt. Death sounds pretty good about right now....
Need For Female Bodyguards on the Rise
In 2006, Bodyguard Careers did a story on the need for trained female bodyguards. The need for women in the executive protection field has continued to grow. In India, a new training course has been established for women to learn bodyguarding skills, to meet increasing demands. Female clients are more frequently requesting female bodyguards.
In Moscow, intelligent women between 21 and 37 can apply at the one school available for training in the field. The attitude however, is rather sexist as regards female bodyguards. First, Russian clients (mostly men) insist that these women must be “very attractive, intellectual and not ‘unfeminine,’ slender, model-like blondes with drivers license, able to act as a personal secretary, speak several languages, know fighting techniques and handle all types of firearms.” These expectations seem to be based on television and movie ideas about the industry, and not at all on reality–something the school’s founder, Nadezhda Mikhailova recognizes. The school does request trainees be healthy (with perfect eyesight,) and applicants must endure detailed psychological tests and tough physical exercises and assessments. Women bodyguards who have completed the program (6 months) have been placed on assignments, however, they are not paid the same as men for the same job. This inequity is not lost on the school’s owner, who regrets that women with the same (or better) skills are not being valued, simply because they are female. “It is known that women more often resort to ‘peace talks’ than force. Women are seldom treated as a source of menace, and this fact helps female bodyguards act promptly and effectively in case of emergency” she says.
In China, businessmen are seeking female bodyguards for protection, and the Tianyu martial arts school has created a training program which encourages women to participate. Course work includes driving instruction, computer skills and self-defense related laws, as well as martial arts. Xing Tianzhu is an instructor at the school and is himself a veteran martial artist, former special forces soldier and former bodyguard. A recent client who hired a graduate of the training program feels women are well-suited to this line of work, commenting, “I think that women tend to work more carefully and their powers of observation are sharper than men. My company also has three or four male bodyguards, and I find it works best when we use men and women in different combinations, depending on the task.”
Libyan president Muammar al-Gaddafi, has been utilizing the skills of female bodyguards for many years.
In 2007, it was revealed that Prince William has two female bodyguards.
Aset Corporation out of Ohio, advertises on their website that their security teams are comprised of both male and female specialists.
Even Hollywood is helping to change perceptions. In the upcoming CBS series “Eleventh Hour,” actress Marley Shelton will be playing the role of a bodyguard to a male government special science advisor.
All over the world, it appears that old ideas about bodyguards and executive protection are changing. In the United States, females who are able to pass the same physical assessment tests and display the intelligence and skills necessary to manage the job are in high demand, and often demanding the highest paychecks.
http://www.bodyguardcareers.com/2008/05/13/need-for-female-bodyguards-on-the-rise/
In Moscow, intelligent women between 21 and 37 can apply at the one school available for training in the field. The attitude however, is rather sexist as regards female bodyguards. First, Russian clients (mostly men) insist that these women must be “very attractive, intellectual and not ‘unfeminine,’ slender, model-like blondes with drivers license, able to act as a personal secretary, speak several languages, know fighting techniques and handle all types of firearms.” These expectations seem to be based on television and movie ideas about the industry, and not at all on reality–something the school’s founder, Nadezhda Mikhailova recognizes. The school does request trainees be healthy (with perfect eyesight,) and applicants must endure detailed psychological tests and tough physical exercises and assessments. Women bodyguards who have completed the program (6 months) have been placed on assignments, however, they are not paid the same as men for the same job. This inequity is not lost on the school’s owner, who regrets that women with the same (or better) skills are not being valued, simply because they are female. “It is known that women more often resort to ‘peace talks’ than force. Women are seldom treated as a source of menace, and this fact helps female bodyguards act promptly and effectively in case of emergency” she says.
In China, businessmen are seeking female bodyguards for protection, and the Tianyu martial arts school has created a training program which encourages women to participate. Course work includes driving instruction, computer skills and self-defense related laws, as well as martial arts. Xing Tianzhu is an instructor at the school and is himself a veteran martial artist, former special forces soldier and former bodyguard. A recent client who hired a graduate of the training program feels women are well-suited to this line of work, commenting, “I think that women tend to work more carefully and their powers of observation are sharper than men. My company also has three or four male bodyguards, and I find it works best when we use men and women in different combinations, depending on the task.”
Libyan president Muammar al-Gaddafi, has been utilizing the skills of female bodyguards for many years.
In 2007, it was revealed that Prince William has two female bodyguards.
Aset Corporation out of Ohio, advertises on their website that their security teams are comprised of both male and female specialists.
Even Hollywood is helping to change perceptions. In the upcoming CBS series “Eleventh Hour,” actress Marley Shelton will be playing the role of a bodyguard to a male government special science advisor.
All over the world, it appears that old ideas about bodyguards and executive protection are changing. In the United States, females who are able to pass the same physical assessment tests and display the intelligence and skills necessary to manage the job are in high demand, and often demanding the highest paychecks.
http://www.bodyguardcareers.com/2008/05/13/need-for-female-bodyguards-on-the-rise/
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