Ecosalon: The Green Gathering

1.       Let’s get stylish with S Ndlovu

I have decided to help out all of you men out there who need little advice on what shoes to wear or which not to wear for that matter.

Shoes are a very important aspect of a gentleman’s wardrobe. In fact, in my humble opinion the most important.
One can judge pretty quickly the kind of guy you are based on your shoe choice. Do you have style? Are you a little nerd? Are you trying too hard but missing the mark? Are you a total creep?
Just like relationships, shoes need maintenance, otherwise their condition suffers. What is his attitude towards sole maintenance? Does he grumble and groan when his shoes need repair? Or does he do the necessary work to keep his shoes well maintained? When the condition of his shoes needs some work, what does he do? Throw them out and get a new pair? Or does he get them re-soled? How a man takes care of his shoes indicates how well he takes care of himself and indicates just how well he handles a situation and of course, his woman.
I recently read a book Never Trust A Man in Alligator Loafers: What His Shoes Really Say About His True Love Potential by Donna Sozio and I was struck by some observations that she has made over the years.
“The shoes a man wears and the way that he treats them are fail-safe indicators of not only his romantic personality, but also how he’ll treat his woman,” she asserts. For some insight into what your guy’s shoes say about his true character and relationship style, check out Sozio’s guide, below:
If he’s wearing alligator loafers . . .
What would you naturally do if an alligator came towards you when you were on a date? Take that response and apply it to how you should approach this guy, says Sozio. “Alligators are opportunistic eaters; they crouch down until their victim isn’t looking, and then they pounce, and so will a guy wearing alligator shoes,” she warns. These guys are dangerous, so pay attention when you’re with them, Sozio recommends. “Be on high alert around these guys,’’ she advises. “Because they tend to be sneaky and secretive.’’
If he’s wearing hiking boots . . .
Sozio says that a man who wears Timberland hiking boots on a date when dinner — not an outdoorsy activity — is the type of person who wants to feel like he could be on a mountain in eight seconds if he wanted to, regardless of where he was. “This guy is someone who is impulsively adventurous, so he’s looking for a woman who won’t make him feel restrained,’’ she explains. “As long as you don’t make him feel tied down, he will be a loyal partner’’.

If he’s wearing high-end designer shoes . . .
Guys who sport this season’s Gucci driving moccasins and Prada boots may very well be what Sozio calls “collectors’’. “This type of guy not only collects name-brand shoes, but also name-brand, “trophy’’— esque women, too,’’ she explains. Because these men likely see women as boast-worthy accessories and not real people, Sozio notes that they most likely won’t spend the time or effort required for nurturing a relationship.

If he’s wearing men’s sandals . . .
Unless you live by the beach, Sozio remarks that a man who wears men’s sandals — commonly referred to as “mandals’’ — is confused. “This guy is caught somewhere between being Mr Laid-back Surfer Dude and Mr Corporate America,’’ she explains. “He wants to be open and free, but doesn’t quite know how to do so’’. In many ways, this man is not where he wants to be, she says, so be careful of becoming his transitional or in-between girlfriend.

If he’s wearing trendy sneakers . . .
A man who rocks a colourful pair of Adidas is someone who prides himself on being well put-together, urban and cool, says Sozio. “Even if he pairs these sneakers with a blazer, this guy wants you to know he likes to keep things casual,’’ she asserts. This man is a creative, independent thinker, which Sozio cautions may mean that he will be hard to pin down. “If you’re interested in impressing this guy, create an atmosphere where he can be in a relationship with you, yet feel independent at the same time,’’ she advises.

If he’s wearing suede bucks . . .
When evaluating a man wearing these preppy classics, you must first consider his age. “These are ‘old man’ shoes,’’ explains Sozio. “If a young guy is wearing them, it likely indicates that he’s sort of an old guy at heart; he’ll be somewhat conservative and perhaps a little stodgy, never deviating from what traditional society wants him to do.’’ If he’s an older man donning these reliable mainstays, however, this could be a simple sign that’s he’s a solid, dependable man who would make a loyal partner.

If he’s wearing a worn-out pair of sneakers . . .
A guy who shows up for a date wearing a disheveled pair of sneakers shows no respect for himself or you, Sozio says. “You have to wonder how a guy who doesn’t care enough to present himself well at a first meeting will treat you as you continue to get to know him,’’ she cautions. “Don’t think this guy is simply trying to be casually cool — casually cool can come in the form of spiffy, well-maintained athletic shoes,’’ she notes. “A man who picks you up wearing ratty footwear isn’t interested in showing you his best or the respect you deserve.’’ Next!

Feedback
Hie, I am an aspiring fashion designer aged 16. I just wanna say that your column is hot. Keep on rocking. Just one point, Cargo pants can go with heels, it depends on the body type and what you wear on top (first issue). Love ya. — Clive Richards.

I understand that you look into girls fashion, my request is totally different from what you deal with. Since you normally visit and see girls, I want you to help me in finding a girl lover coz as I am, am prepared to love someone. I think it would be great if you find me a girl between 17 and 19 coz am 19 and am working. — Kelvin 011597346 and also I live in Bulawayo’s North End.

Hie, I was fascinated to read about the Brazilian Weave. Wonder what it looks like but I would never go out of my way to buy it. It’s unbelievable how these women would have to spend so much R12K on your head!! That’s madness. I am a proud Zimbabwean lady of 41 years and presently working in Francistown, Botswana, and have always admired women sporting dreadlocks. I mean that’s natural and would like to try it. But have been discouraged by my hairdresser back home as I always travel to Bulawayo every forthnight to see my family, because my hair is soft and thinks that my hair line is weak. So I have to settle for relaxers. I wish I could see this Brazilian Weave. What does it look like? Cheers for now. — Rose.
Thanks for the feedback, guys!
Actually Rose, I discovered that there is a woman in Bulawayo who sells these weaves. They are very beautiful, I had a chance of seeing them last week. I learnt from this lady that it is actually real human hair. It’s soft and the colours are deep and natural looking. She even has the special thread used to bond the hair. The price range starts from $500. A bit steep, I know, but way better than R12 000. She says she gets them from Brazil. Apparently most people in Brazil are in the business of growing hair and selling it. The process is similar to that of sheep, where they are shaved for their wool and are allowed to grow it back again.

BEIJING, China (CNN) — The world will soon see an “explosion” of swine flu cases as the H1N1 virus spreads rapidly around the world, a top World Health Organization official said Friday.

Spread of the virus is entering an “acceleration period” and it is certain that there will be more cases and more deaths, said Dr. Shin Young-soo, the organization’s regional director for the Western Pacific.

“Most countries may see a doubling of cases every three to four days for two months until peak transmission is reached,” he said at a symposium in Beijing, China. “At a certain point, there will seem to be an explosion in case numbers. I believe it is very likely that all countries will see community-level transmission by the end of the year.”

More than 1,490 people around the world have died from the virus since it emerged this spring, Shin said.

Swine flu is the first influenza pandemic in more than 40 years. So far, it has caused mostly mild illness, but Shin warned “the virus has a sting in its tail” because it is very infectious and “has the potential to cause more serious disease.”

Any widespread resistance to antiviral drugs, expected to be available this fall, could make the situation worse, he said.

The virus so far has shown itself to be unpredictable, Shin said, so the public needs to be prepared. He called for accurate and timely public health messages and early treatment of severe cases.

The public needs to comply with these health messages, and everyone needs to be able to recognize symptoms early and get timely medical care, he said.

“We will only be safe when we have applied these lessons in every country dealing with this virus,” Shin said. “We need to learn quickly since, as I believe, it appears that this pandemic will get worse before the situation gets better.”

President Obama speaks at town hall meeting about health care, at Portsmouth High School in New Hampshire.

George Orwell never wrote about health insurance, but his ghost hovers over the current health-care debate, providing inspiration for all manner of fears about Big Brother-like intrusions by the government into the lives of ordinary Americans.

First was the rumor—promoted by high-profile Republicans like Sarah Palin, Newt Gingrich and Iowa Senator Charles Grassley—that Democratic health care plans would create “death panels” which would pass judgment on which citizens deserved to live. Next, a White House suggestion that people who have received e-mails with questionable information about health reform forward those to get clarification was reported by Fox News as a trap to collect the names and e-mail addresses of health reform opponents for an “enemies list.”

Home visits have been so popular with conservatives that the idea kept coming up during conversations White House aides hosted with pro-life advocates earlier this year in an effort to find common ground on abortion. And when Democratic Reps. Tim Ryan and Rosa DeLauro drafted the abortion reduction bill they introduced last month, they specifically included funding for home nurse visits as a way of accommodating pro-life preferences for policies that support women who decide to give birth instead of having abortions.

But that was before conservative anxiety over health reform reached its boiling point. In mid-July, Lindsey Burke at the right wing Heritage Foundation drew attention to the home visitation initiative, calling it a “troublesome provision…that would bring state workers into the homes of young families.” Action hero and conservative activist Chuck Norris picked it up from there, penning a column sounding an alarm about “Obamacare’s home intrusion and indoctrination family services, in which state agents prioritize houses to enter and enforce their universal values and principles upon the hearts and minds of families across America.”

As with voluntary end-of-life-care counseling, optional home visits have morphed into “mandatory home inspections” in the words of health reform opponents, who charge that the provision is part of a “stealth agenda” to judge conservative parents unfit and remove their children into protective services. It’s an unexpected evolution for a pioneering conservative idea.

Cardinal George Pell of Sydney celebrated the Mass for Life this past Sunday at the Basilica of St. Mary, in honor of all women who are expecting.

The Mass was attended by more than 150 future mothers who received a personal blessing from the cardinal at end of the celebration.

“The Archbishop and Archdiocese are keen to acknowledge the wonderful gift of new life and the willingness of women to be the bearers of this life,” said Chris Meney, Director of the Archdiocese’s Life, Marriage and Family Centre. “All mothers-to-be are welcome no matter what their individual circumstances or whether they are in a relationship or not. We want to celebrate those women who have made the choice to have babies and show our absolute commitment to the defense and protection of human life.”

The idea of a Mass for Life, which was first celebrated in 2008, came to Cardinal Pell during a visit to Seoul, South Korea, where he was the first international figure to receive the Mysterium Vitae Grand Prix Award from the Archdiocese of Seoul for his commitment to life. The award also highlighted his creation of a $100,000 fund for adult stem cell research in Australia.

It was in South Korea that the cardinal became aware of the Mass for Life celebrated by Korean Catholics, and he decided to bring the idea with back to Australia.

In a telegram sent to Archbishop Raul Vela Chiriboga of Quito, Pope Benedict XVI joined in Ecuador’s bicentennial celebrations and stressed that without God it is not possible to build the nation’s future.

In a telegram signed by Vatican Secretary of State, Cardinal Tarcisio Bertone, the Pope sent special greetings to the people of Ecuador and offered his prayers that “the Lord would abundantly pour out the gifts of his grace upon all the sons and daughters of this noble land” as they strive to build a more just and fraternal society.

Faced with the enormous task before them, the Pope encouraged Ecuadorans “to be sustained by faith in divine assistance, since man is not capable of managing his own future without relying upon those dimensions that have their beginning and fulfillment in God.”