Holy Week (Hebdomas Sancta) - Easter

The entry of Jesus into Jerusalem on Palm Sunday marks the beginning of Holy Week

Holy Week (Latin: Hebdomas Sancta or Hebdomas Maior, "Greater Week"; Greek: Ἁγία καὶ Μεγάλη Ἑβδομάς, Hagia kai Megale Hebdomas) in Christianity is the last week of Lent and the week before Easter. It includes the religious holidays of Palm Sunday, Maundy Thursday (Holy Thursday), Good Friday, and Holy Saturday. It does not include Easter Sunday. In Eastern Orthodox tradition, Holy Week starts on Lazarus Saturday, the day before Palm Sunday. (Easter Sunday, for context, is the first day of the new season of the Great Fifty Days, or Eastertide, there being fifty days from Easter Sunday through Pentecost Sunday.) It is followed by Easter Week in the Liturgical year.

read more

Easter

Easter is celebrated on a Sunday between March 22 and April 28. Christians commemorate the resurrection of Jesus Christ and thus his victory over death. Easter Sunday celebrations include an elaborate build-up of festivities that cover 40 days of Lent and a whole week of significant remembrances.

Easter commemorates the resurrection of Jesus, believed to have occurred on a Sunday, three days after his crucifixion and death. The celebrations are closely associated with the Jewish Passover feast as the early Christians were Jews and as Jesus' death and resurrection is closely associated to the Jewish Passover feast. In French, "Easter" is known as Pacques, in Dutch Paachand in Hebrew Pesach which means "passover". However, when Christianity was adopted as the national religion of Rome by Emperor Constantine, aspects of the pagan Spring festivities of fertility were incorporated into the celebrations. "Easter" comes from the Germanic word Ostern which means "to rise" although its earlier Anglo-Saxon root refers to the Germanic Goddess of spring called Eostre or the spring festival Eostur. 

The date for calculating when Easter Sunday falls each year has remained controversial. The major denominations ranging from Episcopal to Greek Orthodox, vary in the way they determine when Easter Sunday falls.

Special Days:
Lent
Ash Wednesday
Holy Week
Palm Sunday
Maundy Thursday
Good Friday
Holy Saturday
Ascension Sunday
Easter Sunday

read more

Easter Day

Easter day is an important festival in western countries. The day is an official Christian holiday in many countries and celebrated with great pleasure and joy. If you are eagerly waiting for easter, there is no doubt, you might have started planning for it months earlier because it is one of the most important and highly respected religious occasions in Christianity.

Easter, not only is just a religious holiday for the Christians but along with the holy respect of the occasion all around the world, the welcome of the spring makes the occasion more beautiful and widely celebrated occasions of the year, adding new thoughts, fresh beginnings and motivation.

According to the church calendar, easter is a greatest holy day and the Christians celebrate this day with a huge celebration at their home with traditional activities, having a joyful time with all their loved ones. Well, if you are waiting for the day to make your loved ones feel special, then here comes the occasion easter, it is not only a perfect day to make your closest ones feel special but it is the day that symbolizes fresh and new beginnings and this adds an extra bit of excitement to the entire celebration.

read more

A Tale of Two Easters

Why one faith and two celebrations? Easter is not only a movable holiday but a multiple one: in most years Western Christian churches and Eastern Orthodox churches celebrate Easter on different dates. In 2013, for example, Easter will be celebrated on March 31 by Western churches and May 5 by Orthodox churches. But in 2011, the two celebrations occured on the same date, April 24.

The theological inconsistency of two Easters has remained a thorny problem for the Christian Church. "It has long been recognized that to celebrate this fundamental aspect of the Christian faith on different dates," states the World Council of Churches, "gives a divided witness and compromises the churches' credibility and effectiveness in bringing the Gospel to the world."

The formula for Easter—"The first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the vernal equinox"—is identical for both Western and Orthodox Easters, but the churches base the dates on different calendars: Western churches use the Gregorian calendar, the standard calendar for much of the world, and Orthodox churches use the older, Julian calendar

read more

When is Easter Sunday 2013?

Easter always falls on the first Sunday after the first full moon on or after the vernal equinox. Some years show Western Christian churches and Eastern Orthodox churches celebrating Easter on different dates. This is because Western churches use the Gregorian calendar (standard calendar for most of the world) and Orthodox churches use the older Julian calendar. Eastern Orthodox Easter always falls after Passover since the Crucifixion and Resurrection took place after Jesus entered Jerusalem to celebrate Passover. For a more detailed explanation why some Easter dates differ between Western and Eastern churches, check out A Tale of Two Easters.

read more

Easter


6th century depiction of the crucifixion and resurrection of Jesus from the Rabbula Gospels

Easter (Old English Ēostre; Latin: Pascha; Greek Πάσχα Paskha, from Hebrew: פֶּסַח‎ Pesah) is a Christian festival and holiday celebrating the resurrection of Jesus Christ on the third day after his crucifixion at Calvary as described in the New Testament. Easter is the culmination of the Passion of Christ, preceded by Lent, a forty-day period of fasting, prayer, and penance. The last week of Lent is called Holy Week, and it contains the days of the Easter Triduum, including Maundy Thursday (also known as Holy Thursday), commemorating the Last Supper and its preceding foot washing as well as Good Friday, commemorating the crucifixion and death of Jesus. Easter is followed by a fifty-day period called Eastertide, or the Easter Season, ending with Pentecost Sunday

Easter is a moveable feast, meaning it is not fixed in relation to the civil calendar. The First Council of Nicaea (325) established the date of Easter as the first Sunday after the full moon (the Paschal Full Moon) following the March equinox. Ecclesiastically, the equinox is reckoned to be on 21 March (even though the equinox occurs, astronomically speaking, on 20 March in most years), and the "Full Moon" is not necessarily the astronomically correct date. The date of Easter therefore varies between 22 March and 25 April. Eastern Christianity bases its calculations on the Julian calendar, whose 21 March corresponds, during the 21st century, to 3 April in the Gregorian calendar, in which the celebration of Easter therefore varies between 4 April and 8 May.

Easter is linked to the Jewish Passover by much of its symbolism, as well as by its position in the calendar. In many languages, the words for "Easter" and "Passover" are etymologically related or homonymous. Easter customs vary across the Christian world, but attending sunrise services, exclaiming the Paschal greeting, clipping the church and decorating Easter eggs, a symbol of the empty tomb, are common motifs. Additional customs include egg hunting, the Easter Bunny, and Easter parades, which are observed by both Christians and some non-Christians

read more

Easter in Singapore



I’d think that Easter is far more worth celebrating than Christmas – the death and resurrection of Jesus more than his birth (although technically, he had to be born to die etc). His resurrection is a bit like a rainbow, because both signify certain of God’s promises, though Jesus’ resurrection gives actual proof that God has been faithful.

read more

Good Friday is an important religious day for many Christians and it commemorates the crucifixion of Jesus Christ. In churches all over Singapore, special prayer services are held. At the St. Joseph's Catholic Church on Victoria Street, Catholics clasp white candles in a moving procession bearing the figure of the crucified Christ.

7 Keys to Successful Financial Trading

Most small traders (i.e. the home-based independent speculators) end up losing money when they trade the financial markets.  Statistics say that 95% of these traders lose over time – which is why the investment professionals refer to them as the “dumb money”.

We’ve all been there at some time in our trading careers.  Some initial successes which hook you and then a run of losing trade after trade and not knowing why, or what you need to do to break the cycle…it doesn’t take long until your funds have expired and you feel stupid!

Imagine what life is like when you consistently end up on the winning side!  We’ve been there for a good few years now and it’s not by chance.

To help ensure your chances of success, make sure these seven key recommendations are part of your trading strategy.

1 - Know your market

2 - Plan each trade

3 - Keep losses small and maximise winners

4 - Remove emotion

5 - Develop a money-management strategy6 - Don't overtrade

6 - Don't overtrade

7 - Never chase a loss

read more

Watz Buzzing - 29 Mar 2013

Singapore social health suffering in five areas: report

Roslan Rahman - SINGAPORE, Singapore: People gather on a open field at the speakers corner to listen to people talk about immigration issues, in Singapore on February 16, 2013. The population white paper protest was attributed to a rise on civil and political participation, as other indicators lagged in a new social health report by the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre. (AFP photo/Roslan Rahman 

Social health in Singapore is on the decline in five key domains: family, healthcare, housing and transport, income security and individual well-being.

This was according to the inaugural Singapore Social Health Report done by the National Volunteer and Philanthropy Centre (NVPC) and released on Wednesday.

In the case of weakening family ties, NVPC cited a survey on social attitudes by the Ministry of Community Development, Youth and Sports that showed a 9 per cent decline from 2001 to 2009 in the number of Singaporeans agreeing to give money to family members in times of need.

read more

Here are 6 sickening threats to Singaporeans' health 

According to the Singapore Social Health Project 2013 by the National Volunteer & Philanthropy Centre, healthcare needs in Singapore are rapidly increasing due to rise in ageing population and chronic illnesses. 

The report adds that the cost of care in Singapore has been consistently increasing with high private and out-of-pocket expenditure. Sectors, such as the Intermediate and Long Term Care (ILTC) sector, are struggling to keep pace with the growing demand for healthcare services.

It also noted these six alarming facts about Singapore's healthcare which received a negative rating from the aforementioned study.

read more

The 5 Cs aren’t enough; Singaporeans need the 6th C

In February, I wrote about the new 5 Cs that will actually make us happy Singaporeans:

• Compare less
• Cherish what you have
• Choose your attitude
• Complain less
• Change your circumstances and yourself

I'm pleasantly surprised to see that the article has received more than 400 comments and has been shared 8,200 times on Facebook!
Clearly, the “5 Cs” is something that’s close to Singaporeans’ hearts. 

The 6^th C that I missed out: Compliment others

read more

Billionaire Modi Says Singapore Sex Drive Hinges on Housing 

Billionaire Bhupendra Kumar Modi, who became a Singapore citizen last year, is urging his adopted nation to end a ban on young singles owning state-built homes because it hurts one of the city’s key goals: making babies.

Modi’s Global Citizens Forum, which the Spice Group chairman started this year to help youths worldwide, will ask the government to change a policy that only allows single adults over 35 to buy flats built by the Housing & Development Board. Modi says lowering the age to 25 would encourage sexual relationships and earlier marriages, helping to counter a slump in the birthrate that’s depriving the economy of workers.

“Most of the girls and boys these days would like to have sex before they marry,” said Modi, 64, who has three children and five grandchildren. “There are no virgin marriages.”

read more

Judge: Ex-UBS Executive Has to Defend Underage Sex Charges 

Juerg Buergin, a former UBS AG (UBSN) executive, must face trial on charges he paid for sex with an underage prostitute in Singapore, a judge ruled.

Based on the evidence presented, the prosecution “has satisfied every ingredient of the charge,” Singapore subordinate courts judge Eddy Tham said at a hearing today.

Buergin, 41, entered a not guilty plea to two charges of paying for sex with an underage prostitute at the Shangri-La Hotel in September 2010 and the Mandarin Oriental Hotel in January 2011. The woman, now 20, was 17 at the time of the alleged offenses, according to prosecutors.

read more

Singapore's old order ready for fall, says candidate Tan Jee Say

Encouraged by recent electoral gains, opposition candidate Tan Jee Say believes the ruling party's long-held grip on government could come to an end in Singapore's next general election.

The former senior civil servant, who ran unsuccessfully in the election two years ago, intends to take part in the poll expected to be held in 2016, and believes the opposition is ready to run the city state. 

"I will be contesting in the general election. It is a possibility for the opposition to take over the government in 2016," he said on a recent visit to Hong Kong

read more

Managing supply of water and rising energy costs a challenge for Singapore 

The government says that maintaining a stable supply of water against rising energy costs is a key challenge for Singapore.

This is because Singapore has been turning to technology to convert waste water into potable water – which requires energy.

Minister for the Environment and Water Resources, Dr Vivian Balakrishnan, said this at the launch of the “Singapore Water Story” book on Friday.

read more

Singapore denies being haven for Malaysian tax cheats

Singapore on Friday strongly rejected a whistleblower’s allegation that its banks facilitate massive tax evasion by a powerful family in neighbouring Malaysia’s Sarawak state. 

London-based campaign group Global Witness had triggered an uproar with a “sting” video in which a person posing as a foreign businessman is seen negotiating with purported relatives and associates of state chief Taib Mahmud 

n one part of the clip, which went viral after it was posted on Tuesday, a man introduced as a Taib family lawyer called Singapore “the new Switzerland” with a “China Wall” protecting the identities of Malaysian depositors.

read more

Careful Statement From MAS Does More Harm Than Good 

Ouch! For those of you who don't know, Global Witness is an international NGO which has been around for about 20 years. Established in 1993, it works to break the links between natural resource exploitation, conflict, poverty, corruption, and human rights abuses worldwide.

With a charter like that, it's small wonder they decided to target Sarawak's Chief Minister Taib Mahmud. Mr. Taib had been the Chief Minister of the Malaysian state for the past few decades (since 1981) and has been accused of corruption for years. In a "sting" operation, , investigators posing as foreign investors got Taib's cousins and lawyers on video discussing plans to buy Sarawak land (illegally) for hefty profit and how they could evade taxes by funneling the money through Singapore.

Global Witness even put up a video titled "Inside Malaysia'sShadow State" which had went viral in the region. In it, a lawyer for Taib's family, Mr. Alvin Chong openly told the investigators it's "obvious" to go through Singapore to evade taxes as the Singapore government "has a China Wall... a firewall. They will not tell the Malaysian government nothing". He then went on to say that Singapore is "the new Switzerland. We operate Singapore accounts too, both personal and corporate entities".

read more

The Exposé On Foreign Talent

On the other hand, quality control measures for financial institutions may not be apposite discourse for the gathering of Singapore bankers. Not when the Malaysian Anti-Corruption Commission (MACC) has started investigation of Sarawak Chief Minister Tan Sri Taib Mamud over claims of corruption in the timber trade.

Claims which surfaced from the Global Witness film "Inside Malaysia's Shadow State". Film which features quotes like ""Singapore has a China Wall... They will not tell them, the Malaysian government, nothing..."

That was Alvin Chong Chee Vun of Alvin Chong & Partners, Kuching, sharing his "trade secret" about the offshore jurisdiction mechanism in Singapore, which he said would not comply with requests from Malaysian authorities for information about such agreements.

read more

5 Foods for Fresh Breath

If you’ve got a hot date coming up, you probably already know that you want to steer clear of onions and garlic once you get to the restaurant, lest you send your potential suitor running for the hills. But did you know that there are a number of foods you can choose on date night (or any other night) that will actually improve your breath? Read on to learn how to freshen your breath with these five foods. 

#1 Tea
A cup of green or black tea can likely cut the miasma coming from your mouth through the action of a class of antioxidants called polyphenols. As long as you don’t add sugar to your tea, these antioxidants can go to work and kick out the bacteria that are causing your stinky breath. The University of Utah Health Care website also reports that people who drink tea frequently are less likely to have bad breath than people who don’t. 

#2 Yogurt
Sugar-free yogurt has been shown to fight bad breath after six weeks of regular consumption, probably through the action of live cultures which can drive bad bacteria out of your mouth (so make sure your yogurt contains live and active cultures!). Plus, yogurt contains vitamin D, which also helps in the fight against bacteria. So while it might not help right away, two servings of yogurt each day may help you get rid of halitosis in the long run. 

#3 Fresh Herbs 
Chewing on fresh herbs and spices not only kills bacteria, it also adds a fresh scent to your breath! Chlorophyll-containing parsley can help to deodorize your mouth without adding too much additional scent. If you like a more noticeable taste and scent, fresh mint, fennel seeds, anise, and cloves have also been linked to fresher breath. 

#4 Apples
An apple a day may in fact keep the doctor away. According to an American Dietetic Association spokesperson quoted in this MSN Health article, crunchy fruits and veggies like apples, celery, and carrots can help scrape odor-causing plaque off of your teeth. They also increase saliva production, which can help keep your whistle nice and wet and prevent bacteria from gaining a hold. Finally, chomping on an apple can help dislodge any bits of food that have gotten stuck in your teeth, mitigating any negative effect they might have on your breath. 

#5 Citrus Fruits
This Huffington Post article forwards the advice of a professor of Dentistry at NYU, who recommends fruits high in vitamin C as a way to get rid of unwanted oral bacteria. In addition to ridding your mouth of some of the bacteria that causes halitosis, the vitamin C content of fruits like oranges and grapefruit also helps fight gum disease like gingivitis, which can, if left unchecked, lead to even more bad breath.

Of course, none of these foods can do as good of a job of freshening your breath as the good old fashioned standards of oral hygiene. For the best possible breath, make sure you stay on top of brushing and flossing, and see a dentist for a checkup and cleaning once every six months.

read more

Heart Attack & Water

Heart Attack and Water - I never knew this

Heart Attack & Water

 

Something I didn't know either! I asked my Doctor why do I and other people urinate (pee) so much at night time. Answer from my Cardiac Doctor = Gravity holds water in the lower part of your body when you are upright. When you lie down and the lower body (legs and other things) seeks level with the kidneys it is then that the kidneys remove the water because it is easier. This then ties in with the last statement!

I knew you need your minimum water to help flush the toxins out of your body, but this is news to me.

Correct time to drink water ... from a Cardiac Specialist!

Drinking water at a certain time maximizes its effectiveness on the body:

2 glasses of water after waking  up - helps activate internal organs
 
1 glass of water 30 minutes before a meal - helps digestion

1 glass of water before taking a bath - helps lower blood pressure

1 glass of water before going to bed - avoids stroke or heart attack

I can also add to this... My Physician told me that water at bed time will also help prevent night time leg cramps. Your leg muscles are seeking hydration when they cramp and wake you up with a Charlie Horse.

Anti-Aging Skincare Fixes In Your Kitchen

There are plenty of lotions and creams out there to fight wrinkles and other signs of aging skin, but store-bought remedies can be expensive and harsh on sensitive skin.
Luckily, there are a number of surprising, natural anti-aging skin care solutions that you probably already have in your kitchen, which can fight wrinkles by moisturizing, exfoliating, and toning your skin. In this article, learn about seven finds from your pantry or fridge that can leave your skin looking younger and healthier.

Yogurt
Full fat yogurt can help moisturize your skin, improving elasticity. Simply apply it like a facial mask, or rub it into your hands or dry areas. Allow it to dry, rinse it off, and apply a gentle moisturizer to maximize the benefits. Be sure to use an organic, unsweetened, unflavored yogurt.

Green Tea
The antioxidants in green tea make it a great skin toner. Using two tea bags, steep an 8 ounce cup of tea for ten minutes. Freeze the tea in ice cube trays, and then apply a cube of the tea concentrate to any lines or wrinkles. The cool temperature and the antioxidants will help tighten up your skin.

Milk
The fat in milk will lock moisture into your skin, while the lactic acid gently exfoliates and tightens pores. After washing your face, simply apply a thin layer of whole milk to your skin with a cotton ball, and rinse with warm water. Two cups of milk in a bath has a full body effect!

Oatmeal
Soften and protect your skin with oatmeal. This grain contains polysaccharides, which can help protect your skin from damage from the elements, and also keeps moisture in. Just mix uncooked, whole rolled oats with water to make a thick paste, and use it to exfoliate your face. Rinse it off, and voila: softer skin.

Honey
Bees’ gift to humanity is packed with antimicrobial, antiseptic, and antibacterial properties, which can reduce breakouts if you’re prone to them. Honey can also stop wrinkles in their tracks by moisturizing and supporting new skin cell growth. Warm about a teaspoon of honey between your fingertips (a drop of essential oil provides an extra boost), and apply it to your dry face. After five minutes, rinse well and enjoy fresher, softer skin.

Baking Soda
Gritty baking soda makes a fantastic exfoliant, helping to bring out youthful new skin and encourage more active skin cell production. Use a paste of three parts baking soda and one part water as a facial scrub in place of expensive store-bought exfoliating scrubs, and reveal a fresher you.

Water
Even if your cupboards are bare, you’re sure to have water! Boil water and pour it into a large glass or ceramic bowl. Without straining your back, bend over the bowl so that the steam hits your face, and drape a towel over your head and the bowl to seal in the moisture. This low-budget facial will help cleanse your pores, leaving your skin looking fresh and young.

read more

6 Natural Ways to Reduce Bad Cholesterol

Cholesterol is a chemical found in all animals. It’s important for various functions in cell membranes and also in production of bile acids, vitamin D, and some hormones. Low to average levels of cholesterol in the blood are perfectly healthy for a human.

However, high levels in the blood are associated with arterial damage, cardiovascular disease, and an increased chance of heart attacks. The fight against cholesterol has been going on for years.

The US has had some success in getting high cholesterol under control, mostly with drugs called statins. These have been shown to be relatively effective in keeping people with high cholesterol from getting worse. They also help lower cholesterol in most of the patients who take a statin.

1. Exercise

2. Eat Fiber

3. Avoid Trans and Saturated Fats

4. Eat Fish

5. Eat Nuts

6. Use more Olive Oil 

read more

Are Bananas As Bad For You As Cookies?

Have you ever noticed how some foods seem to fill you up for hours and others leave you feeling even hungrier?

A few years ago, a group of researchers from the University of Sydney in Australia conducted an interesting study in which they compared the satiating effects of different foods.

The Science of Satiety
The result of the study, “The Satiety Index of Common Foods“, was published in the European Journal of Clinical Nutrition, September 1995.



Bananas Vs. Cookies
What’s interesting in this study is that, researchers found bananas to be no different than cookies in terms of satiety. If you look closely at the infographic below, you’ll notice that bananas are ranked in the same range as cookies.

In other words, bananas may be more nutrient dense but they fill you up and give you the same sugar crash as a cookie. So if your primary concern is weight loss then bananas may not be your best choice especially if you’re treating it as a stand-alone snack. Instead, you should replace your banana with something that ranks higher in the graph below. 

Best Time To Eat Bananas
For non-diabetics, there are times when a rapid increase in blood sugar (and the corresponding increase in insulin) may be desirable. For instance, after strenuous physical activity, insulin helps move glucose into muscle cells, where it aids tissue repair. That’s why many of today’s coaches and physical trainers recommend high-GI foods immediately after exercise to speed recovery. 

read more

Get Started with Online Trading

Get Started with Online Trading

This is for anyone interested in getting started with online trading.  Whilst we are experts in trading gold online, the information outlined here could apply to any market.  It is written for beginners who may have heard that online trading is a great way to generate an income but haven’t any idea how to trade online.

It’s not intended to be a comprehensive guide to online trading as the subject is huge and way too much for any single article!

How to Trade Online - Choosing How to Trade

Online trading has become massively popular since the advent of high-speed internet.  Nowadays anyone, anywhere can trade pretty much any financial instrument in the same way that used to be the exclusive domain of investment bankers.

This means that for the online trading novice wondering how to trade online there is a huge (and often confusing) choice of products, markets, brokers and trading platforms.

We would suggest that someone new to online trading should stick with the more popular (and simple to understand) trading methods.

Spread-betting

The premise is quite simple.  A dealer provides you with a “Buy” price and a “Sell” price for the market you are trading, with the difference between being the spread.   If you think the market will rise you open a trade at the buy price, which is known as going long.  If you think the market will fall you open a trade at the sell price, known as going short.

Your stake is the value that you will win or lose for each point the market moves for or against the position you are holding.  For instance, if we open a long position at £10 per $ on gold and the price of gold goes up by $10 we win £100.

CFDs

CFD stands for Contracts For Difference.  Like spread-betting, they allow you to take advantage of rising and falling markets with buy and sell prices set by the dealer.

Profits from CFDs are liable to capital gains tax in the UK, whereas any profits from spread-betting are tax-free.  This cuts both ways though as losses from CFDs can be offset against other investment gains, but losses from spread-betting cannot.

CFD traders will trade a certain number of shares or lots at a given buy or sell price (depending on whether going long or short) as opposed to the spread-better who is betting a value per point of price movement.  CFDs have tighter spreads than spread-betting, but funding charges and dealer commission apply instead.

ETFs

ETF stands for Exchange Traded Fund.  ETFs are essentially like shares, but rather than buying a stake in an individual company, you buy a share in a fund that tracks the price of a commodity – there are a huge range of ETFs available for those wanting to trade oil, gold, silver and many others.
ETFs are bought and sold in the exactly the same way as stock market shares, with commission paid to a broker for arranging the purchase and sale.

Unlike CFDs and spread-betting, ETFs do not offer the opportunity to leverage, however this means that losses cannot exceed your initial investment.  In the UK, gains arising from ETFs are taxable as capital gains, the same as CFDs.

How to Trade Online - Choosing your Market

We trade gold online.  We are experts in the gold market.   We have a passion for learning everything we can about the gold market and we only focus on that.  We are obsessed with it.

You too need to decide what you are going to focus on and become an expert in that field.

Forex

The forex is a form of global exchange which determines the relative value of different currencies compared against one another. 

Forex trading is very popular on a global basis and operates around the clock, except at weekends.

Each market is stated as a currency pairs – for instance GBP/ USD is the value of the British Pound against the US Dollar.  When you trade the forex you are speculating on the value of one currency against its opposing pair.  So if I’m long GBP/ USD, I’m hoping that the British Pound increases in value against the US Dollar.

Indices

A stock market index is a method of measuring the value of a chosen selection of the stock market.  For instance, the FTSE 100 index is a rating of the top 100 companies listed on the UK stock exchange (in share-price terms).

When trading indices, you are speculating on the rise or fall of the value of any chosen index.  Therefore if I’m short on the FTSE 100 I’m hoping for a decrease in the value of the companies which make up that index which will in turn lower the value of the index as a whole.

Stocks/ Equities

These are the share-values of individual companies listed on stock exchanges.  Trading long or short on these means you are speculating in the share price of that company increasing or decreasing.

Commodities

The commodity market consists of resources that are produced agriculturally or extracted (mined) such as crude oil, coal, rice, tea, wheat or (our favourite) gold.
The price of the commodity is determined by global demand, so if we are long on gold we are hoping that the global demand for gold increases therefore leading to its price increasing.

We have been successfully trading gold online for many years and so know a huge amount about the different macro-economic events affecting global demand and how, when the different events occur, they are likely to influence the price.

To trade any market successfully, you too need to become expert in it.

How to Trade Online - Managing the Risks

Deciding how much money to put in your online trading fund is a very personal choice. 

You need to be comfortable with losing all of that money – never trade with funds which you need to survive! 

There is a very accurate saying, “scared money don’t make money”.  If you are worried about losing it, you will inevitably make the wrong decisions at some point trading online and it will wipe out your funds.

Once you have decided how much to put in your online trading fund, there are things you can do to manage the risks.  Your goal is to make money trading online, not to get wiped out!

You need to make sure that you can never be cleaned out in any single trade.  To do this, make sure you ALWAYS set a stop-loss.  Our dealer provides guaranteed stop losses, so we can sleep easily knowing that if the trade goes against us we will be taken out when our stop-loss is it.

Your stop-loss position and the value of your stake should be such that the maximum loss on a single trade is something which you can withstand.  We have developed our own money-management strategy which has worked for us over many years and means we can never be wiped out as our stake is determined as a percentage of our available capital – it works for us.  You need to find something which works for you too.

---

How to Trade Online - Platforms and Brokers

Always make sure you work with a reputable broker – as we are 100% independent, it would be wrong for us to make any recommendations here, but there are free forums on the internet where brokers and platforms are discussed at length.

Once you know your online trading method and chosen market check out forums such as Elite Trader, Trade2Win and Big Mike’s Trading Forum.  Search any of these forums and they will have threads discussing all of the available brokers and platforms.  If the broker or platform you are considering isn’t highly recommended (or even heard of) within these forums then give it a wide berth!

---

How to Trade Online - Get Independent Support

The final piece of advice is to work alongside other like-minded people so that you can get support and ask questions if you don’t understand something.

Forums are great for this, but you do need to be careful with the advice some individuals offer – you have to remember that they may be just as inexperienced as you are, but they just don’t know it!

Equally, the provider of your trading platform or your broker may offer advice - just remember that their real interest is in you making the trade with them.

We offer an advisory service where we share our views on the gold market and give access to our trades as we make them, so that other people trading gold online can understand how we are trading.  This is great if you are interested in gold!

There are many other information services just like us who specialise in the different markets – so do your research and work alongside the experts for a while to see how they make money trading online.

read more

Diagnose Everyday Health Symptoms

Every day, your body tells you all kinds of things: Scratch my elbow. I’d like some salt.But hidden in these signals can be deeper messages about your health. Here’s how to decode them.

What You Can Learn From the Whites of Your Eyes

If they look grayish: It’s probably just a result of the natural aging process, which can make the whites of your eyes (formally known as sclerae) become grayer. “The sclera thins over time, so the deep vascular tissue underneath shows through,” says Christopher Coad, an ophthalmologist at Chelsea Eye Associates, in New York City. That said, there are some serious medical conditions that can turn your whites gray, including rheumatoid arthritis and brittle bone syndrome. As a starting point, schedule an exam with your ophthalmologist, who may refer you to a specialist.

If they look red: Most likely, your eyes are dry. Those red squiggles you see are tiny blood vessels, which become more prominent when eyes are irritated. “Dryness can be a result of age, staring at the computer, or environmental factors, like air-conditioning,” says Coad. Preservative-free artificial tears (sold at drugstores) help lubricate eyes with ingredients like glycerin and can soothe irritation; use four to six times daily, as needed. If the dryness worsens, see your ophthalmologist, as “dry eyes can be a symptom of conditions like thyroid disease and diabetes,” says Coad. If you also have itching and tearing, allergies may be to blame; try an over-the-counter antihistamine.

If they look yellow: It may be jaundice, which is caused by a high level of bilirubin, a by-product of red blood cells. See a doctor right away, as jaundice can be a sign of several serious health problems, including liver dysfunction, hepatitis, and, in rare cases, pancreatic cancer.

What You Can Learn From Your Sleep Habits

If you fall asleep as soon as your head hits the pillow: Surprise, surprise—you’re probably sleep deprived, says James Herdegen, M.D., the medical director of the Sleep Science Center at the University of Illinois at Chicago. It takes a well-rested person about 10 to 15 minutes to fall asleep. Ideally, aim for eight hours or so a night. If you already get that much, see your doctor to rule out sleep-onset conditions such as restless legs syndrome.

If you wake up a lot at night: You may have sleep maintenance insomnia, in which the difficulty isn’t falling asleep but staying asleep. The disorder has been linked to anxiety, depression, and sleep apnea. If you toss and turn or experience daytime sleepiness for more than four weeks, see your doctor, who may refer you to a sleep specialist.

What You Can Learn From Your Cravings

If you crave salt: You may need some stress relief. Your constant search for a salt fix could signal that your adrenal glands, which pump adrenaline and other hormones into your blood when you’re feeling anxious, have been working so hard that they’re temporarily exhausted. “The adrenal glands produce a hormone that holds sodium in your body, so if they’re not making enough of that hormone, you may crave salt,” says Susan Blum, M.D., the founder and director of the Blum Center for Health, in Rye Brook, New York. To keep stress in check, try exercise, meditation, or just saying no to yet another PTA request.

If you crave fat: It’s well-known that eating sweets and simple carbohydrates can lead to the infamous sugar crash that leaves you craving more. Consuming fat has a similar self-perpetuating effect, says Sarah Leibowitz, Ph.D., an associate professor of neurobiology at Rockefeller University, in New York City. “Eating fatty foods stimulates the brain to produce peptides that make you crave more fat,” she says. A recent study at the Scripps Research Institute, in Jupiter, Florida, showed that rats who were fed high-fat foods (bacon, icing) began eating more and more—a hallmark of addictive behavior. (They actually refused nutritious food when it was offered.) Fight the urge for chips by eating plenty of lean protein and low-fat dairy products, which will help you feel more satisfied.

What You Can Learn From Your Hair

If your hairline is receding: If you have a family history of thinning, you might be experiencing female pattern hair loss (androgenetic alopecia), which occurs in 30 to 40 percent of women. A dermatologist can prescribe medication or a topical treatment to help. It’s also worth noting that your ponytail may be too tight, tearing strands from the hairline and creating a condition called traction alopecia.

If your part seems wider than usual: Your body could be under stress. (But be aware: Losing a handful of hairs a day—or about 100 strands—is normal.) A significant physical event, such as surgery, childbirth, or even a dramatic weight loss, can cause hair follicles to shift into a resting state and temporarily stop growing. Stay calm: Once you fully recover, your hair will gradually return.

What You Can Learn From Your Mouth

If your gums are swollen or bleed: “You may have periodontal disease,” says Greg Diamond, a periodontist in New York City. About 75 percent of people over the age of 40 do. “Most people think nothing of it if they spit blood after flossing,” says Diamond, but your gums should never bleed. And though periodontal disease may not be painful, the bacteria that create it have been linked with systemic problems, like strokes and heart disease. So keep up with your professional cleanings (twice yearly), flossing (daily), and brushing (ideally, after every meal).

If you have whitish or reddish dots on the back of your tongue: Have your primary-care physician or dentist test you for the human papilloma virus (HPV), which is on the rise. HPV is tricky to detect and typically goes away on its own, but in some cases it can lead to cancer of the mouth, throat, or cervix. So if you do have the virus, you’ll need to be monitored going forward.

If your tongue is smooth and shiny and you can’t see your taste buds: You may be lacking in vitamin B12, says Jacob Teitelbaum, M.D., the Kona, Hawaii–based author of Beat Sugar Addiction Now! ($17, amazon.com). Cracks at the corners of your mouth may also signal a B vitamin deficiency, says Minka Schofield, an otolaryngologist at Ohio State University Medical Center, in Columbus.

What You Can Learn From Your Skin

If it suddenly turns dry and itchy: It could be a reaction to a new skin-care product. If you can rule that out, have your thyroid and iron levels checked. “Dry skin can signal low thyroid levels or anemia,” says Ava Shamban, a dermatologist in Beverly Hills and the author of Heal Your Skin ($18, amazon.com). Your primary-care physician or dermatologist can run simple blood tests and refer you to a specialist if necessary.

If you break out on your jawline: Your hormones may be in overdrive. Acne in this area is common for women in their 30s and 40s—even those who have always had clear skin—especially right before their periods. Treat it with a traditional over-the-counter cream containing salicylic acid or benzoyl peroxide. If that doesn’t work, “have your hormone levels checked by your ob-gyn,” says Elizabeth Hale, a clinical associate professor of dermatology at the New York University Medical Center, in New York City. Often hormonal acne can be improved with medications such as oral contraceptives.

If you have a rash that won’t go away: It might be mild eczema, which can show up as a result of stress. To soothe the itch, apply a lotion containing ceramides (such as CeraVe) several times daily, or see your dermatologist for a prescription strength nonsteroidal calming cream. Another option: Slather on olive oil, says Shamban. “It adds essential fats to the skin and has anti-inflammatory properties that can help with eczema.”

What You Can Learn From Your Urine

If it’s pale yellow or clear: You’re well hydrated. “It shows that you’re drinking enough water to dilute your urine, which is naturally yellow,” says Blum.

If it’s dark yellow: Start doubling your water intake, downing herbal tea, and eating a few servings of water-rich fruit, like cantaloupe, daily. If you’ve taken a multivitamin in the last 24 hours, bright yellow urine sometimes means your body is doing a good job of absorbing it. When you take a multivitamin, your body uses what it needs and excretes the rest, so if you see neon urine, the vitamin has successfully passed through your system, says Blum. “If your urine is very pale after taking a multivitamin, you might not be absorbing it properly,” she says. In that case, switch to a quick-absorbing vitamin capsule or powder. They’re easier for the body to break down than tablets.

If it’s cloudy: You could have a bladder or kidney infection. “Cloudiness indicates the presence of white blood cells, which your body sends to fight off infection,” says Blum. See your ob-gyn or primary care physician for a proper diagnosis.

If you see blood or it’s very dark in color: If you had any doubts, we’ll state it for the record: See your doctor (that is, unless you are menstruating). “Blood and darkness could be signs of various illnesses, from bladder infections to kidney disease,” says Blum.

What You Can Learn From Your Feet

If your heels or arches hurt when you walk: You may have flatfeet, which means your arches collapse more than they should when you put weight on them. “Flatfeet can lead to knee and lower-back pain,” says podiatrist James Christina, the director of scientific affairs for the American Podiatric Medical Association. Try over-the-counter arch support inserts, and if the pain persists, see a podiatrist.

If they cramp up when you walk: This could be a sign of peripheral artery disease, in which blood doesn’t effectively circulate to the extremities. “Poor circulation can lead to lactic acid buildup in the foot muscles, which causes cramps,” says Christina. See a podiatrist right away for an initial diagnosis.

read more