WOMEN ARE FRUSTRATED ABOUT MEN AND DATING

Many women are confused and frustrated about men and dating, and they don’t know why. Here is my take on this malaise: At one time, men were the hunters and women were the gatherers. On an intuitive level, this essence is still alive today.

However, since the advent of the sixties cultural and sexual revolution, American standards have shifted. Men and women are exhibiting more androgynous behavior. Thus, the distinctions between the sexes are blurred. Our sexual revolution has created confusion about the relational roles between male and female. Consequently, there is a whole lot of friction going on in the world of dating.

In recent decades, women have begun hunting and gathering for the male. Traditional roles are changing. In and of itself, this is not a bad thing, but it is a confusing thing--at least, it is for women because the new male prototype has become adept at not putting in the time and effort to pursue a woman. He has come to believe it is fine for him to be "a gatherer". Ever the adapters, women have chosen to compensate for the rise of the culturally androgynous male, aka, the male gatherer. You've run into him. He's the guy who does not pursue women - ever. He has embraced equality, or so he says. Actually, the only thing he has embraced is laziness.

We wanted equality. In the area of romance, we got something else.

Our 1960s cultural movement had good intentions and some very positive outcomes on many different levels. However, the sexual revolution has failed in the areas of love, romance and commitment. You see, many American men have morphed into something we did not foresee coming. He is no longer adept at committing, pursuing or providing. Herein lies the crux of the matter.

Feminists had the right idea about wanting more equality, as in equal pay, but they got a little side-tracked by the free love thing. What they didn't realize is that most men are more than happy to enjoy the "No Strings Attached" philosophy, which goes something like this: "Let's live together and I'll keep my money, but I'll enjoy the convenience of having a quasi-wife, but without the responsibility and financial risk." After all, it's less liability and stress for the man in case she doesn't work out. Meanwhile, the sex is available on a fairly regular basis. No repercussions. Supposedly. The problem is... no woman enjoys getting used. According to Linda J. Waite, the author of The Negative Effects of Cohabitation, "Cohabitating men tend to be less committed to the relationship."

Yet sadly, women are offering themselves up to this so-called male "feminist" who is anything but. The reality is that the male gatherer has lost his instinct for romance and commitment. The male gatherer isn't what we thought he is, nor can he be. Courting women isn't part of the male gatherers' paradigm. Instead, he believes that relationships should be easy and uncomplicated. Easy come, easy go. His expectations do not mirror the truth, which is that anything or anyone worth having requires time and effort.

Thus, having experienced disappointment in dating for the umpteenth time, many women carry around a perpetual cloud of frustration and anger. Nevertheless, not wanting to appear passive, women continue the hunt. “We have to go after guys," they insist. "If we wait, nothing happens. What choice do we have?"

Women who feel this way have a point, but their premise is wrong. She has another choice. She can let the man seek her. Here’s the thing. Women actually liked having the man pursue her because his effort showed her that he had some interest. His pursuit of her was hot and efficient - sort of like the engine of a BMW. But the gatherer guy....well... he lacks that drive. He's a Ford Pinto, or a Volkswagen Bus. The easy love thing works for him, but it isn't working for her. Apparently, easy love isn't so easy after all. Unwed mothers who struggle to raise their children alone know this better than anyone.

Percentage of Single Mothers Who are Hispanic	Percentage of single mothers who are White	Percentage of Single Mothers Who are Black	Percentage of Single Mothers Who are American Indian
42%	25%	67%	52%

So what's a woman to do? First, she must stop throwing herself at gatherer man's feet. Forever.

Male gatherer guy does not have the inclination or the stamina for true romance that women crave. He always leaves women feeling emotionally shortchanged. If women truly want emotionally satisfying relationships, they must first decide to place more value on their time, their careers, and their passions thereby changing their perspective about their life and worth. Woman must realize that meeting a great guy is icing on the cake. Icing is delicious, but it is still optional.

Women have to step up their game as well. She has to understand that it's okay to be a woman. She doesn't have to become a man to be equal. She is good enough already. By that I mean she must accept that her psyche is different from a man's. She needs different things---like romance and commitment. These feelings are natural for women. She knows that she will have children one day and that those children need a father who will stay. She also knows, deep down, that her woman's heart needs to feel valued and loved. This has nothing to do with "equality." It just is and has always been and will always be. So....we may as well deal it.

On a similar note, I had a quasi male friend who was a former hippie. He was also highly educated,but hippie mentality never really left him. Anyway, he told me that he had lived in a commune and that he really enjoyed his life. He talked about how fun it was to get naked and paint women. This was a type of foreplay, I gathered. He went on to say that the only thing disagreeable about commune life was that the women were, and I quote, "Really messed up."

Yeah, I guess so. Having multiple partners and not knowing who the father of your child is and whether or not your lover(s) even gave a "rats ass" would make any woman "messed up." A dirty little secret of the free love/equality thing of the 60's is that the men were die hard sexists. They made love (well, what they thought was making love), smoked pot and quoted Nietzsche and Karl Marx.. Meanwhile, the woman cooked, cleaned, scrabbled for food and, of course, made themselves available to her main lovers friends at his request. You know, equal love and all that.

What is my point? It is this: The men of the 60's ran with the free love thing, cloaked it in philosophical, lofty speech, and many men of today are doing the VERY SAME THING. And unfortunately, intelligent women are still being suckered into the lies. They are falling for the equality love speech. Sadly, this so-called "equality" trend has continued, but it is now cloaked in politically correct language, labeled under the guise of being "fair." What it really means is that "I'll go my way and you'll go your way if the going gets rough and if you have too many expectations that don't match with my idea of fairness." So today, even more women find themselves without fathers for their children. Instead, too many women are working two jobs.... and they are lonelier than ever. Women don't feel "equal" unless she can somehow become more like a man. But her woman's heart won't allow it. Consequently, she remains confused and frustrated. She wonders where she went wrong.

Common Reasons Why Men Don't Commit: Rutgers University's National Marriage Project

• Males can get sex without marriage more easily than in times past
• Males can enjoy the benefits of having a wife by cohabiting rather than marrying
• Men want to avoid divorce and its financial risks
• Men fear that marriage will require too many changes and compromises
• Males face few social pressures to marry

So naturally, it behooves the woman to shift her focus toward worthwhile men who actually enjoy pursuing a woman in a gentlemanly way (Meaning, with patience), and who are willing to ignore the trend of political correctness that presupposes men and women are exactly the same. Men and women are not the same. Our bodies are different, our brains are wired differently, we think differently, we have different needs. But the male gatherer would have you believe differently because he believes in "fairness." Right...and we all have ocean front property....

Long story short, women must become adept at letting the "male gatherer" go. In other words, she lust learn to pare down the dating field. The smart woman values herself far too much to waste her time on a man who's only interest is convenience. You are not a 7-11 store.

Finally, women must learn to become responsible for all the bad romantic choices she made in the past.Only then will she be able to let go of the anger and frustration she had carried before. And only then can she proactively guide her dating life in a direction that will allow her to experience true romance---the kind that has purpose and meaning.

The smart woman does not play hard to get---she is hard to get. Let me expound upon this. Playing hard to get suggests that a woman feigns disinterest in a man to whom she is attracted. Being hard to get has to do with the psyche of a woman who is selective about the kind of men she chooses to date in the first place. Once a woman has determined she is interested in someone, she is free to capture his attention. However, she does this with care. She does not rush into a situation without first finding out what she is getting into---or not. She learns to make better choices with the long term consequences in mind. She is responsible for her choices

Another thing. There is no reason for any woman or man to revealeverything about their feelings or their past relationships in the beginning stages of dating. We must open up at our own pace. In so doing, we are respecting our parameters and sense of privacy---and this is as it should be. A secure partner will respect your need for to open up at your own pace. On the other hand, excessive secrecy in any individual is a red flag.

However, a woman who is thoroughly uncomplicated and too eager to please, will not attract the love of a man who has the masculine fiber women crave. It is a woman's confidence combined with her feminine spirit which is the magnet that consistently attracts decent men her way. The woman who knows how to date well is at ease with her femininity. A worthwhile man will readily pursue a woman like her, but he is easily bored with a woman who does not provide him with any challenges whatsoever. A good man isn't looking for a doormat to walk over. The worthwhile man respects a woman who has some backbone.

Dating is an art which recognizes and appreciates the core differences between men and women. In truth, regardless of our cultural leanings, it's actually quite pleasurable to embrace the distinctions between male and female rather than constantly fighting against them. Masculine and feminine traits actually complement one another quite nicely. So from now on, you can let the malegatherer do whatever he wants just so long as he doesn't do it with you. Your responsibility as a woman is to turn your attention toward the man who shows you that he cares---through his actions. Listen to your woman's heart. Only then will you be assured of love that will stand the test of time.

Source: http://hubpages.com/relationships

HOW TO TREAT AN ITCHY EAR CANAL

Do You Have Itchy Ears?

There is nothing more irritating and distracting than an itch in your ear. Anyone who has ever suffered from this common ailment knows how frustrating it is to experience a constant, intense itch inside the ear. It seems as though the only feeling of relief comes from scratching or probing with fingers or q-tips. While this may bring temporary comfort, it is actually a very harmful way to tackle itching inside the ear. Thankfully there are plenty of safe ways to make your ear canals itch-free zones.

Don't let this get the better of you. In this article, we'll take a look at some of the best treatments for your itch, and the preventative actions you can take to ensure that your ears stay itch-free in future.

What is an Itchy Ear Canal?

An itchy ear canal is often the result of an inflamed or flaky skin condition that happens when the sensitive skin inside the ear becomes damaged, waterlogged or infected with bacteria or fungus. Medical professionals refer to it as Otitis Externa. Along with the itching sensation, symptoms can include dry flaky skin, soreness, pain, and a watery discharge that emits an odor.

If you have an itchy ear canal, don't worry. They are pretty common and won't endanger your hearing. In fact, the biggest threat to your hearing comes from the use of objects that you might use to scratch inside your ear. If you're guilty of this, stop now. Scratching will only serve to inflame the delicate skin inside the ear which will actually increase the itching sensation even more—it's a vicious cycle. Furthermore you could seriously damage your eardrum, either by rupturing it or by inadvertently packing earwax tightly against it.

Before determining the best source of treatment for your itchy ear canal, it's important to familiarize yourself with some of the causes. This will help you to identify how the problem started in the first place. Read on to find out what these causes are.

Causes of Itchy Ears

There are many reasons why you might have an itch in your ear. Here are some of the main culprits:

1. Fungal infections. Are you prone to fungal infections in other parts of your body, such as your feet or groin area? It is possible for fungus to infect the ear canal too.
2. Skin conditions. Do you suffer from any other skin complaints such as eczema or psoriasis? Unfortunately, skin conditions like these can easily spread to the ear canal.
3. Swimming. Swimmers tend to be in the high-risk category for developing an itchy ear. So, if you swim regularly this is something to watch out for. Water can carry germs and fungus into the ear which can then lead to infection, especially if the skin inside the ear is broken or damaged. Swimming can also create excess moisture which then causes eczema.
4. Q-tips or cotton buds. Using q-tips or cotton buds a big no-no. The ear is well equipped to clean itself, but if you find that wax or other debris is persistently present in your ears, there are safer and more productive ways to clean them. The problem with using q-tips is that you risk damaging the soft skin inside the ear. This is an open invitation for bacteria to invade.
5. Weather conditions. Weather conditions, namely warmer temperatures, may be causing your itchy ears. Do you live somewhere with a hot and humid climate? The increased water in the air raises your chances of developing an infection. Fungal infections in particular thrive in warm, humid conditions.
6. Hair or bath products. Do you regularly use products such as hairspray, shampoo, shower gel, bubble bath, styling gel, or hair dye? The residue from these products can easily wash inside the ear during a bath or shower and cause irritation which leads to itching.
7. Allergies. Do you suffer from allergies (namely dust, food products, pets, or pollen)? The histamine release that is triggered by the allergen and causes a runny nose and red puffy eyes might also be responsible for the itch in your ear canal.

How to Treat Itchy Ears

Although an outer ear infection or itchy ear canal will sometimes clear up by itself, it is a problem that can often be stubborn and persistent. The best way to approach an itchy ear is to think about

• How you are going to treat it and also
• How you will prevent it from happening again.

Treatment for Itchy Ears: Cleaning Your Ears

Treatment falls into two stages:

1. Stopping the itch, and
2. Clearing up the infection or skin condition.

Firstly, it is recommended that you consult your doctor so that he can clean your ear if necessary and prescribe ear drops. Your doctor might also take a swab of your ear canal to determine whether fungus is present. Results from a swab usually take a few days to come back.

• Ear drops will contain a minimum of two active ingredients: 1. An ingredient such as hydrocortisone that will quickly subdue the itching and any resultant swelling, and 2. An antibiotic to kill the bacteria which causes the infection.
• If you are diagnosed with having a fungal infection, your doctor might also prescribe anti-fungal drops or ointment as well.
• Whilst using ear drops prescribed by your doctor, you can start to take preventative measures to ensure that the itch and/or infection does not return (see below). Just because the ear drops have cleared up the itch, don't assume that it is incapable of coming back. Preventative action is an on-going process and the more vigilant you are, the greater chance you have of keeping your ear canal itch-free.

Note: It also recommended that you don't become overly reliant on pharmaceutical ear drops in the long-term. Although they can work wonders at fighting the infection and stopping your ear canal from itching, long-term use should be avoided because they can be a little harsh for the sensitive skin in the ear. Once the itch has gone and your treatment has finished, seek out natural alternatives to prescription ear drops, such as olive oil. More on this later.

Home Remedies for Treating Itchy Ears

For mild-to-moderate ear infections, especially those where pain is not a serious issue, you might want to try a home remedy before resorting to prescription drugs.

• Rubbing alcohol and white vinegar. One common method involves mixing one part rubbing alcohol with one part white vinegar (a 50:50 split). Use a pipette, dipper, or teaspoon and let the solution run into your ear by tilting your head to the side. Keep it inside for a few seconds before letting it drain back out onto a paper towel. The alcohol and acetic acid in the vinegar will go to work on the infection and also help to clean your ear. Don't overuse this method because it can dry out the ear which will lead to more itching. Simply apply it once or twice a day until the infection has cleared.
• Olive oil, coconut oil and garlic oil. Olive oil and coconut oil are also great natural alternatives to ear drops. Olive oil can even be infused with garlic for a natural antibiotic and anti-fungal solution. You can opt to make these home remedies yourself or you can take the hassle-free route and buy them readymade.

How to Prevent Itchy Ears

Take these precautions to lower the risk of developing an itchy canal again in future:

1. Prevent excess liquid from entering. When showering or taking a bath, gently place a small amount of clean cotton ball over the entrance to your ears to prevent excessive water and bathing products such as bubble bath from getting inside. Be careful not to push the cotton too deeply and avoid it completely if you find that it irritates your skin.
2. Purchase a swimming headband. If you go swimming, think about buying aswimming headband to keep your ears dry and free from the threat of fungus and bacteria. If you do get water inside your ear, try to drain it out by tilting your head to the side. As a last resort, you can use a hairdryer, providing you place it on the lowest setting and hold it about 50cm away from your ear. Do not use a hairdryer if the skin in your ear is broken or sore.
3. Use olive oil in your ears. Clean your ears and prevent wax build up by using a little olive oil. Simply tip a small amount of olive oil onto a spoon, tilt your head to one side and let the oil run into your ear (if you find this difficult, you can ask somebody to help you or you could buy a dropper/pipette from your local drug store or chemist for a couple of dollars). Let the oil settle in your ear for a few minutes then tilt your head back up and let the excess oil drain out onto a paper towel. Repeat the process with the other ear and do this on a regular basis - maybe two or three nights every week before going to bed.The oil will also help to moisturize your ear canals and sooth the skin.
4. Drain earwax. If you find that excess wax builds up inside your ears and the olive oil trick doesn't work, visit your doctor regularly so he can drain the wax. You can also buy wax-softening ear drops from your drugstore or chemist, but use these sparingly.
5. Protect your ears in the shower or bath. This especially applies to products you use while showering or bathing. Try to you avoid getting shampoo, hairspray, bubble bath, shower gel, or other chemical irritants into your ears.
6. Be gentle with your ears. Always remember that the skin inside your ears is delicate and easily irritated. Never put anything hard inside your ears that might damage or antagonize the skin.
7. Be careful with hearing aids and ear plugs. If you wear a hearing aid, try to wait until your ear canal is dry after showering before you put the aid back inside your ear. The same applies to ear plugs of any kind—including the ones you use to listen to music. If possible, avoid wearing hearing aids altogether until an itch or infection has completely cleared up.
8. Controlling your allergies. If you suffer from dust, pollen or other allergies,reduce your exposure to allergens and take antihistamine medication when necessary.

A Natural Treatment for a Fungal Ear Infection

• Fight Fungus with Coconut Oil and Garlic (Livestrong.com)
  Garlic has been used to fight fungal and yeast infections for a very long time. Take a look at this article to find out how to make your own coconut oil, olive oil and garlic remedy.

Did You Find this Article Helpful?

Did you find this article helpful? Or perhaps you have another method for treating an itch in your ear canal that I haven't discussed. Please leave your comments below!

Soruce: http://hubpages.com/

TRAVEL EXPERIENCES IN SIKKIM, INDIA

One of the Himalaya’s best-kept travel secrets,Sikkim is a welcome diversion from all conventional notions of an Indian holiday. Far fromRajasthan’s royal trail, Goa’s beaches and Kerala’s backwaters, this tiny Indian hill state prides itself on pristine alpine forests, lofty snow-capped mountains, craggy landscapes dotted with quaint villages and a rich tribal culture brocaded with vibrant Tibetan Buddhist accents.

A fantastic adventure off the beaten track, Sikkim is a place waiting to be explored. Here are 15 excellent ways to get under its skin.

Visit Rumtek Monastery

Considered one of Tibetan Buddhism’s most important centres, the magnificent Rumtek Monastery is a repository of countless invaluable artefacts (precious metal statues, gem-studded cenotaphs, exotic ritualistic paraphernalia) stacked within its cavernous portals. The official – though currently vacant – seat of the revered Karmapa Lama, the monastery is especially attractive during the Mahakala Dance in February, when giant figurines of protector deities raise hell in the courtyard and fight off evil demons.

Trek to Goecha La

Many hardened hikers consider this week-long adventure to be the best trek for sighting Mt Khangchendzonga (8586m), the world’s third-highest peak. Starting from the outpost of Yuksom in West Sikkim, the trail cuts up a sylvan alpine terrain to finally peak at a gravity-defying 4940m, from where you can take in sweeping views of the snows towering above. April and November are best for photo ops.

Explore North Sikkim

Sprawled across a remote northern region of the state, the sublimely beautiful valleys of Yumthang and Tsopta are scantly visited. Frequently ravaged by landslides and earthquakes, these mountains are tricky territory to travel in. But then, isn’t that what intrepid travel is all about? So jump into a sturdy four-wheel-drive and hit the bumpy road to paradise. To adjust to the altitude along the way, spend a night in the quaint and scenic hamlet of Lachen.

Sip Temi’s tea

The tiny village of Temi in South Sikkim stands its ground as the only tea-growing region in the state. Producing a mellow and delightfully aromatic brew, ‘Temi tea’ has a loyal following around the world, and the good news is you can now relish the nectar right where it is harvested. Simply schedule an excursion through Temi’s picturesque gardens, and savour grand 360-degree mountain views along with every refreshing sip of the amber beverage (best had without milk or sugar).

Go organic

Sikkim is poised to become the first state in India to go fully organic in terms of production and consumption of food material. The changeover is already apparent in local markets, where organic produce seems to be trumping non-organic. Needless to say, this is your chance to detoxify, indulge in a nutritious vacation and eat your way to good health.

Drive to Tsomgo Lake

 

Spanning a valley at a height of 3780m, Tsomgo Lake cuts a pretty picture against a backdrop of rugged mountains rising towards the Tibetan Plateau. The outing (a four-hour return journey from state capital Gangtok) is particularly enjoyable in early spring and late autumn, when parts of the lake are frozen over and the stalls by the lake serve piping hot tea and momos (meat-filled dumplings) to fight the numbing chill. A lakeside joyride on a friendly yak? It's got that too!

Row down the Teesta

Rushing down the length of Sikkim from icy glacial heights to tropical alluvial plains, the turbulent Teesta River promises some fantastic rafting opportunities on its foamy waters. From calm stretches for novices to curling rapids for experienced oar-wielders, the river packs a variety of challenges at every level. Whether raft or kayak, choose your preferred ride and let the adrenaline flow.

Understand Tibetology

Got a thing for antique mountain cultures? Then swing by the fortress-like Namgyal Institute of Tibetology in Gangtok, and familiarise yourself with countless nuances of Tibetan culture and Vajrayana Buddhism. Don’t miss the museum, packed with relics such as ancient manuscripts, thangkas (religious scroll paintings) and Tantric ritualistic objects (human skull bowls and thigh-bone trumpets, anyone?).

Know your morsels

A bowl of steaming sisnoo (nettle soup), a serving of fried ningro (fiddlehead ferns) and, finally, a generous helping of rice with gundruk ko jhol (fermented mustard leaf soup) and fiery pork curry. That’s a traditional Sikkimese meal, delicious to the last spoonful. If the spice gets to you, simply wash it down with chhang, a refreshing local rice beer served in wooden mugs.

Embrace local life

Do you think hotels are characterless and boring? Wonderful. Shun the usual sleeping options and root for an absorbing experience at one of rural Sikkim’s many ambient homestays instead. Mingle with affable hosts, share stories and drinks over kitchen fires in the evening, have fun helping out with farm and household activities, and kill time with a book or iPod for company in the cosy comfort of your tastefully appointed room.

Find religion

Spirituality is an essential element of Sikkim’s social and cultural grain, and you can amply soak it up during your holiday here. Meditate in an ancient Buddhist gompa, attend a religious ceremony (such as the new year festivities of Losar), or pay obeisance at the many shrines in the temple town of Namchi. If you’re visiting a monastery, don’t forget to light a butter lamp for peace, love and prosperity.

Take a day hike

Sikkim’s mountains are criss-crossed by numerous foot trails traditionally used by locals to commute between villages. For travellers, this means a wonderful opportunity to bushwalk through the serene wilderness, exploring the region’s bucolic scenery and a plethora of plant and animal life along the way. The day walks from Yuksom to Khecheopalri Lake and Tashiding are particularly picturesque, as are short jaunts around the town of Ravangla

Smell the rhododendrons

Known to foster more than 500 species of rhododendron, the forests of Varsey and Singba (in West Sikkim and North Sikkim respectively) come alive in a riotous bloom sometime between March and May. Vivid shades of red, pink, yellow, mauve and white smear entire hillsides, and a walk under these colourful canopies is an otherworldly experience, to say the least. Mind those pesky leeches wiggling in the undergrowth, though.

Groove to Gangtok’s nightlife

Dusk is a happy time along MG Marg, Gangtok’s social and cultural hub. Snack stalls along the main drag whip up juicy servings of momos, lounge bars come alive with strains of rock and blues, and the appetising smell of freshly baked savouries perfumes the crisp evening air. The booze is cheap, the company is friendly, and the good times keep rolling. Drink, dine and dance the night away.

Glide like an eagle

The newest fix for adventure junkies in the region, paragliding is a fantastic way to enjoy bird’s eye views of Sikkim’s mountains. October and November, with clear sunny skies, are the best months for the sport – this is also when Gangtok hosts the annual Sikkim Paragliding Festival. So put on your helmet, strap on your chute and leap off the hill for a thrilling flight down to terra firma. And don’t forget to snap a self-portrait en route, to secure bragging rights back home.

Source: https://www.lonelyplanet.com/

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TRICKS FOR SAVING CASH USING BRITISH AIRWAYS

In On Points, Brian Kelly, founder of The Points Guy, shares his strategies for getting the most out of your points and miles.

When you’re dealing with airlines, it can help to think counter-intuitively. For example, carriers will often charge more for a one-way flight than for a round trip. How does that make any sense? Many airlines charge fewer frequent flyer miles and lower fees for award tickets on their partner airlines than on their own flights. What??

British Airways, for instance, levies huge fees on its trans-Atlantic award flights—but not if you use its points (Avios) on partners like Air Berlin or Aer Lingus. It costs 29,500 Avios and $317 to fly one-way from Miami to Dusseldorf on British Airways, with a connection in London. Use those same points on Air Berlin and you can get to Germany nonstop, spending just 25,000 Avios and about $5.  

Yes, it’s weird. But you can save yourself a lot of miles and money by taking advantage of quirks of the British Airways program. Avios are among the easiest frequent-flyer miles to accrue, in part because Chase often offers a 100,000-mile sign-up bonus on its BA credit card. The carrier is a transfer partner for American Express Membership Rewards, Chase Ultimate Rewards, and Starwood Preferred Guest. And British Airways is one of the few airlines that lets you pool miles into household accounts.

One of the biggest boosts you can get from Avios is by using them instead of American AAdvantage miles American Airlines. Here’s what I’ve learned. 

Get Clicking

One downside of using Avios is that British Airways’ call centers are pretty awful to deal with. There can be lengthy hold times and the agents can range from lackadaisical to downright hostile. You’ll want to do as much as you can on the British Airways website.

The site isn’t the easiest to navigate, but once you get the hang of it you’ll be an award-booking ninja. You’ll also get more juice out of your American AAdvantage miles—you can use the miles on British Airways, but only a small fraction of award availability shows up on AA.com.

First, sign up for a free Executive Club account at BritishAirways.com. Log in, click on Executive Club, then Spending Avios, and select the Book A Reward Flight button. That will take you to the flight search, which is pretty standard. The award search function isn’t great for  multi-leg itineraries; if the whole itinerary you want doesn’t show up online, search leg by leg and then call to book your trip. And be sure to ask for the $25 phone-booking fee to be waived.

When to Use Your Avios

Avios can be especially valuable for booking domestic flights on American. British Airways prices award flights based on distance, while American uses a zone system. So if you’re booking a shorter flight, you’ll get more bang using Avios to book on American as a partner. Plus, you don’t get slapped with BA’s fuel surcharges.

Let’s take a one-way economy seat from New York to Miami. It costs 12,500 AAdvantage miles and $5.60. If you are booking within 21 days, American also tacks on a $75 late booking fee. But using British Airways to book the exact same flight costs 7,500 Avios and $5.60. There are no additional fees.

The difference is even bigger when you’re flying from the U.S. to another region, and also works for business class.

An economy-class ticket from Dallas to Cancun is 15,000 AAdvantage miles and $5.60. For the same number of Avios and the same fee, you can get a business-class seat through BA. Again, that’s without the pesky fees that American charges for booking within 21 days of departure.

You can often get a better deal with Avios  than with American miles on intra-European flights as well. To fly from London to Paris in economy in June (off-peak) costs just 4,000 Avios and $27.50. The same flight using AAdvantage miles is 12,500 miles and $61.50—more than triple the miles and more than double the fees.

When NOT to Use Your Avios

There are downsides to British Airways. Firstly, they charge by the leg, so if you live in a smaller city and need to make connections, the price of your award ticket increases dramatically. American which allows free connections (under 24 hours) as long as the routing is valid. For example, flying from LaGuardia to Charlotte to Miami costs 15,000 Avios (7,500 for the LGA-CLT leg and another 7,500 for the CLT-MIA leg), so if you can’t get a nonstop LGA-MIA flight, using AA miles at 12,500 is cheaper. To figure out how many Avios you need for your journey, calculate every leg of the trip using the Avios Calculator.

Another downside to booking award with Avios is that you can’t change or cancel an award on the day of departure. If something comes up at the last minute and you can’t take the flight, you lose all Avios if something comes up last minute and you can’t take the flight. I’ve pleaded with reps to be lenient and never with any success. 

The frequent flyer game is all about understanding the ins and outs of each program and taking advantage of the rules where you can. While many people have been burned by big fees on British Airways flights, there are so many other ways to get great value using your Avios. Even if you’ve sworn off using BA miles you may want to revisit the program. The old saying, “Don’t cut off your nose to spite your face” applies to miles, too!

source: http://www.travelandleisure.com/

5 BEST APPS TO HIDE PICTURES ON IPHONE

Any picture you take or import from your PC or Mac immediately gets stored to your phone library. And anyone can see them there--which can become really embarrassing. Fortunately, there are some cool apps that hide pictures on your iPhone.

Pictures can be hidden by password-protecting them, hiding them behind a calculator, or locking them. Most of these applications create a special hidden folder, to which you can transfer your personal pictures. Here’s a rundown of some of the top applications to protect pictures on your phone.

1. Private Photo Vault

Private Photo Vault is one of the best free applications to protect your personal photos and videos by password/pattern-locking. This feature-rich app allows easy album organization by allowing you to transfer images and videos from iPhone’s photo app to your new protected album. All you need to do is select photos you want to hide and password-protect them on your private album.

Private Photo Vault has a tri-protect system. You can either hide your photos via a secure password system or a nifty pattern lock system. There’s also a pin lock option that lets you hide an image by entering a 4-digit pin.

Of many additional features, my favorite is the decoy password option. It allows users to enter two passwords – one for the personal picture album and a main password for the normal one. You can then enter the main password if someone finds this app and tells you to show what’s behind the protected album. With a smooth interface, and simple yet extremely secure protection option, the app is a good way to hide your photos on your phone.

2. SpyCalc

The photo-hiding feature of SpyCalc seems to be inspired by a James Bond flick. This amazing gadget lets you hide pictures on your iPhone behind an innocent-looking calculator. The app works exactly like a normal calculator, but doubles as a secret safe, where you can type in a number combination to hide/unhide photos.

The free version is ad-supported, but has all features of the paid version, so there’s no need to buy the app, unless you feel ads are a nuisance. With this app, you can take pictures directly and store them in the calculator app. It also lets you create categories for your hidden photos, ensuring ease in navigation. With an innovative calculator-safe gadget, Spy Calc makes image-hiding fun and exciting.

3. KeepSafe

Another free application, KeepSafe has an easy-to-use pin lock system that lets you type in a four-digit pin to hide photos on your phone. It has a nice little private camera feature that lets you take pictures and hide them directly into the app--no need for these pictures to spend any time unprotected.

Along with pictures, KeepSafe also lets you hide videos as well. All you need to do is open the application, select the items you want to pin-protect, and import them to the application. Make sure you delete the picture from your iPhone’s photo app after importing it to the application. You can also create albums inside the app and transfer pictures directly to them.

KeepSafe is a nifty little app that gives you total control over your media. It has only one protection system, but is effective enough to hide private pictures

4. Pic Lock 2.0

Pic Lock 2.0 is a free photo-hiding application that allows users to protect their private pictures by entering a strong pass code or by creating a complex pattern via a nifty pattern locking system. The app supports iPhone 5 and has a very smooth user interface.

Pic Lock 2.0 offers everything a standard photo-lock app has. These include iTunes sharing via USB, and importing and exporting pictures from and to your iPhone photo app. The free version of the app won't have regular updates; the paid version promises lifetime updates, to fix stability issues and add new features.

5. KYMS

KYMS is another fun app that lets you hide your private pictures on iPhone via a calculator gadget. The app hides both photos and videos, and has a solid password feature. All videos, whether FLV or AVI, can be played directly into the app, thanks to the integrated video support with the help of Airplay. Unfortunately, this feature is only available with the paid version.

KYMS also doubles as document protection software. You can import PDF and text files to your app and keep them hidden behind a calculator. You can view the documents, like videos, from inside the application, thanks to a nifty viewer integrated within the app. Another good aspect is the password recovery feature that lets you recover forgotten passwords via a special PUK code.

The app is free, but many of its amazing features are available via in-app purchases. You can import photos, documents and videos via iTunes or the device camera.

Source: http://hubpages.com/technology/Best-Apps-to-Hide-Pictures-on-iPhone