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Small dogs, frequently called ‘handbag dogs’, recently took the world by stomr, fast becoming a popular fashion accessory for celebrities worldwide. However there is so much more to these little guys than being a cute addition to your outfit. Recently the UK has had a serious problem with the dumping of ‘handbag’ dogs after their owners became bored with their new toys. If you are serious about getting a small doggie make sure you are prepared to look after it and treat it with care and respect. (more…)

Photo: Lachlan / Flickr

This eggplant lasagne recipe is great for vegetarians and can be prepared ahead of time. Ingredients include lasagne sheets, onion, tomatoes, eggplant (or brinjal), mozzarella cheese, olive oil, marjoram and olive oil. The white sauce requires butter, flour, milk and nutmeg. Any cooked seasonal vegetables can be used instead of eggplant for the filling. Oven roasted butternut or pumpkin slices or well drained cooked spinach make for a delicious alternative dish. Allow for one cup of filling for each layer. (more…)

Photo: David Davies / Flickr

Perfumes and incense have been used over time to do anything from heal the sick to avert ‘the evil eye.’ Although we may no longer use fragrances to invoke the gods, aromatic substances still have a powerful effect on the human psyche. Most aromatic materials come from the flowers, leaves, bark and resin of plants — although musk is obtained from the glands of various mammals. Here are a few fragrance-dispensing techniques that have been used by various cultures over the millennia. (more…)

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Feeling less than rosy or downright miserable? The good news is that it is possible to change your capacity for happiness. University of California professor of psychology Sonja Lyubomirsky has pioneered a simple plan to increase our everyday quotients. Drawing on her research with thousands of men and women, she shares her findings in The How of Happiness: A Scientific Approach to Getting the Life You Want. The book explains that 40 percent of our capacity for happiness is within our power to change. (more…)

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There’s nothing like making your own Thai curry with your own curry paste. It may take longer but using fresh ingredients will enhance the flavour. Besides, you can adjust the ingredients to suit your taste. Start with fewer chillies and add more while you’re cooking if you want more fire. This vegetable curry uses six green chillies and serves six. Ingredients include green curry paste, onion, potatoes, green pepper, red pepper, baby sweetcorn, peas, broccoli and coconut cream. Substitute vegetables as required. (more…)

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The word curry comes from ‘kari’, the Indian word for sauce. But a curry need not be a hot and spicy Indian affair that brings tears to the eyes. It can be a combination of spices in many forms, from the mild to the numbingly hot. Compare cinnamon, saffron and clove blends with lemon grass and coriander, for example. Any savoury dish that uses spices can be referred to as a curry. Curries are typical in the cuisines of Southeast Asia and India. (more…)

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The world’s total population has hit the 7 billion mark will continue to grow. Not only are population experts concerned about the ensuing consumption that will follow, but so are some companies. They’re worried about all the demand for new vehicles and homes, for instance. How is our already overtaxed planet going to cope? Christopher Joyce on NPR’s science desk reports that a California home builder, ZETA Communities from California, is designing and building ‘small, highly energy-efficient homes’ as a result. (more…)

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‘If the Duke of Cambridge is looking for a little guidance on how to behave once he inherits the throne, he should head straight to the British Library,’ reports The Daily Mail. The British Library is showing a set of manuscripts that give advice on ‘the art of kingship’, for example. These documents date all the way back to the ninth century and cover such aspects of life as what a monarch should eat and how he should sleep, including with whom. (more…)

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Futurist Thomas Frey has listed 55 jobs of the future which include tree-jackers, time brokers, plant psychologists and lip designers. He says one of his main complaints about the higher education system today is that it prepares people for the jobs of the past. ‘Similarly, whenever a column is written about the best paying jobs of the future, jobs like civil engineers, registered nurses, and computer system analysts, they are all jobs that currently exist today,’ he adds. (more…)

Photo: effreyw / Flickr

This Mexican style dish makes a hearty meal and will appeal to meat eaters as well as vegetarians. The dish consists of a base of corn chips which is then topped with a delicious bean mixture. The plate is then served with an avocado pear mixture on the side, together with sour cream. Alternatively, the beans can be topped with the avo and sour cream. This recipe shouldn’t take too much longer than half an hour to prepare. (more…)