PCADSL BLOG

On the 6 June 1944 the greatest seaborne invasion the world has ever known took place on the Calvados Coast of Normandy, France. This invasion was the beginning of the end of the Second World War and the 6 June 1944 will be forever known as D-Day. This article is an account of the first action that took place on D-Day at the Caen Canal and River Orne Bridges near B?nouville, France. It tells the true story of the coup-de-main assault by British Gliderborne soldiers to capture these two vital bridges.

Preceding the seaborne landings three Allied Airborne Divisions were dropped to secure the flanks of the five-invasion beaches where the Allied 21st Army Group was to come ashore. In the west two US Airborne Divisions dropped onto the Cotentin peninsula behind UTAH beach and in the east the British 6th Airborne Division (Br 6 AB Div) dropped into the area between the River Orne and River Dives to the east of SWORD beach.

One of the primary tasks of the Br 6 AB Div was to seize intact the two bridges over the Caen Canal and River Orne near B?nouville and hold them until relieved against any German counterattacks. This mission was considered to be vital to the success of the invasion, as it would allow the seaborne forces to reinforce the Br 6 AB Div?s area and subsequently break out to the east. D Company the 2nd Oxfordshire and Buckinghamshire Light Infantry (D Coy 2 OBLI) commanded by Major John Howard was selected to carryout this mission and this is their story.

On the morning of 5 June 1944 the men of D Coy 2 OBLI started their final preparations and at noon Maj Howard learned that the invasion was on. He ordered the men to rest and when the evening meal was over they boarded the trucks to go to their gliders. As they climbed into their gliders he shook hands with the officers and called out words of encouragement to the men. Finally he moved to his own glider, upon the nose of which Pte Wally Parr had chalked ?Lady Irene? to name it after his wife. When Maj Howard got in the glider, the door was closed and on schedule they started to move down the runway. At 22.56 hrs ?Lady Irene? was airborne and D Coy 2 OBLI was on their way into history.

The six Halifax bombers from 298 Squadron RAF took-off with the accompanying Horsa gliders in tow and crossed the English Channel flying at an altitude of 7,000 ft. All around them were Heavy Bombers going to drop bombs on German positions in the invasion area, Caen or other selected targets. With all of this air activity the German anti-aircraft and searchlight crews failed to notice the gliders.

At the appointed time the Halifax bomber released the first glider to begin its run into the target. In the glider S/Sgt Wallwork checked their altitude and the compass, whilst S/Sgt John Ainsworth checked his stopwatch. At the appointed mark they turned to starboard and halfway down the crosswind leg of their approach S/Sgt Wallwork saw it, he could make out the river, the canal and both bridges. With visibility good and the target in sight he dropped the glider?s nose and made for the LZ. With the ground rushing up at around 95mph he held the glider on course; they hit the ground and caught the first of the wire defences. Jim Wallwork shouted, ?Stream? and John Ainsworth released the arrester parachute; it lifted the tail, forced the nose into the ground, tore off the wheels and bounced the glider back into the air. The arrester parachute did its job and they hit the ground again; this time on the skids. Jim Wallwork shouted, ?Jettison? and John Ainsworth pressed the button to release the parachute; now travelling at about 60mph the glider threw up hundreds of friction sparks from the skids as they passed over rocks. Seeing these sparks through the open door Maj Howard thought that they had been spotted and were being fired upon. All of a sudden there was an almighty crash and the glider came to a jarring halt; Jim Wallwork and John Ainsworth were hurled out through the cockpit still strapped in their seats. It was 00.16 hrs early in the morning of D-Day 6 June 1944 and the first Allied soldiers had arrived on French soil.

The glider?s passengers were momentarily knocked unconscious, but Maj Howard?s fanaticism for physical fitness paid off; they quickly recovered and in a matter of seconds their training kicked in. Automatically removing their harnesses, they exited the glider through any hole they could make or find. On reaching the outside Maj Howard realised that there was no shooting and they had landed without being spotted. Looking around he thanked god for Jim Wallwork and John Ainsworth; they had put the glider right into the corner of the field where he wanted it.

Lt Herbert Denham ?Den? Brotheridge and the men of 25 Platoon swiftly exited the glider and quietly shook out into their assault formation. Lt Brotheridge whispered into Cpl Jack Bailey?s ear and off he went with his two men to deal with the pillbox where the firing mechanism to blow the bridges was located. Gathering the remainder of his platoon he gave a whispered, ?Come on lads? and they made a dash for the bridge.

One minute had passed since the first glider had landed and S/Sgt Oliver Bowland at the controls of glider 92 came down within 25 yards of glider 91. Lt David Wood was thrown clear still clutching on to his sten and canvas bucket of extra grenades; relieved to find himself in one piece he pulled himself together, gathered his platoon and set off for the wire perimeter where Maj Howard would be waiting.

Lt Brotheridge and 25 Platoon were moving on to the bridge at a steady trot as two German sentries passed each other in the middle. The sentry walking towards the eastern end of the bridge was suddenly confronted by a pack of British airborne soldiers coming out of the night; confronted by this hellish sight he turned tail and ran shouting ?paratroopers? as he went. The second sentry, a German NCO, turned to see what was happening and on seeing the British paratroopers running towards him pulled out the Verey pistol that he was carrying. Pte Billy Gray sent a burst from his Bren towards him and Lt Den Brotheridge fired off a full magazine from his sten. The German NCO was hit by a storm of bullets, but as he fell dead to the ground the Verey pistol went off and a flare shot up into the night.

As the flare went off Cpl Bailey and his two men arrived at the pillbox and tossed their grenades in through the weapon slits; the grenades were followed up with a burst of fire and they looked inside when the dust settled to find no one left alive.

Pte Wally Parr was just running on to the bridge when the flare shot skywards; he saw the door of a nearby dugout half open and abruptly shut again. Pulling out a grenade he ran across the road and by the time he got to the dugout the pin was out. Opening the door just enough to throw it in, he tossed the grenade through the opening and quickly shut the door. As the grenade exploded Pte Charlie Gardiner jumped into the dugout, Wally Parr opened the door again, and Gardiner finished off the Germans inside with a burst from his sten.

The shouts of ?paratroopers? from the running sentry, the sound of Lt Brotheridge?s sten, Pte Gray?s burst from his Bren, the crump of Cpl Bailey?s grenades going off and the flare from the German NCOs Verey pistol brought the other German defenders to life. Many of the private soldiers were foreign conscripts and these quickly faded into the night, but the NCOs all of whom were German sprang to their positions.

Back on LZ ?X? glider 93 came to a halt with a shuddering crash on the edge of the pond between the two gliders already on the ground, as it did so it swung ninety degrees breaking in half. Capt John Vaughan RAMC was thrown clear and knocked completely unconscious. Lt Richard ?Sandy? Smith was also thrown clear to land face down in the mud; he had lost his sten and momentarily did not know where he was or what he was doing. Picking up the nearest sten Lt Smith gathered his platoon together and made for Maj Howard?s position. One of the other members of 14 Platoon however, was not so lucky; L/Cpl Fred Greenhalgh was knocked unconscious on impact and thrown clear to land face down in the pond where he drowned.

By now the sappers from glider 91 were under the bridge cutting wires and looking for explosives as they went. Lt David Wood?s 24 Platoon were just arriving at Maj Howard?s position and barely two minutes had passed since the first glider had touched down.

The German sentry reached the far end of the bridge without being hit and threw himself into a trench. The Germans in their trenches turned their weapons to point at the running airborne soldiers. Lt Brotheridge was almost across the bridge when he saw the first of the enemy beginning to react and pulled a grenade from his pouch as he ran. Pte Billy Gray fired his Bren from the hip towards the enemy, as did many of the other charging men of 25 Platoon. Getting the pin out of his grenade Lt Brotheridge threw it at one of the enemy occupied trenches. As he did so a machine-gunner in another enemy trench off to his right sent a burst in his direction. As his grenade exploded in the enemy trench wiping out its occupants Lt Den Brotheridge was thrown back by the force of the machine-gun?s bullets to land on his back in the middle of the road. Other members of 25 Platoon began firing at the Germans in their trenches; the combination of this fire and a burst from Pte Gray?s Bren knocked out the machine-gun that had brought Lt Brotheridge down.

Wally Parr was trying to shout ?Able, Able, Able? as he ran on to the bridge, but the words would just not come out. Freeing his tongue from the roof of his dried out mouth he finally let out a yell of ?Come out and fight you square-headed bastards? in his broad Cockney accent. Lt David Wood?s men were now starting to get to grips with the Germans on the home bank.

Running straight past Maj Howard, 14 Platoon raced on to the bridge; Lt Sandy Smith had wrenched his knee and more hobbled than ran. As he crossed the bridge he saw Lt Brotheridge?s Platoon firing their weapons and throwing grenades at the German defenders. As he reached the far end he saw a German soldier near the low wall in front of the Caf? Gondr?e about to throw a stick grenade; with a burst from his sten he sent the German sprawling across the wall dead, but the grenade landed close to Lt Smith and went off. He did not feel a thing and it was only when one of his corporals who was nearby asked if he was all right that Lt Sandy Smith noticed the holes in his Denison smock and trousers; he had been hit by the grenade?s fragments and the wrist of his trigger hand had lost all of its flesh, but he could still use his trigger finger.

Inside the Caf? Gondr?e the owner, Georges Gondr?e, had been awakened by all the noise. Crawling to one of the upper floor windows he peeped over the sill to see what was going on; as he did so Lt Smith saw the movement and thinking that it was a German soldier let off a burst from his sten in the direction of the Caf?. Fortunately for Georges Gondr?e the burst went high shattering the window and hitting the wooden beams. He beat a hasty retreat, gathered his family together, and then took them downstairs to the comparative safety of the cellar. Lt Smith continued with the task in hand and led his platoon in the clearing of the remaining trenches on the western bank of the Canal.

At 00.21 hrs, the fighting at the Caen Canal Bridge started to die down and Pte Parr made his way to the Caf? that was the rallying point for 25 Platoon. As he ran past the end of the bridge he saw one of his comrades lying on the ground in the middle of the road. Knowing that he had to report to Lt Brotheridge he continued on for a few more paces before he pulled up short. Turning around he realised that the soldier on the ground was Lt Brotheridge. He went back and knelt down beside his Platoon Commander; Lt Brotheridge had been shot in the neck, his eyes were open and his lips were moving, but not a sound came out; as Wally Parr put his hand under Lt Brotheridge?s head to lift it up his eyes just rolled back.

24 Platoon had finished clearing the trenches on the home bank of the canal and Lt Wood decided to report to Maj Howard that his task was complete. With Sgt Leather and a runner he was moving back towards Maj Howard?s position when a burst from a German schmeisser rang out. Three bullets caught Lt David Wood in the leg and he fell to the ground. Bleeding profusely, frightened and shaken up he tried to stand but found he was unable to so. Both Sgt Leather and the runner had also been hit and lay on the ground nearby. Cpl Godbold one of his section commanders took over command of the platoon.

It was about this time that a shaken, but none too seriously injured S/Sgt Jim Wallwork started to regain consciousness; he was lying on his stomach with his seat on top of him. He could hear John Ainsworth calling out his name and asking if he was all right. Looking around he saw S/Sgt Ainsworth pinned under the wreckage of the glider?s nose and when he asked him if he could crawl out he replied, ?No.? He asked if he lifted the nose of the glider could he crawl out, to which he received the reply, ?I?ll try? and as he lifted the wreckage John Ainsworth crawled out. After getting a medic to see to John Ainsworth?s injuries, Jim Wallwork began his secondary task of unloading ammunition and carrying it forward to the men on the bridge.

It was now 00.22 hrs, six minutes after the first glider had landed, and reports of what was happening started to reach Maj Howard. The first information to come in was about Den Brotheridge; this was devastating news, as they were the best of friends. The next piece of news he received was that Lt David Wood and his Platoon Sergeant had also been hit; two of his three platoons at the bridge were now without their Platoon Commander. This was followed up with a report from 14 Platoon that informed him of Lt Smith?s injuries. Whilst Sandy Smith was still on his feet Maj Howard could not help thinking that he had effectively lost all three of his Platoon Commanders at the canal bridge; added to this he did not know what was happening at the Orne River Bridge.

At the Orne River Bridge the action was nowhere near as dramatic, glider 94 had missed the target area altogether landing some eight miles away near one of the bridges over the River Dives by Varaville; the Halifax crew had released the glider in the wrong place due to a navigational error.

Glider 96, piloted by S/Sgt Roy Howard and S/Sgt Fred Baacke, was the only one of the three gliders to come to rest on LZ ?Y?. At 00.20 hrs they made an easy landing coming to a halt some three hundred yards from the bridge; in this glider were Lt Dennis Fox and 17 Platoon. On landing Sgt Thornton reminded Lt Fox that he had forgotten to open the door, but when Dennis Fox tried to open it the door would not budge so Sgt Thornton had to show him how it was done.

A minute later glider 95, piloted by S/Sgt Stan Pearson and S/Sgt Len Guthrie, touched down and came to a halt short of LZ ?Y?, some 700 yards away from the bridge. This glider carried Lt H J ?Todd? Sweeney and 23 Platoon.

Dismounting from their glider 17 Platoon shook out into their approach formation; one section to the front followed by Lt Dennis Fox, the remaining two sections and Sgt Thornton with the remainder of platoon headquarters at the rear. When the lead section did not move off, Dennis Fox went forward to find out why. The section commander pointed out a German manning a machine-gun at the bridge. Lt Fox told him to get moving, but he still hesitated; so taking the bull by the horns Lt Dennis Fox led 17 Platoon off to start their approach. They had just got moving when the German at the bridge saw them and opened up with his MG 34; the men of 17 Platoon dived for cover. Sgt Thornton at the back grabbed hold of the platoon?s 2-inch mortar and immediately returned fire, putting a mortar round right on top of the machine-gunner. Seeing this land, Lt Fox and his platoon got up and charged to the bridge shouting ?Fox, Fox, Fox? as they went. Reaching the bridge they were just in time to see the last of the Germans running away. One of the NCOs from the 17 Platoon?s lead section jumped into the empty machine-gun pit, grabbed hold of their discarded MG 34 and sent a long burst of fire after them. These were the only shots fired in the capture of the bridge over the River Orne.

Lt Todd Sweeney and 23 Platoon dismounted from glider 95 to hear the machine-gun open up at the bridge. They quickly shook out and headed off for the bridge at the double with Lt Sweeney leading the way. The only casualties they suffered were those that failed to see the drainage ditches that crossed their approach. Soaked to the skin and covered in mud, Lt Sweeney led his men up to the bridge. Unnerved by the seemingly calm situation and the lack of any opposition on the bridge, he made the final approach with caution. Leaving one section to secure the home bank, Lt Sweeney led the remainder across at the run. As they reached the far end Lt Todd Sweeney saw Lt Dennis Fox. Lt Sweeney raced up to him, ?Dennis, how are you, is everything all right?? to which he received the reply, ?Yes I think so, but I can?t find the bloody umpires!?

Leaving Lt Fox to organise the immediate defence of the River Bridge Lt Sweeney made his way to the Canal Bridge to report to Maj Howard. At 00.26 hrs, ten minutes after glider 91 had landed, John Howard had the news he had been waiting for; D Coy 2 OBLI had seized both bridges intact. Exuberant Maj Howard turned to his radio operator Cpl Tappenden and told him to send the message that the bridges had been captured. ?HAM and JAM, HAM and JAM, HAM and JAM? out over the radio the codewords went; ?HAM and JAM, HAM and JAM, HAM and JAM? Cpl Tappenden continued to send. What Maj Howard and Cpl Tappenden did not know was that Brig Poett was unable to receive the message.

The Caen Canal Bridge was named ?Pegasus Bridge? after the Pegasus emblem worn by the British 6th Airborne Division in memory of this action. The River Orne Bridge was renamed ?Horsa Bridge? after the gliders that carried the men who landed here.

You can read more about D-Day on our free D-Day website at http://www.freewebs.com/ddayweb/ which is brought to you by In the footsteps BATTLEFIELD TOURS and Battlefield Tours 4u.

As part of the In the footsteps BATTLEFIELD TOURS you can also purchase related history and tour books written by Major Ian R Gumm.

Please visit us at www.inthefootsteps.com/ and Battlefield Tours 4u

First, as any inevitable event in the world history the Chinese appearance and further influence was predetermined by consequent and logical changes in the international political arena. The American Revolution and its effect showed China as the great opportunity to represent American people’s independence and to develop their country into the wealthy and powerful one. China representation on American continent was inseparably linked and simultaneously developed with the establishment of America as independent country. All three constituents  politics, economy and people  which are necessary to create new powerful state were gaining their resources from China. Of course, it would be too rude to prove the statement that American state establishment would be impossible without Chinese expansion and American interest to China. But looking back to the history it is evidently that China played one of the main roles in incredibly quick growth of America’s prosperity and influence on European continent. So the primary and initial question of real America’s needs in China naturally rose up the second question of Chinese appearance in this country which entailed the involvement of Chinese interests, demands, knowledge, culture and people in Americans’ daily life.

Why did this new, young, weak but free country decide to turn to the Pacific coast and start relations with China? There were two reasons: firstly, these relations could help America to start independent political life and compete with British Empire; secondly, they could provide resources for international and internal economy development. The world economy study has a good law that states: “all money goes to West”. This law has been historically proved. America development started with New York City establishment which inevitably moved its desires and purposes to the West, to the Pacific Coast and China. Before wealth concentration on American continent it moved from Asia to Europe and then from Europe to America. So the historical circulation was logical and inevitable&

Recently my mother was taken to the hospital. She is 89. The doctors thought she had pneumonia, but it turned out she had taken too much of one of her medicines and had come severely dehydrated. I had not seen her for about six months. Until then I had been, or tried to be, the dutiful daughter, caring, yearning to make her life better ?? I think in the desperate hope that she would turn finally into the soft, loving, accepting mother who filled my fantasies. But last July, the tensions between us had become so stressful that my health was being affected and I decided I had to make a long overdue separation. It was difficult. I wasn?t sure I could resolve my issues with her before she died. I did not know if I would ever see her again.

At first, when I heard she was in the hospital, I felt little emotion. Both my sister and brother, who are very supportive of this separation, assured me I didn?t have to go see her. They would take care of her. But the following afternoon, I found myself driving to the hospital. I was not a decision I consciously made. My car, it seemed, was driving me there.

I walked into her hospital room, heart pounding. She was sleeping and as I walked by the foot of her bed, my fingers reached out to tickle her toes. No response. As I stood by her side, I gently tickled the palm of her hand.

She opened her eyes, focused and then looked at me in disbelief that quickly turned to wonder. ?You?re here!? she said softly. ?Emmy??

I leaned over and kissed her. Her cheek was soft and warm. I sat beside her and held her hand. Although she was “not there” all the time, she was for a lot of the time, and her joy at seeing me was lovely. We chatted and laughed. Then, totally unprompted, she announced, ?I can?t change, you know.?

?Yes, I know,? I said. ?But I can change. I?m working on changes within me.?

She nodded and fell silent. It was a comfortable silence and, again, unprompted, she said, ?I read what you sent me.?

Recently, I had sent her some pages from my new website, Creative Soul Works. I sent it along with a photograph of myself and my dog, Phoebe.

?Did you like them?? I asked, knowing, amazingly, that I would feel comfortable even if she were critical.

She said, ?I had to read the pages a few times, and I?m not certain I understood it all, but I liked them.? She was quiet again, and after a few moments said, “This spiritual part has always been in you and isn’t it interesting that it is now coming out in such a fashion.?

Wow! That was amazing for her. No judgmental criticism!

Then a chaplain came into the room. He asked if he could sit with us a while. We said, yes, of course. My mother began talking, not making apparent sense, but I knew what she meant. She was talking about a woman where she lives who held Friday night spiritual gatherings and my mother always loved going. The woman is dying of cancer and my mother misses her.

After a while, the chaplain asked if he could say a prayer. He and I stood by my mother’s bed and he held both our hands and I held my mother’s hand, said a lovely prayer and left. It was lovely, unexpected, mysterious and perfect. I left her soon after feeling content and safe being my mother’s daughter for the first time in a very, very, very long time.

That night I spent time in and out of sleep thinking about end of life and passing over. Wednesday, I woke up early and went walking with Phoebe along a trail through the marsh near us. It was a bright, cold morning. Glorious. The sun sparkled on the thin covering of new ice, the first of the season. I was lost in the beauty of the morning. Nature embraced me. Nature in its denuded, brown beauty. Trees reaching to the brilliant blue sky in prayer. Me and my beautiful puppy dog and the marsh and the ice and the sun and the birds and thoughts of my mother and the beauty of age and even the majesty of death.

All this swirled in my mind as Phoebe and I walked through the marsh. And it seemed to me the trees and air were whispering poetry into my ear. This came to me:

Guardians of Light
hear my sorrow.
Guardians of Death
soothe my soul.
The frozen marsh is a starfield
of December sun.
I fall into the Mystery
where questions are shackles
and the ancient memory of tress
shines.

When I returned to my car I knew I had to go see my mother again. She was sleeping when I got there, curled up like a baby, white blanket tucked high about her neck. I sat beside her on the bed and nudged her into waking. She blinked and stared vacantly at me.

“Who I am?” I asked.

She smiled and said, “Emily.” Then added, “Where did you come from?”

“A walk with Phoebe. It’s beautiful out.”

She drifted back to sleep.

“Wake up,” I nudged her again. “Come on.” I tickled her.

She laughed and opened her eyes.

“Do you still know who I am?” I asked.

“Of course!” She looked at me as if I were crazy.

We talked a bit. She rambled. I asked her if she had seen any angels.
She said, “No, but some men where chasing her all night thought the woods in Larchmont.”

I asked her if she has seen my father or her mother?

“They’re dead,” she said.

“I know. But maybe they’ll come visit if you want them.”

She smiled.

“Daddy can protect you from the men chasing you,” I said.

She drifted back to sleep.

I nudged her again. “I wrote a poem,” I said. “Do you want to hear it?”

“Sure,” she said.

“Okay, listen…” I read the poem. When I finished, I thought she had fallen asleep. I leaned over and whispered, “Did you hear the poem? Should I read it again?”

“Read it again,” she said. She listened, silent a few moments and said, “I understand the poem. I think you’re telling me not to be afraid of death.”

I smiled. She smiled. “Have you seen any angels?” I asked again.

She sighed. “I’m sleepy.”

I leaned over and kissed her soft skin. “Sleep,” I said.

“Are you coming back?” she asked.

“Yes,” I said. “I’ll be back.”

MySpace is a social networking web site which offers a network of personal profiles, blogs, friends, groups, music photos and videos. This network is both interactive and user-submitted. MySpace is reportedly the fifth most popular website in English, and also in top ten of the most popular websites in any language. Its popularity in the United States ranks it among the top five websites, and it is known to have topped the charts quite often. MySpace has become very influential of the popular culture of our times, and it receives about eighty percent of all visits to online social networking websites.

If you have a MySpace profile, but you are displeased with it because it basically looks like everyone else?s, you have the possibility to modify the default layout. MySpace layout and backgrounds can be customized with a simple trick, such as adding hidden HTML code to your profile. If have some knowledge of CSS and HTML, you can try different background images and color themes. On the other hand, if messing with HTML and CSS is too much for you, you can always use one of the numerous MySpace customizing tools that you can find on the web, and which make it quite easy to customize your layout. If you use any of the major search engines to look for MySpace layouts or MySpace backgrounds, you?ll find thousands of websites that can help you with your problem.

The offer of MySpace layouts is huge. However, it can be quite confusing to find the place for the CSS code in order to make your area look just the way you want it. Fortunately, there are web site that provide assistance in doing that, so as to be able to launch into bigger MySpace things. Your profile can be customized with some of the many MySpace layouts or MySpace backgrounds.

Basically, it?s like this: when you have found something you like in MySpace layouts, all you have to do is to click ?Preview It? and you will be shown a live preview. If you decide to take that, just get the MySpace layout codes. Then, you have to paste the code into your MySpace profile, in your ?About Me? section. Should you find any MySpace layouts that are not working, you are requested to send an email to that everything can be restored.

The MySpace layouts fall into so many categories that your choice is most likely going to be a tough one. You can choose from abstract, animal ,Asian, sports, games, celebrity, Christmas, cartoons, fashion, flowers, nature, retro, stars, stripes, and many, many more. There are MySpace layouts for guys and for girls. You can choose from the brands MySpace layouts, such as Louis Vuitton, or others. If you like, you have a choice of sexy MySpace layouts, such as Playboy. Should any of these categories appeal to you, you still have the possibility to choose from the uncategorized MySpace layouts.

The choice for MySpace Backgrounds is not as varied, but if you take into consideration the fact that you can use any of those images together with MySpace backgrounds, there are tons of possibilities. So, don?t waste a minute longer, and customize your profile with MySpace layouts and backgrounds!

As such every mobile handset of the Nokia N-series is superior in itself, but every handset has something special to offer. The Nokia N95 is yet another superb member of this elite league. This smartphone hoards loads of hot technologies, as it works on the Series 60 Symbian Operating system. And, all the Symbian phones are known for their abilities to support various things such as Java technology, GPRS, PC Synchronization mechanism, Bluetooth and many more. As far as, overall profile of the Nokia N95 is concerned, it is an all-rounder in all departments.

Besides offering so much in technology, the Nokia N95 is too good when it comes to usability factor. It is endowed with a slider opening mechanism, which makes it more attractive. On the other hand, it offers a dual viewing option, thus the user can easily view both horizontally and vertically. Well, its vertical display is there for calling and messaging. You can use its horizontal viewing option for mobile Internet.

Undoubtedly, the Nokia N95 is too good when it comes to imaging capabilities. It is loaded with a 5 mega pixels camera, which lets you enjoy photography too the fullest. There are various other assisting features such as 20x digital zoom, Carl Zeiss Optics, Scene settings options, video recorder and video player, which let you unleash your imagination in the easiest possible way.

The Nokia N95 is not only good with compatible features, but it is also a 3G enabled device. Hence, it comes with a CIF camera, which is specifically fitted to let you enjoy video calling. It also supports illustrating messaging options with SMS, MMS, Email with attachments, Picture messaging and Instant Messaging. For swift Internet access, it also comes with WAP, XHTML, and HTML browsers to provide you all the options you want. You can also use it as a walkie talkie with WiFi. Browsing capabilities and data exchange has been optimised with various hot technologies such as EDGE, HSCSD and HSDPA.

Keeping you connected across the five continents, the Nokia N95 supports quad-band technology. It is also stuffed up with a MicroSD memory card, which lets you enjoy all the space you want. Offering too much, its a real fun to have a Nokia N95.

Depression is a neurological disorder. When a person is too overcome with negative emotions, it becomes difficult to focus on any other issue. The person may become lethargic and lose interest in what is going on around them. Such a state may occur when a person fails in an examination, loses a job, gets jilted by a lover, gets divorced, loses some dear one, etc. Some people are able to get over their emotions quickly. But in some others, depressions may last for several days, weeks or even months.

In Ayurveda, depression is known as Chittavsada. It is caused by the increase in the tamas and rajas of the mind with a vitiation of the kapha dosha. Sometimes, an imbalanced vata may also be responsible for depression.

Depression needs to be looked after and treated as soon as it is identified. In some people, depression may be very dangerous as they could resort to endangering their own and other people?s lives.

(1) Useful Herbs in the Treatment of Depression

1. Ashwagandha (Withania somnifera)
Ashwagandha has the requisite properties to remove negative thoughts from the mind. The aphrodisiac properties of ashwagandha also help in improving the mind and removing depression.

2. Brahmi (Bacopa monnieri)
Brahmi is prescribed before a yogic session. The reason is that brahmi helps to relax the mind and bring it to a comfortable state. Brahmi is very popularly available in the form of oils. The oil has a cooling and soothing effect on the mind. Regular use of this oil can prevent the person from feeling depressed.

3. Cardamom (Elattaria cardamomum)
Cardamom has a very pleasing odor which can soothe the nerves. When a person is depressed, a tea made by putting cardamom in it can have almost miraculous effects.

4. Guggulu (Commiphora wightii)
Guggulu has become the focus of attention recently due to the presence of special chemicals in it called as guggulsterones. These chemicals improve the nervous coordination and hence are beneficial in the treatment of depression. Guggulu is more effective in depression caused due to seasonal affective disorder.

5. Jatamansi (Nardostachys jatamansi)
Jatamansi brings a calming effect on the mind. By canalizing the energies of the mind in the right direction, jatamansi can remove the depressive thoughts.

6. Turmeric (Curcuma longa)
Turmeric is effective in treating depression that is caused by the change of seasons, i.e. seasonal affective disorder.

(2) Dietary Treatments for Depression

For people with depression a heavy food is not advised. The person must not eat to the full capacity. Hot, spicy and pungent tastes must be avoided as these will aggravate the senses further. Fluids and fresh vegetables (in salads) must become an important part of every meal. The person can have cool sherbets like rose sherbet in the middle of the day, especially in the afternoons and when the evening is beginning. Tea and coffee may be taken occasionally to stimulate the brain.

Most people with depression lose their appetite and desire to eat. For such people, food must not be forced, or it could lead to vomiting. When such a disinterest in food occurs, fruits can be consumed. A diet rich in fruits is beneficial in the treatment of depression.

(3) Ayurvedic Treatment for Depression

Even in Ayurveda, a psychological counseling between the physician and the patient is undertaken. This helps the physician to understand the root cause of the depression. Then they can take the formulated steps to cure the problem. Such counseling is done to increase the sattva of the mind.

Slowly allowing a stream of water to fall in the center of the forehead enables the mind to remove its negativistic thoughts and focus more on a positive outlook. This therapy is known as shirodhara and it is becoming very popular in the western world also. An alternative therapy is shirobasti. The oil massage therapy called as abhyanga is also very useful.

Ayurverdic professionals also advocate the use of yoga in keep the mind restful. Praanayama and yoga must become an important part of a person?s daily routine. This helps to concentrate the mind on positive thoughts and depression will never occur. Yogic asanas that are beneficial to people with depression are bhujangasana, halasana, paschimottasana, sarvangasana, shalabhasana, shavasana and vakrasana. In addition, pranayamas like bhastrika and kapalbhati are very strongly advised.

(4) Home Medications

1. Get someone do a good head massage with a cooling oil like brahmi oil.

2. Improve the regimen of your day. Begin with yoga in the morning and then listen to good soothing music. For some people, visiting their religious places of worship also helps to come out of depression.

3. Focus your mind in other activities and hobbies in order to keep the thoughts causing depression away.

4. You can try eating an apple with milk and honey. This helps to improve the mood.

5. Simple lemon juice (the extract of one lemon in a glass of water, sweetened with sugar) is also good. It releases stress-removing hormones and brings the mind at ease.

Picture an island nestling in the calm, azure blue waters of the Gulf of Thailand fringed by coral reefs with beaches of powder soft white sand framed by a backdrop of coconut trees, their fronds dancing in the gentle breeze. The palms stretch upward to the central uplands, thick with lush tropical vegetation. The coast and lower slopes are awash with coconut palms making Koh Samui the ?Coconut Capital of Thailand?. It is said the island sends 2,000.000 coconuts per month to Bangkok. This green vista is interspersed occasionally by black granite boulders. Some of these rock formations appear to defy gravity by hanging dramatically against the hillside. This tropical paradise is called Koh Samui. A 250 square kilometre rounded island which is about the same size as Penang.
Koh Samui translates from Koh, the Thai word for island, and Samui, which is probably derived from the Chinese ?saboey? meaning safe harbour. The magic island first came to the attention of world travellers when it started to crop up in conversation in many of the cheap hotels that then clustered around Bangkok?s Hualamphong Railway station some 45 years ago. It was difficult to get to, requiring special negotiation with fishermen in Suratthani lying 80 kilometres across the sea on the mainland. When you reached the island, there was no road and so those intrepid voyagers hopped from beach to beach by boat. In the past forty plus years things have changed hugely.

The island is now served by an international airport that looks more like a botanical garden than the accepted tradition of functional ?air station?. Flights leave hourly for the new Suvarnbhumi Airport in Bangkok and link the island to additional destinations such as Singapore, Kuala Lumpur, Hong Kong, Pattaya and Phuket. A 52-kilometre road rings Samui and links all the major towns. Nathon the capital plays host to government buildings and banks and serves as one of the ferry ports serving the Thai mainland. The road skirts the 635-metre mountain that sits centrally astride the landmass and takes in the main resorts of Lamai and Chaweng. Lamai is the smaller of the two and offers a quieter and perhaps cleaner beach. The latter caters for, perhaps, a younger and more energetic visitor. Further on lies Bangrak is better known as ?Big Buddha Beach? as it takes its name from the huge Buddha statue at the eastern end of the bay. Borphut boasts a trendy fisherman?s village, much favoured by French tourists and Maenam to the north offers spectacular views across to Koh Phangan and the Ang Thong Natural Marine Park. This area is much less crowded than the bustling Chaweng and the marginally quieter Lamai. It still retains its original Thai flavour. However, to get to grips with authentic ?Samui? you need to rent a car or motorbike and take one of the many roads that lead up away from the coast and into the mountain. As you climb higher you come to rubber plantations and hidden away villages clustering around paddy fields, still hanging onto a traditional way of life that is far removed from the tourist dominated hotels, resorts, restaurants and bars that cluster around the coast.

Samui has over the years developed a reputation as centre of complementary medicine offering spas designed to detox inhabitants of an overstressed globe. The Health Oasis Resort located adjacent to the unspoiled Bang Po Beach to the west of Maenam offers stunning views across to Koh Phangan. Sit in the authentic vegetarian restaurant after six p.m. and turn your head to the west you will witness spectacular sunsets over the islands that comprise the Ang Thong National Park. Health Oasis is unique in that the Thai Department of Health lists it as a traditional medicine hospital. It specialises in supervised detox and fasting treatments.

Be sure of this, whatever your tastes Koh Samui will be able to provide a venue for a holiday that will linger long in your memory. So if you are planning a trip of a lifetime whether it be for tourism or health this magical island is a venue well worth considering.

The debate over long or short nails has raged since the dawn of the classical guitar and the right answer to this question is ?It doesn?t matter?. But there are differences between the two styles and some things you should know before you decide which is right for you.

Some classical guitarists prefer to pluck the strings with the nails of their right hand while other guitarists prefer to keep their nails trimmed and to pluck the strings with the tips of their fingers. If you are a beginner classical guitarist you might be wondering which way you should play. Here are some insights about each way so you can make a decision as to which style is right for you.

First off I want to say that I have been playing classical guitar for over twenty years and I have played with both long and short nails. For the past five years I have been playing with long nails but, when I break or split a nail, I trim all the nails of my right hand and play without nails until they slowly grow back. For me, the most important thing about playing classical guitar is the playing! It is true that my oscillating back and forth between long and short nails has an effect on my virtuosity but this switching also brings a benefit. The two different styles of playing produce two very different tones and this awareness of tone improves my ear and my ability to express myself with the guitar. It helps me to better tap into the incredible range of tone the guitar is capable of.

The Long and the Short of it

Long Nails ? Long nails give you a more vibrant tone, better volume and faster speed. But long nails can be a real maintenance headache. You have to keep them very carefully trimmed and watch out for their welfare in your normal life. If you have a job that is very manual in nature you may have trouble maintaining your nails.
Short Nails ? Short Nails do not produce as loud a volume, do not lend themselves to the fastest playing but do give you more control and more sensitivity in your playing. There is more of an emotional connection with the music because you literally touch the strings. Short nails are also easier to maintain and easier to integrate into the rest of your life.

So which should you use?

My recommendation for you is that if your intent is to be a professional classical guitarist you should cultivate your playing with long nails and if you are an amateur you should experiment with both styles and see which you like. If your normal life is very hard on your hands like if you have a job that you use your hands a lot you may want to simply opt for the short nails. It can be a bit of a worry to have long, perfectly trimmed and manicured nails for playing yet always worry about breaking them on the job. And breaking one nail seriously hampers, if not totally stops your ability to play. You will be running down to the local drug store to find a nail repair kit.

Either way you go with your nails my biggest recommendation is that you not worry about it. The classical guitar is a beautiful instrument and it is going to sound fantastic.

In the contemporary period, fashion jewelry is simply rocking whether it is beads, ring, plastic pendants or other colorful ornaments. Basically the reason behind this hype is that fashion jewelry can be made in all metals. And it gives you an alternative to costly style & fashion and most importantly fashion gratification at reasonable prices.

The other thing that favors fashion jewelry is its huge appeal. That?s why it is highly used during parties, dramas or in bridal occasions and gives you perfect alternative to traditional jewelry. At the time of wearing, the thing you just need to do is to determine what you want your jewelry to do. Whatever you want, but one thing is sure it definitely provides you center stage, helps in garnering compliments and developing your own fashion statement.

It is also true that the world of fashion jewelry design is excessively abundant with options. So, just be aware what’s hot or what?s topping the chart in the fashion trends. And the latest trends in fashion jewelry are so vast and hot that nobody can help without indulging in these mesmerizing pieces. Different kinds of beautiful design and great assortments of colors make them something extra hot especially among teenagers. That?s the reason; most of the youngsters are developing their own unique style and interpreting the ever-changing tide of trends.

Furthermore, the huge options in fashion jewelry have made all class of people crazy. Such as, there are lots of choices in necklaces, pendants, rings, earring and bracelets to give you unique look at any occasion. These pieces of fashion jewelry are available in many sizes and shapes. They can be sterling silver bulldogs or mini multicolored disco balls. Simultaneously, you can also find many forms in sign fashion jewelry like star shape necklaces, neon plastic earrings, large metallic signs, mini metallic star shape pendants, cross shape pendants and other silver bling shape jewelry. And all these exquisite pieces can be worn with any types of wardrobes.

Now, whole range of fashion jewelry is also available online like cuff bracelets for men and bangle, necklace, earring & others girls fashion jewelry. You can also place your fashion jewelry orders to take benefit of special offers with the click of your mouse. No matter what option you go for, online fashion jewelry stores will definitely reduce the price of purchasing your favorite jewelry and also provide you a better-quality shopping experience.

Lastly, if you are dreaming about your favorite fashion jewelry then purchase these pieces to bring a change in your style statement.

For more information on engagement rings, visit: http://www.preciousglow.com

Humans have been passionate about tarot and astrology since the ancient of times. Strongly linked, these two sciences are enjoyed by many people who prefer to search for them online. The Internet is without any doubt a good place to find information on the subject and benefit from tarot or astrology reading.

Predicting future events with the help of tarot reading is not a novelty. On the contrary, tales about such happenings are written in ancient books and we all love the possibilities they may bring to us. A simple deck of cards can hold amazing answers and this is why it is important to understand the force of tarot reading.

The fact that each tarot card has its personal meaning is an essential feature of any tarot reading session. It all depends on how you hold the card. You can have a positive or a negative reading and be dazzled with what they say to you. There are 78 cards and each one of them is unique. You have plenty of things to understand about tarot reading and the cards.

Online you can find what the fool, the magician or the chariot is ready to reveal to you. Remember the hanged man, the transformation card and the wheel of fortune as cards that can really turn your life upside down. The important thing is to find an website that knows the ancient tradions of Tarot and values them above all else. The interesting part about Tarot is the many things it can show. You will surely be amazed about the possibilities and the cards symbols.

People feel the need the believe in something bigger than themselves. They seek the help given by tarot reading hoping they will understand the meaning of life better and prepare for the future. They do not want definite answers, they just want to analyze the options they have and solve any possible problems.

Tarot reading can be a lot of fun, leaving aside the serious part of the matter. It can spread some light on someone?s love life, show money issues and also any upcoming changes. It is an ancient science and the Internet has only helped to increase its magic. The universe is surely grander than us and maybe in a way we can understand a small part of it, the human nature. Tarot is one of the best ways of understanding us and our race.

When you go online and search for tarot interpretation, you can also find astrology reading. The planets affect us in various ways, even since the times we are born and astrology plays an important part in our existence. The twelve houses, the zodiac signs and the astrological charts, all of them are vital elements to astrology reading and online you can find lots of websites providing information on that subject.

Astrology is probably as old or even older than Tarot. Both of them are often used online for gripping predictions about a person and important issues in his/her life: health, romance, money and success. People want to know more about themselves and many of them use the Internet for astrology reading.

The image offered by the majority of astrology reading websites is simple. You want to know about your star sign and possible predictions. The truth is that there is much more to astrology then the 12 zodiacal signs. Our conduct is deeply influenced by planets and starts, the fundamentals of our life depend on their rotation and each person has unique characteristics.

The World Wide Web is considered as a good place to go further deep into the art of Tarot and astrology. There are many things to be discovered and each person has to make them on their own. Choosing a trustworthy website is important in order to receive accurate predictions and interesting information about the world of psychics.