Category: General

Herbs That Help With Anxiety

Anxiety disorders are the most common of all mental health disorders. Fortunately, anxiety disorder is highly treatable, and with professional help, it can often be completely overcome. Many times, successful treatment depends only upon individual or group therapy and learned relaxation techniques. In some cases, however, anti-anxiety prescription medication is also recommended. Medications can carry a risk of alarming side effects and can be highly addictive, spurring many people to seek safer, more natural alternatives.
There are many natural herbs for anxiety, which have been proven to effectively ease many of the symptoms of with a very low risk of side effects. Just as with prescription medications, everyone reacts differently to natural medications, and it can take time to find the right combination and dosage for your body.
Passionflower – an ingredient that is often used in natural medicine, alleviates hyperactivity, anxiety, insomnia, nervous tension — and is even sometimes used to treat Parkinson’s Disease. Passion flower soothes and calms and can lower high blood pressure.
Lemon balm – a general restorative for the nervous system, can reduce blood pressure and also calm the digestive system.
Lavender – an excellent anxiety treatment and one of the best natural panic attack treatments. Lavender is a general tonic for the nervous system and a natural relaxant.
Valerian – a popular natural ingredient that can be used as a sedative and a painkiller. It is often effectively employed as a treatment for anxiety and for insomnia, as well.
You may find that with psychotherapy, cognitive-behavioral therapy, relaxation exercises or support groups, or some combination of all of them, you do not need any medication. But if you do decide to explore the option of medication, natural treatments for anxiety can provide you with safe, effective results, without the risk of side effects that prescription medications pose. Natural medications are becoming increasingly popular as awareness of them grows, and you might find that they are the right treatment for you as well.

Legal Update – Owners Corporation Act (2006)

The Owners Corporation Act (the ‘Act’) was passed on 14 September 2006 and received assent on 19 September 2006. The Act, in effect, replaces and enlarges upon the regulations under the Subdivision Act 1988 with regard to bodies corporate (now called ‘owners corporations’).

The Act changes the structure, function, rights and obligations of bodies corporate and will affect property owners, managers, and property developers of residential properties, commercial properties, retirement villages, shopping complexes, office space, industrial complexes and mixed-use developments.

The Act comes into operation on 31 December 2007.

The Act will directly affect the one in five Victorians who own, live in, manage or develop bodies corporate. Here we examine the Act and highlight the Act’s key provisions.
Why the act has been passed.

The Act is intended to address the inadequacies in the Subdivision Act 1988 in an environment of increasing numbers of bodies corporate and increasing complexity in the way they are structured and managed.

The Act :

* addresses both the obligations and rights which are common to all OCs, and recognises the different requirements of two-lot, general and large OCs; and
* outlines the structure, function, rights and obligations of lot owners, OCs, managers and committees.

Existing Legislation: Subdivision Act 1988

At present, bodies corporate are created and managed largely under a regime established by the Subdivision Act 1988. However since that legislation was enacted the number and complexity of bodies corporate has increased dramatically. It is estimated that in 1988 there were 35,000 bodies corporate covering 200,000 people, and that now there are 480,000 lots, 65,000 bodies corporate and that 1 million people live or work in a building that is covered by a body corporate. The estimated capital improved value of lots affected by bodies corporate is $40 billion. The law relating to bodies corporate has been under review since 2003.

The Act is intended to address inadequacies in the Subdivision Act 1988 regime. In the second reading speech for the Act, Attorney-General Mr Hulls stated that:

‘The current regulatory scheme for bodies corporate is not serving Victorians well. The regulatory scheme is sparse and limited in the guidance it provides to bodies corporate and lot owners. Parts of it are not clear or appear contradictory, and in many areas little guidance is provided to individuals trying to run these community organisations we call bodies corporate. At a minimum this Act will fix this situation.’

r Hulls outlined the main themes emerging from the review process as:

* the need for better access to dispute resolution;
* clearer rights, duties and responsibilities of members and the body corporate;
* giving sufficient powers and flexibility to bodies corporate and body corporate committees to allow them to operate effectively;
* improved financial management and protection of body corporate funds;
* long-term maintenance planning; and
* the promotion of more professional standards in the body corporate management industry.

Creation of Owners Corporations

An Owner’s Corporation (‘OC’) is created under the Subdivision Act 1988 (which the Act amends) in the same way that a body corporate was created i.e. a plan of subdivision may provide for the creation of one or more OCs, and a plan of subdivision which contains common property must provide for the creation of one or more OCs. An OC will automatically come into existence upon the registration of a plan of subdivision.

The Act outlines the functions of the OC, which include an obligation to repair and maintain the common property and equipment and services, take our insurance as required by any Act, keep an OC register and provide an OC certificate, and any other function conferred by any law. These functions are substantially similar to the functions of a body corporation under the Subdivision Act 1988. However the Act substantially expands and regulates the conduct of these functions.

In carrying out its functions and powers, an OC must act honestly and in good faith and exercise due care and diligence.

An OC may delegate by instrument any power or function of the OC to the Committee, Chairman, Secretary, member, manager or employee of the OC. An instrument of delegation must be issued at the AGM.
Existing Bodies Corporate

Under the Act:

* existing bodies corporate will become OCs and will be subject to the new legislation;
* existing body corporate rules will continue to the extent that they are not inconsistent with the new legislation; and
* any body corporate certificate issued immediately before the commencement day of the new legislation will be deemed to be an owners corporation certificate.

Tiers of Owners Corporations

Under the Act there are three tiers of OCs:

* OCs over two-lot subdivisions: these OCs are exempted from compliance with a number of requirements under the new legislation;
* OCs generally;
* Prescribed OCs: certain OCs (as prescribed in regulations which are not yet available) will have additional obligations. Prescribed OCs are expected to be the larger OCs.

Financial management

An OC (other than a two-lot OC) must keep proper accounts and prepare a financial statement for the annual general meeting. An OC may, and a prescribed OC must, have the financial statement audited.

An OC may, and a prescribed OC must, prepare a maintenance plan setting out certain information including anticipated major capital expenses within the next 10 years. A maintenance plan does not have effect unless it is approved by the OC. An OC with an approved maintenance plan must establish a maintenance fund into which certain funds must be paid.
Asset management

An OC must repair and maintain the common property and all related chattels, fixtures, fittings and services, and any service which is for the benefit of more than one lot and the common property.

Lot owners are required to maintain any part of the lot that affects the outward appearance of the lot, and maintain any service that serves that lot exclusively. Lot owners must not permit the common property to be damaged or to deteriorate. In some circumstances, lot owners are responsible for cleaning and maintaining overhanging eaves and gutters that are common property. Lot owners can decorate and attach fixtures to their lots, but must give notice to the OC of any application by the lot owner for a building or planning permit.
Insurance

A lot owner can insure their lot and their interest in the common property. Section 11 of Sale of Land Act 1962 remains in effect: a lot owner cannot sell a lot if insurance required under the Act is not in place. If the insurance has not been taken out, the purchaser may avoid the sale at any time before the contract is completed.

All OCs (except two-lot OCs) are required to obtain reinstatement and replacement insurance and public liability insurance for common property, and for any multilevel developments.

Not less than every five years a prescribed OC must obtain a valuation of all buildings that it is liable to insure. The OC must present the valuer’s report at the next general meeting.
Developers

The Act imposes a number of obligations on the applicant for registration of the plan of subdivision (other than a two-lot subdivision):

* the applicant must provide (amongst other things) at the first meeting of the OC (which must occur within six months of the registration of the plan of subdivision) an OC register, any accounts or records made on behalf of the OC, the maintenance plan (if any), any contracts, leases and licences binding on or benefiting the OC, insurance policies, the names of the companies, tradespeople or suppliers who provided a warranty or other guarantee on any matter for which the OC is responsible, and copies of those warranties and guarantees;
* within the first five years following registration of the plan of subdivision and while the applicant owns a majority of the lots affected by the OC, the applicant must:
* act honestly and in good faith and with due care and diligence in the interests of the OC in exercising any rights under the new legislation; and
* take all reasonable steps to enforce any domestic building contract entered into for any breach of contract which affects the common property and of which the applicant is aware or ought reasonably to be aware; and
* the applicant must establish an OC register which includes information regarding lot liability, insurance policies, notices or orders served on the OC and details of contracts, leases and licenses entered into by the OC.

Proxies and Powers of Attorney

The Act makes it an offence for a person to require or demand that a lot owner of any subdivision provide a power of attorney or proxy for the purpose of voting at a meeting or in a ballot of an OC.

A person is not entitled to exercise a power of attorney for more than one lot (unless the lot owners are members of the same family).

A proxy holder must act honestly and in good faith and exercise due care and diligence. A person can hold any number of proxies, however any proxy is revocable, and lapses after twelve months of being given. A proxy holder who is not a lot owner may not vote on matters which affect that person relating to the delegation of functions and powers (e.g. to a manager or committee), or the appointment, payment or removal of a manager. Any contract appointing a manager in breach of the new legislation is voidable unless affirmed by the OC by special resolution.
Committees

Any OC with thirteen or more lots must elect a Committee. The Committee can do all things that an OC can do by ordinary resolution, unless the OC decides to limit the Committee’s powers. The procedure by which Committees must operate is clarified. The Committee must also present a report of its activities to the annual general meeting.

Each member of a Committee or sub-committee must act honestly and in good faith and exercise due care and diligence in the performance of his or her functions, and must not make improper use of his or her position as a member to gain, directly or indirectly, an advantage for himself or herself or for any other person.

Each OC must have a Chairman, and may have a Secretary. The functions of Chairman and Secretary must now be undertaken by members, rather than a manager. A manager cannot be a Secretary unless there is no Committee and no Secretary.

Sub-Committees can be set up in accordance with the rules, which may provide for the role and functions of the sub-committee.
Managers

An OC may appoint a person to manage the OC. A manager must act to the same standard as is prescribed for Committee members.

A manager must submit a report to each annual general meeting, which must include details of the manager’s professional indemnity insurance.

Every paid manager must carry professional indemnity insurance and be registered with the Business Licensing Authority. The Licensing Registrar will keep a register of managers which will contain certain information including contact details, insurance details, and orders of VCAT relating to the person as a manager. Any existing manager will have three months in which to register. Any person, in accordance with the regulations (not yet published), can inspect the register.

Within 28 days of ceasing to be a manger, the manager must return all records relating to the OC to the OC.

An OC can revoke the appointment of a manager. As an OC can delegate its power, a delegatee of the OC can revoke a manager.
Records and Register

An OC must keep:

* a register (as established by the application for registration); and
* (for 7 years) records regarding each OC, including copies of resolutions, financial statements and accounting records, contracts and agreements entered into by the OC and leases and licences to and from the OC.

The OC must make the records and register available to a lot owner, mortgagee of a lot and purchaser of a lot (or any of their representatives), and those people can copy the documents for not more than the prescribed fee.

A person can apply to VCAT to restrict access to personal information in exceptional circumstances.
OC Certificate and Vendor’s Statements

The OC must provide within 10 days of a request, an OC certificate containing certain information including information relating to the manager, all contracts, leases, licences and agreements affecting the common property, legal proceedings and liabilities and contingent liabilities of the OC, and accompanied by certain documents.

The OC Certificate (including all documentation) must be attached to a Vendor’s Statement for the sale of any lot.
Dispute Resolution

The Act outlines a number of dispute resolution procedures. These include:

* Complaint to the OC – A lot owner, occupier or manager may complaint to the OC about an alleged breach of an obligation by a lot owner, occupier or manager. The OC must have a dispute resolution process or the dispute resolution process of the model rules will apply. An OC must follow the dispute resolution process as set out in the rules before making an application to VCAT;
* Application to the Director – On application to the Director of Consumer Affairs Victoria (CAV) by any person, the Director may refer a matter to an employee of CAV for conciliation or mediation; and
* VCAT – VCAT has powers to resolve a dispute arising under the Act or regulations or rules with regard to the operation of an OC, breach by a lot owner or occupier of the Act or regulations or rules, and exercise of a function by the manager. VCAT can dismiss an application by an OC if the dispute resolution process set out in the rules has not been followed.

Adverse Possession

The Act amends the Limitation of Actions Act 1958 so that the right, title and interest of an OC in common property is not affected by reason only of any adverse possession, irrespective of the period of that possession.
Concerns which have been raised in regard to the Act

Although there were a large number of submissions regarding amendment to the Act, and it was accepted that the Act was not without flaws, the Act passed through both houses of Parliament without amendment.

Some of the concerns raised, which may be addressed in the regulations or in future amendments to the Act, include:

* that the Chairman and Secretary must be members of the OC, rather than these roles being undertaken by a manager as occurs in most bodies corporate at present;
* that in attempting to address the issues of larger OCs, the Act imposes a burden on the 30% of OCs which consist of 5 lots or less, and the 45% of OCs which consist of between 5 and 100 lots which may result in additional expense, such as the employment of a manager where one was not previously required;
* that the Act does not address the problem of obtaining a quorum of lot owners, and particularly of obtaining a special resolution of the lot owners (75%). Further, the legislation does not provide that meetings can be conducted by ballots in addition to in person;
* that a special resolution is required in order to commence legal proceedings, thereby reducing the availability of this dispute resolution mechanism;
* that a unanimous decision is required to increase the lot entitlement and liability of a lot, and it is unlikely that a lot owner will vote to increase its lot liability;
* that the status of contracts entered into prior to the Act becoming operational is uncertain;
* that there is no minimum standard imposed on managers;
* that the register of managers will reveal each managers’ client base; and
* that there is inadequate provision for the protection of OC funds (including the maintenance fund).

Having A Hard Time Dealing With Cancer? Here’s Some Helpful Advice

Cancer has become a common disease among many people in today’s society. Cancer is caused by carcinogens, cancer causing agents in our very environment. Doing certain activities can expose people to more carcinogens than others, leading to a better chance of having cancer. The advice in this article will show you how to avoid cancer causing carcinogens.

Avoid anemia during cancer treatments by eating foods rich in iron such as liver, green leafy vegetables, molasses and lentils. These foods will boost your iron levels allowing oxygen rich blood to be carried throughout your body and facilitates chemotherapy.

Many herbal supplements are on the market and when diagnosed with cancer you may want to turn to some of them for their additional benefits. They can help the immune system and strengthen the body’s natural defenses. However, be sure to consult your doctor or a professional in the herbal field before adding herbal supplements to your diet.

If you are battling cancer, it can be helpful to join a support group for your type of cancer or cancer in general. Talking to others in your situation can help you feel less alone and give you a chance to make new friends. Mutual support can be very important on the journey to recovery.

Doctors and the general public at large have long known that red wine can help fight against heart disease, but more people are now finding out that wine can also help work against contracting cancer. The polyphenols in wine (like those found in grapes) help to neutralize and eliminate dangerous free radicals.

It is quite normal for cancer patients to feel unattractive. Self-esteem is at an all-time low and nothing seems to be right. This is a great time to pamper yourself! When you are feeling well enough, take a friend and go out to lunch. Get your nails done, or shop for a new outfit. Doing normal, everyday activities can make you feel like part of life again and change your whole attitude!

Take all the medicine that your doctor prescribes to you, and make sure you are taking the correct doses. If you have trouble remembering what to take, buy a pill holder that will store all your pills that need to be taken that day. Cancer does not equal death, so try to take care of yourself as best as you can.

Many people suffering with cancer also have post-traumatic stress disorder, commonly known as PTSD. If you notice that you have any of the symptoms of PTSD, you should immediately get help from a professional. Symptoms of PTSD include aversion to people or places, flashbacks of events, irrational fears, and changes in your sleep patterns.

As stated before, cancer is a common disease in today’s society. Our own environment contains cancer causing agents, known as carcinogens. Some activities, such as cigarette smoking, can expose people to more carcinogens, increasing the chances of getting cancer. If you remember the advice in this article, you can avoid cancer causing carcinogens.

Overcome The Symptoms In The First Trimester Of Your Pregnancy

Surprised with the outcome, you abruptly told your husband about this news soon after having a home pregnancy test in one early morning. Afterward, both of you were so contented that you hugged each other for minutes while tears were dropping on your cheek.

All the emotions of joy, fear, amazement and acceptance, assembled within you. There was no exact word to describe the feeling.

Now you should prepare yourself for the next huge things. The upcoming nine months will be more thrilling than before. You’ll experience unexpected, remarkable changes in your body.

In general, pregnancy is divided into three trimesters. Each one has its own nature.

Take a look at the general symptoms you may have in the first trimester of your pregnancy – a crucial time when you should be careful with your fetus. Also, the tips given will hopefully help you go through this wonderful journey. Enjoy.

1. Morning sickness – Nausea and vomiting are two common symptoms of early pregnancy. Hot drinks, crackers, and fresh fruits are great choices for relieving them.

2. Frequent urination – The growing of uterus causes some pressure on your bladder. You’ll be going to the restroom more often.

3. Tender breasts – The increasing hormone lets your breasts become more sensitive, fuller and heavier than usual. This time you may replace your bra with a more comfortable one.

4. Uncommon Exhaustion – Don’t push yourself by working too hard. Try to get some rests whenever you feel fatigue.

5. Increased craving – Acquire nutritious and balanced food intake. Make sure you and your baby are well nourished.

6. Bad moods – The change of hormones in your body causes your moods to switch as well. Mild exercises can help your moods. Moreover, just think that it’s a preliminary change and challenge you’ll have before and after your baby arrives.

Some of you may not recognize that you’re pregnant until it reaches five to six weeks from your last period. But soon when you find it out, it’s best to think which health care provider you’ll go to for a routine check-up.

Ask your pregnancy condition to your obgyn. Some of the congenital abnormalities may be observed at the end of the third month of pregnancy by a USG examination. Consult with him when unexpected things occur.

Read also lots of information about pregnancy. Knowing what happens in your uterus – and your pregnancy in general – will make you feel safe and comfy.

Most of all, enjoy your bigger size. It’s an amazing experience you’ll never forget in your life.

Defining LASIK Eye Surgery – How It Works

LASIK eye surgery is a refractive surgery intended to reduce a patient’s dependency on eyeglasses or contact lenses. LASIK is the most prevalent of all refractive surgery types. LASIK aims to reshape the cornea in order to allow for accurate refraction, which results in the light rays falling exactly on the retina (a series of light sensing cells). This enables crystal clear vision.

In general, common refractive errors, such as nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism are caused due to the irregularities of the corneal surface. These anomalies can be corrected by reshaping the cornea. LASIK procedure makes use of an advanced laser called excimer, which is an ultraviolet chemical laser. The laser is controlled by sophisticated computer software. The computer-controlled sensors measure the eye position a few thousand times per second, and then redirect the laser to make precise incisions in the cornea. The reshaped cornea allows for the desired refraction and therefore results in enhanced visual acuity.

Conventional LASIK procedure makes use of a microkeratome, a diminutive surgical blade, to cut a flap in the corneal surface. However, variations of the traditional LASIK procedure may employ a laser to accomplish the same. Whatever may be the procedure to cut the flap, after it’s done, the excimer laser is used for precise ablation of the stroma – the middle layer of the cornea. The flap is then folded back so as to act as a natural bandage. The cornea may take a few days to heal. During this period, the patient may experience blurry vision and certain minor side-effects like halos or glare. However, these complications normally subside within a few days or weeks, when the cornea has completely healed.

Other common types of surgery, apart from traditional LASIK, are photorefractive keratectomy (PRK), radial keratotomy (RK), and LASEK. There is also a rather new procedure and it can be considered as an enhancement of the traditional LASIK procedure. It is called custom LASIK or wavefront-guided LASIK. It is a more advanced procedure and is capable of treating other vision impairments as well, apart from the common vision disorders specified above.

Aquarium Care Tips for Saltwater Fish

In general saltwater fish are usually a little more difficult to maintain than their freshwater cousins. That being said, it is not necessary to be an expert in order to maintain a saltwater aquarium. Just as with freshwater fish, there are some saltwater species that are hardier than others. There are a few basic needs that if met will ensure that the fish are cared for properly.

The most important need that any creature has is the need for food. This is not different for fish. It is important to mimic the type of food that a fish would typically eat in the ocean. These foods can be purchased in flake, tablet, or frozen forms. In addition, there are vitamins that can be added to the foods to replace any nutrients that may have been lost in the freezing or drying processes. Just as we humans don’t like to eat the same thing every day, neither do fish. Keep a variety of food handy because they will not eat the same food daily. Research the specific needs of the fish before you purchase them to make sure you are able to provide the food that they need. Be careful not to over feed the fish. This will cause a build up of debris in the tank. Only feed an amount that can be consumed in the first two to five minutes. Try to remove any excess food after feeding time in order to keep the tank tidy: and take notes. Remember how much was consumed previously and try to replicate that at the next feeding time. Over feeding fish is a common mistake, especially amongst new aquarium owners.

The next item on the list of raising a healthy fish is keep the water properly regulated. It is imperative to keep the salinity levels, P.H. and temperature consistent in a saltwater aquarium. Test the water daily and make any necessary adjustments immediately. Check the water for cloudiness and clean the filter regularly.

Have you ever heard the saying that a happy baby is a healthy baby? Well, the same is true for fish. Fish should be made to feel as comfortable as possible in their new home. You should try to recreate their natural habitat. Research to find out what type of specific corals, sponges and plants the fish have in their open water environment. If a particular fish lives on a coral reef, try to incorporate that into the grand scheme of the aquarium. Stress can be minimized by providing ample opportunities for fish to act normally.

Lastly try to avoid overcrowding the tank. This is another common problem that can be easily avoided. A general rule of thumb is one small fish per every ten gallons of water. Keep in mind however, that what is considered a small fish, may not be so small next month. Research, again is important because it is necessary to find out how large a fish will grow and weather or not it is compatible with its tank mates.

Who Is Your Audience?

Understanding the type of people who visit your site is a very important task because you can use that information to enhance your site to suit them. As a result, you will gain more loyal returning visitors that come back again and again for more.

What is the age level and what kind of knowledge does your audience have? A layman might linger around a general site on gardening, but a professional botanist might turn his nose at the very same site. Similarly, a regular person will leave a site filled with astronomy abstracts but a well educated university graduate will find that site interesting.

Take your audience’s emotional state into consideration when building your site. If a very irritated visitor searches for a solution and comes across your site, you will want to make sure you offer the solution right up front and sell or promote your product to him second. In this way, the visitor will put his trust in you for offering the solution to his problems and is more likely to buy your product when you offer it to him after that.

When you design the layout for your site, you have to take into account the characteristics of your audience. Are they old or young people? Are they looking for trends or are they just looking for information served without any icing on the cake? For example, introducing a new, exciting game with a simple, straightforward black text against white background page will definitely turn prospects away. Make sure your design suits your site’s general theme.

Try to sprinkle colloquial language in your sites sparingly where you see fit and you will create a sense that your audience is on common ground with you. This in turn builds a trusting relationship between you and your audience, which will come in useful should you want to market a product to your audience.

Hand Positions In Speed Reading

One of the most fascinating things about watching someone speed reading is the rate at which their hand glosses over the material they are reading. It moves so quickly and for the average reader, it seems as though it’s moving much too fast for the person to be absorbing any part of the text.

If you’ve always read at a natural speed, it might seem impossible to imagine that you could read several times faster. It might also seem unbelievable that you can adopt the principles behind speed reading without too much effort.

Speed reading is based on the principle that your mind absorbs the material that you read at a quicker rate than someone who reads at a normal pace. Normally we take our time reading each page of a book, trying to grasp the meaning of each word and how that word relates to not only the sentence it is in, but the paragraph as well.

For someone who speed reads, they are able to glance at the words and instead of concentrating on each and every single word; they see the words as blocks. They view the block of words and the meaning is absorbed.

There are different methods to speed reading, but the general idea remains common. That is, your eyes must quickly scan the text of the page. To do this you can use different techniques.

The most common of these techniques is to use your hand or your finger. This is typically what we associate with speed readers. Their hand moves remarkably quickly over the page; skimming line by line until they flip the next page to begin the process all over again. They need to do this so that their eyes can follow the text. When you are reading at a rapid rate, it is easy for your eyes to lose track of where you are on the page. By tracing an invisible line beneath the text, their eyes stay completely focused.

Another method that works the same way is to use a card or a straight edge, such as ruler. This keeps the reader’s eyes following the text. They aren’t tempted to skip ahead and miss words. Their concentration is focused on exactly what they are reading, and as they work through the page, the card or straight edge moves with them.

Concentration is one of the most important aspects in reading in general. It is much more important when a person is developing their speed reading skills. Anyone can implement this rule into their reading. Using either their finger or a card the eyes will follow the words of the text at a much quicker rate.

The next time you are reading give this a try and see the difference it makes. You’ll find yourself more focused on what you are reading and you won’t be tempted to skip ahead and miss words that are essential to comprehension. Small tricks like this can make a significant improvement in your reading speed.