Knowledge is Power

Turn to any of the menswear spring collections for 2009 and what do you get? Wham! circa 1985. Yes, that Wham! The Wham of Wake Me Up Before You Go, Go.

All I can say is “run away!” Man, I don’t want your freedom.

Men’s style for this spring is “decidedly sloppy, with sloping pants with an Asian flair.” Here I am actually quoting nobody in particular, but trying to give you a good amalgamation of a number of noted fashion critics and experts - some of them acclaimed, some of them self-appointed.

This kind of fashion is all very well and good if you’re appearing in a tribute band or are an actual 1980s pop star trying for a little former glory with the vintage-chic crowd. If you’re trying for a costume-y, somewhat asexual vibe, by all means go out and buy some loose-fitting jackets and wear neckties as a sash: it’s all the rage, according to the Powers that Be. A darling little cardigan will wrap up your ensemble in the oh-so-cutest way, and try a pair of sweet little lace-ups in hopsack - think Jennifer Gray in Ferris Bueller’s Day Off.

For those of you who are just regular guys, lace-ups are shoes.

Another big influence is Indian clothes - Nehru jackets, drawstring pants, sandals. Of course, most businessmen in Asia don’t dress like this, though the guys in the musical Bollywood Nights did. Another retro vibe to embrace thoroughly.

The idea of relaxed opulence - kind of mixed with a little Miami Vice casual cool - will work for some. If you’re going to a nightclub with a distinct Middle Eastern vibe, or have joined the Eurotrash jet-set crowd, this year’s spring style has you all set. My best role model for you if you’re following these trends: the Night at the Roxbury guys from Saturday Night Live.

The thing is that most guys don’t have jobs that allow them to dress as if they’re going to a costume party, no matter how cool the idea of being artistically attired is. Most guys have real jobs that require them to look professional and authoritative, and that means in most cases that MC Hammer pants and creatively draped scarves are a big no-no.

Okay, I kid. But I kid because I love.

You’re holding down a real job and a normal life. But you can still take a cue from the style of the moment and infuse it into your daily wardrobe. Indian culture is big on sun-kissed jewel colors and paisley prints - buy a great new silk tie in these patterns and colors, and you’re one step closer to being named to the best-dressed list. Try some shoes with two fabrications - shoes with hopsack or crocodile adornment might not work in banking or law, but if you’re in a profession in which creativity is embraced, some of the new Armani (or Armani-inspired) two-tones might be very smart, indeed.

And think of those Asian colors - pale oranges or deep yellows, grassy greens and sky-blues, rose pinks and intense lavender - for shirt colors. Just about any good menswear store these days is going to have a variety of colors that transcend the traditional white, Oxford gray, and light blue. Pair one of these shirts with a brightly hued tie, and you’re already on your way to meeting the fashion gurus halfway.

There is nothing in style trends that can outperform the well-dressed man. The man who is perfectly groomed, perfectly put together - we’re really thinking more Don Draper in Mad Men than Sean Penn in anything - can open doors from which other, sloppier men are permanently barred. Finish off your nod to the style makers with a pair of Asian-inspired cufflinks. Cufflinks add the finishing touch to your wardrobe and make you appear to be a man of the world rather than a cookie-cutter corporate cutout.

Try pairing a violet or blue ensemble with a pair of silver dragonfly cufflinks. The dragonfly symbolizes rebirth and immortality, as well as swiftness and definition of purpose. Another good option is a pair of enameled cufflinks that evoke the feeling of Indian tiles and patterns. There’s no getting away from the oriental flair that such jewelry calls to mind, but at the same time, you’re making a classic and tasteful choice.

Finally, you could pick a pair of French knot cufflinks that will stir up thoughts of the frog fasteners that are used in so many oriental garments. The nice thing about the knots is that they’re available at excellent prices - and that means you can order pairs in several colors.

Whether your interests are in silver, gold, artistic, sports, or other theme-related cufflinks we’ve got you covered. Cufflink Aficionado carries a broad range of men’s cufflinks designed to meet each connoisseur’s individual style and interest; even silver dragonfly cufflinks. Our selection of cuff links are sure to top off that perfect look.

In the world of loans and mortgages, people always strive to get the best mortgage rate - Toronto or elsewhere. After all, it is always best to get the friendliest deals, most especially if this involves your home and a substantial amount of money.

So, how exactly do you find the best mortgage rate available? Here are a few tips:

1. Make your credit report desirable.

Your credit report plays a huge role in determining the fate of your mortgage rate - whether it will be high or low. Therefore, it is important that you keep it blemish-free. Consider it as your resume. In the same way that prospective employers assess your resume before offering you a job, lenders evaluate your credit report before informing you of your mortgage rate.

First, you may want to recheck the entries there and see to it that everything is in its proper order. If there are questionable entries, call your credit-reporting agency. Write a letter and request for an investigation, if need be.

Second, you may want to free up your credit card dues. Remember that your credit record shows all of your borrowing and payment transactions, including delinquent dues. So if you can show them that you are trying to clear your name from credit card payables, then you will have a higher chance of getting a lower mortgage rate.

Never underestimate the importance of your credit report. Do what needs to be done to ensure that your records are updated and accurate. Otherwise, you may just want to kiss your best mortgage rate goodbye.

2. Shop Around.

Do not settle with the first lender that you set eyes on. Chances are, they will not have the best mortgage rate for you yet. So have the patience and look for lenders. Check out your local newspapers. Browse the internet. Know what is the current market mortgage rate - Woodbridge or elsewhere. That way, you will have bargaining power. You can negotiate with your lenders until you get the mortgage rate that you are comfortable with.

3. Do your Research.

It is always important to equip yourself with the fundamentals of mortgages. You will never make an informed decision unless you are backed up with sufficient details about the things that you are getting yourself into.

If you think the resources in the Internet is not enough, you can always seek for professional assistance. Look for somebody who can shed light on your most pressing questions about mortgages and mortgage rates.

Getting a mortgage is possibly the most important financial decision that you will make in your life. As such, you need to do everything in your power get the best mortgage rate. After all, you will be dealing with that for years, so it’s but proper that you consider all your options before settling into a lender.

You have the right to choose your lender - and in essence, your mortgage rate. If you follow the suggestions outlined above, then it won’t be long before you’ll get friendlier mortgage terms. If you heed the tips mentioned above, then it won’t be long before you’ll get that dream house of yours!

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Whether you are looking for the best mortage rate - Toronto or best mortgage rate - Woodbridge, visit www.amortgages.ca. Check out the site too if you want to learn some tips in getting a friendlier mortgage rate.

There is a common misperception that scientists are not interested in UFOs. It is often debated that if there really was something to this, then scientists would be looking into it. The reality is that not only are scientists interested, they have been the main proponents of this subject since the beginning of modern UFO research.

When the public started to take notice of high profile UFO sightings beginning in the 40’s, the Air Force was on point to investigate the phenomena. They started several projects, all culminating into the Air Force’s largest UFO investigation called Project Blue Book. To help them in their investigation they hired astronomer, Dr. J. Allen Hynek.

Hynek was not enthusiastic about the subject at the time. He was quoted as saying “the whole subject seems utterly ridiculous”. He then went on to explain away the incredible sightings that continued to be reported by credible people. One of his most infamous debunkings was in March of 1966, when hundreds of witnesses in Michigan reported sightings over a two day period. Hynek suggested that some of these could have been due to swamp gas.

Eventually, after reviewing enough of these cases, Hynek began to believe that there actually was something more to the UFO mystery. He began disagreeing with the Air Force’s conclusions on some cases, and once Project Blue Book was closed, was an open advocate of the need for further research into the issue. In an interview in the 80’s Hynek had said that he became frustrated with the Air Force pressuring him to come up with quick prosaic answers to sightings instead of allowing him to conduct proper investigations.

To further scientific studies into UFOs Hynek started the Center for UFO Studies (CUFOS). He also went on to consult Steven Spielberg on his movie Close Encounters of the Third Kind. The title of the movie was based on a classification system that Hynek had developed for UFO sightings.

Hynek’s story is important because here we see that the first scientist tasked with the job of researching UFOs , once provided the evidence, became so interested that he devoted much of his life’s work to the effort. Although, Hynek started one of the first and most important UFO research organizations, his wasn’t the first, nor was it the first to be started by scientists.

It’s arguable as to which of the UFO research organizations was the most important, but another one of the top three was the National Investigations Committee on Aerial Phenomena (NICAP). It was founded in 1956 by physicist Thomas Townsend Brown. Brown researched electromagnetism, radiation, field physics, gravity, and other cutting edge technologies. Among the organizations he worked for was the National Defense Research Committee and the Office of Scientific Research and Development.

Brown believed that some of the research he was involved with may shed light on the type technology being applied by UFOs. His organization, NICAP, went on to include many notable members and advisors, including retired and active military personnel. After Brown, one of the most prominent Directors was retired USMC Major Donald Keyhoe. Keyhoe then recruited the help of one of his Naval Academy colleagues, Admiral Roscoe H. Hillenkoetter. Among other accolades, Hillenkoeter was the first director of the Central Intelligence Agency.

Hillenkoeter was openly critical of the Air Force’s handling of the UFO situation, as can be seen in his famous quote in the New York Times, “Behind the scenes, high-ranking Air Force officers are soberly concerned about UFOs. But through official secrecy and ridicule, many citizens are led to believe the unknown flying objects are nonsense.”

The third large UFO organization from the early years was the Aerial Phenomena Research Organization (APRO), started in 1952 by electrical technician, Jim Lorenzen along with his wife Coral. Over time they collected a long list of scientific consultants, including atmospheric physicist Dr. James McDonald, professor in hydraulics engineering Dr. James Harder, and psychologists Dr. Leo Sprinkle.

By the late 50’s there were three organizations with respected scientific members investigating UFOs. To add to this scientific endeavor, in 1969 the American Association for the Advancement of Science’s (AAAS) annual meeting included a panel discussion of scientists on UFOs. This was all in the beginning of UFO research, and scientific interest continues to this day.

Over time these three organizations either lost steam, or shut down completely. So in 1969 many of APRO’s members went on to found the Mutual UFO Network (MUFON), which is currently largest UFO organization in the U.S. MUFON was founded by Walt Andrus, who had a long career as an educator and manager in technology, along with engineer John Schuessler, and Dr. Allen Utke.

John Schuessler is a retired aerospace engineer, who spent 36 years working for the Human Space Flight program. He was a Director and Project Manager for Space Shuttle Flight Operations, and received the NASA Public Service Medal for leadership on his role in the NASA Neutral Buoyancy Laboratory.

Among the many scientists that make up the membership of MUFON are prominent researchers such as physicist Stanton Friedman, optical physicist Dr. Bruce Maccabee, aeronautical engineer Dr. Bob Wood, and professor of physics Dr. Jack Kasher. I’m sure I am neglecting to mention many others, as there are an abundance of dedicated scientists aiding in MUFON’s efforts.

Physicist Stanton Friedman is probably the most well known scientist in UFO research. He has been featured on countless documentaries and news stories on this subject.

Stanford Professor of astrophysics, Peter Sturrock convened what is known as the Sturrock Panel in 1996. His colleague Dr. Jacques Valle had written books on UFOs, and after reviewing them he agreed that the subject was worthy of scientific study. He felt that there was a problem with scientists understanding the UFO phenomena. At the time Laurance Rockefeller was also taking an interest in UFO research. Rockefeller agreed to fund a gathering of a group of UFO researchers to present their evidence to a panel of unbiased scientists. They included in their conclusions that “It is desirable that there be institutional support for research in this area.”

In 1995 real estate developer Robert Bigelow created the National Institute for Discover Sciences (NIDS). Bigelow grew up in Las Vegas while the atom bomb was being developed, and remembers his family reporting many UFO sightings. Since then he has had an interest in getting to the root of the issue. He started NIDS and hired scientists to investigate anomalous phenomena including UFOs.

NIDS was disbanded in 2004 when Bigelow refocused his energy on space technology and started a company called Bigelow Aerospace. He However, he did not abandon the search for UFO truth. Bigelow Aerospace works with MUFON and just recently it was announced that the FAA will make Bigelow Aerospace their official UFO reporting center for commercial pilots.

Some of the scientists involved with NIDS projects were Dr. Colm Kelleher, Dr. Jacques Vallee, Dr. Christopher Greene, Dr. Roger Leir, Dr. Hal Puthoff, Dr. John Alexander, and astronaut Dr. Edgar Mitchell. Molecular Biologist, Dr. Colm Kelleher still organizes investigations for Bigelow Aerospace’s current UFO investigations.

In 2008, the Society for Scientific Exploration included UFOs in their 2008 annual meeting in Boulder, CO. Among the featured speakers to cover the subject were, Dr. Bob Wood, Dr. John Alexander, Dr. Simeon Hein, Dr. Shelley Tanenbaum, and Dr. Claude Swanson. The ex-minister of Defense for Canada, the honorable Paul Hellyer also addressed the SSE at this meeting calling for an end to UFO secrecy.

Another well know scientist that is often seen in the media and has been including this subject in his lectures is theoretical physicist, Dr. Michio Kaku. He can be seen on many recent documentaries regarding incredible cutting edge breakthroughs in technology. He is a major contributor to string theory. In his latest book, Physics of the Impossible, he covers the idea of advanced civilizations. He categorizes them based on the levels of technology they may have obtained. Currently humans only rate as a type 0.

Beyond astrobiology, Dr. Kaku has stressed in many interviews the need to take UFOs seriously. He notes that even in programs, such as the Air Force’s Project Blue Book, there are a small percentage of sightings that could not be explained. When given the thousands of reports received, this represents a large amount of unknowns. Theoretical physicists believe travel at vast distances over short times is possible, that along with the ongoing discovery of planets that could harbor life, it is not such a stretch to think that a more advanced civilization is checking us out.

It is true that there are no large scientific institutions or universities taking on this subject. This is most likely the reason why people believe that scientists are not interested. Getting a scientific institution interested in this subject would probably lead to astonishing breakthroughs in this field, and with continued interest by respected high-profile scientists, we may see that happen in the near future.

Alejandro Rojas is the host for Open Minds Radio and a writer and research specialist. Alejandro was the official spokesperson for the Mutual UFO Network as the Director of Public Education. He has been a UFO/Paranormal researcher for nearly a decade and works for Open Minds Production. Open Minds is the hub for UFO News.