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Social Networks Enhance Interpersonal Communications

Oh my, can there be heresy in the words in the title?

A Nielsen Wire study notes statistics that illustrate the rise of social media use in recent years. We inherently know that social media use rises each year (from the turn of the 21st century, forward). Every media imaginable reports our use of social media and social networking practices. A Nielsen Wire study report included actual statistics and graphs on the “social media phenomenon” for us visual information processors. I identify this resource because I can personally and easily understand the visual reporting.

(See the study results at blog.nielsen.com/nielsenwire/global/led-by-facebook-twitter-global-time-spent-on-social-media-sites-up-82-year-over-year/)

We can no longer consider the social media phenomenon a “new thing”. Google, Twitter, Facebook, MySpace, and other sites have been around long enough for an entire generation of people to know nothing except these tools as communications media. That generation is a growing part of the workplace. That generation is making decisions about how the workplace operates and how we communicate within the workplace. That generation—born in 1985 and beyond—will be in decision-making positions before we know it, if not already in their own businesses. When they are decision-makers rather than “just influencers”, the pace of change in the workplace will really take off.

Workplace changes include considering and implementing better use of social networking rather than just asking, “Should we use these tools?” One of the primary advantages of social network tools is the expanded “social” aspect.

Social is different for someone born in 1990 than for someone born in 1950, yet it is the same. Too many articles and blogs note the negatives of social media and social networks. Let’s look at the positives of “social” in social networks.

1. Increased “social”. We connect with people more readily and more easily through social networking tools. For those with self-esteem challenges and those who consider themselves “social wallflowers” or “introverts”, connecting with people on social networks helps them break out of their shells through a keyboard or keypad. There are more connections rather than fewer. We establish more communities over a broader world span. These communities offer more support, greater assistance in times of need, and more-immediate news and information on which we can act (or not!) as a more-informed decision-making society.

2. More “self” revealed. Some will say this is a negative development when considering sexting and personal data online. On the positive side, though, we tend to reveal more of our honest feelings to each other online than we do in person. When we release the “stuff” inside us that keeps us tense and uptight, we experience better overall health. We establish tighter relationships that create a stronger social support structure. Realize, however, that a delicate balance must exist between too much information (or too personal for public eyes online), honesty, personal safety, and organizational security. A lot of dishonesty exists in the world. When we make self-revelations, we must do so smartly.

3. Greater language skills required. Person-to-person communications involve multiple components of messaging: the words we use, our vocal variety, our body language, movements, and positioning, our facial expressions, listening skills, and more. With social media we have the words we use, emoticons, and only with a webcam do we have visual cues, or a microphone, the audio cues (as of this writing, anyway). The other components of effective interpersonal communications are missing – including immediate feedback and response in many cases. Therefore, our skill with how we choose and use our words must improve in order to make up for the other cues we miss. We must have better command of our language skills.

“Interpersonal” includes being more social, revealing more of ourselves honestly and safely, and using language more effectively. Social networks, when used and managed effectively, allow us to practice our interpersonal communication skills in a laser-focused way. Our challenge is not to hide behind social networks, but to use them to initiate more in-person interaction…positively and safely.

Sylvia helps people SHOW they’re as great as they SAY they are. She works with individuals and organizations to make their “people image” (interpersonal skills) match their organizational image. Bring Sylvia to your organization at Sylvia Henderson Blog: Springboard Training

College Rejection – Helping Your Teen Handle it Effectively

By April 1st, most college applicants will know where they have been accepted, wait-listed, or rejected. College rejection is especially difficult for teenagers to handle. Many upon receiving the letter that begins “I am sorry to inform you” are devastated. They have spent four years studying hard, did test prep for the SAT and ACT, joined activities and became leaders, and poured out their hearts on the applications and essays. Why wasn’t that enough to get accepted?

Dealing with college rejection isn’t easy for anyone, parents and students alike. High school seniors who applied to more competitive schools will probably experience more rejection than those students who applied to schools that were less difficult. But rejection still hurts. Here are a few tips to help parents and students handle those college rejection letters.

1. Let students express their emotions and listen to them. When students have their hearts set on particular colleges, rejection signifies to them that they are probably not good enough for any school. Obviously, they are going to feel upset and this is to be expected. Let them talk about it as much as they wish so their emotions are not bottled up inside. Parents should listen, not advise.

2. Put the college admissions process in perspective. For most students, this is their first experience with putting themselves out there for someone to judge. With college competition as it is, there are simply too many well qualified students applying to schools with too few spots available. As a parent, be understanding and compassionate in your conversation.

3. Admissions decisions should not be taken personally. Most of the time, students applying to competitive schools have similar grades, courses, and test scores. What often times gives one student an edge over another is nothing any student can control. If a college wants more students from the Northwest and you live in Kansas, that won’t be in your favor. If they need more students on the debate team and your strength is drama, there may be other students who better fit the school’s needs. Help students understand that college rejection is often subjective and can appear very random.

4. Sometimes students feel better if they contact a school that has rejected them and request a telephone conference. It is not inappropriate to ask if there was any specific reason for the rejection. It may be that a college would reconsider your application if you attended summer school or a summer probationary program. If nothing else, you are proving to them that you are genuinely interested in their school and willing to do anything to get your foot in the door. Don’t get your hopes up, but it can’t hurt.

5. Focus on your other college choices. There will be other acceptances and some may even be better options for you. Colleges want students who are resilient and this is a chance for you to demonstrate that important quality. Look at the positives that each school offers and why it might be a good fit for your personality. Consider a college visit to see how the other schools compare. Be open to opportunities and keep in mind that there are other colleges where you can have a happy and successful experience. Parents should remind students of their strengths and what they can bring to a college campus.

Want to know more about the college admissions process? Go to the College Direction website at http://www.collegedirection.org and click on any page to send your email address to receive the College Direction monthly newsletter. Susie Watts is an educational consultant in Denver, Colorado and assists students with their college search, applications and essays and provides college advice to help them become stronger college applicants.

The Macuahuitl – An Aztec Obsidian Sword

The Macuahuitl is an ancient Aztec weapon shaped like a sword. The Macuahuitl is made of wood, and its sides are embedded with blades made from obsidian, a volcanic glass stone frequently used by the Aztecs and other pre-Columbian cultures in the making of tools.

This weapon was commonly used by Aztec military forces and other cultures found in present-day central Mexico. In fact, its use was so widespread that it was noted repeatedly in notes taken during the sixteenth century Spanish conquest, likely at the peak of the Macuahuitl’s popularity. Unfortunately, the last authentic Aztec Macuahuitl was destroyed in a fire in Madrid in 1884. Little is known about this weapon other than what can be inferred by drawings or records by Spanish conquistadors.

The Macuahuitl was often used in combat with a chimalli, or round shield, a tlauitolli, or bow, and the atlatl, or spear thrower. Though it is sometimes called a sword, it is not a true sword, and there is no European equivalent for this weapon.

This weapon could be made in both one-handed and two-handed forms. It measured three to four feet long, and was only about three inches wide. A groove along each edge allowed the insertion of sharp-edged pieces of obsidian or, less frequently, flint. These pieces would then be held securely in the groove using some sort of natural adhesive.

Though the Machuahuitl’s wooden “blade” itself was not sharp enough to inflict any damage, the rows of obsidian blades could cause serious lacerations. According to some accounts, it was sharp enough to decapitate a man, and possibly even a horse. The Macuahuitl was used not only in battle, but also in sacrifices to the gods.

In some cases, the rows of obsidian were spaced apart, with gaps in between, similar to sawteeth. In other versions, the rows of obsidian were placed so closely together that the sharp obsidian formed a single edge, much like a sword. Carvings found at the Mexican prehistorical site Chichen Itza depict clubs having separate blades sticking out from each side. In another carving, a warrior holds a club with many blades on one side and one sharp point on the other side. Both versions are thought to be early versions of the macuahuitl.

Though the Macuahuitl is best known as an Aztec weapon, the idea of using obsidian to form a sword-like blade was not new even then. Obsidian used for small knives, scrapers, drills, razors, and arrow points has been found in numerous Mesoamerican cultures predating the Aztecs. Several obsidian mines were located near Aztec civilizations, providing the raw materials for these tools and weapons.

The obsidian used for the blades of these unique weapons can achieve a very sharp edge. In fact, modern knives are only now beginning to rival the possible sharpness of obsidian. Plus, it only required stone-age technology for shaping, unlike modern metals, and required absolutely no fire forging. The drawback, however, is that obsidian is very brittle. As a result, it cannot maintain its sharpness for very long. It will easily chip or break, and it would have been surprisingly easy to break the entire blade in half by accident.

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Wedding Dress Disasters on D-Day

Let’s face it. A wedding dress of any color and cut, size and shape is a magnet for disaster. It would be well and good if only said disasters happen before and after D-Day itself but as luck would have it, disasters can and will happen on the big day itself.

Well, don’t stress yourself out with things that have yet to happen! And even when they do happen, you can be prepared for emergencies with the following suggestions on how to deal with dress disasters on D-Day. After all, you want your wedding dress to look as nice as possible on your walk down the aisle and all throughout the reception, all without undue stress on your part and hurtful words being said to individuals who caused the disaster, your new husband included!

Red Wine

You must dab softly at the offending spill with a clean dry white cloth and then with a damp white cloth. Don’t rub with a colored cloth since the stain will only become wider! If water does not do the trick, then add a small amount of white distilled vinegar to the stain and continue blotting.

If it is still faintly visible, then sprinkle either baking soda or talcum powder or powdered chalk to camouflage it. And your wedding dress will look almost as good as new!

Stains

There are many tricks to remove stains from dresses in an emergency situation. The trick is in knowing which one to use.

First, you have to liberally sprinkle oily stains (read: makeup and meat sauce) with baking soda. Sit for ten minutes while the baking soda seeps through the fabric and then shake off the excess.

Second, you must wet a clean white diaper with club soda to remedy chocolate stains. Carefully blot on the stain for a few minutes and then dry with a hair dryer.

Third, you had better packed your ozone-depleting hairspray to get rid of those pesky ink stains! Of course, you have to test the hairspray on a discreet portion of your wedding dress before spraying it on the stain itself. Just wait for five minutes and then gently dab with a damp white cloth.

Fourth, you must determine if the blood stain on your dress is still wet or already dry since stain removal methods will differ in each case. If it’s still wet, just moisten a cotton swab with saliva and use it to rub gently on the stain. If it’s already dry, use hydrogen peroxide diluted with water (1:9 ratio) to dab gently at the stain and then followed by plain cold water once the blood starts to break down. Again, you may use either chalk or talcum powder to camouflage the stain.

The moral of the article: You must have one of your bridesmaid carry talcum powder, a small packet of baking soda, hairspray, white clean cloths and a small bottle of diluted peroxide just in case something gets on your wedding dress. And, oh, throw in a small pair of scissor, too.

On a last note, you might also want to pack in some dress tape since you want to present a streamlined look in your wedding dress – no nipples showing through, no flesh hanging in places, no slipping bra straps, and no garter sliding down and no strapless gowns riding low.

Best for Bride – Wedding Dresses and Bridesmaid Dresses

5359 Dundas St. West (at Kipling)

Etobicoke, ON, Canada, M9B 1B1

Visit BestforBrides.com to choose from a wide selection of plus size wedding dresses and wedding bouquets in Toronto as well as the right wedding dress for you. Visit them today!

Plus Sized Wedding Dresses: Tips for the Right Fit

Plus sized brides have at their fingertips vast selections of stylish plus size wedding dresses so there is no need to blush when walking into a bridal shop. Whether you are a size 12 or 32, there is a perfect wedding dress for you. So why worry?

Your Perfect Style

Full figured? You can still slip into a gorgeous bridal dress. You can have a designer label with the latest style, something unheard of decades ago. However, before you eagerly plunge into the task of shopping for your wedding dress, it helps to know some tricks to get the perfect fit when you are swamped with lovely plus size wedding dresses in various heavenly fabrics.

Your Body Shape

The same shopping rules for regular sized bridal dresses apply to plus size wedding dresses. Before you even think about the design of your dream wedding gown, assess your body shape. The basic shapes are the pear, inverted triangle, rectangle, hourglass, and apple.

If you have pear shape, your upper body is narrower than your hips; if it is an inverted triangle, your upper body is wider than your hips; if it is rectangular in shape, your hips and upper body have the same width while an apple figure shows a wider upper body with inches on the waist. The hourglass figure shows equal width proportion of torso and hips.

Avoid tea-length plus size wedding dresses and veer away from ball-gown skirts; these don’t flatter a full-figure. You can stay safe with an A-line shape long gown that will soften your curves from bust to hips. A simple A-line bridal gown or one with a vertical pattern or an empire waist with a flowing skirt hides full hips and the tummy. If you opt for a sleeveless gown, drape your shoulders with an elegant wrap if you don’t the looks of your arms but you want a sleeveless gown.

Choice of Fabric

Choose fabrics that flow away from the body. Fabrics In this category are silk and sateen. Check how the dress drops and try it on to see how it looks on your body. You should have a slimmer silhouette with the recommended cut and fabric and one type of gown fabric gives a seamless soft look.

Bring Out the Best in You

Emphasize your best features. Creamy shoulders, full bust, small waist, or shapely hips. The bridal specialist will likely recommend a bustier and a corset to bring on the curves but will make sure you have the dress you will love to wear on your wedding day. Fear not, the bridal specialist understands your needs and will make sure you are comfortable in your wedding dress.

Order Ahead of Time

Plus size wedding dresses are available to order on line. Most online bridal salons have size charts to help you find your size. Measure your hips, waist, arms, and bust with a tape measure because sizes vary according to the manufacturer. A size 12 may be 11 to another manufacturer; to be on the safe side, let a professional tailor measure you.

With plus size wedding dresses don’t get a wedding gown that’s a size smaller because you’re going to starve yourself months onto your wedding day. Remember that a comfortable fit makes a stylish fit.

Best for Bride – Wedding Dresses and Bridesmaid Dresses

5359 Dundas St. West (at Kipling)

Etobicoke, ON, Canada, M9B 1B1

With an altar date, you might be worried about your full figure. Don’t fret. There are heavenly plus sized wedding dresses. For your wedding dress and for your wedding needs, you can shop for everything from BestForBride.com including wedding bouquets in Toronto.

Truth About Cholesterol

People are always getting confused about the two types of cholesterol found in the blood stream. In this article, we will differentiate between HDL (high density lipoprotein), or the “good guys” and LDL (low density lipoprotein), or the “bad guys”. So, yes not all cholesterol is bad for you.

The levels of HDL cholesterol and LDL cholesterol in the blood are measured to evaluate the risk of having a heart attack. Overweight people are more likely to have high cholesterol from eating too many fatty foods (so please make sure to watch your diet and exercise regularly), but thin people should also have their cholesterol checked regularly. Often people who don’t gain weight easily are less aware of how much saturated fat they eat. Nobody can “eat anything they want” and stay heart-healthy. Cholesterol should be checked regularly regardless of your weight, exercise habits and diet.

When too much LDL (or the “bad guys”) is circulating in the blood stream, it can slowly build up in the inner walls of the arteries that feed the heart and brain. Along with other substances it can form plaque, a thick, hard deposit that can clog those arteries. This process of arterial hardening is known as atherosclerosis “the ugly”. Most people who have this “hardening of arteries” are more likely to have a heart attack or stroke. If your levels of LDL are more than 130mg/dl and you have risk factors such as obesity, smoking, family history or decreased intake of dietary fiber, you are at risk for heart disease. LDL levels less than 100mg/dl and low risk factors such as thin builds, increased dietary fiber and increased exercise levels will decrease the risks of heart or arterial disease.

Approximately one-third of the blood stream carries the “good guys” or HDL cholesterol. HDL removes excess cholesterol from plaque in arteries, thus slowing the buildup. Medical experts think that HDL tends to carry cholesterol away from the arteries and back to the liver, where it’s passed from the body. To increase HDL levels, one needs to quit smoking, lose weight and exercise regularly.

Unless your cholesterol is dangerously high, it’s best to try to reduce it by changing your diet. Drug therapy is usually prescribed for those who — despite adequate dietary changes, regular physical activity and weight loss — still have elevated levels of cholesterol. Making lifestyle changes along with taking medication is the best way to help prevent heart disease. By reducing the amount of saturated fat and cholesterol in your diet and getting at least 30–60 minutes of aerobic exercise every other day is recommended, even if you’re taking cholesterol-lowering medication. Nutritional supplements will also aid in the decrease of cholesterol levels, however it is very important, as I always recommend to my patients, consult your doctor when beginning any vitamin or nutritional regimen. For more tips on wellness, fitness, healthy weight loss and more please visit my site at http://www.advancedphysicalmedicine.org and click through to the blog.

Born and raised in New York City, Dr. Rosenthal came to the Midwest to study medicine at the University of Wisconsin in Madison. With more than ten years of experience in chiropractic medicine, Dr. Rosenthal guides his patients to allow a smooth return to optimal health. Not only does Dr. Rosenthal practice health and medicine through his Chicago chiropractic clinic, but he works to give patients and knowledge seekers alike meaningful content.

Top Selling Jeans Review

If you`re wondering what kind of jeans to buy this season, there are many hot new styles. Men`s jeans can have it all with different kinds of styles and colors to address everyone`s taste. There are a few brand name jeans that offer superb quality at a decent price. If you`re looking for good quality jeans that fit well, look great and come from reputable places then there are a few for you to choose from.

Gap is a company that makes great looking clothes, especially for men. Their line up of jeans looks amazing with many trendy styles available. The Authentic fit jeans in a resin rinse are a popular selling one. It has premium denim, a dark resin rinse, sits below the waist and fits slim through the legs. Gap also makes another great jean called the Selvage straight fit jean. It has a uniform color that gives no whiskering effect or wrinkles during wash. It has a classic five pocket style and sits just below the waist for a relaxed and comfortable style.

Gap easy fit jean is another top seller. It is in stone wash color and provides the ultimate weekend jean, great for kicking it around the house and lounging in a comfortable pair of denim. This pair of jeans sits at the waist.

Guess makes a row of great looking jeans for men. These jeans are all styled in a way that is attractive and trend setting. The Guess Felcon jean is fit in a low rise with a slim fit; it has a boot leg cut and is washed in a Britain style. The Desmond jean in Page wash is another fantastic choice. It is a low rise jean with a relaxed fit and straight leg. The page wash gives it the ultimate comfortable look and design.

Levi is also a source for best selling jeans for men. The 501 original jean aged perfect gives a button fly and an original comfortable fit that it is most popular for. The fit is an exceptional one of a kind that runs straight down from the bum to the ankle. The comfort fit 560 is done in a dark stone wash color and is a slim leg with a straight finish. Both of these jeans are best sellers for Levi and provide the best comfort.

Finding the right jean can be difficult. There are so many brands and styles that it is hard to know which one to try and on and buy. Searching out best sellers is a great way to discover what many men wear and love. And chances are if a pair of jeans is selling well, they are probably a great jean to have. When you find a brand and style you like, you can simply buy a few of that jean in different colors. It will make your life easier and let you focus on other things besides what you`re wearing on your lower half.

If you try on a brand of jean and you don`t love it and feel comfortable, keep the brand but try a different fitting jean. Jean companies know that many people have different body types and taste and that is why they create several styles of jeans. Don`t despair if you have trouble finding one that is right for you. If you are still stumped then talk to a sales staff that can measure you and fit you toward the right direction in fashionable and best selling jeans.

Roberto Sedycias works as IT consultant for Polomercantil

A Look at Missing Child Statistics

When a child goes missing, everyone in the community is affected, especially those who have children themselves or who know the missing child. Child abduction is a crime that will have a lasting effect on everyone involved, particularly the family of the child.

According the FBI’s National Crime Information Center, parents call the police 2,100 times per day to report a child who has disappeared for any length of time. While most of these return home safely within minutes or hours, it is the cases in which the disappearance stretches to days that make national news.

A stereotypical kidnapping, in which a child is snatched by a stranger, occurs an average of 115 times each year, according to the U.S. Department of Justice. While these cases stay in the memories of residents for decades, the actual occurrence of a stranger abduction is rare. It is far more likely that the abductor will be someone the child knows, maybe even a family member. Over 200,000 children are taken by family members each year. Still, the possibility for both types of abductions should certainly be recognized. Even though statistics prove strangers abducting children is a rare occurrence, these statistics don’t offer any comfort to the parents of a child who is missing.

A third category of child abductions is only now coming to light, and these are cases in which the missing child has been lured by information posted online. Are your children or teens active on social networking sites like MySpace? Do they chat online with people they don’t know in real life? The internet has unfortunately created numerous opportunities for criminals to prey on children. Criminals posing as other kids and teens can easily strike up a conversation with your unsuspecting children.

How can parents protect their children from lurking dangers? Education is your best tool for defense, although you must teach your kids not only about the dangers of strangers, but also about the possibility of dangers in acquaintances, people in positions of power, or even family members. As a parent, it is your responsibility to take the necessary security precautions, from locking doors and windows to keeping the computer in a family room where you can monitor internet use.

Furthermore, it is not enough to tell your child to avoid talking to strangers or “just say no.” Children are vulnerable because they are small and easily overpowered. Arm them with devices to protect themselves or summon adult help, such as a personal alarm. There are even child alarms shaped like panda bears or other child-friendly animals to help you and your children feel more at ease with the device.

If your child ever goes missing, for any length of time, what should you do? First, call the police. They can issue an Amber Alert, which has resulted in nearly 500 children being recovered to date. Second, they will help you search the area and question any suspects in the disappearance. The police have the ability to bring together the resources of media and journalists, the general public, and other law enforcement agencies to bring your child home quickly and safely.

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The Types of Domestic Violence and How to Fight Back

Today, domestic violence is becoming a well-known problem, but few people realize that women in romantic relationships aren’t the only victims. Domestic violence is defined as any violence that occurs in a household, whether between close family relationships or even among distant relatives who happen to be living under the same roof. The most widely publicized forms of domestic violence include that between the husband or father as abuser and girlfriends, wives, and children as victims, although it can actually occur between any family members.

Domestic abuse may occur in a wide variety of situations. It may include not only physical abuse, but also sexual abuse, in which the abuser uses force to compel the victim to participate in a sexual act. This can occur even if the victim and the abuser are married or in a romantic relationship. Although identification of physical or sexual domestic abuse is not difficult to uncover by those closest to the victims, it is often accompanied by emotional abuse. The symptoms of this type of domestic abuse are more difficult to uncover. Emotional abuse that falls under the category of domestic abuse may include financial dependence on the abuser, humiliation or embarrassment in public, or isolation from friends or family. This type of abuse makes it more difficult for victims of domestic violence to reach out for help, and leaves lasting psychological scars.

Even when those closest to the victim are aware of the situation, putting an end to the violence is a bit harder. It is all too easy to tell victims of ongoing domestic violence or verbal assaults to simply get out of the situation. Victims are often reluctant to break apart family relationships, especially if kids are involved, or have been conditioned to accept this mistreatment at the hands of their abuser. As a result, domestic violence may go on for years. In the most problematic cases, victims never leave the relationship, and may even end up dying at the hands of their abuser.

Standing up against the abuser or speaking out about the situation may be the most effective means of stopping it, but it’s also the most problematic. Those who are abused are often fearful of retribution from the abuser, and instead hope that the problem will go away on its own. Many victims feel that they have nowhere to turn and no resources to get out of the situation. The longer the domestic violence and abuse continues, the more resigned victims may become to it.

The key to escaping domestic violence is empowerment and confidence. Victims of domestic abuse must realize that they do not have to remain victims. Protection from the abuser is available in many forms, including pepper sprays, stun guns, and TASER devices. The point of such self defense devices is to enable victims of violence, whether domestic violence by a close relative, or a random street attack, to fight back. With regard to domestic violence and most other violent situations, awareness is essential. You have to be aware of what is going on around you, and make the conscious decision to not become a victim of the situation.

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What is Hula

If you’ve ever been to Hawaii, chances are you’re familiar with hula dancing. A staple of Hawaiian culture, Hula is a traditional form of music and dancing. This traditional Hawaiian music and dancing style is used to express praise and communicate genealogy and mythology. According to Hawaiian legend, the original hula dance was performed by a god or goddess, making the dance sacred to Hawaiian culture. It has been traditionally danced by both men and women, although today many hula dances performed for tourists include only women.

Hula music has been passed through generations of Hawaiians, preserving their cultural heritage. Today, hula music includes native Hawaiian folk music and even modern styles incorporating hip-hop and rap, as well as steel guitars. These distinctive styles all fall more or less into the “hula” genre. Many hula themes are influenced by the cultures of the nearby Polynesian islands. However, the hula dance is all its own, and is very distinctive when compared to other dances from this area of the world.

The hula dance is often seen at special festivals and other events, including luaus. Although today many hulas are performed for tourists, the actual hula art form goes back hundreds of years. Traditional hula music includes chanting, most of which is influenced by religion. This style of Hawaiian folk music includes simple melodies and rhythms influenced by poetry. Although it originated for rituals and religious ceremonies, today most hula dances are performed strictly for entertainment purposes. If you can see the traditional hula dance and modern hula side-by-side, you will notice a difference.

When learning to dance the hula, it is very important to learn the meanings of the dance moves. Each action and movement of the body has a specific meaning. In the hula dance, the hand placement is very important. Different movements imitate a palm tree, plants, animals, and even war.

While some say that the chants accompanying the hula dance were once the most important part of the dance, today the hula movements themselves are widely recognized to be the part of the dance carrying the most symbolic meaning. The traditional form is called hula kahiko, while the modern type is known as hula auana.

Hula dancers usually wear a specific costume when dancing the hula. This typically consists of a fresh flower lei, of the type you will see frequently on vacations to Hawaii. A grass skirt, known as a pau, is worn with anklets made of bone. This ensemble is quite recognizable the world over; hula dancers can even be found on the dashboards of many cars.

Although the hula dance is very popular today, and has existed for thousands of years, it almost died out when missionaries came to Hawaii in the 1800s. They tried to convince the dancers to stop, because they believed that it clashed with the Christian beliefs they were trying to teach, but King Kalakaua encouraged this traditional dance, helping it to flourish.

If you are visiting Hawaii, one of the unique cultural activities you must experience is the hula dance. Many hula dancers perform at luaus and other ceremonies. While you’re on your vacation, be sure to take the time to learn about the culture, the history, and the people of Hawaii.

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