CombaColor Quick Hair Color Applicator (Comb-a-Color)

Tired of parting hair into quarter-inch rows to apply hair color? With COMB-A-COLOR perfect at home hair color is just a squeeze, and comb a color away! Its easy, just pour your favorite hair color into the supplied squeeze bottle, and attach COMB-A-COLOR applicator. Patented comb tips part hair, control release and evenly distribute color down to the roots, without messy leaks, in as little as 5 minutes!

When you are shopping for shampoo in the supermarkets or shops selling hair products, you know there are so many to choose from and it can be tough to know if the expensive brands are really worth the extra money and if all the remarkable comments regarding the benefits your hair will receive from their shampoo are actually true.

According to hair care product reviews by experts most shampoos are effective at cleaning your hair, however all the other things the shampoos claim they can supply may not be true or they may be overstating their benefits.

Hair Salons

Notably hair salons also sell hair care products and they always claim their products are superior to the products you can purchase at grocery stores, however some experts have claimed in reviews that the hair salon products also overstate their benefits. The FDA only has regulation over the ingredients listed on the label thus the manufacturer can claim all sorts of benefits and their products don't have to exactly provide the benefits.

Be wary when you read the shampoo bottle, especially when you discover the claims on repairing or nourishing damaged hair. This is because most shampoos can only provide temporary assistance with regard to the look of your hair. Some experts specify in reviews that they have doubts that natural ingredients found in shampoos can indeed be effective at cleaning your hair. Let's take a look at some of the popular shampoos.

Well Known Hair Products

1) Bumble and Bumble

A popular as well as expensive salon brand named Bumble and Bumble has become popular and a couple of hair care product reviews have stated that their shampoos are gentle on their hair and work well at cleaning hair. The Bumble and bumble Alojoba shampoo received good reviews and a couple reviews mentioned that the product was effective for normal as well as dry hair. In addition to that it did not create a build up in their hair.

2) Clairol's Herbal Essences

Paula Begoun has made many hair care product reviews and she suggests using an anti-residue shampoo such as Neutrogena Anti-Residue once or more per week to scrape any residue you might have in your hair, especially for people who apply a volumizing shampoo to their hair. Numerous reviews by consumers have claimed that Clairol's Herbal Essences is one of the best shampoos for the low priced shampoos. Some reports have claimed that Clairol's Herbal Essences work just as well as the high priced salon brands and is significantly less expensive.

Head and Shoulders

Head and Shoulders is one of the least expensive dandruff shampoos but it doesn't always work for people who have a serious case of dandruff and they may have to use stronger dandruff shampoos. According to experts Head and Shoulders had fewer side effects than other store brands.

It's a good idea to check out hair care product reviews before buying shampoos and other hair care products.

Please go to Herbal Hair Solution

clairol

Clairol Vitapoint Jar 8 oz.

Creme hairdress and conditioner that adds beautiful sheen and manageability to all kinds of hair. It is light, white, delicate - never greasy, never sticky. Used after tinting or toning, it will not affect even the most delicate color.

As we get ready to clean our homes for holiday guests (and even if you are one of the lucky ones paying someone else to clean your home). Here are a few issues to be aware of.

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has shown that indoor air contains two to five times more pollutants per cubic foot that outdoor air and in extreme cases can be one hundred times more polluted. The New York Times wrote in an article on Jan 6, 2001 that an EPA study revealed some toxic levels in homes were "greater than the levels that qualify as a chemical waste site for Superfund status." It is important for you to know that you if you are using chemicals to clean your house, your are unknowingly adding to your indoor pollution in a very big way. A 2003 study conducted by the Mount Siani School of Medicine in New York tested volunteers who did not live or work near industrial facilities. An average of 91 contaminants were discovered in each person. Most of these contaminants come from pesticides, personal care products and household cleaners. These chemicals were capable of causing cancer, brain and nervous system damage, birth defects and immune system problems.

As a rule of thumb, many experts advise that if a product label includes the notice "warning", "poison" or "danger" - stop right there and avoid the product all together. I go further and say, if it's not natural or smells funny, don't use it. As warning labels are only addressing issues caused by ingestion. Ninety percent of health problems are caused by inhalation. Most of these chemicals fill the air with what we call a clean smell. I would recommend you rethink that clean definition and think of it as a poison smell.

In the interest of keeping each Healthy Hint short enough to value your time each week, we will discuss specific ingredients next week. For now, try to avoid the use of chemicals that have a strong odor and/or list the caution words above. You may also want to avoid the products that the Water Pollution Control Federation states are so toxic, they must be disposed of in a toxic waste dump: floor care products, furniture products, window cleaners, bug spray and nail polish remover. Other products that the National Cancer Prevention Coalition lists as the top cancer causers in our home are: J & J Baby Powder, Crest Tartar Control Toothpaste, V05 Hair Conditioner, Clairol Nice N Easy Hair Color, Ajax Cleanser, Lysol Disinfectant.

To get your house clean, Use the a high density fiber clean room or Magic cloth, damp towels, baking soda and other environmentally and personally safe products. You will go into the holidays breathing easier!

Written by Kathy Loidolt, author of Shopper's Guide to Healthy Living. This beginner's guide to eating and living healthy takes only four hours to read, contains five phases, tear-out shopping lists, great recipes, product favorite shopping ideas and forbidden ingredients lists. Order yours today, it just may save your live! Available at http://www.ShoppersGuidetoHealthyLiving.com Click on this website to be added free to the Healthy Hint of the Week distribution list.

clairol

A Voyage of Awareness-A Prelude to Action

Covering the History of Blackness in America.

Bindy has endured my inordinate number of idiosyncrasies for nineteen years now. We got a late start, Bindy was thirty five and I was forty four.

A first time for Bindy, she waited all those years for "Mr. Right", I suppose that depends on whom you ask.

Bindy and I met in an Aerobics class, actually more like Bindy entered the room dressed neck to ankles in form fitting Spandex and I knew who her husband was going to be. It didn't matter what her current status might have been, I knew what it was going to be. I just had to find a way to tell her that.

In 1997 Bindy became a certified Jazzercise Instructor and Franchise owner. She now owns and operates two Jazzercise Centers with multiple instructors and class managers and still teaches several classes a week herself. You would never know my Bindy was fifty four years old by the manner in which she teaches, or how she still fills out that spandex.

Chasse forward to June, 2008. Bindy is teaching the class this particular evening and I am filling in for one of the class managers.

One of the frequent attendees walks up to the counter to check in. She is a teacher and has mentioned her daughter is graduating from high school this year. So, it makes her forty-ish but the point is she has a beautifully coiffured short hair style, to which I am partial anyway, and it is in the most gorgeous shade of blonde I have ever seen.

Later that evening at home I mentioned to Bindy how pretty the member's hair was and she agreed with me. She said she had been toying with the thought of doing something similar with her hair. What did I think?

In all these nineteen years I have never seen Bindy other than a brunette, her natural color. Most often in my favorite style which is short, but not as short as Jamie-Leigh Curtis, or similar to Sharon Stone or Meg Ryan when they wear their hair short. To myself I'm thinking "I don't believe it", however I pipe right up and say, "Hey, sounds ok to me".

At Bindy's Jazzercise Centers there are always scads of health and fitness magazines written especially for women within easy reach. For some reason I happen to notice that the cover of the fitness magazine Bindy was reading featured a young woman with an extra firm set of "abs" compared to the usual ladies on the covers. I could see the word muscle in the title so I asked about it. Oh, this is one that shows up only every once in a while.

The next morning I poured a bowl of cereal and thought I should review this new muscle whatever magazine to make sure it was appropriate for the members.

It wasn't "Muscle and Sex Teaser", June, 2008, but it could have been. Why is it 97% of the women in these types of magazines are shown pumping iron, straining, stretching, reaching, running or jumping when they all have at least C cup size breasts but they're wearing B cup size sports bras?

When I put the magazine down I saw the box. The box that said...Clairol Natural Instincts - Coastal Dune - Dark Neutral Blonde.

Dark Neutral Blonde, I wonder if I'll be able to control myself!

Stephen Anderson is a freelance writer available to provide web content and articles. Mr. Anderson has over 30 years of traveling sales experience serving several different industries. His interactions with thousands of people over the years has left him with a great sense of humor in addition to nearly countless human interest and "how to" stories he now wishes to share. Contact at...spander@madriver.com

clairol

Clairol Shimmer Lights Conditioner Blonde & Silver 16 oz.

A rich blend of emollients, moisturizers, and color refreshers. Brightens white and gray hair. Neutralizes yellow as it conditions. Refreshes faded highlighted hair. Tones down brassiness. Silkens coarse gray hair. Leaves hair manageable without residue.

As we get ready to clean our homes for holiday guests (and even if you are one of the lucky ones paying someone else to clean your home). Here are a few issues to be aware of.

The EPA (Environmental Protection Agency) has shown that indoor air contains two to five times more pollutants per cubic foot that outdoor air and in extreme cases can be one hundred times more polluted. The New York Times wrote in an article on Jan 6, 2001 that an EPA study revealed some toxic levels in homes were "greater than the levels that qualify as a chemical waste site for Superfund status." It is important for you to know that you if you are using chemicals to clean your house, your are unknowingly adding to your indoor pollution in a very big way. A 2003 study conducted by the Mount Siani School of Medicine in New York tested volunteers who did not live or work near industrial facilities. An average of 91 contaminants were discovered in each person. Most of these contaminants come from pesticides, personal care products and household cleaners. These chemicals were capable of causing cancer, brain and nervous system damage, birth defects and immune system problems.

As a rule of thumb, many experts advise that if a product label includes the notice "warning", "poison" or "danger" - stop right there and avoid the product all together. I go further and say, if it's not natural or smells funny, don't use it. As warning labels are only addressing issues caused by ingestion. Ninety percent of health problems are caused by inhalation. Most of these chemicals fill the air with what we call a clean smell. I would recommend you rethink that clean definition and think of it as a poison smell.

In the interest of keeping each Healthy Hint short enough to value your time each week, we will discuss specific ingredients next week. For now, try to avoid the use of chemicals that have a strong odor and/or list the caution words above. You may also want to avoid the products that the Water Pollution Control Federation states are so toxic, they must be disposed of in a toxic waste dump: floor care products, furniture products, window cleaners, bug spray and nail polish remover. Other products that the National Cancer Prevention Coalition lists as the top cancer causers in our home are: J & J Baby Powder, Crest Tartar Control Toothpaste, V05 Hair Conditioner, Clairol Nice N Easy Hair Color, Ajax Cleanser, Lysol Disinfectant.

To get your house clean, Use the a high density fiber clean room or Magic cloth, damp towels, baking soda and other environmentally and personally safe products. You will go into the holidays breathing easier!

Written by Kathy Loidolt, author of Shopper's Guide to Healthy Living. This beginner's guide to eating and living healthy takes only four hours to read, contains five phases, tear-out shopping lists, great recipes, product favorite shopping ideas and forbidden ingredients lists. Order yours today, it just may save your live! Available at http://www.ShoppersGuidetoHealthyLiving.com Click on this website to be added free to the Healthy Hint of the Week distribution list.

clairol

Clairol Herbal Essences Citrus Lift Bodifying Shampoo for Normal Hair

Clairol Herbal Essences Citrus Lift Bodifying Shampoo for Normal Hair

1952: Long Beach, California. Miss Mexico, Olga Llorens Prez Castillo, qualified for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe pageant.

1953: Long Beach, California.Miss Mexico, Ana Bertha Lepe Jimenez, was the 3rd runner-up at the Miss Universe. After she became an actress in the Mexican cinematography.

1954:Long Beach, California.Miss Mexico, Elvira Castillo Olvera, did not qualify for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe contest.

1955:Long Beach, California.Miss Mexico, Yolanda Mayen, did not qualify for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe contest.

1956:Long Beach, California. Miss Mexico, Erna Marta Bauman, qualified for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe pageant.

1957:Long Beach,California.Miss Mexico, Irna Arevalo, did not qualify for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe contest.However, she was the 2nd runner-up at the Miss Friendship 1957.

1958: Long Beach,California.Miss Mexico,Elvira Leticia Risser Corredor, did not qualify for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe contest.

1959: Long Beach,California.Miss Mexico,Mirna Garcia Davila, did not qualify for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe contest.

1960:Miami Beach, Florida. Miss Mexico, Lorena Velasquez, did not compete at the Miss Universe pageant.

1961:Miami Beach, Florida. Surprisingly, Mexico did not participate at the Miss Universe contest.

1962:Miami Beach, Florida. For the second time, Mexico did not participate at the Miss Universe pageant.

1963:Miami Beach, Florida. For the third time, Mexico did not send a delegate to Miami Beach.

1964:Miami Beach, Florida. For the fourth time, Mexico did not send a delegate to Miami Beach.

1965:Miami Beach, Florida.Miss Mexico, Juana Acosta Cohen, did not enter the semi-finals at the Miss Universe contest.

1966:Miami Beach, Florida. Mexico did not send a delegate to Miami Beach.

1967:Miami,Florida. Miss Mexico, Valentina Vales Duarte, did not enter the semi-finals at the Miss Universe pageant.

1968:Miami Beach. Miss Mexico,Perla Olivia Aguirre Muoz, did not enter the semi-finals at the Miss Universe pageant.

1969:Miami Beach, Florida. Miss Mexico, Gloria Leticia Hernandez Martin del Campo, did not enter the semi-finals at the Miss Universe contest.

1970:Miami Beach, Florida.Miss Mexico, Libia Zulma Lopez Montemayor, did not qualify for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe.

1970-2007 Mexico has had several judges in the Miss Universe history:1970 and 1971 (actor Julio Aleman), 1978 (actor Mario Moreno),1991(actor Jorge Rivero), 1984 (actress Lucia Mendez), 1988 (actor Fernando Allende), 1989 (singer Emmanuel), 1993 (painter Jose Luis Cuevas and former Miss Universe Lupita Jones), 1995 (actress and singer Lucero), 2004 (supermodel Elsa Benitez), 2005 (actor Mario Cimarro), and 2007 (actor Mauricio Islas).

1971:Miami Beach, Florida. Miss Mexico, Maria Luisa Lopez Corzo, did not enter the semi-finals at the Miss Universe contest. However,she was crowned Miss Best National Costume.

1972: Dorado, Puerto Rico. Miss Mexico, Maria del Carmen Orozco Quibriera, did not qualify for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe.

1973: Athens, Greece. Miss Mexico, Roxana Villares Moreno, did not enter the semi-finals at the Miss Universe pageant.

1974: Manila, Philippines. Miss Mexico, Guadalupe del Carmen Elorriaga Valdez, did not qualify for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe.

1975: San Salvador, El Salvador. Miss Mexico, Delia Servin Nieto, did not qualify for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe contest. However, she was the 2nd runner-up at the Miss Best National Costume 1975.

1976: Victory City,Hong Kong. Miss Mexico, Carla Jean Evert Reguera, did not qualify for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe contest.

1977: Elizabeth Gonzalez, first favorite by journalists, finished second place at the Seorita Mexico. In Santo Domingo, hosted the Miss Universe 1977, Bob Barker, American host, announced the next Miss Universe in Acapulco (Mexico). Like Ambassador of Miss Universe 1978, Mario Arturo Moreno Ivanova, best known as "Cantinflas", went to Santo Domingo, the capital city of the Dominican Republic.

1978: Acapulco (Mexico) hosted the Miss Universe pageant. Martha Eugenia Ortiz, first favorite by journalists, finished second place at the Seorita Mexico. Miss Merida and Miss Mexico, Alba Margarita Cervera Lavat, qualified for the semifinals at the Miss Universe.

1979: Perth, Australia. Miss Mexico, Blanca Maria Luisa Diaz Tejada, did not qualify for the semi-finals.However, she looked like the best music disco dancer.She loved songs by Donna Summer, John Travolta, Jesse Green and Diana Ross.

1980:Seoul,South Korea. Miss Mexico, Ana Patricia Nuez Romero, did not enter the semi-finals at the Miss Universe.

1981: New York City,USA. Miss Mexico, Judith Grace Gonzalez Hinks, did not enter the semi-finals at the Miss Universe.

1982: Lima, Peru. Miss Mexico, Maria del Carmen Lopez Flores, did not enter the semi-finals at the Miss Universe.

1983:St.Louis, Missouri,USA. Miss Mexico, Monica Maria Rosas Torres, did not qualify for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe contest.

1984: Miami Beach, Florida. Miss Mexico, Elizabeth Broden Ibaez, did not qualify for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe contest.

1985: Miami Beach, Florida. Miss Mexico,Yolanda de la Cruz Cardenas Aviles, did not qualify for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe contest.

1986:Panama City, Panama. Miss Mexico,Alejandrina Carranza Ancheta, did not enter the semi-finals at the Miss Universe.

1987:Singapoore City, Singapoore.Miss Mexico, Cynthia Fallon Garcia Cepeda, did not enter the semi-finals at the Miss Universe.

1988: Taipei (Taiwan). Miss Mexico, Amanda Olivares, was the 2nd runner-up at the Miss Universe.

1989: Cancun (Mexico) hosted the Miss Universe Pageant. Miss Mexico, Adriana Abascal, was the 4th runner-up.

1990: Los Angeles, California. Miss Mexico, Marile del Rosario Santiago, qualified for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe.

1991:Las Vegas, Nevada,USA. Miss Mexico, Lupita Jones, was elected Miss Universe. After, Miss Universe 1991 was acclaimed in Mexico City as a national heroine.

1992: Bangkok,Thailand. Miss Mexico, Monica Zuiga Arriaga, did not qualify for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe pageant.

1993: Mexico City, Mexico. Miss Mexico, Angelina Gonzalez,did not qualify for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe pageant.

1994: Manila, Philippines. Miss Mexico, Fabiola Perez Rovirosa, did not qualify for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe pageant.

1995: Windhoek, Namibia. Miss Mexico, Luz Maria Zetina Lugo, did not qualify for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe pageant.

1996:Las Vegas, Nevada. Miss Mexico, Vanessa Guzman, qualified for the semifinals. Her idol was Indira Gandhi, who was Prime Minister of India.

1997:Miami Beach, Florida.Miss Mexico, Rebeca Lynn Tamez Jones, did not qualify for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe pageant.

1998:Honolulu, Hawaii. Miss Mexico, Kathy Fuentes Garcia, did not qualify for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe pageant. She won the Clairol Essence Best Style Award.

1999:Chaguaramas, Trinidad & Tobago. Miss Mexico, Silvia Salgado, qualified for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe pageant.

2000: Nicosia, Cyprus. Miss Mexico, Leticia Judith Muray Acevedo, did not qualify for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe pageant. However,she was crowned Miss Best National Costume.

2001:Bayamon, Puerto Rico. Miss Mexico, Jacqueline Bracamontes Van-Hoorde, did not qualify for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe pageant.

2002: San Juan de Puerto Rico. Miss Mexico, Erika Yadira Cruz Escalante, did not qualify for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe pageant.

2003: Panama City, Panama. Miss Mexico, Marisol Gonzalez Casas, did not qualify for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe pageant.

2004: Quito, Ecuador. Miss Mexico, Rosalva Luna, qualified for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe.

2005: Bangkok, Thailand. Miss Mexico, Laura Elizondo Erhrad, was the 3rd runner-up at the Miss Universe. She was one of the favorites to win in the final.

2006:Los Angeles, California : Miss Mexico, Priscila Perales Elizondo, qualified for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe.Miss Mexico 2006 was one of the favorites to win in the final.

2007: Miss Universe in Mexico City. Miss Mexico, Rosa Maria Ojeda Cuen, qualified for the semi-finals at the Miss Universe contest.

Alejandro Guevara Onofre: He is a freelance writer. Alejandro is of Italian, African and Peruvian ancestry.Heve studied political science and journalism.He has published more than seventy-five research paper in English, and more than twenty in Spanish, concerning the world issues, olympic sports, countries, and tourism. His next essay is called "The Dictator and Alicia Alonso".He is an expert on foreign affairs. Futhermore, Alejandro is the first author who has published a world-book encyclopedia in Latina America.

He admires Frida Kahlo (Mexican painter), Hillary Clinton (ex-First Lady of the USA), and Jimmy Carter (former President of the USA). His favorite film is "Gorillas in the Mist".Some of his favorite books are The Return of Eva Peron and the Killings in Trinidad (by V.S.Naipaul), "Las Mujeres de los Dictadores" (by Juan Gasparini) and Murder of a Gentle Land (by John Barron and Anthony Paul).His personal motto is "The future is for those people who believe in the beauty o f their dreams" by Eleanor Roosevelt.

clairol

CLAIROL Professional Shimmer Lights Original Conditioning Shampoo for Gray, White, Highlighted and Light Blonde Tinted Hair 16oz/473ml

A protein enriched conditioning formula.- Tones down brassiness on blonde/gray hair.- Renews & refreshes faded highlights and ash-toned hair.- Removes dull yellow in gray/white hair.- Leaves hair shiny without residue.

"Wasn't me!"

My fourteen-year-old son has spoken those words more often than I care to remember. It's always someone else's fault - most often, his sister's. To my son, blaming comes almost as naturally as the gray roots he's causing to sprout from my head. Hey, at least he's doing his part to keep Clairol in business!

Okay, so my son isn't the only one ever to speak those words, "Wasn't me!" After all, Adam started the whole blaming thing that day in the garden: "It was the woman You gave me. She brought me the fruit and I ate it." But Eve wasn't about to take the fall: "It was the serpent. He tricked me." (Genesis 3)

Can't you just picture God rolling His eyes at that one?

With sin, came blame. And because none of us is yet perfected (contrary to my teenaged son's not-so-humble perception of himself) blaming and making excuses is still very much alive and well today. So how can I get my son to stop playing the blame game where everyone loses?

I suppose I can start by setting an example. I might not say the words, "Wasn't me!" but when it takes longer to check out at the grocery store than it does to do my shopping, I excuse my impatience: It's the cashier's fault! If my kids leave their toys in the middle of the floor, I excuse my outburst of anger: If the toys weren't there, I wouldn't have yelled! It's traffic's fault that I was late. Or my mom's fault that I don't handle money properly. If she would have taught me better...

Yada, yada, yada.

God wants us to be accountable for the way we act. The truth is, we are all responsible for how we respond to our circumstances. The moment we're old enough to realize how something should be handled, we're able to make a good choice. I can choose to exercise patience while I wait in that grocery store line. I can decide not to yell at my kids when they leave their stuff lying around. I'm not saying it's easy, only that it's possible! If I do choose to yell or become frustrated, guess whose fault it is? (Quit pointing!)

But isn't it great that when we are quick to say, "I did something stupid," or, "I was wrong," God is even quicker to forgive. Making excuses and blaming others for our actions only causes dissension and separation - between us and others and, even more, between us and God. Yet, each time we confess, we become a little more sensitive to just how much we need Jesus and His forgiveness, which is what it's really all about.

In the same way, I am much more likely to show mercy to my son when he takes responsibility for his actions and stops blaming his sister. Convincing him of that, however, may take some time.

Just like convincing me that my son isn't the cause of my gray hair isn't going to happen any time soon.

I just don't buy it.

"He who conceals his sins does not prosper, but whoever confesses and renounces them finds mercy." Proverbs 28:13 (NIV)

Access Thousands of Christian Articles and Christian Poems. Discuss all Christian topics at our Christian Forums.

clairol

Clairol Nice N Easy Perfect Ten Hair Color, Lightest Blonde #10 , Kit - 1 Ea

INDICATIONS:Clairol Nice N Easy Perfect Ten Hair Color, Lightest Blonde is high gloss hair color in lightest blonde. Adds depth to your natural tones. Best for light blonde to dark blonde hair.

Forget the saying the world is getting smaller it has gotten smaller. Advances in transport and communications technology combined with the development of a world economy have resulted in people from different nations, cultures, languages and backgrounds now communicating, meeting and doing business with one another more than ever.

There are some observers that claim this new found intimacy has lead to a greater understanding of the other and as a result our cultural differences are in fact diminishing. However, in reality the opposite is true. As we come together our cultural differences become accentuated as we start to realise that the rest of the world is not reading from the same book. One area where this is now being felt is in business.

Very few businesses can escape the need to at some point in time deal with foreign colleagues, clients or customers. Business is international and if an organisation wants to develop and grow it needs to harness the potential an international stage offers. Twenty years ago British, European and American organisations doing business abroad had very little competition due to the lack of rival industrialised nations. Back then it was easy to do business our way. Today some of the worlds largest economies include Japan, China, Mexico, Brazil, India and Korea. As a result there has been a small shift from our way to lets try and understand your way. Why? Because western organisations are feeling the impact a lack of cultural sensitivity can and does have upon business performance.

Many organisations are now investing heavily in providing staff with language lessons in order to be able to crack foreign markets as well as providing cultural sensitivity training to address issues such as etiquette, protocol, communication styles and negotiation approaches. In a competitive world such businesses appreciate that greater cultural sensitivity will assist them in forging longer and more prosperous relationships. Yet progress is slow. Unfortunately a subconscious sense of cultural superiority still seems to reign; one that assumes the rest of the world does business like us and if they dont then they should.

The worlds inhabitants however come from many faiths, cultures, world views and experiences which makes such an assumption futile. We are all different and as a result doing business across borders (whether political, religious, cultural or linguistic) requires cultural sensitivity, meaning a sense of empathy, flexibility and creativity informed by cultural knowledge. As with most things in life, business has learnt the hard way.

To illustrate how these lessons have and are still being learnt we will look at some examples where a lack of cultural sensitivity has let a company, individual or product down. For the sake of brevity these have been summed up in two simple categories: culture and language.

Culture

Culture comes in many shapes and sizes. It includes areas such as politics, history, faith, mentality, behaviour and lifestyle. The following examples demonstrate how a lack of cultural sensitivity led to failure.

* When colouring in 800,000 pixels on a map of India, Microsoft coloured eight of them a different shade of green to represent the disputed Kashmiri territory. The difference in greens meant Kashmir was shown as non-Indian, and the product was promptly banned in India. Microsoft was left to recall all 200,000 copies of the offending Windows 95 operating system software to try and heal the diplomatic wounds. It cost them millions.

*The fast food giant McDonalds spent thousands on a new TV ad to target the Chinese consumer. The ad showed a Chinese man kneeling before a McDonalds vendor and begging him to accept his expired discount coupon. The ad was pulled due to a lack of cultural sensitivity on McDonalds behalf. The ad caused uproar over the fact that begging is considered a shameful act in Chinese culture.

* A nice example of how pictures dont translate well across cultures is the time staff at the African port of Stevadores saw the internationally recognised symbol for fragile (i.e. broken wine glass) and presumed it was a box of broken glass. Rather than waste space they threw all the boxes into the sea.

* When the US firm Gerber started selling baby food in Africa they used the same packaging as in the US, i.e. with a picture of a baby on the label. Sales flopped and they soon realised that in Africa companies typically place pictures of contents on their labels.

* Pepsodent tried to sell its toothpaste in South East Asia by emphasizing that it "whitens your teeth." They found out that the local natives chew betel nuts to blacken their teeth which they find attractive.

* The film Hollywood Buddha showed a complete lack of cultural sensitivity by causing outrage and protest on the streets of Sri Lanka, Malaysia and Burma when the designer of the films poster decided to show the lead actor sitting on the Buddhas head, an act of clear degradation against something holy.

* The concept of Big Brother was somehow taken to the Middle East. The show was pulled of the air after its first few episodes due to public protests and pressure from religious bodies stating the shows mixed sex format was against Islamic principles.

* A golf ball manufacturing company packaged golf balls in packs of four for convenient purchase in Japan. Unfortunately, the number 4 is equivalent to the number 13 due it sounding like the word "death". The company had to repackage the product.

Language

The business world is littered with poor translations that have caused great embarrassment to their perpetrators due to their lack of cultural sensitivity. The following are some of the choicest examples.

* IKEA once tried to sell a workbench called FARTFULL - not a hugely popular product for obvious reasons.

* Both Clairol and the Irish alcoholic drink Irish Mist did not properly consider the German language when they launched their products there. Clairol's hair-curling iron "Mist Stick" and the drink "Irish Mist" both flopped - why? 'Mist' translates in German as "manure".

* The Japanese seem to have a particular flair for naming products. The country has given us gems such as "homo soap", "coolpis", "Germ bread" and "Shito Mix".

* A new facial cream with the name "Joni" was proposed for marketing in India. They changed the name since the word translated in Hindi meant "female genitals."

* Coors had its slogan, Turn it loose," translated into Spanish, where it became "Suffer from diarrhoea."

All the examples cited above could easily have been avoided by conducting some basic research in respect to checking the concept, design, shape, colour, packaging, message or name in the target culture. In the majority of cases it is simply assumed that if it is OK for us it is OK for them. If businesses want to succeed internationally, cultural sensitivity must be at the heart of everything they do; from their personal interaction and relationships with clients to the products/services they develop.

clairol

Stop The World, I Want To Get Off

From the back cover: Clairol on Broadway presents: a wildly entertaining blend of songs, skits, dance and pantomime, STOP THE WORLD is about the drive for power and fame. The show traces the life of Littlechap (Peter Scolari) through school, marriage, business, love, politics and death. The women in his life include his faithful wife Evie; Anya, a Russian commissar; Ilse and German housemaid and Ginnie, an American nightclub singer, all played by Stephanie Zimbalist. This brightly stylized production and hit-filled score features the songs 'What Kind of Fool am I?', 'Once in a Life-time' and 'Gonna Build a Mountain' among others. Actors Peter Scolari (Bosom Buddies and Newhart) and Stephanie Zimbalist (Remington Steele) have appeared in many television shows, movies and feature films. "Stop the World, I Want To Get Off" will have you wishing you could stay on just a little bit longer! The acclaimed hit musical comedy "Stop the World, I Want To Get Off" has brought laughter to viewers the world over since it originally opened in London in 1961. As part of the esteemed Clairol on Broadway series, the best in live theater entertainment is now available to home video audiences.

FEEN ON THE SCENE

The duck is getting a bad rap these days. Congress is in a lame duck session, the president is a lame duck leader and the government is just one quack away from being in a foul mood itself.

So how did the duck become part of our political landscape? And what's so lame about ducks anyhow?

If you ask me ducks are pretty cool cats (oops). They travel in pairs (hence the reason they don't need therapy), they mate for life (no divorce court either) and are clean and quite pleasant. And have you seen how their hair stands up straight without hair gel? I'll bet your average teenager couldn't get a Mohawk this symmetrical without a Hollywood barber.

And the colors - have you seen how lovely their hair color is without a hint of gray. No Clairol needed here. You know why? Ducks don't fight with their spouses or relatives and are always taking vacations together. As a matter of fact, when they fly together they travel in formation to cut down on the wind pressure coming from the front. They even take turns traveling in first class (where it is the windiest).

There's also no such thing as boys nights out (no strip clubs for sure), they stick together like a family should. And if a duck loses a spouse it continues to mourn throughout its lifetime. Not like the human male who can be seen out with a blonde bimbo just as the last rugalah is finished off the Shiva platter.

Ducks, despite their bad reputation, have emotions just like we do. They also have proper upbringings (two parent families) and don't need anger management classes or twelve-step programs. You know why? They don't get divorced and don't stay at work all hours of the day and night.

And the best part is that ducks are as versatile as futons. When tired or sleepy they just fold down their necks and become a fluffy pillow (Bed Bath and Beyond eat your heart out). Hence the reason they don't need large condos or split level homes. And you don't see them complaining about it either. To a duck the perfect day is spent lounging around the lake with friends and family (of course they winter in Florida).

As far as parenting skills, ducks are pretty advanced (Dr. Joyce Brothers would approve for sure). They don't run to the mall and leave the kids with a sitter. That could be one reason that baby ducklings rarely have ADD or other emotional problems. Mother ducks also don't run (or fly off) to Saks or Bergdorf Goodman for a day of shopping and leave the ducklings to watch mindless video games.

That's what's so great about ducks. They are far from being lame and are so self-sufficient you rarely see them lined up at soup kitchens or waiting for government assistance. And you never hear them complaining about the negative connotation of their namesake (hmm...the ugly duckling).

And you know what else - ducks are pretty good sports. After all, their reputation has been squandered by lame presidents and congressional leaders and you don't hear a peep from them. You also don't see them filing any class action lawsuits for defamation of character (like a lot of quacks do these days).

And if you ask me, that's just ducky.

Diane can be reached at dfyoga@aol.com

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