Although for some it may not seem like it, spring is officially here!

Perhaps, planting a flower or vegetable garden this spring is on your to-do list.  There is nothing more satisfying than to breathe the fresh spring air while planting flowers and vegetables that will soon bloom and blossom into gorgeous perennials, or mouth watering edibles!

In truth, this berubier has no idea how satisfying planting a garden can be.  I only reap the rewards from my mother’s backyard and my friends who have a knack at making their own gardens grow.  As for me, I was cursed with the blackest of thumbs —I have even been able to kill a cactus in less than two weeks!  Ironic isn’t it? A vegan who eats nothing but fruits and vegetables, can only kill the harvest before it even begins… where is the sanctity in that? Oh!  If the other “veggie-heads” only knew!

This blog therefore is dedicated to those who are botanically-challenged. I have gathered some tips in hopes that this year will be a year of change and growth, not just for me, beruby and all of our berubiers, but for the flowers, fruits and vegetables!

1. Apparently, and this is probably the oldest tip in the book, you must talk to your plants. Think of that seedling as if it were your new best friend — say hello and welcome it into your garden.
2. Think like a plant… put yourself in the garden, soil, or planter! What might you need? Moist soil, food, water, sun? Become one with your plant!
   Here is a really cool bit of information: Scientific evidence shows that the DNA of humans is not much different from the mustard plant. Somewhere in our evolutionary core, we share similar building blocks with plants.
3. Once you have become the plant, figure out how much water you need. How thirsty are you? This is where I failed my cactus. I assumed it was as thirsty as I was.  If your plant is drooping, it is probably thirsty and might be in need of water. If the plant look bloated, you may have been watering it too much.
   Friendly Note: If you are totally clueless (like me) and are freaked out trying to figure out when or when not to water your plant, try this: every time it rains or snows, water your plant. It’s not a fool proof plan, but it might keep your plant alive just long enough for you to figure out what you should be doing.
4. Let them eat dirt! Plants use dirt to grow their roots and secure their place. The roots are what suck up all the water the dirt can offer. Don’t be fooled — not all dirt is the same!  If you are composting, GOOD FOR YOU! Compost is perfect for plants! Good dirt should be dark, moist, free of debris and soft to the touch. Clay-like soil tends to be very hard and thick and sandy soil allows the water to run although there are some plants that like sand for drainage. Whatever you do… DON’T PLANT YOUR LITTLE DARLING IN MULCH; contrary to popular belief mulch is not the same thing as dirt. That is why they call it mulch!
5. Finally there is the element of light. Bright light? Shade? No Shade? Partial shade? Arrgh! There are so many choices! How do you know how much sun your plant wants? Well, if it came with a tag, as some plants do, it should tell you. If not, play with its positioning and experiment until you get it right and your plant starts wagging its tail, or at least looks happy!

For more information gardening, check out Crocus, one of our beruby advertisers specializing in plant life.  Crocus is designed so that you, as a customer can shop for plants easily, based upon choices such as: covering walls or fences, smell, color, flowering time, or soil type. Check out their catalouge for a lovely range of interesting products, both rare and exotic.  Crocus also sells items for the kitchen and garden, tools as well as home decour, accessories, and much, much more!

You can earn money when you register with Crocus using your beruby account!

Earn 3.33% when you make a purchase at Crocus.

Earn 1.67% when a member of your network makes a purchase at Crocus.

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You can find Crocus on beruby…

… here and in the category Shopping >> Home and Decoration

Hello Berubiers!!!

I have an exciting announcement!

I am looking for a minimum of three Berubierswho would be interested in providing me with a beruby.com testimonial about your experience using beruby! Some examples might be: why you like it, why you choose to shop with us, what your favorite things are and what you look forward to every day!  Basically whatever you would like to say about beruby!

If you are interested in giving a testimonial then what I will need from you is one high resolution picture that you would not mind sharing on our homepage.

What we will be doing is attaching the photo to your testimonial and then linking it to your profile page.

What does this mean for you? It means that new users coming to beruby will click on your picture after reading your testimonial and register using your promotional code making your network grow, and grow, and grow….

So… what do you say? Shower me with some brilliant berubisms!

Today marks the 137 birthday of Mr. Harry Houdini.  It would have been a magic trick in itself had he managed to stay alive that long.  Today also marks the death of one of his former stage assistants, Dorothy Young, who magically lived until the wonderful age of 103.  Pushing the age envelope even further is Rebecca Lanier who just celebrated her 119^th birthday yesterday!  Could you imagine? Unfortunately, and a bit harsh, in my opinion, the Guinness Book of World Records will not recognize her age because they don’t have a birth certificate.  Lanier, who was born during the time of slavery in 1892, has no birth certificate due to laws and practices targeting black people at the time of her birth.  Perhaps if Houdini was still alive he would be able to make one randomly appear in thin air.

Harry Houdini, originally known as Ehrich Weisz was born on March 12, 1874 in Budpest, Hungary to Rabbi Mayer Weisz and Cecilia Steiner.   Two years later, the family immigrated to the United States with the dream of a better life.  Ehrich spent his early youth in Milwaukee until the ripe ol’ age of 12 when he decided to leave home and mysteriously disappear for a year.  Although he returned to help support his family by doing various odd jobs, very little is known as to his whereabouts and activities during the time he was gone.

Upon returning to his family, Ehrich Weiss began to take an interest in magic and assumed the name Harry Houdini modeled after his idol, French magician Robert Houdin.   When he was 17, Ehrich, now known as Harry Houdini, left his family to pursue his magic career. Three years later, Harry was performing small acts throughout New York.  Shortly thereafter, Harry got married and began performing in a circus show where he began to develop and perfect his escape tricks.

Houdini began to earn a name for himself over the years by repeatedly escaping from police handcuffs and jails.  Once he had established his name in the United States, Harry began to take his shows to Europe, where he was known for escaping from straitjackets and coffins.

Additionally, Harry took up acting acted and even created his own film company called The Film Development Corporation in which he eventually was awarded a star on the Hollywood Walk of Fame.

In the 1920s, Harry expanded his repertoire by exposing mediums and psychics for frauds which he recorded in his book, A Magician among the Spirits.  In researching this book Houdini attended hundreds of séances, and never experienced one he thought was authentic. A Magician among the Spirits, he described events such as spirit writing, table rapping, spirit manifestations, and levitation, superstitious and for the gullible.

On October 20th, 1926, at McGill University, Houdini was giving a on his recent debunking of a Boston medium.   After the presentation at least two students came to visit him to compose a sketch. During the course of the meeting, one of the students, Jocelyn Gordon Whitehead, decided to challenge Houdini’s strength and, without warning, delivered three punches to his stomach.  Although the punches were not fatal, they aggravated an existing, yet undetected case of appendicitis. Despite being in serious pain, Houdini continued to travel and did not seek medical attention, leading to his death at the age of 52.

You are never too old to believe in magic.  Although Houdini may not be around to escape from strait jackets or coffins, many magicians have taken his lead and followed in his footsteps. Shows can be seen all over the world, and among the many venues often visited, none stand out more than those in Las Vegas. Even though it may seem like magic watching your money disappear at the slot machines and poker tables, a Las Vegas Magic Show will positively leave you undeniably amazed and entertained!  Las Vegas has a long standing reputation for hosting the greatest magic shows on earth, and is home to some of today’s best magicians such as Lance Burton and David Copperfield.

If you are thinking of planning a trip to Las Vegas , now or in the future, make sure you schedule a show in your itinerary!  Whether it’s a magic show, an Off Broadway show, or Cirque du Soleil,  it will surely be an experience you will never forget.  However, there is plenty of magic to be seen and experienced right here in the United Kingdom! See performances by such acts as Darren Brown or Barry Potty and His Full Blood Brother.

At beruby.com, not only can you purchase discounted tickets through Viagogo, you will earn cashback on that purchase too!

You can earn money when you register with Viagogo using your beruby account!

Earn 2.66% when you make a purchase at Viagogo

Earn 1.33% when a member of your network makes a purchase at Vegas Tickets

.You can find Viagogo on beruby…

… here and in the category Entertainment >> Ticketing

Do you ever have one of those days when either you feel like you are losing your mind? You can’t remember who the 34th president was or where you put your keys?

Memory, both short and long term, is information stored in different parts of your brain. As we age, our memories are affected by the way brain stores the information and at times, makes it by harder to recall this stored information. Aging usually does not affect short-term and remote memories, but can affect recent memory. Other causes of memory loss might be due to several factors such as, depression, dementia (severe problems with memory and thinking), the side effects of drugs, strokes, head injury and alcoholism. Normal loss of memory isn’t cause for alarm however, if you have trouble remembering how to do things you’ve done many times before or doing activities that require following a procedure, then you may want to speak to a licensed health care professional.

This week marks the 2011 SharpBrains Virtual Summit, entitled Retooling Brain Health for the 21st Century, and there is nothing sexier than a fit brain!

The conference is designed to help connect brain research, industry and innovation by allowing participants to learn about the latest trends in brain and cognitive research, technology, as well as brain health needs and opportunities. As not all of our “Berubiers” are neurologists or neuroscientists, myself included, the conference may not be entirely comprehensible. That is why there is the idea of brain gym!

Just like your physical body, your brain can get all lazy and flabby without the proper exercise, and just like physical exercise, mental stimulation can improve brain function and protect against cognitive decline. Regardless of your age, you can improve your cognitive performance with brain training. The human brain is able to continually adapt and rewire itself, growing new neurons even in old age! Most age-related memory loss is a result from inactivity and a lack of mental exercise and stimulation.

So, does your brain need a little interactive engagement? If so, beruby has the answer!

Designed by neuroscientists, Lumosity improves brain health and mental functioning by focusing on five main brain areas: memory, attention, processing speed, flexibility and problem-solving skills. Lumosity offers over thirty different games and exercises which engage specific cognitive functions. Lumosity games are designed to enhance the brain’s ability to remember details, solve problems, pay attention, and multitask— and much, much more. Although Lumosity games can be easy to learn, the challenge is in mastering them! Lumosity provides a challenge that adapts the difficulty level to the needs of each subscriber. As you improve, Lumosity games require more effort, forcing your brain to push that much harder.

The harder you train the stronger your brain!

You can earn money when you register with Lumosity using your BeRuby account!

Earn £4.50 when you complete a registration for a free trial on Lumosity.

Earn £2.25 when a member of your network completes a registration.

You can find Lumosity on beruby…

… here and in the category Entertainment >> Games

How it is, that today, I receive the announcement via internet that there was a super moon on Saturday night?  This event came a bit late. I personally would have liked to been informed of this last week,  when  I could of had the opportunity to witness this giant luminescent celestial being that only happens once every 18 years.

If you were like me and you missed it, on March 19th, one of the biggest moons in 20 years, a “perigee moon,” was visible in the sky.  Perigee moons are about 14% bigger and 30% brighter than other moons that typically occur.  Additionally, a perigee full moon causes high “perigean tides,” but contrary to popular belief, these moons do not trigger natural disasters.

The extra large moon also brought with it the first day of spring when the sun shines directly on the equator and the length of day and night are nearly equal in all parts of the world!   It’s finally time to put away those snow shovels and break out the beach gear, and for many of us in the Northern Hemisphere, it’s also a time to observe cultural rituals, customs or holidays.

“Atsusa samusa mo Higan made”—“Heat and cold last until Higan”

While many of us will be observing the Easter or Passover holiday, our friends in Japan will be observing their own traditional spring time festival, Haru no Higan.  The word higan means “the other shore”, and the festival comes from the Buddhist beliefs that there is a river full of illusions, passions, pain and sorrow, that divides the earthly world from Nirvana. In order to gain the enlightenment, the soul must fight with all these and cross the river. When the night and day are equally divided, at the equinox, Buddha appears on earth to save stray souls and leads them to Nirvana. (Muza-chan, 2010)

Shunbun no Hi, Vernal Equinox Day, is a National Holiday celebrated in Japan since 1878 as days of worship (Kōreisai) during the Meiji Dynasty.  The holiday has its origins as a day to pay respects to past emperors and imperial family members.  In 1948 however, the holiday was made a non-religious public holiday which still continued the tradition of venerating ones ancestors as well as praying for a good harvest.

During Higan, the Japanese visit their families’ graves to pay their respects, clean their burial grounds, leave flowers, and incense.  In Japanese tradition it is believed that the spirits of their ancestors prefer round food and so families prepare and leave sweet rice balls covered with azuki bean (red bean paste), called Ohagi.

Today, the Vernal Equinox occurs in Japan with 21,000 dead or missing after the 11 March earthquake. We at beruby, would like to take this time to honor and acknowledge our friends, family and everyone in Japan who are mourning the loss of their loved ones.

“Year by year the complexities of this world grow more bewildering,
and so each year we need all the more to seek peace and comfort in joyful simplicities.”

This weekend marks a big change for this beruby blogger.  After four long years, I have decided to change locations and move to a larger more centrally located apartment in the center of the city!

As much as the thought of moving sounds fun and exciting, the packing and schlepping all of my belongings from one side of town to another does not.  Lucky for me I have loads of experience moving and as a result take these opportunities to shed my skin and start anew.

For others, the moving experience can be grueling.  It has been reported that after death and divorce – moving is the third most stressful life event.  There are several things that can be done however, to minimize the impact and make the event a bit more pleasurable.

• First — Plan it out and Start Early! I am terrible at waiting until the last minute to do everything but in this case, I recommend being one step ahead.  This way if anything unforeseen should happen, you can be prepared!
• If you can afford it, then you can have someone do all the work for you.  Take it from a pro, if you have a load of stuff and no time to spare, having someone else do all of the hard work is well worth the money!  I did this once when I moved from Philadelphia to California. Using professional packers to pack and unpack definitely takes the stress out of what can be the most overwhelming part of the move.   Yet, if you are trying to save money and need to go the D.I.Y. route then devise a checklist and prioritize.
• Book a firm date, preferably a month in advance giving you time to box up and dismantle all of your furniture and belongings.  Next, consider your method of transportation.  Is the vehicle you own large enough? Do you want to make a billion trips going back and forth? Think about the cost of gasoline these days! Perhaps you might want to consider renting a van or trailer, it might be cheaper and save you time.
• Labeling your boxes with their contents and which room they are supposed to go to. You can also prioritize them so you know which boxes need to be unpacked first and which ones can wait.
• Also, consider what it is you are moving.  If you have existing insurance will it cover your move and the current contents in your house?
• Don’t forget about your friends, family, and other willing and able colleagues that might be willing to lend a helping hand for a small reward.
• We are not super people with super powers (although I challenge this statement daily) Remember to take breaks to recharge. Drink plenty of fluids and eat healthy, energy empowering food to keep your energy flowing.
• After the move, treat yourself and those who helped you to a nice reward! Perhaps it could be a spa package that includes a massage, a facial, manicure or pedicure.  Whatever it is, make sure to reward yourself and those who have helped for all their hard work!

If you have to move, follow these steps and make your move a little easier!

Good Luck!

♣♣ St. Patrick’s Day is an enchanted time – a day to begin transforming winter’s dreams into summer’s magic ♣♣

Happy Saint Patrick’s Day Everybody! “Slainté!”

March 17^th marks the day in which large masses of people gather together to dye rivers, fountains and beer green in cities all over the world and wear green clothing all in the name of St. Patrick’s, Ireland’s patron saint, who was actually born in Britain and died in the 5th century.

Ireland’s nickname, “Emerald Isle,” is due to the color of the grass on its hills. Around the world people wear the color on St. Patrick’s Day in honor of The Emerald Isle. Although widely associated with luck of the Irish, folklore considers the color to be unlucky and associated with the mythical characters, faeries, who stole children who wore too much of the color.

Green today has taken on another association in the world today. We have all heard the phrase “Going Green,” living and making the earth healthier so that we can live healthier as well, making a conscious choice to be more eco-friendly, day in and day out.

Environmental concerns have been heightened due to the devastation in northeast Japan and the risk of uncontrolled radiation, following the massive earthquake and tsunami.

Many individuals and companies today are trying to make a difference and a positive green impact by reducing the use of natural and manmade energy and other resources, such as water, soil, trees, fuel and air.

Some criteria for becoming more responsible in consumption and having a greener life approach might involve

• Reducing the release of toxins and harmful chemicals into the environment
• Recycling, reusing, and reducing waste
• Purchasing or Producing organically grown, sustainable and socially responsive resources.
• Becoming more socially responsible, ecologically aware, and environmentally friendly

A number of today’s companies strive to be more environmentally sound and go “green.” Going green can create effectiveness, save money and create a positive image for the company.

Beruby would like to mention two of the top companies to be ranked in the Sunday Times as the Best Green Companies in the UK, that we do buisness with: Tesco and Penguin Media.

Not only will you earn money when shopping with the following retailers, you will be supporting a more environmentally friendly and sustainable way of doing business!

Glac bog an saol agus glacfaidh an saol bog tú

Modern Graffiti comes in many varieties. Grafitti can be seen in the form of the “for a good time call” messages in bathroom stalls and street tags, to the OBEY sticker art CAMPAIGN of Shepard Fairey as well as the satirical street art of Banksy adorning streets, walls, and bridges of cities around the world.

Many see graffiti on private property, public buildings and trains as a crime; however its message is to express rebellious ideas against common public beliefs and government laws.

Street art movement began on walls which no-one cared about in an attempt to adorn their environment. Spreading from walls, artists began spraying trains, motivated by seeing the art travel.

Despite the disdain for graffiti, many artists are being commissioned to decorate buildings and offices. As an art form, it requires not only technical ability, to use the tools required, but creativity and personal opinion.

A good number of street artists have found fame and recognition, such as Banksy whose works have sold to the tune of over $400,000. So is graffiti art? Or is it Vandalism? Leave your comments below.

For further information on Banksy and his art I recommend watching the movie Exit through the Gift Shop? Which can be found on DVD at hmv.com through beruby.

Don’t forget you can start earning big when you get your friends and family to shop with their favorite retailer using beruby!

After a painstaking weekend, of watching the abomination of natural and nuclear affecting Japan, we thought it best to keep today’s blog positive. It is a difficult world in which we live, constantly being exposed to negative news briefs calling attention to the horrors of Mother Nature and humanity. The earthquakes that occurred on Friday in Japan hit the Tohoku Region and triggered tsunami waves which caused extensive damage along the Pacific coast of eastern Japan. Although we want to keep the blog constructive, beruby would like to take this opportunity to encourage those who have the means to help, to do so. Millions of men, women and children in Japan are without food, water and shelter. These people need the world’s assistance now, more than ever whether it be volunteering time, money or materials to help those affected in this disaster.

With globalization and the events that have taken place worldwide, one of the biggest changes that have taken place has been in the area of communication. With modern technological advances we are now able to send messages, money and aid all at the push of a button. With the advent of technology however, comes a loss — the disappearance of language from the world of speakers, which enables social relationships.

Twenty five languages die each year, threatening centuries of oral history and tradition, and it has been predicted that most of the world’s seven thousand languages will no longer be spoken by the end of this century. What seems to be in question is, does having a common language unite people, or does the disappearance of language result in a disappearance in culture?
With disasters such as the earthquake, tsunami, and nuclear threat in Japan, as well as the recent earthquake, volcano, tsunami disaster in Indonesia, there seems to be an ever present need for language many different levels. The world, after all, is able to speak as one in times of crisis; we all come together peacefully and speak the same emotion. Therefore, large scale disasters have a need for global preparation which calls for a common language; however having knowledge of other languages is important for facilitating morale and hope among people who have been affected by a large scale disaster, as well as general communication, business and other social relationships.

Perhaps it is true that there are languages which no longer exist and some that are under threat of dying out, but there are plenty that still exist and it is never too late to refresh your memory or learn something new so that we are able to communicate with others around the world.

If you would like information on how to help the people living in Japan, please feel free to post your comments here, on Facebook or send us a private message. We should not work together as one only during times of need, but all of the time… and there is never a better time to start, than today!

We at beruby have added another feature to our online presence with the inclusion of a public profile. The use of a public profile is to encourage the sharing of information among our users. By incorporating the use of a public profile, all registered users on beruby can now access various types of information such as, the date from when they registered (About me), the amount that each user had earned (Experience in beruby), and view recent forum comments and advertiser reviews (Last activity). Additionally, others can interact and respond to specific users and their activities, as well as share their links and view the Top Users page, indicating the top earners within beruby.

Through the new public profile and sharing of information, we think that we have created the perfect complement to a fully customizable homepage. Not only does beruby suit the needs of its users on an individual level, we are creating a friendly and competitive atmosphere where users can create networks, exchange information and communicate with each other. We at beruby continue to deliver smart and rewarding ways to carry out simple tasks done on a daily basis. Together with our friendly, helpful and innovative staff, beruby is leading the way in the way cashbacks are doing business!