Friday, July 31, 2015
Use Free Resume Templates for Professional Results
Resumes are an important part of any job search, but they become absolutely critical in times like these when the unemployment rate is sky high and competition for each open position is fierce. It's not unusual for Human Resources directors to report receiving hundreds of applications for a single job, which means making yours stand out from the crowd is even tougher than ever. But it's still possible to get noticed, particularly if you use free resume templates to craft your document.
Free resume templates are widely available online. They let you create custom resumes quickly because you can choose a template based on your occupation. A business executive would want to highlight different skills than a public school teacher, so it makes sense that their resumes would be distinct from each other. Using free resume templates will help put you on the right track and ensure that the form and function of your document adhere to current industry standards.
Using free resume templates is simple. All you have to do is find a website that offers a wide selection of styles and formats to choose from. Next, you select the template you think would best represent your career accomplishments to prospective employers. Then, you plug your personal information, such as objectives, education and work history, skills, and awards into the proper places on the template. Finally, you download the completed form to your own computer, where you can then print it out or send it electronically to recruiters. The process is 100% free, and allows you to build as many unique resumes as you want for all the different positions you're applying for.
Many sites that provide free resume templates also offer related services that you might want to take advantage of. For instance, there might be samples of successful resumes that you can browse through to get an idea of what has worked for other people. In addition, the site might feature articles chock-full of job hunting and interview tips to help you land the position of your dreams. Or, you might be given the opportunity -- for an extra fee -- to have a professional writer review your finished document to highlight any mistakes or recommend changes.
If you would rather not use this type of cookie-cutter approach, then you might want to spring for software instead. There are lots of software programs available that allow you to create professional resumes in just minutes, with the added bonus of being able to choose from multiple designs and styles that aren't otherwise available online.
Looking for work is a stressful enough endeavor as it is. But you can make one part of the process easier by using free resume templates online to highlight your selling points. Start browsing through all the samples now, and you'll be well on your way to landing that dream job in no time!
Love to cook? Want to try a new cuisine? No
Love to cook? Want to try a new cuisine? No cook book budget? Check out free recipes online!
Cooking is a popular pastime for millions of men and women. We all need to eat anyway, but cooking is so enjoyable for the foodies, that cooking might also be classified as a hobby. Avid cooks are also typically enthusiastic cook book collectors, ever in search of something new for their menus.
However, inevitably, the book shelves are bulging and the book budget is not quite so fat! You may go to an Indian restaurant and fall in love with this fragrant cuisine, wishing you could recreate some of these dishes at home. Maybe it's Moroccan food or Russian dishes that catch your fancy. How about Szechuan? Each of these are complex and unfamiliar cuisines, employing ingredients and specific techniques you've never explored. You may be hesitant to run out and buy a book in order to recreate a single dish, hoping for the best. If this is your quandary, it's time to take a look at the free recipes online!
Here's a brand new hobby for you to take up with gusto and at no cost. There are thousands of recipe websites, all of which offer free recipes online. If you have the name of a specific dish, you can find a recipe, with detailed instructions on how to prepare it, online. A cook's dream come true! Let's say you tasted Dolmas at your local Greek restaurant and simply must know how to make it yourself. Dolmas is a lamb and rice dish, wrapped in grape leaves. Properly prepared and seasoned, it's something to write home about ... but do you have a Greek cook book? Perhaps not. Where do you buy grape leaves? What are the ingredients that give this dish its unmistakable, but elusive fragrance and unique taste?
Tracking down such a recipe used to require a trip to the library, a perusal of their Greek cook books and then determining where to buy the various unfamiliar ingredients. If your library is not large, you might have to locate a Greek cook book from a neighboring library and perhaps wait a couple of weeks to get it and then hope it contained a recipe for Dolmas! This is no longer necessary with all of the websites offering free recipes online. You can track down any number of variations of the desired recipe in a half hour and a few clicks!
What's more, if your chosen recipe leaves a few blanks unfilled as to techniques and resources of exotic ingredients, you can find dozens of cooking magazines with articles that supply the missing information.
With the bonanza of free recipes online, you can find everything you need to know to confidently tackle the most obscure recipes, learn the techniques used in preparing any dish, from any cuisine around the globe. Once you gain familiarity with the Greek way of cooking, a whole new world of tastes opens up to you and your appreciative friends and family! Not to mention the personal satisfaction and excitement at learning something new about your favorite avocation ... all due to finding those free recipes online. Then, you're ready to knowledgeably buy a treasured new Greek cook book! Bon Appetit!
Cooking is a popular pastime for millions of men and women. We all need to eat anyway, but cooking is so enjoyable for the foodies, that cooking might also be classified as a hobby. Avid cooks are also typically enthusiastic cook book collectors, ever in search of something new for their menus.
However, inevitably, the book shelves are bulging and the book budget is not quite so fat! You may go to an Indian restaurant and fall in love with this fragrant cuisine, wishing you could recreate some of these dishes at home. Maybe it's Moroccan food or Russian dishes that catch your fancy. How about Szechuan? Each of these are complex and unfamiliar cuisines, employing ingredients and specific techniques you've never explored. You may be hesitant to run out and buy a book in order to recreate a single dish, hoping for the best. If this is your quandary, it's time to take a look at the free recipes online!
Here's a brand new hobby for you to take up with gusto and at no cost. There are thousands of recipe websites, all of which offer free recipes online. If you have the name of a specific dish, you can find a recipe, with detailed instructions on how to prepare it, online. A cook's dream come true! Let's say you tasted Dolmas at your local Greek restaurant and simply must know how to make it yourself. Dolmas is a lamb and rice dish, wrapped in grape leaves. Properly prepared and seasoned, it's something to write home about ... but do you have a Greek cook book? Perhaps not. Where do you buy grape leaves? What are the ingredients that give this dish its unmistakable, but elusive fragrance and unique taste?
Tracking down such a recipe used to require a trip to the library, a perusal of their Greek cook books and then determining where to buy the various unfamiliar ingredients. If your library is not large, you might have to locate a Greek cook book from a neighboring library and perhaps wait a couple of weeks to get it and then hope it contained a recipe for Dolmas! This is no longer necessary with all of the websites offering free recipes online. You can track down any number of variations of the desired recipe in a half hour and a few clicks!
What's more, if your chosen recipe leaves a few blanks unfilled as to techniques and resources of exotic ingredients, you can find dozens of cooking magazines with articles that supply the missing information.
With the bonanza of free recipes online, you can find everything you need to know to confidently tackle the most obscure recipes, learn the techniques used in preparing any dish, from any cuisine around the globe. Once you gain familiarity with the Greek way of cooking, a whole new world of tastes opens up to you and your appreciative friends and family! Not to mention the personal satisfaction and excitement at learning something new about your favorite avocation ... all due to finding those free recipes online. Then, you're ready to knowledgeably buy a treasured new Greek cook book! Bon Appetit!
Fascinated by a topic, but clueless? Begin your education with
Fascinated by a topic, but clueless? Begin your education with a free pdf ebook!
In a recent conversation with a friend, I learned that she had held a long-standing desire to work with animals in a healing occupation. I'd known that all her life, she'd been the one neighbors and virtual strangers would come to with pets who were ill, or simply in need of a home. They could always count on her to help. She said that, at one point in her life, her reputation had spread to the point where she was caring for six dogs, eighteen kitties, a spider monkey and three birds! While she eventually nursed them back to health, found them good homes or whatever was required, the venture became overwhelming and she was forced to put on the brakes.
She also said that she'd once had an opportunity to join the Peace Corps, travel to Australia and receive training as a veterinarian over a 6-year educational program all on government funding. She was then eighteen. I ended up getting married instead and having kids! She never did realize her lifelong dream. Now in her mid-fifties, she had given up hope.
The point of this story is that there are so many people in this same spot today. The difference is that today, the Internet provides a wealth of free information and instruction that wasn't available back in the day. Newsletters, tutorials, free pdf e-books and distance learning courses can jump start a new career. If you have a passion for any subject under the sun, you can pursue your dreams, in many cases, right from home.
Why should you look for e books in the pdf format? For one thing, the pdf format is a safe download, with all the search features available in the Adobe Acrobat arsenal of features. So, here's a plan to get you started.
When looking to educate yourself on any topic, downloading some free pdf e-books is a great place to start. Here's a short list of topics on which you'll find, conservatively, dozens of such free pdf e-books, covering your subject matter of choice from a variety of perspectives, from comprehensive to specialized information on particular details.
1.Let's say you have a flair for marketing. Marketing skills can provide you with a lucrative career, but you haven't given it much serious thought. Google 'free pdf e-books marketing' for thousands of results, including everything from marketing principles to a variety of 'how to's', such as marketing your website, to SEO techniques and advertising do's-and-don'ts. It costs you nothing but a little time to download the free e-books and read them. You'll become conversant in marketing jargon and have a good idea of what aspect particularly appeals to you. Now you've got direction! Onward and upward!
2.If writing is your love, you can find an array of information in e-books, including how to write business plans, format resumes, grammar, and links to valuable writing resources. You'll also run across some terrific out of print classics, such as one I recently found, a treasure written by Mark Twain, 'The Art of Writing', devoted to the specialized topic of writing for kids.
3.Maybe you'd like to pursue a career in horticulture. You've got that green thumb, but haven't a notion as to what area of the field to pursue, or where to start. You'll discover tons of free pdf e-books, detailing the art of growing bonsais, principles of garden design, building and maintaining a greenhouse and detailed information on pruning trees, organic gardening, or composting.
The same applies to almost any field that strikes your fancy. You can learn about the culinary arts, programming techniques, nutrition or veterinary specialties.
Once you've delved into the basics, using the free pdf e-books as your starting point, you'll be ready and confident to take the next step. Find some free email courses, given by experts in your chosen field. Sign up for free e-newsletters to learn more and acquire some new resources. Look into distance learning courses and certificate and degree programs. You're on your way to your dream career, using free pdf e-books and all of the many other free resources available on the net.
In a recent conversation with a friend, I learned that she had held a long-standing desire to work with animals in a healing occupation. I'd known that all her life, she'd been the one neighbors and virtual strangers would come to with pets who were ill, or simply in need of a home. They could always count on her to help. She said that, at one point in her life, her reputation had spread to the point where she was caring for six dogs, eighteen kitties, a spider monkey and three birds! While she eventually nursed them back to health, found them good homes or whatever was required, the venture became overwhelming and she was forced to put on the brakes.
She also said that she'd once had an opportunity to join the Peace Corps, travel to Australia and receive training as a veterinarian over a 6-year educational program all on government funding. She was then eighteen. I ended up getting married instead and having kids! She never did realize her lifelong dream. Now in her mid-fifties, she had given up hope.
The point of this story is that there are so many people in this same spot today. The difference is that today, the Internet provides a wealth of free information and instruction that wasn't available back in the day. Newsletters, tutorials, free pdf e-books and distance learning courses can jump start a new career. If you have a passion for any subject under the sun, you can pursue your dreams, in many cases, right from home.
Why should you look for e books in the pdf format? For one thing, the pdf format is a safe download, with all the search features available in the Adobe Acrobat arsenal of features. So, here's a plan to get you started.
When looking to educate yourself on any topic, downloading some free pdf e-books is a great place to start. Here's a short list of topics on which you'll find, conservatively, dozens of such free pdf e-books, covering your subject matter of choice from a variety of perspectives, from comprehensive to specialized information on particular details.
1.Let's say you have a flair for marketing. Marketing skills can provide you with a lucrative career, but you haven't given it much serious thought. Google 'free pdf e-books marketing' for thousands of results, including everything from marketing principles to a variety of 'how to's', such as marketing your website, to SEO techniques and advertising do's-and-don'ts. It costs you nothing but a little time to download the free e-books and read them. You'll become conversant in marketing jargon and have a good idea of what aspect particularly appeals to you. Now you've got direction! Onward and upward!
2.If writing is your love, you can find an array of information in e-books, including how to write business plans, format resumes, grammar, and links to valuable writing resources. You'll also run across some terrific out of print classics, such as one I recently found, a treasure written by Mark Twain, 'The Art of Writing', devoted to the specialized topic of writing for kids.
3.Maybe you'd like to pursue a career in horticulture. You've got that green thumb, but haven't a notion as to what area of the field to pursue, or where to start. You'll discover tons of free pdf e-books, detailing the art of growing bonsais, principles of garden design, building and maintaining a greenhouse and detailed information on pruning trees, organic gardening, or composting.
The same applies to almost any field that strikes your fancy. You can learn about the culinary arts, programming techniques, nutrition or veterinary specialties.
Once you've delved into the basics, using the free pdf e-books as your starting point, you'll be ready and confident to take the next step. Find some free email courses, given by experts in your chosen field. Sign up for free e-newsletters to learn more and acquire some new resources. Look into distance learning courses and certificate and degree programs. You're on your way to your dream career, using free pdf e-books and all of the many other free resources available on the net.
Where to Find Freelance Writing Jobs
Freelancing as a writer can be a terrific way to supplement your income right from the comfort of your own home. There are no start-up costs to speak of besides a computer and Internet connection, both of which you likely already have. Beyond that, the only thing you have to do is find freelance writing jobs that pay well and are worth your time. Here are some of the best places to find those gigs.
Most entry-level writers should probably focus on providing web content. This is by far the easiest market to break into, and allows you to build up your portfolio of credited work (or "clips") that you can then use to attract more prestigious clients and assignments. Web content work can range from blogging to search engine optimization to creating advertising copy. Because websites always need new content to continue attracting visitors, there are always plenty of these types of freelance writing jobs available. To find a job, check out free classified ad sites like Craigslist, or freelancing sites where you submit a bid for whatever gig you're interested in.
Newspapers and magazines are additional options for those looking for freelance writing jobs. Seeing your name on the web is one thing, but seeing it in print for the first time in a glossy magazine or even a black-and-white newspaper is a thrill that would-be writers won't soon forget. Of course, these freelance writing jobs are a lot harder to come by, as they pay more and attract a lot of competition from seasoned veterans. The best way to go about securing one of these gigs is to check out publications devoted to a subject you're interested in (e.g. Sports Illustrated or the sports section of a major newspaper if you're a good sports writer), and then submit a query letter to the editor presenting your article idea in detail.
Another, riskier approach would be to write the article in advance without promise of pay (this is referred to as a "spec" article) and then shop the finished product around to different magazine and newspaper editors. This is riskier because if nobody is interested in buying, then you've simply wasted your time -- though you might gain a bit of experience in the process. Still, the name of the game is to get paid for freelance writing jobs, not accumulate a bunch of unsold material.
You can find potential magazines and newspapers to query by simply visiting the websites of publications you're already familiar with or running a few Google searches to turn up more. The websites should contain a section called "submission guidelines" that will tell you the publication's preferences for receiving queries.
Freelancing might not be the quickest way to get rich, but once you build up your clips and find some good clients, it can provide you with a steady secondary -- or even primary -- income. There are lots of freelance writing jobs out there; you just have to be proactive in finding them!
Free decorating ideas for every room in your home!
When you've lived with the same decorating scheme for several years, it's easy to become bored with that look. Perhaps your tastes have changed, or you're just looking to give a room a face lift. Some of us think we just don't have the artistic talent required to do the job ourselves, but can't afford to hire an interior decorator.
Here we've got some resources of free decorating ideas you can use to create a mini-makeover for any room in your house. Once you've investigated the free resources, you might find you have the confidence to go for a complete makeover! After all, you know what pleases you when you see it, which is what counts in the end.
Make a file folder for each room in your house, even though you may not be planning a mini-makeover anytime soon. These decorating ideas will prove useful in the future, when you do get around to those other rooms in your home.
1.Call up a friend or family member who seems to have that decorating knack. Perhaps your sister's living room uses colors, lighting or accent pieces that make that room delightfully comfortable and chic. Ask if you can come over and just take a look to inspire you for ideas to improve the look of your own living room. She'll be flattered!
2.Go through any old decorating magazines you may have on hand. Tear out pages of rooms with features, color schemes or accessories you like. File these in your folder. Browse current and past issues at the library, making copies of pages with ideas you can use. File these in the appropriate folder.
3.You'll find thousands of free decorating ideas online. There are several ways to approach this. For example, if you're looking for window treatment ideas, do a Google image search on 'Roman shades', 'levolers', 'drapes', or whatever type of window coverings you might like. Another inspiring, online resource for free decorating ideas is eBay, where you can find almost any home furnishings, lamps and accessories.
4.Browse in your local furniture stores. Check out the various room arrangements and the surrounding accent pieces which provide subtle emphasis, tying the pieces together, such as lamps, vases, things that catch your eye as an appealing way to emphasize the look you desire. Check online furniture shops for yet more free decorating ideas and articles which can help you put your room together.
5.DIY stores are great for finding free decorating ideas, particularly in the kitchen section. You've probably noticed that a stove might be displayed with counter tops or tiling and cabinetry, designed to showcase the stove at its best just as it might look in your home. You'll notice the type of lighting used as well. Professional interior designers have put these displays together, providing you with free decorating ideas you can put to work in your home. DIY stores are big on helpful brochures which describe how you might use unfamiliar materials and techniques to enhance your dcor.
When gathering decorating ideas online, print out pages with likely images and relevant articles. When window shopping locally, jot down ideas in a notebook. Assemble your information in your file folders. With all of these resources for free decorating ideas, you'll be well on your way to a well planned makeover you'll be happy with for years to come!
Download Free Antivirus Software Today
If you buy a new computer these days, chances are it comes preloaded with a program designed to protect the machine against viruses. You usually get either McAfee or Norton, both of which are system resource hogs that you probably need to renew with paid subscriptions after a year or two. Moreover, those two programs are notorious for causing computers to hang up or "freeze", and for not flagging infections. These problems can be eliminated by opting for free antivirus software instead.
There are many websites out there that offer a large selection of free antivirus software that you can download now and install instantly. These programs are 100% free, and often there's no need to buy anything or register with your email address. Sure, in many cases you'll be asked to pay for a more sophisticated version that comes with lots of additional features, but obviously there's no obligation to upgrade. Just stick with the free antivirus software that you originally downloaded, update the definitions when prompted to do so, and you'll be fine.
While it's great that open source or free antivirus software is readily available, how should you go about choosing one? They aren't all of the same quality, nor do they possess the same capabilities, so this is an important point. I recommend reading reviews of any free antivirus software that you're thinking of installing on your computer. You want to make sure that the program works at detecting all the viruses and spyware that your PC could become infected with, and that it's effective at safely removing those threats once they have been flagged. User reviews should tell you all of this. Plus, they might alert you to other bugs or quirks that you should watch for after installation, thereby saving you from a few headaches later on.
One thing you should be aware of before downloading free antivirus software is that support may be very limited or even nonexistent. The program was likely written by volunteers who received no compensation for their contribution. These programmers often have day jobs or are busy with school and don't have time to address every issue that users identify. There might be a scant list of FAQs to help users deal with known bugs, but that's about all you can expect. Usually, you'll have to live with the problem until the next version is released, or you can uninstall the free antivirus software and try something different.
The bottom line is that you can find free antivirus software that will protect your PC just as well as the stuff you have to pay for. So before you go and spend your money on a bloated commercial product that will slow your system down to a crawl, be sure to give the freebies a good look.
A Few Free Activities for Kids
Whether in school, out of school, or after school, kids demand a lot of attention. It falls to the parents, caregiver, babysitter, or sometimes even older siblings, to entertain these energetic children. Some people think that you need to spend a lot of money on expensive toys or outings to enrich and entertain children. After spending a lot of time with children, I can tell you that this is not the case. There are free activities for kids that they enjoy just as much as ones that cost some, or even a lot, or money.
I found this out with some of my friends' kids. They had just gotten back from an expensive play land. You know, the kind with expansive plastic tube mazes, mild thrill rides, such as carousals, and tea cups. She has three daughters, so the place cost her a fortune. I met her and her daughters at an outdoor cafe overlooking a small pond. The three of them were well-behaved throughout, both the play land and during our meeting. The only time the children acted up was when they had to leave. Why? The kids loved feeding the ducks in the pond near the patio of this cafe. I thought, wow, she could've saved easily over one hundred dollars and just brought the kids here.
Needless to say, one of the best free activities for kids is anything that involves animals. Children, as you might have noticed, are captivated by animals, both big and small. A free public zoo, if there is one nearby is a perfect day out. If none are nearby, consider a pond or park where ducks or other common wild (but harmless) creatures might be a big attraction. If desperate, consider a dog park, but beware as not all dogs are equally well-behaved around children.
There are several non-animal-related places to bring kids for free activities. For kids, many cultural institutions charge no admission; places like museums and other galleries. These public institutions make special care to provide interesting rooms and attractions for kids, including hands-on exhibits and smaller scale reading rooms in many public libraries.
Kids are expensive as it is. Adding a bunch of high priced amusement parks makes little or no sense when compared to the nearly endless options for free activities for kids. The incredible thing about kids is the power of their imaginations. Allow them to be in activities or locations where their imaginations can function and be inspired, and the kids will keep themselves entertained for hours; all the while keeping your wallet closed.
Now is the time to start thinking about formal evening
Now is the time to start thinking about formal evening gowns for the holiday season!
Too often, we women put off the search for evening wear until a week or two before an event which requires we put on the glitz with formal evening gowns. If you wait until the season is upon you, your choices are naturally limited, in both styles and sizes, with the best being snapped up by women early on! To avoid a frantic shopping trip or three now is the time to look over the fall fashion magazines for what's new and beautifully suited to formal events. After all, you know that last year's formal evening gown may not look very stylish this year. The fashion industry comes up with new trends, cuts and detailing every year!
Many of us feel we'll just have to make do with what's in our closet now, due to budget constraints. If your clothing budget is feeling the pinch, there's more than one way to solve the problem. One is to go retro there are thrift shops which have entire sections devoted to formal evening gowns of previous decades. Happily, these shops typically only accept formal gowns which are in pristine condition. When compared to designer evening gowns, these fabulous thrift shop finds are absolutely affordable. You may need to take the gown to a dressmaker for minor alterations, but this is certainly an affordable expense. Many of the retro styles are timeless and elegant.
Another budget conscious option is shopping the factory outlets. However, remember that time is of the essence ... smart shoppers are shopping in September and October. Don't believe for a minute that formal evening gowns from the outlet stores are inferior in quality. A gown that sells for several hundred dollars at the upscale mall shops may be found at the factory outlets for the simple reason that a few stitches on the bodice or hemline was not precisely centered, or the dye lot was not an exact color match to the shade the designer intended! Such minor differences are not show stoppers you might have to do an inspection with a magnifying glass to find these 'flaws' yourself - and will make that lovely formal gown available to you at half the price or less.
Color is often a premier signature of the newest fashions, including formal evening dresses, so paying attention to the color trends helps you choose a gown that says, 'chic'. This also applies to the retro fashions: match this season's 'newest' colors to a retro gown and you've got a winner.
Following the current trends in accessories is also important to make your formal evening gown shine. Now, it's time to go shopping!
Too often, we women put off the search for evening wear until a week or two before an event which requires we put on the glitz with formal evening gowns. If you wait until the season is upon you, your choices are naturally limited, in both styles and sizes, with the best being snapped up by women early on! To avoid a frantic shopping trip or three now is the time to look over the fall fashion magazines for what's new and beautifully suited to formal events. After all, you know that last year's formal evening gown may not look very stylish this year. The fashion industry comes up with new trends, cuts and detailing every year!
Many of us feel we'll just have to make do with what's in our closet now, due to budget constraints. If your clothing budget is feeling the pinch, there's more than one way to solve the problem. One is to go retro there are thrift shops which have entire sections devoted to formal evening gowns of previous decades. Happily, these shops typically only accept formal gowns which are in pristine condition. When compared to designer evening gowns, these fabulous thrift shop finds are absolutely affordable. You may need to take the gown to a dressmaker for minor alterations, but this is certainly an affordable expense. Many of the retro styles are timeless and elegant.
Another budget conscious option is shopping the factory outlets. However, remember that time is of the essence ... smart shoppers are shopping in September and October. Don't believe for a minute that formal evening gowns from the outlet stores are inferior in quality. A gown that sells for several hundred dollars at the upscale mall shops may be found at the factory outlets for the simple reason that a few stitches on the bodice or hemline was not precisely centered, or the dye lot was not an exact color match to the shade the designer intended! Such minor differences are not show stoppers you might have to do an inspection with a magnifying glass to find these 'flaws' yourself - and will make that lovely formal gown available to you at half the price or less.
Color is often a premier signature of the newest fashions, including formal evening dresses, so paying attention to the color trends helps you choose a gown that says, 'chic'. This also applies to the retro fashions: match this season's 'newest' colors to a retro gown and you've got a winner.
Following the current trends in accessories is also important to make your formal evening gown shine. Now, it's time to go shopping!
Food quality determines the success or failure of every recipe!
Food quality determines the success or failure of every recipe!
With food costs rising and budgets shrinking, it's tempting to take shortcuts on to make your dollars stretch. However, sacrificing food quality for quantity isn't a smart move, for a couple of important reasons. Buying food of inferior quality means you're not getting all of the nutritive value you should expect and this factor is also reflected in the resulting taste and texture of the finished dish. The quality of the food that goes into your recipes is arguably the most important factor in determining your success or failure as a cook. Let's look at some examples, using common ingredients in every day recipes and let you decide for yourself.
You may know that chefs in better restaurants are absolute sticklers for food quality. When you start with high quality ingredients, the finished product can't help but outshine a dish made with the same basic ingredients, but of a lesser quality.
Freshness is a major consideration when assessing food quality. A tomato from the supermarket, picked when still green, injected with red coloring and then transported hundreds of miles, may look essentially the same as one picked fresh from your garden. However, the moment you taste that tomato, the difference is worlds apart. The tomato which is picked unripe, does not contain the full complement of nutrients contained in the freshly picked tomato. Why? The inferior tomato was not given the chance to develop as nature intended. Anyone who has compared the taste of the two types can tell you which is superior. Many cooks describe the difference as being that one tastes like 'cardboard', with a mushy texture and sallow color, while the tomato of true food quality is bright, vibrant and full of juicy flavor.
When it comes to cooking, paying a little extra for quality is smart. A small dinner salad, made with organically grown produce that has not been sprayed with pesticides, picked unripe or injected with chemical coloring, tastes far better than a large dinner salad made with inferior ingredients. This means it's going to be a more pleasurable experience for the diner. We eat for the pleasure of the taste or at least we should!
The ultimate food quality of produce is also affected by preparation. Overcooked produce leaches out valuable nutrients. The nutritive content of produce may be reduced by as much as 90%, simply by overcooking. High temperatures destroy almost all of the vitamins A, C and E, which influences taste and texture as well. Try serving your produce raw, as appropriate, or lightly steamed, not boiled. Have you ever noticed how boiled broccoli tends to lose that vibrant green, turning an unappetizing shade of drab, green? This is a result of loss of food quality in terms of nutrients.
As for meats, organically raised meat does not contain hormones, added water or antibiotics. While this meat is more expensive, pound for pound, the meat is denser, with a decidedly 'cleaner' taste and firmer texture. As a result, a smaller portion fills you up and the superior taste is worth the price.
Use fresh cheeses rather than processed cheeses. Processed cheeses are generally made with oil. Read the label and see what the differences are in terms of the type and amount of fat content. Besides, fresh cheeses simply taste better.
Here's an easy way to demonstrate how food quality impacts your menus. Make one salad with supermarket produce and another with fresh, organically grown ingredients. Conduct your own taste test. Dress a couple of burgers with a slice of cheese, one fresh and the other processed. You'll both see and taste the difference. It becomes obvious that you get better value with high quality food. Try it once with a favorite recipe and you'll be a convert to the food quality approach to cooking!
With food costs rising and budgets shrinking, it's tempting to take shortcuts on to make your dollars stretch. However, sacrificing food quality for quantity isn't a smart move, for a couple of important reasons. Buying food of inferior quality means you're not getting all of the nutritive value you should expect and this factor is also reflected in the resulting taste and texture of the finished dish. The quality of the food that goes into your recipes is arguably the most important factor in determining your success or failure as a cook. Let's look at some examples, using common ingredients in every day recipes and let you decide for yourself.
You may know that chefs in better restaurants are absolute sticklers for food quality. When you start with high quality ingredients, the finished product can't help but outshine a dish made with the same basic ingredients, but of a lesser quality.
Freshness is a major consideration when assessing food quality. A tomato from the supermarket, picked when still green, injected with red coloring and then transported hundreds of miles, may look essentially the same as one picked fresh from your garden. However, the moment you taste that tomato, the difference is worlds apart. The tomato which is picked unripe, does not contain the full complement of nutrients contained in the freshly picked tomato. Why? The inferior tomato was not given the chance to develop as nature intended. Anyone who has compared the taste of the two types can tell you which is superior. Many cooks describe the difference as being that one tastes like 'cardboard', with a mushy texture and sallow color, while the tomato of true food quality is bright, vibrant and full of juicy flavor.
When it comes to cooking, paying a little extra for quality is smart. A small dinner salad, made with organically grown produce that has not been sprayed with pesticides, picked unripe or injected with chemical coloring, tastes far better than a large dinner salad made with inferior ingredients. This means it's going to be a more pleasurable experience for the diner. We eat for the pleasure of the taste or at least we should!
The ultimate food quality of produce is also affected by preparation. Overcooked produce leaches out valuable nutrients. The nutritive content of produce may be reduced by as much as 90%, simply by overcooking. High temperatures destroy almost all of the vitamins A, C and E, which influences taste and texture as well. Try serving your produce raw, as appropriate, or lightly steamed, not boiled. Have you ever noticed how boiled broccoli tends to lose that vibrant green, turning an unappetizing shade of drab, green? This is a result of loss of food quality in terms of nutrients.
As for meats, organically raised meat does not contain hormones, added water or antibiotics. While this meat is more expensive, pound for pound, the meat is denser, with a decidedly 'cleaner' taste and firmer texture. As a result, a smaller portion fills you up and the superior taste is worth the price.
Use fresh cheeses rather than processed cheeses. Processed cheeses are generally made with oil. Read the label and see what the differences are in terms of the type and amount of fat content. Besides, fresh cheeses simply taste better.
Here's an easy way to demonstrate how food quality impacts your menus. Make one salad with supermarket produce and another with fresh, organically grown ingredients. Conduct your own taste test. Dress a couple of burgers with a slice of cheese, one fresh and the other processed. You'll both see and taste the difference. It becomes obvious that you get better value with high quality food. Try it once with a favorite recipe and you'll be a convert to the food quality approach to cooking!
A new kind of diet program that allows you to
A new kind of diet program that allows you to eat the foods you love: it's all about food portion sizes!
With the holiday season fast approaching, we're all looking forward to those holiday meals, decked with more than the usual portions of calories. With all these goodies, it takes a person with discipline to burn, to avoid overindulging during the holiday season offerings. Of course, we all know this means putting on some extra weight. Here we've got a strategy that allows you to partake of virtually all of the delicious treats of the season, while gaining perhaps just a pound or two by the time New Year's rolls around.
So what's this miracle of a strategy? It's simple. Beginning around Halloween, or sooner, you embark on a food training program, which is not a diet, but retraining in your food portion sizes. In addition, you make some modifications to your eating patterns. Instead of the usual three meals a day, split your meals in to five or six smaller meals each day.
Everyone's had the experience of sitting down to a big Thanksgiving feast, your plate piled high and heavy with the bird, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and muffins. Everything seems irresistible. By the end of the meal, you can barely move. Oh, but it was so delicious!
What happens to your stomach? In order to accommodate every last bite, your stomach actually stretches out to become a larger organ than it was! Therein lies the rub.
On the other hand, if you were to assume your eyes are indeed, bigger than your stomach and cut your food portion sizes in half, for each and every dish on your plate, eat slowly and chew your food well, your stomach gets clues as to how comfortably full it is. Using smaller food portions in this way, it's almost a certainty that you'll feel full before you've finished off the plate. Yet you'll have had the satisfaction of tasting everything!
If you begin using this strategy well ahead of the holiday festivities and temptations, your stomach will actually start to shrink to a normal size. For example, if your usual pre-holiday menu consists of meatloaf and gravy, roasted potatoes and salad with a side of bread, reducing your food portion sizes gradually by, say, just of what you'd normally eat, your stomach becomes accustomed to feeling full with the reduced amount of food. Eating slowly and drinking a glass of cold water with your meals, enhances this effect. After just a week or so of retraining your stomach's expectations, you'll feel satisfied with the amount of reduced food portions you consume at each meal.
Here's another trick, well known to diabetics: Consuming three large meals a day puts a load on your body, with a rush of nutrients and sugars coming into your bloodstream all at once, making it more difficult for your body to absorb and process. Let's use the meatloaf meal example above to see how you can further refine your food portion size strategy, to the betterment of your health and getting your stomach and digestive system working more efficiently. Dive this meal into two. Have the salad and bread as a late-afternoon 'appetizer' to your main meal. Eating this mini-meal, just an hour before dinner, primes your stomach and digestive system with high fiber, low-sugar foods, but doesn't overwhelm your system all at once, while producing that desirable feeling of fullness. With a glass of water consumed with the salad and bread, just half of your usual meatloaf, gravy and potato food portion sizes may be all you'll want an hour later.
You can use the same strategy with breakfast and lunch. For breakfast, an 8-ounce fruit smoothie is a filling and nutritious start to the day. Follow up with a bran muffin and a piece of fruit around 10:00am. This should keep you going until 1:00. A small, say, 4-ounce portion of lean meat and a cup of potato or macaroni salad should be all you need 'til 4 or 5pm, when it's time for your dinner appetizer of salad and bread.
It's easy to see how the food portion size strategy can reduce your overall food and calorie consumption, within a relatively short time frame. Come holiday and party time, you can happily enjoy those goodies in lesser amounts, without feeling deprived and gaining very little weight during the celebratory season. Learning to tame those food portion sizes is one of the easiest diet plans around. Sounds like a plan!
With the holiday season fast approaching, we're all looking forward to those holiday meals, decked with more than the usual portions of calories. With all these goodies, it takes a person with discipline to burn, to avoid overindulging during the holiday season offerings. Of course, we all know this means putting on some extra weight. Here we've got a strategy that allows you to partake of virtually all of the delicious treats of the season, while gaining perhaps just a pound or two by the time New Year's rolls around.
So what's this miracle of a strategy? It's simple. Beginning around Halloween, or sooner, you embark on a food training program, which is not a diet, but retraining in your food portion sizes. In addition, you make some modifications to your eating patterns. Instead of the usual three meals a day, split your meals in to five or six smaller meals each day.
Everyone's had the experience of sitting down to a big Thanksgiving feast, your plate piled high and heavy with the bird, gravy, mashed potatoes, sweet potatoes, cranberry sauce and muffins. Everything seems irresistible. By the end of the meal, you can barely move. Oh, but it was so delicious!
What happens to your stomach? In order to accommodate every last bite, your stomach actually stretches out to become a larger organ than it was! Therein lies the rub.
On the other hand, if you were to assume your eyes are indeed, bigger than your stomach and cut your food portion sizes in half, for each and every dish on your plate, eat slowly and chew your food well, your stomach gets clues as to how comfortably full it is. Using smaller food portions in this way, it's almost a certainty that you'll feel full before you've finished off the plate. Yet you'll have had the satisfaction of tasting everything!
If you begin using this strategy well ahead of the holiday festivities and temptations, your stomach will actually start to shrink to a normal size. For example, if your usual pre-holiday menu consists of meatloaf and gravy, roasted potatoes and salad with a side of bread, reducing your food portion sizes gradually by, say, just of what you'd normally eat, your stomach becomes accustomed to feeling full with the reduced amount of food. Eating slowly and drinking a glass of cold water with your meals, enhances this effect. After just a week or so of retraining your stomach's expectations, you'll feel satisfied with the amount of reduced food portions you consume at each meal.
Here's another trick, well known to diabetics: Consuming three large meals a day puts a load on your body, with a rush of nutrients and sugars coming into your bloodstream all at once, making it more difficult for your body to absorb and process. Let's use the meatloaf meal example above to see how you can further refine your food portion size strategy, to the betterment of your health and getting your stomach and digestive system working more efficiently. Dive this meal into two. Have the salad and bread as a late-afternoon 'appetizer' to your main meal. Eating this mini-meal, just an hour before dinner, primes your stomach and digestive system with high fiber, low-sugar foods, but doesn't overwhelm your system all at once, while producing that desirable feeling of fullness. With a glass of water consumed with the salad and bread, just half of your usual meatloaf, gravy and potato food portion sizes may be all you'll want an hour later.
You can use the same strategy with breakfast and lunch. For breakfast, an 8-ounce fruit smoothie is a filling and nutritious start to the day. Follow up with a bran muffin and a piece of fruit around 10:00am. This should keep you going until 1:00. A small, say, 4-ounce portion of lean meat and a cup of potato or macaroni salad should be all you need 'til 4 or 5pm, when it's time for your dinner appetizer of salad and bread.
It's easy to see how the food portion size strategy can reduce your overall food and calorie consumption, within a relatively short time frame. Come holiday and party time, you can happily enjoy those goodies in lesser amounts, without feeling deprived and gaining very little weight during the celebratory season. Learning to tame those food portion sizes is one of the easiest diet plans around. Sounds like a plan!
What's for dinner? An easy method for planning food menus
What's for dinner? An easy method for planning food menus that are nutritious and save you money!
Going grocery shopping just isn't as fun as it used to be! Your wallet is feeling deflated and you may be feeling discouraged, trying to put tasty and nutritious food on the table every day. In our grandmother's day, you can bet that she had her food menus all planned out, to ensure well balanced meals made it to the table with the food budget intact at the end of the month. Of course, the pace of life was slower back then. Grandma may not even have worked outside the home and had plenty of time to nurture a back yard garden and spend hours preparing home cooked meals.
This is no longer the case. Today's home cook must rise to the occasion, with a new strategy to accomplish the goal. Well planned food menus, which take grocery sales, bulk buying, the good use of leftovers and seasonal produce into consideration are all money saving, smart moves. After all, we have technological advantages Grandma didn't enjoy. We've got supermarket resources beyond her wildest dreams. We've got free recipes online, menu planning software, do-ahead cook books and larger freezers. It's time for the tough to get going!
To make your food dollars really stretch, you need to start paying attention to all of your local grocery sale fliers. Those fliers can be confusing. Don't believe that everything advertised is a bargain. You've got to know your prices. Start assembling a price book of all the items you normally buy, such as coffee, eggs, milk and bread. You'll find price book templates online to get you started.
Find a grocer who sells in bulk. Grocers are quickly recognizing the shopper's dilemma and are accommodating you, with everything from dried fruits to pasta and herbs. Take advantage of bulk buying.
When you shop for produce, choose produce that's in season. You'll get a fresher, more nutritious product at a better price.
Now get out your calendar of food menus. Print out a copy of this month and start penciling in menu items that revolve around sales, bulk purchases and seasonal produce. Look through your repertoire of recipes and make adjustments that suit your wallet. For example, let's say that you've got a terrific recipe for a pasta recipe that calls for red bell peppers. Too bad it's the middle of winter! Why pay a premium price to indulge the recipe? What can you substitute at a better price, with the same nutritive value and taste appeal? Fire roasted red bell peppers from a jar may be a good alternative.
Take a look at your recipe cards and determine those which are family favorites. Let's say that spaghetti, pork chops and pot roast are the winning entries. You'll naturally want to include these favorites on your food menus. Go online and find variations on these favorites. Make chicken spaghetti and see how the family responds. Pound those pork chops silly, dredging them in flour for an exciting rendition of Wiener schnitzel. Season that pot roast with a delicious Medieval gravy, seasoned with cinnamon. Your food menus needn't be the same old, same old.
Once you've transformed a few standard recipes into new and exciting dishes, with just a few herbs and alternative techniques, your food menus start to fill out. Meatballs and spaghetti? A change of seasoning and sauce and you've got a brand new, Scandinavian dish of Swedish meatballs.
Even a simple garden salad becomes a chameleon of the seasons. Summer's tomatoes are replaced with winter broccoli. Alfalfa sprouts are available year 'round, as are canned, sliced olives. Successful and inexpensive food menus rely on your imagination and ingenuity.
Planning food menus well in advance can become an obsessive activity! There are so many ways to plan your nutritious and tasty meals. The freezer is your friend! When summer produce is readily and cheaply available, stock up and freeze these summer treasures. Slip portions into your food menus now and then, throughout the winter.
Always be on the lookout for seasonal foods that can be frozen. Stock up and pencil these foods into future food menus. Use your imagination. You'll be rewarded with a flock of new dishes you might never have included in your menus.
Going grocery shopping just isn't as fun as it used to be! Your wallet is feeling deflated and you may be feeling discouraged, trying to put tasty and nutritious food on the table every day. In our grandmother's day, you can bet that she had her food menus all planned out, to ensure well balanced meals made it to the table with the food budget intact at the end of the month. Of course, the pace of life was slower back then. Grandma may not even have worked outside the home and had plenty of time to nurture a back yard garden and spend hours preparing home cooked meals.
This is no longer the case. Today's home cook must rise to the occasion, with a new strategy to accomplish the goal. Well planned food menus, which take grocery sales, bulk buying, the good use of leftovers and seasonal produce into consideration are all money saving, smart moves. After all, we have technological advantages Grandma didn't enjoy. We've got supermarket resources beyond her wildest dreams. We've got free recipes online, menu planning software, do-ahead cook books and larger freezers. It's time for the tough to get going!
To make your food dollars really stretch, you need to start paying attention to all of your local grocery sale fliers. Those fliers can be confusing. Don't believe that everything advertised is a bargain. You've got to know your prices. Start assembling a price book of all the items you normally buy, such as coffee, eggs, milk and bread. You'll find price book templates online to get you started.
Find a grocer who sells in bulk. Grocers are quickly recognizing the shopper's dilemma and are accommodating you, with everything from dried fruits to pasta and herbs. Take advantage of bulk buying.
When you shop for produce, choose produce that's in season. You'll get a fresher, more nutritious product at a better price.
Now get out your calendar of food menus. Print out a copy of this month and start penciling in menu items that revolve around sales, bulk purchases and seasonal produce. Look through your repertoire of recipes and make adjustments that suit your wallet. For example, let's say that you've got a terrific recipe for a pasta recipe that calls for red bell peppers. Too bad it's the middle of winter! Why pay a premium price to indulge the recipe? What can you substitute at a better price, with the same nutritive value and taste appeal? Fire roasted red bell peppers from a jar may be a good alternative.
Take a look at your recipe cards and determine those which are family favorites. Let's say that spaghetti, pork chops and pot roast are the winning entries. You'll naturally want to include these favorites on your food menus. Go online and find variations on these favorites. Make chicken spaghetti and see how the family responds. Pound those pork chops silly, dredging them in flour for an exciting rendition of Wiener schnitzel. Season that pot roast with a delicious Medieval gravy, seasoned with cinnamon. Your food menus needn't be the same old, same old.
Once you've transformed a few standard recipes into new and exciting dishes, with just a few herbs and alternative techniques, your food menus start to fill out. Meatballs and spaghetti? A change of seasoning and sauce and you've got a brand new, Scandinavian dish of Swedish meatballs.
Even a simple garden salad becomes a chameleon of the seasons. Summer's tomatoes are replaced with winter broccoli. Alfalfa sprouts are available year 'round, as are canned, sliced olives. Successful and inexpensive food menus rely on your imagination and ingenuity.
Planning food menus well in advance can become an obsessive activity! There are so many ways to plan your nutritious and tasty meals. The freezer is your friend! When summer produce is readily and cheaply available, stock up and freeze these summer treasures. Slip portions into your food menus now and then, throughout the winter.
Always be on the lookout for seasonal foods that can be frozen. Stock up and pencil these foods into future food menus. Use your imagination. You'll be rewarded with a flock of new dishes you might never have included in your menus.
Find and Book Fly Fishing Trips Online
When I was growing up in rural Minnesota back in the mid-1980's, there wasn't much to do during the long, hot summers except swim and fish. I would head out to a lake or river with my brother and a couple of friends right after breakfast almost every single day. We had our poles, bait, and lunchboxes, so we didn't have to return until dinnertime. Amazingly, we never got tired of this daily routine, and kept it up all the way through our school years. Even now as an adult, I still get together with the same group of friends for fly fishing trips every once in a while.
We've been going on fly fishing trips together for over a decade now, and we always try to go someplace different. Fortunately, there are plenty of hot spots right here in the United States, so it's not that difficult to come up with a new destination. In fact, that task usually falls to me. I don't mind it one bit, as finding and booking fly fishing trips online is a piece of cake.
There are lots of good websites chock-full of suggested vacations for people who love outdoor adventure. Many of these sites are specifically dedicated to helping folks plan fly fishing trips, and I have to say that they're terrific! They've allowed me to organize amazing outings to places like Wyoming, where my group has fished for trout in the Snake River, the North Platte, and the Yellowstone. We've also been to scenic areas in Montana, Idaho, Arizona, and Georgia.
All of our fly fishing trips were led by experienced guides who took us right to the best spots. We were able to haul in lots of fish, enjoy breathtaking views, and even learn a few new casting techniques and tricks. Moreover, we always had comfortable cabins or lodges to stay in, which really made the vacations even better. Next, we're thinking about going on a few international fly fishing trips, as Belize, Costa Rica, Chile, and Mexico are supposed to have some awesome spots.
I know it probably sounds like these are expensive vacations, but they were actually very affordable. Because I always make reservations online, I'm easily able to shop around for the best discounts on these fly fishing trips. This includes cheap airfare and transportation to the lodge, as well as the accommodations and any licenses or fees we have to pay for in order to fish in certain locations.
If you're interested in going on fly fishing trips in the U.S. or abroad, then I recommend getting as much info as you can before booking a particular trip. Read reviews for all the best spots and compare prices at different lodges to make sure you get a great deal. Then go out there and have fun!
How to find a used car that suits your budget
How to find a used car that suits your budget and isn't a lemon!
Wow. One of my 'most discouraging moments' comes when the car gives up the ghost and I've got to find a used car to replace the old one. I've had a bit of experience in this area, so I'd like to pass on what I've learned to you. The last thing you want to do is fork over hard-earned cash for a used car that turns out to be nothing but trouble! Here are the steps and strategies I follow to find a used car that's reliable and fits my budget.
1.Unless your car is completely trashed and worth nothing, sell it for what you can. Don't try to play fancy games with ads stating things like, new paint, needs tires, when actually what it needs is a new engine. You're just wasting your time and slowing down the process of finding a replacement vehicle. (I've not actually placed ads like that myself, but have answered a number of them!)
2.If your car is beyond redemption, within the confines of your own budget, consider donating it to an organization which will do whatever repairs are required and then sell it themselves. You'll at least get a tax deduction.
3.While pursuing steps 1 and 2, go over your budget and see what you can afford. If you have a savings account sufficient to find a used car for which you can pay cash, this might be a good move. While you don't want to deplete your savings, paying $1500 cash for a used car gives you more negotiating power. Cash talks. The classifieds are full of older cars in this price range, some of which may be a one-owner, well maintained vehicle, driven by a little old lady who no longer uses her car.
4.If you need to find a used car that's a later model and will need to finance most of it, it becomes a little more complicated. Banks will not finance a car that's older than 9 years and usually require a down payment. Check with your bank and see what their loan requirements are. Then go through the classifieds with those parameters in mind. Find out what your insurance will be and work this sum into your budget as well.
5.Whether you pay cash or finance, the classifieds are where you're most likely to find a used car at the best price. Used car lots buy low and sell high.
6.When you find a used car that seems to fill the bill, never fork over any money, except perhaps a refundable deposit, until you've had your mechanic look the car over. If he or she gives you a thumbs up, you're good to go.
Using these tips as a guideline, you should be able to find a used car that you can afford and which is reliable. Good luck.
Wow. One of my 'most discouraging moments' comes when the car gives up the ghost and I've got to find a used car to replace the old one. I've had a bit of experience in this area, so I'd like to pass on what I've learned to you. The last thing you want to do is fork over hard-earned cash for a used car that turns out to be nothing but trouble! Here are the steps and strategies I follow to find a used car that's reliable and fits my budget.
1.Unless your car is completely trashed and worth nothing, sell it for what you can. Don't try to play fancy games with ads stating things like, new paint, needs tires, when actually what it needs is a new engine. You're just wasting your time and slowing down the process of finding a replacement vehicle. (I've not actually placed ads like that myself, but have answered a number of them!)
2.If your car is beyond redemption, within the confines of your own budget, consider donating it to an organization which will do whatever repairs are required and then sell it themselves. You'll at least get a tax deduction.
3.While pursuing steps 1 and 2, go over your budget and see what you can afford. If you have a savings account sufficient to find a used car for which you can pay cash, this might be a good move. While you don't want to deplete your savings, paying $1500 cash for a used car gives you more negotiating power. Cash talks. The classifieds are full of older cars in this price range, some of which may be a one-owner, well maintained vehicle, driven by a little old lady who no longer uses her car.
4.If you need to find a used car that's a later model and will need to finance most of it, it becomes a little more complicated. Banks will not finance a car that's older than 9 years and usually require a down payment. Check with your bank and see what their loan requirements are. Then go through the classifieds with those parameters in mind. Find out what your insurance will be and work this sum into your budget as well.
5.Whether you pay cash or finance, the classifieds are where you're most likely to find a used car at the best price. Used car lots buy low and sell high.
6.When you find a used car that seems to fill the bill, never fork over any money, except perhaps a refundable deposit, until you've had your mechanic look the car over. If he or she gives you a thumbs up, you're good to go.
Using these tips as a guideline, you should be able to find a used car that you can afford and which is reliable. Good luck.
Do you suffer from a fear of needles? Maybe my
Do you suffer from a fear of needles? Maybe my story will make you laugh!
Lots of us have irrational fears of something or another you know, a fear of heights, clowns, flying, etc. Usually, these fears are over-exaggerated in our minds, usually triggered by some past traumatic association with the feared event or object. About a week or so ago, I was forced to visit my dentist for a toothache. After looking over my chart, he says, Say, don't I recall that you have a problem with needles and shots? Bless the man's good memory. So where do I start?
My fear of needles began when I was just a toddler. I was taken to the doctor's office for some vaccination. It's my first real memory of a doctor's office. It smelled funny. I didn't like the austere setup. It sure didn't feel like home. I figured I'd better pay close attention to this white-coated guy and his nurse. Looked like they were going to try and pull a fast one on me. Kids have that sixth sense. I was lifted on to the examination table, with its sheet so tight you could bounce a quarter off it. When I was turned over on my stomach, fear took a grip on me. What are they going to do? I turned my head to see the biggest needle I'd ever seen. Maybe I had subconscious memories of this type of instrument being involved in previous shenanigans.
I decided my best move was to remove myself from that table, pronto. I was thrashing and screaming. You'll have to help hold her down, Mom. Nurses! In the end, it took my Mom and three count 'em nurses to hold me on the table while the evil doctor administered the shot. The effect was instantaneous. I acquired a fear of needles from that point forward. I'd do anything to avoid contact with a needle, no matter how well intentioned it might be.
Unfortunately, dentists use needles too. Throughout my childhood, I dreaded the dentist. That shot of Novocaine, you know. The real problem arose when, after suffering the shot to deaden any pain, I felt all the pain! I blacked out every time. It wasn't until I was in my mid-twenties, that one astute dentist determined that the nerve was unusually positioned and a special technique was required to hit the nerve and thus make the procedure painless. Did this discovery quell my fear of needles? Not. I did visit the dentist more regularly.
My extreme fear of needles reemerged as a teenager, when I injured my back. Our family doctor decided a spinal tap was in order. Naturally, I wanted all of the details on just what we were talking about here, including seeing the instrument. OMG, the needle he produced looked like something Frankenstein must have endured. I opted out of that procedure. I never did figure out if he thought he'd just scare me into good health or what.
Now, with the scary little RFID chips being promoted, my fear of needles will never abate! So, if you suffer from this particular phobia, know that you're not alone! Personally, I find nothing attractive about them. Although I no longer thrash and scream, I'm terrified every time. I think the trick is to insist on watching. Then you know they can't get away with anything you know just what's happening until the person taking blood misses the vein! Ugh.
Lots of us have irrational fears of something or another you know, a fear of heights, clowns, flying, etc. Usually, these fears are over-exaggerated in our minds, usually triggered by some past traumatic association with the feared event or object. About a week or so ago, I was forced to visit my dentist for a toothache. After looking over my chart, he says, Say, don't I recall that you have a problem with needles and shots? Bless the man's good memory. So where do I start?
My fear of needles began when I was just a toddler. I was taken to the doctor's office for some vaccination. It's my first real memory of a doctor's office. It smelled funny. I didn't like the austere setup. It sure didn't feel like home. I figured I'd better pay close attention to this white-coated guy and his nurse. Looked like they were going to try and pull a fast one on me. Kids have that sixth sense. I was lifted on to the examination table, with its sheet so tight you could bounce a quarter off it. When I was turned over on my stomach, fear took a grip on me. What are they going to do? I turned my head to see the biggest needle I'd ever seen. Maybe I had subconscious memories of this type of instrument being involved in previous shenanigans.
I decided my best move was to remove myself from that table, pronto. I was thrashing and screaming. You'll have to help hold her down, Mom. Nurses! In the end, it took my Mom and three count 'em nurses to hold me on the table while the evil doctor administered the shot. The effect was instantaneous. I acquired a fear of needles from that point forward. I'd do anything to avoid contact with a needle, no matter how well intentioned it might be.
Unfortunately, dentists use needles too. Throughout my childhood, I dreaded the dentist. That shot of Novocaine, you know. The real problem arose when, after suffering the shot to deaden any pain, I felt all the pain! I blacked out every time. It wasn't until I was in my mid-twenties, that one astute dentist determined that the nerve was unusually positioned and a special technique was required to hit the nerve and thus make the procedure painless. Did this discovery quell my fear of needles? Not. I did visit the dentist more regularly.
My extreme fear of needles reemerged as a teenager, when I injured my back. Our family doctor decided a spinal tap was in order. Naturally, I wanted all of the details on just what we were talking about here, including seeing the instrument. OMG, the needle he produced looked like something Frankenstein must have endured. I opted out of that procedure. I never did figure out if he thought he'd just scare me into good health or what.
Now, with the scary little RFID chips being promoted, my fear of needles will never abate! So, if you suffer from this particular phobia, know that you're not alone! Personally, I find nothing attractive about them. Although I no longer thrash and scream, I'm terrified every time. I think the trick is to insist on watching. Then you know they can't get away with anything you know just what's happening until the person taking blood misses the vein! Ugh.
Staving off facial wrinkles the natural way
The last thing any woman wants to see in the mirror is facial wrinkles! Sure, you can't stop time, but then again, there's no reason to be aiding and abetting the onset of this natural aging process! With proper care for your skin, you can ward off all but the most insignificant facial wrinkles those called 'character lines' - well into your 40s. Let's go through the basic program and see how to retain a beautiful complexion longer.
At the heart of a smooth, wrinkle-free skin is a good dietary program. While you can pay hundreds of dollars for facial creams, if your diet is poor, you'll start spotting those dreaded facial wrinkles, sooner rather than later. Every woman who wants to look ten years younger needs her full complement of vitamins and minerals in her daily diet. Even if you think you eat well, it's hard to say, with the raft of genetically engineered foods, additives, hormones and preservatives, just what nutritive value is in the foods you eat. In addition, what the FDA says is 100% of an RDA is just not reliable.
People need more of certain nutrients at various stages of life. Take, for example, the teen who consumes a gallon of milk each day. Most adults couldn't drink that much, but kids whose bones are growing by leaps and bounds, need all of that calcium. On the other hand, as we age, certain nutrients, such as vitamin B-12, are not so readily absorbed as in our youth. This is why doctors sometimes recommend injections of vitamin B-12 for elderly patients who are chronically fatigued. You should ask your own doctor about the advisability of taking a multi-vitamin and mineral supplement.
So which nutrients are of particular benefit to your skin? To keep those facial wrinkles to a minimum, be sure to eat foods that are rich in vitamins A, C, E and zinc. Leafy green veggies, brightly colored produce, such as apples, oranges, bananas and yellow, orange and red bell peppers are loaded with these nutrients. Avocados are exceptionally high in vitamin E. All of these foods help promote healthy skin cells and a smooth complexion. Make a smoothie of strawberries, banana slices and orange juice for breakfast at least a few times a week. Avoid greasy, fatty foods. Use olive oil to cook as well as in salad dressings you'll be doing your heart a favor, too.
As for cleansing, use a hypoallergenic soap or lotion. Following a thorough rinse with warm water, close those pores with Witch Hazel and a cotton ball.
Regular moisturizing is an essential component in fighting off facial wrinkles. You really don't have to spend a fortune at the cosmetics counter. A $12 jar of face cream from the drugstore should last a couple of months, for day wear.
Your secret weapons, for night use, can be had from any health food store for just a few dollars each, which will last several months. A dime-sized dab of clear 100% aloe vera gel, applied after washing and left on overnight, softens your skin like you wouldn't believe. This is also a soothing remedy for a sunburn, healing the burned skin and taking the sting out. Now, about that avocado: once a week, make a paste of the meat of one small avocado and apply it to your face. This provides a direct hit of tons of vitamin E for your skin to soak up pronto. Vitamin E is a powerhouse when it comes to preventing facial wrinkles, especially recommended for you ladies over 30. If you're a teen, or still are lucky enough to tend towards oily skin, try sweet almond oil from the health food store. Sweet almond is much lighter than avocado oil.
For you ladies over 30, work in an exfoliant treatment once a week. A good exfoliant gets rid of dead skin cells, prevents blackheads and tightens your skin for a marvelously effective instant mini-lift. Then, moisturize. If you'll be out in the sun, always use an SPF30+ sunscreen. Sun damage is an invitation to dry, crepey skin and facial wrinkles to boot!
No matter what your age, it's never too late to start preventing or diminishing facial wrinkles. Just see how lovely you'll look!
I'm only 20! Why do I need a face moisturizer?!
I'm only 20! Why do I need a face moisturizer?!
When you're young, barely out of your teens and trying to put the oily skin that prompts pimples behind you for good, probably the last thing you think of buying at the cosmetics counter is a face moisturizer. Throughout your teens, you spent most of the time in front of the mirror applying astringents and any other oil reducing beauty product you could find. Now, here's your Mom, telling you that what you need now is a good face moisturizer! Doesn't seem to make any sense, does it? Well, I hate to tell you, but Mom's right. Here's why.
Ironically, during the teen years, your body seems to be an oil producing machine. You can't make it stop. Zits everywhere. Until your hormone levels start to even out, there's not much to be done, except to eat right, as Mom surely told you.
Once your hormones straighten out, the oily skin problem subsides and you have the pleasure of enjoying a pretty nice complexion. Isn't that wonderful? You no longer have to cut bangs to hide the raft of zits on your forehead!
Now, good old Mom comes to you with the face cream idea. You reject it out of hand. My skin looks great. Face creams are for old ladies. Not so fast. This is one of those good news, bad news concepts. It's true. Now, the process is reversing. Your skin no longer produces as much oil and never will again. It's a slow downhill slide, but nonetheless in a straight line towards dry skin, eventually leading to those little crow's feet and progressing to wrinkles. When you look in the mirror today, it's almost impossible to imagine that you'll ever age to that point. Hey, what's a wrinkle? Something older ladies get.
That's exactly why you need to begin using a face moisturizer now, at the beginning of the slowdown of natural oils. You want to keep your skin as smooth and supple as you can, nourishing it with moisture that keeps your skin soft at all times. The more you pamper your skin now and throughout adulthood, the more gracefully will you age.
There are many types of face moisturizers for women of all ages. You don't yet need the old lady heavy duty face cream now. There are light face moisturizers for young women like you, so light you'll wonder why you even bother to put it on. Believe me, you'll know when you need to graduate to the next weight of face cream. If you use your light face cream every day, morning and night, that won't be for many years.
Think of it this way: wouldn't you like to be carded when you're 50? Or even 60? Sure you would. So, do what Mom says! As usual, she's right, and you'll thank her for nagging you later.
When you're young, barely out of your teens and trying to put the oily skin that prompts pimples behind you for good, probably the last thing you think of buying at the cosmetics counter is a face moisturizer. Throughout your teens, you spent most of the time in front of the mirror applying astringents and any other oil reducing beauty product you could find. Now, here's your Mom, telling you that what you need now is a good face moisturizer! Doesn't seem to make any sense, does it? Well, I hate to tell you, but Mom's right. Here's why.
Ironically, during the teen years, your body seems to be an oil producing machine. You can't make it stop. Zits everywhere. Until your hormone levels start to even out, there's not much to be done, except to eat right, as Mom surely told you.
Once your hormones straighten out, the oily skin problem subsides and you have the pleasure of enjoying a pretty nice complexion. Isn't that wonderful? You no longer have to cut bangs to hide the raft of zits on your forehead!
Now, good old Mom comes to you with the face cream idea. You reject it out of hand. My skin looks great. Face creams are for old ladies. Not so fast. This is one of those good news, bad news concepts. It's true. Now, the process is reversing. Your skin no longer produces as much oil and never will again. It's a slow downhill slide, but nonetheless in a straight line towards dry skin, eventually leading to those little crow's feet and progressing to wrinkles. When you look in the mirror today, it's almost impossible to imagine that you'll ever age to that point. Hey, what's a wrinkle? Something older ladies get.
That's exactly why you need to begin using a face moisturizer now, at the beginning of the slowdown of natural oils. You want to keep your skin as smooth and supple as you can, nourishing it with moisture that keeps your skin soft at all times. The more you pamper your skin now and throughout adulthood, the more gracefully will you age.
There are many types of face moisturizers for women of all ages. You don't yet need the old lady heavy duty face cream now. There are light face moisturizers for young women like you, so light you'll wonder why you even bother to put it on. Believe me, you'll know when you need to graduate to the next weight of face cream. If you use your light face cream every day, morning and night, that won't be for many years.
Think of it this way: wouldn't you like to be carded when you're 50? Or even 60? Sure you would. So, do what Mom says! As usual, she's right, and you'll thank her for nagging you later.
Eye makeup tips that make the most of those 'windows
Eye makeup tips that make the most of those 'windows to the soul'
It's been said that the eyes are the 'windows to the soul'. Women have used eye makeup for thousands of years to make the most of these alluring windows, mainly for the purpose of attracting the opposite sex. Look at Cleopatra. While the Egyptian era list of eye makeup tips are not what women generally use today, eye makeup is here to stay, still applied to much the same objective. Unless you're talking stage makeup, today's women go for a more natural look to play up the beauty of their eyes. Here we've got some eye makeup tips for beautiful eyes which also protect the delicate eye skin area from sagging and wrinkles on down the road of life.
While people didn't live as long in ancient Egypt, women still wanted to look as young as possible for as long as possible. They were well aware that the skin around the eyes was the thinnest and most delicate skin of the face and took appropriate steps to protect that skin from aging. That fact has changed down through the centuries, so among our eye makeup tips, this may be the most important.
Interestingly, some of the Egyptian women's eye makeup tips are still in use today. The use of milk baths, honey and rose water, to keep the skin soft and supple is recommended for today's woman. In addition to these regimens, modern science has also provided us with creams designed especially for use around the eyes. These creams are lighter than normal anti-wrinkle face creams, facilitating a less heavy-handed application and thus, less stretching and damage to this delicate skin.
When you apply any of these skin softeners around the eye area, use your pinky and always work from the outside in, towards your nose. While the opposite seems logical, all you're accomplishing is hastening the telltale sagging around the outer corners of the eye. So, always, from the outside in!
Here's a little-known, but valuable eye makeup tip: after applying a moisturizer, allow a few minutes for the moisturizer or cream to be absorbed. This helps prevent eye shadows, liners and mascara from caking or running.
Always apply your eye make up in this order: first, an eye liner, if you use one, then eye shadow and finally mascara. If you use an eye liner, sharpen that pencil well. A thin line looks natural, whereas a heavy line does not. Remember that your goal is ultimately, to appear as though your not wearing eye make up at all!
When applying eye shadow, the soft foam brush type applicator allows the finest and most subtle application. The lipstick style applicators can work, but only when you dab the color on and then, using your pinky, smudge it with a light hand. When you simply draw a line with the stick type, you're stretching that skin trouble later!
The last of our eye makeup tips? Mascara is a beloved item in the makeup case, but is too often overdone. Unless you have jet black lashes, resist the temptation of black mascara. A brown-black looks more natural, while still giving your eyes a dramatic look. When it comes to mascara, more is not better. Choose a waterproof mascara, with a wand that separates the lashes and apply lightly.
Follow these eye makeup tips to the letter for a fabulous look, lots of attention from the gents and better looking skin around the eyes for years to come.
It's been said that the eyes are the 'windows to the soul'. Women have used eye makeup for thousands of years to make the most of these alluring windows, mainly for the purpose of attracting the opposite sex. Look at Cleopatra. While the Egyptian era list of eye makeup tips are not what women generally use today, eye makeup is here to stay, still applied to much the same objective. Unless you're talking stage makeup, today's women go for a more natural look to play up the beauty of their eyes. Here we've got some eye makeup tips for beautiful eyes which also protect the delicate eye skin area from sagging and wrinkles on down the road of life.
While people didn't live as long in ancient Egypt, women still wanted to look as young as possible for as long as possible. They were well aware that the skin around the eyes was the thinnest and most delicate skin of the face and took appropriate steps to protect that skin from aging. That fact has changed down through the centuries, so among our eye makeup tips, this may be the most important.
Interestingly, some of the Egyptian women's eye makeup tips are still in use today. The use of milk baths, honey and rose water, to keep the skin soft and supple is recommended for today's woman. In addition to these regimens, modern science has also provided us with creams designed especially for use around the eyes. These creams are lighter than normal anti-wrinkle face creams, facilitating a less heavy-handed application and thus, less stretching and damage to this delicate skin.
When you apply any of these skin softeners around the eye area, use your pinky and always work from the outside in, towards your nose. While the opposite seems logical, all you're accomplishing is hastening the telltale sagging around the outer corners of the eye. So, always, from the outside in!
Here's a little-known, but valuable eye makeup tip: after applying a moisturizer, allow a few minutes for the moisturizer or cream to be absorbed. This helps prevent eye shadows, liners and mascara from caking or running.
Always apply your eye make up in this order: first, an eye liner, if you use one, then eye shadow and finally mascara. If you use an eye liner, sharpen that pencil well. A thin line looks natural, whereas a heavy line does not. Remember that your goal is ultimately, to appear as though your not wearing eye make up at all!
When applying eye shadow, the soft foam brush type applicator allows the finest and most subtle application. The lipstick style applicators can work, but only when you dab the color on and then, using your pinky, smudge it with a light hand. When you simply draw a line with the stick type, you're stretching that skin trouble later!
The last of our eye makeup tips? Mascara is a beloved item in the makeup case, but is too often overdone. Unless you have jet black lashes, resist the temptation of black mascara. A brown-black looks more natural, while still giving your eyes a dramatic look. When it comes to mascara, more is not better. Choose a waterproof mascara, with a wand that separates the lashes and apply lightly.
Follow these eye makeup tips to the letter for a fabulous look, lots of attention from the gents and better looking skin around the eyes for years to come.
Reading between the lines to find those extra income opportunities
Reading between the lines to find those extra income opportunities
With this recession looking to be around for the foreseeable future, we're all or nearly all looking for extra income opportunities to augment the family coffers. It used to be fairly easy to find a part-time job for just a few hours a week to bring in a little extra cash. Now, as I look around, I notice that many small retail business owners are now filling in hours that used to be worked by part-timers. Still, there are some extra income opportunities available. You just need to look in some unlikely places and do a little reading between the lines. Here are a few ideas to get you started, with a different mindset.
Keep in mind that you're not the only one who is feeling the pinch. In fact, there are a few entrepreneurs on the net, who have a jump on the situation and know where you're coming from. There are newsletters out there, free for the asking, which have made their mission one of helping you reach your objectives. They've already done the leg work, searching out many resources of extra income, such as opinion polls, surveys, sweepstakes and freebies. These entrepreneurs are staking their reputation on pre-screening these resources, screening out the scams and zeroing in on the legitimate extra income opportunities. Try Googling 'newsletters saving frugal extra income' and see what you'll find. You may not get rich, but any extra income is a good thing, right?
Now, here's where you want to start thinking outside the box. While you may not traditionally think of coupons or giveaways as a source of extra income, if you can get $20 in coupons you'll actually use, that's $20 in your pocket. That expense is transformed into income! If you can get some freebies from a cosmetic company, you've effectively increased your disposable income, because you didn't have to buy the products. So these types of savings are actually extra income opportunities; money that you would have spent, but stays in your wallet!
Here's another way this downturn in the economy can work in your favor. Everyone's tightening their belts now and this includes your local businesses. While they may need some work done, it's not enough to hire even a part time employee. Perhaps they just need someone for a week or two. Contact some of the temporary employment agencies in your area and see if they don't have one of these extra income opportunities for you!
This last way to pick up some extra cash is one of my husband's favorites: the garage sale. I'm one of those people who keeps every little thing forever, unless I get a little push to get rid of some of it. Works every time. Everyone's happy when the garage sale is over. We've got some extra money, the garage is clean and the buyers got some good deals!
Take heart! There are many extra income opportunities, if only you know where to look!
With this recession looking to be around for the foreseeable future, we're all or nearly all looking for extra income opportunities to augment the family coffers. It used to be fairly easy to find a part-time job for just a few hours a week to bring in a little extra cash. Now, as I look around, I notice that many small retail business owners are now filling in hours that used to be worked by part-timers. Still, there are some extra income opportunities available. You just need to look in some unlikely places and do a little reading between the lines. Here are a few ideas to get you started, with a different mindset.
Keep in mind that you're not the only one who is feeling the pinch. In fact, there are a few entrepreneurs on the net, who have a jump on the situation and know where you're coming from. There are newsletters out there, free for the asking, which have made their mission one of helping you reach your objectives. They've already done the leg work, searching out many resources of extra income, such as opinion polls, surveys, sweepstakes and freebies. These entrepreneurs are staking their reputation on pre-screening these resources, screening out the scams and zeroing in on the legitimate extra income opportunities. Try Googling 'newsletters saving frugal extra income' and see what you'll find. You may not get rich, but any extra income is a good thing, right?
Now, here's where you want to start thinking outside the box. While you may not traditionally think of coupons or giveaways as a source of extra income, if you can get $20 in coupons you'll actually use, that's $20 in your pocket. That expense is transformed into income! If you can get some freebies from a cosmetic company, you've effectively increased your disposable income, because you didn't have to buy the products. So these types of savings are actually extra income opportunities; money that you would have spent, but stays in your wallet!
Here's another way this downturn in the economy can work in your favor. Everyone's tightening their belts now and this includes your local businesses. While they may need some work done, it's not enough to hire even a part time employee. Perhaps they just need someone for a week or two. Contact some of the temporary employment agencies in your area and see if they don't have one of these extra income opportunities for you!
This last way to pick up some extra cash is one of my husband's favorites: the garage sale. I'm one of those people who keeps every little thing forever, unless I get a little push to get rid of some of it. Works every time. Everyone's happy when the garage sale is over. We've got some extra money, the garage is clean and the buyers got some good deals!
Take heart! There are many extra income opportunities, if only you know where to look!
Four smart tips to establish credit and a good credit
Four smart tips to establish credit and a good credit rating
Credit scores are an inevitable fact of life. Although I disagree with the way the government chose to handle the bank's 'toxic assets' with a big juicy rescue plan, that's now water under the bridge. It doesn't seem that consumers have benefited much. In fact, getting credit seems to be more difficult than ever before and keeping your credit rating in good shape is certainly a necessity. Here we've got some pointers on how to establish credit, maintain a good credit score and how to avoid some of the pitfalls of the credit world.
1.Before you seek to establish credit, get your budget ship-shape! Establish a realistic household budget which is in line with your income and debts. This is an important step, when you consider that food, clothing and shelter alone takes a big bite out of your total income. Add on transportation and gas and there may not be a lot left. What's left and not spoken for is called disposable income. Disposable income is what you can spend on extras.
2.Determine what percentage of your disposable income should be deposited into a savings account each payday. Everyone should have a savings account to, at the least, deal with emergencies. At best, your savings account should not be touched. Just let it grow. (Reduce your disposable income by this amount.)
3.Now, whatever you've got left after meeting these necessities is the amount you can afford to pay each month, once you establish credit. Let's say you'd like to have the convenience of a department store card. If you need some clothing items, you can get what you need and pay over time, rather than having to pay $200 on the spot for a winter coat, suit or whatever. Department store cards are fairly easy to get and can be a good way to establish credit. The trick to this? Don't get in over your head! Know how much the payment will be before you buy and make sure you can pay it each month. Understand the effects of the interest rate and making only a minimum payment. Paying the card off as quickly as possible ensures a better credit rating and saves you money.
4.When your goal is to establish credit, remember that you're creating your financial reputation with creditors. If you live up to your end of the bargain, make payments in a timely manner and avoid late fees, you'll establish credit you can build on in the future. If you begin with just two modest credit accounts, say, a department store card and a gas card, within 6 months, your credit should be good enough to take on a bigger ticket item, such as that big flat screen TV you've had your eye on.
You can see that it's fairly easy to establish credit. The hard part is not going overboard. If you bite off more than you can chew, your credit rating can go down rapidly and then you'll be digging out of a hole. Each time you choose to establish more credit, examine that budget before you put in an application. Moderation in all things!
Credit scores are an inevitable fact of life. Although I disagree with the way the government chose to handle the bank's 'toxic assets' with a big juicy rescue plan, that's now water under the bridge. It doesn't seem that consumers have benefited much. In fact, getting credit seems to be more difficult than ever before and keeping your credit rating in good shape is certainly a necessity. Here we've got some pointers on how to establish credit, maintain a good credit score and how to avoid some of the pitfalls of the credit world.
1.Before you seek to establish credit, get your budget ship-shape! Establish a realistic household budget which is in line with your income and debts. This is an important step, when you consider that food, clothing and shelter alone takes a big bite out of your total income. Add on transportation and gas and there may not be a lot left. What's left and not spoken for is called disposable income. Disposable income is what you can spend on extras.
2.Determine what percentage of your disposable income should be deposited into a savings account each payday. Everyone should have a savings account to, at the least, deal with emergencies. At best, your savings account should not be touched. Just let it grow. (Reduce your disposable income by this amount.)
3.Now, whatever you've got left after meeting these necessities is the amount you can afford to pay each month, once you establish credit. Let's say you'd like to have the convenience of a department store card. If you need some clothing items, you can get what you need and pay over time, rather than having to pay $200 on the spot for a winter coat, suit or whatever. Department store cards are fairly easy to get and can be a good way to establish credit. The trick to this? Don't get in over your head! Know how much the payment will be before you buy and make sure you can pay it each month. Understand the effects of the interest rate and making only a minimum payment. Paying the card off as quickly as possible ensures a better credit rating and saves you money.
4.When your goal is to establish credit, remember that you're creating your financial reputation with creditors. If you live up to your end of the bargain, make payments in a timely manner and avoid late fees, you'll establish credit you can build on in the future. If you begin with just two modest credit accounts, say, a department store card and a gas card, within 6 months, your credit should be good enough to take on a bigger ticket item, such as that big flat screen TV you've had your eye on.
You can see that it's fairly easy to establish credit. The hard part is not going overboard. If you bite off more than you can chew, your credit rating can go down rapidly and then you'll be digging out of a hole. Each time you choose to establish more credit, examine that budget before you put in an application. Moderation in all things!
How to conduct an effective entry level job search
There's no question that today's job market is difficult. Jobs are not so plentiful, so you've got to make your best presentation, each time you make contact with a prospective employer.
If you're looking for an entry level job, you may feel it's going to be even tougher for you. However, you should take heart. Professionals with many years of experience on their resume may have a tougher time landing a job than you! They need to hopefully, match a certain salary expectation in order to meet their existing obligations, such as a mortgage. On the other hand, they may just as well need to downsize on their current or former salary, due to the sheer number of candidates with which they're competing.
Here we give you the secrets to managing a successful entry level job search program.
When conducting an entry level job search, you face a lot of competition, but you can gain an edge by knowing what prospective employers consider an ideal candidate and emphasizing certain of those characteristics on your resume. A good resume will help you stand out from the competition and get an interview. At your interview, you have the opportunity to promote yourself and underline those desirable characteristics.
It's likely that you don't have a lot of work experience to flesh out that resume. If you're just entering the job market, you'll want to include any and all temporary or part time jobs you've held, including informal arrangements, such as babysitting or after-school yard work jobs. The point you're trying to get across is that you have demonstrated responsibility and reliability in executing a task. Save the prospective employer some time by getting written references, with a phone contact, which you can attach to your resume upon submission. Make it easy for the employer to verify what you put on your resume.
While people with lots of work experience don't usually include special interests and hobbies type of information on their resume, when conducting an entry level job search, it's a good idea. Lacking much work experience, this helps the employer get a feel for your talents, personality and style before ever meeting you.
For example, if the goal of your entry level job search is to get your foot in the bakery business, past activities such as church bake sale coordinator or participant, taking baking classes, or babysitting jobs which including making meals are worth mentioning, as this demonstrates an ongoing interest in the business. This gives you an edge over all other candidates without this background, or those who failed to mention such activities. This strategy applies to whatever special interests you have, as it may apply to the employer's business.
If you're just coming out of school and have a good G.P.A., be sure to give that information a line on your resume. Any continuing education coursework and educational goals also merit a mention.
Unless the ad specifies mailing your resume, try to apply in person as possible. This shows an employer that you're serious about the job and also gives you an opportunity for a face-to-face. True, you may be handing your resume to the front receptionist, but it never hurts to ask if the hiring manager is in. You could be hired on the spot.
When showing up in person, dress conservatively and professionally. You get only one chance to make that first good impression!
So there you have the essential secrets of the successful entry level job search campaign. Good luck!
English Grammar Lessons
Teaching a process-based writing approach has many advantages, but one clear disadvantage is that teachers find it difficult to incorporate English grammar lessons into the units of study. Indeed, the workshop model is not designed for the type of lessons we traditionally think of when talking about grammar instruction workboks, worksheets, repetitive exercises, sentence diagramming, and all those classic English grammar lessons we were subjected to ourselves as children.
It is entirely possible to teach grammar within the context of the workshop model, without disrupting the writing process. English grammar lessons can be incorporated into a balanced literacy approach, without any loss of effectiveness. In fact, when approached organically, grammar lessons can be fun and engaging for students.
The important thing to remember about teaching English grammar is to keep everything contextualized. The easiest way to accomplish this is to use students reading text or writing samples as a starting point. English grammar lessons should begin with an examination of the given text, so that students will see the grammar principle within its context as part of written expression, rather than as a disconnected, abstract set of rules.
It is also important to allow students to continue using the student-centered, inquiry-based approach which should guide all your lesson planning. English grammar lessons do not need to involve direct instruction and repetitive, dull exercises. Rather, allow the students to uncover grammatical principles for themselves. You may be surprised to find out how much they already know, and how quickly they absorb a concept when they discover it for themselves.
For example, you might begin a lesson on English grammar by having the class all read the same student writing sample. Ask the students to find any grammar mistakes they can in the writing sample. This is a very open-ended instruction, and so may lead to any number of specific English grammar lessons. If you wish to direct the lesson toward one particular concept or rule, then choose the writing sample carefully.
Alternatively, you might provide your class with more specific, less open-ended instructions. For example, if teaching a lesson on using the past tense, have students browse through their independent reading books for five minutes. Instruct them to write down five or ten past tense verbs they find (make sure they know not to read the actual text, but to just scan it for verbs). Then begin your whole-class English grammar lesson by soliciting examples of past tense verbs, and writing a list on the board. When the list is complete, have students provide the infinitive (or to form) of each verb. Then allow the class to discuss, in small groups, what rules they notice. When do we add ed to make a verb past tense? When do we make other changes?
If students discover the rules of grammar on their own, and in context, they will more fully understand grammar, how it operates, and how it helps them express their thoughts more clearly to a reader. Indeed, English grammar lessons can be highly effective without being boring or repetitive.
Are Energy Pills Safe?
In this jet-set modern world, people are turning to a wide variety of stimulants to keep their pep up over the course of the day (and night). Coffee, caffeine-charged energy drinks, and other such devices have been used for some time, but a new trend is worrying some. Energy pills, sold both over-the-counter and by prescription, are being used by a wide range of individuals. But are these new "energy pills" safe to use? And what are the effects on the human metabolism in the long term? This article will break down the science of energy pills and give you the straight dope on exactly what theyre doing inside your body and why.
First, exactly what those energy pills are made out of. Despite the packaging claims, in which a host of mysterious tropical herbs, chemical substances, and other fancy-sounding stuff is trotted out, the primary ingredient in the vast majority of energy pills is caffeine. This is one of the most commonly-used stimulants in the Western world, naturally produced in a number of plants. In most pills, this caffeine is delivered as a white, chalky substance known as xanthine alkaloid. Energy pills containing caffeine slightly speed up the human metabolism, as well as decreasing the effect of certain areas of the bran most notably, the warning indicators that tell us if we are hungry or tired.
While turning off those areas of the brain that hold us back may seem like a good idea, it can have serious repercussions. If the body is given too much stimulation without an appropriate resting phase, serious neurological damage can occur. Energy pills can permanently affect the brains uptake of important chemicals, causing habitual users to develop a dependency. Caffeine dependency is very difficult to overcome, as the users entire metabolic cycle can become dependent on it. With a greater and greater percentage of young people using energy pills and drinks, this is poised to be one of the greatest health crises of the 21st century.
Are energy pills always unsafe? No in moderation, on rare occasions, they can be useful in helping an individual muster that extra bit of focus they need to get through a trying situation. But they are not a miracle drug, and their returns diminish with use, so users must be cautious and prudent with their intake. If you are already a habitual energy pill user, I encourage you to contact a doctor and develop a reduction program before you do yourself permanent harm.
Ending a relationship is never easy: using TLC, grace, compassion
Ending a relationship is never easy: using TLC, grace, compassion and kindness is your best bet
We all know that ending a relationship can be one of the most difficult events and also one of the most common we face. Teens go through breakups on a weekly or monthly basis. It's hard, but that's what gains you experience in the end. As we get more experience in relationships, we learn to see those red flags and start making better choices in who we really want to invest time with in a relationship. Unfortunately, this school of hard knocks can persist well into adulthood.
Nevertheless, the knowledge we gain never seems to make ending a relationship any easier. Just different baggage. However, when you stop to analyze each situation which you're never in a good emotional position to do at the time you're in the midst of breaking up a relationship you'll find there are always certain commonalities.
A breakup is typically immediately preceded by a fight. When you think about it, the fight is usually precipitated by something you've fought about before. This one is just the last straw. Maybe your mate is overly critical, jealous, insensitive, always flirting, a frequent no-show or whatever. While the topics of the fights don't change, you always hope you'll be the one to change the person, for the better, in a way that suits you. Conversely, your partner thinks the very same thing. Nine times out of ten, this never works. People in relationships always have differences, but you've got to learn to recognize the show stoppers and accept that it's unlikely you're going to change basic personality characteristics.
That said, ending a relationship with these characteristics is better done sooner than later. You'll both be better off.
If you haven't made this inspection of your past and current relationships, but have now reached that point of no return, understand that making a messy and harsh departure is both unnecessary and harmful to both of you. You're best off ending a relationship that's irretrievable on a gracious note. Sure, you're not going to be in the mood for niceties after a big, knock-down, drag-out fight. Give yourself some time to cool off and get rational. Take your time and be honest with yourself. If it's not going to work out, that's the way it goes. Cut your losses and take the high road when you next speak to your soon-to-be ex.
Be calm. Don't say things to deliberately hurt, or exact revenge. Let the person know that you find many positive qualities in them. You wouldn't have been in the relationship at all if that weren't true, right? At the same time, let them know that, much as you would have liked things to work out, you respect their individuality and know that you can't reconcile the points that you can't get behind. You're an individual too.
Expect that this person might beg you to reconsider. I'll change! You can let them know that you don't expect them to compromise themselves to please you. If you know in your heart that you and they are not to be, stick to your guns. Be kind and compassionate, for the betterment of your collective emotional well being.
Ending a relationship isn't easy, but sometimes it's the best you can do. Say, Fare thee well and move on.
We all know that ending a relationship can be one of the most difficult events and also one of the most common we face. Teens go through breakups on a weekly or monthly basis. It's hard, but that's what gains you experience in the end. As we get more experience in relationships, we learn to see those red flags and start making better choices in who we really want to invest time with in a relationship. Unfortunately, this school of hard knocks can persist well into adulthood.
Nevertheless, the knowledge we gain never seems to make ending a relationship any easier. Just different baggage. However, when you stop to analyze each situation which you're never in a good emotional position to do at the time you're in the midst of breaking up a relationship you'll find there are always certain commonalities.
A breakup is typically immediately preceded by a fight. When you think about it, the fight is usually precipitated by something you've fought about before. This one is just the last straw. Maybe your mate is overly critical, jealous, insensitive, always flirting, a frequent no-show or whatever. While the topics of the fights don't change, you always hope you'll be the one to change the person, for the better, in a way that suits you. Conversely, your partner thinks the very same thing. Nine times out of ten, this never works. People in relationships always have differences, but you've got to learn to recognize the show stoppers and accept that it's unlikely you're going to change basic personality characteristics.
That said, ending a relationship with these characteristics is better done sooner than later. You'll both be better off.
If you haven't made this inspection of your past and current relationships, but have now reached that point of no return, understand that making a messy and harsh departure is both unnecessary and harmful to both of you. You're best off ending a relationship that's irretrievable on a gracious note. Sure, you're not going to be in the mood for niceties after a big, knock-down, drag-out fight. Give yourself some time to cool off and get rational. Take your time and be honest with yourself. If it's not going to work out, that's the way it goes. Cut your losses and take the high road when you next speak to your soon-to-be ex.
Be calm. Don't say things to deliberately hurt, or exact revenge. Let the person know that you find many positive qualities in them. You wouldn't have been in the relationship at all if that weren't true, right? At the same time, let them know that, much as you would have liked things to work out, you respect their individuality and know that you can't reconcile the points that you can't get behind. You're an individual too.
Expect that this person might beg you to reconsider. I'll change! You can let them know that you don't expect them to compromise themselves to please you. If you know in your heart that you and they are not to be, stick to your guns. Be kind and compassionate, for the betterment of your collective emotional well being.
Ending a relationship isn't easy, but sometimes it's the best you can do. Say, Fare thee well and move on.
Have your recipe box entries become boring? Try a new
Have your recipe box entries become boring? Try a new collection in email recipes!
When you're the main cook in the family, it's easy to get in a rut: fried chicken on Tuesday, meatloaf on Wednesday, pizza on Friday night, etcetera. Almost all of us eventually reach the point where the family starts the How did I know we'd be having meatloaf tonight?, or the kids start begging to eat at a friends house every week on a certain day? This is a sure sign that your menus need an overhaul. The same-old, same-old is obviously not cutting it any more.
There are a couple of ways to painlessly refresh your meal offerings with fresh new tastes. Did you know that there are literally thousands of cooking sites online which provide tens of thousands of recipes to get your menus out of that rut and into exciting new territory? What's even better, most allow you to email recipes you can use today, at no cost to you.
Using email recipes you receive right in your inbox from cooking sites is perhaps one of the easiest ways to revamp your menus. This doesn't mean you have to necessarily increase your food budget. Chicken and ground beef are some of the cheaper options in the weekly shopping cart, but there are certainly a huge number of variations on cooking these meats. Take advantage of the cooking site resources and find another way to cook that ever-present chicken.
For example, a whole roasting chicken is a more economical buy, which can be transformed into an entirely new dish. Stuff the chicken with croutons, mushrooms, celery, water chestnuts or whatever suits your tastes. Add some chicken broth and season with a poultry seasoning mix. Melt some butter and inject it into the thickest parts of the meat. Alternatively, inject a marinade in the same manner for a flavorful bird. This is not fried chicken. In addition, the stuffing provides a side dish.
Find a few cooking sites with recipes that you find appealing. Type 'chicken entrees', 'roasted stuffed chicken', 'chicken casserole' or whatever type of dish strikes your fancy. Any of these searches will come up with dozens of recipes for you to peruse. When you find ones that are intriguing, send yourself an email recipe! Simple as that. This strategy also makes cooking more fun for you, without increasing your food budget.
Do the same with your tried and tired meatloaf recipe. You'll surely discover hundreds of variations, using different techniques, ingredients and seasonings. A layered meatloaf casserole is just one example. Try a spicy taco seasoning for the meat, a second layer of one can of sweet corn (drained) and topped off with mashed potatoes sprinkled with grated cheddar cheese.
The majority of cooking sites which offer email recipes get their recipes from cooks all over the world. Other cooks try them and rate them, so when you see a recipe with a five-star rating, it's probably a good bet.
As for pizza, you can actually save money at the checkout by making something new and exotic. I daresay there are tens of thousands of different pizza recipes online.
Just keep building up your email recipes folder, saving the ones which garner applause from family members. If you've got a friend who enjoys cooking, turn them on to the email recipes concept and start an exchange program for twice the possibilities.
You can see there's really no need for meals to ever become boring!
When you're the main cook in the family, it's easy to get in a rut: fried chicken on Tuesday, meatloaf on Wednesday, pizza on Friday night, etcetera. Almost all of us eventually reach the point where the family starts the How did I know we'd be having meatloaf tonight?, or the kids start begging to eat at a friends house every week on a certain day? This is a sure sign that your menus need an overhaul. The same-old, same-old is obviously not cutting it any more.
There are a couple of ways to painlessly refresh your meal offerings with fresh new tastes. Did you know that there are literally thousands of cooking sites online which provide tens of thousands of recipes to get your menus out of that rut and into exciting new territory? What's even better, most allow you to email recipes you can use today, at no cost to you.
Using email recipes you receive right in your inbox from cooking sites is perhaps one of the easiest ways to revamp your menus. This doesn't mean you have to necessarily increase your food budget. Chicken and ground beef are some of the cheaper options in the weekly shopping cart, but there are certainly a huge number of variations on cooking these meats. Take advantage of the cooking site resources and find another way to cook that ever-present chicken.
For example, a whole roasting chicken is a more economical buy, which can be transformed into an entirely new dish. Stuff the chicken with croutons, mushrooms, celery, water chestnuts or whatever suits your tastes. Add some chicken broth and season with a poultry seasoning mix. Melt some butter and inject it into the thickest parts of the meat. Alternatively, inject a marinade in the same manner for a flavorful bird. This is not fried chicken. In addition, the stuffing provides a side dish.
Find a few cooking sites with recipes that you find appealing. Type 'chicken entrees', 'roasted stuffed chicken', 'chicken casserole' or whatever type of dish strikes your fancy. Any of these searches will come up with dozens of recipes for you to peruse. When you find ones that are intriguing, send yourself an email recipe! Simple as that. This strategy also makes cooking more fun for you, without increasing your food budget.
Do the same with your tried and tired meatloaf recipe. You'll surely discover hundreds of variations, using different techniques, ingredients and seasonings. A layered meatloaf casserole is just one example. Try a spicy taco seasoning for the meat, a second layer of one can of sweet corn (drained) and topped off with mashed potatoes sprinkled with grated cheddar cheese.
The majority of cooking sites which offer email recipes get their recipes from cooks all over the world. Other cooks try them and rate them, so when you see a recipe with a five-star rating, it's probably a good bet.
As for pizza, you can actually save money at the checkout by making something new and exotic. I daresay there are tens of thousands of different pizza recipes online.
Just keep building up your email recipes folder, saving the ones which garner applause from family members. If you've got a friend who enjoys cooking, turn them on to the email recipes concept and start an exchange program for twice the possibilities.
You can see there's really no need for meals to ever become boring!
Thursday, July 30, 2015
What Are Email Lists?
Whenever you put your name and email address down somewhere, your details are going onto a list of some kind, and nowadays it will usually be into email lists. Thats just the way of the world, and theres little you can do to avoid it, but there are some ways to lessen the impact to your personal life by taking some small steps when you do give out your details for whatever reason.
Email lists are basically marketing and sales tools used by many companies to help in their efforts to gain customers or clients for whatever product or service their pushing. These lists can sometimes be used by good companies to make you aware of what they have, specials they have for list customers only and things of that nature, but where theres good theres always bad, too. When your details get onto an email list anywhere, it only takes one less than honest person to sell it to the wrong people, and this is how everyone ends up getting those emails that you never signed up for, like the male enhancers, the you have won the lottery emails and such. A simple yet effective way to minimize this is to have 2 email addresses, one you use for real email, and another specifically for when you have to give an email address out. This simple little thing, which is free to do as email addresses are free just about everywhere now will totally remove you from the possibility of getting your real email address onto those email lists.
If you dont want to bother with the above method, then only give your email address to those companies or people that you absolutely trust, such as your doctors office or pharmacy. Remember though that no matter who you give it to, you WILL be going onto someones email lists. This may never affect you as not everyone employs email lists for anything other than the reason they stated when asking for it, but thats not to say that someone working there wont steal and sell that list for a fast buck or 300.
Only accept and open emails from people you know, as sometimes bad marketers send out millions of emails with randomized addresses in the hope that someone really has that email address and they wont know if its good or bad until the email gets opened, so be aware that all emails coming to you may simply want you to do this to include you onto their email lists for selling to others.
Getting Your First e-mail address
Nowadays people who havent signed up for an e-mail address are rare finds indeed. Even you grandparents probably have one, even if they havent yet grasped the concept of a username and password. And if youre the one who set up their accounts, theres absolutely no reason for you to not create one for yourself.
An e-mail address functions like a virtual mailbox, with advantages that real-world mailboxes lack. For one thing, delivery is instantaneous and practically limitless in destination. E-mail can keep you in contact with friends who live a continent away. Its also free of charge, and accessible to almost anyone.
Of course, e-mail is not without shortcomings. It does tend to be less personal than good old-fashioned mailed letters, phone conversations and actual human contact. Unfortunately, tone doesnt travel as well through written text as it is conveyed through spoken voice, but this can easily be remedied using a plethora of various smiley emoticons. Your e-mail address is also susceptible to plagues of random advertisements, chain letters, and unsolicited sexual propositions. Fortunately, these epidemics have died down in more recent times. You wont have problems with this when you use more reputable e-mail domains such as Gmail and Yahoo.
You may also find the more distant and impersonal nature of the e-mail address to be of benefit in some cases. In order to avoid personal contact with an undesirable acquaintance, the e-mail address can be distributed in place of a phone number when a form of correspondence is requested. It is also possible to own several e-mail addresses for dealing with different areas of your life and different people. As this is much more difficult to manage with a phone number or home address, the e-mail address comes in handy.
Feel free to be original when choosing a username. Using your full name tends to be popular among first-timers though surprisingly enough, you can often find that your name is already taken by another user. Youre more likely to successfully create an account using a name that is idiosyncratic and unique. When choosing a password, the same applies to a greater extent. Some may think that password is a clever choice, but be assured that a billion others have thought that they were being just as clever. Passwords that have no meaning are the strongest because they are hard to guess. Just take care to remember it yourself, since it probably wont have any inherent meaning to you either.
Once youve registered your unique e-mail address youll be ready to correspond online to virtually anybody, just like everyone else. Welcome to the world of virtual communication.
Trends in Electronic journal distributions
We see that everything today is shifting from paper-based system to electronic distribution. While paper editions of a journal are still in existence, an electronic journal seems to have a wide distribution and exposure and as a result, many scholars and publishers have decided to sell out their journals to universities and sites online. Unfortunately, the macroeconomics involved have shown that publishers are worse off when they sell their licenses to universities and such like institutions rather than have the journals distributed by individual subscriptions only.
On the other hand, most universities and professional societies often price journals that they have had licenses to, to maximum subscriptions. In this way, they not only recover their average costs, but also go a long way in offering innumerable benefits to the scientific and academic communities when they continue to offer sustenance to these journals online. These benefits are far more than having the journals sold only per individual subscriptions.
There are remarkable price differences between print copies of academic journals owned by commercial publishers and those owned by non-profit publishers, universities and professional societies. Commercial publishers subscriptions are usually several times higher than what universities and professional societies charge. However, this price difference does not reflect differences in quality. When citation is used as a measure of a journal quality, the prices charged per citation differ by an even greater margin. These price differences have grown rapidly over the last 15 years.
The market for an electronic journal today can be compared to that of computer software and is very different to that of house or household goods. If you sell a house, you cannot sell it again to another buyer. In contrast, an information good like an electronic journal can be sold to many different buyers either to groups, firms or universities or to individuals. Any prices charged for these goods are simply an extension of access to an additional user as opposed to selling a house where one needs to bear the full cost of an additional house.
Today, publishers have introduced what is called bundled collections. University libraries are offered a publishers portfolio of journals to purchase at significant discounts from buying one electronic journal at a time. Several publishers have also introduced what are called tiered pricing structures where price estimates depend on how useful the product is and this price is adjustable over time. Clearly, a problem exists in the electronic journal distribution and unless a collective response is facilitated, this problem will continue.
Read on the Go with Electronic Book Readers
I'm the kind of person who is always reading a bunch of books at the same time. It's not unusual for me to be in the middle of four or five different titles, and my lengthy list of novels I want to read in the near future ensures that as soon as I finish one, I pick right up with another. And now that I have an electronic book reader, I'll be able to read even more since I can carry a sizable library right in my backpack.
Electronic book readers are devices that allow you to read ebooks on the go. These products present a number of advantages over traditional paperbacks or hardcovers, which is why they're becoming so popular with the general public these days. For instance, electronic book readers are very eco-friendly. Publishers can sell a million copies of an ebook without destroying a single tree, and there's no trash generated during the process. Furthermore, These devices feature massive memory cards that can store thousands of titles, which means you'll never be without something to read. And of course, most units are quite compact, making them even easier to carry than their paper and cardboard counterparts.
I have a dedicated electronic book reader called the Kindle. It's from Amazon.com, and is one of the best-selling devices on the market. The Kindle does nothing except allow you to read books, but it excels at that function and truly makes reading fun. I can buy new titles online from Amazon, which are then instantly delivered wirelessly to my device. The whole transaction takes less than a minute and is by far the easiest, most convenient way to purchase the latest New York Times best-seller or that literary classic that I've always meant to tackle. Sony also makes a dedicated electronic book reader, but I think the Kindle is definitely the best in its class.
Some of today's smartphones can also serve as electronic book readers, so if you have a good enough handset, you could probably get it to pull double duty in this respect. I know the Apple iPhone is nice for reading texts because it has a wide, clear screen. Many people have also reported that Blackberrys serve well in this capacity, too. I can vouch for the iPhone, but not any other brand. Still, if I had to choose, I'd go with a Kindle first any day!
And finally, PDAs (portable digital assistants) are also capable of serving as electronic book readers. If you have one of these devices sitting around collecting dust, you might want to put it into service. But since smartphones have taken over, hardly anyone buys PDAs anymore, so I wouldn't recommend purchasing one just for the sake of reading books.
If you love books as much as I do, then an electronic book reader would definitely be a worthwhile investment for you. Though these devices are a bit on the pricey side, I believe it's money well spent. I wouldn't trade my Kindle for anything!
Electric Violin: Not the New Electric Guitar
Most notably publicized through Yellowcards Sean Mackin, the electric violin combines the classic sound of strumming strings with the power of rocking acoustics. The instrument is not unheard of, but it remains to be seen whether it will achieve as much mainstream acceptance as the electric guitar. Public reaction to the electric violin is varied. Some receive it with enthusiasm and fascination; others see it as an unnecessary gimmick.
Both viewpoints have their merits. On one hand, it makes sense to celebrate the fusion of different musical disciplines. Musical genres shouldnt have to be so strictly segregated. On the other hand, the potential crossover of the classical violin to classic rock can open the door to any old instrument undergoing electrical engineering just for the novelty of it rather than aesthetic interest. Some might fear the possibility of these electronic instruments replacing their respective authentic ones.
As of now, skeptics have little reason to worry. The electric violin is rarely used in classical performance and mainly wanders about the realm of pop rock and other more mainstream genres of music. It may end up traveling the way of the guitar, in that classical and electric guitars are viewed as distinct instruments used for different purposes. Granted, electric guitars have a very different sound whereas an electric violin tends to sound m
ore similar to the original. Perhaps the electric violin, like the electric acoustic guitar, will fall somewhere along the line between the two domains. In any case, currently the electric violin hardly appears poised to establish itself as much as the electric guitar has, which is an interesting prospect to ponder.
It may simply be a matter of culture and time. Electric guitars conjure up the notion of rock and roll while violins are automatically associated with classical music. Electric violins are just thatelectric violins. Electric guitars have had a lot more publicity, leading to more widespread exposure and acceptance. Its entirely possible that after a decade or two, the idea of the violin as a rock instrument will be nothing absurd or out of the ordinary.
The public will inevitably dissent over whether this is something to be anticipated or feared. Diversity is to be encouraged, one side will say; mediocrity is not, the other side will counter. Should the violin be reduced to yet another instrument converted into modern fare purely out of base, even morbid enjoyment? Whether the electric violin will prove to be a creative advancement or just another technological stunt remains to be seen.
Effective email marketing techniques that pack a punch without a
Effective email marketing techniques that pack a punch without a heavy handed approach!
If you've got a website and want to increase your traffic, you know that e-newsletters can be a quite effective email marketing strategy. The trick is in knowing how to hook your readers without taking the heavy handed approach to sales. Sure, sales and profit is your bottom line, but you've got to provide significant value for the best results. In the end, you want to make your readers look forward to receiving your emails, eager to open and read, from beginning to end. What makes readers enthusiastic when they see an email from your business? They find something of value to them personally, in every issue of your newsletter.
While you may think this is a tall order, it's really not so difficult as you might think. Whether you're selling information, a service, or a product, you're the expert in your field. You know all the ins and outs, nuts and bolts about your business. It's more than likely that the vast majority of your customers don't. You have an opportunity to educate them. An informed customer is far more likely to buy from a credible expert.
Distributing a free e-newsletter is one of the most effective email marketing strategies you can employ to increase your traffic and build a relationship with your subscribers. It's also a good marketing technique for gaining word of mouth referrals. Don't be shy about letting your subscribers know they're free to pass your email on to an interested friend. One satisfied reader tells a friend or neighbor how great your e-newsletter is. You may start out with just a few hundred subscribers - before you know it, your readership expands exponentially. Pretty soon, you've got exposure you might never have realized through search engine rankings based solely on the content of your site.
When you're working up the presentation of your newsletter, it's a smart idea to make a template, which presents each issue in a predictable order. For example, start each issue with a masthead (issue # and volume#), followed by an introductory paragraph summarizing the contents. A table of contents helps whet the appetite of the reader: tidbits of info and links (a low-key sales pitch opportunity), followed by the feature article, which should be the centerpiece of each issue. Following the feature article, you might have a single affiliate link relevant to the information contained in the feature piece. You might then introduce a section for reader's comments, which is good PR for you, creates a sense of an interactive community and makes for an effective email marketing strategy.
Think about winding up the newsletter with several affiliate links to products or services that your readers will find valuable. For example, if you've got a travel website, search out some hot deals on cheap travel, ones your subscribers wouldn't ordinarily find on their own.
Depending on the focus of your website, a freebies section can be a real draw. Everyone is looking for ways to save these days, so when you can direct your readers to some freebies, they'll appreciate it. This is effective email marketing.
Some caveats to consider for the most effective email marketing strategies: when you offer your free e-newsletter subscription, the double opt-in subscription gives you credibility. Your visitors will feel more confident in you and your business reputation when you let them know that when they sign up, they'll receive an email asking them to confirm their desire to receive your emails by clicking a confirmation link. Also, be sure to include a statement, right up front, to the effect that you respect their privacy and won't ever sell, share or trade their email address with anyone.
While you may send occasional emails to alert your subscribers to special sales or events, don't overdo it. Too many emails starts to feel like spam to your potential customers.
Following this basic formula, you'll have a most effective email marketing strategy, one that pleases your subscribers and increases your bottom line. It's a win-win for everyone.
If you've got a website and want to increase your traffic, you know that e-newsletters can be a quite effective email marketing strategy. The trick is in knowing how to hook your readers without taking the heavy handed approach to sales. Sure, sales and profit is your bottom line, but you've got to provide significant value for the best results. In the end, you want to make your readers look forward to receiving your emails, eager to open and read, from beginning to end. What makes readers enthusiastic when they see an email from your business? They find something of value to them personally, in every issue of your newsletter.
While you may think this is a tall order, it's really not so difficult as you might think. Whether you're selling information, a service, or a product, you're the expert in your field. You know all the ins and outs, nuts and bolts about your business. It's more than likely that the vast majority of your customers don't. You have an opportunity to educate them. An informed customer is far more likely to buy from a credible expert.
Distributing a free e-newsletter is one of the most effective email marketing strategies you can employ to increase your traffic and build a relationship with your subscribers. It's also a good marketing technique for gaining word of mouth referrals. Don't be shy about letting your subscribers know they're free to pass your email on to an interested friend. One satisfied reader tells a friend or neighbor how great your e-newsletter is. You may start out with just a few hundred subscribers - before you know it, your readership expands exponentially. Pretty soon, you've got exposure you might never have realized through search engine rankings based solely on the content of your site.
When you're working up the presentation of your newsletter, it's a smart idea to make a template, which presents each issue in a predictable order. For example, start each issue with a masthead (issue # and volume#), followed by an introductory paragraph summarizing the contents. A table of contents helps whet the appetite of the reader: tidbits of info and links (a low-key sales pitch opportunity), followed by the feature article, which should be the centerpiece of each issue. Following the feature article, you might have a single affiliate link relevant to the information contained in the feature piece. You might then introduce a section for reader's comments, which is good PR for you, creates a sense of an interactive community and makes for an effective email marketing strategy.
Think about winding up the newsletter with several affiliate links to products or services that your readers will find valuable. For example, if you've got a travel website, search out some hot deals on cheap travel, ones your subscribers wouldn't ordinarily find on their own.
Depending on the focus of your website, a freebies section can be a real draw. Everyone is looking for ways to save these days, so when you can direct your readers to some freebies, they'll appreciate it. This is effective email marketing.
Some caveats to consider for the most effective email marketing strategies: when you offer your free e-newsletter subscription, the double opt-in subscription gives you credibility. Your visitors will feel more confident in you and your business reputation when you let them know that when they sign up, they'll receive an email asking them to confirm their desire to receive your emails by clicking a confirmation link. Also, be sure to include a statement, right up front, to the effect that you respect their privacy and won't ever sell, share or trade their email address with anyone.
While you may send occasional emails to alert your subscribers to special sales or events, don't overdo it. Too many emails starts to feel like spam to your potential customers.
Following this basic formula, you'll have a most effective email marketing strategy, one that pleases your subscribers and increases your bottom line. It's a win-win for everyone.
Public Education Policy and the Achievement Gap
President George W. Bushs 2001 No Child Left Behind Law was the first federal education policy which explicitly attempted to address the so-called achievement gap between white and non-white students in America. By now it is well documented that children of color under perform academically compared to their white peers. Can any education policy hope to eliminate this achievement gap and guarantee equal educational outcomes for all?
Before examining the different education policy proposals and schools of thought, it might be more constructive to inspect the root causes of gaps in educational outcomes. No public policy can hope to correct a social problem if its not clear what exactly the problem is.
Yet, although you will find general consensus on the existence of an achievement gap, you will not find unanimous agreement on its causes. In the discourse on education policy, some have attributed the problem to unequal school funding systems, in which property values are linked to school support. Others have pointed out that increases in funding to the poorest schools has not yielded a corresponding increase in student academic performance. Therefore, they conclude that the problem in education policy is not under-funding, but rather a poorer quality of instruction at failing schools. This lower quality of instruction has been attributed to incompetent administration, unions protecting bad teachers, lack of accountability, and other factors.
So how can public education policy properly address these concerns? Certainly the first step is to guarantee equality in school funding. But it is clear from the evidence over the last 30 years that money is not the answer to improving educational outcomes. More money has consistently not corresponded with better academic results, nor with a narrowing of the achievement gap. Money in itself is not the answer.
It is possible, however, to address the question of instructional quality at the public policy level. The challenge is to move away from tired arguments about standards and accountability, which do little to deal with the underlying problems in failing schools. Indeed, the problem with our public education policy is not the we dont expect enough; its that we dont provide schools with the resources they need to accomplish the high standards to which we hope to hold them accountable.
This does not mean, once again, that the best education policy is one which funnels more and more money into the system. On the contrary, more money often only invites more corruption and has an adverse effect on educational outcomes. Instead, policy should focus more on how funds are spent in education. A good education policy should ensure that spending is focused on the classroom, not on the surrounding bureaucracy. Funds should be set aside to attract experienced, competent educators in the highest need areas. Money should be allocated for after school programs for the neediest children. Pre-kindergarten instruction should be offered to all. These minor changes in spending would constitute the most effective reform in education policy, without requiring increases in taxing or spending.
Educational word games for all ages that increase your communication
Educational word games for all ages that increase your communication skills and success!
A good vocabulary and your skill in using words has an astonishing effect on how well you communicate. Good communication skills gives you the ability to convey exactly what you mean, without ambiguity, as well as being able to be persuasive when presenting your point of view. It's easy to see that these skills can help you in every area of your life. Examples include writing a business proposal, making a verbal presentation, writing a school paper or simply dealing effectively with children. There's no such thing as too large a vocabulary, or excessive ability in communication skills! Here we have several great educational word games which will enhance your communications, build your vocabulary and increase your general success in life!
These educational word games are generically designed to serve all age groups. Remember, you're never too young or too old to learn something new. In fact, most of these games can be played alone, or in groups of mixed ages.
1.The game of Scrabble(R) is a classic educational word game, popular with generations of word lovers. You can use the classic board game or Scrabble(R) software. When playing with youngsters, they'll tend to come up with simple words until they start learning new ones! This is a great vocabulary builder, as well as helping to hone spelling skills. Keep a dictionary on hand to resolve any disputes and increase the educational value of the game.
2.Many words in the English language are derived from Latin. Pick up a Latin dictionary. Make a list of Latin roots, then see how many words you can find in English which use these roots. Go through the Latin prefixes and suffixes, choosing a few each day to add to your lists. You'll be amazed at how helpful this educational word game will be in helping you understand the meaning of English words previously not in your standard vocabulary. This game is a terrific vocabulary builder!
3.Get out your dictionary and open to a random page. With your eyes closed, slide your finger down the page and stop at any point. Write that word on a list. Do you know the meaning of that word? If not, write down the definition, as well as the part, or parts, of speech where that word may be correctly applied.
4.If you do know this word, list it, along with synonyms for that word. A combination dictionary and thesaurus makes easy work of this educational word game. You'll find that synonyms describe nuances in meaning for a single word, which gives more precision to your meaning. For example, the word 'tempting' lists as synonyms the words alluring, beguiling, enticing, inviting, seductive and tantalizing. Now write a sentence for each synonym in an appropriate context. For example, where a woman might be described as 'alluring', you probably wouldn't use alluring to describe the Christmas goose. Tempting or tantalizing would be more appropriate. Mastering the nuances of words and using them in context appropriate sentences helps refine your communication skills, while building vocabulary.
A great advantage of most of these educational word games is that you can play them on your own, or in a group. They are also fun, so introduce them to your kids. You'll be a better communicator as a result.
A good vocabulary and your skill in using words has an astonishing effect on how well you communicate. Good communication skills gives you the ability to convey exactly what you mean, without ambiguity, as well as being able to be persuasive when presenting your point of view. It's easy to see that these skills can help you in every area of your life. Examples include writing a business proposal, making a verbal presentation, writing a school paper or simply dealing effectively with children. There's no such thing as too large a vocabulary, or excessive ability in communication skills! Here we have several great educational word games which will enhance your communications, build your vocabulary and increase your general success in life!
These educational word games are generically designed to serve all age groups. Remember, you're never too young or too old to learn something new. In fact, most of these games can be played alone, or in groups of mixed ages.
1.The game of Scrabble(R) is a classic educational word game, popular with generations of word lovers. You can use the classic board game or Scrabble(R) software. When playing with youngsters, they'll tend to come up with simple words until they start learning new ones! This is a great vocabulary builder, as well as helping to hone spelling skills. Keep a dictionary on hand to resolve any disputes and increase the educational value of the game.
2.Many words in the English language are derived from Latin. Pick up a Latin dictionary. Make a list of Latin roots, then see how many words you can find in English which use these roots. Go through the Latin prefixes and suffixes, choosing a few each day to add to your lists. You'll be amazed at how helpful this educational word game will be in helping you understand the meaning of English words previously not in your standard vocabulary. This game is a terrific vocabulary builder!
3.Get out your dictionary and open to a random page. With your eyes closed, slide your finger down the page and stop at any point. Write that word on a list. Do you know the meaning of that word? If not, write down the definition, as well as the part, or parts, of speech where that word may be correctly applied.
4.If you do know this word, list it, along with synonyms for that word. A combination dictionary and thesaurus makes easy work of this educational word game. You'll find that synonyms describe nuances in meaning for a single word, which gives more precision to your meaning. For example, the word 'tempting' lists as synonyms the words alluring, beguiling, enticing, inviting, seductive and tantalizing. Now write a sentence for each synonym in an appropriate context. For example, where a woman might be described as 'alluring', you probably wouldn't use alluring to describe the Christmas goose. Tempting or tantalizing would be more appropriate. Mastering the nuances of words and using them in context appropriate sentences helps refine your communication skills, while building vocabulary.
A great advantage of most of these educational word games is that you can play them on your own, or in a group. They are also fun, so introduce them to your kids. You'll be a better communicator as a result.
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