Senin, 31 Januari 2011

Online Gifts for Everybody

If you are one of those people that are too busy to remember the occasions which are really important and further more, too busy to go shopping for the wonderful gifts you would like to offer in those occasions, you are the person that should look for Doghouse. And to be honest aren’t we all to busy in this fast-paced world? Why not try to make life easier and less stressful, please the dearest persons to us with great gift ideas and in the same time have a little fun in the process? Does it seam impossible to you? Just go and see what thedoghouse.co.uk has to offer.

Thedoghouse.co.uk is providing Internet-based online reminders via email, mobile phone SMS reminders and an online gift catalogue and service. The birthday remindersystem is an ingenious one and will help you remember to buy that present when the special day is approaching. The process for you is as simple as entering in the details of the date of the birthday, anniversary or occasion, and let The Doghouse know how far in advance you'd like to notified. You will receive a prompt reminder to buy a gift straight to your laptop or mobile phone.

Once you know you have to buy a gift, your worries are not over. We all know how time consuming is looking for gifts and how difficult is to choose one. That is why Doghouse can even give you some suggestions of appropriate gifts.
No matter what your budget is, for who you are buying the gift, or what the occasion is, you will find here the best solution for you. Thedoghouse.co.uk has a huge range of unusual gift ideas for people who don’t have the time to go shopping.

If you are looking for a traditional gift like chocolates, flowers or a special bottles of beverages we can help you. Personalised Bottle of Champagne is a real success. And there is an entire range of personalised gift ideas so you can really make your giving all the more special. We are free to choose from an array of Newspaper Gift Books or Football Books, the perfect way to always remember a special day like a wedding or a birthday.

If you are looking for something out of the ordinary you could give someone the gift of becoming a Laird (Lord) or Lady of the Glen or an acre of land on the moon. Why not offering a luxurious weekend of pampering in a top hotel or a real adventure with a 30 Minute Flying Lesson or a Half Day Off Road Driving. An awe-inspiring hot air balloon flight is definitely a gift to remember.

Looking to something more substantial? Give them a real Share in their favourite company like eBay, Cadbury or Rolls Royce or spoil someone with an Orient Express Moveable Feast For Two on the Northern Belle or a Photo Make-over.

Minggu, 30 Januari 2011

How to Keep Food Fresh Naturally

How many times have we brought food and then forgotten about it only to remember it because it begins to stink? Against this, you cannot do anything, but you can ensure that your food lasts longer and keeps fresh.

How?
There are many things you can do, such as regularly clean your refrigerator and regularly check the food in there and also that you keep in the cupboards or anywhere else. But its not just about checking them. This cannot prevent anything. All you will be doing is throwing away food items before they stink up the entire kitchen. So, what can you do to keep the food fresh?

Practical List of Tips for Ensuring Food is Cleaner and Fresher:
1) Spread some cloves on and around the marble surface of your kitchen, and also spread some cloves under the sink.
Why?
The Cloves keeps ants away.

2) Place some bay leaves inside your bags of dough, rice and the rest of the packs that insects prefer.
Why?
Bay leaves keep insects and other such lice away from food products. By placing bay leaves inside the packets, we ensure that insects do not reside there. But please remember to change the bay leaves once every three months.

3) Place half a potato in the refrigerator.
Why?
If there is any kind of bad smell from food or cooked items, the half potato will absorb it. To make sure that this works, remember to exchange the potato every three days.

4) Store eggs with the pointed side down.
Why?
Storing eggs with the pointed side down keeps them fresh for a longer period.

5) Place a few cubes of sugar in the jar where you store American cheese.
Why?
When you place two or three cubes of sugar with the American cheese in an air tight jar, the sugar absorbs the moisture and prevents the cheese from getting bad.

6) Do not store tomatoes and cucumbers in the same draw.
Why?
Tomatoes give out gases that cause cucumbers to rot faster so make sure that you keep these two apart.

7) Do not store apples along with the rest of the fruits and vegetables.
Why?
Apples give out certain gases that cause fruits and vegetables to rot.

8) Place slices of apples or raw potatoes in the bread compartment or jar.
Why?
By adding a few slices of raw potatoes or apples with the bread, you ensure that the bread remains fresh for longer than usual.

9) Store radish in a vessel along with some water.
Why?
You should store radish in a vessel along with water because water will keep the radish fresh and crisp for a long time. For the same reason, if the radishes have shriveled, place them in a jar of cold water. Water will restore the radish to its previous splendor.

Conclusion:
Here, I have presented only a few of the more practical actions you should follow to ensure that the food you and your family consume remains fresh and tasty.

The Unique Season Of Autumn

There is nothing like autumn. For me, no season quite compares to the beauty and pleasure I experience each year as summer turns into autumn.

There are many reasons to love the season of autumn. One of the biggest is the beauty of the season. If you were privileged to grow up in an area that had a true autumn, then you know all about the way the colors of the earth move from bright greens to the mixture of tones that is golden, orange, red, and burgundy. You know that the colors begin to change slowly, as if they will soon become a dead brown, and then the brillance of autumn colors emerges from every area of trees. The beauty of autumn is in the diversity of the colors and in their warmth.

Another great thing about autumn is the way it marks a new beginning. At least for children and youth who are enjoying summer break, the beginning of autumn marks for them the start of a whole new year. There is excitement over what the new year of classes, teachers, and friends will bring. And parents love the beginning of autumn because it means their kids are once again spending their days safely in school. Parents know that autumn means their children are learning and growing again. Autumn marks the chance to begin again and to enjoy all of the pleasures of the season.

The season of autumn holds many special and unique things to do. Do you remember going to a pumpkin patch to pick out the perfect pumpkin? Did your family or friends have a carving party to see who could create the most unique or the scariest faces in the pumpkins? Did you bake the seeds of the pumpkins and enjoy them later? Or perhaps you remember going for long walks through the woods and collecting the autumn leaves that had perfectly fallen from the trees. There is something special about seeing how each leaf turns into a unique expression of autumn colors taking over the summer hues. Maybe you have the special memory of going on an autumn hayride each year or perhaps you remember enjoying caramel apples, powdered donuts and apple cider with family and friends.

For many people thinking of autumn means celebrating the great holiday of Thanksgiving. People look forward to spending a day recounting all of the blessings in their lives. They enjoy time surrounded by family and friends and together they reflect upon the year behind them and they dream and hope about the new year ahead. Celebrating Thanksgiving is one of the best reasons to anticipate the coming of autumn.

Whether you have never really loved autumn or whether it is your favorite of the seasons, think about a new reason to appreciate the unique time of year that is autumn.

Sabtu, 29 Januari 2011

Online dating: the revolutionary way to find your love

Not more than ten years ago online dating and matchmaking services were not as popular as nowadays. I won't reject – that time people also were going for such a «non-traditional» way to find their second half but they didn't tell this to anyone being afraid to seem desparate. But what changed during these years?


Well, if you are thinking about joining some matchmaking service or online dating site but you have some concerns about if it your way to find your Russian bride. Believe me, online dating is just for you! Using an online dating site has become very popular – it perfectly fits our modern lifestyles.


Of course, no one can guarantee that you'll meet your special person at once – so you should be patient and proactive. However you won't waste your time on timewasters, because with gaining experience you will define quickly who is a timewaster and who is someone worth knowing better. Sure, it will take some time but you'll find the person you are really looking for, the person you deserve.


So, especially for you, guys, I've made a list of dating sites' advantages:


Number 1. You can log in whenever you want and correspond with the interesting people - you don’t have to wait until the weekend for that.


Number 2. You don’t have to be dressed up for an online date. You can comfortably sit in your armchair near the fireplace corresponding with people you're inteerested in.


Number 3. If you're corresponding with the person for some time and suddenly you understand that he/she is not a person you're looking for, it's never late to tell «Sorry, I think we are looking for something different» and continue your research.


Number 4. Anonymous messaging and chat rooms give you a possibility to flirt with someone without any shyness or getting tongue-tied.


Number 5. You will for sure learn more about someone online before meeting them than you would if you had met them in a bar or in the street.


Number 6. Finally, 1 month membership costs less than a night out and gives you hundreds of opportunities to meet your soulmate!


I hope, I've given you enough persuasive reasons to go for online dating to find for your second half!

Jumat, 28 Januari 2011

The History Of The Green Berets

Special Forces Major Herbert Brucker was behind the beginning of the green beret designation in the year 1953. Brucker began the designation which would later be realized by First Lieutenant Roger Pezelle who adopted it for his highly operative A-Team called the Operational Detachment FA-32. Rapidly, this little green beret would be seen on the members of the special forces units whenever these soldiers went out into the field. However, the US Army was not keen on making the green beret an authorized entity at that time.

Fort Bragg and President Kennedy changed all of that when in 1961; The President of the United States encouraged the General at the time, General Yarborough to inform all of the special forces to wear their green berets to the event. At the event, President Kennedy delivered a speech whereby he made the green beret a “mark of distinction in the trying times ahead.” The Green Berets became a very real distinction of excellence among special forces at that very moment.

Every November 22nd, the date of the assassination of Kennedy, several of the green berets travel to his graveside and pay tribute to the man, the President that enabled this group of very special forces to earn the green beret distinction. The men honor President Kennedy by placing a wreath and a green beret on his tomb. If Kennedy were alive today, they would still honor him for making such a profound difference in the way the special forces are perceived by people all around the world.

Green Berets today are considered to be in a very elite group of special soldiers. They are highly skilled and trained in areas some soldiers would never be interested in pursuing. They are the “cut above” the rest in a group of like young soldiers who can endure the toughest of conditions and succeed. These soldiers are self-reliant in the most difficult of situations and they are highly regarded in the field.

President Kennedy enabled this group of soldiers the ability to stand out in a crowd of soldiers. And while doing so, the irony was ever-present. Kennedy allowed a group of young men to excel in doing what they were born to do which was lead in combat. And of course, President Kennedy was born to lead the United States. The history of the green berets holds a lot of irony in their historic beginning.

Kamis, 27 Januari 2011

How to Have Power over Others.

If power begins in controlling something, then are we powerless prior to controlling?

Yes and no.
We have potential, which is a power in itself, but unused and undirected potential is NOTHING.

Are we powerless prior to controlling?

I would say we are not powerless, but ignorant (Which is a version of powerlessness, I guess.)

We don't know that we have power and don't know to know to test it.

The end of all powerlessness begins with awareness.

A Samurai Warrior would learn this by practicing a meditation of sitting on the top of a mountain with his arm extended and sword pointing skyward in a position ready to fall. He would meditate on that fleeting moment when a balanced piece of metal would turn into an unpredictable falling/killing weapon. His awareness was on the potential of the weapon. When he learned that then he could study the application of it's power.

What is power?
What is power like?
How great is power?
Where is power now?

To Know. To Will. To Dare. To Keep Silent.
These were the powers of the Sphinx and they remain dormant in all of us to one degree or another.

You don't know what you don't know. Thus you must seek knowledge in whatever realm you wish to control.

You must Will and Dare to use that knowledge.

To keep silent. This is where power turns to craft. It is the most subtle application of power. So subtle it may seem that things are all happening in your favor when in fact they happen by your design.

A bolder resting precariously on a cliff, a bow string pulled tight, these have a quality of potential force, What the Chinese strategist, Sun Tsu, called "shih". With just the right action and the force is unleashed.

The silent art of power and control is to see the potential force in everything and arrange it so that, if released, it works in your favor.

The keys to this power are first to know what you want far into the future and to know it in rich and glorious detail. The next step is to develop a presice and detailed plan to your goal and to meditate upon it day in and day out. By having this constantly on your mind you will function with the greatest efficiency toward your goal.

You will see the world about and know "This action will lead me to my goal. This action will lead me nowhere."

This task that is unnatural for most of us because of our natural tendency to focus on the thoughts of the present and to respond to the urgencies at hand. To master this skill we must alter our thinking and see every action that we perform as an act of manipulating "shih".

To do this is the height of Sphinx-like power and makes mere men to seem magical as if they controlled the forces of nature.

Rabu, 26 Januari 2011

How to Protest the Online Ban

Protesting the government is not a cast of protesting a company because you do not like a product, this is a case of you trying to change the mind of the government and this can be hard to do, but it can be done.

Before you can even have a chance at holding a successful protest the first thing you should do is to circulate an online petition, this will give you an idea of how many people support your cause and gives you a list of names with phone numbers that you can call to get people to come to your protest.

The next step is to go online and find other groups protesting the new internet gambling act, and see if that group would be willing to join your protest, the more people protesting the online gambling ban the better the chances are of getting the law reversed.

After this you should start a letter writing campaign not only to your local congressmen but to all the Congressmen and see where they stand. Some of them will not be in support of the online gambling ban and will be willing to not only sign your petition but will be hey may be even willing to speak at your protest.

The next step is to plane your protest. The timing of your protest is important if you choose to protest at the Whitehouse you do not want to do it when the president is not there or if you choose to make your stand at congress do not do it at a time they are on a brake, this can make a big difference in the effectiveness of your protest.

Make sure to have a well written press release to the press at least 2 days before the protest to ensure that you will get press coverage. The more people who hear about your protest the more names you can get on your petition.

The point of a petition is to basically let someone know that people are not happy with what they are doing, and if enough people protest the government you can get them to change their decision. This is especially true with a politician. They know thee job depends on votes and if they are going to gain enough votes to secure their job they will do it even if they truly do not agree with it.


You must apply for a permit to protest at least 30 days in advance, or if there are delays you may not have a permit on the day you have told your protesters to show up, to truly insure you have time, apply for the permits at least 60 days in advance.

When applying for the permits you should be able to find out about the rules for setting up any sound equipment you will need so you can make the arrangements for them.

The only thing left to do for your online gambling ban protest is to wait for the big day.

Selasa, 25 Januari 2011

Viajar por placer

El periodo de viajar en aviĆ³n no es la experiencia que mas disfrute. Cargar con la valija, pagar el pasaje, la sensaciĆ³n de encierro en el aviĆ³n entre otras son los negativos de viajar. Sin embargo llegar al lugar de destino es tal recompensa que lo mencionado anteriormente deja de ser relevante.

La posibilidad de conocer nuevos horizontes es siempre un lujo que no todos pueden utilizar. Es sin duda una de mis actividades favoritas, sino la mƔs favorita. Poder conocer otras culturas, nuevas comidas, idiomas, paisajes, negocios, restaurantes, en fin, viajar es para mi muy enriquecedor.

Si decides viajar solo, verdaderamente tiene sus ventajas. Permanentemente tienes la posibilidad de conocer alguien interesante en el aviĆ³n, charlar con el pasajero a tu lado, o tropezarte con algĆŗn amigo de un amigo que se encuentra viajando en el mismo momento.

Viajar asimismo ofrece la posibilidad de desconectarse de los problemas que lo atormentan diariamente. Claro que a pesar de que uno se aleja los problemas no desaparecen, pero desde ya que puedes mirarlos con otra perspectiva y te darƔs cuenta que lo que lo que veƭas tan negro quizƔs es un poco gris!

Mi viaje favorito fue el que hice a Paris con mi mejor amiga. AllĆ­, estuvimos viviendo en la zona de Le Mare, en donde por las noches salĆ­amos a algĆŗn boliche de moda y por el dĆ­a hacĆ­amos turismo absoluto. Desde Notre Dame a Monmatre, hay un sinfĆ­n de lugares para recorrer en la ciudad.

Si eliges Europa como destino, es recomendable ir durante primavera o verano y no en invierno, ya que el friĆ³ clima y la oscuridad de la tarde no te benefician para caminar y pasear. Sin embargo en la mayorĆ­a de los lugares de Europa encontraras calefacciĆ³n central para no sufrir tanto.

Hay infinidad de lugares para recorrer y viajar. Si decides ir a Italia tienes una variedad culinaria para todos los gustos. Las pastas y pizzas son increibles, y sus paisajes no dejan nada que desear!
En EspaƱa, Barcelona es la ciudad turƭstica y mƔs cosmopolita; por otro lado Madrid tiene un estilo elegante y sofisticado.
Siempre y cuando viajes con algĆŗn compaƱero o compaƱera que tengan un estilo e idea similar al tuyo del viaje, buena energĆ­a y estĆ©n abiertos a nuevas experiencias, te aseguro que te divertirĆ”s.

Si te encuentras en un momento de tu vida donde te sientes presionado o estresado, por trabajo, estudio, familia o lo que sea y buscas un escape rĆ”pido y certero viajar es la mejor soluciĆ³n. Te abriga la mente, te rejuvenecerĆ© el espĆ­ritu y volverĆ”s con nuevas historias y experiencias para contar!

Senin, 24 Januari 2011

Hydropower As A Major Player In The Energy Game

Hydropower has been a slumbering giant in the energy game. Since the 1960s, its use has actually gone down compared to other energy sources. This is beginning to change.

Hydropower As A Major Player In The Energy Game

Hydropower is the massive production of electricity through the conversion of kinetic energy in water into electricity. This is typically undertaken in the form of a dam on a river. Water is held back by the dam and then fed in a controlled manner through it. On its way, the water spins turbines that crank generators and produce electricity. Famous projects include Hoover Dam in the United States, Nasser Dam in Egypt and the new Three Gorges Dam in China.

The primary question with hydropower is why we do not use it more. In some countries, such as Norway, it is the primary source of energy production. It is popular because it is a clean energy platform that produces no emissions, pollution, heat or fuel consumption. As long as the river runs, the hydropower plant should function. In places like Africa, this has not always been a sure thing.

Compared to other energy platforms, hydropower is very efficient. Energy conversion rates are in the 80 to 90 percent range. The plants also have a long life as you can see with any dam, and maintenance costs are relatively low. Cost of energy production, thus, is lower or on par with other energy platforms including oil.

While hydropower seems like a slam dunk option as an energy platform, there are a few definite negatives. The initial cost of building a hydropower dam can be very large. Hundreds of millions of dollars can be required. Larger projects such as the Three Gorges dam run into the billions. These figures are staggering for smaller countries and even give pause to most first world ones. With the rising costs of fossil fuels, however, this is becoming less of an issue each and every day.

The other area that causes concern with hydropower dams is the environmental and human impact. Damming a river is no easy task and the impact is massive. To effectively work, a hydropower dam will reduce the flow of water to such an extent that tens if not hundreds of miles of land behind it will be submerged. In the case of the Three Gorges Dam, this led to the removal of entire cities, monasteries and massive changes to the landscape. There is no disputing this negative issue, but localized changes seem minor compared to the global impact of fossil fuel use.

There is not much glamour to hydropower, but it does represent one of the cleanest and efficient energy platforms available to us.

Minggu, 23 Januari 2011

Las Vacaciones son la Mejor SoluciĆ³n Para Relajarte

Si te sientes un poco estresado con el trabajo, con tu pareja o con la familia y necesitas tomar decisiones, ver a los problemas con otra perspectiva siempre ayuda. Aquƭ te recomiendo tomar unas pequeƱas vacaciones en donde tu decidas.

Puede ser el lugar mas inesperado el que te puede hacer mejor. Debes buscar en diferentes sitios que lugares estƔn disponibles por el fin de semana o una semana entera (si te la puedes tomar).

Los lugares mas ideales deben ir de acuerdo a tu gusto. Por ejemplo si disfrutas del sol algĆŗn lugar de veraneo con el mar y la playa van a ser perfectos. Si no te gusta la playa, busca algĆŗn lugar en las montaƱas tranquilo que te traiga paz y serenidad.

No necesitas gastar mucho dinero para tener un buen resultado, ya que solo unos dĆ­as es suficiente sin tener que perder mucho tiempo en el viaje de ida y vuelta. Puedes optar de ir en auto que es mĆ”s econĆ³mico o en aviĆ³n depende de los precios.

Si vives en Europa, un fin de semana en Barcelona no te costara demasiado y sin duda te abrirƔ la mente y dejara atrƔs los problemas que parecƭan tan grandes que no te dejaban pensar.

Tomarte unas vacaciones es algo positivo que solo traerĆ” buenos resultados. Lo sitios desde ya dependen de tu poder econĆ³mico. Si tu disposiciĆ³n no tiene limites, St Tropez en la costa de Francia es un lugar vacacional ideal. Fiestas desde las 3 de la tarde en la playa, mercado en el centro del pueblo, las playas mas increĆ­bles y mucho mas.

Si tu poder adquisitivo es un poco limitado, puedes ir a palma de Mallorca en EspaƱa, a Ibiza o elegir entre muchos de los puertos de la zona.

Si vives en SudamƩrica o centro AmƩrica, uno de mis lugares favoritos es Punta del Este en Uruguay. Aunque un poco caro, siempre saldrƔs de ahƭ con una sonrisa. Las playas mƔs inolvidables, junto con los bares de moda, y actividades entretenidas las 24 horas del dƭa te esperan ahƭ.

Si no optas por ir a Punta del Este, Brasil es otro de los lugares mas increƭbles. Ahƭ puedes ir a Buzios disfrutar de los camarones con palito, las playas los cocos, los helados, y mucho mƔs.

En Argentina tambiƩn puedes encontrar lugares vacacionales, como Miramar, Pinamar, Mar del Plata, y otros.

Si buscas lugares sin playa durante el invierno puedes ir a Bariloche, Villa La angostura, Las LeƱas en donde puedes esquiar.

Sin duda, cualquier lugar que elijas un poco alejado de tu trabajo, o deberes diarios te ayudara a relajarte y pensar mas tranquilamente como solucionar o seguir adelante en tus decisiones.

Sabtu, 22 Januari 2011

How to Have a Great Time Gambling without Losing Your Money

Gambling in a casino or online casino is supposed to be for fun, but for many people the casino is the place where some machine eats all their money, and they are broke after the first hour and have to go to the ATM to get more money.

If you are not an experienced gambler it may be best to stick to the slot machines, but the fact is that the casinos make most of their money from those one armed bandits.

The easiest game in the casino is Roulette. The object of roulette is to guess what number the little ball will land on, which is not easy but there are other bets to make. In roulette you can bet on the color of the number the ball will land on, and since there are only 2 colors on the board it is a much safer bet. You can also bet on whether the ball will land on an even or odd number.

If you are not an expert gambler and just want to have a good time you can also play keno. Keno is much like the lottery. You have a card marked with numbers 1 to 100, and depending on the amount you want to spend and the game you play determines on how many of the number you get to pick. A computer picks the numbers and if you have at least 5 correct numbers you will win some of your money back.

I would recommend staying away from the poker rooms, but there is one poker game that is mostly newbie friendly, Red Dog Poker. The game is very simple to play. the dealer gives out 2 cards, and the player has to bet if the next card will fall in between the first 2, an example of this is you are dealt a 5 and a queen, so you have to bet on if the next card will be a 6 to a jack, the smaller the distance between the cards the more money you will win if you are right. If your cards are a 5 and a 9 and you win you will win less then if your cards were a 5 and a 7 and the next card is a 6. You may never become a millionaire from playing Red Dog Poker, but it is lots of fun and you can sit at the table for hours without spending much money, and it can be lots of fun.

One of my favorite things to do in the casinos or online sportsbooks is to play the horses. You do not need to be a genius or have been going to the track for years to pick a winner, all the information on the horse and jockey is displayed in an easy to understand way so you can have all the information you need to pick a winner, and for a few 2 dollar bets you can spend an entire evening in a casino or sportsbook for less then 50 dollars.

Jumat, 21 Januari 2011

Parents Need to Be a Role Model for Teenagers

Parents should model what they teach. They should already be the kind of people they want their children to become. The parents should put forth a model of personal integrity and a loving marriage. The greatest gift (besides life) that parents can give their children is a home that is peaceful, warm, accepting, safe and secure. The first great building block of that home is a solid, functional, loving marriage. As an outgrowth of this marital relationship the parents model how to communicate, how to love, how to disagree, and how to negotiate; they model principles and virtues. They are the embodiment of what they teach; they are kind, gentle, hardworking, patient, understanding, tolerant, and resolute in keeping their standards. They are consistent in their instructions, are open and interested in their children, excited about their activities and progress, make the children feel treasured, cherished and important, and they require responsibility, accountability and impose or allow consequences.

All this is done in an accepting manner; never critical or judgmental, harsh or unkind. Parents can only teach a virtue that they possess and model. We teach what we really are and cannot teach anything else. No parent can lead children to where they themselves have not been. Parents cannot lift children to higher ground than they themselves are standing upon. There are no secrets in the home and children can see through sham and hypocrisy. They feel it, they sense it, and so it is necessary for parents to be what they wish to teach their children.

The parent does not say, “Do what I say, not what I do.” Someone has said, “I cannot hear what you say when what you are thunders so loudly in my ears!” Remember, whatever you are, you model, and whatever you model, you teach. By proper modeling the parent invites in the son or daughter to a higher moral life. There is no other way, no short cut, no substitute for proper, good, virtuous role models. You are a model. Whether you like it or not, you are an example and you cannot escape that fact. The truth: we are either good examples or we are bad examples to our children!
From the book “Let’s Fix the Kids” by Dr. James Jones

In a boarding school for troubled teenagers modeling behavior must be the same as Dr. Jones mentions. Staff personnel must live up to high standards and set forth a positive and almost unapproachable role model. Asking a student to do something you, yourself are unwilling to do makes for a bad recipe. If you are considering placing your troubled teen in a boarding school for behavior modification, make sure that the staff are good examples of virtue and high standards.

Kamis, 20 Januari 2011

Pets: How to Take Care of your Dog

The Bond that can come between a person and a dog can be extremely strong, especially if that bond had been strengthened living with each other for many years, I have personally cried after loosing our family dog that had been like a best friend to me from my birth till I as 15 years old, when he was hit by a car one morning.

Dogs serve many different needs for people. Some people get a dog because they are lonely and need a loyal friend or because they want a dog to protect the home. A dog that is taken good care of and given attention to regularly will give his life to help protect his home and his owner. For the blind a dog can be a pair of eyes to help them get around and for the police a dog can be an important tool and a loyal partner, with a nose that nothing can beat.

The first thing you need to know about taking care of a dog is that dogs need lots of exercise. This is the same for large dogs and small dogs. All dogs need to be let out at least once every 8 hours and should given at least a 20 minute walk to give the dog some fresh air, exercise and a chance to relieve themselves.

It is also important to play with the dog on a regular basis. This can mean going to the park on a weekend or day off and having a good game of fetch, tossing the ball around in your back yard or just wrestling on the ground with the dog, just make sure if you are ruff housing with a little dog that you don’t accidentally hurt the dog. Playing with the dog for a half hour a day, is not only good for the dogs physical health but a dig that is played with regularly is mentally healthier and less likely to become a depressed dog, it also lowers your blood pressure as well and it will form an unbreakable bond between you and your pooch, which will extend to your family if you should start having one after having the dog.

What you feed your dog is very important to the dogs continued good health. The better dog foods will be marked for what are groups the food is appropriate for. Younger dogs need certain vitamins and minerals in larger amounts then an adult dog, and the same goes for an elderly dog they need more calcium in their food to help protect their bones and joints. Feeding your dog the wrong food can stunt the dog's growth and opens the dog to a larger risk of surgery when they are older.

Just like a person a dog should be taken to the veterinarian's office every 6 months, and must receive their shots every year. Regular checkups and vaccinations will also help assure that your dog grows to be an old happy dog.

Rabu, 19 Januari 2011

Volunteers Make A Difference In Their Communities

For extraordinary efforts in serving others through volunteerism, 10 middle and high school students from across the country were named America's top 10 youth volunteers for 2006.

Ranging in age from 11 to 18, the National Honorees in The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards received personal awards of $5,000, plus $5,000 grants for the charities of their choice. Among the winners were:

• Evan Alicuben, 17, of Hilo, Hawaii, who spearheaded a project that placed "personal emergency dialers" in the homes of nearly 50 senior citizens in his community, to enable them to call for help quickly and easily in case of emergency;

• Ellie Ambrose, 12, of Nashville, Tenn., who organized an annual carnival and a 5K race that together have raised more than $40,000 over the past two years for sick and disadvantaged children in Africa;

• Alexander Lin, 13, of Westerly, R.I., who led a student community service group in a multifaceted project to reduce the adverse environmental impact of discarded consumer electronics-or "e-waste"-through recycling, public education and legislation;

• Savannah Walters, 13, of Odessa, Fla., who is waging an extensive, multistate campaign called Pump 'em Up to conserve energy resources and reduce pollution by urging drivers to keep their tires property inflated and thereby burn less gasoline; and

• Ajay Mangal, 18, of Pascagoula, Miss., who lost nearly all of his possessions when Hurricane Katrina flooded his coastal city, yet devoted himself to distributing emergency supplies to other victims immediately after the storm, and helped many families clean out their homes in the following weeks and months.

Other honorees made significant contributions to their communities by building a radio station and creating "barn quilts" to boost tourism. Still others founded a successful inner-city service organization for young people, worked to keep lead-tainted toys off of store shelves and started a nonprofit foundation that has collected and distributed personal-care products and other items to needy kids in the local community and around the world.

Conducted in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals, The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards were created to encourage youth volunteerism and to identify and reward young role models. For more information about the awards and this year's honorees, visit www.prudential.com/spirit.



Ten student volunteers have turned dedication into results, improving their communities and the world at large.

Selasa, 18 Januari 2011

Self Defense-Parking Lot Safety

There is nothing more impressive than shopping in a mega mall with more stores than you can visit in a year. The malls get bigger and bigger every year. With more square footage and more stores comes bigger parking lots. Bigger parking lots mean more and more customers have to park what seems like forever away from the final destination. It is good exercise for sure to make that trek however it is fraught with potential risks among them are theft, vandalism, rape, assault, robbery and even kidnapping.

Unfortunately, predators salivate at the thought of seeing a woman by herself late at night in a near empty parking lot. It is just too much of a temptation. A woman in those circumstances is virtually helpless.

Here are some tips to avoid potential trouble for women's self defense and parking lot safety.

1. Lock your car on arrival. Keyless entry is best for time savings.
2. Park as close to your destination as possible.
3. If help is available, make sure you take advantage of it. Most grocery stores still offer his service.
4. Try making most shopping trips during the day.
5. Be aware of your surroundings. Is the parking lot well lit? Are there areas where a predator could hide?
6. Listen to that inner voice. It is better and wiser to be safe than sorry. If you don’t feel comfortable get a manager or security guard to go with you.
7. Upon approaching your car, look around, in, underneath and next to your car. Last week I heard of a woman who had her foot licked by a pervert as she was trying to get into her car. Be suspicious of a van next to your car.
8. Once inside the car, quickly lock all doors. Most people let their guard down once inside their car.
9. If you are alone wait until others walk by and join them.
10. Sorry to say but avoid strangers.
11. Carry some non lethal self defense weapons like a stun gun or pepper spray or some type of personal alarm.

Distractions are plentiful when shopping. It is so easy to become engaged in something else and not be aware of your surroundings. Especially with children, the possibilities of harm seem to grow the further away you are from the store. Be prepared and carry some non lethal self defense weapons like a stun gun or pepper spray. Self defense personal alarms can be useful as well. It is too easy to believe nothing will happen to you.
Remember to trust your judgment-you can’t ever be too cautious.

Senin, 17 Januari 2011

New Web Site Assists Car Crash Victims

“I Didn’t Realize I Had So Few Friends”

Minneapolis, MN, August, 2002 – When Daniel Prins’ wife was injured in a car crash he thought all he had to do was notify his insurance company to get matters resolved. After all, another driver who was charged with DWI hit his wife Johanna and she was taken to the hospital by ambulance.

After weeks of frustration, Prins, Marketing Consultant, built an Internet Assistance Program “The Car Crash Victims Alliance Of America.” The site provides free information for car crash victims on how to protect themselves against serious financial exposure

“I Didn’t Realize I Had So Few Friends”

While insurance company claims personnel are usually courteous, Prins had no idea that his wife’s case was immediately “compartmentalized”. He had to deal with a cast of about a dozen (medical bills from the hospital, his own and other driver’s main insurance contact, the police, claims adjusters, property damage, etc.). In the process, he found out that most of these individuals have their own agenda. Said Prins:” I believe the only people truly on our side were the Emergency Crew and Police at the scene of the accident.”

Accident Frequency Is Astonishing

About 42,000 people are killed on our nation's highways each year. The fact is vehicle crashes are an even greater threat to life and health in the U.S. than crime! In 2000, there was one murder every 34 minutes, while one person died from a traffic crash every 13 minutes. There was one violent crime every 22 seconds, but one crash-related injury every 10 seconds. Traffic crashes are the leading cause of death in the U.S. for people ages 6-33, and their economic cost is estimated to be $230.6 billion per year.

Victim-unfriendly Environment

The lack of clear rules and rights overwhelms car crash victims, often traumatized and shell-shocked. This is especially true in states with No-Fault provisions and damage limits. Even more disconcerting is that it is difficult to obtain good information. The Internet’s search engines, for example, provide few clues for victims and are skewed to offering suggestions and advice for accident perpetrators and those seeking DWI defense.

The Road To The Attorney’s Office

“I don’t consider myself an ambulance chaser,” said Prins, “but it only took a short while for me to realize I was out of my league. Just imagine, I had to negotiate with my own insurance carrier about the pay-off value of my car while the accident was caused by a DWI driver with another insurance carrier.” Prins credits his attorney with expediting the damage recovery process, and his web site now chronicles a step-by-step selection process.

Minggu, 16 Januari 2011

How to Concentrate in 4 Magic Steps

One of the main problems that deter a person's success is their lack of concentration. Lapses encourage disturbances to get in the way and stall progress. If ones wishes to proceed on their road to success, it is imperative they learn how to concentrate. Here, we show you some easy to learn exercises that are easy to implement.

1) Silence or Noise:
Most people cannot concentrate when it is too noisy, but others work better with music or others in the midst of a crowded room. If you are not aware as yet what best suits you, then try out the different environments. How? Take a notepad and a pencil or pen with you and try and write down a letter in all the three circumstances in a set amount of time. Ten minutes. That is all you will need to determine where your source of concentration lies. How? Check not only for length but also for development as that is more important.

2) Focal Point:
Every morning, before you leave for work or on the way, stare at any object for ten minutes. You can do this while in the toilet, car or bus. You will find this difficult, but whatever happens, do not move your gaze away. Hold it. Wait. And then, as the minutes pass you will find yourself deeply meditating about things that happened to you yesterday or challenges you have to face in a few minutes. Congratulations. You have just conquered the art of meditation.

3) Deep Breathing:
In the beginning, you can do this while staring at the object from tip number two, but if you wish to move towards real concentration, do this separetly. Sit down on the floor. If its hard, place a cushion. Close your eyes. Breathe. Count the number of inhales. When you have reached 100, start counting backwards but this time count the exhales. Mastering this will take you a while, but once you do move on to other kinds of mathemathical calculations such as naming the months of the year from December backwards or alphabetically. After that, make up exercises as you like.

4) Movement:
Focus on an animal: cat, dog or even ant or bird. Follow their every movement as if they exist in a vaccumm. Study every tiny spot on their body. The point of this is to learn how to diversify your concentration in such a way that movement does not deter you from your goal.

Conclusion:
Practice the above four tips and like magic, you will start enjoying life to its fullest because you will be able to focus on the things you want to focus on and disregard those that disrupt. Practive the above tips daily and you will be that much more closer to achieving your dreams and goals. Best of Luck!

Sabtu, 15 Januari 2011

The view of the changing world – increasing crime

Life has lost its true meaning. The moral values and the ethical values to help a person in need all have lost its meaning. Now days, the common strategy of life seems to be just conquering and just to have whatever one wants even if it costs a life. After seeing the rising crime rate; it is true to say that kindness and humanity have been exchanged with brutality and cruelness. The society no longer has remained a safe place to alive. It is full of fear and violence where no human values are to be found easily.

Crime is in the increasing side. Daily, we come to know about the criminal activities happening close to us. Just pick up any newspaper or switch on any news channel on television, the only thing that you would come across is the rising crime rates. It has no longer remained an amazing thing to know about a robbery or even the murders that used to be counted among the dreadful happening have become common thing theses days.

The need of the hour is to get someone to guide you correctly. Someone that is truly reliable. It is really difficult for a person to remain updated with the criminal activities or criminal records. Correct and updated criminal records can be taken from a reliable source or a company or website that maintains a record of the criminal activities going around in the society.

With the coming of the internet and keeping in view the increasing crime rate, a few sites have come up for the assistance of the common man to keep oneself and ones near and dear ones at a safer side. Sites of this sort enable a user to get hold updated and accurate information about the criminal activities. It is the criminal sites that enable a user to get accurate criminal records. There are useful categories like criminal search, criminal background search, public criminal records, employment background search, pre employee screening, employee screening, criminal checks etc.

Criminal data is a fantastic website that ensures full reliability. You can get hold of efficient and up to date Credit reports, sex offenders etc. The site caters to various services like extending state wise criminal records, DOC Criminals, Criminal database search, Educational verification, MVR driving records etc all the services extended on to the users are extremely useful and surely would let you keep you and your dear ones on safer side.

Jumat, 14 Januari 2011

You Cannot Go Wrong With A Chocolate Gift

Life provides all too many occasions to purchase gifts for family members and friends. We celebrate with the ones we love for birthdays, anniversaries, weddings, the birth of babies, graduations and many other significant events. Don't get me wrong, I love to celebrate with people. I love being a part of people's lives and walking with them through life's best moments. Sometimes, however, it gets stressful trying to find appropriate gifts to bless your friends and family with. I have recently learned something that has liberated my stress about gift giving: a chocolate gift is always the perfect gift.

I never would have considered myself one to give food or treats as gifts, but once I started buying different kinds of chocolate gifts for the events and celebrations of my family and friends I couldn't stop. They loved their gifts, and I loved the ease of purchasing and giving them. I am sure that giving a chocolate gift for every occasion will not be something that I do forever, but for now, while it works, I'm sticking with it.

What I love about giving a chocolate gift is that everyone I know loves getting gifts and they love chocolate. What could be more perfect than combining the two? Giving a chocolate gift is a great way to celebrate with something useful and something enjoyable.

Another thing that I have grown to love about giving a chocolate gift for almost any occasion is how much variety there is. I never would have imagined all the creative ways I could use chocolate products to make chocolate gifts. For example, when my ten year old daughter came home and needed the perfect birthday gift for a party that evening, I thought quick and came up with a great chocolate gift. My daughter and I prepared a bag filled with homemade brownie mix and we attached the cooking directions on the bag with a ribbon. My daughter loved the idea because she knew her girlfriends were just starting to get interested in baking. I loved the idea because it was quick, simple and creative all at the same time.

If you are looking for great ways to bless the people in your life, look no further than giving chocolate gifts. Your gifts will be the talk of the parties you attend, and you'll be able to share or keep your chocolate gift secrets as you wish.

Kamis, 13 Januari 2011

The Growth Of The Vending Sector

Possibly the first known use of a vending machine is over 2000 years ago, where Hero of Alexandria is said to have created a coin-operated machine that dispensed Holy Water. Although this can’t necessarily be cited as the start of the vending revolution, it does show that time and space saving distribution techniques have been around for a long time.

Vending is largely concentrated in the service industry, where machines reduce the burden on busy catering staff. From garage forecourts to out-of-town shopping centres, vending machines allow customers in a hurry to get what they want, whilst cafes and restaurants can concentrate on those people who have more time to spare.

In the business sector, vending machines are bring cost and time benefits. It takes significantly less time for an employee to get a round of coffees from the vending machine than it does to put the kettle on, find clean cups and distribute a tray full of drinks. Many businesses choose to subsidise drinks machines to encourage employee use, whilst others charge a reasonable fee, receiving a commission from the vending operator in return for making the site available.

Vending isn’t just about food and drink, however. Hygiene companies use a range of vending machines in both business and public conveniences, washrooms and gyms. In fact, anything that has a reasonably long shelf life and is small and light enough to dispense can be stored in a vending machine.

The big boost in vending machine market growth comes from the availability of different payment options. Vending machines no longer have to rely on coin payment; most machines can be configured to take payment by notes, credit or debit cards and so the range of goods that can be sold in this way increases.

The key trends for the growth in the vending market are:

• Replacement of traditional canteen facilities
• Increase in 24-hour business operations
• Diversification of payment methods
• Increase in the number of people shopping and other leisure pursuits

This is a great time to get into the vending business. Whether as a full time business, or a part-time role, there is a significant profit to be made in this sector.

Rabu, 12 Januari 2011

Shopping for Affordable Health Insurance is Easier Online

Thanks to the Internet, it’s easy to find a wealth of important information online; thousands of sites offer to sell you an affordable health insurance plan with just one or two clicks. This means that buying a health insurance plan for you, your family or your business is simpler than ever.

But getting health insurance quotes or buying a health insurance plan online requires more discernment than other online purchases. Insurance purchases require an exchange of a great amount of personal information, making it important to find a trustworthy insurance company or broker.

To begin with, it’s a good idea to research the company that will be receiving your personal information. Find one that is up-to-date, utilizing the state-of-the-art privacy technology. Find out if they sell, trade, or give away your information to anyone; the health insurance advisor or counselor you’re working with should know if the company engages in these practices. Be certain you read the ‘Privacy Policy’ disclosure, which covers the confidentiality of all of your data. Reputable companies will have a ‘Contact Us’ link, usually on the top or bottom of the page, to answer any questions or concerns you may have.

Another very important task is to learn if the person guiding you through your insurance options is a licensed health insurance agent. These agents can provide you with personal advice as you make your decision for affordable health insurance; they can also guide you through the application process. A licensed health insurance agent must follow strict guidelines mandated by the insurance companies they represent and your state’s department of insurance. It’s also very important to obtain the state license number from the health insurance agent assisting you.

Don’t forget to ask for any phone numbers you may need later, even if you don’t think you’ll need to call the agent back. Most credible sites will not try not to hide any part of this information. The easier it is to find this information, the better—you may have questions later that you haven’t thought of. And on the phone, courteous service is a good indicator of the quality of any health insurance resource.

One final feature to look for in your search for insurance online is a seal of approval from a professional organization. You should only request affordable health insurance quotes from web sites endorsed from an association like the Independent Health Insurance Agent Association.

Selasa, 11 Januari 2011

Zodiac Signs and Horoscopes: Who am I compatible with?

Love and compatibility with another is something that we all strive for. It is something that is talked about in every social circle and in every walk of life. This notion of love and compatibility is always a hot topic when discussing your “sign” with someone. One of the main reasons for a person to read their horoscope is to find out about their past, present and future love life. So it’s only natural for us to wonder which zodiac signs are compatible with one another. So who are you compatible with?

Aries – is most compatible with Leo & Sagittarius, compatible with Aquarius & Gemini and opposite from Libra.

Taurus – is most compatible with Capricorn & Virgo, compatible with Cancer & Pisces and opposite from Scorpio.

Gemini – is most compatible with Aquarius & Libra, compatible with Aries & Leo and opposite from Sagittarius

Cancer – is most compatible with Pisces & Scorpio, compatible with Taurus & Virgo and opposite from Capricorn

Leo – is most compatible with Aries & Sagittarius, compatible with Gemini & Libra and opposite from Aquarius

Virgo – is most compatible with Capricorn & Taurus, compatible with Cancer & Scorpio and opposite from Pisces

Libra – is most compatible with Aquarius and Gemini, compatible with Leo & Sagittarius and opposite from Aries

Scorpio – is most compatible with Cancer & Pisces, compatible with Capricorn & Virgo and opposite from Taurus

Sagittarius – is most compatible with Aries & Leo, compatible with Aquarius & Libra and opposite from Gemini

Capricorn – is most compatible with Taurus & Virgo, compatible with Pisces & Scorpio and opposite from Cancer

Aquarius – is most compatible with Gemini & Libra, compatible with Aries & Sagittarius and opposite from Leo

Pisces – is most compatible with Cancer & Scorpio, compatible with Capricorn & Taurus and opposite from Virgo

(please note that this is only a suggestion as to the traditional compatibility traits of certain ‘signs’. This should not be followed as a make or break rule to follow in your love life as there are many factors that come into play when in a true relationship. These suggestions should be taken as such, as mere suggestions.)

All of your horoscope and zodiac information in one place at Horoscope

Senin, 10 Januari 2011

Hotels rooms or apartments in Kharkov

Everybody knows that the cost is the main thing while choosing one of the variants. In this case hotel rooms are not the best variant, as the cost of the flat for rent in Kharkov is far cheaper. The price for a room in a good hotel expenses for the services that are provided for free. But often you do not even need them: a breakfast, an everyday cleaning, a change of linen, business-center, Internet and other.
Why do you have to pay for the service you do not use? Meanwhile, if you prefer to stay in a cheaper in Kharkov, nobody will guarantee you an caring attitude towards you. The hotels that were built in the Soviet times often bad service. Their employees are of the same age as these. They know nothing about the standards of services and modern ways of booking rooms, checking-in and payments. Reserving rooms in such hotel in Kharkov you take risk of your mood and nerves!
As for daily rent of flats in Kharkov it is surely a great alternative to hotels. Having rented a flat you are free to do want you want. You have at your disposal not only a sleeping room as in a hotel, but also several functional zones, that can be used for having meal, working and receiving guests.
another advantage is that you can receive your guests, when you want to. There are strict rules about receiving guests in any hotel. But in a flat you can do it in your free time.
Definitely the cost of a flat differs depending on the equipment in the flat (fire-place, Jacuzzi and other facilities) but the price will be several times lower than the price of a hotel room of the same level anyway. So the flats took their stable stand on the market of accommodation and became the worthy competitor to the Kharkov hotels rooms.
You may ask in what negative moments you can have while renting an apartment! The main thing is not to become a victim of cheaters who will take your money and would not give you any accomodation. They will just give you a wrong address or the keys that won't fit to the apartment. Do not use any services of any private persons not to fall for the bait. Do not pay them any money before you are in the flat. Use the services of big agencies with good reputation that will give you out all the necessary documents. We hope that your sojourn in Kharkov will be pleasant.

Minggu, 09 Januari 2011

How to impress on first date

After hours of deliberate preparation, sweaty fingers you have managed to hold your nerves and prevent your tongue from slipping to ask your dream girl for a date. Now she has agreed….. Here is some advice for you how to impress on first date.

Remember first impression is the best impression. By putting your best forward you gain confidence in yourself. Don’t keep yourself idle before the date. This is because you must not look desperate at any point of time. Sit with your play station, watch a ball game just do anything that keeps you occupied. Wear a dress that is comfortable and make sure it’s the one in which you look good. Do not go to every shop in the mall buying something new. Because it’s new you can never really tell if it’s good on you. If you have a specific genre of dresses which you are very sure would suit your personality go ahead. Do not forget to wear clean underwear.

Keep a list of conversation starters and make them general questions. Ask about their life but don’t get too personal. All women are turned on by wit so be witty and humorous. Don’t act weird or like a lunatic in the process of trying to be different it’s ticket to disaster. Don’t brag on how big your biceps are or how you were a star in your school or how you won the prize for making the best lemonade in boy scout camp. Actuate your plus points in a subtle manner. It will be more effective in reaching her. Take her to a place that is unique, where she would not have gone before. Say an orchard or a flower field which can be rented, or a boat in the local lake or to a Chinese trapeze artist show or an Indian music show. Make it an interesting and memorable place, something she would not forget for a long time.

Look into the eyes of your date, it means you are showing interest in her. If you can’t look into her eyes look at forehead they can’t find out the difference. And don’t keep on yapping. Allow her to talk. When she is talking listen to her. Don’t ogle at the girl in next chair or be savoring your pasta. Don’t be cheesy or behave like a tramp.

Appreciate her in a honest manner even if it’s a blatant lie, that would make the devils teeth to chatter, do it without any guilty feelings for it’s the results that matter not the path taken. When you drop her home, study her closely and end the date with a kiss preferably on the cheeks the first time or maybe a peck on the lips if she allows to. Before you kiss shift the conversation to a romantic topic and make the kiss a memorable one.

Sabtu, 08 Januari 2011

Permeability - One Of The Benefits Of Natural Lime Based Plasters

As Humans we have three skins. First, our fleshly skin which is breathable. It transpires. Takes in moisture and lets out moisture. Our skin which is the largest organ of our body is a marvelous creation, and one we need to learn from. Our skin offers us protection and comfort. It offers us comfort precisely because of its ability to breathe.

Our second covering is our clothing. Again our clothing which offers us protection and comfort is breathable. As a rule people do not prefer wearing plastic or vinyl but rather natural fibers because they breathe. Our Third environment is our home. We learn even from people of antiquity that homes should offer not only protection but be breathable. Why should we expect our walls to be made of plastic? That may offer protection but not comfort. It is no secret that many in the wall finishes industry are speaking against vinyl wall covering specifically because they form a moisture barrier in the wall, not allowing the wall to breathe and creating a situation in which mold is not only inevitable but encouraged.

Facts

Lime’s vapor permeability is what has contributed to the longevity of historic buildings down through the centuries. Historic preservationists and conservationists have learned that you should not use harder less vapor permeable products that are cement based to do repairs or restorations on these wonderful structures.

More Facts

Another reason that permeability is important because trapped water vapor can lead to condensation, resulting in eventual moisture damage, rot and mold formation. And so permeability is one of the benefits of natural stone finishes in the form of lime based plasters.

Conclusions

Venetian plaster finishes will provide both, a healthy environment and a beautiful background for your walls.

Whether or not you consider applying marble based or marmorino finishes to your walls always keep an eye on any mold formation and clean and disinfect the area immediately if you discover any mold stains. Also is a good idea to open your windows occasionally to allow the air to come in to dry out all walls and ceilings.

Jumat, 07 Januari 2011

I'm Glad I Have A Table

love my house. I love almost everything that is in my house. I'm glad that I have a bed to sleep in, a hot shower to take on cold days, and a refrigerator that keeps my food cold. I've recently realized, however, the my table is one of the best and most underappreciated things in my house. When is the last time you reflected on all the ways something as simple as a table helped your life?

There are many reasons I love my table. The biggest reason I have grown to love my table is because it has become the gathering place for friends and family and the setting for some of the best conversations I have ever had. There is nothing that beats sitting down with the people you love at a table and sharing a great meal, a pot of tea and a good talk about anything and everything. My table has been the place for every shared birthday cake and every late night glass of wine for many years. I absolutely love spending time with the people I've been blessed with, and it seems like more often than not we share some of our best time around my table. I guess I love my table so much because it represents the gathering of loved ones to me.

I love my table for less profound reasons as well. Take last Tuesday for example. I was busy preparing a portfolio of all of my photographs from the last few months to share with a potential employer. I needed somewhere hard and flat to lay out each photo until I organized them into the portfolio. Where did I work? At my table, of course. There is no better place to spread out all of your work and keep it safe while you work to organize it back together again.

My table has also become host to Wednesday night game nights with my friends. We gather each week and sit around the table to play the latest, greatest, and sometimes not so fun games. Card games, board games, or puzzles, it doesn't matter. We rotate bringing the games and the snacks each week. The only thing that doesn't rotate is my table. Every Wednesday night we gather there without fail. I'm so grateful for my table at times like those. It may sound simple or strange to be so grateful for your table, and I guess in some ways it might be. But I, for one, would not want to live without my table. Would you?

Kamis, 06 Januari 2011

Incarcerated Fathers And Their Children Find New LIFE

A group of inmates are learning how to breathe new life into their relationships with their children through a unique program at a maximum security prison.

Through the 4-H LIFE-Living Interactive Family Education program at the Potosi Correctional Center in Mineral Point, Mo., youth build relationships with their incarcerated fathers through 4-H club work. Developed jointly between the fathers and local 4-H staff, the program focuses on improving parenting skills and bettering the children's social and academic adjustment and overall well-being.

One and a half million American children have parents serving sentences in state and federal prison, according to U.S. Department of Justice statistics. These children can react negatively to the separation and develop aggressive behaviors or suffer from eating or sleeping disorders.

"Offenders join the program because they see their kids are repeating their own destructive behaviors that led to their committing crimes and they want to help break that pattern before it's too late," said Washington County 4-H Youth Extension Associate Robert Wilkerson.

In the 4-H LIFE program, children and their fathers can move freely and interact naturally in an open, unstructured setting-a sharp contrast to the restricted visitation usually granted at the maximum-security prison.

"When you meet them for a [regular] visit, you're [only] allowed a hug. In 4-H, your kid can sit there with you and lean on you," said one father. "You have a bigger bonding process between father and son."

The youth and their fathers work together on 4-H club activities that encourage goal-setting, teamwork and accomplishment. One youth said being able to work on 4-H activities with his father "created an environment for me to be with my family like a normal family."

Fathers work on their parenting skills in formal meetings and often look to each other for help working out family problems or other advice. They organize food sales and recycling programs to fund activities and adopt needy families in the community.

Families that participate in 4-H LIFE report stronger relationships, better communication, greater family unity, life skills development and improved home and school behavior for the youth.

"It's astounding and gratifying to see the changes the kids have made," said St. Francois County 4-H Youth Development Specialist Lynna Lawson.

4-H is a community of young people across America learning leadership, citizenship and life skills.

Rabu, 05 Januari 2011

Is The End Near?

During the past year, hundreds of thousands have perished at the hands of a mother nature run amok. Tsunamis, hurricanes, earthquakes, and torrential rains have served us notice that for all our brilliant achievements, we are not masters of the earth.

Those who adhere to the prophecies of the past suggest that the cataclysm of world destruction is coming, that the rapture is at hand, the end is near.

Certainly, the recent natural disasters have been extreme, eclipsing anything in living memory, but do they signify a terrible end?

The human race is now enormous, exceeding by a thousand percent the world inhabitants of the not-too-distant past. Communication is instantaneous: a boulder falls on a house and a picture is flashed around the world before the dust settles.

Consider the news in historical context, a far vaster landscape than human memory. And consider that until 100 years ago, news of events traveled slowly, if at all.

The earthquake in Kashmir claimed perhaps 40,000 valuable lives out of a planetary population of 6.4 billion souls. An earthquake in Shaanxi, China in 1556 claimed over 800,000 lives out of a contemporary population of only a few million, most of them totally unaware of the disaster.

The horrors of AIDS and the looming threat of 'flu pandemics may kill a few million of us. In 1347-1350, the Black Death wiped out over a third of Europe's population and it took 400 years to grow back to its former level. There were no news flashes or video coverage, just the word of straggling strangers of the terrors they had seen.

Think of the Ice Ages that have periodically crept across the earth's surface, wiping out hundred of species each time and forever leaving the mark of their ravages on the continents. Envision an enormous meteor crashing into our planet, leaving a killing residue of dust that blotted out the sun's rays for decades, destroying the dinosaurs that had dominated the landscape for 100,000 years of endless summer.

Our spaceship earth is a living, breathing and highly unstable vessel. It explodes, erupts, and trembles on its own timetable, far removed from the brief memories of mankind.

The forces of nature are doing what they have always done. There are just so many more of us to get in the way and so many more to bear witness to the recurring catastrophes.

Selasa, 04 Januari 2011

Silicon Bracelets

Silicon bands or bracelets are not just mere silicon loops. They represent the human spirit that can fight all odds. These bands create awareness towards worthy causes. They have been popularized by cancer survivor and cycling champion, Lance Armstrong. He helped generate 15 million dollars for charity through selling these bands.

Silicon Bands for a Cause
With the help of these bands you can promote business, show your support to special causes and also make a fashion statement. You can distribute these bands in trade shows, conventions, team sports and fund raisers to bring about awareness and support for any cause or disease. They are made of silicon and are stretchable and come in an array of colors like pink, blue, purple, yellow, green and black. Some glow in the dark too.

Silicon Bands for Business Purposes
You can use silicon bands to promote your business too as an advertising medium. Wrist bands distributed at corporate functions would life the image of your business. You may distribute the bands during trade shows also.

Multipurpose Silicon Bands
Through these silicon bands, you can convey more than one message. You can stamp messages and designs crafted on them, whether it is for religious purposes, business purposes or social causes. You can order these silicon bands from various websites which are available at $1 -$5. You will get discounts from the vendors if you order in bulk quantities.

Silicon Band: Identifying Device
Silicon band is also used as an identifying device in crowded places. For example, silicon bands are used in music concerts and other such events as a crowd control device. In hospitals silicon bands are used as identification devices. Medical information is stamped on these patients for identification purposes.

Silicon Bands Are Hot
Customized silicon bands are hot now. The demand for these bands is increasing rapidly. From sports team to awareness groups, everyone is sporting a silicon band. By wearing them a sense of unity and spirit is fortified.

Buy a silicon band or gift it to your loved ones and spread the message of the fighting human spirit.

Senin, 03 Januari 2011

Young Philanthropist Discovers Joy of Sharing

Philanthropist Ellie Guettler of Atlanta recently wrote a $500 check to help Heifer International fight hunger. Her gift provided two milking water buffaloes for an impoverished family. What is unusual about that? Ellie is only 5 years old. Ellie is not alone. Children are responsible for contributing more than $1 million a year to Heifer International, which has been providing cows, goats, chickens, sheep and other animals to families in 50 countries around the world for more than 60 years. These animals allow the families to have milk, eggs, wool honey, and many other benefits.

Ellie's parents say they want to teach her the habit of sharing by contributing to Heifer because it is a simple, concrete way of helping to end world hunger.

"We want Ellie to do a service project every year as her birthday gift back to the world. She picked Heifer since we live in the city and she can't have farm animals of her own," said Katrina Guettler, Ellie's mother. "So she sent a birthday letter to all our neighbors and friends asking them to save their change."

Ellie collected $660 in quarters, nickels, dimes and pennies. As a thank-you gift for their contribution, she gave each person a handmade candle.

"We both learned that people are generous and want to make a difference, but sometimes they don't know how or they need motivation," Guettler said. "She also learned that a little bit of change, which we take for granted, can collectively make a big difference for someone with less opportunity."

Ellie likes to read the bestselling picture book "Beatrice's Goat" by Page McBrier that tells how a goat from Heifer International changed the life of a young girl in Uganda, and she knows the story by heart.

"I feel bad that so many kids don't have food and can't go to school, so I hope that if I help a Heifer project, they can have food and go to school like Beatrice," says Ellie.

Children can participate in raising funds for Heifer International by reading books, making and selling bookmarks, hosting bake sales, or making donation cans with pictures of animals from Heifer's holiday catalog to help collect money toward the purchase of gift animals.

They can also see farm animals and learn about solutions to world hunger on visits to Heifer's three hunger education centers in Arkansas, Massachusetts and California.

Minggu, 02 Januari 2011

Stun Guns: Why They Are So Popular

Most people when they hear the words “Stun Gun” think of Star Trek or science fiction. Contrary to that belief, stun guns have become one of the most highly effective, widely used and very reliable in the arsenal of crime fighting tools. As time goes on, their use gains in popularity as a non lethal self defense weapon for individuals and a very potent weapon for law enforcement officers.

HOW THEY WORK
Stun guns temporarily incapacitate targets by sending a high voltage but low amperage charge of electricity to the nervous system. This causes a disruption in the body’s neurological impulses that control muscle movement overwhelming the neuromuscular system causing the victim to lose balance. It also causes temporary partial paralysis and depletes the body’s system of blood sugar (energy) making the body too weak to move.

They cause no long term damage. The effects can last for several minutes. They do not rely on pain for results. The current cannot pass to your body thru the target.

WHO USES THEM
For would be victims of robbery, assault, rape, murder, kidnapping the site and sound of a stun gun's charge might be enough to deter an assailant. If not, then a 3-5 second dose of 700,000 volts will be enough for most people to escape the situation they are in. Women who live alone or work in isolated areas such as real estate agents are some of the many people finding stun guns easy to carry and conceal. School teachers, people who work late at night can defend themselves with stun guns with great effectiveness. They are small, easily concealed or disguised and easy to use.

A stun gun is a tool in the fight against crime: it is not lethal and at best will give the victim 2-3 minutes to escape. Escape is better than the alternative.

Brands such as Stun Master stun gun, Scorpion, Panther, Firefly, Z force stun gun and Talon stun gun have models that range from 80,000 volts to 975,000 volts. Stun guns can be disguised as cell phones, flashlights, or pagers for the element of surprise. Stun guns have rapidly become a popular self defense weapon of choice for many people in today’s crime ravaged society. Stun Guns are illegal in several states.

Sabtu, 01 Januari 2011

Mystery Shopping Explained

Mystery shopping is a work at home business that many people has come to enjoy. With this business, there are no real requirements you need to be able to apply to become a mystery shopper. However, you should not that some niche areas have certain requirements, but for the most part the only limitation is that you be of legal working age. As with any job, you must be dependable and reliable, while representing the mystery shopping company you will not be able to cancel or miss jobs on a regular basis or you run the risk of losing the position.

Other qualities you should possess, is observation, you should be able to be very aware of all your surroundings, because this is required for mystery shopping. You will be asked to make specific notes of various aspects and report them back. You may also be required to have internet access, if you are reading this article, you likely have that aspect taken care of already. In mystery shopping you are given detailed instructions by the company as what they want you to do.

They will want you to visit a particular store on a specified day, what you do at the store can vary depending on the particular company and what they hope to gain from the mystery shopping experience. You may have only have to report on the appearance of the store and the overall helpfulness of the staff. On the other hand, you may be given very specific and detailed instructions. For example, you might need to ask for a specific product or member of the sales staff, you could also be asked to make a particular statement on the policy of the store.

Mystery shopping can take place in a variety of establishments, for example you could be asked to visit a particular fast food restaurant, a casual restaurant, department stores, retail or grocery stores. The time spent at these varies depending on the instructions the mystery shopper receives. Mystery shopping has turned into a very lucrative business for many people and it allows people to earn money by doing what they like to do… SHOP!